Adi supports calls for collusion debate

Adi supports calls for collusion debate

JAKARTA (JP): Deputy Chief Justice for General Crimes Adi
Andojo Soetjipto has supported the recent public calls for a
national discussion on how to eliminate the collusion practices
which he alleges are rife within the Supreme Court.

"There should be an open debate, during which the chief
justice himself, and not a spokesman, would have to answer
questions accurately," Adi was quoted by Antara as saying at dawn
on Wednesday when visiting a number of students in Purwokerto,
Central Java, who are on a hunger strike in support of his cause.

"The national discussion could be held by students or other
groups," he added. When asked whether he himself would initiate
the discussion, Adi declined.

"I'm exhausted, I'm beat, I've been having to face students,
the press and others who are asking me about the collusion in the
Supreme Court," he said.

Adi was greeted by a group of weeping students who told him
that a hunger strike was the only way they could express their
concern over how the public could no longer trust the Supreme
Court, supposedly "the last bastion of justice". Adi, however,
persuaded the students to call off their strike.

"I'm so grateful because there are people who care about
what's happening to me, but please stop the strike. I can't bear
to see you like this." he told the students, some of whom have
been weakened by their seven-day ordeal.

"Fighting for a cause doesn't have to be through self-
destructive ways such as this strike," he said. "You can all
choose other ways, for instance by staging discussions on the
issue. Most important of all, however, we all need to pray."

When asked about his possible dismissal from the Supreme
Court, Adi said he was ready and would face it gracefully. "I'd
still respect the Court, even if President Soeharto agrees to
dismiss me," he said.

Adi sparked the controversy when he alleged earlier this year
that collusion practices, and even bribery, were rife in the
Supreme Court. Chief Justice Soerjono contradicted the
allegation, saying that an internal probe team had found no
evidence to substantiate the claim.

The chief justice later ordered Adi to desist from making
further allegations, claiming that his actions were undermining
the integrity of the court. Adi refused to back down, and the
differences between the two men over the highest judicial body
soon became public. During most of the conflict, however,
Soerjono has refused to speak directly to the press and was
represented by Court spokesman Toton Suprapto.

The differences came to a head with the disclosure by
Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono earlier this month that
President Soeharto had received a letter from the chief justice
proposing that Justice Adi be discharged. A number of people,
including a lawyer and students in several cities, protested the
proposal by going on hunger strikes.

Meanwhile, legal experts Muladi and Soehardjo S.S. at the
Semarang-based Diponegoro University, agreed to the need for an
open debate to help restore public trust in the Supreme Court.

"Over the past two years, people have almost lost all their
faith in the body," Muladi said. "The Court's image has
noticeably deteriorated."

Soehardjo, however, suggested that Adi resign and continue
with his crusade "from outside the system". (swe/har)