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)