Anticorruption body urged to solve 'easy' cases to begin with
Anticorruption body urged to solve 'easy' cases to begin with
Urip Hudiono and Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The newly established Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK)
should initially concentrate on cases it feels it can win in
order to gain a head start in its four-year mission, an activist
says.
"We hope the KPK can launch a real fight against corruption,
even though doubts are rife concerning the line-up of its
members. I propose that they tackle ready-to-solve cases in the
first six months of their tenure," Sholahuddin Wahid, a member of
the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM), said in a
New Year's Eve gathering of the Civil Society of Professionals in
front of the Jakarta Stock Exchange.
He said the KPK needed to solve its first cases to boost its
confidence in dealing with more difficult ones and to win
people's trust by choosing high-profile cases.
Participants of the gathering included KPK member Erry Riyana
Hardjapamekas and former Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle
legislator Indira Damayanti Soegondo. Former minister Sarwono
Kusumaatmadja failed to turn up due to illness.
The gathering lasted one hour, with most participants
expressing concern about rampant corruption in the country. They
sat in circles surrounding lit candles during the event.
"As professionals, we are very concerned about the rampant
corrupt practices in Indonesia as it affects investment in the
country," said Ismet Hasan Putro, one of the event's organizers.
Sholahuddin called on people to support the KPK leaders and
trust them to carry out their job.
Erry said the KPK was aware of the right strategy to fight
corruption and had classified the cases it would investigate.
"We call such cases 'ripe' cases, because like fruit, they are
ready to eat," said Erry.
He reiterated the KPK's commitment to solving one or two big
cases in the first six months and said he was ready to resign if
the commission failed to meet the target.
He said he would try hard to keep the KPK independent and
never compromise.
"We have pledged to work hard for the first six months. Any
member who is found to compromise will be asked to resign. If we
fail, it will be us who will resign," said Erry.
Sholahuddin, however, warned that the task of the KPK would be
so tough that its members could risk not only their credibility
but also their lives.
"These corruptors will try to buy the KPK members, but if they
can't they will probably abduct them as has happened in other
countries," he told the attendees.
He suggested that the government endorse a witness protection
law to help the KPK investigate corruption cases.
In a somewhat similar tone, Indira said that to tackle
corruption everyone must begin with themselves, and start from
small things.
"We must constantly and consistently remind ourselves, our
friends and our relatives never to bribe the police when we have
violated a traffic sign, for example," Indira said.
Indira quit the House of Representatives in October 2002 in a
show of opposition to cash given by the Indonesian Bank
Restructuring Agency (IBRA) to House Commission IX on financial
affairs for approval of the divestment of Bank Niaga.
She is currently active in the Preparatory Commission for the
Indonesian Movement (KP-PI), a national think tank declared on
Sept. 18, 2003 together with former National Mandate Party (PAN)
members Faisal Basri and Bara Hasibuan, former Democratic
People's Party (PRD) leaders Budiman Sudjatmiko and Faisol Reza,
and former PDI Perjuangan legislator Meilono Suwondo.