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.