Bagir Manan appointed chief justice

JAKARTA (JP): After months of stalemate, President Abdurrahman Wahid finally bowed to the House of Representatives demand to pick one of the two chief justice candidates it has proposed by naming Bagir Manan for the top post at the Supreme Court.

"I have signed a letter appointing Professor Bagir Manan as chief justice of the Supreme Court," Abdurrahman said at a swearing-in ceremony for two deputy chief judges at Bina Graha presidential office on Saturday.

The President refused late last year to choose between Bagir and former justice minister Muladi, who both were promoted by Golkar Party, saying that the two had served under the New Order regime.

Abdurrahman at the time called on the House to make a new selection, but the demand was immediately rejected by House Speaker Akbar Tandjung.

Abdurrahman said on Saturday that Bagir was chosen because "the chief justice post should not be left vacant for too long".

He also said that Muladi, who served under then president B.J. Habibie, had dropped his candidacy.

Bagir, who was also present on Saturday, promised that "a house clean-up" would be among his top priorities.

"We have two things to do ... to rebuild the system and take action (against corrupt judges)," Bagir told reporters.

Legal experts have long called for a sweeping overhaul of the administration of the Supreme Court to restore public trust in the highest law enforcement body.

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle strongly rejected the nomination of Bagir and Muladi with most of its faction members walking out from a House plenary session last year when it endorsed their candidacy.

It was unclear, however, whether the President's choice of Bagir was part of a political deal with Akbar, who also chairs Golkar party.

Also present on Saturday were Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri, Cabinet members and Attorney General Marzuki Darusman.

Appreciation

The House's Commission II for home and legal affairs hailed the President's choice of Bagir and called on the new chief justice to take concrete steps in upholding the supremacy of the law.

Amien Aryoso, the commission's chairman, said that according to the 1999 law on the Supreme Court, it was the President's prerogative to pick one of the candidates.

"Despite objection from certain factions, the House accepts the appointment of Bagir Manan because he, along with Muladi, was nominated by the legislative body for the post," he told The Jakarta Post on Saturday.

Amien of PDI Perjuangan further added that the House was waiting for Bagir's concrete steps to reform the much-criticized Supreme Justice and take action against corrupt justices and judges.

"Our commission gives Bagir 100 days to repair the Supreme Court and process a huge amount of backlogged cases. Bagir must prove he is not part of the New Order regime," he said.

Amien would not comment on Bagir's appointment in his capacity as PDI Perjuangan legislator.

Ferry Mursyidan Baldan, deputy chairman of the commission who also represents Golkar Party, said the President should not have taken so much time in coming to the decision.

"The President should take not only Bagir's background but also his strong commitment and public aspirations into consideration. All sides should support Bagir's commitment to repairing the Supreme Court's tarnished image and improving its performance during his tenure.

"The President could review his decision on Bagir's appointment if the latter breaches his oath," he said. (byg/rms)