Bagir Manan appointed chief justice

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)