Bagir Manan sworn in as Chief Justice

Bagir Manan sworn in as Chief Justice

JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid swore in
constitutional law expert Bagir Manan on Friday as the country's
new chief justice.

The ceremony at the State Palace was just a mere formality as
the President had announced Bagir's appointment to the post on
May 5.

The swearing-in ceremony for Bagir officially ended months of
stalemate following the President's refusal late last year to
choose between Bagir and former justice minister Muladi, who were
both nominated by the House of Representatives (DPR).

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

Bagir, who has said earlier that "a house clean-up" would be
among his top priorities, said that the Supreme Court will
examine demands that the Golkar Party be disbanded because of
corruption and vote-rigging.

Speaking to reporters after the ceremony Bagir said he had
already set up a panel to examine whether Golkar - which is the
second largest party at the House and is leading the charge
against Wahid - should be disbanded.

"We have to respond to societal demands," Bagir said. "We have
begun discussions on the matter."

Demands for the dissolution of Golkar have increased since the
1999 elections. Many smaller parties and anti-corruption groups
have accused it of violating election laws, rigging the ballot,
and buying votes.

Golkar was set up by the military in 1964. It was then used as
a political vehicle by former president Soeharto to rule for 32
years.

Present on Friday were Akbar, Coordinating Minister for the
Economy Rizal Ramli and Attorney General Marzuki Darusman.

Coordinating Minister for Political, Social and Security
Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Minister of Defense Mahfud M.D.
and three Armed Forces' Chiefs of staff were absent as well as
Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri, who left Jakarta on Friday
morning for a private one-day visit to Singapore, where she was
scheduled to have a medical examination. (byg)