Golkar, PKB offered ambassadorial posts

Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

President Megawati Soekarnoputri has offered two of 14 ambassadorial posts to the National Awakening Party (PKB) and the Golkar Party.

Golkar deputy treasurer Iris Indira Murti was set to be assigned to Finland while PKB foreign affairs department head Abdul Wahid Maktub was nominated for Qatar.

Former National Police chief Gen. (ret) Rusdihardjo and Ahmad Bey Sofwan, a senior official at the National Intelligence Agency (BIN), were two other non-career diplomats to be appointed. They would be stationed in Malaysia and East Timor respectively. The remaining posts were given to career diplomats from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Both Golkar and the PKB were unavailable to comment on how the parties had lobbied the President to obtain the ambassadorial posts.

Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) legislator Paulus Widiyanto said that his party did not have anyone suitable to be an ambassador.

"Speaking frankly, PDI Perjuangan has never discussed foreign assignments for its members and I know we have no skilled cadres for it."

It was the first time the President has given ambassadorial posts to politicians. Previously, Megawati had appointed career diplomats and non-political figures. Her predecessor Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid assigned Golkar figure Ekky Syachruddin as ambassador for Canada in 2000.

The House of Representatives' Commission I on defense, information and foreign affairs held a hearing with nine ambassadorial candidates to determine their vision and mission during the three-year assignments.

"The remaining five will present their vision and mission to the commission on Thursday," commission chairman Ibrahim Ambong said after the closed hearing.

Ibrahim acknowledged that the House had no authority to turn down the ambassadors as it was the prerogative of the President according to the amended 1945 Constitution. "The President appoints new ambassadors after listening to the House's opinion."

Astrid S. Susanto, a member of the commission, expressed the commission's deep concern with the poor skills of the candidates from the ministry.

"They are unable to give clear explanations about the countries they will be posted to," she said.

Ambassadorial candidates

No. Candidates Countries Background

1. Iris Indira Murti Finland Golkar politician

2. Anwar Santoso Pakistan Career

3. Djismun Kasri Uganda Career

4. Ahzam B Razif Senegal Career

5. Kemas Fachruddin Yemen Career

6. Rusdihardjo Malaysia Former police chief

7. Faisha H Soeftendy Greek Career

8. Bambang Prayitno Vatican Career

9. Broto Utomo Bulgaria Career

10. Abdul Wahid Maktub Qatar PKB politician

11. Ahmad Bey Sofwan East Timor Intelligence/BIN

12. Artauli Tobing Vietnam Career

13. Primo Aluwi Julianto New Zealand Career

14. Gede Putu Artisme Namibia Career