Gus Dur's rejection of justices gets mixed reaction

Gus Dur's rejection of justices gets mixed reaction

JAKARTA (JP): Legislators on Monday gave mixed reactions to
President Abdurrahman Wahid's Friday letter to the House of
Representatives officially rejecting the two nominated chief
justices proposed by the legislature.

Those who did express support for the President's decision
were mainly Abdurrahman's own National Awakening Party and the
Indonesia Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) who
walked out in protest at the House session last year to formalize
the nomination.

Most other factions said they would reject having to nominate
new candidates.

Reform Faction chairman Hatta Radjasa said he regretted the
President's refusal to accept the nominations of Muladi or Bagir
Manan, and said his faction is likely to reject proposing any new
candidates.

"The President must appoint one of the two candidates
nominated by the House. The tension between the legislative body
and the President is expected to mount following his rejection,"
he said after the House's opening plenary session here on Monday.

Hatta said the House and the President are divided over the
issue particularly due to differing interpretations of the 1945
Constitution and the law on the Supreme Court.

The Golkar Party Faction also dismissed the President's
suggestion that other candidates be nominated, asserting that
both Muladi and Bagir Manan received the political blessing of
the House.

Golkar Faction chief Syamsul Muarif described the rejection as
"harassing this prestigious legislative body."

Ferry Mursyidan Baldan, chairman of the House's Commission II
on home and legal affairs which conducted a fit and proper test
on the Supreme Court chief and deputy chief candidates, said the
commission would likely decline having to screen new candidates.

Ali Marwan Hanan, a member of the United Development Party
(PPP) Faction, also said his faction would likely be unwilling to
participate in another selection process.

Support

PDI Perjuangan however said that the faction would throw its
full weight to support the selection of new candidates.

"Our faction is ready to seek other candidates to get a
credible and qualified chief justice," Heri Achmadi, secretary of
the PDI Perjuangan faction said.

Faction member Aberson Marle Sihaloho reiterated that his
faction opposed the two candidates because both were unsuitable
to lead the supreme court.

Aberson criticized his fellow legislators and said most
misunderstood the constitution and the law.

"Both the constitution and the law stipulates that the
President in his capacity as head of state has full authority to
appoint a new chief justice and to dismiss that candidate, while
the House conducts a fit and proper test to select candidates to
prevent the President from appointing a chief justice
arbitrarily," he said.

Dimiaty Hartono, another member of the PDI Perjuangan faction,
called on the House leadership to hold a consultation meeting
with the President to seek a peaceful solution to the issue.

"This polemic can be solved peacefully in a consultation
meeting," he said.

Taufikurrahman Saleh, chairman of the National Awakening Party
(PKB) Faction, also argued that the House should submit new names
since the President rejected the first two candidates.

"Most justice seekers will be disenchanted with the Supreme
Court if the prestigious state institution is entrusted to
supporters of the former repressive and corrupt New Order
regime," he said.

House Speaker Akbar Tandjung said the House in its official
reply would likely decline to conduct a renomination of new
candidates.

"The President's rejection of the two candidates will be
discussed by the House's deliberation body to decide whether it
will be brought to a plenary session," he said.

He said the House is likely to reject the President's
suggestion of nominating another candidate as the President has
already appointed a deputy chief justice who was included as part
of a nomination package with the chief justice candidates. (rms)