In search of a clean and bold attorney general
In search of a clean and bold attorney general
JAKARTA (JP): Concerned about the delayed appointment of an
attorney general, observers have called on President Megawati
Soekarnoputri to pick a figure who is clean and nonpartisan.
They said on Saturday that the right choice in attorney
general would be a crucial sign that the new President intended
to live up to her commitment to eliminate corruption, a delicate
job at which her predecessors failed at the cost their
credibility.
Muchtar Pabottingi, a senior researcher at the Indonesian
Institute of Sciences (LIPI), said that the Megawati
administration should repair the judicial system. Only if law
enforcement is good will the economy recover from the crisis, he
added.
He warned that it would be a grave mistake for Megawati to
pick as attorney general a person who had links with interest
groups.
"The attorney general has to be a person of integrity because
Megawati's credibility is at stake there," Muchtar told The
Jakarta Post
The most mentioned names for the post are Soeparman, the
acting attorney general, and Achmad Ali, an expert advisor to the
attorney general. Other candidates are lawyers Todung Mulya Lubis
and Adnan Buyung Nasution, Marsilam Simanjuntak, former acting
attorney general and Supreme Court justice Artidjo Alkotsar.
Muchtar said Achmad Ali was probably the best candidate
because he had no affiliation with interest groups and was widely
acknowledged as a man of integrity.
"Only a man of integrity can clean up the corrupt-ridden upper
echelon Attorney General's Office," he said. "And it is time for
Megawati to show she can pick the right man for the right job."
Megawati delayed the appointment of a new attorney general
from Friday to "sometime this week" on the grounds that she
needed more time to select the right man.
Politicians from the Golkar Party, the second largest party
after Megawati's Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
Perjuangan), have exerted their power to have the party's
candidate picked as part of the coalition Cabinet deal.
It is understood that many business and political figures
facing corruption charges are Golkar contributors and supporters.
"As we know, the country is facing a serious problem in law
enforcement because many businessmen who are also politicians are
involved in corruption. Therefore, to appoint the right man to
the position has became more crucial than to set up good teams of
economic or political ministers," said political observer Fachry
Ali.
Fachry argued that a clean and courageous figure was needed to
hold the post because the Attorney General's Office would have to
deal with people in powerful positions.
"I guess Pak Artidjo would be the most qualified person to be
attorney general as he is known as a clean man among the justices
and he has the courage to combat corruption."
But since some PDI Perjuangan politicians have allegedly been
involved in corruption, an attorney general with integrity could
boomerang on her, too, Fachry said.
The public expects her to uphold the supremacy of the law, and
Megawati should to listen to what people expect from her, he
added.
Aggressive
Legal expert Muchsan from Gajah Mada University, Yogyakarta,
wants to see as attorney general a career attorney with no bonds
with any political groups.
Muchsan said Soeparman would make a good attorney general. His
only reserve is that Soeparman is somewhat passive while what
Indonesia needs is an aggressive attorney general.
Muchsan's other preferences are Mulya Lubis and Artidjo, whom
he described as well-versed in legal matters.
Revrisond Baswir, an economist and senior activist of a non-
governmental organization advocating action against corruption
and a clean government, supports the idea of having an proactive
attorney general.
Revrisond said the late attorney general Baharuddin Lopa was a
good role model for Indonesia.
"The attorney general should actively investigate suspected
corruptors instead of waiting for reports from the police and
the public," he said.
His choice is Artidjo, whom he described as a modest and
honest person.
Appointing the right person as attorney general would further
boost market confidence in the Megawati administration, Revrisond
said. (tso/44/pan)