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)