Internal watchdog commission to restore public trust in AGO
Internal watchdog commission to restore public trust in AGO
M. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
In the midst of public criticism over the poor performance of
prosecutors nationwide, the Attorney General's Office (AGO)
pledged on Tuesday that it would set up a commission to monitor
its personnel.
Attorney General Abdul Rahman Saleh said the establishment of
the supervisory commission had become a priority on the to-do
list of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's Cabinet in the first
100 days.
"The commission will be of great importance in winning back
the trust of the public, who have long harbored skepticism toward
the prosecutors' work," Abdul Rahman said in a seminar organized
by the Partnership for Governance Reform here.
He said that to fend off possible resistance to the
commission's work, he would ask the President to provide a
stronger legal basis for its establishment.
Abdul said that the establishment of the commission would
likely face a stumbling block due to its weak legal foundation.
Law No. 16/2004 on the Attorney General's Office does not
specify the role of the supervisory commission or the authority
it has. There is only one article pertaining to the commission's
possible existence, saying that to improve the performance of the
office, the President can set up a supervisory commission.
The absence of a clear stipulation on the commission and the
fact that the final say on its establishment lies in the hands of
the President has sparked resistance among prosecutors over its
saliency.
Those against the commission say that instead of setting up a
new institution, the AGO should improve the performance of its
internal supervision division.
A report from the National Law Commission (KHN) produced last
year branded the AGO as the most secretive component of the
country's legal system and suggested it reform to regain the
public's trust.
The AGO is also notorious for the alleged misconduct or
manipulation of its employees.
The Attorney General's Office is the last institution to have
been offered assistance by the Partnership to carry out reform
measures, after the Supreme Court and the National Police.
Mas Ahmad Santosa of the Partnership said that the planned
commission would be given the authority to select new
prosecutors, oversee and uphold discipline and recommend
policies.
He said that the commission would have 11 members, including
academics, activists, legal experts, representatives of the AGO
and prosecutor's offices at all levels.
"The commission can start its inquiry into errant prosecutors
based on reports from the public and from the media, as well as
data collected by its members," he said.