KPK wants witness protection law

JAKARTA: The deputy chairman of the powerful Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), Erry Riyana Hardjapamengkas, applauded on Thursday President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's plan to issue a presidential instruction on corruption eradication in early December.

"We welcome the planned instruction dealing with the prevention and prosecution of corruption cases, but the government must also enact laws on witness protection and information freedom," Erry was quoted by Antara as saying.

Susilo, who took his oath of office on Oct. 20, has made the anticorruption drive his top priority in his first 100 days in office. Corruption has been blamed for the country's prolonged economic crisis.

"Efforts to fight corruption will gain public support if the government enacts a witness protection law. Many people have solid proof (of corruption) but do not report it to the KPK or law enforcers, fearing that they too will be declared suspects," he said. Antara