Marsillam appointed as new AG

JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid appointed on Tuesday his old friend and current Minister of Justice and Human Rights Marsillam Simanjuntak as the new attorney general to replace the late Baharuddin Lopa.

Presidential spokesman Wimar Witoelar who made the official announcement also said Minister of Defense Mahfud MD would take over from Marsillam at the Ministry of Justice while the defense portfolio would be handled by Coordinating Minister for Political, Social and Security Affairs Gen. (ret.) Agum Gumelar.

"The President believes this (reshuffle) will receive a positive public response," Wimar said.

However the President has not signed the decrees on their appointments.

According to Wimar, Marsillam and Mahfud will need several days to settle things at their current posts before taking up their new roles.

Wimar further disclosed that the President wanted to allow acting Attorney General Soeparman to complete his investigation of major corruption cases and other duties.

No date has been set for the swearing-in-ceremonies, however it is expected to take place within 10 days.

Wimar hinted that the transfer of duties would take place before the start of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) special session on Aug. 1.

It has been a case of musical chairs for Marsillam who is known as a former neighbor and long-time friend of the President.

Abdurrahman recruited Marsillam as Cabinet secretary in January 2000.

In June he replaced Lopa at the Ministry of Justice following Lopa's appointment as attorney general. Lopa died last week in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Abdurrahman and Marsillam have been friends since they were neighbors in Matraman, East Jakarta. In 1991, they established the Forum of Democracy along with other prodemocracy activists. The forum was one of the few organizations that dared to speak out against the Soeharto regime during the 1990s.

Born in Yogyakarta in 1943, Marsillam, a medical doctor by training, is no novice to politics or the law.

He took part in the massive student protests that led to the downfall of president Sukarno in 1966, and received his political tutelage mostly from former leaders of the Indonesian Socialist Party (PSI), which Sukarno banned in 1960.

He later studied law at the University of Indonesia. In his thesis, he said he found traits of neofacism in the 1945 Constitution. He also read Hegel at Berkeley University, California.

Meanwhile, leading human rights lawyer Todung Mulya Lubis has been "in hiding" in Australia these last few days to duck an offer from Abdurrahman to serve in the Cabinet, friends said.

Todung, a close friend of the President, had been mentioned as one of the chief candidates for the attorney general post.

Until Marsilam's appointment on Tuesday, his cellphone was disconnected or he was simply not taking any calls, according to a close friend.

Lopa's death has been particularly untimely for the President who is desperately trying to win over public support with high profile corruption cases.

Commenting on his new post, Marsillam said "it is not bad that the public have great expectations, not only of me but of anyone becoming attorney general."

"Yes it will be tough," he replied on his task ahead.

Separately, Mahfud said he was ready to accept the post, although he preferred to leave the Ministry of Defense after completing the new defense bill.

The new bill is very strategic as, if passed, it would abolish the role of the military in politics.

When asked about his new mission, Mahfud said he would prioritize the eradication of corruption, collusion and nepotism.

"My target is to clean up the conduct of judges...especially judges who are working in big cities," Mahfud remarked.

Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri has refused to comment on the latest changes.

"Ibu Megawati was not consulted...but it's the President's right to choose ministers," Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) deputy secretary general Agnita Singadikane Irsal told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

"She's concentrating on her daily duties in the government and is less bothered with the Cabinet changes than with how the Cabinet can help her in running her daily duties," Agnita remarked.(tso/dja/prb)