Mega must lead anticorruption drive: Critics
Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
President Megawati Soekarnoputri must declare a nation-wide war on corruption if she wants to eradicate rampant corruption in the country.
Albert Hasibuan of the Movement of People Concerned About State Finances (Gempita) said on Thursday this approach was needed to take over ineffective efforts by law enforcers in combating corruption.
"Megawati should be ashamed that her country still ranks among the world's most corrupt nations. She must publicly declare war against corruption, and lead the movement to combat it," Albert told The Jakarta Post.
He was asked to comment on the annual report by Transparency International published on Wednesday which ranked Indonesia among the most corrupt nations together with Bangladesh, Nigeria, Paraguay, Angola, Kenya, Azerbaijan, and Uganda.
Albert said Megawati should start by curbing corrupt practices among her family members and relatives.
"She must also ask the Attorney General's Office, the police, and other important institutions to regularly report to her the progress of anticorruption measures," he said.
Separately, Teten Masduki of Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW) said Megawati should have a strong political commitment to combat corruption, otherwise it would remain endemic.
According to him, Megawati should first replace Attorney General M. A. Rahman for his failure to bring various corruption cases to court.
Megawati, who took over the national leadership in July 2001 after members of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) dismissed then president Abdurrahman Wahid for incompetence, has been accused of dragging her feet in prosecuting big-time corrupters of the New Order regime.
House Speaker Akbar Tandjung, who is also Golkar chairman, is the highest public official prosecuted for corruption, but many believe his trial was the result of strong public pressure, rather than Megawati's determination to wipe out corruption.
Teten said Megawati and Chief Justice Bagir Manan had to work hand-in-hand in eliminating court mafias.
"We are fed up with law enforcement here. We have tried to propose many cases against corruption for three years but to no avail as corruption in the law enforcement institutions is also rampant," Teten said.
According to Albert, the present anticorruption measures through institutions like the Attorney General's Office, the police, and the courts, did not work as their officials were also corrupt.
Many believe corruption has become endemic.
Although opposition to corruption triggered the fall of former president Soeharto in 1998 and its eradication has become the main reform agenda, corrupt practices are still rampant in the country.
An anticorruption law -- Law No. 31/1999 on the eradication of corruption -- was endorsed three years ago, but has seemingly been ineffective in curbing corruption.