NGOs call on DPR members to investigate Akbar Tandjung

NGOs call on DPR members to investigate Akbar Tandjung

Fitri Wulandari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Legal analysts on Monday cast doubt on the Attorney General's
investigation into Akbar Tandjung's alleged misuse of State
Logistics Agency (Bulog) funds, demanding a House of
Representatives Honorary Council to also be held to ensure
fairness and transparency.

Several non-governmental organizations (NGO) asserted in a
media briefing here that the findings of the Attorney General's
Office (AGO) so far merely absolved the alleged "lies" being
perpetrated by the House speaker.

"The investigation could be more objective and transparent if
it is conducted in the House," Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW)
coordinator Teten Masduki told journalists.

Teten based his assertions on the existing political rivalry
between members of the House, contending that various
perspectives would ensure a certain amount of objectivity.

"There will be an abundance of press coverage, and factions
would be pro or against the issue," he argued.

The AGO is investigating the alleged misuse of Rp 40 billion
from Bulog funds during the time of Akbar's tenure as state
secretary/Cabinet secretary.

Akbar has been summoned twice as a witness in the case and
legislators have also pushed for the creation of a special
committee to investigate the House speaker and Golkar Party
chairman.

Teten highlighted the psychological importance for the House
to clear-up its own affairs in this matter as it could help
restore the already-tarnished image of the legislature.

"If he is corrupt, how can he control corruption in the
government?" Teten remarked as he spoke on behalf of the NGOs
which included the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (WALHI),
the Independent Network for a Civil Society (JARI) and the
Institute for Transparency of Information (ISAI).

According to the NGO group, there was no basis for the AGO to
refrain from naming Akbar as a suspect, because they have
repeatedly acknowledged that he lied.

But even if the proposal for an Honorary Council is accepted,
there remains ambiguities.

The composition of the council and the mechanisms to enforce
the decisions taken are unclear. Additionally, the sanctions can
range anywhere from warnings to a dismissal if they were to
actually find him at fault.

Bambang Widjojanto of the Indonesian Legal Aid Institute
(LBHI) said Akbar's case can serve as a test case to see if
legislators can uphold justice among themselves.

"We shall see if it is (the Council) all not just rubbish,"
Bambang remarked while suggesting the whole Buloggate II affair
is really about systematic corruption during President B.J
Habibie's era.

Teten concurred: "Whether Akbar accepted the funds is not
entirely the point. We believe the irregularities started from a
limited cabinet meeting led by Habibie (in March 1999) which
assigned Akbar to take the funds for the social safety net
program," Teten said.

Teten further feared that the case may be exploited by
President Megawati Soekarnoputri to make political bargains,
particularly since any possibility of a House investigation
depends largely on her party -- the Indonesian Democratic Party
for Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), which has the most seats in the
House.

"We'll just have to wait and see if Ibu Mega asks her party to
establish a special committee or an honorary council," Teten
remarked.