Our law is at stake

Our law is at stake

Aceh Governor Abdullah Puteh and Confederation of Primary
Cooperatives Association (Inkud) chairman Nurdin Halid have
failed to respond to the summonses of the Corruption Eradication
Commission (KPK), which wants to question them in connection with
separate graft cases.

The KPK needs Puteh to explain the irregularities in the Aceh
province's budget, while Nurdin's explanation is needed in the
sugar smuggling case.

Puteh has ignored the KPK's summons and has not suffered as a
result. Challenging the law, he has filed a counter lawsuit
against the KPK, which he and his lawyer said has no legal right
to question him.

Meanwhile, Nurdin has been trying to buy time. Reports said he
had asked the police to reschedule his questioning session,
saying he was too busy commemorating the National Cooperatives
Day on July 12 with President Megawati Soekarnoputri. If this
flimsy excuse wasn't enough, it later surfaced Nurdin never
attended the celebrations. Police then said Nurdin was preparing
the national conference of the Indonesian Cooperatives Council.

These sorry facts show that the law in this country is only
applied to small people, such as pickpockets and street
criminals. No wonder people have lost their trust in the law,
which has gradually lost its power and authority.

When we voted in the reform movement to uphold democracy, we
expected that everybody would respect the law. Now what we need
is the government's political will. The political rulers must
respect and enforce the supremacy of law.

Therefore, there is no reason for President Megawati
Soekarnoputri to turn down the KPK's order to dismiss Governor
Abdullah Puteh. If Puteh is found not guilty, he will regain his
gubernatorial post.

Fair legal proceedings are the best way for Puteh and Nurdin
to prove themselves innocent.

-- Kompas, Jakarta