Parties urge Yusril's dismissal

JAKARTA: The leaders of 12 political parties that failed to pass the preliminary screening for next's year general election asked legislators on Thursday to support their efforts to secure the dismissal of Minister of Justice and Human Right Yusril Ihza Mahendra.

The leaders said Yusril was responsible for their parties' failure to pass the screening because he was in charge of the verification team assigned to audit the parties.

Ida Lubis, the president of the National Justice Party of Struggle (PPKN), claimed the ministry's verification team asked for bribes from some parties.

"They would ask party officials to meet them at a hotel for bribes," Ida told House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Soetardjo Soerjogoeritno.

The chairman of the Progressive Indonesian National Party (PNI), Bagus Syani Kasbie, warned that angry crowds would resist the results of the verification.

The Ministry of Justice and Human Rights has verified 168 parties, but only 50 have qualified for the second round of screening by the General Elections Commission.

Soetardjo said he would ask House Commission II for home and legal affairs to summon the justice minister for clarification. -- JP