Parties urge Yusril's dismissal

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