PDI-P defends decision to delay inquiry on Akbar

PDI-P defends decision to delay inquiry on Akbar

Annastashya Emmanuelle and Fabiola Desi Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post,
Jakarta

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan)
has defended the delay in deciding whether or not to set up an
inquiry committee to probe the Bulog scandal allegedly involving
House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung.

PDI Perjuangan deputy chairman Roy B. Janis said it was the
only possible choice as it allowed for the possible formation of
the committee in the future, while at the same time keeping the
political coalition intact.

The party preferred to have a consensus as each political
party at the House had its own interests, Roy told The Jakarta
Post on Tuesday.

He strongly denied speculation of a split within the party,
saying that the party remained committed to going ahead with its
support for the establishment of the House committee to
investigate Akbar's alleged involvement in the high-profile
financial scandal.

Roy made the remarks in response to the House's failure to
establish the committee of inquiry, known by its Indonesian
acronym Pansus, by agreeing to delay debating the issue until the
next House session in May.

The decision, due to Golkar's lobbying, constituted another
blow for Indonesia's struggle in seeking justice in the case.

Akbar, who is also chairman of Golkar, is now in the custody
of the Attorney General's Office. His trial is scheduled to start
on March 25.

Golkar, the political machine of former dictator Soeharto
during his 32-year tenure, is trying to avoid the inquiry
committee to protect Akbar's political career and the very
existence of the party itself.

Roy said that judging from the vote counting during Monday's
House session, the plan would have been rejected as not enough
PDI Perjuangan legislators showed up to vote in favor of it. A
rejection of the plan implies that the efforts will completely
end.

"However, we should learn to see that the problem is no longer
in executive or legislative hands as the case has entered the
courts, which is an independent judicative body that cannot be
influenced by others."

Another legislator said that the consensus for the delay was
taken for the sake of maintaining President Megawati
Soekarnoputri's rainbow Cabinet, which is supported by
representatives of many parties, including Golkar, the second
largest faction in the House after PDI Perjuangan.

The legislator said that the final statement read out by House
deputy speaker Soetardjo Soerjogoeritno for the delay was drafted
by Ali Masykur Moesa, the chairman of the National Awakening
Party (PKB) faction, the strong supporter of 50 inter-faction
legislators who demanded the establishment of the committee.

"Under this strategy, we are actually hanging Golkar Party for
the next two months and it will be difficult for it to decide its
next political move as the House did not decide anything," the
legislator told the Post on the condition of anonymity.

However, a former member of the National Mandate Party (PAN),
Bara Hasibuan, said that the delay reflected a conspiracy to
cover an organized political crime.

PDI Perjuangan was the most disappointing for its
indecisiveness and failure to uphold the law in relation to
corruption eradication, Bara said.

"PDI Perjuangan is more afraid of losing Golkar's support than
the peoples," he said.