PDI Perjuangan insists Rachman be replaced

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Just a day after President Megawati Soekarnoputri said no to calls to replace Attorney General M.A. Rachman, her Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) insisted on Tuesday that the country's chief prosecutor be dismissed.

Party leaders said that the decision to keep Rachman, who has been accused of concealing his wealth, should be considered a temporary one, pending investigations carried out by the Public Servants' Wealth Audit Commission (KPKPN).

"As far as we concerned the investigation into the Attorney General is not over yet. The decision should be changed once it is all completed," PDI Perjuangan deputy chairman Arifin Panigoro told a media conference called after the party's weekly meeting.

"The President is still awaiting the report from KPKPN on Rachman," Panigoro said.

Rachman has been accused of concealing his wealth, including a house worth Rp 1.8 billion (US$200,000) at Graha Cinere, Depok, two cars and a Rp 800 million time-deposit account.

Rachman had produced conflicting replies regarding his assets, prompting anticorruption campaigners and activists to call for his immediate removal.

Megawati said on Monday that she had no plan to replace Rachman, accusing those making corruption allegations against him as being politically motivated. She also stressed that replacing Rachman would not ensure better law enforcement in the country.

Megawati's statement came amid controversy over her possible ownership of a luxury villa in Sentul, West Java, and the reportedly proposed expansion of her official residence on Jl. Teuku Umar, Central Jakarta.

Arifin insisted that the decision to keep Rachman in his post should change once KPKPN investigations had been completed.

"It is just a matter of timing," Arifin said.

Deputy secretary-general Pramono Anung Wibowo, however, emphasized that the party would not interfere with the President's decision.

"It is the prerogative of the President to replace the attorney general and before there is a concrete result from the investigation we should not regard Rachman as guilty," Pramono said at the same media conference.