PDI warns of rising public distrust of law enforcement

PDI warns of rising public distrust of law enforcement

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) warned
yesterday that the public was losing its faith in the legal
system because of poor law enforcement.

Buttu R. Hutapea, secretary-general of the government-
recognized faction of the party, said in a televised speech last
night that, although the 1993 Broad Guidelines of State Policy
emphasized legal development, national laws had yet to provide
the public sufficient protection.

"There have been many recent cases in which law enforcers
foiled people's quest for justice and failed to offer reasonable
arguments.

"This trend looks set to confirm the public's long-time
suspicion that collusion and the courtroom-mafia exist," Buttu
said.

Alleged collusion within the Supreme Court made the headlines
last year after Deputy Chief Justice for General Crimes Adi
Andojo Soetjipto blew the whistle on alleged bribes, amounting to
Rp 1.4 billion (US$600,000), given to several senior justices.

An investigation team led by then deputy chief justice for
military tribunal affairs, Sarwata, rejected Adi's accusation.
The team announced that there had been no wrongdoing, and that
the justices had committed a mere "procedural error".

The then chief justice Soerjono raised more eyebrows before he
retired last November when he granted an unprecedented review of
an appeal by the prosecution against a Supreme Court ruling which
acquitted union leader Muchtar Pakpahan.

A Medan court had previously sentenced Pakpahan to four years
imprisonment for instigating workers demonstrations.

Buttu said that Indonesia's poor record of law enforcement had
embarrassed the country at home and abroad.

The PDI suggested that the nation rejuvenate its commitment to
the rule of law which guarantees equality in the eyes of law.

Buttu said the rule of law would only materialize if there was
democracy.

"A rule of law without democracy" will create a state which is
rigid, he said. "On the other hand, democracy without the rule of
law will not give people legal protection when facing the
government's exercise of power."

The party suggested that laws must be improved to ensure legal
protection for the weak if the country was to have a democratic
rule of law.

"Many poor people have fallen prey to accelerating development
programs in the past. For instance, they could do nothing but
accept lower prices for their land affected by a development
project," Buttu said.

The PDI urged the government to step up its program to
"nationalize" laws which the country had inherited from the Dutch
colonial administration. Buttu said that only 16 laws, or four
percent of the Dutch legal legacy, had been nationalized.

Buttu said the government should involve the House of
Representatives in drawing up a priority list of bills to be made
into laws.

The party also renewed its call to empower the Supreme Court
to initiate judicial reviews of national laws.

Rally

Supporters attended the party's few rallies that went ahead in
Sulawesi and Kalimantan yesterday. Some rallies were canceled for
want of supporters.

From Palu, Central Sulawesi, Antara reported that PDI
organizers had canceled an indoor gathering. The organizers said
they instead held a briefing for party scrutineers to be deployed
at polling booths.

Party officials in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, made a
similar decision. They replaced a planned speech with a briefing
for scrutineers.

A PDI rally in Samarinda, East Kalimantan, was also canceled
with the local party officials complaining of bankruptcy.

"We have used up our money buying flags, banners and other
campaign kit," PDI Samarinda branch secretary Mardian Didi Marwan
said.

On Thursday, PDI chairman Soerjadi urged the press to give the
party fair election campaign coverage. "I hope the press, with
their code of ethics, give fair and equal coverage and do not
take the sides of any of the three parties," he said in Dili,
East Timor.

He was quoted by Antara as complaining of several cases of
"press manipulation" since the 27-day nationwide election
campaign kicked off on April 27.

Asked if he thought the press was unsympathetic to his
faction's cause, Soerjadi said: "I don't know." (amd/swe)