President delays AG appointment till next week

President delays AG appointment till next week

JAKARTA (JP): President Megawati Soekarnoputri has further
delayed the appointment of the attorney general.

No reason was given for delaying the selection of the last
remaining Cabinet post, but speculation was rife that it was a
result of a political tug-of-war, as the outcome could affect the
fate of several high profile corruption cases.

Newly installed State/Cabinet Secretary Bambang Kesowo only
smiled when pressed by journalists on Friday for reasons.

"The announcement will be next week," was his only
elaboration.

While 32 other members of the Cabinet were sworn in on Friday
the attorney general's post, which Megawati claimed a day earlier
would be announced after the swearing-in ceremony, remained
conspicuously unresolved.

Megawati completely avoided the issue during the swearing-in
ceremony at the State Palace.

Ousted president Abdurrahman Wahid's failure to deal with a
number of high-profile cases was a key determinant in the
public's perception toward his government's commitment to
eradicate corruption.

Megawati's lengthy cogitation on filling this post of Attorney
General could in the end prove crucial and provide a benchmark on
whether the "honeymoon period" of her government gets an extended
lease.

House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung, who is also
Golkar Party chairman, said after the ceremony that he hoped the
President would not delay too long.

"The attorney general is an important post so the appointment
should be conducted as soon as possible," he said.

The fact that Akbar is urging the President to hasten the
appointment of the attorney general is ironic given that many of
the cases investigated during Abdurrahman's administration
allegedly involved Golkar officials.

Senior Golkar official Ginandjar Kartasasmita was among those
who had legal proceedings brought against him but eventually
suspended, while Akbar himself was said to be among those to go
under scrutiny from the Attorney General's office.

The post was somewhat "problematic" for Abdurrahman, who
initially appointed Golkar member Marzuki Darusman as attorney
general in 1999.

Marzuki was replaced earlier this year with Baharuddin Lopa
who was said to have embarked on a major corruption investigation
before his untimely death.

Marsilam Simanjuntak took over the vacant position during the
last days of Abdurrahman's administration.

So far, Megawati's Cabinet has received a positive response as
she has carefully juggled the composition and placement of
officials to accommodate both professionals and political parties
alike.

Her next choice of attorney general could determine whether
her "honeymoon period" extends further.

A source at the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
Perjuangan) claimed the delay was caused by pressure from Golkar
Party.

"They're afraid of getting an attorney general who will
prosecute them for their past mistakes," a senior party
executive, who asked not to be named, told The Jakarta Post.

"It's difficult to accommodate Golkar's interests," the
official added: "Giving them three ministerial positions was not
enough, they want more assurances on the attorney general's
post."

Akbar, however, denied the allegations but admitted that he
had submitted a list of candidates.

"We once submitted names to the President, but without naming
posts. It's totally up to the President," Akbar insisted, while
stressing that the party and its members were unafraid of facing
possible litigation.

He stressed that what is most important for Golkar is that any
proceedings brought forward heed the established legal process.

He hinted that lawyers Adnan Buyung Nasution and Todung Mulya
Lubis, or Supreme Court Justice Artidjo Alkostar were suitable
candidates.

Two other names reportedly being considered are deputy
attorney general Soeparman and attorney general expert advisor
Achmad Ali.

Some have suggested that for Golkar it was crucial that if
they could not get someone sympathetic to them as Attorney
General, it should at least it should not be a person who is an
adversary of the once ruling party.(dja)