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)