Questioning legislators

Questioning legislators

There is actually nothing strange in the possibility that several members of the People's Consultative Assembly and House of Representatives will face questioning. In the eyes of the law, all people, without regard to who the person is, are equal before the law.

On the other hand, the government should not question those without sufficient legal evidence. The point is that once legislators are made suspects without sufficient evidence, the case will cease to be legal and will become political. If that happens, people will likely link their investigation with the House's recent decision to use its right of interpellation (to question the President), or with other critical statements recently made.

Clearly, the authorities cannot act arbitrarily. The interrogation or arrest of any person must be done in the context of upholding the law. Therefore, the proper legal arguments must be made. Any missed blows could invite counter-blows that are even more painful than the initial.

-- Media Indonesia, Jakarta