Rats and corruption suspects

Want to know about the fate of rats, the small rodents that spread leptospirosis? They are currently being hunted down and having boiling water poured on them. Their throats are slit and a syringe is inserted into their hearts. Then their blood is drawn out to prove whether or not they carry the leptospira bacteria.

Corruptors are frequently likened to rats. Rats are persistent creatures and corruptors are also said to share this characteristic. The difference is that rats, now known to spread leptospirosis, fare worse than corruptors. In fact, both leptospira bacteria and corruption are lethal. The former kills people while the latter is killing the state.

Because rats are believed to spread leptospira, they must be killed. While corruption suspects can enjoy legal mechanisms: starting from investigations, inquiries, prosecutions up to court rulings. If they are found guilty, they can appeal to a higher court, file an appeal or request a judicial review. Should they fail in all these attempts and be convicted, they can request a presidential pardon. Who knows, they might even be forgiven.

That is more or less the fate of suspects in the Buloggate II case, involving Akbar Tandjung, the House Speaker and also the general chairman of the Golkar party.

In fact, rats cannot be held legally responsible for the outbreak of leptospirosis as it is Mother Nature that has decided they must spread leptospira. And rats will be killed by men as a result.

Now, what about Akbar? Will he morally and ethically be responsible for the Buloggate II case? Akbar doesn't have to be in the same boat as rats.

-- Republika, Jakarta