Real actions needed to thwart corruption: Experts
JAKARTA (JP): Corruption cases in Indonesia have increased because no real action has been taken to handle them, a criminal law expert said Monday.
"During the reform era, corruption problems tend to escalate instead of lowering," J.E. Sahetapi said in a discussion at the launching of the Indonesian Judicial Watch (JWI) at Hotel Mulia.
The new body, chaired by human rights lawyer Todung Mulya Lubis, is supported not only by a number of prominent law experts, but also by some journalists specializing in legal affairs.
Sahetapi, who is chairman of the Indonesian Law Commission (KHN), cast doubt over the authorities' determination to combat corruption as he has seen no real action to fight the crimes.
He called upon the public to take an active part by monitoring the actions of Attorney General Marzuki Darusman and National Police chief Surojo Bimantoro.
Another speaker, newly appointed justice Artidjo Alkostar, also expressed his concern over law enforcement problems.
He stated that the problems couldn't be settled because most law enforcement officers still had poor moral integrity.
"That is what makes it easy for outsiders to interfere with judicial rulings," he said.
He added that weak internal controls of judges' behavior is also a serious problem. "As a result, judges' uncontrolled behavior has become a social burden," he said.
At their installation, judges always state their oath, but during their term, what they do is often the reverse of what they have earlier stated in their oath, he added.
He suggested that the improvement should begin with the justices at the Supreme Court, and then be followed by high court judges and district court judges. He was certain that if the judges are clean, other law enforcement officials such as prosecutors, police, and lawyers would be discouraged from interfering with the judiciary.
In the meantime, Lubis said the corrupted judiciary is one of the most complex problems facing the country, which has prompted the establishment of JWI.
"JWI is an independent and nonpartisan institute which is aimed at thoroughly watching the performance of the Indonesian judicial system, including the State Official Wealth Audit Commission (KPKPN), Joint Team of Corruption Eradication (TGPK), National Ombudsman Commission and Capital Market Supervisory Agency (Bapepam)," Todung said.
Todung announced that within a short time JWI would also open offices in several provincial cities such as Surabaya, Bandung and Yogyakarta.
He said, JWI vowed to reform Indonesian laws, regulations and the judicial system and perform systematic and intensive evaluations of cases that attract public attention such as corruption, abuse of authority and crimes against humanity.
"JWI will also monitor credibility and integrity of law enforcers in executing their duties and will expose to the public those who are corrupt," he said.
JWI would put the priority on cases related to the public interests and those with importance and impact such as former President Soeharto's case, Bank Bali scandal, Bulog (National Logistic Agency) scandal and cases handled at the commercial courts. (01)