SBY endorses replacement of KPU members

SBY endorses replacement of KPU members

Wahyoe Boediwardhana and Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar/Jakarta

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has given the green light for
a formal investigation into Minister of Justice and Human Rights
Hamid Awaluddin, and also for the possible replacement of all
General Elections Commission (KPU) members, in connection with
allegations of corruption that have plagued the poll body.

Susilo said Hamid Awaluddin was a KPU member when the alleged
scams took place, although no summons has yet been issued by the
Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) for the minister.

"In regard to Hamid Awaluddin... it is my prerogative to
dismiss him from the Cabinet if he is proven guilty. I will allow
the KPK to investigate him and I will suspend him as a minister
once the KPK asks me to do so," Susilo said.

Susilo presided over an unscheduled, limited Cabinet meeting
on Sunday in Denpasar, on the sidelines of the first national
congress of the Democrat Party that he helped found. Susilo is
the party's chief patron.

Attending the meeting were Cabinet Secretary Sudi Silalahi,
State Secretary Yusril Ihza Mahendra, Coordinating Minister for
Political, Legal and Security Affairs Widodo Adi Sucipto,
Minister of Home Affairs Moh. Ma'ruf and Attorney General Abdul
Rahman Saleh,

Hamid, whose appointment to the Cabinet was reportedly
proposed by Vice President Jusuf Kalla, has said that as a KPU
member he received payment outside of his salary for his
participation in the poll body's working groups.

A suspect in the case, KPU treasurer Hamdani Amin, said each
of five KPU members received US$105,000, while the KPU chairman
got $145,000 and deputy chairman $125,000 in kickbacks that were
collected from companies that won tenders to provide election
materials.

KPK has also named KPU chief Nazaruddin Syamsuddin, member
Mulyana W. Kusumah and acting secretary-general Sussongko
Suhardjo as suspects and has detained them over the case.

Legal proceedings against Hamid in the near future may affect
the fourth and decisive informal talks in Helsinki between the
Indonesian government and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) that aim
to end decades of conflict in the province, and which are slated
to start on May 26. Hamid is the government's chief negotiator.

Susilo, who has declared the issue of corruption to be his
administration's top priority, said he would consult with the
House of Representatives, the Supreme Court and the KPK to
respond to demands for a major shake-up in the poll body.

House speaker Agung Laksono suggested on Saturday that the
President issue a government regulation in lieu of law to replace
KPU members, citing its key role in the upcoming direct regional
elections.

The same request would also be made by the KPK, its deputy
chairman Erry Riyana Hardjapamekas said.

Terms of current KPU members will not expire until next March,
but Susilo has agreed that a reshuffle would be necessary if the
investigation into the case affected the poll body's performance.

If deemed urgent, the consultation should take place on Monday
as Susilo is due to begin a two-week overseas visit on Tuesday
morning.

As the head of state, the President selects KPU member
candidates who are then scrutinized by the House. The KPU falls
under the authority of the President.

Susilo said he was also pondering a suggestion from the KPK
that Nazaruddin be suspended to facilitate the investigation.

However, chairman of the House's Commission II on domestic and
political affairs Ferry Mursyidan Baldan suggested that the
President apply Law No. 12/2003 on general elections, which
stipulates that KPU members who are charged with crimes be stood
down until a legally binding verdict from the Supreme Court is
handed down.