Upholding the rule of law

In Indonesia we follow and honor the legal principles of equality before the law and the presumption of innocence. As those are accepted principles, we should honor them, irrespective of who is the target.

The first democratically elected President was a member of the National Awakening Party (PKB). I was surprised to read an article published in The Jakarta Post on March 9, 2002 calling for the removal of Akbar Tandjung from his position as speaker of the House of Representatives (DPR).

The PKB's call for the immediate replacement of Akbar Tandjung as the House speaker is rather strange, considering that the PKB's leaders are politically experienced.

According to PKB member Effendi Choirie, one of the reasons for Akbar's removal from his post seems to be the fact that the DPR, as one of the highest institutions in the country, needs to clean up its increasingly tarnished image. On top of that, Akbar is accused of a crime. If the DPR's reputation was intact then there would be no need for the PKB to propose Akbar's resignation. But this proposal has fallen on deaf ears.

There are other things that can be done to improve the tarnished image of the DPR, without violating the law. For instance, the conspicuously poor turnout of members. The daily newspaper Merdeka printed a picture of the DPR recently in session showing rows of empty seats and members sleeping, yawning or eating snacks. Why did Choirie not mention this?

Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Jusuf Kalla, also a member of the Golkar party, has set a good example by saying that the detention of Akbar is a good start to upholding the law. Demonstrations to support Akbar Tandjung are a waste of energy. Akbar Tandjung is being detained as an individual and certainly not as the chairman of Golkar party.

SOEGIH ARTO

Jakarta