SPEAKING FREELY Indonesia's 'war' against the people
By Yasmi Adriansyah
Speaking Freely is an Asia Times Online feature that allows guest writers to have
their say.
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The recent threats from a number of lawmakers in the Indonesian House of
Representative (DPR) calling for the dismissal of the Corruption Eradication
Commission (KPK) are definitely outrageous. If these threats are progressing,
perhaps the country will see more political turmoil. It will be another more
heated confrontation between the DPR and the people.
Many Indonesians are aware how saddening the performance of the DPR has been in
recent years. From corruption sagas to
unclear purposes of foreign travels. From watching porno videos to poor
legislating performance. It is almost every day that Indonesians are exposed to
this supposed-to-be-dignified institution and its embarrassing images.
Currently, some lawmakers, and perhaps silently echoed by the majority of the
members of the DPR itself, have threatened to dismiss the KPK from Indonesia's
political and legal spheres. In a situation where the people have attached high
expectations to the KPK to eradicate rising corruption in the country, the
threats are really out of place.
To make it worse, these threats are voiced at the same time when the KPK is
carrying out investigation into the four heads of the budgeting body of the
DPR. Even people on the street can understand that there is an obvious motive
behind the threats, which is to protect fellow lawmakers, or at least exert a
deterrence on the KPK.
The reasoning that the KPK needs to be evaluated because it has become a "super
body" is baseless, if not to say ridiculous.
Therefore, in order not to prolong a baseless debate, let us challenge the
lawmakers, be they Fahri Hamzah of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), Bambang
Soesatyo of the Golkar Party and Marzuki Ali of the Demokrat Party to prove
their findings and rationale. And prior to embarking on formal meetings with
the KPK, please reveal them to the public and have a rigorous intellectual
debate.
There is no doubt that no political-legal bodies on earth are perfect, and the
same with the KPK. Due to limited organizational size and arguably human
resources capability, the KPK may still not function as expected.
Nevertheless, Indonesians must have known that it is the KPK that still
performs with its best in eradicating the deep-rooted corruption enigma in the
country. With all due respect to the other judicial authorities, the KPK still
holds this utmost expectation as the other authorities are often being part of
the problems than solutions.
Indonesians unquestionably cannot put all corruption problems under the sun on
the KPK's shoulder. Corruption in Indonesia is just that massive. From
trillions of rupiahs cases that involve high profile figures in the government
or DPR to the petty scales on the roads. From making passports to reproducing
ID Cards. It is thus almost impossible to expect the KPK to eradicate this
massive corruption within only few year shots.
On the other hand, what has been carried out by the KPK in eradicating
corruption has so far been successful. Most if not all investigated cases have
resulted in a guilty decision. These achievements show that the KPK is
professional and accurate in its investigating endeavors. At the same time,
these achievements can at least transform into deterring measures for other
corrupt people.
The pertinent question is, how about the performance of the DPR? It has a poor
record in the area of legislation, misbehaving or visiting foreign countries
without clear purposes.
As for corruption, there are a number of high-profile cases that have been
proven guilty. And the Budgeting Body of the DPR will most likely be another
new finding, particularly given the sort of "defense" from some lawmakers.
In conclusion, it is argued that the DPR should be reformed in a significant
manner. The body itself is dignified and deserves respect within the country's
political system. But the behavior of its lawmakers must be challenged with the
strongest possible criticism.
Otherwise, they will transform the body into a "super body" that fights for its
own interests rather than for the people, of whom their concerns must be
represented.
Dismissing the KPK would be like waging a "war" against the civilized
Indonesian people. And history shows that people always win against tyrannical
acts.
Yasmi Adriansyah is a PhD student at the School of Politics and
International Relations, the Australian National University (ANU).
(Copyright 2011 Yasmi Adriansyah.)
Speaking Freely is an Asia Times Online feature that allows guest writers to
have their say.Please click hereif you are interested in contributing. Articles
submitted for this section allow our readers to express their opinions and do
not necessarily meet the same editorial standards of Asia Times Online's
regular contributors.
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