Your comments on the prospect of corruption eradication efforts, following the dropping of an alleged false power-abuse case against two deputy leaders of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), Bibit Samad Rianto and Chandra M. Hamzah.
We do not know the future prospects of fighting graft. But this is a good start. We had better do something than do nothing at all. And be optimistic.
E Nurdin
Jakarta
Following the acquittal of the two Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) suspended deputies, Bibit Samad Rianto and Chandra Hamzah from any charges, the prospects of graft fighting are likely to be recharged. Despite the "lesser" case (the PT Masaro Radiokom) that had made them suspects and blown into an "open war" between the National Police and the Attorney General's Office (AGO) on the one hand, and the KPK plus the public on the other.
The much "bigger" and more high-profile case (Bank Century) now waits, with the KPK planning to hold a "case expose" which will lead to a full-blown probe. Aside from that, other huge tasks are in its sights, as the interim KPK chief Tumpak Hatorangan Panggabean warned of the possibility of Rp 62 trillion (US$6.3 billion) in state losses for the 2010 state budget as a result of procurement markups and bribery.
The graft fighting will, indeed, get its fuel and ammunition if the other law enforcement agencies such as the police, AGO and judiciaries are in synergy. However, these three agencies have been tainted with graft practices for too long, making legal reform in their respective agencies stagnant.
The 2004 presidential instruction on the speeding up of corruption eradication issued by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) on Dec. 9, 2004, which marked the launching of the United Nations Campaign against Corruption, was effective for a few years only.
Those law enforcements agencies, as instructed under the above presidential instruction, were involved in cooperation with the KPK for a few years only, and after that they went their own ways.
Even last year, the present National Police chief, Gen. Bambang Hendarso Danuri, abruptly recalled police investigators assigned to the KPK for unclear reasons.
In the meantime, the Judicial Commission, which is tasked, under Article 24B of the Constitution, to oversee the Indonesian judiciary, with recommendations to improve the country's judges' performance, has never been fully followed up by the Supreme Court, even by the present Chief Justice Harifin Tumpa.
From the above two examples, it is clear that in order for SBY to see his instructions heeded by his law enforcers, there is a need for him to renew his instructions with a little stronger and stricter stipulations than the present one. The House of Representatives should then amend the law on the Supreme Court or Judicial Commission to improve the performance of the country's justices and judges.
M Rusdi
Jakarta
I regret the future prospect for graft fighting in Indonesia is grim. The KPK leaders are in a war against corruption and the enemy fights dirty. Success will depend on the characters of the KPK leaders. If they are totally unafraid and honest they will win. The recent skirmish is just a taster for things to come.
They will be faced with the "carrot" (bribes) and the "stick" (threats) and they will have to be supermen to overcome both the temptation and the fear. All KPK staff in the front line should be given meaningful protection as they have a long and dirty battle ahead.
Otherwise the battle will surely be lost - and that will be the fault of the government. Indonesia will remain forever at the top of the world's graft league.
Les Lloyd
Ilford, Essex, UK
