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Government slammed over commission selection delay
The government should take responsibility for its “negligence” in allowing the selection of Judicial Commission members to drag on, which could potentially “paralyze” the watchdog body, activists said Sunday
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he government should take responsibility for its “negligence” in allowing the selection of Judicial Commission members to drag on, which could potentially “paralyze” the watchdog body, activists said Sunday.
Due to the delay, the Judicial Commission could be left in a vacuum when the current commissioners end their term in early August.
The selection committee was formed two months later than the reasonable working deadline.
“The commission is in jeopardy because of the government’s negligence. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono as the leader must take responsibility,” Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) legal researcher Donal Fariz said.
ICW is one of 10 NGOs that have set up a Judiciary Watchdog Coalition. Other groups include the Indonesia Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI), Transparency International Indonesia (TII), the National Consortium for Legal Reform (KRHN) and the Indonesia Legal Roundtable.
Donal said the government should have formed the selection committee by February at the latest.
According to the 2004 Judicial Commission Law, the overall selection process usually takes six months while the current commissioners will end their tenure on Aug. 2.
“However, the government established the committee on April 23 only after the Judiciary Watchdog Coalition “reminded” the President.
“It’s strange because the establishment of the committee was in the government’s agenda because it’s a mandate of the judicial commission law and the Constitution,” Dwi Poto of TII said, adding that the coalition urged the House to ask the President for clarification.
Another ICW researcher, Febri- diansyah, also blamed the delayed budget disbursement for the committee on the government, saying it was evidence that the government was ignoring the commission.
Committee chief Harkristuti Harkrisnowo said the selection committee had little time left for the selection process. “We will do whatever it takes to finish the process as soon as possible,” she said, adding that the candidates would be proposed to the House of Representatives by August.
Activists accuse the government of failing to pay serious attention to the commission but instead giving greater interest to the recently formed Judicial Mafia Taskforce.
The Judicial Commission, formed with the Constitution as its legal basis and the judicial commission law, has more authority and legal powers while the Judicial Mafia Taskforce was formed “only” under a presidential decree, the activists argued.
“Considering that many judges are corrupt, the Judicial Commission should be the government’s top priority as the external judiciary supervision institution,” Febri said.
He cited the example of Muhtadi Asnun, the judge who acquitted tax official Gayus Tambunan of money laundering and embezzlement charges.
Asnun, now under police arrest, testified before the Judicial Commission that he received Rp 50 million in bribes from Gayus prior to the verdict.
As of June 23, 120 people have submitted their application to the selection committee.
Registration closes on July 18.
