Citing grave concerns for the country’s future, a group of 29 public figures sent an open letter to the President, calling on him to wield his executive powers to protect the state from corruption.
The signatories to the letter work in various fields and include lecturers, politicians, lawyers, researchers and social activists.
The letter, which was sent to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Saturday, was in response to recent developments in a graft case that has implicated top executives at the Democratic Party, in which former party treasurer Muhammad Nazaruddin is now a suspect.
The following is a translation of the letter:
To the President of the Republic of Indonesia, we give our courageous support to conduct active and concrete actions, using the highest authority as head of state and head of government, as well as the mandate given by the Indonesian people, to protect the state and the people from:
- a counterattack by corruptors
- policies that do not address people’s basic needs
- structural impoverishment as certain groups control economic resources
- legal uncertainty and unfair law enforcement
- government policies made based on short-term political interests
Jakarta, 66 years after Indonesia’s independence,
The people of Indonesia [sic]
Anies Baswedan, Anita Wahid, Bambang Widodo Umar, Betti S. Alisjahbana , Burhan Muhtadi, Danang Widoyoko, Eep Saefulloh Fattah, Eddy Swandi Hamid, Endriartono Sutarto, Erry R. Hardjapamekas, Faisal Basri, Hamid Chalid, Ikrar Nusa Bakthi, Imam Prasodjo, Komaruddin Hidayat, M. Ichsan Loulembah, Mas Achmad Santosa, Monica Tanuhandaru, Natalia Soebagjo, Ratih Sanggarwati, Rhenald Kasali, Saldi Isra, Teten Masduki, Atika Makarim, Todung Mulya Lubis, Yenni Wahid, Yunarto Wijaya, Zainal Arifin Mochtar, Zumrotin K. Susilo.
