Tama fails to remind SBY to find his assailants

Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) activist Tama Satrya Langkun failed to directly talk with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono about the President's promise to arrest and punish his attackers when he had an opportunity to do so during a meeting at the State Palace on Wednesday.

“I did not have a chance to talk because we gave more space to activists from the regions, who also attended the meeting, to present their aspirations,” Tama told The Jakarta Post after the meeting.

Tama was assaulted by a group of armed men on July 8, 2010. The assault was believed to be linked to his insistence that questionably large bank accounts belonging to several senior police officers be investigated.

President Yudhoyono, while visiting the injured Tama in hospital, vowed that law enforcers would find and punish the perpetrators.

It has been almost two years since the incident but the police have not arrested anyone yet.

Prior to the meeting, ICW coordinator Danang Widoyoko said Tama plan to use the meeting to remind the President of his promise to resolve the case.

Although the assault failed to be discussed, the activists did remind the President about the suspicious bank accounts, according to Danang.

The meeting involved dozens of anticorruption activists from numerous NGOs across the country and was held at the President's invitation.

Among the activists attending Wednesday’s meeting were representatives of the Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW), Transparency International Indonesia (TII) and the National Secretariat of the Indonesian Forum for Budget Transparency (Seknas FITRA).

Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) chairman Abraham Samad, Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (PPATK) chief Muhammad Yusuf, National Police chief Gen. Timur Pradopo and Attorney General Basrief Arief also attended the meeting.

During the meeting, the activists presented their suggestions to the President to improve the government's anticorruption efforts. (nvn)