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No crooks or human rights abusers in new Cabinet: Activists
Human rights groups have called on president-elect Joko âJokowiâ Widodo to fill the new Cabinet only with figures whose track records are free from corruption or human rights violations
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uman rights groups have called on president-elect Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo to fill the new Cabinet only with figures whose track records are free from corruption or human rights violations.
'Jokowi must realize that his victory was due to the people's support, thus he must not betray the people's trust,' the program director of human rights watchdog Imparsial, Al Araf, said.
He demanded that Jokowi avoid filling Cabinet posts with human rights abusers, in particular ministerial posts relating to legal, defense or security issues.
'Some individuals around Jokowi have been implicated in human rights abuses. Jokowi must not chose anyone implicated in cases such as the Talangsari killings, the Tanjung Priok incident or the murder of human rights activist Munir,' he said in a telephone interview on Friday.
A member of Jokowi's campaign team, former National Intelligence Agency (BIN) chief Gen. (ret) Hendropriyono, faces accusations over his alleged involvement in Munir's murder and the Talangsari case.
Hendropriyono is among the candidates touted to enter Jokowi's new Cabinet. Indo Barometer pollster has named him as potential coordinating political, legal and security affairs minister, along with former Army chief of staff, Gen. (ret) Ryamizard Ryacudu.
Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) coordinator, Haris Azhar, concurred with Al Araf, saying that Jokowi, who will be sworn in as president on Oct. 20, must remain aloof from suspect businesspeople and politicians.
On Thursday, Jokowi, through his website jokowicenter.com, launched an online poll called the 'People's Choice for an Alternative Cabinet'. In the poll three different names are suggested for each ministerial post in a Cabinet of 34 ministers. Respondents can also propose other names aside from the three available choices.
Jokowi said that the poll result would be taken into account when he recruited his ministers.
For the coordinating political, legal and security affairs minister post, the poll has presented three candidates ' Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Gen. Moeldoko, former Army chief Gen. Budiman and former Jakarta governor and retired general Sutiyoso.
Al Araf proposed Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) secretary-general Tjahjo Kumolo or Moeldoko as the best candidates to fill the post, while Haris opted for Moeldoko.
'There is no problem with Moeldoko's track record. But, the Corruption Eradication Commission [KPK] need to explain about the meeting between Moeldoko and Rudi Rubiandini prior to Rudi's arrest,' Haris said, referring to the former Upstream Oil and Gas Regulatory Special Task Force (SKKMigas) chief, who has since been jailed for corruption.
Analyst from the Indonesian Institute for Defense and Strategic Studies (LESPERSSI), Rizal Dharma Putra, suggested that senior PDI-P lawmaker and retired general, TB Hasanuddin, was best suited to fill the post.
'TB Hasanuddin has experience in both military and political fields,' Rizal said.
For the defense ministry post, Al Araf and Haris suggested Rizal Sukma, a renowned analyst and executive director of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). 'Rizal is known for his commitment in reforming the defense sector,' Al Araf said.
Rizal Dharma Putra mentioned Andi Widjajanto, a defense expert at the University of Indonesia (UI) and a member of Jokowi's campaign team, as the best contender. 'Andi has excellent academic background, but it maybe not enough. We need a minister with practical ability,' he said.
