ICW REJECTS PERPPU ON KPK LEADERSHIP

Jakarta, Sept 22 (ANTARA) - The Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) rejected the issuance of a government regulation in lieu of law (Perppu) by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Tuesday for the naming of acting antigraft body (KPK) leaders.

"We definitely reject it," ICW researcher Febri Diansyah told ANTARA in a short text message.

Cabinet Secretary Sudi Silalahi said the government was preparing a presidential decree for the appointment of acting KPK leaders to fill the posts left vacant by three KPK officials who had been suspected of involvement in criminal cases, following the signing of the Perppu by the head of state on Tuesday.

Febri said the Perppu could damage KPK's independence because the KPK chairmen were not ministers or presidential assistants who could be appointed.

The head of state had no authority at all to interfere and directly name the chairmen of an independent institution, he said.

"We must remember that KPK is not under the executive or the legislative bodies. There must be selection," he said.

He said if a Perppu was indeed needed it should only be made to speed up the selection process "not to name persons."
Febri asked the president not to be trapped into new authoritarianism. "Selection must be held openly and public opinions must also be heard," he said.

The process must not be hijacked by absolutism, he said.

"Also what is important is the KPK associate chairmen left must be able to prove to the public that the KPK is not as weak as many quarters believe," he said.

He said although only two vice chairmen were left and they also only dealt with prevention efforts it did not mean that they had no authority to prosecute and investigate. "The law on KPK has regulated it clearly," he said.

Legislator Nursyahbani Katjasungkana meanwhile said that the decision to produce a Perppu was premature and against the principle of presumption of innocence.

She said "the two KPK officials can still work as usual as they have only been named suspects, unlike Antasari Azhar (KPK's chief) who has become a defendant."
She said the issuance of the Perppu could further damage the KPK politically and psychologically.

She however said if the Perppu would really be implemented she hoped those to be named would have good track records, were really credible and competent.

"I propose the appointment of women," she said.