"The president should, in fact, order the Polri to stop criminalizing KPK leaders, employees and investigators," an activist the Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW), Ade Irawan, said.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The cancellation of Budi Gunawans inauguration as the chief of the National Police (Polri) compromises the steps taken to resolve the conflict between the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and the Polri, an activist said.

"The cancellation is relieving but not quite encouraging. It is relieving because President Joko Widodo finally withdrew Commissioner General Budi Gunawans candidacy, in accordance with the aspirations of the people," a coordinator of the Working Body of the Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW), Ade Irawan, stated here on Wednesday.

He added that it was relieving as the president was, at least, willing to pay heed to the publics desire of not wanting the police force to be led by a problematic figure.

All leaders of the KPK and a spokesman have been reported to the police for their alleged involvement in a number of cases, which are believed to have been trumped up. As many as 21 KPK investigators have also begun to receive threats of being criminalized for allegedly possessing firearms illegally.

Moreover, the presidents decision to appoint an acting KPK chief is being viewed as a form of tolerance of the criminalization efforts that two KPK leaders, Bambang Widjojanto and Abraham Samad, are experiencing.

"The president should, in fact, order the Polri to stop criminalizing KPK leaders, employees and investigators," Irawan emphasized.

Jokowi can set up an independent team that can be given the task of assessing objectively whether the criminalization of the KPK leaders is within limits of propriety. If the legal processes are not within acceptable limits, investigations should be stopped.

Former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had once used this approach of forming a team of eight members when the first episode of the cicak and buaya---meaning lizard and crocodile, which are terms used to refer to the KPK and the police---conflict surfaced, he pointed out.

The ICW coordinator further noted that there was no need for the police to name Bambang Widjojanto and Abraham Samad as suspects. The president would not have been required to appoint an acting KPK chief had he taken expeditious measures to stop the criminalization of the KPK leaders.

Without the firm steps Jokowi should have taken to stop these moves, certain individuals have taken the opportunity to run rampant and continue to probe into and criminalize KPK leaders and investigators.

So the ICW has urged the president to order the deputy police chief and the Criminal Investigation Department to stop criminalizing KPK leaders, investigators and employees.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2015