REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The Coalition of Anti-Corruption Civil Societies urged President Joko Widodo here on Thursday to put a firm end to the criminalization of commissioners of the national anti-graft body, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).
The coalition includes the Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW), KPK Team of Lawyers, YLBHI, LBH Jakarta, PSHK, Gusdurian, Imparsial, LEIP, ILRC, Kontras, Arus Pelangi, Change.org, Elsam, HRWG, Pukat-UGM, Pusako-Unand, KRHN, Yappika, Mappi FH UI, ILR, and the Forum of Advocates for Constitution Escort (Faksi).
A member of the Working Body of the ICW, Emerson F. Juntho, accused President Joko Widodo of having ignored the police's act of defiance against his directives, referring to their continued naming of KPK commissioners as suspects.
The police recently declared KPK Chief Abraham Samad as a suspect in a document falsification case, Earlier, they had named KPK Deputy Chief Bambang Widjojanto as a suspect, as well.
The police also threatened to name KPK investigators as suspects for allegedly possessing arms illegally.
According to Juntho, the temporary discharge of KPK commissioners by the president indicated unequal treatment on his part. He explained that Jokowi had taken immediate action with regard to the common cases allegedly committed by KPK commissioners, while he had done nothing to deal with the corruption cases allegedly involving the police.
In view of this apparent discrepancy, he questioned the president's commitment towards eradicating corruption.
President Joko Widodo, Juntho added, should ask acting police chief Commissioner General Badrodin Haiti to take measures by dismissing police officials who played a role in crippling the KPK, especially the current chief of the National Police's Crime Investigation Department, Commissioner General Budi Waseso.
"We urge the acting police chief to showcase the police's integrity and affirm that the institution is free of vested interests," he remarked.
Furthermore, the coalition encouraged the anti-corruption agency to continue to investigate Budi Gunawan's case.
On Wednesday, President Joko Widodo cancelled the inauguration of Budi Gunawan as the police chief. At the same time, he also temporarily discharged Abraham Samad and Bambang Widjojanto from their positions.
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