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(The Jakarta Globe) Observers Slam Appointment of Politician HM. Prasetyo as Attorney General

12/12/2018



Despite criticism from analysts and activists, President Joko Widodo on Thursday inaugurated a politician as the country’s new attorney general.

The decision to install the National Democrat (NasDem) party’s H.M. Prasetyo was immediately met with harsh criticism.

Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) chairman Abraham Samad said that Joko had committed a political blunder.

“The appointment is very inappropriate because someone with a political background will have a conflict of interest,” Abraham said. “While the Attorney General’s Office is a law enforcement institution that really needs an independent figure with high integrity.”

Prasetyo, a former deputy attorney general for general crimes, replaces Basrief Arief, who has retired.

‘Dirty sweeper’

Hendardi, executive director of the Setara Institute, which is working for democracy and peace, called Prasetyo’s appointment a regrettable decision, and one that indicated that Joko was being held hostage by party politics.

“This is also an early indication that the corruption eradication efforts and the human rights court [plan] will be going nowhere,” Hendardi said.

Hendadri also said it would be very difficult for Prasetyo to reform the bureaucracy within the AGO, considering that he was once part of the institution.

“It is impossible to clean a dirty floor with a dirty sweeper, the AGO itself is already a part of the problem,” Hendardi said.

‘Economy first’

Independent state administrative law expert Refly Harun said Prasetyo’s appointment showed that Joko was more concerned about economic growth than about human rights and corruption eradication.

“There is the impression that the president is very concerned about all things related to the economy, maybe because of his background as a businessman, but I see that his concern for legal issues is not equally high,” Refly said. “Appointing a political party figure in a legal institution will weaken law enforcement efforts.”

Prasetyo however said that his background as a politician had no negative impact on his personal integrity.

“My integrity and independence is guaranteed,” Prasetyo said before the inauguration. “I guarantee you that.”