Turning Tables: A Comeback or Political Suicide for President Jokowi

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/02/21/your-letters-a-comeback-or-political-suicide.html

My heart broke seeing TV footage of police officers kneeling on the floor in pray, or jeering in jubilation, in response to the South Jakarta District Court’s decision that let their general avoid a criminal investigation launched by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). If law enforcers took side in such vulgar display, what would be the fate of our law and justice system? The picture is grim and sickening.

Many legal experts have said that the legal standing of the pre-trial petition filed by National Police chief candidate to challenge the KPK’s move to name him a graft suspect was scandalous. No less a figure than former supreme court Justice Djoko Sarwono has branded the decision groundless and KPK should continue its investigation. Ridiculously, the presiding judge has issued the shocking verdict that sent potential corruptors and criminals alike merry go round.

My hope to have a corruption-free country faded away, replaced by despair and fury. Corrupt lawmakers, bureaucrats and law enforcers would reign. They would feast on the plights of commoners like us. They would play God with all the wealth accumulated from their appalling crimes. Justice can be bought. Justice is indeed blind, literally!

Those who long for a corruption-free Indonesia turn all their eyes to the President who had ignited the flame in the first place by nominating Commander General Budi Gunawan as the National Chief Police. Many have pinned lots of hope on President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo to put an end in the long-stalled standoff between the National Police and KPK. Yet, many have started to lose their faith over a series of decisions made by the President that were allegedly to please his political patrons. His every move is questioned and scrutinized. The more he dallies, the more frustrating people have become. His popularity is declining.

President Jokowi is holding on by a thin thin thread. While we are kicking the curb because silly politicians and law enforcers never heard our pleas. What would the President do about it? Like us, everybody has to respect the court’s decision, no matter how hilarious it was.

Poor President Jokowi. Not only, will he have to fight the grand coalition of both the Great Indonesia Coalition and the Red-and-White Coalition (who both have backstabbed him) but also the invisible figures with power in support of Gunawan's inauguration as the National Chief. The political repercussions coming from his having the courage to drop Budi’s nomination anyway is predicted to be severe. Some lawmakers have started to impeach him on the ground of violating the constitution as Jokowi himself nominated Budi and repeatedly promised to respect the due process of law when delaying Budi’s inauguration one month ago.

Along with millions of Indonesians, I waited in agony on the move taken by President Jokowi. We hope as the last bastion of justice on the crisis, he would have the heart to take bold action like he had promised earlier in his campaign. The right decision will again garner him the popular support of the people who began to doubt his independency from his patron and political allies.

And this afternoon, he made his comeback!

He dropped the unpopular general for the post of police chief and put forward deputy police chief Badrodin Haiti as his new nominee for the post. The new nominee however has also been suspected of irregular transactions, as noted in a Tempo magazine report on June 28, 2010. Apparently due the long corrupt culture, to find a candidate with clean and proven track record is almost impossible to do since it is commonly known that the institution is one of the most corrupt institution in the nation. Bribery and gratification are common practices in the force that they become the established norms. To eliminate such culture in the force needs a solid strong figure who can garner support from all elements in the nation.

Whoever takes the helm of the National Police force should make a serious commitment to eradicate such practices and bring back the integrity of the force. The loyalty of the corps should stay with the people and not the figure with power and wealth.

The president also suspended two leaders in the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and appointed three KPK interim leaders who have proven track record and their impartiality or neutrality; Taufiqurrahman Ruki, Indriyanto Seno Aji, and Johan Budi.

Although, the process is still facing an uphill battle, many applauded the decision. It was met with relief by those who were against Gen Budi’s nomination and its political implications. It is a sign that the President is listening, a measure of his political will in fighting graft and of his independence from vested interests. Many hope it will ease a bitter stand-off between the country’s main law enforcement agencies - the police and the KPK. The flame to eradicate corruption is lit once again.

Now, all eyes will turn to the Senayan, The House of Representatives. The new candidate has to undergo a vetting process by Parliament before he is appointed as the new police chief. What kind of maneuver will they stage? Will they side with people or defend their own vested interest like always?

The crisis is far from over. The battle against corruption is indeed a daunting challenging task that will slash anyone who tries to exterminate this plague.

President Jokowi has tasted how bitter and painful it was in trying to do so. It's like fighting your way amid the raging inferno. He made it out. Stepping out of his Patrons' shadow, bruised and battered, it's a new start. As long as he puts the people's interest over parties and groups, people will rally behind him. As long as he remains truthful, people will defend him.