The atmosphere of heightened tension between the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and the National Police in Jakarta has also affected Bali. On Monday, several rallies were held in support of the KPK. In the morning, dozens of activists and students calling themselves Rakyat Bali Pendukung KPK (Bali People Support the KPK) held a rally in front of the Bali Police headquarters on Jl. WR Supratman, Denpasar. They held up banners stating “Selamatkan KPK = Selamatkan Reformasi” (Save KPK = Save Reformation). Some others held up smaller banners on which were written stronger messages, such as “Save the police, bring corrupt generals to trial”.
The participants hailed from various local NGOs, including Manikaya Kauci, Taman 65 Bali, Mitra Kasih, Bali Corruption Watch (BCW), LBH Bali, BEM Undiknas, KNPI and BEM IHDN. They were all dressed in black, a symbol of grief. The protesters also demanded that SBY fire National Police chief Gen. Timur Pradopo. “The president should take over the leadership, as head of state and head of the government, before the situation becomes worse,” Gunadjar, the group coordinator, said. Gunadjar continued stating the rally was held to express support for the KPK. “The KPK has to be strengthened, otherwise it will not be able to do its job.”
“To all the people, let’s stand together to support the KPK and fight against corruption,” Gunadjar, who is also a Manikaya Kauci activist, said. The activists then took their rally to the Bali Legislative Council building in Renon, Denpasar, where they conveyed the same demands. Along with the activists, some prominent figures also conveyed their support of the KPK to the Bali Legislative Council. Among these was a group calling themselves Balinese People Reject the Weakening of the KPK, consisting of Hindu high priest Ida Pedanda Ketut Sebali Tianyar Arimbawa, chairman of BCW Putu Wirata Dwikora, Bali Tourism Communities Alliance chairman Gusti Kade Sutawa, and others.
In front of the Bali Legislative Council, the prominent figures strongly refuted any attempt to criminalize the KPK investigators. “We are really concerned about the heightened tension between the Corruption Eradication Commission [KPK] and the National Police. The President should resolve this problem,” Ida Pedanda Ketut Sebali Tianyar Arimbawa said. He added that Indonesian people should appreciate the efforts taken by SBY in leading the country. “But we really hope that he will not forget how to lead himself,” Ida Pedanda Ketut Sebali Tianyar Arimbawa added. The prominent figures also conveyed their rejection of attempts to revise the KPK law, which many believe is a move to weaken the country’s antigraft body, particularly its wiretapping privileges.
The group also urged the House of Representatives in Jakarta to firmly reject the revision. “To all the people of Indonesia, we urge you not to vote for politicians that support the revision of the KPK law in the next general election,” Putu Wirata Dwikora, the group’s spokesperson, said. In the afternoon, dozens of students from Udayana University held a rally in Puputan Badung, near the Catur Muka statue. “The KPK needs support and we will give our full support to it, so it will not be afraid to continue its work,” the students’ representative Elbinsar Purba said. The showdown between the KPK and the police began when the antigraft body raided the National Police Traffic Corps office in July as part of its investigation into the alleged graft surrounding the procurement of driving simulators.
Ever since, the National Police have made numerous moves, which many consider to be “counterattacks”, such as launching “conditioned probes” into similar graft under investigation by the KPK. The police also withdrew dozens of officers that had been assigned to the KPK as investigators. The latest move took place on Friday, when officers from Bengkulu and Jakarta Police raided the KPK headquarters in an attempt to arrest investigator Comr. Novel Baswedan. The police have accused Novel of being responsible for the shooting of six robbery suspects in 2004 when he served as Bengkulu Police chief detective. Police failed to detain Novel as hundreds of civilians, activists and other prominent figures flocked to the KPK headquarters and defended him.
Novel, who is leading the KPK investigation team on the driving simulator case, is one of five KPK investigators who have rejected the National Police’s order to leave the antigraft body and return to the police, their original institution.
source : bali daily
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