YOGYAKARTA – Hundreds of academicians from Yogyakarta have urged President Joko Widodo to stick to the commitment in corruption eradication as mandated by the Constitution and the Reform spirit. There have been legal politisation attempts that resulted in the weakening credibility of the state institutions that may lead to public distrust in government and legal authorities. Recently, an anti-corruption Commissioner, Bambang Widjojanto, has been arrested and made suspect by the Police.
“The President should not hesitate in taking a firm stance and make the right decision in upholding the law and justice,” said Rector of UGM, Prof. Ir. Dwikorita Karnawati, M.Sc., Ph.D., delivering the stance of Yogyakarta academicians in response to the case that is trying to weaken corruption eradication on Sunday (25/1) at UGM’s Balairung Hall. Supporters of the declaration include UGM’s leadership and professors, UGM’s Centre for Anti-Corruption Studies, Society Movement for Indonesia’s Transparency (Gemati), as well as representatives from other universities, such as UNY, UIN, UII, UMY, UKDW, UMY, UKDW, Universitas Janabadra, and STPN.
Dwikorita added related to the legal matters that happen to the Anti-Corruption Commission (KPK) and the National Police, she called on both parties to uphold the law and comply with the principles to realise justice as well as to return to the role of the state institutions based on ethics and the Constitution.
Immunity for Anti-Corruption Workers
Previously, several Yogyakarta academicians and anti-corruption activists have agreed to protect the Commission as an institution that gains the public trust for its anti-corruption measures. They agreed the immunity right for anti-corruption Commissioners to protect them from criminalisation attempts.
Director of UGM Centre for Anti-Corruptions Studies, Dr. Zainal Arifin Mochtar, said weakening attempts of corruption eradication occur in all countries and rivalry and conflicts often take place between their legal authorities. “Almost all over the world, criminalisation is done on corruption eradication, hence, work protection system is needed in tackling corruption,” he said.
UGM’s Professor in Politics and Government Studies, Prof. Dr. Purwo Santoso, said the fights against corruption eradication would continue. He called on Presidents Joko Widodo not to lose the spirit in corruption eradication,
Chair of Gemati UGM, Dr. Rimawan Pradipto, called on the President to establish an independent team to resolve the case happening to the anti-corruption Commissioner.