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KPK 'special' questioning of Mulyani, Boediono sparks protests

Source
Jakarta Globe - April 29, 2010

Fifty people from the Anti-Corruption Youth Action Committee, or Kapak, held a rally in front of the Finance Ministry on Jalan Wahidin, Central Jakarta on Thursday.

According to Metro TV, demonstrators wore black-and-white striped shirts resembling prison uniforms with the words "Century Scandal" printed on them. The rally was held peacefully and there were no traffic delays.

The Corruption Eradication Commission, or KPK, had reportedly just finished questioning finance minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati at the ministry in connection with the ongoing investigation of the Rp 6.7 trillion ($744 million) PT Bank Century bailout.

Meanwhile, about 60 people from the People's Solidarity for Anti-Corruption staged a demonstration in front of the Vice Presidential Palace at Jalan Medan Merdeka Selatan, Central Jakarta. They demanded that Boediono be questioned at the KPK office instead of the palace. "Don't smear the Vice Presidential Palace by questioning Boediono [there]," a demonstrator shouted.

Yopie Hidayat, spokesman for the vice president, said that the KPK would question Boediono at the State Palace instead of the Vice Presidential Palace.

"Communication between Vice President Boediono and the KPK is ongoing. It is normal for the questioning to take place here [at the State Palace]," Yopie said.

However, Bibit Samad Riyanto, deputy chairman of the KPK, told the Jakarta Globe that as far as they were concerned, the original plan was still to question Boediono at the Vice Presidential Palace.

"I don't know if there is any change of plans," Bibit said. Boediono himself has not been seen at his office, but was reportedly summoned by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to the State Palace this morning.

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