Slamet Susanto and Apriadi Gunawan, Yogyakarta/Medan – Representatives of Yogyakarta Muhammadiyah, the Indonesian Governmental Science Lecturers Association and the Jusuf Kalla School of Government said on Tuesday that they would monitor developments between the National Police and Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and demanded that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, whom they said was caught up in the polemics, settle the case.

"The President has clearly delegated the driving simulator procurement graft case to the KPK. The police should stop maneuvering to criminalize the KPK. The National Police should yield to the presidential instruction," said Dasron Hamid, who read the declaration of their stance at the Yogyakarta Muhammadiyah University (UMY) campus.

Besides support, Dasron also called on the President to always be consistent in fighting corruption. "The President has promised to take the lead in combating corruption," said Dasron.

He added that every element of Muhammadiyah, including other institutions, was ready to play a part in seeing that the presidential instruction was upheld. "We are ready to mobilize every element to uphold the President's statement," he said.

Dasron added that the President's statement was clear and decisive this time, and that as commander of the country, the police must obey his orders. They also urged the House of Representatives to scrap plans to revise Law No. 30/2002 on corruption eradication because it would weaken the KPK's authority.

UMY political observer Bambang Sutjipto said the presidential instruction was only temporary in nature and could not resolve the overall issue, inferring that the animosity between the two law enforcement agencies would continue.

In Medan, North Sumatra, hundreds of people grouped in the Anti-Corruption People's Solidarity (Sorak) rallied at the Mejestik Circle in Medan on Tuesday, demanding that the KPK immediately uncover all graft cases involving the police force following the President's speech in response to the dispute between the KPK and the National Police.

The protesters said Yudhoyono's speech gave the KPK room to work professionally in resolving various corruption cases, including those involving the police.

The coordinator of the North Sumatra office of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras), Muhrizal Syahputera, said the KPK should no longer hesitate to prosecute any police officers suspected of corruption because Yudhoyono had lent moral support to the KPK.

"This is a challenge for the KPK. It must have the courage to unearth corruption within the police force, especially the simulator procurement case, down to the roots," said Muhrizal on the sidelines of the anticorruption rally.

He said the National Police, under the leadership of Gen. Timur Pradopo, were very weak in corruption eradication and lacked the will to support the anticorruption drive in the country.