Markus Junianto Sihaloho – Politicians on Friday railed against President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's defense of the Bank Century bailout and Vice President Boediono and Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati, with one opposition lawmaker comparing him to former dictator Suharto.
Ganjar Pranowo from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) said both Yudhoyono's speech on Thursday night and a speech by Boediono on Friday would hamper law enforcement officials in following through on recommendations from the House of Representatives.
The House on Wednesday declared that the 2008 bailout of Bank Century had violated laws, although no one was directly named as responsible.
Referring to Suharto's New Order regime, when the House was fully controlled by the president, Ganjar said Yudhoyono and Boediono's comments were indicative of authoritarianism. "The president does not seem to recognize the House's decision," he said. "It is a threat to our democracy."
Ganjar said the PDI-P believed the speeches – in which Yudhoyono called the recommendations "political" and Boediono and Sri Mulyani "saviors of the nation" – were designed to pressure law enforcement officials to halt their investigations. "Who is the real referee in this case? The president or the law enforcers?" he said.
If Boediono and Sri Mulyani were innocent, Ganjar said, then they had nothing to fear from the investigation, although he expressed doubts that the probe would be impartial. "I think the government will most likely intervene in the investigation," he said.
Amien Rais, advisory board chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN), which voted in support of the bailout along with Yudhoyono's Democratic Party and the National Awakening Party (PKB), said the president's speech was a "blunder" and that Boediono and Sri Mulyani should accede to the House's recommendation and step down.
The former speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) said the recommendation reflected the lack of trust the House, which represented the people, had in Boediono and Sri Mulyani's capabilities.
"It's not a matter of like or dislike," Amien said. "Most lawmakers don't believe them anymore. It would be very graceful if Boediono and Sri Mulyani would step down willingly," he added.
PDI-P legislator Gayus Lumbuun, who was deputy chairman of the House special committee that probed the bailout, said he believed the speeches crossed the line and warned both the president and vice president that any interference in the investigation could lead to political sanctions.
"Like between two countries, an embargo could be issued. Here in politics, such a mechanism can also be used," Gayus said.
In a political twist, however, both the Golkar Party and Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), which went against the ruling coalition to vote with opposition parties on Wednesday, said they supported the speeches, which had heaped praise on the House for its performance during the investigation.
But Golkar's Priyo Budi Santoso added that the investigation had to run its course and no one should stop it now.
House Speaker Marzuki Alie, a senior member of the Democratic Party, on Friday reiterated Yudhoyono's comments, saying that the government was not compelled to act on the House's recommendations. "There is no need for the House to supervise its implementation," he added.
Meanwhile, financial observer Farial Anwar on Friday told state-run Antara news agency that the Bank Century bailout should be brought to the court to prove that the funds had been used to assist the ailing bank.
"The case must be taken to court to prove that the policy had been correctly taken and whether the bailout funds... were really needed for a bank of that size," he said, adding that if Boediono and Sri Mulyani were to be found guilty, they should also face legal sanctions.