H.E. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono

President

Republic of Indonesia

10 August 2009

Honorable President Yudhoyono,

On behalf of Transparency International (TI), let me take this opportunity to congratulate you on your successful re-election as announced by the Election Commission on 23 July. The people of Indonesia have given you a clear mandate to continue on the path of reforms that you set out during your first term in office, particularly with regard to anti-corruption.

In the past few years, Indonesia has shown substantial improvement in countering corruption – although it remains a widespread problem, your administration has been seen to tackle the issue seriously and with a high level of political will.

In particular, TI as a civil society organisation has seen that the work of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has been effective and successful at gaining momentum in the fight against corruption. The commission’s existence and the high number of cases handled by it thus far, represent an important achievement.

Despite their undeniable achievements and widespread public support, the KPK and the special court for corruption crimes (Tipikor) have been under incessant attacks by parliament, the attorney general’s office and the police, among others. It is time for such attacks to stop detracting from the problems at hand which affect the daily lives of the Indonesian people.

As the incumbent President, you have a decisive role to play in ensuring that such a vital institution has the necessary powers and resources to fully investigate and prosecute corrupt acts.

TI’s 2009 Global Corruption Barometer shows increasing public confidence in the KPK’s and Tipikor’s ability to handle corruption. More than 70 per cent of respondents feel the government has been effective in addressing corruption. On the other hand, the House of Representatives and the judiciary are perceived to be the most corrupt institutions.

These contrasting results indicate that Indonesians do not attribute recent anti-corruption achievements to those institutions - which should be key for eradicating corruption when functioning properly- but to independent institutions such as the KPK, the Audit Board of Indonesia (BPK), and Tipikor.

As your next term begins, the people of Indonesia and the international community have high expectations that the anti-corruption commitments you have made throughout your campaign will be translated into action to guarantee the KPK’s continued existence and its ability to act as a competent, independent body fighting corruption.

TI Indonesia and TI as a global movement stand behind other Indonesian NGOs in support of the KPK as a stable institution, in accordance with provisions of the United Nations Convention against Corruption ratified by Indonesia in 2006, and condemn recent attempts to weaken the KPK’s independence and authority by turning it into a temporary, ad-hoc institution.

Failure by the government to shield the KPK and the Tipikor court, will not only hinder all efforts to eradicate corruption, but will certainly impact on the political and economic credibility of Indonesia. Most importantly, it will dent Indonesian’s belief that their government is serious about establishing and maintaining solid mechanisms to hold the corrupt to account.

Yours sincerely,

Huguette Labelle                                                Todung Mulya Lubis

Chair                                                                  Chair

Transparency International                                Transparency International Indonesia

Cc:

HR Agung Laksono, Chairman of the People Representative Council (DPR)

Mahfud MD, Head of Constitutional Court (MK)

Harifin A. Tumpa, Head of Supreme Court (MA)

Chairman of Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK)