Indonesian Politicians Call for Crooked Parties to Be Dissolved
A man walks by a mural reading 'Fight Political Corruption' in Jakarta. (JG Photo/Safir Makki)
Political parties found guilty of using money obtained illegally to fund their political campaigning should be disbanded, several parties said on Thursday.
A report this week found funds intended for social aid had been misused by the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry for the Acceleration of Development in Underdeveloped Regions, prompting claims the funds were used to bankroll political campaigns for next year's elections.
Suhardi of the Great Indonesian Movement Party (Gerindra) said accepting corruptly gained money undermined the objectives of a political party.
"The goal of establishing a party is first and foremost for the betterment of the people. If the party is found to be receiving corruption money, then that is counterproductive to that primary goal," Suhardi told Suara Pembaruan on Thursday.
Suhardi said some political parties showed were transparent in their financial reporting, but others were less forthcoming.
He said Gerindra's financial reports are the most transparent in Indonesian politics due to the specialist team it has assigned to monitor finances.
"Gerindra is number one due to our team. We're very open," Suhardi said.
The Golkar Party also backed the disbandment push, but only if a legitimate legal process is established, because there was a danger of outcomes being dictated by unsubstantiated accusations.
"I think the current Political Party Law and Corruption Law has regulations about this, but enforcement is yet to be properly carried out," senior Golkar official Leo Nababan said on Thursday.
Leo said political parties should not be penalized for the corrupt acts of individual members.
"If a member of the party needs to be tried, then so be it. We have the KPK [Corruption Eradication Commission], the police, the attorney general, to act upon it. Should no evidence be found that it has been done by the party, then that assumption should be eliminated," he said.
Leo said Golkar's finances had been audited by the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) and submitted to the General Elections Commission (KPU).
"We do not keep secrets from the public. Our political party's financial data is publicly available," he said.
KPK deputy chairman Busyro Muqoddas expressed support for disbandment rules, which he said reflected powers available to the Constitutional Court.
But he warned that disbandment on corruption grounds was difficult to enforce.
"Although a number of members in a political party may be found guilty in a corruption case, the party cannot be immediately disbanded. There needs to be very strong evidence," Busyro said.
In response to calls for disbandment for parties linked to corruption, Home Affairs Minister Gamawan Fauzi reaffirmed that the government does not have plans to disband any political party.
"No party has been proven guilty in court," he said on Wednesday.
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