Antara News, Sunday, July 11, 2010 02:43 WIB
Intensive care: President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (second left) visits Tama S. Langkun, an Indonesia Corruption Watch activist, at Asih Hospital in Warung Buncit, South Jakarta, on Saturday. (Courtesy of the Presidential Office/Abror Rizki)
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono called for the continuation of fight against corruption despite the risks it may bring to the safety of anti-corruption activists.
"Whatever the threats, challenges and obstacles faced by those carrying out anti-corruption tasks, this great mission must continue," he said her Saturday after visiting an activist of the Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW), Tama S Langkun, who is being treated at Asri Hospital for wounds inflicted on him by unknown assailants recently.
Tama is one of the ICW activists often disclosing alleged corruption in various government offices. Recently he was actively encouraging the disclosure of suspicious accounts belonging to several high ranking police officers.
Early on Thursday, on his way to his office, he was stopped and beaten up by several people causing him to suffer wounds that required treatment in hospial.
The head of state said the fight against corruption was a noble activity useful to realize good governance.
On the occasion, the President also expressed hope that all parties would cooperate to unveil any unlawful practice or behavior.
He called on all law enforcement insitutions such as the police, the prosecutor`s office, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), the Supreme Court and other offices concerned to prioritize cooperation and avoid stifling each other`s efforts.
"(They) must work together and synergize," he said.
President Yudhoyono said all cases must be settled through legal procedures and one of the means to declare one`s innocence or guilt is the court.
"Whether one is right or wrong must be determined through legal procedures," he said.
President Yudhoyono was in the hospital for around 15 minutes in the company of several anti-corruption activists.
Earlier Yudhoyono called on the police to investigate the case. "They must immediately find out who has done it and what is their motive." he said before a cabinet meeting on Thursday.
He said Indonesia is a state that upholds democracy and therefore the government supports freedom of expression and condems any effort to threaten it.
"I have not known who they are but the police will soon find them," he said referring to Tama`s attackers.
President Yudhoyono said it was not impossible that certain parties would make use of the current situation where two differing parties are just seeking the settlement of their dispute.
Besides the attack on the ICW activist President Yudhoyono also called on the police to investigate the molotov bomb attack at the Tempo magazine office recently.
Coordinating minister for political, securty and legal affairs Djoko Suyanto meanwhile condemned the two violent incidents.
"I deplored them and condemned violence," he said.
He also called on the law enforcement agency to find the attackers and punished them according to the law even if they happen to be its members.
"Such an action is not tolerable and must be investigated," he said.
The president`s special staff for legal affairs, Denny Indrayana, shared the condemnation. He however called on the people not to rush to conclude about the identities of the attackers. He called on them to give the police an opportunity to investigate the cases.
Indonesian Corruption Watch investigator Tama Satrya Langkun recovering from his injuries. (Antara Photo)
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