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April 14, 2010 Jakarta Globe Indonesian Lawmakers Scheme Again to Impeach Vice-President As the Corruption Eradication Commission prepares to summon Vice President Boediono and Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati over the bailout of Bank Century, a group of lawmakers on Tuesday initiated what is likely to be a symbolic move to use the legislature's so-called right to express an opinion, the first step toward impeaching Boediono. Johan Budi, the spokesman for the commission, also known as the KPK, said the body planned to question all officials from the Financial System Stability Committee (KSSK), including Sri Mulyani and Boediono, who at the time of the bailout was the governor of the central bank. "We will soon conduct an inquiry on all officials of the KSSK and Bank Indonesia in connection with the Bank Century scandal," Johan said, adding that the KPK had yet to schedule Sri Mulyani's and Boediono's questioning. Meanwhile, five of the nine lawmakers who initiated the House of Representatives inquiry into the Bank Century rescue late last year, and who have long sought to oust both the vice president and the finance minister, on Tuesday began gathering the 25 lawmaker signatures needed for the right to express and opinion initiative to be discussed at a House plenary session. As a presidential appointee, Sri Mulyani cannot be impeached. Lawmakers have complained that the KPK was moving too slowly in the case. Neither Boediono nor Sri Mulynai have been charged with any crime linked to the bailout, and the dispute continues to be fiercely political. Golkar Party lawmaker Bambang Soesatyo said the group had also filed a judicial review with the Constitutional Court over the law requiring that the right to opinion be backed by three-quarters of the number of lawmakers present in a plenary meeting, which must be attended by a minimum of three-quarters of the total sitting legislators. The regulation makes it almost impossible to realize a successful impeachment motion. The Democratic Party has 148 lawmakers, more than a quarter of the House's 560 seats, and analysts say that is more than enough to scuttle any impeachment attempt at the plenary level. "We want the right to only need approval from two-thirds of lawmakers," Bambang said. Bambang and at least two other initiators of the Century inquiry also slammed on Tuesday what they called the criminalization of their group, which the media has dubbed the Team of Nine. Mukhamad Misbakhun, a Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) lawmaker who was behind the Century inquiry, said a National Police decision to name him a suspect for allegedly using a fictitious letter of credit to access Bank Century funds was a result of his criticism of the government during the House probe. Another of the nine, Andi Rahmat, also of the PKS, said he had predicted government retaliation against the inquiry team. "I think this is not a good political culture for us," Andi said. Meanwhile, House Speaker Marzuki Alie, a Democrat, said that the House Consultative Committee, the coordinating body among the House parties, will soon discuss setting up a special team to push law-enforcement agencies to follow up on it recommendations in the Century case. Related articles Boediono Stands Firm Over Century Bailout 11:09 AM 22/12/2009 Sri Mulyani, Boediono To Face Indonesia's Audit Agency Over Bank Century 10:04 PM 15/09/2009 Bank Century: Will Indonesia's Top Officials Survive the Fallout? 9:55 PM 06/09/2009 After a Long Wait, Sri Mulyani and Boediono Finally Set to Be Questioned by the KPK 11:47 PM 13/04/2010 Boediono and Sri Mulyani Not Home Free From Bank Century Mess Yet 11:54 PM 10/03/2010
