0 HMI connection unlikely to aid Anas in legal battle

Despite its network of politically wired members and former members, the Islamic Students Association (HMI) and its alumni association, the Islamic Students Alumni Association (KAHMI) will be unlikely to be able to help former Democratic Party chairman Anas Urbaningrum find a way out of his current predicament. Anas would also benefit little from the fact that some Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) commissioners, including Abraham Samad, Busyro Muqoddas and Bambang Widjojanto, are former members of HMI, said political analyst Ari Dwipayana of the Yogyakarta-based Gadjah Mada University. 

Ari said that the sight of political bigwigs with Anas at his private residence in East Jakarta late last week was merely part of a public relations campaign staged by his supporters to taunt his political rivals. “Anas is basically trying to mobilize as many elements as possible and garner support from people who also dislike President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, to build a public view that he was victimized,” Ari said. Yudhoyono, who is also the Democratic Party’s chief patron, has been accused of orchestrating a move by the KPK to name Anas a suspect in the Hambalang graft case. 

Separately, Charta Politika political analyst Yunarto Wijaya agreed that HMI’s network would not help Anas in his legal battle against the KPK. Yunarto said the KPK’s decision to name Anas a suspect in the graft case was a collective decision and would not be influenced by the opinion of one or two of its leaders. “Despite HMI’s strong political influence, the organization is not strong enough to interfere with the work of the KPK,” Yunarto said. He said KPK investigators were abiding by strict regulations in dealing with the Hambalang graft case. 

“The KPK is acting very carefully and it follows a very complicated process before naming individuals as suspects. Therefore, it would be very hard to interfere in their tough processes,” he said. Soon after he was named a suspect by the KPK, Anas, former chairman of HMI and now member of KAHMI’s collective leadership, received support from some of the country’s top politicians, including Constitutional Court Chief Justice Mahfud MD, former finance minister Fuad Bawazier, former trade and industry minister Fahmi Idris and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Priyo Budi Santoso, who are all former members of the outfit. 

Soon after the KPK’s announcement, KAHMI set up a legal team to assist Anas in dealing with the KPK’s investigation. Members of the legal team include National Mandate Party (PAN) politician Viva Yoga Mauladi and top legal expert and former law and human rights minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra, both of whom are KAHMI members. Since late last week, Anas has continued to receive guests including some of his loyal supporters within the Democratic Party, lawmakers Saan Mustopa and Gede Pasek Suardika. Politicians from other political parties have also paid Anas a visit, including chairman of the Golkar Party advisory council Akbar Tandjung, who is also a former HMI chairman. 

Earlier this week, media mogul Hary Tanoesoedibjo, who is also People’s Conscience (Hanura) Party chief patron, also visisted Anas at his private residence. Many speculated that Hary had managed to convince Anas to give an exclusive interview to the private channel RCTI, which was aired on Tuesday night. Later on Wednesday, Anas also gave an interview to the news channel MetroTV. Also on Wednesday, former People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) speaker AM Fatwa turned up at Anas’ home. Regular members of HMI have also shown their support for Anas. On Tuesday, members of KAHMI gathered at Anas’ residence while some in Bogor staged a rowdy protest demanding the KPK step up its investigation into the Bank Century bailout scandal. (nad)

source : the jakarta post