Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07JAKARTA3484
2007-12-28 08:06:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Jakarta
Cable title:
CONTROVERSIAL EX-MINISTER MAKES A COMEBACK
how-toVZCZCXRO0839 OO RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM DE RUEHJA #3484 3620806 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 280806Z DEC 07 FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7520 INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS PRIORITY RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 1823 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 1367 RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 2203 RHHJJPI/USPACOM HONOLULU HI RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 003484
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, INR/EAP
NSC FOR EPHU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/28/2017
TAGS: PGOV KJUS KCOR KISL ID
SUBJECT: CONTROVERSIAL EX-MINISTER MAKES A COMEBACK
REF: A. JAKARTA 1282
B. STATE 28252
C. 06 STATE 165837
Classified By: Pol/C Joseph Legend Novak, reasons 1.4(b+d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 003484
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, INR/EAP
NSC FOR EPHU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/28/2017
TAGS: PGOV KJUS KCOR KISL ID
SUBJECT: CONTROVERSIAL EX-MINISTER MAKES A COMEBACK
REF: A. JAKARTA 1282
B. STATE 28252
C. 06 STATE 165837
Classified By: Pol/C Joseph Legend Novak, reasons 1.4(b+d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: Six months after his removal from the
Cabinet in the wake of corruption allegations, former
minister Yusril Mahendra is making a political comeback. The
Palace recently appointed Yusril to be a Presidential legal
adviser. There are also reports that he may be nominated to
become a Justice on the Constitutional Court. It is not
clear why Yusril is being rehabilitated, but he maintains
close links with Islamic groups and is considered a
formidable political player. END SUMMARY.
THE COMEBACK KID?
2. (U) Former State Secretary Yusril Mahendra recently
confirmed that he has returned to the government as a legal
advisor to President Yudhoyono. The position is reportedly a
new one and not related to the President's Advisory Council,
which also advises on legal issues. Yusril also told the
press that the President has agreed to nominate him for the
position of Justice on the Constitutional Court in 2008. The
President's office has yet to confirm the latter report.
3. (SBU) Yusril was removed from his position as State
Secretary--an influential administrative position--as part of
SIPDIS
the May 2007 Cabinet reshuffle (ref A). At that time, Yusril
was under close scrutiny after allegations surfaced that the
Ministry of Law and Human Rights, which Yusril headed under
President Megawati, had allowed Tommy Suharto--the notorious
son of the former president--to use one of its accounts to
repatriate several million dollars in funds held overseas in
2004. Yusril had also been interviewed by the Corruption
Eradication Commission regarding the illegal procurement of
fingerprinting equipment by the Ministry. Although Yusril
was not named a suspect, one of his close subordinates was
eventually convicted of corruption in the case.
A POWER BROKER
4. (C) An expert on State Administrative Law, Yusril has
been a key political player since the 1990's, when he worked
as a speechwriter for presidents Suharto and Habibie. He
also developed close ties with hard-line Islamic groups such
as the Preacher's Council and Kompak. (Note: His alleged
involvement with militant Islamic groups led the USG to
revoke his A-1 visa in 2005 -- refs B-C.)
5. (U) In 1999, Yusril co-founded the Crescent and Star
Party (PBB),an Islamist party which supports the
introduction of Sha'riah law in Indonesia. Yusril later
became party chairman and was touted as a possible
presidential candidate. However, after a poor showing in the
2004 legislative elections, Yusril moved the party to back
Yudhoyono's candidacy.
SPARKING CONTROVERSY
6. (C) Yusril's apparent rehabilitation is a testament to
his continued political clout, but the unresolved corruption
allegations make his re-appearance problematic for the
Palace. One member of Parliament has already criticized his
appointment as legal advisor. An appointment to the
Constitutional Court--if indeed one is planned--could damage
the reputation of one of the few legal institutions in
Indonesia that is still seen as corruption-free.
HUME
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, INR/EAP
NSC FOR EPHU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/28/2017
TAGS: PGOV KJUS KCOR KISL ID
SUBJECT: CONTROVERSIAL EX-MINISTER MAKES A COMEBACK
REF: A. JAKARTA 1282
B. STATE 28252
C. 06 STATE 165837
Classified By: Pol/C Joseph Legend Novak, reasons 1.4(b+d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: Six months after his removal from the
Cabinet in the wake of corruption allegations, former
minister Yusril Mahendra is making a political comeback. The
Palace recently appointed Yusril to be a Presidential legal
adviser. There are also reports that he may be nominated to
become a Justice on the Constitutional Court. It is not
clear why Yusril is being rehabilitated, but he maintains
close links with Islamic groups and is considered a
formidable political player. END SUMMARY.
THE COMEBACK KID?
2. (U) Former State Secretary Yusril Mahendra recently
confirmed that he has returned to the government as a legal
advisor to President Yudhoyono. The position is reportedly a
new one and not related to the President's Advisory Council,
which also advises on legal issues. Yusril also told the
press that the President has agreed to nominate him for the
position of Justice on the Constitutional Court in 2008. The
President's office has yet to confirm the latter report.
3. (SBU) Yusril was removed from his position as State
Secretary--an influential administrative position--as part of
SIPDIS
the May 2007 Cabinet reshuffle (ref A). At that time, Yusril
was under close scrutiny after allegations surfaced that the
Ministry of Law and Human Rights, which Yusril headed under
President Megawati, had allowed Tommy Suharto--the notorious
son of the former president--to use one of its accounts to
repatriate several million dollars in funds held overseas in
2004. Yusril had also been interviewed by the Corruption
Eradication Commission regarding the illegal procurement of
fingerprinting equipment by the Ministry. Although Yusril
was not named a suspect, one of his close subordinates was
eventually convicted of corruption in the case.
A POWER BROKER
4. (C) An expert on State Administrative Law, Yusril has
been a key political player since the 1990's, when he worked
as a speechwriter for presidents Suharto and Habibie. He
also developed close ties with hard-line Islamic groups such
as the Preacher's Council and Kompak. (Note: His alleged
involvement with militant Islamic groups led the USG to
revoke his A-1 visa in 2005 -- refs B-C.)
5. (U) In 1999, Yusril co-founded the Crescent and Star
Party (PBB),an Islamist party which supports the
introduction of Sha'riah law in Indonesia. Yusril later
became party chairman and was touted as a possible
presidential candidate. However, after a poor showing in the
2004 legislative elections, Yusril moved the party to back
Yudhoyono's candidacy.
SPARKING CONTROVERSY
6. (C) Yusril's apparent rehabilitation is a testament to
his continued political clout, but the unresolved corruption
allegations make his re-appearance problematic for the
Palace. One member of Parliament has already criticized his
appointment as legal advisor. An appointment to the
Constitutional Court--if indeed one is planned--could damage
the reputation of one of the few legal institutions in
Indonesia that is still seen as corruption-free.
HUME