UNS — The member of Supervisory Board of Corruption Eradication Commission (Komisi Pemberantasan Korupsi – KPK) RI, Dr. Artidjo Alkostar, discussed the potential of corruption through oligarchy practices in Indonesia in the National Web Seminar “Understanding Oligarchy in the Aspect of State Administration, Economy, Politic, and Legal Aspect of Corruption Eradication”, Sunday (11/10/2020).
In the seminar held by Student Executive Board (Badan Eksekutif Mahasiswa – BEM) Faculty of Law (FH) Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta through Zoom Cloud Meeting, Dr. Artidjo Alkostar, stated that corruption can bring a downfall for a country. This is because there is a potential that state officials are controlled by a group of people who have control over economic resources. People who have a dominant position in a group and emphasize equal position before the law will always hinder the corruption eradication efforts.
Dr. Artidjo Alkostar who served as Supreme Court Judge in 2000-2018 conveyed that the dominant oligarchy will rip the sense of justice in the community, undermine social order, and damage the disturb the rule of law. Because for him, rule of law is not a place for people who consider themselves above the law. In the corruption eradication efforts, Dr. Artidjo Alkostar mentioned that law should base on the law with high quality, ideology has a set of rational values, has a populist spirit because it involves the fate of the people, and is egalitarian or an equal position before the law.
Additionally, corruption practices due to oligarchy, according to Dr. Artidjo Alkostar, contradicts the values of a just and civilized community and social justice. He conveyed that the seeds of oligarchy will cause a group to dominate the populace. “The corruption eradication law does not provide room for oligarch or small group of people who control the government, people who feel they have social standing above the law or people who feel immune to the law,” He continued.
Dr. Artidjo Alkostar who handled the corruption case of former Puteri Indonesia, Angelina Sondakh, and passed a stricter sentence for OC Kaligis, also observe the potential of the oligarchy to creep into the economic field. Dr. Artidjo Alkostar mentioned this because in his observation when the seeds of plutocracy appear and the government is controlled by a small number of the rich, political backers will appear in the government. Political backers usually appear during the election and have an opportunity to control government projects in the future.
“In legal drafting, there are always issues that certain articles are asked by certain parties. It is possible because the dominant person will dictate the government to perpetuate their social position,” Dr. Artidjo added.
In front of the national web seminar participants, Dr. Artidjo Alkostar, reminded people role in the corruption eradication efforts. For him, without the role and contribution of the people, corruptors will walk freely and have the opportunity to grow aristocracy. Democratic law needs to be maintained by good people so that laws based on justice and have a populist spirit do not create a new aristocracy. Therefore, the oligarchy will bring back aristocracy or nobility.
Besides, Dr. Artidjo Alkostar, BEM FH UNS also invited other speakers, including Dr. Isharyanto (UNS Constitutional Law Expert), Bima Suprayoga, S.H., M.Hum (Chief of TPK and TPPU Sub Unit Directorate of General Prosecution of the Junior Attorney General for Special Crimes of Republic of Indonesia Attorney General Office), and Dadang Trisangsoko, S.H. (Secretary General of Transparency International Indonesia for the period of 2013-2019). Humas UNS
Reporter: Yefta Christopherus AS
Editor: Dwi Hastuti
