Speaking while opening a Cabinet meeting at the Presidential Office on Friday, Yudhoyono said the motives were “not necessarily related to corruption eradication measures”.
“I’ve received information that on Dec. 9, some social movements are planning to commemorate International Anticorruption Day,” he said.
“That’s good, [it shows] concern for our anticorruption measures. However, there are those whose real motives are political.”
Yudhoyono hinted these figures would be those “whose commitments to combating graft are never seen”.
“If that’s the case, then welcome — if you really want to eradicate graft in the country together,” he said.
He added similar political moves were afoot among some parties urging a probe into the Bank Century bailout.
Yudhoyono has in recent weeks expressed his anger over rumors that some of the bailout funds were channeled to his election campaign team and family members.
“Some people sincerely want to get to the bottom of the Bank Century case, to get answers, which we must respect and respond positively to,” he said.
“But I know that others [are doing it] not out of curiosity, [but out of] political motives.”
Yudhoyono said he had already briefed his Cabinet on the issue.
“Whatever happens, especially in Jakarta, it shouldn’t disrupt our concentration and perseverance in doing our duty for the development and welfare of our people,” he said.
The Cabinet meeting touched on developments in the government’s plan to combat judicial corruption and Indonesia’s proposals for the climate conference in Copenhagen.
This is the second time Yudhoyono has openly warned of a plot against himself. On July 17, following the bombings earlier in the day of the JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels, he claimed to also be a terrorist target.
Ahmad Muzani, secretary-general of the opposition Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra), suggested Yudhoyono calm down and quit blowing things out of proportion.
“All he has to do is approach all elements in society,” he said as quoted by news portal detik.com.
“Stay calm, this is a trivial matter. As head of state, he can solve this with a persuasive approach.”
Muzani also suggested the announcement was part of a political image-building campaign.
“Yudhoyono is panicking about the worst-case scenario from the rallies to commemorate International Anticorruption Day,” he added.
“Such rallies, big or small, are the public’s way of expressing their aspirations. There’s no call for panic.”
Former student activist Hariman Siregar said Yudhoyono’s announcement was inappropriate.
“His statement will only serve to further inflame the situation,” he said as quotedhttp://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/12/05/sby-warns-%E2%80%98politically-motivated%E2%80%99-rally-next-week.html
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