Jakarta (AsiaNews) - Indonesian police have released Bibit Samad Rianto and Chandra M. Hamzah, leading members of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (KPK) arrested last week on charges of extortion. Their detention triggered protests throughout the country. One measure - according to critics – that has the sole purpose of weakening the body responsible for combating corruption. Apparently a film clip confirms the plot hatched behind the two officials, supporting the conspiracy theory.

Yesterday in Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara, about thirty activists from NGOs, university students and academics expressed their support for the members of the Anti-Corruption Commission, calling for their release and urged President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to save the KPK. On the parliamentary front, the Justice and Human Rights Commission has launched an internal investigation on the matter, to clarify whether behind the arrest of Rianto and Hamzah (in jail for six days) there is the attempt by the Office of the Attorney General and the police forces to undermine the authority of the Anti-Corruption Commission.

The two members of the KPK were implicated in the testimony of the former head of the Commission Anstari Azhar: he accuses Hamzah and Rianto of having received bribes from Anggoro Widjojo, a leading businessman in the country, who has since fled to Singapore . It seems to emerge from a recording of conversations between the businessman and personal that the police and the Office of the Attorney General, were weaving a plot against members of the Anti-Corruption Commission.  

Their arrests triggered a wave of controversy, with civil society, politicians and activists proclaiming their innocence. Among these there is also the former Indonesian president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid. The protesters argue that the accusations were perfectly fabricated to reduce the powers and prestige of the Anti-Corruption Commission.

 Recently, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has said that corruption is one of the main problems of the country and an obstacle to full economic growth. To try to shed light on the issue, Yudhoyono formed an independent body, in two weeks its members will report personally to the president.  

Meanwhile, Hendarso Danuri the police chief, summoned the heads of the national press for a meeting behind closed doors, the meeting aims to "appease" the indignation stirred by the case in national public opinion.