Aid Corruption? - Spotlight On Indonesia (Citwire)
Report via Yahoo News
With Indonesia one of Transparency International's worst top ten offenders, and an unrestrained reputation for kickbacks, collusion and bribery, the temptation is not small matter.
With 10 billion dollars of aid on the table, bookkeeping brushed aside by the urgency of the situation, how long can we trust such a large cash windfall passing through the hands of greedy bureaucrats.
With Indonesia one of Transparency International's worst top ten offenders, and an unrestrained reputation for kickbacks, collusion and bribery, the temptation is not small matter.
With 10 billion dollars of aid on the table, bookkeeping brushed aside by the urgency of the situation, how long can we trust such a large cash windfall passing through the hands of greedy bureaucrats.
Transparency International ranks Indonesia in its top 10 of worst offenders, with an ungovernable reputation for kickbacks, collusion and bribery that has scared away badly needed foreign investment.
Aceh's governor Abdullah Puteh is behind bars at the moment, accused in a helicopter purchase embezzlement scam worth 100,000 dollars -- a paltry sum compared to the 35 billion allegedly amassed by former dictator Suharto (news - web sites).
New President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who has described his country's lack of probity as the laughing stock of Asia, said after the disaster that the misappropriation of relief funds would not be tolerated.
"It's a very serious problem," according US ambassador to Jakarta B. Lynn Pascoe, who says Indonesia will receive a substantial part of 350 million dollars promised by the United States.
Despite the concerns, there are indications that the Indonesian government is taking steps to prevent corruption as it strives for credibility on an international stage upon which it is a relative newcomer.
Aceh's governor Abdullah Puteh is behind bars at the moment, accused in a helicopter purchase embezzlement scam worth 100,000 dollars -- a paltry sum compared to the 35 billion allegedly amassed by former dictator Suharto (news - web sites).
New President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who has described his country's lack of probity as the laughing stock of Asia, said after the disaster that the misappropriation of relief funds would not be tolerated.
"It's a very serious problem," according US ambassador to Jakarta B. Lynn Pascoe, who says Indonesia will receive a substantial part of 350 million dollars promised by the United States.
Despite the concerns, there are indications that the Indonesian government is taking steps to prevent corruption as it strives for credibility on an international stage upon which it is a relative newcomer.
posted @ 3:12 AM | Permalink
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