Indonesia: The Continuous Struggle to Combat Corruption

 

By M.E. Dodge
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

JAKARTA, Indonesia It seems that corruption is a way of life in Indonesia, and for many Indonesians, it is trite to pass a small bribe to an official to get a task or favor done. The practice is embedded in so many facets of life in Indonesia that it is virtually impossible for civilians to escape having to engage in bribery or evade its effects.

Corruption costs the country’s economy billions of dollars every year. According to a recent report by the US-based Human Rights Watch, it is estimated that corruption in Indonesia’s forestry industry alone costs the economy $2 billion a year, which is dramatic since Indonesia is home to the world’s third largest area of tropical rain forest impacted by the huge degree of illegal logging that occurs.

Dealing with corruption in forestry is not only area Indonesia is seeking to clamp down on efforts of fraud. The European Union has come out with a report saying that one of the main reasons its investors are reluctant to come to Indonesia is the perception of high levels of graft in the country. The government acknowledges there is a problem, but says that like all developing countries, Indonesia is not perfect. According to Gita Wirjawan, the individual responsible for trying to attract more foreign funds to Indonesia’s economy, “One has to take a long term view of Indonesia.” Wirjawan went on to say that, “There may be some questions or concerns about Indonesia – but that applies to just about every country in the world… we’re on the right trajectory and we’re heading in the right direction.” 

In early December, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono reasserted his pledge to lead an endeavor against corruption in Indonesia. In a televised speech on the eve of International Anti-Corruption Day, Yudhoyono asked the public to work together to fight graft, saying he wished to create a clean government as his legacy by the end of his term in 2014. Yudhoyono claims to have done a lot to eradicate corruption since he assumed power in 2004, and stated that reforms within the Attorney General’s Office and the National Police would continue to be the top priority of his administration in the coming five years.

Yudhoyono Photograph of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono discussing anti-corruption efforts. Image courtesy of Asia Sentinal

Apart from statements by government officials, editorials in Indonesian newspapers have called him weak and indecisive in his handling of the case of the Corruption Eradication Commission, or the KPK as it is known in Indonesia, one of the few institutions people in this country actually have faith in.

Anticorruption Photograph of an anti-corruption demonstration. Image courtesy of BBC World News.

One civilian, James Sundah, a 50-year-old musician lost his driving license and tried to get the local police to help him replace it. Instead, he was forced to get a new license. He was told by police that “it would be a quick and painless procedure” and he knew that this was a hint to most Indonesians to pay some money and get your license, but Sundah refused. He tried to go through the official procedure to re-obtain his license, but his application and test were denied several times. Sundah said, “I was a couple of points short each time – but when I asked to see the test papers, the officials refused. The others in my exam room told me that if I just paid an extra $20, I would get my license.” Sundah stated that the police must have grown tired of his persistence, because finally he was given his license. When Sunday asked to see his exam paper after passing, he said, “I looked at it and I spotted the question: ‘What would you do if you hit someone in an accident?’ I got the question wrong because the correct answer, according to the official exam paper was to run away!” 

Sundah Photograph of James Sundah and family driving. Image courtesy of BBC World News.

Despite stories like Sundah’s and so many other Indonesians forced to endure and submit to nefarious practices, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has publically announced its effort to target corrupt officials and agency backroom wheeling and dealing

 

For more information, please see:

BBC World NewsIndonesia battles with widespread corruption – December 24, 2009 

Asia SentinalAnti-graft Day in Jakarta – December 9, 2009

The Jakarta PostSBY renews pledge to lead corruption jihad – December 8, 2009

Author: Impunity Watch Archive