Aceh governor under scrutiny for alleged fund mismanagement<\/p>\n
Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The central government is investigating Aceh Governor Abdullah
\nPuteh for alleged misappropriation of general allocation funds
\nfor the conflict-torn province, a minister said on Friday.<\/p>\n
Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs
\nSusilo Bambang Yudhoyono said that the investigation of Puteh and
\nother Aceh government officials would be conducted in response to
\ninformation from the public.<\/p>\n
\"There has been information from the public that the
\nadministration has allegedly mismanaged central government
\nfunding, but we have to investigate the allegations in order to
\navoid slander,\" Susilo said at his office.<\/p>\n
He said the government promised to impose stern measures
\nagainst the officials if the allegations turned out to be true.<\/p>\n
There has been no formal talk either at the ministerial or
\nCabinet level on the possibility of dismissing Puteh, Susilo
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The provincial administration under Puteh, who was sworn in as
\ngovernor in December 2000 and is due to end his term in 2005, has
\ncome under fire for its failure to fight corruption and to
\nimprove political and economic conditions in Aceh over the past
\ntwo years.<\/p>\n
In the 2002 fiscal year, Aceh received Rp 2.2 trillion from
\nthe general allocation fund and another Rp 1.87 trillion from the
\nprofit sharing of oil and gas revenues.<\/p>\n
For the 2003 fiscal year, the province, which is home to 4
\nmillion people, will obtain Rp 2.3 trillion from the general
\nallocation fund, while profit sharing is expected to rise to Rp 3
\ntrillion.<\/p>\n
Under the special autonomy status, Aceh obtains 80 percent of
\nthe revenue sharing from the exploitation of its natural
\nresources.<\/p>\n
Critics have also slammed the governor for not doing enough to
\nensure the implementation of the Cessation of Hostilities
\nAgreement, which was signed by the Indonesian government and the
\nFree Aceh Movement (GAM) in December last year to end the 26-year
\nconflict in the province.<\/p>\n
The investigative team, led by Minister of Home Affairs Hari
\nSabarno and involving the Development Finance Comptroller (BPKP),
\nwas set up in late March. The investigation is being conducted in
\nAceh and Papua.<\/p>\n
Susilo said once the investigation was completed and if the
\nallegations turned out to be true, the government \"would not
\nhesitate to impose stern sanctions (against Puteh)\".<\/p>\n
It remains unknown when the investigation will finish.<\/p>\n
Aceh and Papua are the only regions among the country's 30
\nprovinces which have been granted special autonomy status. The
\ntwo regions have been dealing with separatist problems for years.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/aceh-governor-under-scrutiny-for-alleged-fund-mismanagement-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}