Elites reveal cases for self-interest<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The recent disclosures of financial
\nimproprieties involving government officials were motivated by
\nself-interest for the purpose of undermining political opponents
\nrather than a search for justice, an executive of a non-
\ngovernmental organization said.<\/p>\n
The executive director of IPCOS (Institute for Policy and
\nCommunity Development Studies) Johan O. Menajang on Thursday
\nvoiced concern over what he said were attempts by several members
\nof the political elite to expose such issues so as to gain
\npolitical leverage.<\/p>\n
\"What we see here is political retaliation by different
\ngroups among the elite. The disclosure of one case is countered
\nby the disclosure of another case,\" he told journalists here on
\nThursday.<\/p>\n
He said these disclosures were merely designed to taint the
\nreputation of and, if possible, to dislodge political opponents.<\/p>\n
Johan described how attempts to link several high-ranking
\nmembers of President Abdurrahman Wahid's political party with a
\nmisuse of State Logistic Agency (Bulog) funds was countered by
\nattempts to tarnish Golkar party chairman Akbar Tandjung with the
\nHouse Savings (Taperum) fund.<\/p>\n
\"Eventually, the disclosure of the Taperum case was again
\ncountered by the disclosures about Bulog's extra-budgetary
\nfunds\".<\/p>\n
Johan lamented that with the sole purpose of undermining
\npolitical opponents, the revelation of these cases failed to
\naddress the core problem of corruption and the non-acceptability
\nof extra-budgetary funds.<\/p>\n
\"Every allocation and use of state funds must be approved by
\nthe House of Representatives. Logically, it must also be
\naccounted for before the House,\" he told.<\/p>\n
Presently, he continued, the government did not include extra-
\nbudgetary funds in the annual state budget, while accountability
\nreports on the funds were also few and far between.<\/p>\n
\"This practice must be stopped immediately. There is no need
\nfor such funds because the annual budget already accounts for
\ntactical and unanticipated expenditure,\" he added.<\/p>\n
IPCOS, he said, would continue studying and investigating
\nthe existence and use of such funds in order to learn more about
\ntheir nature and implications. (zen)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/elites-reveal-cases-for-self-interest-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}