Exporting corruption?<\/p>\n
This is a follow-up to an article which appeared in the Sept.
\n19 edition of The Jakarta Post, which was itself a follow-up to
\nan earlier complaint of corruption against an immigration
\nofficial in Medan. Although there had been earlier complaints
\nabout this official, there was no official response until June
\n1998, when the Post published an article from me referring to
\nimmigration corruption. The director general of immigration
\nquickly responded to the public allegations, threatening to
\ncharge me with defamation if I could not substantiate my
\nallegations. But when in the wake of public exposure the director
\ngeneral sent investigators to Medan, a number of witnesses did
\ncome forward to substantiate the allegations.<\/p>\n
For more than two months, despite our repeated requests for
\nfeedback, the Indonesian bureaucracy was suspiciously silent
\nabout whether this official was found guilty or not, was
\ndisciplined or not. Finally some time ago a Los Angeles source
\ndid confirm what happened to the official. He has been assigned
\nto the Indonesian Consulate General in Los Angeles, enjoying all
\nthe privileges and immunities of a diplomat.<\/p>\n
It is unlikely that this official will be in a position to
\nshake down American citizens for payoffs. But for Indonesians who
\nneed to use their consulate's immigration service, it's a
\ndifferent story. Indonesians who have long lived under a regime
\nof intimidation and threats from the repressive Soeharto
\ngovernment, find it hard to believe that they have the freedom to
\nsay \"No\" to government extortion, even when they are overseas.
\nUnless there is public pressure on the Indonesian government to
\nexplain how a man in the midst of a corruption investigation was
\ngiven this choice assignment, he is likely to find ways to enrich
\nhimself while in LA at the expense of his fellow Indonesians.
\n(Why this official, who reportedly had friends in high places,
\nwas rewarded rather than disciplined begs the question whether
\nthere was collusion between him and higher level persons in a
\nposition to quash the investigation before it bore fruit). What
\nkind of message does this send to other Indonesian officials, or
\nto observers of Indonesia's reform movement, when a senior
\nofficial accused of serious corruption is rewarded by a prized
\noverseas assignment? Will the director general answer this letter
\nas openly as he did the original one?<\/p>\n
DONNA K. WOODWARD<\/p>\n
Medan, North Sumatra<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/exporting-corruption-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }