Kuntoro may have to deal with power-oriented projects<\/p>\n
Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Controlling billions of dollars of funds and equipped with the
\nauthority to grant lucrative tenders, Aceh and Nias
\nreconstruction and rehabilitation agency head Kuntoro
\nMangkusubroto may have to deal with power-oriented projects, a
\ncorruption watch warns.<\/p>\n
Ridayat La Ode Ngkowe, the Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW)
\nproject manager monitoring Aceh and Nias development, said
\nKuntoro's clean track record would be put to test as companies
\nlinked to the political elite would fight for win his approval
\nwhen the bids for wide-ranging reconstruction projects in the
\ntsunami-devastated areas opens in June.<\/p>\n
\"We not sure whether Kuntoro can resist these powerful figures
\nwho are interested in various infrastructure development projects
\nin Aceh and Nias,\" Ridayat said.<\/p>\n
Ridayat said the appointment of the former energy and mineral
\nresources minister helped ease fears of possible abuse of the
\nmassive reconstruction funds in a country whose bureaucrats are
\nnotorious for corrupt practices.<\/p>\n
The agency will manage some Rp 46.1 trillion (US$4.8 billion)
\nin reconstruction funds over the next four years, award tenders
\nto the private sector for reconstruction works, and deal with
\nforeign donor countries and agencies.<\/p>\n
Kuntoro was appointed after the government completed a
\nblueprint for the reconstruction of Aceh and Nias.<\/p>\n
\"One of Kuntoro's challenges in implementing the blueprint
\nwill be how to deal with Acehnese survivors who wish to return to
\ntheir original settlements in coastal areas, whereas the
\nblueprint bans rebuilding of homes along much of the coast to
\nminimize the risk of future tsunamis,\" said Ridayat.<\/p>\n
He suggested that Kuntoro review the blueprint because it had
\nbeen made based on \"imaginative data\" in the field.<\/p>\n
\"Taking one of many examples, there will be more buildings and
\nschools in Aceh than before the disaster struck the province,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
\"We deem the blueprint as 'corruption by design', therefore
\nKuntoro and his team must thoroughly review it.\"<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Acehnese figure and former House of Representatives
\nlegislator Gazhali Abbas expressed skepticism that the agency
\ncould heed Acehnese aspirations, saying that most of the figures
\nappointed to the body \"lack knowledge about Acehnese people.\"<\/p>\n
\"I guess most Acehnese people only recognize him as a little-
\nknown state official from Jakarta,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Gazhali accused the government of maintaining a militaristic
\nstyle in dealing with humanitarian and social problems in Aceh
\nfollowing the disaster by appointing chief security minister and
\nformer Indonesian Military commander Widodo A.S. to chair the
\nagency's advisory team.<\/p>\n
\"The rehabilitation and reconstruction process in Aceh is a
\npart of humanitarian and social work; it has nothing to do with
\nsecurity. The appointment of Widodo has raised speculation that
\nonly a few Acehnese aspirations may be heard,\" Gazhali said.<\/p>\n
Aceh was declared a military operation zone between 1989 and
\n1998, and was put under martial law between 2003 and 2004 as the
\ngovernment attempted to quell the separatist movement that began
\nin 1976.<\/p>\n
The United States welcomed Kuntoro's appointment and would
\nsupport his efforts to ensure transparency and accountability of
\nthe funds made available for the reconstruction program.<\/p>\n
\"Dr. Kuntoro is a skilled and decisive leader and we look
\nforward to working with him to address the needs of affected
\ncommunities,\" U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia B. Lynn Pascoe said in
\na statement.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/kuntoro-may-have-to-deal-with-power-oriented-projects-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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