The World Bank -- again<\/p>\n
On April 17, 2001 The Jakarta Post carried my letter Babies
\nand corruption in which I said that in canceling the US$300
\nmillion poverty alleviation loan, the World Bank had made it
\nclear it had found corruption in the program. I waited to see a
\nletter from the bank's Jakarta office correcting my exaggeration;
\nfor in fact their announcement wasn't as unambiguous as that.
\nWe've all assumed that the bank's language in announcing the
\ncancellation was a polite way of pointing to corruption within
\nthe program, and the bank has not taken any steps to correct this
\npublic perception.<\/p>\n
The loan cancellation is a tacit acknowledgement that the bank
\nis still after all these years either unable to figure out how to
\ncontrol gross corruption from within its projects, or unwilling
\nto do what's needed. What was missing from the bank's
\nannouncement of the loan cancellation was any mention of what it
\nplanned to do about the malfeasance it discovered. (And if it did
\nnot discover malfeasance, why did it cancel such a vital
\nprogram?)<\/p>\n
Has it turned evidence over to someone to be investigated?
\nOr blacklisted responsible program managers from eligibility for
\nfuture employment for their poor management (if not outright
\ncorruption)? Or announced its findings to the public as a
\nlearning instrument? As usual the bank is silent -- the silence
\nof dubious diplomacy or mistaken cultural sensitivity. If the
\nbank has found wrongdoing, doesn't it have an obligation to try
\nto recover the money or materials that were lost to corruption?
\nIf it does not do so, in justice it cannot expect Indonesia to
\nrepay the $300 million.<\/p>\n
In the end, it is the World Bank that stands accused, again,
\nof negligent oversight and instruction of program managers. This
\nnegligence is costing Indonesia dearly, in money and lost
\nopportunities. When and how will it end? Will the World Bank
\nplease tell us clearly, and without platitudes and mumbo jumbo,
\nvia an article in this paper, specifically what you plan to do?
\nOr as an alternative, correct any misperceptions and
\nmisstatements in this letter. But please, be transparent and
\naccountable to the people of Indonesia and of those other
\ncountries whose taxpayers' pay your high salaries.<\/p>\n
DONNA K. WOODWARD<\/p>\n
Medan, North Sumatra<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/the-world-bank-again-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }