Transparency important for preventing graft<\/p>\n
Urip Hudiono, The Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
Transparency remained the focus of a two-day international
\nmeeting on the prevention of tsunami relief funds falling victim
\nto corruption. The meeting, which was concluded on Friday,
\ndemanded that all stakeholders ensure accountability in the
\nprogramming and disbursement of the aid money.<\/p>\n
The governments of recipient countries, in particular, needed
\nto ensure that their procurement systems met international
\naccountability standards so that they could serve the best
\ninterests of the affected people.<\/p>\n
\"Relief operations and reconstruction projects must contribute
\nto the strengthening of local institutions, the transfer of
\ntechnical skills, and promote policies aimed at preventing
\ncorruption,\" Asian Development Bank (ADB) governance and regional
\ncooperation division director, Jak Jabes, told a press briefing
\non the meeting's recommendations.<\/p>\n
The ADB, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
\n(OECD), Transparency International (TI) and the government
\njointly host the event.<\/p>\n
Representatives and experts from five other tsunami affected
\ncountries -- India, the Maldives, Somalia, Sri Lanka and Thailand
\n-- were also present.<\/p>\n
Giant tidal waves generated by a 9-on-the-Richter-scale
\nearthquake on Dec. 26 killed at least 174,000 people around
\nIndian Ocean-rim coasts, with Indonesia bearing the brunt of the
\ndisaster.<\/p>\n
Some US$6 billion has been pledged worldwide by donors for the
\nrelief effort and reconstruction projects in the devastated
\nareas.<\/p>\n
Donor countries and agencies should also coordinate with the
\nrecipient countries and among themselves to avoid duplication of
\nassistance schemes, as well as make careful assessments of local
\nconditions so that allocated resources matched needs.<\/p>\n
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) had an important role to
\nplay in monitoring the relief and reconstruction processes --
\nreporting any suspicions of corruption to the authorities -- and
\nensuring the maximum involvement of the affected people.<\/p>\n
Concerning the procurement system, TI regional director for
\nAsia and the Pacific, Peter Rooke, said the organization had
\ndeveloped an \"Integrity Pact\" for procurement tenders, in which
\nbidders would be scrutinized for graft. Any violating bidder
\nwould then be blacklisted from participating in future tenders.<\/p>\n
\"I'm happy to hear that the National Development Planning
\nAgency (Bappenas) is considering using this pact during the
\nreconstruction process in Aceh,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Rooke further said that the meeting had discussed the
\nestablishment of an independent supervisory commission as
\nproposed by NGOs, in line with making sure that existing
\ninstitutions function again effectively.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) deputy
\nchairman Erry Hardjapamekas said the commission would open a
\nrepresentative office in Banda Aceh to handle graft complaints
\nand reports<\/p>\n
\"The KPK will also provide protection for whistleblowers,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Concerning the implementation of the integrity pact for
\nprocurements, Erry said that KPK would complement it with
\narequirement for government officials in the affected areas to
\nroutinely declare their assets.<\/p>\n
The meeting's recommendations will be used to formulate a
\ninternational-level disaster relief management system.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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