Corruption and democracy

Corruption and democracy

From Koran Tempo

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono declared Dec. 9
Anticorruption Day for the purpose of waging a war against
corruption. On several occasions he even said he would direct the
corruption eradication movement himself.

Indonesia belongs to the group of most corrupt countries,
occupying top place on Transparency International's corruption
list. This has been due to the lack of serious attempts to fight
corruption, with no punishments imposed in major cases.

Former deputy prime minister of Malaysia Anwar Ibrahim has
commented that Indonesia should be proud of its democracy because
the nation no longer has a culture of fear. Indonesians now enjoy
press, judicial, economic and even religious freedom.

Freedom is far more significant than economic progress,
because through freedom and democracy, Indonesia has the
opportunity to achieve greater economic advancement. But
democracy demands responsibility.

The law must be respected, otherwise corruption, collusion and
nepotism will continue to plague this nation, and the opportunity
for advancement will be lost.

This reminder from the nation's neighbor should be heeded and
the momentum to properly enforce the law utilized. The failure to
do so would not only cause the loss of public confidence but also
usher in the law of the jungle.

SIS ANDONO
Depok, West Java