Elites reveal cases for self-interest

JAKARTA (JP): The recent disclosures of financial improprieties involving government officials were motivated by self-interest for the purpose of undermining political opponents rather than a search for justice, an executive of a non- governmental organization said.

The executive director of IPCOS (Institute for Policy and Community Development Studies) Johan O. Menajang on Thursday voiced concern over what he said were attempts by several members of the political elite to expose such issues so as to gain political leverage.

"What we see here is political retaliation by different groups among the elite. The disclosure of one case is countered by the disclosure of another case," he told journalists here on Thursday.

He said these disclosures were merely designed to taint the reputation of and, if possible, to dislodge political opponents.

Johan described how attempts to link several high-ranking members of President Abdurrahman Wahid's political party with a misuse of State Logistic Agency (Bulog) funds was countered by attempts to tarnish Golkar party chairman Akbar Tandjung with the House Savings (Taperum) fund.

"Eventually, the disclosure of the Taperum case was again countered by the disclosures about Bulog's extra-budgetary funds".

Johan lamented that with the sole purpose of undermining political opponents, the revelation of these cases failed to address the core problem of corruption and the non-acceptability of extra-budgetary funds.

"Every allocation and use of state funds must be approved by the House of Representatives. Logically, it must also be accounted for before the House," he told.

Presently, he continued, the government did not include extra- budgetary funds in the annual state budget, while accountability reports on the funds were also few and far between.

"This practice must be stopped immediately. There is no need for such funds because the annual budget already accounts for tactical and unanticipated expenditure," he added.

IPCOS, he said, would continue studying and investigating the existence and use of such funds in order to learn more about their nature and implications. (zen)