Elites reveal cases for self-interest
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)