'Indonesian law toothles against corruption'

'Indonesian law toothles against corruption'

ID Nugroho and Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post,
Surabaya/Jakarta

Nahdlatul Ulama chairman Hasyim Muzadi called for a moral
movement to eradicate corruption because the law had proven
toothless.

"Our law no longer has the courage, therefore corruption
eradication must begin with a moral movement," Hasyim said during
a press conference at the Al-Hikam boarding school he runs in
Malang, East Java.

The conference precedes the planned declaration on Monday of a
national anticorruption movement spearheaded by NU and
Muhammadiyah, the country's two largest Muslim organizations.

"A synergy between moral and legal movements will result in a
system which will give birth to clean leaders. We expect only the
clean to be elected in 2004," Hasyim said.

He said the moral movement would encourage people to avoid any
form of corruption, such as giving "presents" to state officials.

Playing down any political motives behind the movement, Hasyim
asserted the anticorruption campaign was not meant to discredit
any certain political party or the government.

Corruption, collusion and nepotism were blamed for the
economic crisis that hit the country in 1997, which led to the
reform movement and regime change.

However, many critics accuse the new regime of failing to
clean up the country, with corruptors remaining undeterred as
they take advantage of weak law enforcement.

Loopholes in Indonesian law have allow many convicted
corrupters to remain free or to receive light sentences, injuring
the people's sense of justice.

Underlining their concern with corruption in the country, both
NU and Muhammadiyah, which have 70 million members between them,
said the movement would only work with the complete backing of
the entire nation.

"With the declaration (of the movement), we wish to clear all
the stumbling blocks to our efforts to eradicate corruption and
bring the corruptors to justice," Hasyim said.

The declaration will take place on Monday at the Al-Hikam
boarding school.

State Minister for National Development Planning Kwik Kian
Gie, Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Rokhmin Dahuri,
Indonesian Communion of Churches deputy chairman Rev. Yewanggoe
and Roeslan Abdul Gani are scheduled to attend the declaration in
a show of support.

The launch of the moral movement follows a memorandum of
understanding signed on Oct. 15 by NU, Muhammadiyah and
facilitator the Partnership for Government Reform.

The Indonesian Bishops Council, representing the Catholic
church, has declared its support for the anticorruption movement
and will issue an election guide asking Catholics to vote for
politicians untainted by corruption.

As part of the movement, NU and Muhammadiyah will draw up
guidelines for their followers in dealing with corruption and
impose moral sanctions against any members involved in
corruption.

To lead by example, the two organizations will adopt open
management to ensure transparency and accountability.

Hasyim criticized President Megawati Soekarnoputri for her
reluctance to take harsh measures against corruption because, as
she has said, she does not want to be accused of human rights
violations.

"Corrupters themselves are human rights abusers. Law
enforcement officials should have no hesitation in taking tough
action," he said.

Muhammadiyah chairman Syafii Maarif said that as part of the
moral movement, the organization would introduce an annual
internal audit that would also apply to all legal entities under
Muhammadiyah.

"To uphold public accountability, we will assign a public
accountant to do the audit," Syafii told The Jakarta Post.

"For our members, should they be found involved in corruption,
they will be dismissed from Muhammadiyah."