Kuntoro may have to deal with power-oriented projects
Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Controlling billions of dollars of funds and equipped with the authority to grant lucrative tenders, Aceh and Nias reconstruction and rehabilitation agency head Kuntoro Mangkusubroto may have to deal with power-oriented projects, a corruption watch warns.
Ridayat La Ode Ngkowe, the Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW) project manager monitoring Aceh and Nias development, said Kuntoro's clean track record would be put to test as companies linked to the political elite would fight for win his approval when the bids for wide-ranging reconstruction projects in the tsunami-devastated areas opens in June.
"We not sure whether Kuntoro can resist these powerful figures who are interested in various infrastructure development projects in Aceh and Nias," Ridayat said.
Ridayat said the appointment of the former energy and mineral resources minister helped ease fears of possible abuse of the massive reconstruction funds in a country whose bureaucrats are notorious for corrupt practices.
The agency will manage some Rp 46.1 trillion (US$4.8 billion) in reconstruction funds over the next four years, award tenders to the private sector for reconstruction works, and deal with foreign donor countries and agencies.
Kuntoro was appointed after the government completed a blueprint for the reconstruction of Aceh and Nias.
"One of Kuntoro's challenges in implementing the blueprint will be how to deal with Acehnese survivors who wish to return to their original settlements in coastal areas, whereas the blueprint bans rebuilding of homes along much of the coast to minimize the risk of future tsunamis," said Ridayat.
He suggested that Kuntoro review the blueprint because it had been made based on "imaginative data" in the field.
"Taking one of many examples, there will be more buildings and schools in Aceh than before the disaster struck the province," he said.
"We deem the blueprint as 'corruption by design', therefore Kuntoro and his team must thoroughly review it."
Meanwhile, Acehnese figure and former House of Representatives legislator Gazhali Abbas expressed skepticism that the agency could heed Acehnese aspirations, saying that most of the figures appointed to the body "lack knowledge about Acehnese people."
"I guess most Acehnese people only recognize him as a little- known state official from Jakarta," he said.
Gazhali accused the government of maintaining a militaristic style in dealing with humanitarian and social problems in Aceh following the disaster by appointing chief security minister and former Indonesian Military commander Widodo A.S. to chair the agency's advisory team.
"The rehabilitation and reconstruction process in Aceh is a part of humanitarian and social work; it has nothing to do with security. The appointment of Widodo has raised speculation that only a few Acehnese aspirations may be heard," Gazhali said.
Aceh was declared a military operation zone between 1989 and 1998, and was put under martial law between 2003 and 2004 as the government attempted to quell the separatist movement that began in 1976.
The United States welcomed Kuntoro's appointment and would support his efforts to ensure transparency and accountability of the funds made available for the reconstruction program.
"Dr. Kuntoro is a skilled and decisive leader and we look forward to working with him to address the needs of affected communities," U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia B. Lynn Pascoe said in a statement.