NGO coalition supports KPK

JAKARTA: A coalition of 39 non-governmental organizations grouped under the People's Anticorruption Movement (GeRAK) expressed support for the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and called on the newly formed state institution to focus on 10 cases this year.

Coordinator for the coalition, Sapto Waluyo, said on Friday the 10 corruption cases deserved priority due to the huge losses inflicted and the alleged involvement of state officials, including former president Soeharto.

Among the cases proposed are the misuse of Ministry of Finance Account No. 502 and the Bank BNI scam, which caused over Rp 19.4 trillion (US$2.3 billion) in losses between them, the misuse of Bank Indonesia liquidity loans, and alleged corruption involving Aceh governor Abdullah Puteh and businessman Nurdin Halid.

GeRAK also urged the KPK to publish an investigative report for the public, which was as accountable and transparent as the one they would submit to the House of Representatives, the President and the Supreme Audit Agency.

Members of the coalition include Indonesian Corruption Watchdog and Government Watch, who recently filed a report with the police on alleged corruption involving top officials in the Ministry of Religious Affairs. -- JP