Relief aid test case in graft fight: Alwi
Relief aid test case in graft fight: Alwi
Reuters, Banda Aceh
With billions of dollars in reconstruction money set to pour into
tsunami-ravaged Aceh province, the government sees disbursement
as a test case in its battle to curb endemic corruption.
Chief social welfare minister Alwi Shihab said on Wednesday
the government wanted to improve the image of the country, seen
as one of the world's most corrupt.
"The government is interested in creating a positive image. So
this is a test case for the government," Alwi told Reuters in an
interview.
He has been in charge of coordinating relief operations on the
ground and has effectively been running the local government in
the absence of the province's governor who is in jail in Jakarta
on trial over corruption charges.
The Dec. 26 earthquake and massive killer waves have killed
more than 105,000 people in Indonesia, most of them in the
province on the northern tip of Sumatra island.
Alwi said President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had invited non-
governmental organizations to take part in the supervision and
auditing of the relief money, adding anyone who pocketed funds
would be punished.
"He has also warned those who have something in their minds in
terms of their usual practices, that they will be severely
punished," Alwi said.
Indonesia was ranked the fifth-most corrupt country in the
world last year by Berlin-based watchdog Transparency
International. Graft has long been endemic, and is a major
obstacle to foreign investment, as well as irritating ordinary
Indonesians who often need to grease palms.
As he toured Banda Aceh, the province's capital, in his silver
station wagon, Alwi said rebuilding the infrastructure and fixing
the region's shattered economy could cost more than double the
original estimate of US$1 billion.
"If you want to reconstruct, get the economy back on track, I
don't think one billion would be sufficient ... more than double
that," said the minister.
Alwi said the disaster had dealt a devastating blow to the
local economy, which was finally showing signs of recovery after
decades of civil strife between the military and separatist
rebels who have been fighting for independence.
"The economy was starting to pick up. The impact of the
tsunami is tremendous ... I think no one can ever imagine what
the impact is, and the economy of course is in a state of almost
collapse," he said.
"It will take years, not months, to see the economy active."
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