Sulawesi citizens also turn to IMF

JAKARTA (JP): Southeast Sulawesi residents have also turned to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) -- not to beg for money, but to discipline their allegedly corrupt governor, La Ode Kaimoeddin.

A group of disgruntled citizens has written the IMF, asking it to punish Kaimoeddin for corruption and for having past links with the outlawed Indonesian Communist Party.

Their spokesman, Andry Djufri, said the group looked to the IMF after the government turned a blind eye to their reports.

"We believe the IMF will do something because it has become 'our uncle', helping Indonesia handle its economic crisis," he said.

Confident the group will not be able to prove their allegations, the governor responded to reports of the letter with loud laughter. He challenged them to file a complaint with other agencies and also offered to fund their expenses.

"It's an age of democracy. People are free to file their complaints to any agency, including the IMF," he told Antara. (pan)