Two activists quizzed over graft criticism

Two activists quizzed over graft criticism

Nani Afrida, The Jakarta Post/Banda Aceh

Two anticorruption activists in Aceh were grilled on Tuesday by
local authorities, two days after they made harsh comments over
the allegedly rampant corruption in the war-torn province.

The two made the comments on Tuesday during a meeting between
residents and a visiting ministerial team that included
Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs
Adm. (ret) Widodo A.S. and high-ranking local officials, such as
Aceh Governor Abdullah Puteh.

Puteh was named a suspect in an ongoing case by the Corruption
Eradication Commission over an alleged mark-up in the purchase of
a Russian-made helicopter that caused Rp 4 billion (US$440,000)
in state losses.

"To sum up, there must be something wrong in Aceh. The poverty
and backwardness are apparently caused by the rampant corruption
among officials in Aceh," said Akhirudin in the meeting with
Teuku.

Emerging from the questioning on Thursday, activist Akhirudin,
29, described the session as normal and friendly. He and fellow
activist Teuku Kamal showed up on Thursday at the Aceh civil
emergency administration in accordance with a request for their
presence it had filed the previous day.

"During an hour of questioning, we were asked about our
earlier comment that some officials in Aceh had allegedly
committed corruption. There was nothing unusual about the
questioning," said Akhirudin, who was interrogated together with
activist Teuku Kamal.

During the interrogation, investigators from the Aceh civil
emergency administration also asked the activists about the
evidence that led them to conclude upon the officials'
involvement.

Aceh Civil Emergency Deputy Chief of Intelligence Sr. Comr.
Rusli Saleh, who led the questioning, refused to talk to
journalists afterwards.

"I am not authorized to talk to the media," he said.

The activists made their comments in the context of speaking
to the ministerial team on the poverty issue that prevails in
Aceh, although the province is known for being rich in natural
resources.

Poverty has been on a rising trend since 2001, said Akhirudin,
when those living on the edge of the poverty line comprised 20
percent of the 4 million-strong population, the figure had
increased to 33.8 percent by 2002. A year later, the figure rose
to 40.39 percent.

Similarly, unemployed and underemployed numbered 363,398
people two years ago, but a year later, the figure had risen to
417,930.