WB did not finance airport project

On your column "Across the Archipelago" on Aug. 5, 2000, there was a story entitled Ketaping airport project "to resume". The fourth paragraph stated: "According to ICW, the airport project, which is to be funded by the World Bank, is tainted by corruption, collusion and nepotism (KKN)".

Although we share ICW's concern about KKN in Indonesia, we would like to confirm that the World Bank is not involved in the financing of the Ketaping Airport in Padang, West Sumatra. The World Bank has not financed any airport projects in Indonesia and is certainly not financing the new Padang airport.

We hope all parties concerned could make an effort to check facts before issuing any public statement. Our door is certainly open for this.

MOHAMAD AL-ARIEF

Communications Officer

World Bank Office, Jakarta