WB did not finance airport project

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