Will the WB be persecuted?

It is widely reported in the world press that Indonesian officials are believed to have siphoned off more than 20 percent of money earmarked for World Bank projects. It is an entrenched culture of corruption -- the August 1997 report says so.

This is a poignant cynicism to government law enforcement authorities who have threatened to prosecute social workers if they cannot bring forward victims of gang rapes committed against Chinese women and children during the May racial violence, which they have undauntedly exposed to the whole world.

Will the World Bank be persecuted by the same reason? We hope they have got the guts to uphold the honor of Indonesia.

WIDIJARTO ADIWONO

Jakarta