Your Letters: July 25

Clarification To Vanishing Bank Funds Article

Regarding the article, “Embezzled Bank Funds Vanish Into Thin Air as Investigators Close In” (July 15), we would like to clarify and correct the reported news.

The Indonesia Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (INTRAC/PPATK) has never given any information as stated in the Globe, including the quotation. In an interview conducted by a Globe reporter by telephone, it was conveyed that the INTRAC would give its assistance to the investigator if needed.

In addition, please be informed that the INTRAC currently has no investigators and has never found any fund transactions by presidential and vice presidential candidates. For those reasons, the INTRAC will be in no way responsible for the reporting conducted by the Globe. In this circumstance, we advise the Globe could do its duty and function as regulated by Law No. 40/1999 concerning the press and the validity of the journalism code of ethics.

Thank you for your attention and cooperation.

Wahyu Hidayat
Deputy Head
INTRAC


Why the Election For BPK Chairman Should Be Delayed

There is currently strong pressure to prioritize and speed up the process of electing the chairman and members of the State Audit Board (BPK) at the House of Representatives Commission XI.

The problem is, is it really that urgent for the commission, which will soon be ending its tenure, to conduct the elections for the BPK chairman and its members? Wouldn’t it be much better if the elections were conducted by the next House of Representatives, which will serve in the 2009-2014 period?

As we know, BPK is a higher state institution that holds a very strategic role in upholding good governance in Indonesia. Considering the importance of the institution, it is an absolute requirement that the leadership of BPK is entirely “clean.”

A clean and independent new BPK leadership can only be attained if the selection process of its members is free of any “money” and political interests.

Unfortunately, the selection process for the members of this institution has not been transparent from early on, opening suspicion that it is full of conflicts of interest, especially of those House members who are about to leave.

It then comes as no surprise that rumors have been circulating that the BPK chairman and members will be coming from House Commission XI itself, with four of the seven members being legislators from that particular commission.

This is certainly very worrisome, especially considering that several House members have been, or are still, implicated in corruption cases.

Some are still being processed legally, others have already been convicted and jailed. It makes sense then that the public doubts the credibility of members of the House Commission XI.

Based on this, we ask that those with the ability to elect the chairman and members of the BPK postpone the election process so that the process can then be made more open and also involve the public.

Hopefully, by postponing the elections, this republic will be able to have a BPK chairman and members who are much more credible, clean and responsible. And that good governance can take place in Indonesia in the near future. Hopefully.

Has Suta Widhya
Executive director of KUTIP (Konsorsium Untuk Transparansi Informasi Publik)
Email: Ism_Kutip@yahoo.com
http: //kutip.blogspot.com


What You Spend On Resistance, You Earn in Resistance

I am demoralized to see that the moment that the government has some money, it is spent to kill.

These people must be scared of something. The enemies they created? As long as you protect these sinners, they will not change, to expose them is surely better so they become ashamed of themselves.

It is from inside that things will have to change. We have to transform to change the world ourselves. It is the only way.

Religions have tried for thousands of years to change the world and the only thing which has changed is their bank accounts.

Let’s suppose that this warmongering is to protect against terrorists. One cannot combat hate by hating back. The Army’s way is to kill. Is that not a most immoral way to settle a dispute? Don’t you think it would be much better to make friends ? To give them a better chance with love?

Imagine all the money you could spend to help the needy if you dropped this Army business. I do not mean just distribute assistance. Help them to help themselves. We could change the world

The children would not have to be hungry any more. The parents would not have to face stress because there is no greed. What should be encouraged is to love everything, not to fight. To make each other happy. To help where there is a problem and not just close our eyes.

That’s my wish. Not being bombed, burned, gassed, poisoned, tortured or killed. Who has the right to do that anyway?

Roland Dulac

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