Posted on 01/19/2005 1:42:22 AM PST by nickcarraway
JAKARTA (AFP): Foreign donors providing billions of dollars of tsunami aid for Indonesia should not fear the funds will be swindled through corruption, Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda said on Wednesday.
Concerns that the funds could be embezzled by Indonesian officials were "unnecessary" because the money would be managed and disbursed collectively by representatives of the donor countries and the United Nations, said Hassan.
"There should not be any doubts because we have similar interests to (ensure) a transparent and accountable management of the money," he told reporters here.
Half of US$10 billion of foreign aid on the table has been earmarked for Indonesia, which bore the brunt of the Dec. 26 quake and tsunami with some 115,000 fatalities mostly in Aceh province.
Reconstruction is expected to last for years and require $5 billion according to the World Bank.
The Transparency International graft watchdog ranks Indonesia in its top 10 of worst offenders, with an ungovernable reputation for kickbacks, collusion and bribery that has scared away badly needed foreign investment.
Aceh's governor Abdullah Puteh is behind bars at the moment, accused in a helicopter purchase embezzlement scam worth $100,000 dollars.
New President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who has described his country's lack of probity as the laughing stock of Asia, said after the disaster that the misappropriation of relief funds would not be tolerated.
So what he is saying is:"Don't worry about Indonesian officals embezzling the money, because U.N. officials will do it before they have a chance.
You can't make this stuff up.
Said that with a strait face too I bet. I'm sure the irony went right over his head.
Well, that's reassuring.
I feel all better now.../s
The guy's either a complete moron or he's stuffing his friggin' pockets right now....
"Concerns that the funds could be embezzled by Indonesian officials were "unnecessary" because the money would be managed and disbursed collectively by representatives of the donor countries and the United Nations, said Hassan. "
Having the UN involved really makes me warm and fuzzy. LOL
It was amazing speech! You almost didn't see Kofi Cups lips move while he was talking...or the pile of money Kofi handed him after that speech.
Alert the Swiss banks that a tsunammi of cash is on the way!
Raise your hands if you believe this laugher ... IMO, the victims will be lucky - damned lucky - to see a penny on the dollar. The rest stuck in UN pockets, Indonesian despot pockets, and the rest "donated" to Islamic charities whose main occupation is jihad.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.