We urge the government to continue this commendable move and to include all other victims of human rights violations of the past. Also, we urge the Government of Indonesia to revoke the legislation that restricts and denies them of their civil rights. The policy of decentralisation is a key measure to address the economic injustice suffered by the provinces. There is a risk that conflict over resources, corruption, military influence, and environmental degradation could continue or even increase with decentralisation. Efforts are needed to strengthen local governments' institutional capacity and their accountability to local stakeholders by introducing a check and balances system.
Corruption also contributes to the fragility of the Indonesian economy.
In addition, corruption also violates the economic rights of the Indonesian people. The symbol for KKN is Soeharto and his family and cronies that are not yet prosecuted and brought to court. We believe that the new government of President Abdurrahman Wahid genuinely and seriously intends to fight corruption and to establish a clean government - one example being the appointment of Marzuki Darusman as Attorney General. Yet, it remains to be seen which real actions will be taken to prosecute the corrupt officials and to recover the stolen money. Unless corruption is eliminated consistently, and not just rhetorically, the economic recovery will be undermined and the implementation of development projects will still be at risk by the high level of corruption.