Big corruption cases have not been dealt with and people responsible for human rights atrocities have not been prosecuted. One of the most politically important issues, the need to deal with the corruption and human rights crimes of former President Suharto, has been stalled as the former dictator's doctors insist he is unfit for questioning. Environmental crimes also remain unpunished despite repeated threats of prosecution for companies starting forest fires or polluting the surrounding areas. In short, corrupt courts and a non-functional legal system present another huge obstacle to the sustainable use of natural resources and the livelihoods of local communities under decentralised government control. Corruption Indonesian remains one of the most corrupt countries in the world, 80th out of 85 in 1998 according to Transparency International ratings.
Corruption is an ever-present influence throughout the political hierarchy.
At central government level, corruption threatens to limit the extent to which authority is transferred to the regions. There will be ample opportunity for local officials to negotiate lucrative contracts, kickbacks and unofficial levies. Indonesia's judiciary, itself stained by corruption for decades, will not be trusted to take effective action against illegal practices until thoroughgoing reform has been carried out. Once again the best guard against the worst excesses will be a resilient and active local level democracy which requires its local government to be accountable to its electorate.