Member of Papua Provincial Legislative Threatens Activists

Harsh criticism made by activists in Papua over the unproper and unacceptable distribution of social assistance fund (BANSOS) to 10 members of provincial legislative body is responded with a threat of “buried alive.”

The information about the allegedly wrong distribution target of the social fund known publicly through local media after Indonesia Audit Agency (BPK) releases its financial audit report on 6 July 2013. This issue now becoming a snowling ball rolling to hit many more.

According to the decree of Interior Ministry No. 32/2011 and amended to No. 39/2012, the social funds are basically disbursed to individuals or households for social purposes due to social, economy and political crisis or natural disasters. But reportedly, none of the social purposes in the law fit with the disbursement of social funds to members of parliament.

One of the legislative members claims that he does not know the fund he received is taken from social fund; therefore he can not be blamed for such action. But such argument is not rational as public still wonder why he still wants the money in the first place if he, as a legislative member, has money more than enough to pay his needs. Public has been made perplexed and angry.

Even, Kustaf Kawer, a human rights lawyer who was this year honoured Lawyers of Lawyers Award in Amesterdam said that the legislative member who claims does not know the source of funding is disgraceful.

Gustaf is now inviting activists to take the case further and proposing the case to be proceeded for formal and legal investigation and hopes that Indonesia Eradication Commission (KPK) handles the case.

It is reportedly that the beneficiaries are not only legislative members but also military and police officials, and even special advisor to the president of Indonesia and special advisor to the former governor of Papua. In fact, the funds received by legislative members and several officials are to pay their children school fees, individual post-graduate fees, medical check-up, and build houses and to conduct research.

Ironically, the special advisor to President of Indonesia, Felix Wanggai, receives fund amounting Rp. 200 million (US$20,000) for book printing of 3.000 copies. The book is to promote development made by Indonesia president; and special advisor to former governor, Agus Sumule, receives Rp. 300 millions (US$30,000) for his research. This practice has caused state loss of over Rp. 110 billion (US$ 11 million).

The threat of ‘buried alive’ is made by the head of Commission D, Provincial legislative body , Yan Yamdenas.

He said, as quoted in local outlet Tabloidjubi, I challenge Steve Waramuri, Robert Jitmau, Budi Setiyanto, Victor Mambor and Marinus Yaung to immediately reveal all the names receiving social fund; not just targeting legislative members. Within two days, no more data revealed, I ask them to be buried alive.”

Although this is still a threat and probably will not take place, as I believe, the threat should be considered a rare and unordinary phenomenon in a country which has subscribed to democracy and good governance principles.

In a democracy society, social control by public is important to improve the practice of democracy and prevent power being corrupted and abused. Criticism is an effective instrument of social control and this is to show how people are active in monitoring and controlling the behaviours of those in power.

Robert Jitmau, one of the threatened individuals, comments in his facebook, “ critics and advice we give is a part of social control to clean and free you from corruption and make you a person with high integrity. We do this simply because we love you not hate you.”

Abraham Samad, head of KPK, once argues that corruption in Indonesia is caused by two factors. The “Need” and “Greed.” Often hearing that people with low income are vulnerable to corruption because life is expensive and they need more money to pay basic needs. Conversely, high income are less corrupted.

However, the fact shows that most high income people do corruption. This shows that high income does not necessarily mean less corruption as people never feel satisfied with their needs and can be greedy sometimes.

While waiting for the case of the misuse of the social fund to be resolved legally, public in Papua has made their mind and commit not to casting their votes for the 10 legislative members for legislative seats in the next election sccheduled next year. Public have lost trust and start to question their integrity.

ENDS

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