Standing: Giri Suprapdiono (KPK), Todd Dias (DFAT), Pahala Nainggolan (KPK), Saut Situmorang (KPK), Bradley Armstrong (DFAT), Kris Sulisto (IABC), Lucia Karina (IABC), Craig Ewers (AIPJ), David Sutanto (IABC). Sitting: Lucia Pietropaoli (DFAT), Michael Helleman (AusTrade), Peter Fanning (IABC).
Peter Fanning, Hutabarat Halim & Rekan, Vice President IABC
The Australian Embassy offered the opportunity to the IABC to establish a direct relationship with the KPK (Indonesia’s Corruption Eradication Commission). The IABC readily accepted, as it highly values the work of the KPK, and wishes to be seen to supporting the Embassy’s excellent work in the promotion of justice, of which working with KPK is part. The Australian Government has supported the KPK since its inception through the Australia Indonesia Partnership for Justice or AIPJ - through which all its justice support funds and support are channelled. Now came the opportunity for the IABC to offer the at least the moral support which awareness and direct contact can generate.
Representatives of KPK, the embassy and the IABC met on 24 May 2016, the first meeting of this kind. The photo shows the assembled suspects. Where to from here depends on perceived benefits of further communication.
The KPK representatives present were certainly positive in their hopes for benefit.
Vice Chairman Saut Situmorang stated that while KPK has focussed on government officials, their data showed that the highest number of suspects were in the private sector. Deputy Chairman for prevention Pahala Nainggolan explained that planning was underway, but technical assistance was needed to develop a comprehensive private sector engagement strategy.
Craig Ewers (AIPJ consultant) and Lucia Pietropaoli (DFAT) explained that through AIPJ, Australia was supporting anti-corruption initiatives in schools and communities. The interventions were based on research highlighting that corruptive behaviours are often linked to family and community values. The Saya Perempuan Anti-Korupsi (SPAK) movement and related anti-corruption tools focused on educating women and children and empowering them to detect and prevent corruption.
(However, it is hard to relate the respect if not fear generated in Australian children with the disdain with which Indonesian children regard their local constabulary. Police themselves do not appear to act with anything like dignity. It is hard to generalise, but the local copper taking a role in the local football team, along with the local headmaster, seems to be missing on the Indonesian scene. Perhaps local police need to be seen around the mosque more often).
The AIPJ program will recruit a short-term adviser to support the KPK to develop a Private Sector Engagement strategy and as sess the suitability of anti-corruption models and approaches from other countries for Indonesia.
Pahala Nainggolan and Peter Fanning will act as points of contact for their respective organisations in the hope that this initiative can develop.
