http://thejakartaglobe.com/home/un-turns-eye-on-anticorruption-clash/340875
November 10, 2009 Nivell Rayda The UN, whose initials are seen here on one of their customary white vehicles, will discuss the KPK case at an anticorruption conference in Doha. (Photo: Morteza Nikoubazl, Reuters) UN Turns Eye on Anticorruption Clash The ongoing battle between the National Police and the Corruption Eradication Commission has now drawn the attention of the United Nations. More than 1,000 delegates from 125 countries are meeting this week in Doha, Qatar, for a UN conference regarding its convention against corruption. Among the attendees will be Muhammad Jasin and Mas Achmad Santosa, deputy chairmen of the beleaguered anticorruption body, better known as the KPK. Commission spokesman Johan Budi told reporters in Jakarta on Tuesday that among the matters being discussed at the conference, which started the day before, was the recent arrest of KPK officials Bibit Samad Rianto and Chandra M Hamzah for alleged abuse of power and extortion. "The KPK shall make a presentation about the current corruption situation in Indonesia, including the case against Bibit and Chandra," he said. "Specifically on Bibit and Chandra, the KPK will explain the background and chronology of the case and the recent findings of the Team of Eight." Johan was referring to the fact-finding team appointed to review police handling of the case and subsequently found that the preliminary evidence was insufficient to name the deputies as suspects. The conference also invited several Indonesian antigraft activists, including Danang Widoyoko, chairman of Indonesia Corruption Watch, and Rezky Wibowo of Transparency International Indonesia. The watchdogs have already forwarded their reports to the UN conference on the country's fight against corruption, including their assessments of the KPK-Police conflict. "The KPK had shown positive steps in fighting corruption," Danang said. "But amid the battle to eradicate corruption, the body is facing political resistance, including from the Indonesian president who has done little to save the body, and the legislature, which has tried to reduce the KPK's authority." The assessments also cover the threats facing antigraft activists, including the use of defamation laws to silence critics. The UN conference will conclude on Friday. Indonesia became a signatory to the UN convention against corruption in December 2003, effectively supporting measures to combat corruption affecting state laws, institutions and practices. Indonesia however was slow to adopt the treaty, with the government only ratifying the convention in September 2006. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
