Armed Bookworms
28-01-2005, 22:54
http://www.smh.com.au/news/Asia-Tsunami/Arrest-mars-Aceh-aid-effort/2005/01/27/1106415736687.html?oneclick=true
log: guest23
pass: guest23
Arrest mars Aceh aid effort
By Mark Forbes in Banda Aceh and Matthew Moore in Jakarta
January 28, 2005
The head of an anti-corruption watchdog who last week accused Indonesian officials of inflating refugee numbers to boost aid payments has been arrested for allegedly diverting large quantities of aid.
In a furore that threatens to undermine faith in the $10 billion relief effort, Farid Faqih, chairman of Government Watch and a leading United Nations contractor in Aceh, was in police custody yesterday after being apprehended by Indonesian air force officers.
Last night the United Nations said it was conducting its own investigation into the claims.
But at a press conference in Jakarta, Government Watch representatives insisted Mr Faqih had removed the aid for safekeeping.
A spokesman for the Indonesian military, Colonel D. J. Nachrowi, told the Herald that Mr Faqih had improperly removed medical supplies, hundreds of cooking stoves and other aid from the central depot at Banda Aceh airport.
Mr Faqih was arrested with three members of the Islamic Defenders Front, who allegedly assisted in the removal. The military then found large quantities of international aid in three warehouses operated by Mr Faqih.
"Mr Faqih took goods that were clearly not his," Colonel Nachrowi said.
Mr Faqih appeared to have been badly beaten, but Colonel Nachrowi said it was unclear who was responsible.
Last week Mr Faqih claimed the number of refugees in some Aceh camps has been significantly inflated by local officials seeking to get more aid.
Meanwhile, the New Zealand Government has ordered an investigation into allegations that its relief flights out of Aceh unknowingly carried people who bribed officials to get on board.
The UN isn't corrupt at all. All these instances of corruption are completely unrelated, I assure you.
log: guest23
pass: guest23
Arrest mars Aceh aid effort
By Mark Forbes in Banda Aceh and Matthew Moore in Jakarta
January 28, 2005
The head of an anti-corruption watchdog who last week accused Indonesian officials of inflating refugee numbers to boost aid payments has been arrested for allegedly diverting large quantities of aid.
In a furore that threatens to undermine faith in the $10 billion relief effort, Farid Faqih, chairman of Government Watch and a leading United Nations contractor in Aceh, was in police custody yesterday after being apprehended by Indonesian air force officers.
Last night the United Nations said it was conducting its own investigation into the claims.
But at a press conference in Jakarta, Government Watch representatives insisted Mr Faqih had removed the aid for safekeeping.
A spokesman for the Indonesian military, Colonel D. J. Nachrowi, told the Herald that Mr Faqih had improperly removed medical supplies, hundreds of cooking stoves and other aid from the central depot at Banda Aceh airport.
Mr Faqih was arrested with three members of the Islamic Defenders Front, who allegedly assisted in the removal. The military then found large quantities of international aid in three warehouses operated by Mr Faqih.
"Mr Faqih took goods that were clearly not his," Colonel Nachrowi said.
Mr Faqih appeared to have been badly beaten, but Colonel Nachrowi said it was unclear who was responsible.
Last week Mr Faqih claimed the number of refugees in some Aceh camps has been significantly inflated by local officials seeking to get more aid.
Meanwhile, the New Zealand Government has ordered an investigation into allegations that its relief flights out of Aceh unknowingly carried people who bribed officials to get on board.
The UN isn't corrupt at all. All these instances of corruption are completely unrelated, I assure you.