Filmmakers to address Indonesia's intractable corruption

By Ahmad Pathoni Feb 6, 2012, 2:06 GMT

Jakarta - Indonesians face corruption daily - when dealing with the authorities, in schools or at work.

Although the country has achieved some success in fighting corruption since it embarked on wide-ranging reforms after the fall of the autocratic president Suharto in 1998, recent cases indicated the practice remains entrenched among officialdom.

But now a group of filmmakers, actors and anti-graft agencies have joined forces to produce four short films dealing with the issue, collectively titled Kita Versus Korupsi (Us Versus Corruption).

'Everybody knows corruption is wrong, but because it has become some sort of a culture, we have become too permissive of it in daily life,' said Abduh Aziz, who produced the films.

'Our films don't deal with big corruption but small corrupt acts we encounter daily,' he said. 'We hope with this effort, we can help to instil anti-corruption values.'

Abduh said the films would be shown for free in theatres in 17 major cities starting February 17.

Indonesia ranked 110th in Transparency International's 2010 corruption perceptions index. Denmark was given place number one, perceived as the least corrupt.

According to Indonesia Corruption Watch, a non-governmental watchdog, the country lost an estimated 2.13 trillion rupiah (238 million dollars) to corruption involving the bureaucracy in 2011.

The group said its study showed embezzlement accounted for more than half the money lost, followed by costs of made-up projects and official travel. Misappropriations and markups came next.

One of the films, a 16-minute short titled Aku Padamu (I Am Into You) follows a couple who decide to elope but cannot get married because they do not have the necessary documents.

The man wants to bribe officials, but the woman, whose father was involved in a corruption case, refuses.

'It's dangerous when young people think corruption is normal,' said Lasja Fauzia Susatyo, who directed I Am Into You.

'We've heard anti-corruption slogans, that corruption impoverishes us, that corruption is a form of injustice, but what have we done?' she asked. 'If each of us does our part, we believe we can make a difference in the fight against corruption.'

The leading characters in the film were played by famous local actors Nicholas Saputra and Revalina S Temat.

Susatyo said the directors and actors were not paid to take part in the project, which was supported by Transparency International Indonesia and the Corruption Eradication Commission, the government's main anti-graft agency.

'The film was made because we're concerned that the tentacles of corruption have pervaded our daily life and it has become systemic,' said Busyro Muqoddas, the commission's deputy chairman.

Since it was established in 2003, the commission has arrested and prosecuted former ministers, governors, legislators and other officials. Nearly all have been convicted in special corruption courts.

The agency is currently investigating a major corruption case implicating a former lawmaker and treasurer of the ruling Democratic Party, Muhammad Nazaruddin, 33.

Nazaruddin, who was arrested in Colombia August 7, was accused of involvement in corruption surrounding 32 projects worth 6 trillion rupiah.

He has accused other top Democratic Party officials, including chairman Anas Urbaningrum and Youth and Sports Minister Andi Mallarangeng, of taking part in corruption.

In another case that has transfixed the country, police revealed in 2010 that Gayus Tambunan, a mid-ranking tax official, had amassed 28 billion rupiah allegedly collected from businesses seeking favourable decisions in tax disputes.

But Tambunan, 32, then bribed his way out of pre-trial detention for trips to Nepal, the resort island of Bali and Singapore, drawing further criticism. He was sentenced to seven years and jailed in January 2011.

'We have a new generation of corrupters,' Aziz said. 'In the past, people involved in corruption were older, but we can see in the news that younger people have amassed huge wealth illegally.'

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said last week that fighting corruption remained at the top of his agenda despite criticism that he has not done enough in his second term.

'We realize that corruption eradication must be a national movement,' he said. 'Like an engine, every part must work. Like an orchestra, every member must play well.'