VIVAnews - The impairment against independent anti-corruption organizations apparently does not only happen in Indonesia. Such action is also performed in other countries like South Korea, Nigeria and several countries in Eastern Europe.
The tendency indicates that the administration of a country, which was previously deemed democratic, is more likely to become an authoritative regime.
Saldi Isra, who attended the UN anti-corruption in Doha, Qatar learns that the impairment of anti-corruption agencies happen in South Korea. Korean Independent Commission Against Corruption (KICAC) was officially terminated in 2008. KICAC was officially merged with other countries’ commissions and named the ACRC by President Lee Myung Bak.
“South Korea considers KICAC disrupting the relationship between the government and entrepreneurs,” Isra said on Thursday, November 12.
Following the merger, one of KICAC commissioners, Kim Geo Sung was also criminalized by Lee’s administration. Kim experienced the same thing which is being dealt by Bibit and Chandra in Indonesia, being named suspect due to his proximity to NGOs in South Korea.
“Kim told the Coalition that the termination of KICAC by Lee’s administration was caused by the insignificant political support from the parliament that was dominated by the majority of pro-government parties,” Isra said.
Another anti-corruption organization impairment was done in Nigeria. Head of Nigerian Economic and Financial Crime Commission, Nuhu Ribadu was forced to give up his position by Nigerian government due to his role in unraveling major corruption cases.
Ribadu has been dealing with corruption cases among Nigerian politicians. One of the corruptors who were sent to prosecution by Ribadu was former Delta State Governor that was close to Nigerian President, Umaru Yar’Adua.
Extreme domestic pressures and threats even made Ribadu runaway to United States. He was bribed to stop a major case which was worth US$15 million and chose to reject it.
Isra, who is a constitutional law expert from Andalas University and the Director of PUSAKO, which is one of Indonesian civilians delegations in Doha, said Indonesia is currently facing the same issue.
“Looking at the tendency, the situation could be much worse than in South Korea and Nigeria,” he said.
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Translated by: Nataya Ermanti
