Bali – The G20 Country members represent 90% of the global GDP. Strategically, G20 is essential in securing future global economic growth and welfare. G20, however, is not excluded from challenges in achieving its agenda. One of these challenges is the corruption issue. It is essential to push forward anti-corruption policy and program implementation among the G20 members.
Anti Corruption Working Group (ACWG) C20 consists of civil society organizations seeking to provide insights regarding anti-corruption issues in the G20 state members. The Road to C20 Summit webinar themed, “Anti Corruption Message for the G20 Leaders,” focused on the East Indonesian area, was held as one of the pre-summit events on 23 September 2022. The event also announced winners from the Instagram content competition and a representative of People Caravan from the same theme.
Mouna Wasef, Advocacy Manager of PWYP Indonesia, held the moderator role in this webinar. The event was opened with a speech by Aryanto Nugroho, National Coordinator of PWYP Indonesia, as well as co-chair of C20. The first speaker to share his idea was Dadang Tri Sasongko, the ACWG Co-Chair of C20. Dadang delivered key messages for G20 leaders, which include increasing G20 accountability through sharpening targets and reporting, building a shared learning process among G20 members, and prioritizing collaboration with civil society through meaningful and sustainable consultations. Lastly, strengthening the commitment of G20 leaders to involve civil society in monitoring and evaluating the implementation of anti-corruption programs. Dadang also added that the widespread corruption practice that is rooted and systemic both globally and nationally poses a threat to the welfare of the people, including in Maluku and Papua.
The next speaker, Nurkholis Hidayat, Founder and Managing Partner of Lokataru, stated that the problem of corruption in natural resource management in Papua should be a common concern. One of the efforts to tackle this concern is encouraging the disclosure of beneficial corporate ownership. Because many business owners and officials cover up their wealth, the assets reported in the State Administrators Wealth Report (LHKPN) do not show their actual wealth. Furthermore, lawyers, accountants, notaries, and bankers are backed up by business people and state officials. Therefore, Nurkholis encourages the community’s participation in pursuing Asset Confiscation Law ratification and reporting corruption cases in the vicinity.
Siti Juliantari Rachman, the Deputy Coordinator of ICW, elaborated that until now, Indonesia still needs to become a member of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). Several FATF recommendations must be implemented by the government, including encouraging disclosure of beneficial ownership, politically exposed persons, and contracts for natural resource management. With procurement contracts to be opened, the community can become monitors and supervisors to procure government goods and services more appropriately.
Norita Maria Wabia from SPAK Papua revealed corruption related to governance that often occurs in Papua and West Papua, often in the procurement of goods. For instance, corruption cases in speedboats are used to take residents for treatment. Another case would be the road budget which soared 50% from the original. As Papuans, Norita emphasized that it is essential for us to continue to encourage improvements in the governance system, including the management of natural resources, such as forests in Papua, because for the Papuan people, forests are supermarkets, and forests are our mother.
Several questions and responses made the panel more engaging. One of the questions that arose was how is the form of public supervision of bureaucratic corruption itself. Dadang replied that the public must first be agitated when they hear about the corruption case around them and that they are moved to monitor the bureaucrats. Therefore, there is a need for education related to politics and corruption so people would take the initiative to report. Tari also added that there are many channels for reporting acts of corruption, making it easier for the public to register. Tari also added that institutions help oversee the reporting of corruption, one of which is ICW.
Coming to the closing session, the organizing committee announced the winners of the Instagram content competition with the “Anti-Corruption Message for G20 Leaders” theme, as well as the representative for the People Caravan from ACWG for the C20 Summit. Anugrah Amin Ignatius Julio Wejai from Biak, Papua won first place. The second place goes to Patrichia Angelica Bemey from Jayapura, Papua, while the third place goes to Sangaji Nurfauzi Kinarso from Ambon, Maluku.
Writer and Translator: Ersya Safhira Nailuvar
Reviewer: Chitra Regina Apris & Mouna Wasef