Jakarta
The Indonesian government this week moved to dispel rumors that corrupt officials were siphoning off money donated for tsunami relief. Officials promised to provide detailed accounts of the millions of dollars received in aid. “We will announce every month, on the 26th, the money we receive,” said Welfare Minister Alwi Shihab. “We will list all contributions and where it is going, to avoid any suspicion.” Indonesia was the nation hit hardest by the December tsunami, with 96,000 people confirmed dead and another 124,000 still missing. It is also widely regarded as one of the most corrupt and bribery-prone countries in the world.
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