Despite the government’s ongoing antigraft efforts, corruption remains a serious problem in Indonesia, prompting more calls for tougher measures to eradicate the crime.

During the period of 1999-2017, 32 regional heads or deputy heads in Central Java were convicted in corruption cases, the Investigation Committee for the Eradication of Corruption, Collusion and Nepotism (KP2KKN) Central Java revealed in Semarang on Saturday.

Meanwhile, from 2012 to 2017, 52 legislative council (DPRD) members implicated in corruption cases in Central Java were prosecuted.

“This shows that this province is still a region in a corruption state of emergency,” said Ronny Maryanto, the budget and political corruption division head of the KP2KKN Central Java, a coalition of NGOs.

He further explained that to uncover corruption cases implicating regional heads, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) carried out sting operations in six regions. KPK prosecutors arrested Tegal Mayor Siti Masitha Soeparno in their latest operation in August after they apprehended Klaten regent Sri Hartini in an earlier operation. Siti Masitha’s legal process is still ongoing and her status remains a suspect. Meanwhile, Sri Hartini was sentenced to 11 years in prison during a hearing at the Semarang Corruption Court in November.

KP2KKN Central Java data show 16 out of 52 DPRD members implicated in corruption cases came from Semarang.

DPRD Boyolali ranks second in legislative councils with the highest number of members being implicated in corruption cases, Ronny said without giving details.

“There is an indication that they committed corruption because of the high political costs they must incur when they ran for election. They attempted to recoup the huge sums of money they had spent during the elections,” said Ronny, while calling for stricter regulation of campaign funds.

This year’s International Anticorruption Day, celebrated across Indonesia on Saturday, was a wake-up call on the need for tougher measures to fight corruption.

Meanwhile a rally held by Indonesian Catholic Students Association (PMKRI) members on Saturday to celebrate Anticorruption Day in front of the Ruteng Police office in Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara, descended into chaos.

A number of police officers were reported to have choked and beaten several PMKRI members after allegations of corruption were made. The incident began when the protesters cited alleged corruption cases in Manggarai and East Manggarai in their speeches and chants. They also protested rampant illegal-levy collection allegedly committed by traffic police officers in the two regencies.

The PMKRI members asked for a dialogue with Manggarai Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Marselis Sarimin Karong but got no response. They later expressed their disappointment at a line of police officers who responded with physical attacks.

In Bali, an Anticorruption Festival event was held by 16 communities from areas across the province with support from the KPK.

A performance of the latest song by the prison band Antrabez, entitled “Alam Bernyanyi”, drew the most attention during a sunny afternoon at I Gusti Ngurah Made Agung Square in Denpasar, popularly known as Puputan Badung Square, on Saturday. With several prison guards among the audience, the band of Kerobokan Penitentiary inmates echoed the spirit of the fight against corruption.

“Let’s fight against corruption!” shouted Febri, the vocalist.

Antrabez was formed among inmates of Kerobokan prison last year. Now, only three of the six band members are still doing time inside the prison.

“Although we are convicts, we are eager to be part of the anticorruption campaign. Corruption should be fought,” said Octav, the guitarist.

Antrabez contributed “Alam Bernyanyi” to a compilation album entitled Puputan Melawan Korupsi (Puputan against corruption), the album contains 11 tracks by 11 bands or artists. Copies were distributed to visitors for free, along with anticorruption stickers, pins and other paraphernalia.

KPK commissioner Saut Situmorang said the Bali Anticorruption Festival was an inspirational anticorruption movement driven by local wisdom. “Puputan was an historic Balinese struggle and now the values live on in the fight against corruption,” he said.

The title Puputan Lawan Korupsi is taken from the spirit of Puputan Badung, a bloody battle between Balinese warriors and Dutch imperial forces.

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