Indonesia: April 12, 2002

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A national opinion survey found that 65 percent of families had suffered from government corruption. Traffic cops, the courts and the customs department were seen as the most corrupt, while religious groups the least corrupt. Some 75 percent of businesses reported paying bribes and 48 percent of public officials admitted to receiving them. About ten percent of people reported corruption cases, but 70 percent said they didn't even know where to report. Indonesia, like most developing nations, have finally become convinced that economic growth can only come if there is a reliable legal system and honest government officials. It's difficult to achieve this, most nations get it by conquest (a colonial power comes in and imposes efficient government.) Violence in Aceh left seven people dead. There is some dispute about the identity of the dead.