PRESIDENT LAUNCHES ASIA-PACIFIC DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008

Jakarta, June 12 (ANTARA) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono launched a UNDP report on development in Asia-Pacific in 2008 titled "Efforts to Fight Corruption, Changing Life" at the State Palace here on Thursday.

On the occasion, the head of state was accompanied by the United Nations Assistant Secretary General and UNDP Development Bureau Director Olav Kjorven, and Minister/ National Development Planning Board (Bappenas) Chairman Paskah Suzetta.

According to official information from the UNDP, the report gave a vivid account of how minor corruption cases in the region were slowly depriving the very weak groups in the population of opportunities, limiting their access to education and reducing basic health services.

The report also offered a glimpse into the innovative ways in which communities and governments in a number of countries in the region, including Indonesia, were strenuously fighting corruption.

It also carried President Yudhoyono's statements about fighting corruption and his promise that fighting corruption would be the main priority of his administration.

In the report, Yudhoyono was also quoted as saying that corruption had to be eradicated structurally and culturally.

"This country will be destroyed if we fail to stop corruption," Yudhoyono said.

The report also contains special contributions from Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) chairman Teten Masduki and Aceh-Nias Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Agency (BRR) chief Kuntoro Mangkusubroto.

UNDP also said in Asia-Pacific countries, politicians were considered the most corrupt group in government, followed by the police and legal institutions.

It said nearly one in every five people in the Asia-Pacific region had admitted to having ever given a bribe to police over the past few years.