Bribe and corruption violate
people’s right to development in Afghanistan
Dr. James C. Dabhi
July 20, 2010
Bribe and corruption are not new to south Asian countries; Afghanistan may be
topping the list. Some may say it is a way of life here. Bribe and corruption
are haraam (an Arabic term meaning forbidden) but people in power and position
thrive on it.
Afghan and foreign officials have been under attack for being corrupt. There
have been public charges blaming each other for the rampant corruption
surrounding aid spending. Afghan officials say most of the corruption is due to
the fact that foreign contractors and NGOs control the aid. Afghan Justice
Minister Habibullah Ghalib recently told reporters in Kabul, "The foreigners
come here and wipe their dirty hands on our clean clothes." But international
officials generally defend the foreign NGOs' record and transparency. They argue
that the international aid is generally well spent and there are good audit
controls in place to ensure that it meets the needs of the people.
Eliminating corruption has become the top priority for the government in
Afghanistan and it will be an issue discussed in Kabul conference. The agenda if
translated into to action has a huge political and economic implication for
those who reap the benefits of corruption (in Afghanistan and outside).
Therefore scepticism among the masses about the political-will of the higher ups
in implementing the agenda is understandable.
According to a recent survey by Integrity Watch Afghanistan, the average
Afghan household pays out an estimated $100 US in petty bribes every year. With
approximately 70 percent of the population surviving on less than $1 US per day,
the burden on families is enormous. A staggering sum of $100-250 million USD is
paid in bribes every year. To put it in relevant terms, this is equivalent to
half the national development budget for 2006. Rupert Colville of the UN Office
of the High Commissioner for Human Rights reported, “The main conclusion is that
the abuse of power is the key driver of poverty in Afghanistan”. The report says
the majority of Afghans live in poverty despite the fact that some $35 billion
US (£23 billion) in aid was poured into the country between 2002 and 2009. The
BBC online news reported that "widespread corruption further limits access to
services for a large proportion of the population". It blames Afghan officials
for advancing their own interests at the expense of the general public.
Kai Eide, the new UN Special Representative in Afghanistan, said at an event,
"Corruption in Afghanistan is endemic, it hurts the poorest people
disproportionately, pushes people away from the state and undermines our joint
efforts to build peace, stability and progress for Afghanistan's peoples.” He
also went on to say that government corruption must be tackled from the bottom
up with the people, Afghan civil society and the media having a crucial role in
supporting government efforts.
Widespread corruption is systemic, structurally deep rooted and has gone
unchallenged for years. It is systemic and structural because it not simply a
few individuals taking bribes, but the entire governmental structure seems to be
operating using bribes, whether it is the legislature, bureaucracy or judiciary.
To illustrate the extent of the corruption, in 2008 Toronto Star columnist Rosie
DiManno quoted Attorney General Abdul Jabar Sabet as saying: “They are in the
central government, the provincial governments, the district centres, police
stations, army garrisons, the banks, the aid agencies – not a sector of Afghan
society is without contamination of corruption”.
No doubt there are a few people in the system who refuse to take bribes. But
the refusal of a few, though courageous and praiseworthy, will not have much of
an overall impact or bring about the desired reform.
Corrupt leaders and people of position in the system are much more dangerous
than a police officer asking for a couple of dollars at the airport check-in or
low-ranking official asking for a few hundred Afghanis to move your file up.
Many of us get annoyed and shout at these small fry and often ignoring the big
guns who are the main culprits. Those in high places have money, arms and
connections, so people naturally fear for their lives when it comes to
challenging high-level corruption.
Government knows who is engaging in corrupt behaviour, but it will not be
easy for it to take these people to task. After all, it is difficult to hurt
one’s own, isn't it? Corrupt enemies can be easily targeted, but what about
friends who are corrupt? These are the ones you call upon when you need a favour.
To eliminate a person is no big deal in this part of the world and it can easily
be covered up with a bribe. Exposing these people through print and electronic
media requires tremendous courage. It is a risky business but are there other
options?
Democracy is still young in Afghanistan and not adequately comprehended by a
larger population; and politicians and bureaucrats are no exception. By and
large the politics here is feudal, patriarchal, concentrated with the elite
class and family network. A political system based on ideology and development
discourse has yet to emerge. For a civil society to flourish it must be nurtured
in a democratic climate which at the moment is largely hyped by the
international community in Afghanistan. This civil society barely exists in this
country, and where it does it is weak. Academia is not free from corruption and
nepotism either, and those in academic circles often lack the courage,
commitment and leadership required to address these issues.
The civil society and the news media can be a big help in fighting corruption
that is if the state allows sufficient freedom to these entities to play their
role. But when the state players have such a stake in the bribery and
corruption, why would they want to allow civil society and the media to be the
spoiler? The media and civil society will have to begin to realise that rights
are often not freely given, but have to be taken. Unless these actors
collectively exercise their right to expose corruption and pursue follow up,
hardly anything will change and the masses will continue to suffer.
Academia can help in the process of transformation of the country but then
academia and educational institutions need to act without engaging in what is
called party politics. They cannot remain apolitical and mute spectators. They
need to provide some leadership through their research-based data through
seminars, workshops and campaign against corruption nationwide. Let their
studies support the civil society in highlighting the nature of corruption that
exists and how it has violated the right to development of the masses here in
Afghanistan
Unless ordinary Afghan women and men make their voices heard, corruption and
nepotism will persist. In the process, hundreds of millions of dollars will be
siphoned off in corruption, money that was intended for the development of the
people of Afghanistan.
Dr. James C. Dabhi is a visiting Professor at Herat and Bamiyan Universities.
He can be reached at jimmydabhi@gmail.com
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