2006年VOA标准英语-World Bank Chief Says Corruption Hurts Ind

By Nancy-Amelia Collins
Jakarta
13 April 2006

The head of the World Bank, Paul Wolfowitz, says the biggest obstacle to economic growth in Indonesia is the country's endemic corruption². 

Paul Wolfowitz speaks to journalists during a press conference in Jakarta, April 13, 2006   
  
World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz told reporters in Jakarta that he believed it was possible for Indonesia to increase its growth rate from around five percent up to seven percent or higher.

Wolfowitz said, in order for Indonesia to achieve this, it has to continue to fight corruption.

"Perhaps, the biggest obstacle to reaching that higher level is improving the investment climate in Indonesia," he said. "The most important thing, I think, for improving the investment climate is to maintain this effort to combat corruption, to develop government institutions that deliver services to the people and in a transparent³ and accountable way."

Indonesia consistently rates as one of the most corrupt¹ countries in the world. Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono pledged to fight the widespread corruption when he won the country's first direct presidential election 18 months ago.

Since Mr. Yudhoyono took office, a number of regional ministers and national officials have either gone on trial, or been sentenced to prison terms for graft⁴. But large areas of the government remain untouched.

Wolfowitz, a former U.S. ambassador to Indonesia in the 1980s, says rampant⁵ corruption under former President Suharto played a key role in the collapse⁶ of Indonesia's economy in the late 1990's.

The 1997-1998 Asian economic crisis contributed to the downfall of Indonesian dictator Suharto in 1998, ending more than three decades of authoritarian⁷ rule.

While Wolfowitz praised Indonesia's efforts to combat corruption, and Mr. Yudhoyono's efforts to build on Indonesia's democracy, he says more needs to be done.

"The more it is possible to provide honesty, and, certainty in the judicial⁸ system, I think, the country would benefit enormously," he said. "It would benefit if investors⁹ felt that contract disputes and other kinds of commercial issues were resolved in a clean and fair and honest way, and they do not feel that way now."

The World Bank has pledged a loan of $900 million to Indonesia this year to help boost economic growth, reduce poverty, and promote good governance.

1 corrupt   

v.贿赂，收买；adj.腐败的，贪污的

参考例句：

• The newspaper alleged the mayor's corrupt practices.那家报纸断言市长有舞弊行为。
• This judge is corrupt.这个法官贪污。

2 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

3 transparent   

adj.明显的，无疑的；透明的

参考例句：

• The water is so transparent that we can see the fishes swimming.水清澈透明，可以看到鱼儿游来游去。
• The window glass is transparent.窗玻璃是透明的。

4 graft   

n.移植，嫁接，艰苦工作，贪污；v.移植，嫁接

参考例句：

• I am having a skin graft on my arm soon.我马上就要接受手臂的皮肤移植手术。
• The minister became rich through graft.这位部长透过贪污受贿致富。

5 rampant   

adj.(植物)蔓生的；狂暴的，无约束的

参考例句：

• Sickness was rampant in the area.该地区疾病蔓延。
• You cannot allow children to rampant through the museum.你不能任由小孩子在博物馆里乱跑。

6 collapse   

vi.累倒；昏倒；倒塌；塌陷

参考例句：

• The country's economy is on the verge of collapse.国家的经济已到了崩溃的边缘。
• The engineer made a complete diagnosis of the bridge's collapse.工程师对桥的倒塌做了一次彻底的调查分析。

7 authoritarian   

n./adj.专制(的)，专制主义者，独裁主义者

参考例句：

• Foreign diplomats suspect him of authoritarian tendencies.各国外交官怀疑他有着独裁主义倾向。
• The authoritarian policy wasn't proved to be a success.独裁主义的政策证明并不成功。

8 judicial   

adj.司法的，法庭的，审判的，明断的，公正的

参考例句：

• He is a man with a judicial mind.他是个公正的人。
• Tom takes judicial proceedings against his father.汤姆对他的父亲正式提出诉讼。

9 investors   

n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
• a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会