Budget Watchdogs

AT a gathering in Pammulukang village, Mamuju Regency, West Sulawesi Province, 20 women sit discussing a deadly serious topic-the construction of a long-awaited road that will connect several villages. They discuss the matter of ensuring easy access for all, the type of materials to be used, and the profile of the contractor.

The meeting, which would usually last about two hours, can take longer if certain suspicious details emerge, such as if in a budget allocation for Rp100 million, the cost is set at just Rp80 million. Or, if for construction of a 100-meter road, the distance is listed at only 80 meters. "We will not accept things calmly if something fishy about the project execution emerges," Rusnani said a month ago.