DUBAI: Jordan launched on Monday a program aimed at better protecting witnesses, whistleblowers and experts involved in corruption cases.
Financed by the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI), the project was launched Jordan Transparency Center (JTC), Jordan Audit Bureau (JAB) and other official institutions, state agency Petra reported.
MP Omar Ayasra highlighted the significance of providing witnesses and whistleblowers with protection during a ceremony held on Monday to launch the project.
“A witness only has to point a finger, and authorities will start the search and come up with evidence,” he clarified.
Ayasra made the comments after recent findings displayed low numbers of reported corruption cases, as people fear ‘social harassment and character assassination’.
Canadian Ambassador Tarik Ali Khan noted that Jordan and Canada were partnering in various cases.
Meanwhile, JTC CEO Hilda Ajeilat said the project would offer training programs, seminars, and educational media campaigns.
Briefing on JAB's regulatory role, Secretary-General Ibrahim Majali also added that only 10 percent of incoming complaints are followed up, while 90 percent proved untrue thus far.
Jordan launches witness protection program for corruption cases
https://arab.news/prp7j
Jordan launches witness protection program for corruption cases
- Canadian Ambassador Tarik Ali Khan noted that Jordan and Canada were partnering in various cases
Baghdad traders protest new customs tariffs
- The demonstrators gathered outside the General Customs Directorate on Sunday, chanting slogans against corruption and rejecting the new fees
BAGHDAD: Hundreds of traders and owners of customs clearance companies protested in central Baghdad on Sunday, demanding that Iraq’s government reverse recently imposed customs tariffs they say have sharply increased their costs and disrupted trade.
The new tariffs that took effect on Jan. 1 were imposed to reduce the country’s debt and reliance on oil revenues, as oil prices have fallen.
Iraq faces a debt of more than 90 trillion Iraqi dinars ($69 billion) — and a state budget that remains reliant on oil for about 90 percent of revenues, despite attempts to diversify.
But traders say the new tariffs — in some cases as high as 30 percent — have placed an unfair burden on them. Opponents have filed a lawsuit aiming to reduce the decision, which Iraq’s Federal Supreme Court is set to rule on Wednesday.
The demonstrators gathered outside the General Customs Directorate on Sunday, chanting slogans against corruption and rejecting the new fees.
“We used to pay about 3 million dinars per container, but now in some cases they ask for up to 14 million,” said Haider Al-Safi, a transport and customs clearance company owner.
“Even infant milk fees rose from about 495,000 dinars to nearly 3 million.”
He said that the new tariffs have caused a backlog of goods at the Umm Qasr port in southern Iraq and added that electric vehicles, previously exempt from customs duties, are now subject to a 15 percent fee.
“The main victim is the citizen with limited income, and government employee whose salary barely covers his daily living, those who have to pay rent, and have children with school expenses — they all will be affected by the market,” said Mohammed Samir, a wholesale trader from Baghdad.
Protesters also accused influential groups of facilitating the release of goods in exchange for lower unofficial payments, calling it widespread corruption.
Many traders, they said, are now considering routing their imports through the Kurdistan region, where fees are lower.
The protests coincided with a nationwide strike by shop owners, who closed markets and stores in several parts of Baghdad to oppose the tariff increase.
In major commercial districts, shops remained shut and hung up banners reading “Customs fees are killing citizens.”
