Assets of Soeharto's cronies<\/p>\n
From Rakyat Merdeka<\/p>\n
As the Megawati government has been \"compelled\" to raise fuel
\nprices as well as electricity and telephone rates for the sake of
\nabolishing subsidies, why can't it wield its power to recover
\npublic funds misappropriated by former president Soeharto and his
\ncronies?<\/p>\n
The multidimensional crisis now plaguing the country continues
\nto impoverish the common people. The price of basic necessities
\nkeeps rising, so the benefit of the government's public service
\nshould now be questioned. Why does the government also plan to
\nallow more time to conglomerates incurring trillions of rupiah of
\ndebts, while ignoring the poor?<\/p>\n
Despite the government excuse that the price hikes are
\ndirected at rich people and companies, it is ordinary citizens
\nwho will eventually bear the brunt of the policy. Is the
\ngovernment unaware of the growing mass of needy people in the
\ncountry? The following examples are worthy of attention:<\/p>\n
1. Increased fuel prices, after being raised twice, have caused
\nhigher transport costs and thus also commodity prices. Meanwhile,
\nfuel subsidies, claimed to be shifted to the poor, are not evenly
\ndistributed to relevant communities due to manipulation by lower-
\nranking public officials.<\/p>\n
2. Higher electricity costs for factory operation increase the
\nprice of manufactured products, which also have to be borne by
\nthe majority.<\/p>\n
3. The increased price of industrial diesel oil forces plants to
\nbuy at a special rate. They, too, have to increase prices of
\ntheir products, which will again be paid by poor consumers. Worse
\nstill, fishermen cannot afford to buy automotive diesel fuel for
\ntheir fishing boats.<\/p>\n
4. Higher telephone rates also make low-income people limit their
\ncommunications, particularly those whose children work in far-off
\nplaces to help cover family needs.<\/p>\n
It seems that life is harder now than under the New Order
\ngovernment. It means that life was more comfortable under
\nSoeharto's rule than in this reform period, regardless of whether
\nor not Soeharto was corrupt.<\/p>\n
Are the present authorities guaranteed not to be corrupt? It's
\na fact that yesterday was better than today.<\/p>\n
PARLIND HUTAGALUNG<\/p>\n
Bangka<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/assets-of-soehartos-cronies-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }