'Better to die in a blast than die softly'<\/p>\n
Job seekers find Jakarta the right place to try their luck.
\nUnfortunately, in an effort to control the flow of newcomers,
\nGovernor Sutiyoso intends to close the city to unskilled, poor
\nmigrants. The Jakarta Post talked to migrants about the issue.<\/p>\n
Sun'an, a mobile vendor selling noodles in Grogol, West
\nJakarta. He lives on Jl. Satria in West Jakarta with his wife. He
\ncomes from Gresik, East Java:<\/p>\n
It's impossible to implement the would-be policy. Say it's
\ntrue, it would not be that easy to drive the migrants back to
\ntheir hometowns.<\/p>\n
The city leaders are only good at talking because they have
\npower. Unfortunately, they never help us, the low-income people,
\nto get by.<\/p>\n
The poor have suffered too much. I'm afraid that the new
\nregulations will spark chaos around the city.<\/p>\n
It's better that all poor migrants are murdered in a bomb
\nblast like in Bali rather than softly killed by such regulations.
\nI'm sick of the selfish leaders who rule the country.<\/p>\n
They don't realize that it is the low-income people who make
\nthe roofs for their luxury homes. The poor laborers have also
\nprepared the asphalt for the roads used by their posh sedans.
\nWithout poor migrants, the rich city residents could do nothing.<\/p>\n
Warsa, 62, a construction worker. He shares a rented house
\nwith his friends in Juraganan, South Jakarta. His wife and six
\nchildren live in Kuningan, West Java:<\/p>\n
I disagree with the policy. As a migrant I came here just for
\nour daily food. Why is it prohibited?<\/p>\n
All migrants here can earn money as long as they are willing
\nto work hard or do odd jobs. Jakarta is the right place for
\nhardworking migrants. But for those who dislike doing odd jobs,
\nthe city is not recommended.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, if I work hard as a farmer in my region, I could
\nalso survive. But, the income depends much on natural factors
\nsuch as the rain and irrigation. So, I prefer to stay in Jakarta
\nin order to be able to support my family.<\/p>\n
I think the government cannot just impose the regulations
\nwithout considering the poor people's lives. What will we eat if
\nwe are banned from entering the city?<\/p>\n
Walim, 30, a newspaperboy in West Jakarta. He lives with his
\nboss in Petamburan, Central Jakarta. His son and wife live in
\nCikampek, West Java:<\/p>\n
I think it would not be that easy to impose the regulations to
\nban unskilled migrants. I only earn around Rp 300,000 a month.
\nSo, what can I do to survive if Jakarta is closed to unskilled
\npeople like me?<\/p>\n
I wonder why the recent city government always does whatever
\nit wants, regardless of the real condition. In this case, the
\nlow-income people are commonly victimized.<\/p>\n
Luckily, most of the low-income people are accustomed to
\nliving in poverty and under pressure.<\/p>\n
But, should the regulations be implemented, we should
\nprotest ... (but) the top leaders never listen to, let alone
\naccommodate, the voices of the poor.<\/p>\n
--Leo Wahyudi S<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/better-to-die-in-a-blast-than-die-softly-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }