DPD picks reach out to the people in Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Three days into the election campaign on Saturday, candidates for
\nthe Regional Representatives Council (DPD) visited, and talked
\nand sang with the people in an attempt to win their votes.<\/p>\n
Bambang Warih Koesoema, a non-governmental organization (NGO),
\nactivist visited Utan Kayu, Kramat and Manggari, three eviction-
\nprone districts in East Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Departing from usual Indonesian campaign practice --
\ndistributing T-shirts and holding rallies -- the former Golkar
\npolitician talked and chatted with the impoverished local
\nresidents, who occupy more than 400 houses in the area.<\/p>\n
\"How long have you been living here?,\" Bambang asked the
\nmembers of one family. \"We have been living here for about 40
\nyears, but we've never got a title certificate.\"<\/p>\n
In a house belonging to Toni, an elderly man who earns his
\nliving as a bajaj (three-wheeled taxi) driver, Bambang was
\nreduced to silence when he heard that Toni had to pay Rp 40,000
\n(US$45) each day to rent the vehicle out of his daily earnings of
\naround Rp 100,000.<\/p>\n
After listening to the residents' problems, Bambang made a
\npromise to train more activists on urban issues and to provide
\nlegal aid for the poor if the Jakarta administration tried to
\nevict them. The administration is notorious for its often harsh
\neviction program.<\/p>\n
Bambang also distributed pamphlets giving the address and a
\ncontact number for his NGO, the Uni Sosial Democrat (Unisosdem),
\nso that people could lodge any complaints they might have.<\/p>\n
Later, Bambang crossed the Ciliwung river by getek
\n(traditional bamboo raft) and talked to several families living
\nalong the riverbanks. He shook hands with them and appeared
\nrelieved when he was told that no local people had been affected
\nby dengue during the current nationwide epidemic that has killed
\nmore than 400 people.<\/p>\n
DPD candidates are not party-based. They will be directly
\nelected by the voters on election day -- April 5. This will be
\nthe first election to the newly established DPD.<\/p>\n
Another candidate from Jakarta, Mooryati Soedibyo, preferred
\nthe more traditional \"long-distance\" campaign approach, i.e.
\nmaking speeches and putting on dangdut (local pop music) shows.<\/p>\n
The 75-year-old businesswoman danced on stage with her
\nsupporters and members of the audience after delivering her
\nspeech as a singer belted out Cucak Rowo, a well-known dangdut
\nditty.<\/p>\n
In her speech, Mooryati said she would pay particular
\nattention to a number of issues, including women's empowerment,
\nhealth, education, waste, poverty, and flooding, if she was
\nelected.<\/p>\n
The government, she said, had not long neglected the health of
\nexpecting mothers. She promised that she would fight for improved
\nmaternity facilities, particularly for low income families.<\/p>\n
Mooryati also was traveled to four other municipalities to
\npress the flesh and meet the people.<\/p>\n
\"I am ready to fight for the interests of the Jakarta people,
\nwomen's empowerment so that they can participate in all sectors,
\nand the development of Jakarta as a good city to live in,\" she
\nsaid in a speech before around 200 people, mostly wearing T-
\nshirts emblazoned with her photograph.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/dpd-picks-reach-out-to-the-people-in-jakarta-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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