Government told to prove its commitment to the poor<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
No less than 1,000 people joined a global action against poverty
\nhere on Friday, calling on the government to scrap all policies
\nthat they deemed failed to protect the poor.<\/p>\n
They demanded that the government pay more attention to
\nefforts to provide free health care and education for those
\nliving below the poverty line, which they said remained largely
\nelusive.<\/p>\n
Braving the scorching heat, they marched from their meeting
\npoint in front of Hotel Indonesia, then went to the nearby
\nJapanese Embassy, before moving on to the office of Coordinating
\nMinister for People's Welfare on Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat and the
\nState Palace on Jl. Medan Merdeka Selatan.<\/p>\n
Several artists and politicians took part in the rally, held a
\nweek before developed countries grouped under G8 meet in Scotland
\non July 7.<\/p>\n
Popular TV star Rieke Dyah Pitaloka read a poem from the back
\nof a pick-up truck. Other participants sang songs and gave
\nmartial arts displays.<\/p>\n
"We aim to put pressure on the government and the G8 nations
\nto formulate concrete measures to halve the poverty rate by
\n2015," said Ratna Yunita, executive assistant for the
\nInternational NGO Forum on Indonesian Development (INFID).<\/p>\n
Another NGO activist, Wahyu Jatmiko, said the rally served as
\nanother reminder for the government to revoke Presidential
\nRegulation No. 36\/2005 on the acquisition of land for public
\ninterests, which he said would discriminate against the poor.<\/p>\n
The government has ruled out scrapping the regulation, saying
\nit would protect people from land speculators and that it was not
\nintended to evict people. Some infrastructure construction
\nprojects have stalled due to resistance from a small number of
\npeople, a minister complained.<\/p>\n
Housewives from various areas across Jakarta also joined the
\nrally on Friday.<\/p>\n
A mother of four children, Wati, 35, came all the way from
\nCengkareng to take part in the rally, saying she dreamed of
\nhaving a better life.<\/p>\n
She said that she and her family lived in a rented room that
\ncost them Rp 150,000 (US$15.60) per month.<\/p>\n
"My husband's income is not enough to cover our daily needs.
\nWe often borrow from our neighbors," said Wati, adding that she
\ncooked only two liters of rice for all family members every day.<\/p>\n
Wati's husband collects firewood and unused materials from
\nearly in the morning to evening, only bringing home about Rp
\n35,000.<\/p>\n
Poverty has been blamed for malnutrition affecting a number of
\nprovinces, claiming dozens of lives of young children over the
\nlast six months. (004)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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