In Jakarta, even the dead can't rest in peace<\/p>\n
Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
In funeral services, preachers often say, \"May he rest in peace\".
\nBut you can't take that on face value if you are a Jakarta
\nresident.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has been regularly categorized by international
\nrating's agencies as one of world's most corrupt nations. Many
\npeople say that as long as you're still breathing in this
\ncountry, no one can free himself from being a victim of extortion
\nby the government's notorious bureaucracy.<\/p>\n
The facts are actually even more alarming. When a person dies
\nthere is no guarantee he or she can rest in peace.<\/p>\n
Nothing is free in Jakarta from the moment of birth until
\ndeath. The family or friends of the deceased often have to bribe
\nhospital officials to obtain a death certificate on top of the
\nofficial fee. Without the certificate the body cannot be buried.<\/p>\n
To secure a small plot of land measuring one meter in width
\nand two meters in length for the grave there is another obstacle
\nahead. Rates also depend the location of the cemetery and the
\ndistance of the plot's location from the street. Jakarta has a
\ntotal of 95 public cemeteries.<\/p>\n
After that the families also have to pay an annual maintenance
\nfee. Late payment means the grave site can be used by another
\noccupant.<\/p>\n
Geoffrey Gunawan, 50, a resident of Tomang, West Jakarta,
\ngrumbled that he had to dig deeper into his pocket to pay for the
\nburial of his mother two years ago in Petamburan public cemetery
\nin Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"I had to bargain first with the cemetery official over the
\nfee to dig the grave and eventually I had to pay Rp 2.5 million
\n(US$300)\" he told The Jakarta Post on Friday.<\/p>\n
City councilor, Syamsidar Siregar, of Commission E on welfare
\naffairs, revealed that from this year's city budget, the Jakarta
\nAdministration has allocated at least Rp 27.3 billion to cover
\nthe burial fee of its residents.<\/p>\n
\"Every Jakartan is entitled to between Rp 100,000 and Rp
\n150,000 to finance their burial,\" Syamsidar told reporters at the
\nCity Council.<\/p>\n
According to City Bylaw No. 3\/1999, Jakartan residents are
\nonly subject to a fee of between Rp 4,000 and Rp 100,000 for a
\nthree-year period based on the location of the grave. The actual
\nfee is much higher.<\/p>\n
Syamsidar deplored the fact that officers made it difficult
\nfor residents to acquire a cemetery plot.<\/p>\n
\"Many people have been complaining that they find it difficult
\nto get vacant plot so they resort to bribing the officers on the
\nfield to get it,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Jakarta Cemetery Agency's funeral services division head, Taat
\nSutisna, refuted the corruption allegations.<\/p>\n
\"There are no such illegal fees. If you encounter this, please
\nreport it to me and I will take stern action against them,\" he
\nasserted.<\/p>\n
However, Mathilda, 45, a resident of Duren Sawit, East Jakarta
\nquestioned such assurances.<\/p>\n
\"That's only on paper. In reality, we must pay much more,\" she
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
She said that besides the unscrupulous officers, she must also
\npay a \"sanitation fee\" to locals who work there to clean her
\nmother's grave in Karet, Central Jakarta.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/in-jakarta-even-the-dead-cant-rest-in-peace-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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