Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso was upset upon hearing that the
\ncentral government had distributed cheap rice for poor families
\nin Jakarta without his awareness.<\/p>\n
He said that it was the city administration that is the most
\ninformed about the number of poor families and where they live in
\nthe capital city. Sutiyoso became even angrier after housewives
\nin Klender, East Jakarta, complained that no single family in the
\narea has received the cheap rice, worth Rp 1,000 per kilogram.<\/p>\n
Locals said that each family should have received 10 kilograms
\nin December.<\/p>\n
Subdistrict officials denied the reports, claiming that the
\nrice had been distributed through the neighborhood chiefs. Thus,
\nit is the neighborhood chiefs that must be responsible for the
\ndistribution.<\/p>\n
Shockingly the central rice market in Cipinang, East Jakarta,
\nreported that some people, reportedly from the Klender
\nsubdistrict office and several neighborhood chiefs had tried to
\nsell cheap rice to a rice seller in the market.<\/p>\n
Distribution is obviously the main problem in such a scheme.
\nTherefore non-governmental organizations always voice their
\nconcern about the implementation of compensation programs for
\npoor families.<\/p>\n
We just hope that whoever is in charge of distributing the
\nrice or anything else for the poor will have the compassion not
\nto steal or misuse what the poor families deserve.<\/p>\n
-- Warta Kota, Jakarta<\/p>\n
One more year,
\nsays Dorodjatun<\/p>\n
Coordinating Minister for Economy Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti
\nsaid recently that Indonesia will no longer depend on the
\nInternational Monetary Fund (IMF) next year. \"We have withdrawn
\nall our debts to strengthen our foreign exchange,\" he said,
\nignoring the previous schedule that the \"farewell\" to the IMF
\nshould be this year.<\/p>\n
The question then is why should we prolong the contract (until
\nnext year)?, and what should be do before we say goodbye to the
\nIMF?<\/p>\n
We don't want to evaluate the implementation of IMF programs.
\nBut, everybody should acknowledge that not all IMF advice is
\nappropriate to cure our economic and monetary problems. All
\neconomic policies have their own risks, many of which are
\nunpredictable.<\/p>\n
The contract with the IMF is actually a way to open and
\nliberalize the economy. Our economy is still dominated by subsidy
\nand protection. The path to liberalism -- by whatever means --
\nbrings the people misery. We have no other choice but to accept
\nthe consequences.<\/p>\n
The IMF withdrawal means that we will no longer communicate
\nwith an institution which is able to push the government to work
\nhard and consistently to enhance the national economy.<\/p>\n
-- Koran Tempo, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Bali bombing is our homework<\/p>\n
We must not forget our homework: the Bali bombing, amid all
\nthe work that we must deal with this year. Recently we have been
\noccupied with people's reactions to the hike in utility prices,
\nbut that should not mean that the Bali bombing case is neglected.<\/p>\n
Neglecting the Bali bombing case will lead to rumors which
\ncould put us in a difficult position.<\/p>\n
It is obvious that the Bali bombing investigating team, led by
\nInsp. Gen. I Made Mangku Pastika, has been working hard. The
\ndossier of Amrozi, one of the key suspects, has been sent to the
\nprosecutors' office.<\/p>\n
The police have also arrested two other alleged key suspects,
\nAli Imron and Mubarok. Now that 14 people have been arrested, the
\npolice are now hunting nine more suspects, two of them Malaysian
\nnationals.<\/p>\n
We believe that the investigating team will never stop in
\ntheir efforts to uncover all the perpetrators behind the tragedy,
\ndespite the fact that it is a tough job. This is important to
\nmake the world aware that we are not terrorists. We are the
\nvictims of terrorist acts. Therefore, we should join hands to
\nwork more harder to solve the Bali case soon, as other homework
\nis awaiting.<\/p>\n
-- Kompas, Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jakarta-governor-sutiyoso-was-upset-upon-hearing-that-the-1447899208", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }