Jakarta's poor view Soeharto's resignation with apathy<\/p>\n
By Yogita Tahil Ramani<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The world witnessed students jumping into the
\nfountain at the House of Representatives compound Thursday amid
\noutcries that \"the president is now former president Soeharto\".<\/p>\n
What the students did not notice that day was that outside of
\nthe barb-wired city was the poor man's indifference to it all.<\/p>\n
The reason?<\/p>\n
The loss of livelihoods and a misery underscoring a major
\nburden of the nation's poor: prices of basic commodities.<\/p>\n
The prolonged economic crisis, rioting and arson here on May
\n14 brought few of Jakarta's poor to bother about who sits in the
\npresidential seat, now or later.<\/p>\n
Sartika, who lives in the slums of Jembatan Batu, North
\nJakarta, has been forced to sell drinks on the road since
\nJanuary.<\/p>\n
\"My husband lost his job in early January. He used to be a
\nconstruction worker,\" said the 46-year-old woman.<\/p>\n
\"Students are yelling about reform? So what? We don't care
\nabout their yelling or about the change of presidents. What I
\ncare about is that I can't feed my children and husband.\"<\/p>\n
Aside from having little or no knowledge of the significance
\nof political reform, there is not much that can be told to people
\nwho have lost the bare necessities of life.<\/p>\n
Sartika said her \"house\" and several other structures serving
\nas homes in the slum area were burned on May 14.<\/p>\n
\"We thought it was people from the government again (who set
\nthe fire) because we occupy government land without payment or
\npermission,\" Sartika said.<\/p>\n
\"But can you imagine? Those burning the slum areas were
\nrioters. Tell me, what is there to loot from us? We cannot even
\nafford to buy enough vegetables. We've been living on them since
\nthe economic crisis started.\"<\/p>\n
\"Have you ever heard of potatoes costing someone Rp 4,000?
\nIt's happening now. I can't handle it,\" she said, her voice
\nchoked with emotion.<\/p>\n
Following the government's decision to increase fuel and
\ntransport prices earlier this month, prices of several essential
\ncommodities have soared.<\/p>\n
Traders in major markets say that the prices of sugar, wheat
\nflour, cooking oil and sweet potatoes have been particularly
\naffected.<\/p>\n
Last week, the price of wheat flour, for instance, rose from
\nRp 2,100 (20 U.S. cents) per kilogram to Rp 2,250 per kg, sweet
\npotatoes from Rp 2,200 per kg to Rp 2,500 per kg and low-grade
\ncooking oil from Rp 4,000 per kg to Rp 4,400 per kg.<\/p>\n
The latest reports state that among other food commodities,
\npotatoes now cost Rp 3,500 per kg and tomatoes, which were Rp
\n5,000 per kg last week, now cost Rp 6,000 per kg.<\/p>\n
Nursiyah, 38, of Jembatan Besi, North Jakarta, saw rioters
\nburning and looting houses in neighboring slum areas as well.<\/p>\n
\"Why don't they just loot the rich or the Chinese (whom she
\nconsiders rich)? How come all the big people and how come the
\npresident (former president Soeharto) are safe. Why didn't
\nrioters loot their houses,\" Nursiyah said.<\/p>\n
Despite only being able to vaguely describe the political
\nsituation, she seemed to be quite sure when asked of her opinion
\nof newly appointed President B.J. Habibie.<\/p>\n
\"Whom do you think is sitting up there right now? It's
\nSoeharto's friend. But what do we care?\"<\/p>\n
The same sentiments were conveyed by a few residents living in
\na slum area in Haji Ung of Utan Panjang district, Kemayoran,
\nCentral Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Linda, a poor Indonesian of Chinese descent, said she did not
\ncare about the new President because she had more pressing
\nmatters to think about.<\/p>\n
The 41-year-old had run a small salon below her one-room house
\nover the past eight years -- until last week.<\/p>\n
\"They (rioters) almost stoned my home that day (May 14). They
\ndidn't because they did not know that I live upstairs. They just
\nknew of my salon.\"<\/p>\n
\"They broke everything. Chairs, mirrors ... I bought the salon
\nequipment after saving up for so many months. It's all gone now.\"<\/p>\n
She has moved to her cousin's house since then and they plan
\nto leave Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Linda felt that it was not safe for Indonesians of Chinese
\ndescent to live in Jakarta anymore.<\/p>\n
\"When disaster strikes, it strikes everybody. Why pinpoint us
\n(the Chinese) only?\"<\/p>\n
According to Mudi, who lives five homes away from Linda's,
\nthis was not true.<\/p>\n
\"I am proof that this is not true. I am a pribumi (indigenous
\nIndonesian). They didn't spare me either,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"My entire shop was burned. I used to sell T-shirts here. It's
\nall gone. I have nothing, no savings at all. I have four mouths
\nto feed at home.\"<\/p>\n
Mudi, who is in his 30s, commented on the jubilation of
\nstudents over Soeharto's resignation, saying he could not
\nunderstand how they could be so idealistic when the situation was
\nso bad here.<\/p>\n
\"I don't know what they (the students) are so happy about. So
\nwhat if the president is replaced? So what?\" he screamed, almost
\ncrying.<\/p>\n
\"Can it get my shop running again and my wife from complaining
\neveryday that there is nothing that we can afford now? Nothing
\ncan be done for this country, I tell you.\"<\/p>\n
\"If the change of a president can bring down the price of
\nfood, then we shall smile. Otherwise, there is no reason to.\"<\/p>",
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