Lampung under fire over draft budget<\/p>\n
Oyos Suroso, The Jakarta Post, Bandarlampung<\/p>\n
Activists and experts lambasted Lampung's 2002 draft budget,
\nwhich they said reflected the provincial government's scant
\nconcern for local social and economic problems.<\/p>\n
An alliance of 36 non-governmental organizations grouped under
\nthe Public Network Caring for Transparency and Regional Autonomy
\n(JMPTOD) called on the provincial legislative council to be
\ncareful in deliberating the draft bill so as to win the
\nconfidence of local people.<\/p>\n
\"The provincial legislature must have the courage to cut funds
\nallocated for the bureaucracy and reallocate them for local
\ndevelopment programs, so as to help solve the numerous serious
\nproblems the locals are facing because of the prolonged economic
\ncrisis,\" Achmad Julden Erwin, coordinator of the Lampung Anti-
\nCorruption Committee, said, in a joint media conference here over
\nthe weekend.<\/p>\n
Other NGOs who joined the media conference were, among others,
\nthe Center for Public Policy and Strategic Studies (Pussbik),
\nLampung Environmental Forum, Lampung Parliament Watch and the
\nlocal chapter of the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI).<\/p>\n
According to the draft budget, which was submitted to the
\nprovincial legislative council recently, 70 percent, or Rp 293.9
\nbillion, of the government's assessed income worth Rp 418.4
\nbillion was allocated to finance the administration and only 30
\npercent or Rp 124.5 billion would be used to finance the
\nprovince's numerous development programs.<\/p>\n
The province's income comprise of Rp 24.1 billion from the
\n2001 budget, Rp 141.6 billion from the general allocation funds
\n(DAU) from the state budget, Rp 20.4 billion from taxes and Rp
\n66.7 billion from non-tax revenue.<\/p>\n
Erwin said that NGOs had frequently criticized the draft
\nbudget before it was submitted to the legislature, but had gained
\nno positive response since from the provincial administration.<\/p>\n
\"We suspect the governor and the legislature are involved in
\ncollusion to design the draft budget beforehand so the
\nlegislature won't make any controversial amendments,\" he added.<\/p>\n
He added the NGOs had set up a crisis center to inform the
\npublic of the draft budget and to seek their response.<\/p>\n
\"All responses, reactions and criticisms lodged to the crisis
\ncenter will be handed over, both to the governor and the
\nlegislature, with the hope they will be taken into consideration
\nin their deliberation,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Asrian Hendicaya, coordinator of the Center for Development
\nStudies (Pusiban), criticized the draft budget for giving little
\nattention to social development programs, saying it contradicted
\nGovernment Regulation No. 110\/2000, which stipulates that
\nregional budgets should be aimed at empowering the people.<\/p>\n
\"However, the draft budget adversely pays more attention to
\nfinancing the provincial administration and legislature,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Of almost Rp 294 billion allocated for routine spending, Rp
\n141 billion to pay the salaries of civil servants, Rp 30 billion
\nis allocated for the legislature and the rest is allocated for
\nthe governor and his running costs.<\/p>\n
\"It's quite strange that the legislature's 75 members will
\neach take home Rp 25 million monthly, which includes their basic
\nmonthly salary of Rp 5 million,\" Asrian said, citing the
\nallowances of legislators had also been raised.<\/p>\n
He said that the other strange thing was the governor's
\nirrational budget.<\/p>\n
\"According to Government Regulation No 59\/2000, the governor's
\nmonthly gross salary is set at Rp 3 million, but the draft budget
\nallocates the governor's salary at Rp 126.4 million per year or
\nRp 10 million per month,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The provincial administration has allocated Rp 300 million
\nannually for the maintenance of the governor's official
\nresidence, Rp 50 million annually for his health allowance, Rp 50
\nmillion annual clothing allowance, Rp 1.2 billion annually for
\noperational, travel allowances and Rp 675 million for gifts and
\nsouvenirs.<\/p>\n
According to him, the draft budget does not show any sign of
\nthe local elite's solidarity for the majority of locals who are
\nstruggling to cope economically.<\/p>\n
\"Many locals living in rural areas in the province have
\nconsumed all their tiwul made of dried cassava because of
\nskyrocketing rice prices and local officials have not shown much
\nconcern for the critical situation,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Marselina, an economics expert from the University of Lampung,
\nsaid both the provincial administration and legislature should
\nprioritize social and economic development programs to help solve
\nunemployment, education, health problems in the province.<\/p>\n
She said it was shameful that the provincial administration
\nallocated only Rp 12 billion, or 2.8 percent of the budget for
\neducation, Rp 695.3 million for social affairs and Rp 2 billion
\nfor employment.<\/p>\n
Governor Oemarsono ruled out the criticisms, saying the budget
\nwas balanced and it was oriented to empower low-income people.<\/p>\n
\"We have allocated special funds to accelerate development
\nprograms in education, health and employment,\" he said, after
\nsubmitting the draft budget to the legislature.<\/p>\n
Mochtar Hasan, deputy chairman of the legislative council,
\nadmitted that the government had increased the legislature's
\nbudget in an attempt to empower it to do its functions
\neffectively.<\/p>\n
\"Legislators deserve greater allowances to allow them to
\nconduct their daily activities and to prevent them from abusing
\ntheir power,\" he said.<\/p>",
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