People skeptical about assistance program<\/p>\n
Oyos Saroso H.N.\/Ruslan Sangadji, The Jakarta Post, Bandarlampung\/Palu<\/p>\n
Most people have probably seen the government-sponsored
\ntelevision ad showing a popular comedian talking about how the
\npoor will benefit from the cut in the fuel subsidy, because the
\ngovernment will channel the money saved into programs that
\ndirectly target those in need.<\/p>\n
In the ad the comedian manages to convince his audience that
\nthe government's decision to slash the fuel subsidy will be good
\nfor them. In reality, though, many poor people are skeptical,
\nwith many assuming the money will end up in the pockets of the
\nrich.<\/p>\n
Nurhuda, a 45-year-old resident of Telukbetung Barat district
\nin Bandarlampung, South Sumatra, said he did not expect to
\nbenefit from any of the programs the government said it would
\nfinance with money taken from the fuel subsidy.<\/p>\n
As part of its public relations campaign to sell its fuel hike
\npolicy, the government said the majority of money taken from the
\nfuel subsidy would go toward providing free education, health
\ncare and inexpensive rice for the poor, as well as for rural
\ninfrastructure projects.<\/p>\n
After bad experiences with previous assistance programs for
\nthe poor, Nurhuda, a father of three, said he did not have too
\nmuch hope for these latest programs.<\/p>\n
\"There have been lots of assistance programs, special market
\noperations and rice for the poor, and I have never gotten
\nanything from them even though I am very poor,\" Nurhuda said.<\/p>\n
He once registered with the head of his village to receive
\nsubsidized rice intended for the poor, but his name was scratched
\noff the list and replaced by someone who could afford to buy rice
\nat market prices. Just like that.<\/p>\n
\"It's fine by me if it is the same as before and I don't get
\nmy share,\" said Nurhuda, who has not gone out to sea to fish for
\nthe last five months because of a diesel fuel scarcity.<\/p>\n
There is uncertainty on the face of 54-year-old housewife
\nSrundut, a resident of Gulak-Galik in Telukbetung Utara,
\nBandarlampung.<\/p>\n
The mother of five earns a living selling pempek (fish
\ndumplings). She is not getting her hopes up about the possibility
\nof the government providing assistance for the poor.<\/p>\n
\"When my child was treated at a hospital, I had to pay the
\nbill myself, no assistance whatsoever,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Another housewife, Maryani, 39, a resident of Sumurbatu, said
\nthe government's plan gave her hope that her child, who had to
\ndrop out of school a year ago because she could not afford the
\nschool fees, would be able to return to class.<\/p>\n
Her pedicab driver husband makes about Rp 650,000 (US$72) a
\nmonth, which has to be stretched to cover all of the household
\nexpenses -- from daily meals to electricity.<\/p>\n
\"But I don't know whether we will get any assistance,\" said
\nMaryani, who does laundry for her neighbors to make a little
\nextra money.<\/p>\n
The director of Lampung's Anti-Corruption Committee, Maya
\nFerlianti, said this skepticism was natural given the
\ngovernment's history of managing money intended for the poor.<\/p>\n
\"We have found lots of evidence of the heads of villages and
\nsubdistricts selling rice meant for the poor for their own
\nprofit. Several subdistrict heads have even been arrested for
\nthis,\" Maya said.<\/p>\n
Indonesian Teachers Dignity Forum secretary Gino Vanoli said
\nalmost all of the money intended to assist poor students was at
\nrisk of embezzlement. \"I predict the same thing will happen again
\nbecause there is a lack of monitoring for this program,\" Gino
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The head of Bandarlampung's education office, Zaini Nurman,
\nhas asked schools to involve members of the community in
\nidentifying students eligible for the scholarship program.<\/p>\n
Gino said an independent monitoring team should be set up to
\nensure the money was used as it was intended, expressing fear
\nthat if monitoring was conducted only by related offices, it
\nwould open the door to corruption and nepotism.<\/p>\n
According to data from health insurance company PT Asuransi
\nKesehatan in Bandarlampung, there are currently 1,561,717 poor
\npeople in Lampung who qualify for free medication from the
\ncompany as part of the compensation programs.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, nationwide protests continue to be held in
\nopposition to the fuel price increases.<\/p>\n
In Palu, hundreds of university students clashed with the
\npolice while protesting the new policy in front of the Central
\nSulawesi provincial council on Monday. Four students were
\nseriously injured and dozens of others were lightly injured.<\/p>\n
The violence erupted after several students allegedly pelted
\nofficers with objects.<\/p>\n
The assistant to Tadulako University's rector, Main Labaso,
\nwho led the protest, placed the blame for the incident on the
\npolice.<\/p>\n
\"The police violated their commitment to guard the protesters.
\nOur protest was peaceful, so why were the students beaten,\" he
\nsaid, adding that he did not believe any students pelted officers
\nwith objects.<\/p>\n
Central Sulawesi provincial council deputy speaker Helmy
\nYambas, regretted the incident and promised to pay the injured
\nstudents' medical bills. He said that before the violence began,
\ncouncil members and the students agreed to reject the fuel price
\nhike.<\/p>\n
Palu Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Guntur Widodo said the
\nincident took place after protesters provoked the police by
\njeering and throwing things.<\/p>\n
\"Police officers are also human. If they are treated badly,
\nthey get upset,\" he said.<\/p>",
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