Remembering demands for reform, democracy<\/p>\n
T. Sima Gunawan, Staff Writer, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta,
\nsima@thejakartapost.com<\/p>\n
Democracy has been a word much on people's lips since the
\ndownfall of president Soeharto five years ago.<\/p>\n
During bloody street rallies against the ironfisted rule of
\nSoeharto, who was in power for more than 30 years, people cried
\nfor reformasi. They demanded reform in all sectors and insisted
\nthat democracy must be implemented. No more dictatorship and
\nauthoritarianism.<\/p>\n
Soeharto's resignation cheered the people. They felt relieved
\nby the thought that, finally, \"people power\" had won and the door
\nto democracy had opened.<\/p>\n
Democracy, according to the dictionary, is \"government by the
\npeople; rule of the majority; a government in which the supreme
\npower is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or
\nindirectly through a system of representation\".<\/p>\n
Five years have passed since Soeharto resigned and the
\npeople's voice still remains unheard. The government does not
\nseem to understand what the people want and the House of
\nRepresentatives has failed to honor the aspirations of the
\npeople.<\/p>\n
We still see people hold demonstrations to air their various
\ndemands, from a thorough investigation of the Trisakti shootings
\nand the May riots to the halt of military operations in Aceh. The
\npeople take to the streets to attract the attention of the
\npoliticians.<\/p>\n
In the capital of Jakarta, there are increasingly strident
\ncalls from activists urging Governor Sutiyoso to listen to the
\npeople and to take into account their opinion in drafting
\npolicies that will have a drastic impact on the public. This,
\nhowever, has yet to happen.<\/p>\n
People were surprised and confused when the city
\nadministration announced last year a new busway system to be
\nimplemented in October 2002. Under the system, some 60 buses
\nwould ply the 12-kilometer route between Blok M and Kota, using
\nlanes from the existing roadways that would be set aside
\nspecially for the buses.<\/p>\n
The poorly planned project has already been delayed several
\ntimes and its budget increased from Rp 50.8 billion to Rp 90.25
\nbillion. Just last week the governor said the busway system would
\nbe implemented later this year.<\/p>\n
Last month the Jakarta administration took people by surprise
\nonce again when it announced the implementation of a new on-
\nstreet parking system. The new system is expected to reduce
\nleakage in parking revenue, though that is likely mere wishful
\nthinking because most observers would say it is not the system
\nbut the management of the parking authority that causes the
\nleakage.<\/p>\n
However, instead of improving the management, the city parking
\nauthorities asked a private company to handle parking matters.
\nThis new system would provide parking attendants with PDAs
\ncosting several times the market price. If everything goes ahead
\nas planned, the system will start on May 26.<\/p>\n
Another example of the city administration's lack of concern
\nfor public opinion was its decision to reclaim 2,700 hectares of
\nland along northern Jakarta. Many parties, including the Office
\nof the State Minister for the Environment, oppose the idea for
\nfear of the social and environmental damage it could wreak.<\/p>\n
The governor promised to hold a public debate of the issue,
\nsaying the fate of the project would depend on the results of the
\ndebate. But there was no such public debate. What the
\nadministration held was a discussion featuring speakers from the
\ncity administration and the Office of the State Minister for the
\nEnvironment. Outspoken critics were not invited and there was
\nlittle publicity given to the event, which took place last month.
\nAs expected, most discussion participants supported the project.<\/p>\n
What about the people's representatives in the City Council?<\/p>\n
Like many of their counterparts in the House of
\nRepresentatives, most of the councillors merely act as rubber
\nstamps for the government's decisions. Most city councillors,
\nwhose activities and salaries are financed by the city
\nadministration, support any policy decision made by the
\nadministration. They are the same councillors, after all, who
\nreelected Governor Sutiyoso last year even though thousands of
\nstudents and others staged rallies protesting his reelection.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso's reelection was tainted by allegations of bribery
\nand vote buying. But these are only allegations. And like past
\nallegations involving councillors and high-ranking city
\nofficials, there has been no police investigation to find out the
\ntruth.<\/p>\n
Corruption and democracy are somehow related. There is usually
\na lack of democracy in those countries where corruption is rife.<\/p>\n
Corrupt officials obviously do not have a conscience. And if
\nthey are not able to listen to their own hearts, how can they
\nlisten to the people?<\/p>",
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