Safety net money abused<\/p>\n
Once again this newspaper is devoting a column to the issue of
\nthe misappropriation of social safety net money. Once again,
\nbecause the problem is being allowed to be forgotten, or to
\nevaporate, with no legal action ever being taken. Case upon case
\nhas surfaced, only to be forgotten or left to mere gossip.<\/p>\n
We know that there are many kinds of thieves. Some are big
\nfish, others are small, and there are also other species of
\nthieves. Their hands are dirty, their mouths hungry, their souls
\nevil.<\/p>\n
Social safety net money is meant to help people so poor they
\nare dying. The money is available because of the efforts of
\ncompassionate foreigners. This is the money (the thieves) are
\nstealing to be used for various purposes, including money
\npolitics. They may be big fish or small fish, but whatever
\nspecies they belong to, they are bandits....<\/p>\n
We are like a pond filled with contaminated water. In this
\npond even the most robust, healthy and clean fishes get poisoned.
\nOur problem is not to replace the fish, but the water. Courage is
\nneeded, and therefore reform is essential.<\/p>\n
The current reform movement is a bottom-up movement,
\nspearheaded by students. Corruption, on the other hand, is a top-
\ndown phenomenon. Experience, however, has shown that it cannot be
\neradicated from the top down, because there are no longer any
\nclean fishes in our murky pond. We notice that precisely this
\nkind of bottom-up movement is at present being undertaken by a
\nnumber of nongovernmental organizations with increasing vitality.<\/p>\n
These people are working methodically, with perseverance and
\ncourage. If proof is what is needed, they can provide it. It is
\nimportant, therefore, that this contest be taken to a court of
\njustice so that it will be known who precisely is being
\nchallenged.<\/p>\n
Whatever the case, we feel optimistic because the capability
\nhas been born (among us) to exert control on an increasing scale.
\nWe feel justified to be optimistic because this is an indication
\nthat a strong civil society is in the making.<\/p>\n
So, whoever wins the upcoming general election, one task that
\nawaits them is clear. The murky water must be thrown out of our
\npond and the sick fish replaced with others that are truly
\nhealthy.<\/p>\n
-- Media Indonesia, Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/safety-net-money-abused-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }