The surprising Habitat Award<\/p>\n
Many Jakartans raised their eyebrows upon hearing
\nthat Jakarta, notorious for its forced evictions, has been
\nawarded the United Nations-Habitat Scroll of Honour this year.<\/p>\n
The award was presented to the Jakarta administration at an
\nevent marking World Habitat Day, which falls on the first Monday
\nof October annually.<\/p>\n
According to UN-Habitat executive director Anna Tibaijuka,
\nother awardees included Sweden for a solar housing renovation
\nproject and China for a straw-bale energy efficient housing
\ntransfer project. Meanwhile, individual Indonesians who won
\nawards were Surabaya's Johan Silas for his meritorious initiative
\nin constructing affordable homes for tsunami survivors in Aceh
\nand villagers in East Java, and the late North Sumatra governor,
\nTengku Rizal Nurdin, who helped provide facilities for tsunami
\nand earthquake survivors on the island of Nias.<\/p>\n
Jakarta was lauded for improving the environment, security,
\nand public services during Governor Sutiyoso's tenure.<\/p>\n
UN-Habitat's decision has undoubtedly surprised many
\nJakartans, who are convinced that the Jakarta administration has
\nfailed to do its best for the people, especially those in the
\nlower income brackets.<\/p>\n
It is therefore understandable that activists from various
\nnon-governmental organizations have condemned the UN-Habitat
\naward, and demanded that it be taken back, arguing that the
\nJakarta administration has systematically sidelined the interests
\nof the poor for the sake of commercial interests.<\/p>\n
They say that up to 92,720 people have been forcibly evicted
\nfrom their homes, 62,263 sidewalk vendors have been removed and
\n23,205 becak (three-wheeled pedicabs) have been banned from the
\ncity's streets over the past five years.<\/p>\n
According to the NGOs, no notable environmental improvements
\nhave been made by the Jakarta administration.<\/p>\n
They argue that the regreening campaign initiated by Governor
\nSutiyoso has failed dismally, with the chopping down of trees
\ncontinuing apace and the disappearance of several city parks.
\nThey also point to the fact that air pollution in the city is
\ngrowing worse.<\/p>\n
Forceful demolitions of shanties and roadside kiosks are
\nfurther examples of the administration's uncaring attitude, the
\nactivists say.<\/p>\n
In the field of security, many would probably agree that the
\ncrime rate has yet to decrease. Street crime and thuggery remains
\nrampant, despite police pledges to eradicate them, and crimes
\nagainst taxi passengers persist.<\/p>\n
The public services provided by Jakarta city agencies are also
\ndeplorable. A survey conducted by the Indonesian Institute for
\nCivil Society (INCIS) in March this year revealed that the people
\nof Jakarta suffer from severely deficient public services.
\nAccording to INCIS, which collaborated with the European Union
\nand Partnership for Governance Reform in Indonesia in conducting
\nthe survey, discriminatory treatment was the main problem facing
\nthose seeking to access public services.<\/p>\n
The facts could lead one to believe that the Jakarta
\nadministration has totally failed to address the needs of its
\ncitizens. But has the Jakarta administration really done nothing
\nof benefit for its citizens? If so, why has UN-Habitat given such
\na prestigious award to the Jakarta administration?<\/p>\n
For UN-Habitat, what the Jakarta administration has done,
\nincluding the construction of better defenses against flooding,
\nthe making of improvements to city parks and the construction of
\nmajor public facilities, is deserving of recognition. The
\nadministration's efforts to make the capital city, home to more
\nthan 10 million people, more habitable represent a big deal in
\nthe eyes of UN-Habitat, which probably sees Jakarta from the
\noutside.<\/p>\n
UN-Habitat is not an amateur organization. It makes a thorough
\ninvestigation and study before making any decision, including the
\naward of the Habitat Scroll of Honour to Jakarta. And the
\norganization has to account for what it does.<\/p>\n
\"This award is actually not only recognition for the governor
\nof Jakarta, but of course also the city and the people of
\nJakarta,\" Anna Tibaijuka said.<\/p>\n
Whatever the case, the award makes it clear that the Jakarta
\nadministration and the people must maintain what they have
\nachieved to date and minimize any shortcomings, mistakes and
\nfailures.<\/p>\n
The award should not lull the Jakarta city fathers into a
\nmisplaced sense of complacency. It should serve more as a strong
\nreminder to both the administration and the city's citizens that
\na lot of work lies ahead. The administration has a long way to go
\nbefore it can claim that it has provided the citizens of the
\ncapital with better lives and proper services.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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