'They have killed democracy'<\/p>\n
With minimum public debate, the City Council endorsed last Friday
\nthe Rp 10.98 trillion (US$1.2 billion) city budget for the
\ncurrent fiscal year. The council has apparently discounted the
\npublic in the deliberation process, as the budget favors the city
\nadministration and the council itself, rather than the residents
\nof Jakarta. The Jakarta Post asked some residents for their
\nopinions on the controversial budget approval.<\/p>\n
Dewi Purnamasari, 21, is a freshman at the London School of
\nPublic Relations. She lives in Karet subdistrict, South Jakarta:<\/p>\n
The closed-door hearing on Friday indicates that the city
\nadministration has colluded with city councilors in the
\ndeliberation of the 2003 budget.<\/p>\n
I wonder why the meeting was also closed to journalists, as
\nthey are actual representatives of the public, in contrast to
\ncity councilors. Perhaps the councilors and the city
\nadministration wanted to hide their scandalous acts surrounding
\nthe budget approval.<\/p>\n
The opaqueness of the deliberation will likely spark public
\nprotests in the future, especially from low-income people who
\nhave seriously been affected by the prolonged economic crisis,
\nand this will only add to its already long list of failures.<\/p>\n
It will be hard for the people to believe and respect the city
\nadministration if such practices continue.<\/p>\n
A few days ago, I saw motorists venting their anger when the
\nroad was temporarily closed to give way to some high-ranking
\nofficials and their motorcade. They called the officials "cunning
\nbastards" who had betrayed the people. I heard them.<\/p>\n
I'm afraid that people will get so mad about the corrupt
\nofficials someday. It may provoke social unrest in the city.<\/p>\n
Andra (not his real name), 31, is unemployed and lives with
\nhis wife and daughter in Kampung Ambon, East Jakarta:<\/p>\n
The city councilors and administration must be hiding
\nsomething behind the endorsement of the 2003 city budget. Such a
\nconcealed and secretive process really harms the public's right
\nto know the truth.<\/p>\n
I'm sure that the city councilors and the city administration
\nhave vested interests behind the closed-door deliberation.<\/p>\n
They have forgotten that they must represent the public
\ninterest in their actions, instead of pursuing their own wealth
\nand gain. They have set appalling examples, which are contrary to
\ndemocracy.<\/p>\n
I wonder why the city council hearing should be closed to the
\npublic, while the higher institution of the House of
\nRepresentatives is open to the people?<\/p>\n
The councilors are ridiculous. They have killed democracy and
\nhave returned to feudalism, and are no longer accountable to the
\npublic at all.<\/p>\n
We don't need to trust them. I personally worry a lot about
\nthe likelihood of social turmoil due to the corrupt city leaders.
\nWorse, the country will be in a more chaotic situation in the
\nabsence of democracy.<\/p>\n
Pamungkas, 21, is a worker at a private industrial factory in
\nCentral Jakarta. He resides in Cilincing, North Jakarta:<\/p>\n
Bad people usually commit their crimes in secret, as did the
\ncity councilors and the city administration in their 2003 city
\nbudget meeting.<\/p>\n
The closed-door meeting showed that they had committed some
\noffense that would hurt the people as a consequence. I guess real
\ncorruption, collusion and nepotism was practiced during the
\nmeeting.<\/p>\n
It's sad to find out that the city administration and the
\ncouncilors have become illogical and arrogant in making their
\ndecisions, which involves the public.<\/p>\n
We can see that the 2003 city budget allocation does not make
\nany sense. How could they put their own prosperity before social
\nwelfare?<\/p>\n
I'm afraid that the a smaller budget allocation for the
\npeople's welfare here will spark more social problems and
\nunemployment.<\/p>\n
Personally, I'm disappointed with the councilors and the city
\nadministration's ignorance in managing the people's money. Why
\nthen should I pay taxes which have been deducted from my salary,
\nif the money will only be misused by those greedy officials?<\/p>",
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