Violence mars fuel cash aid distribution<\/p>\n
Luh Putu Trisna Wahyuni, The Jakarta Post, Mataram<\/p>\n
Hundreds of people attacked and vandalized local government
\noffices on Tuesday in West Lombok and Tangerang, signaling that
\npublic frustration is growing over the messy distribution of fuel
\ncompensation money across the archipelago.<\/p>\n
Tuesday's incidents were the latest in a series of violent
\nincidents across the nation since the government started
\ndisbursing cash aid to the poor to offset the impact of the fuel
\nprice hikes on Oct. 1.<\/p>\n
The fresh violence in West Lombok broke out after officials in
\nBengkel subdistrict extorted money from residents collecting
\ntheir payments, with each being forced to pay Rp 100,000 out of
\nthe Rp 300,000 due to them.<\/p>\n
The residents said that local government officials were
\nwaiting for them at the local post office where they were due to
\nreceive their payments, threatening that they would be denied the
\ncash aid during the next payout if they refused to pay Rp 100,000
\neach.<\/p>\n
The residents said they were stunned by the move. However they
\nfelt there was nothing they could do except hand over the money.
\nAccording to Zaini, a resident, the people dispersed peacefully
\nafter receiving their payments, but frustration grew as they made
\ntheir way home, and eventually culminated in an attack on the
\nsubdistrict offices.<\/p>\n
The angry residents vented their anger at the building,
\nhurling stones, and breaking chairs, desks and other items of
\nfurniture. None of subdistrict officials were hurt as they
\nhurriedly left the scene.<\/p>\n
Separately, similar violence, but with a different motive, took
\nplace in Tangerang municipality where hundreds of residents
\ndestroyed five subdistrict offices on the same day. The residents
\nwere venting their rage after being excluded from the list of
\npoor people eligible to receive the compensation money.<\/p>\n
These latest violent incidents are just some examples of how
\nmessy the distribution of the fuel compensation funds has become
\nacross the country. Part of the problem is due to erroneous
\nstatistical data, with local statistics offices mistakenly
\nincluding better-off people on the lists of those eligible to
\nreceive the assistance, while at the same time excluding poor
\npeople from the lists, sparking anger among those thus excluded.
\nProblems also arose from the greed of local government officials,
\nwho attempted to reap personal gain from the process.<\/p>\n
The government itself has admitted that the distribution
\nprocess has been chaotic in a number of areas. Some regents have
\nacted to halt the distribution process, pending the collection of
\nimproved statistical data, while also pledging to sternly punish
\nunscrupulous local officials taking advantage of the process.<\/p>\n
The central government has so far acknowledged that the poor
\nquality of the statistical data has meant that some 500,000
\nfamilies, out of a total of 15.4 million families eligible to
\nreceive the money, had not done so thus far. The government has
\nsaid it will improve the quality of the statistics and ensure
\nthat all those entitled to the money will receive it. Those
\ncategorized as eligible to receive the money are those with
\nmonthly incomes of below Rp 175,000 (US$17.5).<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/violence-mars-fuel-cash-aid-distribution-1447893297",
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