Emergency measure on Bali demanded

Emergency measure on Bali demanded

Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The New Indonesian Alliance (PIB) called on the government to
immediately take emergency measures to assist Bali on Tuesday to
help the island recover from the tragic bomb attacks.

PIB chairman Sjahrir said the measures must include efforts to
save 450,000 people from being laid-off, stop the imposition of
value-added tax in Bali until the end of 2003, improve the poor
quality of hospitals in Bali, and offer a 50 percent discount on
airfares.

"Stop blaming each other. Bali, one of the most important
regions in the country, needs substantial help, otherwise they
will suffer from various problems triggered by the Bali carnage,"
he told reporters on Tuesday.

Sjahrir, a noted economic observer, said the government could
allocate some of last year left-over budget, which reached around
Rp 25 trillion, for emergency assistance for Bali.

The Bali bomb blast on Oct. 12, which killed nearly 200 people
and injured hundreds of others, is expected to spark complex
problems for the country.

Tourist arrivals in Bali are expected to decline next year due
to the trauma of the bombing incident, thus reducing the income
for local people.

Employment will also increase, which will consequently lead to
a rise in crime.

A number of economists have projected economic growth in 2003
will decline to between 3 percent and 4 percent from over 4
percent.

However, the government was still optimistic that it would be
able to reach 5 percent economic growth next year due to the
resumption of a number of toll road, power plant and petrochemical
plant projects.

In response to the Bali incident and the predicted economic
downturn that would ensue, the Directorate General of Taxation
has offered tax relief for income tax for October to December
this year.

Putu Suasta, chairman of PIB Bali chapter, supported the call,
saying the Balinese needed soft loans to carry out new business,
prompt handling of the bodies of those killed in the attack and
other aid.

"Bali's tourist assets of about Rp 30 billion (US$3 million)
are facing uncertainty. If the central government doesn't
properly handle the problem, there will be great disappointment
for Bali," he said.

Aryono P., a doctor from Ciptomangunkusumo General Hospital in
Jakarta, who also spoke at the press conference hailed the call,
particularly in the view of medical treatment.

"Hospitals in Bali are not good enough to handle such an
emergency situation. It could happen in other provinces also ,"
he said.