Facing unskilled migrants

Facing unskilled migrants

After every Idul Fitri holiday, the Jakarta administration is
faced with an annual dilemma: the influx of unwanted migrants
from poverty-stricken villages. These people journey far, alone
or with relatives who are returning to the capital after
celebrating the Islamic holiday with families, in their place of
birth.

This annual tide of unskilled labor is driven by poor social
and economic conditions in the provinces. This year extended
drought, which damaged crops and delayed planting, has made
conditions far worse than usual. In many areas food, and even
drinking water, is in critically short supply. Current economic
turmoil, rising prices and horrible uncertainty have compounded
an already miserable situation.

It is no exaggeration to say that migration is a matter of
life and death for many of the rural poor, among whom exists an
unshakeable belief that a move to large, glamorous urban centers,
like Jakarta, is the only hope for survival.

The annual influx of new migrants after Idul Fitri has become
as traditional as the annual exodus from Jakarta several days
earlier. A member of the City Council estimates that about
500,000 job-seekers will enter Jakarta this week, few with
marketable skills. But those who alighted at the city's bus
terminals found Jakarta less hospitable, if that is possible,
than in previous years. They were promptly frog-marched back onto
buses and sent packing.

In a time of crisis, this measure is beyond comprehension and
will prove to be as unworkable as the recent appeal made by
Governor Sutiyoso, requesting Jakartans to refrain from bring
friends and relatives back from their villages.

We understand why the Jakarta administration views migrants as
a problem. They are unlikely to find work in these difficult
times and will eventually become a burden to the capital. Jakarta
already struggles to accommodate its existing 10 million
inhabitants.

Nevertheless, the administration should look into the social
reality wisely. The problem can only cured by wiping out poverty,
not the poor.

Our country has once again become poor. Faced with this
calamity, care should be taken to offer a helping hand to the
rural people who are facing starvation. Those who have, should
open their doors to those who do not, like in wartime, when
people shelter refugees.

Finally are glad to note that as of yesterday, the
administration has stopped cracking down on newcomers. We hope
that this policy change is not been taken for political
considerations, such as next month's meeting of the People's
Consultative Assembly, which will elect the national president,
but for purely humanitarian reasons.

It is true that times are very difficult for urban dwellers,
but they may not fully realize the difficulties faced by their
rural cousins. But the time has come for people to see the real
truth in poverty, empathize with the poor, and act accordingly.