Fees galore

Fees galore

From Tiras

Some time ago, like all other residents, I received a circular
from the Menteng Dalam village chief's office concerning fees for
public sanitation. The circular was also signed by the Kecamatan
Tebet district chief. The announcement said that payment of the
fee, which would be enforced as of April 1, 1996, shall be
coupled with the payment of one's electricity bill.

The fee is at least Rp 1,000 per month. The problem is that
the amount differs from one place to another. At the number seven
Inkaso (paying post) the fee is fixed at Rp 1,000, while at
number eight post the fee is Rp 2,000. Why this difference? What
is more surprising is that at the third Inkaso (number 37) no
sanitation fee is collected. Instead, payers have to make a
donation for the approaching National Games.

Apart from the fee, residents have still to pay monthly fees
for garbage collection and security; the amount involved ranges
from Rp 1,500 to Rp 3,500 per household.

The differing fees confuse the community. When asked about the
matter, the collection official replied: "I don't know, I am only
doing as I'm told." I think this is a typical answer of a man
with great authority, as if he were saying: "Just pay, and no
comment!" This deprives the people of their right to have access
to correct information. As far as I am concerned, what matters is
transparency and legality, and not the money.

SALEH ABDULLAH

Jakarta