Flood victims rally at Bappenas

Flood victims rally at Bappenas

JAKARTA: Dozens of flood victims rallied in front of the
National Development Planning Board (Bappenas) office on Jl.
Taman Suropati in Menteng, Central Jakarta, on Wednesday.

They victims demanded the planning board provide transparent
information on the Rp 20 trillion (US$2 billion) to be handed
over to the city administration by the central government to fund
a 10-year flood prevention program.

Several adults in the group carried garbage cans and placed
them in a garden located across from the office, while a number
of children drew pictures on a long cloth. The ralliers also sang
patriotic songs while one of their members gave a speech.

Wardah Hafidz, the chairwoman of the Urban Poor Consortium and
the organizer of the rally, told The Jakarta Post that they were
protesting in front of the planning board because it was involved
in the disbursement of the money.

"The board must not disburse the money without first
understanding the needs of most of the residents here. They must
be aware that the funds will be managed by the (city)
administration, which so far has failed to manage problems in the
city, including the recent floods," she said.

Despite failing to meet with the board's chairman, Kwik Kian
Gie, who was not in the office on Wednesday, the victims were
able to meet with several top officials to convey their concerns.
-- JP