Govt's rigidity and obstinacy

Govt's rigidity and obstinacy

From Kompas

The government is aware that any non-populist decision with a
direct impact on people's livelihood, such as the fuel price
increase, is like sowing the wind to reap big storms. But the
government also realizes that the storms will not last long.

Since most Indonesians are quick to forget an event as another
happening follows, government leaders do not hesitate to make
decisions even if they are unpopular and impose a great burden on
society.

When the Rectors Forum emerged from a meeting with the
President and announced that the rise in fuel prices would not
exceed 50 percent, this brought considerable relief. But when the
fuel price hike went beyond 100 percent, the public opposed this
decision through various demonstrations, demanding at least a
review of the rate of increase.

Although nearly all TV stations also aired programs describing
the impact of the major fuel price rise on the life of ordinary
people, all efforts were to no avail. The government refused to
change the fuel price policy, making it final and nonnegotiable.

Meanwhile, the government also plans to import 250,000 tons of
rice from Vietnam to maintain national stocks. According to Vice
President Jusuf Kalla, this is important to avoid a shortage in
the case of natural disasters. Farmers, rice traders, economists
and legislators share the view that this will be detrimental to
farmers' livelihood. Some economists even deem it illogical
because there is now a rice surplus.

Despite the fact that the present rice price is favorable to
farmers -- which would drop in the case of import -- the
government seems set on proceeding with its plan, as indicated by
the Vice President's statement: "The rice import will not be
canceled."

Such a statement shows that the public's demands have been
ignored. This is a picture of the rigidity and obstinacy of our
leaders today: What has been decided must go on, however
irrational it may be.

SAIFUL
Tangerang, Banten