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