It's a living

It's a living

From Media Indonesia

Referring to a news article on Nov. 17, 2000, in Media Indonesia, I was extremely impressed and surprised by the determination and spirit of the some 2,000 demonstrators demanding that President Abdurrahman Wahid resign. Some of the protesters stayed at the protest site for three consecutive days and nights, while others traveled back and forth from Bekasi, Serang, Tangerang and Lampung.

I was even more amazed by the fact that there is a donator who is willing to pay the demonstrators between Rp 15,000 and Rp 30,000 per day per person, plus money for food.

I think it is "good" to hold the demo every day. As such, these some 2,000 people can have a permanent income of between Rp 15,000 and Rp 30,000 per day, or Rp 450,000 to Rp 900,000 per month, which is equal to the monthly salary of a university graduate who has worked for 15 years as a consultant at a state corporation.

Therefore, it will be very "noble" if the donator continues to finance the demo every day until 2004. I just wonder whether Mr. Soetardjo Soeryoguritno, a deputy speaker of the House of Representatives who once delivered a speech and joked together with the demonstrators, is also being paid. If so, his rates must be much higher!

But what we have to look at is if demo funds are being obtained from the tycoons who were lucky enough to receive funds from Bank Indonesia's liquidity aid when then finance minister Dr. Fuad Bawazier was in office. This requires investigation by competent authorities, because this liquidity aid has inflicted losses on the people.

A. DHOFIR HUDA

Pontianak, West Java