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