Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso was upset upon hearing that the
Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso was upset upon hearing that the central government had distributed cheap rice for poor families in Jakarta without his awareness.
He said that it was the city administration that is the most informed about the number of poor families and where they live in the capital city. Sutiyoso became even angrier after housewives in Klender, East Jakarta, complained that no single family in the area has received the cheap rice, worth Rp 1,000 per kilogram.
Locals said that each family should have received 10 kilograms in December.
Subdistrict officials denied the reports, claiming that the rice had been distributed through the neighborhood chiefs. Thus, it is the neighborhood chiefs that must be responsible for the distribution.
Shockingly the central rice market in Cipinang, East Jakarta, reported that some people, reportedly from the Klender subdistrict office and several neighborhood chiefs had tried to sell cheap rice to a rice seller in the market.
Distribution is obviously the main problem in such a scheme. Therefore non-governmental organizations always voice their concern about the implementation of compensation programs for poor families.
We just hope that whoever is in charge of distributing the rice or anything else for the poor will have the compassion not to steal or misuse what the poor families deserve.
-- Warta Kota, Jakarta
One more year, says Dorodjatun
Coordinating Minister for Economy Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti said recently that Indonesia will no longer depend on the International Monetary Fund (IMF) next year. "We have withdrawn all our debts to strengthen our foreign exchange," he said, ignoring the previous schedule that the "farewell" to the IMF should be this year.
The question then is why should we prolong the contract (until next year)?, and what should be do before we say goodbye to the IMF?
We don't want to evaluate the implementation of IMF programs. But, everybody should acknowledge that not all IMF advice is appropriate to cure our economic and monetary problems. All economic policies have their own risks, many of which are unpredictable.
The contract with the IMF is actually a way to open and liberalize the economy. Our economy is still dominated by subsidy and protection. The path to liberalism -- by whatever means -- brings the people misery. We have no other choice but to accept the consequences.
The IMF withdrawal means that we will no longer communicate with an institution which is able to push the government to work hard and consistently to enhance the national economy.
-- Koran Tempo, Jakarta
Bali bombing is our homework
We must not forget our homework: the Bali bombing, amid all the work that we must deal with this year. Recently we have been occupied with people's reactions to the hike in utility prices, but that should not mean that the Bali bombing case is neglected.
Neglecting the Bali bombing case will lead to rumors which could put us in a difficult position.
It is obvious that the Bali bombing investigating team, led by Insp. Gen. I Made Mangku Pastika, has been working hard. The dossier of Amrozi, one of the key suspects, has been sent to the prosecutors' office.
The police have also arrested two other alleged key suspects, Ali Imron and Mubarok. Now that 14 people have been arrested, the police are now hunting nine more suspects, two of them Malaysian nationals.
We believe that the investigating team will never stop in their efforts to uncover all the perpetrators behind the tragedy, despite the fact that it is a tough job. This is important to make the world aware that we are not terrorists. We are the victims of terrorist acts. Therefore, we should join hands to work more harder to solve the Bali case soon, as other homework is awaiting.
-- Kompas, Jakarta