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 "We have withdrawn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