'Jakarta is promised land for migrants'

Jakarta with a total area of 650 square kilometers has a population density of about 13,000 people per square kilometer. In an effort to control Jakarta's burgeoning population, Governor Sutiyoso plans to close the city to migrants. The Jakarta Post sought the response of city residents to the plan:

Naman, 58, is a neighborhood unit chief in Petamburan, Central Jakarta. The native Jakartan is the father of four children:

If this is true, I disagree with the regulation planned by the governor. The city doesn't only belong to native Jakartans.

There is no guarantee that the absence of migrants will improve the city and make it more developed.

I believe that the country's independence was for all members of the nation regardless of their origin or ethnicity.

I know that migrants or workers come to Jakarta to seek work because the regional autonomy has not provided well for rural residents. Due to the uneven distribution of wealth in the provinces, it's natural that many people wish to try their luck in the city.

However, I guess it would be better to discipline them, instead of banning the migrants, by requiring them to bring the appropriate identification and to report to the neighborhood unit chief so as to avoid any inconvenience.

Agus, 21, is a street musician in Semper, North Jakarta. He is a native Jakartan:

Honestly, I don't feel bothered by the city administration's plan to close the city to migrants. If I may say so, I don't care about it.

Thinking about this regulation drives me crazy and wastes my energy. It's better for me to try to make money as a busker on public buses. I can earn some Rp 35,000 a day if I'm lucky.

I spend most of my life on the street. My principle is that everybody should have the freedom to live and survive.

As long as they don't bother me, I would not bother them. If they respect me, I will appreciate them. The same applies to the migrants; we can make friends if they are nice.

In spite of being a native Jakartan, I realize that most migrants that come to Jakarta are looking for money. We treat them as our brothers and sisters as long as they behave well.

Purwoko, 33, works as a vendor selling fried snacks in Grogol, West Jakarta. He came from Sukoharjo, Central Java 15 years ago. He resides in Tanjung Duren, West Jakarta with his wife and son:

I think the (planned) regulation is almost impossible to implement. If the government imposes the regulation, I'm afraid it would provoke rebellion among people of lower income in the city.

The city administration should understand that Jakarta is seen as the promised land for every migrant. They come here to do something to seek a livelihood. So, it seems ridiculous that the administration would make such a policy.

Besides, I think it's quite normal for people who have successfully established themselves here to bring some of their relatives to the city. I don't have the heart to leave them jobless in my village.

But, I realize that the policy (to curb migration) might reduce street crime as the unemployment rate would decline with a lower population.

Sahrul, 58, is a street vendor who sells denim clothes in Jatinegara, East Jakarta. He resides in Cibubur, East Jakarta with his wife and four children. Sahrul is from West Sumatra:

I completely disagree with the planned policy. It's totally unrealistic. It is not the proper solution to curb population growth in the city.

I'm not well-educated but we have to look at how regional autonomy is working in the rural areas. How much of the provincial revenue is allotted to support rural development? It's far too little.

So, it's quite natural then for people to come to the capital to earn money to survive.

I myself came here 40 years ago, not to become rich. I work as a vendor just for our daily meals, to rent our house and pay school fees for our children. In this light, is it wrong for us to be here?

--Leo Wahyudi S