Jakartans dreaming of better post-election days

JAKARTA (JP): The capital celebrates its 472nd anniversary today in the midst of strong hopes for brighter days soon after the completion of ballot counting.

With most feeling the effects of the economic crisis and with last year's riots still fresh in their minds, many Jakartans describe the past two years as both nightmarish and unforgettable.

Talking with The Jakarta Post's reporters recently, some citizens, although still pessimistic about the situation, pray and hope the capital's anniversary this year will be a great start for a new and better future.

Some find it auspicious that the anniversary falls at a time when the last votes are being counted. They are not only hoping for a bright future for their businesses or careers. They also have high hopes that the prices of goods and services will come down.

Many businesspeople here say the peaceful period before, during and after the June 7 general election was the first indication they had that they could safely resume their activities.

One can witness the resumption of business, and property owners have started to rebuild and refurnish properties which were badly damaged in last year's riots.

They also want ballot counting to be completed properly and a smooth process of the presidential election at the People's Consultative Assembly.

Following are excerpts of the interviews:

Dandoel Hardoyono, public relations officer at Taman Mini Indonesia Indah miniature park (TMII) in East Jakarta:

I personally think and hope, like every Jakartan, that the best for this province will come about as soon as possible, no matter who ends up being the country's leader.

Particularly for TMII, as one of the city's recreation parks, attempts to improve our condition never ends, even when we face a worse-case scenario like in mid-May last year.

I believe nobody wants a return of earlier incidents here. I also encourage other staff members to keep working their best despite the gloomy tourism condition, which I believe has struck almost all entertainment and tourists businesses in the country.

So for us here, we never stop improving ourselves, keeping the hard work among us. Recently it has bore fruit as people, mostly from outside the province, are starting to flock to this park and spending holidays here. Some groups have already booked for their holidays.

Inge, marketing manager of PT Multi Plaza Properties, developer of Glodok Plaza in downtown Kota which was torched by mobs in last year's riots: I'm optimistic that the situation will get better after the vote counting.

The political situation will stabilize and there will be no worries about possible unrest.

In the meantime, the progress in economic recovery remains far from many people's expectations. Buyers and merchants here still take wait-and-see attitude.

Prices of goods have settled slowly but buyers are still waiting for the lowest prices.

Blind masseur Basuki of Jl. Perjuangan, also known as Jl. Panjang, in West Jakarta: I cannot understand why normal people love to make chaos and unrest in this capital while many others, including disabled people like me, are struggling hard to eke out a living. They should understand that riots, or whatever you call it, disturbs the livelihoods of other people.

This time I hope the situation will return to normal so my well-to-do customers, who're now in Singapore with their families, can come back here and ask for my services.

Effendy, a bus conductor: Life is much better these days. Everyone can smell it. Really! I hope the situation in this capital can be further improved in order to let all Jakartans smile again and go about their routine business as usual. Please... no more disorders, no more street protests. We're fed up.

Sawaun Maksudi, head of Perumnas Klender market in East Jakarta: I'm optimistic that we'll have a stable political and economic situation after the polls since all party leaders prompted the community to create a peaceful atmosphere during the elections and the vote counting.

Such a stable situation is badly needed for the city's economic recovery.

Mounting violence last year led some traders to shut down their shops temporarily, drastically cutting our revenue. The significant drop in buyers also slashed our parking revenue.

I'll have no objections to whoever sits in power, as long as they bring prosperity and safety to people.

Eddy, a brothel owner at Kramat Tunggak red-light district in North Jakarta:

I hope the complex will not be closed down. It's my only way to earn money for my family.

But I'm optimistic the reformist government will take the country into prosperity and bring about economic recovery.

Waluyo, head of the city's prostitution rehabilitation center:

The success of the polls does not guarantee a better life for people in Jakarta.

Jakarta will remain a city full of social problems, since many people from remote areas will flock to the capital with great expectations. We cannot prevent them from coming here.

So, the best action for the new government to take to prevent a bad social climate as a consequence of Jakarta being overcrowded is to promote law enforcement.

Lawyer Christina Rini of the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute: The situation here will only return to normal if the new government is chosen by the majority of the right people.

If the new government still represents the "old" officials, workers and students will still rally on the streets.

In the meantime, the number of street protests lessened after the polls when many demonstrators learned that the old party lost the vote.

But people who often conducted rallies in the past will resume take to the streets if the new elected government is not the one they expect.

City Council Speaker Edy Waluyo: I wish Jakarta many happy returns of the day. It is a great city already.

I hope the city will prosper and grow to be a leading city in the coming years.

But the city will function properly only if the administration restructures its organization.

The administration should cut out unnecessary posts, cut down on employees and make optimal use of remaining employees.

Bad situations can be fixed if the administration could just cut down the bureaucratic posts, which give more opportunities for corruption.

Hendrik, 50, an owner of Setia Makmur electronics shop on Jl. Pinangsia Raya in West Jakarta: I'm still uncertain about the overall situation. Probably, there will be a clear direction after the country gets its new president.

For example, I now still have to bribe city officials at certain offices to obtain licenses for new business. If I refused to pay, the process would take long or I might not get my trading license.

E. Siregar, a soft-drink vendor in front of the Indonesian Christian University (UKI) campus in Cawang, East Jakarta: Prices of goods have been escalating since last year and this caused throngs of my friends to flee back to our hometown in Medan, North Sumatra.

They were unable to afford daily necessities due to the high cost of living here. If this situation does not change, I'll probably be the next victim.

Governor Sutiyoso: It is important to get city residents out of this economic crisis first. It's no easy job.

City residents have so far (this year) been able to go through riot-provoking situations without causing riots in Jakarta. One good example is the recent campaigning activities.

It is my wish that the same peaceful atmosphere will be maintained during the coming Special Session of the People's Consultative Assembly later this year, which will determine the new president and vice president of this nation.

Entering the year 2000, I hope city residents will be able to live normally and that the economic situation will improve. (jun/asa/ylt/ind/bsr)