Jakartans dreaming of better post-election days

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)