Jakartans say 'quack, quack' to councillors
Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Some 300 people presented on Wednesday 11 ducks for the 11 factions in the City Council to mock their apparent blind loyalty to incumbent Governor Sutiyoso, who is set to become the strongest gubernatorial candidate.
They gathered in front of the City Council building on Jl. Kebon Sirih, Central Jakarta, and spoke out in condemnation of the councillors who failed to see the fact that Sutiyoso did not deserve to be reelected because he had caused misery for most people in the city.
The demonstrators, organized by the Jakarta Residents Forum (Fakta), said they were victims of the city administration's policy. They included becak (three wheel pedicab) drivers, street vendors and those who were evicted from their houses.
"You (Sutiyoso) have disappointed us on countless occasions, because you are never on our side and never protect our interests," they said in a statement.
Sutiyoso was nominated by three major factions, the Golkar Party, the United Development Party (PPP), the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), and one minor party, the Justice and Unity Party (PKP).
The demonstrators urged the factions to reject Sutiyoso's accountability speech, which was represented last month.
The council's factions are scheduled to give their final say on the speech on Aug. 12. If it is rejected, Sutiyoso will lose his chance to be reelected.
So far only three factions -- the National Mandate Party (PAN), the Justice Party (PK) and the Crescent and Star Party (PBB), have openly stated that they would reject Sutiyoso's accountability speech.
"I came here because I want to tell the councillors about my misery. My husband is now jobless after his becak was seized by City Public Order officers," Puji, 26, told The Jakarta Post while holding her 18-month-old baby.
She said she now lives in a makeshift tent built on the grounds of a former airport in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, together with her husband and three children.
Representatives of the demonstrators were received by councillors from four factions: PAN, Golkar, PK, and the National Awakening Party (PKB).