Jakarta's mixed burden

Jakarta's mixed burden

From Merdeka

I am writing in response to Mr. Tasdik TN's letter of Nov. 22
in Merdeka on how to keep the Betawi community (Jakarta's
indigenous group) intact.

Mr. Tasdik TN, from Bekasi, said it was necessary to make a
distinction between: (1) Jakarta as the capital of the Republic
of Indonesia, and (2) the city of Jakarta as the capital of the
first-level region of Greater Jakarta.

He wrote that these two things seem to be found
simultaneously.

If the city of Jakarta serves only as a state capital, it will
only be the seat of government. In the capital city of the
Republic of Indonesia one can find only state buildings, those of
the central government.

The capital of a state is not a residential area. As a state
capital, Jakarta will not be a city with hectic trade activities
and traffic congestion.

In this respect, it is necessary to have legal certainty as to
which area, with clear boundaries, will be called "the city of
Jakarta, the capital of the Republic of Indonesia".

As for the first-level region of Greater Jakarta, it must have
its own capital, a provincial capital not concurrently a state
capital.

As a first-level region and a provincial capital, Jakarta
would have its own residential areas and centers of trade,
agricultural, fishery, industrial, tourism, cultural and other
activities.

If Jakarta serves only as a state capital, efforts to maintain
the Betawi community will be made within Greater Jakarta's first-
level region, not within the city of Jakarta.

It is clear from what Mr. Tasdik wrote that Jakarta shoulders
mixed burdens. Therefore, it is necessary to determine its limits
as a capital city and a provincial capital.

This is advisable especially because it is obvious that the
burdens that Jakarta is shouldering are too heavy; among others
as a melting pot for people of various ethnic and racial groups
and as a model of development for other regions in the country.

Also, Jakarta is indirectly responsible for the smooth running
of development undertakings in the peripheral areas of Bogor,
Tangerang and Bekasi (Botabek). Most residents in these areas
earn a living in Jakarta. They return home only to sleep at
night. It is only proper that now one must not think of how to
conserve the Betawi community only but must start considering the
real role of Jakarta as a state capital and as a provincial one.

Until now Jakarta has not played its dual role to the maximum.
Development in Jakarta is still limited to its physical aspect
and has not encompassed its moral aspect.

M. RIDWAN ADRIAN

Jakarta