Jakarta's poor view Soeharto's resignation with apathy

By Yogita Tahil Ramani

JAKARTA (JP): The world witnessed students jumping into the fountain at the House of Representatives compound Thursday amid outcries that "the president is now former president Soeharto".

What the students did not notice that day was that outside of the barb-wired city was the poor man's indifference to it all.

The reason?

The loss of livelihoods and a misery underscoring a major burden of the nation's poor: prices of basic commodities.

The prolonged economic crisis, rioting and arson here on May 14 brought few of Jakarta's poor to bother about who sits in the presidential seat, now or later.

Sartika, who lives in the slums of Jembatan Batu, North Jakarta, has been forced to sell drinks on the road since January.

"My husband lost his job in early January. He used to be a construction worker," said the 46-year-old woman.

"Students are yelling about reform? So what? We don't care about their yelling or about the change of presidents. What I care about is that I can't feed my children and husband."

Aside from having little or no knowledge of the significance of political reform, there is not much that can be told to people who have lost the bare necessities of life.

Sartika said her "house" and several other structures serving as homes in the slum area were burned on May 14.

"We thought it was people from the government again (who set the fire) because we occupy government land without payment or permission," Sartika said.

"But can you imagine? Those burning the slum areas were rioters. Tell me, what is there to loot from us? We cannot even afford to buy enough vegetables. We've been living on them since the economic crisis started."

"Have you ever heard of potatoes costing someone Rp 4,000? It's happening now. I can't handle it," she said, her voice choked with emotion.

Following the government's decision to increase fuel and transport prices earlier this month, prices of several essential commodities have soared.

Traders in major markets say that the prices of sugar, wheat flour, cooking oil and sweet potatoes have been particularly affected.

Last week, the price of wheat flour, for instance, rose from Rp 2,100 (20 U.S. cents) per kilogram to Rp 2,250 per kg, sweet potatoes from Rp 2,200 per kg to Rp 2,500 per kg and low-grade cooking oil from Rp 4,000 per kg to Rp 4,400 per kg.

The latest reports state that among other food commodities, potatoes now cost Rp 3,500 per kg and tomatoes, which were Rp 5,000 per kg last week, now cost Rp 6,000 per kg.

Nursiyah, 38, of Jembatan Besi, North Jakarta, saw rioters burning and looting houses in neighboring slum areas as well.

"Why don't they just loot the rich or the Chinese (whom she considers rich)? How come all the big people and how come the president (former president Soeharto) are safe. Why didn't rioters loot their houses," Nursiyah said.

Despite only being able to vaguely describe the political situation, she seemed to be quite sure when asked of her opinion of newly appointed President B.J. Habibie.

"Whom do you think is sitting up there right now? It's Soeharto's friend. But what do we care?"

The same sentiments were conveyed by a few residents living in a slum area in Haji Ung of Utan Panjang district, Kemayoran, Central Jakarta.

Linda, a poor Indonesian of Chinese descent, said she did not care about the new President because she had more pressing matters to think about.

The 41-year-old had run a small salon below her one-room house over the past eight years -- until last week.

"They (rioters) almost stoned my home that day (May 14). They didn't because they did not know that I live upstairs. They just knew of my salon."

"They broke everything. Chairs, mirrors ... I bought the salon equipment after saving up for so many months. It's all gone now."

She has moved to her cousin's house since then and they plan to leave Jakarta.

Linda felt that it was not safe for Indonesians of Chinese descent to live in Jakarta anymore.

"When disaster strikes, it strikes everybody. Why pinpoint us (the Chinese) only?"

According to Mudi, who lives five homes away from Linda's, this was not true.

"I am proof that this is not true. I am a pribumi (indigenous Indonesian). They didn't spare me either," he said.

"My entire shop was burned. I used to sell T-shirts here. It's all gone. I have nothing, no savings at all. I have four mouths to feed at home."

Mudi, who is in his 30s, commented on the jubilation of students over Soeharto's resignation, saying he could not understand how they could be so idealistic when the situation was so bad here.

"I don't know what they (the students) are so happy about. So what if the president is replaced? So what?" he screamed, almost crying.

"Can it get my shop running again and my wife from complaining everyday that there is nothing that we can afford now? Nothing can be done for this country, I tell you."

"If the change of a president can bring down the price of food, then we shall smile. Otherwise, there is no reason to."