`Jogging ban is ridiculous'
Governor Sutiyoso has issued a decree closing Jl. Thamrin and Jl. Sudirman to all Sunday morning sports activities beginning Jan. 26. The governor made the move because Sunday morning exercisers were, according to him, damaging the median strips and wire fences that run along the streets. The Jakarta Post spoke with some city residents about the issue.
Faril, 30, has been selling newspapers along Jl. Sudirman and Jl. Thamrin for 12 years. He lives in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, with his wife and son:
I completely disagree with the governor's ban on Sunday jogging along the streets. I think the governor has violated residents' right to use public spaces for exercise.
Why would he close the roads to ordinary urban residents who lack the space for exercise.
Why should he prohibit people from trying to live a healthy life? It sounds crazy! I wonder what he really wants.
Maybe he wants to raise money for the city by closing the streets and pushing the joggers into Monas (the National Monument park), where people have to pay illegal entrance fees. It's less likely people will go to Senayan on Sundays because the area is already too crowded with joggers.
The median strips being damaged is not a good reason to close the streets. It's Sutiyoso who is damaging the rights of the public. Worse still, I will make less money on Sundays. I used to make more money on Sunday mornings from selling papers and magazines to the joggers.
Tomi, 27, works as a street musician along Jl. Sudirman and Jl. Thamrin. He lives in Bekasi, West Java, with his family:
Sutiyoso doesn't know the meaning of ethics, which is why he issued a decree barring city residents from exercising along the streets on Sunday.
I think most of the people doing the exercise are low income. I think they enjoy doing the cheap but fun exercise. They deserve the public space because they paid taxes for it.
Exercising along the main thoroughfares on Sunday is the only chance for poor residents to breathe fresh air, and they don't have to pay for it.
I'm sure the decree will not have an impact on the rich because they can afford to exercise in other places. The poor deserve the same rights but they don't have any other alternatives.
I disagree with Sutiyoso's accusation that the joggers damaged the median strips. I'm sure only few of them are guilty. But this decree has again made me distrust the government for being selfish!
Eka Dewi P.S., 21, works at the Egyptian Embassy in Jakarta. She lives in Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta:
I disagree with Sutiyoso's decree closing the main thoroughfares. The ban is really inhumane because it violates the right of residents to have public spaces where they can exercise for free.
It is really a ridiculous ban. How could he bar people from using the streets to maintain their health? Poor people also deserve to be healthy.
I used to go to the area on Sundays. It was fun. People of all ages and social status mingled, breathing in the fresh air. It's rare just to get a few hours of fresh air in Jakarta.
I could have gone to an expensive gym or health center in one of the star-rated hotels, but I preferred going there. The governor should have sided with the low-income people, who will be the ones to suffer from the ban.
His concern about damage to the median strips is not a rational reason to impose the ban. Besides, I'm pretty sure that not every jogger is guilty of damaging the median strips.
-- Leo Wahyudi S