Mobile post office attacked

Mobile post office attacked

Theresia Sufa, The Jakarta Post, Bogor

Braving the heat and rain, thousands of destitute residents of 11
villages in Leuwiliang district, Bogor, had been gathering in the
soccer field since dawn on Wednesday.

They didn't want to be late for the mobile post office that
brings the cash assistance distributed by the central government
to compensate for the recent fuel price rises.

But the van had not arrived at 10 a.m. as promised.

"I arrived here at 5 a.m.; we're already tired," said Acih,
38, resident of Puraseda village. The village is only 15
kilometers from the soccer field, which is located in front of
the district administration office.

At least 19,000 people who hold Fuel Compensation Cards
(KKB) patiently waited until they got their money, although a
sudden heavy downpour temporarily dispersed them.

Dozens of people, mainly old women, fainted and had to be
treated at the district administration office.

District head Dodi Ahmad Hidayat explained that there were
some logistical problems at the Bogor post office that caused the
delay.

"But we have arranged for 12 people to help distribute the
money to expedite the process ... If the whole process can't be
completed today, the cardholders can collect their money at the
post office by themselves starting Thursday," he said.

At about 12:20 p.m., two mobile post offices brought a total
of Rp 5.8 billion for 19,376 cardholders that were mobbed by the
waiting residents.