Neglected starvation

Neglected starvation

From Ummat

I was deeply shocked to learn that a group of Betawi families
could not afford to buy food. The report also reveals the
condition of their shanties.

It is ironic that a community, physically close to the center
of power and business activities, and magnificent skyscrapers,
should be left far behind. It is indeed highly incredible. Then,
what might happen to communities living in rural areas. Their
miseries could be beyond comprehension.

It seems the Betawi people are no more fortunate than their
fellow countrymen in Irian Jaya. At the time when a certain group
in Irian Jaya was reported to be starving and experiencing a long
drought, some groups were conducting charity drives, collecting
aid relief from many quarters, and the Armed Forces dropped food
aid and medicine from aircraft. Also, artists and the Irian Jaya
community in Jakarta ran a charity program for Irian Jaya. That
was not the case when families in the Betawi community suffered
from starvation. People had little concern about their miseries,
as if the Betawi community were an isolated group in this
country.

Neither Rano Karno, who has been successful in "selling the
Betawi culture", Alya Rohali, winner of Miss Betawi title
(probably because of her Betawi father), nor Deddy Mizwar, who
has Betawi blood, have come to the rescue of the starving Betawi
people.

Also, many important figures who have Betawi ancestry have not
extended the needed help. Could this state of affairs be due to
the fact that the Betawi people are considered politically
insignificant, just like the American Indians and Australian
Aborigines?

MOH ABDUL KARIM

Jakarta