NGO activists hold rally to protest city budget

JAKARTA (JP): Some 150 people marched to the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle in Central Jakarta on Monday to demand revocation of the 2001 city budget.

The protesters, who claimed to represent 14 nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), began to gather at 5 a.m.

They erected two huge banners on billboards facing the traffic circle that read: "Revoke the 2001 city budget. Boycott the increase in taxes. Bring the city administration and city council to court."

The rally was punctuated by a marching band from Jelambar, West Jakarta and a pantomime by Jemek, a noted artist from Yogyakarta.

Activities around the busy thoroughfares of Jl. M.H. Thamrin and Jl. Sudirman were disrupted until the protesters dispersed at about 10 a.m.

"The city administration was not transparent in the budget planning. Its decision making process did not involve public participation," some of the protesters yelled.

The city council approved the Rp 7.49 trillion (about US$788.42 million) 2001 budget on Dec. 31, with Rp 4.98 trillion allocated for routine expenditures and only Rp 2.51 trillion for development programs.

The budget, a significant increase over the previous Rp 4.18 trillion budget, did not address the needs of the citizens, according to the protesters.

"Most of the expenditures are apparently allotted to pay the needs of officials rather than the people," said activist M. Barkah of the Urban Poor Consortium (UPC).

A statement distributed to people who passed the traffic circle said the city budget paved the way for wider corruption. Quoting research conducted by the Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI), the statement said the city parking agency should have raised Rp 126 billion annually, but it submitted a mere Rp 14.8 billion last year.

The statement claimed the city council had chosen an inappropriate time to approve the budget, holding the plenary council meeting while most people were still on holiday.

Another activist, Tubagus Kaherbianto from the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH Jakarta) said that the NGOs were assessing the funding for certain items in the budget and preparing their legal positions on all city officials and councillors involved in the deliberation of the city budget.

"The effort is also aimed at building public opinion and encouraging community involvement in decision making processes dealing with their city," Tubagus said.

He said the NGOs had considered a lawsuit against the city administration and council over the budget.

"We hope that our legal battle can force changes to the city budget," he added. (07)