Observers want more public accountability

Observers want more public accountability

JAKARTA (JP): Observers have urged more public participation
in every part of the decision-making process in the city
administration and council so that every policy adopted by the
city government would be transparent and accountable to the
public.

Speaking in a discussion on Wednesday, sociopolitical observer
Chusnul Mariyah and sociologist Paulus Wiratama from the
University of Indonesia said it was important to absorb as many
public demands and interests as possible in every decision made
by the city.

"We need participatory democracy, because the general public
has the right to join in the process of decision-making as every
decision will affect the lives of the people," Chusnul said
during the discussion which was broadcast live by Radio Elshinta.

She said some concerned groups such as non-governmental
organizations and certain community groups should be invited to
hearings between the city administration and councillors in the
making of, for example, city bylaws.

"By participating in the decision-making process, we can
identify councillors who may have been influenced by money or
other benefits provided by the city administration," Chusnul
said.

She was referring to the current public furor on the payment
of bonuses by the administration to the city's 85 councillors,
along with the allocation of large funds for the purchase of
their official cars and subsidies for the purchase of private
cars, all paid for out of the city budget.

According to Chusnul, the idea of seeking public participation
did not mean that councillors lacked competence to represent
Jakartans.

"We all can see that the current councillors have yet to show
their credibility to their constituents or to the people, so we
need some organizations to assist them in making decisions," she
said.

Paulus Wiratama said that another option in getting public
participation in decision-making is to resurrect the old idea of
subdistrict councils in the capital which would consist of the
most respected people in their respective localities.

"It is very important to have the subdistrict councils so that
the city administration is fully under the control of the people
and every decision is made based on advantage for the general
public," he said.

The idea to establish subdistrict councils surfaced earlier
this year. However, the plan was put on hold for "technical
reasons".

The city council proposed the direct election of the council
members. However, Law No.22/1999 vests full authority in the
subdistrict chiefs.

"We have to encourage real civil society and giving as much
space for the people to express their opinions in the decision-
making process will be better because, so far it has been obvious
that the city administration has yet to serve the public
interest," he added.

In response, Council Deputy Speaker Tarmidi Suhardjo, who
attended the discussion, said the city council has vowed to meet
the general public's demands and has formed a special team to go
to every subdistrict in the capital and listen directly to the
people's complaints.

"The team has been set up and we will start our visits around
the capital in November," he said.(dja)