Our commitment to the poor is being tested

Our commitment to the poor is being tested

Some 2,789 people living in remote areas in Central Kalimantan are facing famine due to the long drought that has dried up the Kahayan River.

However, the people of Central Kalimantan, who are used to eating rice, still have all kinds of tubers and fish from other rivers to eat.

Nonetheless, they have been waiting for our help and if they do not get it, conditions there will worsen when they run out of rice and kerosene. It is not easy for them to buy food and kerosene as they live far from Central Kalimantan's capital of Palangkaraya.

The condition faced by people in Central Kalimantan's remote areas reminds us of Article 34 of the amended 1945 Constitution, which says that the state is responsible for the poor and displaced children.

Article 34 also states that the country should develop a social safety net system for all people and empower the poor.

Politicians, notably political party members who made the amendments to the Constitution, should set a good example on how to implement Article 34. Legislators should help the poor of Central Kalimantan.

The political elite should visit the remote areas to show their support for the poor.

-- Kompas, Jakarta