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