Patience has its limits

Patience has its limits

From Kompas

I am a teacher in Sleman regency, Yogyakarta and was
transferred from Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara in June 2000. I was
only paid my salary until April 2001 so I asked the relevant
authorities at the office of the National Education Department in
Sleman regency and at the finance division of the Sleman
administration but they advised me to wait patiently for it.

I have been waiting with patience, but I have a wife and three
children to look after. Two of my children are going to private
junior high schools while the third is only three years old and
they all do not understand about waiting and patience. My wife is
staying in Kupang to handle the settlement of my salary. What we
most feared has now become a reality. It is ironic that a teacher
is not only unable to support his family but also to send his
children to school. Is this what regional autonomy means?

Other fellow teachers have claimed the increase in their
salaries as well as their backpay, but I have no idea when my
salary will be paid so I have had to borrow some money to keep my
family alive.

I, therefore, call on the relevant authorities to pay
attention to the matter and to ensure that it is immediately
settled. Indeed, there is a limit to my patience.

Y MARIATMOJO

Yogyakarta, Central Java