Pedicab and cart drivers rap with legislative councilors

Pedicab and cart drivers rap with legislative councilors

YOGYAKARTA (JP): Many becak (pedicab) and andong (horse-drawn
cart) drivers were seen mingling with lawyers, journalists,
students and social activists yesterday in the first rap session
held by the local legislative council.

The newly inducted members of the council held their first
"morning coffee break" at the council building's Lobby Room where
ordinary people were invited to speak their minds.

About 100 people attended yesterday's session. The meeting
will be held monthly.

"After a long discussion, we finally decided that this
'morning coffee break' is the most suitable medium for the
provincial council to absorb people's aspirations," said the head
of the council, Subagio Wariadi, in his opening speech.

"This will also help members improve," he said.

The first session began with the topic "How to optimize the
role and function of the legislative council".

"Anyone may attend future meetings, but they have to register
first," Subagio said.

The meeting was lively yesterday. Participants
enthusiastically and cheerfully shot out a barrage of questions,
as well as suggestions, toward council members.

Some suggested, for instance, that the council establish an E-
mail address or a hot line.

Chairman of Yogyakarta's Legal Aid Institute Budi Santoso, who
took part in yesterday's session, praised the council for the
forum.

"This is indeed a very positive idea. However, I am still
doubtful as to how the council will follow up the various
suggestions that have been raised in this session," he told The
Jakarta Post.

Budi said the session would not mean anything unless the
council convinced locals that it was taking their side and
fighting for their interests rather than that of economically and
politically powerful groups. "Then the sessions will be useless
and ineffective."

Chief of the Yogyakarta and Kedu Military Resort Djoko Santoso
shared Budi's view.

"It's through such a forum that the council can be tested if
it can absorb people's aspirations, process them and fight for
them," he said.

He pointed out that much would also depend on the local
administrators before the council could represent the people
optimally.

Subagio responded by saying that not all suggestions could be
taken up, especially those which were nonsensical or impossible.

"What can the council do if local people ask us to revoke the
Manpower Bill or make (Moslem scholar) Amien Rais president?"
Subagio said. (swa)