Public misery

Public misery

From Pikiran Rakyat

The Megawati administration is no different from the previous
government. It has acted repressively and shown no care for
public misery. Senior officials, from both the executive and
legislative institutions, have been paid handsomely to prevent
them from practicing corruption, collusion and nepotism, but the
facts show that these practices remain rife. They no longer have
a conscience about the misery inflicted on people at the grass-
roots. They don't care that nearly 40 million people are jobless.

The hike in fuel prices and electricity rates have really kept
those people at the grass-roots trapped in poverty, particularly
those who have become jobless due to layoffs. The middle and
upper class, in particular senior government officials who earn
millions of rupiah and enjoy various facilities, do not really
feel the impact of the multi-faceted crisis that is hitting the
country. They forget that only some people are paid salaries.

As a consequence, the poverty rate has been on the increase.
People's purchasing power has continued to weaken. People are
really fed up, tired and weary. We are all now waiting for real
action to be taken by all levels of state officials in the public
interest. Of course, their contribution will be recorded in the
country's history.

DARMAWAN SUSILO

Bandung