Public needs an explanation

Public needs an explanation

None of us could have imagined before that diesel fuel would
be more expensive than premium gasoline. Therefore, there must be
some credible explanations as to why premium is now more
expensive than diesel fuel.

The government must decrease its subsidy for diesel fuel, and
world demand for diesel fuel is increasing, causing the fuel
price hike. The problem is there are no government officials who
seem willing to give a clear and acceptable explanation to the
people.

There has been no single official who could explain why the
state electricity company (PLN) must burden the customers with
rate hikes for the extra costs caused by electricity theft.

It is obvious that the government has no ability to explain
the very reasons behind its decisions to increase the fuel prices
and telephone and electricity charges simultaneously.

The government simply demands that the people understand that
the decision was unavoidable.

To increase the fuel, electricity and telephone charges
simultaneously requires deft political communication. It is true
that there is no guarantee that the people will accept the
government's explanation, but, at least, any reasonable
explanation would be able to limit the public outrage.

Unfortunately, the government is still silent, even though
protests and waves of demonstrations occur daily. It is not too
late for President Megawati Soekarnoputri -- not her political
party spokesmen -- to speak directly to the people about the
matter.

-- Koran Tempo, Jakarta

Let's curb crime

Three unidentified men in an Isuzu Panther van robbed Abdul
Nasir, a 40-year-old Singaporean, of his Kijang van in Cikarang,
Bekasi, West Java, on Saturday. Blindfolded and tied up, Nasir
and his partner Nia were dumped on the roadside and the thieves
made away with his vehicle.

Earlier in the same day, two people stole a bag containing Rp
4 million cash from a Japanese national, Ichida, in Kembangan,
West Jakarta. Ichida and her driver were busy replacing a flat
tire on the car when two men on a motorcycle approached and the
pillion rider snatched Ichida's hand bag and escaped on their
motorcycle.

The two robberies are just more depressing evidence that
criminal acts can take place anywhere at anytime in Greater
Jakarta. Thus they must become a reminder to Jakarta Police Chief
Insp. Gen. Makbul Padmanagara to improve law and order. Security
in Jakarta needs serious attention and action as the capital
city's security is the barometer of other areas in this country.

Makbul has said that the city crime rates in 2003 would remain
high. National Police Chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar has also
emphasized in his year-end press briefing that armed robbery
would remain high in 2003.

This means that police are admitting that they cannot
completely prevent or deter crime, and thus people's
participation in enhancing security in their neighborhoods is
vital.

Unfortunately, in this society we cannot leave the security in
the hands of the police as security is the concern of all
citizens.

-- Suara Karya, Jakarta