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