Senior officials, VIPs do not need to stand in queue
Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
A number of travelers arrive at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport after a long flight. With weary faces and creased attire, they have to stand in a long line at the immigration counter to have their passport checked.
But a few people do not have to line up. They simply pass by a special desk.
It has become common practice here that officials and other "important people" enjoy the privilege of having special treatment.
"In fact, that gate is for those who hold a diplomatic passport. But, in practice, we let other people use it, depending on circumstances," said spokesman of the immigration office Ade Dahlan on Tuesday.
Even though Ade said that the immigration office did not intend to provide government officials and other "important people" with special privileges, the facts show that they are treated in a special way.
Sociologists say it is not easy for Indonesians to form a line because of traditional values that put the community at the center. Primitive behavior patterns embedded in society are also a problem.
They are reluctant to queue, not because they want to save time. On the contrary, according to sociologists, they fail to line up because they do not really respect time -- as reflected in "rubber time" (a notorious lack of punctuality).
Social observers earlier called for a public campaign on queuing. They believed the campaign would be effective if the leaders in society consistently adhered to the discipline inherent in queuing.
Agus Suwarna, protocol division chief at the Ministry of Forestry admitted that the minister never stood in line, as most of his needs were dealt with by the protocol division.
"It's one of our main tasks to deal with all his needs... He will only appear after all has been well prepared," Agus said.
Not only society leaders enjoy such privileges here in Indonesia, their relatives also obtain special treatment too.
"Presidents, vice presidents, or their relatives, along with high-ranking officials and military or police generals often pass the toll gate using outriders," said Kahar (not his real name), a patrol warden.
The outriders will wave aside queuing motorists to clear the way for their VVIPs to pass unobstructed. While they passed, Kahar said, the toll gate officers would count the number of cars involved. "Later, our company invoices the toll fee at their offices."
Many motorists expressed their impatience by sounding their horn as VVIP entourages usually forced them to wait for 10 minutes to 20 minutes, said another patrol warden.
"But we have no choice. If we do not stop the queue on time, the police officers will be angry with us."
Guritno, who works at a financial firm on Jl. Sudirman in Central Jakarta, has to pass a residence belonging to a high- ranking official near Taman Suropati on his way to the office. Much to his resentment, the police often blocked the way long before the official's car-borne entourage would pass.
"It's really annoying, as, having performed their task, the police sometimes simply disappear. As a result, many motorists hit the accelerator, ignoring the traffic lights as they do so," he said.
The motorists were merely following the example that had just been set by their leader, Guritno said.