Sense of justice and the fuel price increase

Sense of justice and the fuel price increase

Kornelius Purba, The Jakarta Post

A housewife complained to a goldfish trader in East Jakarta on
Wednesday morning, as he had raised the price of his fish from Rp
9,000 to Rp 12,000 within two days. The trader cited the price of
fuel as the reason for the hike.

"But a minister said on TV the impact of the fuel oil increase
is only slight," the woman tried to bargain.

"Why don't you buy the fish from your minister," the seller
laughed.

Citing their personal experiences, women living in low-cost
apartments near the market insisted that prices rise
significantly every time the price of fuel goes up. Just like
prices during Ramadhan or Christmas, they rarely return to their
previous level after the festivities. The apartment residents
doubted the price hike after the new fuel policy was merely a
"panicky" market reaction.

The government's decision to raise fuel prices by an average
of 29 percent was based on strong rationale. While the price of
oil recently topped US$50 per barrel, without the fuel hike, and
assuming an oil price of $35 per barrel, it would have to spend
up to Rp 60.1 trillion (US$6.4 billion) on fuel subsidies.

The government was also aware that the policy would be
difficult for the nation -- which has for decades had such a
massive fuel subsidy -- to accept. It has pledged to allocate Rp
17.8 trillion to provide scholarships, cheap rice, health
services and other programs to help the poor. However, pending a
miracle, and judging from past experiences, hopes that the
programs will be free from corruption are slim.

The social-safety-net programs alone are not enough to
compensate for the bitter pills that people must swallow (and as
there are no direct curative effects, it is just bitter candy).

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's administration has
anticipated social unrest, but has no doubt forgotten -- or is it
just incapable of -- providing that hungrily awaited form of
compensation: Justice.

Where are the big fish (corruptors) that the government
promised to catch when Susilo assumed his presidency in October
of last year? Corruptors are as free as before. But who cares
what the people think?

The President responded,"I don't care," when told that his
popularity had dropped because of the poor progress achieved by
the government in its first 100 days of rule.

The minister of finance also said, "I don't care," in reaction
to the findings of the International Transparency Indonesia that
the customs and tax offices are among the most corrupt
institutions in the country. The two offices are under his
ministry.

Bank Indonesia shut down the corruption-ridden Bank Asiatic
and Bank Dagang Bali last year, and then Bank Global in January.
For the two previous banks, the central bank has to repay around
Rp 2.3 trillion to the depositors as a part of the blanket-
guarantee scheme. But will the government punish those who are
guilty of embezzlement?

Attorney General Abdul Rahman Saleh was outraged when a
legislator described him as "an ustad (Islamic preacher) in a
village of thieves." He said he was not an ustad, and senior
officials at his office were angered at being branded "thieves".

Instead of an emotional reaction, it would be appreciated if
the attorney general read out a list of embezzlers jailed since
he headed the office. He could also present evidence that his
people are not embezzlers of state money. But does he have such a
list?

The President does not need to repeat the rationale behind his
decision to raise fuel prices. He uses very interesting body
language while delivering speeches and often uses English terms.
But it is not enough.

"Tonight the Attorney General has detained three mega
corruptors. I swear that they will be punished severely (at least
compared to chicken thieves). I will surrender my position to the
Vice President when the court does not punish them as I have
promised," people are ready to hear such a statement from him
within days.

Most people would not be convinced by his promise, but they
might be thankful for his effort at a time when they have to pay
more for nearly everything.

The President fully understands people's hunger and thirst for
justice. This time he is not expected to say,"I don't care."