Taxes, fees choke Jakarta residents

Taxes, fees choke Jakarta residents

JAKARTA (JP): Nothing comes free living in the city,
especially now when the city administration has increased many
taxes while at the same time private institutions and thugs
exhort their own fees from Jakarta residents.

People taking water from their own wells have now to pay a lot
higher tax as the city administration plans to increase artesian
well tax five-fold from Rp 2,500 (about 20 U.S. cents) to Rp
12,500 a year.

But that's cheap compared with the fee imposed by most public
toilet operators in Jakarta, that charge customers Rp 300 to Rp
500 per person per visit.

And those using private cars should prepares small change to
pay "service fees" to youths at crossroads helping to manage the
traffic flow. Refusing to pay, would mean running the risk of
having your car scratched.

Car owners are probably not only annoyed with the youths, but
now also mad with the city administration which last month
decided to increase car registration fees and also change of
ownership tax by up to 22.4 percent.

In real terms though, car owners will pay a lot more for their
car registration fees -- an increase of up to 100 percent.

Taxes for Jakartans do not stop there. People are still
targeted elsewhere, especially in restaurants. People going to a
relatively good restaurant, including fast food restaurants, will
have to pay taxes to the city administration.

Most people would not be aware of this kind of tax, though, as
it is added on to their bills.

Jakarta residents pay taxes and fees in their houses, streets,
restaurants, bus terminals, hotels and even in public toilets.

But it seemed there has been no significant protest from
Jakartans. Life goes on as usual. People still pay their taxes
despite a campaign from a coalition of non-governmental
organizations to boycott the payment of Jakarta taxes.

The chairman of the Jakarta Residents Forum (Fakta), Azas
Tigor Nainggolan, said Jakartans have actually protested about
some of those taxes through various means, including through
letters to the newspapers.

"We can see people's protests about tax increases in the
newspapers," Azas told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.

He suggested people not just complain in the newspapers, but
also organize themselves to demonstrate their dissatisfaction,
including by conducting rallies at the City Hall or at the city
council.

Meanwhile, chairwoman of the Indonesian Consumers Foundation
(YLKI), Indah Suksmaningsih called on Jakartans not to pay the
taxes as the usage of the funds gained from the taxes was still
unclear.

"People should unite not to pay taxes until it is all clear,"
Indah said. (jun)