'They have killed democracy'

'They have killed democracy'

With minimum public debate, the City Council endorsed last Friday
the Rp 10.98 trillion (US$1.2 billion) city budget for the
current fiscal year. The council has apparently discounted the
public in the deliberation process, as the budget favors the city
administration and the council itself, rather than the residents
of Jakarta. The Jakarta Post asked some residents for their
opinions on the controversial budget approval.

Dewi Purnamasari, 21, is a freshman at the London School of
Public Relations. She lives in Karet subdistrict, South Jakarta:

The closed-door hearing on Friday indicates that the city
administration has colluded with city councilors in the
deliberation of the 2003 budget.

I wonder why the meeting was also closed to journalists, as
they are actual representatives of the public, in contrast to
city councilors. Perhaps the councilors and the city
administration wanted to hide their scandalous acts surrounding
the budget approval.

The opaqueness of the deliberation will likely spark public
protests in the future, especially from low-income people who
have seriously been affected by the prolonged economic crisis,
and this will only add to its already long list of failures.

It will be hard for the people to believe and respect the city
administration if such practices continue.

A few days ago, I saw motorists venting their anger when the
road was temporarily closed to give way to some high-ranking
officials and their motorcade. They called the officials "cunning
bastards" who had betrayed the people. I heard them.

I'm afraid that people will get so mad about the corrupt
officials someday. It may provoke social unrest in the city.

Andra (not his real name), 31, is unemployed and lives with
his wife and daughter in Kampung Ambon, East Jakarta:

The city councilors and administration must be hiding
something behind the endorsement of the 2003 city budget. Such a
concealed and secretive process really harms the public's right
to know the truth.

I'm sure that the city councilors and the city administration
have vested interests behind the closed-door deliberation.

They have forgotten that they must represent the public
interest in their actions, instead of pursuing their own wealth
and gain. They have set appalling examples, which are contrary to
democracy.

I wonder why the city council hearing should be closed to the
public, while the higher institution of the House of
Representatives is open to the people?

The councilors are ridiculous. They have killed democracy and
have returned to feudalism, and are no longer accountable to the
public at all.

We don't need to trust them. I personally worry a lot about
the likelihood of social turmoil due to the corrupt city leaders.
Worse, the country will be in a more chaotic situation in the
absence of democracy.

Pamungkas, 21, is a worker at a private industrial factory in
Central Jakarta. He resides in Cilincing, North Jakarta:

Bad people usually commit their crimes in secret, as did the
city councilors and the city administration in their 2003 city
budget meeting.

The closed-door meeting showed that they had committed some
offense that would hurt the people as a consequence. I guess real
corruption, collusion and nepotism was practiced during the
meeting.

It's sad to find out that the city administration and the
councilors have become illogical and arrogant in making their
decisions, which involves the public.

We can see that the 2003 city budget allocation does not make
any sense. How could they put their own prosperity before social
welfare?

I'm afraid that the a smaller budget allocation for the
people's welfare here will spark more social problems and
unemployment.

Personally, I'm disappointed with the councilors and the city
administration's ignorance in managing the people's money. Why
then should I pay taxes which have been deducted from my salary,
if the money will only be misused by those greedy officials?