Victims protest Governor Sutiyoso's poor handling of flood problems

Rendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Some 700 flood victims from two groups of demonstrators staged a rally on Monday to protest the city administration's poor handling of flood problems and to demand Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso's resignation.

The first group of demonstrators, under the umbrella of Persaudaraan Pekerja Muslim Indonesia (The Brotherhood of Indonesian Muslim Workers) led by Eggi Sudjana, started a rally at 10:45 a.m. at the City Council, threatening to tear down the council gate if their demands were not addressed.

Eggi urged demonstrators followers to march with force toward the City Council building, which was only guarded by 15 police officers and a number of security guards.

"We demand Sutiyoso come out of his office and talk to the flood victims. If he will not meet us then we will force our way in", he said emotionally.

Later, however, Eggi and his colleagues calmed down after he and 12 representatives were given an audience by Sutiyoso at his office.

After they met, Eggi totally changed his attitude from being provocative to being supportive. "We should fully support a leader who has pledged to accept responsibility for the flood disaster", said Eggi in front of his fellow demonstrators, who also suddenly turned in support of the governor.

The protesters claimed to be flood victims from Bukit Duri and Manggarai in South Jakarta, Tanjung Priok in North Jakarta, and Bidara Cina in East Jakarta.

Eggi and his colleagues left the City Council building at 1:15 p.m., refusing to join the second group of protesters.

The second rally was staged by 400 protesters from a group calling themselves the Union of Flood Victims and was coordinated by several non-governmental organizations.

The flood victims -- some of whom brought along their children -- came from various places across Jakarta such as Penjaringan, and Cilincing in North Jakarta; Cempaka Putih Barat in Central Jakarta; and Pengadegan, Pejagalan and Kampung Melayu in East Jakarta.

Unlike the first group, the second group of protesters appeared well behaved but were only received by three city councillors.

At the council, they related their problems, ranging from medical services, public kitchens, and the usage of Rp 50 million cash aid from the city administration for each of the subdistricts affected by the recent floods. They also insisted that the council summons Sutiyoso to account for his poor handling of the floods.

After failing to meet Sutiyoso, the protesters decided to spend the night near the City Council complex. They built tents along the sidewalk near the council. They also had prepared generators and a public kitchen to support their stay.

Suratmi, a flood victim from Cikini subdistrict, Central Jakarta, said she and her five-year-old daughter would stay the night at the City Council.

"I demand Sutiyoso resign as we were neglected and did not receive any aid during the flood", said Suratmi, who works as a scavenger.

According to Ade, one of the rally's field coordinators, the victims plan to stay for several days if they fail to meet Sutiyoso.