Victims want compensastion, demand that Sutiyoso resign

Victims want compensastion, demand that Sutiyoso resign

Rendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Some 500 flood victims demonstrated on Monday to demand
compensation from the Jakarta administration for its poor
handling of major flooding that hit the capital since Jan. 28.

The demonstrators rallied at the Hotel Indonesia traffic
circle at 6 a.m. and a 15-by-10-meter banner stating their
demands. Besides compensation, the victims also demanded that
Governor Sutiyoso resign before his term ends in October and
called for a direct gubernatorial election.

The demands are also included in a class action lawsuit
against Sutiyoso for the mismanagement of his administration. The
lawsuit was drafted by dozens of non-governmental organizations.

The victims, organized by 28 NGOs and transported in 10
minibuses, came from Tegal Alur in West Jakarta; Semper Barat and
Pondok Kopi in East Jakarta; and Pluit, Kapuk Muara and
Pademangan in North Jakarta. These areas were inundated during
the week-long flood.

Teten Masduki, chairman of the Indonesian Corruption Watch
(ICW), said he was curious about the budget allocation for flood
prevention.

"The city administration has been depositing the budget
instead of addressing floods. The priority of the city budget has
been more to finance nonbudgetary activities, such as political
campaigns."

Teten planned to report the mismanagement of the city
emergency fund totaling Rp 505 billion (US$49 million) allocated
for flood prevention to House of Representatives Commission II
for home and legal affairs.

The administration has been showered with funds from the
government totaling Rp 11 trillion and individual donors, state
and private companies embassies. It announced it would pay Rp
200,000 to each family whose house was damaged in the flood.

Teten said the government performed poorly during the flood
and the public would file suit against it.

H.S. Dillon of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas
HAM) said Sutiyoso could be charged with violating human rights.

"Sutiyoso could be summoned to appear before Komnas HAM for
violating the social, economic and cultural rights of the city's
residents. Under this category, he could be heavily penalized."

Iyah, whose house in Tegal Alur was flooded, said in tears
that she had not received any aid from the subdistrict. She
mentioned that she had been assisted by several donors, but it
was insufficient. She questioned the administration's sincerity
in handling the victims and demanded Sutiyoso's resignation.

"Sutiyoso must resign because he was incapable of preventing
and handling the flood. I demand fair compensation."

At midday, the protesters marched to the House to meet
officials from Commission II. Accompanied by members of the
Democratic People's Party (PRD) and university students, tension
erupted when they were denied entry, at which they threatened to
tear down the gate.

Legislator Panda Nababan arrived at the scene and managed to
calm them down. He then offered to allow 50 protesters to meet
the commission. Two field coordinators, Dita Indah Sari and
Wardah Hafidz, turned down the offer and insisted that all
protesters be permitted to enter.

"If only some of us are allowed to enter the building, we must
cancel the hearing as we all have a right to voice our concerns,"
Dita yelled, after which the protesters dispersed.