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.