Detik.com - February 8, 2007

Jakarta — Around 200 residents who said they were
flood victims protested at the House of
Representatives (DPR) building in South Jakarta
demanding that Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso resign from
his post.

The majority of the demonstrators were housewives
and children from the Jakarta Residents Forum
(Fakta). They shouted and gave speeches while
holding up sheets of cardboard with the writing
“Jakarta is constantly flooding, we’re tired okay”,
“Flood Bang Yos [Brother Sutiyoso]” and “Sutiyoso I
am your victim”.

“Jakarta floods every five years, it should be able
to be anticipated. If [you] are indeed incapable
then just resign”, said Fakta coordinator Azas Tigor
Nainggolan during a speech behind the DPR building
in Senayan on Wednesday February 7.

The protesters said they deplored the slowness of
the Jakarta provincial and central governments in
assisting flood victims. As a consequence many
children have been unable to attend school and have
come down with illness. In addition to this they
have been unable to obtain food or a suitable place
to be evacuated to.

“Our things are all gone, the children’s school
uniforms have also gone. Where is the government’s
promise to help”, said Halim resident Sri
Sulistyowati.

During breaks in the demonstration small children
could be seen enjoying the shady and luxurious trees
spread across the rear grounds of the DPR. Unlike
their parents, the children were instead playing and
singing.

After demonstrating for around 30 minutes since
11am, the protesters were finally allowed to enter
the DPR complex. They were received by the deputy
chairperson of Commission VII from the Democrat
Party, Sutan Batoegana from the Justice and
Prosperity Party, Ade Daud Nasution from the Reform
Star Party and Sonny Keraf from the Indonesian
Democratic Party of Struggle.

“Floods are a mutual mistake, because of this it
must also be handed jointly”, said Batoegana when he
met with the demonstrators. (ndr/nrl)

[Translated by James Balowski.]

Flood victims protest over statement that floods are being exaggerated

Liputan 6 - February 7, 2007

Jakarta – Hundreds of flood victims demonstrated at
the House of Representatives (DPR) in Jakarta on
Wednesday February 7. They were protesting a
statement by the Coordinating Minister for People’s
Welfare, Aburizal Bakrie, who said that reports on
the floods in Jakarta are being exaggerated by the
mass media.

The flood victims were resident from the Cipinang
area in East Jakarta. They said that they hoped that
legislators would listen to the heartfelt cries of
those who are in difficulty. The residents also said
they do not expect any thing from state officials
except statements of sympathy for the grief they are
suffering.

Bakrie’s statement has also been focused on by
legislators. DPR speaker Agung Laksono said that he
believes that Bakrie’s statement is an example of
government official’s insensitivity to the suffering
of the people. Whereas the floods have inundated
almost 70 percent of Jakarta.

In a similar tone, DPR Commission V member Alvin Lie
believes that Bakrie’s statement could rub off onto
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono who is currently
building a good image. Bakrie’s comment also
indicates that the government has no empathy with
the ordinary people.

Meanwhile, a number of student groups demonstrated
at the offices of the Jakarta Governor demanding
that Sutiyoso apologise to residents for his
incompetence in handling the floods. The
demonstrators said that the central government had
also been ineffective in assisting flood victims.

[Abridged translation by James Balowski from two
Liputan 6 articles.]