[Kabar-indonesia] 9 Jakarta Reports: 'The most inconvenient city'; Sutiyoso; Workers strike...

[Joyo at aol.com]

9 reports:

- Sutiyoso assures a brighter future
- Bus, taxi drivers say they have been slighted
- Officials find fault in Abang-None
- Plywood workers on strike in Tangerang
- Pawning pays ahead of new school year
- Free drinking water meets teenagers' approval
- Two drug traffickers shot in police raids
- Islamic scholars visit agricultural institute
- 'Jakarta, the most inconvenient city'


The Jakarta Post
Friday, June 23, 2006
    
Sutiyoso assures a brighter future

Adianto P. Simamora, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

In his speech to commemorate the city's 479th anniversary on Thursday,
Governor Sutiyoso reminded the people of positive developments under
his administration and assured them things would only get better.

"We have survived the financial crises and the May 1998 riots ... now
we're on our way to creating a humane capital, an efficient and
world-class competitive city."

He said that during his second five-year term, which ends at the end
of 2007, economic growth and inflation had accelerated by 5.24 percent
and 5.87 percent respectively.

The city budget, he said, had increased from Rp 11.07 trillion in 2003
to Rp 12.40 trillion in 2004, to Rp 14.30 trillion in 2005 to Rp 17.90
trillion this year.

"We expect next year's budget to surpass Rp 20 trillion."

With its five-year plan covering the transportation system --
including the busway, monorail, subway and river transportation -- the
construction of the East Flood Canal, and apartments and a
micro-credit scheme for the city's poorest people, the administration
thought the theme "With concern and under transparent administration,
we create a friendly and modern public service" fitting for
anniversary commemorations.

"It is high time we worked harder to create a new image of the city
administration as a credible, clean, quality and dignified
government," Sutiyoso addressed his subordinates during the ceremony
held at the City Council building.

Attending the ceremony was the secretary-general of the Home Ministry,
Progo Nur Zaman, who reminded Sutiyoso to focus also on the
development of infrastructure for people in the low-income bracket.

"Let us not focus solely on the development of large-scale
infrastructure while forgetting the slum areas and fishermen's
villages," he said in his speech.

As a gift to the Jakarta administration, environmentalists compiled a
list of the city's long outstanding problems, to signify the people's
right to a healthier environment.

The list included the city's sharp population growth, clean water
shortage, air pollution, poor waste management system and inadequate
public transportation system.

The city administration has made efforts to solve standout problems
like air pollution and waste disposal by issuing several bylaws,
though it says it does not have the money to properly enforce them.

The Jakarta Environmental Management Agency (BPLHD) conceded official
cars would not be powered by compressed natural gas straightaway for
financial reasons.

"We don't have the budget to buy what we need to make CNG use
mandatory," the agency's head, Kosasih Wirahadikusumah, told a
discussion organized by the Jakarta Environment Caucus for the city's
anniversary.

A 2005 local ordinance on air pollution required all public
transportation and official vehicles to use CNG by May 20.

"Hopefully, all our operational cars will be using CNG next year," Kosasih 
said.

The administration has said that exhaust from gasoline-guzzling
transportation and private vehicles contributes up to 80 percent of
pollution in the city.

Switching to CNG requires a Rp 10 million investment from vehicle
owners for a catalyst converter.

"It is every citizen's right to enjoy a better environment. But since
city planning only benefits the people who 'own' the city, the public
is being denied that right," Firdaus Cahyadi of the caucus said.

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The Jakarta Post
Friday, June 23, 2006

Bus, taxi drivers say they have been slighted

Adianto P. Simamora, The Jakarta Post,Jakarta

photo: Anniversary outfit: A busway driver wears a kebaya (traditional
blouse) Thursday for Jakarta's 479th anniversary. JP/Arief Suhardiman

It was a day like any other at the Jakarta Transportation Agency on
Wednesday, with public transportation drivers arriving in droves to
file complaints.

Dozens of drivers of taxis, minibuses and buses gathered in the
office, demanding to be heard.

"If there is no improvement this year, many of our companies will go bankrupt.

"The city administration only cares about the success of the busway
and has never stopped to consider its negative effects on other modes
of public transportation. I don't see the administration making any
effort to accommodate drivers," said Burhanuddin, who drives a
Mayasari Bakti bus.

Wednesday's meeting was facilitated by the city transportation council
(DTK), which gives the city administration recommendations on
transportation issues.

Burhanuddin said the busway had increased the severity of traffic jams
and put many bus drivers out of work.

"By my calculations, every new busway bus on the road means 10 old
buses are relegated to the depot. The administration came in very late
to arrange alternative routes for the buses.

"We proposed the establishment of a route linking Jakarta and
Cileungsi in Bogor ... we obtained an operational permit from the
Bogor administration but Jakarta has yet to issue permits," he said.

One-hundred-and-forty-two buses operate in the city's three busway
corridors and about 225,000 public transportation vehicles traverse
the city streets every day.

Blue Bird taxi driver Widirianto said passenger numbers had been
dropping because of last year's fuel price increases and the operation
of the busway system.

"We are facing extensive problems. Fuel prices have gone up, the
busway is stealing our customers and there are too many taxis on the
road, but the administration does nothing to help us," he said.

Drivers also harbor doubts about the administration's decision to make
all public transportation vehicles run on compressed natural gas.

"It is not a solution. The use of CNG is not efficient for taxis,"
said Blue Bird driver Kusnadi.

The drivers said that, while CNG was cheaper than diesel, a
significant investment was needed to modify a vehicle to run on CNG.

There is also a limited supply of CNG in the city.

There are currently 26,000 taxies in Jakarta. Some 16,000 taxies from
surrounding areas like Depok, Bekasi and Tangerang operate in Jakarta
every day.

Seventeen stations sell CNG, but only six of them are operational.

Transportation council member Sri Widodo, who represents taxi
companies, said the council would ask the administration to clamp down
on taxis illegally operating in the city.

"We will also ask the administration to impose restrictions on the
logos and colors taxi companies use, so passengers aren't confused."

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The Jakarta Post
Friday, June 23, 2006
    
Officials find fault in Abang-None

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The winners of the annual Abang-None beauty pageant must work harder
to promote tourism in Jakarta for the competition to be financially
beneficial for the city, officials say.

The pageant is a competition among candidates from five regions in
Jakarta to choose an abang (mister, in Betawi language) and none
(miss) to represent the capital city as its tourism ambassadors.

But critics are questioning the benefit of the pageant, saying it is a
waste of money without being of any real use in increasing tourist
arrivals in Jakarta.

Jakarta Deputy Governor Fauzi Bowo questioned the pageant's value,
commenting that the winners were mere symbols, just like ondel-ondel
(giant puppets).

"The goal of holding this pageant is actually to preserve traditional
Betawi culture, but I agree, it's all for show," he told The Jakarta
Post on Wednesday.

To make the Abang-None competition worthwhile, the winners should
emerge as professional promoters of Jakarta, Fauzi said.

While admitting the difficulties in proving the pageant beneficial to
tourism, Jakarta Tourism Agency head Yusuf Effendi Pohan insisted it
contributed to the city's tourism income.

He said that some 1.18 million tourists visited Jakarta in 2005, an
increase of 7.2 percent from the previous year, with a contribution to
the regional coffers amounting to Rp 870 billion (about US$93 million)
last year. But whether the Rp 1.3 billion (about US$139,000) beauty
pageant had a hand in the increase is not known.

"We cannot actually present a direct correlation between the pageant
and tourism in Jakarta," he said at the announcement of the pageant's
finalists at City Hall on Wednesday.

Critics say the pageant only serves to boost the popularity of the
winners, acting as a stepping stone toward future television and
modeling contracts.

Some past winners include TV drama actress and model Maudy Koesnaedi
in 1993 and news presenter Tommy Tjokro in 2005.

Yusuf said the contest's main task was to support the city's
promotional Enjoy Jakarta program, reintroducing the city as a leisure
destination instead of just a business one.

"Some 67 percent of tourists visiting Jakarta are here on business," he said.

The pageant finals will be held at the Jakarta Convention Center on
Friday night, and will be broadcast live by television station TPI.

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The Jakarta Post
Friday, June 23, 2006

Plywood workers on strike in Tangerang

TANGERANG: Some 500 workers of plywood producer PT Panah Forest
Perkasa at Cikupa Mas Industrial Plant continued their strike
Wednesday, bringing production to a halt.

The work stoppage, which started Monday morning, is to demand the
company -- which is located in Cikupa district, Tangerang regency --
improve conditions for workers.

"The management must pay us on time, not late as usual," strike
coordinator, Hari, said, adding that other demands included minimum
wage salaries and full-time jobs for contract workers.

While the company has agreed to two of the workers' demands, it has
yet to agree to abolish contract work at the plant, Hari said.

"We won't return to work until the management meets all our demands."

The company's officials have refused to meet journalists.

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The Jakarta Post
Friday, June 23, 2006

Pawning pays ahead of new school year

Tantri Yuliandini, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

photo: Quick cash: A woman waits for her money after pawning some
jewelry at the South Jakarta branch of state pawnshop Pegadaian.
JP/Tantri Yuliandini


Ibu Astin from Petogogan in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, has the
education of two children to finance: Her daughter needs money to
complete university and her son will go into the next grade in senior
high school this year.

"If it were just one or the other I might be able to manage it
somehow," she told The Jakarta Post on Thursday. As it is, Astin
turned to state pawnshop Pegadaian for some quick cash.

Many parents turn to pawnshops for money in the months before the
beginning of the school year in August, according to Agus Arantes
Dunda, who determines the value of goods at the state pawnshop in
Petogogan.

"Usually they pawn jewelry -- gold or diamonds -- for cash to pay
school fees," he said.

The busiest times of the year at state pawnshops are just before
school starts, Idul Fitri (Muslim holiday) and at Christmas.

Based on the experience of past years, Agus expects pawn activities to
increase by between 10 to 20 percent this year for the months of May
to August, before school starts.

"Since the beginning of May we've seen daily earnings climb past Rp
200 million (about US$21,400), so we expect there will be more
increases by August," he said.

Last year, the Petogogan pawnshop made Rp 36 billion, while, as of
June 21, it had brought in some Rp 27 billion in earnings.

While people mostly pawn jewelry before the new school year, they
prefer pawning televisions, cell phones, stereos and motorcycles or
cars during the two religious holidays.

"Not because they need the cash, but because they think pawnshops are
a safer place to leave their belongings while they go away for the
holidays," Agus said grinning, "they say the cash is a bonus to buy
snacks for the trip".

Goods to be pawned must first be appraised according to a pricing
standard, which the company regularly updates.

"Gold and precious stones are assessed according to current market
value, and we have a standard pricing system for electronic goods,
which we update from nearby shops," Agus said, explaining that in this
way, each pawnshop might price goods differently.

The company also regularly updates the types of goods it will accept.
Until a couple of years ago, for example, pawnshops did not accept
digital cameras or laptops.

"It all depends on market demand. If there's a high demand for laptops
and digital cameras, then we'll accept them," Agus said, explaining
that this was important because the company must be able to auction
off goods that were not reclaimed by their owners, that is, after four
months.

"That's why we've never accepted platinum jewelry, there's just no
market for it yet," he said.

Auctions for jewelry are conducted twice a month at the regional
coordinator's office, which in this case is on Jl. Wijaya in Kebayoran
Baru, South Jakarta, and with a deposit of Rp 5 million, it is open to
the public. The next scheduled auction is on June 27.

For Ibu Astin, the deal offered by the pawnshop -- at 1.6 percent
interest per 15 days -- is satisfactory.

"It's a good deal. I feel safer pawning jewelry here than borrowing
money through loan sharks," she said.

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The Jakarta Post
Friday, June 23, 2006

Free drinking water meets teenagers' approval

Theresia Sufa, The Jakarta Post, Bogor

Students at State High School No. 1 in Bogor can now quench their
thirst, and save their pocket money, by drinking at the fountain at
the Bogor municipal administration office on the way home from school.

Said to be a first for the country, Bogor water company PDAM Tirta
Pakuan is providing free tap water for the public.

"The drinking fountain is also there for the public, not just
administration employees," the company's president director, Memet
Gunawan, said Thursday.

"I hope this facility will demonstrate to the public that they no
longer have to boil piped water."

The fountain, which was installed on June 7, Memet said, is in line
with a government regulation that stipulates all water companies in
Indonesia apply a safe-to-drink standard.

Bogor acting mayor Dody Rosadi expressed hope that the water company
would install more drinking fountains in public places and
administration offices in each of the municipality's 68 subdistricts.


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The Jakarta Post
Friday, June 23, 2006

Two drug traffickers shot in police raids

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Two drug traffickers have been shot during police raids over the last
two days, police said Thursday.

Poginkallobaba, 28, a citizen of the Republic of Guinea in Africa, was
shot dead in the early hours of Thursday by undercover police after
making a transaction in the Wisma 65 apartment building in Kemayoran,
Central Jakarta.

Police seized four kilograms of crystal methamphetamine and a gun from
the suspect as evidence.

The head of the narcotics squad's psychotropics unit, Adj. Comr.
Hendra Joni, said a plainclothes officer had previously made a deal
with Pogin in Ambassador Mall in South Jakarta.

Pogin shot at the car of the undercover officer after seeing the
latter was not alone. Police shot him in the back.

Meanwhile, Ardi Nurdin, 36, was shot by police in a raid on Jl.
Margonda, Depok, on Wednesday night after he was caught selling 15
kilograms of marijuana to two men in a truck.

South Jakarta Police narcotics squad head Comr. Helmi Santika said
Ardi was on the police's wanted list.

The two men fled when the police made a move. Ardi was shot in the
back. Police then searched his rented room in a boarding house in
Kebon Duren, Depok, and found another 15 kg of marijuana.

"It was going to be sold in Bandung," Helmi said.

City police narcotics squad chief Sr. Comr. Carlo Tewu told The
Jakarta Post that the raids would continue. "We're monitoring every
place, not only hotels and boarding houses," he said.

City police reported that the number of drug cases in Greater Jakarta
increased by 31.88 percent from 4,510 in 2004 to 5,948 last year. The
number of suspects last year was 7,780, 27 of whom were non-nationals.

In May this year alone, 322 drug cases were reported to the city
police and 403 people named suspects.

Earlier on Thursday the National Police incinerated confiscated drugs
worth Rp 33 billion (US$3.6 million) in Serpong, Tangerang.

The National Narcotics Coordinating Agency reported that drug cases in
the country rose by 93 percent from 8,401 in 2004 to 16,252 last year.

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The Jakarta Post
Friday, June 23, 2006

Islamic scholars visit agricultural institute

BOGOR: Visiting International Conference of Islamic Scholars (ICIS)
delegate Arif Abdullah Sagran, from Timor Leste, said his trip to the
Bogor Institute of Agriculture on Thursday was beneficial for the
development of education in his country.

"Education is very important for us, particularly since our country is
very young and our human resources still very limited," he said.

Sagran said he hoped a joint cooperation between the institute and the
universities in Timor Leste could be accomplished in the near future.

More than 200 delegates of the second ICIS conference visited the
institute accompanied by organizer Rozi Munir. They also visited the
Bogor Palace and the botanical gardens.

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The Jakarta Post
Friday, June 23, 2006

'Jakarta, the most inconvenient city'

Jakarta emerged after the financial crisis of the 1990s as a rapidly
developing modern city. On June 22, it marked its 479th anniversary.
The Jakarta Post asked people to comment on the city's long
outstanding problems.

Rita Sundari, 55, a senior lecturer at a private university in West
Jakarta, sent in her comments by email:

Around 40 years ago, Jakarta was a pretty nice place to be. Peaceful,
safe and less noisy. Now, it is heavily polluted, dirty and terribly
crowded with awful traffic jams.

Although there are many tall buildings and expensive cars on the
streets, it is unfortunate that social problems are getting worse.

The crime rate -- from robbery to petty crime -- is increasing,
particularly on public buses. This makes Jakarta eligible for the
title of most inconvenient city.

Instead of staying in their peaceful villages and rural areas, people
flock to Jakarta to make money. Since people need to make a living,
urbanization seems inevitable. Unfortunately, Jakarta is very
unfriendly to newcomers who are just looking for jobs.

Aji, 19, is a food vendor at Palmerah market who lives in Kampung
Pluis, West Jakarta:

I think Jakarta is developing at a normal pace. Except for the
increasing number of regulations.

There are now more public order officers placing restrictions on our 
businesses.

I'm glad I've never had any problems with them, but my friends have.

The officers, instead of restoring and maintaining public order by
arresting thugs, have only been making trouble for us honest people.

Jakarta is progressing in a good way, but the administration must also
think about the lives of the majority of people here.

If not, how can we live happily?

I think one of the most important goals for the city is to ensure
cleanliness by providing trash bins in places that need them the most.
This would stop people from throwing rubbish on the street and in
rivers.

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Joyo Indonesia News Service
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