Indonesians Freer but Still Poor

ANCHOR:
It has been a decade since street protests brought down former Indonesian strongman Suharto. Since then four presidents have promised a better life for the country. Indonesians say they may have more freedoms but are still poor. Here's a look at their situation.
STORY:
Some Indonesians say life was better under Suharto's strict 32-year rule. That's because he controlled the prices of many staple items. But analysts say his rule was corrupt.
After Suharto's resignation ten years ago, succeeding administrations keep trimming subsidies despite protests. So this week students and lawmakers have ramped up demonstrations against a planned 30 percent rise in fuel prices.
Among them... Jakarta residents.
[Seriwati Darmawan, Housewife]:
"We cannot say it failed but the result is not like what we hope, still like before even more worse."
[Datuk Mangkuto Basa. Chinatown Trader]:
"There is no effect for us, before during Suharto's New Order period we can safely trade here, but now during SBY's administration everything is messy."
One political analyst believes that things are better than under Suharto's rule.
[Wimar Witoelar, Political Analyst]:
"Suharto is deceased, passed away and it seems the people have forgotten all the negative things he did for Indonesia, so we have to re-learn the process and not to let go of the most important problem in Indonesia which is corruption."
Most of the 220 million population are living below the poverty line.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• ntd
• indonesia
• protest
• suharto
• freedom
• poverty
• corruption

[mohaz66]

Bangsa yg tidak tahu berterimakasih. Terlalu ikut emosi dah selalu cemburu dgn pembangunan di Brunei, Singapore & Malaysia. Malah tidak pernah aman sesama sendiri di rantauan. Selalu ada pergaduhan di antara jawa, ambon, aceh, madura. Inikah yg di namakan rakyat indonesia yg betul2 patriotik?