I have experienced problems with corrupt officials and so have my friends, business-partners, acquaintances and fellow The Jakarta Post readers. I do have a true tale to tell, along with several questions, for the benefit and possible entertainment of you and my fellow readers: kindly make your own conclusions.
For almost all of my life I have lived in a narrow street, the western side of Gang Pabaton, Central Bogor, in what has been, since Dutch times, a residential area. Ever since 2004, one of my neighbors, has converted his residence into a warehouse and has filled it with highly combustible materials.
Starting in 2007, he began to stock gas canisters there, in what is now a large two-storey house. This seller of household goods bought another house at Gang Pabaton where he lives.
On Sept. 22, 2008, after being urged by several neighbors, I wrote and filed a written protest to the subdistrict chief, Bogor's mayor and the local district chief. This area is not a warehouse area. It is a residential area and using the house as a warehouse full of inflammable materials such as gas canisters, plastic wares, mattresses, pails and household utensils poses a genuine and danger to the neighborhood.
In addition, I pointed out the owner of another house also converted his home into a warehouse full of combustible materials. The printed protest I wrote was signed by several of my neighbors and myself. I personally delivered each letter, and received written and stamped confirmations I sent them. All these documents are in my possession.
What happened afterwards was this: At a time when unfortunately I was in Jakarta, a car with government officials came to visit the owner of the Gang Pabaton warehouse. They talked and then the officials went. This is what the local security reported to me and my neighbors who signed the protest.
And after that.what happened ?
Yes, the dangerous gas canisters were removed and placed elsewhere. But the goods that remain in the warehouse are also combustible. The way things are now, the owners of these locations now threaten the whole neighborhood.
Every day, trucks full of new inflammable goods drive up to their address and deliver wares. To our knowledge, no other houses in Gang Baru, Gang Pabaton, Gang Batu and Gang Sepatu have been converted into "warehouses". Just these two at Gang Pabaton.
My fellow neighbors and I, who all signed the protest, cannot help but ask these pressing questions: "Why have government officials allowed the owner of the house to continue stocking it with dangerous combustible materials?", "Why wasn't the owner ordered to remove all of his goods to a warehousing area?", "Why hasn't the owner of another house at Pabaton been ordered to do the same?", "Why must the neighborhood of West Gang Pabaton *and neighboring Gang Baru and Gang Batu* be subjected to the danger of a conflagration?"
I am sure all of us may venture to provide answers to those questions. And meanwhile, all who signed the protest are still eagerly waiting for stern justice - preferably by Mayor of Bogor Diani Budiarto, who we elected.
Tami Koestomo
Bogor, West Java
| 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|