Knickers in a twist.Some of us in the blogosphere set out to be confrontational. Most of us don't, but Jakartass will always stand up for those folk who I perceive to have yet to learn how to voice their concerns and are treated as lesser citizens by those who know how to manipulate systems to their personal profit.
Thanks to
Unspun for bringing the latest Forbes list of
40 Richest Indonesians to our attention.
It's been reported that the richest man, with a fortune of $2.8
billion, is a suspect in a case of misuse of bank funds.
His name has been linked to various cases charged by different groups, ranging from deforestation, misusing reforestation fund, illegal logging, fake NCD, having no good faith to settle debts. There were a few surprises, such as
Jakob Oetama, founder of the Kompass newspaper and Gramedia Group. Otherwise it's the usual collection of
Suhartoists,
thugs with military ties, and those with fortunes from
forestry products or cigarettes or
Nike sneakers.
However, I think it's a shame that when I point out the absurdity of
a dollar billionaire, sixth on the list, escaping his responsibilities as the Minister for People's Welfare for the sake of the shareholders who similarly benefit from the profitability of his family's conglomerate, that I should be
taken to task.
I'm asked why I'm
so interested to protect those dreaded shrimp farmers - go check the environmental poverty they create. I was writing about the pumping of untreated sludge into the Porong river and note that I continued ...
and others dependent on coastal trades. Although shrimp famers are noted for destroying the coastal defences of mangrove swamps, this is not a necessity and I can't say they've done so in East Java. But I was also considering the inland fisherfolk.
That the pumping has been stopped (temporarily?) is to be applauded The amount of toxic sludge which could be sent seawards is as yet unknown - it's still gushing out the ground. We can't therefore quantify the communities whose livelihoods would be affected, nor how far from Sidoarjo they are.
Or do you love krupuk udang so much??
Not particularly. Nor do I like comments from
anon like that one. Someone unable to invent a recognisable psuedonym is not able to follow a creative argument so I really wish you wouldn't bother. I don't ask anyone to agree with me nor, in fact, to read my musings although, hey, I'm very grateful that Jakartass is so
widely read.
As only 30% of you are based here and my only reader in Belize is
Andy Hunt, I do try to lay off the parochialism. So please don't get your knickers in a twist. Keep the comments coming but please keep them civil and leave the ranting to me.
|
