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.]