“Fear of a Name: 13 Billion Buried Not in the Ground, But in Political Revenge”

“Fear of a Name: 13 Billion Buried Not in the Ground, But in Political Revenge”

A Note From Yesterday’s Discussion

That night, the atmosphere of the coffee shop was warm with conversation, even though the topic was quite hot, after I shared a sentence from the Chairman of the DPD PDI Perjuangan NTT, “With the character of a bull whose eyes are red and his mouth is white, a symbol of anger towards injustice as well as purity in defending the people, …” A Village Head, whose position I knew from the start was very subjective to the 11th Regent of East Flores, again asked the question I had expected.

“Anger at injustice? What’s up BSC?”

I just smiled a little. Once again, BSC is made the scapegoat. Every time a critical group criticizes the incumbent Regent, that name is immediately brought up. Like fried bananas that are re-fried until dry.

Then a community figure, whose experience in the field of infrastructure development is beyond doubt, interjected with a more basic question:

“Perhaps someone knows why BSC is not continuing?”

I took a breath. Then answered softly, even though there was a small grumble in his heart.

“Road sections that have been conceptualized using hot mix are being converted to concrete slabs, what else is this?”

They are silent. I continue.

“Even though the BSC is a vital tool for the community. But I am of the view that development will not continue because the name used is very identical to that of the previous leader.”

My eyes looked at the discussion participants one by one.

“If the name is changed, there’s a good chance it will continue.”

I deliberately left that sentence hanging. Let them think. It’s not about failing or not. But it’s about having the courage to continue a legacy, even if that legacy comes from political opponents.

——

Then the village head asked the question I had been waiting for, in a tone that was starting to become cynical.

“That falls into the failure category, right Ka…?”

He tried to lead. Building a failure narrative. But I won’t let that happen.

“Not e…” I answered firmly.

“Then why isn’t it finished? I see the design is magnificent and luxurious, but why isn’t it finished?”

Before I could answer, the community leader interrupted.

“Regarding the name BSC, it’s not actually the name of the stadium. The Breun Sport Center is basically a sports center consisting of a stadium, swimming pool, sports hall and athletes’ dormitory. The stadium itself doesn’t have a name yet. Why are you afraid of a name?”

I nodded silently. That’s an important point. Fear of names has buried the big dreams of the Lewolere people.

---

The village head did not give up.

“If the stadium design cost 85 billion, why didn’t the government after BREUN allocate more funds for further construction?”

Then he himself answered the question. A classic tactic.

“The physical funds budgeted during the BREUN period were approximately 13 billion. After that it was no longer budgeted for. During the 85 billion building period, only 13 billion was allocated and is it expected to be completed?”

He chuckled. Laughter that tries to build logic that this is all a failure.

But community leaders hit back again.

“Have you ever known the technical calculations? If there is a problem, why not make it a problem? What the contractor does is the result of the consultant’s planning. We cannot question the physical structure of the building if everything is in accordance with the drawings and RAB.”

I smiled. Well, here it is.

“Hopefully he understands the chairman’s explanation,” I said as I stood up. “I’m going out first, Chairman. I want to listen to the song ‘Benga Olha’ while drinking coffee.”

I pretended to go out, but my ears remained there.

——-

The public figure continued, like a patient teacher teaching a stubborn student:

“Hopefully there will be people or groups who will seriously question the relationship between the costs that have been spent and the physical construction. So that it will become clear why the stadium in Lewolere is not being continued. Because it has not been able to continue, not because there are problems. Until now there is no definite reason for stopping construction.”

The village head interrupted quickly.

“And that is a symbol of past failures which are always a mystery.”

He slipped in the word failure again. Like a salesman who insists on selling a product.

“It seems that it cannot be concluded as a failure of the past,” said the community leader. “But as a mystery, perhaps. For buildings with large funds, it must be done in stages. The question is: who is to blame? The regent who laid the foundation, or the regent who did not want to continue construction?”

I can’t stand it. From outside, I shouted:

“The more he explains, the more he doesn’t understand, Chairman. Because his position is already subjective to the previous leader.”

———

The village head tried to divert him.

“Whether we continue or not depends on the urgency. This year there is a budget to upgrade the Ile Mandiri stadium. If at that time 13 billion was allocated to Ile Mandiri, maybe Flotim would already have a stadium to be proud of. Instead of forcing themselves to build a new one but it’s stalled.”

I almost laughed. Forced logic.

The public figure then explained an important fact:
“The land for the Ile Mandiri stadium is not an asset of the East Flores Regional Government. It would be very naive for the Regional Government to build on land that it does not own. Apart from that, building large facilities in the heart of Larantuka City will cause traffic jams and parking problems.”

Then the final question was asked:

“Why are the funds for the stands at Ile Mandiri not used to continue construction of the stadium in Lewolere?”

The village head began to lose direction.

“Flotim is in an unstable fiscal condition. It’s not a basic need of the people. It’s just a seasonal desire.”

The public figure sighed.

“I’m not pushing the budget. We’re just discussing regional government assets that have been built but aren’t functioning. Regarding the 13 billion, it’s already physical, so there’s no need to keep guessing. Let’s focus on East Flores without looking at who the leader is. Building then regretting means building without thinking. Time comes, reason comes.”

———-

My conclusion
BSC was not continued because it failed technically. Not because the building collapsed. Not because of corruption. Not because the design is bad.

The BSC was not continued because the name was wrong in the eyes of subsequent regimes.

Even though the people of Lewolere have given up their land. Land acquisition has been completed with state money. Planning is complete. Consultants are already working. The contractor has built it according to spec. The first stage is already underway.

Then stop. No technical reasons. No audits. Without clarity.

Meanwhile in other places, on land that does not belong to the Regional Government, tribunes were built. Ironic.

The village head may never be satisfied. Because for him, the word “failure” is a comfortable narrative. Convenient to cover an unwillingness to continue. Convenient to justify political grudges. Convenient to make people forget that 13 billion rupiah was not lost because of the contractor’s depravity, but because of the depravity of moral courage.

Cover
So I ask you who is reading:
Who actually failed?

1. The regent who laid the foundation on land that had been purchased by the state?
2. The next regent who chooses to build on other people’s land and then stops halfway?
3. Or are we all the ones who remain silent when a name is used as an excuse to bury a dream?

I’m not defending anyone. I just ask: How many more BSCs will be abandoned just because we are afraid of the name?

Lewolere waited for an answer.

Not from me. Not from the village head. But those who have the power to continue or continue choose to forget.

———

This article is not to hate. But to remind us that people’s land, people’s money and people’s dreams must not become victims of self-forgetful politics.

Author: Kristoforus Kabelen (Deputy Chair of the Social Security and Legal Division of the DPC PDI Perjuangan, East Flores Regency