90,000 Facebook Users Rail Against Graft in the Tax Office

Jakarta Globe, Nurfika Osman & Dessy Sagita, April 02, 2010

Tens of thousands of Indonesians are expressing their disapproval of apparent corruption in the tax office on social networking site Facebook.

“How can we believe that they will use the tax properly when they keep stealing our money?” Alexander Spinoza, the creator of “The Movement of 1 Million Facebookers to Boycott Tax for Justice” told the Jakarta Globe on Friday.

About 90,000 people have joined the group and the number is likely to rise.

Alexander, a communication consultant, said he believed rogue taxman Gayus Tambunan had stolen public funds. “Gayus is only a subordinate official and he was able to embezzle Rp 25 billion [$2.75 million]. What of his superiors?” he said. Gayus was arrested in Singapore last week but has not been charged.

“However, I pay taxes and I need people to keep paying taxes because that way, we can demand our rights,” he said, adding that he created the Facebook group on Jan. 5 when a number of senior members of the government, including cabinet ministers, were given luxurious Toyota Crown Saloon vehicles.

“This is a part of a protest from the community to demand their rights as citizens. We should be able to monitor the taxes,” he said.

Alexander accused the government of making excuses about taxes and making groundless claims about plans to tackle poverty.

“They have been using our money for their unclear programs that they claimed would eradicate poverty in the country. But, we have not seen the results,” he said.

Vira Farhana, a 25-year-old librarian, said she joined the group because she felt betrayed. “Taxes have always been deducted from my measly salary, even other income such as transportation and meal allowances have always been charged with a tax, but I never complain. Had I known that my money went straight to someone’s private pocket, I wouldn't have paid all those taxes.”