WATER ABLAZE - Patagonia Sin Represas

Poster by Colombian
activists, alluding to the
murder of trade union
members and used as part of
an international campaign
against the Coca Cola
Company (photo: Indymedia of
February 9, 2006)
is nothing for it to worry about – it is business as usual.
As far as the privatisation of mains water is concerned, Indonesia is
no different from other countries. In 1997, the former RWE subsidiary
Thames Water and the French Suez Group took over the water supply
and distribution system in Jakarta. It is obvious that large-scale
corruption was involved, because the son of the then dictator Suharto
was awarded shares in the newly-founded utility. Also responsible
for the setting up of this deal were the World Bank and the British
Department of International Development. After seemingly neverending
student protests, Suharto was forced to resign in May 1998.
Although the new government acknowledged that corruption had
been behind these privatisation deals, it nevertheless entered into new
contracts with Thames and Suez in 2001. The population is finding
it hard to accept these contracts, which specify that, in the case of
premature termination, all investments made by Thames Water and
Suez will have to be paid back, as well as the profits agreed on for the
entire contractual duration of 25 years.
It is not difficult to find other reasons for criticism. A large amount
of mains water is being wasted as a result of leakage, water prices
are constantly rising and investments in the infrastructure have not
been made as promised. In theory, article 1365 of the civil law grants
customers the right to demand compensation for services which have
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