Slamet Susanto, Yogyakarta – Activists staging a hunger strike are demanding the government live up to pledges to provide financial assistance to the survivors of the May 27 earthquake in Yogyakarta and Central Java. Five members of the Yogyakarta Joint Quake Care Command Post have been on a hunger strike for the past two days, in a tent in front of the Yogyakarta Legislative Council building on Jl. Malioboro.

"It's sad that quake victims who have lost their homes, belongings and loved ones have only been given empty promises. The five of us decided to go on a hunger strike to make the government listen to us and meet its promises," said hunger striker Putra Bangsa.

Another of the activists, Cakra, said: "We will continue our hunger strike until the government responds." Hundreds of people rallied at the council building Wednesday evening to mark the start of the hunger strike. They erected a tent for the hunger strikers and a larger one to serve as a command post for those involved in the effort to put pressure on the government.

Around the two tents a number of banners have been hung. Some of the banners read, "SBY-Kalla, what about your promises", "How can people trust their leaders if they are all liars", "We're just little people who only want to see the promises met" and "You've made promises, dears." SBY refers to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Kalla is Vice President Jusuf Kalla.

Cakra said the government has promised each quake survivor Rp 90,000 (US$9.45) a month for their living costs and 10 kilograms of rice each month. Survivors also were promised a Rp 100,000 monthly clothing allowance and a Rp 100,000 household maintenance allowance, as well Rp 2 million for those who lost family members in the disaster, he said.

On top of these allowances, he said, Kalla promised reconstruction funds of Rp 30 million for those whose homes were completely destroyed in the quake, Rp 20 million for homes that were badly damaged and Rp 10 million for partially damaged homes, he said.

"None of these promises have been met. The cost of living assistance has been distributed, but it was uneven. We just want to remind the government of its promises," Cakra said.

There have been other signs of growing anger with the government over its perceived failure to assist quake survivors. In Bantul regency, which suffered the brunt of the damage from the earthquake, hundreds of people rallied to demand the government disburse promised financial assistance. The rally ended in front of the Bantul Legislative Council building. Similar rallies have been held in Sleman, Gunungkidul and downtown Yogyakarta.