LPSK chief Achmadi, who goes by one name, told Reuters the agency supports Prabowo’s budget cuts but will still accommodate the rights of witnesses and victims while making efforts to be more efficient.
LPSK’s budget was slashed by more than half to 108 billion rupiah (US$6.6 million) this year, Achmadi told parliament last week.
Prabowo’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Saturday. Prabowo’s office has said the cuts apply only to unnecessary spending, not needed public services.
But ministers have responded to the presidential directives by cutting spending in categories from maintenance of roads and bridges to office lights.
Thousands of students hit the streets nationwide this week to protest the cuts over fears that they will undermine social support systems.
Chusnul, who makes barely US$4 a day from her food stall, must pay not only her own medical bills but also for her son’s expensive treatment for von Willebrand disease, a rare blood-clotting disorder.
Other Bali bombing survivors told Reuters they had sent a letter to the parliament and Prabowo, demanding LPSK be exempted from the cuts.
“I can try to look for money from working, I will fight for food and school for my kids, but for my treatments to go without LPSK’s aid is impossible,” Chusnul said. “I will no longer lead a normal life.”
