Leap of ICT (information and communication technology) advancement means new arena for any development intervention . The massive expansion of ICT, particularly the one that foster social network, is basically giving a real test to the government. The technology is questioning whether local government devoted enough to pave the way of communication channel with community .
Recent ICT development has provided spacious room for government to engage, build meaningful dialogue, even undertake participatory approach with its community. Powerful, yet affordable ICT tool is currently available for the local government in building proximity to its own community. Ranging from the complicated media, notably interactive TV, inclusive website, to the simple one, say, talk back radio facebook, mailing list and so on.
The opportunity is there, and so is the urgency, unfortunately what is still missing is government’s willingness. If the government really interested to start making dialogue with community, it literally takes no longer than one hour to build the system. Say, local government can throw a crucial issue into facebook community. Frankly, it will immediately get first response from the internet user community. There you go, first contact in less than 15 minutes.
In this era of IT supremacy, indeed there are so many ways to reach the community, and ironically government has all the reason on earth to not to do it. Jakarta local government is just to ignorant to execute the job. We hope that it’s not because government is afraid to its own people. Government may have realized that community based powerful tool is now highly accessible. It is ready to stands at the side of the community, voicing their interest , amplifying their voice. It doesn’t take long before the technology transform them and they are no longer become silent majority.
