Call a spade a spade<\/p>\n
Your editorial RI-Singapore trade (The Jakarta Post, June 12)
\ncorrectly blames Indonesia's large trade imbalance on rampant
\nsmuggling and corruption.<\/p>\n
But the real reason why \"Singapore does not feel duty bound to
\nalert the Indonesian government of any contraband trade from or
\ninto Indonesia\" is because Singapore was founded primarily to
\nexploit Indonesia's natural resources. Specifically to break the
\nDutch monopoly on the spice trade.<\/p>\n
Raffle's idea was a good one; Singapore has prospered ever
\nsince on trade in Indonesia's natural resources.<\/p>\n
Sadly, much of this trade has caused immense environmental and
\nsocial harm. Not only from logging but also from rampant sand
\nmining in the Riau islands, which has impoverished whole
\ncommunities of island people.<\/p>\n
Recently, Andi Anha Chalid, head of the Council for the Riau
\nIslands accused Singapore of making deals that only benefit
\nitself.<\/p>\n
You treat Singapore far too kindly. For more than a century
\nand a half, Indonesia has passively let Singapore do to Indonesia
\nwhatever it likes.<\/p>\n
\"If it quacks like a duck, walks like a duck and looks like a
\nduck, then it should be called a duck.\" Indonesia, including your
\nnewspaper, should start calling Singapore what it is.<\/p>\n
KARI SAUKKONEN, Bali<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/call-a-spade-a-spade-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }