Inflammatory article emerges bitter past<\/p>\n
I refer to the article Dutch treat: Who pays for the pain?
\npublished in The Jakarta Post on Aug. 8.<\/p>\n
Because of the writer's professionalism he seems to be allowed
\nto publish opinions which would otherwise be censored and may
\neven be prosecuted.<\/p>\n
Why does a noted journalist like him needs to use a report
\nfrom the Associated Press as the basis to write a highly
\ntendentious seven-column headlined and inflammatory article that
\nmight foment hatred and recreate all those awful memories of
\nbitterness, pain and lost pride of this nation and its citizens?<\/p>\n
By using his normal consistent high level of ethics he could
\nhave made an appropriate article with a proper background
\ninvestigation (without heresy) and could have drawn a parallel
\nbetween for instance the Indonesian sentiments related to
\nindependence and the enormous outburst of emotion on the visit of
\nthe Japanese emperor Hirohito to The Netherlands in 1971 where 85
\npercent of the Dutch people demanded a formal apology from the
\nJapanese for their war crimes or for instance to the fact that
\nthe Dutch are silently punished by the current Indonesian
\ngovernment for their past via their exclusion from the visa on
\narrival option despite being among the top visiting foreign
\nnationals.<\/p>\n
Exploring this topic in such a way would have made sense; Now
\nhe regretfully reduces his own dignity and journalism to a
\ndoubtful level not in line with his normal high standards,
\nespecially with the conclusions he has made.<\/p>\n
Would it not be better to report on the current major problems
\nsuch as the efforts of the government to downplay the bird flu
\nand swine flu epidemic, the present economic crisis, the rampant
\ncorruption in all layers of society, the ongoing discrimination
\nagainst other religions and indigenous people in Indonesia, the
\nradicalization of the Islam by growing segments of this society.
\nOther issues are the destruction of the tourism industry by
\ncurrent government regulations, the investment-oppressive
\nbusiness climate, the over 30 percent increase in the prices of
\nmost commodities in local Indonesian markets, unemployment, AIDS
\nprevention and the millions of Indonesian children suffering from
\nmalnutrition (just to suggest a couple of headlines) in this
\nbeautiful country?<\/p>\n
May I take this opportunity to extend my heartiest and
\nsincerest greeting Dirgahayu Republik Indonesia, 1945-2005, on
\nthe occasion of the 60th anniversary of Indonesian independence.<\/p>\n
LEO J. LAMMERINK, Bogor, West Java<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/inflammatory-article-emerges-bitter-past-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }