Integrity of Indonesia
\nand young generation (PRIORITASKAN 3 SURAT PERTAMA)<\/p>\n
From Kompas<\/p>\n
I am a member of a young generation baffled by the fact that
\nIndonesian intellectuals have set up organizations that
\ndiscriminate against certain groups of people, such as the one
\nthat discriminates based on religion.<\/p>\n
If we turn the pages of Indonesian history, we see that
\nsimilar conditions existed in the 1920s. Twenty years before this
\nrepublic was established , the Indonesian youths formed
\norganizations based on ethnic groups or religions. Some were the
\nJong Java, Jong Sumatrean Bond, Jong Ambon, Jong Islamieten Bond,
\nand Syarikat Dagang Islam.<\/p>\n
But in 1928 they realized that they were no more than the
\npeople of one same nation -- Indonesia -- and they shared one
\nlanguage -- Bahasa Indonesia. In that year they pledged to have
\none nation, language and country.<\/p>\n
Instead of calling themselves to represent the Javanese,
\nMoslems, Christians, groups of engineers or intellectuals, the
\nfounding fathers established this republic on behalf of the
\nIndonesian nation.<\/p>\n
Now after almost 50 years of independence, the intellectuals
\ndiscriminate based on religion. It means that we are back to the
\n1920s, a 74-year setback.<\/p>\n
As a member of the young generation, I don't want to inherit a
\nnation plagued with intolerance. My generation wants the
\nintegrity of the Indonesian people to be guaranteed.<\/p>\n
OTTO SANTOSA<\/p>\n
Tasikmalaya, W. Java<\/p>\n
Unity in diversity<\/p>\n
From Kompas<\/p>\n
Unity is very important for this heterogeneous nation. Soon
\nafter the Indonesian Christian Intellectuals Association (PIKI)
\nwas established I was worried that similar organizations based on
\nreligion would become popular in Indonesia. My concern has proved
\nto be well founded.<\/p>\n
Other religious organizations such as ISKA (Catholics), ICMI
\n(Moslem) and FCHI (Hindu) have now been established. A
\ncontroversy surrounding yet another organization, the Indonesian
\nNational Intellectual Association (ICKI), is raging at present.<\/p>\n
My question is, will ICKI be a tool used to unify those
\nintellectual organizations?<\/p>\n
If this is the case, it will not be easy to accomplish. Some
\nintellectuals will look down on ICKI, and hence be reluctant to
\njoin. Or, perhaps they will hide under the pretext that the 1945
\nConstitution guarantees every citizen the right to set up an
\norganization.<\/p>\n
In establishing an organization for intellectuals, I am sure
\nthat the founders have political interests.<\/p>\n
Intellectuals say one thing and do another thing. They are not
\ndifferent from politicians. A friend said that a politician is a
\nperson with four dimensions: Their thoughts are not connected to
\ntheir feelings; and what they do does not reflect what they say.<\/p>\n
President Soeharto said, \"We cannot imagine letting the seeds
\nof separatism grow in this country.\"<\/p>\n
As a person who opposes all the evils of this nation -- the
\ndiscord between the indigenous and the non-indigenous (Chinese
\ndescendants) and the unhealthy business practices among the
\ngovernment, private sector and cooperatives -- I hope that all
\nIndonesian people will keep the spirit of Bhinneka Tunggal Ika,
\nor unity in diversity.<\/p>\n
PRAYOGO MIRHAD<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>\n
Intellectuals
\nand concrete steps<\/p>\n
From Kompas<\/p>\n
I am not an intellectual, but nevertheless I hope that those
\nintellectuals who are members of organizations for intellectuals
\nwill help us find a way to increase the quality of life, so that
\njustice will be upheld.<\/p>\n
The dictionary describes an intellectual as a clever and
\nintelligent person who is always looking for innovations. So, I
\nhope that the recent birth of organizations for intellectuals
\nwill not become a mere tool for taking advantage of the public.<\/p>\n
MUMUNG M. ADIREDJA<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>\n
Dishonest
\nparking personnel<\/p>\n
In March this year, when my car was just two weeks old, it
\nreceived minor damage in the basement parking lot of the Daiichi
\nHotel Jakarta. This incident could have passed without too much
\ndifficulty, but when I demanded that the parking attendant and
\nthe security personnel give me an explanation as to what had
\nhappened, they could not give me an answer.<\/p>\n
In fact, I was utterly infuriated when the chief security
\nofficer denied that the damage took place on the hotel premises.
\nThis was a response even an idiot would have known was illogical.<\/p>\n
The cost of the repairs was not significant. What is
\nsignificant here is the attitude of the security personnel, who
\nclearly lacked professionalism and a sense of ethics.<\/p>\n
The layout of the hotel's basement parking lot is such that it
\nis difficult for drivers to maneuver because thick pillars are
\nscattered all over the place, the driving lanes are very narrow
\nand the signs and the boundaries for each parking space are
\nunclear.<\/p>\n
Patrons of the hotel who park their cars in the basement
\ncertainly run a high risk of suffering damage to their cars. The
\nrisk is aggravated further by the fact that the parking
\nattendants and the security personnel have a \"couldn't care less\"
\nattitude.<\/p>\n
Although it is commonplace for a hotel not to accept
\nresponsibility for damage or theft, it would certainly have been
\na courtesy to one of their patrons if the responsible personnel
\nhad been helpful and shown a little respect. Perhaps the
\nmanagement could draw a lesson from other distinguished hotels to
\nprevent such problems with their staff in the future.<\/p>\n
To date, the hotel's management has ignored my complaint.<\/p>\n
FERRY ADIWONO<\/p>\n
Singapore<\/p>\n
Michael Fay case<\/p>\n
As a citizen born in the USA, I applaud the firm stand the
\nSingapore government took regarding the punishment of Michael
\nFay. Singapore is a true example of an efficient, clean and safe
\nsociety. At any hour, night or day, one need not be afraid to
\nwalk the streets of Singapore.<\/p>\n
In contrast -- from my own experience -- the United States is
\nplagued by the cancerous disease of hideous crime. There, the
\nlenient attitude of the judicial system is such that the
\nparamount concern is to protect the rights of the criminal. The
\nresulting suffering of the victims is grossly overlooked.<\/p>\n
The perpetrators of criminal acts often already have police
\nrecords. Vandals, thugs and seasoned criminals are no longer
\nconcentrated only in large cities. Their tentacles have reached
\nacross America to small towns to such an extent that in some
\nplaces, the citizens are afraid to leave their houses after dark,
\nlest they be mugged, robbed, maimed, raped or murdered by one or
\nmore thugs.<\/p>\n
The majority of citizens are honest, hard working, family
\nloving and tax paying, and have for a long time hoped that this
\nterrible disease could be -- if not cured -- at least curbed. The
\nsad thing is that it may already be too late.<\/p>\n
President Clinton would have better served the interests of
\nU.S. citizens at home and abroad if he had not tried to coerce
\nthe Singapore government into following American beliefs.<\/p>\n
As I recall a few years ago, Premier Bob Hawk of Australia did
\nnot interfere when two Australians were convicted of drug
\ntrafficking in Malaysia.<\/p>\n
President Clinton would better serve the people of America by
\nconcentrating on the mammoth task of making the United States a
\nsafe place to live where people no longer need to live in fear of
\nthe high probability of being victimized by the ever-growing
\ncriminal element of that society.<\/p>\n
GEORGE FINDLAY<\/p>\n
Medan, N. Sumatra<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/integrity-of-indonesia-1447899208", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }