Justice seekers need quick solution<\/p>\n
I have received several reactions to my letter Justice at a
\nPrice, (The Jakarta Post, Jan. 28, 2000) and I sincerely thank
\nthose who took the time to react, either favorably or
\nunfavorably, and even tracked me down on the phone.<\/p>\n
May I reply to all of these people in the short missive that
\nfollows?<\/p>\n
Those who have reacted with dismay and even outrage at what I
\nproposed in my previous letter should remember that hypocrisy,
\ncowardice, greed and a stubborn, blind, ego-directed refusal to
\nacknowledge what is wrong with us and our society are causing the
\ngreatest damage to Indonesia at present.<\/p>\n
According to Transparency International's findings in October
\n1999, Indonesia was the world's third most corrupt country. Would
\nall of us Indonesians prefer putting off exercising damage
\ncontrol until our country has become number one on this list of
\nignominy?<\/p>\n
Remember the Dutch proverb: Zachte heelmeesters maken
\nstinkende wonden (which freely translates as: Too gentle surgeons
\nmake stinking, suppurating wounds).<\/p>\n
Many people, including those in the legal profession,
\nostentatiously display faithful adherence to the tenets of a
\ncertain religion -- yet when the Creator they claim to worship
\nrequests them to courageously combat evil and right blatant
\nwrongs in order to create a better society, these very people
\nquickly look the other way, as they are terribly afraid that
\ntheir incomes or jobs will suffer. Apparently they do not realize
\nthat the Creator himself is the source of all we humans have --
\nincluding our incomes and jobs, and that He will help us to live
\nand survive if we do right. So where is the evidence of these
\npeople's actual devotion to Him?<\/p>\n
Regarding Indonesia's justice-seekers -- a great many of them
\nare not rolling in wealth, and even have difficulty making ends
\nmeet as the economic crisis is still very much in evidence. Yet
\nthese people are often desperately seeking a legal solution for
\ntheir troubles -- which they cannot as yet obtain in the courts,
\nas this requires a large amount of money, which they simply do
\nnot possess. And even the Legal Aid Institute requires some funds
\njust to operate. Must these economically disadvantaged justice-
\nseekers wait forever for a legal solution?<\/p>\n
I wholly agree with those who maintain that there are still
\nmany decent and honest judges around, and that they cannot all be
\ncorrupt. Yet if \"one rotten apple can decay a bushel\", as the
\nproverb goes, many of these rotten apples will soon cause the
\nwhole bushel to be thrown into the garbage pail. For this reason,
\nIndonesian judges who have true integrity and honesty, as well as
\nthose who are thoroughly repentant for the grievous sins they
\nhave committed in the past, will not hesitate to sign the
\nstatement I proposed.<\/p>\n
As for the Association of Indonesian Lawyers, whom I asked to
\nstand up and join forces to create my proposed statement, I now
\nsincerely plead with you: Now is the time for you to restore
\ndignity and honor to your profession and to the law. Start
\npracticing true law. Start by disciplining the courts. Give
\njustice-seekers the security of knowing that they can seek
\njustice without being skinned alive, financially speaking. By
\ndoing this, you will greatly assist Indonesia in regaining the
\nhonor and trust foreigners used to have in her.<\/p>\n
TAMI KOESTOMO<\/p>\n
Bogor, West Java<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/justice-seekers-need-quick-solution-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }