Protesting cigarette ads<\/p>\n
From Pikiran Rakyat<\/p>\n
It is really ironical that while the government has issued a
\nwarning about the dangers of smoking, billboards advertising
\ntobacco products proudly stand erect in many major cities across
\nthe country.<\/p>\n
The relevant authorities should be clear about whether or not
\nthere is a limitation on the size of these billboards, especially
\nwhen they are put so close to schools and houses of worship.<\/p>\n
The size of an advertisement placed on a bridge should also be
\ntaken into account, so that it does not cover an entire side of a
\nbridge. Otherwise, the bridge will not be esthetically nice to
\nlook at and it could also promote the occurrence of crimes.<\/p>\n
THEO ISKANDARSYAH<\/p>\n
Bandung<\/p>\n
;JP;WYS;
\nANPAk..r..
\nLetter-contest
\nFrenchcontest at Carrefour
\nJP\/4\/let<\/p>\n
French contest at Carrefour<\/p>\n
In June, I bought a French music cassette at Carrefour Pasar
\nFestival as I read in their advertisement that with every
\npurchase, shoppers stood a chance at winning return airfare for
\ntwo to Paris and lunch with French Indonesia-born artist Anggun.<\/p>\n
As mentioned in the ad, the draw would be held on July 10 and
\nthey would announce the winner on July 17. But unfortunately,
\nuntil this letter was written, I have never seen an announcement.
\nI have asked the information counters at Carrefour Pasar Festival
\nand Ratu Plaza several times without any success; they seem
\nuncertain about this.<\/p>\n
May I kindly ask the management of this hypermarket to please
\nrelease an announcement so that we know who the winner of the
\ncontest is? Merci beaucoup!<\/p>\n
POSMA DENIS S.<\/p>\n
Bogor, West Java<\/p>\n
;REPUBLIKA;LEI;
\nANPAk..r..
\nLetter-brawls
\nDischarge students involved in brawls
\nJP\/4\/let<\/p>\n
Discharge students
\ninvolved in brawls<\/p>\n
From Republika<\/p>\n
Before the public's disgust over brawls between high school
\nstudents could subside, a brawl erupted between students of
\nTrisakti University on July 24, in which students of the civil
\nengineering school fought against their rivals from the mineral
\nengineering school.<\/p>\n
A trivial matter triggered the shameful brawl, which has
\noccurred several times before at this university. As a result,
\nthose who were innocent had to bear the brunt of it.<\/p>\n
The Trisakti tragedy and the 1998 riots, which claimed a lot
\nof lives, made this campus the pioneer of the students' movement
\nagainst the New Order regime, giving it the name Campus of
\nReform. Unfortunately, its good reputation was tainted by the
\nbrawl.<\/p>\n
Trisakti's rector should severely punish the students who
\nbehaved like hooligans so that other students will be discouraged
\nfrom similar brutal and anarchic action on the campus. Those
\ninvolved in the brawl must be suspended and brought to court to
\naccount for their actions.<\/p>\n
It would be better for the university to sacrifice a handful
\nof bad eggs rather than allowing them to tarnish its reputation.
\nThe absence of severe punishment may lead to similar brawls.
\nShould this happen, Trisakti University will no longer deserve to
\nbe called the Campus of Reform because its members are not
\nreform-minded.<\/p>\n
HERDI DUDUNG<\/p>\n
Bekasi, West Java<\/p>\n
;KOMPAS;LEI;
\nANPAk..r..
\nLetter-clinics
\nIllegal clinics
\nJP\/4\/let<\/p>\n
Unlawful clinics
\nmushrooming<\/p>\n
From Kompas<\/p>\n
In his article titled Family-oriented service (The Jakarta
\nPost, July 11), Dr. H. Anies suggested that physicians who had
\nalready completed their compulsory civic-mission assignment could
\npractice independently. This is a good idea in principle,
\nprovided that the authorities issue a license for this purpose.
\nUnfortunately, the health ministry's weak control has led to the
\nspringing up of illegal 24-hour general clinics run by physicians
\nwho have not yet completed their compulsory civic-mission
\nassignment. Many of these clinics are even run by non-physicians.<\/p>\n
These illegal clinics can be found in Jakarta, Tangerang,
\nBandung, Surabaya, Medan, Palembang, Lampung and some other
\ncities. A high rate of profitability will spur clinic owners to
\nset up their branches in other places. To prevent any unpleasant
\nconsequences, relevant authorities -- the police, the health
\nministry and the regional administration -- should take action to
\nensure that only clinics with proper licenses can operate.<\/p>\n
Just like other professionals and their businesses, physicians
\nshould first obtain a taxpayer code number before seeking a
\npractice license or setting up a clinic.<\/p>\n
MULYADI<\/p>\n
Tangerang, Banten<\/p>\n
;KOMPAS;ARP;
\nANPAk..r..
\nLetter-guard
\nGunung Agung over guarded
\nJP\/4\/let<\/p>\n
False accusation<\/p>\n
From Kompas<\/p>\n
While shopping at the Citraland branch of Gunung Agung
\nbookstore in West Jakarta with my sister on July 20, a security
\nguard said to me: \"Sorry ma'am, you have just put something into
\nyour handbag\". I was startled and opened my bag before the man to
\nshow that I had not dropped anything into it. He responded
\narrogantly and impolitely: \"Oh, so you've kept your cellular
\nphone then?,\" when in fact I was not carrying any cellular phone
\nat the time.<\/p>\n
The accusation made by the shop guard made me feel embarrassed
\nin the presence of other visitors. No apology nor follow-up was
\nmade by the guard or the shop's management. Is there no other
\nmore refined and polite way of addressing a potential customer?
\nHow does Gunung Agung select and train its personnel? I appeal to
\nthe attention of the Gunung Agung management.<\/p>\n
ERNI A YANTI<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>\n
;RAKYAT MERDEKA;ARP;
\nANPAk..r..
\nLetter-telko
\nTelkom going on a spending spree?
\nJP\/4\/let<\/p>\n
Telkom going on
\na spending spree?<\/p>\n
From Rakyat Merdeka<\/p>\n
Amid the various difficulties the population has to face as a
\nresult of the protracted economic crisis, including the soaring
\nprice of necessities, such as fuel, electricity and telephone
\nrates, state-owned Telecommunication Company (Telkom) announced
\nthe distribution of big bonuses from its 2001 profits during its
\nshareholders general meeting.<\/p>\n
The bonus for its president director is Rp 818 million, its
\ndirector is Rp 736 million, the chairman of the board is Rp 327
\nmillion and for each board member is Rp 290 million. The lowest
\nmonthly salary for a Telkom employee is Rp 2.1 million.<\/p>\n
For the general public, the news is shocking and painful. They
\nhave received the bonuses from annual telephone rate increases,
\nnot the achievements of Telkom's executives and personnel.<\/p>\n
Despite the big profits it has reaped, Telkom keeps raising
\nits rates. With the approval of the House of Representatives
\n(DPR), it again increased telephone rates in March 2002 for the
\nclassic reason of attracting investors. It apparently prefers to
\noffer large gains to investors at the expense of consumers, while
\nraising their personnel's pay and fringe benefit packages, which
\nare far bigger than those at other state-owned companies.<\/p>\n
Strangely, the government and the DPR do not care at all. In
\nliberal countries, such as the U.S., companies are not allowed to
\nscoop maximum profits and distribute them as large bonuses
\nwithout any concern about their environment. They have social
\nobligations, and their governments make rules to limit marked
\ndifferences in society.<\/p>\n
In Indonesia, which in theory is not a liberal state,
\ncompanies must have social concern. The board and executive
\ndirectors of Telkom must realize that its profit has come from
\nburdening consumers and there should not be any spending sprees.<\/p>\n
The bonuses should have been given to the tens of thousands of
\nsmall-scale businesses as capital, children who are school
\ndropouts or to help relieve the state budget deficit. Meanwhile,
\nTelkom has also incurred huge debts and is paying installments
\nplus interest.<\/p>\n
HM DIMYATI
\nJakarta<\/p>\n
;WARTA KOTA;FAL;
\nANPAk..r..
\nLetter-racers
\nGet rid of street racers
\nJP\/4\/let<\/p>\n
Get rid of street racers!<\/p>\n
From Warta Kota<\/p>\n
A brawl involving marine officers and street racers on Jl.
\nGunung Sahari a couple of days ago should not have happened if
\nthe street racers had been sensible.<\/p>\n
Street racers know full well that public roads are not meant
\nfor them to race one another, particularly at night because they
\nendanger other street users. If they want to be real gentlemen
\nand genuine racers they should go to Sentul racing track or any
\nother racing arena in the city.<\/p>\n
They are not gentlemen, they are only losers. I would like to
\nappeal to the city's law enforcers and the public to take strict
\nmeasures to punish these chicken-hearted street racers.<\/p>\n
I personally agree with the actions taken by the marine
\nofficers against the irresponsible racers. If they are
\nunrepentant, just clobber them!<\/p>\n
WIDODO<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/protesting-cigarette-ads-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }