Violence in Kuta<\/p>\n
Bali Island, the most popular tourist spot in Indonesia, and
\nprobably the most famous Indonesian destination for tourists from
\nall over the world.<\/p>\n
After visiting Bali several times as a tourist, I just can't
\nwatch it anymore. There has to be a solution to the increasing
\nviolence in Kuta. I have many friends who have bad experiences
\nboth during the day and at night in the crowded Kuta area. People
\nwere robbed, threatened, beaten, kicked and so on. It's time to
\nput an end to this before the situation gets even worse.<\/p>\n
The police in Denpasar need more personnel to be sent to the
\ntroubled Legian area in Kuta, where tourists from so many
\ncountries enjoy the nightlife. Bars and dancing spots are
\ncrowded, but many younger people are now hesitant about going
\nback to Bali.<\/p>\n
Why not send some policemen\/soldiers to patrol the streets of
\nLegian and Seminyak. I am sure that the mere knowledge of the
\npolicemen's presence will cool down a few of the brutal and
\ndrunken youngsters.<\/p>\n
KENT LARSSON<\/p>\n
Yogyakarta<\/p>\n
Hindering
\ndevelopment<\/p>\n
From Berita Buana<\/p>\n
After reading Probosutedjo's articles and analysis in this
\nnewspaper about the Bapindo credit scam some time ago, I became
\nquite furious, as if my heart was burning, and needed some time
\nto cool down before I was able to write this letter.<\/p>\n
I, who was one of the country's freedom fighters and imbued by
\nthe ideal for a bright and prosperous future in a free
\natmosphere, feel not only deeply disappointed but also hopeless
\nin the knowledge that our own countrymen have committed vicious
\nacts which can be categorized as treasonous to the nation.<\/p>\n
Egged on by the desire to enrich themselves, they shamelessly
\nabused their power through corruption or collusion. This
\nconstitutes a hindrance to development.<\/p>\n
I am saddened when I recall our compatriots who sacrificed
\ntheir lives during the struggle for freedom. They made these
\nsacrifices for the sake of independence. I would like to kneel
\ndown before their graves, and ask their forgiveness for allowing
\nthe said treason to occur and doing nothing to stop it. We should
\nfeel guilty indeed.<\/p>\n
We can make excuses that we are powerless against the powerful
\nforces that protect the traitors. We could be accused of creating
\ndisturbances and hence being crushed.<\/p>\n
I am not saying Eddy Tansil and other such criminals are
\nguilty of treason. Because they are traders who only want to make
\nprofit through fair or foul means at any cost, they took
\nadvantage of opportunities open to them. The guilty parties are
\nthose who have the authority to open up opportunities for the
\nthieves. What has happened is the bank director or senior
\nofficials of the bank received a certain amount of money
\n(hundreds of million rupiah) to facilitate the process of
\nacquiring credit involving hundreds of billion rupiah of state
\nfunds through unfair means.<\/p>\n
Can corruption and collusion be terminated? Given that many
\nofficials are ready to take bribes and have already lost their
\nintegrity, we need a fighting force to curb this practice. This
\nforce will surely have the moral support of a public sick and
\ntired of such rotten bureaucrats.<\/p>\n
I am awfully sure that sooner or later, as Probosutedjo said,
\nthe vices will be known and the virtues will manifest themselves.<\/p>\n
SUNARYO<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>\n
Michael Fay
\nwon't fade away<\/p>\n
Fay's case has no doubt attracted world-wide attention. In my
\nopinion it is not because the punishment prescribed by law is
\ndisproportionate to the crime or that the judiciary is seen to
\nplay the role of an enforcing arm of the executive, or that
\nSingapore can be pressured. Then why? Because somehow, Singapore
\nhas made the world sense that leniency is not part and parcel of
\nadministration of justice, when it is, indeed, as much a part as
\nintegrity, devotion to due process and transparency.<\/p>\n
Is there room for leniency in this case? Yes. Unless any
\nSingaporean regulation imposes an obligation on all foreigners to
\nknow its laws and punishments, or vandalism is an offense that is
\nwell orchestrated like Singapore's campaign against drug
\ntrafficking. Then one can say with utter conviction that Fay knew
\nthe consequences of what he was doing and proof of guilt was the
\nsole requirement of handing out his punishment.<\/p>\n
My submission is simple: \"Benefit of doubt\" the heart and soul
\nof criminal justice which lets one off the hook without actually
\nexonerating him, should also act as a mitigating factor to temper
\njustice with mercy; otherwise, the court system, while fallible,
\nwould seem to be playing God or tend to glorify law as the source
\nof all righteousness; as a deity, if you will.<\/p>\n
There were many letters on this case from all over the world
\nbut almost all lectured either to or for Singapore. Many even
\ngloated. It is a matter of regret that none said \"Sorry Fay,
\nbarring an unexpected turn, highly unlikely, given the precedence
\nof 'face' rather than compassion in this part of the world, you
\nhave to take stoically what comes.\"<\/p>\n
Now Fay, who has been dished out the entire cornucopia, is
\ngoing through it all. His age (young); nature of the crime
\n(devoid of moral turpitude); no previous brush with law (first
\noffender), nationality (which could mean ignorance of the
\nsternness of the Singapore courts) social and family background
\n(propensity for lark) have all been regarded as excess baggage,
\nnot to be taken on board. To anyone's innate sense of fairness
\nand equity and where the aim is to achieve respect for law
\ninstead of cowering, these should make a difference. Otherwise a
\njudgment would only seem pointlessly penal.<\/p>\n
The parent is in all of us; an intense, overpowering psyche.
\nTherefore it would be a matter of dread to everybody that a first
\nmis-step should forfeit leniency and bring down the full wrath of
\nthe law.<\/p>\n
So Fay's case poses the question: whether a court is a house
\nof justice or correction?; a lofty humane institution or a
\nblinkered, self-righteous body? The noise-level of this case
\nwould subside; but the aspect of the case, that a court should
\nadminister a strong medicine, without any let-up, will
\nundoubtedly trouble many.<\/p>\n
G.S. EDWIN<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>\n
Students' programs
\nover the holidays<\/p>\n
From Neraca<\/p>\n
In celebrating Jakarta's anniversary on June 22 this year, it
\nwould be better for the government not to mark it with fireworks
\nor parties as usual, but with other, more beneficial activities.<\/p>\n
As the celebration coincides with the school holidays, perhaps
\nthe Jakarta municipal government and schools in Jakarta could
\ncome up with a joint holiday program for the students. Fund
\nraising and social work organized by students are good choices.<\/p>\n
Money from the fund raising program, for example, could be
\ndonated in the form of books and school supplies to unfortunate
\nchildren who cannot attend school. And one kind of social work
\ncould be cleaning graffiti from highway bridges, walls, trees,
\nmonuments so that the city will look nice and clean.<\/p>\n
These activities can serve as positive steps as the students
\nlearn how to care for and love their environment.<\/p>\n
MRS. FAISAL<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>\n
Ferry safety
\nrulings<\/p>\n
From Kompas<\/p>\n
With regard to the recent accident involving the Ketapang-
\nGilimanuk ferry in Bali which took many lives, I propose that:
\n1. The ferries should be equipped with an adequate number of life
\njackets.
\n2. These life jackets should be given to the passengers once they
\nenter the boat.
\n3. The cars loaded onto the ferry should leave enough space
\nbetween them for passengers to walk.
\n4. Bus passengers should get out of their buses during the
\nvoyage.
\n5. The officials take precautions when the number of passengers
\ndouble, during holidays like Idul Fitri or Christmas. Perhaps the
\nMinister of Transportation needs to inspect the harbors on those
\ndays. Heavy penalties should be handed down to those who violate
\nthe rules.<\/p>\n
Human error is pervasive in such an accident, it is imperative
\nthat the government improve the skills of the ferry crews.<\/p>\n
M. RAMLI<\/p>\n
Mataram, Lombok<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/violence-in-kuta-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }