VP Center and UN troops<\/p>\n
From Media Indonesia<\/p>\n
The establishment of the Vice President Center is to me
\nsurprising and confusing, though I appreciate the attitude of
\nVice President Hamzah Haz, who has responded to public criticism
\nand expressed his readiness to dissolve the center if requested
\nby the President.<\/p>\n
Former president Soeharto set up various foundations to
\nprocure funds from businessmen and civil servants, and these
\ninstitutions were finally subjected to legal recourse. He also
\ngathered dozens of tycoons in Jimbaran, Bali, to raise tens of
\nbillions of rupiah, which eventually ended up fulfilling the
\nentrepreneurs' demand for facilities.<\/p>\n
Now with the VP Center, I would like to suggest that this body
\nbe disbanded before negative developments follow. Moreover, the
\ngovernment is already determined to eliminate non-budgetary
\nfunds, so fund raising for the budget should be left to the
\nMinistry of Finance.<\/p>\n
In a separate issue, the United States is seeking the United
\nNations to dispatch its security forces to Iraq to replace the
\nU.S.-British coalition forces in that country, which is now
\nplagued by revolts against these invaders. Minister of Foreign
\nAffairs Hassan Wirayuda said Indonesia would consider sending its
\ntroops if requested. In my view, we should not join the UN peace
\nkeepers because of the great political and military risks
\ninvolved.<\/p>\n
M. AMINUDIN, Depok, West Java<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/vp-center-and-un-troops-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }