A leader to unite

A leader to unite the nation needed

From Rakyat Merdeka

A responsible political party leader is one who highly values his constituents and cadres and one who regrets losing any of them as he regards them like his own eyes that he always protects and cherishes.

However, Megawati Soekarnoputri -- the leader of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) is not at all like the leader described above. She does not seem to heed the voice of her constituents at the grass-roots level nor does she heed her cadres. She even tends to dismiss her cadres who are not satisfied with her stance and the policy she adopts.

Up to now Megawati has shown no effort to embrace or reconcile with her disappointed cadres. She seems to think too highly of herself and considers herself vastly superior to them.

Due to differences and disharmony in the party many of her cadres have broken away and set up other parties. This will eventually cause PDI Perjuangan to lose the trust of the public and it will be abandoned by its constituents. by its constituents.

Consequently, in the next general election many of them will give their votes or choose other promising new parties. Based on this fact, it can be inferred that Megawati is not at all like her father -- a leader capable of uniting this nation. Now our country sorely needs one who is capable of uniting this nation.

RIANTO SIHITE

Bekasi, West Java

B ;RAKYAT MERDEKA; FAL; ANPAk..r.. Letter-collaboration Collaboration destroys the nation JP/4/let

Collaboration destroys the nation

From Forum Keadilan

The public hardly gave any comment when the minister of state- owned enterprises (BUMN) supervising the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) collaborated with the House of Representatives in a scheme which they termed as salvaging the nation from bankruptcy by using high-powered words like restructuring, re-capitalization and privatization. The case of Bank Central Asia (BCA) owned by tycoon Liem Sioe Liong serves as a good example.

After the government spent Rp 58 trillion in bonds and commercial papers to salvage the bank, IBRA sold it at only Rp 5 trillion to a foreign entity, leaving the government an obligation to pay Rp 5 trillion in interest annually for 10 years.

Similar collaboration was seen when IBRA sold Bank Niaga and Danamon shares. BPPN sold the cement factory in Gersik at only US$520 million to foreign investors despite the fact the government had to spend some $2.59 billion on the 17.2 ton- capacity plant.

The government turned to the IMF, forcing IBRA to sell national assets cheaply to foreign investors, profiting them but robbing the country. Part of the profits from the sales go to the IMF and the rest to Indonesia as binding loans. This is just like borrowing our own money.

Kwik Kian Gie said if BCA and other national banks were sold, the government would have to pay up to Rp 7 trillion to 10 trillion in bonds. Ironically, to pay for the bonds' interest, the government will issue other bonds, meaning debts arises from having to pay other debts.

The Indonesian government, the House of Representatives and other national bodies should act based on the Article 33 of the 1945 Constitution which states, " Sectors of production deemed important for the state and used widely for the benefit of the general public are to be controlled by the state. Therefore, stop collaborating to destroy the nation.

WELLANG BOHARI

Bentoa, Pangkep