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