A slap in the face

A slap in the face

I read with interest and sympathy the sad experience of Nosi
Lestariwati, whose car was hit by an expatriate driver who has
been uncooperative in arranging for proper compensation. She
asks: "How can a foreigner be so free to act here?" I ask the
same question in reverse, in connection with my own harsh
experience: "How can an Indonesian be so free to act here?" I
wasn't hit by a car, but with a fist in the face, unpaid loans of
a substantial amount, betrayal of trust and friendship, and a
callous disregard for decent and responsible behavior. This
happened after sharing a house with an Indonesian "friend", a
lecturer in psychology.

This woman teaches at a respected institution of higher
learning in Indonesia. I must ask, is this the kind of woman
being offered as an example to the youth of Indonesia? Surely
such behavior violates the requirement that an Indonesian teacher
be of good morals and reputation.

Nosi's experience and my own show that in a time of increasing
globalization and international contact, Indonesia must create a
better legal framework for protecting both Indonesians and
foreigners who experience problems in cross-national encounters.

SARAH E. MURRAY

Jakarta