A writer's worth

I thank you for publishing Writing needs more recognition by A. Chaeder Alwasih in the July 10 edition.

The government's attention to writers and their work is poor, a fact borne out by the 15 percent income tax deducted from writers' fees. It is clearly not conducive to the climate of academic or journalistic writings. If the government were seriously endeavoring to support the creation of quality writing, it should provide attractive incentives to writers. The incentives could take the form of the reduction of the above mentioned tax. It could also exempt tax for scientific writings.

The decline in tax revenues because of the tax exemption proposed above could be compensated through the increase of the tax on mass media companies or publishers whose publications only contain sensational gossip or exploit women's bodies to boost circulation.

By way of simple measures, the government could actually make many changes and improve conditions in the country.

AMIR SIDHARTA

Jakarta