Also look at your backyard

I would like to comment on Goenawan Mohamad's opinion on May 31 in The Jakarta Post titled How to get a Dutch Visa.

I can indeed sympathize with Goenawan's statement about how to get a visa.

However, any foreigner who has approached the Indonesian Embassy in Singapore will understand how frustrating applying for a visa can be. So while Goenawan is right to criticize foreign countries' handling of this issue, he could do all foreign guests of this beautiful and friendly country a great favor by improving the very poor service provided by Indonesian embassies abroad.

MICHAEL GRUSS

Jakarta