Answers needed
Answers needed
This letter takes as background a Dutch proverb which says:
Only my friends tell me my shortcomings (free translation).
Please consider this letter in that light.
A. I notice that your paper translates Dewan Pertahanan
Nasional as National Resilience Institute, which in my opinion is
not correct. Translation for Dewan Pertahanan Nasional should be
National Defense Institute. Resilience means Ketahanan, while
defense is Pertahanan. The two words are almost the same but have
different meanings.
B. A few weeks back, I sent some questions, which remained
unanswered until now. Why?
Allow me to repeat those questions.
* Who is legally responsible for the contents of letters (not
as an article) sent by readers.
* Why do newspapers withhold the names and addresses of
readers in the YOUR OPINION section? People must have the courage
to bear responsibility for what they say or do. (Like in The
Jakarta Post, Feb. 16, a reader complains about the behavior of a
President taxi driver citing the number of that taxi. But the
writer's name is withheld).
* A few months back, I sent, as a courtesy to an important
paper (yours), a book called Indonesia and I, written by a
retired general named Soegih Arto. I have asked whether this
paper has received that book. But until now no answer.
Those are questions sent but conveniently ignored. But I still
hope you find time to answer my questions, for which I will be
grateful, and my estimation that The Jakarta Post is a paper
which serves the people's interest will remain untarnished. But
if you decide to remain silent, then my soldier's heart whispers
in my ears: "Say go to hell" (I will never say that).
SOEGIH ARTO
Jakarta
Note: Lemhannas used to stand for Lembaga Pertahanan Nasional.
However, beginning on Feb. 2, 1995, its name was officially
changed to Lembaga Ketahanan Nasional, although its acronym
remains unchanged. The responsibility for the content of the
whole newspaper, including the letter section, lies with the
chief editor. Regarding the letter section, each newspaper has
its own policy. We regard that section as a space for readers to
exchange their opinions. Withholding of names or addresses is
made upon the request of the writers. We regret to inform you
that the mentioned book has not reached us to date.
-- Editor