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