Avoid hike in phone charges

The public seem to be having more burdens placed upon them at the moment. There will be a rise in tap water and electricity rates and we also hear that the prices of daily commodities are also up. In addition to that, telephone rates will also shortly be rising, as will telephone installation charges. It appears true, that the public are always the victims.

As a member of the public I object to these hikes. As the Indonesian Consumer's Foundation (YLKI) has stated, the burden should not be placed on the public. If the government could take stern action and confiscate state assets that have been siphoned off and prevent fresh corruption, the funds would be very useful indeed for the development of our telecommunications industry.

On the basis of the Minister of Communications and Telecommunications Decree No.19/2001, dated May 31, 2001, Telkom has announced that the telephone rates will rise by 45.49 percent over three years and that the hike will be 21.67 percent in 2001.

In my opinion, there is a cheap alternative means of communication that will allow us to foster brotherhood at home and abroad by using mail managed by PT Pos Indonesia.

Unless it is very urgent for you to contact your family, you might as well just send letters. On the basis of the Decree of Minister of Communications and Telecommunications No.60/2000 dated September 2000, the ordinary domestic mail rate is Rp 900 for a letter weighing up to 20 grams. The rate for express mail for the same weight is only Rp 2,500. Super express mail of up to 50 gram in weight will cost a single price, regardless of the domestic destination.

If we write a letter, the recipient will usually read and re- read the main content of our letter. Speaking on the phone does not allow you to do the same. After the conversation is over, there is no more follow up. If we send a letter under a registered mail system, we have official evidence of the dispatch of the letter. We can also tell our family back home that we once inquired about their health.

It is true that only a very small percentage of Indonesians can write. The data shows that Indonesians write, on average, one letter every four months.

Let's promote writing and make it part of our lives. Writing, besides, can make you think more systematically. If you wish to have a lot of friends and hope to become more closely related to your family members, don't forget to write a letter.

GUSTAP P.M. MARPAUNG

Jakarta