Big bird

Big bird

Under the initiative of Minister of Tourism, Post and
Telecommunications Joop Ave, the Garuda Wisnu Kencana monument
will be built on 250 hectares of land in Bali. This monument will
cost Rp 80 billion and is aimed at promoting tourism in Bali.

In light of President Soeharto's disclosure that 14 percent of
the Indonesian population still live below the poverty line, and
400,000 school-age children await foster parents, I conclude that
the project is completely unnecessary.

Minister Joop Ave is said to have asked the Ministry of
Finance to set aside Rp 30 billion from the profits of PT Telkom
to help finance the project. The finance minister should think
carefully before funding such a lavish project, remembering that
there are foreign loans in need of repayment.

Obviously the morals of civil servants have degenerated. Only
weeks ago, big-shot Eddy Tansil walked out of Cipinang
penitentiary by bribing a prison driver with Rp 2 million. The
Yogyakarta immigration office issued 169 fake passports to
Chinese people. Both incidents indicate how the morals of our
civil servants have eroded, tarnishing the image of Indonesia.

If the Garuda Wisnu Kencana statue was to be financed by
private funds, no problem. But don't spend government funds on
unnecessary and lavish projects.

SUHARSONO HADIKUSUMO

Jakarta