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