Bitter medicine (1)

I read in your paper on Oct. 11, 1996 that the head of the Indonesian Council of Ulemas (MUI) said in an interview: " If I were a Governor, I would ban alcoholic drinks, and I would rule that only foreigners can buy the stuff." But God forbids all people, including foreigners, particularly Moslems, to buy or consume alcoholic drinks,

We know that in Indonesia there are many foreigners who are Moslems. So prohibition also applies to them. MUI's statement implies that foreign Moslems who live in Indonesia are allowed to buy and consume alcohol, which is forbidden by God.

IFRODI SUKANTO

Jakarta