Congratulations to the 'Post'

In order to divert readers from the unnecessary debate over colonization, which essentially still means that one country oppresses another, I would like to write about the newspaper that publishes these letters, The Jakarta Post.

Having started reading the paper five years ago, probably like all expatriates, just happy to read something in English, we have seen the Post develop from an error prone newspaper into what it is today.

Now the day does not seem complete without the Post in the morning at breakfast and on the way to work. Not only is the newspaper informative on domestic and international events, but it also tackles political with candor, which is not exactly common in this beautiful country about to celebrate another year of independence.

I have seen and read many newspapers of the neighboring countries, be it the Straits Times or New Straits Times of Singapore and Malaysia, respectively, or the various bulky dailies of the Philippines, like the Star or the Bulletin, down to the blood dripping Australian papers. They all consist of 40 or more ink dripping pages that inform you about basically nothing, maybe just some local events.

In contrast, The Jakarta Post consists of about 15 pages on good paper packed with informative articles on many domestic and international subjects (the latter perhaps could still improve a bit). Even guys like myself and the numerous other occasional "journalists" can satisfy their egos in the paper.

So, just in time for independence day, here are my congratulations to The Jakarta Post for a job well done.

ROLAND WOEHRLE

Jakarta