Fight collusion!

Fight collusion!

From Surabaya Post

The community hailed Prof. Soemitro's statement to reporters that collusion must be fought. Meanwhile Director General of Tax Fuad Bawazier categorized positive collusion from negative collusion. According to him, negative collusion occurs between officials and businessmen, and is based on personal interest. It is very difficult to identify and prove this type of collusion.

On the other hand, he supports positive collusion which is aimed at promoting the economic growth.

Frankly speaking, collusion is a common phenomenon in modern society, particularly in the business sector. Unfortunately, most collusions are negative in nature. This means that collusions are done mainly for personal gains rather than for encouraging economic growth.

How can we educate both the officials and the entrepreneurs so that they shun the practice of negative collusion? First, we should use persuasive measures. The values of Pancasila and how to live by them must be taught to them. Second, repressive measures must be taken whenever necessary. Supervision activities must be enhanced to prevent monetary leakage resulting from collusion.

Those found guilty of collusion must be severely and indiscriminately dealt with.

SETIABUDI

Kediri, East Java

;; ANPAk..r.. Letter-Bogor-cleanliness Bogor after APEC meeting JP/4/LETTER4

Bogor after APEC meeting

From Kompas

Thirty-five years ago, when I was still a girl, I loved to spend my holidays in Puncak. We went there via Bogor. Back then Bogor was nice, cool and clean. But now, in spite of its slogan Tegar Beriman (an acronym for orderly, fresh, clean, beautiful and safe), Bogor is no longer as convenient and safe as it used to be.

Surprisingly, when the APEC meeting was about to convene, we found Bogor truly more beautiful and cleaner than it was 35 years ago.

Now it is our job to keep Bogor as beautiful and clean as ever.

NELLY SUPARNO

Bogor, West Java

;; ANPAk..r.. LETTER-village-naming Is BNI City approved? JP/4/LETTER4

Is BNI City approved?

From Neraca

We learned from the media that a kampong in the Dukuh Atas area, Central Jakarta, is called "BNI City". In this area BNI bank and a hotel of international standards have been built. More luxurious buildings are going to be built later.

According to the regulation, even a name of a street must have the approval of the legislative body. So in this case, has the legislative body given its approval in naming the village "BNI City"? Even if the body has approved the name, it sounds strange that there is a city within a city. Can't they use Indonesian words to name their village? We should have national pride by using national identities.

I call on the authority to be firm enough in dealing with the developers who tend to use foreign words like "City" and "village" to name housing complexes.

SUTARDI DW

Jakarta

;; ANPAk..r.. Letter-tourism-promotion APEC and tourism JP/4/LETTER5

APEC and tourism

From Media Indonesia

The APEC meeting is now a thing of the past. Included in the 18 heads of state/governments present at the meeting were the President of the United States, Japan's Prime Minister, South Korea's President and Australia's Prime Minister. A meeting of such magnitude was surely watched by TV viewers throughout the world.

Up to now, many foreigners do not know Indonesia well. Many know Bali, but they do not know Bali is part of Indonesia. I would like to suggest now that the APEC meeting has ended, promotion of tourism should be intensified by distributing brochures to travel agencies in the world -- America, Europe and other strategic countries.

When I was abroad it was easy to find brochures of different countries in the travel agencies, but none about Indonesia. It is our common hope that the number of foreign tourists will increase following the APEC meeting.

Just imagine, not less than 45 million tourists visit Spain every year. In fact Indonesia is a potential tourist destination, not unlike Spain. Yet Indonesia has only five million tourists a year.

F. PUDYANTO SURADIBROTO

Jakarta

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Mandarin language

From Surabaya Post

Making the Mandarin language one of the requirements for applying to a job is detrimental to the unity and integrity of the nation.

It should be noted that Mandarin is only understood by people over 50 years old.

In spite of that, it is essential to learn the language along with other foreign languages if we want to make progress.

About 20 years ago B.M. Diah suggested that more people should learn the Mandarin language and the number of schools of Sinology be increased. The late St. Takdir Alisyahbana made the same suggestion.

Of course, there is nothing wrong with learning Mandarin.

Name and address

withheld

;; ANPAk..r.. Letter-gathering-rules Criminal Code: Article 510 JP/4/LETTER7

Criminal Code: Article 510

From Suara Karya

Article 510 of the Criminal Code stipulates: "A fine of Rp 25,000 shall be imposed on those who, without prior permission from the police head, (1) hold a party or public entertainment event and (2) hold a procession on public roads.

Many people, including lawyers, interpret this article as applying to such activities as parties, processions in open spaces, entertainment like movies, carnivals, bands, dramas etc.

The police, however, apply this article to cancel meetings, seminars, informal discussions, workshops, even down to limited meetings. The article is also used as a means/reason to break up demonstrations held in front of a state institution.

The right to hold meetings and to express opinions is actually guaranteed by the 1945 Constitution. Remember this country has been independent for almost 50 years and adopts Pancasila democracy. The people should not be denied of their rights under the pretext of maintaining security and stability.

In this context I would like to request the following:

* The Supreme Justice should issue an advisory note about the correct interpretation of article 510 of the Criminal Code.

* The Government should present a bill to the House of Representatives by which the right to hold meetings and express opinions is governed.

* Meanwhile the President could issue a temporary decision to this effect in order to facilitate the implementation of the people's rights.

Obviously we need a clearly-defined regulation so that society will be well-versed with the rules of the game. Only under such circumstances can society consciously abide by the law and also avoid friction with the law enforcing body.

SUHARSONO HADIKUSUMO

Jakarta