Golf bogey

I feel I should correct immediately a number of inaccuracies in your article, Hindus complain over advert, in the March 13, 1998 edition.

The offending picture did not appear in an advertisement, but in an article promoting the game of golf in Bali (The Green Revolution, March 1998 edition of Bali Kini).

Stating that this was an advertisement implies both complicity and knowledge on the part of Nirwana Bali Resort and The Ritz Carlton Bali, when, in fact, both parties were unaware of its content.

This has already been explained to the Hindu community through the Council of Hindu Religious Leaders (PHDI) in a meeting which I attended personally, and in letters to all interested parties. I really hope that through this letter this point is clearly and fully understood.

On behalf of Indo Multi Media, I have already apologized to the people of Bali for this unfortunate photograph, which was taken by a freelance photographer with the good intention of promoting the culture of Bali alongside the game of golf.

Sadly, our normal channels of cross-checking suitability of such materials failed in this one case, and an understandable resentment has been vocalized.

We have now put in place a system whereby PHDI will be given editorial jurisdiction over the contents of Bali Kini to prevent any further inadvertent mistakes.

ALISTAIR SPEIRS

Technical Advisor

Indo Multi Media

Jakarta