Inflammatory article emerges bitter past

I refer to the article Dutch treat: Who pays for the pain? published in The Jakarta Post on Aug. 8.

Because of the writer's professionalism he seems to be allowed to publish opinions which would otherwise be censored and may even be prosecuted.

Why does a noted journalist like him needs to use a report from the Associated Press as the basis to write a highly tendentious seven-column headlined and inflammatory article that might foment hatred and recreate all those awful memories of bitterness, pain and lost pride of this nation and its citizens?

By using his normal consistent high level of ethics he could have made an appropriate article with a proper background investigation (without heresy) and could have drawn a parallel between for instance the Indonesian sentiments related to independence and the enormous outburst of emotion on the visit of the Japanese emperor Hirohito to The Netherlands in 1971 where 85 percent of the Dutch people demanded a formal apology from the Japanese for their war crimes or for instance to the fact that the Dutch are silently punished by the current Indonesian government for their past via their exclusion from the visa on arrival option despite being among the top visiting foreign nationals.

Exploring this topic in such a way would have made sense; Now he regretfully reduces his own dignity and journalism to a doubtful level not in line with his normal high standards, especially with the conclusions he has made.

Would it not be better to report on the current major problems such as the efforts of the government to downplay the bird flu and swine flu epidemic, the present economic crisis, the rampant corruption in all layers of society, the ongoing discrimination against other religions and indigenous people in Indonesia, the radicalization of the Islam by growing segments of this society. Other issues are the destruction of the tourism industry by current government regulations, the investment-oppressive business climate, the over 30 percent increase in the prices of most commodities in local Indonesian markets, unemployment, AIDS prevention and the millions of Indonesian children suffering from malnutrition (just to suggest a couple of headlines) in this beautiful country?

May I take this opportunity to extend my heartiest and sincerest greeting Dirgahayu Republik Indonesia, 1945-2005, on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of Indonesian independence.

LEO J. LAMMERINK, Bogor, West Java