Isolationist path

Isolationist path

This is in reference to Mr. A. Djuana's letter Postage
increases published in The Jakarta Post on Aug. 16. I fully agree
with Mr. Djuana's views. There is no valid justification for any
postage increase of 1,000 percent or more. No explanation
whatsoever was given to the public for these tremendous
increases. If the private sector conducted business the same way,
there would be no business at all. Pursuing this path will lead
to Indonesia's isolation from the rest of the world. This does
not apply only to personal friendship, but to business, too.

To gain the most needed foreign exchange, Indonesia is trying
to boost tourism and exports. These postal increases are,
however, counterproductive; this anybody can confirm.
International confirmation is the only way to maintain contact
abroad. E-mail may be the answer, but not every business or
household in Indonesia and abroad has the luxury of its own PC.
We should not forget that other countries in Southeast Asia are
competing for a share of the cake, too.

Therefore, any hurdle which could hamper international
contacts should be avoided. Hopefully, the postal authorities
will understand the public feeling and soon reverse the high
charges. Indonesians are openhearted people, and thus isolation
from the rest of the world is not what they would want.

PETER M. GANZ

Jakarta