July 27 case needs

July 27 case needs to be dealt with

We have deliberately raised this issue because some people wonder why the July 27 incident, which happened six years ago, has resurfaced now. Is this case being politicized or is it used to corner certain people?

In our journey as a nation, there are too many events that we have simply allowed to pass. We have never tried to re-construct all the historical events in this journey. What for? To make everyone of us see the journey of our nation in full.

A nation must not conceal the embarrassing black pages of its history. Germans were cruel when they massacred the Jews. Hitler burned a library full of books in Berlin, but they have dealt with it and put it behind them.

Our attitude remains the same as it was when we were persecuted for speaking against injustice. A warning is considered to be false and intended to scare people. Unfortunately, we see everything as a problem between you and I, not as the nation's problem. President Megawati Soekarnoputri criticized this attitude as an attitude of simply pleasing the boss.

In the July 27 case, there is no intention at all to corner certain people, let alone connecting it with the election of a new governor for Jakarta.

This case must be thoroughly settled to avoid it from degenerating into an unfinished episode in our history or remain as a political commodity. This case is not concerned only with truth and justice but must also be remembered as an incident which violently ushered in the current era in the life of our nation. This case must serve as a good lesson for all of us.

We have paid too dearly for this tragedy. Therefore, we should never, ever allow a similar incident to recur. -- Kompas, Jakarta

Projects at the Ministry of Communications

The House of Representatives (DPR) is now focusing its attention on the materials procurement for several infrastructure projects at the state ministry of communications and information. In a working meeting between the ministry and House Commission IV last week, a number of questions were asked about the construction of the north terminal of Juanda airport, a project allegedly marred by 150 overpriced buses for (state-owned bus company) PPD.

The questions posed by members of Commission IV seemed to suggest that the legislators were fighting on behalf of the community. But now there is some suspicion that some House members are playing a dirty trick in the cases they happen to handle. We need to ask, at this juncture, why they are always very critical about this particular Ministry. Why have House members often made this Ministry their prime target? And also, why have house members become so silent with the public, especially after unofficial meetings are held?

We agree that all ministries and their projects must be handled in a transparent manner, but when one ministry is constantly targeted and there is speculation of a conflict of interest with certain House members who may have vested interests themselves in winning contracts, then this is a major problem.

When the interests of controllers and the controllees meet, the people, who have lost their trust, are simply like blind and deaf people. -- Harian Ekonomi Neraca -- Jakarta