Justice seekers need quick solution

I have received several reactions to my letter Justice at a Price, (The Jakarta Post, Jan. 28, 2000) and I sincerely thank those who took the time to react, either favorably or unfavorably, and even tracked me down on the phone.

May I reply to all of these people in the short missive that follows?

Those who have reacted with dismay and even outrage at what I proposed in my previous letter should remember that hypocrisy, cowardice, greed and a stubborn, blind, ego-directed refusal to acknowledge what is wrong with us and our society are causing the greatest damage to Indonesia at present.

According to Transparency International's findings in October 1999, Indonesia was the world's third most corrupt country. Would all of us Indonesians prefer putting off exercising damage control until our country has become number one on this list of ignominy?

Remember the Dutch proverb: Zachte heelmeesters maken stinkende wonden (which freely translates as: Too gentle surgeons make stinking, suppurating wounds).

Many people, including those in the legal profession, ostentatiously display faithful adherence to the tenets of a certain religion -- yet when the Creator they claim to worship requests them to courageously combat evil and right blatant wrongs in order to create a better society, these very people quickly look the other way, as they are terribly afraid that their incomes or jobs will suffer. Apparently they do not realize that the Creator himself is the source of all we humans have -- including our incomes and jobs, and that He will help us to live and survive if we do right. So where is the evidence of these people's actual devotion to Him?

Regarding Indonesia's justice-seekers -- a great many of them are not rolling in wealth, and even have difficulty making ends meet as the economic crisis is still very much in evidence. Yet these people are often desperately seeking a legal solution for their troubles -- which they cannot as yet obtain in the courts, as this requires a large amount of money, which they simply do not possess. And even the Legal Aid Institute requires some funds just to operate. Must these economically disadvantaged justice- seekers wait forever for a legal solution?

I wholly agree with those who maintain that there are still many decent and honest judges around, and that they cannot all be corrupt. Yet if "one rotten apple can decay a bushel", as the proverb goes, many of these rotten apples will soon cause the whole bushel to be thrown into the garbage pail. For this reason, Indonesian judges who have true integrity and honesty, as well as those who are thoroughly repentant for the grievous sins they have committed in the past, will not hesitate to sign the statement I proposed.

As for the Association of Indonesian Lawyers, whom I asked to stand up and join forces to create my proposed statement, I now sincerely plead with you: Now is the time for you to restore dignity and honor to your profession and to the law. Start practicing true law. Start by disciplining the courts. Give justice-seekers the security of knowing that they can seek justice without being skinned alive, financially speaking. By doing this, you will greatly assist Indonesia in regaining the honor and trust foreigners used to have in her.

TAMI KOESTOMO

Bogor, West Java