Language of truth needed

During a recent anti-government rally, one student leader asked his fellows to recite a modified "Youth Pledge". One of the clauses contained therein went thus: One Language, the language of truth. It is not only students who want to know the facts, all 200 million Indonesians desperately want to hear the government and their representatives in the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) speak the truth.

An American, Sandra Ferguson, said in her letter to The Jakarta Post on Nov. 15 that she believed Gen. Wiranto did not understand how serious the problem in this country was. Only a few hours before shots were fired at Semanggi, he stated that Jakarta was safe and under control. On Nov. 16, in a televised apology for the Nov. 13 tragedy, President B.J. Habibie voiced his earnest commitment to implementing the 12 decrees issued by the MPR. Was that lip service?.

What the government should actually do is address the various problems facing the country. A good place to start would be to investigate the murders of witches and Moslem clergymen in rural Java, and if that is not enough then there is always the myriad cases of corruption, collusion, nepotism and human rights abuse, not to mention the economic crisis.

If all these matters could be adequately resolved, I am sure the people across the country would give their thumbs up to the President because by then the language of truth would have become a reality.

PARLINDUNGAN SIBARANI

Jakarta