Limited information

It is saddening to notice that development in Indonesia is still full of ironies. Take for example the issue of reading. On one hand, the government continues to encourage people to read books so they will not lag behind other nations, particularly in the era of globalization. But on the other hand, the government has imposed a high tax on imported books, and the price of local publications is still very high. Strangely enough, Timor cars which are still a luxury for Indonesians are exempted from import duty.

Flyovers, toll roads and other constructions could be readily financed, but we struggle to find a well-equipped public library offering a good collection of books and various informative materials managed by professionals.

How can we expect the younger generation to grow into capable and qualified human beings and keep the number of foreign workers at a minimum if access to information is limited?

JONGKY SURJOPRANOTO

Jakarta