Memento rings

Memento rings

From Media Indonesia

Some relevant parties have stated that the case related to memento rings for former legislators is now closed. However, have things really stopped here? Does the whole thing simply mean returning the rings to the party who made them available and waiting for new ones, which will conform to the specification desired?

Respectable former legislators, irrespective of whether or not your ring case is now settled, let us now turn a while to Irian Jaya in the eastern part of our country, a province where food shortages (a more polite term than starvation) have claimed 427 lives of our fellow countrymen. Thousands of others are now groaning in pain or suffering from hunger (not dramatized, mind you).

This situation is estimated to continue for the next four months. Hats off, however, to the government which has asked the commander-in-chief of the armed forces and the chief-of-staff of the army to make all efforts to extend help to the afflicted areas. Our deep appreciation also goes to all parties who have willingly provided help, especially members of the Indonesian tennis team for 19th SEA Games, who have set aside some of their pocket money (though not much) to be donated to our brethren in Irian Jaya.

Now back to the memento rings. What we are curious about is whether or not there is a necessity for a legislator to wear a beautiful ring with a certain weight and content of gold at the end of his tenure.

If there is such a necessity, we are then curious about the consideration, benefit and purpose of this necessity. If there is no such necessity, wouldn't it be a more noble act on the part of the outgoing legislators to donate the funds intended for making the rings, a total of Rp 230 million, to the needy, perhaps in the form of foodstuffs and medicine.

We are sure that you will not object to setting aside the funds (which actually are the people's) to be donated. In addition we thank God that our representatives in the legislative council now have a better income and welfare level as they earn an average of Rp 6 million a month, excluding allowances, official house facilities, automobile credit facilities and so forth (according to a report in an August special edition of a biweekly magazine.)

If, on a visit to Irian Jaya, a former legislator, who may be re-elected for the 1997 - 2002 tenure, shakes hands with a local, he will display his glittering ring when he puts out his hand to grasp the trembling hand of the starved and pained local.

Respectable former legislators, believe us that if you are willing to donate the funds for the rings to the needy, the controversy over the memento rings will stop once and for all. In this way you will also give a good example to the new members of the House of Representatives and also to the community you represent. Besides, the donation will be gladly accepted (also expected), particularly by our fellow countrymen in Irian Jaya. Of the greatest importance in this case is that the willingness to donate the funds for the rings will be put on God's record as your good deed.

BIMO RAHARJO

Jakarta