National discipline

Speaking about national discipline, I really appreciate all opinions that concern the issue, as long as the opinions do not blame each other.

The latest measure taken in the framework of the national discipline campaign is that the city military command fielded about 15,000 volunteers in the streets, with the task of helping the police regulate traffic. I appreciate the volunteers wearing jackets with the inscription Kader Penegak Disiplin (cadre of the discipline campaign).

Actually what kind of national discipline do we want? Of course we want discipline implemented in all aspects, including the need to be present at a meeting on time, or to arrive and leave offices at the designated time.

So what are we trying to achieve in this national discipline campaign? I think discipline which concerns us is how the law should be consistently respected. Without a sense of respect of the law I doubt that the national discipline campaign can be carried out successfully.

I agree with Muchtar Pakpahan's comment in his letter published in The Jakarta Post on Nov. 16, 1995. But his example of the Merpati case is not relevant. There is a difference of opinion in the Merpati case between Ridwan Fatarudin, former president director of Merpati Nusantara Airlines, and Minister of Transportation Haryanto Dhanutirto. Whatever their reasons, they deserve our appreciation. The problem is, I think, that we are not accustomed to listening to and receiving other people's opinions. So, the Merpati case isn't a bad example of national discipline.

Maybe the Bapindo case is a truly bad example of national discipline. Here we can clearly see how the rule of law was violated in the interest of a certain individual or group.

M. YAZID

Bekasi, West Java