Nepotism again?

Nepotism again?

Tucked away on page 8 of the Sept. 29 edition of The Jakarta
Post, was a report that President Habibie's son Ilham was chosen
to lead an Indonesian trade delegation to Taiwan. What are the
young Mr. Ilham's special qualifications for this senior
position? Or is this deja-vu? Will Indonesians be treated to the
spectacle of children of yet another president being given
special appointments, disproportionate positions of power and
more and more favorable roles to play in brokering deals with the
government?

Is there no one else qualified for this special assignment?
Will non-family members and non-cronies have equal opportunities
for advancement, or will opportunities be reserved for those with
connections to the new first family? Will the government pledge,
in the spirit of reform, to make official assignments based on
job-related qualifications rather than primarily on family or
personal relationships? Despite the public's negative reaction to
Mr. Habibie's recent gift of a medal of national honor to his
wife, the new President seems set on the path of nepotism.
Where will this path end?

DONNA K. WOODWARD

Medan, North Sumatra