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