Sun, 13 May 2001

On bribery in education

I refer to the letter Bribery in education must be eliminated from Dr. Ruwihadi in the April 30, 2001 edition of The Jakarta Post.

As a respected and highly popular institution, the Graduate School of the University of Jakarta is not free from rumors.

However, rumors are rumors, and cannot be construed as fact, let alone the real truth. Far from it, the teaching staff of the Graduate School are honest people, dedicated to their profession to pursue a high quality of education.

Dr. Ruwihadi cannot verify the rumors he was talking about (I confronted him personally) and, indeed, nobody can, simply because the proof does not exist.

Many accusations have been addressed to the institution and no one can prove it. For us, if we're kicked on the butt it means that we're slightly ahead; in receiving the blows, we'll just be humble and forgiving.

JUJUN S. SURIASUMANTRI

Jakarta

;JP;WYS; ANPAk..r.. Letter-bribery Just a false alarm JP/4/let2

Just a false alarm

In my letter of April 30. 2001 Bribery in education must be eliminated I made a potential misrepresentation, especially for the readers who have no direct experience of the Graduate School of the University of Jakarta.

Through this letter I should like to stress that the above- mentioned letter was meant as an alarm for the whole system of formal education with no special reference to the Graduate School of the University of Jakarta.

I also would like to apologize to the entire staff of the Graduate School if they felt insulted by my letter.

DR. RUWIHADI

Surakarta, Central Java

;RAKYAT MERDEKA;FAL; ANPAk..r.. Letter-generation On the future of our descendants JP/4/let

On the future of our descendants

From Rakyat Merdeka

The political situation in this country is akin to an inferno: there are no more rays of peace beaming in this state and no feelings of friendship and brotherhood harbored among own relatives.

Will the future of our descendants be tranquil and peaceful, if the present unfavorable condition prevails for, God only knows, how long? Will we just stand still doing nothing and let it drag? Will we let our future offspring weep and languish all their lives while we, now grown up and old, have enjoyed all the pleasant things and amenities of life? Dear popular leaders, let us ponder awhile and look to the future. Let us think about the happiness of our generation, before we depart and leave this ephemeral world. Our presence won't mean anything if our children only suffer in the future.

Let us together realize the gravity of the situation and cool our heads then quench the inferno, let us make the situation more worthwhile, let us again weave the unraveling threads of unity so that tomorrow will be a bright and happy day for Indonesian children of the future.

SUPENO S

Bekasi, West Java