On comparative studies

On comparative studies

From Kompas

We feel proud knowing that the members of the House of
Representatives conducted a comparative study in a certain
foreign country. The aim of this study was clearly to enhance
their organization and management capacity, and the people have
no doubt always given full support to such programs.

However, is it true that our venerable legislators have done
the right thing; or is it only a disguised activity?

According a news item in Kompas, on July 30, a member of the
Indonesian Students Association abroad, saw by chance some
Indonesian legislators just shopping for Gucci and Bally bags in
France and Holland. In fact, the people they were supposed to be
consulting with on the "study" during their survey were on
vacation, or in a recess period.

Unfortunately, people here have never known or been told about
the results of these studies, which were done by the legislators
every time there is a change of government. It is a waste of
money as no concrete results have ever been achieved.

They shouldn't do such an unproductive activity, particularly
when the nation has been experiencing a number of catastrophes
like the tsunami, malnutrition, bird flu and unemployment, just
to name but a few.

If the aim is only to learn about the democracy as practiced
in foreign countries and their national laws, the legislators can
get the materials and learn the knowledge from our own experts in
those particular areas in Indonesia. Our conclusion is that the
people's representatives are not sensitive about the people's
suffering.

PIETER
Jakarta