On expats' views

I am writing in response to Osvaldo Coelho's letter (Jan. 28, 1997) concerning expats "adding value". He believes that expats add value because they: (1) contribute actively to local goods and services; (2) improve the service sector by introducing different workplace systems; (3) help beat competition by being more efficient and (4) provide on-the-job training to increase productivity.

So all this, according to Coelho, means value-added expats should be exempt from certain taxes and fees. Furthermore, value- added expats should be treated accordingly for their contribution to society.

Perhaps what this constitutes are four reasons for enacting a 10 percent value-added tax for expats who consider themselves value-added. An Expat Value Added Tax (EVAT) of sorts. I don't deny that the presence of expats enhances our country's preparedness for the globalization era. Expats and their related countries also hold key strategic technologies that could benefit our country's development. Nevertheless, such attitudes and demands expressed by Coelho demonstrate typical western arrogance and ignorance of our society.

Expats are here under agreed conditions, and are usually well compensated by their companies. If expats don't like the conditions here, they are free to decide what is best for them.

BAHARIAWAN K.T.

Jakarta