Overseas trip amid sorrow

Overseas trip amid sorrow

President Megawati Soekarnoputri is again on an overseas trip. This is the president's eighth foreign trip, which will take her to South Africa, Algeria, Hungary, Bosnia, Croatia and Egypt. Megawati has been in power only for about one year but she has already visited more than 20 countries.

The New Indonesia Association estimated that Megawati has spent about Rp205 billion for those trips. Assuming that the present trip costs Rp15 billion, the government will have siphoned off Rp220 billion from the public.

Amid the uncertain condition in the country, not to mention the problem on illegal Indonesian workers, the president's overseas trip is worth addressing. How important is this trip that she should abandon the problems at home?

The condition is deteriorating as thousands of people are grappling with starvation, and tens of them have even died at their camps in Nunukan district, East Kalimantan province. Meanwhile, the president is abroad for different reasons.

There is nothing wrong with foreign visits. However, any foreign trip would gain nothing if the people are in sorrow, as such travel would not add to our dignity as a nation.

-- Republika, Jakarta