People to people (2)

It is true that effrontery knows no limits. I refer to Marcus Gliwitzki's and Peter Law's letters (The Jakarta Post, Nov. 2, 1996). Their criticisms of Paul Wesson's letter (Oct. 29, 1996) represent a rare example of intolerance for the country which hosts all of us. Might I know by those two champions of the savoir vivre what connection can be found between the time spent in Jakarta by Mr. Wesson and his will to be polite and friendly to its inhabitants (and not "populace" as Mr. Law likes to describe them)?

I have spent about 10 years in Indonesia and I fully share Mr. Wesson's opinion. I always return people's greetings, including when they say "hello mister", and I am kind to my neighbors' children, who know me just as "Um bule."

I believe that only a distorted mind can see whatever intricacies are hidden behind a simple friendly greeting and only a bizarre-minded person can judge Jakarta as a "different planet" or a town populated by people who "are not as they seem".

Mr. Gliwitzki and Mr. Law assert that they have been living in Indonesia for a long time, but their letters show that they haven't understood where they are yet. What a pity to see people who insist on throwing years and years to the wind.

PIERO RONCI

Jakarta