Pictures that speak 1000 words

The Jakarta Post has once again shown its journalistic savvy by featuring two contrasting pictures on the front page of the Sept. 28 edition. These pictures speak a thousand words. The picture on the left shows how people from the lower income bracket are queuing up to buy for fuel, while the picture on the right shows State Minister of National Development Planning/National Development Planning Board chairwoman Sri Mulyani Indrawati laughing with legislators and other high ranking officials after being updated on Indonesia's current economic situation.

These two pictures depict a sad reality in Indonesia today. Lesson to be learned: If high ranking government officials cannot show real sympathy on their faces for the poor and concern for the current economic situation, at least fake it when in the front of journalists.

ANDOKO D, Jakarta