Posthumous appreciation only?

Posthumous appreciation only?

From Kompas

The Directorate General of Defense Forces in its letter dated April 1, 2003 to the minister of finance stated that allowances for some of Indonesia's veterans were limited to the government's social aid fund due to economic considerations.

Based on data of the Ministry of Defense, the country has 803,341 war veterans, retired policemen and civil servants and the present regulation limits the number of those entitled to allowances to only 271,325. The majority of them are therefore still deprived of the benefit.

The director general of budgetary affairs in his letter dated Oct. 18, 2003 on behalf of the minister of finance briefly noted that due to financial constraints, veterans' allowances could not yet be provided. Meanwhile, media reports have shown that the finance minister is in a position to pay monthly allowances of Rp 10 million to Rp 15 million per legislator.

It is common knowledge that members of the House have not yet made any achievements whereas war veterans once defended the Republic without thinking of personal gain. Many of them even lost their lives, their families, have become physically disabled and suffered other hardships.

The living conditions of both groups deserve proper considerations based on conscience. Is it fair? Let us hope that the competent authorities will do something to improve the fate of veterans so that these old folks, mostly aged 70 and above, will not just receive posthumous appreciation.

ZAGLOEL MOEROEN Bogor, West Java