Reorganization within agencies

I subscribe to President Abdurrahman Wahid's decision to drastically abolish the Ministry of Information. However, it is necessary to consider continued employment for the laid-off personnel. The ministry could be made into an official information institute of the state. The institute would be entrusted with managing the dissemination of information from government agencies, including state radio RRI and state television TVRI. This institute would require branches in the provinces.

The status of the Directorate General of Culture is also unclear after the Ministry of Education and Culture has become simply the Ministry of Education. A number of functions of the directorate -- such as the one fulfilled by the Directorate of the Protection and Management of Historical and Archeological Remains -- are still necessary. It is now the right time perhaps for the government to consider the formation of an independent nondepartmental institute of research and education that can replace the functions of the directorate general.

It is this institute that would be in a position to develop museums. It would also be in charge of determining the preservation of the country's cultural heritage. Additionally, this institute would be able to supply information to the government on local cultures so that the government, for example the Ministry of Mining and Energy, would respect the traditional customs and rights of people in the region which could be exploited, and not merely calculate economic profits and losses of work contracts.

Although apparently there is no ministry in charge of cultural matters, I believe that President Abdurrahman Wahid, as a man of culture, has already a number of thoughts on the measures he is going to take in the field of culture.

AMIR SIDHARTA

Jakarta