Reorganization within agencies

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