Silent Indovision!
I would like to join in the ongoing correspondence published in your paper regarding Indovision, to which the company has not seen fit to reply.
I agree with what all your other writers have said and find Indovision's service nothing short of appalling. I have phoned the company several times and received no satisfactory response. I have also sent them fax messages, none of which have been replied to.
Perhaps more letters to you on this subject may provoke some response and lead to the immediate resumption of a service we have already paid for, without any additional expense.
ROSLINA MATONDANG
Jakarta
;JP;WYS; ANPAk..r.. Letter-advice Five star advice JP/4/let
Five-star advice
Lo and behold, Indonesia is facing another crisis of gargantuan proportions. Not only has this most recent matter been fodder for office chitchat but it has most recently come to light in letters to the editor.
Yes, I am referring to the loss of STAR programming for those with access to cable television. The poor children, the unfortunate fathers, and let us not forget the exasperated mothers and wives. How can they live without these extra channels?
Although I wish I could take credit for my mother's infinite wisdom, I will share her advice to the suffering masses and cure them from their channel blues. Grab a book. Play outside. Take the family for a walk. Engage in a family conversation. The sad state of this world's affairs truly come to light when there is expressed grief over the loss of a few television shows on the tube.
EDWIN PIEROELIE
Jakarta
;BISNIS INDONESIA;LIE; ANPAk..r.. Letter-interest Interest rates JP/4/let
Lower interest rates!
From Bisnis Indonesia
As the exchange rate of the U.S. dollar against the rupiah is now under Rp 10,600 to the dollar -- the level set as a target by the IMF and the government in the current state budget -- as a businessman, I hope that bank interest rates may be lowered again a little sooner.
I propose this further lowering of bank rates in order that constraints to the revival of economic activities in the real sector may be reduced, so that the activities of producing and distributing goods may run well again. Reviving production and distribution activities is important to curb the inflation rate and open up employment and business opportunities, particularly with respect to people in the lower income brackets.
Efforts to revive economic activities will be very much hampered if bank rates remain at too high a level.
Also, keeping bank rates too high will be unfavorable for banks, particularly those sustaining liquidity difficulty and continuous losses in what is known as the negative spread.
Therefore, it would be wise if Bank Indonesia its SBI interest rate sooner, so that commercial banks are not in a race to raise their interest rates, which are now ranging from 46 percent for time-deposit rates to 65 percent for loan interest rates.
On the other hand, loans extended on the basis of government- sponsored programs, with an interest rate of 16 percent, should continue to be facilitated, and their disbursement should also be sped up so that our economic revival will happen immediately. In this context, medium enterprises, particularly those which are export-oriented and in support of export activities, must be allocated these loans.
And one more thing, demonstrations must be staged in a more orderly manner and should not involve vandalizing any buildings or public facilities. Aren't we a peace-loving nation?
Unless economic activities can be revived, the number of criminals will be on an increase, in line with the rise in the number of unemployed people.
A. WIBOWO
Jakarta
;NERACA;SHA; ANPAk..r.. Letter-CHILDREN Street children, vagrants and beggars JP/4/Let
Street children, vagrants and beggars
From Neraca
Greater Jakarta reportedly has 12,630 street children. Social organizations take 4,160 of them under their protection, while a UNDP program and the government have 1,084 in their care.
In this month of Ramadhan, the number of street children has increased. Many of them accost motor vehicles asking for money, while making "music" with bottle caps nailed to a piece of wood. And then there are the vagrants and beggars who have come to the capital to try their luck.
One day, I saw a pathetic-looking young woman carrying an infant cleaning windshields while the vehicles were stopped at traffic lights. Both mother and child might have just started this because their skin was still smooth and clean. Maybe her husband had just been laid off.
Some street children also have a clear complexion and their actions are still awkward. They, too, may have just started begging because they have dropped out of school or they need to earn extra pocket money.
Many of these problems are getting the government's attention, as well as people who can still afford to have three meals a day.
ABDILLAH KAMIL
Jakarta
;FORUM;WYS; ANPAk..r.. Letter-reform Democracy and reform JP/4/let
Reform and democracy
From Forum
Almost everyone talks about reform and democracy nowadays in this country. It is now very easy to corner somebody or some group or even the government in the name of reform and democracy. Because reform and democracy have become a sort of "ghost" to fear.
However, some reformists and democrats have tarnished their ideals or their struggle for reform and democracy. They have forced their opinion on others, indulged in slanders and let themselves be embroiled in prejudice, disrespecting other people's wishes. Where is the logic?
Why don't we give those we are criticizing a chance to start again to uphold democracy and carry out reform. And, at the same time, we will always be ready to remind them of the mistakes they might make in the process without sacrificing the lives of the people. Until we can cooperate and sympathize with them, there is no room for us to feel proud of ourselves. Also we should not try to expect any reform to take place before we let reform to happen in our own mind.
We, on our own part, are now aware of the figures who genuinely and wholeheartedly do everything for the sake of reform and democracy, without any hidden motives (power hungry), and of other figures whose ambition it is to have a grip of power, even though that will involve some violence.
We should also warn them not to be so quick to use the name of the people, so as not to be cursed, if, in fact, they have never lived among the people and listened to their cries.
SIGID MULYADI
Buton, Southeast Sulawesi
;GATRA;LIE; ANPAk..r.. Letter-dialog National dialog JP/4/let
National dialog
From Gatra
Toward Soeharto's fall, Minister of Defense and Security/Armed Forces Commander Gen. Wiranto held a "national dialog" in Kemayoran, Jakarta. This dialog was attended by representatives of students' senates from all over Indonesia, community figures, intellectuals, generals and retired members of the Armed Forces as well as 18 Cabinet ministers. Unfortunately, proreform figures such as Amien Rais, Abdurrahman Wahid, Megawati and Goenawan Mohamad were not invited to attend the dialog, which did not come up with anything of significance. The dialog deteriorated into a vicious circle of debates and mutual condemnation. Finally the reform engine moved on until Soeharto's collapse.
Now, Lt. Gen. Agum Gumelar of the National Resilience Institute would like to hold another national dialog next month. He has invited all community representatives, including the Ciganjur Group. This is a breakthrough to break the ice in our political affairs.
As one of the participants in the national dialog in Kemayoran, I would like to remind Mr. Agum Gumelar, the government and the Armed Forces to make sure that the upcoming dialog will really be made use of to reach a national consensus before we fall into the abyss of protracted crises and witness the resilience of this country destroyed for good.
President Habibie and the Armed Forces must abandon the New Order-style approach of violence and adopt a friendlier political approach. To this end, I would like to suggest a few things:
* Immediately undertake probing into and confiscation of the assets illegally amassed by Soeharto, his family and his cronies;
* Reshuffle the Cabinet and discard officials incapable of performing their duties.
* Establish the laws on political affairs and the general election through deliberations with new political parties.
* Cancel the allegation of treason placed on the National Front, which is part of the proreform circle, to prevent national disintegration.
It is my hope that our nation and country may escape disintegration as a result of failing to cash in on a political momentum through deliberations as God recommends in His decree (Koran epistle 3, verse 159): "And hold deliberations with them in all matters. If then you make a decision, have trust in God. Indeed, God loves people who have trust in Him."
H. SALEH ALDJUFRI
Chairman of LPPI Sunan Ampel
Surabaya
;BISNIS INDONESIA;SHA; ANPAk..r.. Letter-study Nationalism and studying abroad JP/4/Let
Nationalism and studying abroad
From Bisnis Indonesia
Bisnis Indonesia of Dec.18 carried the articles Jakarta in chaos, MNC reacts and Relocation of shoe factory to Vietnam side by side.
The situation in our country is really saddening. Both factory owners and individuals feel it is not safe to do business or to live in Indonesia, especially Jakarta.
I think the country's leaders and the government apparatus all too often make confusing statements and decisions.
Recently there have been at least two cases: the establishment of a civilian militia and the plan announced by President Habibie to ban studying abroad for elementary and secondary school children.
With regard to studying abroad, if the basis for considering the plan to make the regulation is nationalism and the saving of foreign exchange, does the President already understand the situation and have clear data that studying abroad influences nationalism?
I am convinced that the percentage of elementary and secondary school children studying abroad, calculated from the total number of students, is very small. What is certain is that all parents wish to give their children the best education.
As parents, we are more concerned about the student brawls that take place nearly every day. Moreover, school activities are often disrupted by various riots and social unrest.
Student demonstrations reflecting a strong nationalism take place due to the lack of response from our leaders concerning the country's situation.
What needs to be questioned is whether government officials, both still in power and retired, have a spirit of nationalism to the same extent as students, in particular those who have enjoyed material windfalls as a result of corruption, collusion and nepotism.
YANTO
Jakarta
;REPUBLIKA;WYS; ANPAk..r.. Letter-degree Fake degree JP/4/let
Beware of fake degrees
From Republika
We were employing the services of a management consultant named Khairul Alwan Nasution, MBA, MM, PhD. The placement of this consultant was recommended (by chance) by a reliable friend. Moreover this consultant has a look of a Muslim expert in management and he several times acted as a moderator in religious discourses held at a private TV station.
Besides, Mr. Alwan showed us a leaflet issued by the Sakinah Family Clinic stating that he is a counselor who can help solve family problems in terms of religion, economy, education, sociocultural affairs and health.
Our company was using his consultancy services only in dealing with human resources. However, after a few months of trial, our effort produced no satisfactory result. What was more important was that we later came to know that Mr. Alwan's academic degree as stated in the leaflet and also on his business card was bogus.
We were very concerned about this state of affairs and disappointed by his unprofessionalism. His Ph D. degree is also questionable. How can he solve any Islamic problem if, as a Muslim, he has deceived himself and the public? We would like to warn Mr. Alwan to stop such deceitful practices because it could lead him to be charged with a criminal act. We would also like to alert the public of possible involvement in such a shameful incidence.
IWAN SETIAWAN
Bogor, West Java