Super reformist minister

It strikes like lightning on a bright cloudless day so boldly it is revolutionary, is the suggestion. Under the former repressive regime such a proposal might only be uttered by a drunk, or worse, insane person.

I mean, of course, the idea that this nation gets rid of the information ministry to overcome excessive but erratic hurdles and minimize state spending. I am inclined to call the minister of information who suggested the idea in a House debate the other day not just a "progressive" but also a "super reformist" minister.

Indeed, in the past the ministry served more as a propaganda tool to comfort the rulers and to mislead the public, on issues such as the always low monthly inflation rate, until the truth was bared during the reform era. Do not forget that only in totalitarian states are such special ministries maintained.

In term of cost savings, the minister deserves a warm handshake for his "super dream" which most of the honorable people's representatives have failed to comprehend, perhaps out of fear of losing their jobs.

Personally, I hope that he has not yet discarded another "better" dream of his -- to rid the ministry of all regulations which still stand in the way of a genuine free press -- that he himself pledged to a group of promising young journalists, according to my dear friend, the director of Dr. Sutomo Press Institute, Atmakusumah (The Jakarta Post, June 24).

I'd like to assure the people's representatives who fear for a free press not to underestimate the intelligence of the public and their yearning for greater democratic rights, even though they are ashamed to call themselves "intellectuals" belonging to the "upper" class.

My own super dream is that our leaders in charge of security keep their public statements relating to nondefense matters to a minimum in order to avoid confusion and avoid the impression of another military state. After all, the reformists are not against Soeharto as an individual but against his authoritarian, undemocratic and often dictatorial inclinations and his oppressive methods.

Another dream I used to have was that political parties make known their programs through issuing a political manifesto. I'd only like to stress that at present the government of this potentially rich country has to borrow money in order to feed its people.

How long will people have to wait until they all have enough to eat, enough to earn, to have shelters of their own, to enjoy electric light and are exempt from paying radio, television and bicycle taxes?

GANDHI SUKARDI

Jakarta