The right to express oneself

Ever since Mr. Masli Arman's article on ethnic Chinese appeared in this newspaper (July 30), it was obvious to me that a large number of critical letters would appear not long after.

Ladies and gentlemen, whatever happened to the ideal of a free press? Whether or not we agree with Mr. Arman's views, I believe he has a right to his say. The Jakarta Post has always been fair in publishing different views, which is more than can be said for some longer-established international newspapers. Some publications claim they believe in press freedom. Many don't offer opposing viewpoints to contradict their own editorial biases.

As for Dean Boulding who called Mr. Arman's article "drivel", please elaborate, Mr. Boulding, why it is drivel?

As for me, I believe that Indonesian of Chinese descent have often enough been unfairly discriminated against. But these fellow citizens of ours do indeed need to reflect sometimes. And for sure, the answer to indigenous Indonesian chauvinism is certainly not through increased Chinese chauvinism.

FARID BASKORO

Jakarta