The right to speak

I would like to make some remarks on the "unnamed" writer's letter (The Jakarta Post, July 16, 1996: Tedious, uninspired and tiresome.)

* I believe that nobody compels "unnamed" to read my letters. When he gets the paper, he could make a first "quality selection". Should he see my name, he can jump straight to the next letter and leave me alone.

* When I send my letters (all of them duly signed) to the Post, I do not oblige anybody to publish them. I'm not so conceited to interfere with the editor's task and tell him what to publish and what to throw into the wastepaper basket.

* "Unnamed" contradicts himself: On one hand he points out that: "freedom of expression is a democratic and laudable thing" and on the other hand he is a censor of people's opinions. That means that he is neither a "democratic" nor a "laudable" person.

* What he considers as boring could be interesting to all the other readers. I can assure him that a lot of them agree with my ideas.

It could be that I am too suspicious but I cannot avoid thinking that the hysterical reaction of "unnamed" shows that my letters hit the mark. I take the liberty of suggesting something: Instead of trying to gag me, why doesn't he rebut my opinions, if he's able to? For sure it would be a more democratic and laudable way of acting.

PIERO RONCI

Jakarta