I refer to an article titled “UK, Netherlands criticized over toxic waste
shipments to RI”, in The Jakarta Post 29 January.
This is the fate of many developing countries, which become garbage
destinations.
Industrial waste, sent on high demand, mostly comes from these economically more developed countries and this is promising for local companies whose core business is to recycle waste material.
However, the arrival of massive amounts of garbage will produce new problems,
such as pollution.
Some observers argue that this situation is extremely advantageous for many developed countries as it enables them to dispose of all their industrial waste industry outside their own countries.
With their advanced technology, hegemony and industry hold the reins and
legitimizes their sending these kinds of material, but they realize if they become labeled “pollutant producers”, their reputations will be ruined.
Currently, Indonesia is addressing this problem.
There is a great amount of steel waste coming to this country, citing the finance minister’s statement in attempts to strengthen responses to shipment violations.
The minister has strongly criticized the British and Dutch governments for
allowing hazardous and toxic waste to be shipped to Indonesia.
The British and Dutch governments have both violated the Basel Convention by failing to report such shipments to the Indonesian authorities.
Apart from the economics, exporting that garbage shows their ignorance regarding
environmental matters.
Furthermore, throwing all their waste at developing countries is illegal.
Environmental Minister Balthasar Kambuaya said that scrap metal was not banned
from entering Indonesia. However, it must be safe and clean.
This shipment looked like garbage. Some of the metal was wet, some was dry and
some was even dripping unpleasant, odorous liquid.
These conditions clearly violate the law. Balthasar said the Customs Law, the Environmental Protection and Management Law and the Waste Law were all violated in this case.
To my mind, criticism is not sufficient. Concrete action has to be taken so that
countries will think twice before sending their toxic waste to our country in
future.
We are not a waste-collecting country.
Moreover, our citizens must be made to understand these issues better in order
to instill in them a greater sense of environmental awareness rather than a
profit-minded mentality.
“The rising trend in the number of disasters over the past five years shows no
sign of slowing down,” said Gareth Owen, humanitarian director at Save the
Children UK.
Year after year, we have to respond more frequently and on a larger scale to an
increasing number of disasters,
According to this fact, we have to be sensible.
Planet earth is growing old.
Being earth-friendly is the only way to keep us safe from environmental disasters.
Environmental disasters are caused by many things, but basically it boils down
to human greed; a too-great-a-love for money and profits, which in turn lead to
terrible disasters - especially if this country becomes full of industrial waste
because we are too permissive.
Environmental disasters won’t be stopped; they will keep occurring, over and
over again.

Mc. Gynt Roemalean,
Jakarta,
Indonesia

I refer to the recent debate over the yee sang dish. The term, which means “raw
fish”, is a favourite dish served during the Chinese New Year celebrations.
In fact, yee sang has become a tradition synonymous with abundance, prosperity
and vigour.
As a linguist fascinated by etymology - the study of history of words in
language - I would like to share some views on this subject.
Yee sang, according to Lim Mun Fah of the Sin Chew daily, is a Chinese word from the Cantonese dialect.
This means the term originated from mainland China. One website said the dish originated as early as 220.
As the Chinese community emigrated to other parts of the world, including to
Malaysia and Singapore, yee sang being part of Chinese culture tagged along with
them.
It is said the yee sang culture was brought to Malaysia and Singapore as
early as the 1920s.
So, the claim that yee sang originated from the Chinese in Singapore cannot hold
water.
Neither, can the Malaysian Chinese claim it originated from Malaysia.
Probably, the ingredients of the dish have changed from the original yee sang.
Local flavour was added and the dish has now evolved into the modern version of
yee sang.
As an etymologist and linguist, I believe this type of polemics can be solved if
we have an etymological dictionary.
The dictionary will trace the history of all words used in languages.
Therefore, I urge the Chinese community, especially the scholars to work on an
etymological dictionary in the near future.
Besides providing invaluable information of the origin of words, it can also serve as an essential research tool for Chinese words.
On the controversy of the yee sang, I suggest we need not split hairs but rather
accept the dish as a Chinese dish, a precious part of Malaysian and Singaporean
Chinese culture.
As Malaysians, we should be proud of yee sang, a cultural belonging of the
Chinese, in particular the Cantonese community.

Dr S. Nathesan,
Muar,
Malaysia

I comment upon your article on 30th January, and the accompanying letter from Tami Koestomo of Bogor, which, in turn, report, then discuss, an admission on Facebook from Alexander of Dharmasraya, West Sumatra that he is an atheist.
I entirely agree with what Tami Keostomo says in his letter.
I believe that God is not as interested in what we say, or even in our stated beliefs, as He is about who we are and what we do.
Bigoted, adverse reactions to stated beliefs usually result from insecurity and lack of Faith within those who are objecting, to the extent that often their objections are a form of ‘scapegoating’.
In History, religious bigotry; from murderous ‘Crusades’ to military ‘Jihads’; in attempting to impose a narrow plexus of beliefs upon everyone else; has caused much 'unrest'.
Actually, such religiously-based activism admits lack of’ Faith in God; and what ‘survives’ from that kind of violence and bigotry is corrupt religion - far-removed from the ‘Will of God’.
Yet, the Faith of such activists should tell them that God exists and that He is all-powerful.
Instead they appear to think (if ‘think’ is the right word to use), that they must descend to murder and persecution to prove their love of God; both of which, as sins and crimes, are far worse than any stating of a ‘belief’ in atheism.
So - ‘at the end of the day’ - God will likely embrace Alexander (with his God-endowed doubt and honesty), and at the same time scold the ‘Regent of his province’ (for intolerant bigotry).
It is God, through His endowment of ‘free-will, who has issued the right for us to choose belief – not the law or the law-makers; and I add that, in my humble opinion, in the first place ‘religion without doubt’ is a blind, non-starter.

Raymond Groves,
Hastings,
UK

Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare and Peter O’Neill, we are all schizophrenic now.
There is two of everything.
Confusion reigns in Papua New Guinea where there are now effectively two of you claiming to be the prime minister; there are two governments, two police
commissioners, two governor-generals and two army commanders.
Soon there will be two of everything judging by the way things are unfolding.
And if that does not get your heads swivel enough, the controversial and
potentially inflammatory attempt by you, Sir Michael, the other day to order the
Papua New Guinea Defence Force to attempt a military takeover, attempt a mutiny.
For the love of the dinosaurs, what next in evolution are you two evolving
yourselves into?
What has happened to our human reasoning – the characteristics
that we associate with thinking, cognition and intellect?
The decisions you have made and the actions you have taken thus far for the
country the past few weeks has brought nothing concrete but shame.
There is wisdom of the head, and wisdom of the heart.
I implore you to see the reactions of the people now and let you decide from
conviction of that wisdom, the best deduced solution to this charade.
Princes and governments are far more dangerous than other elements within
societies.
So please consider the lives of your seven million people and immediately cease your political tussle for prime ministership.
In aerodynamics, the bumblebee cannot fly either, but the bumblebee does not
know anything about the laws of aerodynamics, so it goes ahead and flies anyway.

Marcello Agen,
Port Moresby,
Papua New Guinea

Knowing that Indonesia is becoming a new honey pot for expatriates can
benefit us.
More than 55,000 were on working visas in 2011, a 10 percent rise from 2010.
Economic factors have played a role in attracting them.
In 2011 there was a significant increase in the number of expats working in the industry sector; 16,084 from 13,145 last year.
This is a good sign, as we are now a safe and promising country as foreign
direct investment (FDI) in Indonesia jumped by 18.4 percent to US$19.28 billion
in 2011 and is expected to rise even further after two international credit
rating agencies upgraded Southeast Asia’s largest economy’s sovereign rating to
investment grade, and previously Fitch’s Asia Pacific Sovereign rating group
raised Indonesia’s sovereign rating for long-term foreign and local currency
debts to BBB- from BB+, with a stable outlook.
Apart from those auspicious situations, there is a ticking time bomb that could
turn the situation on its head: labor.
Recently, thousands of workers rallied in showing their opposition to a lawsuit filed
to revoke a recently approved minimum wage increases.
Indonesia will itself be in a bad situation if the problem isn’t dealt with properly.
Since the Labor Law enforcement in 2003, many small companies have employed
contract-based workers in construction projects and plantations and many others
have outsourced part of their work, including to security and cleaning service
companies to avoid having to pay health, meal and transportation allowances and
social security benefits to cut labor cost.
Based on this, the Manpower and Transmigration Ministry set new minimum wage
limits this year.
Some provinces saw significant increases such as Jakarta with 20 percent, Central Kalimantan with 17 percent, South Sulawesi (11 percent), West Sumatra (9 percent), Banten (8 percent) and Maluku (8 percent), to name a few.
However, the 2003 Labor Law remains a problem, and it has to be dealt with as
soon as possible.
Aloysius Uwiyono, a professor of labor economy at the University of Indonesia hailed the Constitutional Court’s decision as much-needed momentum to pressure employers to improve worker’s social welfare and prompt the government and the House of Representatives to review the labor law in The Jakarta Post, 19 January 2012.
Apindo chairman Sofjan Wanandi said recently, “South Korean, Taiwanese and other East Asian companies in the footwear, textile and electronics sectors had announced they would move to Cambodia, where the minimum wage was $50 a month. If the companies left Indonesia, more than 100,000 workers would lose their jobs.”
Hariyadi Sukamdani, also a member of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and
Industry (Kadin), said that the potential losses from those companies fleeing
the country could surpass $2 billion within a year.
High wages will affect small and medium enterprises, which employ about 70
percent of Indonesia’s workforce of about 120 million.
A decisive regulation must be made to give labor certainties without drowning businesses.
This is a big task for the government.

Magain Ratu Taufan Rumalean
Jakarta,
Indonesia

An apparent act of sabotage cut the power supply from North Sumatra
to Aceh, leaving seven regencies and cities in Aceh without electricity in The
Jakarta Post, January 9 is indeed an act in need of special attention.
Authorities said that a high-voltage power line tower had been sawn off at the
base by unknown actors.
This is certainly a very embarrassing case for the government, for being so
careless and lax about the safety of one of the primary facilities for national
economic development.
The related government authority is simply careless, for not even being aware of the very importance of the continuity of the electric power for our economic development.
This embarrassing event is simply the failure of government institutions concerned with the safety of our national economic lifeline.
The lack of routine inspections for each tower is indicative of how lax the electric company is in guarding the safety its electricity distribution system.
At the same time, particular negative elements saw a chance to create chaos by
easily destroying the tower to disrupt the crucial supply of electricity in
Aceh.
The disruption to the system is indeed repairable, but the relatively short
outage created lots of unnecessary disturbances, and was certainly not viewed
positively by potential foreign investors.
For this reason, the local government must watch out more carefully for similar
attacks in the future.
At the same time, the electric company could improve its safety programs on their electrical installations.

Moeljono Adikoesoemo,
Jakarta,
Indonesia

Thankfully, I myself am not an atheist and along with Dante Gabriel
Rosetti I have often thought that the worst moment for an atheist must be when
he or she is really thankful but has nobody to thank.
But the disturbing news in relation to Alexander, the 30-year-old civil servant
who was arrested for blasphemy after creating a Facebook fan page titled Ateis
Minang (Minang Atheist), which was “liked” by some 1,238 users, has prompted me to ask several questions.
Alexander, who acknowledges Islam as his religion on his identity card, has been
studying at Pajajaran University.
I presume him to be an intelligent man, but didn’t he know the awful risks (such as persecution and arrest) that he ran in this overwhelmingly Muslim country of Indonesia by openly denying Islam, becoming an atheist and thus casting doubt on the existence of The Creator?
Doesn’t our Constitution expressly affirm that Indonesia is legally a secular
state and not a religious or theocratic one?
If Indonesia really is a secular state and not under the hegemony of Islam, why do we have blasphemy laws?
Why are Indonesians coerced into embracing one of the five religions: Islam,
Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism and Confucianism?
What if someone chooses another belief entirely?
Or what is someone choose not to believe at all?
I myself believe that The Creator, who will ultimately pass judgment on us when
we pass on, does not mind.
He is Infinite Wisdom and Infinite Goodness, and will judge us based on the virtuous things we thought, said and did while we were on earth.
Alexander was arrested because of his writings on Facebook and his direct
statements saying that he did not believe in God, which.
Is their personal belief in Allah so small and insecure then, that they regard
Alexander’s statements as a direct attack that endangers the very foundations of
their belief in Islam?
Surely people who truly understand the magnificent contents of the Koran and really regulate their lives according to its tenets wouldn’t have such a bigoted reaction?
Why fear atheism if we sincerely believe in God?
So Alexander was thrown into jail, and what happened to the members of the mob
that attacked him?
Were they jailed, too?
Why does Alexander face five years for expressing his personal opinions while
the mob members who attacked and even killed members of the Ahmadiyah and
destroyed their property, received light sentences of three to six months in
jail?
What will happen to Alexander’s civil rights, which have been violated?
Does he have any civil rights left?

Tami Koestomo,
Bogor,
West Java

This is a comment on an article “Japan official wary of Iran sanctions impact” in The Jakarta Post January 18.
In principle, nothing in international law or in the Nuclear Non-Proliferation
Treaty forbids the enrichment of uranium.
Besides Iran, several other countries, whether they are parties to the treaty or
not, enrichuranium without being accused of “threatening the peace”.
In Iran, this activity is subjected to inspection by the International Atomic
Energy Agency (IAEA).
It is true that these inspections are constrained by a safeguards agreement from
the 1970s.
But it is also true that the IAEA has never uncovered any attempted diversion of nuclear material towards military use in Iran.
Iran is to be independent in peacefully developing nuclear energy fuel cycles,
according to NPT, since sanctions ban the country from buying materials from
foreign markets.
That is its purpose.
Other things are total nonsense - such as wanting to wipe Israel off the map, WikiLeaks’ claims, Saudi murder plots - just like claims that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction.
The WikiLeaks claims, the murder plot against a Saudi ambassador, a negative
IAEA report against Iran: Are these really truthful?
The United States and its allies have never proved them, but have used them as justification to initiate action.
It is the Iraq war with the fake WMD.
Iran is not a threat to any nation.
Let’s stop all the propaganda that lack proven facts, are based on Islamaphobia and aim to destroy Iran.
We should support Iran becoming a pioneer of a peaceful nuclear energy industry
in the Muslim world.
If the NPT is only for friends of the US then Iran should withdraw from it.
A military attack will give Iran the best justification to pursue a nuclear race
and withdraw from the NPT.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei will say he was attacked by a country with nuclear capabilities when his nuclear program was peaceful, but he must protect his country by using nukes like them.

Anwar
Jakarta

I refer to the article titled “House member urged to publicly
apologize”, published in The Jakarta Post, January 18, referring to Marwan Jafar of the National Awakening Party (PKB), a member of the House of Representatives, who is suspected of having committed plagiarism.
According to Jusman Dalle, a university student from Makassar, South Sulawesi,
Marwan plagiarized 85 percent of two of his articles titled “Perang Ideotik
Ideologi ekonomi politik Libya” (The War of Ideology, Economy, and Politics in Libya) published on detik.com on March 28, 2011, and “Quo Vadis Libya” published on okezone.com on Ocobert, 25, 2011.
It is really embarrassing for a House member to be caught committing plagiarism,
because a House member represents the people.
If the peoples’ representative committed a wrongdoing such as plagiarism, how he will struggle for his constituent?
Plagiarism is the theft or reproduction of a portion or the entirety of other’s written work without prior permission or proper citation of the material’s original source.
Plagiarism is, however, not unfamiliar to many of us.
Many students, lecturers, intellectuals, writers have committed plagiarism. Some lecturers explain their slide presentations without quoting sources.
Many students submit their papers or assignments without quotation sources.
With a lot of universities opening extension classes, many workers have returned
to university campuses.
Plagiarism has often occurred here, as employees feel they don’t have time to do their assignments or thesis.
Ironically, many of them use the services of a ghostwriter to complete their assignments or thesis.
The Jakarta Post reported that many lawmakers employ ghostwriters.
I think it is true because with their limited time their articles often appeared in magazines, newspapers and other media.
Both amateur writers and professors have committed plagiarism.
For example, in The Jakarta Post’s opinion column, one professor at a famous private university in Bandung, West Java committed acts of plagiarism in his opinion column.
If this case proven to be plagiarism, Marwan has to make a public apology for
his wrongdoing, and if needed, the case could go to court.
Publishers and the media should also scrutinize the pieces they publish.

Ikhwanul Arif
Pekanbaru,
Indonesia

Dictated by the Papua New Guinea Constitution and the adopted-Westminster system, both the O’Niell-Namah regime and the Somare-Agiru regime have used and applied the three arms of government - legislature, executive and judiciary - in attempting to resolve the current political impasse.
But the resolutions found have produced only 50-50 outcomes.
The outcomes have resulted in two prime ministers two attorney general, two
police commisionsers and so forth.
Amazingly none of the two parties are willing to take up alternative resolution measures as spelled out on the same constitution under the the Papua New Guinea
and Melanesian Ways.
These have been provided for an amicable resolution to political impasse such
as the current one.
Papua New Guinea ways are consensus principle and practice – used and applied by founders of the constitution to resolve past political differences in the early independence years
Amazingly it has been left out of the political radar of both regimes.
The churches and civil society have encouraged such approaches to be taken by
both regimes however, this has fallen on deaf ears.

J K Semos,
Mangi blong ples Madang,
Papua New Guinea

Poker machines, the answer is simple but Australian politicians do not really want an answer to problem gambling.
Let us look at the present situation.
It is possible to join a club for as little as $10.
That means that the cost of running that club is not born by all members, rather it is subsidised by gamblers.
A person in that club not playing poker machines is having his contribution to the running of the club subsidised by those who play the machines.
Problem gamblers are subsidizing those who do play the machines moderately.
Les face it poker machines are not a gamble they are a complete take.
The odds of getting the major prize on a machine is over three million to one. Surely if the expenses of running the club were equally shared by all members and no machines at all would be preferable.
Would be interesting to see what the true cost per head would be.
Clubs in West Australia have no poker machines.

Frank Crichlow,
Miranda,
New South Wales,
Australia

Sapu Bersih Ranjau (The Mine Sweepers) community collected 300
kilograms of nails from the roads in Central Jakarta from August to November,
last year.
Awareness of this problem emerged as a result of numerous motorists falling
victim to nail traps on the way to the office and on their way home.
The perpetrators of this crime used nails as their modus operandi, spread out in one
area, for the sake of getting some money or valuable things from the motorist. Mostly the members of the Sapu Bersih Ranjau community had been through the same experience, which is what triggered them to take on this noble activity.
As far as I am concerned, there are two reasons why the perpetrators would
commit this activity.
The first is an economical reason.
There are many tires services near the street, who take advantage of nail traps by selling tires at a high price.
Second, are motivations of crime, such as stealing personal valuables from inside the car.
For instance, when a car has to be pulled over due to flat tire and the owner is focusing on changing the tire, criminals seize the opportunity to take things from inside the car.
These two motives elicit the perception that the road is no longer save for either motorcyclist or car drivers, and they both have to be alert on the street.
This community has my highest appreciation for their actions.
They should also be backed up by the police official in facing future risks. Therefore, the police department could also help in handling this problem.

G. Roemalean,
Jakarta,
Indonesia

My daughter has just passed her 18th birthday and is pursuing her first year
accounting course.
The course that she attends requires that she does internship with accounting firms and she is placed in the audit department in one of the Big Four accounting firms.
She came back on Day 1 at 9pm.
The nightmare had begun.
If she comes back early, and early here means about 9.30pm, she brings back work that will take her till 1am to finish.
Other nights she comes back past midnight.
Imagine the worries of a mother waiting at home knowing that she drives alone and likely goes to the car park alone at that hour.
Another important issue here is that the accounting firms are exploiting these
“trainees” and making them and other workers perform jobs at odd hours almost
every day, during the so-called peak period.
On the very first weekend, she was asked to go back to work on Saturday till
about 4.30pm and brought back tons of work which she continued to work on as
these had to be completed by Sunday.
Suddenly, I don’t see her at all and have no time to talk to her.
Very often the trainees are too “green” or afraid to speak out, especially as
many of their seniors suffer the same fate.
While we understand late nights are required sometimes, surely there must be a
limit.
Why do we allow this to happen?
Can someone enforce some regulations?

A concerned mom,
Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia

Re: ''Importance of travel alerts'' in The Bangkok Post , Editorial, January 17.
The editorial raises several pertinent points that deserve clarification.
The Foreign Ministry fully recognises the right and responsibility of diplomatic
missions to protect their nationals with regard to the issuance of travel
advisories, just as the Thai government attaches the utmost importance to the
safety and security of our nationals abroad.
In this particular case, the Thai security agencies concerned had been aware of
the possible threat with links to international terrorism, and were in close
coordination with the various countries concerned, including the United States,
before the travel advisories in question were issued.
It is in this regard that the foreign minister expressed his ''disappointment''
that the US embassy had not consulted the Foreign Ministry first, given the
ongoing cooperation.
As travel alerts could have serious and wide-ranging repercussions upon the country as a whole, their issuance should be given careful consideration, taking into account efforts undertaken by the Thai authorities concerned and other developments regarding the issue.
We therefore hope that those countries that have issued travel advisories in
this case will take into account actions taken by the Thai side and recent
developments regarding the issue, just as we give careful consideration to the
situation in other countries when we have to issue our own travel advisories.

Thani Thongphakdi,
Director-General,
Department of Information,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Thailand

I'd like to share this experience with you.
I have been trying to get a tourist visa to the United States for my Thai spouse.
I thought it would be more or less the same procedure as for a Schengen visa, which we had applied for successfully three times already.
On Wednesday my wife had her interview.
The American interviewer asked her why she'd married an old guy.
Before she could say a word, he himself answered:
''Because of the money.''
Then he asked her why she wanted to visit his country.
She said, for a holiday with her husband and to visit her sister, who is married
to an American guy and lives in Hawaii.
Then he said, ''All young Thai ladies marry older men only for the money'' and
he denied her request for a visa.
Our experience with the embassy of the Netherlands in Bangkok could not have
been more different.
There they are polite, not discriminating, helpful, understanding, and pleasant; and I could wait inside when my wife had the interview, instead of having to wait outside on Wireless Road in the US visa case.
I'd like to warn everybody living with a Thai spouse not to waste their time and
money trying to get a tourist visa from the US embassy in Bangkok.
The American staff there look down on women.
They should know better that not all Thai ladies are prostitutes.
Many, many Thai women lead happy lives married to foreigners.

Len Kneppers,
Bangkok,
Thailand

I condemn in the strongest possible terms the actions of the seven men who set
upon three missionaries in Morata as reported in this paper.
It is sickening to know about this animalistic behaviour displayed by this group
of thugs on these innocent missionaries who are here to spread the Word of God.
These missionaries deserve better treatment by our citizens.
Missionaries are here to change people for the better through the power of the
word of God.
I urge authorities to come down hard on the suspects involved in the attack and
many other who go around sadistically attacking innocent people, especially
tourists and missionaries as their action is instilling fear in foreigners who
should otherwise be in our shores engaging in worthwhile causes.
However, it is pleasing to hear of the victims’ words of forgiveness to their
attackers as this was godly.

Komson Nick Kome,
Sirunki,
Enga,
Papua New Guinea

I am pleased to read “Task force to monitor asset declaration by judges” in The Star, January 17.
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has set up a task force to identify an appropriate mechanism for the implementation of the declaration of assets by judges.
The task force will also monitor the process in keeping with the Civil Service
General Orders and Practice Directions 1993.
The MACC said this in response to Chief Justice Tan Sri Arifin Zakaria’s
announcement at the Conference of Judges on Sunday that superior court judges
would be required to declare their assets.
It pleases me also that Transparency International Malaysia has called for
transparency and full public disclosure of assets of elected and public
officials.
We must listen to it.
I am truly concerned that there are those who live beyond their means.
Do we not see millionaires overnight?
Where did they get so much money so quickly?
Having served the Government for some 33 years, today I remain poor.
So, our Government servants and heads of departments should declare their
assets.
Can I also call on politicans to declare their assets, too?
I think if our Prime Minister does so others will follow.
There is no reason why these politiicans should not.
The time has come for us to make Malaysia a corruption-free nation.
I say declare your assets.
You have nothing to fear if you are clean.

Bulbir Singh,
Seremban,
Malaysia

Originally, HAARP (High-frequency Active Auroral Research Program), was devised, then constructed in Gakona Alaska, to investigate the ionosphere where solar X-rays and UV-rays are absorbed.
Construction was between 1990 and 2007, in time for the 1000-year, solar-flare peak expected in 2012-2014.
There are now four locations: three in the north (in Alaska, Greenland, and Norway - within the region of the Aurora borealis); the other near Exmouth in Western Australia (close to expressions of Aurora Australis).
It has long been realised that, as effects from solar radiation, northern (and southern) lights are regularly most intense every 11.3-years, in phase with solar-flare peaks of the [22.6y (/2)] sunspot cycle.
Possible technological applications were identified to justify funding (of over $250m), for HAARP).
The most important was to develop technical support for radio-communications and surveillance systems threatened by solar storms.
It might also be applied towards attaining global weather control.
Trouble started when American politicians and military became interested in HAARP as a potential ‘space weapon’.
From then some project components became shrouded in state secrecy.
In the wake of that secrecy, HAARP conspiracy-theories flourish.
Through absence of hard evidence those theories are inevitably largely based on inferred conjecture and denigrated as ‘paranoia’; despite that suspicion is equally-inevitable aroused by the secrecy enforced by paranoid defence protocol.
It is often claimed that HAARP is used to trigger major earthquakes, with presented evidence of strange lights in the sky directly over epicentres of, and immediately prior to, major seismic-events.
With the approach of the 1000-y solar-flare peak, incident X-rays are significantly increasing; so Auroras express more frequently; more intensely; and further into related temperate latitudes than usual.
So, some of these strange lights are almost certainly natural: whilst some, more anomalous, events are claimed to be caused by HAARP.
It is importantly noted that, if these recent lights and earthquakes are from solar radiation, it likely follows that radiation reaches the terrestrial surface as locally-focussed, incident solar-beams from large solar-flare prominences.
Opposing that natural interpretation, some point out that recent, related, high-magnitude earthquakes and significant weather disturbances have mainly adversely affected countries competitive with, and/or antagonistic towards, the USA. Although Scientists without security clearances are routinely allowed full access to the Australian HAARP facility, closely-related American ‘enterprises’ in Australia remain guarded - to the extent that even on-site, qualified Australians are ‘kept in the dark’.
If HAARP-related experimentation is designed for human good, why is it being cloaked in secrecy?
So; maybe it is being developed as a weapon; or at least American politicians are deliberately manipulating the situation for propaganda - to elevate fear; to increase their International control; and as ‘pre-emptive deterrence’ against anti-American activism.
It remains to be said that, regrettably, American political and military interference appears to be threatening a unique opportunity for the world community to freely and fully examine ‘a once-in-1000-years’ phenomenon.

Raymond Groves,
Hastings,
UK

In the education sector, we have to admit that many students receive
various awards in international academic contests such as math, physics and the
like but we can see that in general the quality of education is still poor or below international standards.
“International” curricula in schools and so-called world class universities
breach the principles of the Constitution by not providing a decent education
for all.
Commercialization of education is rampant from primary up to university level.
The reluctance of the government to support the financing of education allows
commercialization to happen.
In the law enforcement field we still have the judicial mafia and this
phenomenon prompted the President to set up a special taskforce.
However, until now we have not seen any shock therapies to deter those involved in mafia practices. Information and testimony from whistleblowers are neglected.
The fight against graft is still hanging in the balance and is not finished yet.
It seems to have slowed down.
The public has witnessed the Bank Century bailout case, the suspiciously large bank accounts belonging to police generals and the graft cases implicating Muhammad Nazaruddin and many public figures and politicians.
In the economic sector there is growth but our neighbors seem to move faster in
alleviating poverty.
China, Thailand and Vietnam have succeeded in reducing poverty significantly. China cut poverty rates from 31 percent to 6 percent, while Vietnam from 51 percent to 3 percent. In addition, unemployment in Indonesia stands at 8.5 percent, trailing far behind Thailand whose unemployment rate ranges from 1 to 2 percent and Malaysia’s 3.4 percent.
It is a pity that a natural resources-rich country like Indonesia is not yet a
developed country.
Its people experience a hard life and many social problems, but the elites are very wealthy and prosperous.
Have a look at the salaries and luxurious facilities for the Bank Indonesia
governor, Cabinet ministers, members of the House of Representatives and other
high-ranking officials.
Due to our low competitive advantages as evidenced by the poor quality of human
resources and our inability to master science and technology, protectionist
policies are a must.
For educated people who are “neo-liberal” minded of course market mechanisms always serve as a reference.
In fact, here in Indonesia there are still many that need the government’s
protection from a market that only benefits people who have capital and power.

Aries Musnandar,
Malang,
Indonesia

Initially, my reaction to the letter from Mohd. Peter Davis; Selangor, Malaysia (reprinted here on 13th January 2012 from the Jakarta Post), concerned the forecasts, from many pundits throughout History, that 2012 will be a critical year. Related, considerably precise, repeated predictions stretch back in time at least to the building of the Great Pyramid in Egypt, where the corridor beyond its main entrance is argued as carrying a coded message indicating that, early in this century (2010 to 2032), we shall witness the rise of a cruel tyranny that will afflict the world for the next 500 years.
(for example see pages 107 to 116 (‘a prospect of doom’) in ‘The Gods of the Dawn’ by Peter Lemesurier; 1998; ISBN 0 7225 3699 2. Also find reference among the predictions of Nostradamus; and in explanations of the Mayan calendar, which was set to end in 2012).
Such predictions may not be inevitably fulfilled, but do perhaps act as warnings to us.
Whilst Lyndon LaRouche positively contributes by trying to correct the excesses and philosophical errors of our time, his propositions are not always correct.
Thus, he is mistaken in denying the truth of Global Warming.
It may well be that it, and consequent Climate Change, is being humanly manipulated and mishandled - for this or that reason.
However, I believe that the phenomenon, at least as a natural cycle is proven, rather than being a pragmatic human invention; with that cycle possibly exacerbated by pollution from 'over-development' in terms of regulated need: strangely, to the extent that the timing of the very problem now being addressed is quite probably ultimately determined by solar hyperactivity at its present 1000y peak.
Thus I tend to believe that the Egyptian prediction (mentioned above), arose from roughly-observed; but at the time incompletely understood; effects of regular solar cycles on social circumstances, which had become imprinted upon then-existing Egyptian folk-lore.
Global Warming apart, LaRouche’s idea that the modern scenario is explicable in terms of Ancient Greek philosophy (as evolved from yet earlier cultures), is compelling.
In that, LaRouche believes that modern national and international society invests too greatly in empirical, materialistic, “Aristotelian pragmatism”, and pays too little respect to “Platonic idealism”.
Thus, in a selfish quest for personal comforts and with disregard for others, modern society neglects the open-minded independence, and the resistant determination, found within those possessing strong, non-materialistic ideals.
And I have come to a firm belief that Aristotelian & Platonic social attitudes alternate in phase with Peaks & Troughs of a 1000y solar cycle.
In that, we are not living at a time of Renaissance – that happened 500 years ago – but rather, we are now resisting decadence.
These days, electoral systems tend to favour those who are personally ambitious, rather than those with genuine altruistic motives towards selfless service.
This is especially evident of the world’s materially most powerful state; the USA. With the media now asserting great influence, ‘the head of the dog’ now finds it unfortunately easy to ‘wag the rest of the dog’s body - let alone its tail. So, unquestioning electorates are media-duped into philosophically emulating their leadership, and that has created a vicious circle.
Through applying this, it can be proposed that lack of respect for the disadvantaged (shown; for example, by ex-President Bush jnr. who exhibited prejudice over people from ‘the third world’ -especially in Moslem countries) while securing future western oil supplies), has led as consequence to the specific, recent, deplorable incident where American servicemen were filmed while urinating upon dead Afghan combatants.
Between them, right-wing; often Zionist; politicians and their manacled media have generated the milieu in which this kind of disgrace finds ever-easier expression.
It is an understatement to describe those servicemen as 'animals'.
Indeed it would be an insult to animals; for I do not believe that animal species generally urinate on their dead.
The event indexes that there is something seriously amiss with the "great American dream"; indeed the dream is becoming something of a nightmare for almost everyone; and perhaps even their “Democracy” is rapidly metamorphosing into the very ‘Tyranny’ that has been predicted within the corridor of the Great Pyramid.

Raymond Groves,
Hastings,
UK

Gadaisu village is in Milne Bay province near the Central province border.
The village is on state land which is being developed by Tamoua Estates Ltd under a 99-year leasehold.
For the past 10 years villagers had been petitioning the government to return the land to them but have not received a favourable response from the Lands Department.
Tamoua Estates has not developed the land; all that remains is a coconut
plantation from the colonial era.
Lately there have been illegal surveying going on in the area.
Now we hear that the lease is about to be transferred to Jjoelavest Agro Ltd.
The registrar of companies must explain:
Why the lease is changing hands;
Why the Lands Department had not stopped the transfer;
How did Jjoelavest Agro qualify for the lease; and why proper Lands Department procedure were not followed.

Villager
Port Moresby
Papaua New Guinea

Over the Christmas-New Year period, the world’s press has been frantically warning of the perilous state of the world economy.
But the financial pundits have no solution what so ever to offer within the realm of
conventional, that is monetarist, economics.
However, there is a well-tested economic solution from the only economist in the
world who has correctly forecast the now obvious economic collapse every step of the way for the last 40 years.
American economist Lyndon LaRouche has been making accurate short-and long-range economic forecasts since 1956.
He famously forecast in 1971 that the breaking of the Bretton Wood’s agreement linking the US dollar to gold would turn the whole world into a giant gambling casino and eventually collapse the world economy.
Two pillars of the world economy, America and Europe, are now on the brink of a
hyperinflationary collapse which will then bring down the Asian economies.
LaRouche insists, and has build an international movement, on the understanding
that only the American Constitutional Credit System of economics practiced so
productively by presidents Abraham Lincoln and Franklin Roosevelt can save the
world from an economic collapse far worse than the 200-year Dark Age, which
wiped out one-third of the population of medieval Europe in war, Black Death and
famine.
The Asian economies have proved to be better than the now bankrupt transatlantic
economies and the British Empire fears that competition.
Britain would rather launch World War III and exterminate most of the world’s population than admit the defeat of its 250-year-old British Empire, the fourth generation of the ancient Roman Empire.
The war against Libya, and war preparations against Syria and Iran are merely
the pretext to assemble the greatest concentration of thermonuclear arms,
including the US fleet and British warships, the world has ever seen, to conduct
World War III. Civilization cannot withstand a thermonuclear war.
This madness has to be stopped.
The Russian government and the sane retired military officers in America and even Israel have been able to temporarily block the war but a permanent war avoidance strategy needs to be finally adopted for the entire planet.
The LaRouche movement internationally has been on full alert across five
continents over Christmas-New Year to solve both the economic crisis and
outflank the thermonuclear war by legally removing President Barack Obama from
office.
There are many grounds to do this under the American constitution including crimes against the constitution, such as the war against Libya without Congress’ approval and the assassination of Muammar Qaddafi whilst a prisoner of war.
The essential and urgent removal of Obama from office promises to transform an
otherwise cataclysmic 2012 into the most important year in known human history,
ending the 2000-year-old economic and political oppression by the Oligarchy, the
ancient Greek word meaning rule by the few.
This will unleash an economic and scientific renaissance, pent up since the
untimely death of president Roosevelt in 1945, which can wipe war, hunger and
poverty off the face of the Earth within 50 years whilst allowing the world
population to increase healthily.

Mohd Peter Davis
Selangor,
Malaysia

My people become momentarily indolent whenever they miss their cigarette at home, in the office, or in the field during manual work.
Smoking more and more cigarettes is the trend for tobacco smokers; for without it, a smoker is simply at a loss.
A penniless, habitual cigarette smoker wouldn’t hesitate to pick up discarded
cigarette buts from the street or ashtrays; especially when there is nobody
around.
Such is the effect of smoking that many house helps say they could easily cope hunger if there is no food; but without cigarettes, the world is unbearable if shamelessly longing for cigarette.
They are even willing to be quarantined in jam-packed smoking cubicles in public places with no embarrassment whatsoever.
Once a person touches a cigarette, the probability of him or her going on to
become a smoker is much higher than otherwise.
So, how can we prevent our children from touching cigarettes?
It is simple although not easy.
It is simple by showing our children that we parents do not smoke at all.
It is not easy, because the moment our children stroll the street the very tempting cigarette billboards will invite them to taste their well-advertised cigarettes. Especially when their admired teachers smoke, too!
Cigarette manufacturers are very smart by making the tobacco farmers
economically dependent on the cigarette-manufacturing business.
They even boldly park their very expensive, executive limousines in front of the palace for all to see.
Indonesia is notably one of the largest cigarette markets with cigarette advertisements boldly run on television; with the health warnings hardly legible.
New cigarette customers in Asia are aggressively recruited, as customers in
North America and Europe are dwindling.
It is indeed regrettable to learn that our workforce is somehow dependent on cigarette tobacco.
People in the US go so far as to use electric cigarettes if they want to wean themselves from smoking the real thing.
In Indonesia, even children can become ensnared into smoking cigarettes.
We certainly cannot blame the cigarette manufacturers as they have the permits to
operate their businesses.
Especially when we are still prone to irresistible bribes.
We are simply at the mercy of the very wealthy cigarette manufacturers as long as we are still bribable.
Cigarette manufacturers are rather smart with their compensation, by sending
numerous promising students to universities and even leading the country in
planting trees.
My hope beyond hope is that all local cigarette manufacturers will get together
and work out with our BUMN how to finance the research centers of the growing PT Dirgantara Indonesia, PT PAL, and PINDAD.
In this way, I could see them making fair reparation for all the damage they
have inflicted thus far; and they should make sure they rehabilitate all the
tobacco farmers so they can build new livelihoods in farming food and in
fishing.
While they still have the funds, they could plant green forests all along our
highways from Sabang to Merauke, and they could build schools, too.
I hope my New Year’s resolution is not too expensive to execute; in compensation
for the long-suffering of our impoverished and unknowing people who became
addicted to smoking cigarettes.

Moeljono Adikoesoemo
Jakarta,
Indonesia

Most astute political observers would recall the bogus US (Florida) campaign that was narrowly 'won' by the George W Bush Republican party subject to the reported (illegal) technological manipulation of the vulnerable voting machines. Subsequently, the result of that contemporary 'democratic' process witnessed millions of American citizens as being unemployed; 10's of thousands dispossessed of their homes to finance an illegal war (bogus weapons-of-mass-destruction) with 64 thousand Iraqi civilians killed in cold blood.
Research reveals the same cabals are again active throughout the world promoting those -of - like politico/religious - mind to steal from each American his/her proud heritage and sense of security.
The same biased media editorials are alert and active in the conditioning of the naive voter to support the candidate offered by 'the system' - except Presidential candidate Ron Paul ( who receives no fair media recognition).
And why should this be so?
Simply because he has undertaken ( should he be successful at the approaching polls), to remove the Zionist control of the US mint from the private enterprise, Wall Street 'banksters', to that of the elected government.
Ron Paul is walking the same gauntlet of a possible assassination traversed by former Presidents Abraham Lincoln and John F Kennedy.
Anyone notice an established common demominator at work here?

Harry A Boniface
Queensland
Australia

The issues of deforestation and orangutan killings in Indonesia sparked a controversy recently.
Both were linked to oil palm plantations, with some alleging that the plantations have caused deforestation and the death of orangutans in the country.
The question is whether oil palm estates are really responsible for the forest destruction and the death of orangutans?
In the context of oil palm plantations, the concessions granted by the
government have the status of Other Utilization Area (APL), or sometimes
Conversion Production Forest (HPK).
The concessionaires in the HPK zone have to request forest zone-release licenses from the Forestry Ministry.
Pursuant to the law, it’s impossible for the government to grant concessions in production forests, let alone protected and conservation forests.
Therefore, it’s irrelevant to link the expansion of oil palm plantations with
deforestation.
Rather, the expansion of oil palm plantations has to do with “forest zones” rather than “forests”.
There are indeed non-forest zones still covered with forests, and forest zones already without forests (degraded zones).
Likewise, it’s irrelevant to accuse oil palm plantations of causing the deaths
of orangutans.
Based on the Forestry Law, the habitat of orangutans comprises conservation forest zones, which include national parks and wildlife reserves for the protection of biodiversity covering certain species like orangutans.
Forest damage has in fact become public knowledge.
The problem lies in the management of forest zones.
Either the limits of forest zones are unclear or people have difficulty in distinguishing between forest zones and non-forest zones.
This is very likely because forest zones are not clearly delineated and guarded, let alone those in remote locations.

Joko Supriyono
Secretary general, Indonesian Oil Palm Industries Association (GAPKI).
Bekasi,
West Java,
Indonesia

So far, incidents that have disturbed security, peace and tranquility in Papua have continued to occur, which certainly should not be trivialized.
Therefore, it is necessary to handle the problem thoroughly and deal with its root cause.
If the security disturbance is created by the Free Papua Organization (OPM), which uses firearms, the choice of armed settlement is in fact inappropriate unless it is a large-scale uprising and endangers the nation and the unitary state of Indonesia.
Based on experience, the problem in Papua apparently mostly involves injustice and social disparity.
It is obvious that the people and province of Papua have been virtually still left behind by the other regions in the country, particularly Java.
This is noticeable not only in the economic sector but also in the other aspects of life like education, transportation, communication and various accesses to proper
living.
Papuan people realize that they have less chance of enjoying their own region’s gains, and even with Papua’s high natural resources potential, it has not made significant advancements yet.
Actually Papua has been granted autonomy and this is a correct policy.
However, the management of this autonomy still falls far short of expectations and the goal of autonomy itself, which is improved public welfare.
Without any condescending motive, I would suggest that in resolving the Papuan problem, policy making should pay more attention to the aspects of geography,
geopolitics, geo-economics and geo-defense within the framework of national
resilience and the archipelagic principle.
It is in this context that Papua needs greater attention.
Equitable development and justice should be felt by the Papuans, with the support of a strong sense of solidarity and social concern.
For the acceleration of development in Papua, a secure situation should prevail so that all elements in society can smoothly carry out their activities.
Consequently, all forms of violence and anarchy must be promptly ended.
The parties so far disturb Papua’s security and wish to separate from the unitary
state should readily be aware that their actions are only vain attempts that
just cause public misery and hamper the process of development.
We should keep supporting security personnel so as to enable them to bring about a peaceful environment in society, free from any trouble created by unscrupulous denizens.

Nurhayati,
Bekasi,
Indonesia

I refer to the reports that a 100,000-strong crowd will be at the High Court
when judgment is delivered in the Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim sodomy case.
What is this huge crowd going to do there?
It is a waste of time.
As a child court adviser, I know that our judges are trained to work in any
condition.
They are calm in any situation and they do not listen to others when
making decisions.
So, let no one try to put pressure on them.
They do what they must.
Why are some people trying to undermine the independence of the judiciary?

Bulbir Singh,
Seremban,
Negri Sembilan,
Malaysia

Having a private practice in the Meru area, most of my patients are foreign
workers in the surrounding factories - Bangladeshis, Nepalese and Vietnamese.
Only recently, I came to know of their plight as revealed to me by one of them.
These workers are being harassed by a group of people who prey on them when they return from work at night.
They are robbed of cash and their handphones.
For this reason these workers do not carry any cash or valuables on them.
They just keep RM2 in their pockets, because having nothing on them will lead to them being beaten up.
My heart goes out to these workers who have left home, family and friends to
come to Malaysia to earn a living.
They remit part of their salary home to alleviate the hardship of those they left behind in their native land.
Let us not forget that they are also doing us a favour, because most of our
factories depend on them to operate.
Our economy is also being spurred on in this way.
I hope someone in authority will take action to get rid of this menace.
It is sad to see these workers being bullied.
Go get a job and earn a living yourself rather than grab from these poor, honest, hardworking foreigners.
Your actions have tarnished the image of our country.

Walprem,
Shah Alam,
Malaysia

It is interesting to learn of the driving experiences of Warga Emas (see reprinted letter here, dated 5 January 2012, and to note how he compares his driving experiences in Malaysia, with those in Brisbane.
With respect to driving conditions, I find that Malaysia lies somewhere between Brisbane and Indonesia.
I have never driven in Indonesia and never want to.
If I did, I am sure I would not survive a single journey.
However, I have been passively driven over thousands of miles of Sumatran roads; most of them by a skilful and experienced Indonesian truck driver, and also by professional drivers of minibuses, buses, and taxis.
Limiting comment to polite understatement, those roads can only be described as extremely hazardous.
Even in outskirts of cities, it is, in the first place, often hard to appreciate the direction in which a road is heading.
Apart from pot-holes; land-slips, and large fallen rocks; at night, there are numerous, almost invisible, obstructions of – piles of sand or old furniture; black shadows that are actually pedestrians seemingly wearing ‘camouflage’; nonchalantly-parked vehicles with no lights; and approaching vehicles with only one working headlight; usually on the ‘far-side’.
Much worse than that, in the rural wild, there are winding, pot-holey, jungle-enclosed roads with precipitous cliffs on one side or the other – or on both sides, which are concealed from being hazardous by narrow margins of tall guinea grass that, as well as hiding the edge of a cliff, offer no physical protection against careering into gorges 500 feet below.
Ramadan, like bar-closing time In Brisbane, is a bad time to travel on such roads, because, the drivers in Sumatra, although they are teetotallers, are without tracking equipment to lessen their fervour, and continue to work with low blood sugar levels - from fasting - until they fall asleep at the wheel – which ends their shift - one way or another.
On one occasion, while travelling with another 11 passenger in a mini-bus across Riau province between Pecanbaru and Dumai, and I was fortunately wide awake in the passenger seat next to the driver; unlike the other 10 passengers who had all gone 'for a holiday in the land of nod’.
But, even our driver had joined them there – and so he was fast asleep, using his steering-wheel as a pillow.
Perhaps he had become bored over trying to understand me - as the foreigner, neighbouring him as his driving companion.
Fortunately I noticed that a rapidly oncoming truck, travelling at around 60 mph, was careering toward us.
I was deeply concerned to realise that at that moment our bus was veering out of its correct lane straight into the path of that oncoming truck.
I then surprised myself by forcing our driver off his pillow (the steering-wheel) with my elbows; grabbing the wheel with both hands; and pulling our minibus back on course – so our mini-bus avoided the unreactive truck by (literally) less than one centimetre.
I am proud to recall that I then saved 13 lives including my own, yet nobody witnessed my ‘good turn’ for the day’ by seeing what I had done, because each and every occupant except me was 'holidaying in the land of nod’ – although after interrogating the repentant driver, one of them who spoke English did profusely thanked me for doing what I did.
By comparison, my personal friend, Darwin, is an enormously skilful and experienced driver, with an uncanny instinct towards almost magically detecting hazards lying ahead of him..
However, again in the front passenger seat but this time with him at the wheel, I experienced a ‘worst nightmare scenario’.
He was driving our family party along the narrow, winding, mountain road that leads from the west coast of Sumatra near the border of the provinces of West Sumatra and Bekulu provinces; through ragged, southerly high mountain of the Kerinci range; towards our destination of Sungaipenuh in the Kerinci park.
It was a night-time journey, and torrential rain was obscuring drivers’ visibility.
I was perched on the edge on my seat intensely looking out for obstructions – then I suddenly noticed that, only 30 feet or so ahead of us, our road bridge had collapsed.
At that moment it seemed as if our destiny would be at the ‘bottom of a bottomless abyss’.
I lifted my arms; then forcefully brought my fists hard down on the dashboard - as a warning.
Meanwhile, Darwin remained ‘as cool as a cucumber’ and accurately manoeuvred the four wheels of the Kijang onto two solid bars of concrete, each as wide as wheel, which spanned the abyss in exact congruence with our wheel-base. He casually glided us over the chasm, to the sides and underneath our chassis. Then through an interpreter, he calmly explained to me that the incident would have been yet more frightening for us in day-time, when we would have been able see all the way down to the bottom of the gorge - as the drop there was in excess of 500 feet.
He complimented me on the speed of my reaction, but told us that he already knew, from a 100 yards away, what lay ahead, and that he was also aware of the existence of the two concrete girders, which had acted as our pair of guardian angels.
So, yes !
The roads in that part of the world can offer great excitements.

Raymond Groves,
Hastings,
UK

This is a comment on the Jakarta Post article published on December 30, 2011 titled “SBY must learn from Gus Dur on religious conflicts: Activist”.
Gus Dur (former president Abdurrahman Wahid) is an excellent role model when it
comes to peace and harmony in the Indonesian community.
He understood how the disadvantaged and minority groups felt and he understood that recognizing them and their belief systems and culture was an important step in their integration into a cohesive but never the less multicultural Indonesia.
Restoring the dignity of the Chinese minority was quickly improved by
elimination of at least the formal discrimination imposed by Soeharto, for
example, removing the prohibition of Chinese script publications and the ban on
the lion dance.
In Papua, Gus Dur was the first Indonesian president to gain the respect of the
indigenous Papuans because he himself showed them respect and gave them
recognition.
He agreed to them establishing a Papuan council and he agreed to
their flying their Morning Star flag, providing it was always flown alongside
the national flag – a brilliant move and one which accords with international
experience in such situations.
Unfortunately, the good that Gus Dur did in Papua quickly unraveled when the
military pushed Megawati Soekarnoputeri into reversing the Gus Dur initiatives
and the military approach to Papua has persisted ever since and relations
between Papuans and the rest of Republic of Indonesia have continued to deteriorate.
Had SBY not also been a captive of the military, he could have taken the lead
from Gus Dur and taken up where he left off. But alas, the military controls SBY
policy in Papua.
Indonesia seems destined to cascade from one round of religious intolerance to
another.
The intolerance and discrimination against Christians is ongoing. The
Muslim mainstream groups seem bent on faith cleansing and turning their sights
on any sect that they deem heretical.
First the Ahmadiyah, now the Shiites.
But if attacks upon the Shiites is allowed to continue unchecked by the government, it is a much more dangerous issue with far greater international consequences than the attacks on Ahmadis.
Unless the President is prepared to show some real leadership and not be guided
by his very partisan Minister for Religious Affairs, the situation is likely to
deteriorate with even greater conflict.
It will be another “Nero fiddled while Rome burned” scenario.
To eliminate the current trend toward religious intolerance, it is essential
that there is good pluralist leadership of the Gus Dur style.
Authoritarian dictators of the Soeharto style only send the issues underground.
At the present we have neither pluralist leadership showing the way for
maintenance of traditional Indonesian tolerance nor, fortunately, do we have the
authoritarian dictate.
We have a vacuum which is being exploited by religious zealots.
We don’t need another Soeharto or indeed any president with a military mind-set.
We do need another Gus Dur style leader.
Indonesia is drifting.

Nairdah,
Jakarta,
Indonesia

I recently visited Brisbane, Australia. I collected a rental car at the airport
on arrival and returned the car when departing seven days later.
During my seven days there I drove around the city and also made day trips to
the Gold Coast, Redcliffe and a couple of other towns, and in total drove more
than 700km.
What amazed me was that not once did I encounter a pothole, be it on the
motorway, urban road or rural road.
Every single manhole I encountered was flush with the road surface.
Driving was a real pleasure and the drivers were so courteous.
As soon as we turned on our indicator, the cars behind would give way.
I also did not encounter any massive traffic jam.
Even during peak hours, traffic was not at a standstill.
And surprisingly, there were hardly any policemen around to direct traffic or to check on identities or licences.
The same day I landed in Kuala Lumpur, I had to drive along Jalan Segambut Dalam and the road surface within a 100m stretch was atrocious.
It was not a typical Kuala Lumpur road but nevertheless, it was in the city.
I think this is another reason why our accident rate is very high.
Everyone here is always braking and swerving to avoid potholes, misaligned manholes and bad road surfaces.
Our attention here needs to be divided between the condition of the road and
other vehicles, pedestrians and signs whereas in Brisbane we can concentrate
fully on vehicles, pedestrians and signs.

Warga Emas,
Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia

The Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy (PCID) welcomes the appointment of former Anak Mindanao party-list Rep. Mujiv Hataman as the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) regional governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
We fully support Hataman based on his track record in pursuing the Bangsamoro
struggle and background in development work.
Hataman was an active member of the House committee on human rights, whose chair was then Rep. Benigno Aquino III.
Hataman led investigations into the spate of kidnappings in the Basilan and Sulu
islands, and he sponsored resolutions condemning the killings of Moro activists
and detainees suspected of being Abu Sayyaf members.
He also sponsored the declaration of March 18, the anniversary date of the Jabidah massacre, as a Bangsamoro historical event.
Hataman’s appointment has the strong support of non-Muslims inside and outside
of Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
He is well-known among civil society groups that are advocating reforms in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
Thus, his appointment sends a strong signal that genuine reformists would steer
the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) along the path of genuine reforms in the next 20 months leading to the May 2013 elections.
Hataman has both the administrative and legislative background, having worked in
the provincial government under Gov. Wahab Akbar and later as a three-term
legislator.
The fact that he is President Aquino’s personal choice to lead the reform
process means that Hataman enjoys the President’s trust and confidence, which is
what is precisely needed by an Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) regional governor.
Hataman is seen as a non-traditional politician with progressive leanings by
which he can well appreciate the dysfunctions of clan and insurgency-related
conflicts.
Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy (PCID) also congratulates the appointment of Bainon Karon as Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) regional vice governor.
A leader of a well-known civil society organization and of the Moro National Liberation Front, Bainon has served as Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) secretary for social welfare.
She can help the regional governor in ensuring that the basic needs of the people of Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) are served and that the Millennium Development Goals are attained.

Mirkarl. T. Allian,
Program director,
Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy,
University of the Philippines,
Quezon City

I refer to an article titled “Anas’ fate is said to rest with SBY,”
in The Jakarta Post, December 27.
Despite intensive attacks against Anas Urbaningrum in connection with his
alleged involvement in Muhammad Nazaruddin’s corruption cases, the Democratic
Party patron Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono remains calm.
What is he going to do to save Democratic Party’s future?
Anas is the principal reason behind the serious rifts in the party that might also tarnish the image of the party.
Many Indonesians have shown a loss of trust of political parties, particularly
due to corruption scandals affecting every political party, both at the central
and local level.
In Anas’ case, SBY did the right thing in waiting until there was a move from
the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), such as naming Nazaruddin as a
suspect in a case.
People are innocent before determined guilty.
Indonesia is a democratic country where law should be the reference for everything.
However, the Democratic Party has suffered serious damage due to the
alleged involvement of its leaders in corruption cases.
Anas’ case seems the most serious one due to his position as party chairman.
If Anas is removed from his position, the party might rebuild its credibility,
particularly if it can elect young, energetic, honest, charismatic leaders.
As Yudhoyono mentioned a few weeks ago: “It is time for younger leaders to take over....”.
Regrettably, political life in Indonesia doesn’t represent the interests of the
people and the country because political parties are led by corrupt politicians
who are only interested in collecting personal wealth.
Despite all the bad habits of Indonesian politicians, Indonesia has achieved
remarkable achievements in terms of its economic and democratic development.
Indonesia has become the world’s third-largest democracy, Southeast Asia’s
largest economy and a member of the G-20.
This achievement would be even better if the country was clean of corruption.
Investors are interested in investing in Indonesia.
People have higher spirits to develop the country and the living standards of the Indonesian people will be much better.
So let us hope that honest Indonesian politicians will start to show the right
way for a better future for the nation.

Widya Utama,
Jakarta,
Indonesia

Re: ''A lot riding on Chatuchak'' in Bangkok Post, Editorial, December 30.
Two pieces of news in the past week displayed how the use of legal edge, fraud
and the art of shifting responsibility are happening in Thai politics.
First, the government has ordered the State Railway of Thailand to reclaim the
land at the Chatuchak Weekend Market that it has leased to the Bangkok
Metropolitan Administration for the past 30 years.
Recently, there have been rumours swirling that the ruling Pheu Thai Party plans to give control of the lucrative market on the land to some of its red-shirt supporters as a reward for their help in propelling the party to power.
Second, the government has approved the plan to transfer the 1.14 trillion baht
in liabilities - accrued as the result of the 1997 economic collapse - from the
Finance Ministry to the Bank of Thailand.
This uncommon shift of debt will make the government's balance book look better,
enabling it to spend freely on populist programmes and not having to worry much
about raising taxes.
It is expected that by doing this, the Pheu Thai Party will be catapulted back
to power again come the next election.
Thais should be reminded that all important undertakings by the Yingluck
government could not have happened without Thaksin Shinawatra's order or at
least his nod of agreement.
Pheu Thai's motto, after all, is ''Thaksin thinks; Pheu Thai acts''.
The question is: Is the tyranny of the majority happening in Thailand?

Vint Chavala,
Lamphun,
Thailand

The most important change introduced by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Kevin Rudd and the government of prime minister Julia Eileen Gillard was not processing, but scrapping of the temporary protection visas (TPV) for so-called humanitarian refugees.
Most Australians would agree it is OK to provide shelter for refugees for a period until the situation in their war-torn home countries have been sorted out; although a solution closer to home and it a culturally compatible society is more sensible.
What is the point of sending refugees halfway around the world and into an alien
culture?
Only the otherwise unemployable so-called human rights activists and their symbiotic lawyer friends take advantage from this senseless trade in humans.
But since Rudd and Gillard have scrapped temporary protection visas TPVs and made permanent visas available, human trafficking has picked up massively.

Raoul Machal,
Australia

Regarding Rhonda Grant's The Japan Times December 25 letter, "Resentment by a new generation": I'd like to know whether Australia's younger generations, who Grant says are voicing hatred toward Japan because of Japan's annual scientific whaling expeditions, feel the same seething animosity toward other whaling nations that also kill a regular quota of whales each year.
Norway makes no attempt to hide the fact that it is conducting commercial whaling in the northeast Atlantic, where it kills about 1,300 minke whales each season. Why hasn't Grant vented her rage against Norway as well?
Russia kills about 140 Gray whales each year in an annual hunt.
The Gray whale is just as "cute" as the minke, yes?
Why not protest in front of the Russian Embassy in Australia?
Let those Russian whale hunters know how cruel and barbaric they are!
And what about those barbaric islanders from the Faroe Islands?
They hunt and kill nearly 1,000 long-finned pilot whales each year!
And pilot whales are a popular attraction at marine theme parks all over the world. There are also whale hunts in Greenland, Iceland and even Canada, a British Commonwealth country.
Oh, the humanity!
Will Australia declare war on Canada over this issue?
I now understand why American General Douglas MacArthur made sure that none of the British Commonwealth countries was allowed to occupy Japan after World War II.

Robert McKinney,
Winona,
Missouri,
USA

This is a comment on “TNI members ‘engaged’ in unscrupulous deals”
in The Jakarta Post, December 24.
Col. Sugiyono, you fool no one.
This is the usual tried and tested “smoke screen” used by the Indonesian Military (TNI) whenever it gets caught in a sticky situation.
Never admit or take responsibility, always push any blame as far down the ranks as possible.
In that way, a few junior-ranking soldiers are prosecuted but soon have their
sentences quashed or reduced to a token amount so they can get back to business.
The world knows the extent and nature of the TNI involvement in a large range of
businesses, legal and illegal, and they also know those enterprises are run from
your level, Colonel, or higher in the case of more profitable or delicate
operations like illegal gold mining in Timika section of Papua province.
Should I mention the illegal coal mines run by the TNI in Kalimantan?
Are these multi-million dollar enterprises also run by junior-ranking soldiers “out of
hours”?
Returning to illegal people smuggling, the evidence produced in other places
points to TNI involvement at ranks above junior ranks.
For example, you must be aware of the previous involvement of the Makassar unit in facilitating people smuggling.
So please, Colonel, save your breath on any further fatuous claims aimed at
distancing senior ranks from the smuggling industry.
The TNI was so quick to name and “arrest” the three young soldiers in this case
it looks like the response of a knee jerk, a face-saving reaction than a probing, thorough investigation.
You may fool some of the people some of the time but you won’t fool all of the
people all of the time.
I wonder if you would be prepared to make your three young scapegoats available for questioning by the police or the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) so we can discover the truth.
I think the latest boat tragedy provides a good opportunity for the government
to thoroughly investigate and to establish the extent to which its own employees
are involved in this internationally embarrassing business.
The evidence is everywhere in this one, including evidence floating in the sea.
Those involved in this people-smuggling exercise would have known there was
little chance of this overcrowded boat surviving the high seas running at the
time.
That makes the collaborators, and those that were prepared to “turn a blind eye
for a few rupiah” complicit in the deaths of these unfortunate people.

Nairdah,
Sydney,
New South Wales,
Australia

Regarding "Dogs saved from the dinner plate" in Bangkok Post,
December 26.
Chaiyo (a round of applause) to the local authorities who intercepted the dogs
on a boat in the Mekong River.
Although the gang involved on the Thai side of this business was not caught, it was a real joy to read that authorities care and are prepared to bravely act to stop the despicable trade to Vietnam via Laos.
I have witnessed daily loads trucked on the Lao road from the Mae Kong to
the Vietnamese city of Vinh with impunity.
It is obvious that this very profitable trade has not been terminated by this
one raid.
I would like to make a plea to all concerned by animal suffering to
please report any sighting of "howling trucks" (you can hear the sound for miles
before the lorry is spotted) on that road in Laos to this paper or to any good
animal welfare organisations.

Phintu,
Chiang Mai,
Thailand

As a repeat visitor to Indonesia, I would like to take the opportunity to comment on the many wonderful things your amazing country has to offer.
I had the interesting opportunity to visit Jakarta this week.
It was an experience, and of the many memorable things was the total friendliness of the people we met.
I also had the great opportunity to visit the National Monument (Monas).
It’s a great spectacle, the approach alone is memorable and it’s a great credit to the vision of the people who built it.
However, what I found both disappointing and alarming was the lack of historical
accuracy of the diorama.
It saddened me greatly that the 1965-1966 murder of up to 500,000 of your own
citizens, as suspected communists, was totally ignored.
These people were your own citizens, neighbors and friends.
By refusing them a mention in your official history you do both their memory, and more importantly, yourselves a great disservice.
I then saw that in the frame devoted to Aceh, that the Acehnese actually
“wanted” Indonesia to “liberate” them. Is that the reason they fought so hard
for their independence?
Sadly the 60,000 to 80,000 deaths that most independent figures site also went
unmentioned.
There was no mention of the atrocity committed at Balibo either.
All nations make many mistakes and experience tragedies in their past.
Mine is no different.
The difference however is, that for a nation to become truly great, they need to have the courage to face up to the truth of their past, and not to cover it with a facade of lies.

Fiona Krawczuk,
Jakarta,
Indonesia

The annual Christmas rituals, celebrated throughout western dioceses, have now passed with the usual outpourings of unctious religious benedictions.
Collectively silent in a sincere condemnation of the endless human suffering engendered by the financial manipulations of the international Zionist bankers, 'The Church' has also acceded to the conduct of some of the most nafarious activities since the free press exposure of the entrenched sexual, emotional and physical brutality, visited upon children in its 'care' , by an army of profligate, predatory, (paedophile) priests.
For the Vatican to now plead ignorance of these unspeakable violations of human rights is, surely, to test our gullibility to its' utmost?
The latest example of immoral priestly decadence reveals the fact that German Catholic Bishops have owned a publishing company (Weltbild) producing and distributing large volumes of pornography.
It has sold 2,500 porn titles and books attracting an annual monetary turnover of US $ 1.7 BILLION.
When will the debauchery within its cloistered walls be forced to cease?
When will the (Dis)United Nations intervene?
Apparently, hypocrisy will continue to reign suppreme.
And the 'true believers' will close their minds to the fate of defenceless children
To confirm please Google:- LifeSiteNews.com 31 Oct 2011 German bishops porn scandal.

Harry A Boniface
Queensland
Australia

The longer the peace talks drag on or they are suspended, the more serious the threats to our internal security and ailing economy.
The government cannot just sit idly by, hoping and crossing its fingers that tomorrow a truce with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) will be signed.
The peace treaty promises, among other things, to settle who among the armed groups identified with the MILF are its genuine members.
It is our understanding that once an agreement is signed, we will be able to
distinguish the true rebels from the brigands and the terrorists.
We are concerned that for as long as peace is not achieved, the kidnapping
syndicates and the terrorists will remain and even grow their fighting force as
quickly as it is decimated.
Recently, an Australian national was kidnapped in the same manner as the earlier victims of kidnap-for-ransom (KFR) were abducted.
KFR happens in Zamboanga and Basilan, but news about this reverberates in all
nooks and corners of Mindanao, scaring away domestic and foreign investors in
places like Davao, which are hundreds of miles away.
What is disturbing here is that the culprits are scot-free while the victims languish in the lairs of their captors if, at all, they are still alive.
Government forces appear helpless and hopeless and the reason behind this is
that there is an ongoing effort to achieve a peace pact with the MILF.
Well and good.
The problem, however, is the unconscionable delay in the talks.
Whenever there is a break from the talks, the suspects regroup, rearm, refit and recruit.
The negotiation, therefore, should not go on forever.
The government must take the initiative to push the agenda.
At this stage of the game, we are certain what are doable and what are allowed by our Constitution.
Outside these parameters, anything is unacceptable.
At this stage, the only viable option is to look at how the Autonomous Region in
Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) can be expanded, not according to the terms and conditions stipulated under the draft memorandum of agreement on ancestral domain but on the basis of the referendum that brought about the creation of the ARMM.
We support suggestions that the towns and barangays that had voted to be included in the proposed ARMM, but which were excluded, be made part of the expanded area.
We too are in accord with the idea of the ARMM getting ample shares from
the proceeds of the natural resources found in the region.
Because armament is a sensitive issue, this too has to be seriously addressed.
This issue is too serious that any agreement thereon should include the
withdrawal of military troops from the area and the dismantling of its auxiliary
forces like the Cafgus and CVOs. In this manner, any group that bears arms
outside of the Philippine National Police should be considered an enemy of the
state.
Peace negotiations need not be complicated.
Going to war certainly is.

Rina De Jesus,
Manila,
Philippines

Our people have the capacity to learn from the performance and sometimes
non-performance of the present parliament.
And our people will do it in their own way which as the Preamble to the
Constitution affirms is “consensus” not “conflict”.
The resolution will not be an “Arab Spring” with violent overturn of long-term
regimes.
The resolution will be a “PNG Christmas”, with careful progress based on respect for others and a commitment to a better future.
Papua New Guineans want a better future.
They want health, infrastructure, educational and other services in the districts.
They want opportunities for employment in the urban areas.
This parliament and the new one could and should properly consider the constitutional issues.
They should consider:
The authority of parliament, the Supreme Court and governor general;
When the government needs stability and when prime ministers need to be
replaced;
The role, the appointment and the replacement of parliamentary speakers.
Parliament should be able, by a sufficient majority, to overrule any ruling by
the speaker that blocks debates;
Parliament dismissing a speaker who cannot perform; and
An unambiguous statement of the number of parliament’s meeting days.
The new prime minister should appoint an authoritative Constitutional
Working Group to consider these issues.
The group members should be independent, experienced and authoritative.
They should be made up of people who are trusted by both sides.
Church, business and community leaders have asked for Melanesian consensus and for Christian humility and devotion to the well-being of the people.
What should the “PNG Christmas” be?
It should be where leaders commit themselves with humility like Mary, Joseph
and Jesus in the stable, like our God come to earth to a future which brings
peace and good will and government services to all men, women and children.

Sir Barry Holloway and Dr James Macpherson,
Port Moresby,
Papua New Guinea

One does not have to be a genius to realise what would happen in Iraq now the US has moved out.
George Bush announced victory many years ago but to date there is no victory in site.
The only people who will benefit from the war on Iraq are the elite wealthy oil men who financed Bush's election campaigns and people like Bush who have huge personal investments in the oil industry.
Yes Saddam Hussein killed many troublemakers to keep peace but did succeed in keeping peace after the killings, the troublemakers preferred to live rather than die and the country lived in peace.
As Bush organised the kangaroo court to execute Hussein and the US troops have now left the country, the killing between rival factions had now started again and is certain to continue.
George Bush should be tried as a war criminal for attacking Iraq without any good reason on the pretence of weapons of mass destruction.
The next step if possible is for another Saddam Hussein to come forward.

Frank Crichlow,
Miranda,
New South Wales,
Australia

A few kilometers south west of Kute Lombok there is an area which is
having its guts ripped right out because gold is in the ground.
Those in authority, who should care about these things, are seemingly unable to gather together the will to call a halt to it.
This lack of interest is symptomatic of the two major ailments which are
impacting heavily on this area of Lombok right now: developer madness and gold
fever.
The Kute area of Lombok is being touted as having fantastic potential for investors, who will help move the island forward into a shining future.
Those who are projecting this stylish image (used to be LTDC, then BTDC, now
maybe ITDC?) are encouraging a fantasy that the whole southern coast will morph
into a playground of golf courses, luxury hotels, jet skis and marinas.
Meanwhile in reality, Kute has become a tip, the local beaches are not pristine,
and the road to certain well-advertised spots with surfable waves and beautiful
bays suitable for swimming is almost totally destroyed.
This is because it is the same road used by the miners in their pick-ups, trucks and motorbikes.
The traffic on this particular stretch has increased maybe fivefold since mining
began two years ago.
Many locals living along this road are involved in the first stage of processing - generator-run noisy machines breaking down rocks, often twenty four hours a day. Who can blame them, ignored as they are by government at all levels?
No electricity, no easily accessible water, no road maintenance literally for
years.
But many of them do not understand the dangers to their health and the
environment - they just need the income.
Neighbors who do not have a processing plant, through choice or lack of start-up funds, dare not protest or make more formal complaints for fear of retribution from those who do.
And yet, and here’s the irony, Lombok is actively seeking investors, and Lombok
wants tourism badly.
So maybe it’s time to choose because in many people’s minds the development of
tourism side by side with community mining just cannot work.
The two are simply incompatible.
Let the relevant government departments - tourism, environment and health - meet
together and begin serious discussion about ways to put a stop to this illegal
activity, which has the potential to harm not only investment in Lombok but
also, and this is long-term, its environment and the health of its long-suffering people.

Helen Morgan,
Kute Lombok,
West Nusa Tenggara,
Indonesia

There is a need to analyse the political development and governance over the
past nine years when the Somare government was in charge.
We should stop pointing fingers at who is right and wrong.
We must find out why the majority of the people have lost confidence in Sir
Michael Somare.
There are many but chief among them are a lack of decisive leadership, too many
people in acting positions, appalling social and economic indicators, billions
of kina allocated for development but nothing to show, allegations of corruption
and a lack of transparency.
When Peter O’Neill took over as prime minister, he offered an alternative and
decisive leadership which won over the people.
Although the judiciary has reinstated Sir Michael as prime minister, the
legislative arm of government, elected Peter O’Neill as prime minister in parliament.

Wayne Powae,
Goroka,
Papua New Guinea

It is a good thing that Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago has filed a bill that would
prohibit public officials from claiming credit for projects that are funded with taxpayers’ money.
Equally commendable is the Aquino administration’s move to support the proposed law titled, “An Act Prohibiting Public Officers from Claiming Credit through Signage Announcing a Public Works Project.”
Looking around, one notices that indeed in the country today, the name or photo
of President Aquino cannot be seen on signage or billboards announcing
government projects.
This is contrary to the practice I think “malpratice” is the more appropriate word of many local government officials.
In the explanatory note of her bill, Senator Santiago said that placing the
names and photographs of politicians and public officials in government projects
is “highly unethical.”
This malpractice is so rampant especially during the political campaign season, as such signage are put up by political aspirants in aid of election or reelection.
One specific example is Quezon City, during the term of Mayor Herbert M.
Bautista’s predecessor.
I have written about this issue, and several of my letters on the matter have appeared in the Inquirer’s Letters section, to the chagrin of Quezon City’s ranking officials.
The malpractice is more pronounced in the city’s first congressional district, particularly in barangays Pag-asa, Bago Bantay and Vasra.
It is hoped that Santiago’s bill, once enacted into law, will put a stop to this
malpractice of “credit-grabbing” by public officials for government projects.
The Santiago bill is long overdue.
Congress should pass it as soon as possible, and the President should sign it into law forthwith.

Eusebio S. San Diego,
Founder, Kaguro and former president,
Quezon City Public School Teachers Association,
Philippines

In the past few weeks the integrity of the Save Palawan Movement has been questioned.
I need to make one thing crystal clear: We do not lie.
The foundation of the Save Palawan Movement is truth and the common good.
The tables of prof. Arsenio Balisacan speak for themselves.
In mining the incidence of poverty is increasing.
The tables do not say that mining has caused poverty.
What the tables indicate is that people involved in the mining sector stay poor year after year after year.
Poor people also go to construction, agriculture, anufacturing, but the incidence of poverty in those sectors has been steadily decreasing.
Why is mining the only sector where the incidence of poverty has been
progressively increasing for the last 20 years?
Doesn’t this say something about how the sector performs?
I can confidently say that if poor people get involved in community-based
sustainable ecotourism, their lives will improve.
I know this from personal experience.
Puerto Princesa and Bohol show that tourism is the way to go.
The Save Palawan Movement does not lie.
The fact is that the highest incidence of poverty is in the mining sector and it has increased by 74 percent since 1988.
While the footprint of mining is small, its impact goes far, far beyond the
parameters of its operations, especially when accidents happen as it happens
often.
In Palawan alone, there were two major accidents this year where coral
reefs were destroyed, hectares of farmlands disadvantaged, tons of nickel
spilled into the sea.
Up to now there are literally hundreds of abandoned mined sites that remain unrehabilitated and the people around them continue to suffer.
When the Chamber of Mines says that mining does not affect agriculture and
fishery resources, and I have farmers and fishermen whose lives say otherwise,
who is lying?
When the Chamber of Mines says that mining does not affect tourism, and I have
been to islands I can no longer help because there are huge pits that have
permanently scarred the island, who is lying?
When the Save Palawan Movement wants to save biodiversity in Palawan and wants to eradicate poverty through the care of the environment and mining firms take advantage of that poverty to enrich themselves, who should Palawan be protected from?
The signature campaign of the Save Palawan Movement is genuine.
The millions who have signed are people who care.
Watch the link “No to mining in Palawan’s support” on YouTube and see for yourself.

Gina Lopez,
Save Palawan Movement,
Manila,
Philippines

As an Indonesian enthusiast from Australia, I’m also an orangutan enthusiast.
However, I hold great concerns for the future of the orangutan species.
I am saddened to hear the frequent stories about orangutan deaths, mostly caused
by the palm oil industry.
Indonesia’s great ape is protected by law, but the law is rarely enforced.
I urge Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to enforce Indonesian
conservation law and help prevent the orangutans from going extinct.
I also appeal to the palm oil industry to let the people of the forest (orangutans) live peacefully in their natural habitat.

Andrew Gunnyon,
Australia

U.S President Obama praising the U.S for its actions in Iraq.
Instead, he should be apologising to the U.S and Iraqi people for George Bush’s actions.
Firstly to Iraq for attacking that country and causing the killing of hundreds of thousands of civilians as well as the virtual murder of Sudan Husain, bought about by the Kangaroo court who tried him.
This war also causing the loss of lives off thousands of U.S service members.
The Iraq people were living in peace before that action as their then President kept the troublemakers in check.
Now they live in fear.
It would not hurt if John Howard also apologised to the Australian people for our country joining in this action.

Frank Crichlow,
Miranda,
New South Wales,
Australia

The quasi spectre of 'terrorism' continues to haunt western public domains ; to entrench an endless climate of fear ; to elicit domestic pleas ( to governments) for deliverance from this 'promoted threat'.
Governments oblige, of course, by pursuing multi billion dollar expenditure on munitions - and ancillary requirements - to furnish it's aggressive, acquisitive, destructive rampage throughout the 3rd world.
As the amoral US/Israel war in Iraq and Afghanistan 'winds down' ( in defeat), another arena of conflict must be now cultivated to absorb the products of the military arsenals ( that employ -directly and indirectly- millions of people -an 'insurance policy' against further unemployment),
So, the logical subject for conjecture is :- " Where will the next (pending) military conflict be fought"?
" The Arab Spring", that offered such hope of freedom in North Africa, has already been 'high-jacked' by pro-US-Israel-French political mercenaries.
The same strategies are evolving in Middle Africa with bureaucratic puppets already installed, fermenting discord from within.
The western / Zionist ( monopoly controlled) media rigidly maintains it's iron grip over ( slanted) public 'news' services.
And so, it would seem that the distant drum will soon be beating as we, again, march off to war to further enrich the 2 percent minority who already own and control 80 percent of the world's wealth.
But, how can one help people who, cocooned in an unquestioning apathy, refuse to think 'outside the box' ?
Google: "America's conquest of Africa" Introduction: Cynthia McKinney.

Harry A Boniface,
Queensland,
Australia

As a Malaysian living in Kuala Lumpur, I have been greatly distressed to read the news that Malaysia-owned palm oil companies are destroying forests and orangutans in Indonesia.
It is shameful, but has yet to make the news in my country where the government
suppresses most of the press.
In fact, palm oil companies here claim not to be harming the environment and orangutans, which as we can see is a blatant lie.
Malaysia is by comparison a very wealthy country, but this wealth clearly comes
at the expense of Indonesia’s once majestic rainforests and magnificent
wildlife.
I urge all of Indonesia to rise up and stop Malaysian palm oil and logging
companies from destroying your environment while there is still a little time
left.
These companies are becoming fabulously wealthy.
Their gains are your losses and your children’s heritage.
It breaks my heart to think a Malaysian palm oil company ordered the execution
of dozens of orangutans.
I only hope the Indonesian government will arrest the bosses of these companies and see to it they are punished in your courts and their company in Indonesia closed down.
There is no excuse for this callous murder. It shows a total disregard and
disrespect for the laws of your country.

Upreshpal Singh,
Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia

I call on the government to amend and regulate laws governing our natural
resources.
Our present laws on mining, oil and gas are weak and do not protect the people
and country.
That is why we get peanuts while investors and shareholders get a big chunk of
the pie.
The government needs to amend the mining, oil and gas acts for the state to get
about 30 percent equity.
The current 19 percent equity is insufficient to meet growing demands for services.
Of the 30 percent , the national government should retain 20 percent with the remainder going to provincial governments, LLGs and landowners of the project area.
This will bring long-term benefits and will shape the future of Papaua New Guinea.
Look at the existing mines such as Ok Tedi, Lihir, Misima and Porgera.
More than half of the people there are still living below UN-mandated poverty
line.
One day, these non-renewable resources will be depleted.
It is no use crying after the resources are gone if the money is not managed and used wisely now.

Joe Wasia,
Madang,
Papaua New Guinea

The International Movement for a Just World (JUST) invites citizens of the world
to join a global campaign aimed at averting a colossal catastrophe in West Asia.
The campaign themed: “No to military intervention in Syria; No to military
strikes against Iran” will mobilise signatures from people in every continent to
demonstrate to the centres of power in the West and their allies and proxies in
West Asia and North Africa (WANA) that any military action by them against Syria and Iran in whatever form or guise is totally unacceptable.
Foreign military intervention in Syria could destabilise the entire region.
Given Basar al-Assad’s opposition to the Israeli occupation of both the Golan
Heights in his own country and Palestine, and to US helmed hegemony over WANA, any attempt to topple his government through external military force will
provoke a strong reaction from groups and governments in a number of
neighbouring countries, apart from Syria itself.
It is quite conceivable that their response will elicit a counter response from
Israel and pro-US regimes in WANA.
The resulting conflict may accentuate the Sunni-Shia fault-line which runs
through a number of countries in WANA and exacerbate the unfolding tussle for
regional supremacy among certain states in the region.
The manipulation of the IAEA’s report on Iran’s nuclear programme which offers
no evidence of any clandestine attempt to manufacture nuclear weapons and the
expansion and intensification of wide-ranging financial and economic sanctions
by the US and the European Union (EU) against Iran, are directed at this goal.
Analysts are convinced that the momentum is being built for a military attack
against Iran.
The consequences of such an attack for the region and the world will be simply
horrendous.
Our opposition to foreign military intervention in Syria goes hand in hand with
our commitment to change through peaceful means.
We renew our call to President Assad, made on a number of occasions, to expedite the implementation of democratic reforms in Syria.
The President should hold dialogues with all advocates of change who eschew
violence.
The killing of peaceful protesters is abhorrent and should be strongly
condemned.
In the case of Iran, it should be totally transparent about its nuclear
programme and remove any suspicion that it is developing nuclear weapons.
The whole of WANA should be a zone free of nuclear weapons.
This means that Israel should immediately eliminate its huge nuclear arsenal. It would be a positive step towards peace in the region.
It is because we choose peace that we reject military intervention in Syria and
military strikes against Iran.
They will only increase the violence and the carnage that has blighted and blood
stained the region for decades.
Thousands and thousands of innocent children, women and men are going to die.
In the name of peace we urge you to join this campaign.
Visit the JUST website
www.just-international.org to sign the online petition.
Persuade your friends and relatives to endorse this call - No to military intervention in Syria; No to military strikes against Iran.

Dr Chandra Muzaffar,
President,
International Movement for a Just World,
Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia

With due respect to Masamichi Yabuki, wartime history is always written by the victors.
Invariably slanted to asuage the conscience of it's political establishment (i.e. it's voters) it is never factually reviewed.
The permanent munitions industry, that forms the nucleus of the military/ industrial/banking complex, by necessity, endlessly decrees an aggressive foreign policy.
The US/Zionist affiliation, as we speak, has created a world of death and destruction with a history laundered to meet the (claimed) compassion of its intellectually captive 'spiritual' majority.
Perhaps 'Occupy Wall Street' may expose this unholy, bloody, alliance to the attention of the muted, unworldly, masses?

Harry A Boniface
Queensland
Australia

It is indeed a sad and tragic irony to find that Indonesia, one of the better experiments at transitioning from authoritarian quasi-one party rule during Orde Baru (new order) toward a healthy democratic nation since Reformasi, is still unable after 13 years to curb religious intolerance.
Otherwise, Indonesia would be a jewel among nations.
Even with all its social and economic challenges of wealth distribution, without an even more important
redistribution of basic human rights among its citizens, it will remain forever
tainted as another “fundamentalist” nation.
We know indeed, that perception to be untrue.
However, the lack of backbone on the part of the central government, in particular that of the Minister of Religious Affairs, only conveys a false vision of tolerance. In the latest ruling on the GKI Yasmin church in Bogor, we see a failure of local government to uphold the citizens’ basic rights; despite a court ruling in favor of the
congregation.
I am a Roman Catholic, and have rarely if at all, experienced any direct
discrimination on account of my beliefs in this wonderful and tolerant country.
My extended family practices several of the faiths recognized and guaranteed by
the Indonesian constitution, including Islam and different sects of Christianity.
However, I do recognize that a gross violation of our citizens’ basic rights to
worship freely and without interruption is being perpetrated not by ordinary
people, but by the very institutions which have sworn to uphold above all laws,
the 1945 Constitution.
Appeasement is the beginning of tyranny.
Thus, if a municipal government as in Bogor thinks it can play a political game of chess by denying some of her citizens their basic rights of worship, then we are all eventually doomed.
For morals and faith is the cornerstone of any society.
If those foundations are not sound, then we have but a facade of a democracy.
Let us hope (and pray, in accordance to our respective beliefs and conscience)
that 2012 will usher a new spirit of tolerance, peace and brotherly love among
all Indonesian citizens, starting from a good example set forth by the Bogor
municipal government to allow the resumption of services in GKI Yasmin church.
When Rosa Parks refused to make way and appease a white passenger who wanted to take her seat on that bus in Montgomery, Alabama, she opened all our eyes.
The same result, we hope, will be achieved as GKI Yasmin church congregation
members continue their refusal to appease an unjust and politically minded local
government.

Mario Vau,
Jakarta,
Indonesia

The collapse of the Kutai Kartanegara Bridge in East Kalimantan is a major disaster that has drawn worldwide attention to one of the biggest problems
Indonesia faces in developing from a Third World country to an emerging
powerhouse in Southeast Asia.
Recently, youth activists from Musi Banyuasin district in South Sumatra demanded
an investigation into alleged corruption in the construction of two bridges that
collapsed less than a year after they were built.
The contractor, a state-owned company, had built the Rp 21.4 billion (US$2.35 million) Ulak Kembang Bridge that collapsed three months earlier killing two people.
The other bridge at Bandarjaya village collapsed a few weeks ago.
Two state-owned companies were jointly awarded a contract in November 2003 to construct 89 kilometers of Jl Lintas Timor from Ketapang to Way Jepara in
Lampung Timur.
The contract was worth US$3.15 million funded by a Japanese grant aid.
Construction time was just over two years with a defects-liability period of
just over a year.
I was a regular visitor to the area as a director of a company managing a sand mining operation and was very impressed with the quality and standard of the work that was supervised by Japanese consultants.
The bridges were standard trans-field design bridges seen all over Indonesia
originally supplied from Australia under an aid grant.
To this day I do not know the reasons why the two government contractors left the project when it was about 50 percent complete.
Perhaps the contractors were forced to go to Aceh to work on rebuilding roads after the tsunami as I am sure they would not have left because there were not being paid.
They didn’t even finish sections of the road and before long much of it was
breaking up.
They built four concrete bridges in the 35-kilometer area I was interested in; and over the next five years three of them collapsed.
The piled abutments at each end of the bridge stayed in place as did the precast bridge beams but the bridge slabs broke up and collapsed.
Whatever the reason it was serious enough that the Japanese never finished the
project which was to be extended to Palembang to connect to some mine-mouth
power stations.
A few years ago, I drove around Southeast Sulawesi for two days because a bridge north of Kendari had collapsed, forcing us to go north and across in order to come down the west coast.
Almost every one of the 25-30 bridges we crossed had greenery in the middle of
it as a sign that parts of it had broken up.
The reinforcing steel was intact but the concrete was breaking away.
The reason for these collapses is quite simply not enough cement in the concrete. Until the relevant powerful people are jailed or powerful companies heavily fined for stealing money from projects, the bridge and road collapses, with resulting deaths, will continue.
The big loss to Indonesia is the loss of efficiency and the extra costs everyone
incurs because of this continuing corrupt activity.

Ken Day,
Jakarta,
Indonesia

This month marks the 70th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack by the
Japanese Imperial Navy.
Last year I learned from a speech by Dr. Shoichi Watanabe, professor emeritus at Sophia University, what American General Douglas MacArthur, who oversaw the allied occupation of Japan after World War II, told the U.S. Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committee in 1951 that "Japan's "purpose ... in going to war was largely dictated by security."
This year, in another speech, Watanabe revealed that he had served as editor at large in the preparation of a Japanese history textbook for junior high school students, and that during the mandatory screening process, the education ministry demanded that the above statement by MacArthur be deleted from the draft of the text before it was published.
I was so surprised and even wondered whether the ministry's inspectors were
really Japanese.
As supreme commander of the allied powers, MacArthur was the de facto
ruler of Japan during the occupation period.
Shouldn't the historical view of such a person be known more widely?

Masamichi Yabuki,
Tokyo,
Japan

I read with great interest “Better healthcare for all” The Star, December 3. Our present system is good compared with that in some of the developed and
developing countries.
What is even better is that in spending only 4.75 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on total healthcare (public and private) in 2009, we have equally good health outcomes.
Health Director-General Datuk Seri Dr Hasan Abdul Rahman stated that the
Government spends only 55 percent of the total expenditure while 45 percent is from private funding.
That means that government expenditure is only about 3 percent of GDP.
This is far from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) average of 9.7 percent.
There is no guarantee that transforming the whole system to an NHS-like system
will improve things.
It is absolutely vital that the government of the day places more emphasis on, and gives more money to provide, good healthcare for a stronger workforce so that we have a healthy workforce to achieve Vision 2020.
It is important to note that all health insurance systems work on rationing
care.
The system provider has to see which condition to re-imburse and which not
to re-imburse.
That means that some conditions will not be covered.
That is how costs are cut to pay for the management overhead of the insurance providers.
Healthcare providers get more forms to fill, and the National Health Financing
Authority gets more staff to push more papers.
Administrative costs will rise, commensurate with administrative paperwork, which usually results in delay in providing care.
It was also not pointed out that, with this transformation, more money has to be
collected from the rakyat.
What the Health DG is saying is that the tax that we are providing now is
insufficient (although we are only using 2.5 percent of government revenue on
healthcare), and so more money has to come from the rakyat (in the form of
direct or indirect taxation).
The money to be raised, RM35bil to RM40bil, will be parked in a national
healthcare financing mechanism for use in a transformed healthcare system.
The bottomline is the Government wishes to privatise healthcare delivery.
How much of this RM35bil-RM40bil will be directly translated into actual
healthcare delivery is our big question.
We note that the present healthcare system, though good by all measures, does
have deficiencies that need to be corrected.
It is clear that the government of the day will need to increase healthcare
allocation from the current less than 5 percent of GDP to the WHO recommended or OECD country average of 8 percent -9 percent.
There is a need to urgently improve the present public healthcare system – e.g.
heart bypass for the ordinary folk cannot have a waiting time of six months or
more, the old who are blind from cataract cannot be made to wait until they have
enough money to buy their own lens implant.
These are basic needs that privatisation cannot address.
The challenge is to deliver better healthcare for the achievement of Vision 2020
at no greater expense to the rakyat by first plugging the leakages in the system
and improving public sector delivery.
Healthcare is the responsibility of the Government and should not be privatised.
It is also an inalienable human right. It is not a privilege.
Fix what is broken, not break up what is working.

Dr Ng Swee Choon,
Medical Affairs Committee,
Federation of Private Medical Practitioner’s Association of Malaysia,
Kuala Lumpa,
Malaysia

The nationwide democracy party general elections is still three years away.
But the hype and euphoria can easily be sensed already.
Setiono Sugiharto in his opinion piece in The Jakarta Post published on November 27 mentions some notable hype and a discourse on Tanoesoedibjo’s decision to join Nasdem Party with Surya Paloh. Setiono elaborates nicely on how this joint of powerful media moguls could create vast-coverage manipulation through the utilization of the media.
The media is however a powerful institution that can be used to “control” and
“manufacture consent” among its audience.
Herman and Chomsky, two prominent communications researchers, have synthesized propaganda models.
In their book, Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass Media, Herman and Chomsky (1988) formulate five filters that may influence the overall work of the media.
One out of five is the ownership of the media. Media owners have the
power to shape the output of the media they control.
They own all the rights beyond the editor and media workers.
Having said that, if we discern the partnership of Harry and Surya, we need to
be radically alerted.
Here are the wizards who could hypnotize us with the “petrificus totalus” (Harry Potter’s spell to freeze others) spell.
Another scary thing is that meticulous research conducted by Febri Nurrahmi
(2010) found that Indonesian constituents made their choices in the 2009
election mainly by taking a peripheral route.
This means they voted on the basis of the candidates’ prominence in media, the candidate’s outlook, and whether or not they were charismatic enough.
That is not a good way to select a leader.
The spell the “wizards” cast on us could successfully hypnotize the helpless
audience.
Not to say the audience is passive, but finding pure reality within the storm of political spells is inevitably difficult.
In the end, everyone should bear in mind that general elections are the very
foundation of Indonesian democracy.
It is our responsibility to have ourselves reminded to not believe in political illusions, although it seems hard to put this into practice.

Gilang Reffi Hernanda,
Media studies student,
Jakarta

I refer to an article on page 3 of Saturday’s The Jakarta Post 3 December titled “Government to seal arms deal”.
Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro said: “We will buy a main battle tank.”
Thank God our visionary leaders are not asleep at the switch!
We trust that Purnomo did not mean only one main battle tank - the Indonesian
Military (TNI) must have hundreds of them to fend off such well-documented
threats to Indonesia.
Also, it would be sensible for the government to look into the possibility of
acquiring battleships from the US and Europe, B1 bombers from the US, and
nuclear weapons from North Korea to deal with such threats.
There are those who would say that such threats are imaginary, that asymmetric
warfare is what Indonesia must be equipped to meet and that main battle tanks
are not what Indonesia needs to deal with violence carried out in the name of
religion, to eliminate poverty, to stop terrorists and to wipe out corruption.
We say “nonsense”; the military is the answer to everything!

Will Jourdin,
Ubud,
Bali

Re: ''Murder suspects to be extradited'' in The Bangkok Post, December 1.
Defence lawyers are often known for their ridiculous pleas, but the one
referring to two Thai murder suspects being held in Melbourne and their fear of
being sent to a Third World jail if convicted, is hilarious.
If jailed in Melbourne, they would be housed in single cells with own shower and
a colour TV.
The day-room consists of table tennis, computer games, washing and drying machines, etc.
Breakfast is self-serve continental, lunch is light and would consist of hamburger with french fries and salad, and the evening meal would be one of four choices which would have been selected one week prior.
There is a gymnasium, running track, choice of work with pay, library, etc.
Indeed, things are a little different from the jail they would be housed in if
they were convicted in Thailand.

Brian Forlonge,
Nakhon Ratchasima,
Thailand

I took a Can Tho - Ca Mau bus, being told that it would drop passengers at Tra
Men bus depot in Soc Trang on its way.
We were advised that the bus was going to leave ‘in a minute’, but as expected,
it didn’t really leave until about 60 minutes later.
We also expected and accepted that this may be the last bus to Soc Trang, so they would need to gather as many passengers as possible.
They were aiming for thirty something passengers on a seventeen-seat mini bus, five per three seats.
Frustrated, we all waited, stinking from built up sweat by the sixteen or so passengers, bones almost crushed against each others’ as the bus drivers continued to gather and pack more passengers, swearing if any passenger dared to protest.
Soon after the bus left the depot, one of the passengers asked to be dropped off
at Tra Men bus depot, as a reminder.
The ‘lo xe’ (the foul mouthed fare and passenger collector) instantly declared that the bus could only drop us at the official drop off point, not the depot, as they would be fined, and their license would be suspended.
At this point I asked myself ‘what license?
If you could get away with such dirty business, the Can Tho bus depot clearly seems to let you get away with it?.
Dissatisfied, the passenger protested, claiming that she was promised that she
was to be dropped off at the depot.
The ‘lo xe’ vehemently denied she ever promised such thing, as if it was the absolute truth.
Both passenger and ‘lo xe’ believed they were right, so neither one gave in.
So, while the bus was in full speed, because they were running late (takes no brain to work out why we were late), loud arguments erupted, first with just loud voices, then quickly using severe foul language, the worst they could dig out, cursing each other and their families.
Other commuters passed by looking curiously at our bus, as it sped and rocked
from the violence inside.
Meanwhile, the other passengers tried to calm this angry passenger down, but she would not give in.
Why should she, she was in the right, and good on her for sticking to her guns.
I was coward, keeping quiet, feeling helpless and growing angrier at the bus operator’s cowboy behavior.
I knew the bus operators were blatantly lying and bullying the passengers into
following their orders.
But seeing how aggressive they were right from the beginning, there is no telling what they are capable of when they are angered.
The bus driver stopped the bus, walked around, and together with the ‘lo xe’
attempted to pull the complaining passenger out of the bus, in the middle of
nowhere, where she could possibly be left stranded over night, with her
grandchild.
The passenger would not relent, refusing to leave her seat (if you could call it a seat), a violent fight almost erupted, if not for other passengers intervening.
After the bus continued, the argument still brewed and soon became a loud argument again between the disgruntled passenger and the ‘lo xe’.
The bus stopped again, I thought this time the passenger was going to get a
severe beating, but the bus driver and the ‘lo xe’ decided to repay the
passenger her fare and order her to get off the bus; of course, not without
cursing her and her family.
The bus continued on with the journey.
What saddened and angered me more was that other passengers were teaming up with the driver and ‘lo xe’, condemning the passenger for being unreasonable, causing disruption and delays.
I knew my fate with this unforgettable journey the moment I stepped onto this minibus: there was no company name, there was no clear time of departure, the bus team loitering around the bus, hungrily grabbing commuters by the arm, not calling out to them, but physically forcing them to take their bus.
The signs were all there, and I still decided to board this bus as I was desperate to get home that night to Soc Trang.
So I accepted it, but this kind of violence, between the driver and vulnerable
passengers, this disregard for passengers’ lives and safety is unacceptable in
any kind of civilized society.
I thought seriously about reporting the matter to the police, but considering
how blasé the Can Tho bus officials were toward illegal bus operators like
these, I doubt anything would be done anyway.
But it is alarming to think of what could happen if these gangster-type operations are allowed to continue.
Who will the passengers turn to for help when they are left stranded in the middle
of nowhere (as with many cases that I have heard of), or when they face violence
and aggression by the operators?
I send this in the hope that your paper can help vulnerable passengers seek some
sort of justice when forced to endure such behavior.
In other countries, passengers, as with customers, are gods.
Here, apparently, passengers are often at the mercy of the drivers.
I also send this hoping to warn other unsuspecting tourists and expats to stay away from such kinds of buses, to avoid undesirable and possibly life threatening mishaps.

Kylie McDonald,
Ho Chi Minh City,
Vietnam

There is a misconception of sports in Indonesia, and more especially
in soccer-matters, as middle-class people seem so enthusiastic concerning a
sport controlled by the upper class for a single target: to make money in a
strange tango between media, business and politics.
But in talking about sports and only sports, it seems that the middle class is
“mentally hypnotized by western circus sport games”, and prefers supporting
third tier teams (the Indonesian soccer team is ranked 144th in FIFA) and
raising up this entertainment to the level of religion rather than really
understanding that sport should be firstly educative and be open for everyone as
a developing educative vector.
Today, we see this is not the case by the lack of decent infrastructure everywhere and for everyone in throughout the country, the lack of ambition to set up decent sports education at schools (is it normal to see young school students in sporting uniform running with their teachers along the road, through the automotives and pollution?), the lack of organization to develop each federation (by academia, by selection, competition and to develop strong emulation), the lack of judgment to promote sports for health and the good feelings it can bring (as the tobacco industry can do, spreading its message through every media), the lack of elevation to manage the elite athletes for performing well at the world level (and not only cheering them during regional events such as the SEA Games), the lack of clarity to promote former athletes to national trainers or federation presidents and the lack of ambition to position sport as a national development barometer.
We know that the Indonesian democracy is struggling to develop quick and fast
transportation infrastructure such as a fast train network, motorways, huge
harbor facilities and decent airports, struggling to invest in mines to feed its
growing industry, struggling to stabilize an efficient agriculture and fish
industry in spite of environment instability.
But the government seems to forget that education is the key to the future and sport is one of the major issues.
That’s why, today, as the country is emerging, it is ironic that Indonesian
sport results are worsening.
Far from any gentle judgments, please consider the following questions:
How many medals has Indonesia targeted for next year’s Olympic Games in London?
What would be the results between the “wonderful U-23 young soccer Garudas” and the U-23 equivalent of the German, Italian or Argentinean teams?
When was the last time an Indonesian soccer team qualified for the World Cup?
Is the badminton federation as successful as it was a few years ago?
Why does this federation not follow the international rules (for instance in counting the points)?
Who knows Eko Yuli Irawan, a weightlifter, who is hoping for gold in London?
Why, in a country with 250 million people, can we not generate decent tennis
players?
What is the true meaning of sports in Indonesia?
Cheering a team on TV or at the stadium, or allowing athletic pursuit from nine
to 90 years old?

Olivier Bédus,
Bandung,
Indonesia

I refer to the article: “To Indonesia: Step up and end systematic abuses in West Papua”, in The Jakarta Post, November. 18, 2011.
Don’t start to talk about racism and Papua here.
This is all about money - nothing else.
We don’t have slavery-because-your-skin-is-darker or my ethnicity-is-better-than-yours attitudes and all that racial junk.
What we have in Papua is an area that has been left undeveloped for decades and
its people are unsatisfied by that.
Underline this, more to come.
And you say, “West Papuans have suffered blatant human rights abuses including extrajudicial executions, imprisonment, environmental degradation, natural resource exploitation and commercial dominance of immigrant communities.”
I can’t say anything about first two (in cases of separatist group, there were
probably military counterattacks) - but as for the last three?
Do you know the real problem?
Is it environmental degradation, natural resource exploitation or commercial dominance of immigrant communities?
The giant-gold mining US company is the problem.
And with all the skyrocketing gold prices and only 1 percent given to the Indonesia (and Freeport workers paid US$2.10 an hour), I’ll say you hit the nail on the head when you mention “exploitation”, only it’s the exploitation of another party.
And it’s not like Indonesia hasn’t tried to settle this economic and development
problem in Papua.
We’ve tried to implement what’s called “special autonomy” but it has not worked because the local government in Papua (consisting of local leaders taking the money for themselves instead of using it to develop the land) is what we call “corrupt”.
But I guess, blaming the root problem on skin color and the fact that Papuans
“differ racially, culturally and ethnically from the majority of Indonesians”
and “all that about African descent bits” is easier than to scold a company
about exploitation and environmental issues right?
I wonder how much Freeport sales and tax has contributed in the US, for decades.

Elaska,
Jakarta,
Indonesia

Subsequently to the indiscriminate 'blowing up' of the King David Hotel, Jerusalem in 1946 by the pre-Israel Irgun gang, we have witnessed other cold blooded parallels designed to 'concentrate the minds' of recalcitrant (democratic) governments that do not heed the draconian Zionist dictates.
"Uncensored" reports establish that the pro-Israeli Anders Bearing Brevik assassination, in Norway, of 68 young persons peacefully demonstrating against the inhuman Israeli incarceration of the entire Palestinian nation presents the same subversive 'fingerprints' as that on the bombing of the Norwagian PM's office in Oslo in July causing eight civilian deaths and the 9/11 demolitions in New York in 2001 causing thousands of casualties.
Both functions represent an ominous 'message from Tel Aviv'.
These crimes against humanity were/are premeditated.
Surely, it is no coincidence that Brevik has now been found to be 'of unsound mind'; presumably, to be 'processed' through (selective/official) psychiactric care, 'cured' and (ultimately) released?
Quite obviously, the goyim is readily expendable.
Google:- " The Uncensored News" The Oslo Attacks - Another False Flag

Harry A Boniface
Queensland
Australia.

During the Apec sideline in Honolulu, Hawaii, South Korean President Lee Myung-bak held talks with Prime Minister Peter O’Neill on November 12.
The main agenda was mainly economic cooperation.
South Korea and Papua New Guinea complement, not compete against each other in international economy.
South Korea has increasing stakes in the development of energy, farming, fishery and other sectors in a mutually beneficial way.
As a nation which has gone through rapid transformation in recent decades,
South Korea has deep understanding and experience of other developing nations.
At the moment, bilateral trade volume is modest, yet in increasing trend.
The main items South Korea imports from Papua New Guinea are copper, timber and coffee.
The activities of South Korean companies in Papua New Guinea are limited, except for the electricity generation by Kanudi power plant run by Hanjung Power Co, which has supplied 24MW in and around NCD for the past decade.
A South Korean fishing company plans to acquire land in Lae to build a tuna
processing factory.
The Pacific Ocean is very important fishing ground for the deep sea fishing
industry.
With regard to the LNG development, South Korean companies have been
participating in the bidding and in consultation with concerned government
bodies and Petromin.
The ecofriendly natural gas consumption has been steadily rising in South
Korea, amounting to 14 percent of the total energy consumption.
The location of Papua New Guinea is comparatively more favourable than the Middle East, the main provider of LNG to South Korea.
The cassava plantation by Changhae Tapioca Co has gone on for several years,
seeking to further expand the farmland.
The two leaders discussed these and other related issues and how South Korean
companies can engage themselves at the bright economic development stages of
Papua New Guinea.
The South Korean president has had personal experience with Papua New Guinea while engaging in the construction of Yonki dam and hydropower plant as part of the Hyundai Construction Co a long time ago.
His personal touch and attention to the enhanced cooperation between the two
countries will bear plentiful fruit in the near future.

Lee Whie-jin
South Korean
Ambassador to Papua New Guinea

The amoral, physical, psychological and economic havoc being wrought upon the people of the world attracts closer scrutiny as to the actual origins, and the ultimate purpose, of this deadly assault.
In Australia, where 70 percent of media ownership is controlled by Zionist financiers, certain contentious factual subjects - uncomplimentary to the Zionist State of Israel and the military/industrial/banking complex - would (usually) never see the light of day.
But, since the exposure of the UK scandal and the alleged involvement of NEWS LTD staff (viz Newsof the World) the strict regimen of its' international editorial policy seems to have been 'laundered' and relaxed.
As a consequence, a more contentious, though cosmetic, wind pervades the corridors of news (as we know it) ; indicating a quickened public pulse throbbing through the columns of Letters to the Editor.
By comparison, the generous pages of the Southeast Asian Times remains a breath-of-fresh-air as readers and contributors enjoy an unabridged public version of events.
Refreshingly, the Maurice Horsburgh letter (24/11) offers the fruits of his indepth research the presence of agents of secret societies who, surreptitiously, infiltrate strategic government administrations ; to expose the face that western 'democratic governance' is a farce ; a facade ; to recognise a false flag as subterfuge and subservience.
Australia, in reality, has sold off 85 percent of its resources to foreign interests which, surely, now makes us tenants in our own country; subsisting on the financial 'crumbs' swept from the table of the multi-national landlords?
Proud to be Australian? - well, 15 percent anyway.

Harry A Boniface
Queensland
Australia

Like Indonesia and China, I would be very concerned about the
presence of US troops and “stations” across north Australia and I do not like
the arrogant tone that is being conveyed to China that the US needs to be in the
region to ensure that it conducts itself responsibly as a future Super Power.
It certainly will create tension and enhance mistrust toward Australia, making
us very vulnerable!
How would Australians feel if China decided to align itself with Indonesia, if
it sent its troops, conducted joint military exercises, as well as stationed its
fighter planes etc., and a navy to West Timor?
As an Australian citizen of a democratic parliamentary system, I demand that, we
who elect those in the government must have the opportunity to debate this issue
rigorously!
It is too serious an issue to just leave this in the hands of just those few!
I am really surprised by Barack Obama’s stern tone.
I really thought that he was a man who promoted harmonious relations and intercultural respect!
Isn’t it high time we started learning from history and reoriented our energies
toward building bridges that promote harmony and peace, toward collaborative
economic/resource-sharing futures!
It’s the only choice we have now, as I would hate to think what the outcome of World War III would be?

Albertina Banks,
Jakarta,
Indonesia

“Please, never underestimate the Papuan people,” said Franklin Ramses Burumi, the talented young sprinter and Papuan native who has contributed three gold medals to Indonesia’s tally in track and field at the 26th SEA Games in Palembang, South Sumatra.
I believe he did not intend to be arrogant because he also represented his
fellow Papuans.
His message tried to remind us of these forgotten people.
I definitely agree with him. I would say that we should see Papuans as important
as other people and treat them with honor and respect.
Papua has been a troubled province over the past few months. Bloodshed occurred following a massive strike at PT Freeport Indonesia. Then, violence reared its head following the third Papuan’s People Congress in Abepura.
But Papuan athletes have shone brightly in this sporting competition.
They have contributed greatly to promoting the name of Indonesia in sports. During the past decade the country has had almost nothing to be proud of.
“I tried to stay focused on defending the red and white squad. I wanted to help Indonesia win gold,” said Franklin’s fellow Papuan Titus Bonai, who is now a rising star of Indonesia’s soccer squad.
We have to be aware of the performance of Papuan athletes.
It must be a wake up call for us, especially for Indonesia’s elites, to send a sign that Papua really exists.
When our dignity as a nation has dropped to its lowest point because of the disgraceful actions of our elites, sport has often become a savior, serving
to unite Indonesians and raise their pride.
During the SEA Games, glittering athletes from Papua have surprised us. Unfortunately, sinful elites look at Papua and the only thing they see that glitters is the province’s gold.
Not only have Papuans shown their quality in sport, but they have also proven
that they are indeed a black pearl from the east that is still able to shine
despite life in the motherland not being as glittering as the gold they own.
Those who love this country must surely also love Papua and will defend it as
part of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI).
However, we should not forget what happened with Timor Leste, the former 27th province of Indonesia that separated from us in 1999.
Papua bears similarities with Timor Leste in that it has experienced oppression,
poverty and injustice, despite it being granted special autonomy status.
Do we think that Timor Leste’s déjà vu is an absurdity?
Are we overconfident that the snow ball is not already rolling and will not run over us?
Moreover, Papua has more abundant natural resources than Timor Leste, which
should boost its confidence.
It will make our sleep restless every night before it is settled amicably.
And it will never be settled amicably with guns.
To be frank and honest, we need Papua more than Papua needs us.
Perhaps if Papua separated it might even become more advanced than Indonesia in the future, with its soccer team enjoying international success, while Indonesia still struggles with corruption, deception and hypocrisy.

Titus Jonathan,
Serpong,
Banten,
Indonesia

Recently I attended an event in Nusa Dua where 10 defense ministers from the Association Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries met ahead of the ASEAN gathering this week.
Security was in sight, but calm.
Media stayed behind established lines and all was going swimmingly - that is until US security services for US defense secretary Leon Panetta arrived on the scene. Here came the bully boys in their suits and sunglasses (indoors), walkie-talkies
and a serious dose of paranoia.
At one point, these guys (who looked like the Beagle Boys of Donald Duck fame)
bodily lifted a Japanese cameraman up off his feet, pushed his camera into his
face and whispered very threateningly into his ear.
Earlier, a US cameraman had taken up position on the wrong side of the red line
separating press and defense ministers - he was embedded with Panetta’s
entourage.
Without even looking at other camera guys trying to do their job and get a shot, the US chap raised a mighty big camera and blocked all views.
Mayhem ensued as the earlier well-behaved camera crews pushed over the red line and a peaceful mob of photojournalists turned into an all-in scrum.
Standing back, I thought “this is how wars start” - some arrogant, pushy bully
comes into a pack (the US camera boy in this instance) and all negotiation flies
out the window.
Back to the security bully boys pushing and shoving Indonesian citizens along
with the occasional Japanese crew member, one Indonesian female journalist said
she also had been almost knocked over and was pushed and threatened at an
earlier event by these bullies - sorry, there is no other term for them.
Just who do these people think they are and do they not realize they were in a
foreign country where respect for one’s hosts should have been in evidence, but
was certainly not.
The US security mob took over the venue just like they were back in Alabama in
the 1960’s.
This week, airplanes arriving and taking off from Ngurah Rai International
Airport, currently a base for US President Barack Obama’s visit, will be running
an expected 45 minutes late impacting many people flying.
Excuse me!
Why should the public be expected to alter their travel arrangements out of Indonesia for an American?
Are we not of equal value to Obama?
It only gets worse with the announcement that 2,500 US soldiers will soon set up a base in Darwin, Australia, with the blessing of Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard.
Both the US and Australia really need to take a second look at the world and
their place in it.
Australia is a bit of a small player of just over 20 million people down under Asia proper, and this tiny nation would be wise to engage fully and respectfully with Asia rather than rebuild its former Yellow Peril paranoia as its opening the way for a US base in strategic Darwin suggests.
As for the US, some introspection and, yes, that word again, respect for Asia
and Asia’s people, their sovereign rights, and these nation’s abilities to negotiate their own border agreements is much needed.
And perhaps some reading of history, too.
Asian cultures have been around for thousands of years, and have pretty much seen it all.
Australia and the US, as colonized nations, are still deeply immature adolescents on the world stage.
Someone please send them to their rooms to get on with their homework.

Trisha,
Bali

Re letter 17/11, " Australia tied to US alliance" from Adam Bonner, offers further sobering thought regarding repercussions from the 'permanent presence', within the Australian Northern Territory, of aggressive US fighting forces.
( With respect, may I take a liberty here of suggesting a more inclusive title to his missive , " the US/Israeli alliance" as being more alarming and realistic)?
As the world's economic threads unravel as a consequence of the Wall Street/Zionist 'banksters' toxic rampages, our government reassures us that our personal fortunes remain secure.
But, unbiased/informed opinion strongly suggests that we are not necessarily immune from the highly infectious P.I.G.S ( Portugal, Ireland, Greece, Spain) bankruptsy epidemic.
That being the case, would any civic insurrection within this country, as a reaction to disasterous political/economic collusion with foreign banks, ever expect to witness Australian infantry confronting their countrymen - and women ?
I would think not, but a permanent detachment of foreign forces would have no compunction of doing to us what they have done elsewhere.
The US/Israeli military 'democratic presence' has always been hallmarked by the residue of political instablity, social chaos, ruined infrastructure and the appointment of accommodating bureaucratic puppets.
Yes folks, the US/Israel lobby has come to 'save' us.

Harry A Boniface,
Queensland,
Australia

Malaysia is a land of opportunity for many around the globe, but at the same
time there are unscrupulous individuals taking advantage of the privileges.
We have seen busts by our enforcement on drug mules, human trafficking, loan
sharks, illegal money lenders, illegal housemaid supplying syndicates, illegal
logging syndicates, sand theft syndicates, commercial sex industry suppliers,
beggar syndicates, transborder crime and now forex cheating syndicates , “Forex
con” in The Star, November 18.
Malaysia’s socio-economic development over the last two decades has been
attracting many foreigners and locals to seek better-paid jobs or be involved in
business activities, taking advantage of the current strategic initiatives such
as the Economic Transformation Programme and the visa-waiver programme among Asean countries.
And, the unscrupulous and greedy take advantage of this.
All the stakeholders in the country have a role to play to reduce the problem.
Statistics show that the number of undocumented illegal immigrants entering
Malaysia has increased over the last 10 years.
Foreign beggars account for 80 percent of all beggars picked up.
Most of the human trafficking cases are the work of syndicates, which are
usually well linked to other international cartels.
The syndicates also use Malaysia as a transit country.
The efforts to strengthen Malaysia’s cooperation and coordination at all levels,
both within countries and across boarders can definitely help Malaysia take a
zero tolerance against these syndicates.

Dr Shankar Chelliah,
George Town,
Malaysia

Re: ''National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) to resume Rangsit operations within 2 weeks'' in The Bangkok Post, November 13.
The report carries information which could mislead readers about the severity of the flooding at our facility, the Thailand Science Park.
It exaggerates the facts about our concerns, translating them into confirmed damage to the bio-organism culture collection centre (BCC), which is not at all the case.
National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) was surrounded by water since October 22.
Thats 19 days on the interview date not ''submerged for almost a month'' as stated.
None of our buildings were flooded, with the exception of one basement.
I did not say anything about ''average flood level'', reported as ''an average level of 60cm'', as that would have been meaningless.
At the maximum flooding on October 25, about 20 percent of our roads were under water.
All of our campus roads are dry now, except for the main entrance which, being the lowest part, is about 80cm below water.
That portion constitutes about 1percent of the whole area.
National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) ordered staff not to enter the Science Park since Oct 13, well before the flooding, for the safety of staff and for on-campus construction of water barriers.
Our staff were allowed to work online from our city offices and from home.
Electrical power supply to the Science Park has been out since October 22.
We managed to obtain a proper stand-by power service, essential for maintaining temperatures at the bio-organism culture collection centre and the ongoing biological research located in Biotec building.
The bio-organism culture collection centre (BCC) is among the most valuable properties in the Science Park and has been treasured for decades.
There was a risk of losing our cultures if we failed to provide power to the freezers and supplementary liquid nitrogen.
We were back on the main power on November 9.
I did say, ''Many of them are rare species, which we have kept for more than a decade.''
But I did not say, ''We have lost many of them.''
I was informed that on October 17, Biotec relocated the freezers that were used to store cultures to our Soi Yothi facility on Rama VI Road.
The remaining culture storage was preserved in a critical cooling system with liquid nitrogen in Biotec building at Science Park during the power outage.
Due to this special care, I am able to confirm that no bio-organisms from our culture collection have been lost.

Thaweesak Koanantakool,
President,
National Science and Technology Development Agency
Bangkok,
Thailand

A few days before Indonesia entered Papua, president Sukarno proudly
announced the handing over of control of this territory to Indonesia.
Following the announcement and as seen from a film recording of this event, a respectful but timid applause filled the room.
Clearly, the majority of people present didn’t know how to react to this “news”.
Basically, Sukarno’s speech meant the Dutch were out and Indonesians were in.
In 1967, Sukarno fell at the hands of one of his confidants and his “guided
democracy” was replaced with Soeharto’s New Order.
For more than three decades the new strong man ruled the country with an iron fist, Papua included.
Soeharto was heavily backed by America and he and his cronies had a free hand in running Indonesia the way they saw fit.
PT Freeport Indonesia, the Indonesian unit of Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc., commenced mining operations in the Puncak Jaya Carstens region in 1972 and in 1988 discovered the Grasberg mine.
The Grasberg mining district was found to contain the world’s largest recoverable copper reserve and largest gold reserve.
Under its agreement with Jakarta, Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. pays a so-called “royalty” and PT Freeport Indonesia reported that it has paid US$678 million to the government in financial obligations for its first-quarter
operations in 2011.
After 32 years of the New Order regime, on May 21, 1998, Soeharto was finally
forced to stand down and Indonesia made a long anticipated transition from junta
to “democracy”.
After 32 years of New Order, Indonesian politicians now had to get used to being part of a government based on democratic principles and values.
All who fought for “freedom of speech” embraced Indonesia’s democracy and they all had high hopes for a better life for all Indonesians, including the Papuans,
whom, by the power of America’s policy of divide and conquer, were now
Indonesians too.
Little could they know that corruption and mismanagement would reach even higher levels of sophistication than in the days of the New Order regime.
On Oct. 23, 2011, US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta aired his support for
Indonesia’s strong stand against Papuan separatists.
Perhaps a clever move and certainly before he sells the heavily outdated F16 fighter jets to Indonesia, Panetta surely had to be careful with what he said with respect to Papua.
However, his remarks, it seems, gave Indonesia’s armed forces the impression
that they were backed (again) by America and that they could use all necessary
means to brutally crack down on any form of opposition and free speech in Papua.
Meanwhile, as always, the US hides under the skirt of hypocrisy.
Panetta’s remarks do not contribute to solving any basic problem in Papua and
like most American politicians, Panetta truly thinks he can be an expert on
anything that goes on in the world — including in Indonesia or Papua.
He now urges the independence movement to seek a negotiated settlement.
America and politicians like Panetta truly have no place in the discussions on
Papua other than perhaps as part of a global audience.
The Arab Spring is proof that the world is watching and if Indonesia wants to be
respected globally and wants to be part of the “new world” it has to get its act
together and start acting wisely by first rejecting America’s policy mantra of
divide and conquer.

Dennis G. Kloeth,
Tengerang,
Banten,
Indonesia

The announcement by the Federal Labor Government that US occupation
forces shall be permanently stationed in Darwin is a betrayal of this country’s
sovereignty and a further undermining of our independence.
It is one thing to be on good terms with a foreign country like the United
States, but it is quite another to allow them to place their military forces
here permanently.
International circumstances are not set in concrete.
Good relations can change.
We should never allow a foreign country to be in a position whereby they could launch an attack against us from within.
Our willingness to please the US has become sycophantic subservience.
For example, involvement in unjust wars like Vietnam, Iraq and our ongoing
occupation of Afghanistan demonstrates not only a heinous lack of morality but a
misunderstanding of what it means to be an ally.
A good ally is not one that goes blindly into war simply because a “friend” asks
or says it is necessary.
It is far better to say to that friend: “I respectfully disagree”.
Acting like a puppet doesn’t encourage mutual respect, only a belief that the puppeteer can pull the strings when necessary.
For far too long, Australian governments of both persuasions have bent over
backwards to placate and bolster a foreign alliance in the erroneous belief that
it guarantees our protection.
We did the same with Great Britain prior to the Second World War.
Instead of learning from that experience and proudly moving toward greater independence and self-sufficiency, we opted for the easier route of replacing one supposed protector with another - from one sugar daddy (Great Britain) to the next (United States).
Australia should strive to be on good terms with all nations, but be prepared to
defend ourselves and our allies if necessary against any unjust invader.
Instead, we have become an unjust invader and convinced ourselves, or turned a
blind eye to the enormity of our lack of righteousness.
We have done this through the prism of the US alliance and the chest thumping nationalism associated with the motto “our troops right or wrong”.
Allowing foreign forces of any persuasion to permanently locate here, not only
places us at risk if relations should turn sour, but sends the wrong message to
other nations, particularly those in our region.
It tells them we are still in the pocket of the US.
We don’t need to do this!
We can have an alliance with the US built on mutual respect for our common beliefs, without sacrificing our self-respect and sovereignty.

Adam Bonner,
Meroo Meadow,
New South Wales,
Australia

I am writing in reply to “Australia’s double standards complicate
Bali boy’s drug case” in The Jakarta Post, November 7.
These are sensitive matters and it’s important to get the facts right.
Firstly, the case involving the Australian minor in Bali has not been “made all
the more complex” by Australian policies to curb people smuggling.
These two issues are separate.
In the case of the 14-year-old Australian boy in Bali, the Australian government
is providing consular support to the child and his family - as any government
would.
We are grateful for the sensitive treatment that the Indonesian legal system has
afforded this young Australian.
We respect Indonesia’s laws and judicial processes.
This is a complex case which may take time to resolve and we appreciate the effort by local authorities to
process this case quickly.
Secondly, we totally reject claims of double standards toward Indonesians
detained in Australia.
Once again, the facts are important.
People smuggling is a crime both in Australia and Indonesia.
But if Indonesians who work as crew on people smuggling vessels are found to be
minors, they will be returned to Indonesia without being charged.
Fact: 77 Indonesian minors have been sent home since September 2008.
Fact: Australia does not have any Indonesians in jail in Australia who a court
has determined are minors.
Fact: there are some 25 Indonesian nationals who are currently claiming to be
minors before the courts in Australia for their involvement in people smuggling.
If the courts find they are under 18 years of age, they too will be sent home as
quickly as possible.
Australia cooperates closely with Indonesia on consular issues and appreciates
it too works hard for Indonesians facing trouble abroad.

Ray Marcelo.
Spokesperson Australian Embassy,
Jakarta,
Indonesia

Education is an important part of birth control.
Without informing the poor about the importance of a one child policy, the lower social classes will keep on breeding like rabbits.
They have practically no money to feed their big families, so how can they be expected to buy birth control pills?
Soeharto was very successful in curbing the population because he sent thousands
into the field to educate the poor - especially in rural areas.
Free birth control pills were handed out to them for years.
TV sets were distributed to village heads where TV programs showed the
population the importance of birth control.
Moreover, the clergy serving religions were urged to inform their congregations about birth control.
I have not seen anything similar during President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s tenure.
The population just keeps growing disproportionately.
Only giant billboards urging the people to plan small families are put up in a few spots along busy toll roads - so who is going to read those?
Drivers are too busy watching traffic.
SBY’s family planning policies are a big failure.
So far, nobody is being sent to rural or slum areas.
Those working for the Family Planning bureau are just sitting on their butts doing nothing but gossiping and collecting their monthly salaries. Nobody goes into the field anymore to educate the poor, and there are no more free birth control pills and condoms being distributed.
Nowadays, only the educated prefer to have one child, and quite a few young
middle class couples have decided to have none - they prefer to travel and see
the world rather than spent their incomes on children.
Some prefer to take care of their expensive lapdogs instead of having children. But this is just a tiny percentage of the population.
It is not too late to restart Soeharto’s birth control policies in this country.
SBY, why don’t you use his family planning policies instead of only putting up
gigantic, useless billboards?

Lynna,
Bogor,
West Java,
Indonesia

In relation to the article titled “Gaming instinct: Growing casino industry in Philippines” in the Philippine Inquirer 23 October 2011 which is about the seriously erosive effect of the culture of gambling on the moral values of our people, here is an excerpt from a letter in the University of Santo Tomas Archives.
The letter tells about the game of chance known as “metua,” which was played during the Chinese New Year in “Parian” or “Chinatown” (Binondo, Manila) in the 1600s. “Metua” ultimately disappeared.
So, why can’t “jueteng”?
The letter, dated August 30, 1699 (translated by me from Spanish), was written by Fray Juan de Paz, O.P., from Manila.
“A Royal Decree dated 10 June 1679 instructed the government of these islands not to allow the Sangleys [Chinese] to play the ‘metua’ except on their New Year…"
In a journal by Fray Alberto Collares found in the rectory of Chinatown, the
following is recorded:
‘Today, 6 May 1664, the Sangleys staged a revolt, which
was occasioned mainly by the public games in this Chinatown. Those who lost became so angry and so desperate that they instigated the uprising. I have witnessed three revolts during my 31 years of stay in these islands, and all of them were staged by Sangleys who had lost the game and had ended up dirt poor…"
Some of the Sangleys who came to this land carried enormous amounts of money
loaned to them by mandarins and other wealthy men in China.
They lost this money in the games during their New Year and they did not dare to go back to China, because they feared for their lives.
They stayed here and became christians, but with little faith, as can be suspected from the speed with which they decided to become such.
There were also Sangleys who borrowed considerable money from Spaniards and who lost all of it in the games.
And since there was no way for them to pay their debt, they fled to China, leaving behind in these islands their respective wives and children poor and helpless.
“Every year, we see that most of the stores (tiendas) in Chinatown, after the
games of the New Year, have different owners.''
The former owners lost everything they had in it. They used to be wealthy businessmen but, after the games, they are obliged to look for job to support their family. Others hang themselves.
“These evils are so serious that everybody will agree, I think, if I say: ‘Those
who play these games and the governors who allow them are blind and are enemies of the common good.’”
Fray Juan de Paz adds:
(1) The alcaldes mayores and other ministros received
money in exchange for the chocolate and food they sent to the gamblers.
(2) The alcaldes mayores received money in exchange for the candles which they sent to the gambling venues.
(3) Twelve thousand pesos were collected to be doled out by the winners as “barato” (written with an “R”).
(4) Six thousand pesos were collected for the Royal Treasury (cajas reales).
(5) Two thousand pesos were given by the Sangleys to the governor on the occasion of the game.

Fr. Edilberto V Santos
Manila,
Philippines

We live in an increasingly dangerous world, despite the claimed ‘successes’ in the ‘war against terrorism’, and the deposing Saddam Hussein - who had no links with terrorism and had no WMD - except in Tony Blair’s paranoid-schizophrenic, corruptly-imaginative dossier.
Lest we forget!
Banks accrue profits by lending money and charging interest greatly exceeding that paid to investors.
They also demand draconian security before they lend money.
Yet they are going broke, and the calculations do not at all match the circumstances.
The banks pleas of poverty provide them with opportunities to bleed governments dry by demanding ‘essential’ public bail-outs to add to the profits from their private businesses – in a gigantic scam.
It seems that currently, countries most overtly suffering are those which fully support the formation of a Palestinian State.
Were it not for many other prevailing circumstances, this might easily be dismissed as a random co-incidence, but I suggest it is an example of Zionist financial blackmail.
Israel is threatening an imminent ‘pre-emptive’ attack on Iran.
Their pretext is that Iran is close to acquiring WMD.
Despite their formal denial of that fact, we fully know that Israel already possesses WMD.
And - haven’t we heard such threats before?
But will the Israelis even bother to produce a fabricated “dossier” to try to prove the improvable – that Iran has WMD?
Will they bother to use the UN as a vehicle to assert their claims- most of which are in fact abuses of the rights of others?
I doubt it, because it seems that Israel has consistently ignored UN resolutions, and yet already is endowed with the blessing of the USA for their outrageously proposed military aggression.
WMD is Israel’s pretext, but what is the real reason, for their intention to attack Iran?
Of course Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s rhetoric may contribute to reaction as their pride is easily hurt, but I suggest the primary reason is two-fold:
(1) to secure Iran’s substantial oil reserves for western use (as was the case in Iraq);
(2) to ensure that Iran’s economy is ultimately secure under Zionist control, so that Iran, like most big weak countries such as the USA and the UK, will forever thereafter be under the economic heel of the jackboot of Zionist finance.

Similar applies to the Zionist-American provocation of Pakistan and North Korea. In its sabre-rattling, Zionism within the USA has been claiming that Pakistan is “the most dangerous country in the world”; and the USA has been trying to hold North Korea responsible for incidents at its southern border actually caused by the USA itself. In so accusing Pakistan, has the United States forgotten the true danger that Israel represents to world peace?
William Hague, UK’s foreign minister, is considering abstaining in the UN Palestine vote.
Does he believe that is the way to avoid an economic backlash from Zionists?
He cannot truly believe that yielding to this particular Zionist demand will rescue UK’s independence from eventual Zionist retribution?
It will weaken the UK position yet more. Meanwhile the Zionist propaganda has been stigmatizing both Islam and Europe for decades.
Islam represents a convenient scapegoat for Zionism to divert almost inevitable, race-based, objection away from so-called ‘anti-Semitism’.
Ultimately it is the Zionist media that have metamorphosed the political and economic issue into a racist one.
Eavesdropping revealed that when Nicolas Sarkosy recently expressed his disapproval of Israel’s policies, President Obama reminded the French President that he had to deal with Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel on a daily basis.
Why should the President of the world's supposedly mightiest country need to listen to the spokesman of such a tin-pot and morally bankrupt state as Israel?
When the UK government was considering its invasion of Iraq there was a demonstration of over 1,000,000 people in London against that intention, which the media underplayed.
I note reports that the British government may soon issue plastic bullets to the British police.
Could this be related to an anticipated demonstration; of, say 3,000,000, yet more angry people; when Israel bombs Iran?
If so, I trust the demonstrators will take steps to necessarily defend themselves - in protecting their right to free speech and in reasonably resisting flagrant, criminal aggression and mass murder.

Raymond Groves,
Hastings,
UK

I write in reply to “Tough talk on South China Sea is not helpful,” by Rizal Sukma and printed in the Jakarta Post on November 1.
“Do such hard-line voices receive tacit support and blessing from the government?
Or, do they reflect the ongoing internal struggle between hard-line conservative nationalists and the more pragmatic internationalists within China?
Or, does it simply reflect the growing dominant voices of nationalism and assertiveness of those within the People's Liberation Army (PLA) in China’s foreign and security policy-making?”
All of these questions have one common thread the base line power of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), its attitude and mind-set.
The world is faced with the dictatorial ambitions of a powerful military and the totalitarian policy of communism.
The author has stated, “We are presented with both a benign and aggressive China. The problem is, we do not really know which actor and which identity represents the real China.”
First of all, complexities of dealing with China have always historically been in the nature of an onion, when one layer is peeled away there is another and then another.
A smart negotiator always prepares for the worst-case scenario.
Deal with an aggressive and imperialist China.
It is quite true that tough talk is not helpful and would be counterproductive simply because no other country in Asia has the strength to back up the tough talk.
Only the US has been able to do that, and the US is disinclined for numerous other political reasons, such as the importance of China in North Korean talks.
The Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and others in Asia must first meet and actively cooperate in forming a common defense, then attempt to engage in productive dialogue from a position of power.

M. Daemo,
Jakarta,
Indonesia

While the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) appears to move slowly and steadily doing ordinary things, it seems to have lost nerve and
confidence and falters when presented with critical issues.
A century since the Imperial Conferences in 1911 of government leaders of the
Empire, and 40 years since the first CHOGM in Singapore in 1971, the nations of
this grouping have grown in number and in issues of concern and interest to
them.
At the just-concluded 22nd CHOGM in Perth, Australia, Queen Elizabeth, who
officiated the meeting as head of the Commonwealth, and several leaders focused
on the need for the 54-nation organisation to reform and be relevant if it is to
be taken seriously at a time when the global community is facing grim economic,
social and political turmoil.
The Commonwealth once stood out for helping to bring down apartheid in South
Africa and achieve majority rule in Zimbabwe.
Now, it is less successful in dealing with military coups, the suspension of
democracy and abuses of human rights.
While issues such as changes to the royal succession to the British throne and
recognition of the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people
received enthusiastic attention, the summit failed to reach an agreement to
endorse or even publish the Eminent Persons Group (EPG) report for reforms in
human rights, democracy and the rule of law.
Former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who chaired the EPG in 2009 to
recommend reforms to make the Commonwealth more relevant, said: "This CHOGM is expected to deliver meaningful reforms of the Commonwealth.
"If this CHOGM does not deliver such reforms, it is our duty to sound the
caution to you that this CHOGM will be remembered not as the triumph it should
be, but as a failure."
This is a sad commentary on the state of affairs in the Commonwealth.
Searching for something to end CHOGM 2011 on a positive note, Australian Prime Minister and summit chair Julia Gillard hailed the decision to develop a charter of values for the Commonwealth as "one clear, powerful statement", though
without any agreement about its enforcement.
Much soul-searching and rethinking is necessary if the Commonwealth is to truly
reform and be relevant.
Should Malaysia host CHOGM 2019, let it be seen that the Commonwealth is indeed not a private club of governments or the secretariat, but that it belongs to the people, and their voices are heard and acted upon for the greater good.

Rueben Dudley,
Petaling Jaya,
Selangor
Malaysia

Surely, it is now time to take our troops out of Afghanistan and save our brave troops from risking their lives..
Then let us get closer to our neighbours particularly China.
There would be no chance of that country attacking a country like the US has done without any real provocation.
Unfortunately, we have joined the US who in turn is ruled by Israel and now we have enemies we would not have had previously.
Israel is now complaining about Iran and their nuclear bomb making.
Israel has the hide to criticise Iran in that regard yet it already has atomic weapons. They use the excuse that it is for defence purposes; maybe Iran is using the same excuse.

Frank Crichlow,
Miranda,
New South Wales
Australia

I appreciate the efforts taken by the Secretary General of the Human Resources
Ministry, Datuk Seri Zainal Rahim Seman, to explain at length the aim and
objective of the The Employment (Amendment) Bill 2011 “Widening the rights of workers” in The Star, October 14.
Having had the opportunity to meet with Zainal several times in the last six
months, I conclude that he sincerely believes that the amendment Bill widens the
rights of workers.
Indeed, when I participated in the ministry’s briefing to stakeholders in May
and June 2010, I did not raise any objections to the new provisions under
section 33A which, as elaborated by the ministry officials, aimed to monitor and
regulate labour suppliers and to address the increasing complaints from contract
workers of abuse and exploitation.
Although the controversial amendment will not worsen the current situation, with
the passing of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act 2007, the ministry ought to
ban the contracting system entirely.
Since the introduction of the foreign workers outsourcing system in late 2007,
the Malaysian Trade Union Congress (MTUC) had been flooded with hundreds of complaints relating to non-payment of wages, violation of contractual provisions and failure to comply with the minimum standards under the Employment Act.
Based on the complaints, the Malaysian Trade Union Congress (MTUC) had repeatedly called on the Human Resource Minister to abolish the labour contracting system.
I am disappointed that neither the Director General of Labour nor the Human
Resources Minister had ever invoked the powers vested in them under section 2A
of the Employment Act to prohibit the employment of contract workers to carry
out work of a permanent nature.
Trade unions and workers do not believe that the new 33A will be implemented. As a result of the Ministry’s unwillingness to act, even major multinational
corporations have terminated permanent staff and resorted to engaging
contractors to supply workers.
Precarious work which offers no social security, job security or health care has
become more widespread.
How can the ministry realise its goal to ensure decent
work for all?

G. Rajasekaran,
Executive Secretary,
Metal Industry Employees’ Union.
Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia

We are responding to your October 24, 2011 Jakarta Post editorial titled “Tumult over Freeport”.
Over the years, The Jakarta Post has been notable in upholding principles of fairness and accuracy.
This editorial fails to adhere to these principles.
We continue to seek a mutually satisfactory resolution of the labor strike.
Our current offer would guarantee compensation for top skilled non staff employees of Rp 19 million per month, a highly competitive amount.
PT FI will ensure that it remains an attractive employer for Indonesians.
PT FI has long achieved success in operating in Papua which has benefited all
stakeholders, including major benefits for our employees, the local community
and the Indonesian government.
PT FI employs 22,000 people in Papua - 98 percent are Indonesian citizens and 28 percent are Papuans. We invest in training, scholarships and schools to develop human resources.
University of Indonesia research indicates PT FI contributes more than 98
percent of the GDP for Mimika Regency and more than half for all of Papua.
PT FI paid US$52 billion in taxes, royalties and dividends during the first nine
months of 2011 and over $13 billion since 1992.
The majority of PT FI’s royalties are directed to provincial and local government. PT FI pays Indonesia more than it would pay other countries if the mine were located in Canada, Australia, South Africa, Peru, Chile or the United States.
PT FI has invested over $7 billion to develop its operations and infrastructure,
including town sites, power plants, an airport, seaport, roads, bridges, waste
disposal facilities and communication systems.
PT FI has also built schools, dormitories, hospitals and clinics, places of
worship, recreational facilities and assisted locally owned enterprise
development.
Over $15 billion in future investments will be funded. PT FI voluntarily contributes 1 percent of its revenues to a community fund administered by the local community.
Your editorial portrayed PT FI’s operations as an “American enclave” which is
simply not true.
We are a proud partner of Papua and Indonesia.
We appreciate the support of the Indonesian government and local officials to protect PT FI as a vital national asset and urge all stakeholders to work cooperatively to resolve the current labor issues as soon as possible and restore peace in the Mimika area.

Ramdani Sirait
PT Freeport Indonesia spokesperson
Jakarta

I refer to an article “Can we win the hearts and minds of the Papuans?,” in The Jakarta Post, October. 29, by Adhi Priamarizki, Singapore.
Adhi, have you ever considered asking Papuans what they want?
Like so many others you make the mistake of assuming that certain things - such as the economy and infrastructure - are issues central to Papuan discontent.
Maybe they are, but maybe not.
One thing is certain: Neither you nor the central administration will be sure of
Papuan aspirations until an effective dialogue is opened with them.
So far, in Papuan history, most major decisions affecting Papuans have been made
by the US, the Dutch and Indonesians without ever considering the views of
indigenous Papuans themselves.
This paternalistic attitude was clearly on show with the so-called Act of Free
Choice where Papuans were effectively denied the right to participate in
determining their political future.
So, Adhi, I suggest you travel to Jayapura to ask those people what they really
want.

Roderick,
Jakarta,
Indonesia

The floods have wreaked havoc in many provinces and Bangkok has not been spared either.
Initially, people have talked about the government's (mis)management of
the crisis and how they would go about resolving this huge problem.
Some have thought about the state of emergency, myself included.
People have asked why the prime minister refused to declare a state of emergency. She needs this tool so as to deal with groups of confused and disorderly people who at times can be very belligerent.
So it was imperative to have this law to ensure law and order in the land.
When people are faced with life-and-death issues and it becomes a matter of survival, the notion of the common good becomes secondary.
Now it is too late to think about invoking a state of emergency.
At present another state of emergency is in order, and that is the state of mind.
Like in any crisis management, you need professionals to take care of the
problem.
To make people understand and come to terms with the crisis, we have to
look at the big picture.
Anthropologically speaking, we have to use the three approaches, namely, holistic, evolutionary (or adaptive), and comparative.
When all these have been said and done correctly and in a timely manner, the state of mind of the flood victims can be saved.
Then they will be able to accept reason and some form of mediation from the authorities.
Please, Madam Prime Minister, you should talk to the nation.
I mean, really talk to the Thai people.
You must have a State of the Union Address like in the United States.
Take this forum as a means to restore the state of mind of the nation.

Joe Sirijaraya, Phd.,
Bangkok,
Thailand

My memories of the Dutch and ‘Indos’- I refer to an article “Who is responsible for ‘Bersiap’?” in The Jakarta Post, October 22 and various comments on it October 29.
The more we talk about the Dutch and the Indos the more we would like to meet
them again.
I still remember how my preschool Dutch lady teacher shared with me her lunch
sandwich; the Indo students offering me anything to eat from the train station
canteen when they saw me pale and hungry.
Once when I was extremely naughty in grade two at elementary school the teacher that morning who happened to be the Dutch school master, Meneer Stoltenberg, yanked me out of my bench and kicked me toward the tripod blackboard.
The kick was so hard the blackboard and the wooden stand fell on me.
It was so noisy that Meneer Soedjono in the adjoining third grade classroom came to check on what was happening, only to see me embarrassingly crawl out of the mess.
Five years later I met Meneer Stoltenberg in his grade-seven class and he welcomed me just like the other pupils in spite of my past naughtiness in his
previous classes.
He even recommended me later for promotion to MULO without an entrance examination by the use of a verklaaring signed by him.
I had pleasant memories of the Dutch during childhood.
I am fortunate to have survived our struggle for independence from the Dutch; and the struggle for the repossession of firearms from the surrendering Japanese troops in 1945.
Now I have a longing to see and meet the Dutch, Indos and the Japanese again;
especially the guy who almost slaughtered me with his very sharp glistening samurai.
If he was to say “sorry”, I would embrace him as one of my best friends.
Otherwise, I have already forgiven him, anyway.
You are all welcome to Indonesia as tourists as well as businessmen, or permanent residents, if you can arrange it.

Moeljono Adikoesoemo,
Jakarta,
Indonesia

MILF: Noy gave us hope - that was the Philippine Inquirer's headline in August quoting Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) chairman Murad Ebrahim, who was ecstatic then that the President of the Republic went on a secret trip to Tokyo just to meet him and his comrades.
Two months later now, President Aquino has indeed given the MILF hope in ways beyond Murad’s wildest dreams.
He ordered the military to stand down, after the MILF massacred nineteen Army
Special Forces soldiers in Basilan 18 October.
And even as he tied the military’s hands while the rebels made their get-away, Mr. Aquino called for a command conference only two days later.
The generals couldn’t believe what they were hearing in that meeting: instead of asking them to come up with a plan to retaliate against the massacre, he blamed the commanders, and ordered relieved Col. Alexander Macario as head of Special Operations Task Force Basilan and Lt.
Col. Leo Peña as commander of the 4th Special Forces Battalion, the mother unit
of the ambushed platoon.
Mr. Aquino fired even the Army spokesman Col. Antonio Parlade whose fault was to articulate soldiers’ anger over the murder of their comrades.
With his statements deflecting blame away from the MILF, the President sadly has
assumed the role of PR man, spinmeister for the MILF.
Two days after the MILF itself in its websites (luwaran.com and tmchronicles.com) bragged that its mujahideen mowed down the Army soldiers, Mr. Aquino in an ambush interview last October 20 wouldn’t even mention the MILF as the
perpetrators.
He instead raised doubts on the Special Forces’ presence in the killing field: “Ano ba ang pakay ng operasyon? Ano ba ’yung plano? Para maraming detalye na gusto kong talakayin sa kanila.”
Aquino even implied that it could be the commanders’ fault when he referred to
the firefight between Marines and the Abu Sayyaf in July that resulted in the
death of seven marines.
“After an investigation of that incident,” the President said, “we started relieving commanders there.”
(A transcript of this interview is in www.gov.ph/2011/10/20/ambush-interview-with-the-president-october-20-2011/)
According to a newspaper report of that interview, Aquino “said that the whole
organization, meaning the leadership of the MILF, should not be blamed for the soldiers’ killing.”
It gets worse.
Even as the MILF was boasting that its “Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces” (BIAF) were routing the Army in firefights in Basilan and in Zamboanga,
Mr. Aquino in his statement the other day said that it was not the MILF, but the
Abu Sayaff and other “lawless elements” which the military was pursuing.
The MILF in its website said that Commander Laksaw Asnawi “is one of its best
commanders in Basilan,” implying he commanded the BIAF units which wiped out the Special Forces platoon.
But Aquino says he is with the Abu Sayyaf.
Mr. Aquino in effect is saying now that the MILF is an ally.
According to this paper’s report, Aquino “disclosed that actually the MILF was now helping the government in going after the Abu Sayyaf bandits.”
Mr. Aquino is blaming the violence in Mindanao not on the MILF, but on the “Abu Sayyaf,” which most security analysts think no longer exists.
Unlike in his other concerns, Mr. Aquino is not saying that he is taking the
massacre personally.
He wouldn’t spare time to be at the tarmac to salute the coffins of the slain Special Forces soldiers when these arrived, as is customary for commanders in chief in cases when soldiers’ bodies are brought home from some distant battlefield.
To appease China last year, he ordered that the Philippine flag be flown
half-staff to mourn the death of eight Chinese tourists from Hong Kong killed in
the hostage situation his officials bungled.
Why, even Makati Mayor Junjun Binay ordered flags in the city to be flown half-staff to mourn the death of 10 construction workers in an accident in January.
No such symbols of mourning were ordered for the 26 officers and soldiers killed
in a span of a week in Mindanao.
They probably simply followed the business-as-usual attitude of their commander
in chief, but the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine Army, and the
Department of National Defense in their websites up to yesterday ignored the
massacre of its soldiers.
The big story in afp.mil.ph was “Military Dependents to Benefit from Kamote,” about a cookbook on sweet potato by the AFP chief of staff Gen. Eduardo Oban’s wife.
At the army.mil.ph website: “AFP Commissions Pacman as Military Officer.” At dnd.gov.ph: “PNoy’s Affordable Housing for Soldiers.”
Mr. Aquino stifled the appropriate military and political responses against the
MILF’s atrocity by erroneously claiming that the choice was between “all-out
war” and “peace,” between outrage and sobriety.
That’s a contrived, false frame which the MILF - and all insurgencies for that
matter - try to propagate.
The real choice is whether to preserve and strengthen the Republic, or weaken it.
The basic definition of a state is what the sociologist Max Weber articulated:
It is that organization which has the monopoly of the legitimate use of force
over a particular territory.
This is explicitly and implicitly declared in that document called the Constitution. President Aquino in his oath of office swore “to preserve and defend the Constitution and to execute its laws.”
The MILF has, and even boasts of its armed forces, and claims swathes of Mindanao as its territory.
Please uphold the Constitution, Mr. President.
And it’s not too late: Please order flags flown at half-staff for our slain
heroes, especially in Basilan, Zamboanga, and Lanao for all of the people there
and the MILF to see.
If we cannot retaliate for the massacre of the Republic’s fighters, let us at least properly mourn and honor them.

Rigoberto Tiglao,
Manila,
Philippines

In some ways it seems strange that Thais are staging demonstrations against their government for claimed negligence over preparations to resist flooding.
In fact, the present floods, among the worst in Thailand’s History, are of course not directly caused by the government, but by exceptionally high monsoonal rainfall; and that extreme precipitation, which was predicted from scientific modelling, is, in turn, due to Climate Change induced by Global Warming.
If the Thai government is in any way responsible for failure, it is from them not heeding warnings and for underestimating potential effects from Global Warming.
I suppose, had the government diverted capital from taxation towards constructing improved flood defences, they would have been accused of “wasting taxpayers money” on “hare-brained ideology”.
However, already there are many worldwide reports of serious flooding near coasts, caused by high rainfall with swollen estuaries, sometimes combined with tidal surges aggravated by rising sea-levels.
In assessing the hazard it has been concluded that the ten cities most at risk are: Miami, Greater New York, New Orleans, Osaka-Kobe, Tokyo, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Nagoya, Tampa-St Petersburg (Florida), and Virginia Beach; but the list is much longer than that and includes Bangkok, New York, Tokyo, and Osaka.
[ for example see: http://www.rms.com/publications/OECD_Cities_Coastal_Flooding.pdf ]
More vulnerable locations are within less developed countries in Asia, where there is limited available capital to finance preventative action.
As well as limits to funding, scepticism about, and lack of understanding of, the reality of Global Warming and its effects is another factor that inhibits required precautionary action.

Raymond Groves,
Hastings,
UK.

The chaos in Papua cannot be satisfactorily resolved if the government continues blindly on its current path, viewing Papua only as a “security” problem that can be resolved by force, more force and more and more force.
The result of pursuing this myopic security-only concept is that the government
has now dug itself into a hole and acts as though the way out is to keep on digging.
That will not solve the problems of Papua; it will only result in a violent armed rebellion as happened in Aceh when the government likewise viewed Aceh as
solely a “security” problem.
The solution in Aceh was for the government to think “outside of the box”, which it did brilliantly under the firm hand of then vice president Jusuf Kalla.
I believe that SBY would be well-advised to call again upon Kalla to help resolve the problems of Papua by taking into account not only the political aims of the government but also involving the people of Papua in the solution.
This will resound to the benefit all the citizens of Indonesia, not just the citizens of Papua.

Will Jourdin,
Ubud,
Bali

The letter pointing to reclamation projects as real cause of the storm surge in Manila Bay Philippine Inquirer, 3 October 2011 has caught the attention of the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA).
Allow us to respond to correct whatever wrong information it may have impressed
on readers.
Well-designed and properly constructed reclamation projects will not cause
flooding.
On the contrary, they can prevent flooding by providing added protection, such as sea barriers to mitigate the effects of accelerated rising sea levels, which is a direct effect of global warming.
A storm surge is the result of the piling up of water on the ocean’s surface as
it is pushed by strong winds associated with low pressure weather systems such
as tropical cyclones.
The water during a storm surge is higher than the ordinary sea level, more so when it happens during high tide.
Therefore, reclamation had nothing to do with the unfortunate confluence of strong winds and high tide that brought about the devastating rush of water into areas along the Bay.
What happened, in fact, was that the whole stretch covered by the reclamation
projects under the Boulevard 2000 Plan along Roxas Boulevard - from the Cultural
Center of the Philippines to the coastal road - did not suffer the same
catastrophic rush of seawater, unlike the areas from the Manila Yacht Club to
the US Embassy.
The seawalls built to protect the reclaimed area saved the establishments and inhabitants there.
Storm surges were likewise reported to have occurred in coastal areas in Ilocos
Sur and Camiguin, where there are no reclamation projects.
For any land reclamation activity, the relevant drainage outfalls and rivers are
of vital concern and should be carefully examined in order to prevent the
adverse effects of flooding on the main land.
The reclamation projects along Manila Bay were implemented according to the Boulevard 2000 Framework Plan, which contains mandatory provisions such as the preparation of drainage plans that will satisfy technical, economic and environmental requirements.
Its implementation was directed by a task force composed of various government
agencies such as the Department of Public Works and Highways, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and local governments.
Land reclamation has long been recognized in other countries not only as a
viable development strategy but also as an effective water control system to
protect coastal areas from devastating natural forces of the sea.
Countries such as the Netherlands, Singapore, Dubai and Japan, to name a few, have all successfully embarked on reclamation to advance their economies.

Peter Anthony A Abaya,
General manager and chief executive officer,
Philippine Reclamation Authority,
Philippines

Pekanbaru, the largest growing city in Sumatra, seat of the provincial government of Riau with around 1 million people living there, experiences every week at least once during business hours, rolling blackouts for around four to five hours.
That’s apart from additional blackouts every second week or so during the night,
usually again for four to five hours.
Now of course, these outages meant for my business there, the same as for many
others who depend on electric power for their enterprises, large and small - a
loss of productivity and income.
I decided a while ago to stretch over these extended phases of no power with a
stationary diesel generator (again, as many other businesses) - the cost price
about Rp 50 million (that’s a second-hand generator).
Additional costs and problems come to provide fuel for this generator.
And again, state-owned Pertamina refuses to sell diesel in jerry cans to refuel
generators, even when I have offered to pay the non-subsidized price for it.
So the only solution is to drain the car (it’s a diesel) to provide the needed fuel
for the generator.
In addition there are repairs on production machines due to the inconsistent strength on electricity (it’s supposed to be 220Volts, but fluctuates between 210V and surges up to 250V).
Okay, that’s done - next issue (still writing about the “Province” here!).
Installation of higher power supply (let’s say 10,000V instead of the common
2,500V) have the illegal price tag of quite a few million rupiah attached to it,
to be paid in advance to PLN to get this upgrade in time and not, let’s say
within a year (or two).
I know this also happens in Jakarta.
Now to come to a conclusion - who still remembers the rolling blackouts in Jakarta around two years ago, where all the big-shots of PLN said it would be impossible to find a solution within a few months?
But, when SBY personally intervened and a couple of heads rolled it was almost instantly fixed.
So, to get back to the comment on the new minister (Minister ignores World
Bank’s take on electricity, October 22), it seems that as long as the lights on
“Capitol Hill” and in his house work 24 hours a day then everything is alright.
Now of course, what he forgets is that the increase of industry will take its
toll on the already very shaky electrical grid and it might just be that more
companies will turn their back on Indonesia and investors will instead choose
Malaysia (or Vietnam, which provides, apart from a better educated workforce,
well prepared and maintained industry estates, inclusive of additional
infrastructure as roads and ports, to lure foreign businesses to their country).
And again, Indonesia will look through its fingers, empty handed, with the exception of selling out its natural resources, which then again are entirely in
the hands of just a very few (and very influential) local business people, who
don’t care about improving the infrastructure and work just for their own
pockets and forget even to pay their taxes on time.

David Irving,
Jakarta,
Indonesia

So what are we waiting for in Cabinet reshuffle?
After Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was elected President in 2004, he conducted a fit and proper test to select his ministers, then offered a work contract and integrity pact to be signed by the minister candidates.
It is not clear to the public what the actual contents of the work contract and integrity pact were.
But no matter what they were, we are pretty sure those documents have been kept under the pillow.
In the Cabinet reshuffle this time, SBY is doing the same.
Do the work contracts contain key performance indicators (KPI) as are normally
included in professional work contracts?
Considering the ministerial posts, which are so important that they affect a huge nation like Indonesia, can we imagine what the KPIs looked like?
But it does not mean anything for common people because what people expect from the ministers basically is very simple.
People do not care whether or not the ministers sign work contracts and
integrity pacts to show their commitment because people always think about very
basic and essential things, for example from the agriculture minister: will food
be affordable, eliminating rice imports, cheaper fertilizers for farmers?
What people expect from the education minister includes can they send their children to quality but affordable schools, are the schools building in proper condition, and does the education curriculum stress out their children?
What people expect from the youth and sport minister: Can our beloved soccer
team beat other national teams, become champion in international events such as
the SEA Games or participate in the World Cup Finals.
What people expect from the law and human rights minister: Simply that the truth
be upheld in this country, corrupt judges and prosecutors sent to jail and human
rights upheld.
Similarly, what people expect from the religious minister:
That Indonesia become a land of peace, where religious diversity is maintained in
harmony and there is no more persecution against religious minorities.
I mean, what SBY has done in the minister selection process was too little,
simply trying to create an impression or “gagah-gagahan” (just for show), but in
reality the outcome is too far from the expectations as we can see obviously
from the ministers’ performance.
Thus, what is the point of doing due diligence if he fails to find quality
ministers because he is too complicated and accommodating of parties for the
sake of the stability of the coalition?
We are seeing how the majority of his ministers selected from coalition parties are nonperformers, and some of them are implicated in corruption, but he appears reluctant to punish them.
All of my friends with whom I have spoken about the reshuffle say they don’t
care, and many of them have expressed disappointment as we have seen that the
President is not a leader.
A respected leader, former United States secretary of state Colin Powell said,
“Great leaders are almost always great simplifiers, who can cut through
arguments, debate and doubt, to offer a solution everybody can understand”.

Titus Jonathan,
Serpong,
Banten,
Indonesia

With so many canaries singing at the Senate hearings, there is now very little doubt
left in the public mind that former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo stole the presidency in 2004.
Only her shameless and mindless loyalists maintain otherwise.
That issue may already be moot and academic as she brazened it out and enjoyed the full term of her illegitimate presidency, but the institutions she corrupted beyond our imagination remain and continue to be run by the lowlife appointed by her.
What to do then?
The most conspicuous and repulsive symbol of that scandalous regime is a very
high government official who for the longest time served as Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (GMA) chief legal adviser and presumably legal mastermind of her major shenanigans.
He is perceived as nothing more than her insurance against any future conviction for her crimes.
As all legal paths lead eventually to his branch of government, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (GMA) and her cohorts can just laugh at all the probes currently conducted to determine their culpability for pillage and plunder.
What gall then that this official should now be ranting and raving about judicial propriety and decorum!
Former Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri Jr., by voluntarily resigning on learning that so much fraud had attended his election to the Senate despite all legal presumptions in his favor, had more delicadeza than he and his peers have who unabashedly rely on the legal presumption that Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (GMA) had “legally appointed” them despite that presumption being now rebutted by overwhelming and compelling evidence that she had hijacked the presidency.
Here’s a flash!
There is something more important than the law: conscience!

George Del Mar,
Manila,
Philippines

Thanks to the Southeast Asian Times for reprinting, on 26th October, the letter from the Jakarta Post written by Anand K Bapat.
I am most appreciative of the unusually effective combination of depth of content, wit, and competent, succinct construction found within that letter, which, in accentuating the failure of applied economics over coping with the world's current fiscal affairs, provides shrewd understanding of the global situation alongside a host of accurately apt and entertaining metaphors.
Economics alone is the natural history of the course of world monetarism, the laws of which are selectively applied towards tinkering - as half-blind efforts - to control the course of economic events.
These days, as the writer points out, those events are largely played out in a human sty, where larger pigs have recently become uncontrollably rampant.
The idea of developing a “Consumption Volume Index” (CVI) is compelling, but I am not sure about using it to estimate “economic growth”, for I believe one of the biggest mistakes in applied economics is to assume such a target of “growth”. For the developed countries, ‘stability’ and ‘sustainability’ would be more realistic aims.
The only ‘growth’ that should be encouraged is that arising out of true innovation, yet economic incentives are usually harvested by those who; secondarily; provide technological and financial support to the work of true creationists - who themselves are far from justly rewarded.
Also, maybe there are naturally two such 'consumption volume indexes'; the first based on consumption arising from essential needs, with a second additionally accommodating the human demand for unessential luxuries.
Piggery is a dangerous principle to follow, especially in cases where required printing of new money is largely supported with the collateral, not of any relevant substance, but of a threatening possession of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) as collateral.

Raymond Groves,
Hastings,
UK

A decade ago, 9/11 changed the American skyline forever.
Three years back, the collapse of Lehman Brothers changed the picture on the street, that is, Wall Street.
Thereafter, bailing out the rest of the too-big-to-fail candidates became the norm challenging the ground reality of free market capitalism.
In spite of the quality seeding and a double dose of nourishing nutrients, growth remains stunted notwithstanding exceptions, such as the Apple tree.
With the demise of Wall Street as we once knew it and under the mounting load of
debt, the iconic bull seems more like a beast of burden, relegated to the task
of plowing fields.
Driving the bullock cart, it can no longer be the Red Bull of the track.
There’s no Tom Cruise in sight to achieve the mission impossible.
It cannot outsource this job to the Red Bull team either.
The German driver and French engine are preoccupied.
At the moment, trying to figure out the number one formula of success seems all Greek.
Yet, it should not fancy its chances with steroids.
On a marathon track, neither sprint nor relay will see the checkered flag waving.
Given the circumstances, bullish sounds more like a sluggish and over-burdened
rally.
Bearish isn’t as unbearable, as the heat of the situation has become unbearable for the bear.
Global warming, melting the polar ice caps, is making the bears run for cover.
The traditional bull and bear meanings either seem irrelevant or out of context.
The theory of evolution suggests that somewhere a different species may be breeding, waiting to be discovered and be adopted.
In a developed, affluent and advanced nation, it is possible to see people
becoming complacent.
Maybe their food does not energize them anymore, compelling the governing bodies to think of alternatives, such as diverting the grain stock to fuel growth.
Yet this does not improve the adversely affected body’s metabolism, as evidenced by the level of obesity.
On the other hand, there is lot of hunger in the world, in those nations that are trying to catch up.
They have a genuine appetite that needs to be fed and thus the emergence of
Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRIC).
It is no wonder then that China is galloping and distinctly ahead of the others.
After all, who else but the Chinese know how to make a Great Wall from bricks?
As the Chinese economy develops, the meat of growth is getting increasingly
porkish.
Hogging is in.
The hog’s appetite drives the productive work force to work thus helping them to feed themselves in return.
As this force works to move the engine of economy, it needs to consume to
replenish the spent energy.
In a consumptive society, wouldn’t it be more appropriate to use a consumption volume index instead of a consumer price index as the barometer of growth?
In this context, whenever we see the soybean and corn prices rally, bullishness of these feed ingredient prices would seem more hoggish.
The iconic bull’s run seems to be over, but things aren’t bearish.
Today, the pig is in the driver’s seat, honking for growth.
The ordinary investor on the street is echoing that sentiment watching the Hog Index.
He is ignoring the downward trending Dow.
The pig may not be in the pink of health at all times.
There could be occasions when it is vulnerable and may catch a flu, but that is understandable and not a cause for grunts in the evolution story.
Hog is the new Bull!

Anand K. Bapat,
Jakarta,
Indonesia

The Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia comprises thousands of islands, which certainly create different circumstances along the borders between Indonesia and neighboring countries such as Malaysia, Singapore, Timor Leste, the Philippines, Australia and Papua New Guinea.
The border issue with Malaysia is admittedly the most explosive, which is
understandable as Indonesia has undergone several bitter experiences.
After years of border disputes with Malaysia over the Sipadan and Ligitan islands,
Indonesia finally lost its rights to both in 2002.
The border issue again emerged recently after the House Commission I, through
its vice chairman, T.B. Hasanuddin, said the government had been negligent in
guarding the borders in Camar Bulan and Tanjung Datu areas, Sambas regency, West Kalimantan.
The government was even described as partially surrendering them to Malaysia while their borders during Dutch and British colonial times were already clear.
Indonesia has changed its border delineation markers, which no longer conformed
with the original map for reference.
Consequently, Indonesia lost 1,499 hectares of land in Camar Bulan and 800 meters off the coast in Tanjung Datu, along with their potential resources such as petroleum, tin and gas.
Hasanuddin also reported that the government’s negligence was also reflected in
the poor infrastructure around the border areas, while in neighboring Malaysia
the situation was the reverse.
West Kalimantan (bordering East Malaysia) faces the intricate problem of limited
infrastructure and various public utilities, besides an inadequate budget and
human resources.
Such circumstances have made the people of West Kalimantan lured by the far
better conditions in Sarawak, particularly with the same ethnic origin of the
two populations.
However, the economic temptation should not have led to intolerable annexation, because Camar Bulan and Tanjung Datu are Indonesia’s legitimate areas based on the London Treaty of 1824.
Among other things, this treaty stipulates that the borders between Indonesia
and Malaysia in Kalimantan shall be based on watersheds, meaning natural
boundaries such as rivers, mountains and mountain ridges should be used.
The geography of Camar Bulan is level without mountains and rivers, thus failing to
meet the watershed requirement, so why should it have been included in the
Malaysian map?
As a citizen, I would suggest that the government pay attention to border
regions to make them this country’s verandas instead of backyards, build
infrastructure while promoting public welfare, make a display of forces instead
of only routine patrols, and foster national unity rather than just party or
group interests.

R. Wisanggeni,
Surakarta,
Indonesia

Myanmar for its own good should stick to its scheduled turn in 2016.
In spite of some commendable progress made, the suspension of the dam
construction in the Irrawaddy River to name one example, in terms of
infrastructure and logistics, Myanmar is not yet ready to take on the challenges
of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) chairmanship.
It should make use of the time to prepare itself for the chairmanship.
The new government is gearing itself towards reforms but it is too early to determine whether the progress made so far is just cosmetic or sustainable in the long run.
For example, the government has recently released more than 6000 prisoners but
only 3 percent are political prisoners.
The government has to realize that democratic reforms including the release of
political prisoners are not collateral that it can use to bargain for international support, but critical qualities necessary for the country to move forward.
Five years is sufficient for the government to prove itself and if it can do it right, Burma will soon be able to catch up with its neighbors.

Anon,
Jakarta,
Indonesia

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) is unequivocally opposed to the plan for the largest
bird park in Southeast Asia sited at the Botanical Gardens in Ayer Keroh Malacca
when zoos and animal establishments in Malaysia are widely known and reported to be in an appalling state.
State governments, councils and individuals may aspire to have the largest,
biggest or grandest zoos and aviaries but do they know, or care, about the basic
care and welfare of animals and their requirements?
Judging from the past, the lack of ability to run zoos or bird parks may cause
many of the birds to be reduced to a spectacle of abuse or neglect, and many may
die.
The question everyone or every animal welfare group should ask is where, and
how, are the birds to be sourced.
Sourcing for 6,000 birds from 300 species to fill the largest aviary will fuel the trade in live birds that not only enriches the pockets of traders and poachers, but may cause more than half of those caught to die as a result of the birds being packed into crates and transported over long distances.
These profiteers have little concern for wastage of bird life and can literally
get away with murder.
The other question we need to ask is why undertake to house such a huge
collection of birds knowing that space would be shockingly inadequate.
The Malacca government needs to recognise that animals and birds have a basic
need for the appropriate amount of space, and no amount of behavioural
enrichment can compensate for the spatial needs of the birds.
SAM fails to see the need for an aviary in the middle of a botanic garden.
The botanic garden itself is good enough to be a major tourist attraction with its
wide variety of plant species, considering the immense beauty and variety that
the plant kingdom offers.
The garden is also a place which attracts native birds.
It can be an idyllic oasis for free-roaming birds in the centre of the city.
Constructing an aviary within the gardens is a cruel attempt to bring nature to
people where we can see birds in flight and chirping away, when in reality the
birds are living under captive conditions only to be displayed for man’s
amusement.
Life in captivity can never be adequate for the fulfillment of any species or
individual, since the best habitat for animals is in their natural environment.
All species are born free, and detention or isolation, whether of birds or
humans, is an expression of cruelty and inhumanity.
This brings to mind the question of staffing and a host of other issues:
Will the staff be experienced and qualified to care for the different exotic
birds that have special needs?
Will the bird park have the ability or expertise to manage and train inexperienced staff?
What will be the level of veterinary care and hygiene standards?
Are resources available to upgrade exhibits?
Will the bird park be able to keep up with a variety of environmental enrichment?
Will it have the expertise for managing such a large and diverse aviary?
SAM calls on the Malacca government to abandon its plan for the establishment of
the largest bird park in Southeast Asia.
SAM would also urge the Natural Resources and the Environment Ministry and the
Department of Wildlife to stop the issuing of new licences for upcoming zoos and
to continue monitoring all existing zoos in order to reform the wild animal
industry.

S.M. Mohd Idris,
President,
Sahabat Alam Malaysia,
Penang,
Malaysia

This refers to a news report titled “Greenpeace director denied entry to Indonesia,” in The Jakarta Post October 14.
If it deems the ban was in its national interests, Indonesia has the right to
ban people.
Having followed this story with some interest, I understand that the Indonesian Law and Human Rights Ministry informed John Sauven of the visa cancellation through Indonesia’s Embassy in London.
So, I’m unsure why there has been such surprise at his rejection.
That aside, it is becoming increasingly apparent that Greenpeace is losing its
voice in Indonesia.
Because it is funded through public donations, Greenpeace cannot recognize the progress being made by the Indonesian forestry industry.
If it did, its funding would dry up.
Privately, Greenpeace knows that Indonesians are making massive improvements in their auditing and certification procedures, but it cannot talk publicly about such progress.
Instead, it continues to present emotive stories that play on the appeal of our
tigers or orangutans to retain the funding from a well-meaning but ill-informed
supporter base.
Progress is undeniable.
It has been recently recognized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Indonesia’s Norwegian REDD + sponsor.
Never forget that 125 million Indonesians live on between US$1 and $2 worth of goods and services a day and improving their lives is the multi-facetted task facing the Indonesian government.
Our government cannot pursue a single-issue strategy.
If Greenpeace were to contextualize its messaging within the government’s development strategy, it is likely that Greenpeace would be welcomed back to Indonesia in an advisory capacity.
Also, comments like those by Friends of the Earth International, which assert
that some countries’ political structures need to be changed to protect the
environment, are unhelpful, single-minded and beyond arrogant.
Indonesians - more than anyone else - understand the task at hand in Indonesia,
and there is little room for over-emotiveness and no room for neocolonialism.

Alan Davies,
UK

I refer to “MTUC protests ‘legalisation’ of modern-day slavery” in The Star, October 17 and was thinking deeply on the labour policy scenario now and its impact in the future.
The labour force and labour-related institutions in Malaysia have mixed reactions to this current development.
Industrial relations in Malaysia has had a long and rich history, stretching beyond independence.
The current effective labour policies, the state of goodwill of labour and employer unions, and the balanced mediating government role that we now enjoy are due to the wonderful industrial relations we inherited from past leaders who had sacrificed to create such harmony.
I am witnessing a trajectory of liberalisation efforts by the Government in many
critical sectors such as education, agriculture, international trade, foreign
investment and, now, in the labour market.
These include the allowing of immigrant workers in key sectors, immigrants
legalisation programme, having a council to develop recommendations on minimum
wage, extending the retirement age in both the private and public sectors and
the proposed amendments to the Employment Act 1955 with regard to contract
labour.
These efforts are in line with developments taking place in the world labour market, mainly driven by high labour mobility and the changes in the labour force compositions in both the developing and developed nations.
These developments demand more liberalisation of labour policies, greater
flexibility in work permits and levies, balancing the composition of young and
mature workers, gender ratios in the workforce, fairer practices for contingent
workforce, transforming the wage structure, identifying critical sectors under
the national agenda and retaining talent in critical sectors.
Research shows that female representation is approximately 36 percent of the total
labour force, the majority age group (57 percent) employed being 25 to 44 years, and as well as enormous growth in employment in the services sector, which comprises 49.5 percent of total employment, followed by industry (36 percent) and agriculture (14.5 percent).
If we want to transform agriculture and exploit its business potential, then employement conditions in the agri-related business has to be attractive.
The liberalisation of the labour market has its importance in the Government’s
Economic Transformation Programme (ETP).
The ETP is aimed at giving birth to a high-income nation by 2020.
Simple mathematics will show that the uphill task of making the nation a high-income one will indirectly push household incomes higher - including all levels of
workers’ income.
The ever growing concern posed by the US and European economies have to be dealt with great care as they have an impact on the international trade of our
country.
Small and medium enterprises and multi-national corporations should look into
innovative ways to improve the competitiveness of our products and services in
the global market.
We can make it only through greater effort and commitment in transforming the
labour market into a talent-based one.

Dr Shankar Chelliah,
George Town,
Malaysia

Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd is concerned about the rights of a 14-year-old Australian child who was arrested by entrapment for possessing
marijuana in Bali.
The child is not in an Indonesian adult prison, although he is in custody, but
he is within the appropriate jurisdiction.
I feel for him, however, as he has a journey before the Indonesian children’s court.
In July, I spoke to Prime Minister Julia Gillard about the whereabouts of 100
Indonesian children languishing in Australian adult prisons.
They range in age from 13 to 17.
It has been a long and arduous journey to have some of them released - some have
been released via court proceedings, and some by behind-the-scenes efforts.
I contacted Rudd and he promised he would assist.
He has not.
When I spoke to Gillard, and as we held hands throughout our conversation, her
warm smile froze with a worried silence in presuming another scandal-in-waiting.
Australia is yet to ensure appropriate age-determination protocols and adequate
consular notifications so that these Indonesian children, some of the world’s
most impoverished, do not end up in adult prisons with murderers, sex offenders
and hardened criminals.
How is it that minister Rudd is concerned about the plight of a 14-year-old
Australian who is being dealt with by the appropriate jurisdiction in Indonesia,
and yet he is not concerned about 100 Indonesian children in Australian adult
prisons?
The mantra of “breaking the people smugglers’ business model” has caused much
damage and has modified public views.
Is “people smuggling” a reality or is it a myth?
And is the assisting in the passage of an asylum seeker immoral and criminal?
The method used to determine the age of the children, the wrist-bone age scan,
has been widely discredited by pediatric endocrinologists and by the Australian
Medical Association; it is unlawful to use the technique in the UK as a means to
determine age, and yet the Australian government continues to rely on it.
Lawyer David Manne has set a precedent by challenging the Australian Government in the High Court over the lawfulness of the Malaysia option.
Currently, in Victoria’s courts, and what may end up in the High Court, lawyers
are arguing that asylum seekers have a legal right to come to Australia and that
perceived people smugglers in fact have a legal right to assist them, and have
not behaved unlawfully.
If the Victorian courts uphold the argument that there is no such thing as
people smuggling per se vis-à-vis the “business model”, then this will have wide-reaching implications and may expedite the freedom of many individuals.
Australia would be best served by working with those humanitarians who risk
their lives trying to help others reach our shores, and by pulling down the
walls against migration and, instead, raise our humanitarian quota for refugees
to, for instance, 50,000 and thereby set an example for the world.

Gerry Georgatos
Bridgetown,
Western Australia

This is in response to the Jakarta Post’s editorial on Tuesday, October 11, titled “Blood gold”, about the strikes and recent violence at PT Freeport’s Timika mining site in West Papua.
Freeport-McMoRan in the US is a US$34 billion market cap company, with over $6 billion of its revenues derived from mining activities in Indonesia.
Papua has provided considerable revenue for this company over the past five decades.
The striking workers are only seeking a minor increase if one considers the
overall gold price, which is $1,600 per once.
Nonetheless, Freeport is hard at work reinforcing the neocolonial model of mining as a going concern, spending vast sums of money on enforcers and military protection, instead of developing relations with its employees on a truly significant level.
The “more complex problems concerning welfare and the equal distribution of wealth and opportunities for local people” as stated in the article is about
corporate social responsibility (CSR) and empowerment: responsibility in
localizing the mine and the people around it, not in buying more military
firepower to enforce an outdated means of coercion; and empowerment that can
only be realized through skills development with attendant career mobility for
employees.
The simple fact is that the world has changed.
People have access to information, lifestyles and ideas that were hidden to them under previous regimes.
They don’t want to be pushed around anymore.
This issue is not unique to PT Freeport. There are many opportunistic mining projects across Indonesia, inclduing East Kalimantan, Nusa Tenggara, and North Sumatra.
They will also get their comeuppance.
The neocolonial model, however, cannot exist without the support of politicians
and leaders who allow it to continue.
A recent article in the Post’s Business section about the same situation read: “Local politically wired businessmen are trying to get some of the pie”.
It is noted that Freeport has paid the Indonesian government almost $13 billion
over the past 20 years.
Why is that money not being put back into Papuan development initiatives?
Until the leaders get serious about dismantling this neocolonial model of resource extraction, Papua will not be able to develop.
This will continue whether a foreign or Jakarta-based mining company takes over. Its resources will be used to enrich people far away, not local Papuans.
Despite the platitudes and rhetoric, the violence and misery will continue.

Will Hickey
Daejeon,
Korea

Regarding The Japan Times October 4 article "U.K. expert says limits on radiation 'unreasonable".
It is disconcerting to read physics professor Wade Allison claim that radiation levels at Fukushima and in foodstuffs are no cause for concern.
Medical experts dispute this, among them Tokyo University's Radioisotope Center head Tatsuhiko Kodama, who was quoted in an August 24 article, "Fukushima fallout said 30 times Hiroshima's" as saying that there are not enough epidemiological studies to justify conclusions on the number of cancers that may result.
In Diet testimony, he warned of specific dangers to different organs from internal radiation.
While nuclear apologists like Allison point to pro-industry scientists' claims that even disasters like Chernobyl caused very few lasting effects, this is disputed by the New York Academy of Sciences, Kodama and other experts.
Japan's own nuclear industry is a well-oiled machine that is counting on us to forget. It fights anti-nuclear sentiment on many fronts, spreading disinformation about the supposed safety of radiation or falsely accusing former industry minister Yoshio Hachiro of triggering "public outrage" when he called the area around the Fukushima plant a "town of death."
Police do their part to intimidate the antinuclear movement, recently arresting and holding without charge protesters in a Tokyo demonstration, something that for the most part has gone unreported.
In a documentary by Shunji Iwai, nuclear power opponent Dr. Hiroaki Koide
notes that while people outside of Fukushima go about their lives as if everything were normal, in part due to a compliant media, for the people in Fukushima, it is akin to living in a war zone.
Given the disinformation and intimidation, it is not only the future of nuclear power but Japanese democracy that is at stake, and we count on The Japan Times to continue to cover and report all the news on this issue "without fear or favor".

Paul Arenson
Tokyo

The Malaysian Prime Minister’s Budget 2012 highlighted among others, the high subsidies for items like rice, flour, cooking oil, sugar, etc.
When I was working in Singapore three years ago, I know many Singaporeans who drove to Malaysia during weekends for grocery shopping.
They would return with a trunk full of such subsidised items, at Malaysians’
expense.
At one time, the Government imposed a limit of 5kg of cooking oil, certain
amount of sugar, etc that Singaporeans could bring in from Malaysia.
I’m not sure if this ruling has been lifted.
I checked online for the price of 1kg of plain flour from Singapore’s NTUC
Fairprice supermarket, that is wholly-owned by the Singapore government.
The Fairprice brand costs S$2.25 (RM5.54) while the flour sold in Malaysia is
RM1.35.
Although we want to be neighbourly, there is a limit especially when they pour
scorn on Malaysia, particularly over Johor, harping on the high crime-rate and
circulating nasty emails about the questionable safety in Johor.
It’s ironic that they still come to such a place to shop.
It’s impossible for the supermarkets to control who their customers are and to
stop them from purchasing, so it’s up to the Government to impose strict rules
and for the Customs to ensure that our “goodies” do not leak out.

Jennifer,
Ipoh,
Malaysia

I believe that the people in Indonesia have the right of response to the current stance of the laws of Indonesia.
I refer particularly to drug laws highlighted by the recent arrest of a 14-year-old boy for drug possession.
The hypocrisy of this is totally demeaning to the Indonesian people.
Firstly the Indonesian people and in particular those of Bali, cater to tourists
appearing to do anything to attract the tourist dollar, even if it may be completely against Islamic law, the dollar is the main worship there.
They condemn foreigners for not only possessing drugs, but whether it is being
brought in or out they give the maximum sentence.
In the case of the 14-year-old boy, he was arrested but nothing at all has been done against the Indonesian person who sold the contraband to him.
I agree with the maximum sentencing for traffickers, but when a boy buys drugs
from an Indonesian citizen it is biased to prosecute him and allow his dealer to
remain free.
In the case of importing drugs, I agree - jump on them.
In the case of exporting from Indonesia, Indonesians are not affected and are the source of this, so prosecute yourself and leave those such as the Bali 9 to the Australian Police as the offence is against Australia.
In the case of this boy, he spent three times as much on having a 19-year-old
girl give him a massage, a message that is degrading to women and the Muslim
faith, but you say that is OK.
His parents gave him enough money and freedom to spend US$60 on a massage and then $50 on drugs.
They should be in jail and the Indonesian people should hang their heads in shame. Doing anything for money is no better than prostitution.
It makes me embarrassed to say my mother was born there.

Ron Ruys,
Brisbane,
Australia

So the governor of Bangkok decided to hold a superstitious ceremony to stop the
flooding.
Was he going to sacrifice a goat, too?
Or how about dancing naked in the moonlight?
These measures were just as effective as his ceremony, and surely they would provide more comedic relief.
On a more serious note, the governor defended his decision by saying that it
would be no harm to conduct a holy ceremony.
I beg to differ.
Even if the ceremony takes only an hour, it's an hour that could be more profitably spent doing something else towards flood relief.
Almost any other action would be more useful to the citizens of Bangkok.
For those who claim that the ceremony would bring hope and raise spirits, I say that it would only promote wishful thinking.
Running away from real-life troubles and putting your hopes in fanciful stories
is not a mature way to deal with disasters.
When lives are at stake, putting faith in superstition is tantamount to criminal
neglect.

Bhavin Siritanaratkul,
Bangkok
Thailand

Officials of Southern Leyte declared my province “insurgency-free” for the last three years in Philippine Inquirer 5 October 2011.
This statement is very misleading.
I know for a fact that such a declaration for my province was made in 2005 by officers of the 43rd Infantry Battalion then stationed in Sogod, Southern Leyte.
As a result of that declaration, the battalion was pulled out and sent to other areas in the country.
A little over two years ago, the Charlie Company of the 78th Infantry Battalion
was sent to my province.
Does that mean we were “insurgency-infested” once again?
If so, no one ever told us.
It is ironic that the story was published a day after a mining company operating in our next door neighbor, Surigao del Norte, was raided and pillaged.
Only two things come to my mind.
The troops now stationed in my province are either erroneously assigned there or someone isn’t telling the truth.
I have had the privilege of working closely with the officers and enlisted men
of the Philippine Army in various humanitarian activities in the past year
because of my active involvement in civil society organizations.
I have seen the high level of professionalism among many of them, which has earned my utmost respect and deep admiration.
That is why I am saddened when I hear some of them allowing themselves to be used by politicians.
Soldiers should learn their lesson and stop getting entangled in civilian politics.
It is not necessary to sing accolades to local officials.
A community does not need to be told that it is peaceful because the stakeholders themselves will feel it.
In fact, I believe communities facing a potential threat should be warned accordingly so that the people can be alerted and be made more vigilant.
I can only hope and pray that the declaration that Southern Leyte is insurgent-free will not be proven wrong.

Marisa Lerias,
Lalawigan Mo,
Southern Leyte,
Philippines

The recent months leading up to the end of 2011 have been troublesome and appalling for the Indonesian President and his political party.
For several months now, the national news in Indonesia has been plagued with
news of corruption from ministries and House of Representatives, along with
violent acts of religious intolerance.
One would expect that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) would be quick on his feet to deal with the increasing number of inexcusable cases that his
government finds itself involved in, but the reality is he’s not.
What has made it even worse for the President is that he has been criticized about his slow efforts in reshuffling his Cabinet, and in dealing with the many issues
occurring in Indonesia but thus far, little result has been seen.
President Yudhoyono might pride himself on being the first president to be
elected democratically, but as Nico Harjanto, a Centre of Strategic and Security
Studies (CSIS) researcher wrote in The Indonesian Quarterly for the first
quarter of 2011, his inability to respond to challenges and problems
appropriately have extended many problems to the Indonesian people.
If we take a look at all the scandals that have occurred inside his Cabinet, the
question is more about trust for the Indonesian people rather than anything
else.
It is no doubt shameful that ministers, diplomats, Corruption Eradication
Commission (KPK) members, and House’s members are linked to big corruption
scandals.
It is even more shameful when President Yudhoyono himself has been advocating
for the curbing of corruption and collusion in Indonesia.
With so many names being mentioned and linked to corruption scandals, it seems like SBY’s presidency will leave a legacy filled with embarrassment and disgrace.In terms of politics, it is evident that the President will experience continuing turbulence if he continues to fail in managing his authority and popular mandate. That 60 percent poll result that won SBY his second term in office is slowly
diminishing with time.
So much focus has been put onto politics, while only a small spotlight has been shone on the issue of religious intolerance.
The recent suicide bombing in Surakarta (Solo) might have been prevented had the authorities in Indonesia listened to the ongoing demands for the government to
take firmer action in dealing with radicalism and intolerance.
The President has highlighted that radicalism is an issue that needs to be dealt
with in a more serious manner, but what we find now is he has done very little
to change that.
What the Indonesian people are doing is questioning where the Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (Unity in Diversity) principle has gone in this country.
Indonesia has been very vocal in wanting to be a global player and to have an
increasing role in the international world.
If Indonesia wants to move forward both at a national and international level, it will require the President and his government to actually take action.
Indonesia and its authorities should not be complacent about the position in
which that they have been recently; instead, they should be rather more
concerned because Indonesia is beginning to lose its footing.

Cantika Paramitha R,
Bandung,
Indonesia

My uncle died during our independence struggle fighting the Dutch, and a street in Bandung where he was murdered bears his name.
My Koppasus cousin now lies paralyzed after having fought in the Timor war.
I personally used to be very proud of our TNI but is the TNI’s glory and its good reputation now a thing of the past?
Lately the TNI has tainted its own reputation.
The case of Pardamean Tampubolon who was beaten up and stabbed by a TNI member has only served as another smudge to its tarnished reputation. (Read: “Family of stabbing victim cries cover-up, appeals to rights body”, The Jakarta Post, Oct. 5).
It seems that the TNI does not want to resolve this case and is harboring a
criminal.
Being a member of the TNI does not give anybody the right to kill civilians at random.
No smoking signs should also be adhered to by the military.
It is quite apparent that there is a lack of discipline in the military nowadays.
We should also look at the TNI’s leaders.
If its leaders are weak and lack discipline, this rubs off on their subordinates.
The human rights violations in Papua are also a dark stain on the TNI’s
reputation.
The killing of Pardamean is a bad example and although the killer is known by name and appearance, the Jakarta Military District Command and the
Military Police Detachment in Cijantung are not doing anything to bring the
murderer to justice.
Why?
Being a member of the TNI does not give anybody the right to disregard no
smoking signs. Our military clearly lacks discipline.
Promises of reform by the TNI are not being carried out and are being
disregarded.
Should we be proud of our TNI now?
The answer is no. The population is growing restless and more nervous of our TNI as their lack of respect for civilians is quite apparent.
If the TNI leaders keep their eyes closed to human rights violations and if they
harbor criminals, their glorious reputation will become a thing of the past.
Please restore your excellent reputation, TNI.
We used to be so proud of you!

Lynna van der Zee-Oehmke
Bogor,
West Java,
Indonesia

I am constantly concerned for the US whilst it goes further into debt and why it cannot realize the cause.
Why any country would allow a privately owned company, the Federal Reserve Bank to issue its currency, which allows the reserve to print money for loaning to the US government, is beyond me.
When the US issued its own currency the Green Back it had no government debt whereas today it has so much debt to the Federal Reserve it will never get out of debt unless your politicians are brave enough to take a stand and get back to issuing your own currency.

Frank Crichlow,
Miranda,
New South Wales
Australia

Recently, Indonesia’s international role has seemingly become the role model for most developing countries and has strengthened Indonesia’s foothold in the international community.
Indonesia’s support for Palestinian people may acquire the majority of General Assembly members but not the US, since the Obama administration has vowed to veto any resolution brought to the Security Council.
But even so, at the General Assembly, the Palestinians may gain symbolic victory
recognition as a nonmember observer state similar to the Vatican.
This achievement will be a step forward for the peace process in the Middle East
and for Indonesia, this will be added as another accomplishment that has
strengthened its role on the international stage.
Regardless of all its successes and achievements in the international role,
Indonesia still opposes an independent Papua.
A few pro-independence groups are struggling to free the territory from Indonesia’s authority.
By lifting the human rights issues and human rights abuses by Indonesian
military.
Furthermore, Papua’s history regarding the role of the United Nations
roles in the 1960s has been questioned.
So the question is, could the struggle of Palestinians become a role model for pro-independence groups in Papua to express their own aspirations?
The human rights abuses in Papua are non debatable, indeed, there were
atrocities and crimes against humanity committed by the Indonesian military.
But we have to see this domestic problem with a fair and equal understanding
that those violations happened caused because of unprofessional military
personnel and a lack of understanding to uphold the human rights. Indonesia’s
law has acted swiftly to investigate and uphold the law for all human rights
violators.
This is the clearest outline of disparity between the human rights violations
against Palestinians and Papuans.
It is less possible that the struggle of Palestinians could serve as a model for
pro-independence groups in Papua, since the increasing strength of Indonesia’s
position in the international community convinces the world that Indonesia can
stand and resolve its own domestic problems.
Furthermore, the international community also believes the special autonomy of
Papua is the best deal Papuan people could ever get.

Raflihasan,
Medan,
Indonesia

I refer to the letter “Convert casino into a hospital” in The National,
September 28.
I agree with the writer’s comments.
In fact, I would like to add that instead of converting it into a children’s hospital, why not turn it into a first-class hospital.
The building is almost ready and it exudes class.
When Sir Michael So­mare had his heart operation at the Raffles Hospital in
Singapore, I went to the internet to see how the hospital looks like.
Raffles Hospital looks like a five-star hotel.
If I had not done a search for it on the internet, I would think it is a hotel.
Not too long ago, we had a debate about whether to build a super hospital at
Bautama.
I say we forget about Bautama.
We have a building that is almost ready at 4-Mile in Port Moresby.
What we need is for the government to step in and buy over the building or
convince the share holders of the casino hotel to become shareholders of a
world-class hospital in­stead.
The profits would be just as good and the PR would be anything but negative.
One of the wings can be set aside to cater only to our children and women at a
subsidised rate.
As the writer said and I agree: Papua New Guinea does not need a casino as it will only bring misery to the majority of the people.

Jonathan,
Port Moresby,
Papua New Guinea

Regarding Mihoko Matsubara and Yang Yi's September 29 article in The Japan Times, "Chinese social media reshape image of Japan".
We don't have to be in China to know how evil and cruel Japanese soldiers were when they occupied and pillaged our country in World War II.
While we agree with those Asians who say that America found it easier to
drop atomic bombs on the Japanese than on its white German cousins, the
atrocities committed and denied by Japan are not just the stuff of drama.
Images of the repeated rape of young girls, mutilation of women with the
sacred Samurai sword, and the bayoneting of babies tossed into the air are
very much alive in our collective memory.
Unlike China, the Philippines has the freest press and most open democracy in Asia, and school textbooks are not riddled with anti-Japanese historical facts. Yet, we don't have to be reminded by any state apparatchik: We saw what happened and we are keen to pass it on to our grandchildren.
Indeed, is it not karmic retribution that Japan, after so many years of
arrogance, is now aging and ailing so?

Godofredo Pagtanca,
Quezon City,
Philippines

This would appear to be the ultimate, desperate, individual response when the 'heavy hand' of official abuse and humiliation occurs 'once-too-often'.
The presently active OCCUPY WALL STREET demonstration, that had its' genesis in that same infamous New York precinct, is directed against a quasi-criminal military/industrial/ banking complex that has bankrupted the US.
But, it is reported that the major target of this bitter uprising is Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein ( "Doing God's work") et al, the architects of the toxic derivatives that disposessed their many victims of their homes and general wellbeing.
The Wall Street Journal (US) reports that substantial numbers have gathered there in determined, but peaceful, protest; also in other major cities such as Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Pittsburg etc.
The resentful social climate and passion engendered by the reprehensible conduct of Zionist bankers will not readily abate.
A brutal police presence can be expected if protest numbers increase and their influence spreads.
It is worthy of mention, perhaps, that this present confrontation with the 'compromised' establishment has never occurred previously because of one vital ingredient - free access to the world wide web, thus circumventing the established cosmetic Zionist media "news service'.
The 'Arab Spring' was/is triumphant as a bi-product of immediate communation and coordination by dissidents yearning to escape the yoke of autocratic tyranny. Following a long and arduous journey suffered by millions, it would seem that we now approach the fateful fork-in-the-democratic-road.
Be alert as never before!
The 'Masters of the Universe' will never casually yield their power, prestige - and wealth; blood will flow during any period of transition.
But,we must not be diverted from our rightful course.

Harry A Boniface,
Queensland,
Australia.

The women’s bill is a waste of time and money.
It is foolish for the government to grandstand in New York about this ill-conceived idealism.
The women and their advocates will not change this country overnight.
Papua New Guinea is not the US or Australia.
PNG will not become one and will never be one.
Please stop this “cargo cultist” idea that the women will change the political and social landscape of our society.
The creation of 22 reserved seats will escalate and widen corruption.
The 109 seats have not delivered.
So what guarantee is there that the 22 women will change the mindset and culture of corruption?
The 22 seats are just another financial burden.
Let us define where we want to be in 50 years.
Do we want to be the US or Australia?
Frankly, we will never be and will not be either.
I want our country to be built on the foundations and values of the Melanesian society.
The social structure must be kept, meaning our communities will be built on the clan and tribal systems.
The social values and land tenure systems must be kept.
All the present social systems must be nourished and kept.
What we need is a good road network nationwide connecting all provinces and districts.
We need a 20-year road development programme.
Pump all the foreign aid and internal revenue proceeds to building roads.
We must build Papua New Guinea on the Melanesian custom and values, not emulate the Americans or Australians.
We also need to be aware of the existence of “neo-colonialism” attitude, a covert side of colonialism.
The OBE is a good example where it kills our children’s intelligence.
Likewise, the proponents of the women’s bill are another neo-colonialism tool that will kill the fabric of our Melanesian values.
It will also put more pressure and strain on our limited financial resources where money will be used to finance unproductive policies that will produce nothing but promote corruption.

Nationalist,
Port Moresby,
Papua New Guinea

Of late the Malaysian Customs has confiscated a large number of elephant tusks.
The ivory was probably the loot of poachers in Africa.
With the increasing prosperity of East Asia, South-East Asia and the Middle
East, there has been a great demand for ivory for ornamental and other reasons.
Burning the precious ivory does little to counter poaching or trafficking, and
the dead animals are not going to come back to life.
A more practical and pragmatic way would be for an international wildlife
organisation to collect the confiscated items and deposit them for safe keeping
until such time that they can be sold off.
An official sale of the tusks and horns can be conducted annually for international commercial customers.
The proceeds can be used for funding wildlife programmes as well as villagers
around the wildlife sanctuaries to motivate them to protect the wildlife around
them as well as cooperate with the park authorities to ward off poachers.
An organised sale could drive down prices in the black market for these items
and this could help put poachers and traffickers out of business and possibly
lead to reduction in the wildlife trade.
Burning the precious cargo has not stopped poaching all these years, and it is
alleged that the higher-ups in the various countries are involved in this illegal activity. Burning the precious cargo only increases demand and pushes up prices, leading to more poaching and trafficking.
In the decades to come, the number of elephants and rhinos is going to be drastically reduced due to loss of habitat and changing weather patterns.
The price of horns and tusks will go up immensely.
Is it then logical to burn this cargo and reduce it to ashes that will benefit
no one?
Developing African countries could use this precious cargo, more valuable than
gold bullion, as collateral for loans for their national development during the
present global economic downturn.

V. Thomas,
Sungai Buloh,
Selangor,
Malaysia

I would like to compliment The Jakarta Post on publishing on September 23 a picture showing orthodox Jews supporting Palestine’s bid for statehood recognition at the United Nations.
It is the kind of image that helps us raise questions about ready-made, media-shaped opinions and prejudices.
This image shows us, without the need for any discourse, that Jewishness, even
in its orthodox brand, does not necessarily mean Zionism and support for Israeli
policies.
I would suggest that your redaction assigns a journalist to systematically look
for this kind of image, as for example does the Economist.
We need such media-enlightening images.
Concerning Jewishness, it is a fact that as long as “Jews” are only seen as a
“symbolic of Jerusalem”, their thinkers could play an important part in the
construction of post-enlightenment modern universalism.
But, sadly, by a quirk of history, Zionism now refers to a radical brand of
nationalism that is not fundamentally different from the kind of nationalism
that ruled over Europe during the first part of the 20th century and of which so
many Jews were the victims.
So, let us dream of a “symbolic” Jerusalem - as well of course as of “symbolic” Rome, “symbolic” Mecca and “symbolic” Ayodhya.

Jean Couteau,
Denpasar,
Bali

If the government is serious about improving health care facilities in Papua New Guinea, I suggest it converts the incomplete casino-hotel at 4-Mile in Port Moresby into a children’s hospital.
The government, I believe, will win the hearts of the six million-plus Papua New
Guineans.
Our mothers suffer the most because there is a lack of proper health-care
facilities to cater for our sick children.
We will become the first island nation in the South Pacific to have a children’s
hospital.
All funds raised by business houses and professional groups for children’s
health can go to­wards the hospital.
The government can outsource the management of this hospital to church-run
institutions such as the Pacific Adventist University or Divine Word University
so they can use the facilities to train health professionals.
Papua New Guinea does not need a casino as it will only bring misery to the majority of the people.

Children’s health care advocator,
Port Moresby,
Papua New Guinea

This is a comment from the website to the online article titled “Make Indonesian Asean Inter-Parliamentary Assembly's (AIPA’s) official language: Marzuki Alie” on September 20.
Actually, I agree with him.
English is probably one of the most complex, irregular and difficult languages to learn.
The sounds of vowels vary according to stress and the orthography has not kept pace with changes in pronunciation over the past several hundred years.
Word order is different from most Southeast Asian languages and other world languages.
Malay/Indonesian is a simplified lingua franca successfully used as a trading
language in this region.
The orthography is nearly completely phonetic and the grammar far more straightforward than English or other European languages.
I have often thought that it would make a far better global means of communication
than English.
Its use as the official language of the Association South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) should be supported.
The world is, according to many, shifting its axis from Europe and North America
to Asia.
English has only attained its global status through US hegemony.
It is time we reasserted our identity, maturity and independence and at the same time offered the world something of real benefit that we have: our language.
Bahasa Indonesia was a vital part of our independence struggle: to provide a universal medium for science, technology and discourse.
We don’t want to colonize our partners in ASEAN in our turn, but we do have something which is a shared valuable heritage.
The European Union spends vast amounts on translating between its many official
languages.
By adopting Indonesian/Malay we could save that expense, and the expense of trying to learn that awful trap for the unwary, English.

Rafiq Mahmood,
Bogor,
West Java

Discriminating political observers are ernestly watching the progress of public (peaceful) demonstrations in both NewYork and Tel Aviv.
Unreported (i.e. censored) throughout the Zionist controlled western media, the web site Google " OCCUPY WALL STREET" reveals an upsurge of a passionate social resentment against all that is contaminated within the Zionist dominated White House and financial banking systems/monopolies.
These self indulgent ( misappropriating & bonus paying) , reprehensible recipients of a series of billions of government (i.e.taxpayers) dollars are also the architects of the present US financial crisis triggerd by the notoriously toxic - and worthless - derivatives that dispossessed millions of Americans of their homes; and illegal wars that have, by design, bankrupted other world economies ( who refuse to toe-the-line) are resident in Wall Street, New York and, of course, Tel Aviv, Israel.
The emergence of the present destructive financial/political/religious state of affairs, that has decimated the wellbeing of millions of people, can be identified in the words of the founder of the banking House of Rothschild:- " I care not who governs a country - as long as I control the money".
And so his ominous strategy has come to pass; a further consequence of this is that democracy and the human rights of the goyyim have been sacrificed at the altar within the Zionist Temples of Greed.
Like the American General Custer, 'Occupy Wall Street' could be 'our last stand'.

Harry A Boniface,
Queensland,
Australia

The US has already started "to negotiate" by threatening to withdraw their "humanitarian aid" to the Palestinians.
Over and over again the US shows its true face.
They teach very loudly the world about all kinds of honorable principles but do not stick to them themselves, rather to the double standard.
The US is not giving aid the admirable altruistic way but as a very well calculated tool to rule the world.
Read the history and judge yourself.
Now they want to take the food out of the mouths of suffering Palestinians to force them to obey the US/Israeli rules of practical politics.
More force was already on the table when the US warned it would veto the
Palestinians' call in the UN for their own state.
But the US has poor respect for the UN and mainly uses or contributes to it when they need support for their wars (Bush).
Often they ignore paying their dues or are very slow to pay their share to the UN and are nowhere near the idealistic goal of giving 1percent of GNP to
the UN rather they have opposed the whole organisation (Bolton) because the
UN challenged the Americans' bad habit of wanting to dominate the world.
Israel was never born as a result of direct negotiations with Palestinians.
Israel declared theselves an independent state on Palestinian soil after
Palestinians were overrun by the Brits and the mood of rest of the world after
World War 2.
The Palestinians are now the ones who benefit from the world mood, as a vast number of member states support the Palestinians' call for their own state, hopefully they will also enable a free Palestine with altruistic aid after the world guard of democracy, the Americans, have withdrawn their dictatorial aid-money.

A Johnsen,
Chon Buri,
Thailand

I believe it is meaningless to create 22 seats for women in parliament.
Look at our deteriorating infrastructure, education, health, almost nil piped
water and electricity supply, etc.
Rather than ensuring all of the above reach our people, our parliamentarians are
wasting time and money debating about reserving 22 seats for women.
What good will the women do?
Corruption is already entrenched in our system and, sooner or later, the women
MPs will also end up in the same boat.
I do not think they will make any difference in our well-being.
Instead, they will make a bigger hole in our coffers as more money will be
needed to pay their salaries, perks and allowances.
Papua New Guineans need more proper and permanent services to be delivered not only in the urban areas, but also in the rural and remote areas as well.
Without such basic necessities in place, we will not be able to achieve Vision
2050.
If nothing is done, we will continue to wallow in corruption, poverty and remain
a weak nation.
Papua New Guinea is not Australia or the US.
Seriously, has anyone tried to implement a policy in Papua New Guinea with success?
Papua New Guinea needs more development to grow up before it can try to compare itself with other developing nations.
Instead of doing something for the people like providing services and improving
their standard of living, the government is going ahead to create these 22 seats
for women.
I doubt they can bring development to this country.

Hekawataka,
Port Moresby,
Papua New Guinea

I am an American staying for two weeks in Jakarta until this Friday, when we go home to the US.
I read in your paper today about Indonesia not meeting its Millenium Development Goals (MDG), especially reducing mortality rates and access to clean water and basic sanitation.
May I say that the two are closely related, as improving the water supply and
disposing of trash and litter in a safe manner reduces disease, pollution and
poor sanitation, thereby obviously reducing the death rate.
Here in Jakarta, the trash visible everywhere one goes is the large white
elephant in the room; no one here seems to notice, or does not care, and when I
have asked Indonesians about it, the subject is changed.
Speaking of elephants, we went to the zoo in South Jakarta and while we loved
seeing the animals, especially the Sumatran elephants, but the sight and actual
stink of trash everywhere was almost unbearable.
I almost vomited twice.
The bathrooms, too, had no toilet paper or trash cans, the very basic tools of
sanitation!
We saw a zoo employee raking up leaves in the flowerbeds but leaving the rubbish behind, which was very puzzling.
Although we have problems in the US of our own, we have worked hard on our
environment to provide clean water, and keep the streets and neighborhoods free
of trash, which causes pollution and destroys nature.
Maybe the Indonesians don’t see the connection, between trash and disease, but surely they can see how ugly and smelly and unpleasant it is for everyone?
Surely, the people here appreciate nature and beauty and want to take pride in their surroundings?
I heard that tourists avoid visiting Jakarta like the plague, maybe to avoid
catching it!
That is a shame, because there are so many interesting things to see and do in Jakarta for foreigners, and these tourists bring their money to spend here, helping the economy.
Driving into this city from the airport, we saw so many nice trees and plants, and people had done so much labor to place beautiful, potted plants along the highways, only to have them scarred with trash and debris.
People should have more pride than that to treat their country in such a shocking manner.
Traveling over the waterways and seeing the streams clogged with litter made me very sad.
The solution is very simple, please find a trash can (I admit they are hard to
find here) to dispose of your trash there and not on the ground.
Also, if every Indonesian would take it upon themselves to pick up just 10 pieces of trash per day, with the huge population here, the trash would be gone in a week! Then, water would be drinkable, health and sanitation would improve, not to mention it would beautify Jakarta and make tourists want to visit.
You would not only meet your two goals, but also have the added benefits of increased income, due to tourism and recycling.
Maybe due to corruption and inefficiency of the Jakarta administration (it is a
crime that they do nothing to help their people’s sanitation), they do not
provide effective trash service and public receptacles to throw trash away, so
people are forced to throw it on the ground?
Shame on the government for their ignorance and selfishness!

A.E. Behar,
Jakarta,
Indonesia

Having read an article on the vandalism of statues of Javanese wayang characters in Purwakarta regency, I feel very concerned and lamented the action perpetrated by a hard-liner group in the name of Islam.
It seems this hard-liner group has misunderstood Islam as we know Islam is a
peaceful religion.
This ugly action does not reflect any of the harmonious or peaceful ways of life as recommended in Islam itself.
Since their action has been deplorable and humiliating the spirit of Bhinneka
Tunggal Ika (unity in diversity), as an Indonesian citizen although not living in Purwakarta, I feel compelled to urge Mr. President to take stern action against anybody or any group who degrades the spirit of unity in diversity, which has been in place since the birth of the nation.
Once again I beg you, Mr. President, to take tough measures against hardliners.
Indonesian people need to live in harmony and peace.
As the President, I am sure you can do it.
I am sure most Indonesian people want to live peacefully and harmoniously.

Achmad Baihaqi,
Kediri,
East Java,
Indonesia

It's great that Santika pub owner Wisuk Setsawat and Focus Light Sound System
executive Boonchu Laosenat have been found guilty of negligence leading to the
deaths of 66 people and injuries to 222 others.
Jail terms of 3 years without suspension and 87 million baht in compensation are fine also, for ''Justice which does not bear a sword beside its scales soon falls into ridicule'' (Charles de Gaulle).
But what about those whose negligence led to the deaths of 83 people at Tak Bai,
or whose use of excessive force led to the 32 bodies at Krue Se?
They haven't even been court-martialled, let alone fined or jailed.
In fact, Gen Panlop Pinmanee is seeking the top job at the Internal Security Operations Command. If
he gets it, that would certainly rub salt in the southerners' wounds and deal
reconciliation efforts a mighty blow.
PM Yingluck, the red shirts are rightly fond of saying, ''No double standards!''
Show that you can lead by applying the same standards to soldiers, as you
rightly do to civilians.

Burin Kantabutra,
Bangkok,
Thailand

I refer to “Port Dickson doesn’t need more hotels” in The Star, September 12 on the state of development in Port Dickson and other recent letters from readers on the environment.
Port Dickson used to be the place to go for children and families.
It was near, within a day’s trip, affordable and fun.
The simple and natural attract Malaysians of all walks.
Then with our development policies, there was a mad rush to develop and sell
properties which have now become an eyesore, with incomplete projects, poorly
maintained structures, little consideration given to greenery, and poor access
to facilities for the public.
The landscape of Port Dickson beaches has changed.
Now Malaysians avoid Port Dickson or use the swimming pools of resorts overlooking the beach.
We see the same madness in Penang high-rise condominiums on beaches and hills,
resulting in landslides and floods, and an ugly sight to behold.
No attention is paid to zoning for buildings or limiting height of construction.
And it definitively no longer has the lustre of the “Pearl of the Orient”.
In Malacca, we find modern high- rise structures amidst historic sites.
Historic sites are blocked by some shopping malls and the latest sound and light
displays.
A modern re-interpretation of Malaysian history, they say.
But we are losing the character and history of these heritage places.
Why would tourists come to see shopping malls?
Some of the most popular tourist destinations all over the world are restored
(not renovated) historic structures and towns that are beautifully maintained –
and they generate income!
Can you imagine a 20-storey hotel at a busy cross-junction in Kuala Lumpur with
taxis and tour buses stopping along the road - as the taxi and bus stop is on
the main road – blocking traffic the whole day - all approved by the
authorities?
It seems our policy is build first, plan later.
Often I find much wisdom in the ordinary Malaysian taxi driver, who can advise
on what to do about our city infrastructure or at least what to avoid.
There is also the pressure of population growth and demands in all cities.
As much as people can, and do, create the environment they desire, the
environment in turn affects us either harmoniously, more stressful, conducive
or negative.
Thus, thinking through our long-term urban planning, consulting with and
engaging with people, as well as sound policies to support all this, will be
helpful.
Talking of ethics, when a timber logging company records an annual RM300mil
profit in its operations or when a construction company makes RM500mil from sale of properties, or a factory proudly touts the ‘3,000 extra jobs’ it creates in a
state, is that the complete picture?
Does it include the cost of cleaning up the soil erosion, monitoring pollution,
caring for the health effects on children and workers, displacement of people,
the loss of fish and wildlife, loss of indigenous jobs and income, (maybe)
replanting of trees, and maintenance of the affected public facilities such as
roads or parks or toilets?
This often is borne by state funds - that is, the public - through taxes and not
the private company or business.
If we take this “social cost of development” into consideration, the real
benefit to the people, environment or nation would be far less.
So what is the “real benefit” of this type of development?
And what type of development or progress do we really want?
Besides monetary and social costs, national and state policies should also
ensure some check and balance among all parties - private businesses, state
authorities, and participation of civil society.

Charles Bertille,
Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia

Climate change, Global warming.
In the 30,s, the depression years, no jobs available and my elder brother together with his friend, would go to the flower markets and buy flowers in bulk.
Then wrap them and go door to door selling them to try to make some money.
I remember one Saturday the temperature reached 40 degrees C; and their flowers wilted and died.
That was in the Sydney southern suburbs and I do not think there has been a temperature like that in Sydney since - in other words in the last 70 years or so. What does that say about global warming?

Frank Crichlow,
Miranda,
New South Wales
Australia

The Japan Times September 13 front-page article "Noda taps Edano for trade minister" states that former trade minister Yoshio Hachiro stepped down after he "triggered public outrage for calling the area around the damaged Fukushima nuclear plant a 'town of death."
I cannot imagine how painfully those words must have hit the ears of those who used to call, what we now know as the exclusion zone, home.
I also can't help wondering whether some of that "outrage" wasn't manufactured in some political machine.
After all, I don't remember hearing a single objection in May when the health minister at the time, Ritsuo Hosokawa, used the same expression - "town of death" - to describe an evacuated residential area near Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s stricken No. 1 nuclear power plant.
I think he was even lauded by one Diet member for his straight talk about a catastrophe that has reduced so many Fukushima-area towns to ghosts of their former selves.
In fact, at least half a dozen other politicians have used these or similar words over the past six months without generating the controversy that Hachiro did.
So, what's the difference?
Perhaps it is that Hachiro was willing to lend a more sympathetic ear to the nation's anti-nuclear voices.
Following Hachiro's decision to appoint more anti-nuclear advocates who would add balance to a key nuclear power policy committee, it would seem that this controversy was fueled by fear of a more level-playing field, where alternative viewpoints might have a chance of winning the day.

J.T. Cassidy,
Yokohama,
Japan

The Javan rhinoceros can now be found primarily in Ujung Kulon
National Park, Banten, where only 50 to 60 animals survive.
Scattered remnant populations may remain in southern Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam, but further study is necessary to assess the true status of any population that might exist in these areas.
The government must pay attention to endangered animals to establish
conservation priorities, such as including preserving remnant wild populations
and developing a captive propagation program to breed animals for reintroduction
in the wild.
The population of the Javan rhinoceros is now at a critical level. Its future is
uncertain, despite ongoing conservation efforts.

Fudaili,
North Jakarta,
Indonesia

I refer to “Dr M: Don’t re-invent our history” in The Star, September 13 where it was reported that former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, when asked to comment on a recent statement by Prof Dr Zainal Kling at the National Professors Council that Malaya was never a British colony.
Dr Mahathir was quoted as saying: “Technically speaking we were never colonised. The Sultans decided to invite the British to come and advise them how to administer the country, and we were not conquered in that sense.”
It is true that, pre-war, the British were in the Federated Malay States (FMS)
and the non-Federated Malay States as advisors.
It can be argued, however, that after the war the British came back to Malaya as “conquerors” after the Allied forces defeated Japan in 1945.
The Japanese who took over the country in 1941 and ruled it for three-and-a-half
years surrendered unconditionally to the British forces and were taken prisoners
of war.
So it could be technically argued that during the short post-war period of
British Military Administration, Malaya was directly under direct British rule
(by virtue of conquest) until the Federation of Malaya was formed.

M.G.D.,
Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia

Everybody in Ambon nowadays knows to control him or herself when
conflicts between individuals or groups of different faiths are about to ignite.
A clash between those of the same faith is far more likely to happen than of
different faiths.
They have learned to walk away from any possible tension between individuals or groups of different faiths.
That does not mean that they have learned to become real friends again.
They have learned to avoid conflict.
They are walking a thin line, and it seems they are being cordial as a form of misplaced respect.
Not that they are just on the edge of bashing each other’s brains in, but they seem to want to keep it superficial and on high alert not to offend each other.
All seemed pretty controlled up until recently, when, at the University of
Pattimura, students accused the university of discriminating against them on
religious grounds concerning admission exams.
Without any form of reflection or scrutiny of the facts, these students decided it was time for a rampage to prove that they were right.
Data disclosed by the university actually proved them wrong.
This latest traffic incident again may turn out to be an “overreaction” based on
a rumor rather than facts.
But the damage has been done again.
Five have died for this little “hick up”.
I can only imagine how those families of the deceased will deal with this futile exercise of over-boiled feelings of grief.
But that seems the price we have to pay for an endless cycle of distrust, suspicion and false pretenses.
But let us magnify this surreal state of decency.
Such a flare-up is another wakeup call for all of us of different faiths in Indonesia.
Indonesia is a country where everybody is judged by his or her faith.
As long as faith determines one’s standing in society, as long as merit is no longer a
yardstick for our communities’ respect, you might as well sew your own “Star of
David” on your chest and try and find your own tribe to mingle with.
Nationalism and Pancasila all left the building quite some time ago.
Even justice is meted out with a religious bias where needed.
That is why the sectarian riots have resulted in casualties rivaling the Bosnian
conflict and with zero justice so far.
An in-depth scrutiny of the aggressors would be a real juggling experience between the land mines of the religious divide.
So they ended up with Malino I and II, which was something along the lines of “let us move on and forget about the past”. (And by the way, lucky you if you were not among casualties this time.)
Back to square one, which is that water and oil simply do not mix, so keep them
apart.
And that is Moluccan society of today - each and every tribe in its own cave.
And I do not mean that they aren’t mingling physically, on the contrary,
they are and without fear, but always vigilant as not to offend the other tribe,
like visiting the Queen, congratulating her on her birthday, shaking her hand
and smiling at her while despising the very monarchy she stands for.
Hypocrisy, or munafik: a must-learn word, just one word to clarify it all.

Asher Tauran,
Jakarta,
Indonesia

We were in Singapore recently to settle our daughter into her new school.
Singapore is so much like Malaysia, the same flora and fauna but there are some
striking differences.
It’s so clean, and that is such a refreshing change.
No litter anywhere.
Litter has become common place in Malaysia.
I live in Subang Jaya and if you take a stroll on the streets in SS15 near the wet market and the road adjacent, you will find rubbish strewn by the roadside and in the drains, too!
Even in our neighbourhood, there are plastic bottles in the playground and
rubbish piled up in corners.
Not everyone does this, but some people do.
We even had a gotong royong some
time back to make the people more aware.
But the situation has gone back to square one.
Singapore is safe and women walk alone fearlessly at night around 10pm or 11pm.
We saw this near the university hostel.
However, I would not dare to walk alone at night in my neighbourhood in SS18
Subang Jaya.
I was also impressed with the courtesy and honesty of the cab drivers.
On one occasion, the cab driver was not able to take us to the given address
correctly, so he went around a bit.
When we finally got to our destination, he apologised and refused to accept the full fare.
This made us feel really good.
Last but not least, people follow the road rules and driving in Singapore is a
pleasure.
I wonder why our country can’t be cleaner, safer and people more honest and
courteous?
I believe it has a lot to do with enforcement and public education.
Bring in the enforcement and improve the dissemination of information for a
better Malaysia!

Kamal,
Subang Jaya,
Malaysia

Re: ''A Long way to catch up'' in The Bangkok Post, Commentary, September 14.
Umesh Pandey may feel satisfied with the knowledge that Vietnam still has a long way to go before overtaking Thailand, but I would like to point out that the so-called ''Thailand success story'' has led to the current political crisis and division in society due to widening inequalities.
The Thai education system is nothing to be proud of. In fact, it is so bad that
Thailand has to look backward to see if countries such as Vietnam are closing
the gap, rather than look forward and try to emulate countries like Singapore
and South Korea.
The Thai government already seems to be having difficulty working for just one
man, so it cannot be bothered to look after the rest of the people, or to look
ahead at the creation of the Asean Economic Community and its implications.
The Thai private sector has long been complacent, which explains the poor
productivity of Thai workers as well as their poor salaries. Despite the
government's promise on the minimum wage, the AEC will allow this sector to
continue being complacent, with entrepreneurs moving their factories to
countries such as Vietnam.
On corruption, Umesh is once again looking backward: Vietnam is really bad
(ranked 116th in 2010 according to Transparency International) and Thailand does
much better (ranked an impressive 78th).
If the writer looked ahead, however, he would see countries such as Singapore
(ranked 1st), South Korea (39th) and Malaysia (56th).
Only a few decades ago, these countries were at the same level as Thailand, corruption-wise.
Despite remaining a developing country, Thailand is already about to face the
same challenges as the most advanced countries: de-industrialisation, high level
of unemployment and unsustainable public debt.
With widespread corruption and a poor standard of education, combined with the
lack of infrastructure and limited welfare, Thailand is ill-equipped to deal
with such problems.
If Vietnam can be described as a ''baby tiger'', Thailand is probably best defined as a paper tiger ruled by complacent fat cats.

Candide,
Bangkok,
Thailand

Re: letter by Maurice Horsburgh 9 Septemebr 2011
Effects of 9/11 on New York and Washington but not the cause

The forerunner of terrorism, as we know it today, commenced on Monday July 22 1946, when a terrorist organisation led by Manachem Begin, the commander of the Irgun Zionist Gang, blew up the King David Hotel in Jerusalem killing 28 Britons, 41 Arabs, 17 Jews and 5 others, a total of 91 dead men, women and children. Begin subsequently became Prime Minister of Israel.
The response to this has lead directly to the formation of today’s alleged terrorist organizations such as Hamas, Hezollah, Jemaah Islamiyah, Taliban, Fatah, Al Qaeda, Black September, Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) et al.
In an interview on Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) News Radio on the eve of the tenth anniversary of the September 11 attacks, David Irvine, Australia's top spy, has revealed the Australian Security and Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) is investigating more potential threats than ever before.
Richard Norton-Taylor in The Guardian reported, 2 Septemebr 2011. MI5 former chief decries 'war on terror'.
Lady Eliza Manningham-Buller, the former head of MI5, recording her first BBC Reith lecture on the theme, Securing Freedom, delivered a withering attack on the invasion of Iraq; decried the term "war on terror"; and held out the prospect of talks with al-Qaida.
''Young Arabs, she said, had no opportunity to choose their own rulers. For them an external enemy was a unifying way to address some of their frustrations. They were also united by the plight of Palestinians, a view that the West was exploiting their oil and supporting dictators…..She added, Saddam Hussein was a ruthless dictator but neither he nor his regime had anything to do with 9/11.
The invasion, she said, "provided an arena for jihad", spurring on UK citizens to resort to terror.''
In an ABC news interview with Ali Moore 9 September 2011‘Imperial hubris of the war on terror’
Michael Scheuer, a former CIA intelligence officer said, “Two US-led NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) armies are retreating without winning from Afghanistan and Iraq. We continue to support the Israelis, which is one of the main causes for why we're fighting this war. And the American economy, which has always been a clear Al Qaeda target, clearly is on the ropes.”
“Whether it's support for the Saudi police state, our military presence in various Muslim countries and probably the most dangerous thing now is our unqualified, unquestioning support for the Israelis. This is a very substantive religious war from the perspective of our enemies.”
Despite America and Australia claiming that they want to see peace in the Middle East and a two state solution, when the motion for that issue comes before the United Nations on 20 September, they intend to vote against it; stand by for massive outpouring of hypocrisy.

Harry A Boniface.
Queensland,
Australia

The way we are trying to combat radical Muslims - and have been ever
since the fall of former president Soeharto - is not succeeding in eradicating
radical Islam in Indonesia.
This is clearly shown by the supporters that plague The Jakarta Post and their
continual abuse about us “infidels” and those Muslims who are just not Muslim
enough for their liking and, hence, who are also considered “infidels”.
There may come a time when other religious fanatics will take to the stage, as
Indonesia has repeatedly conveyed virtual disinterest regarding the activities
of terrorists, whether in terms of handing down light sentences to Abubakar
Ba’asyir or to the extremists who brutally murdered Ahmadiyah members, to what
we see might be happening with the recently apprehended terrorist, who was
allegedly linked to the Bali bombings.
As a society, we cannot allow such people to infest our nation, as all they do
is spread like a cancer that eats away at all the progress we have made.
Every radical Muslim act that disregards our nation’s laws is a further call for
other terrorists to rise up, until we reach a point when we can no longer hold
back the tide and Indonesia will become a wasteland like the Middle East, devoid
of culture, devoid of humanity, devoid of tolerance.
I understand the failures of the past few administrations; after all, what do we
expect, given the fact that they were second-level elites who did not enjoy the
cream during Pak Soeharto’s era.
Hopefully, if it is not too late, real leaders, who possess an understanding
that radicals can’t keep hiding behind Islam to continue thier evil work - and
that it isn’t anti-Islamic if you take them out back and execute them as
traitors to Indonesia, will emerge in Indonesia but so far, none have been seen.

Deddy,
Jakarta,
Indonesia

I am pleased to note that Thailand is spending more money on R&D.
As a member of Asean I feel happy to see the growth of industries in Thailand. However, many developing countries still believe that the future is in science rather than the growth of technologies for industrial application.
We have seen the rise of the Japanese and Korean nations that essentially grew their industries first before growing their sciences.
Today, a number of countries such as Australia and Malaysia believe in leap-frogging into innovation. SS
There can be little benefit if the innovation is all found in the government institutions rather than at the firm level.
Innovations at the firm level can be measured by the greater generation of revenue. It's about cash flow, revenue and profit.
In Asean the scientific community should be supported by joint industrial research that supports specific growth in targeted industries.
Industries have to work together, maybe through mergers and acquisitions that
can make the regional corporations more competitive.
It's time for Asean to act and think out of the box.
Grow the industries and economy first.
Give the people greater purchasing power and they will support the economy and industrial growth.
Act collectively, as Asean has 600 million people.
Time for new thinking in the region - and act fast.

A Z Idrus,
Bangkok,
Thailand

TRAFFIC Southeast Asia welcomes news that the illegal ivory shipments seized in
various Malaysian ports over the past three months will be destroyed “Seized
tusks to be destroyed” in The Star, September 8.
The public incineration of these tusks is one of the most significant steps that
Malaysian enforcement agencies can take in the battle to halt the trafficking of
ivory.
Such an act provides a valuable opportunity to call attention to a grave
problem, as Kenya did when it torched five tonnes of confiscated ivory in July.
The number of elephant killings in source countries is on the rise as is the
price of ivory, all fuelled by insatiable demand.
Burning these tusks will also ensure that no one benefits from the slaying of
elephants.
It further eliminates the problem of what to do with stockpiles of confiscated
tusks, the possibility of theft and would send a clear signal that Malaysia
wants no part in this blood-stained business.
By our calculations, which are based on publicly available reports, at least
1,764 tusks were recovered in Pasir Gudang, Butterworth and Port Klang.
We hope these tusks are publicly destroyed.
If samples must be kept to further investigation or for training, these should be very few in number.
Such samples should be marked or tagged to prevent theft and it should be known
who maintains custody over them.
We also hope to see a full inventory of all the ivory seized in Malaysia over
the years.
While well-meant, the suggestion that tusks are auctioned and proceeds given to
charity is misguided.
An auction would channel illegal tusks back into the open global market and into the hands of the very syndicates responsible for killing these elephants.
Malaysia must also ensure every seizure it has made is reported to the Elephant
Trade Information System (ETIS) that tracks the illegal trade in ivory and other
elephant products.
ETIS holds the world’s largest database of elephant product seizure information.
These data are the basis for evaluating a country’s role in such trade.
Submitting Malaysian seizures to ETIS will help to improve the nation’s poor
reputation when it comes to the ivory trade.
All it takes is for the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry to fill in a
form (available at www.cites.org/eng/notif/1999/092a1.pdf), and send it to the
secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of
Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), in a timely manner.
This will ensure that the country’s efforts to address the problem are
recognised.
It is a small step, but one that will make a great difference in the country’s
standing vis-à-vis the illegal ivory trade.
We applaud the Customs Department and Perhilitan on the recent seizures and look
forward to the results of further investigations. Identifying the culprits
behind this illegal trade is essential.
The agencies’ continued co-operation, investigation, vigilance and transparency
will go a long way in ridding the country of the unfortunate reputation it has
acquired.

Dr William Schaedla,
Regional Director,
TRAFFIC Southeast Asia

The global warming bureaucracy is planning a tax-funded jaunt to balmy Durban in South Africa for yet another of their periodic talkfests.
There are only two legitimate topics to debate in Durban - the science of global
warming or the politics of the Kyoto agreement.
Government climate mercenaries tell us at every opportunity “the science of
global warming is settled”.
They refuse to debate climate realists.
Thus, according to them, there is no science to debate at Durban.
The politics of Kyoto alarmism is equally settled.
No one outside the Green Empire in UK, Europe and the Anzacs will renew Kyoto.
Developing economies in Africa, India and China are never going to agree to
carbon taxes and rationing that damage the aspirations of their millions, many
who still lack electricity.
Others such as Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and Brazil will participate only to the extent needed to rip off the gullible Green Empire by selling ephemeral “carbon
credits” to them.
Thus the Kyoto deal is dead and there is nothing there to discuss in Durban.
Almost every Western government is guilty of massive overspending.
Australia and New Zealand should reduce government waste by sending no one to
the pointless party in Durban.

Viv Forbes,
Rosewood,
Queensland,
Australia

As the tenth anniversary of 9/11 approaches, the largely Zionist controlled media have bombarded the public with wall to wall ‘facts’ about the effect of the attack on New York and Washington but nowhere have I read or seen the ‘cause’ being reported.
The fourteen million Americans who are unemployed should question why their government can continue to send billions of dollars to support Israel’s ethnic cleansing of Palestine whilst they remain jobless and wondering where the next meal is coming from.
America, in addition to blasting a number of countries into the stone-age, regularly uses Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), also known as Drones, to inflict mini 9/11s not only on their enemies, but also on their so-called allies i.e. Pakistan.
So it was only natural that one day they would become the victims of self-inflicted asymmetric warfare.
When people see Israel, with America’s backing, ignoring every United Nations resolution and their appalling treatment of the Palestinians they lose all hope, and their last resort is terrorism.
Quote: ‘It might seem bitterly ironic to some that a people who gained independence by driving British redcoats off their land now maintain more than 700 military bases in some 130 nations around the world.” Jack Kenny in The New American 8 August 2011.
Two weeks before the 9/11 attack I wrote to a number of newspapers and stated that, “if America, Israel and Palestine did not get their act together Osama bin Laden was waiting in the wings.’
Needless to say the Zionist press ignored the letter, but one local paper did publish it.
As long as America continues its policy of world domination and support for Israel nothing will change.

Maurice Horsburgh
Queensland,
Australia

The government of Singapore should instigate improvements to their MRT system,
following the terrible accident to a young Thai lady who fell in front of the
train.
That the authority refuses to compensate for the loss of her legs is appalling - so much for encouraging tourism to the island state.
There is a strong possibility that this could happen again, as there is no
barrier or similar device to prevent passengers from overcrowding and pushing
someone else onto the tracks as the train approaches.
We are indeed fortunate to have in Bangkok a first-class MRT system where such
an accident would be very unlikely.
Strange that in modern Singapore there is no safeguard for passengers.

J.Silson,
Pattaya,
Thailand

What a crazy world we live in.
A penguin is released into the wild again after spending months and who knows how much money in vet's fees and air-conditioned luxury at a Wellington zoo.
Compare this story with that of the super-rich island state of Singapore, which
has refused to pay the medical expenses or compensate the 15-year-old Thai girl,
Nong Than, who was allegedly pushed onto the rail tracks owned by the Singapore
Mass Rapid Transit and hit by a train, with the result that both her legs had to
be amputated.
Every day we read of injustices in the world, but this callous act by the
Singaporean authorities must rate as one of the worst yet.
Perhaps this is a lesson to us all, that when travelling to Singapore, make sure you have a lot of travel insurance because the Singaporean authorities will not be helping you if you have an accident.

B.M. Corrigan,
Bangkok,
Thailand

I believe Papua New Guinea does not need another airline company at this stage.
Airlines Papua New Guinea and Air Nuigini, and smaller airlines like Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) and others are doing a fine job in serving the people in major areas and remote places.
What Papua New Guinea needs right now is a reliable road infrastructure connecting all remote areas to serve the majority of the people who are involved in socio-economic activities to speed up development.
I believe if the wealth of this resource-rich country is equally distributed,
the much-talked about development will happen naturally.
The culture of working the land is a natural thing embedded in the lives of our
people but they need reliable infrastructure and the know-how to develop their
resources to help contribute to the nation’s development.
We cannot dish out huge amounts of money to a handful of businessmen who happen to be political cronies in most cases and expect them to develop the country overnight.
It does not make sense to a struggling businessman like me.
Just imagine if that K10 million was distributed to businessmen and women and
monitored.
I believe a lot of opportunities could have been created in terms of job
creation and boosting the provincial economy.

Parks Ike Salanu,
Goroka,
Papua New Guinea

Revisiting the pardon Thaksin petition, perhaps the justice minister could point
out to the 3.5 million red signees that the King can only grant a pardon once
the accused has served part of his sentence - admitting remorse.
The law is clear on this, and always has been (pre-coup).
Either Thaksin comes home to face his jail time, or you're expecting the King to act contrary to the law.
It's as simple as that.

John Williams,
Bangkok,
Thailand

On the occasion of Merdeka, Malaysians remember the great contribution of Tunku Abdul Rahman, the father of the country.
His charm and charisma had moulded the various ethnic communities.
He had immeasurably contributed to the smooth, swift and peaceful way in which we achieved independence.
I believe that Malaysia should honour the Tunku, just as other countries have
honoured their father of independence.
I was High Commissioner in Pakistan and had witnessed the outpouring of love and affection towards Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan.
I was also at one time ambassador in Vietnam, where I had noticed the devotion
the Vietnamese had for Ho Chi Minh, the founder and father of the country.
Similarly, we should honour the Tunku in the Malaysian way.
The Tunku is known as a passionate cook and a connoisseur of good food.
We should remember the Tunku with a thanksgiving dinner celebrated together.
We should set aside the Sunday before the Tunku’s birthday for a “Dinner Ingat
Tunku”, with his favourite dishes such as rice with chicken curry, curry kepala
ikan, kuay teow, prawn and fish dishes, bubur dessert and Malaysian
fruits.
A dinner set aside for the Tunku annually will enable Malaysians to remember the
father of the nation in an intimate way, thereby promoting national unity.

Datuk Yusof Hashim,
Putrajaya,
Malaysia

In 1966, a group of students in Beijing named themselves "Chairman Mao's Red
Guards."
Mao's support for them led to the name "Red Guard" being adopted by
groups who were sanctioned by Mao and his supporters to "rebel against the
system" all over China.
Sworn to protect Mao and his revolutionary line, the Red Guards and other, older revolutionary rebels caused havoc, resulting in great destruction and considerable loss of life.
While young participants in the Cultural Revolution are commonly referred to simply as Red Guards, in reality they were originally one specific group of students. These students decided to call themselves Red Guards, hong weibing; they saw themselves as soldiers (bing) fighting to protect (wei) the revolution and Mao.
Headlines from The Nation, August 31:
"We will act as a bodyguard for the government and Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra": red-shirt leader and Pheu Thai party-list MP Kokaew Pikulthong.
Pheu Thai MP Jatuporn Promphan on Wednesday told red office-holders to work and strengthen the red-shirt movement in order to advance democracy and ensure
justice.
Are we witnessing the rise of a Red Guard movement in the form of the red shirts
here in Thailand?
Are we now in the grip of the beginning of a reign of suppression against anyone or any organisation that disagrees with the Pheu Thai/red-shirt government?
Can and will the power possessed by the red shirts evolve into something similar
to that of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, who have advanced the doctrines
advocated by China's Red Guard to the point that they are almost in total
control of the government and people.
Jatuporn and other red-shirt leaders preach democracy and reconciliation while
suppressing anyone who presents ideas not in support of their own.
Think of the two students who were attacked in front of Parliament while laying a wreath in protest.
Think of the Channel 7 reporter accosted for doing her job of asking
questions of PM Yingluck - questions the red shirts considered to be both
embarrassing and inappropriate.
Consider as well the follow-up protest against her by red shirts in front of the Channel 7 office.
Are these the actions to be the basis for reconciliation, justice and democracy?
I fear that the Thai people are living in times fraught with both confusion and
suppression.
Hopes are being smashed and voices of dissent silenced.
What does the future hold when people are faced with such an atmosphere of intimidation?

William Reynolds,
Chiang Mai,
Thailand
.

As we should all be acutely aware, the attack/invasion of Iraq was based on a series of blatant neocon lies; on bogus claims that Sadam Hussein possessed "weapons-of-mass-destruction".
Similar callous untruths polluted the reasons that ushered in the First and Second World Wars ( "to end all wars'), and Vietnam War et al.
Promoted through media monopolies via prostituted editorial chairs, it conditioned fearful citizens to the acceptance of another war as being moral - and necessary. And the outbreak of hostilities in Libya is only superficially different.
The real reason that President Qadhafi had to be liquidated is that he "was on the verge of creating a new banking system in/for Africa that would put the dictatorial International Monetary Fund, World Bank and other assorted ' banksters' out of business in Africa".
He was anxious to free his country; to escape the clutches of the Wall Street 'Temples-of-Greed'.
It is all reminiscent of the assassinations of former US Presidents Abraham Lincoln and John F Kennedy who threatened to transfer the privately owned Federal Reserve (bank/mint) monopoly to government control.
It is obviously fatal to threaten the banking empires of the House of Rothschild.
To 'coin' a phrase, 'accidents' can - and do - happen.

Harry A Boniface
Queensland
Australia

Re: ''Le Raffine fire injures four'' in Bangkok Post, August 18.
As a tenant of Le Raffine and one of the six persons injured in the August 17 fire who went to Samitivej Hospital for treatment, I am outraged at the false information presented in the Bangkok Post.
Highrise horror: Firefighters spray water from an extended platform on August 17 to fight a blaze that broke out on the 18th floor of the 29-storey Le Raffine, a luxury condominium on Sukhumvit Soi 24.
The article was correct in stating that no alarms or sprinkler system worked
during the fire.
However, I would like to know where they got the information regarding the ''evacuation procedures''.
The article stated that lower levels were evacuated down and the upper levels were advised to go up where they had to wait on the roof to be airlifted.
I was on the 22nd floor, two floors above where the fire started.
I heard no alarms, I had no warning, nor did anyone come or call at my apartment to let me know there was a fire and that I had to go up to the roof to be airlifted.
The article gives the impression that the Le Raffine management actually had a
clue as to what needed to be done in this emergency situation.
The most disturbing part of all this is that my maid, who was with me at the time, had called the office to ask them about the smoke she saw, but no one told her
anything about a fire.
I realised there was a fire when I was about to take the elevator down, to wait
for my five-year-old's school bus.
When the elevator doors opened, the elevator was full of smoke already.
I tried to take the stairwell but there was smoke and the building's maintenance personnel directed me to go back to my apartment.
At this point, about 2.15pm, I still had not been informed about the severity of
the problem.
I realised this when from my balcony I saw the fire trucks coming and plenty of
bystanders staring at our building.
No one attempted to communicate with us; my maid is Thai and therefore the management office and/or the firemen could have attempted to communicate with her in Thai.
We had to figure out how to try to get out by ourselves; we had to go down the
main stairwell and go through thick, black smoke down the stairs.
Luckily, by the time we decided to go down the stairs at 3pm, we stumbled on to one or two firemen, who were able to guide us out to the balcony of the 17th floor, where we were able to catch our breath.
From there we were escorted out the service stairwell on the opposite side of
the fire.
If the Bangkok Post is going to report on fires or any other catastrophe in the
Bangkok metropolitan area, it should try to get accurate information.
No one in the management office had a clue as to what to do during this emergency.
It is a miracle that no one was severely injured!
No airlift ever came to rescue anyone and no one ever communicated to the 22nd floor that we were supposed to go up to be rescued.
My maid and I were treated and checked for smoke inhalation.
I cried as I sat on the bed at Samitivej Hospital, just thinking what could have happened to me up there!
I felt trapped, helpless and totally insecure.
No one should have to go through this!
The government needs to be vigilant of condominium fire safety measures being in place and implemented.
The management of Le Raffine needs to be accountable for the disaster of August 17.
Accidents and emergency situations such as fires, earthquakes, among others, will happen.
However, the difference between casualties and no casualties often depends on the safety measures in place to warn people of these situations and the emergency responses to them.

Outraged tenant,
Bangkok,
Thailand