Falling icons
6th June, 2000
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2000/06/06/falling-icons.html
Presently, there is a lot of hullabaloo being made in Indian Press about the corrupt and fallen icons of Indian cricket.
Basically the human being-whether Indian, Australian, South African, Pakistani or English-is kept "in line" by the fear of being caught doing something illegal and the subsequent punishment he must face if and when he is caught. That is why the 11th Commandment "Thou shalt not be caught" has become so popular.
When he sees that everyone around him is making money and getting away with it, he feels that he is the one who is odd man out to be behaving in lawful ways.
When fodder-scam team members are enjoying 5-star holidays in prisons, he feels that something must be wrong with the morals inculcated in him by his parents and teachers. And then he thinks..."Should I continue to be dumb like this"?
And when a bookie approaches him, he thinks "Mr. X and Mr. Y have been doing this for many years, have amassed millions and scores and have been getting away with it, so why not me?"
Then instead of turning himself from the bad ways, he probably approaches Mr. X and Mr. Y for the "know-how" which they offer for a "fee" and bingo! He also goes into the multi-millionaire bracket!
Only a grass-roots cultural revolution (not the Mao type, but probably what our Jayprakash Narayan had in mind in the mid-1970's) can change this.As things stand, icons will fall so regularly that, God forbid, ten years from now people will take it in stride.
K.B. KALE, Pune, India
Thursday, 16 June 2011
Racism and forest fires
Racism and forest fires
21st Jan. 2002
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2002/01/21/racism-and-forest-fires.html
A lot of brouhaha was generated by the media about the punitive action recommended by match referee Mike Denness against five of six Indian cricket players for their (rather) routine actions on the field.
Most of the media people (and also laymen) in India considered that it was nothing but a clear case of latent racism because they felt that a different yardstick had been used when punishing players from the subcontinent than the one used against players from the UK, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, etc., for committing similar "crimes".
Media coverage of the recent major bushfires near Sydney brings out clearly that it is not only in the realm of cricket that racism is so prevalent.
When one compares the grossly negative and abrasive coverage given by the international media to fires in the forests of Kalimantan in 1997 (the year of El Nino) with the grossly bland coverage given to the fires in the forests near Sydney, can one reach any conclusion other than that this, too, seems to be a clear case of latent racism?
As the fires in Kalimantan were in Asia and due to the negligence and greed of profiteering Asians who had allegedly caused the fires deliberately, the story was given widespread, negative publicity, highlighting the irresponsible character of Asians.
This time, when it turns out that the fires near Sydney were also the handiwork of some irresponsible Australian youngsters, the international media seem to be handling this case with proverbial kid gloves. Is it because in this case the perpetrators of the crime are not greedy and irresponsible Asians?
K.B. KALE, Pune, India
21st Jan. 2002
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2002/01/21/racism-and-forest-fires.html
A lot of brouhaha was generated by the media about the punitive action recommended by match referee Mike Denness against five of six Indian cricket players for their (rather) routine actions on the field.
Most of the media people (and also laymen) in India considered that it was nothing but a clear case of latent racism because they felt that a different yardstick had been used when punishing players from the subcontinent than the one used against players from the UK, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, etc., for committing similar "crimes".
Media coverage of the recent major bushfires near Sydney brings out clearly that it is not only in the realm of cricket that racism is so prevalent.
When one compares the grossly negative and abrasive coverage given by the international media to fires in the forests of Kalimantan in 1997 (the year of El Nino) with the grossly bland coverage given to the fires in the forests near Sydney, can one reach any conclusion other than that this, too, seems to be a clear case of latent racism?
As the fires in Kalimantan were in Asia and due to the negligence and greed of profiteering Asians who had allegedly caused the fires deliberately, the story was given widespread, negative publicity, highlighting the irresponsible character of Asians.
This time, when it turns out that the fires near Sydney were also the handiwork of some irresponsible Australian youngsters, the international media seem to be handling this case with proverbial kid gloves. Is it because in this case the perpetrators of the crime are not greedy and irresponsible Asians?
K.B. KALE, Pune, India
Wednesday, 15 June 2011
Maintaining peace in hostile places
Maintaining peace in hostile places
10th May 2004
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2004/05/10/maintaining-peace-hostile-places.html
The letter by David Jardine (The Jakarta Post, April 30), triggered some thoughts that have been haunting me for a few years. What I feel is that while there are both good and bad soldiers, what is crystal-clear is that the job they are entrusted to do while dealing with civilians is unenviable and most difficult.
For one thing, they may face rebels who outnumber them many times over, irrespective of whether you choose to call them terrorists or freedom-fighters, depending on which side of the fence you are. The soldiers may have superior weapons, but unlike in a war, they do not know whom to aim these weapons at! The rebels may kill thousands of innocent people and get away with it, but let a soldier kill one single innocent person and the media will descend on him like a ton of bricks! On top of that, they are always susceptible to attack and to being killed by a sniper choosing to shoot from behind an innocent pedestrian! So when a soldier doesn't know how long he has before his life could be snuffed out and makes some mistakes by way of knee-jerk reactions, that deserves some sympathetic consideration. These knee-jerk reactions occur without the knowledge of their top commanders because most of the time they aren't there and there is simply no time to communicate with them! What is shown on TV or what is published in the print media as part of news coverage may be part of the truth, but not the whole truth, because when one talks of "press freedom", it generally refers to the "freedom of press barons" or editors and not freedom of reporters, whose convictions or sympathies may or may not be the same as those of the owners of a particular TV channel or newspaper. The history of mankind is largely written by the victors. One should have no doubt about what the story of the Second World War would have been had Hitler won it. Or who would have been tried and convicted of war crimes at the Nuremberg trials. In my opinion, while armchair theorization is fine, the reality of life and death faced by the soldiers in very hostile civilian environments should not be overlooked and their actions should be viewed in a more comprehensive way.
K. B. KALE, Jakarta
10th May 2004
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2004/05/10/maintaining-peace-hostile-places.html
The letter by David Jardine (The Jakarta Post, April 30), triggered some thoughts that have been haunting me for a few years. What I feel is that while there are both good and bad soldiers, what is crystal-clear is that the job they are entrusted to do while dealing with civilians is unenviable and most difficult.
For one thing, they may face rebels who outnumber them many times over, irrespective of whether you choose to call them terrorists or freedom-fighters, depending on which side of the fence you are. The soldiers may have superior weapons, but unlike in a war, they do not know whom to aim these weapons at! The rebels may kill thousands of innocent people and get away with it, but let a soldier kill one single innocent person and the media will descend on him like a ton of bricks! On top of that, they are always susceptible to attack and to being killed by a sniper choosing to shoot from behind an innocent pedestrian! So when a soldier doesn't know how long he has before his life could be snuffed out and makes some mistakes by way of knee-jerk reactions, that deserves some sympathetic consideration. These knee-jerk reactions occur without the knowledge of their top commanders because most of the time they aren't there and there is simply no time to communicate with them! What is shown on TV or what is published in the print media as part of news coverage may be part of the truth, but not the whole truth, because when one talks of "press freedom", it generally refers to the "freedom of press barons" or editors and not freedom of reporters, whose convictions or sympathies may or may not be the same as those of the owners of a particular TV channel or newspaper. The history of mankind is largely written by the victors. One should have no doubt about what the story of the Second World War would have been had Hitler won it. Or who would have been tried and convicted of war crimes at the Nuremberg trials. In my opinion, while armchair theorization is fine, the reality of life and death faced by the soldiers in very hostile civilian environments should not be overlooked and their actions should be viewed in a more comprehensive way.
K. B. KALE, Jakarta
Colonialism is not the answer
Colonialism is not the answer
15th May 2004
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2004/05/15/colonialism-not-answer.html
I refer to the letters of David Wallis on corruption and bringing back colonial rule as its antidote, followed by the rejoinder by John Christian Torr. In fact, Torr has done a good job in bringing out the weirdness in "logic" in Wallis' letter.
Wallis seems to assume that colonial rulers were clean and not susceptible to corruption, which is far from the truth. While they exploited the colonies, quite a few of them also feathered their nests quite nicely. So bringing back colonial rule would only mean that the money so earned would go overseas, as opposed to the present situation where the money -- at least part of it -- remains within the country.
As the saying goes, ""Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely."" So whoever rules will get corrupted one day or the other. Some may justify this by saying they are collecting funds for their party, while most of them don't bother with justifications unless they are caught! If Wallis feels that Westerners are less corrupt, one should not forget that the vice president of the richest country on earth had to resign from his post in the early 1970s for taking bribes.
There is no doubt that democracy is the most inefficient form of government, as its decisions have to be partisan, populist and are easily swayed by the short-term emotions of the public at large. Quite often these decisions are compromises and not necessarily in the best interests of the nation. In fact, the only thing in favor of the democracy is that it has a "term" of four, five or seven years and one can change the government peacefully at the end of its term.
This does not mean that I am defending corruption or corrupt people. But those who give bribes are as much responsible as the people who take them. One of the richest people in the world, Azim Premji of the Wipro Group in India, is very proud of his company's ethical conduct. He has steadfastly refused to "grease palms" to get the work done. So the antidote is not colonialism, but the people themselves taking an oath not to give bribes.
As long as we don't follow the maxim "Charity begins at home", we have no right to express opinions on this subject. If we still do, it is nothing but pure hypocrisy.
K. B. KALE, Jakarta
15th May 2004
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2004/05/15/colonialism-not-answer.html
I refer to the letters of David Wallis on corruption and bringing back colonial rule as its antidote, followed by the rejoinder by John Christian Torr. In fact, Torr has done a good job in bringing out the weirdness in "logic" in Wallis' letter.
Wallis seems to assume that colonial rulers were clean and not susceptible to corruption, which is far from the truth. While they exploited the colonies, quite a few of them also feathered their nests quite nicely. So bringing back colonial rule would only mean that the money so earned would go overseas, as opposed to the present situation where the money -- at least part of it -- remains within the country.
As the saying goes, ""Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely."" So whoever rules will get corrupted one day or the other. Some may justify this by saying they are collecting funds for their party, while most of them don't bother with justifications unless they are caught! If Wallis feels that Westerners are less corrupt, one should not forget that the vice president of the richest country on earth had to resign from his post in the early 1970s for taking bribes.
There is no doubt that democracy is the most inefficient form of government, as its decisions have to be partisan, populist and are easily swayed by the short-term emotions of the public at large. Quite often these decisions are compromises and not necessarily in the best interests of the nation. In fact, the only thing in favor of the democracy is that it has a "term" of four, five or seven years and one can change the government peacefully at the end of its term.
This does not mean that I am defending corruption or corrupt people. But those who give bribes are as much responsible as the people who take them. One of the richest people in the world, Azim Premji of the Wipro Group in India, is very proud of his company's ethical conduct. He has steadfastly refused to "grease palms" to get the work done. So the antidote is not colonialism, but the people themselves taking an oath not to give bribes.
As long as we don't follow the maxim "Charity begins at home", we have no right to express opinions on this subject. If we still do, it is nothing but pure hypocrisy.
K. B. KALE, Jakarta
Elections in Indonesia
Elections in Indonesia
9th Sept. 2004
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2004/09/09/elections-indonesia.html
With the final round of the presidential election around the corner, it is perhaps the right time to compare the pros and cons of two methods employed in electing the CEO of a country: A ""direct"" election -- as is practiced in the U.S. and France and some other countries -- and the indirect method -- as practiced by Great Britain and India -- wherein the members of parliament choose the CEO. It is really admirable that Indonesia has chosen the very good method of direct election with the motto, Presiden pilihan rakyat (a president of the people's choice).
In the first round, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Megawati Soekarnoputri and Wiranto were in a tight race and many predicted a direct confrontation between the two ex-generals (Susilo and Wiranto) in the runoff. But Megawati came in second, and the results of the final round between Susilo and Megawati are still wide open, as per the political pundits.
One thing surprises me: Unlike in the U.S., where the vice presidential and presidential candidates of both the Democratic and Republican party are from the same party, the picture here is totally different. In the U.S., the vice presidential candidate is chosen more on regional considerations. They are generally from an area where the presidential candidate may lack support.
But in Indonesia, there is total porosity across the party lines. I am honestly wondering what the losing "running mate" will do later. Will they return to their old party meekly? Will their old party accept them back, or call them a traitor? Or will they launch a new party, as Indian politicians often do? I feel that if Susilo and Megawati had selected their running mates on regional considerations rather than party ones, it would have been more logical.
One thing is very clear. The new president will enjoy the confidence of the people and will not be subjected to any horse trading that goes on, for example, in India where the factions of the coalition government jockey for prime slots in the cabinet. Or, what happened when then president Abdurrahman ""Gus Dur"" Wahid was removed from office and Megawati was elected.
To that extent, I admire the people/politicians of Indonesia who were behind the decision to hold two-tier direct elections. Whoever wins on Sept. 20 will rule the country with confidence and with the full authority to do what he or she thinks is good for the country.
K.B. KALE, Jakarta
9th Sept. 2004
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2004/09/09/elections-indonesia.html
With the final round of the presidential election around the corner, it is perhaps the right time to compare the pros and cons of two methods employed in electing the CEO of a country: A ""direct"" election -- as is practiced in the U.S. and France and some other countries -- and the indirect method -- as practiced by Great Britain and India -- wherein the members of parliament choose the CEO. It is really admirable that Indonesia has chosen the very good method of direct election with the motto, Presiden pilihan rakyat (a president of the people's choice).
In the first round, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Megawati Soekarnoputri and Wiranto were in a tight race and many predicted a direct confrontation between the two ex-generals (Susilo and Wiranto) in the runoff. But Megawati came in second, and the results of the final round between Susilo and Megawati are still wide open, as per the political pundits.
One thing surprises me: Unlike in the U.S., where the vice presidential and presidential candidates of both the Democratic and Republican party are from the same party, the picture here is totally different. In the U.S., the vice presidential candidate is chosen more on regional considerations. They are generally from an area where the presidential candidate may lack support.
But in Indonesia, there is total porosity across the party lines. I am honestly wondering what the losing "running mate" will do later. Will they return to their old party meekly? Will their old party accept them back, or call them a traitor? Or will they launch a new party, as Indian politicians often do? I feel that if Susilo and Megawati had selected their running mates on regional considerations rather than party ones, it would have been more logical.
One thing is very clear. The new president will enjoy the confidence of the people and will not be subjected to any horse trading that goes on, for example, in India where the factions of the coalition government jockey for prime slots in the cabinet. Or, what happened when then president Abdurrahman ""Gus Dur"" Wahid was removed from office and Megawati was elected.
To that extent, I admire the people/politicians of Indonesia who were behind the decision to hold two-tier direct elections. Whoever wins on Sept. 20 will rule the country with confidence and with the full authority to do what he or she thinks is good for the country.
K.B. KALE, Jakarta
Shortening elections process
Shortening elections process
22nd Oct. 2004
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2004/10/22/shortening-elections-process.html
First of all, heartiest congratulations to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on the occasion of his assuming office on Oct. 20 as the very first directly and democratically elected president of Indonesia.
The event was of such epic and monumental importance that, for the first time in many years, many presidents and prime ministers of neighboring countries came to be part of this historical moment.
What needs to be done now is to shorten time between the three phases of elections (Indonesians have successfully performed) and also the time gap between the election of the President and his taking oath of the office. It would be worthwhile if Indonesia sought some practical help or tips from India as a fellow developing country which has a huge population and has been a genuine democracy for more than 50 years. It also has a distinction of being a country which successfully staged a general election in May this year, covering about half a billion voters exercising their right to vote electronically, making it possible to declare the results within some 48 hours after the closure of polling process.
There may be many countries in the world who have electronic voting, but India is the only one which has the indigenous know-how, huge population of diverse educational and social levels, and a successful track record.
Indonesia could follow India's example to shorten the whole process by more than 50 percent. After the president's election is announced, how long should be the time before he takes oath? In India and in Great Britain it is done immediately. In the U.S. it takes about 10 weeks and in Indonesia it took two weeks from official announcement of results, but perhaps four weeks from the date the outcome was obvious! I think Indian and British system is better. If the new leader does not assume office immediately, a lot of questionable decisions "which raise eyebrows" as reported by The Jakarta Post, are taken in a malafide manner. The minimum the Indonesian constitution can provide is to declare the incumbent government as "caretaker" of government with limited powers in decision-making!
K. B. KALE, Jakarta
22nd Oct. 2004
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2004/10/22/shortening-elections-process.html
First of all, heartiest congratulations to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on the occasion of his assuming office on Oct. 20 as the very first directly and democratically elected president of Indonesia.
The event was of such epic and monumental importance that, for the first time in many years, many presidents and prime ministers of neighboring countries came to be part of this historical moment.
What needs to be done now is to shorten time between the three phases of elections (Indonesians have successfully performed) and also the time gap between the election of the President and his taking oath of the office. It would be worthwhile if Indonesia sought some practical help or tips from India as a fellow developing country which has a huge population and has been a genuine democracy for more than 50 years. It also has a distinction of being a country which successfully staged a general election in May this year, covering about half a billion voters exercising their right to vote electronically, making it possible to declare the results within some 48 hours after the closure of polling process.
There may be many countries in the world who have electronic voting, but India is the only one which has the indigenous know-how, huge population of diverse educational and social levels, and a successful track record.
Indonesia could follow India's example to shorten the whole process by more than 50 percent. After the president's election is announced, how long should be the time before he takes oath? In India and in Great Britain it is done immediately. In the U.S. it takes about 10 weeks and in Indonesia it took two weeks from official announcement of results, but perhaps four weeks from the date the outcome was obvious! I think Indian and British system is better. If the new leader does not assume office immediately, a lot of questionable decisions "which raise eyebrows" as reported by The Jakarta Post, are taken in a malafide manner. The minimum the Indonesian constitution can provide is to declare the incumbent government as "caretaker" of government with limited powers in decision-making!
K. B. KALE, Jakarta
Americans need introspection
Americans need introspection
31st Jan. 2005
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2005/01/31/americans-need-introspection.html
I refer to the letters of Mark Potts dated Jan. 13 and Uli Pandjaitan dated Jan. 15.
I know many Americans. As personal friends, colleagues and business associates, all of them have been wonderful people: Friendly, genial and straightforward. And, by and large, they mean what they say. I have also enjoyed my visits to the United States immensely for these very reasons.
Sometimes oversensitive Asians (me included) may misunderstand their forthrightness, but I have never seen any deliberate attempt at belittling others, just because they are not Americans.
Though one may have differences of opinion with American policy, there is no doubt that America has always been a very generous nation to the whole world. In the 1960s, but for the American aid, I have no doubt that a sizable portion of the Indian population would have gone hungry with many perishing simply due to starvation. And this American aid kept flowing without any (apparent) strings attached, though, at that time, India was too close to the Soviet Union and Indian political leaders often berated America.
So why is a country that gives so much aid to so many countries not as popular as it should be? I think serious introspection is called for, on the part of the American government and American foreign missions and diplomats.
K. B. KALE, Jakarta
31st Jan. 2005
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2005/01/31/americans-need-introspection.html
I refer to the letters of Mark Potts dated Jan. 13 and Uli Pandjaitan dated Jan. 15.
I know many Americans. As personal friends, colleagues and business associates, all of them have been wonderful people: Friendly, genial and straightforward. And, by and large, they mean what they say. I have also enjoyed my visits to the United States immensely for these very reasons.
Sometimes oversensitive Asians (me included) may misunderstand their forthrightness, but I have never seen any deliberate attempt at belittling others, just because they are not Americans.
Though one may have differences of opinion with American policy, there is no doubt that America has always been a very generous nation to the whole world. In the 1960s, but for the American aid, I have no doubt that a sizable portion of the Indian population would have gone hungry with many perishing simply due to starvation. And this American aid kept flowing without any (apparent) strings attached, though, at that time, India was too close to the Soviet Union and Indian political leaders often berated America.
So why is a country that gives so much aid to so many countries not as popular as it should be? I think serious introspection is called for, on the part of the American government and American foreign missions and diplomats.
K. B. KALE, Jakarta
Unprompted plug for Dan Brown
Unprompted plug for Dan Brown
16th Feb. 2005
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2005/02/16/unprompted-plug-dan-brown.html
I read with interest the letter of David Wallis in The Jakarta Post dated Feb. 14.
It reminded me of a book I read recently, Angels and Demons by Dan Brown, which touches on the very subject of God and science. What one believes or does not believe is a highly personal choice, but this book turns this complex subject into an interesting read, and I would recommend very strongly the book as a "good read" to the readers of the Post.
K. B. KALE, Jakarta
16th Feb. 2005
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2005/02/16/unprompted-plug-dan-brown.html
I read with interest the letter of David Wallis in The Jakarta Post dated Feb. 14.
It reminded me of a book I read recently, Angels and Demons by Dan Brown, which touches on the very subject of God and science. What one believes or does not believe is a highly personal choice, but this book turns this complex subject into an interesting read, and I would recommend very strongly the book as a "good read" to the readers of the Post.
K. B. KALE, Jakarta
Busway lanes for all buses
Busway lanes for all buses
6th Feb. 2006
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2006/02/06/busway-lanes-all-buses.html
I refer to your editorial on Jan. 21 "Toward better transportation" and an article on Busway vs. monorail' by Siti Nurlaela.
With the addition of two more routes to the busway system, the Jakarta City Administration has taken another welcome step in the direction of mass transportation. But whenever I have seen the frequency of service on the Blok M to Kota route at 7 in the evening, just after the 3-in-1 time, I have always felt that the utilization of the special ""busway"" lane is very low while the other lanes are choked with vehicular traffic.
Distribution of traffic is far from equitable and car users suffer in bumper-to-bumper traffic while Trans-Jakarta buses travel with a gap time of five to 10 minutes between them. A good idea would be to route all the bus traffic through the busway lane wherever it is laid. In other words, on these routes all the buses (including the 25-to 30-seater Metrominis and 10-to 15-seater minivans, must use the busway lanes only.
Whatever needs to be done to achieve this goal should be done by enacting new laws and enforcing them. Maybe all small buses should be scrapped and only Trans-Jakarta type of buses should replace them. This will result in lanes outside the busway lanes being used only by non-bus traffic including trucks.
This will help in more ways than one. Apart from the decongestion of the traffic, it will also reduce the lawless driving indulged in by the Metromini buses and minivans which can be seen in all suburban traffic of Jakarta like Printis Kemerdekaan and Pulogadung area.
On roads where there is no busway lane laid as yet, the traffic rules can remain unchanged.
K.B. KALE, Jakarta
6th Feb. 2006
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2006/02/06/busway-lanes-all-buses.html
I refer to your editorial on Jan. 21 "Toward better transportation" and an article on Busway vs. monorail' by Siti Nurlaela.
With the addition of two more routes to the busway system, the Jakarta City Administration has taken another welcome step in the direction of mass transportation. But whenever I have seen the frequency of service on the Blok M to Kota route at 7 in the evening, just after the 3-in-1 time, I have always felt that the utilization of the special ""busway"" lane is very low while the other lanes are choked with vehicular traffic.
Distribution of traffic is far from equitable and car users suffer in bumper-to-bumper traffic while Trans-Jakarta buses travel with a gap time of five to 10 minutes between them. A good idea would be to route all the bus traffic through the busway lane wherever it is laid. In other words, on these routes all the buses (including the 25-to 30-seater Metrominis and 10-to 15-seater minivans, must use the busway lanes only.
Whatever needs to be done to achieve this goal should be done by enacting new laws and enforcing them. Maybe all small buses should be scrapped and only Trans-Jakarta type of buses should replace them. This will result in lanes outside the busway lanes being used only by non-bus traffic including trucks.
This will help in more ways than one. Apart from the decongestion of the traffic, it will also reduce the lawless driving indulged in by the Metromini buses and minivans which can be seen in all suburban traffic of Jakarta like Printis Kemerdekaan and Pulogadung area.
On roads where there is no busway lane laid as yet, the traffic rules can remain unchanged.
K.B. KALE, Jakarta
Be proud of yourself
Be proud of yourself
7th May 2005
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2005/05/07/be-proud-yourself.html
I refer to the letter of Fenty Ang (an Indonesian student in Singapore) that appeared in The Jakarta Post on April 23 and felt sorry for her having such a low opinion about her country and its people.
I have lived in Indonesia for about 12 years, mainly in Surabaya and Jakarta working in three private enterprises mainly connected to making, shaping and treating of steel. Two of the three are industrial units employing 600 to 700 blue and white collar workers.
I have travailed all over the world except the Australian continent and have seen workers of many Asian, European and American (and, of course, Indian) steel plants. And I find that Indonesian workers are second to none. They are hard-working, sincere and knowledgeable and do not need constant supervision. Though small-built, they pack surprisingly superb strength, stamina and staying power. They do not need to be continuously supervised and have a good work ethic.
I feel that if any one has let down this great country, a volcano of talent, capability and enormous natural resources, it is the elite class of this country.
Fenty Ang was humiliated by her teacher about the lack of skills of Indonesian workers in the IT area. She can now proudly tell her ""arrogant"" Singaporean teacher that recently two Indonesians won the international competition in software competence conducted by Google India for Southeast Asia in Bangalore beating all nationalities including Singaporeans!
I always tell my colleagues in my factory in East Jakarta to feel proud of their people, its products and its capabilities and talents. I think Indonesia is a sleeping giant who is showing signs of waking up and its new leadership with an emphasis on eradicating corruption is sure to give them a shot in the arm.
In addition to that the Indonesian government should make really good proficiency in English language a compulsory part of their educational system. I have seen my Indonesian colleagues getting mighty nervous if they have to write a letter to suppliers in English and, more often than not, they end up making a telephone call to register a complaint with no paper trail to follow up if nothing is done by the supplier to redress the complaint.
Come on, Indonesia! You are a great country. Feel proud about yourself and your country and never underestimate yourself!
K. B. KALE Jakarta
7th May 2005
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2005/05/07/be-proud-yourself.html
I refer to the letter of Fenty Ang (an Indonesian student in Singapore) that appeared in The Jakarta Post on April 23 and felt sorry for her having such a low opinion about her country and its people.
I have lived in Indonesia for about 12 years, mainly in Surabaya and Jakarta working in three private enterprises mainly connected to making, shaping and treating of steel. Two of the three are industrial units employing 600 to 700 blue and white collar workers.
I have travailed all over the world except the Australian continent and have seen workers of many Asian, European and American (and, of course, Indian) steel plants. And I find that Indonesian workers are second to none. They are hard-working, sincere and knowledgeable and do not need constant supervision. Though small-built, they pack surprisingly superb strength, stamina and staying power. They do not need to be continuously supervised and have a good work ethic.
I feel that if any one has let down this great country, a volcano of talent, capability and enormous natural resources, it is the elite class of this country.
Fenty Ang was humiliated by her teacher about the lack of skills of Indonesian workers in the IT area. She can now proudly tell her ""arrogant"" Singaporean teacher that recently two Indonesians won the international competition in software competence conducted by Google India for Southeast Asia in Bangalore beating all nationalities including Singaporeans!
I always tell my colleagues in my factory in East Jakarta to feel proud of their people, its products and its capabilities and talents. I think Indonesia is a sleeping giant who is showing signs of waking up and its new leadership with an emphasis on eradicating corruption is sure to give them a shot in the arm.
In addition to that the Indonesian government should make really good proficiency in English language a compulsory part of their educational system. I have seen my Indonesian colleagues getting mighty nervous if they have to write a letter to suppliers in English and, more often than not, they end up making a telephone call to register a complaint with no paper trail to follow up if nothing is done by the supplier to redress the complaint.
Come on, Indonesia! You are a great country. Feel proud about yourself and your country and never underestimate yourself!
K. B. KALE Jakarta
Wimbledon Final
Wimbledon Final
13th July 2005
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2005/07/13/wimbledon-final.html
It was indeed a pleasure to read D. Chandramouli's letter on July 9 giving an account of this year's Wimbledon men's and women's finals in his inimitable style.
Apart from his signature style, gloss and expertise in the use of the choicest words and phrases, the contents of his letter in terms of knowledge of the game of tennis and its finer points were really very enjoyable.
The only place where his narrative jarred me was his description of Federer, calling him a ""robot programmed to win"" and a person with a robotic smile. I think this is far off the mark. The only robot I have seen on the tennis court was Bjorn Borg, whose face never changed, not only when he won or lost a point but also when there was a grossly wrong line call against him. His expression also did not change much whether he won or lost a championship. He was really a player with nerves made of steel and ice!
Federer is different. I think he is too unassuming, too polite and too well behaved for a champion, and in the era of flamboyant enfants terribles strutting across the tennis courts, he appears to have descended from another planet. To call him a person with a robotic smile is really like missing the very core of Federer's personality.
The Swiss, the watchmakers to the world for centuries, are known for their precision and so it should come as no surprise that Federer enjoys this genetic advantage when it comes to the placement of his shots.
In my 40 years of watching Wimbledon, I have seen many styles of championship winners -- Pat Cash climbing into the gallery, Andre Agassi falling to his knees, etc. I have seen players weep for having lost a championship when it was almost in their hands but slipped away, but I don't remember having seen a champion weep with joy in a silent and somewhat self-conscious manner after recording his third consecutive Wimbledon title!
Maybe Chandramouli meant to say that Federer is a robot programmed to win and also to weep after winning.
K. B. KALE, Jakarta
13th July 2005
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2005/07/13/wimbledon-final.html
It was indeed a pleasure to read D. Chandramouli's letter on July 9 giving an account of this year's Wimbledon men's and women's finals in his inimitable style.
Apart from his signature style, gloss and expertise in the use of the choicest words and phrases, the contents of his letter in terms of knowledge of the game of tennis and its finer points were really very enjoyable.
The only place where his narrative jarred me was his description of Federer, calling him a ""robot programmed to win"" and a person with a robotic smile. I think this is far off the mark. The only robot I have seen on the tennis court was Bjorn Borg, whose face never changed, not only when he won or lost a point but also when there was a grossly wrong line call against him. His expression also did not change much whether he won or lost a championship. He was really a player with nerves made of steel and ice!
Federer is different. I think he is too unassuming, too polite and too well behaved for a champion, and in the era of flamboyant enfants terribles strutting across the tennis courts, he appears to have descended from another planet. To call him a person with a robotic smile is really like missing the very core of Federer's personality.
The Swiss, the watchmakers to the world for centuries, are known for their precision and so it should come as no surprise that Federer enjoys this genetic advantage when it comes to the placement of his shots.
In my 40 years of watching Wimbledon, I have seen many styles of championship winners -- Pat Cash climbing into the gallery, Andre Agassi falling to his knees, etc. I have seen players weep for having lost a championship when it was almost in their hands but slipped away, but I don't remember having seen a champion weep with joy in a silent and somewhat self-conscious manner after recording his third consecutive Wimbledon title!
Maybe Chandramouli meant to say that Federer is a robot programmed to win and also to weep after winning.
K. B. KALE, Jakarta
On artificial sweeteners
On artificial sweeteners
31st Oct. 2005
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2005/10/31/artificial-sweeteners.html
I refer to the letter of Sunarto Prawirosujanto published in The Jakarta Post on Oct. 20 urging Indonesians to use more and more artificial sweeteners to avoid the importation of sugar.
Of particular interest to all would be the fact that earlier classification of cyclamates and saccharin as carcinogenic elements, based on studies conducted on mice, have been reversed by the FDA of the U.S. after subsequent studies over a long period of time showed that these two sweeteners were not found to be carcinogenic to human beings.
Today, there are many artificial sweeteners apart from the other two. On one end is a chemical-based sweetener Aspartame and on the other end is Stavia, an herbal extract from the leaves of a tree found in Brazil. Also making a recent appearance on the U.S. market is Splenda.
For a layman, it is very difficult to determine which of these sweeteners are safe for use over a long period of time, because the information available on the internet is so conflicting that it can make one's head swim and leave him in total confusion.
I wonder whether some medical professionals among and beyond the Post's readership could enlighten people like us who are interested in using artificial sweeteners but do not know enough to make a correct choice.
I also wonder why everybody's favorite foods, sugar-free ice creams etc., which are easily available in U.S. supermarkets, are not available in Indonesia, while ""diet"" sodas are available. I really miss sugar-free ice creams.
K.B. KALE, Jakarta
31st Oct. 2005
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2005/10/31/artificial-sweeteners.html
I refer to the letter of Sunarto Prawirosujanto published in The Jakarta Post on Oct. 20 urging Indonesians to use more and more artificial sweeteners to avoid the importation of sugar.
Of particular interest to all would be the fact that earlier classification of cyclamates and saccharin as carcinogenic elements, based on studies conducted on mice, have been reversed by the FDA of the U.S. after subsequent studies over a long period of time showed that these two sweeteners were not found to be carcinogenic to human beings.
Today, there are many artificial sweeteners apart from the other two. On one end is a chemical-based sweetener Aspartame and on the other end is Stavia, an herbal extract from the leaves of a tree found in Brazil. Also making a recent appearance on the U.S. market is Splenda.
For a layman, it is very difficult to determine which of these sweeteners are safe for use over a long period of time, because the information available on the internet is so conflicting that it can make one's head swim and leave him in total confusion.
I wonder whether some medical professionals among and beyond the Post's readership could enlighten people like us who are interested in using artificial sweeteners but do not know enough to make a correct choice.
I also wonder why everybody's favorite foods, sugar-free ice creams etc., which are easily available in U.S. supermarkets, are not available in Indonesia, while ""diet"" sodas are available. I really miss sugar-free ice creams.
K.B. KALE, Jakarta
History of Sept. 30 events
History of Sept. 30 events
7th Nov. 2005
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2005/11/07/history-sept-30-events.html
I refer to the letter from Michael Hills published a few days ago in The Jakarta Post regarding the events that took place on Sept. 30 back in 1965.
As I have mentioned earlier, history is always written by the victors and accordingly we have had to watch the movie that was shown every year on Sept. 30 up until 1997 depicting the events as seen by the winning side.
It portrayed the atrocities meted out to the generals who were reportedly murdered by communist insurgents. Later on, when the tide turned, we found out that the communist insurgents were also not spared.
Now that neither side to that particular conflict is in a position of influence and power, and a reasonably long period of 40 years has elapsed, it is time an attempt was made to write the correct or official history based on what actually happened.
This should be done while many people from that era are still alive and the necessary documents in government archives are in the public domain.
It may not be easy, but if further time elapses, it will become more and more difficult as more and more people who witnessed the events pass away.
We should not forget that one of the most investigated mysteries of the last century, viz., the assassination of president Kennedy, is still unresolved after 42 years.
K. B. KALE Jakarta
7th Nov. 2005
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2005/11/07/history-sept-30-events.html
I refer to the letter from Michael Hills published a few days ago in The Jakarta Post regarding the events that took place on Sept. 30 back in 1965.
As I have mentioned earlier, history is always written by the victors and accordingly we have had to watch the movie that was shown every year on Sept. 30 up until 1997 depicting the events as seen by the winning side.
It portrayed the atrocities meted out to the generals who were reportedly murdered by communist insurgents. Later on, when the tide turned, we found out that the communist insurgents were also not spared.
Now that neither side to that particular conflict is in a position of influence and power, and a reasonably long period of 40 years has elapsed, it is time an attempt was made to write the correct or official history based on what actually happened.
This should be done while many people from that era are still alive and the necessary documents in government archives are in the public domain.
It may not be easy, but if further time elapses, it will become more and more difficult as more and more people who witnessed the events pass away.
We should not forget that one of the most investigated mysteries of the last century, viz., the assassination of president Kennedy, is still unresolved after 42 years.
K. B. KALE Jakarta
'Bahasa Inglonesia'?
'Bahasa Inglonesia'?
3rd Dec. 2005
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2005/12/03/039bahasa-inglonesia039.html
Some recent letters have provoked me to write this letter. One was a letter by Rusdi (Nov. 26) who felt that all would-be ministers should be scanned for their proficiency in English before they are given the job.
Another one was by Nesa Ilich (Nov. 8) titled Education system in Indonesia, who bemoaned that graduates educated in Indonesian universities rarely shined in the international arena and concluded that their education was probably sub-standard.
Although my knowledge of Indonesian universities is inadequate, I deal with Indonesian engineers on a daily basis and find them quite proficient. And my proficiency in Bahasa Indonesia really helps me to understand this proficiency.
The Soekarno-Hatta Airport demonstrates the successful implementation of relatively inexpensive cakar ayam system of making foundations in swamps invented by Prof. Sudiyatmo. But very few know about this system outside Indonesia! Had it been invented by an English-speaking person, many papers might have been presented in international forums, thus granting it the world-wide recognition it deserves.
So whether it was a minister who created a few raised eyebrows in Bangalore or graduates who don't shine in the international arena, the malady is the same: Lack of English proficiency! So the earlier Indonesians take English language seriously, the better.
Now let us look at the letter by Bandung's Fanda Alle bemoaning mixing of English words while speaking in local dialects. Well, open any Indonesian newspaper. You will come across plenty of English words on the very front page. Try these: Evaluasi, kondisi, tradisi, otopsi, generasi, kolusi, renovasi, polusi, permisi, kriminal, etc., just to name a few. More and more English words are being added to Bahasa Indonesia everyday!
If this continues, Bahasa Indonesia will slowly blossom to become Bahasa Inglonesia. After all, the Indians have introduced Hinglish, a mixture of Hindi and English! And though I speak Indonesian quite fluently, I find it very difficult to understand people's replies because very few Indonesians in Jakarta speak 'pure' Bahasa Indonesia. Most of them mix in words from other languages, like Sundanese, Javanese and the ever-present Betawi (sono in place of sana). Responses are also embellished with generous use of kan that simply floors me (example: saya kan kemarin kan pergi kan ke Bandung.).
K. B. KALE Jakarta
3rd Dec. 2005
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2005/12/03/039bahasa-inglonesia039.html
Some recent letters have provoked me to write this letter. One was a letter by Rusdi (Nov. 26) who felt that all would-be ministers should be scanned for their proficiency in English before they are given the job.
Another one was by Nesa Ilich (Nov. 8) titled Education system in Indonesia, who bemoaned that graduates educated in Indonesian universities rarely shined in the international arena and concluded that their education was probably sub-standard.
Although my knowledge of Indonesian universities is inadequate, I deal with Indonesian engineers on a daily basis and find them quite proficient. And my proficiency in Bahasa Indonesia really helps me to understand this proficiency.
The Soekarno-Hatta Airport demonstrates the successful implementation of relatively inexpensive cakar ayam system of making foundations in swamps invented by Prof. Sudiyatmo. But very few know about this system outside Indonesia! Had it been invented by an English-speaking person, many papers might have been presented in international forums, thus granting it the world-wide recognition it deserves.
So whether it was a minister who created a few raised eyebrows in Bangalore or graduates who don't shine in the international arena, the malady is the same: Lack of English proficiency! So the earlier Indonesians take English language seriously, the better.
Now let us look at the letter by Bandung's Fanda Alle bemoaning mixing of English words while speaking in local dialects. Well, open any Indonesian newspaper. You will come across plenty of English words on the very front page. Try these: Evaluasi, kondisi, tradisi, otopsi, generasi, kolusi, renovasi, polusi, permisi, kriminal, etc., just to name a few. More and more English words are being added to Bahasa Indonesia everyday!
If this continues, Bahasa Indonesia will slowly blossom to become Bahasa Inglonesia. After all, the Indians have introduced Hinglish, a mixture of Hindi and English! And though I speak Indonesian quite fluently, I find it very difficult to understand people's replies because very few Indonesians in Jakarta speak 'pure' Bahasa Indonesia. Most of them mix in words from other languages, like Sundanese, Javanese and the ever-present Betawi (sono in place of sana). Responses are also embellished with generous use of kan that simply floors me (example: saya kan kemarin kan pergi kan ke Bandung.).
K. B. KALE Jakarta
3-in-1 system needs reviewing
3-in-1 system needs reviewing
12th April, 2006
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2006/04/12/3in1-system-needs-reviewing.html
I think the time is ripe for a review of the 3-in-1 system! The system was introduced to ensure fewer cars in the golden triangle area by encouraging car-pooling among people from the same neighborhoods.
Originally the system required three or more passengers in a car only at the time of entry into the protected area. Once inside, it was neither necessary nor possible to have three passengers in the car as people who had joined the car-pool got off one by one at their offices. There was also no such restriction in the evenings.
The system failed because of the easy availability of ""roadside jockeys"". This was the situation when I left Jakarta in 1997. When I returned in 2004, a modified system requiring three passengers at all times during the designated hours in mornings and evenings was in force.
This modification is contrary to the very basic objective of the 3-in-1 system because it discourages the car-pooling. For example: three employees live in the same condo and work in the restricted area. They enter the golden triangle and the first employee gets out -- now the other two who wish to get out elsewhere are no longer eligible to be in that area. What will they do?
A couple running their individual businesses in the golden triangle leaves home together with their driver. When the husband gets out at his office, the wife has to call one of the employees from her office to come to her husband's office to make a threesome!
In the evening, most of the employees while away their time in restaurants or other places. And come 7 p.m., all the roads groan under the second coming!
The system can be modified to achieve its objectives and also enrich the exchequer by issuing monthly, weekly and daily passes for regular users of the golden triangle or by the introduction of a pre-paid E-Z pass system which could record and charge every entry during the designated hours. (I saw this system in Malaysia recently.) Today the money goes into pockets of jockeys and others.
The traffic congestion has not reduced by the present set of rules, anyway!
K. B. KALE, Jakarta
12th April, 2006
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2006/04/12/3in1-system-needs-reviewing.html
I think the time is ripe for a review of the 3-in-1 system! The system was introduced to ensure fewer cars in the golden triangle area by encouraging car-pooling among people from the same neighborhoods.
Originally the system required three or more passengers in a car only at the time of entry into the protected area. Once inside, it was neither necessary nor possible to have three passengers in the car as people who had joined the car-pool got off one by one at their offices. There was also no such restriction in the evenings.
The system failed because of the easy availability of ""roadside jockeys"". This was the situation when I left Jakarta in 1997. When I returned in 2004, a modified system requiring three passengers at all times during the designated hours in mornings and evenings was in force.
This modification is contrary to the very basic objective of the 3-in-1 system because it discourages the car-pooling. For example: three employees live in the same condo and work in the restricted area. They enter the golden triangle and the first employee gets out -- now the other two who wish to get out elsewhere are no longer eligible to be in that area. What will they do?
A couple running their individual businesses in the golden triangle leaves home together with their driver. When the husband gets out at his office, the wife has to call one of the employees from her office to come to her husband's office to make a threesome!
In the evening, most of the employees while away their time in restaurants or other places. And come 7 p.m., all the roads groan under the second coming!
The system can be modified to achieve its objectives and also enrich the exchequer by issuing monthly, weekly and daily passes for regular users of the golden triangle or by the introduction of a pre-paid E-Z pass system which could record and charge every entry during the designated hours. (I saw this system in Malaysia recently.) Today the money goes into pockets of jockeys and others.
The traffic congestion has not reduced by the present set of rules, anyway!
K. B. KALE, Jakarta
Palestinian suffering
Palestinian suffering
8th July 2006
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2006/07/08/palestinian-suffering.html
Your editorial on July 7 brings a few things to the fore, while a few things remain in the background. For people who neither belong to Israel or Palestine, it is very confusing in terms of what is the truth. Granted that history is written by the victors. Some of us have read things, but remain unsure what is the truth.
For example, we have read that the creation of Israel was by a majority vote in the United Nations General Assembly, in which my country, India, voted against it. Is this true? If so, who can have a right to deny Israel the right of existence?
Assuming that the vote was a sham, is there a way to reopen the subject in the United Nations once again? If yes, why is the Palestinian government not demanding a new vote?
If the outcome of this vote is again in favor of Israel, that will be that. But if it is against, some nations with veto powers (there are five of them) might use it and nullify the vote. So, is veto legal? If yes, that is that! Veto power has been used and misused since the creation of the United Nations and the Security Council.
If the veto system is to be abolished, is there a constitutional means of doing it? What is it? If yes, why does the Palestinian government not start proceeding in that direction? And if the answer is ""No"", I think the Palestinian government must understand that and accept this situation, however bitter. In life, even in our personal lives, there are many things which we don't like, but we swallow them as inevitable.
I think this is the only way to go about this issue. Whether it is Hamas or Fatah, they will have to study this point and accept it, and also together educate their population to accept it gracefully and take the road to peace and prosperity. After all, the other methods followed to date have not taken either party anywhere.
K. B. KALE, Jakarta
8th July 2006
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2006/07/08/palestinian-suffering.html
Your editorial on July 7 brings a few things to the fore, while a few things remain in the background. For people who neither belong to Israel or Palestine, it is very confusing in terms of what is the truth. Granted that history is written by the victors. Some of us have read things, but remain unsure what is the truth.
For example, we have read that the creation of Israel was by a majority vote in the United Nations General Assembly, in which my country, India, voted against it. Is this true? If so, who can have a right to deny Israel the right of existence?
Assuming that the vote was a sham, is there a way to reopen the subject in the United Nations once again? If yes, why is the Palestinian government not demanding a new vote?
If the outcome of this vote is again in favor of Israel, that will be that. But if it is against, some nations with veto powers (there are five of them) might use it and nullify the vote. So, is veto legal? If yes, that is that! Veto power has been used and misused since the creation of the United Nations and the Security Council.
If the veto system is to be abolished, is there a constitutional means of doing it? What is it? If yes, why does the Palestinian government not start proceeding in that direction? And if the answer is ""No"", I think the Palestinian government must understand that and accept this situation, however bitter. In life, even in our personal lives, there are many things which we don't like, but we swallow them as inevitable.
I think this is the only way to go about this issue. Whether it is Hamas or Fatah, they will have to study this point and accept it, and also together educate their population to accept it gracefully and take the road to peace and prosperity. After all, the other methods followed to date have not taken either party anywhere.
K. B. KALE, Jakarta
Destroying democracy to save it
Destroying democracy to save it
10th Oct. 2006
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2006/10/10/destroying-democracy-save-it.html
I really enjoyed reading the letter of the press attache of Thai Embassy justifying the coup d'etat in that country on Sept. 19.
Justification is routinely given for every coup d'etat. Most popular justifications are corruption, nepotism, chaos or political instability. Fear of external invasion is also often given as a valid justification. Some dictators say that their country is not yet ""ripe for democracy"".
However the reason mentioned in this particular letter "Thailand needed to take this step to propel the democracy forward" takes the cake.
K. B. KALE, Jakarta
10th Oct. 2006
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2006/10/10/destroying-democracy-save-it.html
I really enjoyed reading the letter of the press attache of Thai Embassy justifying the coup d'etat in that country on Sept. 19.
Justification is routinely given for every coup d'etat. Most popular justifications are corruption, nepotism, chaos or political instability. Fear of external invasion is also often given as a valid justification. Some dictators say that their country is not yet ""ripe for democracy"".
However the reason mentioned in this particular letter "Thailand needed to take this step to propel the democracy forward" takes the cake.
K. B. KALE, Jakarta
On Nobel Prizes
On Nobel Prizes
26th Oct. 2006
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2006/10/26/nobel-prizes.html
I have often felt that the late Alfred Nobel must be turning in his grave whenever some of the Nobel Peace Prize winners are announced. However, I am sure this time he smiled.
The Peace Prize is the only prize which most of the common people understand (or, at least, claim to understand), in terms of the worthiness or otherwise of the recipients. (Remember one of Parkinson's Laws?) Who, after all, understands the worthiness of winners of Nobel prizes in physics, chemistry, medicine, economics and literature, except those who understand these subjects?
The Peace Prize, on the other hand, is understood by the common man, and he feels that quite often it is given to controversial people and not to those whom he would consider deserving candidates. Sometimes it is given to those who have the blood of innocents on their hands from their past actions, while some get the prize for apparently political reasons. Some notable non-recipients, like the apostle of peace and the Father of India, Mahatma Gandhi, can also be pointed out.
I wonder whether Grameen Bank and Muhammad Yunus should have received the Nobel Prize for Economics rather than for Peace, because economics is the area where they made their mark. In fact, I personally felt let down when the President and Prime Minister of Indonesia and Finland did not win for bringing peace to Aceh.
See? I, a common man, have an opinion only about the Peace Prize and don't know anything about the works of Phelps (Economics), Kornberg (Medicine), Fire and Mello (Medicine), Mather and Smoot (Physics) and Orhan Pramuk (Literature)!
K. B. KALE, Jakarta
26th Oct. 2006
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2006/10/26/nobel-prizes.html
I have often felt that the late Alfred Nobel must be turning in his grave whenever some of the Nobel Peace Prize winners are announced. However, I am sure this time he smiled.
The Peace Prize is the only prize which most of the common people understand (or, at least, claim to understand), in terms of the worthiness or otherwise of the recipients. (Remember one of Parkinson's Laws?) Who, after all, understands the worthiness of winners of Nobel prizes in physics, chemistry, medicine, economics and literature, except those who understand these subjects?
The Peace Prize, on the other hand, is understood by the common man, and he feels that quite often it is given to controversial people and not to those whom he would consider deserving candidates. Sometimes it is given to those who have the blood of innocents on their hands from their past actions, while some get the prize for apparently political reasons. Some notable non-recipients, like the apostle of peace and the Father of India, Mahatma Gandhi, can also be pointed out.
I wonder whether Grameen Bank and Muhammad Yunus should have received the Nobel Prize for Economics rather than for Peace, because economics is the area where they made their mark. In fact, I personally felt let down when the President and Prime Minister of Indonesia and Finland did not win for bringing peace to Aceh.
See? I, a common man, have an opinion only about the Peace Prize and don't know anything about the works of Phelps (Economics), Kornberg (Medicine), Fire and Mello (Medicine), Mather and Smoot (Physics) and Orhan Pramuk (Literature)!
K. B. KALE, Jakarta
India Club talent
India Club talent
06th Oct. 2007
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2007/10/06/india-club-talent.html
The India Club presented a glittering dance and music extravaganza called ""Talent Night"" on Sept. 23, in which expatriate children and parents ages 4 to 40 participated.
Although it was a program organized by outright amateurs, the presentation was equivalent to a professional one. All songs and dances were well-rehearsed and presented with absolute aplomb.
Kudos to the India Club executives for envisioning this -- to Uday, Vinay, Ravi, Sivasish, Priya, Janaki, Sveta and Pooja, who formed the core group, for their support in auditioning, to all the participants, and to those who showed whole-hearted encouragement to participating family members.
All performances were superb but some performances are worthy of special mention. Yes, Prekshaa Uppin's opening dance number, Yash Lakhwani's patriotic poem, Pranay Bang's enactment of famous Bollywood songs and Taran Arjan Dasani's song, All New World, all made a strong impression. But there is no doubt that Leela (Navrang) was ""Queen"", Meyyammaai (Bharat Natyam number) ""Teen Princess"" and 4-year old angel Sheetal ""Budding Princess"".
It was very gratifying to see Indonesian musicians performing on keyboard, drums and guitars. They added to the overall high quality of the singers' performance. Pandit Ramnath Singh of The Jawaharlal Nehru Indian Cultural Centre (JNICC) excelled on tabla.
We were fortunate to have as our special guest Endy M. Bayuni, chief editor of The Jakarta Post, who endeared himself to all with a warm speech and by remaining with us throughout the program.
K. B. KALE, Jakarta
06th Oct. 2007
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2007/10/06/india-club-talent.html
The India Club presented a glittering dance and music extravaganza called ""Talent Night"" on Sept. 23, in which expatriate children and parents ages 4 to 40 participated.
Although it was a program organized by outright amateurs, the presentation was equivalent to a professional one. All songs and dances were well-rehearsed and presented with absolute aplomb.
Kudos to the India Club executives for envisioning this -- to Uday, Vinay, Ravi, Sivasish, Priya, Janaki, Sveta and Pooja, who formed the core group, for their support in auditioning, to all the participants, and to those who showed whole-hearted encouragement to participating family members.
All performances were superb but some performances are worthy of special mention. Yes, Prekshaa Uppin's opening dance number, Yash Lakhwani's patriotic poem, Pranay Bang's enactment of famous Bollywood songs and Taran Arjan Dasani's song, All New World, all made a strong impression. But there is no doubt that Leela (Navrang) was ""Queen"", Meyyammaai (Bharat Natyam number) ""Teen Princess"" and 4-year old angel Sheetal ""Budding Princess"".
It was very gratifying to see Indonesian musicians performing on keyboard, drums and guitars. They added to the overall high quality of the singers' performance. Pandit Ramnath Singh of The Jawaharlal Nehru Indian Cultural Centre (JNICC) excelled on tabla.
We were fortunate to have as our special guest Endy M. Bayuni, chief editor of The Jakarta Post, who endeared himself to all with a warm speech and by remaining with us throughout the program.
K. B. KALE, Jakarta
RI-Aussie ties unharmed
RI-Aussie ties unharmed
05th June 2007
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2007/06/05/riaussie-ties-unharmed.html-0
I have always admired Bill Farmer, the Australian ambassador to Indonesia. Unlike others of his ilk, he doesn't believe in remaining invisible but prefers to appear in print to defend his country's policies, correct inaccurate news accounts or clarify misunderstandings. I further admire him because instead of delegating such tasks to his various attaches, he is at the forefront himself.
At the moment he has a difficult job of "damage control" over an unfortunate diplomatic row that happened at the Shangri-La Hotel in Sydney. Officials of the New South Wales (NSW) coroner's office reportedly barged into Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso's room without his permission and attempted to serve a summons on him to testify in a court case.
What is most unfortunate is that Governor Sutiyoso was visiting Australia on the invitation of NSW Premier Morris Iemma, with the laudable objective of reviving a dormant sisterhood between NSW and Jakarta.
From recent reports in The Jakarta Post, it is clear that Bill Farmer has successfully defused the situation by gracefully conveying the apologies of the Australian government (which were equally gracefully accepted by Governor Sutiyoso), and has succeeded in protecting the underlying desire of both countries to forge a closer relationship.
K. B. KALE, Jakarta
05th June 2007
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2007/06/05/riaussie-ties-unharmed.html-0
I have always admired Bill Farmer, the Australian ambassador to Indonesia. Unlike others of his ilk, he doesn't believe in remaining invisible but prefers to appear in print to defend his country's policies, correct inaccurate news accounts or clarify misunderstandings. I further admire him because instead of delegating such tasks to his various attaches, he is at the forefront himself.
At the moment he has a difficult job of "damage control" over an unfortunate diplomatic row that happened at the Shangri-La Hotel in Sydney. Officials of the New South Wales (NSW) coroner's office reportedly barged into Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso's room without his permission and attempted to serve a summons on him to testify in a court case.
What is most unfortunate is that Governor Sutiyoso was visiting Australia on the invitation of NSW Premier Morris Iemma, with the laudable objective of reviving a dormant sisterhood between NSW and Jakarta.
From recent reports in The Jakarta Post, it is clear that Bill Farmer has successfully defused the situation by gracefully conveying the apologies of the Australian government (which were equally gracefully accepted by Governor Sutiyoso), and has succeeded in protecting the underlying desire of both countries to forge a closer relationship.
K. B. KALE, Jakarta
New traffic problems
New traffic problems
19th Sept 2007
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2007/09/19/new-traffic-problems.html-0
We, living in Kelapa Gading (KG), wish to bring to your attention some difficulties we are facing due to recent changes in the flow of traffic at the La Piazza Circle (LPC).
Until recently, the vehicles coming from Gading Pluit hospital, Menara KG and Peganggsaan Dua and wanting to go straight toward Makro or wanting to turn right toward Mal Kelapa Gading (MKG) III could drive straight through or turn right at LPC without any major inconvenience.
Some minor traffic at LPC lasted no more than a minute or two.
But as some new paving stones have been erected on the road leading to LPC, we are not allowed to enter LPC, but have to either turn left on Boulevard Kelapa Gading (BKG) or turn right at Jl. Taman Mandiri and go around behind MKG to arrive at LPC.
This is a major inconvenience. This leads to unnecessary loading of traffic on BKG as we have to go some 300-400 meters south before taking a U-turn toward LPC.
I think the new arrangement does not help the smooth flow of traffic in any way, but unnecessarily inconveniences the motoring public.
We request the Jakarta Traffic Police look into this matter and restore the old traffic system.
Another request is to allow U-turns at Pulogading Trade Centre (PTC) for vehicles coming by Jl. Raya Bekasi from the eastern side (from United Tractor company).
Illegal U-turns at the T-junction at PTC unnecessarily loads Jl. Pulogadung going into Kawasan Industri Pulogadung and creates avoidable traffic jams on that road.
I hope the Jakarta Police will look into this and take the necessary action.
K B KALE, Jakarta
19th Sept 2007
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2007/09/19/new-traffic-problems.html-0
We, living in Kelapa Gading (KG), wish to bring to your attention some difficulties we are facing due to recent changes in the flow of traffic at the La Piazza Circle (LPC).
Until recently, the vehicles coming from Gading Pluit hospital, Menara KG and Peganggsaan Dua and wanting to go straight toward Makro or wanting to turn right toward Mal Kelapa Gading (MKG) III could drive straight through or turn right at LPC without any major inconvenience.
Some minor traffic at LPC lasted no more than a minute or two.
But as some new paving stones have been erected on the road leading to LPC, we are not allowed to enter LPC, but have to either turn left on Boulevard Kelapa Gading (BKG) or turn right at Jl. Taman Mandiri and go around behind MKG to arrive at LPC.
This is a major inconvenience. This leads to unnecessary loading of traffic on BKG as we have to go some 300-400 meters south before taking a U-turn toward LPC.
I think the new arrangement does not help the smooth flow of traffic in any way, but unnecessarily inconveniences the motoring public.
We request the Jakarta Traffic Police look into this matter and restore the old traffic system.
Another request is to allow U-turns at Pulogading Trade Centre (PTC) for vehicles coming by Jl. Raya Bekasi from the eastern side (from United Tractor company).
Illegal U-turns at the T-junction at PTC unnecessarily loads Jl. Pulogadung going into Kawasan Industri Pulogadung and creates avoidable traffic jams on that road.
I hope the Jakarta Police will look into this and take the necessary action.
K B KALE, Jakarta
Counterfeit drugs
Counterfeit drugs
23rd July 2008
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2008/07/23/forum-forest-stewardship.html
Counterfeit drugs enter the market when the prices of original drugs are exorbitant as compared to the cost of manufacturing them. The Indonesian pharma companies should reduce their prices to the level as prevailing in India and make them affordable.
Once the difference between cost of raw materials and sale price is not exorbitant, counterfeit drugs will disappear.
Also Indonesian pharma companies must print maximum retail prices of drugs on their packaging as is done by the Indian pharma industry due to legal requirements. A presidential decree to that effect is, in fact, overdue!
K. B. KALE, Jakarta
23rd July 2008
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2008/07/23/forum-forest-stewardship.html
Counterfeit drugs enter the market when the prices of original drugs are exorbitant as compared to the cost of manufacturing them. The Indonesian pharma companies should reduce their prices to the level as prevailing in India and make them affordable.
Once the difference between cost of raw materials and sale price is not exorbitant, counterfeit drugs will disappear.
Also Indonesian pharma companies must print maximum retail prices of drugs on their packaging as is done by the Indian pharma industry due to legal requirements. A presidential decree to that effect is, in fact, overdue!
K. B. KALE, Jakarta
Monorail, please!
Monorail, please!
14th Oct. 2008
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2008/10/14/forum-pluralism-our-asset.html
I refer to Arriyadhul Qolbi's letter in which he gave quite a few reasons in favor of a monorail system.
I would like to add one more reason he has missed out that I included in my previous letter (The Jakarta Post, May 16) in some other context.
I said that as far as a mass commuter system for Jakarta is concerned, an underground subway system or a "local" rail link at ground level are unsuitable because even minor rains cause flooding of our city in no time.
The only reliable system for Jakarta would be a monorail at an elevated height, like the link between the city and airport in Japan and the monorail system adopted by Kuala Lumpur.
Our city should build such a system at the earliest. But with the economic meltdown that has hit us, it looks like a dream for it to be fulfilled in my lifetime at least.
K. B. KALE, Jakarta
14th Oct. 2008
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2008/10/14/forum-pluralism-our-asset.html
I refer to Arriyadhul Qolbi's letter in which he gave quite a few reasons in favor of a monorail system.
I would like to add one more reason he has missed out that I included in my previous letter (The Jakarta Post, May 16) in some other context.
I said that as far as a mass commuter system for Jakarta is concerned, an underground subway system or a "local" rail link at ground level are unsuitable because even minor rains cause flooding of our city in no time.
The only reliable system for Jakarta would be a monorail at an elevated height, like the link between the city and airport in Japan and the monorail system adopted by Kuala Lumpur.
Our city should build such a system at the earliest. But with the economic meltdown that has hit us, it looks like a dream for it to be fulfilled in my lifetime at least.
K. B. KALE, Jakarta
Beautiful English
Beautiful English
26th Aug. 2008
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2008/08/26/forum-beautiful-english.html
When I read the letter from the Press Attach* at the Russian Embassy in Jakarta (The Jakarta Post, Aug. 19), I realized how the English language is blossoming into a rich and flexible (and, at times, incomprehensible) language wherein an invader means a peacekeeper or a saboteur means a freedom fighter.
Talking about saboteurs/freedom fighters, I remembered a Sanskrit proverb saying a good Guru is the one who hopes to be defeated by his pupils (shishyaat ichchhet paraajayam).
In other words, a good Guru teaches his pupils so well, making them so proficient that they can defeat their own teacher who trained them.
Looking at how the saboteurs/freedom fighters who were basically trained to wreak havoc in the neighboring countries have turned around to wreak havoc with all sorts of terroristic activities in their own domestic arena, I realize how good this Guru was.
K. B. KALE, Jakarta
26th Aug. 2008
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2008/08/26/forum-beautiful-english.html
When I read the letter from the Press Attach* at the Russian Embassy in Jakarta (The Jakarta Post, Aug. 19), I realized how the English language is blossoming into a rich and flexible (and, at times, incomprehensible) language wherein an invader means a peacekeeper or a saboteur means a freedom fighter.
Talking about saboteurs/freedom fighters, I remembered a Sanskrit proverb saying a good Guru is the one who hopes to be defeated by his pupils (shishyaat ichchhet paraajayam).
In other words, a good Guru teaches his pupils so well, making them so proficient that they can defeat their own teacher who trained them.
Looking at how the saboteurs/freedom fighters who were basically trained to wreak havoc in the neighboring countries have turned around to wreak havoc with all sorts of terroristic activities in their own domestic arena, I realize how good this Guru was.
K. B. KALE, Jakarta
Opulent executive jets
Opulent executive jets
26th Nov 2008
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2008/11/26/forum-smokers-netted.html
Replying to a very pertinent question asked by one of the U.S. lawmakers: whether the three CEOs of GM, Ford & Chrysler who were on the brink of bankruptcy traveled by commercial aircraft or by their opulent executive jets -- they cut a sorry figure.
Their glib reply that it was for "security" reasons was far from convincing. If so, why didn't they travel in one jet?
And how do the UAW bosses travel?
Moral of the story: When begging, look like a beggar!
K. B. KALE
Washington
26th Nov 2008
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2008/11/26/forum-smokers-netted.html
Replying to a very pertinent question asked by one of the U.S. lawmakers: whether the three CEOs of GM, Ford & Chrysler who were on the brink of bankruptcy traveled by commercial aircraft or by their opulent executive jets -- they cut a sorry figure.
Their glib reply that it was for "security" reasons was far from convincing. If so, why didn't they travel in one jet?
And how do the UAW bosses travel?
Moral of the story: When begging, look like a beggar!
K. B. KALE
Washington
On Soekarno-Hatta Airport
28th May 2008
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2008/05/28/forum-redefining-nationalism.html
Soekarno-Hatta International Airport is attracting a lot of unfair criticism these days. The airport is airy with a tall ceiling and is built in a beautiful, typically Indonesian architectural style. The terminal housing gates D, E & F which I have used since the airport first opened has some of the most beautifully decorated lounges with a nice ethnic touch.
It is a functional airport though not flashy. Immigration and customs formalities are quite fast and there are no "itchy palms" there. Luggage belts work and baggage trolleys are free. We even have well-stacked duty free shops in arrival lounges. What more do we need?
Just one thing: a commute between the two terminals!
If the access road gets flooded, what can airport authorities do?
Indonesians should get rid of their inferiority complex and be proud of what they have built.
K.B. KALE, Jakarta
28th May 2008
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2008/05/28/forum-redefining-nationalism.html
Soekarno-Hatta International Airport is attracting a lot of unfair criticism these days. The airport is airy with a tall ceiling and is built in a beautiful, typically Indonesian architectural style. The terminal housing gates D, E & F which I have used since the airport first opened has some of the most beautifully decorated lounges with a nice ethnic touch.
It is a functional airport though not flashy. Immigration and customs formalities are quite fast and there are no "itchy palms" there. Luggage belts work and baggage trolleys are free. We even have well-stacked duty free shops in arrival lounges. What more do we need?
Just one thing: a commute between the two terminals!
If the access road gets flooded, what can airport authorities do?
Indonesians should get rid of their inferiority complex and be proud of what they have built.
K.B. KALE, Jakarta
'The Da Vinci Code' and 'Fitna'
'The Da Vinci Code' and 'Fitna'
21th April 2008
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2008/04/21/forum-039the-da-vinci-code039-and-039fitna039.html
Before The Da Vinci Code movie was released, I read the book as well as Angels & Demons by the same author. Both these books are almost blasphemous to Catholicism.
During my visit to the Vatican as a tourist, I asked my guide about his opinion on these two books. He replied he didn't like to read trash like that.
When the movie was released, I called my Italian friend to find out whether it had been banned there. He said no. In fact it was being shown there freely and was attracting crowds.
So as a person who is neither a Christian nor a Muslim, I wonder why this movie, which claims Jesus had married and fathered a daughter, was shown freely in the very heartland of Catholicism. Yet there is so much resistance in screening Fitna here. If it is trash, people may see and dismiss its contents. Why can't Muslims look at such silly things as trash and avoid giving free publicity to this movie? By banning it, it may encourage its illegal screenings and hike up its value as "forbidden fruit".
K.B. Kale, Jakarta
21th April 2008
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2008/04/21/forum-039the-da-vinci-code039-and-039fitna039.html
Before The Da Vinci Code movie was released, I read the book as well as Angels & Demons by the same author. Both these books are almost blasphemous to Catholicism.
During my visit to the Vatican as a tourist, I asked my guide about his opinion on these two books. He replied he didn't like to read trash like that.
When the movie was released, I called my Italian friend to find out whether it had been banned there. He said no. In fact it was being shown there freely and was attracting crowds.
So as a person who is neither a Christian nor a Muslim, I wonder why this movie, which claims Jesus had married and fathered a daughter, was shown freely in the very heartland of Catholicism. Yet there is so much resistance in screening Fitna here. If it is trash, people may see and dismiss its contents. Why can't Muslims look at such silly things as trash and avoid giving free publicity to this movie? By banning it, it may encourage its illegal screenings and hike up its value as "forbidden fruit".
K.B. Kale, Jakarta
Roadside vendors hamper traffics
Roadside vendors hamper traffics
9th July 2008
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2008/07/09/letter-roadside-vendors-hamper-traffics.html
I read with interest your coverage of the ITDP seminar (The Jakarta Post, July 2, p.2), which concluded that more and more usage of the busway could save as much as US$26 million per year!
This may be mathematically correct and, if fuel prices continue to rise the way they are doing presently, that day may not be far off.
But, in the meantime, can the city administration look at another major reason for wastage of fuel, i.e., traffic jams due not to too many vehicles but because of obstruction by various kiosks (warung) by the roadside and also because of parking of buses/metro-minis along the roads?
Take the example of Jl. Raya Bekasi, which I use daily to go to work. I come in a jiffy until Pulogadung Trade Center, and then get stuck because from the IGI factory until the T-junction leading to Bauran, there are warung on the northern side and every car takes about 15 to 20 minutes to cross these 70-odd meters while their engines keep purring.
Maybe 500,000 vehicles pass on that road and burn fuel unnecessarily. So how many liters of fuel does it come to? Similarly, Jl. Pegangsaan Dua is choked, first because innumerable metro-minis are parked from it to the end of Jl. Raya Bekasi.
Probably about 100 metro-minis are parked on this road. The presence of warung and vehicles loaded with products from two-wheelers on that road add to the miseries of the car drivers.
This road also needs to be made wider, as it connects the harbor to the industrial part of East Jakarta. I also wonder why the so-called jalur lambat (slow lanes) on many arterial roads are more often used as bus depots than roads.
It is high time that, before we talk of more extensive busways etc., we try to remove the warung that obstruct traffic, and the illegal and unnecessary parking of metro-minis on these busy roads! On many occasions it takes 30 minutes to cross the two kilometers of Pegangsaan Dua!
What a waste of fuel! When it comes to the busway system, either it should be scrapped or it should be loaded by all vehicles of public transport. The busway lanes are used much more sparsely than the remaining lanes on the major arterial roads.
K. B. KALE, Jakarta
9th July 2008
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2008/07/09/letter-roadside-vendors-hamper-traffics.html
I read with interest your coverage of the ITDP seminar (The Jakarta Post, July 2, p.2), which concluded that more and more usage of the busway could save as much as US$26 million per year!
This may be mathematically correct and, if fuel prices continue to rise the way they are doing presently, that day may not be far off.
But, in the meantime, can the city administration look at another major reason for wastage of fuel, i.e., traffic jams due not to too many vehicles but because of obstruction by various kiosks (warung) by the roadside and also because of parking of buses/metro-minis along the roads?
Take the example of Jl. Raya Bekasi, which I use daily to go to work. I come in a jiffy until Pulogadung Trade Center, and then get stuck because from the IGI factory until the T-junction leading to Bauran, there are warung on the northern side and every car takes about 15 to 20 minutes to cross these 70-odd meters while their engines keep purring.
Maybe 500,000 vehicles pass on that road and burn fuel unnecessarily. So how many liters of fuel does it come to? Similarly, Jl. Pegangsaan Dua is choked, first because innumerable metro-minis are parked from it to the end of Jl. Raya Bekasi.
Probably about 100 metro-minis are parked on this road. The presence of warung and vehicles loaded with products from two-wheelers on that road add to the miseries of the car drivers.
This road also needs to be made wider, as it connects the harbor to the industrial part of East Jakarta. I also wonder why the so-called jalur lambat (slow lanes) on many arterial roads are more often used as bus depots than roads.
It is high time that, before we talk of more extensive busways etc., we try to remove the warung that obstruct traffic, and the illegal and unnecessary parking of metro-minis on these busy roads! On many occasions it takes 30 minutes to cross the two kilometers of Pegangsaan Dua!
What a waste of fuel! When it comes to the busway system, either it should be scrapped or it should be loaded by all vehicles of public transport. The busway lanes are used much more sparsely than the remaining lanes on the major arterial roads.
K. B. KALE, Jakarta
Viva democracy!
Viva democracy!
| Mon, 07/14/2008
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2008/07/14/letter-viva-democracy.html
Robert Mugabe is in the news for having steamrolled his way to another term as Zimbabwe's president!
His opponent complained about violence and the killing of his supporters and withdrew from the election though he had won more votes than Mugabe in the first round and would have surely defeated him in a one-on-one election.
Then Mugabe went to attend the meeting of heads of state of the African Union (AU). There was a lot of talk of the AU refusing to admit him or condemning him. I believed these reports until I saw the proceedings on TV.
Then I remembered the famous Biblical story of how Jesus saved a woman (who had allegedly sinned) from being killed by a stone-throwing mob by saying, "Let him throw the first stone who has never sinned."
The mob dispersed.
A similar situation arose in the AU meeting when the question arose: Who will condemn him? When I saw the faces of most of the leaders and looked for someone who had won a genuine, free and fair election, I couldn't find many faces there!
Most of them were those who had usurped power (military dictators), inherited power (kings, sheiks) or won sham elections.
So the question arose: Who will condemn Mugabe?
Another question arose: Why only Mugabe?
Result: No condemnation. Like the mob in the biblical story, this "mob" also dispersed quietly! Viva democracy!
K. B. KALE, Jakarta
| Mon, 07/14/2008
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2008/07/14/letter-viva-democracy.html
Robert Mugabe is in the news for having steamrolled his way to another term as Zimbabwe's president!
His opponent complained about violence and the killing of his supporters and withdrew from the election though he had won more votes than Mugabe in the first round and would have surely defeated him in a one-on-one election.
Then Mugabe went to attend the meeting of heads of state of the African Union (AU). There was a lot of talk of the AU refusing to admit him or condemning him. I believed these reports until I saw the proceedings on TV.
Then I remembered the famous Biblical story of how Jesus saved a woman (who had allegedly sinned) from being killed by a stone-throwing mob by saying, "Let him throw the first stone who has never sinned."
The mob dispersed.
A similar situation arose in the AU meeting when the question arose: Who will condemn him? When I saw the faces of most of the leaders and looked for someone who had won a genuine, free and fair election, I couldn't find many faces there!
Most of them were those who had usurped power (military dictators), inherited power (kings, sheiks) or won sham elections.
So the question arose: Who will condemn Mugabe?
Another question arose: Why only Mugabe?
Result: No condemnation. Like the mob in the biblical story, this "mob" also dispersed quietly! Viva democracy!
K. B. KALE, Jakarta
Persecution of Anwar Ibrahim
Persecution of Anwar Ibrahim
| Tue, 07/29/2008
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2008/07/29/letter-persecution-anwar-ibrahim.html
The saga of the persecution of Anwar Ibrahim by the powers that be in his country is really sad! Anwar Ibrahim does not deserve such treatment from his own people.
Anwar Ibrahim is a 100 percent self-made charismatic leader and enjoys the adulation of the masses. And maybe that has been his problem! It appears the political top brass in Malaysia is simply incapable of containing him and keeping him away from the PM's office.
I worked briefly in Malaysia at the time his meteoric political rise started. Without anyone's help, he swept aside the then heir apparent Ghafar Baba in such a swift manner there was no alternative but to make him Deputy PM. And when he rose in stature and gained enough clout of his own to sweep aside the incumbent, Anwar Ibrahim's troubles started!
Because he could not be faulted on any genuine issue, he was charged with, of all allegations, sodomy! He was jailed, beaten and tortured, but Anwar Ibrahim neither bent nor broke down. He remained unwavering, tenacious and resolute!
Finally, in 2004, Malaysia's Federal Court cleared him of the sodomy charge and he was released.
After his release, this charismatic leader still posed a threat to the incumbent! And what did that lead to? Fresh charges of sodomy, based on one man's accusation!
While I truly admire Anwar Ibrahim's courage, what I admire far more is the courage and support of his wife Wan Azizah Ismail. A gold medalist in Obstetrics and Gynecology from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, she has gone through so much suffering in these last few years. She is the real icon of courage and sacrifice for her countrymen!
I hope Anwar ascends to the throne that is rightfully his, but refrains from being vengeful towards the perpetrators of injustice towards him, though he may be fully justified in doing so!
K. B. KALE, Jakarta
==============================
Post Comments | Comments (1)
Osman, | Wed, 30/07/2008 - 07:07am
K. B. KALE : Finally, in 2004, Malaysia's Federal Court cleared him of the sodomy charge and he was released. Cleared??? K. B. KALE, please do not mislead other readers with such false statement. Get your facts right, Anwar was never "cleared" of the earlier sodomy charges, as the case was dropped before verdict.
==============================
| Tue, 07/29/2008
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2008/07/29/letter-persecution-anwar-ibrahim.html
The saga of the persecution of Anwar Ibrahim by the powers that be in his country is really sad! Anwar Ibrahim does not deserve such treatment from his own people.
Anwar Ibrahim is a 100 percent self-made charismatic leader and enjoys the adulation of the masses. And maybe that has been his problem! It appears the political top brass in Malaysia is simply incapable of containing him and keeping him away from the PM's office.
I worked briefly in Malaysia at the time his meteoric political rise started. Without anyone's help, he swept aside the then heir apparent Ghafar Baba in such a swift manner there was no alternative but to make him Deputy PM. And when he rose in stature and gained enough clout of his own to sweep aside the incumbent, Anwar Ibrahim's troubles started!
Because he could not be faulted on any genuine issue, he was charged with, of all allegations, sodomy! He was jailed, beaten and tortured, but Anwar Ibrahim neither bent nor broke down. He remained unwavering, tenacious and resolute!
Finally, in 2004, Malaysia's Federal Court cleared him of the sodomy charge and he was released.
After his release, this charismatic leader still posed a threat to the incumbent! And what did that lead to? Fresh charges of sodomy, based on one man's accusation!
While I truly admire Anwar Ibrahim's courage, what I admire far more is the courage and support of his wife Wan Azizah Ismail. A gold medalist in Obstetrics and Gynecology from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, she has gone through so much suffering in these last few years. She is the real icon of courage and sacrifice for her countrymen!
I hope Anwar ascends to the throne that is rightfully his, but refrains from being vengeful towards the perpetrators of injustice towards him, though he may be fully justified in doing so!
K. B. KALE, Jakarta
==============================
Post Comments | Comments (1)
Osman, | Wed, 30/07/2008 - 07:07am
K. B. KALE : Finally, in 2004, Malaysia's Federal Court cleared him of the sodomy charge and he was released. Cleared??? K. B. KALE, please do not mislead other readers with such false statement. Get your facts right, Anwar was never "cleared" of the earlier sodomy charges, as the case was dropped before verdict.
==============================
What a way to go!
What a way to go!
6th Jan. 2009
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/01/06/letter-what-a-way-go.html
A few years back, the shoe bomber Richard Reid who concealed explosives in his shoes so he could blow up a flight made headlines and now a shoe-thrower is in the news for launching his shoes as missiles to hit U.S. President George W. Bush.
Fortunately, President Bush showed remarkable nimbleness and agility to get out of harm's way.
What a way to go for Bush! From the dizzy heights of mass adulation and record approval ratings after his post-9/11 speech to the Congress, when his every sentence got a standing ovation from U.S. lawmakers, he now has the distinction of having the lowest approval rating ever.
Who can forget him standing on the debris of the Word Trade Center buildings with a bullhorn, saying, "All are hearing your voice" and who can also forget his "what-the-hell-happened?" expression at the recent Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting?
Like the look we saw on his face when an aide informed him the towers had been hit by terrorists' planes while he was reading to the Florida school kids!
Like Abhimanyu in the epic Mahabharata, he knew how to get in, but didn't know how to come out!
His response time after the Katrina disaster was also highly criticized by the U.S. media.
Looks like he did not see the imminent financial meltdown coming because he and his officers were declaring the U.S. economy was sound just a couple of months before it hit.
He widened the gap between the ultra-ultra-rich and ultra-poor by giving tax breaks to the former. He failed to create a strong middle class which is required for prosperity in any democracy.
All in all, a very inept presidency and Muntadhar al-Zaidi's action, though highly deplorable and condemnable, was an appraisal of sorts!
K. B. KALE, Jakarta
6th Jan. 2009
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/01/06/letter-what-a-way-go.html
A few years back, the shoe bomber Richard Reid who concealed explosives in his shoes so he could blow up a flight made headlines and now a shoe-thrower is in the news for launching his shoes as missiles to hit U.S. President George W. Bush.
Fortunately, President Bush showed remarkable nimbleness and agility to get out of harm's way.
What a way to go for Bush! From the dizzy heights of mass adulation and record approval ratings after his post-9/11 speech to the Congress, when his every sentence got a standing ovation from U.S. lawmakers, he now has the distinction of having the lowest approval rating ever.
Who can forget him standing on the debris of the Word Trade Center buildings with a bullhorn, saying, "All are hearing your voice" and who can also forget his "what-the-hell-happened?" expression at the recent Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting?
Like the look we saw on his face when an aide informed him the towers had been hit by terrorists' planes while he was reading to the Florida school kids!
Like Abhimanyu in the epic Mahabharata, he knew how to get in, but didn't know how to come out!
His response time after the Katrina disaster was also highly criticized by the U.S. media.
Looks like he did not see the imminent financial meltdown coming because he and his officers were declaring the U.S. economy was sound just a couple of months before it hit.
He widened the gap between the ultra-ultra-rich and ultra-poor by giving tax breaks to the former. He failed to create a strong middle class which is required for prosperity in any democracy.
All in all, a very inept presidency and Muntadhar al-Zaidi's action, though highly deplorable and condemnable, was an appraisal of sorts!
K. B. KALE, Jakarta
Things that cannot be changed
Things that cannot be changed
7th Feb. 2009
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/02/07/letter-things-cannot-be-changed.html
Referring to Muhammad Rusdi's letter on Gaza (Jan. 29) regarding Israel's non-conformance to UN Resolutions, one should start from the General Assembly's Resolution in 1949 granting statehood, rightly or wrongly, to Israel.
Today, Israel has over 160 overseas diplomatic missions including in Arab countries. So Hamas should recognize it, accept its right to exist and stop the armed struggle. If Hamas does not learn to accept things that cannot be changed and does not learn to coexist, will they also not be responsible for human tragedies on both sides?
In this war, Hamas continued to fire rockets into Israel even after Israel accepted the UN's cease-fire, something an Egyptian journalist described on CNN as Hamas's message that they were far from cowed.
It is true Israel has disregarded UN Resolutions. But after the peace treaty between Israel and the Palestinian National Authority, the West Bank and Gaza were not only handed over to the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) but the Jewish kibbutzim in those areas were forcibly vacated by evicting the settlers from those areas.
It is quite apparent that support or opposition to this particular war is entirely religion-based and not based on the root cause.
When I see the pictures of devastation and civilian casualties on TV, I am more and more convinced that this and other such wars must never start!
So the UN, in the role of a referee, should spend time, money and effort in positioning a geosynchronous satellite over this area to declare who is the provocateur.
With satellite photography and advanced imagery techniques, it is not difficult to pinpoint who initiated the conflict in a given case and stop the war right there.
Gaza's 40-kilometer Northwestern side is open to the Mediterranean Sea and its 12 km Southwestern side is connected to Egypt's Sinai province (Rafah pass). So why does the world not route all their supplies to Gaza either by ship or barge, or by road through Egypt, a fellow Arab country?
Why should Hamas insist that Israel, its sworn enemy, open their borders to allow human and material traffic? Let us not forget that during the recent conflict, Egypt did not allow Gazans to enter Sinai. And, as regards timing, everyone remembers how Iran released the American hostages while Reagan was taking the oath of the office in 1981!
K B Kale, Jakarta
7th Feb. 2009
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/02/07/letter-things-cannot-be-changed.html
Referring to Muhammad Rusdi's letter on Gaza (Jan. 29) regarding Israel's non-conformance to UN Resolutions, one should start from the General Assembly's Resolution in 1949 granting statehood, rightly or wrongly, to Israel.
Today, Israel has over 160 overseas diplomatic missions including in Arab countries. So Hamas should recognize it, accept its right to exist and stop the armed struggle. If Hamas does not learn to accept things that cannot be changed and does not learn to coexist, will they also not be responsible for human tragedies on both sides?
In this war, Hamas continued to fire rockets into Israel even after Israel accepted the UN's cease-fire, something an Egyptian journalist described on CNN as Hamas's message that they were far from cowed.
It is true Israel has disregarded UN Resolutions. But after the peace treaty between Israel and the Palestinian National Authority, the West Bank and Gaza were not only handed over to the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) but the Jewish kibbutzim in those areas were forcibly vacated by evicting the settlers from those areas.
It is quite apparent that support or opposition to this particular war is entirely religion-based and not based on the root cause.
When I see the pictures of devastation and civilian casualties on TV, I am more and more convinced that this and other such wars must never start!
So the UN, in the role of a referee, should spend time, money and effort in positioning a geosynchronous satellite over this area to declare who is the provocateur.
With satellite photography and advanced imagery techniques, it is not difficult to pinpoint who initiated the conflict in a given case and stop the war right there.
Gaza's 40-kilometer Northwestern side is open to the Mediterranean Sea and its 12 km Southwestern side is connected to Egypt's Sinai province (Rafah pass). So why does the world not route all their supplies to Gaza either by ship or barge, or by road through Egypt, a fellow Arab country?
Why should Hamas insist that Israel, its sworn enemy, open their borders to allow human and material traffic? Let us not forget that during the recent conflict, Egypt did not allow Gazans to enter Sinai. And, as regards timing, everyone remembers how Iran released the American hostages while Reagan was taking the oath of the office in 1981!
K B Kale, Jakarta
AIG bonus payment
AIG bonus payment
19th March, 2009
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/03/19/letter-aig-bonus-payment.html
"Ailing giant AIG to pay $165m in bonuses" screamed a headline in the Post (March 16, p. 15) stating that the AIG chairman had conveyed to Geithner that AIG had contractual obligations to make the bonus payments and could face the lawsuits if it did not do so. Poor helpless guy!
It would be interesting to find out how much he paid himself for his own bonus and with whose money!
These executives should be ashamed of even taking their regular salaries and should accept voluntary pay cuts until they bring their organizations back to health! The least they can do is not demand "bonuses" for their non-performances! Aren't they ashamed of what they have done?
Generally, politicians who enjoy power in public life, both in the elected category and those who usurp power, get used to its comforts and stick to it under one disguise or another. Barring some notable exceptions, politicians have a proverbial thick skin.
But professionals are expected to be a different breed, aren't they? Why are they also trying to squeeze their pound of flesh from companies on their death bed?
American TV channels reported the public outrage among US taxpayers who have (unknowingly) financed these bonuses! It is their hard-earned money, the outrage is natural!
I think President Barack Obama's administration should put its foot down and impose restrictions (including "stay" orders) on how and where this bailout money may and may not be used.
Legislation about the usage of public money given to such ailing organizations should be enacted, with retrospective effect if necessary, as was done by Indira Gandhi (albeit for a wrong cause).
Lining the pockets of the unworthy executives who killed the proverbial goose should surely be on the top of the "no-no" list.
K. B. Kale, Jakarta
19th March, 2009
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/03/19/letter-aig-bonus-payment.html
"Ailing giant AIG to pay $165m in bonuses" screamed a headline in the Post (March 16, p. 15) stating that the AIG chairman had conveyed to Geithner that AIG had contractual obligations to make the bonus payments and could face the lawsuits if it did not do so. Poor helpless guy!
It would be interesting to find out how much he paid himself for his own bonus and with whose money!
These executives should be ashamed of even taking their regular salaries and should accept voluntary pay cuts until they bring their organizations back to health! The least they can do is not demand "bonuses" for their non-performances! Aren't they ashamed of what they have done?
Generally, politicians who enjoy power in public life, both in the elected category and those who usurp power, get used to its comforts and stick to it under one disguise or another. Barring some notable exceptions, politicians have a proverbial thick skin.
But professionals are expected to be a different breed, aren't they? Why are they also trying to squeeze their pound of flesh from companies on their death bed?
American TV channels reported the public outrage among US taxpayers who have (unknowingly) financed these bonuses! It is their hard-earned money, the outrage is natural!
I think President Barack Obama's administration should put its foot down and impose restrictions (including "stay" orders) on how and where this bailout money may and may not be used.
Legislation about the usage of public money given to such ailing organizations should be enacted, with retrospective effect if necessary, as was done by Indira Gandhi (albeit for a wrong cause).
Lining the pockets of the unworthy executives who killed the proverbial goose should surely be on the top of the "no-no" list.
K. B. Kale, Jakarta
Modify law on the presidential polls!
Modify law on the presidential polls!
The legislative elections are scheduled for April 9. Presidential elections will follow in July.
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/04/07/letters-modify-law-presidential-polls.html
Indonesia has chosen a very good system to elect their President with their 3-tier election system. Their system includes many good points from US and France. The President can, at the most, have two terms of 5 years each and all eligible voters of Indonesia elect the President directly.
In the US, barring exceptions like Ross Perot in 1992, there are only two major parties - the Republican and the Democratic - who field candidates for Presidential elections. The Presidential candidates are chosen on the basis of the results of primaries in each state and the candidate who wins stipulated minimum number of delegates is nominated by their party.
In France any candidate who is sponsored by at least 500 citizens holding elective office as defined by the Institutional Act can contest in the first round of presidential elections. That is how in the 2002 elections, there were 16 candidates in first round with Chirac (20 percent) and Jean-Marie Le Pen (17 percent) fighting the run-off election in second round. Chirac polled 82 percent votes to win the Presidency.
In 2007, there were 12 candidates in first round and Sarkozy (31 percent) and Mme. Royal (26 percent) fought the run-off election in second round wherein Sarkozy polled 53 percent votes to win the Presidency.
In both elections, lowest votes polled were 0.47 percent (Gluckstein) & 0.34 percent (Schivardi).
In Indonesia, the rule for fielding a "pair of candidates" for President and Vice-President says, "The candidate pairs who want to race in the general elections to elect the President and Vice President shall be proposed by a political party or a coalition of political parties which meet the requirements. The political party or a coalition of political parties shall only be able to propose one candidate pair who meets the requirements of having a vote return minimum of 20 percent of valid votes in the national general elections to elect the House of Representatives members."
The 20 percent minimum forces most of the potential presidential candidates to enter into a coalition which makes them dependent upon coalition partners. This defeats the very purpose of an independent president who doesn't owe any favors to any other party/member of the DPR. So the eligibility clause needs to be modified to "3-5 percent of votes in national elections".
Another healthy convention would be created by the above modification. The presidential candidate can then be selected by a member of his own party as a VP candidate. Thus he can be sure of full loyalty from him instead of the present situation wherein the VP suffers from divided loyalty between his President and his party.
I hope the Indonesian lawmakers will take a fresh look at this suggestion. Special thanks to Sadika Hamid from French Embassy for information.
K.B. Kale, Jakarta
The legislative elections are scheduled for April 9. Presidential elections will follow in July.
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/04/07/letters-modify-law-presidential-polls.html
Indonesia has chosen a very good system to elect their President with their 3-tier election system. Their system includes many good points from US and France. The President can, at the most, have two terms of 5 years each and all eligible voters of Indonesia elect the President directly.
In the US, barring exceptions like Ross Perot in 1992, there are only two major parties - the Republican and the Democratic - who field candidates for Presidential elections. The Presidential candidates are chosen on the basis of the results of primaries in each state and the candidate who wins stipulated minimum number of delegates is nominated by their party.
In France any candidate who is sponsored by at least 500 citizens holding elective office as defined by the Institutional Act can contest in the first round of presidential elections. That is how in the 2002 elections, there were 16 candidates in first round with Chirac (20 percent) and Jean-Marie Le Pen (17 percent) fighting the run-off election in second round. Chirac polled 82 percent votes to win the Presidency.
In 2007, there were 12 candidates in first round and Sarkozy (31 percent) and Mme. Royal (26 percent) fought the run-off election in second round wherein Sarkozy polled 53 percent votes to win the Presidency.
In both elections, lowest votes polled were 0.47 percent (Gluckstein) & 0.34 percent (Schivardi).
In Indonesia, the rule for fielding a "pair of candidates" for President and Vice-President says, "The candidate pairs who want to race in the general elections to elect the President and Vice President shall be proposed by a political party or a coalition of political parties which meet the requirements. The political party or a coalition of political parties shall only be able to propose one candidate pair who meets the requirements of having a vote return minimum of 20 percent of valid votes in the national general elections to elect the House of Representatives members."
The 20 percent minimum forces most of the potential presidential candidates to enter into a coalition which makes them dependent upon coalition partners. This defeats the very purpose of an independent president who doesn't owe any favors to any other party/member of the DPR. So the eligibility clause needs to be modified to "3-5 percent of votes in national elections".
Another healthy convention would be created by the above modification. The presidential candidate can then be selected by a member of his own party as a VP candidate. Thus he can be sure of full loyalty from him instead of the present situation wherein the VP suffers from divided loyalty between his President and his party.
I hope the Indonesian lawmakers will take a fresh look at this suggestion. Special thanks to Sadika Hamid from French Embassy for information.
K.B. Kale, Jakarta
ASEAN owe to Cory
| Sat, 08/08/2009
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/08/08/letters-asean-owe-cory.html
On Aug. 1, Cory Aquino, an icon of democracy in this part of the world, passed away. She became president of the Philippines in 1986 and many countries in this part of the world have become democratic since then.
It was 1986 and I was working in Surabaya. Freedom of Press didn't exist for years. One just saw what was shown on TVRI in Dunia Dalam Berita. Though many tried to listen to BBC's World Service to get comprehensive news coverage, tuning in was difficult and quite often it would play hide-and-seek, frustrating the listeners.
I still remember TVRI coverage of Philippine revolution. Many video clips pass in front of my mind's eye, showing a huge crowd, estimated to be about a million people, on Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) in Manila.
I remember seeing a woman demonstrator offering a flower to the gun-toting soldier and him accepting it in confusion reducing the overall tension.
I remember the dialogue between General Ver and Marcos that TVRI showed and how it left Ver confused.
As the people poured in the streets to protest against a *stolen' election, there were defections in the ranks. Defense Minister Enrile and Gen. Ramos (who later became President himself) broke ranks with Marcos and joined the democratic movement. I remember the sharp salute Gen. Ramos gave to his new Commander-in-Chief clad in yellow, when she declared his promotion as Chief of Armed Forces.
I remember the way she accepted it with an affectionate feminine smile. Helicopters air-lifting Marcos and family to Clark Air-force Bases were also shown.
We should not forget her husband who was a promising senator who showed enormous courage to return to Manila from self-imposed exile.
He knew his life was at risk, but still came back, donning a bullet-proof vest before alighting. But despite these efforts he was shot dead on the tarmac as he departed the plane.
He was a very popular senator and could have dislodged Marcos in 1973 elections to become a president himself. But Marcos imposed Marshall Law! People in power do take such steps to remain in power.
He had a great success as a young senator who persuaded communist rebel Luis Taruc to surrender. Thanks to Ninoy, Luis Taruc escaped with a prison sentence instead of death by hanging.
Often the performance of a successor to a towering leader in power for many years looks lackluster, so was the case with Cory. In her six years as president, not much worthwhile happened. But that she remained a president for six years to make sure that her country remained a democracy is her greatest achievement and she deserves kudos for that.
People in ASEAN countries owe a great deal to Cory and her assassinated husband Ninoy Aquino for the freedom in which they live today.
I am sure many of us today will be grieving the loss of an amazing leader.
K. B. Kale, Jakarta
| Sat, 08/08/2009
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/08/08/letters-asean-owe-cory.html
On Aug. 1, Cory Aquino, an icon of democracy in this part of the world, passed away. She became president of the Philippines in 1986 and many countries in this part of the world have become democratic since then.
It was 1986 and I was working in Surabaya. Freedom of Press didn't exist for years. One just saw what was shown on TVRI in Dunia Dalam Berita. Though many tried to listen to BBC's World Service to get comprehensive news coverage, tuning in was difficult and quite often it would play hide-and-seek, frustrating the listeners.
I still remember TVRI coverage of Philippine revolution. Many video clips pass in front of my mind's eye, showing a huge crowd, estimated to be about a million people, on Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) in Manila.
I remember seeing a woman demonstrator offering a flower to the gun-toting soldier and him accepting it in confusion reducing the overall tension.
I remember the dialogue between General Ver and Marcos that TVRI showed and how it left Ver confused.
As the people poured in the streets to protest against a *stolen' election, there were defections in the ranks. Defense Minister Enrile and Gen. Ramos (who later became President himself) broke ranks with Marcos and joined the democratic movement. I remember the sharp salute Gen. Ramos gave to his new Commander-in-Chief clad in yellow, when she declared his promotion as Chief of Armed Forces.
I remember the way she accepted it with an affectionate feminine smile. Helicopters air-lifting Marcos and family to Clark Air-force Bases were also shown.
We should not forget her husband who was a promising senator who showed enormous courage to return to Manila from self-imposed exile.
He knew his life was at risk, but still came back, donning a bullet-proof vest before alighting. But despite these efforts he was shot dead on the tarmac as he departed the plane.
He was a very popular senator and could have dislodged Marcos in 1973 elections to become a president himself. But Marcos imposed Marshall Law! People in power do take such steps to remain in power.
He had a great success as a young senator who persuaded communist rebel Luis Taruc to surrender. Thanks to Ninoy, Luis Taruc escaped with a prison sentence instead of death by hanging.
Often the performance of a successor to a towering leader in power for many years looks lackluster, so was the case with Cory. In her six years as president, not much worthwhile happened. But that she remained a president for six years to make sure that her country remained a democracy is her greatest achievement and she deserves kudos for that.
People in ASEAN countries owe a great deal to Cory and her assassinated husband Ninoy Aquino for the freedom in which they live today.
I am sure many of us today will be grieving the loss of an amazing leader.
K. B. Kale, Jakarta
Tuesday, 14 June 2011
Indians, Indonesians cross cultures
Indians, Indonesians cross cultures
30th January 2010
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2010/01/30/letters-indians-indonesians-cross-cultures.html
I refer to your editorial on Jan 26, wherein you (rightly) congratulated the Indian people for India's achievements. Truly, the credit for keeping our country a genuine democracy goes entirely to its people.
However, our post-Independence leadership was mature. They laid the foundations of our democracy. Our representatives enacted bills that gave the land to the tillers, the rented houses to tenants. This created a big middle class that is the backbone of our country.
Quite often, we Indians say that when we look at the quality of our leadership vis-*-vis the type of progress we have made, the most ardent of the atheists amongst us start believing that God does exist and He is taking care of India!
Your observations as regards the influence of India's culture on and beyond the Indian subcontinent are absolutely correct. Indian culture, Indian music and Indian food are popular everywhere in the world. Indonesian culture, including the Indonesian language, is also close to Indian culture and Sanskrit. Some 500 years ago, many Indonesian kingdoms were Hindu and most of the Indian epics find a place in Indonesian folklore. As we Indians go global, we proudly take these three features of our heritage along with us wherever we go.
Bung Karno and Pandit Nehru were very close and founded the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). Biju Patnaik is still a household name in Indonesia. Indians are straightforward and don't indulge in double talk. Indians are grateful for the help other countries gave and never bites the hand that feeds. Even today, people of my generation are grateful for US aid.
Without American wheat under the PL-480, most Indians in 50s and 60s would have starved. Later, the "green revolution" swept India, so our younger generation doesn't even know the pangs of hunger. If Indians pledge their friendship, they stand by the pledge, they don't double cross.
Our armed forces remain in their barracks and don't overthrow elected governments. They do take stern measures in states which are being provoked by external elements to challenge its sovereignty, but our Armed Forces never raped the whole country like others often did! However, one of our failures has been the uncontrolled population explosion.
Not only Indonesia, but the whole of the Indian subcontinent should take note of our education system. Its quality is excellent and it's relatively inexpensive. Recently, I came across a book Nuclear Deception. It should be read by everybody belonging to Indian subcontinent; Indians, Pakistanis, Sri Lankans, etc. Indonesians should read it too because it is good "homework" for all!
K. B. Kale, Jakarta
30th January 2010
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2010/01/30/letters-indians-indonesians-cross-cultures.html
I refer to your editorial on Jan 26, wherein you (rightly) congratulated the Indian people for India's achievements. Truly, the credit for keeping our country a genuine democracy goes entirely to its people.
However, our post-Independence leadership was mature. They laid the foundations of our democracy. Our representatives enacted bills that gave the land to the tillers, the rented houses to tenants. This created a big middle class that is the backbone of our country.
Quite often, we Indians say that when we look at the quality of our leadership vis-*-vis the type of progress we have made, the most ardent of the atheists amongst us start believing that God does exist and He is taking care of India!
Your observations as regards the influence of India's culture on and beyond the Indian subcontinent are absolutely correct. Indian culture, Indian music and Indian food are popular everywhere in the world. Indonesian culture, including the Indonesian language, is also close to Indian culture and Sanskrit. Some 500 years ago, many Indonesian kingdoms were Hindu and most of the Indian epics find a place in Indonesian folklore. As we Indians go global, we proudly take these three features of our heritage along with us wherever we go.
Bung Karno and Pandit Nehru were very close and founded the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). Biju Patnaik is still a household name in Indonesia. Indians are straightforward and don't indulge in double talk. Indians are grateful for the help other countries gave and never bites the hand that feeds. Even today, people of my generation are grateful for US aid.
Without American wheat under the PL-480, most Indians in 50s and 60s would have starved. Later, the "green revolution" swept India, so our younger generation doesn't even know the pangs of hunger. If Indians pledge their friendship, they stand by the pledge, they don't double cross.
Our armed forces remain in their barracks and don't overthrow elected governments. They do take stern measures in states which are being provoked by external elements to challenge its sovereignty, but our Armed Forces never raped the whole country like others often did! However, one of our failures has been the uncontrolled population explosion.
Not only Indonesia, but the whole of the Indian subcontinent should take note of our education system. Its quality is excellent and it's relatively inexpensive. Recently, I came across a book Nuclear Deception. It should be read by everybody belonging to Indian subcontinent; Indians, Pakistanis, Sri Lankans, etc. Indonesians should read it too because it is good "homework" for all!
K. B. Kale, Jakarta
Go ahead with redenomination
Go ahead with redenomination
10th August 2010
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2010/08/10/letter-go-ahead-with-redenomination.html
I am quite surprised by the contents of the letter of Rajesh (Aug. 9) and his opposition to redenomination of rupiah.
But before I write anything on the subject, let me narrate a real conversation with my Italian friend.
When I first met him after the Euro became the day-to-day currency of most of the countries in EU, I asked him if he mourns the end of their lira and whether the traders took advantage of this change to hike up the prices.
I was surprised by the vehemence in his reply, “No, not at all! We were fed up of the zeroes in lire and feel ‘liberated’ now.” And fortunately no inflation (or chaos) has resulted due to the change in currency.
Rupiah which makes anybody and everybody a (pseudo) millionaire in no time is overdue for a demonetization. Whether to strike off three zeroes to make it close to US$10 or four zeroes to bring it at par to US dollar is a matter of convenience of the authorities and people.
Really speaking, rupiah has maintained its strength quite well in the last few months.
Whatever alternate actions to demonetization, Rajesh has suggested have merits of their own, but demonetization will not come in their way. What is the new cost? Just start printing new banknotes with new denominations and withdraw the old ones over a period of time. I don’t think there is a major cost involved.
May be demonetization will bring out some stashes of unaccounted wealth in cash form from the safes of innumerable people and help the treasury branch to extract some unpaid income taxes.
So Indonesian government should go ahead full steam!
K.B. Kale, Jakarta
10th August 2010
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2010/08/10/letter-go-ahead-with-redenomination.html
I am quite surprised by the contents of the letter of Rajesh (Aug. 9) and his opposition to redenomination of rupiah.
But before I write anything on the subject, let me narrate a real conversation with my Italian friend.
When I first met him after the Euro became the day-to-day currency of most of the countries in EU, I asked him if he mourns the end of their lira and whether the traders took advantage of this change to hike up the prices.
I was surprised by the vehemence in his reply, “No, not at all! We were fed up of the zeroes in lire and feel ‘liberated’ now.” And fortunately no inflation (or chaos) has resulted due to the change in currency.
Rupiah which makes anybody and everybody a (pseudo) millionaire in no time is overdue for a demonetization. Whether to strike off three zeroes to make it close to US$10 or four zeroes to bring it at par to US dollar is a matter of convenience of the authorities and people.
Really speaking, rupiah has maintained its strength quite well in the last few months.
Whatever alternate actions to demonetization, Rajesh has suggested have merits of their own, but demonetization will not come in their way. What is the new cost? Just start printing new banknotes with new denominations and withdraw the old ones over a period of time. I don’t think there is a major cost involved.
May be demonetization will bring out some stashes of unaccounted wealth in cash form from the safes of innumerable people and help the treasury branch to extract some unpaid income taxes.
So Indonesian government should go ahead full steam!
K.B. Kale, Jakarta
Nikki Haley’s governorship
Nikki Haley’s governorship
19th January, 2011
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2011/01/19/letter-nikki-haley%E2%80%99s-governorship.html
I have always believed and said that it is Indian people’s creativity-much more than its political leadership or its natural resources-that has made India leap-frog to become a leading economic and industrial powerhouse, staking its claims to become a global power, a permanent member of the UN’s Security Council with a veto power and a country that other countries can ignore only to their disadvantage.
We Indians are proud to have played our part, albeit microscopically small, in our country’s march to the forefront of the community of nations in the world.
Recently we played host to Prime Minister David Cameron and Presidents Barack Obama, Nicolas Sarkozy and Wen Jiabao. All came to India for closer cooperation in economic and trade activities and for their share in the growing Indian market.
Not only in India, but Indians are making their presence felt in the US, their adopted country. In the foreseeable future, an Indian-American might be US president. President Obama has already made a breakthrough in that direction.
The swearing in of Nikki Haley as South Carolina’s the first woman Indian-American governor (and, at 38, the youngest one) was a proud moment for us Indians. Bobby Jindal, governor of Louisiana State in the US was the first Indian-American governor when he took office in 2008.
Nikki Haley took oath on Jan. 13 and started her inaugural speech by saying, “I stand before you today, the proud daughter of Indian immigrants,” swelling every Indian chest with pride!
Born in Bamberg, South Carolina, to Sikh parents from Amritsar, a holy Sikh city from India’s Punjab State, Nikki (Namrata) Randhawa is married to Michael Haley and has two young children. Pointing to her mother in the audience she said, “When you grow up with a mom like her, the word ‘can’t’ is not in your vocabulary!”
What a coincidence that Nikki Haley took the oath of office just two weeks before India’s 61st Republic Day wherein this year we warmly welcome and honor Indonesia’s President who will be the Chief Guest at our Republic Day parade and celebrations.
K.B. Kale, Jakarta
19th January, 2011
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2011/01/19/letter-nikki-haley%E2%80%99s-governorship.html
I have always believed and said that it is Indian people’s creativity-much more than its political leadership or its natural resources-that has made India leap-frog to become a leading economic and industrial powerhouse, staking its claims to become a global power, a permanent member of the UN’s Security Council with a veto power and a country that other countries can ignore only to their disadvantage.
We Indians are proud to have played our part, albeit microscopically small, in our country’s march to the forefront of the community of nations in the world.
Recently we played host to Prime Minister David Cameron and Presidents Barack Obama, Nicolas Sarkozy and Wen Jiabao. All came to India for closer cooperation in economic and trade activities and for their share in the growing Indian market.
Not only in India, but Indians are making their presence felt in the US, their adopted country. In the foreseeable future, an Indian-American might be US president. President Obama has already made a breakthrough in that direction.
The swearing in of Nikki Haley as South Carolina’s the first woman Indian-American governor (and, at 38, the youngest one) was a proud moment for us Indians. Bobby Jindal, governor of Louisiana State in the US was the first Indian-American governor when he took office in 2008.
Nikki Haley took oath on Jan. 13 and started her inaugural speech by saying, “I stand before you today, the proud daughter of Indian immigrants,” swelling every Indian chest with pride!
Born in Bamberg, South Carolina, to Sikh parents from Amritsar, a holy Sikh city from India’s Punjab State, Nikki (Namrata) Randhawa is married to Michael Haley and has two young children. Pointing to her mother in the audience she said, “When you grow up with a mom like her, the word ‘can’t’ is not in your vocabulary!”
What a coincidence that Nikki Haley took the oath of office just two weeks before India’s 61st Republic Day wherein this year we warmly welcome and honor Indonesia’s President who will be the Chief Guest at our Republic Day parade and celebrations.
K.B. Kale, Jakarta
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