I read the article on the democracy award The Jakarta Post, Nov. 13) with much interest.

Although I do admit that the wheel of democracy has been running, albeit very slowly, since the mass demonstrations in 1998, I don't think the government should become complacent with the latest award.

To me, and I think this applies to the majority of people, a successful government reflects or results in good economic growth, stability and overall good management in favor of the people.

The current government though, along with the series of democratic governments that have asserted themselves in the era of reforms, have not been able to answer to the people's needs.

The root of Indonesian problems like corruption, poverty and stability hasn't improved one bit, and if anything has worsened, in the last decade of the so called reform period.

I think what the people want to see is not just mere reforms or ideological change in the government, but a concrete result that directly affects the wellbeing of the people.

The success of a government should not be graded based on ideology, but on the results that they deliver. Considering the high rate of poverty and illiteracy in Indonesia, what percentage of the people would actually care about democracy or politics?

That is not to say that democracy has a grim future in Indonesia. Maybe, if given more time, democracy might be the future hope of the country. After all, America took decades to establish a fully functioning and successful democracy.

EKARINA WINARNO

Jena, Germany

The last time I looked up the meaning of this word, it stated the following:

* Government by the people; a form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system.

* A state having such a form of government: India being the largest democracy.

* A state of society characterized by formal equality of rights and privileges.

* Political or social equality; democratic spirit.

* The common people of a community as distinguished from any privileged class; the common people with respect to theirpolitical power.

So it baffles me how Musharaf can say what he is doing is in the name of democracy. He is either naive and or ill-educated. He has absolutely no respect for the independent judiciary or political parties.

He has now appointed his own hand-selected judges, who he can control. He has locked up thousands of his opponents, included the much respected Imran Khan and Chief Justice Chowdry. The courts are not functioning, as thousands of lawyers are behind bars. He has muzzled the free press.

He has now enacted laws similar to those being used on prisoners in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

The western world is at ease with these kinds of measures. When similar situations happened in Myanmar, the western media, governments, the UN and others condemned the junta. Where are these organizations? Is the UN still a puppet of U.S.?

Pakistan needs a slate of new leaders fast.

Why doesn't the government ask some help or advice about this problem from neighboring Singapore, Japan or South Korea? These countries can become examples in how they successfully manage their public transportation systems.

Someone has to do something before Jakartans have to stay overnight in their cars because of traffic congestion!

Whoever wrote this, he is supposed to refer to the Holy Koran not only for some citations that he considers advantageous for his writing, but to whole areas in Koran, so he is able to state something correctly.

It is true the Koran teaches lakum dinukum waliyadin (Unto you your religion, unto me my religion). But please remember that it is also written in the Koran that the last prophet of Islam is Prophet Muhammad.

Thus, if anyone declares himself/herself a new prophet replacing Prophet Muhammad, then he/she is considered to have deviated from the teaching of Islam.

Furthermore, when this person spreads his/her faith, it means that his/her action has threatened and derided Islam and Muslim.

The case is different with Jamaah Islamiyah (JI). There are some teachings of Islam which allow war in defending their faith with some basic guidelines (it is called jihad, for complete explanation refer to the Koran).

In JI's case, they cannot be considered wrong just because they killed lots of people using bombs. They are wrong for using bombs which did not only kill the guilty people, but also the innocent. But that is no reason to see their case as being the same as the case of Al-Qiyadah Al-Islamiyah.

JI is trying to do what is taught in Islam based on their understanding. They might understand Islam in a different way from other Muslims, however they do not try to deviate from the teachings of Islam, as Al-Qiyadah Al-Islamiyah (Ahmad Mushaddeq) has done.

Put the case in a different point of view. It is not because both cases have something to do with Islam that it means both can be seen from the same point of view.

See deeper, listen carefully and understand better before judging something. It's not about who's playing God. MUI tried to do its function as the highest legal institution of Islam in Indonesia.

We -- my husband, me and our two children (4 and 8 years old) -- were forced to pay a fine of Rp 200,000 (US$21.98) each, or we could not leave the country. I think it was really unprofessional service.

I told him that I did not carry rupiah in my handbag but he forced me to pay the fine. It happened on Oct. 6 at 2.30 p.m.

I had no choice but changing my dollars to rupiah so I could go home safely to my country. unfortunately, the money changer in the airport refused to give me Rp 8000 for $1 (the rate on that day), he offered me Rp 7,000 for each of my dollar.

I refused and I went back to the immigration officer and told him about it, but he did not care. He kept told me if I didn't pay the fine he would keep our passports and we could not leave Medan.

How scared and upsetting for my husband and two children witnessing their mother being treated like that by an unprofessional immigration worker.

As the government officer, he should be a helper and make things easier for tourists like us. I felt I was robbed by the money changer who took advantage from desperate tourists, while the immigration just wanted the money from us.

Finally, I paid the fine but he wrote me bills for four people. There were no numbers on them and the transaction was not recorded in a computer. It was easy for him to tear the other pages of the receipts and put the money in his pocket.

The people who deal with tourists should be professional and well-trained. However, the man even did not speak good English. Such a condition can drive tourists away from Indonesia.

When I have returned to Australia I was also told by my friend, who had a similar experience in Bali. She told me that she would never go back to Bali anymore.

I wrote a complaint letter to the Indonesian embassy in Canberra about what happened to us and I told them that I was concerned about the money I had paid. I would send those receipts if they need to. I did not receive any response.

This is a serious problem to worry about. If the government does not address this problem, the men in airports will never stop (such illegal practices).

I am so scared to go back to Medan and I told my mother in Medan that she may come to Australia if she want to see us.

As Jakarta's governor, he must be aware that the city is now an urban dynamic, where more people are looking for places to live outside Jakarta, especially those in the middle and high income brackets.

This is increasing the number of commuters traveling in and out of Jakarta daily, which sparks traffic congestion. This is not only caused by Jakarta's limited number of roads, but also the increasing number of private cars in the capital.

In the short term, the busway system may answer this problem. But what about in the long term? It this just political will? It would be better if plans were made looking further ahead than five years.

The annual floods are also a problem in Jakarta. In the long term, there will be no profit gained from constructing new canals or dams. However, there will also be no floods if the government makes an effort. So many industries are forced to temporarily close down operations when floods occur.

The informal sector also needs attention. Jakarta still attracts people from all over the country. Most of them are unskilled and uneducated labors. Since they can not enter the formal sector, the informal sector is their answer.

What the government should do is establish regulations to support them. Without such regulations, there will be more slums and street vendors.

Drugs are, unfortunately, an integral part of the Australian, and indeed, world scene. Drugs are destroying the moral fiber of entire generations.

Dealing in drugs should carry a mandatory death penalty. Dealers in drugs deserve no better than the misery that they inflict upon their victims.

I was frustrated and depressed over the government's move to introduce a car-free day, as it seemed to cause more problems.

We missed our movie and wasted far too much time sitting in traffic; the car moving only inches in hours.

As the traffic worsened, it would have been quicker to just walk to Plaza Indonesia because we were only 50 meters away.

The car-free day did not help. It only contributed to the use of more gasoline, which only caused more pollution and saw citizens suffer more. Imagine how many business deals were canceled on that day and contributed to the decreasing amount of investment in Jakarta.

Data at the IPB's international programs office shows there are approximately 500 foreign graduates employed at the IPB, comprising lecturers and academic staff members such as librarians and lab scientists.

I accept this as a remarkable fact! Scholarship students seem very prestigious domestically but are underestimated abroad. My question is, when will we be able to afford our own tuition fees?

I have been in Indonesia three times so far for this year and my next trip will be from December/07 to March 2008.

I just love Indonesia and its' people. I have travelled the world over and over and there is no other place, with honest, civil, loveable and pleasant people than in Indonesia, no matter what province one is in.

My main destinations are West Sumatra; Padang and Buttingi, not to forget, Jakarta itself and Bali. The only problem I have in Padang is that Taxi drivers do not put the meters on but charge an exorbitant price for short distance travel. The Mayor of Padang is well aware of this and the Police turn a blind eye. This need to be controlled.

Padand itself is a city that is twenty years back of Jakarta but needs to be developed. Despite the fact that it recently was shaken by earthquake, it will be a city to look out for. It is surrounded by wonderful beaches that rival those of Bali and the Caribbean, but essential services are lacking to attract tourists and visitors.

The issue of nuclear enrichment is inevitably of great importance especially when it is for military purpose. Strategically speaking, it is the concern of every country of the world, and not only the Western (US and EU) or the Middle and Far Eastern countries. Thereby, two reasons can explain the Indonesian government’s reaction to the Iran case :

Firstly, it is a matter of security and peace in the world « Grand Chessboard », hence the Indonesian government’s support to the UN SC Resolution imposing sanctions on Irak.

Secondly, Indonesia – like Iran – has adopted the Treaty of Non- Proliferation on Nuclear Weapons (NPT), and thus has planned to increase its nuclear producing capacity in the coming decade.

But the decision of the House (DPR) to call President Yudhoyono in a special plenary session in June was also to be expected. Indeed, as the largest Muslim population in the world, Indonesia has a word to say. The public opinion and principally Muslim organisations put forward the fact the president’s move has ruined the good relationship between the two countries.

There is no doubt about the good will of the government, as there is no doubt about the exaggeration of the public concerning the bad consequences on the the Iran-Indonesia ties. But finally, what has to be kept in mind is less the possible impeachment of the President than the idea that Indonesia is definitely not under the heel of the World Powers.

Can they truthfully answer the question, if they were asked whether they would want to share their loved one with another girl? I doubt it! Even if in our culture men are allowed to have more than one wife, we women all want our husbands to be solely devoted to us.

Ask around! It hurts all parties but the most hurt I think in this situation is the wife who has only the best interests of a quiet family life in her heart. So I ask our Muslim sisters if what they want in life is a simple family life with their spouse or a complicated one?

There are other available single men out in this world who are also searching for their mate. Why be a villain to somebody else's family?

Pramoedya was more than a national treasure. He spoke for the struggles of all humankind in his stories and the Quartet. Indonesia was fortunate to have him. What a real shame that he did not receive the Nobel Prize for Literature before he died last year.

March 22, 2007
M. RANDOLPH KRUGER
Memphis Tennessee-Us