November 18, 2014 edition
Batam Immigration Office Full of Brokers
I recently had a disappointing experience at the Batam Immigration office, on Riau Islands, when I sought to process my own new passport. I was obstructed when doing so by brokers within the Immigration office. I hope the new leadership in the central and regional governments, as well as the parliament can do away with this brokering and can discipline those individuals concerned within Immigration.
This incident began when I, together with one of my parents, sought to process my passport a year ago. We deliberately left home early, shortly after the dawn prayer so we wouldn't have to queue long at the Immigration office. Apparently these steps were of no avail as the processing of passports is controlled by brokers. They deliberately joined the queue and even worked closely with officers in the Immigration office, so that, even though we had got there earlier, we were still given the last number for the queue.
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More Letters articles in other editions
November 11, 2014 edition
Eco Solution Clarifies
An article from Tempo's investigation in its November 3-9 issue sources PT Eco Solution Lombok (ESL). Tempo writes in the lead paragraph that "Thousands of hectares of prime tourism sites around West Nusa Tenggara, from the island of Lombok to neighboring Sumbawa, are occupied by foreigners. Conspiring with Indonesian notaries and authorities and masquerading as investors when they only intend to speculate, they take advantage of legal loopholes to skirt the law, which prohibits foreigners from owning land. They are even buying up protected forestland."
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November 4, 2014 edition
January 1, 1970 edition
Bank Mandiri Credit Card's Powerpoints
I am a holder of Mandiri Platinum Visa credit card, said to offer double powerpoints (two points for every Rp2,500 transaction). Since my billing statement for August, the number of powerpoints entitled me has never been accurate.
From August to October, I used my credit card for total transactions worth more than Rp60 million, which entitles me to more than 8,000 additional powerpoints.
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January 1, 1970 edition
January 1, 1970 edition
On Benny Moerdani
Tempo's special report The Unknown Soldier published in its October 6-12 issue is a fine, drama-filled 'artistic' surprise. I hope it will be re-written into a screenplay and that a filmmaker will produce the movie. God willing it would be welcome in the world of moviemaking.
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January 1, 1970 edition