Authorities from the airport's Customs and Excise Office caught Phoon Yue Chin carrying a total of 0.98 grams of crystal meth and three sets of drug-smoking paraphernalia.

Your comments:

It's the dealers and suppliers that need to be punished harshly. The amount of drugs that can be brought on the streets of Kuta is shameful, and yet your government prosecutes, to the full extent of the law, foreigners that stray across the line with such a small amounts of illicit drugs in a display of zero tolerance to try and portray a cleaner view of the dark and dirty city.

The lack of education, human morality and basic logic highlighted by your single sentence post has revealed more about yourself and your country's laws than you realize.

Decap
Australia

Jakarta-Papua talks still possible--Jan. 2, p. 7

Despite the killing of Kelly Kwalik by Indonesian Mobile Brigade Police on Dec.16, 2009, at Timika, the capital of Mimika regency, Papua, the Indonesian government under the leadership of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and the Papuans has not yet shut the window on dialogue. (By Neles Tebay, Abepura, Papua)

Your comments:

Hopefully, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will answer the call from the West Papuan people for dialogue and sit down with their representatives to peacefully discuss their concerns.

But what a grand gesture it would be from him at the beginning of a new year to release all West Papuan political prisoners as a sign of good faith to the West Papuan people.

Joe Collins
Sydney

A new *dogma' on the island of Bali--Jan. 2, p. p. 23

As I write, there is a wild noise on our street. Kong, kong, kong ... woof, woof, woof. My two dogs are barking and scaring the living daylights out of a tourist passing by our house.

They have backed the poor man into a corner and he looks like some sort of panic-stricken cartoon character with sweat pouring from his brow, body shaking and yelling all sorts of unpleasant superlatives (including something about his mother?). (By Janet DeNeefe)

Your comments:

Hi Janet! I loved your article about your loyal and lovely dogs. I would love to come and do a story about the Bali dogs. Maybe we can get in touch on email? I live between London and LA and freelance as a dog reporter to fulfill my life long passion of travel to meet lovely dogs (and their owners) I share your passion for saving these rare and beautiful indigenous breeds.

Heidi
London

Janet. Thank you for sharing your dogmatic info and hounding us with Bali dog stories. What a breed they are - loving, loud, feral, funny, smart and so many of them waiting to be adopted at BAWA and other adoption organizations. Check out the ads in the Bali Advertiser.

Roma
Bali

Which way to go in the Asian century--Dec. 31, p. 12

Throughout 2009, there has been an interesting debate over whether Indonesia should continue its foreign policy with ASEAN as its cornerstone. Or is it the time for Jakarta to look beyond ASEAN, especially after its elevation from an impoverished nation to one of the top 20 economies of the world? (By Veeramalla Anjaiah, Jakarta)

Your comments:

Is it true that we, Indonesia, are a new emerging power in the world? Who says so? If he is Indonesian, I think he doesn't really understand the actual situation at ground level or doesn't want to see our daily problems.

If he is a foreigner, I think he only wants to praise us, without facts. Indonesians are people who like to be praised by other states or like to praise themselves.

How can we consider ourselves as a new emerging power in the world if we still face problems of difficult access to education and health services, unemployment, poverty, corruption, bribery, an unfair legal system, etc?

Cablaka
Banyumas, Central Java

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