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strong>Jan. 13, p. 2

M. Rasyid Amrullah Rajasa, 22, who has been charged for reckless driving in connection with a fatal car crash, left the National Police Hospital in Kramat Jati, East Jakarta, on Friday after doctors said he had recovered from injuries he sustained in the accident.

The police did not detain him, despite facing charges connected to the accident, which resulted in the deaths of two people.

“Investigators felt that Rasyid should be released while he awaits trial as his family has guaranteed that he will not flee,” Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Rikwanto said on Saturday.

Your comments:

A few days ago, a letter titled “Don’t be so quick to judge” by Henry Pribadi contained, among other things, these words: “With all the brouhaha about special treatment of the family, we cannot ignore the fact that the minister and his son are actually taking responsibility.”

In spite of these efforts to defend the actions of Rasyid Rajasa, the son of Coordinating Economic Minister Hatta Rajasa, and his father, all of us now see unmistakable and glaring evidence of the total lack of responsibility of Rasyid Rajasa, his father and all his family members in obeying and abiding by Indonesia’s laws, as well as the complete disregard and even contempt they show for these laws. Rasyid Rajasa was not detained by the police. Any other Indonesian guilty of causing the deaths of two people would have been firmly held in custody.

The fact that Hatta Rajasa and his extensive family — including his brother-in-law, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono — actually condone this very special treatment of Rasyid Rajasa, and neither sharply criticize it, nor order Rasyid to remain under arrest, shows how far removed they have now become from the reality that now faces the Indonesian people, and how totally disinterested in the welfare of the people they actually are. No one from their parties is complaining either. What despicable behavior.

In the coming elections, Yudhoyono’s Democratic Party or Hatta Rajasa’s National Mandate Party (PAN) will not get my vote.

Tami

He should be detained!

There shouldn’t be any special treatment for any of the accused —no exceptions. If the police do not act, people will.

Ujang Loro

Unfortunately, our politicians and those with economic clout have not changed from the times gone by; they behave as if they are over and above the law.

There are ample examples of the powerful and mighty breaking the laws of the land with impunity or getting off the hook with a slap on the wrist.

As to not voting for Yudhoyono’s Democratic Party and Hatta Rajasa’s National Mandate Party (PAN), I do not believe that those at the helm of the other political options will behave any more maturely.

However, we are left with few options to change the political scene and future outlook for our country unless there is a total overhaul of the system to clean the rotten slate and start afresh.

Perhaps this is not a bad idea if our population can wake up from its lethargy and participate in earnest in the political process.

However, as long as money is the determining factor in who gains power, and the Indonesian Military (TNI) is still holding the strings, a la wayang, we have little hope for any change and the game of musical chairs continues.

Henry Manoe