Nov. 9, p. 20

On Oct. 29, a friend and I arrived at Terminal 3 of the Soekarno-Hatta airport to board a domestic flight to Bali. After our suitcase had been scanned we were asked to open it by a security guard. Inside the suitcase was a bottle of gin, which had previously been opened at home. It was as safe and secure as the bottle of mouthwash, which we had previously opened and was also packed in our suitcase. We were told we could not take the gin with us because it was prohibited. (By Phillip Turnbull, BSD City, Banten)

Your comments:
It is easy to cry out extortion when travelers continue to provoke the airport officials. Of course it may be a scam at Terminal 3 but a reasonable traveler would just give the damn opened bottle of gin to the officials in question and not pay a bribe at all.

Note down the names of the officials, make an inquiry at the following destination and file a complaint. Simple as that.

This is no win-win situation for either side. On New Year's Eve last year, I had once carried vodka and gin (not opened of course) to Bali in my checked-in luggage and never encountered any problems. How odd? Probably flying a major carrier like Garuda and flying out of Terminal 2E saved me from falling victim to a possible scam.

I wonder if anyone really understands the meaning of the words "third world". Indonesia is a developing country therefore it is no longer a "third world" country by any description. But the issues of corruption, bribe, extortion and the inability to take responsibility may be a way of life for some people in Indonesia because some people don't know any better.

Andrea L.
Pittsburgh, PA

Corruption at the airport could be stopped overnight, it would be easy and quite simple, but nobody has the will to stop it. Simply accept that this is life in Indonesia, they don't see it as dishonest, just people trying to make money, to supplement their low wages, and they are in positions of power to do it.

It happens in third world countries around the planet, Indonesia is no different, and although I hate it as much as the next person, it will not change until the will is there to change it. Once through the airport, you will experience some of the world's best scammers, but also one of the world's most interesting countries and lovely people. So in the end, just take the good with the bad, and the good will outweigh the bad a hundredfold.

Victor
Australia

How can you possibly claim that you wish to eradicate corruption when you chose to be part of it? Unfortunately, it is no surprise to anyone that this happens everywhere in Indonesia, but one can not fight it by choosing to practice it. Anyways, congratulations!

You have just given those officers - as well as their peers - confirmation that they will likely succeed when asking for compensation from others, validating their shameful behavior and ensuring they will continue offering their expeditious services to others. Viva corruption, making our lives easier (at least the case of yours)!

How were they to know what the content of the bottle was, as it was opened? I wouldn't be surprised one bit if authorities anywhere else in the world were to question you as well.

Budi Maulana
Jakarta

I was extorted too. I think it was at Terminal 1 flying from Taipei. I bought my little brother's milk powder in Taiwan since my parents don't trust the Indonesian brands and the imported ones were too expensive.

And I got my Playstation too. So when they checked my luggage, they asked: "Is this Playstation old or new?" (Obviously old). They saw the milk powder too and asked why I had bought this overseas.

After I explained the situation they just asked for money (they didn't even tell me how much and didn't even ask me to go in a room for the transaction), so I gave Rp 20,000 to them because I didn't want to risk not getting the milk for my little brother.

I am going back to Jakarta in less than a month. And I will be bringing my guitar there, and my friends' brand new laptop. Hopefully I won't get extorted.

Jon
Washington

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