A dangerous sluggishness<\/p>\n
Some of the extremely dangerous problems this nation is
\nfacing really need to be solved immediately. The most dominant
\ncases include the kidnapping of activists, the May riots in which
\nacts of arson, looting and the rape of women and underage girls
\ntook place, and the shooting of four Trisakti students prior to
\npresident Soeharto stepping down.<\/p>\n
Since President B. J. Habibie decided almost two months ago
\nthat these cases warranted investigation, very little light has
\nbeen shed on the mysteries. While a number of police personnel
\nare being tried in a military tribunal for the deaths of the
\nTrisakti students, it seems the public needs to exercise great
\npatience in waiting for answers to the other two tragedies.<\/p>\n
The problems are still cloaked in mystery, although Armed
\nForces (ABRI) Commander Gen. Wiranto disclosed on Monday that
\nthere was some indication that military men were involved in the
\nactivists' disappearances.<\/p>\n
Alas, the statement raises another question: Why is ABRI being
\nsluggish and dragging its feet with the investigation, especially
\nsince foreign news media have named those they believe
\nmasterminded the kidnapping and torture. It's worth noting that
\nABRI has never denied the foreign reports.<\/p>\n
The public certainly has every reason to question ABRI's lack
\nof action because there have been so many cases in which ABRI
\nclosed ranks and protected its own. Many people believe there
\nwere military officers involved in the 1993 violent murder of
\nMarsinah, a labor activist in East Java. This is but just one
\nexample.<\/p>\n
It would not be so alarming if the probe only affected ABRI
\nalone. But the slow investigation has a direct impact not only on
\nthe fate of this nation but also on the outside world's trust in
\nABRI, and more importantly in the government. What is regretful
\nis the bleak picture painted by the clumsiness and lack of
\nability in the investigation.<\/p>\n
As long the cases of kidnapped activists and the mid-May riots
\nremain unsolved, every citizen will continue to live under the
\nthreat of becoming the next victim of armed abductors, arsonists,
\nlooters and bestial rapists. The fear will not only haunt
\nIndonesians of Chinese descent, some of whom left the country
\nafter the riots and have not returned home to resume their
\nbusiness activities even though the nation badly needs them as
\nwell as foreign investors. They are reluctant to return because
\nthey do not believe that our security apparatus is capable of
\nensuring their safety.<\/p>\n
Although Wiranto has repeatedly said this country is a safe
\nhaven for everyone, for many people the May nightmare was too
\nreal and vicious an incident to be erased by a statement. People
\nwill only have peace of mind if those involved in the tragedies
\nare brought to justice.<\/p>\n
As long as the suspects are still at large and free to go on
\nwith their criminal activities it will be very hard to envisage
\nthis country rebuilding its collapsed economy. And billions of
\ndollars from the IMF, the World Bank or friendly governments will
\nnot pull us back from the brink of total bankruptcy as long as
\nthe culprits are around.<\/p>\n
The slowness in the probe will not only lose ABRI the
\npeople's trust, it will also breed a situation in which the
\nnation becomes the helpless casualty.<\/p>\n
ABRI needs to act swiftly because the clock is ticking faster.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/a-dangerous-sluggishness-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }