Bakom-PKB concerned over recent tragedies<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Coordinating Body for National Unity (Bakom-
\nPKB) has expressed deep concern over the recent tragedies that
\nhave increased uncertainty and a feeling of peril among minority
\ngroups.<\/p>\n
Bakom-PKB deputy chairwoman Rosita Noor told journalists that
\nthe shootings at Trisakti University and the riots that rocked
\nseveral cities in the country were evidence that society's sense
\nof unity and nationalism were deteriorating.<\/p>\n
\"The Trisakti tragedy, in which four students were killed and
\nmany others seriously injured, proves that the military has yet
\nto respect human rights. While riots where hundreds of people
\ndied in fires shows that those of Chinese descent have been made
\ntargets of looting,\" she said.<\/p>\n
She said that in the riots, certain groups had sowed envy and
\ndiscrimination against the minority Chinese descents whose
\ndepartment stores, shops and houses were looted and burned.<\/p>\n
\"With these incidents and the economic hardship, national
\nunity is now at stake and in the end it could lead to
\ndisintegration,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Rosita called on the people, especially the political elite,
\nto give clear direction in the nation's political life so people
\ncould feel a sense of certainty and safety.<\/p>\n
\"We need a national consensus to seek a credible, widely
\naccepted leader to lead the country, one with a clear political
\ndirection so that we can soon get out of the political and
\neconomic crises,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Bachtiar Ali, a deputy chairman of Bakom-PKB, expressed
\npessimism over the emergence of new political parties, saying
\nthat the nation could regress to the political climate of the
\n1950s.<\/p>\n
During that time, a continuous political struggle transpired
\nas the many parties in existence jostled for political control.<\/p>\n
Bachtiar acknowledged that the existence of just three
\npolitical organizations contesting elections had not been
\nperfect, and many felt that the situation had failed to channel
\npeople's aspirations.<\/p>\n
\"But if we now want to go back to the multiparty system, the
\nnation could be divided,\" he said, with a warning about receding
\ninto innate divisive forces and sectarianism.<\/p>\n
He argued that Indonesia ideally only needed a very limited
\nnumber of political parties, citing practices in Germany which
\nhas only three main political parties and the United States with
\ntwo. (rms)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bakom-pkb-concerned-over-recent-tragedies-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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