Former activists see sign of disintegration<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A group of former student activists met with
\nVice President Try Sutrisno yesterday to express their concern
\nover the growing signs of disintegration in society.<\/p>\n
Djusril Djusan, the chairman of the Arief Rahman Hakim Troops,
\na group of former student activists, said their meeting with the
\nvice-president also examined the country's sensitivity toward
\nproblems which could disrupt unity.<\/p>\n
He cited as an example the racially-charged rioting and
\nvandalism in Pekalongan, Central Java, late last month, which was
\ntriggered by the report of a man of Chinese-descent tearing up a
\nKoran.<\/p>\n
Police said the man, who later died in detention of unknown
\nreasons, was mentally ill and that it was unclear why he was in
\npossession of the holy book.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of angry Moslems took to the streets, demolishing
\nstores and burning cars belonging to the ethnic Chinese
\nresidents. Hundreds of anti-riot police officers were deployed to
\ncontain the unrest and a curfew was imposed.<\/p>\n
\"The incident grew into such a big problem because it
\nconcerned SARA,\" Djusril said, referring to an Indonesian acronym
\nfor the potentially sensitive issues of ethnicity, religion and
\nsocial groupings. \"The local public should have exercised some
\nrestraint.\"<\/p>\n
Djusril also cited the formation of so many new mass
\norganizations over the past several months as a sign of
\nsplintering unity and a legislative body that isn't giving voice
\nto the people's concerns.<\/p>\n
\"The new organizations may develop into a mere tool for
\ncertain groups to further their interests,\" Djusril was quoted by
\nthe Antara news agency as saying.<\/p>\n
The Arief Rahman Hakim Troops groups former student activists
\nwho were involved in massive street protests against the Old
\nOrder administration under the late President Sukarno in the
\n1960s. The students were considered instrumental in leading the
\nprocess which eventually toppled the regime.<\/p>\n
Arief Rahman Hakim, a University of Indonesia student, was
\nkilled during the political upheaval in 1966.<\/p>\n
The people establishing the new organizations should learn
\nfrom history, Djusril said, referring to such new organizations
\nas YKPK, PCPP, New Masyumi, Parkindo and Persatuan Nasional
\nIndonesia (Indonesian National Unity).<\/p>\n
\"Remember what happened during the Old Order administration,\"
\nhe said. \"Numerous organizations emerged, but the activists
\nultimately sought to further their own interests.\"<\/p>\n
\"National unity should be placed above the interests of any
\nindividual groupings, and it should not become an empty slogan,\"
\nDjusril said.<\/p>\n
Djusril was accompanied by secretary-general Muchtar
\nRanawidjaja and deputy secretary-general Murniati Muthalib.<\/p>\n
Try Sutrisno told the former activists that everybody should
\nrespond to the current developments \"wisely\". (swe)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/former-activists-see-sign-of-disintegration-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}