Inaction in East Timor<\/p>\n
Today in East Timor riots and violent acts committed by armed
\nmilitia are simply allowed to take place by the police, who are
\nactually responsible for security in the region. This reminds us
\nof the May 1998 riot, also seemingly allowed to happen. The
\npresence of the militia in East Timor has also reminded us of the
\npresence of armed vigilantes (pam swakarsa in Indonesian), who
\nwere not only not swakarsa (self-initiated), because of their
\nmilitary protection, but also contributed nothing to security
\nmaintenance as they instead gave rise to disorder. Riots and
\nviolence seemingly supported by the suspicious spirit of
\nmilitarism have never been thoroughly settled and the government
\nseems to be completely unwilling to settle this matter.<\/p>\n
Obviously the turmoils occurring in various places in
\nIndonesia, like Aceh, Ambon and East Timor, are the result of the
\nabsence of leadership and the distrust in the leaders in this
\ncountry. It seems that President Habibie and Minister of Defense
\nand Security Gen. Wiranto have not realized that they are
\nresponsible for state security. They should at least feel ashamed
\nthat the country is still rocked by riots and turmoils, a
\ncondition indicating their incapability as leaders.<\/p>\n
Unless they can find a thorough settlement to these problems,
\nthe possibility that they will remain top leaders of this country
\nafter the upcoming General Session of the People's Consultative
\nAssembly will become more remote.<\/p>\n
Hopefully, people's representatives entrusted to elect the
\nnext president will make their choice on the basis of popular
\naspirations shown in the June general election and not on
\npolitical orchestration manipulating religious considerations, or
\neven on bribery.<\/p>\n
AMIR SIDHARTA<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/inaction-in-east-timor-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }