'Jargon creates much suspicion'<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A senior legislator criticized the military
\nyesterday for forever blaming an unnamed \"third party\" for every
\ncase of mob religious and sectarian violence.<\/p>\n
Handjojo Putro said the authorities should stop using jargon
\nsuch as \"third party\" and \"mastermind\" to apportion blame for the
\nmass riots.<\/p>\n
\"This type of jargon can create endless suspicion among the
\npeople and this will not help solve any problems,\" said the House
\nof Representatives member from the Indonesian Democratic Party.<\/p>\n
Instead, he told journalists, the authorities should catch and
\nbring to court anyone, without exception, they believe has
\nviolated the law and stirred up public unrest.<\/p>\n
Handjojo was commenting on Armed Forces chief Gen. Feisal
\nTanjung's claim that the authorities had identified and would
\narrest the \"masterminds\" behind recent riots in Situbondo and
\nTasikmalaya.<\/p>\n
Feisal declined to name the suspected culprits because the
\nauthorities had yet to collect more hard evidence in order to
\narrest them. His statement made headlines in local newspapers
\nyesterday.<\/p>\n
Handjojo said not only would pointing the finger at an
\nanonymous third party make people of different groups suspicious
\nof each other but it would also confuse victims of the violence.<\/p>\n
\"What is more important is to find the root cause of the
\nproblem,\" he said, reported Antara.<\/p>\n
Legal action, he argued, would be more laudable than a
\nstatement because the former would show the public the law was
\nduly being upheld.<\/p>\n
Separately, legislator Aisyah Amini from the United
\nDevelopment Party proposed the government take rioters to trial
\nto deter other people from rioting.<\/p>\n
\"Besides, the government should find out why mob violence is
\nhappening with such a high frequency,\" said Aisyah, who chairs
\nHouse Commission I overseeing defense and security affairs.<\/p>\n
She said she believed the mass riots, including the one that
\nrocked the West Kalimantan town of Singkawang on Dec. 29, were
\ninstigated by irresponsible people for some political purpose.<\/p>\n
The evidence, she said, were the leaflets incited people into
\njoining in the destructive action.<\/p>\n
\"Certainly, some people had orchestrated the action,\" said
\nAisyah, also a member of the National Commission on Human Rights.<\/p>\n
Abu Hasan Sazili, a House member representing the ruling
\nGolkar party, urged the authorities to get the masterminds
\nGeneral Feisal has identified and take them to court.<\/p>\n
\"Prompt legal action is needed so that people will stop trying
\nto guess who the puppet masters of the riots are,\" he said. (pan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jargon-creates-much-suspicion-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}