Peace on earth?<\/p>\n
Given the deplorable violence that marked last year's
\nChristmas celebrations in Jakarta and elsewhere in this country,
\nthe assurance given by Jakarta's military commander, Maj. Gen.
\nBibit Waluyo, on Thursday that he would give all the assistance
\nnecessary to the Jakarta metropolitan police in maintaining order
\nand security during this year's celebrations is welcome news
\nindeed.<\/p>\n
Of no less importance, though, is the second point Gen. Bibit
\nWaluyo brought up in his statement. That is, that community
\nparticipation is essential to ensure that peace and order are
\nmaintained.<\/p>\n
To everyone's relief, the Lebaran celebrations earlier this
\nweek proceeded in a peaceful and orderly manner. Not a single
\nincident worth mentioning occurred from the day people started
\ncrowding the city's bus and railroad stations to obtain tickets
\nfor their mudik journey home, up to the big day when the devout
\nflocked to mosques and squares to attend the Idul Fitri prayer
\nservices early in the morning.<\/p>\n
No doubt, that atmosphere of order and accord was due to the
\nsecurity officers' alertness toward anything that might upset the
\npeace. But one must not belittle the role the public played or
\ncan play in maintaining the public order. Fortunately, peace and
\norder was duly maintained during Idul Fitri. One shudders at the
\nthought of Jakarta, the Indonesian capital city and the political
\nbarometer of this country, falling victim to the kind of violence
\nthat has already torn several once-peaceful communities across
\nthis archipelago apart.<\/p>\n
That is also the reason why Gen. Bibit Waluyo, in his
\nstatement, made a special call on Jakarta's citizenry to assist
\nthe security officers in keeping the Indonesian capital safe and
\nsecure during the upcoming Christmas and New Year celebrations.
\n\"The Jakarta military command will do all it can to back up the
\nsecurity officers in the field,\" he assured Jakartans. \"But most
\nimportant of all is that a feeling of mutual appreciation and
\nmutual respect exists among Indonesians. Otherwise, no number of
\npolice or military personnel will be of any help, because the
\nproblem (of violence) is within each one of us.\"<\/p>\n
Jakartans, and perhaps Indonesians anywhere for that matter,
\ntend to pay little attention to words of wisdom uttered by the
\nmilitary. Just this once, however, Jakartans would be well
\nadvised to heed the counsel of their military commander, because
\nviolence only breeds misery, and not only for the victims, but
\nfor everyone in the affected community.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/peace-on-earth-1447899208",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}