Support the war -- or else<\/p>\n
Ugly scenes straight out of the days of the New Regime
\ncontinue to confront us. This time, it was Tuesday's attack on
\nthe office of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of
\nViolence (Kontras).<\/p>\n
The incident immediately brought to mind the same way used in
\nthe past to force consent -- violence, conducted shamelessly in
\nbroad daylight, because the perpetrators know they will most
\nlikely walk free.<\/p>\n
In this particular case, the consent sought was evidently that
\nno one should speak up against the war in Aceh, or should do so
\nat the peril of being called a traitor of the \"patriotic\" and
\n\"nationalistic\" cause.<\/p>\n
A group of men in fatigues, claiming to be from the Pemuda
\nPanca Marga, raided and vandalized the office, destroyed
\nequipment and assaulted five staff members, oblivious to the fact
\nthat people have become sick of such shows of force and
\nhoodlumism committed by uniformed men, complete with military-
\nlike berets.<\/p>\n
For Kontras, this was the second attack since last year and
\nthe fifth attack on the office or its personnel since 2000. The
\nreason of the \"visit\" by the youth organization, which was
\nformerly associated with the Golkar party, was because Kontras
\nhas been outspoken regarding the \"integrated operation\" in Aceh.<\/p>\n
As we have seen, there is an abundant source of inspiration
\nfor such attackers in civilian and military authorities, and no
\nless in President Megawati Soekarnoputri herself. An ugly sense
\nof premonition followed her words that pro-democracy people who
\ndid not support the government line regarding Aceh \"should just
\nmove out of the country.\"<\/p>\n
Her words rang just like President George W. Bush's \"either
\nyou're with us or with them\", and of course, contributed to an
\neffect similar to what happened in the United States -- the
\nshoring up of nationalism, no questions asked and isolation of
\nthose who opt for different views, which we later ridiculed as
\nthe war in Iraq progressed.<\/p>\n
Therefore, the President herself and other authorities should
\nbe held responsible for encouraging such violence, particularly
\ngiven the fact that the impact would predictably be worse in this
\nnation where the culture of violence and impunity still prevails.<\/p>\n
No further action will be needed once a new justification for
\nattacking human rights activists appears.<\/p>\n
Kontras and other like-minded organizations stand for human
\nrights, while the attackers and like-minded parties support the
\nunitary state of the Republic of Indonesia at all costs.<\/p>\n
As historians, sociologists and other experts have tirelessly
\nargued, there is much that has been left misunderstood or ignored
\nin the public discourse regarding our past and recent history,
\nincluding Aceh and the decision for a military approach.<\/p>\n
Even without hoodlumism, it is a struggle for many here to
\naccept views other than those they have been taught to believe.<\/p>\n
The decision to go to war has been taken, but allowing violent
\ncampaigns to quash efforts at an enlightened dialog and what the
\ncivilian population could hope to gain -- they only show how the
\nold ways have continued to prevail for the benefit of those in
\npower.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/support-the-war-or-else-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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