Wisdom for police<\/p>\n
Have our police officers ever heard of the word bijak
\n(wisdom)? You wouldn't think so from the way they mishandled the
\nunrest in the hill town of Wamena in Irian Jaya. While we have
\nyet to hear the full story of how the latest outbreak of violence
\nin Wamena began, the scant details give an all too familiar
\npicture of another poorly executed job by our security apparatus.<\/p>\n
The weekend unrest in Wamena started on Friday when police
\nbegan to forcefully remove Bintang Kejora (Morning Star) flags of
\nthe separatist Irian Jaya movement from the streets and buildings
\nin the town. This action offended many local people who then
\nresisted the police's actions. Clashes were inevitable as were
\ncasualties, and two civilians were killed. Outraged by the
\nincident, the Wamena people went on a rampage on Saturday,
\nventing their anger at non-Papuan migrants. In all, at least 30
\npeople were reported dead by Saturday.<\/p>\n
The police in their defense could give all the excuses they
\ncould find in their textbook, but surely the incident would have
\nbeen avoided if they had exercised greater wisdom -- a word which
\nseems to be missing from the police vocabulary -- in handling the
\ncase.<\/p>\n
Sure the police were just doing their job and sure the
\nofficers were only enforcing the law which forbids the hoisting
\nof flags on Indonesian soil other than the national red-and-white
\nflag. But did they really have to use force?<\/p>\n
Haven't the government, the military and the police done
\nenough damage in Irian Jaya -- or West Papua as the locals call
\ntheir homeland -- these last 30 years with the excessive use of
\nforce? Have we not learned anything from our past mistakes and
\nthat violence begets even more violence.<\/p>\n
This kind of behavior sowed the hatred among many Papuans
\nagainst the rulers in Jakarta. This kind of behavior by the
\nmilitary in the past has driven more and more people into the
\nfold of the separatist movement. Can we blame Papuans now if they
\nare endorsing the idea of an independent state, as strongly
\nreflected by the Papuan Congress in Jayapura in June?<\/p>\n
The police, who have taken over the job of keeping security
\nfrom the Army, have failed miserably. They have let the nation
\ndown. Instead of looking for poor excuses for a botched job, it
\nwould be wiser if the police leadership in Jakarta removed the
\nchiefs most responsible for the operation and punish them
\naccordingly. This would go a long way in containing the anger of
\nthe people in Wamena and the rest of Irian Jaya who are already
\ndeeply suspicious of Jakarta's intentions.<\/p>\n
The Bintang Kejora flag has been flying across most towns in
\nIrian Jaya, not just in Wamena, these past few months. It was
\nPresident Abdurrahman Wahid who gave his personal approval to
\nsupporters of the separatist movement to raise the flag on
\ncertain conditions, including that it must be hoisted side by
\nside with the Indonesian national flag, and that its size must
\nnot be bigger than the national flag.<\/p>\n
One may accuse the President of showing too much tolerance to
\nthe separatist supporters, but he has exercised wisdom, knowing
\nfull well that outlawing the flag would have incited more
\nrebellious activities and unnecessary casualties.<\/p>\n
Many Papuans in the past have died unnecessarily or have been
\nsent to jail for raising the separatist flag. Given the
\nprevailing psyche in Irian Jaya in May-June around the time of
\nthe Papuan Congress, the President was wise to allow the Papuans
\nto raise their flag, even if it was against the law. In any case,
\nthe law should be repealed because no person should go to jail or
\neven die simply for expressing their sentiments in a democracy.<\/p>\n
One would only wish that our law enforcement agents emulate
\nthe President and exercise greater wisdom now and then in the
\nexecution of their jobs. This country would probably be a better
\nplace to live for every one in every corner of the archipelago.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/wisdom-for-police-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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