ABRI's challenge

The question of human rights has become a major issue in our society.

Given this reality, consultation and dialogue, rather than force, should be the main mechanism for resolving differences and conflict.

For this reason, the Indonesian Armed Forces (ABRI) is expected to use persuasion rather than repression in dealing with such problems.

Conflict between groups during the past general election campaign period, for example, and also the recent disturbances such as the Ujungpandang incident, was resolved by ABRI in such a persuasive manner.

These cases are proof that this approach not only prevented casualties from occurring, but that splits in our society and in our nation were also averted.

We are grateful that ABRI has been able to resolve these group conflicts happily, but as the President said, there are other problems which we still must heed.

We still do not fully understand the root causes of the conflicts. Therefore, in order to prevent it happening again, and to deal with social unrest at its earliest stage, the entire community's support is needed.

Our community leaders, both formal and informal, are called upon to help correct whatever needs correcting in our society.

In doing this, the unity and cohesion of our nation should be their foremost consideration.

-- Suara Karya, Jakarta