An East Indonesia state?

An East Indonesia state?

From Media Indonesia

The unitary state of the Republic of Indonesia stretching from
Sabang to Merauke was established with the sacrifice of blood and
the lives of heroes from the whole country, including East
Indonesia.

As the younger generation we must continue the struggle of the
heroes by safeguarding the whole territory of our fatherland.

A just government is one of the absolute conditions in
maintaining the unity of the territory. Therefore, if the
government is unjust, logically a demand for justice must be
submitted to the government.

The demand for establishing an East Indonesia state (by a
certain group in a limited number) is clearly not the right
action. This would be the same as ignoring the struggle of our
heroes, including those form East Indonesia, in the establishment
of the unitary state of the Republic of Indonesia.

I would like to invite all Indonesian people to do without the
notion of ethnicity. Let us be aware that we are all Indonesians.
If the government is unjust let us (from the whole Indonesian
territory) criticize the government peacefully about its
unfairness while we are guided by the national spirit.

Look at them living in Jakarta. Until now Jakarta has never
had an ethnic Betawi as governor. The native Betawi inhabitants
have been pushed to the peripheral areas, but Jakarta has never
demanded independence because that is not what needs to be
claimed.

We are Indonesians with the spirit of reform. What we need to
do is to ward off the influence of certain status quo groups
which try to stir up the spirit of ethnicity and disintegration
in the interest of their political careers.

I support demands made to the government to bring justice to
the whole of Indonesia, including the East Indonesia region.

THURSAN H.

Jakarta