Anarchy and vandalism

Anarchy and vandalism

From Suara Karya

As an employee in one of the offices on Jl. Sudirman, Jakarta, I feel concerned over the intensified street rallies by students, either for or against President Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid. My understanding of democracy is that while protesters demanding that the President step down can freely take to the street, those in favor of the President staying in power must also be allowed to do likewise.

Problems will arise if these street rallies degenerate into anarchy and vandalism, such as the destruction of vehicles, goods and buildings belonging to people of an opposite camp, particularly the assault on Atma Jaya University, Jakarta, on March 12 by groups of students on their way to the People's Consultative Assembly/House of Representatives compound after staging a protest in front of Merdeka Palace.

In my opinion, whoever was involved in this assault acted against the antiviolence principle of democracy. Do not simply loudly echo reform and "democracy" but engage in vandalism and violence.

FENNY LISTYARINI

Jakarta