Be civilized

Be civilized

When I read what happened to Bintang's house, I was shocked. How could this have happened?

Indonesians are a civilized, cultured and law abiding people.

It is very much regrettable that there are among us, radical people who forget that they are Indonesians. President Soeharto has already branded them as irrational, mad. And the President warned people not to pay too much attention to those irrational people.

Is Bintang guilty? Officially and legally he is not, because only the court can give that verdict.

Even the police are very cautious about discussing Sri Bintang's status. The police have explained that Sri Bintang was questioned in their effort to gather as much information as possible, and that Sri Bintang has been interrogated as a "witness". So why then this violence against his house and his family. Why do these irresponsible people take the law into their own hands and give a premature verdict?

In the height of fighting communists and communism, I was one day in 1966 called by the President and among others he said to me: "(My name), remember that in most cases the guilty one is the father. Not the mother or the children. So do not make more enemies than necessary."

If later on Sri Bintang is proven guilty, then he is the only one to deal with, and not his wife and/or his children.

I myself do not know much about the demonstration, except what I have read or heard through the newspapers, or on radio and television. What I am trying to stress here is the principles of conduct of a mature and Pancasila oriented nation. If Sri Bintang is proven guilty of tarnishing the dignity of our nation abroad, then I think I will be at the front line to propose a heavy sentence.

So let us keep our heads cool and act maturely. I do not see that Sri Bintang's conduct will prove to be a catastrophe for Indonesia. There are at this moment more important national matters that need our serious attention. So do not let this case get out of proportion.

SOEGIH ARTO

Jakarta