Bomb explodes, ABRI gets the blame
Bomb explodes, ABRI gets the blame
From Rakyat Merdeka
With increased political activities now, the people tend to accuse the Armed Forces (ABRI) to be behind each of the series of incidents.
I am reminded of the Javanese saying Gupak pulut ora mangan nangkane, the tenor of which is: "You get the jackfruits' sticky substance, even if you have not eaten the fruit". It means that you may not have participated in a certain action, but you must share the burden of its consequences.
Is this saying applicable to ABRI as charged by NU general chairman Abdurrahman Wahid? He said that the culprit in the bomb explosion of an office in the Istiqlal Mosque on April 19 was "a former ABRI member who is no longer in the structure (Merdeka April 21). As a member of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) I can only hope that the culprit is speedily arrested and that he is not a former ABRI member as charged.
If the accusation is correct I also condemn the action. However, there is one thing that needs our reflection. Is our nation's morals already so low, especially former ABRI members, that they are willing to commit such a condemnable act as exploding a bomb at the Istiqlal?
As a citizen of our beloved republic I would like to invite the people to learn to respect each other, appreciate others' views and not to accuse or blame each other. I trust that all Indonesians hope that soon the situation in the country will be restored and peace will reign in the country that is now in a chaos.
As a TNI member I feel sad hearing Gus Dur's accusation although it still has to be proven. With that statement at least the ABRI has already received the blame, thus discrediting the image of both the TNI and the Police. I pray that all Armed Forces members and former members are not so low as averred by Gus Dur. It must be clearly shown which side is right and which side has made false accusations.
The public needs to know that the skill required to make bombs is not with the TNI only. Many community members are also capable of doing the same.
HARI SUDEWO
Cimanggis, West Java