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