Campaign's excess

On May 5, when United Development Party (PPP) campaigning was held in Bogor, PPP youths were seem doing many things which no law-abiding and God-fearing Moslem youth should do. In the Bubulak area, they struck cars with sticks, causing damage. The car of a Japanese acquaintance of mine was hit several times. Needless to say, the man and his driver were terrified. So were a great many other Bogor residents.

On May 6, things became worse. In their eagerness to campaign, Golkar supporters held a procession all over the city. Those in the vanguard, riding on motorbikes, savagely struck public vehicles which didn't move aside fast enough.

What kind of "tools" did these youths use to "persuade" their fellow citizens to give them the right of way? Flagpoles, sticks, fists and raucous shouts.

In the afternoon of May 6, there were huge traffic jams all over the city -- Bogor's police and the military units were seemingly powerless to curb the actions of those youths in yellow, who freely violated traffic rules; they demanded people's property, they were brutally arrogant, and they showed no respect whatsoever towards the feelings of their fellow citizens ... whose votes they actually expect.

In view of this situation, we can't help but remember old adages and proverbs, such as the young cock cackles as the old cock crows and birds of a feather flock together.

We would do well to remember another time-honored proverb: Those who sow the wind will reap the whirlwind.

TAMI KOESTOMO

Bogor, West Java