Comments on Belo's explanation

Bishop Belo's explanation regarding his interview with Der Spiegel has led to a variety of comments. The Kompas daily says the government's response to the explanation is correct and wise. We respect the newspaper's response.

There are other comments of the same tenor, but also advising Belo to officially sue the German magazine, which had intentionally distorted the facts. I think this proposal is positive, because it contains a good political education in the sense that everybody must be careful in voicing their opinions, especially ones that have the potential to cause unrest in the community.

If our attitude is too flexible, it may lead others to indulge in verbal jabs without feeling high responsibility for their utterances, thinking that any statement can be corrected with due apologies.

Indeed, a correction is always possible, but the community prefers to read the news rather than its correction. It is clear that the party receiving the invectives has already been greatly disadvantaged.

SUKANTO

Jakarta