Comments on Belo's explanation

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