Continuing riots alarming

Continuing riots alarming

From Suara Karya

I am in my second year at Cendana Mandau Junior High School in
Duri, Riau. I wonder why the government does not seem to take any
action to stop the riots that have broken out in many parts of
the country, such as Ambon, Aceh, Jakarta and Atambua.

Our country has been hit by one riot after another since
Soeharto was forced to step-down. When Soeharto was still
president, our country enjoyed good security.

Bombs have been used at the Attorney General's Office and the
stock exchange building in Jakarta, a police station in Aceh and
also somewhere in Surabaya. Unfortunately, the police seem to
have a standard reply: "We are looking into this matter." The
point is they cannot come up with any evidence.

It is regrettable to that President Abdurrahman Wahid still
bothers himself with the East Timor question. Hasn't this region
seceded from Indonesia?

The President should give his attention to Aceh, which has
expressed a wish to be independent. Speaking honestly, the Free
Aceh Movement (GAM) is becoming increasingly more sadistic. Many
people, usually police officers on the streets, have been shot
dead or tortured by GAM members.

The President and other state officials must exercise greater
caution and pay more attention to the complaints of the people.

ARIF EKA SYAHPUTRA

Duri, Riau