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