Dismiss civilian forces: Observers
Dismiss civilian forces: Observers
JAKARTA (JP): Political observers supported on Monday Amien
Rais' recent call for the dissolution of militias of supporters
of presidential candidates Megawati Soekarnoputri and B.J.
Habibie.
Nurcholish Madjid, Syamsuddin Haris and Muhammad A.S. Hikam,
all researchers at the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI),
separately told The Jakarta Post that it was the responsibility
of political leaders to restrain their supporters and to take
firm action against dismissing the militias.
"It is imperative that the civilian militias are dissolved,"
Hikam said.
"The existence of militias is illegal... the political
leaders should take firm action and control their militia
supporters," Nurcholis said.
Amien urged on Sunday the dismissal of civilian militias ahead
of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) session to prevent
clashes between supporters of different presidential candidates.
He cited a number of supporter groups, such as Lasykar Tengkorak
(The Skull Legion) and Barisan Mati Megawati (Willing to Die for
Megawati Soldiers) on one side, and Lasykar Jihad (Jihad Legion)
and Pasukan Jihad (Jihad Army), which support Habibie on the
other. Many such groups have threatened to come to Jakarta to
pressure legislators to favor their candidate.
Amien said it was not democratic to use the power of the
masses against other groups. He urged political leaders to
restrain and educate their supporters wisely.
Syamsuddin blamed the political elite who failed to exercise
self-restraint in their comments, which then invited their
supporters to do anything for their leaders.
"The political leaders should disseminate their political
agenda in a peaceful manner and environment," Syamsuddin said.
"If there was no politicization of certain issues, there wouldn't
be any militia supporters."
Syamsuddin also said that if the militias refused to dissolve
and threatened public security, the authorities should then take
over the matter and take proper action against them.
He also urged impartial and fair treatment toward both camps.
Hikam described the national politics as currently being
dominated by proreform forces fighting for their agenda.
Uncertainty becomes the order of the day, and those standing in
the prostatus quo camp would then have to take action to defend
their power.
"There is no need for political violence," Hikam said,
reminding the public in general and urging political supporters
to trust the political system and principles to accommodate their
aspirations.
He also urged leaders to prevent the use of violence by
supporters, and the establishment of other militias for their
interest. (06)