Effective action needed to quell unrest: Nasution

JAKARTA (JP): Recent riots in some parts of the country were caused by people's discontent because the government has been unable to heed their aspirations, says senior military figure Gen. (ret) Abdul Haris Nasution.

Speaking yesterday, Nasution said people viewed government agencies and the national and provincial legislatures as mere instruments of big businesses that ignore people's needs entirely.

"It should therefore come as no surprise that the nation had to witness violent unrest in East Timor, security-disturbing movements in Irian Jaya, and others," he said.

"Security-disturbing movement" refers to the military's definition of separatist rebel groups in the provinces of Irian Jaya, Aceh and East Timor, which were inspired by similar movements in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, Nasution said.

He said the violent unrest stemmed from, among other things, social and economic disparity. People felt they were being "marginalized" by the encroaching development, he said.

Nasution believes the key to successfully solving upheavals lies in effective government action that truly serves the people.

Government must not only understand the effects but also seek out the root of violent unrest, he said.

Separately, KH Ilyas Ruchiyat, chairman of the law-making body of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Moslem organization, said in Semarang Friday he felt the riots in the East Java town of Situbondo and in Tasikmalaya, West Java, were the doings of the masses.

However, he said he did not know whether the perpetrators were santri, students of the Islamic boarding schools.

He also said violent unrest stemmed from the people's frustrations because they were unable to enjoy a fair share of the fruits of development, and of an unfair legal system.

The situation is further worsened with people's reduced tolerance toward others and lack of social conscience, a result of jealousy of the display of wealth by the rich and abuse of power of those in authority.

Chairman of Muhammadiyah Moslem organization Amien Rais called for due legal process to be given to the case of the nine police officers allegedly involved in the beatings of the three Moslem teachers which sparked the riot in Tasikmalaya.

He also called on administrators, leaders and students of the Islamic boarding schools pesantren to help prevent further unrest from occurring.

Psychologist Darmanto Jatman called for officials' greater sensitivity toward people's feelings and concerns as a way to prevent uncontrollable upheavals.

"The government must be fair and objective in examining anyone who causes trouble," said Darmanto who is a lecturer at the Semarang-based Diponegoro University. (imn/har/01)