Flag burning insults people

My heart ached profoundly when I watched, on TV, the Red-and- White flag burning incident in Australia, the scribbling in the Philippines, and when I learned of a similar incident in New Zealand. I felt like I had been struck dumb, not even being able to murmur a few syllables. Don't they know how Indonesians feel about their flag?

I recall the times when I was still in Elementary, Junior and Senior High Schools. As a member of the flag hoisting team, I will never forget one thing: Never let the Red-and-White touch the ground, right from attaching it to the rope, unfurling it, and hoisting it to the top of the pole. To intentionally or even inadvertently let it touch the ground will only disgrace what we are supposed to hold in high respect.

This is why the above mentioned incidents have deeply insulted me.

Why are they so ignorant of the meaning of the Red-and-White? To us Indonesians, the Red-and-White is not only a reminder of our patriots, who fell headfirst when shot while holding sharp- pointed bamboos with the much-loved Red-and-White fixed to them. It is not only a recollection of our courageous freedom fighters, who died with their hands still holding the red-and-white stripes so tightly. Neither is it just an image for the red color of the blood and the white of the brains of our patriotic youths, who died in the quest for freedom from the yoke of colonialism.

The Red-and-White is a loved reality, it is loved now and for ever, as long as this nation is a child of planet Earth.

The Red-and-White is so significant, proudly fixed to bikes, pedi-cabs, carts, and cars on special occasions. We also proudly hoist it in front of our homes and offices on particularly sanctified occasions. Let every soul know that we do this with heartfelt sincerity. There is nothing for you to doubt this fact.

Perhaps the foreign nationals are not aware of the fact that Indonesian athletes cry out of joy and pride when their national flag is hoisted after they gain the gold medal in a certain sports event, such as the SEA Games, Asian Games or Olympic Games. Foreign athletes may yell joyful shouts on similar occasions but our athletes, in the first instance, are overwhelmed with emotion and it is only later they may shout in a joyful manner. It is an expression of deep love for their nation, that is represented by the Red-and-White flag.

Other countries may have different ways of treating their national flags, by making trousers or shirts from them, or use them as decorations for T-shirts or cassette covers, or even make them a laughing stock. But that is not the case with Indonesians. We not only hold our flag in the highest respect, but we also have a high respect for other nations' flags. This is evident because there is a law which penalizes activities causing harm to other countries' flags. I strongly oppose burning the flag of a foreign country here. Please, take a note of this!

Shouting slanderous words against Indonesia may not be too insulting. But insulting the Red-and-White is an unforgivable misdeed, and it would not fail to make Indonesians agitated and cause deep anger. By Indonesians I mean the whole population, from Aceh to Irian Jaya, from kindergarten children to veterans walking with the support of a walking stick.

Let the honorable gentlemen in the Australian, Philippine and any other countries' embassies in Jakarta be convincingly aware of this sentiment of ours. An insult towards our national flag will remain imprinted in our minds for a long time, it will leave an imprint in the hearts of the people.

Friendly countries should always make every effort to maintain good relations, by trying to annihilate problems that can upset the good relations with their neighbors. Even more so, when it concerns sensitive matters which not only upset the government but may also insult the people even more.

HENDRY CH. BANGUN

Ciputat, West Java