Former activists see sign of disintegration

Former activists see sign of disintegration

JAKARTA (JP): A group of former student activists met with Vice President Try Sutrisno yesterday to express their concern over the growing signs of disintegration in society.

Djusril Djusan, the chairman of the Arief Rahman Hakim Troops, a group of former student activists, said their meeting with the vice-president also examined the country's sensitivity toward problems which could disrupt unity.

He cited as an example the racially-charged rioting and vandalism in Pekalongan, Central Java, late last month, which was triggered by the report of a man of Chinese-descent tearing up a Koran.

Police said the man, who later died in detention of unknown reasons, was mentally ill and that it was unclear why he was in possession of the holy book.

Hundreds of angry Moslems took to the streets, demolishing stores and burning cars belonging to the ethnic Chinese residents. Hundreds of anti-riot police officers were deployed to contain the unrest and a curfew was imposed.

"The incident grew into such a big problem because it concerned SARA," Djusril said, referring to an Indonesian acronym for the potentially sensitive issues of ethnicity, religion and social groupings. "The local public should have exercised some restraint."

Djusril also cited the formation of so many new mass organizations over the past several months as a sign of splintering unity and a legislative body that isn't giving voice to the people's concerns.

"The new organizations may develop into a mere tool for certain groups to further their interests," Djusril was quoted by the Antara news agency as saying.

The Arief Rahman Hakim Troops groups former student activists who were involved in massive street protests against the Old Order administration under the late President Sukarno in the 1960s. The students were considered instrumental in leading the process which eventually toppled the regime.

Arief Rahman Hakim, a University of Indonesia student, was killed during the political upheaval in 1966.

The people establishing the new organizations should learn from history, Djusril said, referring to such new organizations as YKPK, PCPP, New Masyumi, Parkindo and Persatuan Nasional Indonesia (Indonesian National Unity).

"Remember what happened during the Old Order administration," he said. "Numerous organizations emerged, but the activists ultimately sought to further their own interests."

"National unity should be placed above the interests of any individual groupings, and it should not become an empty slogan," Djusril said.

Djusril was accompanied by secretary-general Muchtar Ranawidjaja and deputy secretary-general Murniati Muthalib.

Try Sutrisno told the former activists that everybody should respond to the current developments "wisely". (swe)