Freedom of assembly

Freedom of assembly is under attack in the Your Letters column of The Jakarta Post. One letter on April 9 scoffs at anti-Israeli (and therefore anti-American) demonstrations. According to the writer, people in poor countries should keep quiet about international affairs. He says the demonstrators should forget Palestine and become honest lawyers or policemen.

But hatred of injustice will stand them in good stead as lawyers and policemen. And every democratic government needs public input and support for its foreign policy.

Another letter on April 10 urges the repression of Falungong members. According to this writer it is not the Indonesian people, but rather the Chinese communist government that dictates what issues demonstrators in Indonesia may raise.

While this may be true in fact, it is a situation that the Indonesian people should accept.

These letters come a few days after protesters at the National Commission of Human Rights were attacked by thugs. This attack and the typically equivocal response from the nation's leaders show that the right to free assembly in Indonesia remains under constant threat.

I believe it was Voltaire who said "I disagree with what you say but I will defend to the death your right to say it". In this light, we can admire the passion or courage of those who take to the streets to defend truth, justice and freedom.

JOHN HARGREAVES

Jakarta