Wed, 16 Aug 2000

Little white lies

JAKARTA (JP): Sometimes not revealing the truth is considered better than the ugly truth.

That was apparently the case when representatives of the Defenders of Islam Front (FPI) failed to meet with Amien Rais on Tuesday.

"Just tell the boys that we have met Pak Amien and submitted our demands to him. It's important to calm them down," FPI executive Achmad Afroji told his colleague over his cell phone.

"You can ask them to leave now and remind them to keep calm and prevent any anarchy," he added.

The FPI launched a large rally in front of the People's Consultative Assembly compound on Tuesday to support the inclusion of Islamic law in the 1945 Constitution.

Due to the tight schedule of Assembly members, Achmad and the other FPI executives could only meet with Assembly deputy speaker Yusuf Amir Faisal of the Crescent Star (PBB) faction instead.

"Sometimes we have to tell white lies to prevent problems," said Achmad in a loud voice overheard by everyone around him. (dja/nvn)