Medan's bomb

Other communities might consider Medan's reaction to the latest bombings. People seem to realize that the church bombings were not motivated by religious conviction, and, therefore, they haven't felt compelled by mistaken religious identity and pride to engage in face-saving revenge. (Instead people suspect the hidden hand of nonsubversive forces behind the bombings, with New Order dictator as the favorite target of speculation).

Governor T. Rizal Nurdin was prepared for crisis, and quickly set into motion a rapid response emergency network that allowed him to reach the right community leaders promptly, and through them to send a unified message to their constituents. That message was, "Don't panic, don't be manipulated by criminals and provoked to reactionary violence which will only hurt your community."

These bomb blasts call less for religious tolerance -- that is of course a given -- than for uncompromising rejection of the tyranny and terror tactics of faceless, nameless cowards. Because of effective promotion by community leaders working visibly united for the common good, in Medan, people seem generally to understand this. Other communities might consider the Medan experience.

DONNA K. WOODWARD

Medan, North Sumatra