Mob politics

Demonstrations and the mobilization of crowds are being misused in our country as a means of terror. Any individual or group of individuals bearing a grudge or out for gain can easily mass crowds of people for the purpose of exerting pressure. This kind of crowd politics reflects the character of an unhealthy society.

Since we agreed to set up a legislature, we should leave the resolution of (political) problems to the legislature and not force it to take a decision to satisfy the demands of the crowd.

Using this kind of crowd politics too frequently brings disrepute to our culture of democracy, and people who are proud to be used as political bargaining chips deserve to be pitied.

-- Media Indonesia, Jakarta