Mystery behind the terror

Mystery behind the terror

From Republika

The orderly start of the campaigns refutes the community's
image that campaigning toward the general election is menacing.

However, nothing is perfect. In the beginning of this
democratic life there are small-scale upheavals that should not
develop into big-scale disturbances that could disrupt the
general election. This would bring the nation to destruction.

The damaging of a number of motor vehicles and attributes
belonging to Golkar, apart from triggering unrest, has also
tarnished the objective of the peaceful campaign itself. Whatever
our feelings are toward the party, we should respect their
political rights as we do with reformist and other parties. The
destruction and torching may have been done by reformists who are
fond of riots but may have also been committed by Golkar itself.

Whoever was behind the incident, it is not free from the
objective that can be assessed as follows. First, it is a test
case with a view in creating more unrest for the benefit of a
certain party. Second, it tries to create a dilemma and to corner
security personnel, in this case the Indonesian Military (TNI).
If security personnel take steps, the focus will be on military
violence. The TNI's neutrality will be questioned because it is
considered taking sides with the party that is seen as the
extension of the hands of the status quo. If the TNI does not
take steps, it is considered weak and ineffective to safeguard
the general election. Third, Golkar will accuse the TNI as
reluctant to give protection to the party. This accusation will
lead to innuendoes addressed to the TNI. It will finally give
rise to the opinion in the community that this party is also
reformist because to disparage the TNI is a trend these days.

MANAHAN TOBING

Jakarta