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