On missing people

On missing people

From Merdeka

Many print media publications have devoted columns to the discussion on cases of missing citizens because they have occurred on occasions linked with special political events and policies not being in tune with the spirit of the constitution. Journalists' reports have been made on the Tanjung Priok incident (1984), the Santa Cruz case (1991), the July 27 riot (1996) and the blood-spilling incident at Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta (1998).

If one reads the history of the world, then one may agree that it is difficult to prove legally that someone has been missing. Stories of missing people were rampant during the dictatorships of Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini and also during the Japanese militarist period. Also, a host of political tragedies have occurred in communist countries. Legal matters related to the protection of human rights are placed in the umpteenth rank of priority.

It means that if there are cases of missing people from events which, despite their nature being constructive, have been labeled by the ruler as a street parliament, unconstitutional practice or instance of practical politics, they cannot be proven in a court of law because under the prevailing governmental system it is difficult to prove that these cases have legally occurred.

During the era of the Japanese militarists, the devil's troops and the satanic commands were household words, but not the "shadow troops". The last-mentioned is the title of a Japanese TV film in which these shadow troops always defended common people. The power of the Japanese elite's system of political monopoly with their single majority was very conducive to allowing the armed forces' abuse of the people.

As a religious nation with a good conscience, we must feel very much ashamed if outside circles, particularly the United States, consider Indonesia and the People's Republic of China, which are quite respectable in Asia, as having ignored human rights.

Although we have forbidden communism in our land for a long time, why do developed countries think that our country tends to imitate the practices/working techniques of a party now banned but previously closely linked with the international communist network? It is regrettable that in terms of the ethics and morality of the world's advanced communities, we insist on remaining on the list of backward countries.

SUNGKOWO SOKAWERA

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