People feel offended

People feel offended

From Bisnis Indonesia

The report that Megawati and Hamzah Haz would like Sutiyoso to
be reelected as the governor of Jakarta for the 2002-2007 term is
really a cause for deep concern.

The President and the Vice President have offended the
Indonesian people, the Jakarta people in particular, especially
if their argument is that Jakarta as the capital city of
Indonesia must have its security guaranteed.

Security, which is essentially the responsibility of every
citizen, is entrusted in the hands of the police and the
military.

Megawati and Hamzah Haz would be violating the principles of
democracy if they make political deals in the interests of their
own groups.

They must bear in mind that the Indonesian society is now
working hard to make this country more democratic so that
everything must be bottom-up, no longer top-down as in the New
Order regime.

If it is true that Megawati and Hamzah Haz have endorsed the
reelection of Sutiyoso, their administration is nothing but the
second volume of the New Order regime.

Let's all voice our criticism of this matter as otherwise our
dream of building a civil society through democracy and upholding
human rights will remain just that -- a dream.

TAUFIK ZAHRONY

Jakarta