Please, Gus Dur be rational

Please, Gus Dur be rational

From Suara Karya

As common people, we are bewildered upon hearing your statement urging demonstrators to attack Soeharto's house at Cendana. Don't you realize the consequences of your statement? Not only did Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X protest against your statement, but even worse is that the demonstrators have become more courageous as they have been given an endorsement by the President.

A president's statements differ from those of a becak (pedicab) driver, in that the former are as hazardous as fire. Don't you have any mercy for the security forces or the police who have to strive to uphold the capital's security by, among other things, overcoming demonstrations? Don't you realize that if military cars are continually set on fire, the military will run amok? The military and the police will get angry and can act beyond what you think if the situation remains unchanged.

They certainly don't want to continually be the victims in Aceh, Maluku, Poso and now in Jakarta. What about your rationality if you side with the hoodlums and sacrifice your own security apparatus? To seek the world's sympathy is necessary, but should you sacrifice your own security forces? I am sure even the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) and the NU's youth organization (Banser) won't support you and this line of thinking.

ARI WIBOWO

Jakarta