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