Protectors of reform

Protectors of reform

The people have been confused to see the annoyance and
irritation expressed by some members of the community at the
government's policies on various national tragedies that have
claimed thousands of lives, for example, in Ambon, for example.
They see they are the protectors of the reform drive and also a
trigger for the organization of a rally of one million Muslims at
the national monument park in central Jakarta. Obviously this is
not good political education.

One side has said that it was merely a "warning" while the
other considered it an attempt to depose someone from power. One
said the rally took place spontaneously while the other
considered it a planned mobilization. And the people have also
voiced different comments. If the rally was intended only to
"warn" someone, why were millions of Muslims invited to attend?
On the other hand, if someone feels that the rally was an attempt
to him from power, why didn't he ask the other party to sit at
the same table and discuss things amicably? Both sides know each
other well enough, don't they? Why, then, must the "warning" be
put across to millions of Muslims through various print and
electronic media? As such, it will only trigger restlessness
everywhere, won't it? Only God knows the truth, while this world
is only a stage.

Some people are of the opinion that the recent crisis is the
logical consequence of a political "covert union" between two
opposite political aspirations for the sake of transient
pleasure. Sharp differences of opinion have emerged although
these people/parties are in the same boat. So, whether or not the
boat is shaken, the boat is already in an unstable condition.

An obvious example is that the President, in his capacity as
the supreme commander-in-chief of the Military, expressed his
approval of a referendum in Aceh, but the minister of laws and
legislation stated that there would not be any referendum in
Aceh. So, who enjoys the greater power according to
constitutional law in this country? Obviously, the people, as the
protectors of the reform drive, have become all the more
perplexed to witness this kind of political "education".

H. IFRODI SUKANTO

Jakarta