Provocateurs repent!
Provocateurs repent!
From Republika
The riot in Ambon has not completely died down. Minor clashes
have continued to break out and could always degenerate into
major clashes unless security personnel and the community remain
alert to prevent the possibility of fresh riots. While the riot
in Ambon is dying down, a large-scale riot has flared up in
Sambas, West Kalimantan. Reportedly, the main cause of the riot
is an interethnic dispute. Now Sambas, famous for its mandarin
oranges, is virtually a dead city.
Obviously we fear that riots like these will spread to other
cities, particularly those where ethnicity and religion are
sensitive matters. Therefore, all citizens of the nation who feel
responsible for national unity must always take precautions to
help prevent fresh riots. In the context of all these riots --
reportedly triggered by provocateurs who wish to see this nation
disintegrate -- allow me to call on the nation to support the
Armed Forces and the government in solving the problems we are
now encountering so we do not fall into a deeper abyss. Allow me,
in particular, to call on provocateurs and rioters to contemplate
the following:
- Are you aware that so many innocent children have lost their
parents? Do you really have the heart to see very young babies
miss the warm embraces of their mothers or children miss the love
of their parents as a result of the riots which have rocked this
country? Do you really have the heart to see thousands of
innocent refugees live in piteous conditions?
- Isn't your heart touched by the sight of emaciated people
lying weakly in beds waiting for someone to lend a helping hand
and buy them medicine because they have lost all their belongings
in the riots? Do you really have the heart to see children run
around at refugee centers and shed tears upon seeing other
children go to school? Has it ever crossed your mind that when
you savor delicious food at home, undernourished people are dying
at refugee centers as a result of what you have done?
It is now the most opportune time for you to repent. God is
forgiving and His forgiveness exceeds our sins. If you realize
your mistakes and repent, this country will return to normal. It
will again be united as the unitary Republic of Indonesia as it
moves toward the general election, considered a feast of
democracy, this coming June.
H. NANA RUKMANA
Tangerang, West Java