Relocating House plenary session?

The front page story of The Jakarta Post of April 18, 2001 titled DPR plenary session could be relocated shocked me. I read it three times to make sure that I had read it right.

According to the news report, the plenary session of the House of Representatives (DPR) scheduled for April 30 could be held outside the capital for security reasons. The idea of moving the plenary session only over security concerns is absurd in my opinion.

Why? We have the police and military to take care of security. The idea of finding another venue for the session can be viewed as an insult to the security forces as their capabilities are being underestimated. Our politicians should fairly study the performance of the police in Aceh who have been putting their lives on the line in doing their duties. The police have more than once declared that they were prepared to ensure the safety of the honorable members of the DPR.

If the legislators have no confidence in the police, why not ask the leaders of the "Defender of Truth" force to stop their unproductive activities and contribute to the democratic process of our nation. The leaders of this force have not instructed their followers to that effect. So a direct order should be issued to stop these activities, disband the force, and forbid them from entering Jakarta.

Democracy does not encourage violence, rather problems are solved through dialogs for the benefit of the people as a whole. Unfortunately the prevailing impression is that the leaders are benefiting from the problems of the nation instead of providing security and peace.

There are moral values to be upheld. One of those moral values is to hold the DPR plenary session in the capital and not run away because of threats, which the security forces can handle.

I hope my opinion would be shared by the honorable members of the DPR.

SOEGIH ARTO

Jakarta