Security by vigilantes

Security by vigilantes

From Suara Karya

It gave me the shivers when I looked at the television and newspapers showing civilian security guards in the context of the Special Session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).

It reminds me of my childhood between 1945 and 1950 when our youths were trained in marching while holding sharpened bamboo sticks. After adequate training, they were sent to fight against the Dutch, who wanted to return and dominate this free country.

At the time, our armed forces was not as sophisticated as it is now. But in cooperation with the people with sharpened bamboo sticks, the Dutch colonialists were chased out.

After 50 years, the situation in our country has improved, although recently it has been hit by an economic crisis. But conditions are not as bad as some people think.

To safeguard the Special Session there is no need for the help of vigilantes with their sharpened bamboo sticks. Our Armed Forces is very strong and modern. It is capable of confronting any country that wants to attack us. Only to keep order around the session and to handle demonstrators of our own people, the Armed Forces should act in a wise and professional way.

The presence of other forces outside the Armed Forces to safeguard the national agenda is grossly exaggerated. If a threat comes from outside, only then does our whole nation get ready to fight.

Matters of security should be entrusted to the Armed Forces, which consists of fellow citizens, too.

NURHAYATI B.

Jakarta