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