Shoot-on-sight order timely

I feel sorry for Gen. Wiranto, our Armed Forces (ABRI) commander. Whatever he does seems to be wrong in the eyes of the public. What has actually gone wrong with this handsome general?

At a time when rioting is spreading to every corner of the country, people are questioning Gen. Wiranto. They are disappointed by ABRI's lack of anticipation of such savage riots. Again, when the crime rate rises to out of control proportions, and Jakarta again becomes a city of robbery, hoodlums and brawls, people start looking for Gen. Wiranto to take his responsibility in maintaining security. It appears that people often lose patience and trust. They get frustrated and become helpless. The security forces are supposed to give security and protection to people. Yet ABRI seems to be blind to everything that happens in the country. Gen. Wiranto claims that provocateurs do exist behind the riots. However, he does not seem to be interested in following up the matter. That makes people apathetic in the end.

When Gen. Wiranto gave the order to shoot on sight, some people responded rather coldly. It seems they would prefer Gen. Wiranto to get the provocateurs once for all instead of ordering the shooting of rioters. They may fear that ABRI will shoot the wrong people, like when students were shot in the Trisakti and Semanggi incidents. Some also argue why on one side we should approve the shooting of looters who probably loot merely to survive the economic crisis, but on the other side we let corrupt officials who stole from the state go unpunished. Some people may think that shooting on sight is against human rights.

Whatever arguments people may have and however sarcastic they may react toward Gen. Wiranto's order, I personally think the order is a positive move. First, because I do not interpret the order literally. I believe that ABRI has its own categories and stages to exercise the order itself. ABRI personnel have to give prior warnings to their targets. Shooting is only under certain circumstances. They are not allowed to shoot wildly. Second, such a firm order is a sign of ABRI's seriousness in fighting crime. The shoot-on-sight order should warn off criminals in the first place.

They will have to think twice before committing a crime, for which they could pay highly. On the other hand, the order, at the same time, gives spirit and courage to the community (members of which are always the victims) to fight against criminals. For now they can be assured that ABRI is on the people's side.

Firm and effective action is a good beginning to restore the country from further anarchy. Whatever reason people may use to justify the act of rioting or committing a crime, they have to realize that harming other people, robbing and looting properties and committing arson, are all improper, immoral and unlawful. To focus on protecting the criminals' rights by neglecting and sacrificing many innocents' rights is very much absurd.

People have been living in constant fear of the brutality of hoodlums. Therefore I would say that this time Gen. Wiranto has taken the right decision to show his seriousness in combating crime and unrest in order to restore peace and order to this country.

JENNY LAURITZ KHOENG

Jakarta