Shoot-on-sight order timely

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