Spirit of deliberation lost?

Spirit of deliberation lost?

From Rakyat Merdeka

The debate surrounding former president Soeharto has heated up
in the capital, particularly since the South Jakarta District
Court officially dismissed all charges against Soeharto. Clashes
people the former president's supporters and opponents were
unavoidable, claiming some victims.

As a Muslim, I am sad to hear and see groups of demonstrators
using the name of Islam, or claiming to be doing things for and
on behalf of Islam. I am taking this opportunity to warn them
that they are facing university student groups whose members are
mostly Muslim as well. Do they not realize that they could have
been manipulated into facing off against fellow Muslims, thus
dividing them all?

Furthermore, it surprises me that the police seem to regard
the students and those anti-Soeharto groups as their enemies. In
my opinion, the police alone are enough to safeguard Soeharto's
family. No other security personnel, particularly civilians, are
required.

Finally, I would like to appeal to the police and the students
to work together to create a peaceful atmosphere in Jakarta. Or
have you all lost the ability to discuss and deliberate to reach
a consensus?

H. SOEJOEDONO R.

Jakarta