Stability a must

Stability a must

Ending the violence in various regions of this country must be
the first priority of the current government of President
Abdurrahman Wahid and Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri. This
is of the utmost importance in order to prevent the unrest from
spreading to even more areas. If this were to happen and other
regions, even Jakarta, were swept up into the violence, the
unrest would be most difficult for the security apparatus and the
government to control.

There is all the more reason for us to be concerned because
the seemingly never-ending cycle of violence could easily lead to
public and political instability. It is this kind of instability
that destroyed Indonesia's credibility in the eyes of the world
in the aftermath of the crisis in 1997.

Stability in every field of life is at present most urgently
needed to restore international confidence in this country.
Stability would effectively entice investors to come back to
Indonesia, which would help this country rebuild its economy.

Once again, therefore, we urge the government to end the
unrest in the regions. Catch and try any provocateurs who are
proved to be operating in the troubled provinces.

-- Bisnis Indonesia, Jakarta