Stance of some legislators

Stance of some legislators

From Media Indonesia

Some members of the House of People's Representatives from
Aceh, led by Farhan Hamid, have recently rejected martial law in
Aceh. They argued that the House's special committee on Aceh had
recommended dialog not violence.

This reaction is confusing because these people do not react
when the people of Aceh are terrorized, kidnapped or murdered by
the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM). They also say nothing
when GAM continues to take up arms despite negotiating with the
Indonesian government.

Therefore, the stance of Farhan Hamid and his colleagues is
worthy of a question. Do they really represent the people of Aceh
who side with the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia or
do they take sides with the separatists and the terrorists?

This question is quite natural, given that they are members of
the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia, not
the House of GAM. It is strange that these people have never been
critical of GAM. So, they must make clear their stance before
they can come forward with another suggestion, which will only
provide more room for GAM to spread its influence.

Political parties must ensure, therefore, that candidate
members of the House go through tight selection so that all of
them will openly declare their clear stance.

HELMI RENDRA

Jakarta