Stop terrorism!
Stop terrorism!
From Suara Karya
After the bomb blast in front of the Philippine ambassador's
residence on Jl.Imam Bonjol, Central Jakarta, early in August, an
even larger bomb was detonated in the Jakarta Stock Exchange
building on Jl. Sudirman, Jakarta, on Sept. 13. This means that
within a space of only two months, two devastating bombs have
rocked Jakarta.
I don't know the purpose of all this, but any form of
violence, let alone the use of high explosive bombs, is a
dastardly deed as it inflicts great damage on a society wishing
to live in peace.
I appeal to the security forces to quickly take whatever
measures are necessary against the perpetrators. Aren't such
bombings brutal acts forbidden by every religion ? Besides being
contrary to conscience and moral dignity, such actions are also
against the Indonesian nation's exalted ethics.
Every day I pass along Jakarta's main streets using public
transport as my office is on Jl. Thamrin, and I'm quite
frightened as such a blast could happen anywhere around me. These
anxieties must also be felt by other people, particularly mothers
and female employees desiring a peaceful and safe existence.
President Abdurrahman Wahid's (or Gus Dur's) instruction to
the police to investigate Tommy Soeharto, the former president's
youngest son, and Habib Ali Baagil on suspicion of their possible
involvement in the bomb blasts, raises a big question mark,
because it seems the President wants to arrest someone at will,
whereas the persons concerned haven't been proven guilty. But it
would seem that such action is expected to be capable of easing
the situation.
Gus Dur seems to be fishing for the perpetrators even though
it is still unclear as to who they are. Even if there already are
indications of the perpetrators' identities, the proof remains
inadequate. Thus far, two theories have been making the rounds in
the community, namely that the crime was either committed by
Soeharto's faithful followers or by other parties attempting to
discredit Soeharto. But it's never clear who the real culprits
are.
Through his instruction to the police Gus Dur wants to deter
further violence. Perhaps this instruction is a clever tactic to
scare other parties wishing to inflame the situation through
violence. At least Gus Dur's statement disseminated by the mass
media has acted as something akin to shock therapy for security-
disturbing criminals and will make them think very carefully
before attempting to perplex the people again.
Y. PRIHANTONO
Bekasi, West Java