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