Stop the tears in Ambon

Stop the tears in Ambon

From Rakyat Merdeka

In an interview in the morning news on RCTI on Nov. 29, 1999,
head of the information center of the Indonesian Military (TNI)
Maj. Gen. Sudrajat said the government had asked the TNI
headquarters to intensify security measures in handling the riots
in Ambon.

In response, TNI conveyed to the government the proposal of
TNI Commander Adm. Widodo A.S. that security should be handed
over from the regional police chief to the military regional
commander.

I fully agree with this proposal. It seems that the police in
charge of security there have difficulty in taking action and
therefore cannot do much to restore order and security.

Why? The unrest involves ethnic groups and communal groups who
deeply hate each other and in their search for revenge they
threaten the lives of common people in Ambon. The people use
their own weapons for self-defense and are not afraid of the
police, who are armed only with pistols, clubs and tear gas
canisters.

Therefore I welcome the proposal by the regional
administration for intensified security measures and the handing
over of security responsibility from the police to the military.
Of course, the military, despite this mandate, must be careful in
implementing it tasks.

The TNI does not face enemies but its own countrymen. It must
therefore act wisely and carefully to bring an amicable solution
to the disputing parties.

On the other hand, the people must not force TNI soldiers to
use their guns. The people should resist provocation. Peace must
be restored in Ambon and clashes stopped. The land of Ambon must
again give its smile to all, just like in the old days. So, stop
the tears in Ambon. Let's have no more refugees fleeing the area
in great fear.

FAUZI

Bekasi, West Java