Student blood
Student blood
The death of four students at the hands of unidentified gunmen
during a demonstration at Trisakti University in West Jakarta on
Tuesday is a national tragedy. Those who sprayed bullets on the
mass of innocent and unarmed young people deserve world
condemnation. The authorities should quickly investigate the
incident and bring the guilty parties to justice.
Today, every Indonesian should also ask himself or herself how
such vindictive murders can be committed in a country which
claims it respects human rights.
Every bloody tragedy in our country's past has brought up this
same question, yet history repeats itself in a no less inhuman
way. It would be hard to find an example similar to the Trisakti
tragedy except in countries with governments that do not value
human rights.
At this point, it is difficult to point a finger at any one
group for the shootings. It would be shocking if members of the
Armed Forces (ABRI), which handles student demonstrations, were
found to be at fault because the military has a manual
stipulating that shooting demonstrators is a last resort and, if
found necessary, should be carried out to immobilize rather than
to kill. Another possibility could be that certain individuals
have decided to take advantage of the current struggle for reform
to create instability.
In light of the unclear situation, we welcome the
establishment of an ABRI fact-finding team to uncover the facts
of the tragedy. We sincerely hope the team will work objectively
and transparently -- with a public announcement of the results.
It is only in this way that the authorities can restore a sense
of peace and calm to the hearts and minds of the people.
Yesterday's emotional public reaction over the Trisakti bloodbath
shows that patience has its limits.
On the other hand, a failure of the team to satisfactorily
investigate the incident would put ABRI in a light of public
suspicion. This would, of course, be the last thing anyone would
wish to see because it would create worse tension between those
demonstrating for reform and the military, whose job it is to
keep the protests peaceful.
The authorities should also take into consideration the strong
reaction from the international community against the tragedy.
This reaction may not only be expressed verbally but could also
take the form of financial and economic steps -- a response this
nation could ill afford during this time of economic turmoil.
While we wait for the results of the investigation, ABRI
should also increase discipline in its ranks since it is quite
likely that future demonstrations will only intensify.
Our history has taught us that the fall of martyrs in any
national cause has never deterred activists from continuing their
struggle. Instead, such instances often bolster a cause.
Today's crusade for reform has gained support from people of
all segments of society. There is no previous example in the
country's history showing a fight for a reform enjoying such huge
public backing. Demonstrations for reform have spread to all
major provincial cities throughout the archipelago.
To avoid further tragedy, Indonesians from all walks of life,
even those of privilege or political clout, may have to make a
sacrifice in a show of patriotism to pull our country back on its
economic feet to walk the way to needed reform.