Treatment of opponents
Treatment of opponents
It is with great interest that I read The Jakarta Post. It is
usually open, makes an independent impression and seems well
documented.
It is of no concern to me how Indonesians treat each other.
However, it is a different story if the country of which I am a
citizen is being subjected to such treatment. Your paper has
clearly depicted how the establishment treats its opponents or
such persons that it believes to be their opponents. With great
surprise, I see that the Netherlands has now administered the
same sort of treatment in the case of the Ecstasy smuggler.
Suggestions are printed (The Jakarta Post, Oct. 9, 1996: "It
was further reported that Mohammed Said might have been a victim
of brutality while being interrogated." Or The Jakarta Post, Oct.
10, 1996: "Said was reportedly abused and denied legal council
during interrogation.") I recognize the above as being the same
pattern that is followed in Indonesia in terms of how the
establishment treats opponents and a typical case of "someone bad
thinking of others as such".
It makes more sense that a senior airline pilot, a man of high
rank and with high responsibilities, acted on someone's orders
(The Jakarta Post, Oct. 3, 1996, quoting Lt. Gen. Dibyo Widodo).
Given the fact that it is the national airline and that
"allusions" have been made connecting the case with the
Indonesian embassy, and especially in light of the reactions in
Indonesia, I would not be surprised if the "establishment" or
someone in the establishment is behind this. The reactions make
this obvious: The man should be tried in Indonesia. All kinds of
lies are produced to support this or to make this happen:
Punishment in the Netherlands would be light (The Jakarta Post,
Oct. 3, 1996, Judge Singgih). However, the man can get 15 years
plus a prison sentence in Indonesia upon his return.
The "abuse" suffered by the Garuda pilot is the most beautiful
allegation. On Oct. 3, the man was "being pushed," which does not
seem strange to me if he resisted arrest. But on Oct. 10, he was
already considered "abused". Did you know that there is a sexual
element in "abuse"? Please do not make things worse than they
are. You cannot deal with this as if a political opponent of the
establishment were involved. The truth should come to light, and
I am sure it will free my country from any accusations that those
who speak for the establishment are now making.
BOUDEWIJN BRANDS
Yogyakarta