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