Why TNI/POLRI only?

Why TNI/POLRI only?

From Rakyat Merdeka

I am a retired member of the Indonesian Military (TNI). I dedicated my life to the struggle for independence against the Dutch and Japanese. I am now greatly concerned that TNI and the National Police (POLRI) are objects of vilification.

It is pathetic to see people taking pride in disparaging TNI and National Police. At the time of the struggle for independence these people were not even born. Most of them knew about Indonesia when the hamburger and other foodstuff were imported from the country which has become their source of pride and the basis for their thinking.

Seeing TNI and the National Police as killers is a one-sided way of thinking. They have forgotten that members of TNI and the police who were slaughtered and skinned by rebels and separatists were numerous. Some have become invalids for life, living in poverty and deprivation. Why do those people not call the rebels, separatists and the persons who want to establish a state within the state, killers, slaughterers and human rights violators?

Australia, which is said to be a champion of democracy and basic human rights, treats the aborigines -- the people most entitled to Australia -- as slaves who live at the mercy of Westerners who were convicts in Great Britain. The same applies to the treatment of blacks in the U.S.A. There is still strong discrimination against skin color.

These people should not only be adept in talking and shouting or casting insults without daring to say that the separatists are the slaves of the Westerners who want to see the unitary state of the Republic of Indonesia destroyed.

It is really saddening that a student threatens the President and the Vice President to resign immediately if they cannot settle the Aceh problem in a short time. Apparently this student has the knack to solve all problems. TNI and the National Police, who have shared with the unitary state of the Republic of Indonesia the joys and sorrows of the country in upholding and defending the cohesion and unity of the nation, will certainly not relish this country if it is torn by people who wish to become heroes of democracy, heroes of human rights and heroes of reform, to attain their personal ambition (as agents of other countries).

ZAINAL SOEPOMO

Jakarta