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