Wisdom for police

Wisdom for police

Have our police officers ever heard of the word bijak
(wisdom)? You wouldn't think so from the way they mishandled the
unrest in the hill town of Wamena in Irian Jaya. While we have
yet to hear the full story of how the latest outbreak of violence
in Wamena began, the scant details give an all too familiar
picture of another poorly executed job by our security apparatus.

The weekend unrest in Wamena started on Friday when police
began to forcefully remove Bintang Kejora (Morning Star) flags of
the separatist Irian Jaya movement from the streets and buildings
in the town. This action offended many local people who then
resisted the police's actions. Clashes were inevitable as were
casualties, and two civilians were killed. Outraged by the
incident, the Wamena people went on a rampage on Saturday,
venting their anger at non-Papuan migrants. In all, at least 30
people were reported dead by Saturday.

The police in their defense could give all the excuses they
could find in their textbook, but surely the incident would have
been avoided if they had exercised greater wisdom -- a word which
seems to be missing from the police vocabulary -- in handling the
case.

Sure the police were just doing their job and sure the
officers were only enforcing the law which forbids the hoisting
of flags on Indonesian soil other than the national red-and-white
flag. But did they really have to use force?

Haven't the government, the military and the police done
enough damage in Irian Jaya -- or West Papua as the locals call
their homeland -- these last 30 years with the excessive use of
force? Have we not learned anything from our past mistakes and
that violence begets even more violence.

This kind of behavior sowed the hatred among many Papuans
against the rulers in Jakarta. This kind of behavior by the
military in the past has driven more and more people into the
fold of the separatist movement. Can we blame Papuans now if they
are endorsing the idea of an independent state, as strongly
reflected by the Papuan Congress in Jayapura in June?

The police, who have taken over the job of keeping security
from the Army, have failed miserably. They have let the nation
down. Instead of looking for poor excuses for a botched job, it
would be wiser if the police leadership in Jakarta removed the
chiefs most responsible for the operation and punish them
accordingly. This would go a long way in containing the anger of
the people in Wamena and the rest of Irian Jaya who are already
deeply suspicious of Jakarta's intentions.

The Bintang Kejora flag has been flying across most towns in
Irian Jaya, not just in Wamena, these past few months. It was
President Abdurrahman Wahid who gave his personal approval to
supporters of the separatist movement to raise the flag on
certain conditions, including that it must be hoisted side by
side with the Indonesian national flag, and that its size must
not be bigger than the national flag.

One may accuse the President of showing too much tolerance to
the separatist supporters, but he has exercised wisdom, knowing
full well that outlawing the flag would have incited more
rebellious activities and unnecessary casualties.

Many Papuans in the past have died unnecessarily or have been
sent to jail for raising the separatist flag. Given the
prevailing psyche in Irian Jaya in May-June around the time of
the Papuan Congress, the President was wise to allow the Papuans
to raise their flag, even if it was against the law. In any case,
the law should be repealed because no person should go to jail or
even die simply for expressing their sentiments in a democracy.

One would only wish that our law enforcement agents emulate
the President and exercise greater wisdom now and then in the
execution of their jobs. This country would probably be a better
place to live for every one in every corner of the archipelago.