Political Quotes

“I know we all have been saddened in recent days by reports of rioting and violence in Indonesia. Last weekend, the government cracked down on a political opposition group in Jakarta. Supporters of that group took to the street in protest and as a result, several people have been killed and over 200 arrested. The crackdown has reportedly been widened to include other known political activists including Muchtar Pakpahan, the head of the Indonesian Labor Welfare Union. We also read this week that the military commander in Jakarta ordered his troops to "shoot on the spot" any protestors who are seen to be threatening the peace, a particularly disturbing development. I would urge the government in Jakarta to seek to negotiate and to work with the opposition forces in a peaceful manner, rather than calling on the military to quell any protests. This is the same approach I suggest in the report of my visit to Indonesia 2 months ago. The root of the current problems is, I believe, the lack of an open political system in Indonesia.”