That members of the FPI attacked activists of the National Alliance for Religious Freedom at the National Monument on Sunday injuring 34 is alarming and disturbing news.
These hard-liners not only tarnish Indonesia's image abroad but are also causing destabilization by violating Pancasila, which is a crime against the nation.
Authorities should take immediate action, they should have done this a long time ago. Pluralism in this country is a fact and cannot be eradicated. We do hope that Jakarta Police chief Sr. Commander Budi Winarko keeps his promise by arresting those responsible.
These hard-liners are a bunch of criminals and should be treated as such. The police should also arrest those who are the brains behind these attacks. Upholding national stability is the job of the police force, after all.
LYNNA VAN DER ZEE-OEHMKE
Bogor, West Java
We have seen the brutality shown by the group calling themselves the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) upon the National Alliance for Freedom of Faith and Religion (AKKBP) on Sunday afternoon. Such actions seem to always happen, carried out by the gang of hoodlums bearing the symbol of Islam.
Their action is intolerable, and of course, badly tarnishes the image of Islam overall.
The government is supposed to disband this group since for a long time their actions have not reflected the teachings of Islam, yet the authorities seem to be reluctant in handling this case.
We don't know what made the authorities become so toothless, as we can see the police just deal with minor case and merely against group members in the field instead their leaders, who remain untouchable.
So where do this country go, where democracy seems to hardly flourish?
ICAL
Tangerang, Banten
Fatalities on the road -- May 31, p. 7
I can't help but agree with this. Having lived in Bali for quite some years now, I'm still not able to deal with the driving skills, or lack thereof on display.
The roads are still mayhem, the drivers have few survival skills and the police seem totally oblivious or disinterested in road safety.
Many on the roads simply have no idea how to correctly drive a vehicle and it's little wonder so many needlessly die every week. This is coupled with the poor maintenance of both the roads and the traffic signals (which are largely ignored by the driving public and not enforced by the police).
It would be so easy to improve this but there seems to be little desire to on the part of the authorities.
SIMON GRIGG
Sanur, Bali
| 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|