Issues: `Ready for war?'

Tue, 06/16/2009 1:26 PM  |  Reader's Forum

JP/J.Adiguna

Members of the Betawi Brotherhood Forum (FBR) rally Tuesday in front of the Malaysian Embassy in Jakarta to protest Malaysia trespassing the Indonesian border in Ambalat waters. Participants at the rally, which included several Muslim youth groups, said they were ready to wage war against Malaysia over Ambalat.

Your comments:,
What about a cyber war as an appetizer? Bilateral diplomatic talks should be the first, and whoever falters must be judged fairly. I disagree with some bombastic media as well, yet I agree the power of media, including the Internet, does help control the seemingly unlimited authority of the politicians and the government in settling local issues brought into international disputes, like a war!

Haven't we had enough war films to wake us up to the importance of peace? Think about it.

Teguh S.

It seems every generation needs to learn the hard way that war will solve nothing, impoverishes the populations of both countries and always gets out of hand. It has many unintended and unforeseen consequences and serves no one in the end.

It is a fact of life that there are always two sides to a story - it's time to find out more of the other side of this story.

Let some respected international council or body hear the stories of both sides and help resolve this mess. Let's not forget we have the Indonesian presidential election soon and some fire might be started from this.

I am neither Indonesian nor Malaysian, but I have lived in both countries.

In my opinion; Indonesians and Malaysians have more in common than otherwise; both countries have deep-seated and wrong views about the people in the other countries, e.g. all Malaysians are arrogant, which are not true; you are both brothers in Islam and as the ruling elites of both countries are Muslim, they had better remember that.

Also, if war is declared, then lots of Indonesian temporary workers in Malaysia will be sent home; trade and business will be badly affected, causing problems for people in both countries; there will also be other unforeseen consequences that will cause suffering.

Please keep talking and get some outside body to help. Please keep cool heads, especially as we have a global financial crisis - war costs money, in all ways. I would hate to see my two favorite countries at war with each other.

A. Watson

It is true Malaysia has a few more warships and planes than Indonesia. But this military advantage is not the only factor that will ensure your victory in war. If it is, we would have different story-endings with the Vietnam war, Iraq war, or even Indonesian independence war.

Indonesia has more years of war experience compared to these two countries. Real war, real enemies, real happenings - not just military training.

It seems you were also not aware of the fact that some military personnel from these two neighboring countries had their military training in the Indonesian jungles with much heavier military standards of discipline than those known by Western military experts.

If war really breaks out, it will be in Kuala Lumpur, not on Indonesian soil, and Indonesians do not need to rely much on their warships and planes to do that.

Jan De Bont

In my opinion, it is in Malaysia's national interest to have good relations with Indonesia, but it seems Malaysia tends to look down on Indonesia.

We need to remind Malaysia that you are not dealing with a desperate society that needs "a divine intervention" to help theirs, you are dealing with one of the largest nations on Earth with one of the most dynamic societies, which, despite the hardship, crisis and all the bad luck, is still able to reform itself and move toward progress.

Indonesia is not perfect, but surely deserves some respect from Malaysia. Enough said.

Edet

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