The unforgettable tragedy: The file photo taken on May 13, 1998 shows the-then Jakarta Military Commander Maj. Gen. Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin paying his last respects to one of the four Trisakti Universitys students who had been killed the day before during the shooting at their campus in West Jakarta. JP
Your comments on the appointment of Lt. Gen. Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, who was accused of human rights abuses in the 1998 riots and in East Timor, as defense minister deputy.
Lt. Gen. Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin should do the right and honorable thing and refuse to accept the post of deputy defense minister until he has been totally cleared by an independent court of human rights abuses.
Someone in such a high position (a deputy defense minister, yet!!) should be an example of integrity and honesty, and not lightly skirt issues that involve his very reputation. I deeply regret President Yudhoyono’s appointment of Lt. Gen. Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin.
For if you surround yourself with subordinates who avoid responsibility to God and the people, and who obviously regard accusations of human rights abuses as being of no importance, these subordinates will be the first ones to stick a knife in your back and desert you if things go wrong.
Tami
Bogor, West Java
Did he? What about the Yankees did or are doing in Vietnam, Iraq Afghanistan and Guantanamo? Are they angels or angels of death? Although to err is human and nobody’s perfect, justice has to be above all.
The whole world knows of the double-standard way of thinking of the Yankees.
E. Nurdin
Jakarta
I have lived here over 10 years now and have pretty much given up hope of any meaningful change in Indonesian politics. I think most Indonesian politicians tak tahu malu (know no shame).
PJ
Jakarta
The appointment shows that President Susilo Bambang Yudho-yono is just the long arm of the New Order (Orba) regime.
Monangs
Jakarta
In my opinion, President SBY means to expose Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin to public scrutiny and the higher he climbs the more negative reactions he’ll get. Indonesians have short memories.
They forget unforgivable acts as soon as they have something else to occupy their minds, such as the Bank Century saga.
I’m sure the President knows what he’s doing, he may appear polite and weak, but he was the best military graduate of his time. Who knows if he’s applying Sun Tze’s strategies?
By appointing Sjamsoeddin, SBY could kill two birds with one stone; drawing attention away from Bank Century and, at the same time, letting the public judge the lieutenant general once again.
I’m sure a strong reaction will come from Indonesians as well as abroad. If it’s not possible to bring him to be judged by the international court, then just beat him at his own game.
Sjeline
Jakarta
In a democratic system, freedom of expression is guaranteed. In our country, however, this freedom is often misused to freely make accusations, resulting in criminal defamation cases. In the same way, Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin has been accused of human right violations.
In my view, the appointment of Lt. Gen. Sjafrie, an active soldier in a structural career position as deputy minister, is fully justified.
Soebagjo Soetadji
Jakarta
Please respect personal rights. If you accuse him without any evidence or court verdict, it means you have already abused his personal rights.
Don’t use your power to ruin somebody’s reputation.
Fadjar Setyanto
Jakarta
