ANTARA, 07/02/07 01:18
Recent Ambon incident arouses public sympathy on govt to take
firm action against separatist
By Eliswan Azly
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The recent incident marked with unscheduled performance
of the "Cakalele" dance by a group of irresponsible persons during the
commemoration National Family Day attended by President Yudhoyono on Friday
(June 29) has drawn a single public reaction.
Many circles in the country gave their comments most of which urged the government
under the leadership of President Yudhoyono not to be too lenient in dealing with
separatists regardless of the political tricks they have used to tarnish the image of the
nation.
Not only that, such laxity of security which has caused an unscheduled dance
performance to get a room in the event should be liable to a harsh sanction.
Chairman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) faction in the House
Tjahjo Kumolo which happened to be a strong opposition of the government even saw
the incident as a serious problem, not only a case of carelessness.
Stern action should be immediately taken against the chief of the presidential security
task force, provincial police head and regional military commander overseeing Maluku.
It was understandable if President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono highly resented and
was angry about the Ambon incident which had compromised the position of the head
of state, he opined.
"The incident has shown that security and intelligence officials in Ambon were not
working well enough, and oblivious of possible dangers. It seems the security
agencies did not conduct thorough checks before the show was began," he said.
Sharing the same opinion with Kumolo was Irman Gusman who was also Vice
Chairman of the Regional Representatives Council (DPD), saying that security
agencies were lax in ensuring the security of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono`s
visit in Ambon, Maluku, and that`s why a disturbing incident could happen during the
National Family Day (Harganas) observance in the city.
"It could happen just because of the security agencies` laxity," Irman Gusman said in
his comment on the incident.
He said the DPD deplored the incident during Yudhoyono`s visit to Ambon, and urged
security officials to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident.
"We are going to ask DPD members from Maluku province to pay serious attention to
the case," he said.
The highlight of the National Family Day celebration which was attended by President
Yudhoyono was disrupted by a group of irresponsible persons who performed an
unscheduled "Cakalele" dance.
It was reported from Ambon that the incident happened at 10.30 a.m local time, after
Maluku Governor Karel Albert Ralahalu had delivered a speech at the event at
Merdeka Square.
Still in existence
However, whatever the reason, the incident in Maluku occurring when President Susilo
Bambang Yudhoyono visited Ambon last week showed that a separatist group still
posed a serious threat to the unitary state of Indonesia, some other legislator opined.
Yuddy Chrisnady of the House`s Commission I of Golkar faction, Effendy Choirie of
the National Awakening Party faction and Zulkifli Hassan of the National Mandate
Party faction believed that separatism still existed and posing a threat in this country.
Their action through the unscheduled `cakalele` dance was an indication that
separatist groups especially the RMS (banned South Maluku Republic) had the
courage and did not hesitate to create chaos.
They hoped the incident could used to evaluate the security system and the
intelligence body`s performance.
Acoording to them, the incident should not recur and thus the relevant authorities
must tighten security control in every state activity.
They even questioned why the incident could happen. Thus, the security system for
every state activity had to be evaluated. said.
In the meantime, the Indonesian Young Moslem Intellectuals Association (ICMI muda)
had even urged the government to investigate and take firm action against the
separatists and their supporters.
Igbal Parewangi of the ICMI Muda Presidium after a get-together over the week-end
said that the action of the RMS separatists in front of the head of state constituted a
form of terrorism of ideology and symbol to tarnish the natioal sovereignity.
In the forum, Iqbal hoped the people were not easily provoked by the incident. The
government should be able to take a lesson from the incident which in principle the
apparatuses had to be cautious in taking such policy for other regions in a bid not to
let a gap in development happen in this country.
Sanctions
However, most responsible for the incident caused by negligence of military
personnel, was certainly Military (TNI) Chief Gen Djoko Suyanto.
Djoko said security personnel who failed to live up to their responsiblities and thereby
allowed the unscheduled dance performance to happen at Friday`s National Family
Day commemoration in Ambon would be subjected to certain sanctions.
"The sanctions to commensurate with their level of responsibility will be imposed after
an evaluation of the incident which happened in the presence of President Susilo
Bambang Yudhoyono," Djoko said.
Based on the results of the evaluation, action would be taken, including a decision on
who in the military hierarchy in Ambon deserved disciplinary action, he said noting
that the key military officials in the region were the regional military commander
(Pangdam), the district military commander (Danrem) and sub district military
commander (Dandim).
If necessary, as a measure to enhance seriousness and alterness, those found guilty
of dereliction of duty would be removed from their positions, Djoko said at a press
briefing also attended by National Polise Chief Gen Sutanto.
The severity of the disciplinary measures would depend on the results of the
evaluation which was already underway. The outcome of the evaluation would be
made public next week, he said.
The TNI chief also said he had officially reported the incident to the President and
expressed readiness to accept responsibility.
"In my first report to the President, I stated it was my responsibility and that of the
police as well. In accordance with the authority vested in me, I have to present an
evaluation and indicate what appropriate measures must be taken downward within
the military," he said.
The dancers of the unscheduled performance during the family day celebration turned
out to be sympathizers of the separatist "RMS" (Republic of South Maluku) movement
as they were later found to be carrying RMS flags. They had apparently intended to
conclude their performance with a show of their flags but were stopped and removed
from the scene by security personnel before they could do so.
The President who was startled by the episode promptly asked that the incident be
investigated and that firm action be taken if it proved to have been staged with ulterior
purposes. (*)
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