Shun Indulging In Show of Force to Settle Issues: VP Kalla

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - Vice President M. Jusuf Kalla (JK) has asked all parties to shun the approach of putting up a show of force to settle problems as results in a loss of time, inflicts cost and leads to mutual suspicion.

"Let us avoid a show of force to settle any problem because if such an approach were to become a routine activity, then a lot of time will be lost and much money will be spent. Besides, it will only lead to a lot of mutual suspicion. All this will burden the entire Indonesian nation," he said here on Saturday (Dec. 3).

The vice president made the remarks while attending the inauguration of the national executive board of the Indonesian Student Regiment Alumni Association (IARMI) at the Nusantara Building IV in the Parliamentary Building compound here.

The Indonesian nation needs to strengthen unity, he noted, adding that as the worlds fourth most populous nation, Indonesia does not want to return to the era of the 1960s when the nation often saw masses being mobilized to prove who was greater.

After all, the government does not ban any citizen from expressing aspirations including by staging a demonstration as this is the right of every citizen in a democratic country, he reminded.

If need be, a show of force with different themes is even important to express aspirations, he conceded.

"However, we want to avoid a show of force as it may create new national problems. Thats why we must settle the problems properly," he advised.

The most important thing is to keep this nation intact, although each citizen has the right to express his or her aspirations. (WDY)