By Andi Abdussalam
Jakarta, Aug 28 (ANTARA) - Reports on an incident which involved Indonesian karate referee Donald Pieter Luther Kolopita who was beaten up black and blue by Malaysian plainclothes police last week have sparked strong reactions in Indonesia.
"This is an arrogant act of the Malaysian police against an Indonesian citizen. The government should lodge a strong protest to the Malaysian government," House Speaker Agung Laksono said here on Monday.
In the meantime, Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Adhyaksa Dault sent a letter of protest to the Malaysian government over the incident. "One may not treat even an animal like that," he said.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono also called for punishment of the Indonesian referee attackers.
"The president expressed sadness because the incident happened while there was good cooperation between two countries. He also asked that the case be taken to court and resolved based on the law in force in Malaysia," Adhyaksa Dault said at the presidential office.
Kolopita returned to Indonesia on Monday. "I was helpless as I was hit and kicked in the pit of my stomach, chest and abdomen," Pieters Luther said when he arrived at Soekarno Hatta airport.
He said that the incident began when he returned from attending a technical meeting of the Asian karate referees at Alison Kelana Hotel in the Nilai district, Malaysia, in the wee hours on Friday last week.
Because there was no more taxi, he chose to return to his hotel on foot but on the way about 60 meters from Alison Kelana hotel, he was suddenly attacked by four Malaysian police with plainclothes.
He said he was panicked because he thought he was attacked by robbers so that he returned the kicking. But he was overpowered and when he was almost fell unconscious he was handcuffed and was taken to the car.
On the fate that befell him, House Speaker Agung Laksono said the Malaysian police action insulted the feeling and dignity of the Indonesian people, much more that the victim who was tortured by the four Malaysian police was already old.
"Ironically, Malaysia did not explain the chronology of the incident. This is excessive arrogance," Agung Laksono said.
The Malaysian attitude humiliated the Indonesian citizen as it has also done the same thing towards other Indonesian workers in that country, he said.
"Malaysia has repeatedly insulted and humiliated Indonesia. Unlike Australia which immediately gives a clarification and asks for an apology when it makes a mistake," Agung said.
He said that the House was disappointed by Malaysia which was increasingly belittling Indonesia. "We cannot tolerate the Malaysian attitude," he stressed.
On Indonesian workers in Malaysia, Agung also said that Malaysia had committed a lot of human rights violations. Besides, Malaysia also committed small things that violated Indonesian workers' rights such as holding their passports.
"We have to remind Malaysia of the importance of good relations between the two nations," he said.
Like Agung Laksono, President Yudhoyono also called on Malaysia to punish its police officers who attacked and beat up the Indonesian karate referee. According to Dault, the president also asked Indonesian athletes in Malaysia to refrain from emotional outbursts and remain patient over the incident.
Dault said he had received reports from the chairman of the Indonesian Karate Association (Forki), Luhut Pandjaitan, on the chronology of the incident that befell Kolopita.
He said Kolopita and his colleague Fahri attended a technical meeting on the Asian Karate Championship in Malaysia on Thursday night (Aug. 18). The meeting lasted into the wee hours of Friday. Because there was no taxi, Kolopita chose to return to his hotel on foot.
On the way, four men who thought he was an illegal visitor, approached him. The four men did not produce their IDs and Kolopita as an international referee possessing third- or fourth- level Karate skill resisted the men.
Realizing they were no match for Kolopita with fighting skill, the four men produced their IDs. Seeing that they were policemen, Kolopita stopped resisting but unluckily the police snapped handcuffs on his wrists and they beat him up, the minister said.
Minister Dault said Kolopita had been admitted to a hospital for the pain he suffered from being beaten up black and blue. "One may not treat even an animal like that," the minister said.
According to Luhut, the minister said, the injuries around the referee's eyes were hard to treat and the area around his crotch was swollen.
The minister also supported the step taken by Forki to withdraw directly from the Asian championship in protest against the abuse that had befallen the Indonesian referee.
Dault has sent a letter of strong protest to Malaysian Sports Minister Datok Seri Azalina Othman, calling on the Malaysian sports ministry to exert pressure on Malaysian police to fire the attackers. (A014/A/HNG/B003). (T.A014/A/A014/B003) 28-08-2007 01:02:43
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar