Disclaimer: This article is an editorial that highlights the problems in Indonesia today

PIKIRAN RAKYAT - Meutya Hafid, Chairperson of Commission I of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia (DPR), regrets the shooting of a garbage collector by a member of the Indonesian Armed Forces' (TNI) air force in Palu, Central Sulawesi.

She urged the Indonesian Armed Forces to conduct an internal investigation and take decisive action against the shooter. "This incident cannot be tolerated because it has harmed an innocent civilian. The culprit should be punished by law according to the existing mechanism and there should be an evaluation by the Indonesian Armed Forces on this matter," Meutya Hafid said on Wednesday, July 17 2024.

The shooting incident took place on Thursday, July 11 2024, at a military housing complex of the Indonesian Air Force in Jalan Dewi Sartika, South Palu district. A garbage collector named Jenri was shot with an air rifle by Indonesian Air Force personnel when he was caught entering the official housing complex by climbing over the fence.

Fortunately, the garbage collector's life was saved and he received medical treatment in hospital, while the air force personnel responsible for the shooting was arrested.

Although the victim made a mistake by entering an Indonesian Air Force military housing, Meutya said soldiers should be able to take a better approach. "Use a better approach that does not dehumanise a person in such cases. Provide assistance instead of pulling the trigger of a gun. I ask the Indonesian Armed Forces to present a humanistic approach to the public," she said.

Meutya stressed that this was not the first time that a military officer had acted against a civilian. Soldiers were reminded to embrace people and make them feel safe. She later commented on the inauguration of young Indonesian Armed Forces officers with the Indonesian Republic Police on Wednesday, July 16 2024, by President Joko Widodo.

Meutya hoped that these young officers could demonstrate humanity while on duty. “We hope that young military officers can work humanely and set a good example for their troops when they are assigned to lead," Meutya said.***(Politeknik Negeri Bandung/Yeurley Arba Nabila)