A word of warning<\/p>\n
Student demonstrations on campuses have caught the public's
\nattention both domestically and abroad.<\/p>\n
Many people in the country sympathize with students' feelings
\ntoward the high cost of living as, after all, most of us are in
\nthe same boat.<\/p>\n
While admiring the young generation's ability to voice their
\nideals, there is also a concern that they may take their protests
\nto the street.<\/p>\n
Although students consider themselves cultivated, there
\nremains concern that they may be influenced by others and the
\nrallies may turn to chaos.<\/p>\n
The following is a true story which I recently heard from a
\nfriend who was caught in the midst of a riot, which happened some
\nyears ago.<\/p>\n
The riot occurred three months after this friend first came to
\nwork in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
It was very unfortunate that on that particular night she had
\ndinner at the Hilton Hotel. When she came out in her car from the
\nhotel, the traffic on the road leading to Jl. Jendral Sudirman
\nwas immobilized by a huge crowd streaming out from a Senayan
\nconcert.<\/p>\n
On the spur of the moment, a young person climbed on top of a
\ncar and started to jump from one car to another. The drivers'
\ntimidity and connivance encouraged the crowd to join in the fun
\nand soon uncontrollable damage was wreaked on the cars.<\/p>\n
In short, the crowd completely destroyed my friend's car. Her
\nhusband, who was hit when rocks came flying through the smashed
\nwindows, ended up with a broken rib and head injuries.<\/p>\n
They made a difficult decision to abandon the car and flee the
\nscene on foot.<\/p>\n
My friend's husband wiped his own blood all over her face
\nbefore stepping out of the car, and this might have been the
\nfactor that saved them from being harmed further.<\/p>\n
Once they were in the open, hundreds of hands were on them and
\nall their possessions were taken. My friend, trembling and
\nhelplessly surrounded by the mob, protected her head with both
\narms and was waiting for the verdict from a bunch of strangers.
\nIn the end, they were let go after one of the mob took pity and
\nasked the others to spare them.<\/p>\n
When they finally reached the nearest hospital, the emergency
\nroom was full of people with similar experiences and injuries.
\nThe doctor was too busy to even wait for the anesthetic to take
\neffect before he started stitching up the wounds.<\/p>\n
Riots are not news to many Indonesians these days. But its
\nvictims often feel indignant not only over the financial loss but
\nalso the unjust humiliation, not to mention those who pay with
\ntheir lives.<\/p>\n
One victim of a shop rampage recalled that when he watched
\ndecades of hard work and devotion turned to ashes by merciless
\nraiders his despondence, over the satanic nature of human beings,
\nwas beyond repair.<\/p>\n
If students bring their protests to the street, they must
\nprepare themselves for the worst scenario that may happen.
\nOutside influences, whether voluntarily, incited by others or
\norganized by a third party, may join and attack members of the
\npublic and damage private property for their own purposes.<\/p>\n
If this happens, the students will be blamed for the action
\nand lose the respect and support of a sympathetic public.<\/p>\n
CHEN HSUEH CHUANG<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/a-word-of-warning-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }