'I have a conscience despite my hard life'<\/p>\n
People are bracing themselves for tough times ahead following the
\ngovernment's decision to increase fuel prices and electricity and
\nphone rates. The police predict that the crime rate may rise as
\npeople could be forced to commit crimes in order to survive. The
\nJakarta Post interviewed some people about the issue.<\/p>\n
Dudung, 45, is a scavenger who resides in Tanah Sereal, West
\nJakarta. He is divorced and has been collecting recyclables for
\nmore than four years:<\/p>\n
I don't like the government for increasing all the prices, but
\nthen again, I don't care about the government.<\/p>\n
I'm only concerned about myself because life is so hard that I
\ncan't think about anything else.<\/p>\n
I have to work hard every day to collect a kilogram of plastic
\nwaste, which will give me Rp 7,500. That's what I usually earn in
\none day.<\/p>\n
I just eat once a day if I have enough money to buy a meal.
\nSometimes I go to the Jakarta Police Headquarters to get a
\npackage of rice from a generous policeman who doesn't want to eat
\nhis meal.<\/p>\n
I will never resort to crime no matter how bad the situation
\ngets. It's better for me to beg for something to eat or drink or
\njust not eat anything at all for the whole day.<\/p>\n
I still have a heart despite leading a hard life.<\/p>\n
Boby, 27, has been a parking attendant in Melawai, South
\nJakarta since 1983. He lives in Kota Bambu, West Jakarta with his
\nparents and five siblings:<\/p>\n
This year I will try to be a good person because I have been
\nbad in the past. I have to learn to be patient and not resort to
\nviolence to earn money as I have in the past.<\/p>\n
I know that it is going to be tough for me, particularly
\nduring the economic slump. But I hope I can control myself so I
\ndon't do terrible things, such as stealing or extortion.<\/p>\n
I once thought about becoming a criminal if I couldn't earn
\nmoney in an honest way, and become sort of like Robin Hood, who
\nsteals from the rich, who do not know the misery of the poor.<\/p>\n
Andri, 27, is a street musician working in Tanjung Priok,
\nNorth Jakarta and Central Jakarta. He resides in Mampang, South
\nJakarta with his brother:<\/p>\n
Our government is terrible. The country's leaders are too
\nselfish. As a low income earner in the city, I'm angry with them.<\/p>\n
I agree that we have to be united in annulling the
\ngovernment's decision to increase prices.<\/p>\n
Life is really tough now. Normally, I only earn Rp 20,000
\nafter playing music on buses the whole day. I spend some Rp
\n15,000 to buy food.<\/p>\n
However, I try to keep my heart and mind clear despite
\nenduring the worst conditions of my life. I hope I don't have to
\nresort to crime.<\/p>\n
But I can understand how others turn to crime because they are
\nhungry.<\/p>\n
Wating, 48, is a scavenger who collects recyclables with a
\ncart in Senayan, Central Jakarta. He has a wife and three
\nchildren in Indramayu, West Java:<\/p>\n
I don't have much to say, except that my life seems to be
\ngetting harder and harder with each passing day. I earn about Rp
\n15,000 a day, but I spend about Rp 10,000 of that on buying two
\nmeals for the day. If it's at all possible, I save the rest for
\nmy children.<\/p>\n
Even though this has been the hardest time of my life, I try
\nhard to be honest and to keep away from evil. There have been
\nmany tempting situations in which I could have easily been
\ndishonest, but I didn't dare try. I still keep in mind that my
\nfamily is waiting for me at home.<\/p>\n
I don't want to set a bad example for my children.<\/p>\n
-- Leo Wahyudi S<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/i-have-a-conscience-despite-my-hard-life-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }