What lies behind mob violence<\/p>\n
By Solita Sarwono<\/p>\n
WASENAAR, The Netherlands (JP): In the late 1960s following
\nthe attempted coup in Indonesia, nobody wanted to be accused of
\nbeing a member of the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI), as such
\nallegations would mean death.<\/p>\n
Thousands of people were condemned to death without being
\ntried; executed by an angry and paranoid public. One could just
\npoint a finger to a person and shout "PKI!", and everyone would
\nimmediately attack and beat that person to death. Many of those
\naccused were innocent. The accusations were often based on hatred
\nand personal vendettas.<\/p>\n
Thirty-five years later the same phenomenon has returned.
\nPublic paranoia and anger has led to mass aggression and
\nviolence. Angry crowds attack, beat and burn people to death.<\/p>\n
The difference lies in the type of accusation: it is no longer
\nshouting of "PKI", but "Copet!" (pickpocket) which triggers this
\nmadness.<\/p>\n
Police reports show that from January to June in Greater
\nJakarta alone there have been about 140 people killed by this
\nmass fury. They were all accused, but not yet proven guilty, of
\npetty thefts, such as stealing two chickens, holding up bus
\npassengers, trying to steal a motorcycle, or even stealing two
\nbags of red chili peppers, a plate and a dish. More victims of
\nvigilantism are feared.<\/p>\n
Unlike riots at demonstrations, this mass violence is very
\ndifficult to control. The police or other security officers have
\nno power to stop it, fearing they might in turn become targets of
\naggression by angry crowds. Bystanders also watch the victims
\nscream, cry for help and die, or simply leave the scene.<\/p>\n
The question which has so often been asked is, has the image
\nof our friendly, soft, polite, civilized and kindhearted people
\nbeen simply a myth, or a cover-up for our underlying beast-like
\nbehavior?<\/p>\n
The mass killings have occurred more often in urban areas. The
\nplayers have been those from among the lower-middle class; many
\nof whom are poor or unemployed. Living in the city, these people
\nare constantly confronted with contrasting wealth and lifestyles.<\/p>\n
Who does not want a happy and comfortable life? Who does not
\nwant to enjoy delicious meals, dress nicely, have a big house and
\nbeautiful car? Parents pray that their children will be blessed
\nwith an easy life, prosperity and good health. So when people do
\nnot get the things they have prayed for or worked for, they get
\nfrustrated.<\/p>\n
The frustration grows as they see themselves being treated
\nunjustly -- by getting laid off during the monetary crisis, for
\nexample, while their bosses, who do nothing more than lobby the
\nauthorities, continue taking the public's money and maintain a
\njet-setting lifestyle. People stealing a bike are arrested and
\nsentenced to jail, while the big corruptors go unpunished and
\ncontinue to live lavishly.<\/p>\n
People also get frustrated when they cannot express their
\nopinions and feelings, and when they are blamed for making a
\nmistake without being given a chance to explain or defend
\nthemselves.<\/p>\n
Civilization, tradition and culture teaches one to control
\none's behavior. Everyone has to learn to behave in a socially
\nacceptable way. In Indonesia, frustration had to be repressed all
\nthis time for the sake of maintaining harmony and peace with
\nothers to keep an image of being "civilized" people.<\/p>\n
As frustration grows within an individual, however, it seeks
\nan outlet or a valve. Frustration can be expressed in different
\nforms, varying from criticism, protest to aggression. The target
\nof frustration is usually a person or object which has weaker
\npower or a lower position than the frustrated person.<\/p>\n
A manager scolds his employee, who will go home and shout at
\nhis wife. The wife will then get angry with the son, who in turn
\nwill kick the maid. The less power and the lower a position a
\nperson has, the more his\/her chance is to be made a victim of
\nthis aggression, which explains the physical abuse often
\nexperienced by domestic workers or servants.<\/p>\n
At the individual level, such aggression may still be bearable
\nand tolerable. But frustration can be shared by many individuals
\nwith common ground, such as a group of unemployed workers.
\nShared frustration, repressed for years, leads to collective
\naggression, including in the form of mass killings.<\/p>\n
Individuals involved in such collective aggression will likely
\nforget about all the rules and codes of good conduct and
\ncivilized behavior. All they have in mind is letting out their
\nlong-repressed frustrations and emotions on the target(s) of
\nanger. When everything has cooled down, they may, or may not
\nregret, their actions. But the damage has been done. The victim
\nis dead.<\/p>\n
Social jealousy, increased poverty and unemployment, repressed
\nfrustration, lack of freedom of speech, as well as a lack of
\njustice and little trust in the law and judiciary, are oft-cited
\nas the underlying causes of aggressive behavior.<\/p>\n
Despite the unequal distribution of wealth and resources, the
\nless privileged have shared a small piece of the cake and enjoyed
\na somewhat better life.<\/p>\n
Now what little comfort there has suddenly been taken away in
\nthe crisis. Many who have lost jobs are forced to sell their
\nproperty, reduce their food intake and other expenses and the
\nmost hard hit are the poor.<\/p>\n
Many have also witnessed and experienced how the judicial
\nsystem has been severely biased by money. People have lost trust
\nin the judiciary and in law enforcement officers.<\/p>\n
Now freedom of speech, reflected in freedom of the press, as
\nseen by the hundreds of new tabloids and newspapers at
\nnewsstands, has led to the exposure of formerly taboo subjects,
\nand has created some confusion.<\/p>\n
This freedom of speech is not supported with a clear
\nexplanation about the methods and channels to use to express
\none's opinion. People want to voice their opinion but they do not
\nknow how or who they need to talk to. How can they know the right
\nway when all their lives they were not allowed to voice
\ncriticism? Report or complain to the police? From experience,
\nthey have learned this does not work.<\/p>\n
So people go parading in the street, joining the many
\ndemonstrations. When they face the authorities who aim to restore
\npublic order, many protesters become angry and violent.<\/p>\n
They fight the authorities or take over places that resemble
\nthe establishment and the rich, such as the legislature
\nbuildings, shopping centers and so forth. And when people are not
\nable to direct their frustrations at authorities, they aim their
\naggression at the weak and poor, and petty criminals.<\/p>\n
Democracy needs order and regulations. Otherwise it will lead
\nto anarchy. Freedom of speech needs to be supported with means
\nand channels, e.g. institutions or non-governmental organizations
\nwhere people can file complaints or discuss matters that they
\nthink disturbs public life. In turn these institutions can
\nforward these complaints to the right persons\/organizations and
\nbring changes according to the wishes of the people.<\/p>\n
The government, if it is serious in bringing about democracy,
\nshould continue to help provide these means to regain trust from
\nthe people and show sincere and serious efforts in upholding the
\nlaw. Otherwise mass violence and anarchy will continue.<\/p>\n
The writer is a psychologist and sociologist residing in the
\nNetherlands.<\/p>",
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