'Beggars not animals but human beings'

Human beings forced to beg on Jakarta's cruel streets are being victimized by Public Order Office personnel during the holy month of Ramadhan. Some beggars talked to The Jakarta Post about their daily hell during what is supposed to be a time of compassion.

Atim, 25, a beggar for five years. Originally from Banten, he now lives with his wife and relatives under a bridge on Jl. Penjernihan, Central Jakarta:

We know that street beggars are considered disturbers of public order. But that's all we can do to survive.

I am a human being like normal people. Personally, I'm ashamed of doing this job. That's why I always wear a cap on my head to cover my eyes and part of my face.

I hate the public order officers who always raid us. Worse still, they do it three times a week during the fasting month, usually in the evenings after 6 p.m.

I think everybody knows the fasting month is deemed to be a holy time for everyone. But, I wonder why they have intensified the raids this month. I believe they have and know religious ideals, but in fact their attitudes seem to be inhuman. If I may say, it's better for them to raid us after Idul Fitri, but not now.

I'm just a beggar who is smelly and looks shabby but all of us here are normal human beings who have hearts. I dare say that our hearts are, in a way, better than many of those driving upmarket cars.

I do plan to quit this profession. My wife and I want to make a better life. I don't want to be a street beggar for the rest of my life. I want to become a street vendor selling soft drinks and cigarettes next year.

Murniyati, 39, a beggar for three years in Pejompongan, Central Jakarta. She lives with her husband and six children in Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta. She comes from Tegal, Central Java:

Honestly, I'm sick of the public order officers. They always raid us. During the fasting month, I have to be more alert since the officers have raided us many times by pretending to be nice to us before arresting us.

Last week an elderly friend was arrested and taken to the social rehabilitation center in Kedoya, West Jakarta. It's all about money then. To get her out, one has to pay around Rp 400,000. Even just to visit her, we have to collect money to buy cigarettes for the officers.

Despite the fact I'm just a beggar, I am a human being. My heart is badly hurt when a passerby treats us like an animal, something like throwing the coins outside the car or handing them over with contempt on their faces.

Anyway, I wonder why in the holy month of Ramadhan like now, it's hard to earn money. Two days ago I only collected Rp 5,000 after a day's work.

Frankly, I don't have any savings for Idul Fitri celebrations. Last year I saved Rp 1 million for the same occasion.

Many rich people have now turned into penny-pinchers for their own preparations in observing Idul Fitri.

Warso, 18, a beggar for five years under the Karet flyover in Central Jakarta. He married last year and lives in a slum near a riverbank:

I don't like the frequent raids by the public order officers. But I don't dare to fight them. Last month my cousin and I escaped the raids by diving into the river. Unfortunately, my cousin could not swim and he lost part of his leg. (The leg was broken, became infected and had to be amputated.)

I used to be a scavenger, but five years ago I started begging on the street. Being a beggar is better than a scavenger as I earn around Rp 30,000 a day. With that amount my wife manages to save around Rp 5,000 to Rp 10,000 a day.

I hope that in a last few days of the fasting month before Idul Fitri we will get an abundance of alms because I plan to return to my hometown in Brebes, Central Java with my wife to celebrate Idul Fitri.

-- Leo Wahyudi S