Deceived

Deceived

From Media Indonesia

On Thursday, Sept. 29, 1995, four young men of Indian descent
visited my house hawking framed calligraphic designs for Rp
25,000 each. They greeted me in the Islamic tradition. Speaking
fluent English, they told me that they came from India. They also
said that they could not speak Indonesian. I warned them that
most of the complex residents can hardly speak or understand
English. But they said the price appeared on the item.

My compassion was even greater when they showed me their
identity cards stating that they were from Kashmir. They wanted
to raise funds to help their Kashmiri brothers and sisters who
are still living in poverty, adding that they would stay only for
a few months before they went to other Southeast Asian countries
to sell the same merchandise. I believed all they said and bought
four items. The story did not end here.

About half an hour later I met them again not very far from my
house. They scarcely noticed me. The four young men were heartily
joking in Indonesian.

How come?

I checked the price of the same goods in the Bekasi market.
The item cost only Rp 3,500. Astagfirullah!

SYAHRIL

Bekasi, West Java