Good Samaritan

Good Samaritan

A distressing news report was published in the Sunday edition of a local paper about a 12-year-old pupil, Haryanto, a sixth- grader at Sanding IV public elementary school, Garut, West Java. The boy was so downhearted and consumed by self-pity that he decided to attempt suicide by hanging himself.

The reason for this reckless conduct was reportedly his inability to pay the extracurricular fee of Rp 2,500 for training in the making of birds' nests (Kompas, Aug. 24).

The incident occurred on the morning of Friday, Aug. 22, whereupon Haryanto was taken to the local hospital. He remained unconscious until Saturday, Aug. 23.

Fortunately, after receiving a week of intensive treatment at the intensive care unit at the hospital, Haryanto's life was saved and his recovery was duly reported in Metro TV news.

The climax to the story emerged on the evening of Sunday, Aug. 31, on Kris Biantoro's program, Dansa Yo Dansa (Come on Dance), on TVRI, which features sponsorship by Nyonya Meneer, the well- known brand of an indigenous herbal beverage medication.

During the show it was announced that Nyonya Meneer had generously granted a scholarship to Haryanto for his educational needs, from elementary school, through junior and senior high school, culminating in university.

Such an act of compassion for the poor may be unique in this country, covering three educational levels.

The futility of the suicide attempt seems all the greater when it is realized that the monetary value of the liability, for which Haryanto was prepared to sacrifice his life, was only four U.S. cents.

Perhaps it was this painful awareness of the cruelty and injustice that afflicts the poor that miraculously persuaded the management of Nyonya Meneer to rise like a good Samaritan to help Haryanto in the pursuit of his future education.

S. SUHAEDI Jakarta