Neglecting our children

Neglecting our children

From Kompas

For the past three months I have always passed Bandung Indah Plaza and found four or five children aged between two and four years lying on the roadside, hoping to get some money from anybody taking pity on their condition. Sometimes these kids lie in the rain. Trembling, they shout out loud. Most of the time, they simply sleep on the ground under the scorching sun.

One day I intended to take the smallest of the kids -- about two years old -- as I thought I could raise the child myself. People around this place did not allow me to do so, saying that someone was keeping an eye over them.

It is ironic that this site is close to Bandung Indah Plaza, the youth center, Bank Bali, Gramedia, Holland Bakery, PT Asaba and some government offices. It is strange that the people working at these offices or buildings simply ignore these kids. Perhaps they consider them as just dead animals.

Why haven't local policemen, officials of the local administration or, even, local religious figures, done anything about the kids. This site is also close to the municipality office, the local police station and places of religious worship. We should not show our sympathy to the fate of children abroad unless we can show proper attention to the kids at home.

Who should be held responsible for this piteous condition. Don't we have the law on children's protection? Is it really implemented?

RACHMAN, Bandung