Offensive banner gets students' goat

BEKASI (JP): Eight local high school drop-outs decided to terminate an eight-day course they were taking when they arrived to find an offensive banner hanging at their course site in Garut, West Java.

Speaking to reporters here yesterday, one of the students' mothers, Mrs. Sri, 38, said the "Welcome, Ex-Prisoners" banner could saddle the eight teenagers with an unfair reputation and even damage their future opportunities.

Sri said that the eight boys from Bekasi, whose identities are still unknown, were invited by a local Social Department Agency official to take various vocational courses to later help them earn extra money.

"Before the teenagers left their hometown, the officer promised the parents that each graduate would be provided with a pair of goats and Rp 18,000 ($8.23) cash upon completion," Sri said.

When they arrived at the site, however, the teenagers were taken back by the abusive banner and still have received no proper answer from officers at the site about the meaning of the banner.

At last, they sent letters to their parents about the banner, who immediately rushed to the site. It is not clear how the parents got enough money to cover the transportation costs between Bekasi and Garut.

The parents then asked the boys to stop after the fourth day of the course and, according to Sri, the students now plan to sue the Bekasi Social Department Office if it refuses to clear their names.

Bekasi mayor Kailani AR said yesterday that the case would be solved quickly.

"It's a mistake with my personnel," the mayor admitted.

There has been no confirmation about the names and ages of the students nor details about the course in Garut, West Java.

An officer from the West Java provincial Social Department office further said that the eight students would not be able to have the goats due to a shortage of funds. (12/bsr)