Offensive banner gets students' goat

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)