Oh, the humanity

Oh, the humanity

From Warta Kota

In its Oct. 5 edition, Warta Kota again reported the death of a resident in Kronjo, Tangerang district, as a result of street justice. This unfortunate resident, who actually was trying to borrow a bicycle pump, was called a thief and then mobbed to death.

Similar tragedies have occurred too many times. A person, who may not be a criminal at all, can too easily be called a thief and then lose his life at the hands of a mob bent on street justice. Quite obviously, there is not a morsel of humanity left in such cases.

Do we really intend to foster a civilization marked by animal ignorance? Didn't this nation, when wresting its independence from its colonial rulers and declaring its independence, place humanity in a respectable position? Isn't togetherness and tolerance the foundation on which our nationhood is established? Didn't we lose too many lives in our struggle for independence?

Allow me now to ask our political elite -- both in the government and in the legislative bodies -- the following question: Are you sufficiently concerned by the prevailing tendencies which has given Jakarta a notorious reputation as a city of savages?

ADITA SULISTIOWATI

Jakarta