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