Robot demonstrators

Robot demonstrators

From Jurnal Indonesia

Have you ever seen a student demonstration with your own eyes? I am writing to tell you, readers, that in many cases our students act exactly like robots in that they will do things as instructed by their operator(s). Yes, they can be very brutal, wild, and inhumane.

Let's take an example of a recent incident between the police who were safeguarding former president Soeharto's residence at Jl. Cendana and the students grouped under Forkot and Famred and many other names who, probably as instructed by their operators, threw stones and many other things at the police. The police, as instructed, only defended themselves and were not provoked to retaliate. However, if they did retaliate, that was because they had to in order to prevent worse things from happening to them. Thus the students were risking their own lives and at the same time causing danger to other groups of people.

In my opinion, the students' demand that former president Soeharto be tried has been fulfilled. Only the court hasn't been able to physically bring Soeharto before the court. Accordingly, they should be patient rather than insisting that he be tried by the people. Again, as intellectuals, students should not let the law of the jungle reign in this country. They shouldn't listen to those operators who do not have any idealism. (Because if they did have idealism, they would fight for it peacefully, not wildly or violently). Those operators have been telling you, students, lies. Believe me!

E. HARTATI SUGIANTI

Bekasi, West Java