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