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March 03, 2010
Putri Prameshwari & Ulma Haryanto
Jakarta Protesters: 'It's a Better Lesson Than School'
Fears of tear gas, water cannons and baton-wielding riot police weren't enough to stop determined protesters from drawing attention to their causes, whether small or obscure, before television cameras on Tuesday, even if they had nothing to do with the Bank Century investigation.
Of about 2,000 people who gathered in front of the House of Representatives complex in Senayan, carrying banners, throwing stones at the gate or trying to climb over barbed wire, not all were noisily demanding impeachments, resignations or other kinds of settlement to the Century case. And not all were presumed to be paid to be there.
One banner read "Pay compensation for Lapindo," referring to the mudflow disaster in East Java. A second read "People demand Jamkesmas," referring to the state heath-insurance scheme for the poor. A third said: "Protect workers from work-related accidents."
Other protesters, such as Rosyad, a Mercubuana University student, said he wanted a fundamental change in government policies. "I hate seeing how the government is doing its job," he said, claiming that most of its policies were not pro-people. "I don't really care who our president is, as long as the government pays more attention to the poor."
Along with 10 friends, Rosyad sang and screamed for a better government.
He wasn't alone in making music amid the scrum. About 50 junior and senior high school students from the Islamic Da'wah College also joined the protests. Still in uniform and led by their teachers and principal, they shouted and sang for a better Indonesia.
Irvan, a 10th grade student, said his teachers told him to come. "We are here to demand improvement to this country," he said. Syifa, a teacher at the school, said the protests were the best education for her students.
"Teaching them science and math is not enough. It doesn't make them aware of what is happening in this country."
Of course, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was a direct target for some. Arya, carrying a huge Forum for People's Suffering flag, said he and members of the House must step down.
"Everything in the government is wrong," he said. "We're living in a country where the legislators don't listen to people and the president doesn't care."
Rendi, a member of a group called Youth Forum, said the Bank Century case was only one example of Yudhoyono's failures. He said the government must pay attention to the people above all.
"People have long been fooled," he said. "At this moment, we want to say that we don't want to be fooled again."
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