12 May 2008

By Rey Saroso

Do you remember what you were doing ten years ago today?

Me, I remember waking up late. I remember lounging around reading comics. I remember turning on the TV just because it’s too quiet in the house. I remember . . . vaguely . . . of hearing the news.

I remember feeling confused. I remember feeling something like anger and I don’t know what else swirling inside me. Mostly, I remember feeling scared. And so they dwell still, those feelings, for days after.

Today, again I turned on the TV. So far, there’s a story about a celebrity couple in some kind of trouble, a famous presenter facing some legal problems, a student protest turned riot in Makassar, and another news about the aforementioned celebrity couple.

I turned the TV off and went back to my work. These deadlines are killing me.

 

 

On May 12th, 1998, four students fell after uniformed men opens fire at a peaceful demonstration protesting the massive price rises of essentials products and fuel. The ensuing chaos leads to a widespread riot in Jakarta. Thousands of buildings, houses and shops were razed and burned. More than 1000 people died.

One Response to “12 May 2008”

  1. rur Says:

    I remember walking home from Kalibata. Literally.
    I remember getting sick from city chaos displayed on TV.
    I remember cursing and wishing those rioters to die from severe car crash or getting burnt.

    Not a good thing to remember.

Leave a Reply