A Student Protested Against Government by Burning Himself

Some people consider he was silly. Sondang Hutagalung, 22-year-old student burning himself in front of Merdeka Palace, the workplace of Indonesian President on Wednesday, December 7 2011. Previously, two monks set fire to themselves in Tibet as protest action. People do this action to protest. However the action of Sondang is lamentable because it happened during the era of good condition democracy and openness in Indonesia is in the best peak.

Many of the people who were fought by Sondang not understand his logic. Many said he was silly. He may be struggling, but not by way of hurting himself even to sacrifice his life. Sondang passed away three days after the accident.

Before the police did not find any identity card in Sondang’s body, but after investigating the police knew that Sondang is a student and an activist.

“If it is true that he who was burnt himself is a student of UBK university and an activist, it is clear that his motivation is to fight for public that so far experienced injustice and has not been touched by government’s policy so burn himself is a form of protest in front of the symbol of power (in front of the government Palace), “said Secretary General of one political party Tjahjo Kumolo

According to Kumolo, if the reason was disappointment to his girlfriend, it does not make sense. If disappointed to girlfriend for example, he would burn himself in front of his girlfriend’s house and if not satisfied to his university because of the policy, he would burn himself in front of the college where he studied.

As per Kumolo, the student would only take such action when the condition is desperately frustrating. Especially if the authorities never responded the public aspiration.

According to Sondang’s friends, Sondang was upset over the rottenness and rampant corruption, he hoped the government could be more serious devour the corruptors.

Photo from Kompasiana

Maybe Sondang was desperate against the leader of his country. Among a number of actions with a variety of ways to change this nation, it all hit the wall, the government is still mute and silent.

Sondang might notice the silence actions of victims’ family of human rights violations cases in front of president’s palace for years is not responded. Sondang felt uneasy about it.

A variety of serious problems the nation is always considered reasonable by the leaders of the country. All bad thing continued. It had kicked Sondang’s side of humanity. As a revolutionary he felt tremendous anxiety. Various road he has traveled, including death for the change. Sondang has chosen his struggle to change this nation, without wanting to involve others in his death,  he planned to burn himself without telling anybody before.

The Indonesian people are fed up with corruption. The majority are not doing anything. Sondang do something. And he was considered silly.

Sondang may be silly, but he fought for me too. R.I.P Sondang.