Tales of a Tante, Pahlawan and Puteri: What you do not see in Singapore

This scene was played out in front of the Governor Office along Jalan Maliboro (one of the busiest streets in Yogyakarta). Apparently, some students were protesting against global capitalism and its agents (Carrefour, they opened a hypermarket in Yogya) and the damage done to the local communities (small time shops and all). Incredibly, they managed to stop traffic for a good 15 minutes and after the protest, they continued their parade down the street and all went to normal on the bustling street.

On my way home, I saw the student protestors heading home on their truck, slumped against the amplifiers and looking really tired. No one would have thought that just three hours earlier, they were involved in a student protest, more like they were finished with 'Battle of the Bands'. If not for the placard they raised at me which translated to 'Down with Globalization'.

This is probably something I will never see in Singapore. There is no need to get approval from the authorities, just notify the authorities and you are all set to go. And the fact that the protest was initiated by the students speaks volumes of student activism in Indonesia. Historically speaking, Indonesian students have been traditionally involved in politics, be it pre or post independence.

But I am not sure whether they are really serious about what they do or a mere publicity stunt. And the irony is that as much as they are protesting against the evils of globalization, they would probably have shopped at Carrefour in their lives. The communities would be much better off if the students were to find ways to cope with the pitfalls of globalization rather than stage a protest which is forgotten half an hour after it is held.

So, what have they achieved ?
At least, they did something.
That is something I cannot say for myself.

Some pictures of the protest: