*From Bandung to Paris: Why I Survive at The Burned City*

 

Riot in Paris (Antara, Foto)

Minutes after the mayor left Braga Street — one of the most iconic areas of Bandung — the crowd was gathering to consolidate. But the police thought they would cause destruction. So, the police fired tear gas that, seconds later, hit the protesters brutally.

Instead, the crowd fought back. Many of them ran away in panic, screaming, crying out loud while trying to save their lives. Anger was through the roof. The silent night turned to chaos in hours.

I was watching from a narrow alley with my camera rolling. It was the most terrible experience I have ever seen, and I will never forget it.

At 2 a.m., I heard the sound of sirens from ambulances nonstop. And the firefighters tried to control the burning buildings — stores were destroyed as well. Thick clouds of smoke and flames were everywhere.

On the way back home, I heard a live news broadcast reporting at least 200 people arrested, hundreds of injured people taken to hospitals.

I didn't get enough sleep that night. I kept wondering why the riots could happen, and even more — why simultaneously in almost all the big cities in Indonesia, such as Jakarta, Bandung, Yogyakarta and Makassar? What really happened? What were their intentions? And why was Greenpeace involved?

I was sitting on my bench, watching TV, sipping my coffee with cigarettes already on the table. Yes, I have passed the nightmare. And thank God, I am still alive.

Riot in Bandung (CNN Indonesia)

Now, I know. Today is the commemoration day of two years of President Prabowo and his Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka ruling the nation.

But most people were disappointed. Flawed policies, followed by high corruption, resulted in wrongdoers in public service. The massive forest fires in Kalimantan have had a serious impact on nature's sustainability. Instead, the government plans to replace forest diversity with palm oil for quick money and investment.

Meanwhile, our neighbours, Singapore and Malaysia, sent official protests condemning the thick haze in their skies.

People's prosperity declined, education was lacking, and purchasing power was declining. The price of fuel rose in the last few months, and people felt that basic daily needs were difficult to afford.

The President's popularity sank to 20 percent.

I was thinking, again and again. Why is it happening now in Europe as well? See what happened in France, Belgium, and Italy at the same time?

The quality of life is declining. And climate change is the real sign to stop the greedy!

If I had interviewed the mayor of Bandung earlier, the protesters would have been more careful and would not have let intruders join the demonstration that turned into riots.

The mayor said, "People's anger is okay, but looting, burning cars, or destroying private property is not."

At the end of his speech, he said, "I am standing here in front of you to keep your rights running well in a conducive way. And at the same time, I will never tolerate whoever tries to break the rules. Looting is a crime! They will reap what they sow."

*UPDATE: Oct 22 — From Braga to Paris*

As I finish this article from my bench in Bandung, my TV shows the same pictures from France.

On October 17, France saw one of its worst days of unrest in years. What started as nationwide demonstrations over high fuel prices and declining public services turned into riots. Town halls were set on fire in Limoges and Marseille, shops were ransacked in Paris, Lyon, and Bordeaux.

According to Reuters and Le Monde, nearly 1,800 people were arrested and hundreds of police officers were injured. The government has now asked local mayors to impose partial curfews from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m.

France's bond yields rose to 4.96%, the highest since 2002, because investors fear the government cannot reduce its debt while the country is burning.

I watched this from Bandung and I understood: this is not only about my city. From Kalimantan's burning forests to the haze over Singapore, from Braga Street to Paris — the quality of life is declining everywhere. And when peaceful voices are not heard, chaos fills the vacuum.

Climate change, cost of living, corruption — it is the same anger with a different accent.

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