One Day at The End of March

It was a bright afternoon. The sun was blistering hot and there was no dark clouds since morning, unlike any other days. That day, 30^th of March 2012 I decided to join my fellow activists in Senayan, in front of The House of Representatives. That day was the day where everything was final. After several days of rallies and protests against the fuel price hike, that day at the end of March was the peak of all actions.

I arrived with Ical at 1 PM. He picked me up from FX because I had to work at this exhibition in the morning. His bike broke down only 200 meters from the venue. We quickly parked his bike under the fly over and walked in hurry as if we were going to miss that historical moment. It was the biggest protest I have ever involved… and also for Ical. We shouldn’t be late! When we arrived at the venue we met Iman and Vero. We then looked for Dhyta and Bhaga together. We gathered and exchanged information about what was going on and what has happened since morning.

The protesters were dominated by workers unions and they were spread along the street in front of the House of Representatives. Several groups of students unions were also seen. The fence between the highway and the street has been taken down. They said the workers unions who came through the highway did that. Flags of confederations, associations, workers unions, NGOs, Students Unions were waving in the air, crowdedly fill the street in front of the HoR.

Vero, who used to work as a staff of the HoR, told us that she actually has the access to enter the building. But she chose to stay with us and instead, she contacted her friends inside to get some information from the plenary hall. The updated info that we got was that the Plenary was delayed for 4 hours due to the Friday Prayer and lunch break. So, we had to wait. It was informed that the Plenary would be resumed at 2 PM.

[Vero, myself, Dhyta & Simon]

Everybody was waiting. And while waiting, they did oration, singing revolution songs, playing some music by Iwan Fals. Meanwhile, more and more participants were coming. The later it gets, the more they come. At a little over 2 PM Vero informed us that she was told the voting would be held between 5 to 7 PM. Again, we must wait. We started to feel that there was a deliberate attempt to exhaust the protesters. But what the MPs didn’t know was that we wouldn’t give up easily just because we had to wait. So, we waited. Dhyta briefed us the evacuation route that we must take in case a riot breaks. We must run towards the Senayan fly over all the way to Atma Jaya University and get into the campus area; or for the opposite direction, we must run towards Slipi area and enter any public facilities available there. Dhyta was involved in so many protests in Indonesia, including the reform movement in 1998. She was practically our mentor and leader.

Minute after minute passed by and the situation was getting a bit ugly. Several people were seen starting to climb up the left fence of the HoR, shook it and tried to take it down. Who were they? Not sure. Our fellow workers union members were all wearing uniforms (either their unions’ or company’s uniform) while all the students were wearing their university jacket. Our independent group members, even though we didn’t wear uniform, we still put on something that relates to the dress code: red or black. Those people on the fence, they didn’t have any dress codes. So, were these people intruders? We never knew. Could be. Seeing a potential of riot, we took a step back towards the fly over. Irfan and I kept contacting each other, especially because he was on the other side of us. So, we kept updating each other on the situation in each wing.

Suddenly we heard there was a little noise, apparently the workers and students had a bit of disagreement in front of the main gate. We were told that the students wanted to take down the fence, while the workers tried to stop them. We were not sure about the validity of the news, but one thing for sure that the workers decided to step back and gave the space for the students. The workers took a place near the crossing bridge and continued their oration there, combined with songs. The situation was under control and really not scary at all. With all the flags, organizations signs, music, people chatting and laughing or getting to know each other between the street sellers, it was more like a folk party. But I knew that everything could turn upside down in a matter of seconds when a riot breaks. Frankly speaking, we were a bit worried about the students because the night before, there was a clash between police and students in Salemba area, where tear gas and rubber bullets were shot and thrown at the students in their classes. We were panicking because even the ambulances were not given the way in by the police to evacuate. We were miles away from the venue but we coordinated with some students in the area and tried to send back ups and ambulance the best we could. So, we definitely saw a potential of revenge coming from the students.

 [the students]

The groups of student were replacing the workers’ spots in front of the main gate of the HoR. The side fence had already taken down, but the police stopped those who got inside the yard. They didn’t continue and instead, they started to shake the main gate, trying to take it down too. Workers union who named themselves “Garda Metal” or Metal Guard started to form “human barrier”. Inside the yard of the HoR, the layer of anti-riot police squad was added, and they were getting closer to the gate. Many people perceived it as a form of intimidation to the protesters. Some people started to get anxious because the saw the potential of clash was quite significant, and they decided to pull themselves back to safe spots at the bus shelter and crossing bridge. Police and media choppers were crossing along in the air. Every time we saw them, we screamed and held our hands up.

When we were observing the situation, suddenly Vero updated us on the situation inside the Plenary Hall. “They take a recess until 8 PM!” that was what she said. I looked at my watch, it was only 5.30 PM! We, again, must wait for a couple of hours. People were getting more restless. Looked like the scenario to wear us out was carried out. If we were worn out, it would be easy for the anti-riot squad to sweep us away. Well, whoever planned this definitely had no idea of who we are. Not long after, we heard that the main gate had already taken down, but no one went in because a layers of anti-riot squad and a water cannon vehicle were waiting inside, facing the gate. The Field Commander from the workers union commanded everyone to be patient.

When dusk breaks and the evening came, just a little after 8 PM we couldn’t wait any longer. We had been waiting for few hours and we didn’t have much patience anymore. So, we decided to approach the main gate. No lights were on except for the huge spotlight from inside the yard of the HoR. It was shone right to us, so we couldn’t see clearly. We couldn’t see… had the layer of the anti-riot squad increased? Had position gotten closer to the gate? We couldn’t see anything. The students started to hold hands, forming human barrier, face to face with the squad. There were more protesters but they hadn’t formed a line. Our group was also still discussing whether we were going to join or not; and eventually we came to agreement on the move and evacuation route.

We agreed to move forward and join the line of human barrier. Let’s finish it all at once! Dhyta asked me, “Are you sure?” I said, “Yes” with no hesitance. And then I asked the same question to Shera, because it was her first big protest as well. And she said, “Yes!”. So, we moved forward. Holding hands. It was the first time I met Shera. We usually saw each other’s user ID on Twitter and somehow never had a chance to meet in person.

There was a strange feeling deep inside of me. Some sort of adrenaline rush. It was eerie, but I refused to step back. Eerie but joyful at the same time. Sadomasochistic! That was my thought. Maybe I have become an adrenaline junkie; maybe also because I finally put my feet down and redeem my ignorance in 1998. Or maybe I was excited because I was to be a witness of a historical moment in my country. I don’t know… but one thing for sure, my friends and I had committed ourselves to move forward. There’s no turning back! “Whatever happens, don’t let go of our hands, okay?” I said to Shera. She nodded in agreement. Not long after, we were instructed by the Field Coordinator to move forward step by step. Suddenly several people next to Shera let go of the hold and moved away from the line. So did several others behind us. Maybe they changed their mind. Maybe they heard some rumours stirred by the intelligent officers who were planted among us. Or maybe they were the intelligent officers who were assigned to provoke. I don’t know…. I don’t care anymore….

Vaguely between the strong spotlight I could see the shadows of the anti-riot squad. “Our first three rows should be women, so they are hesitant to attack…” I thought to myself. The instruction from the Field Coordinator from the commando car still asking us to move forward step by step. But all of the sudden the line moved backwards. Apparently the water cannon vehicle moved forward towards us! And it was a huge vehicle! A minute later, Timur Pradopo, the National Chief Police appeared and stood in front of the line surrounded by the journalists. We didn’t know whether he was negotiating with the front line or giving statement to the media. We couldn’t see clearly and couldn’t hear anything. What I know, he was standing there surrounded by cameras.

And then, out of nowhere, there was a lot of noise from our right hand side. The right side fence was down!!! The Field Coordinator quickly gave instruction to the group on our right side to form a line just like us. But that instruction was neglected and unheard. They barged their way in, the police moved forward. We moved forward. But only after a few steps into the yard, I heard a loud pop sound from the right front side followed by colourful sparks. I was stunned. In a few seconds my memory flashed back to my childhood where my cousins and I used to watch fireworks during Lebaran and New Year’s time in Semarang. That memory didn’t last long because a moment later I saw that red, green and yellow sparks were flown towards us. The difference of those sparks with the fireworks we had in Semarang was that the fireworks usually thrown up to the sky… these ones were thrown at us… at our head levels. I ducked down, yanking Shera’s hand at the same time. I remember the fireworks once again, when they reached the sky they burst out into beautiful sparks… The shots were just inches above our heads that time and then burst out, not into a beautiful sparks, but into smoke when it reached the ground. “Tear gas!!! Damn it!!” I thought to myself. Shera and I turned around and start running, moved away from the gate while holding each other’s hands. The shots of tear gas kept coming. Some of the sparks fell over our heads, and several times it fell right in front of me. Shera and I kept running with eyes half closed and we held our breath as long as we could. We held each other’s hands tightly along the way.

[fireworks-look-alike tear gases were shot at us]

When one of the tear gas fell right on my foot, I closed my eyes tightly but I kind of late in holding my breath. And I could feel the painful smoke struck my nose. It was choking me. Shera pulled my hand to get away from the smoke. And we kept running together, holding hands, “If we should fall, then we’ll fall together.” I told myself. We were both running without seeing where we were going. All we knew was to run towards the Senayan fly over and meet up in the ambulance area under the fly over. That moment, our feet and legs seemed to know where to go. Or maybe it was intuition that led us. At some point, a middle aged woman who sells drinks stopped us, and she put on some tooth paste under our eyes to reduce the effect of the tear gas. She did it not only to us, but to everyone she could stop. “Hurry! Hurry!” she told us to run again. Several meters after, we slowed down. Shera coughed a lot. We were both panting. I asked whether she wanted to drink, she shook her head and we kept running towards our meeting point.

In front of us, we could see Garda Metal was ready with a long and thick human barrier. It was to stop the anti-riot squad in case they came after us. Garda Metal would try their best to hold the squad until everyone reached safe points behind them. But their line was so tight and filling the whole street, making it hard for us to pass until their Field Coordinator shouted, “HEY…!!! GARDA METAL!!! GIVE WAYS!!!” maybe they were also having adrenaline rush so they were stunned. We knew they meant well anyway. After managed to get pass Garda Metal, Shera and I started running again.

Soon after, my cell phone started to ring. First, Ayah. Second, Iman. Third, Irfan. And fourth, Ical. Everyone was asking to confirm our position and meeting point. I suddenly saw Iman, Bhaga, Bunda and Donny in front of us. We quickly chased them up to keep ourselves in a group again. We walked together, Senayan fly over was seen not too far ahead, but it felt like ages to get there. When we finally got there, we sat on the road while catching our breath. Bhaga decided to wait for others and watching the crowd that was coming. A moment later Ayah, Dhyta and Ical came to join us. We shared drinks and consolidate for the next step. We saw some people were taken to the ambulance, even a medical volunteer was in need of attention.

It was not even 15 minutes we sat there when suddenly Dhyta told us, “Get up! Stand up! Quick! Now!” We all jumped up and looked at the street where the HoR was. And then we heard someone ran towards us and shouted, “Back off…!!! Back off…!!!!” Without thinking twice we started to run again. “Shera!!!” I shouted her name while reaching out my hand to her. She grabbed it and we started running together… as we promised, whatever happens, don’t let go. We all run to the sidewalk across the fly over, where trees are and stopped there. Under the shadows of the trees I started counting our friends. Dhyta came later and Ical was missing….

From behind the trees we saw and heard…. Shouts. Frantic steps of people running around. Molotov. Shots. Sirens. We didn’t know how bad the situation of that second outbreak. But we suspected that the anti-riot squad had moved out of the HoR to chase us and maybe got held by Garda Metal. The situation was not conducive anymore and our group had decided to end it there. We agreed to meet at Seven Eleven STC for further consolidation. As for me, I decided to go and join my best friends who had been worried and didn’t stop calling me before they saw me came safe and sound.

On the way back I remembered the woman who put tooth paste under my eyes. When other sellers ran to safe themselves, she stayed there and even helped in her own way. She was there standing and calling anyone who wasn’t “protected”. She was contributing to the movement and was very supportive and brave too. She showed the true essence of struggle: persistent, sincere and brave.

[No one is left behind - Tia, Bunda, Donny, myself, Iman, Christian, Shera]

 

That night I learned a lot about persistence, struggle, sincerity, bravery, caring, friendship and togetherness…

(That night I continued to monitor the situation through Twitter and TV. I found out that the riot was still going until it passed midnight. Water cannon eventually was out to dismiss the last standing protesters. And police swept Slipi and BenHil areas where they suspected many of protesters went to. Fortunately all of my friends were safe. Ical who was missing before had eventually joined others)

Dear Year 1998, I have redeemed my ignorance to you... 

Now we’re even...!