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Netizens donation to victim of Satpol PP raid scores new high
Indonesia’s social media networks have once again shown their might, as an impromptu donation campaign raised more than Rp 80 million, or around US$6,000, in less than 12 hours in support of a mother crying on TV as Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) personnel took away the food she was selling.
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Kompas TV footage shows an elderly woman crying as she begs Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) personnel not to impound the food she sells for a living. (Courtesy of Kompas TV/-)
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ndonesia’s social media networks have once again shown their might, as an impromptu donation campaign raised more than Rp 80 million, or around US$6,000, in less than 12 hours, in support of a mother crying on TV as Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) personnel took away the food she was selling.
The footage shows the elderly woman crying and begging the officers not to impound the food she sells for a living. However, what she received was a bitter demonstration of power, when the Satpol PP personnel did “their duty” and confiscated her products before leaving her weeping.
Her only wrongdoing was to sell food at midday during Ramadhan, an "act of crime” as a result of egocentric rules that persistently plague the country during the Muslim fasting month.
The heartbreaking incident, recorded by Kompas TV in Serang, Banten, on Friday, went viral on social media.
During the interview, Serang Satpol PP head Maman Lutfi told the Kompas TV reporter that the food stall was a legitimate object for the raid for opening during the day and serving food.
"The restaurants and food stalls in Serang are serving food to those who are not fasting," he said while leading the operation on Friday, adding that dozens of stalls had been targeted in the raid and their food impounded.
Several food stalls owners said they did not know there was a rule prohibiting them from selling during the day. Others said they needed the money for living, especially ahead of the Idul Fitri festival.
Stand up
Responding to the incident, a twitter user named Dwika Putra Hendrawan on Saturday morning decided to launch the #StandupSerang movement. He initiated a Rp 10,000 fund-raising campaign to help the woman and other victims, providing his bank account for the donation.
“Instead of being angry, let us fight against the arrogance with real action. Let us help the mother in Serang whose food was impounded. The donation will also go to other food vendors who cannot make a living due to Ramadhan raids,” he said in his twitter account.
After just 8 hours, he reported to have raised more than Rp 20 million in donations, meaning more than 2,000 social media users took part in the impromptu charity. In an update at 12 p.m. he said he had collected more than Rp 80 million and kept going.
He planned to close the donation at 12 pm on Sunday. “I’m ready to take the responsibility of all the money I have raised in this charity. I will make sure that not a penny will be misused,” Dwika said. (ags)
