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Bandung’s Street Library opens despite Army's raid
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People read books at the Street Library in Cikapayang Park in Bandung, West Java, on Saturday. Armed troops from the Siliwangi Military Command raided the park and broke up the Street Library last week. (JP/Arya Dipa)
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n defiance of last week’s violent raid by troops of the Siliwangi Military Command, the Street Library continued its service in Cikapayang Park in Bandung, West Java, over the weekend.
On Saturday night more people than usual visited the library, with about 50 young book lovers and democracy activists coming to show support for the community, accused by the Siliwangi Military Commander Brig. Gen. Wuryanto of being a biker gang posing as bibliophiles.
The community also received a flower arrangement in sympathy for the violent raid the previous weekend.
“This is to show support and solidarity after what happened last week,” Edi Sulaeman, 24, a member of the Anti-Fascist Forum, told The Jakarta Post.
Besides the flowers, the activists also displayed banners protesting against “military repression” and “military involvement in civic life.”
Wildan Ardi, 25, a community member, said they opened their street library at about 6 p.m. “For us, this is our public space and it has been like this for a long time. Of course, we are afraid of the military, and we are confused about Bandung administration’s curfew regulations,” he said.
The library stayed open until 11:30 p.m. on Saturday.
The Street Library, which started in 2010, now has about 200 books on various topics donated by local people. (evi)
