It cannot be denied that society has developed more chaotic nowadays; numerous people hold strikes and protests on the street, expressing their thoughts in anger. To address this development, this essay will discuss one of the reasons behind this issue and the possible negative impact.
People’s uncertainty about the government may have been a reason. There have been occasions when people who have governmental seats in the parliamentary, political party, or ministry disregard the citizens’ formal complaints. Even when people own social media nowadays, and they try to appeal to not only the government but also the masses through the platforms, there are often cases where the issues are disregarded. Therefore, many then decide to plan and hold their protests through demonstrations on the street or in front of certain government buildings to show their seriousness in the matters, in the hopes that the heat of the situation will make parts of the governmental body realize the problems and bring them up for near-future consideration.
However, such an event can bring a negative impact in the form of lack of safety. In the heat of the moment, this collective anger may build up into further chaos where people throw stones, hurl insults, and even attack the people around even if they may hurt others – police, army, or civilians. Despite their attempt to keep the safety, other people who just happen to pass by, bystanders inside the buildings, or even journalists trying to gain coverage may also be unintentional victims of the chaos which can affect them both physically and mentally. Some people in Indonesia who experienced the 1998 chaotic situation were reported to have had traumas regarding the incidents leading to the main strike that year, such as the untraced missing people, the violent looting of stores, and the burnt buildings. Hence, this form of expression done by citizens may not always be the correct method thanks to the plausible safety issue.
To conclude, although having a demonstration or strike may be a viable way to deliver people’s opinions in a large scale, the potential of more unsafe situations could appear unexpectedly.