Laut Bercerita

Laut Bercerita by Leila S. Chudori is one of the fiction books that can perfectly give you insight why such circumstances are happening in Indonesia and why demonstration by the Indonesian students is very much needed. It's about Laut, an Indonesian university student, who is part of an organization that actively speaks up for the poor and lower needs, criticize the oppressed government and takes an action if such needed. The youth voice represents the citizen's cry out of the injustice and oppression. 

Although he and his friends often discuss, criticize, create strategy and prepare for action, they are actually just mere students whose desire of love isn't inevitable and craving affection from their own family. Yet, the authority sees them as a threat, starts tracking and capturing them in action. This definitely marks there are covered wrongdoings. Nevertheless, none of violence or oppression can take them down/discourage them, instead it just burns their fire and grit. Unfortunately, their fight for justice is filthily blocked. Laut and his friends are kidnapped and gone missing. None of their family knows their whereabouts after more than 10 years. Thus why Aksi Kamisan is still held to ask for justice of the missing activists such as Laut and his friends who are kidnapped by the regime at that time.

Despite taking the setting time in 90's (New Order era), this novel is even more relatable each day in Indonesia at the present time. The non-transparent and hurried validation of Omnibus Law has created a massive rejection and anger toward The House of Representatives and Government by many elements of citizen in Indonesia. Other than stated cause, the flawed laws give injustice to worker, create damage in nature, serve the unfair conditions that only benefit company or investor and many other points. The restriction of speaking up is also the fatal point why such demonstration and protest finally broke in yesterday, 8 October 2020, in several provinces by mostly Indonesian youth.