Volunteers: Rock & Rule

HOPE can come from unexpected sources, at the least expected time. In Indonesia recently, when the country seethed with election fever, tension, intrigue and slander, there came the volunteers. They were youths from diverse professions who genuinely cared for the nation's fate. It wasn't just about ensuring victory for their preferred presidential candidate, it was more about saving Indonesia from the shadow of its dark past: militarism, environmental destruction, a paralyzed democracy and lost freedom.

The volunteers seem to come from a different world. They are not party politicians although many may have been activists at one time or another. They are not the descendants of the nation's founding fathers nor are they heirs to the top spot of political parties. They are artists, computer experts or workers at marketing and public relations firms. In short, they come from the 'real' and serene worldfar from the clatter of the political arena.