A ward-winning poet Wiji Thukul is currently in hiding and being sought by the police in connection with the Jakarta riots of 27 July 1996. Thukul, who chairs the People's Art Network (an organisation under the umbrella of the People's Democratic Party), left school at the age of 11 and took a variety of jobs, including selling newspapers, working as a carpenter, and as a pedicab driver, while composing his poetry. His books include Mencari Tanah Lapang (Looking for Open Fields), Puisi Pelo (A Lisper's Poetry), Darman dan Lain-Lain (Darman and Others). This poem was written while in hiding
