Acehnese are No Stranger to Refugees

Between May 2003 - 2004 Indonesian government declared martial law inAceh province. Thousands of Acehnese had to evacuate their homes. IDP (internally displaced people) camps formed all over Aceh. On Boxing Day 2004, nine Richter scale earthquake hit Aceh, followed by 30 metre high wave - tsunami - that claimed about 200,000 souls. There were toddlers who were born in IDP camps during the martial law (2003) and stayed in tents long after the tsunami. Acehnese people are no stranger to displacement, to queueing for food, to unclean water, they survived diseases predicted by WHO and other international emergency aid organisations.

Today Acehnese people witness others in their shoes. Immigrants from Burma/Myanmar's persecuted Rohingya ethnic and from Bangladesh are arriving after months living on over-crowded boats. Thai governments refused them, Malaysian people looked away. Australian government quickly said "No!" American government pleaded mercy from South East Asian governments. Indonesia has not ratified UN Convention Relating to the Status of Refugee (the 1951 Refugee Convention).

But would Acehnese people turn their back on their fellow human in need? Did history mean anything to those who had lived in IDP camps? Thanks be to God that they don't! Alhamdulillah... Acehnese people open their heart and most took these asylum seekers in. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-32747616

It seems that Acehnese people show their heart of gold to these Rohingya asylum seekers from Burma/Myanmar ( http://m.irinnews.org/report/83120/indonesia-aceh-embraces-rohingya-refugees#.VVfXpFKkrCQ ). God bless the poor and the marginalised.God bless asylum seekers and those who help them.

Renungan Indonesian in England

BBC Indonesia mengadakan survey: di manakah Anda pada Mei 1998?

Berikut kenangan dan renungan saya, 17 tahun setelah kerusuhan 1998 dan jatuhnya diktator Soeharto.

Sebagai wartawan muda dan jebolan UI, saya hadir di Salemba. Tak lama orasi2 mulai, saya dapat tiga pesan di pager: dari kantor, dari suami, dan dari orang tua. Semua isinya sama: segera pulang, rumah Lim Sui Liong di Gunung Sahari akan dibakar (kami tinggal di Kemayoran, tak jauh dari istana pemilik Indofood dan kroni Soeharto tsb). Namun bis dan mikrolet tak ada. Jalan Salemba seperti kota hantu walau halaman UI penuh demonstran. Berjalan kakilah saya dari Salemba. Untung seorang pengendara motor berbaik hati memberi tumpangan hingga perempatan Jl Angkasa. Sampai rumah putra saya Jack Bara yang masih bayi menangis di gendongan ayahnya, surat-surat penting dan pakaian seadanya sudah di travel bag. Kami siap cabut jika api menjalar... Untung tak terjadi. 

Demokrasi Indonesia kini telah 17 tahun, masih remaja namun terbukti makin dewasa. Bangga sekali dengan pidato Presiden Jokowi di pembukaan KAA bulan lalu. Sementara pada saat yang sama negara Inggris Raya tempat lahirnya demokrasi moderen, negara asal John Locke dan Magna Carta, sedang mengalami kemunduran demokrasi. Pemerintah Konservatif berencana menghapus UU HAM (Human Right Act 1988), mengurangi anggaran kesehatan (NHS) dan melegalkan kembali perburuan rubah. Rakyat miskin kian tergantung sumbangan sembako dari foodbank sementara sahabat kaya para politisi menikmati pengurangan pajak. Indonesia, ayo pimpin keadilan sosial di dunia!

Celebration of Democracy? UK Election 2015

Dear UK citizens, I hope that those who could vote today, would have used voted and use your voices wisely. General election is the big celebration of democracy. People might not see it that way here in the UK. People might be fed up with lies told by politicians just before elections. Fed up with promises they could not - or would not intended to - keep. 

Still, elsewhere on Earth people are threatened by guns on their way to polling stations. Blood spilled, bomb exploded, innocent children killed. For democracy? For the right to choose one's own future? For politicians who are going to betray their people? Still, people around the world are longing to have a peaceful general election like today.

Aceh, March 2004, first democratic election in Indonesia since Soeharto regime. Was it democratic for Acehnese people? With big guns everywhere? "Vote for your life", Aceh, 2004 (http://youtu.be/WSdClPsFovc)

I remember my first general election in Indonesia, 1992. (I am now middle age, so I am allowed to say, "I remember...") There were three parties. In theory. Though for over 30 years only one party could win. My father begged me to vote for one party, "Or your father would have no job tomorrow." He was a civil servant then. All civil servants were members of one party, the one that had to win for 33 years. It was only two decades ago.

For goodness sake, British people today, you are lucky to be alive. To stay alive after voting. You are lucky to have the free choice. This is democracy. Like it or not, the b*****d in Number 10 was your choice. If tomorrow you have a prime minister who looks like that cartoon Wallace and Gromitt, he would still be the result of years of freedom to choose. Embrace it! Somewhere out there, people are dying to have a choice!

In Indonesia we call general election 'pesta demokrasi', the big celebration of democracy. I hope people in the UK today are celebrating.

Indonesians in the North West to celebrate Independence Day and new democratically elected president

http://www.flickr.com/photos/adelinecooke

Indonesian communities in the North West will celebrate Indonesia's 69th anniversary of Independence with national dance, games, fashion, and food on Sunday 17th August 2014 at Lowton Civic Hall, Hesketh Meadow Lane, Warrington WA3 2AH.

The event will also be a big celebration for democracy, as Indonesia has recently elected its 7th president Joko Widodo. Indonesian communities in the UK are celebrating Widodo's victory. He is deemed the people's choice, started as an underdog, but ended up as a symbol of hope, much like President Obama in 2008.

Photo by: Heni Lockitt (Dapoer Chinta)

The day will start with national anthem "Indonesia Raya" at 11:30 followed by the cutting of Nasi Tumpeng (mountain of rice surrounded by assorted Indonesian dishes) which is part of slamatan – communal feast symbolising the social unity of all participants and in this event, as a celebration of democracy. There will be entertainment and a food market, Poco-Poco (traditional line dance from Sulawesi), fashion show, and traditional games such as tug of war, sack racing and krupuk eating. Entertainment will also include Indonesian traditional and national songs.

The event offers food stalls selling a variety of dishes from the 13,000 islands of Indonesia such as the famous nasi goreng, gado-gado (mix vegetable salad), rujak (fruit salad), siomay (dumplings), satay and many more. An Indonesian grocery shop from Stoke-on-Trent will sell specialised Indonesian food ingredients such as organic tempe, peanut/satay sauce, krupuk (traditional crisps), and more. Stall holders will be happy to share advice on food and recipes to the public.

Yanthie Gordon, organiser and stall holder from Stoke-on-Trent, said that she has some customers who will be coming frome Stoke as well as members of East Timorese community from Crewe. "The fact that East Timorese people are showing their interest and solidarity to our Independence Day and celebration of Democracy shows the hospitality, peaceful, and friendliness of Indonesia. Our Timorese friends hold no grudge for the decades of Indonesian occupation over East Timor, and Indonesians accept their wishes of independence," said Gordon.

http://instagram.com/adelinemt

Other stalls will offer traditional and modern dresses, jewellery, art and crafts, and Indonesian back and head massage. Also, "the fashion show will feature modern and traditional clothes, including Muslim fashion and clothing," said Mida Croft, another organiser and stall holder.

The idea came from three friends – Yanthie Gordon, Mida Croft and Heni Lockitt – who thought about a different way of celebrating Indonesia Day. Lockitt said, "Starting from a small idea between friends who miss their homeland and food, we now receive interests from Indonesian communities all over the country including those from the Midland, Lincolnshire, Wales, and Yorkshire."

Indonesia gained its independence from the Netherlands through decades of fighting. Declaration of Independence was on 17 August 1945 and in 1949 the UN recognised Indonesia as a sovereign country. In 1998, through people's power Indonesians toppled its dictator of 32 years. In 1999, East Timor (now Timor Leste) had a referendum that resulted in their independence from Indonesia. Today Indonesians are awaiting the inauguration of its 7th president, Joko Widodo, who is famous for his tolerance, non-militaristic background, and background as a rock star. 

By: Heni Lockitt (Dapoer Chinta)

My Year of Meat Book Review

Book Review: 

Ruth Ozeki (1998) My Year of Meat. NY: Viking. (Kindle version: 2013, Cannongate Book) 

Once started reading, I could not stop... Even on the gruesome part about slaughter house and hormones in beef industry. As a newly convert vegan, the part about cows in cages and their last walk to their death is very upsetting.

The book is an eye-opening, but also a reflection on media industry. As an ex-documentarian, I relate very closely to this book. As a mixed ethnic and multicultural woman, I feel even closer to Jane - and to Ruth Ozeki, the author of this stunning book.

The part about Akiko is disturbing, especially because I know the mindset of abusive husbands backed by paternalistic society that institusionalised the stereotype of the submisive wive. Akiko's experience of abuse almost made me puke.

One touching story is how stories told from the heart, by everyone in a small conmunity, woke a girl from her coma. 

Two thumbs up for Ruth Ozeki...! I read her books backward from the latest to this first one. Does not matter, all are enlightening! Can't wait for Ruth's 4th book...