Cempaka Culture and Tourism

Big Screen, Bigger Issues for Indonesia's Lesbians

2012-01-31T20:25:00.005+07:00

Jakarta Globe, Katrin Figge, January 31, 2012

Eight LGBT filmmakers tell their stories with a movie camera in
‘Children of Srikandi.’ (Photo courtesy of Srikandi Films)

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Two yearsago, eight young Indonesian women came together for a project. Although atfirst it seemed small, the endeavor would end up having a bigger impact ontheir lives than they ever imagined.

Now, theirhard work has resulted in a 75-minute feature-length film, “Children ofSrikandi.” The film’s tagline is: “For the first time, queer Indonesian womenare breaking the code of silence.”

In acountry where a declaration of homosexuality at best raises eyebrows and atworst incites blind hatred and prejudice, “Srikandi” is a brave movie thatsheds light on the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communityhere.

It isespecially unique because the filmmakers themselves are part of that communityand were able to honestly convey their own experiences, feelings and thoughtson the screen.

Stea Lim,who is both a director and executive producer of the film, said the project wasinitiated by Laura Coppens, a German visual anthropologist who wanted to make afilm about the struggles of Indonesian women. The project was realized with thehelp of the Goethe-Institut, the German cultural organization, and In-Docs, thedocumentary program of the Society of Independent Indonesian Films (YMMFI).

Coppenssaid she began traveling to the region and Indonesia on a regular basis aboutfive years ago.

“This wasbasically because I am an Indonesian film curator and festival programmer forAsian Hot Shots Berlin, a festival for Asian independent cinema I founded withtwo friends in 2007 in Berlin,” she said.

Afterbecoming more involved with the regional cinema scene, Coppens realized therewas a general lack of films about homosexual women, and there certainly weren’tany examples from Indonesia.

“From thevery beginning, I wanted to organize a workshop to train people in basicfilmmaking skills,” she said. “Since I am not a trained filmmaker and I knewthat I never would manage this challenge alone, I was looking for someone tohelp me with that and eventually make a film out of it.”

She foundsupport from Berlin-based filmmaker Angelika Levi, who became a mentor andeditor for the film. Together, the two have seen the project through frombeginning to end.

“She is anexperienced filmmaker and a wonderful storyteller. It is mainly also because ofher involvement and engagement that our film is as successful and beautiful asit is now,” Coppens said of Levi.

“And ofcourse, there are the wonderful women we are working with,” she added,referring to the eight workshop participants and stressing that they seethemselves as a collective. “Their desire to tell their story and their braverymakes it a very special project.”

Thediversity of the group members was key, Stea said.

“Each of ushas different backgrounds,” she said. “So everybody brought different ideas tothe workshop, and it eventually took the shape of becoming an anthology. It isnow a collection of eight short films — part documentary, part fiction.”

Eightwomen, eight films. But the participants did more than simply work on their ownstories. They acted in one another’s films, helped with narrative developmentand served as crew members.

Thenamesake of the film’s title, Srikandi, is a character in the Mahabharata epic.“Srikandi is a strong female warrior,” Stea explained. “She represents what weare doing now, our struggles, our expectations, our roles in society.”

Coppenssaid Srikandi was a fascinating character because while most women charactersin wayang tales were devoted mothers and wives, Srikandi was “the ultimatemodel of independent womanhood.”

Srikandinot only makes an appearance in the title of the film, she also plays an activepart in it: her story is told between the eight short films through Indonesianshadow theater scenes performed by puppeteer Soleh and singer Anik, twomale-to-female transgender individuals from Surabaya.

For thewomen involved in the project, making “Srikandi” was a unique experience. Manyof them had never done anything like try to make a movie.

One of thewomen is Edith, a political science student in Yogyakarta. She said she enjoyedbeing part of the project.

“It wasvery exciting for me to learn how to make the storyboard, to think about thevisuals, the images and the sounds, and how it all needs to be connected,” shesaid, adding that she could even imagine continuing with filmmaking in thefuture.

“My filmshows my own experience and how I deal with my identity,” Edith said. “Ibelieve that everybody has multiple identities and I especially tried to showthe connection between your sexual identity and your spiritual identity. Veryoften [in Indonesia] people say, ‘Oh, you are not eligible to talk about yourfaith when you have a certain sexual identity.’ ”

Anotherwoman involved in the project, Winnie, looks at relationships and some of thetypical prejudices she sees in society.

“Peoplealways think that if you are part of the LGBT community you have to hang outwith other members of that community as well,” she said. “But why can’t we livelike what they would call ‘normal people?’ ”

Thefilmmakers are well aware that “Srikandi” might draw criticism, but so far, thefeedback has been positive.

“A lot ofpeople that we talked to about this project have been very supportive,” Steasaid. “We did this film with very limited funding. All the funding has comefrom different organizations, our families and friends, and our own pockets.”

Friends whocouldn’t afford to support the project with cash found other ways to help,donating time and energy to do things like assist with the lights orparticipate on the camera team, she added.

“Withoutthem, I don’t think we could have finished the film,” she said. “We had toovercome a lot of struggles, but we

always meta lot of people who would tell us, come on, you have to do this.”

While thefilm’s final cut has been completed, there is still post-production work to bedone, primarily with sound and color. The group is still looking for funding tofinance this final part of the project.

“Crowd-sourcingis one of the more creative ways to find funding for independent films,”Coppens said. “It is very successful in the United States, but rather new inGermany. We thought we’d give it a try and raise some funds that could coverour post-production costs. So far it has been very successful — out of the$5,000 we asked for, we already raised $4,000. The campaign ends in 14 days andwe really hope that people will help us to meet our goal.”

The group’smain motivation for completing “Srikandi” is to provide a platform for peopleto discuss a topic that is often deliberately overlooked.

“There hasbeen discussion put on by organizations and activists, but a film takes it to awhole new audience,” Stea said. “Instead of simply talking about experiences,you can now see it: our issues with religion, society, our families. Hopefully,it can spark some dialogue.”

It isundeniable that the film has already made an impact. In Germany it was selectedas an official entry for the Panorama program at the Berlinale, Berlin’sinternational film festival, which will take place from Feb. 9 to 19.

“From thebeginning, it was our dream to show this film at a major film festival,”Coppens said. “This kind of festival means major outreach and helps people tosee the stories.”

In additionto “Srikandi,” the Berlin festival will showcase two other feature films fromIndonesia: “Postcards From the Zoo” by Edwin and “The Mirror Never Lies” byKamila Andini, as well as the short film “7 Deadly Kisses” by SammariaSimanjuntak.

“This is anenormous success for Indonesian cinema and hopefully it will give a boost tothe local film scene and encourage filmmakers and young ones especially tocontinue their wonderful work,” Coppens said. “There is a lot of talent outthere that is ready to be discovered and I hope the Berlinale is a first stepthat will encourage more people to look at the Indonesian film industry closelyand with a new curiosity.”

The eight“Srikandi” women welcomed the news about the Berlinale with much excitement andjoy.

“We areobviously ecstatic about it,” Stea said, adding that it was also quiteoverwhelming.

“By doingthis film, we opened up and talked about our issues, and what was personal willnow become public. But I hope it can make a difference.”

For moreinformation about ‘Children of Srikandi,’ visit www.childrenofsrikandi.com

To be partof the crowd-funding campaign, visit www.indiegogo.com/Children-of-Srikandi

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About the Challenges of Being a Gay Man – Oct 23, 2010 (Saint Germain channelled by Alexandra Mahlimay and Dan Bennack) - “ ... You see, your Soul and Creator are not concerned with any perspective you have that contradicts the reality of your Divinity – whether this be your gender, your sexual preference, your nationality – or your race, ethnicity, religious beliefs, or anything else.The only identity that has any fundamental or lasting relevance to your Soul is your Divinity. Any other way you may label or identify yourself is transitory. It changes from one incarnation to the next. ..."

"The Akashic System" – Jul 17, 2011 (Kryon channelled by Lee Carroll) - (Subjects: Religion, God, Benevolent Design, DNA, Akashic Circle, (Old) Souls, Gaia, Indigenous People, Talents, Reincarnation, Genders, Gender Switches, In “between” Gender Change, Gender Confusion, Shift of Human Consciousness, Global Unity,..... etc.)

UAE speaker praises RI as democratic Muslim country

2012-01-29T01:39:00.000+07:00

Antara News, Sat, January 28 2012

(ANTARA/Nila Fu'adi)

Jakarta(ANTARA News) - United Arab Emirates (UAE) Parliament Speaker Mohammad AhmadAlmour has praised Indonesia as an exemplary OIC (Organization of the IslamicConference) member country for its consistent adherence to democracy andtolerant Islamic culture.

Accordingto the chairman of the Indonesian House of Representatives Inter-ParliamentaryCooperation Body, Hidayat Nurwahid, here Saturday Ahmad Almour praisedIndonesia as a predominantly Muslim country that successfully practicingdemocracy,

The Westhad often said that Democracy and Islam could not go hand in hand and that thetwo could even come into conflict with each other, said Hidayat citing Almour`sstatement at the Islamic parliamentary meeting in Palembang.

"Althoughthe majority of its population is Muslim, Indonesia consistently implementsdemocracy and it is therefore the pride of OIC," Hidayat quoted Almour assaying.

Hidayatalso said the United Arab Emirates parliament hoped Indonesia could play a moresignificant role in straightening out the West`s negative view of Islam inrelation with democracy.

Thereforemany misunderstanding views about Islam can be reduced and Islam is notidentical with terrorism.

"Indonesiais famous for treating quests in friendly, courteous and respectful ways. Thechairman of the Parliament of UAE really appreciates this," said MarzukiAlie, Speaker of Indonesia`s House of Representatives on the same occasion.

Arabcountries want the stigma of Islamic terrorism can be eliminated throughIndonesian good relations with Europe and America.

"Theythought Indonesia could be an agent for having good relations and appreciatedby the US and Europe," he said.

Indonesiacan show that democracy is not contrary to Islamic values and Islam is notterrorist, but the violence arises recently only committed by a small group ofextremists that does not represent Islam.

Editor: Priyambodo RH

The Thinker: Is Atheism Allowed?

2012-01-27T16:02:00.003+07:00

Jakarta Globe, Yordan Nugraha, January 27, 2012

'Atheism does not violate Pancasila. All Indonesians may consciously
and rationally choose their own beliefs. The country’s very foundation
protects their right to do so.' (Photo courtesy of Karl Karnadi)

AlexanderAan, a civil servant in Dharmasraya, West Sumatra, was beaten and charged withblasphemy after writing “God does not exist” on his Facebook page.

Theresponse has ranged from condemnation by several international organizations tosupport by local citizens and the Indonesian Council of Ulema. Many people haveinvoked the first principle of Pancasila, the state ideology, to make theargument that atheism — and Alexander — have no place in Indonesia.

But is thisreally the case? Has atheism been banned by Pancasila since the dawn of theIndonesian state? Since the argument is based on the text of a legal document,let’s examine this question from a legal perspective.

The firstprinciple of Pancasila says the nation of Indonesia shall be based on thebelief in the one and only God. It is usually interpreted literally. As aresult, nonbelievers, and atheists in particular, are often accused ofviolating the nation’s philosophical foundation. Their way of thinking is seenas incompatible with the country’s fundamental “monotheistic” tenet.

This is anaive and simplistic view of Pancasila. Interpreting any philosophy is not allabout the exact meaning of the words; it is about context and the systematicalconnections.

In legalscience there are two methods of interpretation: historical and teleological. Ahistorical interpretation requires an examination of the historical context inwhich a statute was created. With teleological reasoning, it is the goal of astatute that matters most.

Historically,the first principle of Pancasila, belief in one supreme God, has been acompromise between secular nationalists, Islamic nationalists and nationalistsfrom other religions. It had its origins in the first principle of the JakartaCharter, the obligation to hold Muslims to Shariah law.

When thenon-Muslim nationalist founders protested the charger, a compromise wasreached: The belief in one supreme God was codified into Pancasila instead.

If thishistorical context is further analyzed in a goal-oriented, teleological way, itis evident that the first principle of Pancasila was not intended to banatheism. It was meant to bring together the different religions of Indonesia ina fair-minded, compromising manner.

Some mightstill insist that every statute must be interpreted precisely as it was written.This, of course, is exceedingly problematic if you consider the six officially“recognized religions” of Indonesia: Islam, Catholicism, Protestantism,Confucianism, Hinduism and Buddhism.

If thenotion that the first principle requires monotheism is correct, then at leasttwo of Indonesia’s recognized religions are obviously incompatible withPancasila.

Hinduism ishenotheistic, meaning Hindus acknowledge the presence of other gods despiteworshiping only one. That is why we see many gods in India such as Ganesha,Vishnu and Shiva.

Buddhismincludes no concept of a divine creator or deity; it is considered anontheistic religion. Sometimes the words “a not-born, a not-brought-to-being,a not-made, a not-conditioned“ in Buddhist scripture are cited to support theclaim that Buddhism has a creator. But a closer look at the text shows that thewords refer to nirvana, not to a god.

AreHinduism and Buddhism unconstitutional? Do they deserve no place in Indonesia?Should they be banned? Our founding fathers should have anticipated thisproblem.

Meanwhile,even if the misguided literal interpretation prevails, the people who lean onthat to justify their stance against atheism will run into another problem.

There isanother foundational passage in Pancasila that addresses religious beliefs.This one stipulates that “the belief in one and supreme God must not be forcedon another person.”

This pointis specific in nature, while the first principle is general. According to thelegal doctrine of lex specialis, specific laws overrule general laws. Thismeans that atheists have a right to their beliefs, and cannot be forced toespouse the views of others. Ironically, this shows that the people who try toforce God on atheists are actually the ones infringing on Pancasila.

Atheismdoes not violate Pancasila. All Indonesians may consciously and rationallychoose their own beliefs. The country’s very foundation protects their right todo so.

YordanNugraha is a student of international and European law at the University ofGroningen in the Netherlands.

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"Perceptions of God" – June 6, 2010 (Kryon channeled by Lee Carroll) (Subjects: Quantum Teaching, The Fear of God, Near-death Experience, God Becomes Mythology, Worship, Mastery, Intelligent Design, Benevolent Creator,Global Unity.... etc.) (Text version)

“.. For centuries you haven't been able to think past that box of what God must be like. So you create a Human-like God with wars in heaven, angel strife, things that would explain the devil, fallen angels, pearly gates, lists of dos and don'ts, and many rules still based on cultures that are centuries old. You create golden streets and even sexual pleasures as rewards for men (of course) - all Human perspective, pasted upon God. I want to tell you that it's a lot different than that. I want to remind you that there are those who have seen it! Why don't you ask somebody who has had what you would call a near-death experience? …. “

"The Humanization of God" – Jul 16, 2011 (Kryon channelled by Lee Carroll) - (Subjects: The Humanization of God, Gaia, Benevolent Design, Shift of Human Consciousness, 2012, Guides and Angels, Communication with God, Wars in Heaven ?, The Love of God, (Old) Souls, Global Unity,.... etc.)

“… Do angels exist? Absolutely, but not as you think or have been taught. Are there helpers? Absolutely, but again, not like you think. When angels visited Humans in ancient days and the events were written about by those who were there to witness the experience, I can guarantee it was a lot different than they could express on paper. When an angel appears before a Human, it looks like a swirling ball of energy, sometimes even fire that is not hot and does not consume anything. Angels are not in Human form and never have been. They are multidimensional beings, not in 3D. Yet you want to put skin and wings on them and give them a name! Why? It makes you feel better about them. We understand that…”

“The 2012 Ostiary - Angels Among You” – Dec 30, 2012 (a message from Metatron channelled by Tyberonn)

Indonesian man arrested for kicking woman he thought was a ghost

2012-01-26T02:15:00.001+07:00

The womanwas reportedly dressed in white, with hair covering her face, and moving slowly'in a weird way'

guardian.co.uk,Kate Hodal in Bangkok, Wednesday 25 January 2012

Dancers perform a traditional dance in Ubud, Indonesia, during an
exorcise ritual against spirit possession. Photograph: Olivier Matthys/EPA

A38-year-old Indonesian security guard has been charged with assault afterkicking a 20-year-old woman in the face after mistaking her for a predatoryghost.

The guardwas on duty in Bandung, Java, when "suddenly a figure, who was sitting onthe floor and clad in white with hair covering the face, moved slowly in aweird way toward the elevator", according to the Jakarta Post.

The guard"sensed a threat to himself and the others in the elevator" andkicked the ghost to the floor "so that everyone ... could run and savethemselves," the security officer's lawyer told the Jakarta Post.

But guardSunarya's seemingly noble deeds have landed him more punishment than accolades,as the "ghost" turned out to be the 20-year-old daughter of a coalbusinessman who was in the hotel playing a "ghost trick" for afriend's birthday. She was later hospitalised for a bruised face and brokentooth.

Sunarya nowfaces charges of assaulting the girl, who was dressed as suster ngesot, a"crawling nurse ghost".

TheIndonesian archipelago, while predominantly Muslim, is strongly influenced byspiritual and supernatural myths from its Malay, Hindu and Buddhist heritage.Common ghost sightings often refer to floating female figures dressed in white,with long hair and, sometimes, long fingernails.

Ghost andvampire movies are wildly popular in Indonesia (some erotic, many othershomemade), but supernatural action is not confined to the screen. In December,at least 10 people were reportedly possessed by spirits after visiting amahogany tree in Jakarta said to house a pocong (shrouded corpse ghost) andkuntilak (female vampire ghost). The tree had to be cut down and the religiousaffairs minister called in to calm hysterical crowds, but the spirits werereported to have merely moved on to a neighbouring tree.

Assupernatural creatures in Indonesia can often take on terrifying forms – suchas the jenglot, a mummified vampiric doll with fangs and long hair who feedsoff human and animal blood – it is not surprising that many Indonesiansapproach ghosts with some trepidation.

As onereader, following Sunarya's story, wrote to the Jakarta Post: "Sunaryashould receive a medal, or at least be showered with honours, for acting socourageously in facing what he initially thought was a real ghost."

But thesecurity officer remains modest. "I have a wife and two little children, Ihope everything will be fine," he told reporters. "I just didmy job as a security guard."

Indonesian Footballer Makes Mark in Debut for Dutch Club

2012-01-24T00:14:00.000+07:00

Jakarta Globe, Wimbo Satwiko & Sandy Pramuji, January 23, 2012

Stefano Lilipaly has broken new ground for Indonesian players
after scoring a goal for Dutch club FC Utrecht. (Agency Photo)

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Amid awealth of off-field missteps and political bickering, Stefano Lilipaly provideda bit of good news for Indonesian football on Sunday.

The22-year-old midfielder scored in the 66th minute of his debut for FC Utrecht inthe Dutch top flight, becoming the first Indonesian to find the net in theEredivisie.

Utrechtdrew 1-1 with visiting PSV Eindhoven after Ola Toivonen equalized in the 71stminute.

“It was avery pleasant moment,” Stefano, who was also named man of the match, toldUtrecht’s official Web site. “I spent 10 years in the youth team. This is mytime to prove I can handle [the pressure of playing in the top flight].”

He playedfor the Netherlands’ Under-15 and Under-18 national teams, but he looked to hisroots when the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) put out a call fortalented youngsters of Indonesian heritage playing in Europe.

Stefano,whose father is Indonesian, was granted citizenship on Oct. 11, 2011, alongsidefellow Dutch-born Jhonny Van Beukering and Tony Cussel and Nigeria-born GregNwokolo and Victor Igbonefo.

He wascalled up for Indonesia’s Under-23 tryouts to play in last year’s SoutheastAsian Games, but he was cut by then-coach Rahmad Darmawan.

Utrechtcoach Jan Wouters praised the young midfielder for his development.

“Lilipalyhas developed very well, grown through the youth team and has shown his qualityto us in this game,” he said.

However,Aji Santoso, Indonesia’s new senior and U-23 head coach, said he did not wantto rush in calling up Stefano for the national team’s next match – the final2014 World Cup qualifier at Bahrain on Feb. 29.

Indonesiais last in Group E with no wins and 16 goals conceded from five matches. Itslast chance to reach the next round passed with a 4-1 home loss to Iran inNovember.

“TheBahrain game will be our last match in the group and the results won’t decideanything. I prefer to call Stefano up for future events, such as the Suzuki Cupand the 2013 SEA Games,” Aji told the Jakarta Globe on Monday.

Stefano isone of a small but growing group of Indonesians playing in Europe. YerichoChristiantoko, Alfin Tuasalamony, Yandi Munawar and Syamsir Alam play in theBelgian second division with CS Vise, which is owned by the Bakrie family,while Arthur Irawan is trying his luck in Spain after signing with Espanyol’sU-19 team last year.

If thoseyoungsters kept improving and played regularly, Aji said, they would helpprovide a brighter future for the national team. With world governing body FIFAprohibiting the PSSI from calling up players competing in the breakawayIndonesian Super League, the 41-year-old coach needs every option he can find.

“I wouldlove to see them playing in my team. I don’t think it will happen when we playagainst Bahrain, but it will be in the near future,” he said.

Indonesianmidfielder Stefano Lilipaly has spoken about

scoring his first goal for Utrechtin their 1-1 draw against

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Tourists in India told to avoid 'human safaris' as row widens

2012-01-22T01:03:00.001+07:00

SinceGethin Chamberlain revealed how Andaman Islands tribes people were being bribed and bullied into 'performing' for tours, India's government has taken up thecause of ethical tourism. But some travel companies still offer titillatingtrips to remote areas to see their indigenous people

Joanne O'Connor: do homework before booking 'cultural tour'

guardian.co.uk,Gethin Chamberlain, Saturday 21 January 2012

AndamanIslanders 'forced to dance' for tourists. Link to this video

They areholidays billed as an opportunity to enter another world, a chance to see theworld's last primitive tribes up close in their natural environment.

Thebrochures tease and at times, critics say, titillate. Take the Delhi-based AcesIndian Tours, which invites visitors to travel to see the Bonda people, anancient tribe found in the remote hilly regions of the state of Orissa. Thewebsite breathily offers to provide an insight into utterly different lives."On the northwest of river Machkund", it states, "live thewildest, rudest and possibly the most interesting tribe known as Bonda Tribe.The scanty dress of the Bonda women and homicidal tendency of Bonda males makethem most fascinating people."

It is thiskind of exotic invitation that has now come under unprecedented scrutiny inIndia, raising ethical issues that also apply to similar tours in other remoteregions of the world.

Every year,thousands of western tourists visit India in search of the exotic. But twoweeks after an Observer investigation exposed the degradation of "humansafaris" in the Andaman Islands – which are in Indian territory – thecountry's travel industry has entered a bout of soul-searching. The Observerexposed video evidence that Jarawa tribeswomen had been bullied into dancingfor convoys of visitors on the islands' main road. The reaction has beenfurious. Sonia Gandhi, leader of the ruling Congress party, has taken a personalinterest in the 400-strong Jarawa's fate and is understood to be frustrated bythe lack of action to protect them. At a meeting last week of the powerfulNational Advisory Council, which she chairs, members denounced the"deplorable situation of the exploitation of the Jarawa tribe".

Theinvestigation has now prompted the home minister, P Chidambaram, to demand theinterrogation of those responsible. He has flown to the Andamans to tellofficials there to act swiftly to prevent further abuse of the tribe. Tribalaffairs minister V Kishore Chandra Deo said: "It's deplorable. You cannottreat human beings like beasts for the sake of money. Whatever kind of tourismis that? I totally disapprove and it is being banned."

But whatabout elsewhere in India, and in other parts of the world? In the case of theJarawa, there is little doubt that the tribespeople have been exploited byunscrupulous locals and insensitive visitors. Elsewhere, ethical lines areusually more blurred, but the risk of damaging contact with vulnerablecommunities is very real.

In 1989,India introduced the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention ofAtrocities) Act in an attempt to protect indigenous communities from"indignities, humiliations and harassment". But with the number oftourists across the world expected to hit a billion this year and previouslyinaccessible places beginning to open up for more and more people, how closeshould travellers be allowed to come to vulnerable communities?

One of themost popular destinations in India is Orissa, where tour operators promisesightings of the insular Bonda when the tribespeople leave their homes to go toa market in the village of Onkadeli. Entry into the Bonda's own villages isillegal: the tribe do not invite attention and many dislike being photographed,but the market offers a way to view them, and the tours continue. Even thestate tourist board uses images of the tribe in its adverts.

Royal IndiaHolidays, with offices in India and the US, offers a tribal tour of Orissawhere it promises tourists can "see the lifestyle of tattooed, heavilybeaded, nearly naked tribal people, their day to day activity and theirextremely primitive way of living".

The companysays it is recognised by India's ministry of tourism. Its brochure describes atrip to the Jeypore area of Orissa: "After breakfast, an excursion to thenearby hills where most amazing and fierce Bondas Tribes (naked people) reside.They are also known as Remo meaning 'people'. The Bonda are generally semi-clothed,with the women characterised by the wearing of thick silver necklace bands. Thetribe is one of the oldest and most primitive with their culture little changedin over a thousand years. The best way to view members of the tribe is by goingto local markets held every Thursday."

Companyowner Newton Singh told the Observer that most tours in Orissa focused on thetribes. He said he believed that the company was operating within the law butit relied on local agents in Orissa. He said he understood the objections andwould review the tours. "I don't want to do anything against the laws ofhumanity," he said.

Bhubaneswar-basedDove Tours offers a tour of Orissa in which, it explains, "the area wevisit is the home of the approximately 6,000 members of the fierce Bondas(naked people). They live in the remote hills and keep themselves isolated …They can only be seen when they come to trade at the local market, and we musttime our visit to coincide with the weekly market day."

GaganSarangi, speaking for the company, said it operated within responsibleguidelines and only dealt with tourists who would respect the tribe. He saidforeign tourists were barred from the Bonda's area, but it was still possibleto spot them in the markets. "We are totally against any kind of unethicalpractices in the tribal area," he said.

SurvivalInternational, which campaigns on behalf of tribal peoples, is sceptical thatsuch a high-minded approach is reflected by what takes place on the ground. Thecharity's director Stephen Corry said: "We are now in the 21st century,not the 19th. Colonialism should be a thing of the past. Tribes are notcultural relics, nor should they be treated like animals in a zoo.

"Theyare not ancient or backward, but adapting like everybody around us to achanging world. This should entitle them to the same rights and freedoms as thevery tourists who are taking their photographs.

"Promotingtours by using derogatory terms such as 'primitive', and advertising their'nakedness', shows a clear lack of respect."

Corry saidtour operators had no right to promote tribal people as a tourist attraction."Forcing them to dance in return for sweets and biscuits, for theamusement of onlookers, is only possible where they're viewed as somehow lessthan fully human," he said. "Sadly, the existence of human safaris inthe Andamans is not isolated, but replicated in other areas of India. It iscrucial tourists boycott such unethical 'attractions', so there is no fuel inthe market to drive such tasteless practices."

Associationof British Travel Agents spokesman Sean Tipton said the travel industryrecognised the necessity of regulating and monitoring interaction betweentourists and tribes. "Customers should always seek permission beforetaking photographs of indigenous people, or indeed any local people. This is amatter of courtesy and cross-cultural sensitivity."

SueOckwell, for the Association of Independent Tour Operators, was also keen toemphasise that its member companies were against the sort of "tackytourism" seen in the Andamans. "The aim of Aito is to ensure thathost destinations and local people at tourism destinations benefit from tourismas well as those who take tourists," she said.

"Unfortunately,exploitation does still occur – from child prostitution to the type of practicedescribed in the Andamans. It requires action by UK tour operators andassociations such as Aito and Abta and it also requires action by governmentsin the destinations affected. It is only by working together that this sort ofbusiness can be stamped out."

Clearly,though, more needs to be done. Blogging about a visit to Onkadeli, one touristnoted that the attention of tourists was clearly unwelcome to some of thetribal people: "There were a few tourists around (including myself) andtruth be said, it all felt a little rude and intrusive! Some of the adivasis[indigenous tribes] were clearly uncomfortable with camera-wielding tourists,so I started to only take pictures with their permission. This would almostalways result in my having to part with 10 rupees [about 13p]!"

Britishtravel firm Audley Travel, winner of three Guardian-Observer travel awards forbest small tour operator, offers tours to Orissa in which it promises sightingsof the Bonda tribe, despite acknowledging that photographing them may bebanned. The company said it firmly advocated responsible tourism and only tookindividuals or couples.

"Theyare accompanied by tour guides who are well briefed on the cultural sensitivityof the situation, particularly photography. Our clients themselves areintelligent, informed travellers whose last intention would be to 'gawp' atlocal people."

Meanwhile,in the Andaman Islands, police say they have made some progress in identifyingthose responsible for filming the video publicised by the Observer, which isnow believed to have been shot in September or October of 2008. "Thepolice team is questioning several tour operators and taxi drivers of the cityin an effort to track down the source of the video," said S B Tyagi, superintendentof police. Officers have raided several shops in the town in an attempt toseize videos of the Jarawa that have been circulating among tour operators andwhich are sold to tourists.

Policeannounced on Thursday that a senior officer had been placed in charge ofmonitoring the road and said they had arrested two tour operators named in theObserver report.

Thelieutenant governor of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Bhopinder Singh, hasbeen ordered to take action to prevent further exploitation of the Jarawa.Tribal affairs minister Krishna Chandra Deo described the incident as"disgraceful and a shame on all of us" and said the tribe should betreated as humans, not aliens.

As thecountry digests the implications of the scandal, Corry said touristsconsidering visiting tribal areas needed to think very carefully about thelong-term effects on tribal peoples, instead of the "fleeting thrill ofthe experience or the glory of the story once back home".

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Australia's Aborigines can be discriminated against under
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Indonesian Waria Activist Registers to be Human Rights Commissioner

2012-01-20T15:16:00.001+07:00

Jakarta Globe, Dessy Sagita, January 20, 2012

A high-profile member of Indonesia’s large transgender community,
Yulianus Rettoblaut, known as Mami Yuli or Mother Yuli, pictured on the
right sitting next to other transgender activists, registered on Friday to
become a member of the National Commission on Human Rights
(Komnas-Ham). (JG Photo/Dessy Sagita)

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Ahigh-profile member of Indonesia’s large transgender community has registeredto become a member of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas-Ham).

YulianusRettoblaut, known as Mami Yuli or Mother Yuli, said on Friday that she wasseeking to become a commissioner to fight for the rights to Indonesia’s ‘waria’community, an Indonesian word taken from wanitia (woman) and pria (man).

Speaking atKomnas-Ham in Central Jakarta, Yuli said she would also fight for the rights ofgay and lesbian communities as well as other heavily marginalized groups.

Yuli, headof the Communication Forum of Indonesia Transgender, said that high on heragenda was to allow transgender people access to school for a formal educationto increase their career prospects.

Yuli has alaw degree from Universitas Islam At Tahiriyah.

Another keyissue was to fight for the rights of elderly transgender people who were oftenhomeless and left to fend for themselves.

“We willteach them skills such as baking cakes and other things so they can liveindependently and be productive,” Yuli said.

Fellowtransgender activist Merlyn Sopjan said many transgenders were forced to quitschool because they were mocked.

“They arealways bullied: it is no wonder many become traumatized and refuse to return toschool,” Merlyn said. “At the end, they have no skills to work in the formalsector and end up in street.”

She saidthat while transgender people were treated better in the big cities,discrimination was pervasive.

“Transgenderpeople are forbidden to use woman’s toilets,” she said. “Even for a small thingsuch as using a public facility, we’re often discriminated against.”

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‘God Does Not Exist’ Comment Ends Badly for Indonesia Man

2012-01-20T01:24:00.000+07:00

Jakarta Globe, CameliaPasandaran, January 19, 2012

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AnIndonesian civil servant who posted “God does not exist” on his Facebook pagehas been taken into police custody for his own protection after he was badlybeaten.

Photo courtesy of Karl Karnadi

The man,identified as Alexander, 31, now faces the prospect of losing his job, or evenbeing jailed, if he fails to repent and accept one of six official statereligions.

Blasphemycarries a maximum sentence of five years in jail.

Local mediareported that when Alexander arrived at work at the Dharmasraya DevelopmentPlanning Board (Bappeda) on Wednesday, a group of men, also understood tocomprise government officials, attacked and beat him before police arrived andtook him into protective custody.

DharmasrayaPolice Chief Sr. Comr. Chairul Aziz told the Jakarta Globe that Alexandermoderated a Facebook account titled “Ateis Minang” (Minang Atheists) and hadwritten an update that “God does not exist.”

Chairulsaid he could not confirm the reports that Alexander was attacked but say thathe had taken into protective custody to “anticipate anarchy.”

“Besides,he is also afraid of being intimidated or hurt.”

Alexanderwas quoted by Padangekspres.co.id as saying that he did not believe in Godbecause of the amount of crime and disasters.

“If Godindeed exists, why do bad things happen,” he was quoted as saying. “Thereshould only be good things if God is merciful.”

Alexandersaid he was born a Muslim but ceased religious activities in 2008.

“I have noidea what the problem is. When I arrived at the office, a mob came and beat me,and took me to the police.”

Aziz saidpolice would wait for a recommendation from the West Sumatra CoordinatingAgency to Supervise Religion and Beliefs (Bakorpakem) as well as the Ministryof Religious Affairs before deciding on further action against Alexander.

“If theyconsider what he did was blasphemy, we will charge him.”

GusrizalGazahar, head of the West Sumatera chapter of the Council of Ulema (MUI), toldlocal media that if he refused to repent, Alexander should lose his job.

“I want himto be fired,” he said.

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ASEAN cultural show, exhibition in Jakarta soon

2012-01-17T21:12:00.002+07:00

Antara News, Tue, January 17 2012

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Jakarta(ANTARA News) - The Association of South East-Asian Nations (ASEAN) in aneffort to promote its member countries` lives in various fields is to hold anASEAN Cultural Show and Exhibition 2012 in Jakarta later this month.

(ANTARA/Basrul Haq)

The head ofthe ASEAN Secretariat`s public outreach and civil society department andassistant director of community affairs development, Durudee Sirichanya, saidthe ASEAN Cultural Show and Exhibition 2012`s mission was to showcase theeconomic, social and political aspects of the lives of the peoples in the ASEANregion.

"Theevent is not just to promote ASEAN cultures, but all aspects of the lives ofthe peoples in the region," said Sirichanya in Jakarta, Tuesday.

She saidthe event was also an effort to help form an ASEAN Community as called for atthe 2011 ASEAN Summit.

Accordingto Sirichanya, the ASEAN Secretariat was very actively involved in ASEANcommunities through many events.

"Wewant to see ASEAN communities getting closer to and able to help each other inorder to increase the economic, social and political growth of theregion," she said.

"Withthe spirit of `One Vision, One Identity, One Community, we will strengthenASEAN`s position in the global world," she added.

The ASEANCultural Show and Exhibition 2012 will be held at Gandaria City in Jakarta,January 20-22 and the committee will feature art and culture from the ten ASEANmember countries which will be packed into various shows, music performancesand exhibitions.

The eventwill be officially opened on Friday, January 20, by ASEAN Secretary-GeneralSurin Pitsuwan, a representative of Indonesia`s foreign ministry, DjauhariOratmangun, and Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo.

"Wehave also invited representatives of 52 countries including members of theASEAN Plus," said Sirichanya.

FamedPhilippine singer Maribeth would present special songs in English and Bahasa atthe opening of the first ASEAN Cultural Show and Exhibition. Next year`s eventwould be held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Editor: Priyambodo RH

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Girl Band Challenges Old Conservatism in Burma

The members of Me N Ma Girls, all in their early 20s, travel to rehearsals
in traditional outfits, because the shorts and tank tops they rehearse in would
raise eyebrows in Rangoon. After decades of military rule, Burma is slowly
opening to new forms of culture. (Photo courtesy of Me N Ma Girls)

First big cruise ship berths at Benoa, Bali

2012-01-17T02:29:00.000+07:00

Antara News, Tue, January 17 2012

RelatedNews

Denpasar,Bali (ANTARA News) - Deputy Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy SaptaNirwandar said a cruise ship named MV Legend of the Seas was the biggest yachtto berth in Benoa Harbor, Bali.

Cruise ShipPhoto: MV Legend

of the Seas

"Previously,cruise ships of the same size as the Legend could not berth at any Indonesiaport. They could only throw anchor some distance from the coast and transportpassengers to the shore by small boats," he said here Monday.

SaptaNirwandar also said the 264.3-meter-long Legend of the Seas was the biggestcruise ship to berth at an Indonesian port, in this case Benoa, Bali.

Meanwhile,the harbor and dredging director of Bali`s Transportation Office, KemalHeryandri, said Benoa harbor was ready to receive big ships from overseas.

KemalHeryandri said coral reefs in the harbor waters had been removed in 2011 toensure the navigation safety of big ships, even of ships bigger than the MVLegend. Besides, Kemal added, the local government had also dredged the coastalwaters up to a depth of 11 meters.

"In2012, the dredging will reach 12 meters to enable big cruise ships to bertheasily and safely," Kemal said.

PresidentDirector of PT Indonesia Harbor (Pelindo) III, Djarwo Surjanto, had previouslysaid Benoa would be the first port in Indonesia able to receive the Legend ofthe Seas.

The cruiseship had 2,300 passengers and a 1,000-strong crew on board when it arrived inBenoa.

"TheLegend`s visit will attract world attention because it is the first time for abig cruise ship to berth at an Indonesian port," Djarwo said.

Editor: B Kunto Wibisono

Indonesian Village Riven by Dutch Massacre Compensation

2012-01-16T16:05:00.003+07:00

Jakarta Globe, Niniek Karmini, January 16, 2012

Wanti binti Sariman wipes away her tears during a commemoration
in Rawagede, West Java, on Dec. 9, 2011. After six decades of waiting,
relatives of men killed in a notorious massacre during Indonesia's bitter
struggle for independence were awarded compensation, but villagers say
the money has torn apart the community. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)

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Rawagede,West Java. Relatives of men executed by Dutch troops in this tiny Indonesianvillage fought for six decades to get compensation that was supposed to healwounds. Now that they have the money, it has ripped Rawagede apart once again.

Only a fewof the residents — most of them widows in their 80s and 90s — brought the caseto court.

But withhundreds killed, many more suffered. Claiming part of the $270,000 wasrightfully theirs, old friends and neighbors cajoled, bullied and intimidatedthe plaintiffs and their families until local officials jumped in, forcing themto part with half their cash.

“It’s notfair,” said Muskar Warjo, who lost his father and grandfather in the massacrethat wiped out nearly the entire male population of Rawagede. “Our lawyers saidthe money belonged to us, that we could use it as we saw fit.”

Soldiersclinging to their retreating colonial empire arrived just before dawn on Dec.9, 1947, in search of a well-known resistance leader and — after getting nohelp — led up to 430 boys and young men to a rice field and shot them one byone.

It took 64years, but in September a Dutch court ordered its government to apologize forthe killings and to give each of the 10 plaintiffs $27,000. Three died duringthe course of the trial and the money went to their families instead.

Muskar,representing his mother after her death in 2009, said almost immediately afterthe verdict was handed down, mobs surrounded his home, the faces of people he’dknown all his life, twisted with hatred and anger.

“There werehundreds of them, screaming, threatening to burn down my house if I didn’t givethem some of my money,” said the 75-year-old, his eyes brimming with tears. “Inthe end, I didn’t have any choice.”

The courtruling has paved the way for similar allegations of war crimes during theNetherlands’ centuries-long rule in Indonesia — and raised the possibility offurther compensation.

But goodintentions went awry in this small farming village of 3,000 where — as in otherparts of this sprawling, developing nation of 240 million — quick turns offortune are rarely celebrated by those left behind, trying to eke out a livingon as little as $2 a day.

InRawagede, the jealousy even set siblings against each other.

Muskarescaped the mob outside his house on Dec. 27 and — after a community decisionto divvy up the cash — was escorted by local authorities to a neighboringvillage for his own safety until tensions eased.

Stillafraid, he decided to go instead to a relative’s house just outside thecapital, Jakarta. Before long, however, Rawagede officials showed up in a vanto bring him home. They said they could guarantee his safety, but in turnwanted him to sign a letter agreeing to part with his money, Muskar said.

In the end,his mother’s dream to replace their rickety, wooden shack with a new brickhouse remains just that, he said: a dream.

Additionalcompensation in the works would benefit the community as a whole: the Dutchgovernment promised three years ago to provide $1.2 million in “developmentaid” to build a school, hospital and market in Rawagede. But even that moneyhas been caught up in a dispute. It remains stuck in The Hague because of adisagreement between two Indonesian foundations — both claiming to representthe villagers’ interests.

Officialsat the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs could not immediately be reached forcomment about any of the compensation disputes.

Theexecutions still loom large in Rawagede.

A hero’scemetery, with row after row of simple white grave stones, has been built onthe outskirts. The anniversary is marked by the whole town every year.

Old womenand men, their faces heavily grooved and backs curved by scoliosis, tremblewhen talking about the morning Dutch troops arrived in their village by thehundreds and opened fire, sending sleepy residents scattering from their homesin panic.

Some hidunder beds with their children. Others concealed themselves in bushes or jumpedinto rivers, helpless as they watched the soldiers round up all the boys andmen they could find.

Forced tosquat in rows, with both hands placed on the backs of their heads, they wereshot, the survivors say.

Kadun binSiot was among those who protested the court award.

“What aboutme?” he said, his lips quivering as he struggled to contain his emotion. “Whydon’t I deserve to be compensated. I suffered as much as they did.”

He was 12,peering through the slats of a wooden barn as soldiers flushed his father outof his hiding place in a trash heap, stabbing it with bayonets until heemerged, blood pouring from his face.

“Theydragged him away,” said the 76 year-old farmer. “I never saw him again.”

“I’m veryangry at the Dutch. First the killings and now this. The way they are handingout money,” he said. “It’s just created jealously, anger.”

It wasafter hearing many such complaints that Mamat, the village chief, decided to calla meeting. He invited plaintiffs and their families — as well as police andother top local officials — to reach an agreement. The widows and theirfamilies should share. People like Kadun ended up getting $500, a lot inRawagede, but not nearly enough to fully appease anyone.

“It’s anextremely sensitive situation,” said Mamat, who goes by only one name. “TheDutch government can’t be expected to understand that money, distributedunfairly, causes new problems. We all know it’s impossible to make everyonehappy, but we had to try.”

Theplaintiffs say in the end the money may have caused more problems than good.

The familyof 92-year-old Wanti Dodo was ripped apart.

What thewidow wanted was a few gold bracelets and rings — a dream she had since childhood.The rest she divided between her seven sons and daughter. Two of her childrenprotested — those from Wanti’s first husband, Enap, who was killed in themassacre.

They feltthey deserved more, said Iwa Kartiwa, Wanti’s son.

Thehassling by villagers started as soon as the court handed down its verdict, hesaid. Every time the phone rang, neighbors would flock to the house and pepperthem with questions.

Was it newsabout the compensation, the would ask. How much was it? When would it arrive?

The tonequickly grew hostile.

Soon theirhouse, too, was surrounded by a mob.

“We didn’t‘agree’ to give away the money. We had to,” said Cawi, his sister.

“What elsecould we do?”

Associated Press

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Girl Band Challenges Old Conservatism in Burma

2012-01-14T07:07:00.001+07:00

Jakarta Globe, January 11, 2012

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Withsensual choreography and provocative outfits, Burma’s first girl band pushesthe limits of artistic acceptability in this socially conservative country.

But whentheir parents call, asking why they are not home at 10 p.m., the five bandmembers scurry back to being deferential daughters. “We are living twodifferent lives,” said Lung Sitt Ja Moon, who is known onstage as Ah Moon. “Wedo what we want to do onstage, and then we go home to our parents.”

The band iscalled Me N Ma Girls, a play on “Myanmar girls,” referring to an alternativename for the country. They are battling conservative parents, governmentcensorship and boyfriends who think it is outrageous that they go onstage insuch skimpy outfits.

“We try ourbest to be hot, but not too sexy,” said Wai Hnin Khaing, another band member.

Burma isemerging after years of dictatorial military rule and isolation. There is talkthat the censorship board, which vets songs, articles and movies, will beabolished. Government-sanctioned art and traditional, ankle-length sarongs arebeing challenged by the prospect of more Western-inspired entertainment,clothing and lifestyles.

“Peoplethink that if a girl is wearing something too sexy, she’s not normal,” said AhMoon, whose preacher father is still grappling with her career choice. “Theythink she’s a bad girl.”

The membersof Me N Ma Girls, all in their early 20s, often travel to rehearsals dressed intraditional outfits. The denim shorts and tank tops they rehearse in wouldraise eyebrows on the streets of Rangoon.

The bandmembers do not see themselves as rebels. All five have college degrees:chemistry, zoology, mathematics, Russian and computer science. They are tappinginto a trend by Burma’s younger generation to embrace Western pop culture.

Me N MaGirls released its first album in December and has been raising its profilewith a recent string of concerts in Rangoon. The band is the creation of anAustralian dancer and graphic designer, Nicole May, who came to Burma threeyears ago and teamed up with a Burmese, Moe Kyaw. He initially financed theeffort.

May chosefive women from 120 candidates who responded to an ad for a band called TigerGirls. “I wanted five girls who had energy and magnetic attraction,” she said.

But herwinners did not have the South Korean look Moe Kyaw was aiming for:light-skinned with willowy bodies.

“I wasskeptical,” he said in response to e-mailed questions. “If you were to ask meif I thought they had the looks for a successful girl band, I would say no.”

Moe Kyawsaid he initially relented because he thought that the girls were talented andthat looks were not everything. “This was during the days of Susan Boyle,” hesaid, recalling the unprepossessing Scottish singer who soared to stardom on aBritish TV talent show.

But hechanged his mind. A year ago, the partners parted. The girls followed May andchanged their name to Me N Ma Girls.

The notionof an all-girl band is still novel here, said Heather MacLachlan, a professorof music at the University of Dayton and the author of a recent book, “Burma’sPop Music Industry: Creators, Distributors, Censors.”

The bandsings about love and heartbreak and boy-meets-girl situations that might bebenign in other cultures but rankle in a society where children live with theirparents until they are married.

In thevideo for their song “Festival,” the girls dance in a sweaty nightclub and takea dip in a swimming pool. They peer over sunglasses as they sing the suggestivelines: “Hey, you! Are you happy? You want some?”

“I’ve NEVERseen girls behave like that, ever,” MacLachlan wrote in an e-mail, referring toBurmese girls.

As popmusicians in Burma, Me N Ma Girls face a unique set of problems. The powerregularly goes out in one of their practice locations and the roof leaks duringthe rainy season. The censors barred the band from using colored wigs lastyear. “Tipping” the censors eases the process.

Growingname recognition has yet to translate to financial success.

Wai HninKhaing’s mother makes a living selling pork salad on the street for 200 kyat,or about 25 cents, a plate.

LalrinKimi, who goes by Kimmy onstage, grew up in a mountain village near the borderwith India, an area that suffers from famine and plagues of rice-eating rats.She lives with her siblings in Rangoon and makes a living singing in bars andrestaurants.

Her fatherdisapproved of her joining the band. “He wanted me to do only gospel songs,”she said.

The girlshave big dreams.

“I wantthis band to hit Hollywood!” said Su Pyae Mhu Eain, the zoology major, known asCha Cha.

Cha Cha’sown experiences inspired a song about a breakup, featuring the chorus, “You area liar!” The song’s video was shot in Bangkok late last year.

For most ofthe band, that trip was the first time outside impoverished Burma. Theymarveled at Bangkok’s mass transit, the malls and the anonymity of a big city.

“I feltfreedom there,” Kimmy said. “We could wear whatever. We didn’t need to careabout other people. Here, if we wear shorts, we get teased.”

The bandalso saw the libertine side of Bangkok, including a sex show. “There were somany things we don’t see in Myanmar,” Kimmy said. “Prostitutes — so many!” (Theshow, which featured one particularly explicit sex act, was too much for ChaCha. She ran to the ladies’ room and vomited.)

The girlsare planning a return early this year, where they will perform with other bandsfrom Burma. In the meantime, they focus on rehearsals, and keeping theirparents soothed.

Band memberHtike Htike Aung received a text message from her mother after one recentrehearsal carried over to midnight.

“Do youknow you still have parents!” the message read, followed by more pleading: “Mylittle daughter, call me back!”

She returnedhome and found her mother waiting for her with a home-cooked meal.

“She nevergoes to sleep until I get back,” Htike Htike Aung said. “I felt so bad.”

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Dutch Queen Beatrix calls headscarf row 'nonsense'

2012-01-13T06:05:00.001+07:00

BBC News, 12January 2012

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The queen was said to have heaved
a deep sigh over the row

QueenBeatrix of the Netherlands has dismissed as "real nonsense" adomestic political row over her wearing of a headscarf while on a trip to theGulf.

She wasreacting to questions in parliament tabled by Geert Wilders's Freedom Party(PVV) which claimed she "legitimises the oppression of women".

QueenBeatrix wore a gown and headscarf first on Sunday on a visit to Abu Dhabi andagain on Thursday in Oman.

Herofficials said she had acted out of respect for Islamic tradition.

DuringThursday's visit to the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque in the Omani capital,Muscat, the queen wore a red shawl over her hat while Princess Maxima who wasaccompanying her also had her head covered.

Dutch TVsaid that by also wearing gloves, the queen had covered herself even more thanin Abu Dhabi.

The PVV, ananti-Islam party that props up the Dutch minority government without being partof the coalition, described her wearing of a headscarf on Sunday as a "sadspectacle".

Reporterswith the royal party in Muscat on Thursday described the queen as heaving adeep sigh, while saying she was not surprised by the row.

PrincessMaxima also spoke out, according to Dutch media, pointing out that two-thirdsof students in Abu Dhabi were women.

Althoughthe queen regularly speaks to the Dutch press at the end of a royal tour, herfrank remarks about a domestic political party are being seen as unprecedented.

Queen Beatrix, who is in Abu Dabi, wore a headscarf when
she visited the Sheikh Zayed Mosque. (Photo: ANP)

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10 Indonesian hotels win ASEAN Green Award

2012-01-12T00:35:00.003+07:00

Antara News, Wed, January 11 2012

RelatedNews

Manado, NSulawesi (ANTARA News) - Ten hotels operating in Indonesia have won ASEAN GreenHotel Recognition Award 2012 for applying environmentally friendly principlesto their operations.

ASEAN Green Award

IndonesianMinister of Tourism and Creative Economy Mari Pangestu presented the award torepresentatives of the hotels here on Wednesday.

The 10hotels are Matahari Beach Resort & Spa (Bali), Discovery Kartika PlazaHotel (Bali), Holiday Inn Resort (Batam), Angsana (Bintan), Melia Benoa (Bali),Losari Spa Retreat & Coffee Plantation (Magelang), The St Regis BaliResort(Bali), Melia Bali Villa & Spa Resort, The Dharmawangsa Jakarta,Hotel Gran Melia Jakarta.

Mari saidthe Green Award 2012 was the third of its kind since 2008. The first such awardwas given to ASEAN hotels in Thailand in 2008 and the second in BruneiDarussalam in 2010.

Environmentallyfriendly principle is the main aspect to see if a hotel deserves to receive theaward according to the document of ASEAN Green Hotel Standard agreed upon by 10ASEAN member countries.

Thedocument covers a number of criteria and prerequisites as environmentalpolicies which lay a basis for the environmentally friendly operation ofhotels, including the use of green products, cooperation with local people andorganizations, and human resources development.

Besidessolid waste management, energy efficiency, water efficiency, air qualitymanagement (indoor and outdoor), noise pollution control, waste water treatmentand management, toxic and chemical substance disposal management.

Tightcompetition in the hotel industry has encouraged the adoption of the GreenHotel Standard. The award is designed to promote hotel operators' environmentalawareness amid the looming threat of global warming, increase the competitiveedge of the hotel industry in attracting more guests and improving the qualityof ASEAN hotels' services to support ASEAN as a single tourism destination.

The awardwas also given to a number of other ASEAN member countries which respectivelynominated 10 hotels for the award.

Editor: Ade Marboen

Indonesia's new symbol for injustice: Sandals

2012-01-04T06:47:00.001+07:00

nzherald.co.nz, Jan 4, 2012

Thousands of Indonesians have dumped old sandals at police stations
and prosecutor offices to help protest for a 15-year-old boy being
prosecuted for lifting an old pair of sandals in Central
Sulawesi province. Photo / AP

Indonesianshave found a new symbol for their growing frustration at uneven justice intheir young, democratic nation: cheap, worn-out flip-flops.

They havebeen dropping them off at police stations all over the sprawling archipelago toexpress outrage over the arrest and trial of a 15-year-old boy for lifting anold pair of white sandals from outside a boarding house used by police innorthern Indonesia.

"Thisis insane," said Titis Anissa, a high school teacher in the capital,Jakarta, noting that government officials found guilty of plundering statecoffers get off with a slap on the wrist. "And a young, poor boy takes apair of $3 sandals? Enough already!"

The boysnatched the shoes while he and several friends headed home from school inPalu, the capital of Central Sulawesi province, in November 2010.

He waslater interrogated and badly beaten by three officers, and faces up to fiveyears in prison if found guilty - the same sentence given to many terrorists,drug pushers and rapists.

He willappear Wednesday before the court in Palu for the second hearing of his trial,which opened last month.

Indonesiahas made tremendous strides since the ouster of longtime dictator Suharto justover a decade ago, implementing sweeping reforms that have freed up the media,scrapped oppressive laws and given citizens the right to directly pick theirleaders for the first time.

But thejudicial system remains a weak point. The flip-flop case has captured headlinessince the trial began and is one of the most popular trends on socialnetworking sites like Facebook and Twitter.

Thousandshave joined in the sandal donation protest.

A batch of1,000 flip-flops will be given to Sgt. Ahmad Rusdi Harahap, owner of the stolenshoes, as "compensation," said campaign organizer Budhi Kurniawan.

The boy,not identified by name because of his age, said he found the dirty oldflip-flops near a garbage bin outside the boarding house. Six months later, hewas summoned by Harahap, who accused him of theft.

"Atfirst, I didn't understand what he was talking about," he told TheAssociated Press. "I'd forgotten all about those sandals."

"Hecalled a few of his colleagues and they started beating me up, hitting me witha piece of wood," he said. "I fell into a steep trench. My legs werebleeding."

The boysaid the officers made him promise to give each a new pair of sandals, but hisfather, after seeing the cuts and bruises on his son's body, decided to reportthe men to their superiors.

Harahap,who along with the other two officers is facing charges of violating policeethics, responded by taking the teenager to criminal court.

It was amove Andreas Harsono, of the New York-based group Human Rights Watch, said wasobviously "excessive" and vindictive.

Ayu Laksmi,a Balinese artist, brought 10 pairs of sandals to the National Commission forChild Protection on Tuesday to show her displeasure.

"Thisjust goes to show, once again, that our laws discriminate," she said."It's tough on the poor and weak when it comes to those with money orpower."

Theteenager is not the first minor to face trial over a small criminal offence.

Last year,a 14-year-old boy was brought to court after spending three weeks in a Jakartaprison for allegedly stealing a $1.15 cellphone voucher.

Judgesfinally dropped the charges, arguing the investigation of the case was"defective."

- AP

First Brig.Ahmad Rusdi Harahap, left, was given 21 days

in detention by a police tribunalon Thursday for abusing a

teenager accused of stealing a pair of sandals in2010.

(Antara Photo)

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Bali Increasingly a Stop for the World’s Cruise Ships

2012-01-02T22:22:00.003+07:00

Jakarta Globe, Made Arya Kencana, January 02, 2012

Bali has increasingly become a stop on the itineraries of cruise ships. Officials,
and a port official says 2012 promises to be the biggest year yet for the island.
(JG Photo/J.P. Christo)

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Denpasar.Bali has increasingly become a stop on the itineraries of cruise ships, and aport official says 2012 promises to be the biggest year yet for the island.

IwanSabatini, the general manager of Pelabuhan Indonesia III, which manages BenoaPort in southern Bali, said on Monday that 35 cruise ships berthed at the portlast year, compared to 27 in 2010 and 15 in 2009.

“Thatnumber exceeded our target. We were really happy,” Iwan said.

The targetfor this year, according to Iwan, is 28 visits. That should not be toodifficult to achieve, with Iwan saying 38 cruise ships had already indicatedtentative plans to stop at Bali in 2012.

The firstof those 38, the Legend of the Sea, a luxury cruise ship operated byMiami-based Royal Caribbean, is scheduled to berth at Benoa this month.

The264-meter-long ship was scheduled to stop at the port last year but was unableto stop because the water was not deep enough in front of the jetty.

Iwan saidthey had completed work to deepen the sea to at least nine and a half metersfor a width of 150 meters all along the jetty.

Bali isconstructing a deep port for cruise ships in Tanah Ampo, in Karangasemdistrict. The project had been halted because of funding problems but theKarangasem district chief, I Wayan Geredeg, said a new agreement signed by theministries of transportation, people’s welfare, tourism and the creativeeconomy, and maritime affairs and fisheries would allow work to resume soon.

Geredegsaid the Tanah Ampo cruise ship terminal would provide another major gatewayfor tourists to arrive on the island, in addition to Ngurah Rai InternationalAirport.

More than2.5 million foreigners visited Bali in 2010, and the target for last year was2.6 million to 2.8 million.

The People, Events That Made Our Year

2011-12-31T17:18:00.003+07:00

Jakarta Globe, NurhayatIndriyatno, December 31, 2011

After being returned from Colombia, former Democratic Party treasurer
Muhammad Nazaruddin dominated the news. He is now on trial for
corruption over a SEA Games bribery scandal. (JG Photo/Afriadi Hikmal)

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The pastyear offered up a bounty of prime headline fodder, with plenty of peoplestepping into the glare of the public spotlight, willingly or not, to capturethe nation’s attention.

From thetwists and turns in the globe-spanning saga of a corruption fugitive and theseedy revelations behind the lavish lifestyle of a high-flying bankingexecutive to the meteoric rise of a lip-synching wonder, 2011 was never short ofnewsmakers.

MuhammadNazaruddin

The personwho arguably hogged the most headlines and TV airtime this year was MuhammadNazaruddin, who at the start of 2011 was being feted as part of the newgeneration of savvy youngsters rising through the ranks of the rulingDemocratic Party.

Inmid-April, however, things began unraveling for him when a fixer caught duringa bribery bust at the Youth and Sports Affairs Ministry revealed that sheworked for Nazaruddin and that she had been ordered to facilitate a bribe to aministry official to secure the contract to build the athletes’ village for theSoutheast Asian Games.

On May 23,he fled for Singapore, a day before the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK)applied for a travel ban against him. Once abroad, he began leveling a rash ofaccusations against other Democrats, including party chairman Anas Urbaningrum.

He wasarrested in Cartagena, Colombia, in August and repatriated, but the controversyrages on. In his ongoing trial, the former Democrat continues to drop names.

DianiBudiarto

Undoubtedlyone of the most polarizing figures in the news this year was Diani Budiarto,the mayor of Bogor. Backed by Islamic hard-liners and lambasted by almosteveryone else, his term in office has been defined by his controversialdecision to seal off the GKI Yasmin church and prevent parishioners from usingit.

Although inpossession of a valid building permit issued in 2006, the church was sealed offby the city in 2010 on the grounds that church officials had falsified thesignatures on the petition required to get the permit.

The SupremeCourt in January ruled against the revocation of the permit and ordered thechurch reopened. However, Diani has refused to comply, offering up a range ofexcuses, including that churches cannot be built on streets with Islamic names.

Nor did ithelp his reputation when, in August, the 56-year-old mayor married a19-year-old woman — his fourth concurrent wife.

Throughoutthe year, the GKI Yasmin congregation continued to be harassed by mobs ofconservative Muslims every Sunday as it attempted to hold services outside thesealed-off building.

ThisChristmas, the congregation was once again blocked from going near the churchand forced to hold Mass at a member’s house. If the stalemate holds, they willbe facing another Christmas without a church this time next year.

Malinda Dee

One of themost outlandish and literally larger-than-life characters to make the news thisyear was Inong Malinda Dee, a Citibank relationship manager who was arrested inMarch for allegedly embezzling Rp 17 billion ($1.8 million) from customers.Prosecutors later revised the figure up to Rp 40 billion.

In theensuing probe, police seized two Ferraris, a Hummer and a Mercedes sports carfrom her. It was also revealed that she had undergone extensive breast augmentationsurgery, as well as a procedure to implant silicone in her vagina. During herincarceration prior to her trial, she had to be hospitalized for several weeksbecause of complications from the implants.

Her trial,now under way, has revealed how she allegedly siphoned large amounts of moneyfrom clients and laundered it through accounts belonging to her sister andbrother-in-law. These two are also on trial, as is Malinda’s much youngercommon-law husband, actor Andhika Gumilang.

AngelinaSondakh

Anotherhigh-profile woman making waves was Angelina Sondakh, a former Miss Indonesiaand currently a House legislator with the Democratic Party.

Angelinagarnered nationwide sympathy back in February when her husband, fellowlegislator and former actor Adjie Massaid, died of a heart attack at just 43.But that sympathy quickly disappeared when the SEA Games scandal broke andAngelina was one of several legislators accused of taking kickbacks from theproject. Though questioned by the KPK, she has not been named a suspect.

Earlierthis month, it was revealed that Angelina was involved in a “personal, closerelationship” with a married investigator on loan to the KPK from the police.

NormanKamaru

Longcriticized as among the nation’s most corrupt institutions, the police forcereceived a welcome, though brief, reprieve this year through Norman Kamaru, ayoung officer with the Mobile Brigade in Gorontalo province.

In lateMarch, a video of Norman lip-synching and dancing to the popular Hindi song“Chaiya-Chaiya” went viral on YouTube (to date, it has been viewed more thanthree million times).

Theofficial reaction was one of outrage, with the National Police saying Normanwould be punished for “naughty, childish behavior.” They quickly relented,however, following massive public support for the officer.

Norman wasjetted into Jakarta for a whirlwind tour of popular music and talk shows. Buthe was soon focusing more on his foray into the entertainment industry than onhis job, giving rise to tensions with his superiors.

InSeptember he tendered his resignation from the force, and after a standoff overwhether he should pay back his training costs, the police finally gave him adishonorable discharge this month for dereliction of duty.

IrfanBachdim

Anotheryoung sensation this year was Irfan Bachdim, the half-Dutch heartthrobnationalized and recruited to the national football team.

It was inDecember last year that he captured the nation’s attention with his model-goodlooks and electrifying skills on the pitch during the Asean Football FederationSuzuki Cup.

Throughout2011, he has appeared in numerous movies and commercials and been the subjectof intense media scrutiny over his relationship with Indonesian-German lingeriemodel Jennifer Kurniawan, the sister of one of his teammates, Kim.

In October,though, things soured for Irfan when he was dropped from the under-23 team,after failing to show up to practice because he was doing a commercial shoot.

MarzukiAlie

Politicsdominated much of the national debate this year, and front and center for muchof it was Marzuki Alie, the House speaker from the Democratic Party.

Marzukistarted the year out under a cloud, facing heavy criticism both from the publicand from inside the House over his insistence on pushing ahead with a plan tobuild a costly new office tower for legislators.

In April,relenting to the public outcry, Marzuki finally pulled the plug on the project,but not until $2.5 million had already been spent in the planning phase.

The speakeralso courted much ridicule this year for his many gaffes, from calling acaterpillar infestation in Java and Bali a biblical-style “warning from God” tosuggesting that staff from the United Nations Development Program should vacatetheir offices in the legislative building because the UNDP was a “foreignnongovernmental organization.”

He also puthis foot in it in February, at the height of public indignation over themistreatment of Indonesian migrant workers, by suggesting they were hurting thecountry’s reputation. “Some of them can’t iron properly, so it’s natural if theemployer ends up landing the hot iron on the migrant worker’s body,” he said.

TifatulSembiring

Anotherpolitician seldom out of the headlines was Tifatul Sembiring, the communicationand information technology minister from the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS).

Theminister started the year the way he ended 2010, with a campaign to getResearch In Motion, maker of the popular BlackBerry smartphone, to installporn-blocking filters for its services. Round one went to Tifatul, with RIMcomplying ahead of the mid-January deadline.

Hisantiporn victory, however, was soured by a scandal in April in which a PKSlegislator was caught watching pornography on his tablet computer during aplenary session of the House.

Tifatul,usually vocal about such matters, took much flak for not weighing in.

InDecember, he went after BlackBerry again, this time threatening to shut downits Internet service because it had not yet complied with an order to set up adata center in the country.

Orangutan

While thepoliticians may have been monkeying around, things were far more dire this yearfor the orangutan, the iconic, and endangered, red apes of Sumatra and Borneo.

The yearstarted out positively enough with the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundationgetting the go-ahead in April to release captive orangutans back into the wild,following a nine-year hiatus marked by zero releases.

A monthlater, though, it was revealed that the concession in which the 1,200 animalswere to be gradually released was rife with illegal logging and poachingactivities. From there, things only got worse. In November, a study showed thatvillagers in Kalimantan were responsible for the deaths of 750 of the apes overthe past year. Days later, disturbing news emerged from East Kalimantan that anoil palm company there had ordered the slaughter of dozens of orangutans andother primates it deemed pests.

Komodo

The yearwas more mixed for another iconic Indonesian animal, the Komodo dragon.

In March,Surabaya Zoo, notorious for the high rate of deaths among its animals, reportedthat three juvenile dragons went missing, possibly stolen for the lucrativeillegal trade in exotic species. Sure enough, in October police arrested a manfor trying to sell one of the animals.

A monthlater, an adult dragon was found dead at the zoo, with the cause of deathbelieved to be food poisoning from consuming items thrown to it by visitors.

But therewas also good news, of sorts, for the animal in its natural habitat. KomodoNational Park was in November named to the provisional list of the New SevenWonders of Nature.

Therecognition, however, was tainted by the long and testy nature of thecompetition, which saw the organizer, the N7W Foundation, drop the Culture andTourism Ministry as the official supporting partner for Komodo’s bid over a feedispute. In the end, the park made it into the final seven.

Netherlands to be promoted a center of Indonesia`s culinary in Europe

2011-12-28T15:01:00.001+07:00

Antara News, Wed, December 28 2011

Jakarta(ANTARA News) - The Netherlands is going to be a hub for Indonesia`s culinarypromotion in Europe, Indonesian newly appointed Ambassador for The NetherlandsRetno Marsudi said here on Wednesday.

"Indonesianculinary promotion is going to be developed in the Netherlands and we plan tomake the country as our hub of promotion to other European countries," shesaid.

Accordingto Retno, culinary promotion was not only considered as an effort to exchangeculture between Indonesia and the Netherlands but also a way to improveIndonesian people`s economy.

Before,several Indonesian Embassies in countries such as Russia and Dubai hadconducted Indonesian culinary promotion events.

In Dubai,the culinary promotion is held in Toshi Restaurant, Grand Millennium HotelDubai, inviting wife of foreign ambassadors, senior officials and foreignentrepreneurs in the country.

Among themenu served in the event are Gado-Gado (Indonesian sald), Tongseng Kambing (friedlamb in soya sauce), Nasi Goreng (fried rice) and Mie Goreng (fried noddle).

While inMoscow, Indonesian Embassy there and the Russia`s Gastronomic Association holda garden party presenting traditional chili mix culinary from North Sulawesiprovince called Sambal Dabu-Dabu.

Editor: Jafar M Sidik

Indonesia girl back with family after 2004 tsunami

2011-12-23T21:31:00.002+07:00

Associated Press, by Fakhrurradzie Gade, Dec 23, 2011

Fifteen-year-oldWati, second right, poses for a photograph with her father

Yusuf, right, motherYusniar, left, and younger brother Aris at their home

in Meulaboh, Acehprovince, Indonesia, Friday, Dec. 23, 2011. The girl who

was swept away in theIndian Ocean tsunami seven years ago has been reunited

with her parents. (APPhoto)

Latest News

BANDA ACEH,Indonesia (AP) -- A girl who was swept away in the Indian Ocean tsunami sevenyears ago said Friday that she broke down in tears this week after trackingdown her parents, who had long lost hope of finding her alive.

Fifteen-year-oldWati showed up at a cafe in Meulaboh, a town in Aceh province, earlier thisweek saying that not long after the wave hit she was found and"adopted" by a woman who forced her to beg in the streets, sometimesuntil 1 a.m.

When shestopped bringing in money, Wati was kicked out by the woman. She then set outto find her family, but had very little information to guide her - only thename of her grandfather, Ibrahim.

Someone atthe cafe tracked down a man by that name, and the man - unsure if it wasactually his granddaughter - quickly summoned her parents.

"WhenI saw my mother, I knew it was her. I just knew it," said Wati, who wasgiven that name by the woman who found her. Her original name is Meri Yuranda.

The Dec.26, 2004, tsunami that killed 230,000 people in a dozen nations hit Aceh -closest to the epicenter of the magnitude-9.1 quake that spawned waves 30 feet(10 meters) high - the hardest.

With tensof thousands of bodies never recovered in the province, many people continue tocling to hope of finding lost loved ones, putting up fliers or ads innewspapers.

Reunions,however, are extremely rare and, when they occur, rarely confirmed.

Wati'smother, Yusniar binti Ibrahim Nur, 35, said she did not need a DNA test toprove the girl was hers.

"Shehas her father's face," she said, adding that she had stopped believingshe would ever see her daughter again. "Then I saw the scar over her eyeand mole on her hip, and I was even more sure."

Wati andher father had different accounts of what happened on the day of the tsunami.

The girlsays she remembers her father putting her into a boat with her sister, who isstill missing and presumed dead. The father says that before the family wasseparated, he put both of his daughters on the roof of their house.

MeriYuranda, aka Wati (c), is reunited with her family in Meulaboh,

West Aceh,Indonesia. (Photograph: Arman/EPA)

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Indonesian Widows to Seek Justice for Another Dutch Massacre

2011-12-21T16:28:00.000+07:00

Jakarta Globe, December 21, 2011

A mural depicting the 1947 massacre by Dutch military troops of Indonesians
is displayed at the Rawagede memorial in West Java. (AFP Photo/File)

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The Hague.Widows of Indonesian men killed by the Dutch colonial army in 1946 and 1947 onSulawesi island are planning to seek justice before a court in the Netherlands,their lawyer said on Tuesday.

“We areexploring the possibilities of legal action,” Amsterdam-based lawyer LiesbethZegveld said following a landmark ruling earlier this year which found theDutch state responsible for another massacre in Indonesia in 1947.

The newcase was “not about money” but “about getting recognition for the harm that hasbeen done to them,” Zegveld said.

InSeptember a court in The Hague found the Dutch state responsible for executionscommitted by its colonial army in 1947 in the village of Rawagede onIndonesia’s Java island.

The courtruled in favour of eight widows and a survivor of the Rawagede massacre duringIndonesia’s fight for independence, where men and boys were executed by thecolonial Dutch army as relatives and friends looked on.

Zegveldsaid the new legal action could start “within two or three months in theNetherlands.”

“So far, wehave spoken to about 10 widows who could enter the Dutch courts,” she added.

Residentsclaim some 40,000 Indonesians were killed by the Dutch army in Sulawesi’s southbetween December 1946 and February 1947 while conducting operations to look foropponents of the former Dutch colony.

The Dutchgovernment says there were between 3,000 to 5,000 deaths, according to figuresquoted in the Dutch media.

Zegveldsaid events to open proceedings are being studied, citing examples such asexecutions in the Sulawesian villages of Pare-Pare, Bulukumba, Lombok andSupa-Galung.

The Dutchgovernment formally apologized earlier this month for the Rawagede massacre onthe country’s Java island in an emotional ceremony.

Dutchofficials say some 150 people were killed, but a support group and the localcommunity say the death toll was 431.

Indonesiadeclared its independence in 1945.

Agence France-Presse

Indonesian Snaps Up Top National Geographic Photography Award

2011-12-20T22:41:00.000+07:00

Jakarta Globe, December 20, 2011

Indonesian photographer Shikhei Goh has won the prestigious 2011
National Geographic Photography Contest with a spectacular image
of a dragonfly in the rain in Riau. (National Geographic Photo/Shikhei Goh)

Indonesianphotographer Shikhei Goh has won the prestigious 2011 National GeographicPhotography Contest with a spectacular image of a dragonfly in the rain inRiau.

Accordingto reports, Goh will receive $10,000 and have his winning image published inthe international edition of National Geographic magazine.

Goh, whowon the grand prize as well as nature categories, beat out more than 20,000other photographs submitted by amateur and professional photographers from morethan 130 countries.

In a photocaption credited to Goh, the Indonesian wrote that he was out taking photographsof insects, “as I normally did during macro photo hunting.”

“I wasn’tactually aware of this dragonfly since I was occupied with other objects. WhenI was about to take a picture of it, it suddenly rained, but the lighting wasjust superb. I decided to take the shot regardless of the rain. The resultcaused me to be overjoyed, and I hope it pleases viewers.”

Tim Laman,one of three National Geographic magazine photographers who judged the contest,described the photograph to nationalgeographic.com as a “very strikingmacrophotography image that rose to the top of the nature category for mebecause of its originality, beautiful light, rare action in a close-up image,as well as its technical perfection.”

Yes, They Can: Indonesian Women Awarded for Community Contributions

2011-12-20T20:02:00.001+07:00

Jakarta Globe, SylvianaHamdani, December 20, 2011

Ainy Fauziyah, one of Tupperware Indonesia’s ‘She Can!’ award winners,
gave up a good, stable job in Jakarta to help rebuild homes in post-tsunami
Aceh. (JG Photo/Sylviana Hamdani)

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Traditionally,the only roles available to women in Indonesia were “masak, macak dan manak”(cooking, dressing up and bearing children). But today, this is far from thetruth.

With bettereducation and increased opportunities, Indonesian women are taking more activeroles. They are now leaders, motivators and key decision-makers in theirfamilies, businesses and society.

On Dec. 8,Tupperware Indonesia honored 52 exceptional women who have made differences intheir communities with the “Tupperware She Can!” awards.

“Despitetheir gentle physiques, women have a very strong power and influence,” saidNining Pernama, managing director of Tupperware Indonesia. “And as we lookedaround, we found those who use their skills and knowledge to educate, enlightenand empower other people around them.”

The 52winners received trophies, certificates and prize money totaling Rp 832.5million ($92,000) for their life-changing social works.

“I’ve oftenheard that the greatest power of Indonesia is its natural resources,” said RickGoings, chairman and chief executive of Tupperware Brands. “I can tell you thatin the many times I’ve been here and through the many people that I’ve gottento know, the greatest power in Indonesia is its women.

“The ‘SheCan!’ women are not only symbols but are also role models for many young womenin Indonesia for the future.”

Accordingto the 2010 census, there are nearly 240 million Indonesians, about half ofwhom are women.

“With thatmany women in the population, women are an asset and hold a lot of potentialfor this country,” said Sri Danti Anwar, deputy minister for women’sempowerment and child protection. “These women inspire their peers to work asequals to men, to be the best they can be and to empower other people aroundthem.’’

Each winnerhas an amazing story, and here we highlight three of these strong andinspirational women.

AsmaraniRosalba, Jakarta

Under thepen name “Asma Nadia,” this 39-year-old has written more than 40 fiction andnon-fiction books, as well as short stories and song lyrics.

Two of herbest-selling novels, “Emak Ingin Naik Haji” (“Mom Wants to Go on a HajjPilgrimage,” 2009) and “ Rumah Tanpa Jendela” (“House Without Windows,” 2011)have been made into movies. A third adaptation, “Ummi Aminah,” will be intheaters in January.

“I’ve neverthought I’d be who I am now,” she said. “Our family was poor and I was raisedin a small, dilapidated house near the railway. But I have a wonderful motherwho has always encouraged me to dream big.”

Her mother,Maria Eri Susianti, stayed by Asmarani’s side when she was diagnosed withsevere heart and lung problems in her teens. At the same time, doctorsdiscovered five tumors on her neck.

“I spent somany days in the hospital when I was young,” she said. Yet it was during thosedark days that her appetite for reading grew. Her mother brought a lot of booksto accompany her in the hospital.

Today,Asmarani is the chief executive of her own company, Asma Nadia PublishingHouse, and chairwoman of her foundation, Yayasan Asma Nadia.

ThroughYayasan Asma Nadia, she has set up 37 libraries in Java, Kalimantan and Papua,as well as two libraries in Hong Kong for Indonesian migrant workers.

“This eventhas inspired me to do more,” she said. “I met [social advocate and fellow awardwinner] Roostien Ilyas recently and we are planning to create libraries injuvenile detention halls around Jakarta.”

AinyFauziyah, Bekasi

“Everyone’sborn a glorious winner,” motivational coach Ainy Fauziyah said. “But it’s up tothem to achieve their dreams.”

Born inBangil, a small town in East Java, in 1969, Ainy had to work hard to achieveher own dreams of “making it big.”

“Our familywasn’t rich,” she said. “My father’s a farmer and my mother’s a seamstress.Yet, when I was a child, I saw them working very hard for their childrenwithout complaining. I guess it inspired me to work hard to try to make themproud.”

Ainy had agood career as the assistant to the planning manager at a state-owned publichousing business in Jakarta, but she decided to leave it all behind when afriend asked her to help rebuild Aceh after it was hit by the December 2004tsunami.

“No oneunderstood my decision back then. Only my husband stood by me. He trulyunderstands my heart for the people.”

In May2005, Ainy joined a nonprofit international organization in Aceh.

“I was theonly woman and the only Indonesian among the shelter coordinators in theorganization,” she said.

She rebuilthundreds of homes in Lhokseumawe, in northwestern Aceh.

“It’s easyto build homes, but it’s really difficult to rebuild the people’s lives afterthe disaster,’’ she said.

Yet Ainysaw that trial as an opportunity.

Rebuildingrequires a lot of manpower. While Acehnese men helped with the construction ofhouses, Ainy encouraged the local women to help paint them.

“We gavethem a little training and they did a wonderful job,” she said. “They were alsovery proud of themselves because they could earn a salary for themselves andtheir family during the difficult time.”

Herpainting team grew from 35 to 500 women within a couple of years.

“It’stouching to watch them gain confidence with their new skills,” she said. “Someof them could even put their children through school with their earnings.”

Her programwas considered an exemplary success, and Ainy was invited to speak atinternational conferences.

Today, sheis back in Jakarta. She manages her own company, Ainy Coaching, offeringmotivational and leadership programs in Indonesia and abroad.

But once aweek, you can find her at Rumah Dhuafa Indonesia (Home for Indonesian Orphans)in Bekasi, giving motivational lectures to less fortunate kids.

“I want tobuild their hopes and confidence for the future,” Ainy said. “If I can overcomedifficulties and achieve my dreams, they can do it also.”

Nuraeni,Makassar

Nuraeni wasa housewife and mother of three young children in Paotere, Makassar, when herhusband, a fisherman, died from a motorbike accident in 2004.

With nowork experience, she scrambled to make a living. She opened a small warung ather house but could not earn enough.

Her lifechanged in 2006, when she went to a workshop organized by an NGO, which taughther a process to preserve fresh fish.

Nuraeni,42, then collected leftover fish from the markets to make abon ikan tuna(preserved shredded tuna).

Her tastyproducts became popular in Makassar, but Nuraeni did not stop at that. Shestarted looking around and saw the dire poverty experienced by many fishermen’sfamilies in her village.

“Many havebecome ensnared by punggawas [moneylenders] just to make ends meet,” she said.“The moneylenders then take 50 to 60 percent of their daily catch as paymentfor their debts. The fishermen barely had enough to provide for their familiesand had to borrow more.’’

To helpbreak this vicious cycle, Nuraeni founded the Fatimah Az-Zahra cooperative in2007. Fishermen’s wives learn to make abon ikan tuna and preserved bonelessikan bandeng (milkfish) to sell in the markets. With the additional income, thewomen can help their husbands repay their debt.

But noteveryone is impressed with Nuraeni’s efforts.

“I’vereceived countless death threats from moneylenders,” Nuraeni said.

They havealso started rumors among the fishermen’s families that Nuraeni was just usingthem to get rich herself.

“But Iexplained everything and invited them to take a look at my [financial] books,’’she said. “I’ve got nothing to hide and nothing to be afraid of.”

The FatimahAz-Zahra cooperative now includes more than 200 women.

“I’m happyto be part of a positive change among my people,” she said.

Dutch Powerhouse PSV to Spend Part of Winter Break in Jakarta

2011-12-19T21:30:00.000+07:00

Jakarta Globe, AmiAfriatni, December 19, 2011

Kevin Strootman of PSV in action during the training at the sports complex
Herdgang in Eindhoven, The Netherlands on Wednesday. Dutch giant PSV
Eindhoven will visit Jakarta next month, organizers said on Monday.
(EPA/Marcel van Hoorn)

Relatedarticles

While thedomestic football in Indonesia remains beset with problems, its attractivenessas a destination does not appear to have diminished.

Dutch giantPSV Eindhoven will visit Jakarta next month, organizers said on Monday. The21-time Eredivisie champion will play twice at Gelora Bung Karno, facing anIndonesia Selection on Jan. 9 and a Jakarta Selection on Jan. 12 in the JakartaChallenge.

TheEredivisie began its month-long winter break on Monday, and event promoterSaujana Media claimed PSV would bring its best players.

“We alsonegotiated with Ajax to play here, but they had already signed a deal withanother party,” Saujana Media event director S.T. Arasu said.

PSV issecond in the Dutch league, a point behind leader AZ Alkmaar after 17 games.

Arasu saidthe Jakarta Challenge would be an annual event. He said organizers would inviteother top European clubs to take part.

“We have along-term plan with this event. That’s why we named it the Jakarta Challenge,not the ‘PSV Indonesia Tour,’ ” he said. “We plan to lure top clubs to play inthe tournament every January starting with PSV. We’ve been in talks with BayernMunich for 2013 Jakarta Challenge.”

Thenational team will make up the Indonesia Selection, while the Jakarta Selectionwill include players from the capital’s clubs plus former Manchester Unitedstar Andy Cole and Malaysian striker Safee Sali. Arasu said negotiations withCole were in the final stages. “We are sure his presence will add plenty ofbite to the Jakarta Selection forward line,” he said.

Related Article:

PSSI Ripped as PSV Eindhoven Trip to Indonesia Canceled

Indonesia's Aceh punks shaved for 're-education'

2011-12-14T20:55:00.002+07:00

BBC News, by Karishma Vaswani, Jakarta, 14 December 2011

The punks were rounded up at a local concert

Dozens ofyoung men and women have been detained for being "punk" anddisturbing the peace in Aceh, Indonesia's most devoutly Muslim province. Theyare being held in a remedial school, where they are undergoing"re-education".

Rightsgroups have expressed concern after photographs emerged of the young men havingtheir mohawks and funky hairstyles shaved off by Aceh's police.

They looksullen and frightened as they are forced into a communal bath.

But Aceh'spolice say they are not trying to harm the youths, they are trying to protectthem.

The 64punks, many of whom are from as far away as Bali or Jakarta, were picked up onSaturday night during a local concert.

Aceh policespokesman Gustav Leo says there have been complaints from residents nearby.

Theresidents did not like the behaviour of the punks and alleged that some of themhad approached locals for money.

Moralsunmatched

Mr Leostressed that no-one had been charged with any crime, and there were no plansto do so.

They havenow been taken to a remedial school in the Seulawah Hills, about 60km (37miles) away from the provincial capital Banda Aceh.

"Theywill undergo a re-education so their morals will match those of other Acehnesepeople," says Mr Leo.

Butactivists say the manner in which the young people have been treated ishumiliating and a violation of human rights.

Aceh HumanRights Coalition chief Evi Narti Zain says the police should not have takensuch harsh steps, accusing them of treating children like criminals.

"Theyare just children, teenagers, expressing themselves," she says.

"Ofcourse there are Acehnese people who complained about them - but regardless ofthat, this case shouldn't have been handled like this. They were doused withcold water, and their heads were shaved - this is a human rights violation.Their dignity was abused."

But Mr Leodisagrees.

It is the second time the police have cracked down
on punk culture in Aceh

"Wedidn't arrest them, they haven't committed any criminal offence," he says.

"Theyare Aceh's own children - we are doing this for their own good. Their futurecould be at risk. We are re-educating them so they don't shame theirparents."

This is thesecond time Aceh's police have clamped down on punks in the province, which isthe only province in Indonesia allowed to implement shariah law.

There is athriving underground punk music scene in Aceh, but many punk-lovers are viewedsuspiciously by local residents.

Many of theyoung teens sport outrageous hairstyles, in keeping with punk culture, butagainst the norms of the keenly religious in Aceh.

Aceh is oneof the most devout Muslim provinces in Indonesia, and observers say it hasbecoming increasingly more conservative since Islamic law was implemented a fewyears ago.

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Media people should practice prophetic journalism: Observer

2011-12-14T20:28:00.001+07:00

Antara News, Wed, December 14 2011

Jakarta(ANTARA News) - Media observer Parni Hadi called on people working in the mediaindustry to implement prophetic journalism based on the Prophet Muhammad`sbehavior.

"Muhammadwas always honest in his words and also wise and responsible in doing hisduties as a leader. In his da`wah he always combines words and deeds, he alwaysdoes what he preaches," Parni said here on Wednesday at the 2ndInternational Conference on Islamic Media.

Parni saidMuslim journalists needed to actuate prophetic journalism by means ofpracticing the four excellent traits of the Prophet Muhammad, namely siddiq(revealing the truth), Tabligh (disseminating truth in educative ways), Amanah(reliable) and Fathonah (wise).

"Byreflecting the Prophet`s four character traits, journalists and contentproviders will show dignity, devotion, tolerance, mutual understanding, mutualrespect, non violence and tender loving care in their reports, features andcommentaries," Parni said.

However,Parni said prophetic journalism would be most effective if conditions such asfreedom of expression, independence, justice and global peace prevailed.

The 2ndInternational Conference on Islamic Media was opened last December 12 and runsuntil Dec 16. The event is participated in by 400 people comprising mediapractitioners, academics, communication experts and media representatives from40 countries.

Editor: Heru

Bali-Based ‘Ibu Robin’ Wins CNN Hero of the Year

2011-12-12T14:49:00.002+07:00

Jakarta Globe, December 12, 2011

Robin Lim, a nominee for ‘CNN Hero,’ and her husband, Will Hemmerle,
with their daughter, Lakota Moira. (JG Photo)

Relatedarticles

Indonesian-basedAmerican midwife Robin Lim has been named the 2011 CNN Hero of the Year. Lim,known to many as Ibu Robin, or Mother Robin, leads a non-profit, donation-basedorganization called Yayasan Bumi Sehat (Healthy Mother Earth Foundation) thatfocuses on prenatal care, maternal health and child survival in Bali.

“Everybaby’s first breath on Earth could be one of peace and love,” Lim was quoted byCNN as saying during the cable news network’s All Star Tribute in Los Angeleson Sunday night.

“Everymother should be healthy and strong. Every birth could be safe and loving. Butour world is not there yet,” Lim said.

The awardhonors ordinary people from around the world who are making extraordinarycontributions in their communities.

Read theJakarta Globe's profile here: Bali-Based Midwife in Bid for CNN Hero

Lim,speaking earlier to CNN, highlighted Indonesia’s high maternal and infantmortality rates that were caused by the high costs of maternal care.

“Thesituation is bad ... babies are unattended, deliveries have becomecommercialized, and mothers die from hemorrhage after childbirth because theycan’t afford proper care,” Lim said.

The CNNHero of the Year receives a total of $300,000 for her cause. The winner waschosen after an 11-week vote on CNN.com.

See JakartaGlobe Big Talk's interview with Lim here: Helping Women, Saving Babies

Related Article:

'Mother Robin' wins CNN Hero of the Year

Obama's elementary school teacher passes away

2011-12-10T17:47:00.001+07:00

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Sat, 12/10/2011

IsraellaParera Darmawan, 67, a retired elementary school teacher, who once taught USPresident Barack Obama passed away on Friday morning at the Siloam Hospital inKarawaci, Tangerang, Banten.

Israella,better known as Ibu Is, was a former teacher at the Fransiskus Asisi elementaryschool in Menteng Dalam, Tebet, South Jakarta. She died after having beentreated for a week due to complications with her liver and diabetes.

Israella issurvived by her husband Dharmawan Wahyudi, 74, and three children; FranciscusWahyu Iswanto, 40, Martha Dian Sri Iswanto, 38, and Wandy Wibowo Iswandi, 35,and four grandchildren.

Heryoungest son, Wandy, said the family had decided to bury her at the San DiegoHills Memorial Park cemetery in Karawang, West Java on Sunday morning.

Wandy wasquoted as saying by tribunnews.com on Saturday that the family would hold amass to pay their last respects to the deceased at Saint Carolus hospital onSaturday evening.

Israellawas teaching at the then Fransiskus Strada Asisi when little Obama, betterknown as Barry, studied at the school for three years from 1968 to 1970. Barrylater moved to another school SDN 1 Menteng in Central Jakarta for one and halfyears before moving to the US.

Dutch apology for 1947 Indonesia massacre at Rawagede

2011-12-09T15:52:00.001+07:00

BBC News, 9December 2011

RelatedStories

Relatives of survivors broke down in tears
when the ambassador apologised

The Dutchgovernment has apologised for a massacre committed by its soldiers in Indonesiain 1947, as the country fought for independence.

Dutchambassador Tjeerd de Zwaan spoke at a ceremony in Balongsari village, formerlyknown as Rawagede, where at least 150 people were killed.

He said themassacre was a tragedy and apologised in English and Indonesian.

Earlierthis year, a court in the Netherlands ordered the government to paycompensation over the killings.

The casewas brought by relatives of those who were killed.

Reportssaid the Netherlands would pay 20,000 euros to the relatives, but lawyers saythe exact figure is still being negotiated.

The BBC'sKarishma Vaswani in Balongsari says the ruling is expected to lead to moreclaims from Indonesians who were mistreated during the Netherlands' colonialrule.

Mr de Zwaansaid he hoped the formal apology would allow the families of the victims of thetragedy to close an exceedingly difficult chapter of their lives.

"Onbehalf of the Dutch government, I apologise for the tragedy that took place inRawagede on the 9th of December, 1947," he said.

When herepeated the apology in Indonesian, some relatives of the victims broke down intears.

TheNetherlands had previously expressed regret over the killings, but neverformally apologised.

Most ofcurrent-day Indonesia was ruled by the Netherlands from the 19th Century untilWorld War II, when the Japanese army forced out the Dutch.

When theDutch attempted to reassert control after the defeat of the Japanese, they metfierce resistance.

TheNetherlands finally recognised Indonesia's independence in 1949.

The Dutchambassador to Indonesia, Tjeerd de Zwaan (left),

meets widows of Rawagedemassacre victims.Photograph:
Romeo Gacad/AFP/Getty Images

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Widows of Rawagede massacre victims (Photo: RNW/Michel Maas)

US embassy recognizes Indonesian NGO`s fight against gender violence

2011-12-08T21:45:00.001+07:00

Antara News, Thu, December 8 2011

RelatedNews

Jakarta(ANTARA News) - The US Embassy`s Political Section has presented Misiyiah ofthe women`s advocacy NGO KAPAL Perempuan with a certificate of appreciationrecognizing her work with abused women in Ciliwung, West Java.

The embassysaid in its official website here on Thursday that the appreciation wasprovided on December 5, in conjunction with the NGO`s 16 Days Campaign to EndGender Violence.

Misiyiahled KAPAL Perempuan`s efforts to develop a curriculum on gender equality,women`s rights, and economic empowerment at the grassroots level. She alsomobilized volunteers to teach underprivileged women in an informal setting inrural areas of West Java. All of the teachers who participated in KAPALPerempuan`s project were volunteers.

Misiyiahgraciously accepted the award, saying that KAPAL Perempuan`s volunteers did thereal work. Misiyiah added that her organization still had much work to do. Shenoted that gender equality and religious tolerance go hand-in-hand.

She saidshe hopes that her organization would one day be able to spearhead the effortto get modules on gender equality and religious tolerance included in thenational curriculum.

The 16 DaysCampaign to End Gender Violence began in 1991 when the Center for Women`sGlobal Leadership (CWGL) of Rutgers University, along with 23 participants ofthe first Women`s Global Institute on Women, Violence and Human Rights, calledfor a global campaign to end all forms of violence against women.

Participantschose the dates, November 25, International Day for the Elimination of ViolenceAgainst Women, and International Human Rights Day on December 10, to bookendthe campaign to emphasize that violence against women and girls is a violationof human rights.

Thisgroundbreaking idea was proclaimed by Secretary Clinton, then serving as FirstLady, in 1995 at the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing - the firsttime the connection between women`s rights and human rights was articulated atsuch a high level.

Editor: Priyambodo RH

Indonesia’s Dancing Cop Briptu Norman Fired from Police

2011-12-08T00:12:00.001+07:00

Jakarta Globe, December 06, 2011

Indonesia’sdancing cop Norman Kamaru has been fired for violating the National Police’scode of conduct.

(JG Photo/Afriadi Hikmal)

“Norman hasbeen dishonorably discharged as member of the Indonesian Police because he hasbeen absent ... for two months,” National Police spokesman Ins. Gen. Saud Usmansaid on Tuesday.

BriptuNorman, as he is popularly known, was a First Brig. of the Mobile Brigade(Brimob) based in Gorontalo, northern Sulawesi. He tendered his resignation inSeptember, but police rejected the application.

Norman shotto fame after a video of him dancing to Indian hit song ‘Chaiya Chaiya’ wentviral on the Internet.

He was alsoin the headlines when a group of police officers interrupted the filming of avideo for his new song, “Cinta Gila” (“Crazy Love”) in Northern Sulawesi.Police said Norman, who was on Idul Fitri leave, had not secured his superior’spermission to shoot the video.

Prior tothat, he was forced to cancel appearance on a popular television talk showminutes before the taping after 20 officers stormed into the station and pickedhim up. Again, the police said that the action was taken because Norman had notsecured permission for the appearance.

NationalPolice chief Gen. Timur Pradopo said on Monday that the police would onlyaccept its members developing their talent when it was work related.

JG, Antara

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Democracy club

2011-12-07T15:26:00.001+07:00

The Jakarta Post, Wed, 12/07/2011

Workers raise the flags of countries participating in the Bali Democracy
Forum in Kuta, Bali, Indonesia on Wednesday. Indonesia will co-host the
Fourth Bali Democracy Forum (BDF) with Bangladesh for December 8-9
(AP/Firdia Lisnawati)

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Dutch State to Apologize for Indonesia Massacre

2011-12-05T18:24:00.001+07:00

Jakarta Globe, Mike Corder, December 05, 2011

Relatedarticles

The Hague.The Dutch government will pay compensation and apologize to relatives of menkilled by Dutch troops in a notorious 1947 massacre of villagers duringIndonesia's bitter struggle for independence, their lawyer said Monday.

ForeignMinister Uri Rosenthal said that the apology "does justice to the gravityof what happened in Rawagede," the village on Java island where up to 430men were rounded up and summarily executed.

"Ihope it helps the relatives find closure for this exceptionally difficultepisode in their lives and look to the future," Rosenthal said.

The Dutchambassador to Indonesia, Tjeerd de Zwaan, will offer the apology during theannual commemoration of the massacre in the village, now called Balongsari, onDec. 9.

Ninerelatives of men shot in the massacre won a landmark court case earlier thisyear, when judges ruled that the Dutch state was responsible for the massacre.

Therelatives' lawyer, Liesbeth Zegveld, says they are pleased with the Dutchapology. She added that the state also will pay each of the nine relatives€20,000 ($27,000) compensation.

"It isgood that the relatives can now close the case," she said. "Ithappened 64 years ago and there was a tough ruling from the court necessary,but the relatives are very grateful that the state is not going to appeal andwill apologize."

The Dutchgovernment has never prosecuted any soldiers for the massacre, despite a UnitedNations report condemning the attack as "deliberate and ruthless" asearly as 1948.

A 1968Dutch report acknowledged "violent excesses" in Indonesia but arguedthat Dutch troops were carrying out a "police action" often incitedby guerrilla warfare and terror attacks.

FormerForeign Minister Ben Bot expressed deep regret for offenses by Dutch forcesthroughout Indonesia in 1947, but the government has never before formallyapologized to relatives in Rawagede.

It remainsto be seen if the Rawagede ruling will open the floodgates for morecompensation claims from relatives of people killed during the fight to retaincontrol over the Dutch East Indies, which became Indonesia in 1949.

TheSeptember ruling had a very narrow focus, saying widows of men killed deservedcompensation because they suffered directly from the slaying.

Associated Press

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Dutch Discuss Settlement in Rawagede Massacre

Slowly but Surely, Dutch Are Coming to Terms With the Colonial Past

Rawagede no longer taboo for Dutch veterans

Rawagede no longer taboo for Dutch veterans. (Photo: ANP)

11 int'l master yogis join Namaste Festival in Jakarta

2011-12-03T16:37:00.001+07:00

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta, Sat, 12/03/2011

Elevenmaster yogis from across the world and seven master yogis from Indonesia areparticipating in the Namaste Festival from Friday to Sunday at the BorobudurHotel in Central Jakarta.

Hundreds ofyoga practitioners will gather during the yearly festival, held for the secondtime, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day.

Thefestival offers up to 96 yoga classes, including meditation, self-healing andbaby massage.

Theentertainment sessions include documentary film screenings and musicperformances by Ayu Laksmi, Paquita Widjaja, Martinus Wiroto, harpist Rama Widiand tabla player I Made Sentana, tempo.co reported.

Strictly Javanese at language congress

2011-11-30T15:39:00.001+07:00

The Jakarta Post, Indra Harsaputra and Wahyoe Boediwardhana, Surabaya, Wed, 11/30/2011

A four-dayJavanese Language Congress being held in Surabaya, East Java, since last Sundayhas turned into a formal Javanese forum as all of the participants, regardlessof their places of origin, have been required to speak the high form of thelanguage at the event.

Unlike inprevious years, the five-yearly congress, which concludes Wednesday, has thisyear named Javanese as its official language. As such, everyone at the congressis required to speak formal Javanese, despite that some members of the youngerJavanese generations find the dialect difficult to follow.

“As a host,East Java Governor Soekarwo wants the congress to be different from in previousyears. That’s why he has requested that Javanese be used as the officiallanguage of the congress,” the committee’s secretary Hizbul Wathon said onTuesday.

Some 600participants have joined the congress, which is the fifth to be held so far.Among them are 11 foreigners: an Australian, seven Surinamese and threeAmerican students currently studying in Indonesian universities.

TheIndonesian participants come from 12 provinces. Some were seen wearing Javaneseattire while attending the congress. “This is the first time that I haveentered a star-rated hotel in a Javanese costume and I am proud of doing so,”said elementary school teacher Jumiyo Siswapangarso, a participant fromYogyakarta.

Similarpride was also conveyed by Surinamese Social Affairs Minister Paul Sumoharjo,who is of Javanese descent.

“We arehappy that [we] can speak Javanese. It’s because we are preserving [theculture] of the 100,000 Javanese people in Suriname,” Paul told the forum inplain Javanese during the opening ceremony on Sunday.

Alsoattending the opening ceremony were Education and Culture Deputy Minister WinduNuryanti, East Java Governor Soekarwo and Yogyakarta Governor Sultan HamengkuBuwono X.

Among thespeakers were George Quinn, an adjunct professor and visiting fellow of theAustralian National University’s School of Culture, History and Language, whowrote and presented his presentation in formal Javanese.

His paperwas titled “Unggah-Ungguh Lan Bahasa Indonesia: Masalah Rong Werno SingNgruweti Pamulanging Basa Jawa Marang Siswa Manca” (Manners and Indonesian Language:Two problems that make it difficult to teach Javanese to foreign students).

“I amtouched that I see a spirit to preserve Javanese here. I see this as a sharedconsciousness to block the impact of globalization that has caused manyregional languages to become extinct,” said Quinn, commenting on the use ofJavanese as the official language at the congress on Tuesday.

Quinnindeed was not a stranger among preservers of the Javanese language at thecongress. He has never missed a single congress since it was first held inSemarang, Central Java, in 1991. He is also known for his perseverance inpromoting Javanese in Australia.

“Australia’syounger generations prefer to learn English rather than any other foreignlanguages, including Javanese. At present only ANU offers a Javanese languageprogram,” said Quinn, who insisted on using Javanese during the interview withThe Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

He blamedthe globalization of English for the situation in Australia, saying thatAustralian students felt that there was no use in learning Javanese becausemany Indonesians spoke English fluently.

All the Capital’s a Stage

2011-11-29T18:32:00.001+07:00

Jakarta Globe, TasaNugraza Barley, November 29, 2011

For nearly four decades, the annual Festival Teater Jakarta has
had a critical influence on the capital’s performing arts. As it returns
for its 39th incarnation, the festival has prepared a variety of top-notch
performances and activities for theater fans.

Relatedarticles

For nearlyfour decades, the annual Festival Teater Jakarta has had a critical influence onthe capital’s performing arts. As it returns for its 39th incarnation, thefestival has prepared a variety of top-notch performances and activities fortheater fans.

FestivalTeater Jakarta was the first conceived in 1973 by movie director WahyuSihombing, well-known for his television series Losmen in the 1980s, after hewon support for the festival from then-Governor Ali Sadikin and the JakartaArts Council.

With performancesfrom 14 theater groups, this year’s festival promises to satisfy almost anytheater fan’s tastes, according to Dewi Noviami, the chairman of the Council.The selected groups beat 42 others in the elimination stage, held during Julyand August.

Toaccommodate as big an audience as possible, the Council has decided to stagethe performances at several venues.

“This year,the festival will not only be conducted at our headquarters at Taman IsmailMarzuki,” Dewi said of the event that runs until Dec 14. “We will also holdperformances at venues in the five municipalities of Jakarta.”

The othervenues include Salihara, Gedung Kesenian Miss Tjitjih, Gedung Kesenian Jakarta,South Jakarta Gelanggang Remaja and West Jakarta Gelanggang Jakarta.

This year,the council chose the theme “Membaca Aku, Membaca Laku” (“Reading Myself,Reading My Inner Self”) to highlight the process of self-realization andunderstanding one’s outlook in life.

“When youhave a good attitude and understand yourself, you will ultimately performbetter on stage,” event organizers said in a press release.

Both aku(I) and laku (one’s inner self) should be perceived from beyond a theatricalperspective, event organizers said. These elements are central to everyone’sdaily lives, making the theme applicable to any person, not only performers.Theater will survive as a form of entertainment for all of society, they said.

StageCorner Community, a Jakarta-based theater club established in 2006, willperform at the first major event tonight. This year Stage Corner won the anarts grant from Kelola, organization, which promotes arts and culture. In thefestival, the group will perform their play “Techno Ken Dedes,” directed byDadang Badoet.

Set in theera of traditional Javanese kingdoms, the play tells the story of a beautifulprincess, Ken Dedes. The play, however, will also explore issues that moredirectly related to modern life.

OnThursday, Teater Sketsa will perform “Malam Jahanam” (“The Evil Night”),written by Motinggo Boesje and Ujang G.B., at Gedung Kesenian Miss Tjitjih inCempaka Putih, Central Jakarta.

Then onSaturday, Teater Anam will present a play, “Roman,” which was written anddirected by Herman A. Rasyid, at Teater Luwes at the Jakarta ArtInstitute.

MalhamangZamzam, the festival chairman, said that this year’s festival would featurefive original scripts, each written by a different theater community.

This, hehopes, will encourage more artists to try their hand at producing originalscripts themselves.

In additionto stage performances, the festival will feature drama script seminars, moviedocumentary screenings and discussions on literature and other topics, makingthis year’s celebration more multifaceted than that of previous years.

Somewell-known figures including movie director Riri Reza and writer and journalistGoenawan Mohammad will also take part in the festival, Malhamang said.

Two bookswill be launched at the event: Fandy Hutari’s “Hiburan Masa Lalu dan TradisiLokal” (“Entertainment of the Past and Local Traditions”) and Nano Riantiarno’s“Kita Teater” (“Theater Holy Book”).

“Thisyear’s Festival Teater Jakarta is not only a competition, but also a realfestival with a lot of unique programs,” Malhamang said. “These programs arenot only targeted toward theater enthusiasts, but also toward people who wantto know more about theater and Jakarta’s art venues.”

For moreinformation, visit dkj.or.id or telephone 021 3193 7639

W. Java to open batik academy

2011-11-29T17:57:00.001+07:00

The JakartaPost, Jakarta,Tue, 11/29/2011

The WestJava Batik Foundation (YBJB) will establish a Batik Academy to develop andtrain young professional Batik makers.

“The WestJava Batik Academy will train batik professionals to master batik skills and beready to work in the batik industry,” the foundation’s executive directorKomaruddin Hudiya said on Tuesday as quoted by Antara news agency.

The academyis scheduled to be established in 2012 with a capacity of more than 100graduates per class. Every class will learn batik for three months and developtheir own businesses.

“The batikmarket is still promising right now, even though the booming started in 2009.We are trying to maintain the market’s gusto for batik products by developingbatik motifs from various regencies,” Komaruddin said.

He addedthat there had been 200 batik motifs in West Java that had been published in abatik motifs pocket book.

Bali gets tough on smokers in non-smoking areas

2011-11-28T22:10:00.001+07:00

The Jakarta Post, Mon, 11/28/2011

The BaliLegislative Council has endorsed regulation on non-smoking areas that applies asix-month jail sentence or a Rp 50 million (US$5,500) fine for people caughtsmoking in such areas.

Implementationof the regulation is awaiting approval from the home minister.

Theregulation defines non-smoking areas as hotels, restaurants, tourism areas,houses of worship, health centers, schools and other educational institutions,children’s playgrounds, public transportation, government buildings includingmilitary and police headquarters and offices, traditional markets,entertainment spots, ports and airports.

The areasare also to be free of cigarette sales and advertisements.

BaliGovernor Made Mangku Pastika said the regulation was made as mandated by the2009 Health Law.

“It willtake time to enforce the new regulation,” Pastika said Monday as quoted bykompas.com.

He believedthat foreign tourists would easily obey the regulation but that local peoplemay resist it.