Fading Nationalism

Every year, the Indonesian people celebrate our country's Independence Day on 17 August.

During that day, the Red and White national flag are all over the country, at office buildings, factories, schools, houses, and public places.

Besides, people participate in various competitions like Sports, Krupuk/Cracker eating contest, Sack Race or Climb a greasy Pole.

In this connection, I read an article written by Desi Anwar on The Jakarta Globe (below) which assume that people do not seem to have such kind of spirit and energy anymore in celebrating Indonesia's 67th anniversary last 17 August.

As an example, Desi said that her friend who lead the flag-raising ceremony at her office told her that the company had to entice its staffs with Door-Prizes consisting of iPads and other gadgets to make them come and stand in the sun and salute the Red and White Flag.

Is this a sign of fading nationalism ? I really don't know.

Happy reading.

Writer's Block: Independence Spirit 
Desi Anwar | August 18, 2012

There’s a red and white flag flying on my front gate. That’s about the extent of my participation in celebrating Independence Day. Unless you’re still at school or work at an office or institution that holds a flag-raising ceremony, the day feels like any other weekend. And it being the fasting month and the beginning of the holiday traffic, one might as well postpone or cancel this year’s celebration altogether, as I don’t think anyone is really up for a sack race, a krupuk eating contest or a climb up a greasy pole.

After all, the spirit and energy just doesn’t seem to be there. A friend of mine who has to lead the flag-raising ceremony at her office says the company had to entice the staff with door prizes consisting of iPads and other gadgets to get them to come and stand in the sun and salute the Red and White.

Maybe we’re all just a bit tired of this same old routine, year after year, and talking about the same things and griping about the same old problems. What does independence mean, what is the country all about and why is everything still a mess, etc.

For the older generation who experienced the predemocracy era (and that includes me), beneath the momentary pride of seeing the flag being raised runs a cynicism that is a constant feature since the authoritarian New Order regime. That Indonesia has never been truly free from oppression, first by the Dutch, then the Japanese, and then by our fellow countrymen.

Read more ..........................

Eid Ul Fitr 2012

After one month of dawn-to-sunset Fasting during the entire month of Ramadhan, on Sunday, 19 August 2012, Moslems in Indonesia celebrated the Eid Ul Fitr.

According to Wikipedia, Eid is an Arabic word meaning "Festivity", while Fitr means "Breaking the Fast".

In Indonesia, Eid Ul Fitr is known as Hari Raya Idul Fitri or Lebaran and celebrated for two to three days. Many people of Indonesian big cities return to their hometown to celebrate the festive. For which purpose, most employers provide special bonus and long holidays to their workers. Some employers even provide free transportation v.v for their workers.

This year, many workers spend holidays from 17 August (our Independence Day) to 26 August.

Before the festive, we Moslems voluntarily paid financial contribution known as the Zakat i.e. an Arabic word that means "that which purifies" or "alms". The amount of Zakat depends on the financial capability of the Moslem concerned.

The Eid festive began with Moslems performing Eid Prayer and listened to Sermon in mosques from 7 am until around 8 am. Afterwards, we shook hands with each other, apologize and forgive each other.

After that we went to visit our parents and other elderly people like uncles, aunts, employers, etc.

Considering that many citizens of Jakarta went home to their hometown, citizens who stay in the city, including me, enjoyed traffic-jam-free streets.

In this connection, I would like to wish my fellow Moslems a Happy Hari Raya Idul Fitri, and apologize for any mistake that I may have made. God Bless Us All.

Jail Remission for Corruptors

The celebration of independence day has made a bunch of jailed corruptors very happy because they received remission i.e prison term discount, some were even release from jail..

According to Media Indonesia, 427 jailed Corruptors received remission, 19 of them were released from jail,  including former President Director of the Logistics Board (Bulog) Widjanarko Puspoyo, and former President Director of Bank Mandiri ECW Neloe.

The Jakarta Globe reported that Muhammad Misbakhun, lawmaker and member of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) was also released from prison earlier today after receiving a two month remission.
The Court sentenced him to one year in jail for falsifying documents to get a US$ 22.5 Million loan from the troubled Bank Century. This sentence is very low compared to the 8 years demanded by the Prosecutor.

The above very low jail sentence, remission and the release of corruptors before they finish their jail sentence  would make us doubt the seriousness of the fight against Corruption. 
I wonder whether ordinary people can also be released from jail like those Corruptors.

Nazaruddin is Not a Hero

One thing I like about today's celebration of Independence Day is that most of the mass media are not reporting about the Nazaruddin case for the time being.

This is good for me because I am beginning to be bored at the behaviors of politicians who tried to build public opinion as if Nazaruddin is a  hero and the law enforcement agency, especially the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is evil.

While actually KPK has named Nazaruddin as Suspect in corruption cases including the misuse of fund for development of athlete building in Palembang, South Sumatera, who ran away to other countries, and was caught by the Interpol in Columbia. who later on hand him over to our law enforcement agencies.

First there was the lawyer OC Kaligis who was very angry because he failed to get asylum for Nazaruddin in Colombia therefore he should be returned to Indonesia. Besides, O.C Kaligis was also angry because he was not allowed to accompany Nazaruddin during the flight from Colombia to Jakarta.

I can understand why he is angry because as a lawyer he has been paid to do his very best to defend his client, but to advise him to take asylum in Colombia (and evade Indonesian laws) ?
However, I agree that Nazaruddin should be accompanied by a lawyer during the 38 hours flight.

Then there was the members of the House of Representatives who forcefully entered the Mobile Brigade Headquarters where Nazaruddin is detained.even though not during visiting hours.
Due his his status a member of the House of Representatives has not been revoked, other member may visit him, but should honor the regulation at the place of detention.

Then there was those politicians who demand that Nazaruddin should be protected by the Witness and Victim Protection Institution, which is unreasonable because Nazaruddin is neither a Witness nor a Victim, but a Suspect. 

Considering the above, I hope that KPK would always treat Nazaruddin according to the laws and regulations.

Happy Birthday Indonesia

On 17 August 1945, the people of Indonesia declared its independence from Japanese occupation forces after the end of the World War II.

This declaration started a five year armed-resistance and diplomatic efforts by the new Republic of Indonesia against the Netherlands who wanted to recapture their East Indies colony from the Japanese, until they finally recognized Indonesia's independence in 1949.

The celebration of Independence Day is a very big event for the people of Indonesia, and it is a public holiday. Its preparations start weeks before the 17th of August. All public buildings are decorated with large banners and lighted designs. Fences around the government offices are draped in red and white streamers. The malls are all decorated in red and white and hold Independence Day sales for the people. Lots of money is spend by the central and regional governments to create a unique series of red and white lighted decorations.

The President, Vice President, Cabinet Ministers, Speaker of the House of Representatives, other officials of the state, and other VIPs including ambassadors of foreign countries, attend the raising of the Red and White flag at the State Palace in Jakarta in the morning.

Public places glitters in red and white and the all over one can see and hear the words "Happy Birthday Indonesia" and "Long Live Indonesia"

Many games are played during the celebration, the most popular being " Panjat Pinang " i.e palm trunk greased with a mixture of clay and oil is erected in a public place. Various prizes like Bikes, TVs etc. are hung at the top and many people would climb over each other struggling to get those prizes.

At the end of the day, many people failed to get the prizes but they are all happy and smiling after the event. Even the crowd are happy watching the event.

Photo: Courtesy of Wikipedia

Celebration of Israeli Independence

A group of people who called themselves the Indonesian Jewish Society, last week announced their plan to celebrate the independence of Israel on 14 May.

This plan is very controversial because the majority people in Indonesia who are Moslems regard Israel as an enemy.  They believed that the land where the state of Israel now is located actually belongs to the Palestine.
For this reason, Palestine and other Arab countries i.e Egypt, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan have fought wars against Israel since it declared independence on 14 May 1948.

Various Moslem organizations in Indonesia, including political parties, have frequently show their supports to the Palestinian cause i.e. by holding protests demonstrations in various parts of Indonesia.

Moreover, the Indonesian government does not recognize Israel until now, however it maintained diplomatic relationship with Palestine.

As a logical consequence, many people in Indonesia protested against the above celebration plan, and the Police refused to issue a permit.

Considering the above reasons, I felt that the plan to celebrate Israel's independence day was just a sensational effort by its organizer to get popularity.

National Heroes Day 2010

Today, Indonesia commemorates the bloody fighting in Surabaya, East Java, on 10 November 1945, between local patriots and the British military forces who came to help the Dutch re-conquer the country.

Actually the fighting also took place in other parts of Indonesia a.o in Bandung, West Java,  but the one in Surabaya was the fiercest one that killed so many people.

I hope that today's commemoration would remind Indonesians that the country exists because there were patriotic men and women who sacrificed their blood, sweat and tears to defend the country's independence.

Photo : Courtesy of Terselubung.

God Bless Indonesia

Today, 17 August 2010, 240 million people living in more than 17,000 island in South East Asian archipelago celebrate the 65th. independence of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia.

Let's hope that the President and the Government, together with the Parliament and the Judiciary authorities would do their very best only for the country and people, and not for the selfish interests of their own, and/or their family, and/or their friends, and/or groups, and/or political parties.

Logo : Courtesy of Adiguna.

Indonesia' s 64th Annniversary

2,827 Divers celebrated Independence Day under the sea in North Sulawesi.

Since early this morning, people all over Indonesia celebrated the 64th. anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Indonesia.

The celebration was conducted in many ways; for example in central & local government offices they were conducted formally like the one at the Presidential State Palace.
Beside that, there were many other ways to celebrate which are less formal, like hanging the Red & White Flag from a 140 meters hill top in Entekrang, South Sulawesi.

The most spectacular one was the one held under the sea in Manado, North Sulawesi, whereby 2,827 people from all over Indonesia and other countries dived for more than 25 minutes 19 meters under the sea off the Malalayang beach near Bunaken. The huge number of Divers that took part in the event broke record of the Guinness Book of World Records, i.e. when 950 people dived in Maldive.

For details on the above, please click here, and here

I felt very happy to know that so many Indonesians gathered happily with very high nationalistic spirit to celebrate Independence Day. I hope that spirit would be maintained in regular daily activities, so that Indonesia can develop a lot much faster.

Photo: Courtesy of Antara

Happy Birthday Indonesia

On 17 August 1945, the people of Indonesia declared independence from the Japanese occupation and established the unitary state of the Republic of Indonesia.

Later, the Dutch, who occupied Indonesia from the 16th century until the Japanese came in 1942, tried to invade Indonesia again, but after four years of unsuccessful military actions, the they gave up.

Since 1950, Indonesia faced separatist movements by local people supported by foreign countries who either want to turn Indonesia into an Islamic country, or a Federal country, or a Communist country.
On 30 September 1965, seven high ranking Army officers were bloodily killed, and the Army accused that the Indonesian Communist Party were responsible for this.

On 11 March 1965, President Soekarno handed power to Army General Soeharto, who later became president and hold power for 32 years. Soeharto successfully maintained stability especially in the fields of Economy, Politics and Security because he was fully supported by Western countries like the USA, Australia, Japan and Western Europe. Besides, he built effective intelligence networks, special security agency, and maintained an Anti-Subversive Law which enables unlimited arrest without warrant. He limited the number of political parties into 3, Golkar, PDI & PPP which must adopt one ideology i.e Pancasila i.e. five principle: Belief in God, Unity, Democracy, Humanity and Social Welfare.

After the Reformasi (Reform) on 20 May 1998 Vice President Habibie replaced Soeharto as president. In 1999, Megawati’s PDI won 35% votes in the General Election, however she only became Vice President, and Abdurrahman Wahid became President. During his term, several changes were made like: deletion of Anti Subversive Law, allowing fanatic religious movements. Two years later, Megawati became President.
Since 2002, some fanatic people who claimed to be Muslim and want to force the adoption of Middle East tradition have carried out campaign of terrors by killing themselves and hundreds of innocent people (many were Muslims) in Bali, Poso, Ambon, and Jakarta.

In 2004, the first presidential election was held and Soesilo Bambang Yudoyono (SBY) won with 60%. But considering SBY’s Partai Demokrat only got 7% in the Parliamentary election, therefore his 5 years term seemed to be ‘shaky”. This is obvious because SBY must to rely on the support of Vice President Jusuf Kalla and his Golkar Party who has the majority 25% seats in Parliament.

Last week, the General Election Committee (KPU) announced SBY’s Partai Demokrat as winner of the Parliamentary Election with 20% votes, and SBY as winner of the Presidential election with 60.8% votes. Therefore, SBY will once again be the President of 235 million people of Indonesia as the world’s largest Muslim country and the third largest democracy.

Earlier, on 17 July two Suicide Bombers made twin attacks on Hotel JW Marriot and Hotel Ritz-Carlton Jakarta, killing five innocent people and more than 50 wounded. In three weeks, the Police successfully identified those responsible and killed or captured some of them.

Considering the above, I hope that the President would now be more confident in leading the people to overcome any problems created by anyone, individual or group, local or foreigners, whatever their basis (politic or religion). The best way would be to eliminate any reasons for people to commit suicide bombings or other crimes that is by creating many jobs and low cost education. For which purpose, a conducive condition must be created for business development, e.g. freedom from any fear, guaranteed security, so that business people would want to invest money in Indonesia.

Long live Indonesia, Happy 64th Birthday!

Image: Courtesy of Wikipedia