Archive for the ‘Politics and Government’ Category
To vote or not to vote, that is not the question
Image source: pemiluindonesia.com
By Evan A. Laksmana
Among the basic rights of any citizen, soldiers included, is the right to vote. But this has not been the case for members of the Indonesian military (TNI), who last exercised this right in the country’s first general elections in 1955.
In fact, since 1971, soldiers had been barred from voting. In return, the TNI was given fixed seats in the national and local parliaments, although the practice was discontinued after 2004. Read the rest of this entry »
Is China failing SE Asia’s test?
Image source: travel.nationalgeographic.com
by Evan A. Laksmana
With all the bombast surrounding the 60th anniversary of China-Indonesia relations in the last few months, many seem unaware of recent developments in the South China Sea. In the last fortnight, details have emerged regarding the Chinese Navy’s growing assertiveness and naval projection capability in the region.
According to a recent report by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, a flotilla of six ships from the North Sea Fleet sailed on March 18 on a “long-distance training exercise” in the vicinity of the Fiery Cross Reef in the Spratly Islands — and reportedly near the Malacca Strait as well. Read the rest of this entry »
The rise of Indonesia’s “accidental guerrillas”?
Image source: pacamat.com
By Evan A. Laksmana
The arrest of two university students in Central Java on terrorism charges two weeks ago – following a wave of arrests in recent months – highlights several trends regarding Indonesia’s evolving terrorist threat.
First, as a recent International Crisis Group report argued, there are now at least three jihadi streams in the country. Read the rest of this entry »
Reinterpreting the Total Defense System
Image source: anisavitri.wordpress.com
By Evan A. Laksmana
Few people pay attention to our state defense doctrine the Total Defense System (Sistem Pertahanan Semesta or Sishanta), although this doctrine (published by the Defense Ministry in 2007 and publicly available) shapes the legal, political, intellectual, and even operational foundation of our entire national security system.
After 12 years of reform following the fall of Soeharto in 1998, it is important to reinterpret this doctrine and its implications for our national security. Read the rest of this entry »
Soccer and politics
FIFA 2010 in Johannesburg and Nelson Mandela
by Jennie S. Bev
In 16 years after the apartheid ended in South Africa, Johannesburg has already become the host of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. This achievement has made Africa proud as it is the first time this continent has hosted a prestigious sporting event like this.
Historically speaking, South Africa has been colonized for 300 years by the English and the Dutch with 48 years of apartheid rule. In 16 short years, South Africa already built 1.1 million houses for the poor and has a rising number of middle class, although Caucasians still dominate the publicly traded companies on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. Read the rest of this entry »
Lessons from the Jews and conflict resolution
(Image: The Garden by Joan Miro)
by Jennie S. Bev
The historical backdrop of the Israel-Palestine conflict can be traced back 5,000 years to 3000 BC. The story of struggling Jews is part legend, part scriptural, part psychological, and entirely political.
Religions happens to be in the picture because the Middle East is the birthplace of three monotheisms — Judaism, Christianity and Islam — thus making it “the cradle of civilization.”
This “cradle” status ensures the region is continuously in the limelight. Religions are involved, yet they are not the main concern. Instead, this conflict is a humanitarian issue of massive proportion. Like the Mindanao conflict, the Israel-Palestine conflict also centers on a piece of land. Read the rest of this entry »
Peringatan kerusuhan Mei 1998 dan wacana pluralisme
oleh Jennie S. Bev
[Catatan: Dalam artikel yang belum diedit, penulis menggunakan istilah "Tragedi Mei 1998" namun editor CGN menggunakan istilah "kerusuhan." Artikel ini adalah terjemahan dari artikel versi Bahasa Inggris.]
San Francisco, California – Pada Mei ini genap 12 tahun kerusuhan Mei 1998, sebuah peristiwa penting dalam sejarah Indonesia. Menyusul meninggalnya empat orang mahasiswa yang ikut berunjuk rasa menuntut mundurnya Presiden Suharto saat itu, orang-orang pun ramai turun ke jalan, membuat kerusuhan dan melakukan penjarahan.
Meski banyak orang menyatakan bahwa kerusuhan tersebut adalah buntut dari kekecewaan terhadap rezim yang berkuasa dan adanya pengangguran massal, komunitas orang Tionghoa-lah yang langsung menjadi sasaran amukan massa, di mana, menurut berbagai laporan, hampir 100 perempuan Tionghoa diperkosa. Read the rest of this entry »
Anniversary of Indonesian riots spurs talk of pluralism
by Jennie S. Bev
San Francisco, California – This month marks the 12th anniversary of a critical event in recent Indonesian history – the May 1998 riots. Following the death of four university students who were participating in a protest to demand the resignation of President Suharto, people took to the streets, rioting and looting.
Though many claim the riots were a result of frustration with the current regime and mass unemployment, the ethnic Chinese Indonesian community quickly became a target of mob violence, including reports of nearly 100 Chinese Indonesian women being raped. Read the rest of this entry »
Dialog Tragedi Kemanusiaan Mei 1998: dari Keterasingan Menjadi Karib
Oleh Dr. Beni Bevly
Dalam dialog Tragedi Kemanusiaan Mei 1998 dengan topik dari Keterasingan Menjadi Karib di Union City, San Francisco Bay Area pada tanggal 16 May 2010, kembali lagi berkumandang pertanyaan dan dialog mengenai: Mengapa perbuatan biadab ini terjadi? Apakah sudah ada penyelesaiannya? Bagaimana supaya hal ini tidak terjadi lagi? Apa yang bisa mereka lakukan dari Amerika?
Peringatan yang dimulai dengan makan malam bersama pada jam lima sore, berlajut dengan dialog hingga jam delapan malam, dihadiri sekitar 100 orang peserta, beberapa nara sumber, antara lain Romo Mutiara Andalas, SJ, Dr. Silvia Tiwon dari University of California Berkeley, Nina Jusuf dari Transformasi, dan saya sendiri sebagai moderator ternyata berjalan dengan penuh antusias. Read the rest of this entry »
Setelah 12 Tahun
Sumber gambar: adferoafferro.files.wordpress.com
Oleh Mutiara Andalas, SJ
Peringatan 12 tahun tragedi Mei 1998 ibarat nyala lilin yang menerangi paras kemanusiaan Indonesia. Pelaku menyerang kehidupan korban dan melukai kemanusiaan bersama. Paguyuban korban membela kesucian hidup korban kekerasan dan diskriminasi rasial dari stigma politik. Negara yang membisu, apalagi menghalangi ziarah keadilan bagi korban tragedi, menyembah berhala politik kekerasan dan diskriminasi. Ratapan korban mendorong paguyuban korban melukis ulang paras negara dan anutan politiknya. Negara yang memeluk politik kemanusiaan mendaku kesucian hidup rakyat miskin dan minoritas sosial. Read the rest of this entry »
Manicheism in Indonesia
by Jennie S. Bev
Along with Serbia, Iraq, Iran and North Korea, the peace-building approach in Indonesia is both polarizing and dualistic. In a term used by Johan Galtung, these traits are “manicheistic.”
Manicheism itself is a term originated from religious studies referring to a dualistic system of good and bad. In this case, it is referring to a preference in a security-oriented approach, rather than in a peace-oriented approach.
In Indonesia, the state prefers to see “security” as identical to “peace.”
Indonesia must learn to adopt peace-oriented approaches in both daily living and policy making activities and attitudes. Failure to do so will exacerbate the already tarnished face of peaceful Indonesia with ongoing violent incidents and persecutions of minorities. By adopting a peace-oriented rather than a security-oriented approach, Indonesia will be able to cultivate peace from the ground up, where human rights — including minority rights — are upheld respectfully. Read the rest of this entry »
Forgiveness and Justice after May 1998 Tragedy
by Jennie S. Bev
Twelve years ago, our family and my parents’ house were saved by a mosque. A mob came to torch down the neighborhood but a good Muslim neighbor shouted, “Don’t torch our homes. There is a mosque nearby!” I was fortunate I was there and not on the way to my house in Tangerang, West Java.
Afterward, I heard many cars and their occupants were violently attacked on Kebon Jeruk toll road. One of those cars could have been mine.
Questions on forgiveness and justice have been haunting me since.
As a triple minority, based on my ethnicity, gender and religious affiliation, I belonged to “the weakest link” group, which explains why women of Chinese-Indonesian descent were targeted. Read the rest of this entry »
Dari Keterasingan Menjadi Karib: 12 Tahun Tragedi Mei 1998
Undangan terbuka dialog “Dari Keterasingan Menjadi Karib: 12 Tahun Tragedi Mei 1998″ akan diadakan pada:
Hari: Minggu, 16 Mei 2010
Pukul: 5:00pm-8:00pm (didahului oleh jamuan sederhana)
Tempat: Hall Gereja Holy Family, 3880 Smith Street, Union City, CA 94587.
Keterangan lebih lanjut, silakan baca artikel di bawah ini:
Latar Belakang
12 tahun telah berlalu sejak Tragedi Mei 1998 terjadi. Sejak itu telah banyak perubahan dan perkembangan baru yang menjanjikan di antaranya diberlakukannya Undang-Undang Kewarganegaraan yang menyetarakan posisi keturunan Tionghoa dengan suku lain di Indonesia, Tahun Baru Imlek sebagai hari Libur Nasional, diijinkannya karakter, bahasa dan budaya Mandarin/Tionghoa untuk diajarkan di sekolah dan ditampilkan di tempat umum, di antaranya dibangunnya Anjungan Tionghoa di Taman Mini Indonesia, dan berhentinya kediktatoran dan penguasa tangan besi Orde Lama. Read the rest of this entry »
Jalan Tragis Para Teroris
Oleh: Muhammadun AS*
Judul buku : Politik Para Teroris
Penulis : Mutiara Andalas
Pengantar : AM. Hendropriyono
Penerbit : Kanisius Yogyakarta
Cetakan : 1, 2010
Tebal : 132 halaman
Terorisme merupakan epifeni terburuk paling tragis yang terjadi di langit milenium abad ke-21 sekarang ini. Hampir manusia sejagat disibukkan dengan gelombang terorisme yang terus menyeruak hampir di sekujur tubuh benua di dunia ini. Amerika Serikat (AS) menjadi negara pertama yang terlibat paling serius dengan skandal dan tragedi terorisme. Read the rest of this entry »
Breakfast VOA Newsmaker
Beberapa waktu yang lalu, stasiun radio VOA (Voice of America) melalui reporternya Jimmy Manan menginterview Dr. Beni Bevly, salah satu analis dari OTTI (Overseas Think Tank for Indonesia) dalam kaitannya dengan diterbitkannya buku “Aku Orang China?” untuk dimuat dalam program Breakfast VOA Newsmaker.
Untuk mendengar program ini silakan klik Breakfast VOA Newsmaker with Dr. Beni Bevly.
