May 1998

Middle of April, ten years ago at Salemba. My friend Latief Siregar (now he is a TV news producer for TPI-Jakarta) and I, along with several journalists sat down on the university’s fence, watching hundreds of yellow jacketed- students protested to the government. “Down, down, Soeharto...” their choir echoed in that dry-weather day. In front of them, only separated by gate, hundreds polices were ready to wait for the students. Anything could be happened.

“Do you think their movement will be successful?” Latief asked me. I never thought he asked me like that. How come? Although protests and demos took place every day since January, there was no sign at all that Soeharto’s power weakened.

“Uh, no way,” I said. Latief smiled and nodded, agreed with my answer. Other journalists who listened to our conversation also expressed the same agreement.

May 1998 (AP)

A month later we knew we were totally wrong. The situation suddenly became worse, reached its first culmination when four Trisakti University students shot in their campus by mysterious snipers, 12 May 1998. In the next day, during the funeral procession of Trisakti students, some journalists –including me- were trapped in the clash between unidentified mass and police or army in front of the university.

Army handling a looting in the May 1998 riot (pic: Tempo Interactive)

Two days later, Jakarta knocked over by riots; the worst riot ever had in Indonesia history. Lootings occurred everywhere. Many reports came to our news room, informed that hundred people died in burnt malls and department stores. I remember, when watching Jakarta from flyover at Slipi, black smokes seen in many spots of Jakarta area.

Our editorial management decided to close our news rooms and temporarily moved it into President Hotel (now becomes Nikko Hotel). We work from the hotel for three days. All of us stayed at hotel. I couldn’t go home to Bogor because the road was unsafe.

Thousands students occupied the DPR building

Meanwhile, national political situation escalated so fast. Thousands students ‘invaded’ the house of representative building. They stayed there and urged the politician to decide a significant political step regarding people’s demand: Soeharto must step down.

And on 21 May, after 32 years led this country, Soeharto announced he stepped down from the presidential seat. None predicted it before. Indonesia entering what people call as the reform era, replaced the 30 year of new era (Orde Baru) .

It's been ten years now from 1998 moment. Many things happened, many thing have changed. Some of them better, some become worse. For me, this is time for my country, for all of us, to rethink our aim and ways to reach the welfare. The welfare by empowering people, not exploiting them.

I think this is the time. (ah)

PS: government just announced the increase of fuel price last Friday (pic: indonesiasatu.com)

Are you happy now?

In Memoriam: Edi Sis

Last weekend came with a very sad news. My friend Bahtiar Fitanto from Malang phoned me and informed: “Edi Sis has passed away…, traffic accident in Pasuruan.”

I was shocked. Speechless.

New friend, old friend

I know Edi Sis well during my two years service at USAID-LGSP (Local Governance Support Program). We are in different office. I work at Jakarta national office while Edi is under East Java regional office management as district coordinator for Probolinggo. I met him in several trainings for district coordinators –included communication and public relations training-- where I also involved as a facilitator. It didn’t take long time to make us a good friend. We feel like two old friends.

Edi (centre) and I interviewed Gus Dudung, 2007

He has high interest in improving his writing skill. When East Java office asked us for further training, February 2007, I met him again. Along with all regional office staff, Edi learned how to writing and taking photograph better. And he had proved that it’s useful. That was Edi, who with Bahtiar sent us our first lessons learned story about participatory planning.

We had good time together especially when we visited Probolinggo for about three days to see the progress of LGSP programs. Edi accompanied us to met with several people included the chairman of local house of representatives, head of planning development agency, NGO leaders and small-medium enterprises (SME). During the visit, I realised how he really mastering his work. Edi has close relationship with all local persons, a good lobbyist as well. He easily arranged personal meeting for us with the chairman and head of planning agency. The unforgettable moment was when he brought us to Pesantren Zainul Hasan, Genggong-Pajarakan where the leader, M. Baidhuri Faisal a.k.a Gus Dudung welcomed us warmly. We interviewed Gus Dudung about participatory planning approach that has been implemented in his school.

We also spent several hours to visit Mt. Bromo (2,392 metres above the sea level). In the early morning, we ride horse in the middle of sand oceans then enthusiastically climbed Bromo while in the right side the Mt Batok (2,440 metres height) watched us. I short word, we really enjoyed the time.

With team at Mt. Bromo. A great memory with Edi (left)

Another thing made us closer was that Edi can speak Sundanese language as his wife is from West Java. Sometimes we talked in this local language; something made some of team members teased us. And I met him for the last time in good governance meeting in Batu, Malang, August 2007.

Life is too short for him, a good guy. But his wife along with two kids and all families must be proud of Edi. He leaves golden footprints behind. We’ll always remember him.

Good bye, Mas…

Cyclone Nargis Struck Myanmar

The category four Nargis cyclone struck west-southwest of Yangon City, Myanmar on Friday 2 May 2008. Wind exceeded 190 kph and the storm ripped through the delta city (estimation population 6 million) for more than ten hours until Saturday noon on 3 May. Reports from the International Federation’s delegation in Myanmar suggest extensive devastation across the affected region. In some affected villages along the Irrawaddy river delta, 95 per cent of houses have been destroyed. Whilst in Yangon, access to running water and electricity has been severely limited. Homes were flattened, more sturdy structures damages, tress uprooted and power lines downed.

The scale of destruction and loss is massive; casualty figures are still rising with reported number (per 6 May 2008): 22,000 dead, 41,000 missing and millions affected.

The Myanmar Red Cross Society (MRCS), with International Federation support, has been active in in-country coordination mechanism. On 5 May, the Red Cross took part in the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) where the activation of the cluster system was discussed.

I got info that the one of Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) staff has departured for Bangkok yesterday (8 May) as part of Federation’s RDRT (regional disaster response team) member to enter Myanmar as soon as possible. Along with him are three members from Singapore Red Cross and Philippines RC. In Jakarta, PMI national headquarter has prepared 10 members in their list to be deployed anytime needed.

International Federation has released CHF 200,000 (USD 190,000 or EUR 123,000) from its Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to support Myanmar Red Cross Society (MRCS) in undertaking immediate assessments of affected areas and distribution of relief items (i.e. cooking utensil, hygiene items, emergency shelters).

On 6 May, International Federation released preliminary emergency appeal to seek CHF 6,290,909 (USD 5,9 million or EUR 3,86 million) in cash, kind, or services in response to request for support MRCS to assist more than 30,000 families for 6 months.