Last sunday, we visited a small celebration of the PPI (Persatuan Pelajar Indonesia - some indonesian student organisation) in Cologne. The cause of this celebration was the indonesian independence day (well a bit too late, but whatever).

This kind of celebrations always proceed in a similair way. First, the national anthem will be sung (extremly patriotic, of course), after a radio played the cratchy recording of sukarnos independence adress a small speech will follow, held by some official (consul, diplomat etc.).

Finally it was time for some fun.

The rest of the day is consisting of eating indonesian food of all kind, playing, singing, dancing and whatever else is entertaining. Also this celebration was passed in the same way.

After we filled our stomaches with the delicious food (Saté, Kare Ayam, Nasi Campur etc.), we could marvel at some regional dances from Java and Bali.

The first dance presented the wayang figure Gatotkaca, who was fighting in a war, but he also thought about his loved one. The dance told of the fight and the sadness of Gatotkaca.

The second dance was sundanese and performed by two women.

The third dance was a typical balinese dance.

After the dances, the time was up for some games. First, just the children played, but after a while also some adults took part the games.

One of the funniest games was the krupuk-eating-contest. The krupuk (rice cakes) were hung on a string and the children had to eat them as fast as they could. Later, the adults tried their Krupuk-gulping abilities.

Also Vania, the co-author of this blog was part of this game, but she failed lousy (did we practise for nothing the last few month ?!).

Between the games some music was performed. The definition of the music could be charming-dilettantish and somewhat unrehearsed, but it still was fun.

Now, the spotlights were on myself in the costume contest, where woman, man and children presented traditional costumes of the different regions of Indonesia and in the man contest, I won the second place!

But stop! Before someone of the fashion industry wants to engage me as a model, the negative point of this incident should also be told. I reached second place of two male participants. But, anyway, I received a silver cup, also my stage walk was amused all spectators.

All in all a nice party, sadly we had to went home, before the dangdut dances started (too bad we missed it).

Till next year, we will train even more Krupuk-gulping. Also I will focus on my model carreer, so we can get the gold cup next year!

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Karl May in Indonesia

Several adventures of Winnetou, Old Shatterhand and their friends have already been published in the Indonesian version (Winnetou I – II, Kara Ben Nemsi I, Gurun dan Prairie I, Anak Pemburu Beruang, Hantu Llano Estacado).

The readers even organized a Karl May fan club and an Indonesian Karl May society (see www.indokarlmay.com).

The dear friendship between Winnetou, the native American, and Karl May who is from Saxonia, East Germany, strikes the readers as being a rare example because both men are very different in terms of cultural beliefs, religion or nationality.

Nevertheless they actively promote peace and understanding between different groups, even between enemies. They therefore represent ideas which are greatly valued in Indonesia. Of course it is not only their social behaviour which attracts the readers but also the great adventures they experience.

Most of the Indonesian versions of Karl May’s books have been translated in Malang, an east javanese town with approximately 900.000 inhabitants. The translaters who mainly work as highschool teachers or university lecturers for German are currently translating “Old Surehand II”.

At the end of this summer “Old Surehand I” as well as “Raja Minyak” (the Oil Prince) will be published. The readers are longing for new adventures of their heros.

Thanks to Dr. Cornelia Bast for this article – For a long time, Dr. Cornelia worked as a tutor of DAAD (Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst), at the university of Malang and Yogyakarta.

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Governor elections in Jakarta

On the 8th of August governor election were held in Jakarta. The pollings opened at 7:30 a.m. in all districts of jakarta.

The results were announced yesterday, on August, the 16th. Fauzi Bowo won the governor elections along with his with party colleague Prijanto. 2,109 Mio (57.87 % ) voted for them.

Adang Darajatun and Dani Anwar received 1,535 Mio. votes (42,13%).

The committee for the control of the elections declared that 2,1 Mio. voters didn´t make use of the right to vote, despite the efforts to include all groups in the process of election.

For expample, prisoners, who are allowed to vote in indonesia, were brougnt to the voting boxes and also ill people and their families were be able to make their vote at home or in hospitals.

Despite this efforts, many people didn´t vote, because they partly didn´t know how to fill out the form to get registrated or they didn´t had any interest to vote.

The inhabitans of the islands, located a few miles at the coast in front of Jakarta (Pulau Seribu) were also able to vote, when a boat brought the voting boxes to their islands, but just a few used the possibility, also because they mostly didn´t even know the candidates.

Many people in the district of Cipayung in east-jakarta weren´t able to vote, because the forms to registrate for the voting weren´t sent to them, even though they were living in Jakarta for several years already and could provife all necessary documents to get registered.

In some disctricts even dieseased people along with four year old childs were found in the electoral register.

In other respects their were just small incidents. In the evening, the manual count of the ballot papers began.

Speech of the indonesian president on occasion of the independence day

Within the solemnisation of 62nd indonesian independence day, the indoensian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono held a speech in front of the parliament at the Nusantara III (Parliament Building) on the 16th of August 2007 at 10 o clock.

The speech was attended by most of the ministers, the vice president Jusuf Kalle and dimplomats from several countries.

The substance of his speech in headwords:

1. Strengthening of indonesias unity and co-operation.
2. Advancement of the national budget (APBN-Anggaran Pendapatan Belanja Negara), because the debts of indonesia grew in the last year, which could lead to a loss of trust by private investors and this could lead to deficiencies on the job market.
3. The salarys of state official will be raised by 20%
4. The investments in the health sector should be improved from 6,5 Trillion Rupiah (686 Mio. US $) to 18,8 Trillion Rupiah (2 Billion US $).
5. The budget for the social sector should be enhanced, from 47,5 Trillion Rupiah (5 Billion US $) to 67,45 Trillion Rupiah (7,8 Billion US $).
6. The enhancement of indonesia infrastructure has to get a main part of the efforts for the next year
7. The investments in the education should also be improved by ca. 200% to 48,3 Trillio Rupiah (ca. 5 Billion US $)
8. The economic growth for 2008 is estimated to 6,8%, the inflation is estimated to 6%

Disturbances in the province Aceh

In the run of the celebration of the indenpence day it came to several disturbences in Aceh, Indonesian flags, raised to celebrate the independece were burned.

The flag ceremonies had to be held under the protection of the poclice. The general surveillance by the police in aceh was intensified.

The government in Jakarta spoke of a violation of the helsinki agreement, which was signed on August, the 15th 2005 to secure the peace in the uneasy province and demanded the prompt seizure of the agitators.

The disturbances could be the result of disappointed expactations after the tsunamni catastrophy, when large amounts of donated funds got peculated.

Arraignment against Tommy Suharto

On August the 16th, Tommy Suharto was interrogated, in the presence of his lawyer, after he didn´t appeared on his first citation, because of a alleged illness.

The reason for the citation are allegations about the defalcation of Funds, during his work for the industry association BPPC (Badan Penyangga dan Pemasaran Cengkeh).

Also he was questioned, because he didn´t pay back two credits about 759 Billion Rupiah, he got from the banks KLBI (Bank Indonesia Liquidity Credit) and BBD (Dirut Bank Bumi Daya).

Tommy Suharto stated, that he already paid back both credits. After 7.5 hours of interrogation, the prosecution set up an accusal against Tommy Suharto.

He appealed against the accusal one day later, declaring, that he has enough arguments, that he already acquit his debt.

Already at January, the 25th 2007 he sued the bank BNP Paribas, because the blocked 60 Mio. of his funds, because they didn´t had any assertion of the origin of the money, which wasappointed to Tommy Suhartos company (Garnet Investment).

The government supported the bank and determined the bank not to pay the money.

Tommy Suharto and his network of companies have a monopoly position in the branches of Oil, Car production and the trade with cloves.

He owns about 24.000 hectars of estates adn a golf course in Britain. It could be assumed, that the suharto family owns more than 80 Mio. Dollars.

During the rule of his father, the suharto clan lined mor than 440 Mio. Euro in one´s pocket. An expert on the suharto family, George Junus Aditjondro comes to a pessimistic appraisementm that this money could be lost forever.

Art and culture

Celebrations of the indonesian independence day

Within the celebrations of the indonesian independence day may peformances and presentations will be held. In bigger cities a procession will be held also many small performances for children and adults will be organised.

The traditional flag ceremoney will be views live on the important TV stations.

Decline of the Achmad Bakrie award 2007 by Franz Magnis Suseno

On August, the 14th, the catholic priest Franz Magnis Suseno declined to accept the Achmad Bakrie award, which he should receive for his social engangement in indonesia.

He justified his decline with the unreadiness of the Bakrie Group to compensate the victims of the Sidoarjo mud flow.

The Sidoarjo mud flow was caused by drillings, which were arranged by a company of the Bakrie group.

The drilling encountered a subterranean mud sea, which started to drift out permanently. Several villages were buried under the masses of mud and thousands of farmers and villagers lost all of their assets.

Franz Magnis-Suseno demanded, that the Bakrie Group should better care about those victims, than about giving awards.

Franz Magnis Suseno is living more than 40 years in indonesia and if one of the most famous intellectuals.

Asmat Festival

The Asmat Festival will be held in a park, called Pantai Karnaval, Ancol, located in North Jakarta between August, the 12th and August the 19th.

The Asmat are a tribe from Papua, who will present their abilities in woodcarving. Ca. 100 members of the Asmat tribe will show about 11 wooden ships during the festival.The festival is held, within in the celebrations of Indonesias 62. Independence Day.

Nature and Science

Sumatra Tiger got captured

A sumatra tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) was captured and badly hurt in Sawahlunto, in West Sumatra on August, the 15th.

It was brought to Bukittingi, where his foot, which was hurt by a sling had to be amputeed. It has to be assumed, that the tiger is too badly hurt and traumatised to survive in nature, when he would get set free.

Since 2005 15 Sumatra Tiger were either captured or killed. On Sumatra are just 350 to 400 animals of these species left. It is assumed, that they will die out like their congener species on Java and Bali

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Also children have to learn and sing patriotic songs. For german like me, it is always a bit odd, to celebrate patriotism, but the patriotism is explicable, because of indonesias long and fierce fight for independence.

Some songs, which are sung at the Indepence Celebrations

Indonesia Raya

Text:

Indonesia tanah airku, Tanah tumpah darahku.
Disanalah aku berdiri, Jadi pandu ibuku.
Indonesia kebangsaanku, Bangsa dan Tanah Airku.
Marilah kita berseru Indonesia bersatu.

Hiduplah tanahku, Hiduplah negriku,
Bangsaku, Rakyatku, semuanya.
Bangunlah jiwanya, Bangunlah badannya
Untuk Indonesia Raya.

Refrain:
Indonesia Raya,
Merdeka, Merdeka
Tanahku, negriku yang kucinta.

Indonesia Raya,
Merdeka, Merdeka
Hiduplah Indonesia Raya.

Indonesia Raya,
Merdeka, Merdeka
Tanahku, negriku yang kucinta.

Indonesia Raya,
Merdeka, Merdeka
Hiduplah Indonesia Raya.

here you can find a freely translation:
http://www.lexas.net/hymnen/suedostasien/indonesien/index.asp

The following songs are learned and sung by children in school. They are called “Lagu Wajib” and will be sung, after the flag was raised.

These songs are:

Berkibarlah Benderaku

Berkibarlah benderaku
Lambang suci gagah perwira
Di seluruh pantai Indonesia
Kau tetap pujaan bangsa
Siapa berani menurunkan engkau
Serentak rakyatmu membela

Sang Merah Putih yang perwira
Berkibarlah s’lama lamanya

Kami rakyat Indonesia
Bersedia setiap masa
Mencurahkan segenap tenaga
Supaya kau tetap cemerlang
Tak goyang jiwaku menahan rintangan
Tak gentar rakyatmu berkorban

Sang Merah Putih yang perwira
Berkibarlah s’lama lamanya

Freely translated song:

My flag is flauting
a symbol of holyness and strength
at all indonesian coasts.
you will be praised
if someone tries to turn you down
the people will fight for you

the red white flag
will be flaunting forever

At every time
i will give my power to you
so you will shine forever
my soul knows no fear of barriers
your people will fight for you

the red white flag
will be flaunting forever

Garuda Pancasila

Garuda Pancasila
Aku-lah pendukungmu
Patriot proklamasi
Sedia berkorban untukmu

Pancasila dasar negara
Rakyat adil makmur sentosa
Pribadi bangsaku

Ayo maju maju
Ayo maju maju
Ayo maju maju

Freely translated version:

Garuda Pancasila
Im your follower
Hero of the proclamtion
I will fight for you

Pancasila the states doctrine
your people are living well
Identity of my country

move forward
move forward
move forward

Indonesia Pusaka

Indonesia tanah air beta
Pusaka abadi nan jaya
Indonesia sejak dulu kala
Tetap dipuja puja bangsa

Di sana tempat lahir beta
Dibuai dibesarkan bunda
Tempat berlindung di hari tua
Sampai akhir menutup mata

Freely translated song:

Indonesia is my fatherland
it will ever be there for me
cince older days
it was be praised by other countries

Here, I was born
Here, I was raised by my mother
A place to rest, when im a old
since I will die

Satu nusa satu bangsa

Satu nusa
Satu bangsa
Satu bahasa kita

Tanah air
Pasti jaya
Untuk Selama-lamanya

Indonesia pusaka
Indonesia tercinta
Nusa bangsa
Dan Bahasa
Kita bela bersama

Freely translated songs:

A land
A nation
A language

Our fatherland
will be successful
forever

Indonesia is the heritage
Lovely Indonesia
Country, Nation
and language
defend those together

Bagimu Negeri

Padamu negri
kami berjanji
Padamu negri
kami berbakti
Padamu negri
kami mengabdi
Bagimu negri
jiwa raga kami

Freely translated version:

For you fatherland
we promise
For you fatherland
we are devoted
For you fatherland
We serve
For you fatherland
Our body, our soul

Rayuan Pulau Kelapa

Tanah airku Indonesia
Negeri elok amat kucinta
Tanah tumpah darahku yang mulia
Yang kupuja sepanjang masa

Tanah airku aman dan makmur
Pulau kelapa yang amat subur
Pulau melati pujaan bangsa
Sejak dulu kala

Refrain:

Melambai lambai
Nyiur di pantai
Berbisik bisik
Raja Kelana

Memuja pulau
Nan indah permai
Tanah Airku
Indonesia

Freie Übersetzung des Liedes:

Indonesien mein Vaterland
Ein schönes Land, das ich sehr liebe
Mein edles Land
Ich ehre dich für immer

My home is save and prosper
the fruitful coconut land
Praised as country of jasmine
since all times

waved
the coconut leaves
whispered
the wind

to honor the country
which is beautiful
My homland
Indonesia

Hari Merdeka

Tujuh belas agustus tahun empat lima
Itulah hari kemerdekaan kita
Hari Merdeka Nusa dan Bangsa
Hari lahirnya bangsa Indonesia
merdeka . . .

S’kali merdeka tetap merdeka
Selama hayat masih dikandung badan

Kita tetap setia tetap sedia
Mempertahankan Indonesia
Kita tetap setia tetap sedia
Membela negara kita

Freely translated version:

August, the 14th 1945
Iis our independence day
th day of independece for our nation
the birthday of indonesia
Indpendet

One time independent, independent forever
As long our soul stays in our bodys
we are loyal and ready
to defend indonesia
we are loyal and ready
to protect our nation

Syukur

Dari yakinku teguh, hati ikhlasku penuh
Akan karuniamu, tanah air pusaka
Indonesia merdeka
Syukur aku sembahkan, kehadiratMu Tuhan

Dari yakinku teguh, cinta ikhlasku penuh
Akan jasa usaha pahlawanku yang baka
Indonesia merdeka
Syukur aku hunjukkan ke bawah duli Tuhan

Dari yakinku teguh, bakti ikhlasku penuh
Akan azas rukunmu, pandu bangsa yang nyata
Indonesia merdeka
Syukur aku hunjukkan ke hadapanMu Tuhan

freely translated song:

From the faith in my heart
Our fatherland is a gift of god
Indonesia is independet
Thanks to god

From the faith of my heart
the glory of our heros
Indonesia is independet
Thanks to god

From the faith in my heart
solidarity, leader of the nation
Indonesia is independet
Thanks to god

The flag ceremony

The order of the flag ceremony after the law: PP 62/1990, KETENTUAN KEPROTOKOLAN MENGENAI TATA TEMPAT:

1. The flag will be raised and the naitonal anthem will be sung.
2. minute’s silence , the song “Syukur” will be sung by a choir.
3. the second of the proclamtion of independece (A Salute, Alarm, drums, church bells etc)
4. Reading of the proclmation
5. Prayer

Happy Birthday, Indonesia!

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End of July to August, 8th

Politics:

Accusation against Yudhoyono

The former vice chairman of the indonesian parliament, was forced to resignation in End of July by his own party (PBR, Partai Bintang Reformasi).

After a scandal grew up, in which Ma’arif was accused to be married to two wives, he had to resign from he was forced to resign.President Yudhoyono supported the demands for his demission.

Zaenal Ma’arif probably tried to pay Yudhoyono back, when he made the allegation, that Yudhoyono himself was already married, before he married his current wife and also that two children of this relationship were born.

To prove his allegations, he presented a video, on which a woman tells, that she would be the mother-in-law of Yudhoyono and also that her daughter has born two children during the supposedly marriage to Yudhoyono.

Yudhoyono responded with legal actions against Zaenal Ma’arif. Perhaps, because of this Zaenal Ma’arif s back pedaled and also accused the former leader of the indonesian army to have been the main source of the accusations against Yudhoyono.

The KPU comitee intervented in the run-up of governor elections in Jakarta

In the run-up of Jakartas governor elections the KPU (Kamitee Pemihilan Umum), an comitee, which is monitoring elections, intervented, because of several violation of a regulation, called “minggu tenang” (=Quiet week).

In the quiet week is the last week before the elections. It ist not allowed to do any propaganda for the upcoming elections, posters, campaign events etc. are not allowed.

Because campaign events, also poster campaigns and similair measures were going on, the KPU had to take action.

They forbid all campaings, poster and similair propaganda was removed in the area of jakarta.

The elections will be held on August, the 8th.

The candidates from the Party “PDIP (Partai Perjuangan =Party of democratic struggle)”:

• Governor - Dr. Ing. H. Fauzi Bowo (current Vice Governor)
• Vice Governor - Prijanto

On side of the PKS (Partai Keadilan Sosial = Islam social Party):

• Governor - Adang Daradjatun (Chief of the Jakarta police)
• Vice Governor - Dani Anwar

Nature and Science:

Gunung Semeru shows stronger activity

On August the 6th the volcano showed stronger activity. Two times small amounts of lava erupted and a cloud of smoke was uprising. The population near the volcano feared a strong eruption.

The Gunung Semeru is located near the City Lumajang (south of Surabaya) in East Java. It hast a height of 3676 meter and is the highest mountain on java. The gunung Semeru erupted last time in March 2007, when cold lava cause a damaged of 160 billion Rupiah (ca. 20 Mio Dollar).

The Gunung Talang is barred

After the Gunung Talang in western Sumatra showd increased activity it was blocked. The local observation ward told that after the expulsion of large amounts of smoke, it would be too dangerous for visitors, also the ward feared of an upcoming earthquake in the area.

Society and Culture:

Elections for Miss Indonesia

On friday, the 3rd the election for Miss Indonesia (Putri Indoensia) were held. 36 candidates from 36 indonesian provinces showed up. The winner of the election was Putri Raemaswasti (20) from east java.

Now, the winner, Putri Raemaswasti is preparing for the upcoming elections for Miss Universe.

Buddhists celebrate Adasa day

Hundreds of buddhists were part of a solemnly ritual at the temple Muaro in the province Jambi on Sumatra, in which 1 Mio. candles were lit.

The adasa day celebrates the point in time, when buddha first shared his message with the world.

Also in other parts of indoensia the occasion was celebrated. Altogether 50 Mio. candles were lit in whole indonesia.

Economy:

China stops import of indoensian seafood

At the beginning of the week, the chinese government forbid the import of indoensian seafood. After a released official statement the analysis of indonesian seafood prooved the existance of substances, that may cause cancer in imported seafood from indonesia.

The import stop could be the direct answer to indonesias ban of chinese cosmetics, in which contaminations were found.

The indonesian government hopes for bettering of the relations to china and a solution for this situation, because the export yearly value of seafood exports to china is amounting to 150 Mio. dollar.

Indonesia also demanded the analysis of its seafood products in european laboratories, to proove, that the chinese allegations are anchorless.

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I just finished a small picture gallery on our german main site. You can find it here: Picture Gallery

At the moment some descriptions are missing, they will be added the tomorrow or at least on monday (also the english site will get the same gallery then), because we have some guests here.

Also I have problems to make the Gallery useable for people with small or old displays - it works just from 1024×768 at smaller resolutions the “next” and “previous” buttons are partly kicked from the screen. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Im already working on an alternative gallery option for people with a resulotion of 800×600

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Introduction

The population of the indonesian province aceh is ca. 4. Mio. The capital city of Aceh is called Banda Aceh. The area spans about 55.392 square kilomaters (about 3 % of the indonesian territory).

It is divided in 10 counties (kabupaten), two county seats (kotamadya) and 131 administrative districts (kecamatan) and 112 communities (kelurahan/desa). More than half of its territory is difficult to access.

Reasons for separatism

One reason was the strong centralization in the indonesian government system. Since the dutch tried to establish a federal system in competition to the independent republic in the last years of its occupation a federal system was mostly taboo.

Also the often bloody abolition of inner conflicts, for example the islamic uprising in 1957, universal struggle charta (Piagam Perjuangan Semesta alam, Permesta) and the crush of the communists in 1965/66 led to a loss of trust in the central government by the outer regions of indonesia.

The traumatic experiences during the Suharto era, in which the administrative power was even more centralized strengthened the frustration.

The strong military force used in inner conflicts and the strong centralization led in many parts of the acehnese population to a feeling of discrimination.

The consequence was the renunciation of the multi ethnic and multi religious states doctrine “Unity in diversity” (bhineka thunggal ika) respectively the integral philosophy (Pancasila). Instead of them, religious and regional concepts of identity were starched.

Guerilla movements, which first just fought for a better economic status and a revaluation of the region in the hierarchy of indonesia, now were stronger focussed on separatistic conceptions.

An own islamic acehnese identity developed already in the 13th century by the early influence of the islam and the resistance against invaders of all kind.

Also military defeats were defining the identity of the population as the ones who suffer.

The resistance against dutch was mostly supported by islamic groups. This groups hoped, to play a decisive role, after the obtainment of independence.

But the central government tried to weaken the islamic organizations and structures (for example the rescission of islamic tribunals). Sukarnos denial to grant the islam an exceptional position in the independent republic led to a negative approach of the central government by the acehnese population.

The reference to the resistance against the dutch was also used as ideologic munition in guerilla warfare by declaring the javanese to neocolonialists.

Feared consequences of a separation

A dissociation enforced by violence leads only very rarely to a democratic new beginning. After the secession of east timor some observers feared a continuing secession in indonesia or even the collapse of the indonesian nation.

A consequence of a collapsing indonesian nation would have been irrepressible
and would have promoted the formation of islamistic and dictatorial regimes.

The progress of separations, which would cause massive waves of migration and refugees could also overlap to other countries.

Some pessimists even feared the destabilization of the whole region south east asia.

About the GAM (Gerakan Aceh Merdeka)

First resistance-movements against the central government in Jakarta, were already formed shortly after the independence of indonesia, because the islamic organization, which fought against the dutch felt betrayed by the central government.

As already mentioned, by the rescission of islamic tribunals and the denial of an exceptional position of the islam in indonesia by Sukarno.

The first movements fought mostly just to obtain acceptance and didn´t had separatistic intentions.

Through the boom of the oil and gas industry and also the export of wood, the conflicts grew, because the local population was excluded from the profits.

This led to the forming of a ethnic national intentions inside the resistance movements. This, still very small resistance movement was presented by the GAM (Gerakan Aceh Merdeka).

But just a small part of this resistance fighters used violence to reach their goals, but although, the reaction of the central was government was brutal and oppressive.

The history of the GAM is normally splitted in 3 phases:

1. Phase: 1976 - 1979 (up to 200 active members)

The GAM was comparatively small and just badly armed. It was neither a political nor a military threat to the government in jakarta.

After the relatively fast disruption of the early GAM a lot of active members had been killed, others chose the exile.

2. Phase: 1989 - 1991 (up to 750 active members)

Because the majority of the population was still excluded from the gainings of the local resource the problems grew, the government . Because of these exclusion and also the concerted immigration of javanese workers, the conflicts erupted in partly violent protests by the local population, even before the GAM emerged again.

When the GAM emerged again, the local population supported the movement much more than in the early years of the GAM. Also, it was supported by Libya, which was supporting guerilla movements in all over world in this times.

Because of this, they also were better armed and trained and the GAM could act much more aggressive than before.

In the first month, they attacked police stations and military positions, later they also settlers and suspected informants came into the field of their vision.

The violence of the GAM and especially the counteractive measures of the government grew.

Amnesty international spoke, in face of the violation of human rights (torture and contract killings), of a shock therapy.

The amount of casualties of these violent era is reaching from 1258 (Human Rights Watch, about 2000 (Amnesty International) to even 5000 casualties by reports from other NGOs. The majority of the casualties were civilians.

By the massive military presence the government could reach a military victory in 1993, but it was a hollow victory, because they lost any support and trust by the local population.

3. Phase: 1999-2004 ( from 15.000 to 27.000 active members)

At times of the asian economic crises in the late 90´s protests and the demands for more democracy began in nearly all important cities in indonesia, especially after the resign of Suharto, who was just “elected” for another premiership in 1998.

After his enforced resign, the former vice president Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie assumed the affairs of state. Despite, he was a foster child of Suharto he introduced a new, more democratic beginning for indonesia.

But because of the economic crises and the collapse of suhartos authoritarian system, many control entities of the state were weakened.

In the beginning, the democratising enhanced hopes for more equity and autonmony in Aceh.

Because of the new liberties for the press, it was possible to investigate violations of human rights in aceh.

Also, a civil initiative of Students, named SIRA (Sentral Informasi Referendum Aceh ) or ARIC (Aceh Referundum Information Center)was founded, which demanded the independence of aceh.

In January 1999, a delegation of 42 delegates (Ulama, activists and studentes) met with president Habibie to expose their demands for autonomy.

Two months later a goverment delegation visited aceh, but didn´t make many confessions. The disappointed expectations adn broken promises about economic support, support of orphans and the prosecution of humand rights abuses led to a stronger loss of confidence in the new central government.

From 1991-1998 the GAM showed not much activity, but in the midst of 1998 flags and symbols of the GAM showed up on local protests in aceh, also some acehnese, who were suspected to cooperate with or spy for the central government were kidnapped or even killed.

Also the so called “Generation of avengers” (generasi pendedam) participated in the struggle between the GAM and the local government.

They were mostly teenagers, who were prepared to use violence to seek revenge for their experience of injustice and mischief in the past.

Many village leaders joined the independence movement, often by pressure of te GAM.

In August 1998 the state of emergency (DOM = Daerag Operasi Militer) was (pro forma) suspended, but in reality, the military still was in charge in aceh.

After isolated clashes the violence escalated in 1999. During the search for kidnapped soldiers, 40 civilians were killed near Lhokseumawe.

In february 1999 28 people were killed in a shooting near Idi Cut, when they returning from a peaceful meeting inside mosque.

These incidents provided a strong inflow to the GAM and a strong backing by the local population.

In the midst of 1999 the number of members in the GAM was just about 800, but 2 years later it grew up to 2.000-3.000 armed activists. Furthermore also 13.000-24.000 militia were controlling nearly 80 % of the acehnese territory.

In government of president Wahid several attempts to end the violence were started, but they mostly failed by inner conflicts and also the by the inconsistent decisions of Wahid in the matter of an acehnese referendum about the autonomy.

After several attacks against the oil production facilities of Exxon Mobile in 2001, the government sent again reinforcements to aceh.

All together, it can be assumed, that the indonesian government won many small victories in the battle against the GAM, but it failed in the big picture and even strengthened the GAM by attacks on civilians and human rights abuses in general.

A former small innocuous grew up to well equipped, trained and structured organization.

In 2004 the willingness of president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to accept negotiations cleared the way for a solution, but in this still 35.000 soldiers were stationed in aceh.

The tentative end of conflict

After the disaster of the tsunami at the end of 2004 compelled all involved camps to accept negotiations.

The main controversial subjects in the negotiations were the former disappointing experiences in earlier negotiations in 2002 and the demand of the GAM to found a regional party, while the government just want to accept a party for whole indonesia.

But the GAM was compelled to accept compromises, because the tsunami weakened its structure and had just 1.000 armed forces left.

Despite the negotiations it still came to small skirmishes till mid 2005. In July 2005 the final breakthrough was achieved in the negotiations, which were held in Helsinki.

Aceh received a widely autonomy but didn´t gain independence. Also a general amnesty for all member of the GAM was released and it was granted to the GAM to found an own party.

In return the GAM demobilized till december the 19th and dissolved its military arm on December the 27th 2005.

The hopes for a durable peace in aceh are favorable, because the GAM is lacking of resources to keep up a rebellion and also because the peace process was guided and observed by observers of the EU- and ASEAN-states.

Also measures for an accounting for the past were initiated. A truth commission and a court for human rights were founded.

Sources:

• Antje Mißbach, Freiheitskämpfer oder Geschäftemacher – Der bewaffnete Kampf der Gerakan Aceh Merdeka (GAM) unter Berücksichtigung klassischer und neuer Guerillatheorien, Logos Verlag Berlin
• Universität Hamburg – Department Sozialwissenschaften (www.sozialwiss.uni-hamburg.de/publish/Ipw/Akuf/kriege/255ak_indonesien_aceh.htm)

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Although Badminton is the favourite sport in Indonesia, the interest in soccer is growing slowly.

Every region has got an own soccer club, also the indonesian soccer association is already existing since 1930.

The history of the indonesian soccer association

The indonesian soccer association was founded in April, 19th 1930, by a construction engineer, named Soeratin Sosrosoegondo. Soeratin Sosrosoegondo was returning to indonesia after he finished his studies in germany.

First, he worked shortly for a dutch company, but he canceled his job and was supporting the movement of independence, instead.

The founding of the Indonesian soccer association belonged to this support. By founding an own Indonesian soccer association he tried to repel the influence of the dutch-dominated soccer association, named NIVB (Nederlands Indische Voetbal Bond).

He organized several meetings with pro-soccer players and representatives of the regional soccer organisations to unite them in a new Indonesian association, wich should be independent from the colonial power, presented by the NIVB.

On April, the 30th 1930 the last meeting was hold in Jakarta. Nearly all regional soccer organizations were present.

Among other, the Bandoengsche Voetbal Bond“ (Bandung, West Java), the „Persatuan Sepakbola Mataram“ (Yogyakarta, Central Java), the „Madioensche Voetbal Bond“ (Madiun, Ost Java), the „Indonesische Voetbal Bond Magelang“ (Magelang, Central Java), the „Soerabajashe Indonesische Voetbal Bond“ (Surabaya, Ost Java) and the „Vortenlandsche Voetbal Bond“(Solo, Central Java).

All this regional associations were united I the PSSI (Persatoean Sepak Bola Seloeroeh Indonesia) on that day. Soeratin Sosrosoegondo became the director of the PSSI.

Logo of indonesian football assciation PSSI

The influence and importance of PSSI was growing fast. A while the PSSI worked hand in hand with the NIVB, wich changed their name to NIVU (Nederlandsh Indische Voetbal Unie), but just until 1939.

In 1938 the NIVU (former NIVB) was sending a soccer team to the soccer world cup, the players were mainly organized in the PSSI. But, because the team entered the World cup beneath the dutch banner, wich caused massive protest from representatives of the PSSI and ended with the breakup between NIVU und PSSI.

During the Japanese occupation, the PSSI wasn´t active, because japan tried to integrate all soccer clubs in the japanese sport association.

After ending of the occupation the PSSI revived. In 1954 PSSI became member of FIFA and in 1954 member of the AFV (asian football confederation).

Painting on a indonesian stadium wall

The indonesian soccer-league

1. „Divis Utama“ oder „Djarum Indonesia“(Djarum ist mostly supported and financed by the tobacco producer „Djarum“). It is mostly compareble with the major league or premier league.
2. „Divisi I“ – compareable to the second league or the English football league
3. Divis II – Amateur League
4. Liga Yunior – Youth League, consisting of U-15 (player at the age of 15+), U-18 (players at the age of 18+) and U-23 (players at the age of 23+).
5. Liga Wanita – Womens soccer league

The indonesian national soccer team

First international match:
The first match was in 1934 on the Philippines. Indonesia lost 2:0 against china.

First appearence at the World Cup:
The first and appearance, as the first asian team at a world cup was in 1938. In this time the team was still dominated by the NIVU (Nederlandsh Indische Voetbal Unie), wich was mainly controlled by the dutch colonial power.

Also they entered the world cup beneath the dutch banner. Because many players already were organized in the PSSI this circumstate lead to drastic protests in indonesia.

As a consequence of ths incident the the cooperation between NIVU and PSSI ended in 1939. Since 1938 could not qualify again for entering the world cup.

Biggest succes:
On December the 23th indonesia won 13:0 against the philippines in jakarta, indonesia.

Biggest failure:
On September, the 3rd against denmark. Indonesia lose 0:9 in copenhagen.

The actual (2007) Fifa ranking of Indonesia is place 149. Since 1996 indonesia was qualified for the asian cup three times. But failed always in the preliminary round.

Odds in Indonesian soccer

Beside the possibility to buy tickets for soccer matches on the black market, you may have the alternative to rent a ladder and climb onto the stadium wall.

Next to the stadium, it is possible to buy fan-articles (normally just illegal copies), also food and drinks.

You can also carry food and drinks into the stadium, which sometimes (at bad games) leads to a rubbished field.

When big away-games ahead ist often possible for fans to travel by train for free. Also they don’t have to provide much money to get food or drinks.

Often fans of the own team, who work or live in the area of the opposite team support their fellow fans proudly with food and drink for free or at least very cheap.

Also because of overfilled trains, sometimes it came to accidents, because people, who were sitting on top of the train fell of or were hurt by an electric shock.

Fans, who don´t like to go to the stadium and watch the match on TV, may often run furiously out of their house, because high frequency of power blackouts in Indonesia.

Autor:
Marc & Vania Koeberlein

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Introduction

Education is very important, especially for indonesia. As an emerging nation, indonesia needs education to get out of state of underdevelopment.

With a good education, the upcoming generations can help to push the progress of development of their country by taking an active part in this progress.

Since 1945, when indonesia became independet, the country tries to build up its educational system and knows how important it is. Of course, the system is still backwarded, compared to other western or asian countries, but very slowly it will be improved.

Stages of indonesias educational system

1. the pre school - children from 1 to 4 years

2. the kindergarten (TK = taman kanak kanak) - 4 to 6 years

3. public primary school (SD = Sekolah Dasar ) or muslm primary school (MI = Madrasah Ibtidaiyah) - 6 to 12 years

4. public grammar school (SMP = Sekolah Menengah Pertama ) or muslim grammar school (MTS = Madrasah Tsanawiyah) - 12 to 15 years

5. public high school (SMA = Sekolah Menengah Atas) or muslim high school (MA = Madrasah Aliyah) - 15 to 18 years

6. college or university (ST = Sekolah Tinggi or Universitas)

The possible degrees are D1, D2, D3, D4 as well as S1 (Bachelor), S2 (Master of Arts) and S3 (Doctor).

An oddity of indonesias education system ist, that students can end their already after 1, 2, 3 or 4 years. This degrees are called “Diploma (D1, D2, D3, D4)”.

Of course this degrees are low of value and even graduates with a bachelor degree have difficulties to find an adequate job after finishing the College.

Indonesian Students

Different types of proprietary education in indonesia

Beside the formal education (primary school, grammer school etc.) the educational law of indonesia aids the nonformal eduction (pre-school, kindergarten) and informal education (courses, study groups etc).

The problems of indonesias education system

The indonesian gouverment invested a lot in education in the past years and did accomplish the following goals:

1. Formely, indonesia had an central based education system, wich provided the same curricula for every region and tried to reach the same quality in all regions.

Since a while, the system was decentralised.Every region is now eligible to regulate its curriculum by itself. The department of education just tries to reach similair standards in all regions.

2. The curricula got improved. The former curricula just concerned with theoretical lessons. The improved curricula is focussing a bit more on practice and the participation of students to improve the curriculum.

3. The salaries of teachers, but also the demands on the teaching staff were increased.

A little while ago teachers didn´t need a teaching certificate. Everyone could be a tutor on schools and universities. Of course the quality of education was mostly worse. Sometimes students even were teached wrong in many areas.

Since 2003 teaching certificates are an obligation to get an accreditation to teach at schools and universities. It helped a lot to improve the quality of the tuition.

Despite this improvement, there are still many problems in indonesias education system. A few will be mentioned in the following text.

Problems in primary school

The primary school is still very problematic, because many children between 7 and 15, never visited a school. Also the amount of dropouts is very high.

Furthermore yearly, about more than 500.000 primary school students couldn´t reach the qualification for grammar school, beacause of their lack of education.

This is mostly caused by underfinanced schools. The teaching material is mostly outdated or not even available also the teachers are underpayed.

The origin of this problem was amongst others, the late introduction of compulsory education. The compulsory education (9 years) exists not until 1994.

The gouverment wanted to complete this program till 2003, but they failed, because of many problems that impended the process. Mostly beacuse of lack of fundings.

The new primary goals of the ministry of education till 2008 are:

1. 95 % of all students, especially female students and children of poor families, should be able to reach the qualification for grammar school.

2. male and female students should get the same chances in all kind of schools.

3. The instruction of teachers and the provided teaching material should be improved.

If this goals can be reached is depending on the alloted funds.

Problems in tertiary education

The tertiary education is playing a decisive role in the developing progress of indonesia. For one thing to modernize the country, for another thing to build up indonesia human capital.

The amount of tertiary aspirants is rising, every year and also the amount of graduates. In the year 2005, 2,9 million students, on 80 state and 1700 private universities, completed their degree.

These are 12 % of the total population. until 2020 this rate will raise to 25 % or 6,2 million (Fadjar, 2005).

The problem here is still the quality of education. Many degree holders with a bachelor aren´t able to find a adequate job.

This is caused for one thing, because the indonesian degrees can´t compete against the international degrees. For another thing, the reconciliation between industry and universities isn´t perfect.

Sources:

Fadjar, A. Malik. 2005. Holistika Pemikiran Pendidikan. Jakarta: Rajawali Press.

Departemen Pendidikan Nasional. 2006. Program Gerakan Nasional Percepatan Penuntasan Wajib Belajar Sembilan tahun. Jakarta: Depdiknas

UU Republik Indonesia No.20 Tahun 2003 Tentang Sistem Pendidikan Nasional. Surabaya: Penerbit Karina

UU Republik Indonesia No. 14 Tahun 2005 Tentang Guru dan Dosen. Jakarta: Sinar Grafika

>Author:

M. Tohirin Hasan adalah Dosen Luar Biasa Jurusan Teknologi Pendidikan Universitas Negeri Malang; Direktur Ekskutif Center for Education and Social Studies (CESS), Malang

Alamat: Jl. Candi 2A No. 383 Karangbesuki, Sukun, Malang,
Jawa Timur, Indonesia

Email: tohirinhasan (at) yahoo.com,
he_riends (at) yahoo.com

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