Andre Vltchek's article on the Asia Times Online portray quite an accurate view on life in present Indonesia. The article's got most facts right, and it is not pretty.
As an Indonesian, I am deeply saddened by what's happening in my country. It seems the country is in deeper shit than it was a decade ago.
I wonder will Mr. Vltchek be subject to the Indonesian Cyber law. For some, what he wrote could be misconstrued as libelous or slanderous.
You be the judge, read it and tell me what you think.
Stuff Indonesians Like #15: Name Dropping
-
If there is one thing we like more than sambal (tr. chili sauce) it's name
dropping.
Indonesians, well, Jakartans to be exact, love to name drop. It's one ...
7 months ago
8 pralines for rima:
Well said, the truths are bitter to swallow but somebody has gotta say it out loud. Since Vitchek is a foreigner, he can use neutral eyes in seeing things and won't be scrutinized as much as provided an Indonesian (either majority or minority) said it.
He's a journalist, it's his job and might I mention a very good one at that.
I really think someone should tell the truth about what's happening in Indonesia so that the whole world should know it too.
I've even heard a few who've said that Indonesia should've let its country being conquered by others because clearly we cannot run it by ourselves (obviously!)
Anyway, why not have the people from other countries protesting about Indonesia when Indonesians seem to do it all the time?
Rima.
When, at the emailed request of his Indonesian wife, I posted a link to André's article a week ago, it attracted several comments and emails, mainly from expats long resident in Jakarta.
I like his righteous rant, as did most of my correspondents. However, several suggested that he was being somewhat disingenuous on a number of points. For example, the little lasses dressed up in full Islamic regalia have long been a familiar sight in Betawi areas of the city.
Others commented on their most recent experience of eating or buying pork, and most agreed that drinking alcohol is as easy as ever.
But, hey, what he depicts is what generally is. He is more of a visitor than a resident and his is the picture we residents may try and ignore.
.
Anonymous, I do hope he won't have any problems.
Therry, Yes it is his job to tell the truth. But sometimes, the truth might be viewed as false accusations. so let's see.
jakartass, I agree with most of what he wrote. Some are exaggerated, but like you said, it depicts what's happening in Indonesia (jakarta) right now. It's like a slap in the face for Indonesians who still believe that the country is all good, tolerant, and still holds high moral values.
"It's like a slap in the face for Indonesians who still believe that the country is all good, tolerant, and still holds high moral values."
If I get a dollar for each time I read/hear that, I'be a millionaire...
It's a great article and I like the part when he described the members of House of Representatives. Quite right to the point, hey-ho! :)
Rima.
André has asked me to post this comment as his internet connection is even slower where he is than mine in Jakarta.. Given that he demonstrates a genuine concern for Indonesia ~ (as all we long-term expats do in spite of/through our carping and ranting) ~ I'm taking the liberty of posting these thoughts on Jakartass.
......................................
Rina and all,
Thank you for your comments regarding my piece. Please correct the spelling of my second name which is VLTCHEK, not VITCHEK. This way you can google and read more acid stuff that I am producing.
As Jakartass mentioned, I am not really a resident of the city ... and that's because I refuse to reside anywhere and to belong to anything. I live in Japan and Samoa and also in Jakarta, moving constantly around the globe. As a novelist and journalist I feel I have to do it - the world is evolving and I don't want to lose the beat.
I am trying to be objective about Indonesia. Although it is not easy; I witnessed some terrible things there - consequences of mass rape in small town of Ermera in East Timor (more than 10 years ago), killing in Ambon, Aceh, Papua, pogroms in Solo. I also experienced the bitterness of your greatest thinker and novelist Pramoedya Ananta Toer. Pram wrote his last book with me. It is called "Exile" in English (Haymarket Press, Ney York) and "Saya Terbakar Amarah Sendirian" (Gramedia) in Bahasa.
I also had to suck in the bitterness and pain of the victims of 1965 massacres (or call it a genocide of leftists, Chinese and non-believers) when I made 90 minutes long documentary film "Terlena - Breaking of a Nation". There is something very, very wrong with the country.
As you probably notice, I am very tough on other nations as well. In my non-fiction book "Western Terror - From Potosi to Baghdad" I trashed our own neo-colonialism. And in my latest novel "Point of No Return" I am dealing with confusion and disgrace of being a war correspondent in the late decades of 20th century. As it is, I am very frustrated about the state of the world. And the more I see (I've visited more than 130 countries), the more angry I become. And when I get angry, I work. I write. That's my only weapon. Pen, computer, still camera, video camera ...
Take this as a greeting from Solomon Islands - another conflict area where I am presently stuck. Thank you for reading... And caring for what is happening around you.
Andre
thanks, jakartass!
Post a Comment