Indonesia Today

The Mystery of Roman Figure “iiii” on Gadang Big Ben , West Sumatera,indonesia

noreply@blogger.com (aditya bagaskara) — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 19:36:00 +0000

Icon Big Ben not only exist in England, but Indonesia also have it. While in England called Big Ben, in Indonesia, placed in Bukittinggi, West Sumatra, well known with Jam Gadang. It was constructed on 1926 by architect named Yazin and Sutan Gigi Ameh, whether this Indonesian big ben become a symbol in this province.

Staring Jam Gadang at glance, will not find any peculiarity to this building with height 26 m. The form is circle with diameter 80 cm and the monument is 13x4 m. It uses roman figure starting from I, II, III but for the next figure written IIII not common roman figure IV and being normal for the next figure written until XII.
Based the story around the society, figure four made out by line figure meant to show the total victims (4 persons) died whether constructing the building. The possibility to be wrong for roman figure written is not acceptable because jam gadang was made out by clock expert in USA.

The machine of jam gadang is believed only exist 2 machine in the world, which other machine was installed on Big Ben, England. It was created by England aristocratic Forman, then named Brixlion.
Long ago at Dutch colonization, on the top monument was installed a cock statue but at Japanese colonization substituted become temple ornament. Substitution after Japanese colonization by installing rumah gadang (Gadang House) and become icon in Bukittinggi, West Sumatera.

The Famous Indonesian Artistic House "rumah Gadang" From Sumatera

noreply@blogger.com (aditya bagaskara) — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 19:28:00 +0000

Rumah Gadang is one of Minangkabau's symbol, the most common housing forms have traditionally been wooden and raised on piles, built of locally gathered materials, with steeply pitched, roofs. Their culture is matrilineal, with property and land being passed down from mother to daughter, while religious and political affairs are the province of men. The Minangkabau are strongly Islamic, but also follow their own ethnic traditions, or adat. Minangkabau adat was derived from animistic and Hindu beliefs before the arrival of Islam, and remnants of animistic beliefs still exist even among some practicing Muslims. As such, women are customarily the property owners; husbands are only tolerated in the house at certain times and under special conditions, and must return to their sisters' house to sleep.

The external walls of a rumah gadang are covered with various motifs, each having a symbolic meaning. A communal rumah gadang is a long house, rectangular in plan, with multiple gables and upsweeping ridges, forming buffalo horn-like ends. They normally have three-tiered projections, each with varying floor levels. They are broad and set on wooden piles that can reach as high as 3 meters (10 feet) off the ground; sometimes with a verandah running along the front face of the house which is used as a reception and dining area, and as a sleeping place for guests. Unlike the Toba Batak homes, where the roof essentially creates the living space, the Minangkabau roof rests on conventional walls. Cooking and storage areas are often in separate buildings.

The house is largely constructed of wood; an exception being the being the rear longitudinal wall which is a plain lattice woven in a chequered pattern from split bamboo. The roof is of a truss and cross-beam construction, and is typically covered with thatch from the fibre of the sugar palm (ijuk), the toughest thatch material available and said to last a hundred years.The thatch is laid in bundles which can be easily fitted to the curved, multi-gabled roof. Contemporary homes, however, are more frequently using corrugated iron in place of thatch. Roof finials are formed from thatch bound by decorative metal bindings and drawn into points said to resemble buffalo horns - an illusion to a legend concerning a bullfight from which the 'Minangkabau' name is thought to have been derived. The roof peaks themselves are built up out of many small battens and rafters.

The women who share the house have sleeping quarters set into alcoves - traditionally odd in number - that are set in a row against the rear wall, and curtained off by the vast interior space of the main living area. Traditionally, large communal rumah gadang will be surrounded by smaller homes built for married sisters and daughters of the parent family. It is the responsibility of the women's maternal uncle to ensure that each marriageable woman in the family has a room of her own and to this end will build either a new house or more commonly additionally annexes to the original one. It is said that the number of married daughters in a home can be told by the counting its horn-like extensions; as they are not always added symmetrically, rumah gadang can sometimes look unbalanced.

Free Online Samples Can Help You Save Money

noreply@blogger.com (aditya bagaskara) — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 23:48:00 +0000

by aditya bagaskara

Have you ever invested a hefty sum of money on expensive products just to realize they were not worth the investment? It happens to most of us and we could have avoided such pointless waste of money if the products we purchased had samples in the first place. There are many businesses which offer their products to consumers for free in order to build attention around their brand, but most people have no clue that they exist. From software to health products, you can find free samples of pretty much any kind of product you're looking for. The key is to do a little research before you head out to buy expensive products.

One of the reasons why many people don't want to take some time to collect coupons which may lead them to free products is because of the "time" factor. It doesn't make sense to have to wait days for products to arrive while you could make a quick trip to the store and get what you want, this would be the fastest solution but not necessarily the more cost-effective one. By doing a little bit of research you can save a lot of money in products you use on a daily basis.

Using the power of the internet, finding free samples has become even easier. Every major company has a website which provides more information about their brand and products, and with a little hunting you're bound to find free sample offers that could provide you with free products in a matter of a few days. Oftentimes, all you have to do to receive samples online is fill out a short form detailing your address and shopping preferences.

In fact, even much more expensive products may offer free samples as a marketing strategy to get interested prospects to buy their products which results in a win-win situation for both parties. It goes without saying that a company would not send you the full version of a product, a game for instance, without charging you a dime; what they would do is send you a sample of the game which would include a few levels for you to try, if you like what you see then there is a bigger chance that you will end up buying the product. The same applies to beauty and any other product.

So before you rush out to the store to buy an expensive product, it is recommended to open up your browser and do a little research to see if there are free samples available, while it does take some work it might just save you hundreds of dollars in the long run.

Connecting in Life and in Business - Are you Connecting?

noreply@blogger.com (aditya bagaskara) — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 23:22:00 +0000

he Principle of Connecting:
Most of us want to know how to connect better with others in relationships of every kind, including business relationships. We often feel the desire to connect, but sadly realize that our attempts have not truly been successful. However, we can all experience consistently satisfying connections when we understand the hidden dynamics by which they are ruled.

Connecting occurs when one is simultaneously intra-connected and inter-connected.
Intra-connection is the connection of one to oneself.
Inter-connection is the connection of with others.
These must occur at the same time, although the intra-connection is the foundation of inter-connection, and must be cultivated in order for connection to really take place.

Imagine that our attempts to connect with others are like an iceberg.
The tip of the iceberg represents what we say.
The foundation of the iceberg, the base that holds the tip above the surface of the ocean, is how we feel when we say what we say.
The feeling beneath the words provides an emotional current that gets infused within the words as they are spoken.
The reason why we feel as we do is the point of origin of the feeling that becomes infused into our attempt to connect.

A great majority of the time, people are not aware of the true reason that gives birth to their feelings. Because we mentally attach a reason to the feeling based on past conditioning and programming, that reason no longer reflects accurately who we are and what we desire in the present moment.
Interestingly enough, the tip of the iceberg is approximately 8% of the total formula of connecting. The remaining 92% are the foundation of the iceberg, the part that is underneath the water. Although we may not perceive this 92% with our five senses, we feel it through the multi-sensory dimension of who we are.

A great question to now ask yourself is “What is getting in the way of me being intra-connected?” As you ponder this question, here is a wonderful concept to embrace: You do not have to create connection with others. Such connection already exists. Therefore, your responsibility is simply to remove any emotional or spiritual debris that is getting in its way.

To express it in medical terms, we have become de-myelinated emotionally. Myelin is a substance that surrounds many vital nerve pathways within our bodies. It is like the insulation surrounding an electrical wire, functioning to assure that the electricity is only delivered to the place where we wish to make use of it. What we must do is re-myelinate the emotional pathways that conduct the natural, pre-existing sense of connection between our personal and social selves and our higher Selves.

In essence we just have to let go of whatever may be getting in the way of communicating from the standpoint of who we already are. As we do, we begin to notice that our sense of connection to others becomes easy to feel, and we conduct all our relationships within the shelter of that ease.

Flying in Papua - Cessna Caravan Landing and Village People

noreply@blogger.com (aditya bagaskara) — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 04:18:00 +0000

by : Ian Mathers

West Papua has some of the most challenging and dangerous flying on the planet. Its high mountainous terrain and unpredictable weather as well as remote strips make for very intense flying. Even the slightest off course deviation could mean smacking into a mountain. This type of flying can kill those that are not ready or comfortable with it. On bad weather days it can become very intense and demanding. My name is Ian Mathers. I am a Canadian professional pilot and Susi Air captain on Cessna Caravans. We operate brand new state of the art Caravans, two crew and operate on the islands of Sumatra and Papua, Indonesia. Flying passengers as well as cargo into remote strips. I love it here. The flying is amazing. This video shows a landing into Ilu. A mountain strip which we use as an alternate when we cannot get into Mulia due to weather, which was the case this day. Notice all of the people on both sides of the runway. The clip continues as we taxi back to them and get out of the aircraft, waiting for the weather to improve at Mulia. You can also notice a MAF Caravan that had just landed before us. As with many other strips in Papua it has an upslope of 10 degrees or more leading to only one way to get in. It all makes for exciting flying. You can see many more aviation and travel videos and pictures on my site at www.worldtrip.ca as well as on youtube

Effective Time Management Tips

noreply@blogger.com (aditya bagaskara) — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 00:06:00 +0000

by aditya bagaskaradish

Time is something that everyone needs to achieve goals, spend with family and friends and also for oneself. Time management is where an individual uses certain tools and methods to help manage time and to make the most of life. Any individual who manages his time and uses it optimally is successful in life.
To improve one's Time Management skills following points must be taken into consideration.
" One must use his time for a particular goal and achieve it within that stipulated time limit. During the allotted he should concentrate only on that work and give his 100% to it. One must not get distracted from his goal.
" While working on a particular objective, an individual must improve his productivity. This can be done by being more efficient and focused. Increasing productivity reduces the effort required. Also one can achieve more than planned if he is efficient.
" One must always make time for things he values and loves. Every individual must spend substantial amount of time with friends, family and for recreational activities. This is very important as it keeps the individual cheerful which is very necessary to do any other work. Moreover, not extra activities in life will make one dull and exhausted.
" Every person must find a balance between work and family or self. Only work can make life monotonous and frustrating. A personal life is equally important to work so there must be a fine balance between the two.
" The focus should always be on what is important. Unwanted activities and too much indulgence in any activity are not good for your time management. It might disrupt or spoil one's schedule.
" An individual must always set his goals much in advance. This keeps and individual optimistic and ambitious. He will always look forward to achieving those goals instead of being aimless.
" Identify the time that is wasted during your schedule and make good use of that time. Keeping track is very important to achieve any goal on time.
" Any goal set should be achieved but not by sacrificing one's health. Thus Time Management Software becomes very important. Stress and anxiety must not be there as it can have an adverse effect on both the health and quality of work.
" Time should be managed in all areas of life. This makes life more organized and success in every aspect of life.

How do you manage your time?

noreply@blogger.com (aditya bagaskara) — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 23:58:00 +0000

By: Jessica Thomson

Management of time is very important. These are a few ways in which you can manage your time.
1. Identify your goals
It is important to identify your goal in advance. Time Management becomes much easier when your goals are decided and you know how much time it will take you to achieve that goal. This time will be as per the nature of your goal and also your own efficiency.

2. Performance.
You must give your 100% to any task you assign yourself. This is very important as the time allotted should be used properly and the task should be completed within the time limit decided. Good performance is required as lack in the efficiency will lead to a delay which will further disrupt your schedule.

3. Organized living
You must keep your work place and home organized. This improves the environment in which you stay and also avoids any unnecessary delays. If your home is organized it keeps stress at bay and helps you work better. if the workplace is organized it helps you find your files and documents in time and avoids delay of any sort.

4. Balance
You must have a balance between work and personal life. This balance is essential as one cannot always concentrate on one thing. This will reduce interest towards the work and makes things monotonous. This kind of stress will reduce productivity and will invariably waste time. You must always keep some time for activities that you like or that interest you. This keeps mind relaxed and an individual cheerful to face any challenges.

5. Identification of wasted time
It is very important to identify the wasted time. This will help you realize to avoid wasting time and will also help not to make that mistake again. You should over indulge in any activity but must allot necessary time for each activity.

6. Leading a healthy life
You should lead a healthy life. Without life one cannot achieve his goals on time. To have proper management of time a good healthy life is important. One should always have time to do activities for maintaining health. It helps to keep a balance.

7. Overall performance.
There should be an overall management of time in life. Time Management For Students is also very important. Every aspect of life should be time managed.

Management of time is essential for every individual irrespective of his age and profession.

Indonesian court commutes death sentences for Australian drug smugglers

noreply@blogger.com (aditya bagaskara) — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 15:47:00 +0000

The Associated Press,

Indonesia's highest court has commuted death sentences to life imprisonment for three convicted Australian drug traffickers, their lawyer said Thursday.

Matthew Norman, Si Yi Chen and Tan Duc Thanh Nguyen were among nine Australians arrested in 2005 on the resort island of Bali after being caught with 8.2 kilograms (18 pounds) of heroin.

"Their sentences were downgraded to life imprisonment," said defense attorney Erwin Siregar. The court's reasoning for the reduction was not made public.

The three were sentenced in 2006 to life imprisonment by the Denpasar District Court, but on a later appeal the Supreme Court upgraded the sentences to death.

Three other Australians in the group, known as the "Bali Nine," were sentenced to death, while two were given life imprisonment. A woman in the group received a 20-year sentence.

Drug traffickers are routinely sentenced to death in Indonesia, a predominantly Muslim and socially conservative nation of 235 million people, and foreigners have not been exempt.

At the end of 2007, about 140 people were on death row, including more than 40 foreigners, most of them for drug-related crimes. (***)

Five people die of malnutrion in NTT

noreply@blogger.com (aditya bagaskara) — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 15:40:00 +0000

At least five people, including three aged under five, died recently from malnutrition in Rote Ndao, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), following government "financial difficulties".

Head of the Rote Ndao health office Jonathan Lenggu said the victims suffered from complications such as diarrhea, tuberculosis and high fever that led to their deaths.

"Malnourished people are quite prone to diseases such as diarrhea, TB and dengue because they have low immunity," he said Thursday.

Lenggu said three of the victims died this week and two last week, but gave no other details.

Head of health issues at the provincial government, Maxi Taopan, said the five dead had been suffering from malnutrition for a long time, but the local government had not been able to respond immediately because of a "financial problem".

"After the central government ended financial assistance in 2007, malnutrition has become uncontrollable. Still, the province has proposed an allocation of Rp 56 billion to address the issue," he said.

He called on the coordinating minister for people's welfare to visit the regency to assess poverty and malnutrition.

"If the government accepts our request, we will use the funds to supply food to poor families and revitalize women's and children's health posts in rural areas across the province," he said.

Up to 90,000 of the 497,577 children aged under five in the province are suffering from malnutrition, and 12,400 have had complications, according to the provincial government's 2008 data.

Taopan said the highest number of malnutrition sufferers with clinical disorders was found in North Timor Tengah, with 81 patients being treated in clinics and hospitals, followed by 27 in West Sumba and 13 in Rote Ndao.

"The highest frequency is in South Timor Tengah with 12,971 sufferers, followed by more than 8,400 in Sikka, 8,300 in Manggarai, 7,200 in North Timor Tengah and 6,800 in Kupang," he said.

(Yemris Fointuna , The Jakarta Post , Kupang | Sat, 03/08/2008 1:27 AM | Headlines)

Balinese looking to take more money from tourists

noreply@blogger.com (aditya bagaskara) — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 14:39:00 +0000

DENPASAR, 08 March 2008 - Efforts by Bali's provincial House of Representatives to impose a "donation" on tourists passing through Bali's Ngurah Rai Airport has been strongly rejected by Jakarta who saw the imposition of an additional financial burden on Bali's tourists as unacceptable.

Quoted in NusaBali, a Balinese legislator who is a member of Commission IV of the National House of Representatives, I Gde Sumarjaya Linggih, said, "if we introduce another fee at the airport, this will not speed the growth of the economy but only serve to slow that growth - particularly in Bali's tourism industry."

Sumarjaya also pointed out that the proposed additional "donation" was against national laws governing state-owned enterprises which prohibit the imposition of provincial fees on those enterprises. Angkasa Pura - the authority that controls Bali\'s airport is a state-owned enterprise.

Meanwhile, a member of the provincial Bali House of Representatives, I Ketut Kariyasa, has responded by lambasting Sumarjaya's lack of effort to secure Bali a share of the current visa-on-arrival fees and airport service charge of Rp. 150,000 (10.80 euro) for departing international passengers. "Why don't our counterparts in the National legislature protest this?" asked Kariyasa.

Despite a Jakarta rejection of a "donation" from Bali's departing passengers, local legislators have pledged to continue their efforts, insisting such a fee is in keeping with Indonesia's commitment to regional autonomy. Proponents of the new fee claim the charge would be a "donation" and, as such, does not violate national law. Moreover, according to Sumarjaya, similar "donations" or "fees" were already being levied in other locations, such as Makassar and Banjarmasin.

In something of a seeming self-contradiction, Sumarjaya insisted the proposed Rp. 10,000 (0.72 euro) "donation" would not represent a burden to tourist as it would be entirely voluntary; while, at the same time, proposing that the “donation” be included in the process that currently charges an airport service charge of Rp. 150,000 to departing international passengers. The airport service charge is mandatory and must be paid by all departing passengers. How, exactly, a "voluntary" and a "mandatory" fee could be legitimately combined in a single levy remains unclear.

Intent on securing more money from Bali\'s tourism visitors, proponent of the additional charge have suggested levying the Rp. 10,000 (US$1.86) fee via local travel agents if efforts to secure via passenger flow-through at Bali's airport are unsuccessfull.

Warga Tionghoa Tuding SK Walikota Pontianak Diskriminatif

noreply@blogger.com (aditya bagaskara) — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 13:41:00 +0000

Pontianak (ANTARA News) - Surat Keputusan Walikota Pontianak No 127/2008 yang melarang atraksi naga dan barongsai di jalan umum saat perayaan Imlek dan Cap Go Meh 2559, menuai protes dari warga Tionghoa di kota Katulistiwa itu.

"Kita melihat tidak ada dasar yang kuat Walikota Pontianak, Buchary Abdurrachman untuk melarang atraksi naga dan barongsai di jalan umum maupun gang-gang. Kita menilai SK itu bersifat diskriminatif," kata warga keturunan Tionghoa, Sutadi, di Pontianak, Selasa.

Ia menyayangkan, larangan tersebut dikeluarkan berbentuk SK. Kalau memang saat ini kondisi keamanan tidak kondusif, Walikota Pontianak cukup mengeluarkan imbaun saja agar tidak terkesan resmi.

"Kita berharap, Walikota Pontianak secepatnya mencabut SK tersebut agar tidak menimbulkan polemik dikemudian hari," ujarnya.

Hal senada juga disesalkan, A Meng (45), salah seorang warga Tionghoa Pontianak mengatakan, dengan dikeluarkannya SK pelarangan itu, membuat warga Tionghoa yang akan merayakan Tahun Baru Imlek dan Cap Go Meh dengan atraksi naga dan barongsai menjadi takut.

"Kami takut diamankan oleh aparat hukum untuk merayakan Tahun Baru Imlek dan Cap Go Meh dengan atraksi naga dan barongsai," ujar A Meng.

Sebelumnya, Walikota Pontianak, Buchary Abdurrachman, mengeluarkan imbauan yang isinya melarang atraksi replika naga di jalan umum, karena akan memacetkan arus lalu lintas dan dikhawatirkan menimbulkan polemik.

"Kita tidak melarang warga Tionghoa merayakan pergantian Tahun Baru Imlek dan Cap Go Meh dengan atraksi naga, tetapi akan dipusatkan di satu tempat, sehingga tidak mengganggu arus lalu lintas. Selain itu juga untuk menghindari hal-hal yang tidak diinginkan terjadi," katanya.

Ia mengatakan, imbauan tersebut dikeluarkan setelah antara Pemerintah Kota Pontianak dan sejumlah tokoh dari etnis Tionghoa melakukan rapat tertutup di Aula Walikota, Jumat (1/2) lalu, yang isinya menyepakati tidak melakukan atraksi naga di jalan-jalan umum.

Selain itu, isi kesepakatan bersama juga mengharapkan kegiatan perayaan Tahun Baru Imlek tahun ini dilakukan secara sederhana. Menurut rencana Festival naga akan diselenggarakan secara terpusat di Stadion Sepak Bola Sultan Syarif Abdurrachman Pontianak, 21 Februari mendatang.

"Selain itu, kita juga telah menyepakati, untuk sementara kegiatan arak-arakan naga kecil dan barongsai di kampung-kampung tidak dilakukan, sementara untuk atraksi naga raksasa dipindahkan ke Kota Singkawang," ujarnya.(*)

The Indonesian state ideology, pancasila, makes a return to centre stage.

noreply@blogger.com (aditya bagaskara) — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 13:37:00 +0000

The word itself is derived from two Sanskrit words, “panca” meaning five, and “sila” meaning principles. These five tenets of the philosophy are:

Belief in the one and only God.
Just and Civilized Humanity.
The unity of Indonesia.
Democracy guided by consensus arising out of deliberations amongst representatives.
Social justice for the whole of the people of Indonesia.

Pancasila was affirmed by Sukarno in 1945 and it forms the basis of the Indonesian constitution. In the time of Suharto Pancasila became much more clearly the state philosophy and great amounts of propaganda were put out to drive the message home. However since the fall of Suharto Pancasila has been in a somewhat awkward position with few standing up to defend it from the assaults of radical Islamic groups. That may be changing now.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is reported by the Jakarta Post as saying that abandoning the Pancasila state ideology for narrow religious or ethnic-based ideologies will only jeopardize the unity and diversity of the nation. In a speech to commemorate the founding of Pancasila on Thursday, Yudhoyono said the ideology was not an absolute doctrine but a compromise reached by the nation’s founding fathers, who had realized that Indonesia was a country made up of people from many faiths and ethnic groups.

Let us make Pancasila the basis for reform. In this period of transition, many of us tend to create new realities and directions but abandon the old values, which should become part of our identity and be used as a tool for unity.

We should end the debate on alternatives to the Pancasila as our ideology. We should keep on with efforts to increase the people’s welfare and to uphold justice based on the ideology that we have.

The speech seems to have carried an implicit message to the country’s hardline Muslim groups, which are attempting to have sharia law imposed in various parts of the nation. It also addressed ethnic minority groups, some of which have called for independence from Indonesia.

Pancasila, Yudhoyono said, was an ideology that saw all Indonesians as equal, despite their different faiths and ethnicities.

Nowadays, if we discuss Pancasila, the 1945 Constitution, and the unity of Indonesia, most people will quickly associate us with the New Order regime, which limited human rights and was an anti-reform movement.

We are in the process of reconstructing our nation. But in that process there are ‘invisible hands’ (groups) which are trying to spread their ideas among us.

While these groups had some good values, others were not in the spirit of pluralism and tolerance, he said. Yudhoyono said the political freedoms people had won after 1998 had led to a lessening of central government authority and a surge in identity politics, which was weakening the nation. Instead of seeing themselves as Indonesians, people now tended to group themselves along ethnic, religious or socioeconomic lines, he said.

Meanwhile a group of activists began circulating a petition yesterday seeking nationwide support to preserve Indonesia’s diversity and to fight back against growing intolerance that they warn could tear the nation apart.

Today, we are reiterating Indonesia as our common goal, a goal that has yet to be accomplished. Today, we appeal to Indonesia to awaken in spirit and body, to unite in diversity

Todung Mulya Lubis, a human rights campaigner, said in reading the declaration at a ceremony marking the 61st anniversary of the state ideology Pancasila. The ceremony at the Jakarta Convention Center capped off a series of gatherings held in the past two weeks as people, with the help of prominent universities, sought to restore Pancasila as the unifying national ideology.

While the declaration makes no reference to any particular threat, it was clear from earlier discussions that the activists were particularly concerned at the inroads made by the Muslim religious right in national politics, at times accompanied by the use of force, the Jakarta Post says.

More than a dozen prominent figures and pro-democracy advocates who signed the petition accompanied Lubis on stage as he read the declaration. They included Goenawan Mohamad, Jakob Oetama, Rahman Toleng, H.S. Dillon, Rosita Noor, Karlina Supelli, Azyumardi Azra, Daniel Dhakidae, Mochtar Pabottingi and B. Herry-Priyono.

Among the invited guests were President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and his Cabinet members, political leaders and religious leaders.

Also present were members of religious minorities, including from Ahmadiyah, which the Minister of Religion has labeled a deviant Islamic sect. Ahmadiyah followers have been the target of physical attacks in the past year by radical Islamic groups.

These and raids on churches in many parts of Indonesia have raised doubts about the government’s capability to live up to its task in protecting people’s freedom of religion, as mandated by the 1945 Constitution, and their right to practice their faith.

We are gathered here to reiterate Indonesia as the place where we stand; Indonesia as a treasured heritage but also as an ideal; the Indonesia that was not only a mandate for our predecessors, but which is also vested for the millions of children still to be born.

the declaration reads.

Guests were asked to sign the petition on leaving the ceremony, with the declaration also to be circulated nationwide to gain wider support. Thursday was the first time in many years that the Pancasila anniversary was officially commemorated in a grand ceremony, although the initiative came from outside the government.

The hard question remains, how far is the government of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono prepared to go in dealing with the problem of Islamic radicalism, will it take concrete steps rather than just speech-making.

Bush and Indonesia Islam

noreply@blogger.com (aditya bagaskara) — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 18:18:00 +0000

If you watched CNN or BBC before and during Bush’s visit to Indonesia, you would see a sea of protersters in Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta with slogan of anti-Bush and to some extent, anti-American foreign policy.

But with most female protesters were wearing Islamic clothes i.e. jilbab (Indonesian term for Islamic veil), it is easy for people on other parts of the world to think that’s it’s only those Muslim fundamentalists who were against Bush. As a matter of fact, it’s not.

Barring a few–mostly conservative Christian minority, Indonesians are united in condemning Bush/US foreign policy, especially its post-9/11 pre-emptive policy that led to US wars in Afghanistan and especially Iraq which is regarded as sheer breach of a nation sovereignty and blatant show of arrogance.

Both conservative and moderate or even the so-called liberal Muslims intellectuals wrote critically against the US invasion in Iraq. Ulil Abshar-Abdalla, the founder of Jaringan Islam Liberal (JIL) (Liberal Islam Network), for example, wrote at that time (the archive link is no longer available, unfortunately) that the invasion was sheer barbarity and telling example of US double-standard. Important to note here, that JIL, an organisation that focuses on Islamic issues from liberal/moderate Muslim point of view, is funded mostly by US money. Mr Ulil himself now is studying a PhD at Boston.

Andreas H Pareira, a Christian and MP from former president Megawati’s PDIP party reported by Indonesia News Agency Antara as saying: “Do not behave softly to the US, so as to not create an impression that we are a US puppet country.”

Berita Sore daily, an evening newspaper from Medan, North Sumatra, quoting an east Indonesia political analyst Professor Muin Salim who said that Bush visit “in no way benefitting Indonesia.”

Yet, Bush PR officers should not be too disappointed as Indonesia Ulama Council or MUI (Majelis Ulama Indonesia), infamous for its conservative opinions, is welcoming Bush with bear hug and regard his visit as “positive and beneficial.”

So, from that background in mind, it’s no wonder if Bush visit to Indonesia is facing many unflattered responses from various corners including from the Indonesian blogosphere.

For starter, Senopati Wirang at Intelijen Indonesia (Indonesian Intelligence) makes a lengthy posting on Bush’s visit from different angles, particularly from intelligence perspective and intransparency of security officials statement, especially on the justifications behind the excessive use of security guards which he thinks too much exaggerated. Tata Danamihardja at Buka Mulut does not seem to care of Bush visit and controversies surrounding his visit. Yet he’s got something to complain to Indonesian security official as to why a US president visit has to make people sacrifice many imporartant things including six billion rupiah (around USD six million), the temporary ban of street retailer and the temporary closure of many schools in the surrounding areas the US president wants to visit.

MicoKelana, however, thinks in more positive and prudent way. Indonesian economy is worsening, he said. Bush visit, therefore, would make a positive signal: if head of the only superpower comes to Indonesia, so will the other countries. Hence, more investors.

Extremism Isn't Islamic Law

noreply@blogger.com (aditya bagaskara) — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 18:10:00 +0000

By : Kyai Haji Abdurrahman Wahid

For a few days this year the world's media focused an intense spotlight on the drama of a modern-day inquisition. Abdul Rahman, a Muslim convert to Christianity, narrowly escaped the death penalty for apostasy when the Afghan government -- acting under enormous international pressure -- sidestepped the issue by ruling that he was insane and unfit to stand trial. This unsatisfactory ruling left unanswered a question of enormous significance: Does Islam truly require the death penalty for apostasy, and, if not, why is there so little freedom of religion in the so-called Muslim world?

The Koran and the sayings of the prophet Muhammad do not definitively address this issue. In fact, during the early history of Islam, the Agreement of Hudaibiyah between Muhammad and his rivals stipulated that any Muslim who converted out of Islam would be allowed to depart freely to join the non-Muslim community. Nevertheless, throughout much of Islamic history, Muslim governments have embraced an interpretation of Islamic law that imposes the death penalty for apostasy.

It is vital that we differentiate between the Koran, from which much of the raw material for producing Islamic law is derived, and the law itself. While its revelatory inspiration is divine, Islamic law is man-made and thus subject to human interpretation and revision. For example, in the course of Islamic history, non-Muslims have been allowed to enter Mecca and Medina. Since the time of the caliphs, however, Islamic law has been interpreted to forbid non-Muslims from entering these holy cities. The prohibition against non-Muslims entering Mecca and Medina is thus politically motivated and has no basis in the Koran or Islamic law.

In the case of Rahman, two key principles of Islamic jurisprudence come into play. First, al-umuru bi maqashidiha ("Every problem [should be addressed] in accordance with its purpose"). If a legal ordinance truly protects citizens, then it is valid and may become law. From this perspective, Rahman did not violate any law, Islamic or otherwise. Indeed, he should be protected under Islamic law, rather than threatened with death or imprisonment. The second key principle is al-hukm-u yadullu ma'a illatihi wujudan wa adaman ("The law is formulated in accordance with circumstances"). Not only can Islamic law be changed -- it must be changed due to the ever-shifting circumstances of human life. Rather than take at face value assertions by extremists that their interpretation of Islamic law is eternal and unchanging, Muslims and Westerners must reject these false claims and join in the struggle to support a pluralistic and tolerant understanding of Islam.

All of humanity, whether Muslim or non-Muslim, is threatened by the forces of Islamist extremism. It is these extremists, masquerading as traditional Muslims, who angrily call for the death of Abdul Rahman or the beheading of Danish cartoonists. Their objective is raw political power and the eventual radicalization of all 1.3 billion Muslims worldwide. Western involvement in this "struggle for the soul of Islam" is a matter of self-preservation for the West and is critical given the violent tactics and strength of radical elements in Muslim societies worldwide.

Muslim theologians must revise their understanding of Islamic law, and recognize that punishment for apostasy is merely the legacy of historical circumstances and political calculations stretching back to the early days of Islam. Such punishments run counter to the clear Koranic injunction "Let there be no compulsion in religion" (2:256).

People of goodwill of every faith and nation must unite to ensure the triumph of religious freedom and of the "right" understanding of Islam, to avert global catastrophe and spare millions of others the fate of Sudan's great religious and political leader, Mahmoud Muhammad Taha, who was executed on a false charge of apostasy. The millions of victims of "jihadist" violence in Sudan -- whose numbers continue to rise every day -- would have been spared if Taha's vision of Islam had triumphed instead of that of the extremists.

The greatest challenge facing the contemporary Muslim world is to bring our limited, human understanding of Islamic law into harmony with its divine spirit -- in order to reflect God's mercy and compassion, and to bring the blessings of peace, justice and tolerance to a suffering world.

The writer is a former president of Indonesia. From 1984 to 1999 he directed the Nadhlatul Ulama, the world's largest Muslim organization. He serves as senior adviser and board member to LibForAll Foundation, an Indonesian- and U.S.-based nonprofit that works to reduce religious extremism and terrorism. ( Washington Post.com )

Extremism is un-Islamic

noreply@blogger.com (aditya bagaskara) — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 18:04:00 +0000

Former Indonesian president KH Abdurrahman “Gus Dur” Wahid writes a good piece in the Washington Post highlighting the recent court-ruling hype in Afghanistan in which a Muslim who converts to Christianity got the death sentence but then sidestepped by the Gov on the ground of unfitness on the part of the accused.

Quoting an early precedent of Islamic history he says,

Ada Hantu di Kepulauan Seribu

noreply@blogger.com (aditya bagaskara) — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 02:40:00 +0000

Pulau penuh reruntuhan. Itulah pemandangan yang segera bisa ditangkap di pulau seluas 1,6 hektar ini. Dulu pulau ini sering disebut pulau Cipir, tapi sekarang lebih dikenal dengan nama pulau kayangan.

Pada tahun 1615, bersama pulau Kelor dan Onrust, colonial Belanda menjadikannya sebagai pertahanan atas kota Batavia. Pada tahun 1911 hingga 1930 pernah digunakan sebagai tempat karantina calon jemaah haji Indonesia.

Namun setelah Indonesia merdeka hingga tahun 1965, pulau Kayangan digunakan untuk penampungan penderita kusta. Hingga 1970-an pulau ini hampir tak berpenghuni. Dan saat itulah terjadi penjarahan terhadap berbagai fasilitas yang ada. Kemudian pulau Kayangan berubah menjadi pulau penuh reruntuhan, kosong, sepi, dan penuh misteri.

Selain bersuasana mistis dengan reruntuhan bangunan sejarahnya, ternyata pulau Kayangan juga menyimpan potensi alam yang tak didapati di pulau lain. Di sini terdapat sumur bor air tawar sedalam 300 meter yang dibangun oleh colonial Belanda pada tahun 1615 dan hingga kini masih berfungsi dengan baik.

Kini pulau Kayangan banyak dikunjungi wisatawan pada tiap akhir pekan. Umumnya mereka adalah para pelancong dari Jakarta dan sekitarnya.

Novel Laskar Pelangi Akan Dilayar-lebarkan

noreply@blogger.com (aditya bagaskara) — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 02:18:00 +0000

Novel Laskar Pelangi yang ditulis oleh Andrea Hirata mendulang sukses spektakuler. Selain bukunya yang terjual jutaan kopi, Andrea juga menjadi idola baru bagi pecinta novel. Pada talkshow yang digelar di Istora Senayan, ribuan penggemar Andrea tak henti-hentinya mengelu-elukan namanya.

Berkat kesuksesan buku Laskar Pelangi, produser film Mira Lesmana berencana mengangkat cerita tersebut ke film layar lebar.

Segala persiapan sudah dilakukan oleh Mira, termasuk melakukan riset di Belitung, sesuai dengan setting cerita yang ditulis oleh Andrea. Rencana Mira menggarap film berjudul Laskar Pelangi itu mendapat apresiasi dari para pembaca setia karya-karya Andrea Hirata.

Karya film tentunya berbeda jauh dengan karya tulis, namun demikian, Mira yang pernah sukses dengan film hasil adaptasi buku itu yakin Film Laskar Pelangi akan digemari masyarakat.