ACEH IN SEARCH FOR PEACE

Four years have passed since the Tsunami hit Aceh, but the Acehnese still haven't finished rehabilitating their homes. Yet they are also being busied reconfiguring the implementation of Helsinki's peace agreement on this resources-rich land.

Aceh’s conflict is derived from exploitation of its natural resources; violence against Acehnese civilians by the Indonesian security forces; and Jakarta's failure to honour commitments to Aceh's autonomy said Anne Miller in The Conflict in Aceh: Context, Precursors and Catalysts (2008). In addition, East Timor's successful bid for independence in the 1990s simultaneously strengthened both Acehnese' aspirations of self-determination, and nationalists' belief in preserving Indonesia's territorial integrity.

Look at how many provinces proclaim their desire to be independent from the central government after the opening spigot of democracy in this country? How many local governments lift up their dissatisfaction over injustice shares? How many times we see people crowded the streets in municipal areas only to vocalize their desires of democratization? It’s also what happened in Aceh, whereas the central government’s pressure through implementing Regional Military Operation (DOM) from 1989-1998 has seared its people’s hearts. Lifting arms is then one way of showing that they exist and are able to defend their areas.

The Aceh’s peace initiative does bring betterment towards tranquility process between Indonesian government and the Aceh Free Movement (GAM) - even the first ever. And it is interesting that the international society were involved in the occurred negotiation, too. The agreement is a protracted dispute, though it still hasn’t provide answers to the people of Aceh on self-determination.

Why self-determination? Because behind its rigid desire of independence, it’s self-determination that brought the Acehnese to the international assistance to put an end on the disagreement. Self-determination has then taken the concession to a next level under the Memorandum of Understanding in Helsinki August 2005, led by former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari.

Self-determination is also what’s been expected throughout the regional governments of Indonesia. Though ironically the central government has not been able to distribute the good political paradigm, the basics of economics, equity and development as well as capacity building of human resources. Instead, this famously known Serambi Mecca spanned more than 30 years of war and suffering.

Although the results of that agreement until now has not been fully defined in a number of political action and the distribution policy of special regional autonomy, and while the GAM feels that the government is not upholding all of its commitments, peace is still 'holding well'.

weekend... masak-masak donk!

well, there is nothing special - except for my bday running on this month to be exact couple of days ago... so, today's weekend special is sop iga goreng and puding cocktail.

i know... i know... kita sedang fasting, tapi menambah spirit untuk stay on our feet till adzan maghrib is supposed to be a struggle - then why feel weak?

jadi, untuk yang 'selamat' hingga maghrib datang... here's special menu for your weekend!

pour mon cher soleil que demande des photos... c'est les pour toi!

READ OR HEARD, EVERYONE?

As accordance to what I am dealing today, I think a mind reader machine would be the greatest (up-coming) invention for mankind.

How is so? Because with it people wont have to go through difficulties in finding out what others are thinking or wanting, what (needs) to be done without even said… discoveries are getting easier to reveal… we can now prevent (predictable) bad-event from happening… isn’t that wonderful?

Journalist will find it easy to dig for more stories from (hidden-agenda of) certain issue. The community can now learn to respect their representatives of who they are (over what they have in mind)… isn’t that wonderful?

Spouses can figure out what’s wrong with their relationship and what kind of add-up needed… or even when there’s nothing left to hold on, they don’t have to hesitate whether or not to end the (no longer bringing happiness) relation. Isn’t it wonderful everyone?

Isn’t it wonderful that you get to know what’s what before being outspoken? Isn’t it wonderful to be able to know what others have in mind and let everyone know what you have also? Don’t you think people deserve not to hide from their wondering-minds and to be brave standing out from the crowds? Don’t you think we – human gifted with sincere feelings – deserve more than hearing ‘I love you’? Don’t you want your ‘I love you’ meant more than only lining words?

Yes, I think a mind reader machine would be a great (up-coming) invention but come to think of it… I don’t need to know all… we don’t need to be a know-all people… I just want to be able to read the lines (not predict it and come to a wrong conclusion), we want to be heard (coz despite all cases, those of ours still stand).

Life comes interestingly from it’s unpredictable moments. When we remember smiles, cries-out, laughter and anger. Where we keep all those emotions in emoticons at every line of saying or text. The question is whether or not we’re ready to learn?

WONDER WOMAN

This is a story about someone wanting to be a wonder woman. Reminds me that almost all my friends label me as a forceful individual.

Fortunately it keeps her the spirit of staying up on the ground even when the soil slants. Fortunately it keeps her moving forward despite her feet gaining mud all over forcing her to stuck. Unfortunately, I’m (not) a wonder woman – as much as I want it to be! She thought.

While sitting there, she was thinking about a research proposal – not even all wrapped up… she has PERISAI 2008 in her head – an annual event coming for a concern on HIV/AIDS issue… she was moving back and forth through past and near future accompanied by Time, she make friends with him now and then.

There she was 10 years ago, over-excited with a brand new shiny computer (which has been donated and now belonged to one who is in need most). Over the years, this wonder woman wanna-be decided to move her world to another dimension where little kids see as a stage of adultery. She was captivated and absorbed all that her senses could afford. Bending the rules is seductive.

She has been through pain – perforce to enjoy by now, she has anger… sadness coming like rain in monsoon… envy over others (which is considered normal coz she hasn’t been in a situation where she sticks out a knife over one’s throat, although somehow she wants to experience the sensation, hihi…), she already has things she deserves – should be grateful to that… and she has (also) happiness.

Though, she doesn’t (yet) have some things she pursues – well, others undergo the same line of life… she is still running away from her shadow… coz she thinks shadow for wonder woman is a wicked mimicker!

A dear friend Time is, whispering that she should be careful of what she wishes for… of becoming a wonder woman! She laughed, what’s wrong with being a wonder woman? He said you’re too strong to even survive the bliss if you’re wonder woman… surviving is not about being strong but it’s about losing yourself to gain consciousness.

Wonder woman beats her enemy and stays between time gaining none but victoriously-ail sense coming from her defeated opponent.

Well, I haven’t decided on becoming a wonder woman just yet, but I want to be a wonder woman, she firmed. Have it your way then, Time said… “It’s no exaggeration to say the undecideds could go one way or another,” he quoted George W. Bush.

C'est Normal

At some point, it’s not an easy job to distinct normality.

I say he’s normal… just like any other kids I get acquainted up to today. But as I spent less than 5mins with him, he’s so far from normal.

His eyes… his face… his acknowledgment to the surrounding class… I looked up at my host-mother, Hillary, and found the same feeling in her eyes as she chatted with all these kids in a messy classroom. As much, this isn’t a normal school for anyone would care.

The feeling kept me distanced from those cheerful pupils running about the room, as I took their pictures… it speaks for itself and I was stunned!

What’s normal?

Is it the approved condition that we’re running daily? Is it something agreed by majority? Which makes few who don’t are deviants. Is falling different a sin? Does born disabled make you different?

What if we are… what if the whole world are different… one is accustomed to eat using hand, while others prefer spoon and fork yet another is used to chopstick. But is it truly different? Alas, we’re all having a meal course.

What if we are… what if the whole world are different… some believers pray 5 times a day in a mosque, the others go to church every Sunday, not far away people come to temple for blessing…the rest believe in no God! Whilst in some hidden parts out there a belief is left unexplained. And is it really that different? When all those beliefs worship God, prosperity and peace on earth.

Is it mistaken to be (out of) normal? Can you explain which is normal when diversity and mixture are essence in the life of every human being…

As the little boy sang Garuda Indonesia (Indonesia’s anthem) while raising his hand for honor, I took one last picture of him before we left. After finishing his stutter singing, he grabbed me by the hand, “kke… ssiin..ni..laagi… yaa..(come again please)” he stammered.

And I kissed him goodbye. I will little fellow.