NEIGHBORS RI, AUSTRALIA MUST LEARN TO LIVE TOGETHER

First published in The Jakarta Post, April 7, 2006

NEIGHBORS RI, AUSTRALIA MUST LEARN TO LIVE TOGETHER

Alpha Amirrachman, Serang, Banten

The love-hate relationship between Indonesia and neighboring Australia has again come to the fore following Australia's decision to grant temporary visas to Papuan asylum seekers. Indonesia was dazed and perplexed -- gasping in surprise at how swiftly Australia maneuvered its policy form halting Middle Easterners from entering the country illegally, to welcoming the Papuans who also entered the country illegally.

Bizarrely for many Indonesians, the Australian government reiterated its support for Indonesia's territorial integrity and said it did not support any Papuan independence movement. As if granting the visas to the asylum seekers was an isolated incident.

Such perceived "double standards" are certainly hard to digest for many Indonesians, particularly for the nationalists who are increasingly sure that relations with the "double-faced" Australia will only disturb Indonesia's international standing, and therefore strongly urge the government to cut diplomatic ties with the country.

Bear in mind that Australia has shrewdly built up its massive "social capital" in Indonesia by flooding considerable social and economic assistance into the country, particularly after the 2002 Bali bombings and the tsunami in Aceh. Considering this, it is unlikely that Indonesia -- a country whose mismanagement by corrupt leaders has transformed it into a "beggar" nation -- would severe diplomatic ties with its rich southern neighbor.

Thus, the recalling of Indonesia's ambassador to Australia might have been a blunder, with the impulsive Vice President Jusuf Kalla trying to play hardball with Australia by demanding that the country provide an "adequate" explanation before Indonesia could send back its ambassador.

What seems certain is that after building up so much social capital, Australia might have been tempted to use this case to test the waters of its influence over its northern neighbor. Indonesia, as the fourth most populous country and the country with the largest Muslim population, is too important for Australia to ignore.

During the authoritarian New Order regime, for Australia under Paul Keating's administration relations with Indonesia were relatively easier to handle, as long as the strongman Soeharto did not feel disturbed. After becoming a democracy, Indonesia's political leadership became fragmented and unpredictable, and exerting significant influence over the country poses a fresh challenge for Australia under John Howard.

The way Australia handled the Papuan asylum seekers issue might not be pleasant for Indonesia, but this is a prism through which Australia can measure public reaction in the newly democratic Indonesia. At the same time, Australia might have also used the case to show its displeasure over the plight of Papuans who are still suffering unfair treatment and human rights abuses, scoring additional points for Australia in the area of human rights.

Indonesia's reaction might have been excessive and reactionary, but with the country now embracing democracy, Australia should realize that Indonesia is on the right path toward maturing as a nation.

Indonesia, on the other hand, should also realize that with all the limitations and shortcomings of the learning period it is going through as a new democracy -- including its still miserable failure to treat Papuans in a fair and humane manner -- it has few choices but to be more levelheaded toward the political attitude of its southern neighbor.

And with members of both governments showing displeasure over disdainful cartoons printed by the free media in both countries, the two neighbors likewise need to be aware of the pressing need for relations to be mutually inclusive, not mutually exclusive. For jingoists in the two countries, the proximity of the two might be a bitter fact -- but it is morally inescapable.

Thus, building relations based on the spirit of heartfelt neighborliness is the dignified choice, if we are to have productive and lasting relations. It is not always easy; indeed, nationalistic sentiments and feelings of superiority might always lure the politicians to put the relationship to the test, sparking undue political fire.

Even in day-to-day life, relations between neighbors are not always genuine, unless there is a specifically emotional interest that truly binds us. We might feel that we need to be kind to our closest neighbors on the mere grounds that they will at least phone us if they see trespassers in our yard.

But if we have strained relations with our immediate neighbors, though putting on a straight face, we will still feel uncomfortable when walking out of our house. An unpleasant way to start the day, isn't it? The comical thing is that we might not need a third party to help mend our strained relations, as at the end of the day we will all realize that no one benefits from this furor.

The writer is an alumnus of Sydney University and a lecturer in the Department of Education at Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa State University in Banten. He can be contacted at alpha_amirrachman@yahoo.com.

IRWAN TAHIR MANGGALA: PROMOTING EDUCATION IN MALUKU

First published in The Jakarta Post, April 6, 2006

IRWAN TAHIR MANGGALA: PROMOTING EDUCATION IN MALUKU

Alpha Amirrachman, Contributor, Ambon

If in Jakarta you recognize Kak Seto as a person dedicated to children's education, in Maluku you will meet Irwan Tahir Manggala, or Kak Iwan, concerned with the development of children's education in a province that was once wracked by communal conflict.

To help improve education in the conflict-torn province, Irwan set up Sanggar Kreativitas Anak (Children's Creativity Studio) in the provincial capital, Ambon, in 2000. His move was triggered by his emotional experience when previously involved in helping children of internally displaced people at a refugee camp.

At that time, on his own initiative, Irwan set up outdoor English classes to help erase the tragic memories from the minds of the children and improve their English skills before the government and NGOs came to the province to provide more organized assistance.

He later decided to set up the studio dedicated to teaching English to children. Himself a teacher at state Islamic junior high school Madrasah Tsanawiyah Kebon Cengkih, Ambon, Irwan welcomed children to learn and play in a studio that he rented for Rp 1,500,000 a year, located adjacent to his home in Jl. Baru, Kelurahan Honipopu, Ambon.

There are around 200 English books in the studio, mostly donated by concerned parties such as international NGO Save the Children. Almost every day, children arrive to learn English and play games facilitated by Irwan.

Born on March 8, 1967, Irwan completed his elementary education in Ambon, Maluku.

He continued his studies in Makassar until his finished his bachelors degree in English Education from Alaudin Makassar State Islamic Education Institute in 1993 before returning to Ambon to take up teaching in 1995.

Married to Rahmawaty, and with two children, Irwan loved children and dedicated himself to teaching students at junior high school level. After teaching, he always went straight home to take care of his studio.

When The Jakarta Post visited Irwan at his studio, a group of junior high school students were there. They had traveled from Western Seram, a newly formed district, more than two hours ferry journey from Ambon.

"We came here to learn English from Kak Iwan," said Siti, in the second grade at junior high school, adding that she also wanted to tell Irwan about the disheartening state of education in the newly formed district.

Before the conflict, Irwan had won first prize in the highly-competitive National Teacher Creativity Competition (LKG) held by the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) in August 1997 with his Cas Cis Cus English program.

He asked students to role-play specific situations such as in a bank, supermarket, hospital and other public places. Some acted as public officers, others as consumers, in a bid to expose students to English, something lacking in Indonesia where English is treated as a foreign language, not a second or third language.

After the conflict, in a bid at reconciliation to reduce religious tensions, Irwan initiated a "multireligious" soccer game held in a court near his studio, just 50 meters from the location of an-Nur Mosque and Silo Church, which were burned down by a mob during the sectarian conflict.

The court itself marked a line that separates Christian from Muslim communities. Children from the two religiously segregated communities were invited to participate in the game. They gleefully joined in -- Muslim children against Christians.

"People think that the area has always been prone to tension. That's not true," said Irwan, adding that about 300 people from the two communities enthusiastically watched the game.

In appreciation for his unremitting dedication to children's education and his valuable role in pursuing reconciliation, Irwan also received an award from the Department of Religious Affairs as Best Teacher in Maluku province on Dec. 7, 2005.

Irwan is upbeat on prospects for education in Maluku: "People here are generally determined that they can leave behind tragic memories and build a new life. Besides, they all eat fish, which is very healthful for brain development.

"Thus, what we need is proper supporting educational facilities," he said, referring to his soccer game where participating children were high-spirited, and the Cas Cis Cus program where students had no hesitation to speak in English.