Global Voices » Marisa Duma

Indonesia: Bomb Explosions at Kuningan, Jakarta

Marisa Duma — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 10:59:39 +0000

Two explosions hit the Ritz-Carlton and JW Marriott hotels in Mega Kuningan, Jakarta around 7:40 AM local time.

Local authorities confirmed that the near-simultaneous explosions are caused by high explosive bombs placed at Syailendra cafe, JW Marriott and Airlangga cafe, Ritz Carlton. There are around 52 victims being treated for injuries, both Indonesians and foreigners, and approximately nine killed in the blasts, Coordinating Minister for Law, Politics and Security, Widodo AS, stated.

Bomb exploded in JW Marriott during a breakfast business meeting that gathers business executives and political leaders to discuss Indonesian affairs, attended by 19 foreign business leaders. Timothy Mackay, killed shortly after the explosion, is the CEO of Holcim Indonesia and one of the meeting's attendees.

Associated Press reported four foreigners killed during the incident, and victims under critical condition have been evacuated to the nearest hospitals. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said in a statement that the bombings were likely a terrorist act, as findings from national intelligence sources support the claim, however he warned the public to not speculate the motives.

Meanwhile, local social media users broke the story to the world, especially those among today's morning commuters. Share of news and information accumulated through the hashtag #jktexplosions, with Daniel Tumiwa as first to report from the scene.

Twitter user, Andre Siregar also shared first visual coverage on-site.

Users however are advised to double check the credibility and accuracy of information shared across the social media, knowing the sensitivity of the matter and how easily it can incite public paranoia.

Another explosion occurred at Muara Angke, North Jakarta. It's reported that the explosion came from a pick-up car, however not caused by a bomb or linked with the Kuningan blasts.

Indonesia: Twittering the Presidential Election

Marisa Duma — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 21:18:27 +0000

Throughout June, Twitter users brought the world's attention to Iran's disputed election. With the curbed media on ground, protesting Iranians have been relying on Twitter and other social tools to get the word out. As trending topic, hashtagged #iranelection, New York University professor Clay Shirky noted the phenomenon as “The big one. This is the first revolution that has been catapulted onto a global stage and transformed by social media.”.

Elsewhere in the world, a nation is also preparing for the climax of the current political course: Indonesia's presidential election is here and happening.

Although the general election has not been a global controversy as in Iran, the future of Indonesia's governance is still under close monitoring by overseas governments, human rights organizations and international media establishments.

As the world's fourth largest country with 240 million people, Indonesia is still aiming high in reforming democracy, thus the documentation of this year's election will be considered as substantial for neighboring countries in Southeast Asia and the world as for Indonesians themselves.

As an example from the international front, Wall Street Journal set up an interactive graphics that display candidates' profiles, political timeline and the country's economic growth. Locally, Politikana.com is maintaining an editorial segment, Suara Mereka, reserved for election coverage along with updates through #politikana hashtag. Meanwhile, Kompasiana, journalist blog network established by Kompas Cyber Media, provides outlet for opinion articles by citizen journalists and also reporters from the news service.

Polikana.com: Suara Mereka

On the Twittersphere, likely sparked by media portals, the blogosphere and televised broadcasts, hundreds of tweets on the election are posted daily. Altogether the numbers have been stabilizing since legislative electoral period and predictably will continue to rise to its highest peak today, July 8th, as shown below:

Generated by BlogPulse, a service from Nielsen BuzzMetrics.

What is the role of Twitter in engaging the community in political campaigns and how? For voters, the microblogging platform generally facilitates these functions:

• As independent media among Indonesian citizens. In this respect, however, quantity is more signified than quality; from criticism to appraisal, the opinions are unfiltered as they are independent. It serves a paradox of purposes, aiding political education for the mass and catalyst for national cyber-activism, but also increasing the probability of black campaigning or counterproductive behaviors.

On Twitter, three primary hashtags become the virtual wall for gathering public opinion:

#debatcapres. Twitter conversation on presidential debates broadcast nationwide during campaign period.
#pilpres. Twitter conversation on presidential candidates and election.
#indonesiaelection. Twitter conversation on General Election 2009. Mostly in English.

• As political campaign medium for the running presidential candidates. Each candidate's team have not yet reported or verified the effectiveness of campaigning through online social media however, except for allowing the seemingly direct communication between voters and candidates. It has been more of a “sandbox” for the newly introduced strategy, rather than the strategy itself, thus depending much on public initiative. The twittering candidates:

Megawati/Prabowo braces the iconic red for its Twitter page, actively communicating with fellow Twitter users.

Using BlackBerry, YM, Gtalk or other chat applications? Use the status “Vote that unites for People”

Boediono, candidate for vice president representing Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono/Boediono chooses a more interpersonal approach, using “Tetap Semangat” as a personal jargon.

Politics must be courteous. Don't buy issues too easily. Keep the spirit, everyone. Greetings from Bali.

As for Jusuf Kalla for Jusuf Kalla/Wiranto, despite being a favorite for his on-screen performance, hasn't been showing activity on Twitter except for re-posting articles feed via AddToAny.

JK-Wiranto Commercial Most Favorited [link] via @AddToAny

• As reporting medium for both citizen and mainstream journalism. Through online portals, mainstream media provides the required information source surrounding the Twittersphere. In return, Twitter users distribute and help shape the coverage by drawing the attention to certain subjects; it is considered an added bonus for social media-optimized news services.

On election day, a drastic rise of Twitter conversation is highly anticipated, and celebrated. The call for celebration is not only for how social media technology enhances the nature of democracy, but also how citizens are getting themselves involved, regardless diversity of ethnics and religions, in the quest for better governance.

With the official results due on July 25th, what begs the question next is whether the political leaders will carry on improving sustainable, democratic and transparent interactivity in the long run, or be the fickle light that dims right after.

Indonesia: Indonesian Bloggers Respond to Gaza Attack

Marisa Duma — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 04:54:10 +0000

Israel-Hamas conflict escalation has entered second week; as casualties climbing to around 400 dead and over 2000 people injured, the first clash that broke right after 6-month ceasefire agreement between both sides is already noted among the most intense since the Six Day War in year 1967.

International community has been called upon to intervene, at least to promote ceasefire and further peace resolution. In the meantime, marches and demonstration rallies opposing Israel's aerial and naval bombardment have been held as far away from Dublin, Baghdad, to Jakarta.

An Indonesian Islamic militant group, Islamic Defenders' Front (FPI), planned to recruit up to 1000 volunteers to fight in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip, Reuters reported. “Fighters should be in good physical condition, have a strong faith and be ready to die,” said Ahmad Soebri Lubis as head of group.

However, Indonesia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Teuku Faizasyah told detikNews [id] that such initiative is not advised knowing the difficulty of entering Israel territory at the present moment.

On January 3rd, Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) opened a donation program [id] for contributing fund for Palestinian victims, coinciding with the embarkation of medical team Mer-C for Gaza Strip, as reported by Antara, state news agency.

According to an official press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Indonesian government condemned the attack and considered it as overreacting violence and unproportional action against rocket attacks launched by Palestinians.

Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas is also set to meet with Indonesia’s humanitarian team on Saturday in Yaman of Jordan, with a number of local journalists also participating in the meeting. The team is scheduled to discuss matters with Palestine’s ministers of foreign affairs and health also to hand over some aids from the Indonesian government.

“During the meeting, we will give two tons of medical aids worth US$ 585 (Rp 6.4 million) and fund of Rp. 2 billion.”, head of the Crisis Control at Indonesia's Health Ministry, dr. Rustam S. Pakaya, later confirmed.

Meanwhile, reactions have also spread across the Indonesian blogsphere. Opinions are mainly pro-Palestinian ones, much of them directed against Israel's military answer to militant Palestinian group Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

The escalation is perceived more as interreligious conflict bound to happen for most Indonesian bloggers, rather than a political struggle for autonomy over territory. In result, a large portion of audience dutifully reacts in religious manner, intensifying an emotional bond with the rage and sufferance of Muslim Palestinians far beyond nationalistic reasoning.

The following post excerpts may represent differing perspectives and approach: from crying out “God is great” to signing online petitions — each to its own intention, yet all serve a common cause: saving Gaza, saving Palestine.

Ida Abidin gives no mercy to the Israelis as new year begins:

This war will never stop if the “evil” Israel still in the Palestine land. ISRAEL MUST PERISH FROM EARTH. Israel barbarian! Israel is very brutal! Their attacks only make the children suffer, the children became orphans and destroy the dream Palestinian children. I think the beginning of this New Year will be better than the previous year. I hope the year 2009 to be years of happiness for the children of Muslims in Iraq, Palestine, Somalia and Afghanistan.

Palestine is for Palestinians!!!

Dakwatuna.com praises global support [id] in antagonizing Israel's aggression, while Senopati Arthur provides analysis along with an Islamic resolution to the catastrophe:

Ini bukan saatnya lagi untuk pertemuan, rapat, dan gencatan senjata. Israel sekali lagi telah menumpahkan darah Muslim dan ALLAH telah menentukan Jihad sebagai solusi terhadap tindakan pengecut seperti sekarang. Hanya dengan pembentukan Khilafah, pasukan muslim akan bebas berderap kembali dan berjihad di Palestina, dimana Kalimatullah akan kembali menjadi tinggi.

Analisa Serangan Israel Terhadap Gaza [id]

This is no longer the time for conventions, meetings, and ceasefire. Israel once more has shed Muslim blood and Allah determined Jihad as solution towards the cowardly action happening now. Only with Khilafah formation, Muslim troops will be free to march again and commit jihad in Palestine, where Kalimatullah will be risen once again.

A group of young college students gathered up for an impromptu discussion over at Rosenqueen Company [id], while listening to Rock the Casbah by The Clash.

Yang Heboh & Yang Unik finds bitter humor [id] in the ignorance of Mideast countries.

Inilah Jalanku, blogger in Surakarta, questions the motive of political party-sponsored demonstration:

… nuansa pemilu begitu kental mewarnai aksi damai menentang agresi militer Israel durjana ke Jalur Gaza itu. Bendera-bendera PKS berkibar ditengah-tengah para demonstran. Yang membuat orang menaruh curiga kepada PKS ialah karena adanya bendera PKS yang bertuliskan angka 8, nomor urut PKS dalam pemilu tahun ini.

Kabarnya, bawaslu pun mulai melakukan pemeriksaan terkait aksi damai yang dilakukan oleh ribuan kader dan simpatisan PKS.

Sambil Berdemo, Berkampanye Pula [id]

.. peace rallies against wicked Israeli military aggression in Gaza Strip were thickly general election-nuanced. PKS (Welfare and Justice Party) banners broadly displayed among demonstrators. What would make one suspicious of PKS is because there are banners inscribed with the figure 8, PKS voting number on this year's general election.

It is said that bawaslu (Elections Monitoring Board) begins conducting inspection concerning rallies carried out by thousands of PKS cadres and supporters.

Zoel, graphic designer and blogger from Malang, chooses to give peace a chance after Friday shalat prayer:

Sudah bisa ditebak, demo anti Israel -yang juga membawa nama Amerika dan sekutunya- merebak di mana-mana, tidak hanya di negara yang mayoritas muslim, tetapi juga di Amerika dan Uni Eropa. Di Indonesia, isu yang diangkat adalah seputar Islam, kapitalisme, dan penegakan Khilafah.

[…]

Aku pribadi tidak yakin semua orang Muslim Palestina tidak ingin hidup damai berdampingan dengan orang Yahudi dan Nasrani. Demikian pula orang Yahudi maupun Muslim di Israel, tidak selamanya mereka mau hidup di bawah bayang-bayang sasaran roket pejuang Hamas. Tetapi, karena isu agama pada perang ini sudah terlanjur merekat kuat, entah sampai kapan militer Israel menggempur daerah yang mereka anggap sebagai basis Hamas, sementara pejuang Hamas dengan roket dan intifada-nya terus menghantui Israel.

Perang, Israel, dan Palestina (Hamas) [id]

As one might've guessed, anti-Israel demonstration -herewith America and its allies- spring up everywhere, not only in the country of Muslim majority, but also in America and the European Union (countries). In Indonesia, issues promoted are surrounding Islam, capitalism, and Khilafah enforcement.

[…]

Personally, I'm not sure all Palestinian Muslims don't want to live peacefully with Jews and Christians. Jews and Muslims in Israel likewise, they're not going to want to live as targets of Hamas' rockets forever. However, for the reason that the religious interest of this war already binds strongly, it is unsure for how long Israeli military is going to attack regions assumed as Hamas bases, with Hamas militants with its rockets and intifada continues to haunt Israel.

Akhyari, Indonesian blogger in Cambodia, adds a non-religious perspective of the conflict:

This is not about inter-faith war, this is a visible form of colonization. This is not only about embargo and sabotage, but about surviving under the bomb rain, this is not about equal right, but about un-justice during tens of year.

FREEDOM from any Tirany and Occupation

Fatih Syuhud, senior blogger located in Surabaya, keeps update of Gaza simultaneously with Komunitas Blogger Muslim.

Brooklyn-based journalist and book author, Christopher Taylor, foresees a prolonged effect caused by the never-ending conflict:

In other words, this is spilling beyond local borders, poisoning religious and cultural relations far beyond the limits of Gaza. For what it's worth: Stop.

Mideast mess, spilling elsewhere

Using Goggle's blog search engine, around 600 or more results retrieved for the term “gaza” for the past week, which is also one of the most searched terms in Blog Indonesia aggregation site, resulting around 250 blog posts and counting.

Indonesia: Metaphorizing Obama

Marisa Duma — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 12:12:39 +0000

Indonesia Anonymus from Indonesia metaphorizes president-elect Barack Obama for the nation's governance: “… are [Indonesians] going to cling on to the same old divisive politics, same old status quo while at the same time happily cheering for America's Obama?”.