From: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu (Rich Winkel)
Subject: Indonesia: DILI HIDES OPPRESSION ELSEWHERE IN INDONESIA
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: PACH
Date: Thu, 16 Apr 1992 22:17:29 GMT

/** reg.easttimor: 351.0 **/
** Topic: Oppression elsewhere **
** Written 11:03 pm  Apr 15, 1992 by NOSCA@f207.n900.z90.pegasus.oz.au in cdp:reg.easttimor **
[Note : A page 3 report in the national newspaper, The 
Australian, on Tuesday, 14/4/92. The article titled, Dili 
Hides Oppression Elsewhere in Indonesia, includes a picture 
of W.S.Rendra]. Written by NOSCA in peg:REG.EASTTIMOR on 
15/4/92.

DILI HIDES OPPRESSION ELSEWHERE IN INDONESIA.

INDONESIA'S leading poet and dramatist yesterday warned 
that the international community's preoccupation with East 
Timor had blinded it to injustices occuring in other parts 
of Indonesia.

W.S.Rendra's works were banned and he was imprisoned for 
his anti-government views in the 1970s.

He said in Sydney yesterday the fact that there had been an 
admission by the Indonesian Government and army that the 
Dili massacre was a mistake, and that those involved had 
been punished, was indicative of the success of protests 
from inside and outside the country.

"No section, no faction in Indonesian society agreed with 
what happened in Dili; everybody protested, with petitions, 
with statements, a lot of methods," Rendra said.

That we in the West knew so little of the protests inside 
Indonesia was partly because we had our eyes on Dili and 
partly because the protests, by necessity, were of a low 
profile.

Rendra said street marches provided an emotional outlet for 
anger, but they were not effective.

"The important thing is the effect," he said. "The army, 
(President) Suharto, the Government (all) acknowledged 
their mistakes and expressed their regrets, and a lot of 
people lost their jobs," he said.

"The important thing in this kind of struggle is the 
result, not the emotional satisfaction. That doesn't have 
anything to do with the struggle, that is luxury, it has 
nothing to do with achievements."

Although he is clearly sympathetic towards the Timorese 
people, Rendra's concern is with the oppression of his own 
people, who he says suffer under policies such as 
transmigrasi (the enticed removal of families out of urban 
areas to developments far from home) and the effects of 
business monopolies alledgedly held by the ruling elite, 
many of them members of President Suharto's family.

"Right now there are a lot of things happening in terms of 
injustice -not just Dili. So the longer you talk about 
Dili, the oppressor will like it, because many things that 
are unjust can go on unnoticed," he said.

Last month, for example, 150 families in Jakarta were left 
homeless after what Rendra said was a "mysterious" fire 
that razed their homes.

Such fires were not unusual, and they frequently preceded 
the opening up of an area for development. This time, 
however, the people had refused meekly to accept their fate 
and attempt to find alternative housing. "But now they camp 
on the site," Rendra said. "They will fight for their 
rights."

It was from the working class that the most dynamic 
expressions of protest came, Rendra said.

The new middle class, those too young to remember the 
relative freedom of Sukarno years, had been educated in an 
"instructive" society and had no commitment to change.

"If you want to look for creative people, (they are) mostly 
from the lower class," he said.

Rendra, 56 is visiting this country as the first guest of 
Culture Exchange, a group formed last year to promote 
cultural links between Australian and Indonesian artists.

During his stay, he will conduct workshops at the 
Australian National Playwrights Conference in Canberra and 
perform poetry readings in Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne.

--- FD 1.99c
 * Origin: NOSCA (90:900/207)
--  
** End of text from cdp:reg.easttimor **

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