INDONESIA(N) THROUGH FILM 8

REFORMASI AND FRAGMENTATION (1998 – PRESENT)

INM2006/3006/3008 2014

98-99 99-01 01-04 04-14 14 - ?

Overview

1) 45 +/- minutes introductory lecture setting the scene

2) 115 minute film (jot down any questions you have)

3) 15 +/- minutes for questions about the film and its content

Huge nation building effort from 66-98 (infrastructures, industry, education, communication technology)

Sustained focus on unity in diversity (Pancasila, Indonesian)

ethnicity became a widely recognized and used social category with language a major emblem of ethnic identity (Schooling, tourism, media)

Simplification of electoral system & centralization of political and economic power creating inequalities, especially center-periphery relations

Financial crisis massive levels of poverty.

1. Introduction and recap from last lecture

1.1) Structure2) Ethnic tensions3) Economic crisis and regime change4) Decentralization 5) Fragmentation6) The rise of adat7) Violent ethnic others: conflict and

displacement8) Other forms of localism9) Summary and the film

2. Ethnic tensions

Historically development created tensions in the outer islands (e.g. papers in Hedman 2008; Davidson & Henley 2007):

Land rightsEconomic rights (jobs)Religious make-upEthnic make-up (political contests)Fear of ethnic other (increasing levels of crime)

Strong central government through military able to keep in check.

3. Economic crisis and regime change Rupiah 2,300 per US$1 in 1996 to Rupiah 10,000 per $1

Drought > crop failure & import food Falling oil prices (Indonesia exporter of oil)

IMF push to reduce subsidies on fuel

Increase in inflation crippling many businesses with workers in large cities returning back to villages

Demonstrations about food and fuel prices (by all levels of society)

Soeharto resignation (see e.g. Mietzner, 1999)

4. Decentralization (a) Habibie installed as president.

Power vacuum begins and media censorship laws increasingly ignored.

Increasing calls for independence in the peripheries that had experienced the tensions noted in Section 2 (e.g. Aspinall & Fealy, 2003).

Local struggles for power – inter-ethnic and inter-religious violence.

4. Decentralization (b) Habibie reforms:

Press freedom laws (Kitley, 2001)Stories about things formerly taboo or sensitive

Free political parties and new electoral procedures (Aspinall & Fealy, 2003)

Referendum of East Timor Decentralization legislation (laws 22 and 25 devolved fiscal and political power to third level of govt, i.e. districts).

4. Decentralization (c)Level 1: Central Government

Level 2: Provinces (propinsi)

Level 3: Regencies (kabupaten) and cities (kota)

Level 4: Districts (kecematan)

Level 5: Sub-districts (Kelurahan)

Level 6: Neighborhood (rukun warga)

Level 7: Ward (Rukun Tetangga)

Regencies now responsible for education, health, environment, labor, public works.

5. Fragmentation (a) Elections of village councils (Antlov, 2003).

Formation of large federations, e.g. unions, farmer federation (Ford, 2004, 2008).

NGOs emerging everywhere and pushing for rights (land, gender, workers).

Fiscal decentralization > more resources to districts.

Not voted in or not enough resources > new regency, 360 in 1998 now 550+ (Jones, 2004; Bunte, 2009; Aspinall, 2011)

6. The rise of adat Claims often justified on linguistic and cultural grounds, especially difference (Quinn, 2003).

Supported by NGO’s working on land rights, compensation for land > rise of adat communities (Acciaioli, 2007).

Aliansi Masyarakat Adat Nusantara (AMAN)

Adat used as a reason to exclude migrants & appropriate resources (Biezeveld, 2007; Henley & Davidson, 2007; S. Jones, 2004; Li, 2007; Ramstedt, 2009; Sakai, 2003; Tyson, 2010; Van Klinken, 2007b).

Difference stronger than sameness.

7. Violent ethnic others: conflict & displacement By 2001 adat revivalism, competition for resources and political power

1.4 million people displaced by inter-ethnic and inter-religious violence (Hedman, 2008)

Ethnicity no longer a neutral category.

8. Other forms of localism (a) By 2004 increasing support for new & old local languages in regency school curriculums (Arps, 2010; Moriyama, 2012; Quinn, 2012; Sudarkam, 2014).

Fear of language loss > new initiatives for documenting endangered languages.

Being seen as ethnically an insider seen as important for winning political contests (Mietzner, 2009).

8. Other forms of localism (b) Increase of media outlets coincided with increase in local content in the media, e.g. newspapers, television, radio, films (Rachmah, 2008, 2009).

Films used loose laws on language to include much local language (importance of niche markets).

By 2009 across nearly every television genre and station could find fragments of regional languages.

Similar to mid-90s helped familiarize many Indonesians with fragments of ethnic languages.

Male client 11 atos rapih neng . [You’re] already done Younger

Sister? Jiran2 iya . Yes.Male client 13 tah ieu nya (giving Jiran

money) (5.0)Here is [your pay].

Jiran4 nuhun (16.0) Thanks.Jiran5 akang (0.5) mau dibawakan .

barangnyaOlder brother, can I carry your goods for you?

Male client 26789

= oh tiasa atuh neng tiasa . eh antosan nya . yeuh bayaran anu ayeuna neng . (gives money) dua rebu . tah ku akang ditambihan deui sarebu (0.5)

 Oh of course [you] can Younger Sister, yes [you] can. Eh, wait a moment OK, Here is the payment for now Younger Sister, two thousand (rupiah). Here, Older Brother will give you one more thousand.

Jiran10 nuhun kang Thanks Older Brother.Male client 2111213

neng . tong hilaf enjing ka dieu deui nya . sok atuh angkut barang barangna . hati hati nya neng nya

Younger sister, don’t forget to come back here tomorrow OK. Please take the goods, be careful OK Younger Sister OK.

Source: Jiran, Sorayaintercinefilms, broadcast on Indosiar

Patzzi1234

seru episode pertama..jiran logatnya sunda abis... tikam meski perann7ya mewek n teraniaya tapi bisa beda dari muslimah

The first episode was exciting. Jiran has a very Sundanese accent. As usual, Titi Kamal’s role is a sobbing and tortured one, but it can be differentiated from her other role as Muslimah [in the soap titled Muslimah].

Meme_koe56789 1011121314

^gua sempat nonton sbntar….scene merit tokoh yg diperankan Titi & Didi disaksikan cowo yg suaminya tokoh yg diprenkan Titi trus scene Didi ketuk pintu kamar titi minta siap2 ke mau plg ke kampungnya (Malaysia ya??). Iya oatzz….logatnya titi sunda bgt btw, nama peran titi di sini apa?? hehehe…..good luck buat sinetron Jiran. [original text]

I had a chance to watch for a while. The marriage scene where the people played by Titi and Didi were witnessed by the husband of the actress played by Titi. And the scene [when] Didi knocked on Titi’s door and asked if [she] was ready to go home to his home (in Malaysia, right??)Iya ???. Titi’s accent is very Sundanese. By the way, what is the name of the character played by Titi? Hehehe. Good luck for the soap Jiran.

Extract 9.2 Celebrity fans posting on representations of ethnicity

Source: www.lautanindonesia.com/forum/index.php?topic=43128.50. Accessed 31/01/2012

Saya sangat prihatin ketika mengamati tayangan sinetron JIRAN di Indosiar, dimana pemain utamanya adalah Jiran dan Pendi yang di simbolkan sebagai orang Sunda yang digambarkan sangat bodoh, dungu dan nyaris tanpa moral. Mem-blow up karakter seperti itu sah-sah saja sebagai arena hiburan. Tapi yang sangat disayangkan adalah adanya upaya penistaan dan pendiskreditan terhada etnis Pasundan yang begitu menonjol.Terusterang saya sebagai orang Sunda merasa tidak nyaman dan menganggap hal tersebut sebagai pelecehan. Dan tentu saja kita berharap hendaknya para produser tidak hanya berorientasi hiburan dan rating atau prof it semata, tetapi juga pertimbangkan perasaan, kultur dan budaya Sunda secara adil dan proporsional. Pertimbangkanlah perasaan kami warga Pasundan atau etnis manapun yang dijadikan obyek cerita. Lebîh arif lagi apabila tayangan tersebut dihentikan dan direvisi. [original text] Kosasih Kadra

I was very concerned when I was looking at the soap Jiran on Indosiar where the main actors, Jiran and Pendi, are represented as Sundanese who are very backward, idiotic and almost without any morals. To exaggerate characters is fine in the entertainment arena.  But what is very unfortunate are the efforts to denigrate and discredit Sundanese, which is very obvious.To be frank, as a Sundanese myself I feel uncomfortable and consider this matter as an insult. And indeed we hope that the producer doesn’t only focus on entertainment and profit, but also a consideration of the Sundanese sensitivities and culture in a fair and proportional way. Please consider our feeling as Sundanese or in fact any other ethnicity that becomes the focus of a story. It would be even better if you stop this soap and revise it. Kosasih Kadra

Extract 9.3 Blogging and complaining about ethnic representations

Source: http://www.jurnalbogor.com/?p=50136. Accesed on the 31st January 2012

Alung1 mel . nggapain di sini

.Mel, why are you here (again)?

Melani234

(smile changes to shocked look and moves body away from Alung)

 

Babah Liong45678

(comes back through curtain separating his shop and sitting room) hei gélo . kalau ngomong dengan awéwé . (points at Alung) [ SING sopan atuh sia

 Hey dummy, if you talk with a woman you (do it) WITH etiquette, ok!

Alung91011

[ (moves body backward, then nods and moves shoulder down while smiling.)

Yes.

Extract 9.4 Representing superdiversity in Jakarta

Source: ANTV, Bukan Romeo Juliet, Sunday 16 August 2009, (8–9pm)

Crisis & decentralization Rights (unions, NGOs, federations) Media de-censored > many issues previously not covered (e.g. corruption, polygamy, workers rights)

Decentralization helped increase importance of adat, regional languages (schooling and media), and ultimately ethnicity.

Language a very important emblem of ethnic identity, but increasing numbers of Indonesians had access to fragment of these languages.

9. Summary

Questions?

THE FILM: Berbagi Suami

References (A)Acciaioli, G. (2007). From customary law to indigenous sovereignty:

reconceptualizing masyarakat adat in contemporary Indonesia. In J. Davidson & D. Henley (Eds.), The revival of tradition in Indonesian politics: The deployment of adat from colonialism to indigenism (pp. 295-318). London: Routledge.

Arps, B. (2010). Terwujudnya Bahasa Using di Banyuwangi dan peranan media elektronik di dalamnya (selayang padang, 1970-2009). In M. Moriyama & M. Budiman (Eds.), Geliat bahasa selaras zaman: perubahan bahasa-bahasa di Indonesia pasca-orde baru (pp. 225-248). Tokyo: Tokyo University of Foreign Studies.

Aspinall, E. (2011). Democratization and ethnic politics in Indonesia: nine thesis. Journal of East Asian Studies, 11, 289-319.

Aspinall, E. (2013). A nation in fragments: patronage and neoliberalism in contemporary Indonesia. Critical Asian Studies, 45(1), 27-54.

Aspinall, E., & Fealy, G. (2003). Introduction: Local power and politics in Indonesia: decentralisation and democratisation. In E. Aspinall & G. Fealy (Eds.), Local power and politics in Indonesia: decentralisation and democratisation (pp. 1-11). Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies.

Biezeveld, R. (2007). The many roles of adat in West Sumatra. In J. Davidson & D. Henley (Eds.), The revival of tradition in Indonesian politics: The deployment of adat from colonialism to indigenism (pp. 203-223). London: Routledge.

Bourchier, D. (2000). Habibie's interregnum: reformasi, elections, regiionalism and the struggle for power. In C. Manning & P. Van Diermen (Eds.), Indonesia in transition: social aspects of reformasi and crisis (pp. 15-38). London: Zed Books.

Bünte, M. (2009). Indonesia’s Protracted Decentralization: Contested Reforms and their Unintended Consequences. In M. Bunte & A. Ufen (Eds.), Democratization in Post-Suharto Indonesia (pp. 102-123). London: Routledge.

Davidson, J., & Henley, D. (Eds.). (2007). The revival of tradition in Indonesian politics: the deployment of adat from colonialism to indigenism. London: Routledge.

References (B)Ford, M. (2004). A challenge for business? Developments in Indonesian

trade unionism after Soeharto. In M. C. Basri & P. van der Eng (Eds.), Business in Indonesia: new challenges, old problems (pp. 221-233). Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies.

Ford, M. (2008). Indonesia: seperate organizing within unions. In K. Broadbent & M. Ford (Eds.), Women and labour organizing in Asia: diversity, autonomy and activism (pp. 15-33). London: Routledge.

Hedman, E.-L. (Ed.). (2008). Conflict, violence, and displacement in Indonesia. Ithaca, N.Y.: Cornell University.

Henley, D., & Davidson, J. (2007). Introduction: radical conservatism - the protean politics of adat. In J. Davidson & D. Henley (Eds.), The revival of tradition in Indonesian politics: The deployment of adat from colonialism to indigenism (pp. 1-49). London: Routledge.

Jones, S. (2004). Political update 2003: terrorism, nationalism and disillusionment with reform. In M. C. Basri & P. van der Eng (Eds.), Business in Indonesia: new challenges, old problems (pp. 23-38). Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies.

Li, T. (2007). Adat in Central Sulawesi: contemporary deployments. In J. Davidson & D. Henley (Eds.), The revival of tradition in Indonesian politics: The deployment of adat from colonialism to indigenism (pp. 337-370). London: Routledge.

McGibbon, R. (2003). Between rights and repression: the politics of special autonomy in papua. In E. Aspinall & G. Fealy (Eds.), Local power and politics in Indonesia: decentralisation and democratisation (pp. 194-216). Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies.

Mietzner, M. (1999). From Soeharto to Habibie: the Indonesian armed forces and political Islam during the transition. In G. Forrester (Ed.), Post-Soeharto Indonesia: renewal or chaos? (pp. 65-104). Bathurst, N.S.W.: Crawford House Publishing.

Mietzner, M. (2009). Indonesia and the pitfalls of low-quality democracy: A case study of the gubernatorial elections in North Sulawesi. In M. Bunte & A. Ufen (Eds.), Democratization in Post-Suharto Indonesia (pp. 124-149). London: Routledge.

References (C)Moriyama, M. (2005). Language change and regional literature after

Soeharto. Paper presented at the Indonesia Culture Workshop: Arts culture and political and social change since Soeharto, School of Asian Languages and Studies, University of Tasmania, Launceston.

Moriyama, M. (2012). Regional languages and decentralization in post-New Order Indonesia: the case of Sundanese. In K. Foulcher, M. Moriyama & M. Budiman (Eds.), Words in motion: Language and discourse in Post-New Order Indonesia (pp. 82-100). Tokyo: Research Institute for Languages and Cultures of Asia and Africa, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies.

Quinn, G. (2012). Emerging from dire straits: post-New Order developments in Javanese language and literature. In K. Foulcher, M. Moriyama & M. Budiman (Eds.), Words in motion: Language and discourse in Post-New Order Indonesia (pp. 65-81). Tokyo: Research Institute for Languages and Cultures of Asia and Africa, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies.

Rachmah, I. (2008). Consuming Taiwanese boys culture: Watching Meteor Garden with urban Kampung women in Indonesia. In A. Heryanto (Ed.), Popular Culture in Indonesia: Fluid Identities in Post-authoritarian Politics (pp. 93-110). London: Routledge.

Rachmah, I. (2009). Watching Indonesian sinetron: Communal TV viewing among urban kampung women. Saarbrücken, Germany: VDM Verlag Dr. Müller Aktiengesellschaft & Co. KG.

Ramstedt, M. (2009). Regional autonomy and its discontents: the case of post-New Order Bali. In C. Holtzappel & M. Ramstedt (Eds.), Decentralization and regional autonomy in Indonesia: implementation and challenges (pp. 329-379). Singapore & Leiden: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies and International Institute for Asian Studies.

Sakai, M. (2003). The privatisation of Padang Cement: regional identity and economic hegemony in the new era of decentralisation. In E. Aspinall & G. Fealy (Eds.), Local power and politics in Indonesia: decentralisation and democratisation (pp. 148-163). Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies.

Sudarkam Mertono. (2014). The decentralization of schooling in Palu, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. PhD dissertion. Department of Asian Studies, La Trobe University, Melbourne.

References (D)Tyson, A. D. (2010). Decentralization and Adat Revivalism in Indonesia:

The Politics of Becoming Indigenous. Hoboken: Taylor & Francis.Van Klinken, G. (2007). Return of the sultans: the communitarian turn in

local politics. In J. Davidson & D. Henley (Eds.), The revival of tradition in Indonesian politics: The deployment of adat from colonialism to indigenism (pp. 149-169). London: Routledge.