editorial

ISAFIS News Editor’s Note

3rd Edition, April 2010
Hi, Happy Kartini’s Day Everyone!!!

Editor in Chief
Sri Rezeki
Newsletter team
Febi Purnamasari, Griya Ratri Putri,
Keishkara Hanandhita Putri
Contributors
Febi Purnamasari, Levriana Yustriani,
Widi Laras, Adistya Gusdeyanti, Tengku
Iari, Riza Aryani, Primatika, Olivia D.
Purba, Sri Rezeki, Badarudddin Rah-
man Motik, Tubagus Ari Wibawa Mukti,
Kenichi Shiba, Arpah Ita, Febrianisa
Mutiara, Keishkara Hanandhita Putri
Circulation and Promotion
Sri Rezeki
This April 21st 2010, we’ll celebrate Kartini’s Day again. Do
you remember her struggle? As we know, she’s the icon for
Indonesian women. It’s because in her era which was ruled
with patriarchy system, Kartini struggled for equality between
girls and boys in education. She was lucky that she could go
to school while other girls at her village couldn’t. She tried to
spread her knowledge, though. She taught the girls how to
read and to write. Her sincere initiative then has made Indo-
nesians celebrate her birthday once a year. It’s a proof that
women nowadays are acknowledged as equal as men. Women
are not subordinate such before.
Who said Kartini’s Day only can be celebrated locally? We can
also celebrate it internationally! Kartini could be one of the
world women icons too like Aung San Suu Kyi, Oprah Winfrey,
and many others. Furthermore, we probably see in real life
that equality hasn’t applied well while on the other side, some
women have power to control aspects of life. That’s why we
have such a good momentum to commemorate women rights
issues and speak up about them on 21st of April.

Layout and Design
Newsletter team and Febry Fawzi
This year’s Kartini’s Day is also especially important, following
the 30th anniversary in December of the Convention on the
Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, or
CEDAW. The treaty has been ratified by the vast majority of
nations. Women protection is considered by government and
that’s what women whole over the world are waiting for.

We therefore need you to look deeper for this celebration

because it’s not only an annual celebration. It’s meant for us,
whether you are men or women because like proverb said,
“behind a great man, there are great women.” Women are like
a buffer for men, and men are hero for women. Harmony only
could be achieved if men and women create such good coop-
eration. Let’s make a harmony for this world :)

Cover
Smiley
Ilustrator: Sri Rezeki
Keishkara Hanandhita
Editor in Chief
Putri

2
 what’s on

THE ISSUE
APRIL EDITION
“i Greet”
2 Editorial
3 What’s On
“i Theme”
4 Why We Should “i Speak Up (ISAFIS Speak Up)”
Celebrate Kartini Day Feminism and Equality
7 Feminism: More than Just Equity
7 Women’s Liberty Towards Tradition
8 Rights are What Women Need
9 Lesbian Feminism
Human Rights Issue

11 10 Trokosi: the Tradition Enslaves Ghana’s Women

Women in Law and Politics
12 Sexual Slavery and Human Trafficking Toward
Women in Iraq
13 Legal Advocacy of Human Rights Violations
against Women
14 It Takes All to Win

9
15 Women Abuse in Poli-
tics

“About i”
15 The 2009 MOKA
16 ISAFIS Campaign
17 SISBAC at US Embassy
25 About ISAFIS
26 Snap Shots

“i Culture”
18 Arabian Nights: Introducing Mid-
dle-Eastern Culture with Authentic
”i Pen Pal”
22 My 7 Shocks in Visiting Indonesia
“i People” 17
20 Oscar for Indie Female Director
“i Review”
24 Movie Review: The Hurt Locker
24 Music Review: Seal
24 Novel Review: Travelers Tale

3
 i theme
WHY WE SHOULD
CELEBRATE
KARTINI
DAY

By Keishkara Hanandhita Putri

KARTINI was an Indonesian women’s symbol of eman-
cipation who happened to be a Javanesse princess. The re-
membrance of Kartini Day in Indonesia has actually been
criticized ever since it was decided. It leaves us a big ques-
4
tion, why should we celebrate Kartini Day?
 i theme
Kartini, the Javanesse Princess
Raden Ayu Kartini, also known as Raden Ajeng Kartini, was born in April, 21th 1879 in Jepara to a
Javanesse aristocrat family. Her father, Raden Mas Adipati Aryo Sosroningrat, was the Regent of
Jepara. Kartini grew in a time when women should face the gender inequality phenomenon. She
herself had to do the pingitan, a Javanesse tradition secluding women from the age of 12 until mar-
riage.

However, It didn’t stop her spirit to encourage women for getting higher education. Born into a
family with strong intellectual tradition, Kartini grew as a princess with uniqueness, fast forward
thought and rebellious spirit. Her ability to write let her to have some correspondences with Dutch
feminists during her period of pingitan (seclusion) . Abendanon, one pen friend, published her let-
ter –contained Kartini’s passions on education improvement- into a book called Door Duisternis tot
Licht (Out of Dark Comes Light). Her letters didn’t only inspire the nation during the fight for Inde-
pendence, it also enlightened the way the Dutch view our native women.

The Controversy
“ unlike Karti-
ni, Rohana
In 1964, former Indonesian president, Soekarno, decided Kartini’s birth-
day to be celebrated as national holiday called Kartini Day. The decision
was criticized since it might overshadow other Indonesian’s national
Kudus pub- heroines’ contributions for the nation. In 1970, Harsja W Bahtiar, wrote
lished her ideas an article titled “Kartini and Women’s Role in Society”. He claimed that
Kartini as an emancipation symbol was constructed by the Dutch. Thus,
herself through we’re hailing something we didn’t create. Harsja also gave other national
the newspapers heroines who also fought for women’s higher education. They were Sul-
and medias. tanah Seri Ratu Tajul Alam Safiatuddin Johan Berdaulat (Aceh), Siti Aisyah
We Tenriolle (South Sulawesi), Dewi Sartika and Rohana Kudus. He also

“
emphasized that unlike Kartini, Rohana Kudus –also claimed as Indone-
sian’s first woman journalist – published her ideas herself through the
newspapers and medias.

Kartini Day, Take it or Leave it?

Aside of the controversy, Kartini had a big role in advocating the
Javanesse women needs to addres women’s rights and status.
Hanifah (1949 in Sastroatmodjo 2005) stated that the Dutch tried
to be acquainted with our nation through Kartini’s point of view.
It meant, Kartini could advocate the needs while creating a good
relation with the Dutch, -which was a good sign.
Then why should we celebrate Kartini Day? Kartini Day
is not only a remembrance of the day when Kartini was born, it
symbolizes the women emancipation in Indonesia. The essential
part in remembering Kartini is to be inspired by the emancipation
spirit. Therefore, the nation could use the momentum as a life-
time reminders that a lot of Indonesian heroines back then fought
for women’s emancipation.
5
 Feminism: More than Just Equality
Nowadays Feminism becomes a word that merely
appears and affects many aspects in our daily life.
We could see the example from ladies parking area
or the phrase “ladies first”. When we
hear Feminism, people usually take it
as the equality of woman and man. happy to know that there are ladies parking area
Cited from Wikipedia, the term of
Feminism can be used to describe a
political, cultural, or economic move-
ment aimed at establishing equal
rights and legal protection for women.
Feminism involves political, cultural
and sociological theories, as well as
philosophies concerned about issues
of gender difference. It is also
a movement that advocates
gender equality for women
and campaigns for women’s
rights and interests. From
this understanding, Feminism is more than just
an acknowledgement from men that women can do
anything. To simplify, Feminism is a well-constructed
and moderate thinking to support the continuity of exist-
ence of women’s movement.
However, what I’m seeing now is some women
i speak up
sometimes hyperbole Feminism and are irrational.
They want to be appreciated, but they don’t appreci-
ate men. I captured scenes, more than twice, when a
woman said “I don’t need men to do this. Women
can do everything.” In contrast, we, as women, are
and become the number one in any kind of situa-
tion, even just entering a room. So, is it appropri-
ate?
Don’t be naïve to realize that women do need
men. Equality doesn’t mean women can do eve-
rything and men become useless; it means how
women and men appreciate and help each other. I
guess it’s no way women can rule this world with-
out men. Women can’t play their role without men
beside them. It’s human nature that women and
men complete each other. By appreciating men’s
role and keeping the struggle on women’s move-
ment, I do believe that Feminism value will be
more applicative in the daily life. Overall, women
are really great creature, though. Cited from an apho-
rism, “you educate a man then it will be a man. You
educate a woman, you educate a generation”
TENGKU IARI

Women’s Liberty mostly try to make women sees that

Towards
Tradition
Women and tradition, two words that
can hardly be separated especially
among Asian society. As a group of
women that proclaimed itself as wom-
en’s new generation, where do we put
tradition? Some says most of traditions
we hold put women as an object. Thus,
they need to be replaced with new
values. Some says that we need to lib-
eralize women and adopt new values,
replacing the old ones.
The globalization as it has ‘bom-
barded’ our society with new ideas
sometimes collides with our existing
values. In most cases, we see how the
globalized values change the paradigm
of a society. We often see the idea
of human rights makes the tradition
seems inhumane, especially in regards
to women. In many traditions, we’ve
seen women are put as second priority,
or at least that’s how we see from an
outsider’s perspective.
Culture is relative. Things we
perceive as a discrimination might be
seen as “special treatment” for others.
The feminists and human right activists,
they’re being “discriminated” by their
culture. So far, the job is half way done;
we’ve seen how people started to per-
ceive human rights and discrimination
with similar point of view.
However, when it regards to
women, sometimes it’s hardly to
change their view point. A tradition
that has been rooted in the society
becomes internalized and it’s extremely
difficult to change, even through gov-
ernment policy. Take the example of
the tradition of Sati in India. Sati is the
traditional Hindu practice of a widow
throwing herself on her husband’s
funeral fire. It was believed that the
woman would directly go to heaven
by this “meritorious” act. The act was
never based on coercion but mostly
voluntary as a way to safe their dignity,
tremendous love for the husband,
and some women preferred death to
the cursed life of being a widow. The
practice was banned in 1892, but it is
still done nowadays. On 18 May 2006,
Vidyawati, a 35-year-old woman alleg-
edly committed Sati by jumping into
the blazing funeral fire of her husband
in Rari-Bujurg Village. The way society
perceived them for centuries has made
the woman sees the act as normal
while actually it is not.
In china, the tradition of foot
binding to create a lotus shape feet
was taken as something normal. The
Chinese women’s feet were bound
with meters of cloth to stop them from
growing so that they would resemble a
“three-inch golden lotus” that is known
as beauty. The practice of foot wrap-
ping resulted in lifelong disabilities,
deformities, and most of the time infec-
tion. Some efforts to ban this practice
in the past failed, such as the regula-
tion initiated by the Empress Dowager
Cixi in Manchuria. The women still
underwent the process because there’s
ignorance of government policy; the
perception in the society had not
changed.
The practice of both foot binding
and Sati were not vanished due to the
government policy or coercion to leave
the tradition. Women in India and
China left the tradition that “objecti-
fying” them because the awareness
grows. The new era brought them new
knowledge and ability to understand
about their rights in society. The
changing paradigm in viewing things is
important.
That is why, the writer think that
the feminist should be there; not to
tell the women to forget their culture,
but to give them new perspective so
that these women will know they have
other options, a better one perhaps.
7
i speak up Rights is What
Women Need
Women rights is a theme that’s easy to
find but hard to answer. What I mean
is in finding the data to write a column
with a theme like this is not difficult,
even more so. For example, the quota
of women who sit in parliament is ob-
viously not equal with the number of
the males’. There are also problems in
getting the right to prioritize the edu-
cation for women or the prohibition of
wearing miniskirts or tank tops on the
street.
However, women rights is an issue that will not
be finished because we haven’t actually touched
the basic issue of the rights that should be ac-
quired by women. Then what is exactly the basic
of all these problems? The answer is identity.
We often forget that women are human beings
created by God who have same capabilities, in-
telligence level, and other things which are equal
to men. There is no difference, only a physical
form distinguished. The rest of the functions,
capabilities, level of intelligence and so are equal
to men. Then, with all these similarities, is it too
much for women to get equal rights with men?
Our mistake is we never see women as com-
plete persons, individuals, or human beings. We
only see one or two sides of the women. I’ll give
an example, recently in the television news, pub-
trivia
lic were shocked by Inul Daratista, Indonesia’s
dangdut artist, who runs for a vice-regent of
Malang. Having known the situation, the so-
ciety is then divided into two: there are sup-
ports, but many others refused. There are
many opinions saying that Inul is not able
to lead. Inul who is famous with her ngebor
dance does not deserve to be a leader, and
so on. Various opinions are formed because
people see that Inul can only dance and sing.
In other words, they only see one side of Inul as
an entertainer and don’t see her as a complete
individual.
Now, the most important thing is we have to
see women as individuals, human beings who
are equal to men. Women with all the functions,
capabilities, the level of intelligence, and emo-
tional level should be seen as complete persons.
In this point of view, women will be considered
equal to men.
If we had brought the idea that the women are
individuals that equal to men, then we wouldn’t
have seen and heard about gender inequality
issues on the media like the case of women who
begged for education in front of the parliament
building or a group of women who were angry
because their freedom of expression right was
prohibited.
PRIMATIKA
8
 i speak up
Lesbian Feminism

work boo
ts,
younger u and plaid shirts w
rb ere used
Liberating an women, even s by
for some e xual beha
the style an vior.
Psy- effectively d oppressive for o
chologists and nists’ com expressed thers,
mitment le
feminists alike to assume that erosexua to the rep sbian femi-
l an udia
most persons can be neatly categorized according the psych d class privilege. C tion of het-
ological v entral po
to membership in one of four groups: heterosex- always tr iew is the int of
y to gain minority
numerou acce g rou
ual, homosexual, bisexual, or asexual. Toward the s negative ptance and again ps
end of century, medical and psychologist theorists interferen conseque st
ce with th nces inclu
ment. eir psycho din
characterized lesbian development as related to social dev g
biological abnormalities, either genetic or hor- elop-
Today, foll
argumen owing the
monal, or psychological deficits such as arrested ts of gay we
more enli and lesbia ll-developed
psychosexual development. Bieber (1976) explain ghtened m n professio
cal and p ember of nals
that homosexuality is the result of disturbed early sychiatric the psych ,
homosex professio ologi-
experiences, including poor family life. For in- uality so ns have r
an indica t h a e d efined
stance, son-father relationship is extremely poor. tor of me t is no longer rega
is embod nta rded as
There are also an overly involved mother and ied in the l illness. This view
Manual o D iagnostic p oint
poor relationships with same sex peers. Psycho- f Mental and Statis
sexual or Disorder tical
analytic theorists suggest that these experiences ientation (DS
or at leas is posited M–III). It means
caused the homosexual afraid of heterosexuality ta here
so they become homosexual as a means of deny- tion. Cho conscious respons as a choice,
osing and e to a situ
has been forming a a-
ing their fear of same-sex peers. found to p ositive id
psycholog b e strongly r e ntity
Lesbians and gay men are still often por- ical adjus elated to
tment. good
trayed negatively in television, films, and other
Reference
media. They reflect prejudice, stigma and dis- s:
Irving, Bo
crimination for minority groups as well as inter- eber. (197
sexuality: 6) A Discu
nalized homophobia. It is contributing of one’s The Ethic ss
al Challen ion of “Homo-
Journal o
self esteem and leading them to suicide. Accord-
chology v f consulti ge”.
ol.44 no. ng an
ing to BMC Psychiatric (2008), Lesbian, Gay and 2, 163-16 d clinical psy-
Bisexual (LGB) people are at higher risk of mental 6
King, Mic
disorder, suicidal ideation, substance misuse, and hae
view of M l et. al., (2008). A
deliberate self-harm than heterosexual people. ental Diso Systemati
rder, Suic c Re-
The result of this research interprets homosexual ide, and
people tend to be suffered mental illness more
Deliberat
than heterosexual ones. e Self Har
sexual Pe m in Lesb
Thus, for lesbians, community has a vari- ople. BM ian, Gay a
C Psychia nd Bi-
ety of meaning. In the United States, Canada and try
Britain, Lesbian Feminism was the dominant ide-
ology among politicized lesbians during the 1970s ADISTYA
GUSDEYA
NTI
and 1980. Lesbian Feminism quickly evolved into
a personal style that influenced everything from
hairstyles and clothing, such as short hair, jeans,

9
i speak up
Trokosi:
the Tra-
dition
Enslaves
Ghana’s
Women
Trokosi has been a problem of human
rights for its sexual and labor exploita-
tion until now. It has been a popular
custom among African countries;
one of them is Ghana, especially in
Volta region, southeastern Ghana, for
about 300 years. According to various
estimates, there are a little over 5,000
Trokosi slaves within Ghana.
Trokosi in Ghanaian word means
“slaves to the Gods”. It is actually a
practice based on religious values and
patriarchal superstitions that enslave
the virgin girls in ritualistic sexual
bondage. As said in this religious
custom, when a family relative does
a crime, the family must send a virgin
daughter, generally those who are
eight to fifteen years old, to the local
“ If all men are born free, how
is it that all women are born
slaves?
Marry Astell
shrine, where she will become
a Trokosi. The crime or offense,
which will be reported to the
shrine priests in order to punish
the guilty family, is determined by
the disturbed person. Afterwards,
the priests will have full owner-
ship rights over the virgin. He can
beat her when she tries to escape,
control her interaction with others,
demand labor and sex from her, and
deny her education, food, and basic
health services. The absolute power of
the priests is derived from the custom
of Trokosi which is a part of fetish
traditional belief system in which Gods
or spirits beings inherent with various
ritual objects.
Regardless, the ironic condi-
tion is most families have a great will
to sacrifice their virgin daughters.
The sacrifice is meant to obtain Gods’
forgiveness by delivering their children
to the priests for sexual and economic
exploitation. Families strongly believe
they will suffer disease, misfortune,
or even a succession of deaths unless
they provide a virgin. In other occa-
“
sion, they also send virgin daughters to
gain good luck and better fortune.
Nowadays, Trokosi operates
like business that focuses on money
or profit for the priests and shrine
owners, which usually is elder mem-
ber of clan. For both of them, Trokosi
slaves are special and such windfall.
For example, priests often force slaves
to work more than twelve hours a day,
often in the hot day, and do not pay
for their work. Slaves must work hard
so that the priests can have the main
earnings, like from farming and petty
trading. The priests also don’t provide
financial support and basic needs for
his slaves; hence they are dependent
upon their families for sufficient food
and clothing. However, many families
are afraid to visit their daughters at
the shrines or do not have sufficient
food and clothing. That’s why many
slaves often experience starvation.
Moreover, the priests forbid all
slaves to attend school and deny any
health care treatments for them.
The Movement to Liberate Slavery
Based on Ghana’s 1992 Constitu-
tion, of which the obligation is under
International Law, Ghana is insisted
to eliminate slavery and all of its
practices. However, the constitution
itself declared that the regulation of
those problems have been not effec-
tive. Therefore, in last decades many
local NGOs, international associa-
tions, government bodies, and indi-
vidual have been working to destroy
this inhumane action completely
through educating the general public
and forcing the government to pass
a specific legislation, which consists
of the prohibition of all tradition
of enslavement. Some of liberation
movement which reform the custom
of enslavement, especially Trokosi, is
listed below:
Juliana Dogbadzi, an ex-Trokosi
slave, had tremendously surprised the
10
international’s eye by bring out her
bravery to speak out. Due to her en-
couragement, she was awarded the
1999 Reebok Human Rights Award.
On June 12th, 1998, the
Ghanaian Parliament passed the
1996 Criminal Code Amendment Bill
(Amendment), which amends the
1960 Criminal Code, banning all
forms of ritualized forced labor.
In September 1998, Presi-
dent Jerry John Rawlings signed
the Amendment into law. The
Amendment added Section 314A
to the 1960 Criminal Code to
criminalize all customary or ritual
enslavement. Unfortunately, the
government has not enforced this
new legislation to criminalize the
actors of enslavement and has
made no arrests.
Under International
Labor Organization (ILO) No.29,
however, Ghana must enforce
this legislation.
During 1998 national
workshop held in Ghana within
the Trokosi system. The par-
ticipants, including the Ghanaian
Commission on Human Rights
and Administrative Justice,
Amnesty International, and the
Ghana Human Rights Coalition,
agreed to allow two years educa-
tion for fetish priests, shrine owners,
and communities about the new law
before prosecuting them under it.
The local group’s struggles
have lead to a number of negoti-
ated liberations and rehabilitation of
Trokosi slaves. As of November 1999,
International Needs Ghana, the most
active local abolitionist organization,
has successfully negotiated the libera-
tion of 2,000 girls and women from
approximately 132 different shrines in
Ghana while estimation showed there
were another 3,400 who remain in
bondage. Unfortunately, because the
community beliefs of Trokosi practice
were undoubted, some Ghanaians
replaced liberated Trokosi slaves with
others.
In the beginning of Septem-
ber 2000, which had marked two
years of the Amendment’s passage,
activists planned to begin lobbying
the government vigorously to imple-
ment the legislation.
Resistance of Liberation
In spite of such progress,
many fetish priests and local commu-
nities continue to resist dissolution
of the Trokosi practice. For instance,
some shared opinion among priests
said, “You can’t have sex with a cow.”
They won’t exchange the slaves with
cows because they can’t have sex
anymore.
The greatest opposition for
the eradication of Trokosi slavery
comes from people who view refor-
mation as attacks against their fetish
beliefs and religion because they
use Article 21(1) (c) of the Ghanaian
Constitution which guarantees free-
dom of religion and the practice of it.
Those constitutional debates made
the official hesitant to confine the
practice of Trokosi.
The other opposition is
traditional group named Afrikania
Renaissance Mission who claimed a
right to preserve the culture of their
forefathers.
The Light for Freedom
The complicated and tough
struggle to unchain the slavery
brought out fine result, for example
in 10 November 2001. Hundreds of
families and guests came to Adidome,
i speak up
Ghana, to celebrate the freedom of
128 women who have experienced
Trokosi for years.
The freed labors are usually
taught skills such as batik tie-dyeing,
soap-making, hairdressing, and bak-
ing, which will be valuable as they try
to build a new, independent life.
In June 2001, the Interna-
tional Needs for Ghana (ING) received
$50,000 from the United Nations
Development Fund for Women
(UNIFEM) to improve its anti-Trokosi
programs, including vocational cent-
ers, psychological counseling, and
schools for Trokosi children. There are
also campaigns to educate people on
laws and activities aimed in chang-
ing Trokosi practices. However, the
reformation will not stop there; there
are still many unlucky women who
remain enslaved in Ghana these days.
Based on Department of Geography
of the University of Ghana research in
2008, an estimated 278 victims were
still under the practice of Trokosi in
some parts of Volta Region and the
Ga Dangbe area. Bare alarm reminds
the activists and every single human
to fight the practice of slavery in
Trokosi system until it’s over.
Source: wcl.american.edu, associ-
atedcontent.com, innetwork.org,
famous.adoption.com, mdilinkz.org
LEVRIANA YUSTRIANI, WIDI LARAS
11
i speak up Sexual Slavery and Human
Trafficking Toward Women in Iraq
by Febi Purnamasari
Chaos in Iraq is not a new world issue. Many of us know it’s been
lasted for years and maybe we are tired of the conflicts such
as the United States invasion. Though on 30 June 2009 the US
withdrew a significant number of troops from Iraq, the invasion’s
trace, since 2003, has brought a chaotic situation in that “1001
Nights” country. One of the most crucial condition is more than
70% of Iraqis are unemployed because of the general economic
deterioration and it has inflicted sexual slavery and human traf-
ficking toward Iraqi women1.
The reason of the women sexual slavery and traffick-
ing appearance is there are lots of unemployed widows in Iraq.
More than a million of Iraqi men died in the war.2 survey That
mortality has affected a great number of Iraqi widows. Houzan
Mahmoud, representative abroad of the Organization of Wom-
en’s Freedom in Iraq said there were more than four million
widows in Iraq. It means the widows had to face the economic
crisis alone. The situation has forced them to be the breadwin-
ners to fulfill their families’ needs everyday. Besides, another
fact shows that in 2007, only 18% of Iraqi women were in the
labor force. Women with lower educational levels are more
likely to be outside the labor force.3 Those women, the unedu-
cated and unemployed ones, mostly have turned to prostitution.
It’s because there are simply no other alternatives for them who
head households to locate other sources of income.4
Another reason is lots of Iraqi women prostitute
because of being forced by their families due to the financial
problem. Those families even sell their wives and daughters for
slavery to the neighboring countries such as Syria, Lebanon, and
other Gulf states.
Not only families, the lack of security also takes part in
Iraqi women trafficking too. For example, the criminal gangs ex-
istence. These gangs kidnap women even young girls, sometimes
as young as twelve, and then sell or force them to prostitute for
profit.5
With relatively few rights, the Iraqi women involved in
prostitution find difficulties in integrating their society. They’re
often offended, harassed, and attacked by their community
and authority as sanctions of immorality. There are also many
women who prostitute being jailed and when their families find
out, they might be violated or the neighborhood will reject and
stigmatize them for whole life.
So, who are responsible for those women’s live and dig-
nity? The answer is US government. They are very responsible
for creating such a chaotic situation that has made the women
fall into poverty.
Iraqi government is also totally responsible for that.
It’s because they don’t have any significant programs to over-
come the economic crisis. Besides, the government itself and its
political elites have a hand in forcing women into prostitution.
As stated by Houzan Mahmoud on Jerusalem Post that party
politicians have numbers of women prostitutes in their mobile
phones so it means they’re supporting prostitutions.
No one can handle the ironic women condition in Iraq.
As we know, the Iraqis elites are outrageous for their morals so
it’s impossible to hope a progress on them. Even Nawal al-Sa-
marraie, the latest Iraq’s minister for women’s affairs, had quit
her job since February 2009 because there’s lack of support from
the government in facing the situation.
To handle the women rights crisis in Iraq, there are
some recommendations available. First, the government should
give protection and rehabilitation to the sexual slavery and traf-
ficking victims, not putting them in jail. It’s because they’re in
a very weak side (poverty, no support from family, community,
etc). The government should’ve jailed the head of prostitution,
not the women.
Second, the elites supporting prostitutions should be
punished. This is based on the fact that people in the Iraqi parlia-
ment and government are not blamed for it.6
Last but not least, we should campaign this issue inter-
nationally, to all world organizations and networks, for support
and solidarity. For example, we could hold some conferences
about this issue with Iraqi representatives. By doing campaigns,
the United Nation might be influenced to push Iraqi government
to make some progress toward women sexual slavery and pros-
titution in Iraq. UN might also send its voluntaries to help coping
women right crisis in Iraq.
1
A statement of Houzan Mahmoud, representative
abroad of the Organization of Women’s Freedom in
Iraq on Jerusalem Post
2
Number from Opinion Research Business (ORB)
3
Source: WHO Iraq Family Health Survey 2007
4
Statement of Nadya Khalife, a women’s rights re-
searcher for the Middle East and North Africa region
at Human Rights Watch to The Media Line
5
Human rights organizations report on Jerusalem
Post
6
Houzan Mahmoud’s statement in “Iraqi women
forced into sex slavery” (Dec 2, 2009 17:20) on www.
mideastjpost.com
12
Legal Advocacy of Human speak up
Rights Violations against Women
“
Justice without a gender perspective is
only a half-justice. -Anonymous -
Violence against women is one of the crime which is
most often occurs in the conflict period. Forms of this
kind of violence vary from sexual violence, domestic
violence, women trafficking, honor killings, killings
for dowry, female genital mutilation, and raping. As it
violates women’s rights, this violence can be catego-
rized as a form of human rights violations against
women. However, fact shows that women in conflict
conditions are often the target of sexual violence.
This is not something inherent or a result of addition-
al conflict, but deliberates extensively on the conflict.
The conditions of women who are vulnerable
to sexual violence in conflict areas are due to the
subordinate position of women and because of its
status as a woman (gender violence). Violence also
occurs because of the broad assumption that women
are sexual objects. But in general, sexual violence
against women based on the traditional view that
women are the property of men. Therefore, sexual
violence against women is used as one way to apply
power and domination toward the opponent. The
purpose of the perpetrator is controlling, degrad-
ing and humiliating the women who are
considered as the opponent’s
property. It can be
viewed that
women in conflict
often be- come tar-
gets of violence
to weaken the
opponent or
to make them
surrender.
The using
of sexual
violence
against
women in conflict time re-
flects the inequalities and
injustices faced by women in
daily life at the time of peace.
Based on these facts, the legal
advocacy for sexual violence against
women in conflict areas is important
to be improved for the enforcement of
human rights. Nevertheless, until a few
decades ago, the legal process cases of
sexual violence experienced by women in conflict
areas have not provided legal certainty. Sexual vio-
lence against women in conflict considered only as a
violation of the army’s image and the oath a soldier,
not as a crime against humanity. Women who are
suffering from sexual violence are often not taken
i “
into consideration in the courts against perpetrators
of crimes in the war. Moreover, stereotype in the
community which is argue that the size of the loss in
the conflict time is ‘the loss of life’, so if no lives are
lost, is not considered a violation of women human
rights exacerbates the condition of law enforcement
in conflict areas. Whereas on the sexual violence,
victims do not always lose their lives, but can also
lose their life. Ironically, this fact is often considered
not worthy enough referred to as human rights viola-
tions. There are several factors which reinforce this
impunity: the considered view that this form of sexual
violence are an inevitable part in a war, the law guar-
anteeing amnesty to perpetrators as part of making
peace deals, and also public indifference to all forms
of violence against woman. In the meantime, shame,
fear, economic dependence on men and the stigma
that is given to the victims is another obstacle to
uphold justice for sexual violence in conflict areas.
Fortunately these days, there was rapid progress by
the international court to renew the crimes related to
gender. Several international agreements and trea-
ties that serve as advocacy tool against violence on
women include: the Convention on the Elimination of
All Forms of Discrimination against Women (Conven-
tion on the Elimination of All Forms of discrimination
against Women-CEDAW) in 1979 which states that
all countries implement policies to eliminate violence
against women, the Rome Statute of the Internation-
al Criminal Court (International Criminal Court-ICC)
in 1998 which included sexual violence to the defini-
tion of crimes against humanity and war crimes and
are punishable, the Declaration and Program of Ac-
tion of Vienna (The Vienna Declaration and Program
for Action ) in 1993 which stated that gender violence
is a form of serious violation of human rights and that
gender issues should be integrated into the overall
aspects and functions of the human rights system,
the Statute of the International Tribunal for Yugosla-
via (International Court Tribunal for Yugoslavia-ICTY)
in 1993 which included rape as a crime against
humanity, etc.
International agreements mentioned above is
the concrete result of the hard work done by femi-
nist fighters from various fields to prosecute gender
crimes and sexual crimes properly judged until the
international level. Finally, the inclusion of sexual
crimes in broad coverage and the concrete base
jurisprudence of international courts indicate a new
global awareness of gender and sexual crimes
against women.
OLIVIA D. PURBA 13
i speak up I t Ta k e s A l l to W i n
The Supreme Court in Burma has rejected an appeal
by pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi which is
against the extension of her house arrest. Ms Suu
Kyi has spent most of the past 20 years in some form
of detention though her party overwhelmingly won
Burma’s last general election. The Burmese military
government ignored the result but is planning its own
election for later in 2010. Ms Suu Kyi has already been
disqualified from standing in there.
Burmese military regime
began in 1962 when General Ne
Win led a coup d’ etat and es-
tablished a nominally socialist-
military government that was
sought to follow the “Burmese
way to socialism.” The military
expropriated private business
and followed an economic
policy of autarky or economic
isolation.
Today, government of
Burma is led by prime minister
(and General) Thein Sein. This
current regime has been re-
sponsible for the displacement
of several hundred thousands
citizens, both inside and outside
of Burma. This displacement of
people has led to both human
rights violations as well as the
exploitation of minority ethnic
groups at the hand of the dominant Burmese groups.
The United States, European Union, and some
other countries have imposed further sanctions on
the Burmese regime for its treatment of Ms Suu Kyi
and estimated 2000 other political prisoners. Many
critics have said the military planned elections will be
a farce when the opposition is not allowed to field its
own candidates. At the same time, the US has spoken
Trivia!
of a need to find a new way to reach Burma’s rulers,
as sanction have not brought any changes in ap-
proaching the Burmese military Government.
According to Guillermo O’Donnell, there are four
kinds of factors are often put forward to explain why
cracks begin to appear in an authoritarian regime and
liberalization becomes possible:
The authoritarian regime has realized the
functional needs that led to its establishment. It is,
therefore, no longer necessary (or even possible) and
it collapses.
The regime, for one reason to
another, with one possible reason
being (1), has lost its “legitimacy”
and since no regime can last without
legitimacy (support, acquiescence,
consent), it is disintegrated.
Conflict within the ruling bloc,
particularly within the military for one
reason or another with one possible
reason being, cannot be reconciled
internally and some ruling factions
decided to appeal the outside groups
for support. Hence, the ruling bloc
disintegrates qua bloc.
Foreign pressure to “put on
democratic face” lead to compromis-
es, perhaps through the mechanism.
The winning of Ms Suu Kyi’s National
League for Democracy (NLD) party
towards landslide election was re-
jected by the military in 1990. Ana-
lysts said the military junta still feared her influence
over Burmese people. International pressure and
demands from the people of Burma so far have not
been able to overthrow the military regime. I believe
that if Burmese gather their own strength regardless
their ethnicity with that and greater influence of Daw
Aung Suu Kyi plus International support, the Burma’s
democracy and justice are no longer only hope.
ARPAH ITA
14
 WOMEN Politics as we know is something
that related to power. Power
is always related to men. Men
i speak up
is like brought into politics world.
Decision making process is al-
ways about men’s conclusion. It’s

ABUSE IN and power are like two sides of

coins. Regarding to this, where is
women’s power within politics?
Do women really have power in
because women is absolutely in
trouble with their representation
in decision making process. How
their voice could be heard if they

POLITIC
SRI >> SRI REZEKI
politics? We can see in this world,
women representative has really
small number. They don’t really get
chance to come to politics world
are really in small number? They
need to have more representatives
in decision making process.

identical to men’s world. Indonesia Even in such country which accom-

WOMEN in violence are not only
for instance, the total of women’s plished democracy as Indonesia,
about physical abuse but also the
representative in legislative body women’s representative still has
lack of representation within world
is merely 12%, such an ironic if small number. They are even not
politic. Why do I state like this? It’s
looking to women population in more than 30% of total repre-
because women are used to hesitate
Indonesia is more than half of sentatives. Women need to enter
their complaints, anger, unequal po-
total population. Therefore, policy deeper in politics, so that they can
sition, suffers from men domination,
which has been taken is mostly re- influence the policies. The policies
etc. Why do they do that? The an-
ally manly. could impact to country’s prefer-
swer is quite simple: they think they
ence. According to Imannuel Kant,
don’t have representative enough
Women suffered from men’s war is about man, the world need
for showing their views. Why do they
domination since many years ago. women for making harmony. That’s
lack of representative? Because men
Moreover, there are countries why politics also need women for
are still dominating in politics; wom-
which still take women in subordi- making it softer and to prevent the
en representation in politics is really
nate place. Patriarchy’s tradition aggressive policies made by men.
not appropriate.

The 2009 MOKA about i

The new members of Indonesian Students Association for International
Studies (ISAFIS) have been inaugurated. They’re legally accepted because
they’ve done their obligation well as newbie. The obligations are including
writing essay, attending interview, and joining discussion that held once
a week. They also had to write semi-academic paper about international
issue then presented it at ISAFIS inauguration called Masa Orientasi Calon
Anggota (MOKA). The inauguration was held on February 13th at one of
ISAFIS new member’s house, Ipeh.
The event went successful due to most of ISAFIS new members
came to present their materials and joined the discussions actively. Some
seniors also attended the inauguration, not only to judge the presentation
given by five groups of ISAFIS newbies, but also to share their stories and
experience with all members about their achievements and experience
with ISAFIS.
The event was opened by Hari Saputra, senior of 1999. Then the first
group started their presentation at 3.30 pm and the last group finished
theirs at 6 pm. After all presentations had been given, people had their
evening break and at 7.30 pm all ISAFIS members sat in circle for sharing
session with the seniors.
The event was closed after the acknowledgement statement letters had
been given to the new members by Riris Anggoro, the president of ISAFIS.
From that time, the new members were legally accepted as a part of that
organization firstly established in early 80’s.
FEBI PURNAMASARI

15
 i i a ’s
nes
about

I n d o OUR
p o r t s ! THIS Y
S u p s t r i e CAMPA
EAR
t ’s n d u
Le tive I IGN
C r e a By: Griya Ratri Putri
Talking about creative economics always have great opportunity in developing creative
industries. Nowadays, market and consumer
related to creative industries. Creative indus- behavior is changing. People are not only
tries are industries that based on skill, talent, looking for goods that merely satisfy the func-
and creativity to create goods and services. tional requirements but also providing symbol
Indonesian government has started to pro- status and prestige for them. The fashion
mote this industry to compete with others. industry is one example. Another reason why
Before we move further, what kind of industry we should develop creative industry is the
that are referred as creative industries? potential growth of non-mass production
era. People tend to
“Creatives Industries as buy exclusive stuff
those industries which than generic stuff.
have their origin in indi- These changes alter
vidual creativity, skill & industry approach
talent, and which have a from supply-driven
potential for wealth and to demand-driven
job creation through the (based on consumer
generation and exploi- demand). It makes
tation of intellectual products become
property. This includes: variative. This varia-
advertising, architecture, tions are related to
the art and antiques emotional attach-
market, crafts, design, ment, and creative
designer fashion, film industries can sup-
and video, interactive port these needs.
leisure software, music, the performing arts,
publishing, software and computer services, Another potencial factor to develop creative
television & radio” industry is the consumption of developed
countries. G7 countries are the largest export
In Indonesia, creative industries contributes destination for Indonesian handicraft indus-
about 6.28% to GDP for the period 2002- try. Indonesian handycrafts sold out there
2006. This is the fourth biggest contributor and recognized as high-quality. As we know,
after (1) transport and communications (2) they are more concern about the design,
development (3) electricity, gas, clean water. quality, materials, and other specific aspects
In 2006, it decreased to 5.67% of total GNP. of the products. So that, we should provide
It’s because decreasing of handicraft industry, this. Besides, we also have big oppprtunity to
fashion design, and film, video, and photog- expand creative industry in domestic trade
raphy, sub-sector businesses that are part of area. Domestic market are still dominated by
the creative industries. imported product, like computer’s software.
As the fourth biggest contributor, Indonesia

16

THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION FOR-
EIGN POLICY
- Pragmatic
- Relies heavily on dialogue
FOREIGN POLICY INITIATIVES
1) The closing of Guantanamo Bay; Review
of detention and interrogation policy; Pro-
hibition of torture
2) Special envoys: Climate change, Muslim-
majority countries, Southwest Asia, the
Middle East, Sudan, Afghanistan, Pakistan
3) Announce plan to responsibly end the
war in Iraq
4) Announce new strategy for Afghanistan
and Pakistan
5) Announce a strategy to address the in-
ternational nuclear threat
6) The Cairo speech: initiation to work
I A
I V
T R
about
ISAFIS MEMBERS VISITED US EMBASSY FOR
i
A FORMAL DISCUSSION IN JANUARY 6,
2010. THE OBAMA’S ADMINISTRATION
FOREIGN POLICY DISCUSSION WAS
BROUGHT BY AREND C. ZWARTJES
AS THE SPEAKER. HERE ARE THE
DISCUSSION RESULTS.
more closely with Muslim-majority and
Muslim countries
7) Israeli-Palestinian conflict: “the el-
ephant in the room” including peace
process, opposition to new Israel settle-
ments, and two-state solutions
8) Agree to negotiation of a new Stra-
tegic Arms Reduction Treaty (START)
with Russia
9) “US-China Strategic and Econo-
my Dialogue”
10) New policy towards Cuba,
North Korea, Iran, Burma
INDONESIA-US “COMPRE-
HENSIVE PARTNERSHIP”
Based on 5 key areas of coop-
eration:
1) Education
2) Governance
3) Climate Change
4) Regional Security and
Counterterrorism
5) Trade and Invest-
ment
17
i culture
Arabian Nights: Introducing Middle-
Eastern Culture with Authentic Belly Dance
Club 01 at FX Mall Jakarta suddenly became more
authentically Middle-East on February 19 Friday
night. In that Arabic-decorated club, many beauti-
ful girls and women danced to show their talents
to their friends and family even the public. With
various and colorful costumes, they showed kinds
of Middle-Eastern dances from classical raks sharki,
Arabic pop, to folkloric that only certain people
know. Some of them looked shy, but others smiled
and looked confident while moving gracefully in
Arabic pop music. Loud zhagareet, ululation of
Arabic women when dancing, was several times
heard while the dancers were performing on the
stage. The audience really paid attention and a few
of them were
busy taking
pictures in
front of the
stage, didn’t
want to miss
any inter-
esting mo-
ments.
Those
moments
were
brought by
Belly Dance
Jakarta (BDJ). Christine Yaven, the founder, gives
a chance to her students once in three months to
show what they’ve got in learning Middle-East-
ern culture, especially the dances. And that time,
BDJ students proved it in an event called Arabian
Nights.
From 8.30 to 10 p.m. they, the local and the
foreign students of BDJ, were performing some
kinds of Middle-Eastern dances together to enter-
tain the audience. Basically, the dances are classi-
fied as belly dance or raks sharki, the oldest folk-
dance in the world.
The event was firstly opened with a kind of
raks sharki named Shamadan or belly dance with
chandelier. In that night’s Shamadan, three dancers
dressed in red bras and long mermaid-curved skirts
were moving their hips and belly calmly while three
candles standing above them. The dancing went
successful and there were loud applause.
Different with the previous dance, Khaleegy
dancers wore more dazzling and colorful closed
outfits called thobe. Smiles looked on their faces
all the time and sometimes the dancers showed
off their long and wavy hair during the dance. Also,
in some parts of the dance, they’re holding each
other’s hands, showing such sisterhood.
The event went on with many other perform-
ances. Dancers with spinning canes and bouncy
foot walk attracted the audience during the south-
ern Egypt’s dance, Saidi. Then, Beginner II students
showed up with Sana Wara Sana, performing their
advanced hip shimmies in Nancy Ajram’s music.
Not only those, there’s also Melaya Leff from Al-
exandria. Melaya Leff dancers walked and moved
their hips in cheerful way with coined-veils, attract-
ing an ‘old-man’ to flirt, which was the scenario of
the choreography.
To make the show more interactive, between
the dance performances, Christine and her part-
ners, Mia Badib, guided the audience to join some
games
related
to belly
dance with
vouch-
ers as the
prizes.
One of the
games was
mini belly
dance class
joined
mostly by
friends and
18

family of BDJ members. The class wasn’t serious,
even the participants should show the moves they’d
learnt in funny way so that the funniest one could
win a voucher from BDJ.
Having performances from her students, Chris-
tine also came to the dance floor to perform belly
dance. She was glamorous with her sparkling long
mermaid-curved black dress. Confidence and smiles
were shown on her face. The Indonesian raks sharki
icon looked integrated with the dance and enjoyed
what she did so much. She was the center of atten-
tion that time while she was dancing solo on the
wooden dance floor. Loud applause was heard again
after she had finished her performance.
Why Belly Dance
Arabian Nights basically showed the audience
Middle-Eastern culture with belly dance. Then, why
only belly dance performed?
Besides for BDJ students to practice their
dancing techniques, the event was also held to
clarify the public about the authentic belly dance.
“Because I think lots of Indonesians have misper-
ception about belly dance. They think it’s an erotic
dance or to lose weight. There are also many (raks
sharki) danced in restaurants or whatever. They’re
not do-
ing belly
dance.
They’re
just mov-
ing, so
it’s not
authentic,”
said Chris-
tine to ISA-
FIS News
i culture
after the show. The authentic one meant by her was
the belly dance that really listens to the lyric and the
rhythm of the Arabic songs, which commonly have
complex rhythms.
“This (belly dance) is what you feel elegant,
beautiful, graceful…And it’s not something that is
cheap or aerobic or something that is rough,” said
Christine who has received certifications from the
world’s belly dance masters.
In fact, belly dance is not only about aesthetic.
There are other reasons for people to learn the
dance. Dasha (24), one of the dancers, said people
can learn belly dance for its feminine personality.
“And nice! People who love to dance, I’m sure they
will appreciate this. They will enjoy it,” said this Rus-
sian woman who has joined BDJ for two years.
And for Christine, what people can learn from
belly dance is Middle-East culture. They can also
learn about traditional belly dance forms which
are, “very unique and useful for the body and very
comfortable to learn. They’re also good for women
to expedite PMS (Pre Menstrual Syndrome) system,”
she continued.
Moreover, she believed that belly dance can
change a person’s life because it is suitable for all
kind of women, from old to young and the girls who
are skinny, plump, or oversized. Belly dance helps
people to feel confident and beautiful in their own
body.
Last but not least, Christine convinced that
belly dance was a cultural art form, just like Java-
nese or Balinese dance. “It’s not about, you know,
sexy dancing or erotic dancing,” she added.
Not only to hold Arabian Nights, those state-
ments were also the reasons for Christine to es-
tablish BDJ, the first Middle-Eastern dance center
in Indonesia, in 2006. She said the
number of participants is growing,
but there are many people out there
who don’t know what belly dance is
so they’re curious to find out. Still,
“It’s hard to let the public know the
authentic Middle-Eastern dance,”
she said.
FEBI PURNAMASARI
19
i people
Academy Award or popularly known as Os-
car is one of the most anticipated events in Hol-
lywood movie industry. Talking about Holly-
wood means talking about international
wide range audience countries in which
its movies are distributed. Almost
all blockbuster movies are Hol-
lywood made, yet very few of
them won Oscar. An-
other
very few
movies come
from Hollywood
visionary art intel-
ligent and socio-politically
conscious communities with
small blockbuster records. Most
of Oscar winners come from the last
group.
Oscar is internationally accepted as the
cinema supremacy that sets standard for both Hol-
lywood and International movie makers as benchmark
and progress in global movie industry. Among Hollywood
movie makers, there are two notorious award categories.
Those are Best Picture and Best Director. In this 82nd Acad-
emy Award crowning night, it has brought The Hurt Locker
(2008) --Best Picture winner—as international statement.
Even more, it was breakthrough news when Oscar’s Best
Director went to Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker, 2008)
who is the first female winner.
In Hollywood tradition, directors are usually male
although there are some women become a movie director.
There is no rule that bounds women to be a movie direc-
tor. However, least female Hollywood directors are widely
notice. Names such as Sofia Coppola, Nency Meyers, Nora
Ephron, Lina Wertmüller, Jane Champion, Mira Nair, and
recently Kathryn Bigelow are part of the Hollywood exclu-
sive league. I bet most of you know less than 3 from those
women.

20

A rare piece both figuratively and literally
perhaps becomes the best description of their situa-
tion in Hollywood. Something interesting about them
is they work Hollywood as independent movie maker.
They are
considered as working out of the box concept, us-
ing less market friendly performers, and having daily
base socio cultural concern directors in Hollywood
movie industry. Counting number of female directors
that are enlisted in Director Guild of America, there
are 1000 female directors from total 13.400 directors.
In percentage, it is worth of 7 % only within more
than a century of American Cinema.
Academy Award shows this kind of ‘excep-
tionality’ as well. After conducted 82 times, only four
women ever had Oscar Best Director nomination.
Those are Lina Wertmüller for Seven Beauties (1976),
Jane Campion for ‘The Piano’ (1993), Sofia Coppola
for Lost in Translation (2003), and the latest Kathryn
Bigelow for The Hurt Locker (2008). Bigelow turns out
to be the first female director that is nominated for
an Oscar and brought him home at last.
Her Achievement with The Hurt Locker does
not become thing she was expected. She claimed
that the moment she decided to make this movie is
her deplored comment on troop sending to Iraq and
Afghanistan that the war cannot be won and useless.
It is the single opportunity she has and a medium
that she understands. In her opinion, war’s dirty little
secret is that some men love it and she is trying to
find the reason behind it and its heroic relevance in
the context of 21st-century combat.
As we know, issue of US military army is very
popular in history of Hollywood industry. US govern-
ment even supports Hollywood to propagandize it as
movie franchise since Top Gun (1986) by providing
access to US military bases and arm forces. Around
2008 to 2009, US army is quite trendy for example
Transformer (2008-2009), The Hurt Locker (2008),
Brothers (2009), G.I Joe (2009), District 9 (2009),
and Avatar (2009). From previous list, the only Indie-
movie and made by female director is the Hurt Locker
(2008). The rest are Blockbuster movie franchise with
male directors by major Hollywood studios.
i people
Besides, Bigelow picked war movie about US troops
in Iraq that is likely avoided by many producer. A very few
directors are dare to bring it on because it is considered
too depressing and too hurt to be real in a movie for its
audience as if there is hope. In her Oscar’s speech, she said
that she hated violence, but it was the fact we were faced
together. Therefore, she called her movie a wake up call
and a cautionary that was always valuable. It is not surpris-
ing that she chose to distribute The Hurt Locker through a
special screening from one movie festival to another, have
a premier in Italia, and played on small number of theaters
in USA for short period of time.
About her recent famous status as female Best Director,
she admits that there is resistance in this industry and
among movie makers. One example is Julie Delpy’s confes-
sion. An actress turn to director said that female directors
are expected to make romantic drama about intimate rela-
tionship and as if they are incapable of making witty com-
edy, action movie, and political drama. In fact, Bigelow’s
works are mostly indie-action like Point Break (1991),
Strange Days (1995), K19-The Widow maker (2002).
Furthermore, “Hollywood is still an old boys’ club
and boys are bullies. ... The ultimate symbol of the film
industry is a man, Oscar, clutching a sword and standing
on a reel of film because he’s defending his turf,” said Tom
O’Neil, columnist for theenvelope.com. However, she said
that she could not change her gender, and I refuse to stop
making movies. She saw gender issue is irrelevant and
nothing can make women impossible to direct movies.
This time Oscar’s board of judges tends to giving
not only more opportunity for Independent movie, but
also confirms her persistency that the quality does not
count on gender. She served us new perspective on war
as something that can be possibly done by any gender
hence she was deserved an Oscar. Bigelow’s Oscar is such
a motivational present for International Women’s Day. It is
completely antithesis of famous old saying that women are
made to be less qualified than men.
21
i pen pal My 7 Shocks
in Indonesia
by Kenichi Shiba

Hello everyone
! My name is K
anese student enichi Shiba. I’
who is currentl m a Jap- bag ”. Then, he
ma National Co y studying in K put my bag on
llege of Techno agoshi- is this an airpo a cart. I though
by the 17th of logy. I’ll be gra rt service like A t “Wow,
March (this lett duated do?” NA(all Nippon
before he grad er had been w airways)
uated –red) an ritten
Japanese engin d start working
eering compan in a
constructs oil re y, which
fining Bu then, after
factories all ove carrying
r it he suddenly
the world, by A told me
pril. “Give me 20 do
llars”.
From the 19th I thought it wa
until s an
the 28th of this accident becau
Feb, se I
I went to Indon couldn’t imagi
esia ne such
with my brothe things would h
r to appen
observe the oil in Japan. It wa
factory s like
which my com a movie. I thou
pany ght,
constructs. My “Oh my God, A
brother mI
is 19 years old a movie actor
and he and
was on holiday is this a studio
. Actually ?”
this was the firs After all, I gave
t time to 3 dollars to him
go abroad for b ,
oth of us. and then we ra
We didn’t have away. n
sufficient
formation abo
ut Indonesia in- Unfortunately,
had met one p before. Luckily the misfortune
en pal from Ind ,I to find the Blu hadn’t finished
net before goin onesian via the e Bir . I had
is Febi, who is
g on this trip. T
his person
Inter- Bird) to go to th d (we only knew the words B
e hotel we rese lue
also a mem- rved in Jakarta
people followe . M any
ber of ISAFIS. d us and said
“I’m Blue Bird”.
But there were
no taximeters,
I had seven there were
only yellow cars
big shocks . No one of
them was Blue
during having Bird’s drivers.
In the end, one
this trip and man told me
where the true
I’ll talk about Blue Bird was
but he said “G
them now. ive me a tip,”
so I gave him a
Japanese
100yen coin. W
The first shock e arrived at
the hotel at ab
happened in out 12p.m. In
the hotel, we w
the airport. I a ere so nerv-
r- ous that we cr
rived at Soekar- ied.
no Hatta Inter-
The next day, I
national Airpo noticed
rt at 9 p.m (11p.m that my mobile
time zone). As in Japanese unable to use a phone was
I left the entra mall to send an broad. So I we
offered to carr nce counter, o SOS to my Indo nt to a shopping
y my bag by sa ne man mail in J.Co do nesian friend b
ying,“I will carr ughnut. y web-
y your

22

The second shock happened in the taxi while we
were going to the shopping mall. Through the taxi
window I watched many bikes, which I can’t imagine
to see in Japan, and such dangerous traffic. When
we stopped at the intersection, a young child came
and begged by the window. I felt very shocked at the
sight, because I have never seen such situation in Ja-
pan. It’s a duty to go to elementary school and junior
high school for all children. And almost all people
have a health insurance card. I noticed that my com-
mon sense didn’t translate into world common sense.
I sent a confirmation webmail in J.Co, and my Indo-
nesian friend Febi, and her mother, came meeting us
at the shopping mall. Now I think that if it wasn’t her,
maybe I couldn’t have experienced such an important
trip in my life. She and her mother accompanied us
to the house where they held the ISAFIS meeting.
The ISAFIS members gave us the opportunity to talk
together and discuss things.
In this meeting I got the third shock. It was the dif-
ference between
Japanese and In-
donesian students.
In my impression,
Indonesian col-
lege students had
higher motivation
for society and
more passion for
studying than the
Japanese. Espe-
cially, the passion
shown by mem-
bers of ISAFIS.
After the meet-
ing the members
accompanied us to go for a sightseeing and tasting
Indonesian food. My image of Indonesia was com-
pletely changed. The next day I left my brother in a
hotel near the University of Indonesia and I left for
the factory near Cirebon with my future co-worker.
In the car I got the forth shock. It was from looking
through the window and seeing large amount of sign-
boards of Japanese companies. TOYOTA and HONDA
and TOSHIBA and…..etc. I wonder whether Japanese
companies have good effect for Indonesia.
In study training, I had many important experiences.
i pen pal
And I got the fifth shock in the factory. It was because
there was no paper in the toilet. I won’t talk about
the details but it was very shocking. After I finished
training, I came back to the hotel where my brother
stayed.
My brother had been enjoying his day in Indonesia,
because people in the college accompanied him to
have a futsal match, going to restaurant, visiting the
zoo….etc. After I came back to the hotel, they accom-
panied us to a shopping mall and karaoke booth too.
We had this kind of conversation: “I don’t want to go
back to Japan,” ”Yes I agree, ”every day.
The 6th shock was on the last day of this trip. We had
to go to Jakarta in the morning to reach the airport.
We had to part from our Indonesian friends on the
previous day, so we felt blue on that day. But out of
the blue, they came to Jakarta to give us presents. I
was very-very surprised. At that moment, I remem-
bered all of the events happened on this trip and
I noticed that our trip
was full of kindness and
friendship, and I couldn’t
stop my tears. In this
trip I felt deep kindness
shown by the Indone-
sians. And I noticed that
Japanese should learn
about humanism from
the Indonesians. I want
to keep this friendship for
my whole life, and I want
to learn more from them.
Thank you so much Febi,
Febi’s mother, Evrin, Widi,
Badar, Boris, Sri, Griya,
Khadad, Ila, Ela, Ethenia, Zen and all of friends in
Indonesia.
Oh my god I forgot the 7th shock.
The 7th shock occured in Japan. After coming back
to Japan, I couldn’t forget Indonesia. Maybe I fell in
love with Indonesia. I love Indonesia.Thank you very
much.
23
i review Book Review
Title : Travelers Tale: Belok Kanan: Barcelona!
No. ISBN : 9797800946
Authors : Adhitya Mulya, Alaya Setya, Iman Hidajat, dan Ninit Yunita
Publisher : Gagas Media
Published : February, 2007

The story is about four people who have been friends since childhood. When
in school they began to fall in love, but unfortunately their love was never con-
veyed. Retno twice rejected Francis’s love while actually Farah put her love on
Francis. The problem became more complicated when obviously Jusuf was also
in love with Farah.

They grew up and worked in different countries. Problems arose when Francis sent invitations to his
three friends that he would marry a girl in Barcelona, Spain. Hearing the news, each of them went to
Barcelona from different places with a limited budget. Their trip to Barcelona brought its own mission.
It’s also to seek the answers of their questions about love.

Music Review
Seal – Kiss from a Rose
Product Details
Original Release Date: May 31, 1994
Label: Sire / Warner Brothers/ZTT
ASIN: B000002MMQ

This song was really hit in 1994, and it’s also became the OST of Batman Begin. Lots of people said
that “every time I hear this song I just can’t explain what I feel, it’s really makes me feel loved and bet-
ter! It’s like a growing addiction that I can’t deny (lyrics of the song)”.

Movie Review

Title: The Hurt Locker

Genre: Action - Adult
Producer: Nicholas Cartier, Kathryn Bigelow
Production house: Summit Entertainment
Cast: Jeremy Renner,Ralph Fiennes, Guy Pierce Anthony Mackie
Director: Kathryn Bigelow
Script writer: Mark Boal

In Iraq, Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) troops from America started

a dangerous game in the chaos of war in the heart of the city, where all
people are the enemy and every object is a deadly bom––b. William James
(Jeremy Renner) EOD team leader, striving not only to face a hail of bullets
and bombs but also face the psychological pressure of the people involved.

Badarudddin Rahman Motik, Tubagus Ari

24

ISAFIS is a Non-profit Student organiza-
tion, which consists of students from various
universities in Indonesia, particularly in
Jakarta such as University of Indonesia, Trisakti
University, Jayabaya University, etc. ISAFIS was
established in February 14, 1984.
At that time, the name of the association was
ISA of Indonesia (International Student Associa-
tion of Indonesia). The development
from time to time insisted ISA of Indonesia to
assert its existence. On March 26, 1986, Inter-
national Studies as particular subject
was added into ISA of Indonesia and therefore
adjusted its name into Indonesian Student As-
sociation for International Studies
(ISAFIS).
The mission of ISAFIS itself is to pro-
mote mutual understanding among nations
particularly between Indonesia and other
countries and developing International studies
among students and youth in Indonesia. The
objective is to enhance interest and
knowledge of Indonesian students and youth
in international studies. ISAFIS believed that
mutual understanding is one of the
corner stone to create better and more peace-
ful world. ISAFIS has received recognition for its
contribution in promoting mutual
understanding among nations from Javier Pe-
rez De Acquellar, Secretary General for United
Nations, who endowed ISAFIS with
“Peace Messenger Award” in 1987.
In conjunction with International sys-
tem, interdependency is getting unavoidable.
Today, Indonesian people is in high
demand of International Studies expert and
scientist to bring a more comprehensive and
wholly perception and vision about the
world and to anticipate what will happen na-
tionally, regionally, and globally.
about i
Hence,
as one of the
Indonesian component,
ISAFIS
attach itself to perform as “think-tank” group
in order to transmit values vertically in society in
consideration of changing condition
nowadays”
Due to that matter, increasing the capability
and competence of Indonesian Student to be more
accustomed on International
matters has becoming the sustaining priority in
ISAFIS. The attitude of ignorance of International
situation on very dynamic
is unacceptable. ISAFIS does fully look forward to be
a bridge between the world of campus and diplo-
macy through a dialogue
with prominent national subject such as universi-
ties, national government and private institution,
NGO, and also with International
communities such as embassies, International Insti-
tutions by attending many International events.
The existence of ISAFIS with various activi-
ties has endorsed ISAFIS to develop good relation-
ship with other parties. It is
always based on DIALOGUE WITHOUT A PRIORY
principle. It means that ISAFIS would build coopera-
tion with any institution disregarding
religion, race, ideology, ethnic group, etc.
25
about i
Indonesia
International
Week 2009
(Jakarta - Yogyakarta - Bali)

26
about i

27