Articles
Rizqon Bilhuda: The film, set in Menteng, Central Jakarta, where Obama lived between 1967 and 1971 with his mother and Indonesian stepfather, focuses on the story of a young African-American child’s struggle for acceptance in a neighborhood where he is very different from local children. Producers say the story is about 60 percent fact and 40 percent fiction.
Wimar Witoelar: for those not familiar to the Obama Story, the film offers a decent impression of his trials and tribulations and ultimate victory. The alienation of his childhood did not stop when Obama left Indonesia for the States. Living with a multi-ethnic, multicultural background, he overcame the challenges and ultimately turned pluralism from a challenge into his major strength.
Read ›
Kelihatannya penentu kebijaksanaan adalah kartel politik yang menjadi wadah kerjasama antara modal besar dengan peraih suara terbesar di Pilpres. Mungkin Orang Biasa kurang senang dengan lolosnya penghindar pajak, luapan lumpur Lapindo dan kesewenangan kelompok terkaya, dan kurang fokusnya pemerintah pada persoalan rakyat. Maka pertanyaan harus dialamatkan pada Orang Biasa sendiri, bukan pada Aburizal Bakrie atau SBY, karena yang bisa mengubah keadaan hanyalah Orang Biasa. Para elite sudah puas dengan keadaan sekarang, seperti draw pada pertandingan Piala Dunia.
Read ›
Even as our electoral system matures, Indonesia politicians cast doubt on the efficacy of our democracy. Obama’s boyhood country has not really grown up. Ten years ago Gus Dur joked that the DPR was like a kindergarten. It is still a kindergarten, grown more raucous because the teacher does not seem to be there. With Sri Mulyani gone, the Golkar Party is continuing their quest for an “aspiration fund” - a proposal to allocate Rp 8.4 Trillion (US.6 million) to legislators to develop their election areas
Read ›
There have been disappointments on both sides, painful reality checks. The spring of democracy in Indonesia is giving way to a long hot summer of political acrimony. Even as our electoral system gains amazing strength and draws favourable response from across the world, the results are so mediocre as to seem counterproductive. Many in Indonesia are starting to doubt the efficacy of the democratic system. Some are beginning to see that through the years as Barack Obama grew up, his boyhood country has not really grown up.
Read ›
Penelurusan kasus Bank Century oleh Golkar dan Pansus jelas bukan mengenai kebijaksanaan perbankan, sebab justru bailout dan penanganan DepKeu merupakan sukses besar. Kasus ini dihembuskan setalah para pihak yang merasa kuat, kalah pemilihan presiden. Kemudian usahawan politik yang terlempar keluar gelanggang gagal memperoleh janji perlindungan dari Kabinet Bersatu jilid dua. Setelah Golkar dan Pansus bergulat tiga bulan dengan sekuat tenaga, hasilnya sangat minim. Tidak ditemukan kecurangan pada SMI-Boediono. Tetap DPR memutuskan angka negatif untuk pemerintah, seperti guru memberikan angka 4 tapi tidak menunjukkan kesalahan pengerjaan ujian. Golkar mengaku kalah dan mundur, takut kehilangan semuanya. Tapi pendompleng partai lain tidak suka dihentikan, sebab terlanjur senang merasa menjadi idola masyarakat. Kenyataannya, mereka hanya dibesarkan citra oleh stasion televise milik usahawan politik.
Read ›
[The Jakarta Globe] However, Wimar’s openness and sense of fairness sometimes backfire. On Twitter, Wimar criticized a TV station for including a member of conservative Islamic organization Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia in a discussion about the planned visit by US President Barack Obama. “I criticized and regretted that they invited people who just agitate the public,” Wimar says. “I too have termites in my house, but I don’t serve them on a plate for my guests.” The day after that, he says, the TV station canceled his appearance on a show to comment on Obama’s then-planned visit.
Read ›
The more America came closer to change, the deeper the divisions showed. But in the end President Barrack Obama can claim the maturity and effectiveness that been his strong promise. He demonstrated the steeliness to risk political survival in transforming his convictions into the law of the land. In that respect, we stand to learn a very important lesson. When you are sure of your convictions, let the hundreds of legislators follow a strong leader. Do not worry about postponing your important state visit and personal reunion with Indonesia. When you have part of our nation in you, we will make sure it stays there as long as you can lead your countrymen as we bring our people to a formidable alliance of change.
Read ›
In case you haven't heard, we have launched tvTWO, with episodes listed in the lect margin of this Perspektif Online home page. Some in English, most in Indonesian. Check it out!!
Read ›
Indonesia dan Amerika memiliki sebuah kesamaan yang dapat meghubungkan dua negara ini kedepan. Yaitu Indonesia dan Amerika sama –sama baru keluar dari terowongan panjang dan gelap yang menenggelamkan dua negara ini. Namun keduanya kini bisa menatap masa depan yang lebih cerah karena harapan terhadap demokrasi tetap terbuka lebar ketika kepemimpinan ada di tangan orang yang tidak ingin merusak.
Read ›
Wimar Witoelar says President Obama is quite popular in Indonesia because most people believe the president understands Indonesian culture and values. "We have a predominately Muslim population and we like to think of ourselves as going on the pluralistic road and he readily accepts and understands that. We don't have to explain that we are Muslims yet not terrorists,"
Read ›
Sebab media banyak dimiliki orang yang berkepentingan dengan politik dan dua televisi berita merupakan milik pihak yang tidak suka dengan pemerintahan Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY),maka tidak bisa diharapkan kebenaran akan keluar dari kedua televisi itu. ”Koran” besar juga entah mengapa mengambil sikap berseberangan dengan Presiden. Hal yang jarang terjadi sejak ”koran” itu menyerang Presiden Habibie dengan argumen yang lebih bisa dimengerti.
Read ›
Real danger presents itself now as we face real issues that required a lot of homework, homework that has been left unattended as the petty parliamentarians obstruct the running of government and divert public attention. We have the president of the most important nation on earth coming to town in March. Members of the special committee Pansus of the parliament ignore the need for consolidation to maximize the benefits of Barack Obama’s visit, which has been presented in good faith as a hometown visit by the Menteng kid who used to play in neighborhood streets. This is understandable as many parliamentarians have an archaic culture of inward looking, regarding foreign countries as merely place to visit. At the beginning of President Yudhoyono’s second term we had looked forward to the US president state visit as one of the steps to take Indonesia to the world stage. Now we are lucky if we can take ourselves out of the hostage situation by the money politics refueled by the Bakrie money.
Read ›-
Kecurigaan publik akan adanya politisasi kasus Century kian besar, setelah belakangan bermunculan pula fakta-fakta yang menunjukkan bahwa suara para politisi Senayan ternyata tak konsisten. Kini mereka lantang mengkritik alasan pemerintah menyelamatkan Century yang dinilainya terlalu mengada-ada. Kekhawatiran pemerintah ak
Read › 
Menurut Robert Gibbs, jurubicara Presiden Barack Obama, Indonesia menjadi penting karena kini merupakan ngara demokrasi ketiga terbesar di dunia. Dimana demokrasi menjadi suatu budaya baru yang berkembang di dalam masyarakat mayoritas muslim yang juga menjunjung pluralisme dan inlusivitas. “Ini sebuah prestasi tersendiri, karena baru kali ini kita bisa berdiri sama tegak dengan Amerika”, ujar Wimar. Tapi kesempatan untuk melakukan partnership dan transfer teknologi ini bisa terganggu jika sebagian masyarakat yang tidak mengerti persoalan dan elit politik yang punya kepentingan jangka pendek terus merongrong orang–orang bersih di pemerintah.
Read ›
Surya Paloh is looking for his cues. One of the early initiatives Paloh took was defining his stance on the Century case. Observing the surge in support for Sri Mulyani, he is throwing his weight behind her. The corollary is to attack Bakrie’s tax liabilities, which he has done in a television special on the case that could well amount to more than Rp 10 Trillion. Renewed publicity on the Lapindo disaster will come . If all this happens, Bakrie will see his chances sink into the mud. [includes Radio Australia excerpt]
Read ›
Witoelar says Mr. Wahid was forced out of office because he was unwilling to compromise his political integrity and presidential authority. "I was a witness into several negotiations in which the Golkar party and others offered a compromise solution but he never thought of accepting them," said Witoelar. "He said it is too important, his opportunity to uphold moral principles in politics wa
Read ›
internet kembali jadi forum pertarungan untuk pembebasan sandera politik yang lebih penting, yaitu Sri Mulyani – Boediono. Kalau Bibit-Chandra menjadi sasaran markus dan oknum lembaga penegak hukum, Sri Mulyani-Boediono diserang koruptor dan penghindar pajak menggunakan oknum anggota DPR. Nama-nama korban yang disebut sebetulnya bukan hal yang utama dalam drama politik yang berlangsung. Dalam ketiga kasus Prita Mulyasari, Bibit – Chandra, Sri Mulyani – Boediono, yang dipertaruhkan adalah Negara, masyarakat adil yang diganggu oleh elemen antisocial.
Read ›
Although Indonesia won't be on Obama's itinerary this time, his popularity runs high in the world's most populous Muslim country, where he is embraced almost as a native son because he lived and went to school in the capital Jakarta as a child. "People like him because he seems to be one of us," said political commentator Wimar Witoelar. Indonesians are eagerly awaiting a chance to celebrate Obama's links to their country. The White House says he has agreed to visit there next year.
Read ›
Ke depan posisi Indonesia di pentas internasional akan lebih diperhitungkan. Indonesia mulai kembali jadi pemimpin di ASEAN , masuk dalam G.20, dan yang paling utama adalah Indonesia mengambil peran sentral dalam upaya mengatasi dampak perubahan iklim. Sejauh ini SBY mulai dikenal dunia sebagai salah satu pemimpin reformis yang punya perhatian pada nasib perbaikan iklim dan lingkungan disamping Presiden AS Barack Obama.
Read ›
With this President, with this parliament and most importantly with this democracy, we will make our phase jump from a small-minded country to one of great aspirations. We will take our place in the assembly of great nations.
Read ›
