Dear All, Sejak kemarin sudah kita lihat kibaran bendera Merah Putih diseluruh pelosok tanah air dalam rangka memperingati HUT Indonesia ke 65. Usia yang cukup matang dan mapan untuk mampu menjalankan amanat proklamasi itu sendiri.
Tetapi nyatanya, usia 65 tahun masih tertatih-tatih dalam menangani kemiskinan yang mendera bangsa, fisik dan mental! Disisi lain sekelompok orang yang hidup bermewah-mewah, tanpa malu-malu mendemonstrasikan betapa hebatnya mereka sebagai kelompok orang yang berpunya! Tanpa tahu, tanpa menyadari bahwa yang dia punya, ada sebagian hak orang lain didalamnya. Jiwa kejuangan masyarakat sudah luntur bukan karena uzur, tetapi karena kendur dan ketiadaan upaya negara untuk melestarikannya. Sejarah hanya menjadi hafalan yang akan diujikan di sekolah-sekolah, tanpa makna, sudah pasti erosi jati diri sebagai anak bangsa tak dapat terbendung. Lalu, siapa kita? Artikel dibawah ini saya unduh dari Globe Media Group, semoga bermanfaat. MERDEKA! Yuda Irlang A Tale of Freedom, Told in Pictures Report Dewi Pertiwi | August 15, 2010 A visitor looking at photographs taken during (JG the run-up to Indonesia’s declaration of independence 65 years ago. Photos/ Dewi Pertiwi) When President Sukarno and Vice President Mohammad Hatta proclaimed Indonesia’s independence 65 years ago, several local photo journalists were on hand to capture the historical event. It was through photos like these that Indonesians and the rest of the world were able to witness the birth of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia. A new exhibition, “Identitas Untuk Semua” (“Identity for All”), has more than 50 photographs on display depicting major historical events as well as the lives of regular Indonesians in the run-up to the country’s declaration of independence. The exhibition was put together by the Jakarta Arts Council to commemorate the 65th anniversary of Indonesian independence, which takes place on Tuesday, and will be on show at Galeri Cipta III in Taman Ismail Marzuki, Central Jakarta, through Aug. 23. The photos, taken by the likes of Alex and Frans Soemarto Mendur, didn’t just document the events of the day, but often acted themselves as a catalyst, pushing Indonesia further down the road to freedom one black-and-white print at a time. Alex and Frans, together with Justus Frans Umbas, Alex Mamusung and Oscar Ganda, started the Indonesian Press Photo Service (IPPHOS) on Oct. 2, 1946. The group consisted of a band of dedicated photojournalists who had all been documenting events throughout Indonesia leading up to the country’s declaration of independence. Members of the group often discreetly spread their photos to the public as a means of documenting the struggle and keeping people updated. Most of the images on display during the current exhibition were taken by IPPHOS members. For example, it was Frans who took the iconic picture of Sukarno reading the declaration of independence in a location now known as Tugu Proklamasi. Another picture, taken by Dutch photographer Cas Oorthuys in 1946, shows a large slogan painted on a building that reads: “Freedom is the glory of any nation. Indonesia for Indonesians!” Oorthuys was a foreign photojournalist who was also a member of IPPHOS. Another image captures Sukarno and Hatta delivering their independence manifesto on Aug. 17, 1945. Oorthuys published a book in July 1947 of the pictures he took during this period, titled “Een Staad in Wording” (“A Nascent State”). The book helped raise awareness around the world about a new country named Indonesia. Another photo shows Vice President Hatta standing and speaking in the Manggarai train station in Jakarta surrounded by hundreds of people. The distance between him and his audience is no more than half a meter. “This photo shows the closeness between a leader and the people,” said Oscar Motuloh, the exhibition’s curator. “It’s a wonderful image! It shows how the vice president and the people were equals.” There is also a picture of Sukarno delivering a speech in front of the Presidential Palace in Jakarta. Looking charismatic in his military apparel, the crowd is pressing in around the president. Again, this close proximity between a leader and the people makes the image both startling and, somehow, full of hope. Oscar said these photographs provided a reminder of Indonesian’s identity. “The declaration of independence in 1945 was the birth of our identity as Indonesians,” he said. “It’s an event that didn’t come cheap. It was won through centuries of struggle by our late national heroes. Lately, people seem to have forgotten this, so these photos should serve as a reminder that we must remember to tell the story over and over again to our children and their children.” Indonesia is a complex country consisting of more than 17,000 islands and hundreds of different ethnic groups. According to Oscar, this pluralism is not a weakness but a strength. It is, he said, one of the things that helped the founding fathers win our freedom. “So it’s such a shame that now we often see in the news people being hostile over different opinions or religions,” he said, adding that he hoped this exhibition would help remind all Indonesians of the principle of unity in diversity. Indra Ameng, 35, an artist from Ruang Rupa Gallery, thinks the photographers should receive credit for having played such significant roles in shaping Indonesia’s history. “These pictures speak louder than any text could. The photographers definitely recognized how important these photos could be to Indonesia’s political situation at the time,” he said. “They need to be included in textbooks.” Unfortunately, a national archive system is still in the process of being created and the government is notoriously weak when it comes to preserving historical documents. Oscar said these photos are more than valuable documents, they are living history, just as important as the famous recording of Sukarno declaring independence. “Most people have heard that recording at least once. It’s a sound that can send chills up the spines of all Indonesians. Looking at these photos has the same effect,” he said. “These photos need to be preserved at all cost.” Identitas Untuk Semua’ (‘Identity for All’) Until Aug. 23 Galeri Cipta III, Taman Ismail Marzuki, Jl. Cikini Raya No. 73, Central Jakarta‘ Copyright ©2010 Jakarta Globe, All Rights Reserved About Us | Privacy Policy | Sitemap The Aryaduta Suites Tower A, 2nd Floor |Jl. Garnisun Dalam No. 8 |Karet Semanggi |Jakarta 12930 |Indonesia Phone:+62 21 2553 5053 | Fax: +62 21 2553 5063 | Globe Media Group Related articles Police to Reroute Independence Day Traffic Past Palace 11:34pm Aug 13, 2010 My Jakarta: Yono, Fireworks Vendor 5:49pm Feb 23, 2010 Yudhoyono Speech Depicts A Nation Advancing Toward 2025 11:03am Aug 14, 2009 More Protection Needed For Human Rights Defenders: Komnas HAM 1:07pm Aug 17, 2009 US President Obama Congratulates Indonesia on Independence Day 12:54pm Aug 17, 2009 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
