Rebel outlines ‘invasion’ plan
By PHILIP GOLINGAI
thestar.com.my


Maintaining that it has valid reasons to ganyang Malaysia, Bendera’s leader reveals details of its planned invasion on Oct 8. Should we be worried?

JAKARTA’s forestry department was the most unlikely place to meet an Indonesian man who was six days away from waging a war against Malaysia.

But that was where my Indonesian journalist friend Samiaji Bintang brought me for a face-to-face interview with Adian Napitupulu, a 38-year-old Batak man spearheading a vigilante group that has vowed to ganyang (crush) Malaysia.

As we headed for our lunchtime appointment with Adian, the leader of Bendera (Benteng Demokrasi Rakyat or People’s Democratic Defence), I asked Samiaji how far the meeting place was from where Adian’s vigilante group conducted their “sweeping” of Malaysians.

“It is about 10km to 15km away,” said the 32-year-old journalist.


Hostile sweep: Bendera’s vigilantes, armed with sharpened bamboo sticks, blocking a road to search for Malaysians in Jakarta on Sept 8. – AFP

Far enough, I thought.

On Sept 8, a dozen Bendera vigilantes clad in red and white (the colour of the Indonesian flag) and armed with sharpened bamboo sticks set up roadblocks at Menteng in central Jakarta and checked ID card of passers-by to screen for Malaysians.

They failed to net any Malaysian.

On Friday afternoon, when most Indonesians were focused on the double earth quakes that devastated Sumatra, Samiaji and I entered one of the government buildings in the forestry department to locate Adian, who was in Regina Putera Cafe.

I did not know what to expect – a man carrying a sharpened bamboo stick, perhaps?

Outside the café at a Starbucks-like table sat three Indonesian men. I gave my business card to all of them, not knowing who was who. Adian turned out to be a skinny dark-skinned man wearing a white shirt and jeans.

“When was Bendera founded and what is its purpose?” were my first two questions as I wanted to gauge the hostility of the leader of the group that plans to invade Malaysia on Oct 8.


Adian: ‘If 26 million Malaysians keep silent about other Malaysians abusing Indonesians, then they are all jahat’

Speaking in Bahasa Indonesia, Adian, a member of PDI-P (Megawati Sukarnoputri’s Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle), said he founded Bendera two and a half months ago during the Indonesian presidential election as he found that political parties did not fight for the people’s rights.

“What has your fight for the people’s right got to do with Bendera’s ‘sweeping’ of Malaysians on Oct 8?” I asked.

“We were ‘sweeping’ Malaysians because (the Malaysian government) is ‘sweeping’ Indonesians in Malaysia,” said the man who was not involved in the Menteng ‘sweeping’ as he had other nationalistic duties on that day.

“We only managed to ‘sweep’ for 30 minutes because the police stopped us,” he added.

“What would you have done if you had managed to find a Malaysian that day?” I asked.

“Suruh pulang (tell them to go home),” he said as he smoked Djarum Super, a kretek (clove-flavoured) cigarette.

“Why did your men carry sharpened bamboo sticks?” I asked.

“It is the symbol of Indonesia’s independence struggle (from their Dutch coloniser),” he said.

When I asked if he had planned to use the bamboo stick on any Malaysian citizen that day, he replied: “We would only use it in Malaysia.”

He was referring to Bendera’s announcement – which was widely reported in the Indonesian and Malaysian media – that Oct 8 is their D-day to avenge all the wrongs committed by Malaysia against Indonesia.

Adian then gave me Bendera’s four-page war declaration with the bold headline “GANYANG MALAYSIA!”

The declaration stated that the Rentcong Aceh, panah Papua, Pedang Pattimura, mandau Kalimantan, keris Jawa, kujang Sunda, golok Betawi, badik Palembang and pedang Sisingamagaraja (Indonesian traditional weapons) had “bloodily” vowed to crush Malaysia’s arrogance.

It also listed several reportedly recalcitrant actions by Malaysians that have exhausted the patience of the people of Indonesia. The list included claiming Indonesian islands (Sipadan, Ligitan and Jemur); stealing Indonesian cultural heritage (food like rendang, songs like Rasa Sayang Sayange, Injit Injit Semut, Burung Kakak Tua, and Anak Kambing Saya, and the Pendet dance); and abusing Indonesian workers (it named 34 people including Nirmala Bonat who was abused with a hot iron, hot water and a metal cup by her employer in 2004).

“How’s your plan to attack Malaysia?” I asked.

Six weeks ago, according to Adian, 10 Bendera spies slipped into Malaysia to build a network among Indonesian workers. He claimed these Indonesian James Bonds managed to convince 1.45 million Indonesians – maids, construction and plantation workers – to burn their workplace when Bendera launches its confrontation on Malaysia.

When I pointed out that it would cost Bendera about RM145,000 just to text message the 1.45 million Indonesian workers (assuming the spies have all their phone numbers and an SMS costs 10 sen), Adian flashed his crooked teeth. “We’ve got our ways to communicate,” he stated.

“On paper, we have already won,” Adian said, again flashing his crooked teeth.

In World War II, according to him, the allies required two months to prepare for their attack on Germany. But Bendera does not need two months as it already has 1.45 million conspirators in Malaysia.

“That is why we have a different view from President SBY (pronounced as ‘ess-bay-yay’, the initials of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono). SBY said Indonesia cannot attack Malaysia as there are 1.8 million Indonesian workers in Malaysia. But for us the 1.8 million people are our strength to attack Malaysia.”

And then Adian started attacking Malaysia by showing the photographs (in the four-page declaration) of Indonesian maids being abused here.

“Look at this,” he said, pointing at the photograph of Nirmala.

“If Malaysia says that Malaysians and Indonesians are satu rumpun (the same stock), then why do they abuse their own rumpun?”

Pointing at a photograph of a man being caned, he asked angrily: “Why does your police, soldier and what do you call… Rela… abuse Indonesians?

“Do you know that once in three days an Indonesian is abused in Malaysia?”

On Oct 8, Adian claimed, about 300 Indonesians – trained in ilmu kebal (black magic) which makes them invincible to sharp objects and bullets – would invade Malaysia by attacking Malaysian towns in the island of Borneo (where Indonesia’s Kalimantan and Malaysia’s Sabah and Sarawak are located).

“From Pontianak (in Kalimantan) we will cross to Kuching (in Sarawak) and capture it. And then we will go to the next town. And from Nunukan (in Kalimantan) we will cross to the next town,” he said.

“What is that town?” I asked Adian, Bendera’s war strategist.

“I don’t know the name. But it is the town that we are going to capture,” he declared.

(Just for the record, the closest Malaysian town to Nunukan is Tawau in Sabah.)

In six to eight months, he confidentally predicted, Bendera would conquer Kuala Lumpur.

“Why don’t you just go straight for the jugular and attack Kuala Lumpur?” I asked.

“Uncle Mao’s military tactic was to first capture villages and then the city. We will capture your villages, your towns and eventually your capital,” he explained.

“What is your image of Malaysians?” I asked Adian who has never visited Malaysia.

“Jahat (evil),” he said.

“All 26 million Malaysians?” I asked.

“If 26 million Malaysians keep silent about other Malaysians abusing Indonesians, then they are all jahat,” he explained.

“How do you feel now that you are face to face with a Malaysian?” I asked.

“Mukanya baik. Mukanya lucu. Mukanya tak ada niat jahat (Your face looks nice. Your face looks humorous. Your face doesn’t show any evil intention),” he said, smiling while the handful of Indonesians who were intensely listening in to the interview burst out laughing.

“Are you Malaysian?” asked Poltak Sitanggang, 42, who owns a news website and had just finished interviewing Adian.

“Yes,” I said.

“Why don’t we ‘sweep’ him?” Poltak suggested to Adian.

“No, he is a funny guy,” Adian said.

I continued to smile.

And Adian continued his verbal tirade against on Malaysia.

“Malaysia has exported two terrorists (Noordin Mat Top and Dr Azahari Husin) to Indonesia. And yet the international community think that Indonesia is full of terrorists,” he said.

“Is it correct to say that the Indonesian government has not arrested you because it thinks your invasion plan is just omong omong kosong (empty talk)?” I ventured.

His face turning angry, he said the police had occupied Bendera’s headquarters (which was formerly used by Megawati’s PDI-P as their base).

He said he had received intimidating phone calls from people who have the power to intimidate. Others called to warn that attacking Malaysia was suicidal.

But he just switched off his phone when he received such calls, he said.

When told that an Indonesian Embassy official in Kuala Lumpur had said Bendera’s plan to invade Malaysia was “too ludicrous to respond to officially”, Adian said that was what the embassy thought.

“But they don’t know as it is not the Indonesian government which will invade Malaysia but Bendera.”

“So what are the chances of your group succeeding in its invasion plan?” I asked.

“In 1998, Suharto (the former Indonesian president) did not believe the students could make him step down. But it happened,” said Adian, one of the student leaders who had organised mass street protests against Suharto.

Poltak, a Batak, said he interviewed Adian because he was curious about the nationalistic views of the former student activist who had made a name for himself during the fall of Suharto.

“I’m not gila (crazy),” said Adian. “We have good reasons to attack Malaysia. Only crazy people attack (another country) without any reason.”

Put a stop to Malaysia-bashing
Wednesday October 7, 2009
thestar.com.my

I DIDN’T know whether to laugh or cry when I read the article “Rebel outlines ‘invasion’ plan” (The Sunday Star, Oct 4) which reports on the threat by Indonesian rebels to ganyang (crush) Malaysia on Oct 8. The self-styled vigilante group calling itself Bendera detailed its planned invasion starting with towns in Borneo where Indonesia’s Kalimantan and Malaysia’s Sabah and Sarawak are located.

Attacking Malaysia armed with sharpened bamboo sticks and bullet-proof black magic? It is ludicrous and pathetic at best. This is the same group which set roadblocks in central Jakarta to “sweep’’ out Malaysians and pelted stones at our embassy in the capital city. Many looked like they should be in school or harnessing the excess energy in rebuilding their earthquake-hit town in western Sumatra.

Here we go again, helping them in all the disasters that strike their country. Our government is the first to offer condolences and the first to send emergency aid. Care packages were sent by the plane loads. Our SMART teams, Mercy and volunteers rushed to help in search-and-rescue operations and help with the reconstruction process. Our press are spear-heading donation drives for cash and kind.

But are our good deeds being appreciated? The “hate Malaysia” campaign started with the Manohara case, the bad treatment of maid Nirmala Bonat and the claim on the islands of Sipadan, Ligitan and Jemur. Petty things like “stealing” Indonesia’s cultural heritage like the Pendet dance, songs like Rasa Sayang and Burung Kakak Tua and even our food like rendang became issues.

The Indonesians have even taken the Malaysia-bashing internationally with hundreds posting comments involving Malaysia on forums in leading American newspapers. A sample from the Chicago Tribune when our first death from swine flu was reported: “Thank God. Malaysia is a cursed country. They die of a disease from the pig.”

What hurts the most was the aftermath of the bombing of Nordin Mat Top.

A top military brass emphasised three times to the CNN that Nordin was a Malaysian, and since Malaysia is claiming his body “it’s good; we will finally have peace.” Had he forgotten where Nordin was trained? Do we shout out about the murders and robberies committed by the illegal Indonesians here?

Our Information Minister and the Malaysian media took pains to do damage control by planning a muhibbah of sorts between the people of both nations. It should be initiated by their side too.

But we didn’t hear a squeak from the Indonesian leaders. Does silence mean consent or blessing? If it were our people conducting such hateful propaganda, our government will surely reprimand us.

Just can’t figure why we are dubbed arrogant based on Nirmala Bonat’s unfortunate case.

Most us have maids who have gone on the haj, own land, houses and fish ponds after working with us. We are feeding the 1.8 million Indon workers here and helping the Indonesian economy.

IDZAN ISMAIL,

Petaling Jaya.

When I pointed out that it would cost Bendera about RM145,000 just to text message the 1.45 million Indonesian workers (assuming the spies have all their phone numbers and an SMS costs 10 sen), Adian flashed his crooked teeth. “We’ve got our ways to communicate,” he stated.

I think you misunderstood. Those vigilante groups or volunteer groups will not really take action and manifest their plans. It's mostly just amateurs who have nationalism and patriotism, and are outraged at Malaysia. However, they are relatively unorganized.

In terms of any real action, I doubt anything will happen.

But one thing is true, and that is the negative sentiments of quite many Indonesians toward Malaysia. I am not so sure when it started, but I have a feeling it started since Sipadan Ligitan case. That case is the starter and that made many Indonesians start to look at Malaysia differently. It planted the seed of mistrust, dissatisfaction, and rivalry.

From there onwards, other things just continue to pile up.

Some mystical way of communicating perhaps ?
Adian sounds like a total kook.
He can't add, he can't remember recent history and he does not even know the name of the border town he claims to be attacking.

What alarms me is that his followers set up roadblocks in Jakarta for about 30 minutes before police removed them.
Obviously Indonesian authorities have still not got a handle on maintaining civil order and security.

Well now it is supposed to be D-Day, so if any of my Kuching friends hear a ruckus on the streets, send me an SMS to let me know if these nutters are serious about their bizarre plans.

As a footnote, tonight the point was mooted that we should run the Indonesian and Malaysian film festivals back to back, because our Indonesian and Malaysian members believed that our nations shared common cultures and faced common problems, that were being explored in our respective Cinemas.

Don’t take Bendera’s threat to attack lightly
Wednesday 7th October, 2009
thestar.com.my

BENDERA, a radical group in Indonesia, has issued a warning that they will attack Malaysia this coming Thursday to supposedly avenge their misgivings with us over many petty issues like “stealing” their folk songs and dances, abusing their maids, exporting terrorists to them etc.

Make no mistake, they have clearly stated that their 1.5 million “soldiers” here would do the job; not them coming all the way from Indonesia with sticks and parangs.

Both our government and the Indonesian government have laughed it off and don’t find it fit to counter the plan.

But what if these guys manage to pull it off by getting their like-minded country men here to do the job?

They may create a civil war by attacking one particular race and hoping the attacked race would retaliate thinking these attackers are locals. They probably know how fragile our race relationship is.

They may also attack religious premises, homes and cars to create a climate of fear amongst our people. Our leaders should put in preventive measures in case these attacks happen, rather than just laugh it off. Don’t ever let them catch us with our pants down and later come out with excuses.

BE CONCERNED,

Kuala Lumpur.

sooooo, has the invasion started yet?

sooooo, has the invasion started yet?

‘Ganyang’ invasion postponed one day, to Oct 9
UPDATED

JAKARTA, Oct 8 – The Indonesian activist group Benteng Demokrasi Rakyat (Bendera) has delayed its 200-strong “invasion” of Malaysia to Thursday but announced it does not preclude having peaceful dialogue over thorny bilateral issues.

The group also said it already has 12 agents in Malaysia, nine of whom are in the peninsula, for the past three weeks to spread the “Ganyang Malaysia” message to the thousands of Indonesians working there.

The term “Ganyang” was first used in 1963 when then Indonesian President Sukarno opposed the merger of Malaya with Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore, resulting in the undeclared armed conflict known as Konfrantasi.

“We will send the first 200 tomorrow,” Bendera coordinator Mustar Bonaventura told The Malaysian Insider here.

His group also hinted they would first attack Sabah and Sarawak, where Malaysian defence forces have tightened security.

Bonaventura declined to give specifics of the “invasion”, which both Putrajaya and Jakarta have condemned. But he did say that one of their wooden boats (sampan) was damaged recently and took some time to repair. "The sampan is fine now," he said.

He only said they have some 1,500 people ready to invade Malaysia, some of whom had worked in the country before.

Bendera said its dispute with Malaysia is about overlapping claims of islands, oil-rich territories, culture and the ill treatment of Indonesian workers.

Bonaventura said the group would consider peaceful dialogue to resolve the problem but there has not been any overtures from the Malaysian side other than media reports in Malaysia poking fun at their attempts to defend their national sovereignty.

“Disappointment has led to anger,” he said emphatically, adding high-level dialogue between both countries did not include any attempt to speak to Bendera.

“If Prime Minister Najib Razak is willing to meet us to discuss this, that would be good,” he said

The vigilante group also criticised the Indonesian police for threatening to arrest Bendera activists who attack Malaysia.

“If the police consider our actions a threat, then it will weaken our spirit to struggle and defend our country’s sovereignty. So we apologise if it [the police’s statement] will not change our intentions,” Bonaventura said.

“I think would be better for the police and Ministry of Foreign Affairs to honestly disclose the true number of Indonesians who have died from torture or murder in Malaysia,” he added, saying the group has collected its own data to show ill treatment in Malaysia.

Responding to the statement, the Jakarta Globe quoted Indonesian Military spokesman Air Vice Marshall Sagom Tamboen as saying they would not deploy special forces to stop the Bendera activists from entering Malaysia.

He said that the current immigration officers and soldiers on duty on the country’s borders were enough to prevent any attack.

“Surely our officers at the borders already know what to do. The officers will take the best steps, which in this case, will be by asking them to go home,” Tamboen said.

So they're that scared of water, are they? No darn wonder they stink so much.

Are you worry CD? On lighter note there have bilateral culture exchange/ reunion between Dayak tribes during Gawai Dayak and Keaamatan in the past few years. So don't worry.

KUCHING, Sept 22 – The current tension between Malaysia and Indonesia following the pendet dance controversy, which triggered anti-Malaysia sentiments, has not dampened the cordial ties between the Dayaks of both countries, Sarawak Dayak National Union (SDNU) president Mengga Mikui said today.

He said the official exchange of documents pertaining to a memorandum of understanding (MOU), signed a few weeks ago with their Indonesian counterparts to promote bilateral collaboration, was scheduled to be held at a dinner hosted by Sarawak Social Development and Urbanisation Minister Datuk Seri William Mawan in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, today.

The MOU is expected to see more cooperation with the National Dayak Customary Council (MADN) of West Kalimantan in people-to-people relations and collaboration of programmes.

On Saturday, Mengga flagged off the inaugural Kuching-Pontianak Borneo Dayak Cultural Heritage Safari, comprising 14 teams and 56 participants, to explore the Dayak cultural heritage in the Indonesian province of West Kalimantan.

“So far the Indonesian media in West Kalimantan has been giving good press coverage on the safari,” he said.

Participants in the four-day 800km safari on four-wheel-drive vehicles included Dayak Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) president Tan Sri Leo Moggie, who is also Tenaga Nasional Berhad chairman. – Bernama

Those Bendera viglantes in just unorganize ultranationalist group... I disagree with their uncivil and unlawful "sweeping".
FYI police already disbanded the Bendera crowd in Menteng area and put the end of their act.
No one there now, however their banners are still there, because demonstrating and expressing protest is alright in democracy.

IMO There's no war in horizon, only intensifying rivalry among us...

makes me wonder if the Philippines also has saboteurs and stay-behinds in Sabah...

Seriously, EPIC FAIL !!!...guess they would start running away after seeing the first cop or immigration official, right ?

Ganyang Malaysia?
Zulhabri Supian
malaysianinsider.com

SEPT 4 -- “Ganyang”, “hancur”, “jatuh” dan yang sama erti dengannya merupakan satu perkataan yang mudah untuk diungkap. Lagi-lagi jika ditiup dengan api kemarahan, kebencian, prejudis dan yang lebih murni, kekecewaan.

Di Malaysia sendiri, saya sering mendengar dan kadang kala meneriak juga kata-kata seperti “Hancur BN”, “Jatuh Mahathir” dan yang sebaya maksudnya apabila keadaan dan suasana memerlukan saya berbuat demikian.

Saya sekarang berada di Jakarta dan Insya Allah akan meraikan hari lebaran (Hari Raya di Malaysia) 1430 Hijrah di tanah seberang. Sungguhpun ini bukanlah kali pertama saya ke Indonesia, saya pasti tidak terlepas untuk dipertanyakan tentang hal-hal yang membangkitkan rasa panas dan sensitif di sini terhadap Malaysia. Daripada isu pencerobohan armada Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysia di Ambalat (tidak pasti sama ada ia benar terjadi) yang sedang di dalam peringkat rundingan kedua-dua negara, kes Manohara, kes Malaysia sebagai pengeksport pengganas, isu maling (gelar untuk pencuri) lagu-lagu dan adat budaya dari Indonesia (yang terkini isu tarian pendet dari Bali), penindasan terhadap TKI dan beberapa lagi.

Oleh kerana akan berada di sini agak lama juga, saya membuat keputusan untuk menyewa kosan, istilah untuk bilik yang disewakan secara kontrak mengikut tempoh-tempoh tertentu. Agak mengejutkan juga apabila teman saya di sini menasihatkan untuk tidak mendedahkan identiti bahawa saya orang Malaysia kerana mungkin nanti dicurigai sebagai pengganas (terima kasih kepada Noordin Mat Top) dan yang sama erti negatif dengannya. Hal ini tidak dapat ditutup kerana pemilik kosan ini meminta saya memberi salinan KTP (Kartu Pengenalan Diri), maka akhirnya saya memberitahu pemilik yang saya panggil “Ibu” asal usul saya.

Syukur semuanya positif walaupun bertalu-talu juga disiasat dan setelah itu dipersoalkan tindakan-tindakan yang dilakukan Malaysia terhadap Indonesia, mujur saya tidak memberi apa-apa respon selain mengangguk dan tidak cuba untuk membuka diskusi, takut-takut nanti dihalau keluar. Jelas yang tergambar di sini adalah sikap sebahagian masyarakat Indonesia yang senang terpedaya dan termakan emosi nasionalisme sempit yang disensaikan oleh media-media di Indonesia, kebebasan media yang dirayakan setelah kejatuhan Suharto. Layari sahaja forum-forum anti-Malaysia dan juga anti-Indonesia untuk melihat betapa parahnya kebencian yang sedang merebak luas ini.

Namun di satu sisi yang lain, teman-teman saya di kalangan penulis, aktivis NGO, pemuzik, pencinta sukan pemotoran, pencinta kembara, pekerja seks, teman tapi mesra (TTM) dan bermacam-macam lagi mengalu-alukan kedatangan saya ke tanah mereka dengan hati yang gembira dan terbuka. Mereka ini sama seperti masyarakat Indonesia lain, sering menonton berita yang hampir setiap masa menghiasi kaca televisyen dan membaca surat-surat khabar harian yang dijual di mana-mana hatta di persimpangan jalan. Namun apa yang membezakan kelompok ini dengan yang lain adalah mereka inginkan maklumat yang seimbang dan berdasarkan fakta berbanding semangat dan emosional bersuntik nasionalisme melampau.

Kelompok ini cuba untuk memahami isu sebenar dengan melayari internet dan bertukar-tukar informasi dan pandangan terutama melalui Facebook, membaca buku di toko-toko yang bersepah di sini dan lebih ekstrem, membeli tiket murah AIr Asia atau Tiger Airways untuk turun sendiri melihat realiti. Namun ini semua tidaklah pula mengurangkan semangat cintakan negara mereka, bahkan semangat itu akan lebih baik dan mendalam kerana didasari dengan maklumat dan ilmu pengetahuan.

Saya sebelum tiba di Jakarta menghabiskan beberapa hari di Singapura untuk menghadiri festival muzik indie terbesar di sana, Baybeats 2009. Festival yang diperkenalkan pada tahun 2001 ini menjadi medan berhimpun pemuzik terutama asal Singapura, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand dan Filipina untuk berkongsi tempat dan pentas yang sama untuk menghibur dan saling mempelajari. Pergaulan saya bersama beberapa pemuzik mereka memperlihatkan bahawa apabila sikap ingin tahu dan komunikasi telah dicipta, segala prejudis dan kebencian yang dimomok-momok akan perlahan-lahan hilang.

makes me wonder if the Philippines also has saboteurs and stay-behinds in Sabah...

Seriously, EPIC FAIL !!!...guess they would start running away after seeing the first cop or immigration official, right ?

Musuh bersama

“Ganyang Malaysia” yang sering diteriak dengan emosi membuak itu tidak lain tidak bukan merupakan rentetan dari banyak perkara yang sering terjadi di antara dua negara yang mempunyai hubungan yang sangat dinamik. Munculnya gerakan Reformasi di Indonesia yang membawa kejatuhan Suharto dan diikuti di Malaysia setelah itu ekoran pemecatan DS Anwar Ibrahim sebagai Timbalan Perdana Menteri telah membawa hubungan kedua negara ini ke arah yang tidak menentu.

Perdana Menteri Malaysia ketika itu, Tun Dr. Mahathir secara bijak menggunakan imej-imej negatif demonstrasi dan keganasan yang terjadi di Indonesia untuk menakut-nakutkan rakyat Malaysia yang ingin membuat perubahan yang diseru oleh parti-parti pembangkang yang membentuk Barisan Alternatif. Walaupun kondisi ekonomi, politik dan sosial di Indonesia mempunyai banyak perbezaan, itu tidak pernah menghalang media-media arus perdana di Malaysia yang dikawal pemerintah untuk memperlecehkan gerakan ke arah demokrasi yang terjadi di sana.

Lebih sedekad berlalu, Indonesia secara relatif mempunyai demokrasi yang boleh dibanggakan dan ekonomi yang semakin berkembang walaupun romantisme era Suharto masih terdengar di sana-sini dan media-media di Malaysia juga sudah mulai berkurangan menulis mengenai Indonesia secara negatif. Lalu apa yang terjadi pula adalah sebaliknya apabila media-media di Indonesia menyerang secara bertubi-tubi dan emosional terhadap setiap kesilapan yang dilakukan Malaysia baik oleh warga atau negara. Memang diakui ada kesilapan yang dilakukan di pihak Malaysia walaupun ada yang boleh diperdebatkan terutama tentang adat dan budaya. Namun untuk meneriak “Ganyang Malaysia” dan mendendang kata-kata perang dengan mudah tanpa berfikir panjang memperlihatkan bagaimana warga mudah dibeli emosi dan semangat mereka untuk kepentingan yang dicurigai.

Banyak teman di Indonesia mengatakan situasi yang terjadi sekarang tidak akan bertambah buruk jikalau tidak dieksplotasi oleh pihak-pihak berkepentingan yang tidak berpuas hati dengan hal-hal politik domestik Indonesia. Tanpa niat menghina perasaan terluka sebahagian rakyat Indonesia yang benar-benar diinjak maruah mereka, saya bersetuju kerana hal sama juga yang terjadi di Malaysia apabila pihak-pihak tertentu terutama pemerintah sering mencari musuh bersama untuk rakyat dikhayalkan daripada hal sebenar, contoh Singapura.

Ada tercatat bahawa, “Ganyang Malaysia” yang dikepalai Sukarno dahulu gagal kerana didakwa ada unsur sabotaj dalaman dari Angkatan Darat mereka yang mendapat arahan daripada jeneral pada waktu itu, Soeharto. Jadi perang tidaklah semudah yang disangka terutama untuk rakyat biasa yang berkobar-kobar, kelak mati katak dan pemimpin sentiasa di ranjang menikmati malam.

Menerusi diskusi-diskusi di forum, kita akan berhadapan dengan kelompok cinta damai Malaysia-Indonesia yang kontradiksi apabila semangat kebencian diarahkan pula kepada orang Cina dan Yahudi terutamanya. Musuh bersama yang sering dicipta untuk kepentingan yang bermacam-macam, pastinya bukan cinta jenis ini yang diajar oleh Tuhan kepada umatnya.

Maka dengan itu, saya menyeru kepada semua rakyat terutama generasi muda Malaysia dan Indonesia untuk tidak tunduk kepada permainan media dan pemimpin-pemimpin politik yang tidak rasional. Beza kita dengan generasi terdahulu adalah kekayaan khazanah maklumat dan ilmu pengetahuan di depan mata, hanya tinggal kita mahu atau tidak.

No. Apparently they postponed it.



Eventhough I think they are mad, I strongly believe that the Malaysian govt should have a dialogue with these people - not only for the benefit of BENDERA's members, but also for other like-minded Indonesians and the general public.

So much for the black magic that renders them 'invincible to bullets and objects'...

It was raining and they called the invasion off.