"With the mainstream media always saying that Indonesia is one of the largest democracy in the world, I think they would not understand that although currently we have 38 parties who will fight in the upcoming election this year in April,
these parties have all similar agendas.
We still can not have communist party, for example, even a party that loudly says that they have socialist agenda!
__________
So what is so democratic about that?"
Rossie Indira-Vltchek"Indonesia is still a very poor country.
Don't be fooled by the skyscrapers, marble lobbies of hotels and malls and offices, the majority of the people still live in poverty.
__________
If I am not mistaken, half the population lives less than $2 a day.
And that would be considered extreme
poverty by UN standards, wouldn't it?"
Don't be fooled by the skyscrapers, marble lobbies of hotels and malls and offices, the majority of the people still live in poverty.
__________
If I am not mistaken, half the population lives less than $2 a day.
And that would be considered extreme
poverty by UN standards, wouldn't it?"
Exile: Pramoedya Ananta Toer Indonesia's most celebrated novelist
Andre Vltchek & Rossie Indira
Published by Haymarket Books
2006, 166pp, ISBN 191859280,
Published by Haymarket Books
2006, 166pp, ISBN 191859280,
“I have so much to say.... I have no access to the media and no organization to support me. I am burning inside.” Thus begins this extraordinary conversation with Indonesia’s literary giant, Pramoedya Ananta Toer.
__________
This is the first ever book-length interview with Pramoedya, a novelist and writer widely regarded as the artist who gave expression to a revolutionary vision of Indonesian cultural identity.
__________
Exiled for ten years on the Buru Island internment camp, and now too weak to write any longer, here is a writer who is still “burning inside,” carrying within him an undying passion for truth, justice, and human dignity.
__________
This is the first ever book-length interview with Pramoedya, a novelist and writer widely regarded as the artist who gave expression to a revolutionary vision of Indonesian cultural identity.
__________
Exiled for ten years on the Buru Island internment camp, and now too weak to write any longer, here is a writer who is still “burning inside,” carrying within him an undying passion for truth, justice, and human dignity.
THE New American
Dream Interview
Dream Interview
ROSSIE INDIRA VLTCHEK, 46, lives in Jakarta, Indonesia.
She is a writer and documentary filmmaker.
"Born and raised in Indonesia, she studied both architecture and business administration. Excellent Production Manager who communicates well with people and shares a passion for her country.
She is a co-author of 'EXILE—Conversation with Pramoedya Ananta Toer', — in Indonesian language — 'Saya Terbakar Amarah Sendirian—Pramoedya Ananta Toer dalam perbincangan dengan Andre Vltchek & Rossie Indira.'
She also writes for publications in Indonesia.
She presently lives in Indonesia.
She is married to the writer Andre Vltchek.
More about Rossie Indira Vltchek:
http://www.millache.org/
Interview regarding Terlena: Breaking of a Nation
NAD: Rossie, hello, thank you for taking the time for this.
Can you describe where you live? What is it like?
What is your day job, besides your writing and filmmaking.
ROSSIE INDIRA VLTCHEK:
I presently live in Jakarta, the capital city of Indonesia.
Although many western publications write that Jakarta is a cosmopolitan city, I have to say that it is definitely not.
Jakarta is home to approximately 12 millions people during the day and 10 millions people during the night.
The greater area of Jakarta maybe has 18 millions people. But we don't have mass public transportation here. So you can imagine the city is constantly in traffic nightmares.
We also don't have good drainage systems and so in rainy season like now, we often found the city having floods.
I am fortunate that our house here is free from floods but I still have to go through flooded area sometimes when I need to go somewhere in the city.
I used to be a business manager for several telecommunications company and also for some time I was a director for a manufacturing company.
But now I am preparing my own Non-governmental organization dealing with urban issues.
NAD: What do Americans just not understand about your country?
What would you like to be able to scream loud enough from your front door to tell us?
ROSSIE INDIRA VLTCHEK:
Hmmm, with the mainstream media always saying that Indonesia is one of the largest democracy in the world, I think they would not understand that although currently we have 38 parties who will fight in the upcoming election this year in April, these parties have all similar agendas.
We still can not have communist party, for example, even a party that loudly says that they have socialist agenda! So what is so democratic about that?
Other thing is about Indonesia as a Muslim country. Well, the constitution does not say so. We are not based on a particular religion. But as the Muslim population is approx. 89% of 250 million people, then this is probably the biggest Muslim population in the world. Although the constitution does not favor Muslim, it is increasingly asserting power and its Muslim agendas in the country.
We can see the growing numbers of sharia bylaws in the provinces.
And Indonesia is still a very poor country.
Don't be fooled by the skyscrapers, marble lobbies of hotels and malls and offices, the majority of the people still live in poverty.
If I am not mistaken, half the population lives less than $2 a day. And that would be considered extreme poverty by UN standards, wouldn't it?
NAD: Would you like to choose one of these to answer, elaborate on?
I don't ask this to make fun. I ask because I really seek the answers.
— Are UFOs real?
— Did we land on the moon in 1968?
— Did Bush knock down the towers?
— Was Paul Wellstone's death an accident?
— The Oklahoma City bombing? Wasn't that just another U.S. government terrorist exercise? Or not.
— Waco. We burned kids, right? You can see flames shooting out of the tanks. Or not.
— Is Bigfoot real?
— Is there a God?
or ... how about ... who killed Benazir Bhutto?
... What makes you think that?
ROSSIE INDIRA VLTCHEK:
I think UFOs are real.
It is just us, humans here that lacks knowledge to spot on them and know more about them.
What makes me think that?
Hmmm, there are so many planets beside the Earth and logically there must be lives over there too.
Land on the moon in 1968? I think so.
Bush? Hmmm, I don't think he does, but maybe his cronies??
I don't know who Paul Wellstone ... Is he famous?
NAD: What did you do before? Your bio, in five lines. Six.
ROSSIE INDIRA VLTCHEK:
Born, raised and live in Indonesia.
Studied architecture and business administration.
Worked as business managers for almost 20 years and now back to architecture and social issues.
Co-wrote books with Andre Vltchek and production manager of MillaChe Productions that made documentary films.
Now preparing NGO dealing with urban issues.
"I do have hopes in Obama.
Why? Well, the US is still one of most powerful nations in this world and I hope that he will be able to bring peace and prosperity to all corners of the world.
__________
Many people in Indonesia thinks that he will have better policies for Indonesia as he lived here when he was a child, but I don't believe in this sentimentality."
Why? Well, the US is still one of most powerful nations in this world and I hope that he will be able to bring peace and prosperity to all corners of the world.
__________
Many people in Indonesia thinks that he will have better policies for Indonesia as he lived here when he was a child, but I don't believe in this sentimentality."
NAD: Do you have hope in Obama?
Why?
Why not?
... do you even care about Obama?
ROSSIE INDIRA VLTCHEK:
I do have hopes in Obama.
Why? Well, the US is still one of most powerful nations in this world and I hope that he will be able to bring peace and prosperity to all corners of the world.
Many people in Indonesia thinks that he will have better policies for Indonesia as he lived here when he was a child, but I don't believe in this sentimentality.
I think his policies will be based on what he thinks is best for American people (or not?).
Indonesia has a long history with the US and it was not always in favorable to the majority of Indonesian people.
Look at what happened in 1965-1966, in East Timor, in Papua (with mining concessions), with oil concessions from Suharto's eras to the present.
I think these issues will determine his policies towards Indonesia.
He is not immune to corporations' influences, I guess.
NAD: Does your favorite coffee cup have words on it? What are they?
What did you absolutely have to get done by noon today?
How about by Christmas 2009?
ROSSIE INDIRA VLTCHEK:
Yes! Andre bought it in Japan because it is so hilarious.
It says: HICUMA IS THE MOST FIERCE WILD ANIMAL IN HOKKAIDO. [Then it has a photo of a screaming bear).
And underneath: It usually inhabits in the mountain but sometimes goes down to country side for food before and after hibernation.
When you make a sound such as a bell, it runs away.
Unless you don't run into it, it will do no harm to you. It has less habitat and is hunted indiscriminately by human being.
It is getting to decrease rapidly.
We have to protect this animal from such of unfavorable environment.
NAD: What else would you like to add? What else should I have asked?
ROSSIE INDIRA VLTCHEK:
Nothing Mike!
____________
About
THE New American Dream Feature Interviews
If you search the archives below, you will find, in a sort of order [last to first], interviews with:
Nora Barrows-Friedman, Pacifica reporter in Gaza
Delaney Bruce, Friends of Peltier
Keith McHenry, co-founder of Food Not Bombs
Michael Sprong, South Dakota Catholic Worker
Brian Terrell, Des Moines Catholic Worker
Bob Graf, One of the Milwaukee 14
Loren Coleman, Bigfoot researcher
Monty Borror, Sci-Fi artist from Virginia
David Ray, Great American Poet
Jack Blood, radio show host, in Austin, Texas
Danny Schechter, A Real Reporter
Bob Kincaid, host, Head-On Radio Show
Tony Packes, Animal Farm Radio Host, Keeping An Eye on Big Brother
Richard Flamer, Working With the Poor in Chiapas
David Ray Griffin, 9/11 Truth activist author
Barry Crimmins, U.S. comedian, author, social activist
Bret Hayworth, political reporter for the Sioux City [IA] Journal
Lisa Casey, publisher of website All Hat No Cattle
Joe & Elaine Mayer, activist couple in Rochester, Minnesota
Fr. Darrell Rupiper, U.S. priest revolutionary
Whitney Trettien, MIT student, Green Party activist
Meria Heller, radio show host
Phil Hey, professor, poet
John Crawford, book publisher
Steve Moon, Iowa Bigfoot researcher
Carol Brouillet, California social activist, 9/11 Truth
Russell Brutsche, Santa Cruz artist
Kevin Barrett, professor, radio show host, 9/11 Truth activist
A'Jamal Rashad Byndon, social activist in Omaha
Chris Rooney, Vancouver, Canada Catholic Worker, website publisher
Marc Estrin, political novelist, from the left
Peter Dale Scott, poet, professor, author, activist
Anthony Rayson, anarchist zine publisher, works with prisoners
Alice Cherbonnier, editor of The Baltimore Chronicle, an independent newspaper
