I moved to Indonesia from Canada in 1985. I lived in Ungaran, Central Java, and worked in Semarang, then in Yogyakarta, and finally for a few months in Jakarta.
In 1990, after having lived in Java for five years, I moved to Thailand, where I still live today.
Recently I returned to Java for a few weeks holiday, visiting old friends and places. Although I have visited Indonesia other times from 1990, this visit was the 20th anniversary of my departure.
My main observation was that people’s lives are economically better now than they were in 1985-1990. Sure life is still a struggle for many, but it seems much less desperate. The number of beggars is less.
Jakarta and other cities on Java are a lot cleaner. Less garbage is blowing around. Sure, there is still work to be done, but there has been much improvement.
People have said that now is less secure than it was under the Soeharto dictatorship. However, I did not witness any problem while I was there, for almost four weeks, (and I most certainly do not stay in posh hotels nor eat in posh restaurants).
Yet one nasty aspect of life in Indonesia is collusion, corruption nepotism (KKN) practices! I was visiting an old friend in Yogyakarta, a former amateur boxer. This man used to be an Indonesian champion in his weight class. During his time, he also competed in about eight different foreign countries on the Indonesian national boxing team. So, he now has much knowledge, experience and is highly skilled.
In addition to knowing him well, I can say it is hard to find someone who is as cheery, upbeat, and as encouraging to the lesser skilled and the younger set.
I said to the man that when the annual King Cup would be organized in Bangkok, next year, he would accompany the Indonesian team there as a coach or trainer.
I would be happy to go to Bangkok and shepherd him and his charges around to see the sites and for leisure during their free time. (I have studied spoken and written Thai intensively for much of the last 20 years).
However, he informed me that he would not be chosen by the national organization because he is not from the headquarters and they choose their own, not people from provincial backwaters.
But, I protested, surely his experience abroad, his success,
his knowledge, his ability must be inspiring. It seems all that means nothing when compared to doing favors for family, friends and cronies.
And this was confirmed for me by other old friends who are now boxing coaches and referees in Java.
C’mon, Indonesia! What is the main purpose of such trip and such competition? Is it to win medals as Indonesians and help inspire national pride? Is it to compete abroad and bring back knowledge and experience that can be shared with others back home?
Is it to stimulate others into taking up the toughest sport in the world and thereby stay healthy, develop one self-worth and learn self-defense skills?
Or it is to give friends and cronies a chance to travel abroad at the public’s expense?
Matthew (Peter) Burgess
Prachuab Khirikhan, Thailand
