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‘The Jakarta Post’ looks at past, present and future at UWRF 2023
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(JP/Okky Ardya)
F
rom Oct. 18 to 22, thousands of book lovers gathered on the “Island of the Gods” to converse, debate and celebrate the myriad universes that can be discovered with every turn of the page.
Marking its 20th anniversary, this year’s Ubud Writers and Readers Festival (UWRF) brought together more than 200 writers, poets, novelists and thought leaders for a four-day literary event featuring discussions, exhibitions, book launches and master classes.
As a media that is dedicated to spreading Indonesian perspectives both near and far, The Jakarta Post joined the UWRF 2023 to highlight some of the most pressing issues in the world’s fourth most populous nation and third largest democracy.
Putting a spotlight on the choices Indonesians make at the ballots next year as determining the country’s direction and ultimately its fate, the Post took part in a session titled “The 2024 Presidential Election: Indonesia’s Turning Point?”
As with all elections, next year’s presidential election will be a pivotal moment when citizens can exercise their ultimate right to vote for their leader. Many questions remain, however, particularly during an era when it seems democracy is at risk across the world.
Three candidate pairs have entered the race: Ganjar Pranowo and Mahfud MD, Anies Baswedan and Muhaimin Iskandar, and Prabowo Subianto and Gibran Rakabuming, the eldest son of incumbent Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.
Taufiq Rachman, editor in chief of The Jakarta Post, told of how the English-language newspaper’s cofounder Jusuf Wanandi would constantly tell the newsroom that every election was crucial.
“But I think that if we're going to pick which election will be the most crucial, I believe it will be the 2024 election,” said Taufiq.
The Post’s credentials and its bold and independent brand of journalism was highlighted later at “The Jakarta Post: Four Decades of Telling Indonesia’s Story to the World”.
During that session, Jusuf recalled a conversation in 1982 he had with then-information minister Ali Murtopo. Apparently, Ali complained that even though Indonesia was the largest ASEAN country, it had no news publications in English.
“I said, ‘Well, you are just starting [out] as a minister, why don’t you start with a good thing and allow us to publish an English newspaper?’” Jusuf recounted.
“He said ‘fine, why don't you do it?’”
This marked the start of the Post and its history in Indonesia’s media landscape.
In addition to reflecting on the nation’s future and its own history, the Post’s sessions at the UWRF 2023 included “Dear You”, reprising a session of the same name from the festival’s 2018 edition.
During that evening session, the Post’s president and chief revenue officer Maggie Tiojakin led a relaxed and reflective letter-writing exercise, offering participants the freedom to express themselves to an anonymous addressee.
Participants were encouraged to write freely without self-judgment, focusing on their feelings, memories and reactions to cues. At the end of the exercise, they were then given a chance to take the mic and share their work.
