The National Australia Indonesia Language Awards (NAILA) celebrated its inaugural year with an Awards Ceremony and Networking Weekend in Melbourne on 20 – 21 November. Allens hosted the Awards Ceremony on Friday 20 November, with Shadow Treasurer Chris Bowen showing of his Bahasa Indonesia in his welcoming remarks, and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and Australian Ambassador to Indonesia Paul Grigson sending their congratulations to all participants via video message.

Photo: Kuntoro Windu

NAILA, an AIYA initiative, aims to reward and foster the development of Indonesian language learning in Australia at all levels through a national speech competition. In its inaugural year, NAILA received over seventy entries across all awards categories – Primary, Junior, Middle School, Senior, Tertiary, Executive and Wild Card – from all over Australia. Entries ranged from “Introduce yourself to a new Indonesian friend” (Primary), to discussions on Indonesian culture and the benefits of learning Indonesian language (Senior), to original songs and an introduction to Balinese dance (Wild Card). Videos of the inaugural awardees will be uploaded to the NAILA website soon.

Photo: Kuntoro Windu

As Indonesian language learning continues to decline in Australia, NAILA hopes to incentivize language learning and reward high-level proficiency to encourage deeper communication, respect and understanding between our two nations.

Speaking at the Awards Ceremony, Chris Bowen warned that it would be an “irreversible national scandal” if Australia allowed Indonesian studies to cease in this country. The federal shadow treasurer spoke on the “paradox of proximity” putting forth the question: “Can any one name me two countries, anywhere in the world, so close geographically and so different culturally?” Australia and Indonesia are close in proximity, yet so divergent culturally. The study of Indonesian language, Bowen argued, is an important part of improving the bilateral relationship and achieving greater understanding between our two countries. Paul Grigson, Australian Ambassador to Indonesia, echoed this sentiment in a video message: “nothing is more important for cultural understanding than language.”

Dr Dwi Noverini Djenar, Chair of the Department of Indonesian Studies at The University of Sydney, spoke on her experiences as a NAILA judge and how she was blown away with the quality of the entries. Dr Djenar also highlighted the significance of Indonesian language study, but also the importance of having fun and enjoying the language.

Photo: Kuntoro Windu

The Awards Ceremony was concluded with remarks from Foreign Minister Julie Bishop: initiatives such as NAILA “will lead to a better understanding of our place in the world and develop new perspectives, new insights, new skills and new ideas that will build Australia’s productivity and our prosperity.”

Photo: Kuntoro Windu

On Saturday 21 November awardees met with Andre Omer Siregar, Indonesian Consul in the Northern Territory and one of the NAILA judges, who flew down from Darwin to meet with the award holders. He highlighted the importance of cultural exchange and people-to-people links.

This was followed by lunch at the Indonesian Consulate in Melbourne and a poetry reading with the Jembatan Poetry Society. NAILA participants had the opportunity to absorb readings and presentations by expert performers as well as share their own Indonesian language skills, including musical performances by NAILA Executive Awardee John Cheong Holdaway (performing Iwan Fal’s “Bento”) and a traditional Balinese dance performance and lesson by Wild Card Awardee, Jane Ahlstrand.

Photo: Kuntoro Windu

The weekend concluded with a dinner for the awardees, their families and the NAILA team.

Congratulations to all the participants of the inaugural National Australia Indonesia Language Awards!

Photo: Kuntoro Windu

NAILA is supported by The Australia-Indonesia Centre (Gold Sponsor), The Australia-Indonesia Institute, Allens, Asia Institute at the University of Melbourne, The University of Sydney’s Sydney Southeast Asia Centre, Cladtek, La Trobe University, Deakin University, The Asia Education Foundation, The Australian Consortium for ‘In-Country’ Indonesian Studies (ACICIS) and Asialink.

Komnas Perempuan, or KP, as it is affectionately known by its staff and supporters, is not your average institution. For a start, it’s the only government-owned building with a giant mural painted on its wall – a woman in the process of freeing herself from a tangle of cords. But there’s more that sets it apart than that.

Mural in front of the Komnas Perempuan building in Jakarta. Photo: majalahkartini.co.id

The National Commission on Anti-violence against Women was set up after the political turmoil of 1998 in response to public outcry over the violence against women that occurred at that time. Although receiving some funding from the government it remains an independent body, working as a kind of watchdog on women’s rights, monitoring policies, shaping public attitude and, in particular, addressing the issue of violence against women.

Working Towards Change

In 2014 alone there were 293,220 recorded cases of violence against women in Indonesia. This staggering number, rising each year since it was first recorded, reflects the unequal position of women in society. KP strives to change these statistics by working with service providers, law enforcers, judges, community groups, government departments, religious groups and the media, to promote changes in attitude, a better understanding of women’s issues, and the protection of women’s rights. In doing so it goes where no other organisation is willing to go, with nothing beyond debate, and no individual or group beyond reproach.

The Death Penalty

KP took up the case of Mary Jane Veloso, a Filipino migrant worker scheduled for execution. Despite public support for the death penalty, KP came out strongly in opposition to it, fighting for the most fundamental right of all, the right to life.

In April 2015, KP sent a team to visit Mary, or MJV as she is known in the Indonesian media. They also spoke with her family, attorneys and other people assisting her to gather information on her case. From these conversations it became clear that MJV was a victim of human trafficking. KP began an all-out campaign to bring her plight to public attention and appeal to the President for clemency. At the last moment, just hours before the scheduled execution, MJV’s sentence was postponed. It remains to be seen what will happen in this case, but KP continues its efforts towards elimination of the death penalty in Indonesia.

Chemical Castration

With the recent disturbing cases of sexual abuse against children, there has been a push in Indonesia towards chemical castration of offenders. KP has spoken out against castration, reminding authorities that this form of punishment goes against the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, which Indonesia signed in 1985. KP believes there should be a more comprehensive approach to sex crimes that addresses protection and prevention, as well as a focus on ensuring all offenders are processed in court.

Bill on the elimination of sexual violence

Sexual violence in Indonesia is at unprecedented levels with 35 cases reported every day. However, according to KP, there are huge gaps in the current law that leave women inadequately protected. Of the 15 forms of sexual violence identified by KP only three are covered by law. Crimes such as incest, polygamy, forced abortion and forced contraception, are amongst those not included. In addition, in cases of sexual violence, the burden of proof rests with the victim.

The bill promoted by KP includes a more detailed definition of sexual violence, prevention and protection for witnesses and victims, victim recovery, rehabilitation of offenders, and the role of the public. For this year’s 16 days of Activism Against Gender Violence Campaign, which started worldwide on 25 November, KP and its partners have chosen the theme, ‘Sexual violence is a crime against humanity’. It is hoped that this campaign will help encourage the government to include the bill in the list for discussion in 2016.

Discriminatory Bylaws

KP has been monitoring and reporting on the ever-increasing incidence of discriminatory bylaws in Indonesia. In 2014, KP recorded 389 bylaws that discriminate against women, three times the figure first recorded in 2009. These bylaws, although created with the aim of protecting women, in reality limit women’s mobility, choice of clothing, and other human rights. KP campaigns to increase public awareness on these discriminatory bylaws and urges the central government to ensure all laws are in line with the Constitution and human rights.

These are just a few of the issues tackled by KP. In addition, KP has campaigned to amend the Marriage Law, which currently allows girls to marry as young as 16, advocated for abolishment of virginity testing for new female police recruits, and called for an end of impunity for public figures.

Brave and Passionate

In an office where daily conversations revolve around rape, violence, and inequality, the people who work at KP need to be both brave and passionate. One staff member describes his initial experiences with KP as ‘falling in love’. From the first time he spotted a banner advertising one of KP’s activities to when he attended a heartrending session where women recounted their personal experiences of abuse, he could feel himself getting irretrievably involved. Eventually, going against the plans of his traditional Chinese family, he took a step outside the ‘norm’ and chose to do his internship at KP. “I’m still in love”, he admits with an infectious smile of enthusiasm. His ‘thing’ is raising awareness on dating violence – a largely un-discussed topic in a society where being ‘jomblo’ or single on a Saturday night is considered deeply embarrassing.

The staff at KP challenge the norms and bring into question stereotypes about ‘conservative’ Muslim societies. From conversations in the open plan office about vaginas and penetration sex, to mini skirts that raise the most liberal-leaning eyebrow, to colleagues who can be enticed into displaying their talents – sexy belly dancing – at any KP event. On a particularly confusing day, you may even find yourself chatting with a staff member who chooses to wear her, ‘I’m not a virgin and proud of it’ t-shirt slightly hidden under the tail-ends of her hijab.

However, KP is not about scandals and free sex. It’s about defending the right of individuals to choose their own path. It’s about standing up for vulnerable and marginalised women. In such a challenging environment, with such a myriad of issues, it may seem that KP faces an impossible task in eliminating violence against women in Indonesia. However, like the new mural on KP’s wall, KP remains optimistic that, with ongoing public support, women in Indonesia will free themselves from the tangle of cords that restrain them and eventually be able to enjoy their rights. Women’s rights, after all, as succinctly stated by Hilary Clinton, are human rights.

Noor Fatia Lastika Sari sedang belajar Sejarah Australia di Universitas Indonesia. Fatia tertarik untuk belajar Australian studies karena menurutnya Australia adalah salah satu tetangga terpenting bagi Indonesia. Perbatasan antara kedua negara ini juga sangat rentan terhadap konflik yang mungkin dapat mempengaruhi hubungan bilateral. Oleh karena itu, perspektif sejarah sangat penting untuk mengerti isu-isu tersebut. Berikut adalah ringkasan dari skripsinya tentang perbatasan Indonesia-Australia dari perspektif sejarah.

Peta Ashmore Reef/Pulau Pasir // Sumber: Natasha Stacey

Ashmore Reef adalah salah satu gugusan pulau yang terletak di antara Laut Timor dengan perairan utara Australia pada 12°13’ Lintang Selatan (LS) dan 123°5’ Bujur Timur (BT), sekitar 120 kilometer dari Pulau Rote, NTT, 840 kilometer dari Darwin, Australia Utara, dan 610 kilometer dari Broome, Australia Barat. Gugusan pulau ini merupakan bagian dari kedaulatan Australia, yang disetujui melalui Nota Kesepakatan (Memorandum of Undersanding) pada tahun 1974. Sebelumnya, Ashmore Reef dikenal oleh masyarakat nelayan tradisional Indonesia, khususnya nelayan tradisional Rote, sebagai Pulau Pasir. Penamaan tersebut didukung oleh beberapa fakta historis yang menyebutkan bahwa Pulau Pasir telah lama menjadi tujuan berlayar para nelayan tradisional secara turun temurun.

Saat ini, gugusan pulau tersebut tidak lagi dapat disebut dengan nama Pulau Pasir. Gugusan pulau tersebut adalah Ashmore Reef yang merupakan bagian dari Australia. Ashmore Reef hanya bagian dari sejarah pelayaran nelayan tradisional Rote, yang hingga saat ini masih terbuka bagi nelayan tradisional Rote karena diakuinya hak melaut mereka di gugusan pulau tersebut pasca MoU 1974 yang didukung oleh UNCLOS 1982. Ashmore Reef yang kini merupakan bagian dari Australia diakui secara de jure karena berpatokan dari hukum laut internasional yang berlaku dan disetujui oleh PBB, serta secara de facto karena telah dilaksanakannya effective governmental control dan konservasi berbentuk cagar alam di Ashmore Reef.

Pelayaran tradisional yang dilakukan oleh nelayan tradisional Rote, khususnya dari Dusun Papela, ke Ashmore Reef memang telah diakui secara internasional melalui UNCLOS 1982. Namun, pelayaran ini kemudian memancing perhatian Australia karena dianggap menyalahi aturan tradisional yang ditetapkan Australia, sehingga akhirnya para nelayan disebut-sebut sebagai pelintas batas. Para nelayan dituduh melanggar batas negara, lalu ditindak secara represif.

Sesuai ketentuan yang disepakati dalam MoU 1974, beserta revisinya di tahun 1989, Australia hanya mengizinkan pelayaran tradisional dalam arti pelayaran yang memancing ikan dan organisme laut yang menetap dengan metode-metode tradisional, seperti perahu tanpa motor, serta peralatan memancing yang sederhana dan tidak mencemari lingkungan. Dengan kata lain, pelayaran tersebut menggunakan metode yang selama ini telah menjadi tradisi turun-temurun. Penindakan tegas yang dilakukan Australia didasari oleh persetujuan Indonesia pada MoU tersebut yang menyebutkan bahwa Indonesia telah memahami isi nota kesepakatan secara komprehensif dan siap bekerjasama secara kooperatif dengan Australia dalam proses sosialiasi terhadap para nelayan tradisional.

Kondisi ini kemudian diperkeruh dengan kedatangan nelayan-nelayan asal Indonesia dari wilayah lain selain nelayan tradisional Rote di Ashmore Reef. Australia menganggap kedatangan tersebut sebagai bentuk pelintasan batas secara ilegal yang berpotensi pencemaran, mencuri kekayaan negara, dan menjadi sarana masuk bagi pelanggaran hukum lainnya, seperti imigran gelap, terorisme, dan perdagangan komoditas ilegal berupa senjata dan narkotika. Nelayan tradisional yang juga berada di perairan yang sama turut terjaring dalam operasi-operasi yang dijalankan oleh Royal Australian Navy dan Petugas Pabean Broome, Australia Barat.

Dari sekian banyak kasus penangkapan terhadap nelayan-nelayan pelintas batas, dapat disimpulkan bahwa pelanggaran yang dilakukan umumnya disebabkan oleh: (1) Kurangnya pemahaman nelayan terhadap garis batas wilayah Indonesia dan Australia karena tidak mengenal teknologi Global Positioning System (GPS), serta ketidaktahuan mereka terhadap status kepemilikan Ashmore Reef oleh Australia. Hal ini terutama merupakan tanggung jawab pemerintah dalam melakukan sosialisasi.; (2) Faktor historical culture yang masih melekat pada masyarakat Papela dalam bentuk tradisi melaut ke Ashmore Reef; (3) Iming-iming keuntungan besar dari bos-bos pelabuhan jika para nelayan bersedia menangkap hasil laut yang melebihi batas subsisten; dan (4) Minimnya upaya Pemerintah Indonesia dalam memberdayakan masyarakat nelayannya, sehingga para nelayan tidak memiliki pilihan mata pencarian lain selain berlayar ke Ashmore Reef.

Upaya penyelesaian yang dilakukan oleh Indonesia dan Australia didasari oleh kebijakan pemerintah masing-masing, baik pemerintah pusat maupun daerah atau negara bagian. Kebijakan tersebut berubah-ubah sesuai dengan perkembangan politik luar negeri dan kebijakan pertahanan masing-masing negara, seperti misalnya di Indonesia, kebijakan pada pemerintahan Orde Baru yang dipimpin Presiden Soeharto berpatokan pada tujuan pembangunan negara. Berbeda dengan era Reformasi yang dipimpin tiga kepala negara berbeda, yaitu Abdurahman Wahid, Megawati Soekarnoputri, dan Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono yang menekankan pada pembinaan hubungan baik dengan negara tetangga.

Di Australia sendiri, perubahan arah politik luar negeri dan kebijakan pertahanan bergantung pada pemerintahan yang berkuasa, yaitu antara Partai Buruh atau Partai Liberal. Perbedaan tersebut terlihat dari kebijakan pemerintah pimpinan Perdana Menteri dari Partai Buruh, seperti Gough Whitlam, Bob Hawke, dan Paul Keating yang banyak mengutamakan pembinaan hubungan baik berdasarkan kondisi geografis Indonesia-Australia yang bertetangga. Di sisi lain Partai Liberal, dibawah kepemimpinan seperti Malcolm Fraser dan John Howard, cenderung lebih konservatif dan intens dalam menanggapi isu pelintas batas yang mengganggu kedaulatan wilayah Australia.

Dalam kurun waktu tiga dekade, penindakan yang dilakukan diawali dan mayoritas bersumber dari Pemerintah Australia. Upaya penyelesaian yang lebih gencar dilakukan Pemerintah Australia disebabkan oleh kekhawatirannya terhadap kemungkinan pencemaran lingkungan dan penyusupan imigran gelap ke negaranya melalui pulau-pulau kecilnya yang tersebar di Samudera Hindia, yang salah satunya adalah Ashmore Reef. Tanggapan dan kesertaan Pemerintah Indonesia secara berkesinambungan baru terlihat pada masa pemerintahan Presiden Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono yang berkomitmen mengembangkan potensi pulau-pulau terdepan Indonesia dan kembali pada konsep Wawasan Nusantara yang dimiliki Indonesia.

Sayangnya, dalam periode pemerintahan sebelumnya, implikasi yang muncul atas kebijakan yang diambil oleh Pemerintah Indonesia cenderung tidak berjalan dengan tepat, sehingga jalan keluar terhadap permasalahan pelintas batas antara Indonesia-Australia menjadi tak terselesaikan dengan tuntas. Kegagalan diplomasi, terutama pada MoU 1974, pada akhirnya memunculkan kesan ketidakpedulian pemerintah terhadap nelayan-nelayan yang ditangkap Australia karena dianggap sebagai pelintas batas.

Hak tradisional yang dimiliki para nelayan tradisional Rote asal Papela memang diakui oleh Pemerintah Australia, namun penangkapan terhadap nelayan asal Indonesia lainnya tetap menjadi permasalahan yang harus dipecahkan oleh Pemerintah Indonesia. Pada dasarnya, Indonesia tidak dapat menyalahkan Australia yang melakukan penegakan hukum terhadap perairannya yang gagal diperjuangkan di meja perundingan oleh Indonesia. Hal ini turut diperkeruh dengan lemahnya upaya sosialisasi dan penanggulangan yang dilakukan Pemerintah Indonesia.

Jarak antara Ashmore Reef dengan Batas Terluar Indonesia-Australia (dimodifikasi dari citra satelit NASA) // Sumber: Bob Gosford

Kesimpulan yang dapat ditarik dari penelitian ini adalah bahwa Ashmore Reef telah ditetapkan statusnya secara hukum sebagai bagian dari negara Australia dan hal ini tidak lagi menjadi pokok permasalahan kedua negara. Justru isu-isu pelintasan batas yang dilakukan nelayan Rote serta nelayan-nelayan asal Indonesia lainnya, yang berpotensi menjadi suatu ancaman transnasional. Indonesia, tentunya, tidak ingin selalu dianggap sebagai “ancaman dari utara” bagi Australia.   Pada akhirnya, segala bentuk penyelesaian masalah terkait wilayah perbatasan di sekitar Ashmore Reef tersebut tidak hanya melibatkan Indonesia dan Australia saja, namun ada juga Timor Timur yang mendapatkan kemerdekaannya di awal abad ke-21, sehingga bukan hanya sebatas memperbaiki kerancuan makna nelayan tradisional dan pelintas batas yang harus dilakukan dalam perundingan-perundingan bilateral, tetapi juga bagaimana jika permasalahan tersebut dibahas dalam perundingan trilateral yang melibatkan tiga negara yang saling beririsan di perbatasan tersebut. Karena pada dasarnya, perbatasan di laut bukanlah suatu hal yang dapat diidentifikasikan secara definitif pada praktiknya.