Thousands of eyes watch the puppet show in the Alternate Universe Ratusan (Wayang Kampung Sebelah or WKS) on Saturday night, 14/12 at Lapangan Segitiga, Kerten, Laweyan - Surakarta. This show becomes the highlight of the 16-day Anti-Violence Against Women organised by Yayasan Yaphi (16 HAKTP) with attendance by peasants from Sambirejo Sragen, Paranggupito Wonogiri, community in Porang Paring, jaringan KOMPAK (network), Jaringan Peduli Sungai Juwana (Jampisawan Network), Jaringan Visi Solo Inklusi, Forum Peduli Kebenaran dan Keadian Sambirejo (FPKKS), Komasipera, JPPAS, MPPS and others.
Ki Jlitheng Suparman opens the show by informing that his puppet show has been around since 2001, by presenting current stories. He asks all attendees to interact as the puppeteer is not the only person to have the say in the show – it is not a one-way dialogue, but attendees can also make comments during the show. This is called locally as “Mbajongi” where people can come on stage and makes jokes,” says Ki Jlitheng.
The show opens with the statement that Pancasila is the basic principle of the Indonesian State, and should not be misinterpreted, otherwise people would suffer. Ki Jlitheng takes a jab, “My neighbour becomes a president, and I feel that I should feel different. I try to look chic, but I am nonetheless a beggar. There is a neighbour who becomes a politician. He says he is a true representative of the people, and he lives a luxurious life, while I am so poor. A neighbour becomes a governor, and I hope to also enjoy the glamour. But the opposite happens when he evicts my house. If the land is for an infrastructure development of this country (re. road construction), then I am willing to sleep by the highway built on my land, but unfortunately, I am them asked to leave and to return to my village. I return to my village and become a peasant by renting a plot of land to grow rice. I borrow money from the state bank to start, but I have to give them a land certificate as prove of my worthiness, it seems like a fairy tale of would-be success. By the time harvest time comes, rats are all over and eat all my harvest, oh …I give up.
After introducing Yayasan Yaphi, a not-for profit organisation to serve the community to find justice, the master puppeteer explains that the world celebrates Human Rights Day on 10 December. Human Rights is in fact the highest ideal of Indonesia’s independence. What was “small goal” then becomes a most critical goal for the independence of Indonesia. The essence of human rights is articulated in paragraph 4 – to protect all citizens.
“It is the State’s duty to protect all citizens, and the country as a whole, to improve welfare and to develop intellectual capacity of the citizens – these are articulated in the proclamation of independence. So, if there are still poor people, that means the goal is not yet achieved. If there are people whose rights are violated, then the law has not been fully enforced. If there are people who are oppressed, then the State has not done its job to protect the people, human rights have not be upheld fully. So what we have to do is to raise awareness in communities because they are the one who have to fight to get justice.”
Criticism on Capitalistic Education
Education should be te right of all citizens, but the master puppeteer says that right now there is attempt to push education into a capitalistic venture – which means that the State has ignored the rights of the people. The State should be responsible that all citizens can go to school. If there are people who have not yet been able to go to school, up to university, then the blame should fall on the State. This shows that the State has not been able to serve its people, has not been able to achieve the goal of Independence.
“The State should not be so proud its social aid program or other aid program, because it is inherently the rights of people to get them. Now, do you know what rights are? Here, I will cite a number of experts that say that right is not something that someone gives you, instead right is something that cannot be taken away from you. So the right to welfare is not given by the state. Big No. This is inherent in every citizen. So, when people demand their rights to welfare, that is not people asking for State’s generosity, it is people asking for State’s accountability, as the State should guarantee that right. So, do not be fooled by officials disbursing social aid – saying this is an act of generosity by State officials. We must be smart, that it is our right, not something given by devious officials.”
Criticism on Strategic National Projects
14.12.2024_Wayang Kampung Sebelah
Personally, I have known Yaphi since 2007 and I used to work with YAPHI and thankfully tonight I have the opportunity to entertain you with an opening song about a musician becoming a groom, and there are many types of musician – there are those who sing in street intersection and on television, and those who become artists – all those are musicians. What differentiates them is the salary they get. Alright, so now let us watch the main show – the Puppet Shaddow from the Alternate Universe, which may of you may not be familiar with.
The Puppet Show from the Alternate Universe (Wayang Kampung Sebelah) exists since 2001 and it explores current affairs, and this puppet show belongs to all of you. The puppeteers is not the only person to have a say because all of you have the right to say, to add to the dialogue, and to come up here and play the puppet. We will have fun together. This is a silly puppet. So come on, those who sit too far away can come closer to the stage. In this show, you have the freedom. You can come up here to the stage and have fun.
Okey, we will talk with Wayang Kampung Sebelah that has as a theme tonight “To Be Evicted under the Banner of Prosperity” it is true that our country has an ideal as stated in the Pancasila about social justice for all people, yet to date, there are people whose social rights have not been fulfilled and we must fight for it. So ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the Wayang Kampung Sebelah with tonight’s theme “Evicted under the Banner of Prosperity.”
Bismillahirrahmanirrahim We have the same teacher, so do not disturb.
Good evening, and let us have fun, let me introduce myself, I am an old but handsome boy, and Pancasila is the basic value of Indonesia, and please not to perceive it in a wrong way so that people are not going to be suffering from it. My neighbour becomes a president, and I feel that I should act like a proper neighbour…looking a bit sharper, yet I am just a musician. There is a neighbour who becomes a politician. He claims to be the real deal representative of the people, and live a luxurious life, and yet I am poor. My neighbour becomes a governor, I wish I could live a prosperous life. Yet, my house is being taken down. I am willingly surrender because it is supposed to be for the development of this country, and I sleep on a highway, and yet officials force me to go back to my village. I go back to my village and become a peasant. I rent a plot of land to grow rice. I ask for a loan from a state bank, and they ask for a land certificate as a guarantee, and the future is awaiting brightly. Yet, by the time harvest comes, rats eat my harvest, and I give up. Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh, Being an old man, I become a multi-talented artist, that is ready to entertain all of you and unite all people tonight, in this program to fight for our rights so that we can live a decent life. Extraordinary. Thank you to Panca Putri and her colleagues who invited me after years of not seeing each other. I am surprised that their spirit remains high, and not weakening - YAPHI (Yekti Angudi Padeging Hukum Indonesia). Not many people know, if we translate Yekti that would be truthfully – and in the legal sense it means how to truthfully make the law superior. That is what Yayasan YAPHI is doing the extraordinary work for – a not-for profit organization. So applause for YAPHI who truthfully fight for the people. It is extraordinary that Putri remains after all these years, you are truly extraordinary and I wish that all people will have the same courage to fight for those whose rights are violated.
The whole world celebrates human rights day on 10 December. Human rights is the true goal of Indonesia’s independence. It was a small goal that turn human rights into a critical goal during the Indonesian proclamation of independence in 1945. The philosophical base of human rights is contained in paragraph 4 – to protect all people. So all people must be protected. This is the duty of the State to protect the people, to protect its land, and to ensure welfare and education, that is the ultimate goal. So if there are still poor people in Indonesia, that only means that the goal is not yet achieved. If there are people whose rights are violated, that means that law is not fully working. The State needs to protect the peasants, the State needs to ensure that human rights are fulfilled. So we must make people aware that it is their tas ti fight for it.
It is true, people must fight, and become inspiration for fellow citizens, activists and those fighting for justice in Indonesia. People need more experts, more educated people who the State sends to study. It is about the rights to have the science, to be intelligent. That is the essence of human rights. If that happens, then people will have their full sovereignty. That is to say human rights is the embodiment of people’s sovereignty, so fighting for human rights means fighting for the five principle - Pancasila. So education, it is people’s rights, it is the State’s obligation.
Now the State is trying to turn the education world into a capitalism – that is equal to the State taking people’s rights. The State should be responsible to ensure people are able to go to school. If there are people who cannot go to school, until university, it is the State’s fault. It means that the State is not yet able to serve its people, not able to achieve the goal of Indonesia’s independence. So do not be fooled by the State disbursing social aid, because that is the right of people to have it. So, you must understand now what these rights are. So, I ask people who have the expertise what rights are, and they say that they are not thing given to you by somebody, it is something in you that nobody can take from you. So welfare is not something that the State gives to you. No. This belong to all people, so when people demand their rights to welfare, it is not that people ask for the State’s generosity, it is that people ask for the State to take its responsibility seriously, because it is the State’s obligation to ensure people get their rights. So make no mistake, when an official distribute social aid. Wouw, this official is so kind, so full of attention to the people. We must take people aware, that it is their rights, that they are not to be taken for as people who need to be given something, that they need to get some form of thank you from those deceitful officials. Thus the point is that human rights need to be translated, for example when we read a statement “freedom from fear, it is the embodiment of all human rights , so then the issue is how will the State ensure that people are free from fear.” What fear ? Fear of not going to be prosperous, fear of no future, fear of not being smart, fear of not being intelligent, fear of not being healthy, all that is the responsibility of the State which is responsible to dispel all those fears. No one should be afraid to express their voice. No one should be afraid to voice their criticism, because it is their rights to say and to voice their opinion. It is the people that have the sovereignty, the official at hamlet level will be the extension hand of the people, not the other way around. People are voicing their concern, and they get arrested, imprisoned – hence the State eliminates people’s human rights.
It is people’s right to express their voices as the ultimate sovereign. So people have to be smart. This extraordinary for YAPHI also not only because they deal with cases, but also with raising awareness about law, about the rights of the people, and to fight without expecting anything in return. May all of you ladies and gentlemen support such endeavour. It is critical to ensure that YAPHI can exist – which means that we all must work together to ensure this. There will be plenty to talk about. But let us keep this as a forward.
Yes, let us congratulate YAPHI, may it be successful, long live and keep fighting for those who are suffering, those who experience injustices, and we must remind that people need to be made aware. It is not the State that knows this law or that law. So people should demand their rights. So the main goal is that people are not afraid to demand their rights. So if there is infringement of the law, then it is the State that we should remind to not infringe the law, because the State may potentially infringe on human rights, and therefore infringe on people’s sovereignty.
So the task is to make people aware, as the holder of the sovereignty. They must be able to defend themselves, and demand their rights. People should not be afraid, they should be united, they should create mutual awareness, and by God’s Grace human rights will be here, Amin.
“Now I will go to the village hall. I am at the village hall, for an invitation for a development program. I do now know, what kind of development, let us just go there together, with all representatives of the people. Come on, let us listen to these people talking. There is no people’s sovereignty, no human rights, no people’s sovereignty, that one must be really smart to be here. There must be a talk about our basic principle - Pancasila, our independence goal… The fifth principle.
“All invited people are already here. Let us start. What are we going to talk about today, chief. Let us get started as all people are already here, so welcome to you, Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh. It is tru, we are going to start the meeting. We will start together. We should not procrastinate. We have guest who come from far away, from the capital city, who is going to speak on behalf of the national government to explain what is going to happen here in Bangunjiwo Village, what is this strategic national program. I will leave the podium for you.
Ya, get to the point of explanation. Now is the time to get to the point, to explain the projection for the strategic national program. In this opportunity, I will explain to you about the strategic national project. It is a project by the national government to make development and economic progress evenly distributed, which is what is going to happen with this strategic national program in Bangunjiwo Village, with some areas I will discuss later, and some of people land that we need to free up for this program, because we are going to build elite houses and elite businesses.
So, there will be elite houses, and elite businesses, and there will be trickle-don effects on people’s economy. That is what strategic national program is. Then the village chief will be the mediator for freeing the land. And for his work, the chief and his team will get huge commission, that is the essence of the strategic national program in Bangunjiwo Village, that is what Juragan Bedor says about the strategic national program. So what kind of land acquisition is this? Is this a collaboration between people and the State to guarantee people’s welfare by valuing their land for Rp. 50.000 per meter. We will then sell this land to developers for Rp. 30 million per meter. That is why the village chief will get a huge commission, and Siti too, is she is willing to facilitate this land purchase will get huge compensation, and you will all be rich.
So, Rp 50.000 …Is this really for buying the land or is it a disguise for robbing the land? This in injustice, but you cannot say it is injustice, because you are expected to either agree or disagree, because it is already in the law so the strategic national program should proceed regardless. So what will happen chief? Should we support this national program, whatever it might be people should not reject or challenge it because it is prepared for the best interest of the people. I do not agree, some people have to move away from the program site, from their own land. It is true there are business opening there. But they have to find alternative locations. They have to be relocated, yet there is law for an act of relocation, meaning that people’s rights must first be fulfilled – environmental rights, cultural rights, economic rights, social rights,not just be evicted and told to move somewhere else. That is not the way. The State should take the responsibility.
This strategic national project will proceed regardless because the State has a major interest in it, although people will bear the consequences of it. Yet, it is marketed as a program for the people, so it will proceed.
“That is pure trick, as each person is given Rp. 50.000, and as a religious teacher, they cannot let this trickery go unchallenged, we should fight this devious scheme. This is injustice to the people, because strategic national program cannot proceed like this. This is disingenuous to the people. That is why I, a religious teacher, fight this program. Do not let it destroy you.”
“It is agreed that the Strategic National Program in Bangunjiwo Village should continue, because I will be the investor for it. I have worked with the National Government. So, the chief of the village should not worry, I ask for your cooperation, if you can free the land, then you can get a big compensation for your work. You, the chief will be very rich and you can leave your currently meager existence. So thank you in advance for your cooperation. I believe this strategic national program should proceed in Bangunjiwo Village and it is just normal if some people protest. We can deal with that later. So, all of you who are here today, please enjoy the meal because our meeting is coming to an end. Thank you all.
“Jokes of street musicians...”
“Assalamualaikum. True, Betawi, what is lacking in this Betawi play? Not far enough.”
“Do you not understand when Joni went to Jakarta the first time, it was so hot. What is it with Parjo? There is this strategic national program, and the village administration says that it has to free 200 m of land, and the price is already decided which is Rp50.000 per meter despite the fact that the land here is already valued at above that, even up to Rp. 1 million. This is a blatant act of land robbery. This is a National Government program – it is a national policy. Wait, when I say that I am not trying to defy the State, does that mean that the State should talk to people in the first instance? It is said that people have the sovereignty – that is to say, the State is subservient to the People. If the State wants to do something, then it should talk to the people first, and not decide it unilaterally. That latter means that the State does not care about the rules, or the law. Why does it ask first to the people, ask Karyo and other people here?
Policies are dictated by the Central Government and thus the authority rests with the Central Government. Be aware that the land would be the property of the State, and people would have to part with it whether they like it or not – meaning that if they do not want to part with it that means they defy the State. Yet, the State never owns land, only people own land. The State is an instrument. When does the State own land? The State only has the power to regulate its use, and in doing so the objective should have always been to fulfill the rights of all people, not just a few people. So if the State makes a policy or policies that create misery in people, that only mean that the State defies the people, that the State betrays the people, not the other way around. Thus, the State cannot just do whatever it wants, there is law. The law prepared by the government is for the benefits of the country, and who exactly is that? Then that depends on the particular interests. If the interest is the ‘people,’ then perhaps the State prepares law that would create misery in people.
“You are only protecting a few people, the game that capitalists play and officials who seek to profit from it. This Strategic National Program is not possible. Whatever it is, it is important to involve the people who have the rights, that is why there is environmental impact assessment- not just the impacts to the soil, river, but also the human environment which includes cultural, economic, social, accounting and relational impacts. These should all be accounted for, and not just planning for program and using authority/laws. If officials can make so many laws in one day that only indicates that they have no clue.
What are the procedures defined in the constitution, how is it that such people could become officials, who say that they are just doing their jobs. If you are just doing your job, then I ill only ask for one thing, to protect our rights, but you have obligations, and for every obligation, when my rights are fulfilled, then people will do the obligation.
But if people’s rights have not been fulfilled, do not demand the State do not ask for your rights, what is your obligation. The first thing that the State should do is to fulfill its obligation, to meet people’s rights, so the State never gives the rights to people, the State is there to fulfill/serve people’s rights. Do not ever think that the State is there to give rights to the people because it is the State’s obligation to ensure people’s rights. This kind of thinking is never the case, yet the State keeps breakng it and justifying it by saying that it is all for the betterment of the country. God forbid......do not be so self-serving....”
“Full of rebels, who are unwilling to part with their land. That is not possible, not ever, yet this is not the end, we will wait when the right time comes. If soft approach is not possible, then forgive us, if we, the State agents, have to force you using our might. Just wait, Parjo. Oh, ya, you have apologised, do not blame us if we use tough measures. This is, I would say, that our village has become a not the right place to be.”
“Good evening ladies and gentlemen,wherever you are…we are listening to a month-long dangdut music from the top of Mount Merapi introducing local and inter-local artists while the MC is unfortunately having a mouth ulcer, but apart from that, let me introduce you....
“Greetings (Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh). How are you today? Are you all healthy? This is one opportunity to enlighten you about current issues. Okey, we should not be seperated from arts because arts is an sintrument to soften our spirit, to be sensitive, okey, so when people do not have any desire, and then they should get to know arts, so that they have the sensitivity and the energy to accompany, to protect, to enlighten and educate people about legal issues, and about rights. This is a very extraordinary action – a pearl in the midst of darkness where people think of themselves, YAPHI proves to be willing to sacrifice everything for the people. So big appreciation for YAPHI. This should be a big national news in order to instigate new awareness elsewhere. We must all follow in YAPHI’s footstep, so that we can get out of the darkness and move into the bright future, where the rights of all people are fulfilled. Okey, wassalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh, we go the next artist - Syah Marni ....”
Okey, I will sing as we only have ten minutes left. Okey, true, we Indonesians must unite. We must learn from each other, so that we understand our rights. There is a massive, structural and systematic ‘scenario’ to make people stupid, for what? So that people do not know their rights, so that they are easily deceived and not do anything. People would not do anything because of their ignorance. So, we need to make people aware so that they have the confidence to fight for their rights.
The bottom line is the fight must go on until we get justice in Indonesia.
It is important to protect women’s and children’s rights, and of course the rights of people with disability, from human rights violation. True, they should not be special people. They do not need pity, they need to be equal. That is the principle, they need equality, and they have capacity too. They have the potential just like other people. Do not think that we are normal, when you are just normal in the physical sense. What about your brain? Normal means that everyone can do whatever they need to do with the quality that they have. So the key word is not being special, not being given pity, but to be equal in rights. That means equal in employment opportunities, livelihood and housing, protection for all, and rights for all. That is what we are fighting for. Thank you, good night. For YAPHI, you are truly extraordinary, and for all the peasants and women and children, you too are extraordinary.
Consultation on the so-called basis of strategic national project is pure play between capitalists and State operatives who have the authority. This is clearly an injustice to the people in Bangunjiwo by not valuing the land. This is injustice for not serving the people’s interests as they have to move, not just physically as the land’s value is significant. This land has a cultural significance because it is the basis for togetherness amongst the people, it has historical significance, not just financial value, which the State forgets as they try to accumulate riches.
I hereby bring a letter from the authority or from the law enforcement agency. Does this mean that Karyono has to leave this place, and those other people too who occupy land that has not been cleared for handover yet. You ask us to leave by pitting us, people, against the authority. You, law enforcement agency should be the extension hand of the State, and the State is the extension hand of the people, yet you are doing the reverse. Now you are fighting against your own master. When this country became independent, did the law enforcement authority had the freedom to do whatever it wanted ‘to do its job.’ You cannot talk like that, not to the people. I am demanding my rights. I am protecting my right and I am not taking away other people’s rights. I am not against the government. I am not fighting against the State, not against State policy, but I am demanding my rights so that the State protect my rights. If the State wants to kill me, then do so. If you shoot me now, I am not going to run away from the truth and I will fight for my rights till the end.
We must remind the State once again, that this country is established to fulfill people’s needs. People are the ones who have the mandate, while the State is only its extension hand. So, the State should realize and not feel that it is the master because that is precisely what leads to destruction, and to what end – new form of capitalism. This is a new form of imperialism, a new form of oppression. The State should become aware. Should this situation continue, the State versus the people, not the reverse – mutual respect, and mutual protection. If the State does not become aware, then the Golden Age of Indonesia will not be coming. Instead Indonesia will become weak and lame. Hence, human rights must be a priority, and if the State is not able to secure this, then do not expect that the goal of independence would be achieved. Independence essentially means human rights being upheld, because without it this country is not really independent. As long as the State is not aware, Indonesia will disintegrate. (Ast)
