A melting pot surviving the tests of reform<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Bandarlampung, Lampung<\/p>\n
In this era of regional autonomy, every province and regency
\nhas been craving the government's attention, with the exception
\nof Lampung. Or so it seems.<\/p>\n
As Jakarta's hinterland, Lampung seems to have been sidelined.
\nThe province with an area of 35,376 square kilometers and a
\npopulation of 6.5 million has long been known as a destination
\nfor transmigrants from Java, Bali and other islands across the
\ncountry. The settlers have mixed with the locals, comprising
\nethnic Malays, Rawas, and residents of Lampung and Semedo.
\nTogether, they have built the present-day Lampung, which was
\nofficially set up on Feb. 13, 1964. In a way, Lampung is to
\nJakarta what Australia is to the United Kingdom.<\/p>\n
Many say that the province, like Jakarta, is a miniature
\nrepresentation of Indonesia, where people of various ethnic
\ngroups live together in harmony. Unlike Jakarta, however, no
\nethnic or religious conflicts have occurred in the province since
\nthe downfall of former president Soeharto in 1998.<\/p>\n
Thanks to the reform era, Lampung has been bustling with
\nactivities that help promote the development of a civil society.
\nOne indication is the mushrooming non-governmental organizations
\n(NGOs) that have been established since 1998. The number of press
\npublications, especially printed media, has also increased.<\/p>\n
Lampung, a coffee and pepper producer and home to one of the
\ncountry's largest shrimp industries, is also associated with some
\nof Indonesia's big businessmen, including tycoon Sjamsul
\nNursalim, the owner of PT Dipasena, a subsidiary of the Gajah
\nTunggal group, and the late Ahmad Bakri, the founder of Bakrie
\nBrothers.<\/p>\n
Lampung also has its dark side. The name Lampung brings to
\nmind one of the country's worst human rights cases that took
\nplace in Talangsari village in 1989. That year, troops led by
\nCol. A.M. Hendropriyono, now chief of the State Intelligence
\nAgency (BIN), crushed an alleged Islamic militant group led by
\nAnwar Warsidi. At least 300 people were reportedly killed. The
\ncase has yet to be solved.<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post's reporters Ahmad Junaidi and Kurniawan Hari
\nvisited the province last week to look into issues related with
\nconflict-prevention efforts, regional autonomy and efforts to
\npromote civil society.<\/p>\n
During the five-day visit, the Post also interviewed residents
\nof Talangsari and elephant trainers at the Way Kambas elephant
\ntraining center, Central Lampung.<\/p>\n
They also visited the old Krui seaport in West Lampung, a port
\nused for exports during the Dutch colonial days until the 1950s.<\/p>\n
The drive across the province's long and quiet roads bringing
\nthe two reporters to eight regencies and two municipalities was
\nanother story. The driver of their rented van refused to travel
\nat night as highwaymen were reportedly still operating on the
\nroads.<\/p>\n
The following are their reports.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/a-melting-pot-surviving-the-tests-of-reform-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }