Eddy Hasby's photos epitomize East Timor<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The images of pride, blood, tears, anger, war,
\nhunger, joy, hopes and dreams are so real you can almost reach
\nout and feel them in the black-and-white prints depicting the
\nfinal days of Indonesia's presence in East Timor ahead of the
\nreferendum for East Timor's self-determination in August 1999.<\/p>\n
Images of the UN and the Indonesian soldiers, and the locals,
\nfrom the pro- and anti-integration figures to the innocents, are
\nall captured during perhaps one of the most important times in
\ntheir lives.<\/p>\n
Dili bishop Mgr. Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo, for example, is
\nshown wiping of perspiration while addressing journalists about
\nan interview he gave to the German news magazine Der Spiegel, an
\ninterview that enraged Jakarta.<\/p>\n
A fine shot of the rivulets of blood streaming from the body
\nof Bernadito Guterres, a student of Satya Wacana University in
\nSalatiga (Central Java), has been acclaimed as one of the best
\nphotographs in the solo exhibition displaying the works of Kompas
\nsenior photographer Eddy Hasby, 35.<\/p>\n
Other photos show the activities of people during the crucial
\nmake-or-break days for Timor Loro Sae. They include Kay Rala
\nXanana Gusmao, Manuel Guterres, Interfet troops, the pro- and
\nanti-Jakarta militias, relatives cleaning the graves of their
\nloved ones or those mourning the dead, the ruins of Dili
\nfollowing the brutal post referendum mayhem, people lining up for
\nfood, a call for calm and peace from Gusmao posted on a mosque,
\nand a full moon over the Kristus Raja (Christ the King) monument
\nat Fatucama Bay, Dili.<\/p>\n
Sponsored by the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI),
\nthe exhibition, which runs from Aug. 10 to Aug. 18 and is titled
\nThe Long and Winding Road, East Timor, displays 61 images that
\nEddy captured during his assignment from August to October 1999,
\naround the time of the referendum.<\/p>\n
In tandem with the exhibition, the AJI has also issued a
\nhardcover book bearing the sama title but containing 135
\nphotographs, all of which have already been exhibited in three
\nmajor Japanese cities, Tokyo, Kyoto and Fukui, between 2000 and
\n2001.<\/p>\n
The book is also on sale for Rp 325,000 during the exhibition
\nat Bentara Budaya on Jl. Palmerah Selatan, Central Jakarta. From
\nBentara, the photos and the books will go on display at the
\nAntara photo gallery in Pasar Baru, Central Jakarta, from Aug. 22
\nto Aug. 31.<\/p>\n
"To assemble the collection, I regularly traveled back and
\nforth to Timor over the three-month period," Eddy revealed.<\/p>\n
He said he recorded both the grim and not-so-grim images
\nduring and after the referendum with a strong determination to be
\nimpartial.<\/p>\n
After all, the pictures snapped by Eddy reflect a human
\ntragedy.<\/p>\n
"Actually, the people of East Timor could have passed over the
\nthreshold of independence in peace. Unfortunately, this didn't
\nhappen. What happened was violence, murder, scorched earth and
\nforced evacuations on a major scale," commented author
\nSindhunata.<\/p>\n
"How bitter and painful it was that suffering seemed to be the
\nprice they had to pay if they wanted independence," he continued.<\/p>\n
According to Didik Supriyanto of the AJI, the exhibition's
\nsponsors, Eddy deserved the designation of "professional
\njournalist" as he had chosen to stay in an unfriendly zone for
\nmany of his countrymen in order to continue his job in the midst
\nof the upheaval.<\/p>\n
"It was this loyalty to his profession which enabled him to
\nrecord the crucial moments of East Timor's separation," Didik
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
From the time of the annexation on July 17, 1976 until the
\nreferendum, many East Timorese might have agreed with Eddy that
\nthey were heading nowhere on their long and winding road.<\/p>\n
Now, East Timor has its own pride and freedom, and Indonesia
\nis now its very close neighbor.<\/p>\n
"Deep inside (my heart), I could not accept the possibility of
\nEast Timor breaking away from Indonesia -- and hoped we could be
\none family -- not neighbors," recalled Kompas reporter Rien
\nKuntari, who was with Eddy during his time in East Timor. (bsr)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/eddy-hasbys-photos-epitomize-east-timor-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}