'I want to be in prosperous Indonesia'<\/p>\n
Right on his 35th birthday on Dec. 8 this year, Munir, an
\nadvisory board member of the Commission for Missing Persons and
\nVictims of Violence (Kontras), will receive the Right Livelihood
\nAward 2000 from the Swedish government along with a cash prize
\nworth US$50,000 in recognition of his work. Next week, on Nov.
\n16, he will receive another award from Unesco. Munir, who lives
\nwith his wife Suciati and their son in a simple house belonging
\nto the Indonesian Legal Aid Institute Foundation (YLBHI) on Jl.
\nBekasi Timur in East Jakarta, talks to The Jakarta Post's
\nMohammad Yazid.<\/p>\n
Question: What did you think when you heard about the cash prize?<\/p>\n
Answer: Just business as usual. I didn't consider splashing out like,
\nfor example, buying a new motorcycle for myself. I think the
\nmoney will be useful for Kontras. Kontras deserves it. I don't
\ndeserve the money myself, it is the collective work of my
\ncolleagues and the victims who ask for Kontras' help. Well, maybe
\nI'll take some, just a little bit. I don't know how much.<\/p>\n
Q: Why do you prefer riding a motorcycle instead of driving a
\ncar?<\/p>\n
A: A motorcycle is more efficient, economical and practical.
\nMaybe one day I will buy a car if I have the money (laughing).
\nBut, for me it's normal. I prefer a motorcycle to a car. It makes
\nme healthier. I have riden one since 1982, when I was still a
\nuniversity student in Malang, East Java.<\/p>\n
Q: People say one cannot get rich working for the LBH (the Legal
\nAid Institute). Don't you want to get rich?<\/p>\n
A: If I wanted to be rich, I'd quit. No, for me, it's normal.<\/p>\n
Q: What characteristic do you like most about yourself?<\/p>\n
A: I don't know. Nothing special. But sometimes I hate myself,
\nwondering about what I've done. Wondering whether I've done
\nsomething good, useful. I feel embarrassed if people consider me
\na hero... I'm not.<\/p>\n
Q: And dislike?<\/p>\n
A: I don't know either. Maybe that I'm poorly educated. Maybe if
\nI had enough money or I could get a scholarship, I would take up
\nmy studies again.<\/p>\n
Q: Whom do you admire?<\/p>\n
A: Soultan Alif Allende, he's my son. Alif means my prophet,
\nMuhammad, the number one I admire. Allende is a fighter from
\nChile. Both are fighters against injustice who didn't resort to
\nviolence. Muhammad represents the older generation while Allende
\nrepresents the new generation.<\/p>\n
Q: What do you like to do in your spare time?<\/p>\n
A: I like reading, playing table tennis. I collect some
\nornamental fishes like Arwana, Palmas from Africa, alligators
\nfrom Toraja (South Sulawesi). I bought all of them in Jatinegara
\nMarket in East Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Q: What was the last book you read?<\/p>\n
A: Ideologi kekerasan (Ideology of Violence), a translated book
\nwritten by Jenneth Grundhi in 1976. Coincidentally, I was asked
\nto write an introduction. The book is very interesting. It
\nexplains about the violence in Chile and elsewhere,
\ntheoretically. I think the book was written based on very good
\nresearch. It was translated by LBH staff coordinated by Robertus
\nRobert.<\/p>\n
Q: What was the last movie you watched?<\/p>\n
A: The last movie I watched starred Jim Carrey. I forget the
\ntitle. I saw it when I was on a plane. However, I like watching
\nfilms on TV or VCDs that I borrow from a rental store. When I was
\nsingle I liked classical films like Shakespearean dramas. But,
\nafter getting married, I now prefer films dealing with the
\nstruggles of children such as Life Is beautiful or Empire of The
\nSun. In my mind, I want my son to be like that.<\/p>\n
Q: What makes you angry?<\/p>\n
A: When I feel betrayed by the military, politicians, the
\nlegislature. I don't understand why they, who call themselves
\nreformists, agreed to the PKB (emergency) law and then signed it.<\/p>\n
Q: What makes you laugh?<\/p>\n
A: When I see other people happy, especially the victims of
\nviolence who come to us seeking help.<\/p>\n
Q: And cry?<\/p>\n
A: I rarely cry. Maybe when I was dealing with labor cases in
\nSurabaya in 1996. Sometimes I miss their world. Although I'm
\ndealing with other cases now such as kidnappings or Tanjung
\nPriok, their (workers') problems are different. Workers'
\nstruggles against injustice are very specific, different from the
\ncases I handle now. One day, I want return to Surabaya.<\/p>\n
Q: What would make you ashamed?<\/p>\n
A: When I don't speak the truth. Sometimes I do that. For
\nexample, I commented on the Gus Dur (President Abdurrahman Wahid)
\nand Ariyanti case in the media. Later on I regretted making
\ncomments about something like that. I felt like I knew
\neverything. I don't. I regret that, it wasn't my business....<\/p>\n
Q: What makes you frightened?<\/p>\n
A: When I fail to handle the mandate entrusted to me, such as
\nfrom families of violence victims... Maybe, failure does not
\nmatter, but, sometimes, I forget because I am dealing with other
\ncases. This forgetfulness thing frightens me more than failure.<\/p>\n
Q: If you were stranded on a desert island and were given three
\nwishes, what would they be?<\/p>\n
A: Firstly, I would want to be back in Indonesia immediately.
\nSecondly, I would like to be in a prosperous Indonesia. And
\nthirdly, I would like to be in a democratic Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Q: Your job involves dealing with missing persons and the victims
\nof violence. What would you do if you were one of the victims?<\/p>\n
A: It would depend on the kind of violence involved. But, I, as
\nan Indonesian citizen, would want to do something based on the
\nlaw....<\/p>\n
Q: If there was one thing you could change about yourself, what
\nwould it be? Your hair?<\/p>\n
A: That's not so important. I always thank God for what I have. I
\nam happy with my red hair.<\/p>",
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