A drawing can tell of huge pain

JAKARTA (JP): When can warring groups come together? When there is a need to examine the vast human costs on both sides, says sociologist Imam Prasodjo.

The sociologist joined some journalist on a trip to Maluku, where dozens of children in refugee camps were given pencil and paper to draw with.

The children's drawings -- only a few of which are published here -- lend a glimpse of the experiences with which all these children, whether Christian or Muslim, will likely have to live with all their lives.

Both boys and girls drew arrows raining down, homes on fire, battles with swords and bazookas, body parts and onlooking adults and children.

"There's something strange in some of the pictures," Imam told journalists. "The other side loses the most victims while in the particular incident (which they experienced) this was not what happened."

He cited a psychologist who said that the young victims had turned into actors in their drawings.

An exchange of letters between the young victims and Jakarta school children was facilitated by the Nurani Dunia (World Conscience) Foundation -- which Imam helped set up -- to assist victims of violence. In their letters, the children told stories of conflict.

A few groups have started the long-term work of focusing on the unseen pains of children in Maluku and other parts of the country's ravaged areas. (anr)