'Kirab Remaja' march appreciated but needs revision
Under the sponsorship of Mrs. Hardiyanti Indra Rukmana, Indonesia has since 1990 held a prestigious youth march. Called Kirab Remaja Nasional, the biennial march passes through towns and villages throughout the country to strengthen the relationship among local youngsters as well as between young Indonesians and foreign youths. It also helps foreign participants broaden their knowledge about this archipelago and its people. The following is a report written by The Jakarta Post reporter, K. Basrie, who last week joined the Kirab activities in East Java.
PASURUAN, East Java (JP): Until recently Abdul Halim, an employee at the Kuala Lumpur-based Persatuan Rekreasi Malaysia, a national association for outdoor activities, thought Indonesia was still an underdeveloped country.
His view changed automatically after he took part in this year's seven-week Kirab Remaja Nasional, which is held and funded by the privately-owned Yayasan Tiara Indonesia, a social foundation chaired by Mrs. Siti Hardiyanti Indra Rukmana, President Soeharto's eldest daughter.
"People like me would not be able to change our long-standing view about Indonesia, especially on its current rapid development, if it is not for Kirab," said Halim, an official of the Malaysian contingent.
Halim believes that Kirab is highly beneficial in various aspects for Indonesia today and tomorrow.
Besides helping strengthen the relationship among locals, and between Indonesian and foreign participants, Kirab also serves as a tourism promotion campaign.
"This will give participants a chance in the long run to come to spread the story about the beauty and rich culture of this country and its friendly and smiling people," said Halim, who is supervising his country's contingent in East Java and South Sulawesi.
Proposed by Mrs. Rukmana, a noted businesswoman better known as Mbak (sister) Tutut, the biennial Kirab was designed to help motivate Indonesian youngsters to better know their country and people, their culture and traditions.
Since 1993, however, the committee has invited foreign participants to take part in the march which includes social work and stops at tourist spots.
The fourth Kirab Remaja Nasional 1995, held from July 17 until Aug. 21, has 1,149 model youths participating, selected from the country's 27 provinces and 400 others from 22 countries, including Portugal, whose government is still in dispute with Indonesia over East Timor. Other foreign participants come from Australia, Belgium, Brunei Darussalam, Egypt, Germany, Hungary, Jordan, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan, Palestine, the Philippines, Poland, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, United Kingdom, the United States, Vietnam and Zimbabwe.
The Kirab march always has dozens of local participants, mostly senior high school students, and hundreds of other parties, including boy scouts, police and military members and members of local youth organizations.
Last year, a total of 45,174,692 youngsters took part in the march, which always attracts a long line of welcoming locals along the streets they pass.
All of this year's participants gathered in Jakarta on July 3 and left for the 27 provinces in different groups last week.
Each group consists of one representative from every province and a number of foreign participants. They are equipped with red- and-white Kirab uniforms and accessories, and basic knowledge about the province to be visited.
In every province they march from one town to another with each route a distance of about five kilometers, or travel by bus after performing social work. The latter includes clean-up activities and building and renovating public facilities, such as small roads, bathroom and water facilities.
"The social activities are designed to encourage the local people to care more about their hometowns and surroundings," said Ningky Poesponegoro, head of the East Java Kirab committee.
Sometimes a group spends a night at the houses of local residents instead of staying in a hotel. At every place they visit, the local authorities introduce them to the areas' performing arts.
In East Java, the Kirab party consisted of 27 representatives from the 27 provinces, three from Egypt, two from Myanmar, two from Malaysia, one from Brunei Darussalam, one from the United States, one from Pakistan, two from Saudi Arabia and visiting officials from Egypt, Malaysia and Germany.
Three participants from Portugal arrived on the last day of the main activities on Aug. 4.
According to Ningky, the march has traveled a route of about 1,200 kilometers through 19 towns.
Some critics say that Kirab is an unknown mission which wastes money and time. A number of foreign participants also find that Kirab needs significant revisions, such as in its overwhelming schedule, boring ceremonies, the military-like drills. They also suggest that the committee hire more professional staff. Despite the shortcomings, most voiced appreciation for the program.
"We really enjoy Kirab because we can directly meet and talk to the warm, smiling Indonesian people and learn about their unique tradition and culture in their villages," said Nermin Nashaat, 21, a student at Assiut University in Egypt.
"Can you tell me where we can get such an amazing service in other parts of this world?" added Halim.
Besides, added Pelagia Dube, 23, a primary school teacher in Zimbabwe, foreign participants can learn facts about Indonesia and its development. "I don't know why someone wants to spend so much money for this Kirab, but I really enjoy to take part in it," she added.
A local participant, Diana Rusdianti, 17, from Madura, East Java, commented: "It's a good arena for local and foreign youths to meet and know each other and understand each other's cultures."
A number of foreign participants are also quite frank in their criticism over certain activities which they think could ruin the worthwhileness of the march.
"We absolutely like to participate in this Kirab but it's not easy for us to understand any of the routine ceremonies which sometimes last for hours," argued an official of the German contingent, Heiko Sprenger, who is working at the German sports organization for youths, in Frankfurt.
"The activities are too difficult for my female members," said Egypt official Mohamed Abdel.
"I really couldn't understand why the committee treats the youngsters like military people. It is hard for us -- foreigners -- to accept being treated in such a way," commented Donna Tina Charles, 22, a participant from the United States.
Others suggest that the committee give more details about the program and more time for foreign participants to learn about the activities of the Kirab prior to its commencement.
"A staff member at the Indonesian embassy in Cairo had incorrectly told me that Kirab was a tour. They didn't tell me that we had to perform social work here," said official Abdel.
Most of the foreigners grouped in the East Java contingent also complained of the unwillingness of the local committee staff to explain the speeches or the meaning of a certain activity or ceremony.
But, Ningky claimed the accusations were baseless.
"We have done our best for the foreign participants, but, you know ...." She refused to finish her sentence.
The Jakarta Post observed that only participants from Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam and Myanmar were willing to adhere to the tight Kirab schedule. The committee allowed the other foreigners to skip the march and morning exercises.
Besides, many of the foreigners had trouble with the language, local food and the humidity. Sometimes the local committee spends extra money and time to provide different foods for different foreign participants.
The patience of the local committee members has not gone unnoticed though.
"They are very kind to me," said Donna, who had asked the committee many times to send her back to Jakarta due to various misunderstandings, mostly concerning the schedule.
According to the schedule, the gala ceremony of the march will be held at the Senayan stadium in Jakarta on Aug. 20. On the following day, the participants will attend the closing ceremony at the Kirab Remaja auditorium in Cileungsi, Bogor, West Java, which is to be attended by Mrs. Tien Soeharto.