'Kirab Remaja' march appreciated but needs revision
'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.