'RSPM' bringing peace to Matraman by ending feuds

'RSPM' bringing peace to Matraman by ending feuds

Fitri Wulandari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

"It's almost noon and the weather is a bit cold. It's a good
time to go get lunch, isn't it? But whatever you do, stay tuned
to RSPM radio, we are here with a mission of peace!" says Siti
Maisaroh, 27, from a tiny radio studio.

While she was speaking, her hand moved around the panels of
the makeshift radio mixing board.

"I like working at this radio station. I don't mind not
getting paid because it is to bring peace to our community," the
round-faced Siti said with a smile.

She is one of 13 DJs with RSPM, short for Radio Suara
Persaudaraan Matraman (the Voice of Matraman Brotherhood Radio).

The concept behind the station might seem a little strange to
many Jakartans, but for residents of Matraman RSPM is a messenger
of peace that hopefully will defuse the prolonged feud between
the residents of Palmeriam and Berlan neighborhoods.

The warring neighborhoods are located just across from each
other along Jl. Matraman Raya, a busy business area in East
Jakarta.

Do not expect a huge radio station with air-conditioned studio
and high-tech equipment. Tucked away in a small alley off Jl.
Kayu Manis Barat, the station's studio occupies a one-by-one-and-
half-meter space inside the cramped living room of the house of
M. Satiri, a local resident.

Brawls between residents of Palmeriam and Berlan go back as
far as the 1950s, when Berlan was called Berenlaan and Palmeriam
was Paal Meriam.

Berlan was known for its anak kolong, or Army brats, because
the neighborhood was made up of Army barracks. While Palmeriam
has long been known for producing hoodlums of the highest
quality.

"Brawl" is probably too mild a word to describe the violence
that has accompanied the feud, which has involved residents of
all ages.

"In the past it was between the haves (Berlan) and the have-
nots (Palmeriam), but now it is caused by social jealousy,
hoodlums and drugs. Some places in this area have become drug-
trafficking spots," Lutfi Kamal, subdistrict head of Kampung
Melayu, said to a group of journalist during a workshop on
conflict and diversity reporting organized recently by the
Alliance of Independent Journalists and the Fredriech Ebert
Stiftung foundation.

Lufti said 33 brawls occurred in the area from 1990 to 2000.
The biggest brawl took place in mid-2000 caused some Rp 10
billion (US$1.3 million) in damages.

The Jakarta administration, the police and religious leaders
have all taken steps to reconcile the residents, but to no avail.

A fence was erected along the median strip on Jl. Matraman
Raya to separate the warring communities, but that did not work.
Also proving ineffectual was the Matraman Residents Communication
Forum, which was established in May 2000.

The violence grew so bad that at one point authorities were
considering relocating the residents of one of the neighborhoods
to Sumatra, but that idea was eventually nixed.

"We think the brawls are caused by a lack of communication
between the two neighborhoods. A radio station is suitable for
bridging this communication gap," M. Satiri, who is the radio's
founder and managing director, said.

Satiri, along with other community leaders, set up the
station, assembling the equipment and funding the station
themselves.

There is nothing extraordinary about the station, which was
launched at the end of 2000. It has not undertaken a rigorous
campaign to promote peace, but simply opens its airwaves to
residents from both neighborhoods.

"They can send songs and greetings to each other from the
station. Apparently, they are happy with this," Satiri said,
adding that the station broadcasts 24 hours a day, featuring
popular Indonesian songs.

To request songs, listeners have to go to the radio station
and fill out song request cards.

Gradually, the station has become a hangout for residents.
Residents from the two warring sides have begun to mingle and get
to know neighbors who used to be enemies.

RSPM also has a special program called Bursa Nada (Song
Market), which runs from 9 p.m. to midnight with the goal of
preventing brawls between teenagers.

"When they are at home, listening to the radio, they aren't
going to be going out and picking a fight," Satiri said.

Peace message such as "Stop brawls for your future" and "Don't
use drugs" are aired between the songs.

After the station was launched, gradual changes began to
emerge in the area. Hardly any brawls have occurred, with only
one or two minor incidents.

Satiri said the community fully supported the station.

"If we aren't on the air for a few hours, people ring the
studio and ask why," Satiri said.

Even so, the station still has to struggle to get legal
permission from the government to officially be on the air.

"We only have a recommendation from the East Jakarta mayor and
the police," Lutfi said.

Legal permission is crucial because as a community radio
station, RSPM is open to raids by the government or complaint
from commercial radio stations.

Another problem is finding the funding to run the station. At
present, the station relies on selling song request cards for Rp
1,000 each to raise money.

Sometimes it runs ads from residents who want to promote their
businesses. Residents also help the radio by donating money.

To make up any shortages, Satiri has to dig into his own
pocket to fund the station.

"The station belongs to the community. We hope it can work in
the long run to carry out its mission of peace," Satiri said.