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| ON THE OTHER HAND |
| No Better Idea
By Antonio C. Abaya Written on Dec. 17, 2008 For the Standard Today, December 18 issue This should be titled Anachronistic III as it is a sequel to the previous articles of the same title, and it seeks to answer the question of Can the Arroyo Government defeat the Communist insurgency by the year 2010, as it pompously claims it will. My answer to that question is No. The successful countries around us defeated their Communist insurgencies, in the 60s and 70s, by a combination of a) draconian measures that hounded their Communists without let-up, and b) a broad-based prosperity, brought about by correct economic strategies that made Communist ideology irrelevant and uninteresting to most of their people.. Such draconian measures, exemplified by the Internal Security Act (ISA) that the Malaysian and Singaporean governments inherited from the British colonial government aimed at destroying the above-ground front organizations of the Communist movement, even ahead of the armed guerillas. In pursuit of that strategy, the ISA empowered the Malaysian and Singaporean governments to legally and constitutionally arrest and detain, indefinitely and without trial, anyone merely suspected of being a Communist or Communist sympathizer. But that was in the 60s and 70s, at the height of the Cold War, when Communism was considered a global threat and the Soviet Union and Maoist China actually lived up to that reputation by sponsoring and arming "wars of national liberation" in Asia, Africa and Latin America. At the same time that they marginalized their Communist malcontents with draconian measures, Malaysia and Singapore laid the groundwork for broad-based prosperity in the 70s and 80s by gearing their economies towards the export manufactured goods and by riding the tourism boom in the 90s. (The Philippines did neither one.) So for the average Malaysian and Singaporean citizen, there was a trade-off. In exchange for diminished civil and political rights � much of which continue to the present � they enjoyed general prosperity that reached all levels of their multi-racial societies. Such was not the case in the Philippines, where the authoritarian President Ferdinand Marcos employed only half-baked measures against the local Communist movement and at the same time did very little to upgrade the Philippine economy from archaic import substitution to the more wealth-creating export of manufactured goods. For example, at the same time that he allowed his military to assassinate selected Communist leaders, he also permitted the Communist-led labor unions of the KMU to organize openly and to stage strike after strike against our few export-oriented industries (e.g. garments factories) until their owners got fed up and moved their factories to other countries. This would never have been allowed at all by the constitutional authoritarians of Malaysia and Singapore, much less by the military governments that ruled South Korea, Taiwan, Indonesia and Thailand in the 70s and 80s. In the first decade of the 21st century, Communism has faded as a global threat, having collapsed from the accumulated weight of its failures in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union in 1989-91 and the calibrated transformation of China (since 1979) and Vietnam (since 1986) into capitalist economies. Any attempt now to revive the draconian anti-Communist measures that were standard in the region in the 60s, 70s and 80s would be universally condemned and would make the Philippines an international pariah. It would dry up the flow of foreign direct investments and official development aid for this country. At the same time, having missed the exports bus in the 70s and 80s and the tourism bus in the 90s, the Philippines does not enjoy the broad-based prosperity that is self-evident in South Korea, Taiwan, China, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and even in Indonesia and Vietnam. Given this absence of broad-based prosperity and the now political incorrectness of draconian measures against the Communist movement, it is hard to envision how President Arroyo can live up to her promise of defeating the Communist insurgency by 2010. A credible, visionary president, armed with a Better Idea, could conceivably overcome these handicaps and convince the remaining 5,000 Communist insurgents to abandon the armed struggle and return to the mainstream. It is safe to assume that most of them are no longer ideologically driven but are merely reacting to conditions of social injustice, poor governance and hopeless poverty. But President Arroyo is neither a visionary nor is she credible. Her concept of a Better Idea is limited to looking for creative ways to remain in power beyond 2010. Unless she steps down or is removed by force, there is no future for this country. ***** Reactions to [email protected]. Other articles in www.tapatt.org and in acabaya.blogspot.com. To subscribe, send a blank email with the subject heading Subscribe. To unsubscribe, send a blank email with the subject heading Unsubscribe. OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Reactions to "No Better Idea" 'Who are the Malays? And how to unite them?' Tony I agree with you article entirely. However, I am concerned that such opinions may plant ideas in to the minds of the current administration and its aides to introduce an ISA here. Remember that Singapore and Malyasia, after independence from Britain, were led by responsible leaders and in the case of Singapore virtually incorruptible ones too. An ISA here would be used to arrest almost anybody opposed to the plans hatched in the corridors and rooms of Malaca�ang and Congress, in both houses, including charter change of course. As a retired Philippines Ambassador to the UK once said to me and others "You British should have stayed her in force in 1762"! By the way Lee Kuan Yew has said many times that the fall of Singapore to the Japanese troops of General Yamashita was the beginning of the end of the British Empire. Tony Lee, (by email), Dec.18, 2008 British resident in Metro Manila wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww The real reason why the government will never defeat the NPA is because a victory will diminish the significance of the armed forces, leading to the need to downsize the military. The generals will be outraged by the thought of shrinking their fiefdom. Such will also mean lower sources of profit from the surreptitious enterprises that the AFP mafia runs. Gus Cosio, (by email), Dec. 18, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Tony, I think we readers understand where you are going. On how communism will fail in any economy, I believe it will fail. My question to you is, given the present situation of our country today, how do we go about it? Mike Delgado, (by email), Dec. 18, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony Abaya, I very much agree with you by saying that President Arroyo is neither a visionary nor is she credible and it is hard to envision how she can live up to her promise of defeating the communist insurgency by 2010. I think the main reason for the perpetuation of communist insurgency in the Philippines is the fact that there are a lot of visionary leaders in its real term in the ranks of the insurgents who are guided by their principles of serving the people. On the other hand, there is a dearth of visionary leaders in the mainstream politics in the country while it is highly visible in more economically successful neighboring countries which you mentioned as: Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Indonesia, and Thailand wherein communist insurgency had been stopped or diminished. So what we have is that: instead of people empowerment and pluralist governance, there is centuries-old elitist governance that perpetuates corruption and encourages communist and Muslim rebellion; instead of equity, there is irreversible trend in poverty; instead of sustainability or broad-based prosperity, there is further immersion into the quagmire of poverty; and instead of system-orientation, there is system dysfunction leading to poor or disintegration of governance, a kind of governance that is prone to suffer more in this critical period of global economic recession and climate change. My honest question is when and under what particular circumstances can we have visionary leaders who are not identified with both the communist and Muslim insurgencies? Thank you. Ed Enderez, (by email), Dec, 18, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Just read your "No Better Idea" and noted the last paragraph re PGMA -- you will surely be among the top of her hate list. Granted the futility of what ever she can do for the country or the people, is there no slim possibility of her ever rising from the ashes like the phoenix? There must be something she can do during her last year to save her governance/name and the legacy of her father. Can you in your astute mind, offer a solution, even a desperate act to enable her to do even one good thing so she can exit with grace. I do feel so bad as I have known her since she was a young girl, she treats me with affection as she knows my close relationship with her Dad and Mom especially and her brother Arthur is one of my best friends. I so want her wrong to be rendered right...is that possible? Do you have it in your heart to recommend a desperate solution - to give her one last chance that she may have the wisdom to listen to, to consider. to do? Why not help her? I dont believe in too little, too late.. Have a better idea? (Identity withheld), (by email), Dec. 18, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony, I agree that successive government administrations even from President Magsaysay failed to wipe out the Communist insurgency due to wrong policy prescriptions plus the failed economic tragedy to uplift the countryside where the supporters and sympathizers of the insurgents comes from. Perhaps, the main root cause of this domestic problem can be traced or linked to the way foreign mentors or CIA-backed front "Westernized" or multi-lateral aid institutions have controlled or manipulated the technical advisers of our legislative and executive dept. in pursuing an anti-nationalist measures to make us subservient to the interest of foreign masters. Our nationalist idealogues like Recto, Tanada, Diokno, Lichaoco et al, were ostracized because they carry the Ref flag of Anti-Americanism, economic nationalism and anti-feudal capitalism. Our religious biases to this ism have contributed to the failure in addressing the social injustice arising from the landlord-tiller conflict which up to this time has the cause of the failure of CARP Congression bill to rationalize the distribution of land to the rightful tillers and workers who have the right to own their only means of production and source of livelihood. Until our leaders do not lived up to their avowed obligation to the serve the people who have elected them, its all each to its own survival. Jojie Umali, (by email), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Dec. 18, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Personally, I believe we have had two (2) big opportunities in the past which could had helped us solved the communist insurgency. 1. Marcos era. Marcos could had done a lot for the country if not for his personal agenda and greed. Imagine ruling without the interference of the congress, the supreme court with complete control of the armed forces and economic resources, omigod, anyone with a heart in the right place can do no wrong; and, could had accomplished things beyond our wild imagination. Pero hindi nangyari. We were hoodwinked all the way to the bank. Worst, what he had done drove a number of idealists to the arms of the communists. 2. Cory's era. I believe she is the best president we ever had as far as honesty and sincerity in governing is concerned saved by some scheming kamag-anak. It was unfortunate that personal greed of the few unscrupulous individual had derailed completely her program of government. Her sole accomplishment was the restoration of democracy without the envisioned would-be economic gain which could have eliminated poverty which we blamed for all the problems we have as a people. Her peace drive with the communists turned out to be a failure as this was made possible by people like Enrile, Honasan, Laurel and some adventurous military generals and officers with misplaced loyalty. The coups staged by Honasan had completely killed the peace initiative of the Cory government. Maybe, I may add that General Ramos was no help to Cory either for treating the wayward soldiers with kid's gloves. How many coups had been launched against the Aquino's government? Sad to say, it seems fraternal brotherhood in this country is cherished more than the implementation of the nation's existing laws. With this attitude we will go nowhere. Of course, some may say that without Ramos protection or influence, Cory could had been overthrown or worst, assassinated. Ewan ko. I belong to the old school but I don't believe on compromised diplomacy which I believed the former president subscribed to in settling ticklish issues, win-win solution daw. Pang short-term solution lamang ito. At times this kind of agreement will only result to comprimising peace in the long run. We should be willing to pay the price if we want a lasting peace. Yes, we have truce with the enemies of the State. Yet, the government is always challenged to war by these enemies when things don't go their way. Well, that's what we gained when we compromised peace. We are losing our soldiers through treachery yet we are not doing enough to protect the lives of these heroic individuals. On Gloria's time. Tony, we still have a future. On hold nga lang. Just don't let Gloria and Mike to cha-cha. Hindi bagay sa kanila ang sayaw. Oh, on your question nga pala on the communists issue. Gloria as usual will not deliver as promised that she'll get rid of the communists in 2010, So don't hold your breath. We have a long way to go before we could convince them to lay down their arms and idealogy. To our sincere and hardworking political leaders: please upgrade and clean up our election process and help the poor without strings attached and let God do the rest. God bless us all and happy holidays to all. Arcy F. Sibal, (by email), Sta. Maria, Bulacan. Dec. 18, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww You wrote: Unless she steps down or is removed by force, there is no future for this country. This is very true Tony....I have been commenting this to you and all I talked to since she renegged on her famous statement that she will not run in 2004....she will not step down! (I still could be wrong, but its getting nearer to reality than a farce) Again, if my memory serves me right, in one of her SONA'S she mentioned that she will make this country a First World country in the year 2020 or somewhere near there. How could anyone in her right mind say that remark, when she knows she will only be there until 2010? In regards to the insurgency problem, this actually can be over easily if the government and military want it to end. But how do the generals and the BUHAYAS in government make their money!!!! if the problem is completely eradicated? Do you think, this could be the reason why these generals and BUHAYAS have their very trusted COMPTROLLERS / SUPPLIERS doing the accounting and getting government contracts easily, respectively and then have the gull to deny any wrong doings when caught? We must remember gentlemen, that the military and government officials earn from these scenarios, and they know that they can get away with it. Take this COTTAGE INDUSTRY out from them and what do these people have? NOTHING!! Our poor soldiers in the field suffer the consequences. Brave men who fight and die for our country while their 'superiors' basking in their foreign trips abroad with their wives not caring if their soldiers in the battle zones are safe and equipped. Also, we have a President who is soooooooooooo scared of the military that she turns the other way when corruption happens and is exposed. She definitely knows that if she does something about it, she will be unseated ASAP. Then her dream of staying in power forever is gone..... GOD HAVE MERCY ON US!!!!! We don't deserve these kind of hypocrites and self-serving people governing us. Jose Genato, (by email), Dec. 18, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww How can the NPA be defeated by 2010 when it is a fact that it has increased in number and has been in the offensive lately. How I wish that the NPA, if it is really for the people, will eliminate all the corrupt officials in the three branches of government. Narciso Ner, (by email), Davao City, Dec. 18, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww The international community is watching your every move so you corrupt politicians better shape up. Philippines: Witnessing justice - breaking the chain of impunity Index Number: ASA 35/003/2008 Date Published: 29 August 2008 Categories: Philippines At least 200 political killings and over 200 enforced disappearances have reportedly occurred in the Philippines since 2001. Few effective investigations have been conducted and the arrest, prosecution and conviction of those responsible are rare. Many cases are never brought to court due to a lack of evidence, mostly because witnesses fear reprisals. Amnesty International believes that comprehensive investigations and other measures, including the effective protection of witnesses, are essential to break the chain of impunity. http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/ASA35/003/2008/en Philippines - Amnesty International Report 2008 Human Rights in REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES Life for activists and many others was coloured by fear of extrajudicial executions and enforced disappearance, although fewer killings were reported than in 2006. The link between the military and political killings was further established by international and national institutions. There was much opposition to enhanced powers under an anti-terrorism law given to the armed forces and police. Negotiations progressed between the government and Muslim separatists, but talks with the communist National Democratic Front (NDF) remained stalled. Political killings and enforced disappearances Amid conflicting reports, at least 33 people were allegedly victims of political killings, a slight decrease over the previous year, and several people disappeared. Siche Bustamante Gandinao, a member of Bayan Muna (People First), a leftist political party, and Misamis Oriental Farmers Association was killed on 10 March. She had testified before the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions about the murder of her father-in-law, Dalmacio Gandinao, also a member of Bayan Muna. Like her father-in-law, Siche Gandinao campaigned against human rights violations committed by soldiers against residents of their village suspected of being rebels or rebel supporters. Nilo Arado and Luisa Posa-Dominado were abducted in April after being stopped in their truck by men in army fatigues. Their companion, Jose Garachico, was shot and wounded and left on the road while the other two were driven off in the truck. The burned out truck was found the next day with no sign of Nilo Arado and Luisa Posa-Dominado. Three hearings to consider habeas corpus writs were held in which military officers were named but failed to appear. In February the Commission of Inquiry headed by former Supreme Court Justice Jos� Melo published its report on political killings. It concluded that circumstantial evidence linked a group of military personnel to the killings. The Commission stated that further evidence, particularly the testimony of witnesses and the co-operation of activist groups, was needed to secure criminal convictions, while finding that under the principle of command responsibility, some senior military officers may be held responsible for their failure to prevent, punish or condemn the killings.Public concern about political killings and disappearances mounted in 2007. The Supreme Court convened a summit with government and civil society actors in July. Recommendations included amendments to the law on habeas corpus to allow courts to give families or petitioners access to suspected places of detention. In September, the Supreme Court issued The Rule on the Writ of Amparo, which allows courts to order temporary protection, inspection or production of documents or witnesses where an individual's life, liberty or security have been violated or are under theat. The Writ of Amparo was subsequently used by human rights groups in cases of enforced disappearance. On 26 December, the Court of Appeals issued a decision that recognized the involvement of General Jovito Palparan and other military personnel in the abduction and disappearance of Raymond and Reynaldo Manalo in 2006.A report issued in November by the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions criticized government institutions, particularly the military, for continued extrajudicial killings. The Rapporteur underlined the main causes as the failure of the judicial system to address impunity and the military counter-insurgency strategies that increasingly target civil society groups as fronts for communist insurgents. Recommendations included ensuring the accountability of military officials, reforming the witness protection programme, ensuring the respect of human rights in the peace process, enabling effective congressional oversight of the security sector, and calling on the Supreme Court to take all available measures to ensure the effective prosecution of cases.Few prosecutions were brought against those responsible for political killings and disappearances. In a rare case, two soldiers were charged with murder in May following the killing in 2006 of Isaias Sta. Rosa, a pastor, in Daraga, Albay province. Shortly after, however, the charges were dropped due to lack of evidence. Arbitrary arrests and detentions Arrests and harassment of politicians and activists continued. Following a mission to the Philippines by the Inter-Parliamentary Union in April to investigate politically motivated arrests, criminal cases against six opposition members of parliament, including Satur Ocampo and Crispin Beltran, were dismissed. Satur Ocampo, Congress Representative and co-founder of Bayan Muna, was detained for 19 days on charges of murder in connection with left-wing activities during the rule of former President Marcos. He was released on bail on 3 April. Crispin Beltran, Congress Representative for the Anakpawis (Toiling Masses) party, was released in April. He had been detained in February 2006 and faced fabricated charges of rebellion. Read the rest of AI report 2008 on link below: http://www.amnesty.org/en/region/philippines/report-2008 The system of governance of the Philippine datus and mini-datus have not changed at all since Morga observed it in the late 1500s: "The superiority of these chiefs over those of their barangai was so great that they held the latter as subjects; they treated these well or ill, and disposed of their persons, their children, and their possessions, at will, without any resistance, or rendering account to anyone. For very slight annoyances and for slight occasions, they were wont to kill and wound them, and to enslave them." - Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas, Morga (1609) Bobby Manasan, (by email), Burke, Virginia, Dec 18, 2008 (You keep repeating this datu thing like a mantra, as if these things happened only in the Philippines. Anyone familiar with world developments knows that human rights violations, enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests and detentions�all happened in various degrees in South Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia�..as well is Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Guatemala, Nicaragua, etc during their dirty wars against their Communist insurgencies�as well as in Iraq, Afghanistan etc in the ongoing American "war against terror." They also happened in communist countries as they silenced their own critics and malcontents. It's an imperfect world and Filipinos are not alone in their imperfections. ACA) wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww I think there is no charismatic and visionary leader among the presidentiables we have. He or she must still be found. But how and when? Jose Dado, (by email), Dec. 19, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Hi Tony, The Better Idea is real public service from good government and delivered to all Filipinos 24/7; complemented by an enlightened elite with a social conscience that functions for the sake of the common good. I'd like to have an enabling government that does not waver from its commitment to moral leadership and excellent stewardship. And I'd like to be in a society that gives everyone a fair deal and a fair chance to reach his/her full potentials, a society that follows its rules and will stand its ground against perfidy in the knowledge that trust and confidence in ourselves as a caring, sharing and daring people are the foundations for a living democracy. I'd like to see a dynamic educational system that sustains our moral and cultural fabrics, and provides our public and private sectors with a surfeit of exceptional talent in just about every field of human endeavor. It would be good to have an economy that provides for everyone's basic needs; an abundance of opportunities for jobs and wealth creation; and one that maintains, without fail, a robust middle class. And it would be reassuring for our inner peace that we have a military that can ably defend the people and the national interest from all kinds of depravities that threaten their safety, security and the national patrimony; and a criminal justice system that truly works against criminals of all kinds, without fear or favor, and in the most expeditious manner. Can this be achieved with our current political paradigm? I guess we all know the answer to that one. But how can we get to that Better Idea when the gatekeepers themselves have mocked the law and trampled all over the people in the past nine years at the expense of democracy and a life of decency and dignity? Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures to, for starters, repair damaged institutions; thoroughly cleanse our electoral system; bring criminals in power to justice; and prepare a new generation of local, national and natural leaders to lead the way for our nation's moral and cultural transformation. Best regards, Raffy Alunan, (by email), Dec. 20, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Tony, You said it the way you do. It can't be any clearer. Regards, Cesar Sarino, (by email), Dec. 21, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww (Forwarded to Tapatt by Fil Juntereal) Who are the Malays? And how to unite them Posted by Vineeth Menon Sunday, 03 August 2008 15:51 It is time to define who the "malays" really are and to correctly define them. To begin with, let us look at the subject of "Race". Since Hitler's Days of propagating the "Superiority" of the Aryan Race, many have scorned from the very mention of the very word "race" itself. However, certain Malaysian Political Parties still seems to relish in its' very notion of separation. Strangely, they go all out to "Divide and Rule". Uniting one race in particular, but not the rest of the country. And they spend lots of time, money and effort to this redundant and lost cause. Anthropology defines only 5 Races in the World (use your favorite search engine). The Caucasoids, Negroids, Mongoloids, The Dravidic, and the Austronesians. Any other species is merely a combination of the above 5 main groupings. Geographically, Malaysia falls within the Austronesian Category. Brown skinned people, residing in countries such as Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Burma, Cambodia, Vietnam, Philippines, Brunei, Polynesian Islands, Tahiti, Hawaii and so forth. In fact, it is next to impossible to differentiate the Austronesian People, regardless of the country they come from. However, if there is a certain distinctive physical facial feature, which identifies anyone from any locality, it is usually a case of the gene pool not coming from a wide enough resource. Put bluntly, Incest, or Inbreeding (as Mahathir so aptly put it, in the greater sense of the definition, in his book, "The Malay Delima"). Inter-marrying from within the community. However, some still believe that it is essential that cousins should marry each other to protect the "Blue-Blood", and/ or to prevent family property from ever leaving the clan. This unfortunately is in stark contrast to the Mongoloid practice where two people with even the same family names are prohibited from marrying. In fact, once you remove the nationalities from the Austronesians, you will find a vast interesting and diverse group of people. From the many ornate costumes, to the vast number of religions and cultural practices. The very essence of the Austronesian Culture is bound to intoxicate every observer. One other category, which seems to confuse the issue is the existence of whom locals call the "Orang Asli". Technically known as "Australo Melanesians", they are the direct descendants of the East Africans who migrated out of Laetoli, Africa circa 60,000 years ago. You will also find it impossible to distinguish between an Australian Aborigine, The Malaysian Negrito, or the Philippine Aeta with the Papuan Tribes. So you now have two distinct groups. The first to arrive here are the Australo Melanesians, circa 60,000 years ago, and then you have the Austronesians (from Yunan), who arrived in Malaysia circa 3,000 years ago. Cross-Breeding between the two results in a "new" category called the Polynesians. "Poly" meaning "many", thus accurately describing the many "...sians" which have inter-bred. Caucasians with Austronesians, Australo-Melanesians with Austronesians and so on so forth. For an accurate understudy of Anthropology, country borders are irrelevant, and only serve to create severe delusions of the facts. As the Austronesian Clusters are so diverse, many individual traits start to form in a localized manner. For the sake of individual Nationalism Spirit, many have mutated from its original form. Others, such as costumes and such have taken on slightly different materials depending on what was locally available to them, and was duly influenced by the spice tradesmen of the West who brought new materials. However, they all have their roots in animism, which is still seen in all of greater Polynesia. As such, their religions are equally as diverse. True to form, most Austronesian Cultures have still retained many traits during their animistic days. Hinduism also has played an extremely large role in defining rituals, and is most obvious in local Austronesian Wedding Customs. The concept of Sultan and Maharaja (Raja in short) is also of Hindu origins. The Sultan is equivalent to the "Son of Heaven" concept of China. Therefore, "Duli Yang Maha Mulia" (He who is of Supreme Nobility). So is the double-handed praying-gesture when addressing someone of importance, or when addressing the King/ Sultan. The local bomoh will attest to a combination of animistic, and pagan practices with Islam. Frowned by authorities, but still permitted to practice; with or without a license. Exorcisms, prediction of lottery numbers, healing the sick are among the many many functions and duties of the local Bomoh. He is also often seen to grace important venues, holding back the rain, or invited to special occasions and functions; sometimes, by the very people who scorn his pagan "superior powers". While it is true that a large number of Austronesians are of the Muslim faith (but not in the greater Polynesia), it is also important to note, that (in South East Asia) the majority of them converted en-masse during the late 19th Century just prior to the Krakatau Volcanic explosion. Impending "Doomsday" brought about a massive conversion from the previous 1,500 years of Hinduism. Why the Balinese, the North "Sulawesians", the Kalimantans, the people from Flores, the Papuans and the central Javanese never converted, we will never know. Perhaps they never heard of the impending explosion of this volcano, or that they were simply too far away to care. Read 'Krakatoa': The Wrath of the Earth and how it turned Indonesia Muslim by Richard Ellis. Travelling by air from Jakarta to Bali will present you with an unprecedented view of many active volcanoes along central Java. (a possible "peek" into the past of the pre-Krakatau days). "... Kejawen is the actual and true religion of most of the Javanese people, but they have been forced ever since 1947 to identify themselves as Muslims, thus swelling the number of declared Muslims into the majority ..." -John Valentine For those wanting to read more on Kejawen can turn to: http://www.joglosemar.co.id/ <http://www.joglosemar.co.id/kejawen/index.html> http://www.kpsnusantara.com/ <http://www.kpsnusantara.com/> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kejawen <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kejawen> Again, use your favourite search engine to research/ Amazon.com your "Kejawen" materials. Spending the past 3 months in Indonesia has allowed me to make many ground-level observations firsthand. For those keen, make your own observations, and studies. Aceh, in North Sumatra of Indonesia is actually an acronym few are made aware of. A=Arab, C=Chinese, E=Europe and H=Hindi (India). The diagram below offers a much known migrational origins of the various Austronesians ( only known as "malay" in Malaysia). To further confuse the issue, Indonesia, defines a "malay" simply if you come from 2 regions. The Riau (formerly known as riuh, meaning "noisy") and its neighboring islands, as well as to the Brunei inhabitants (who probably came from the same Riau region). But regardless, circa 75% of West Malaysian Austronesians are migrants from the Island of Java (Batavia), thus should be called Javanese instead of "malay". Even better would be the preferred, and correct name of Orang Ambon. For the record, in Austronesian language, "Orang ..." simply implies the place of origin. As such, "Orang Aceh", does not mean the "Acehnese Race", but people from Aceh. Similarly, "Orang Jawa" simply means "People who come from Java. Nowhere has the word "Orang" (in its original sense) meant "race". "Bangsa" transalates as "Race", while "Warganegara" transalates as "Nationality". Hence, no one ever talks about the "Singaporean Race", even though one might refer to them, as "Orang Singapura", or "Warganegara Singapura". Now, using the same definition, "Orang Melayu" means people from Kampong Melayu, Jambi, Sumatera. Somewhere along the way, some bright spark decided to "upgrade" Melayu, from Kaum (tribe) to Bangsa (Race). Noble, but wrong. For reasons best known only to the Individual Local Governments, the very insistence of a "malay race", as well as the concept of "Ketuanan Melayu" (Lordship of malays) continues to elude the Academia. Who exactly are they referring to, when they mention the word "malay", and who exactly do these "malays" have Lordship over? Is this concept of Lordship then, just as ficticious as the "malay-race" definition itself? In closing, the above picture is an "In-Your-Face" challenge, to see if anyone can accurately identify, which tribes these Austronesians are from, or next best, which country they each originated from individually. (FYI. The flower garlands could be props from dancing in front of hotels, or actual ceremonial costumes) Wherever they come from, I'm very sure that once the Austronesian Race is correctly identified that the UMNO's demented definition of the word "malay" would cease to be significant. Just like the very existence of UMNO itself. By the same definition, Mahathir resumes being an Indian, Badawi is once again part-Hainanese, part Pakistani, his former wife, part Japanese, and his present wife, Portuguese. And so, looking back, Malaysia never had a "malay" Prime Minister since independence. ...... t-o-u-g-h. For now, we are all looking forward to the unification of all Malaysians, and not any individual "race" from any particular Political Party. And no matter many kilos of C4 are used, one can never take away the Beauty, the Charm, and the Mystique of the Greater Exotic Austronesian Race. But for the record, Malaysia cannot unite, unless, you first correctly identify the "malays". Do some soul-searching. Ask your relatives, most will gladly tell you where you came from. The only people who obviously cannot possibly remember, are the Orang Asli's. They have been here since 60,000 years ago. Far too long for any mortal to remember. And they, and they alone, my friends, are the True and Only Bumiputra of this land. Prepared by Michael Chick OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Reactions to [email protected]. To subscribe, send a blank email with the subject heading Subscribe. To unsubscribe, send a blank email with the subject heading Unsubscribe. |