Archive for the 'Southeast Asia' Category

15
Oct

Pernyataan Sikap Bersama PRP dan KASBI, Indonesia

For the English translation, please skip to the end of this article.

Kenyataan akhbar ini dikeluarkan dalam Bahasa Indonesia:

Pernyataan Sikap Bersama
Konfederasi Kongres Aliansi Serikat Buruh Indonesia (KASBI), Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) dan Perhimpunan Rakyat Pekerja (PRP)

Bangun Persatuan Kelas Pekerja Asia Tenggara!

Kaum buruh tidak mempunyai tanah air. Kita tidak dapat mengambil dari mereka apa yang tidak ada pada mereka.
(Karl Marx, 1848)

Pendahuluan

Beberapa waktu yang lalu kembali berkumandang sentiment-sentimen anti Malaysia setelah munculnya kasus dugaan klaim Malaysia terhadap tarian pendet. Kedua belah pihak, Pemerintah Indonesia dan Malaysia pun saling mengomentari persoalan itu. Disisi lain muncul aksi-aksi di Indonesia yang mengusung isu anti Malaysia. Kejadian tersebut bukanlah kali pertama terjadi. Sebelumnya sentiment-sentimen Chauvinis tersebut telah muncul beberapa kali akibat kasus-kasus seperti perebutan daerah seperti Pulau Sipadan Ligitan, Blok Ambalat, Pulau Jemur; klaim budaya seperti Tarian Reog dan juga Lagu Rasa Sayang-sayange.

ARTIKEL PENUH (MORE) »

09
Oct

Bangkok: Right-wing mob riots outside parliament

Since late evening on the 6th October 2008, the ultra right-wing fascist mob which calls itself the “Peoples Alliance for Democracy” (PAD) laid plans to lay siege to the Thai parliament. They came prepared with iron bars and crash helmets. Their plan, as always, was to create chaos in the hope that the military would stage a coup or that the ruling party would once again be dissolved by the courts. Their claim is that the present government lead, by the Peoples Power Party or PPP (ex-Premier Thaksin’s Thai Rak Thai in another name), is “illegitimate”. The party and the previous TRT party have consistently won large majorities in elections, proving that they are popular with the poor, who make up the majority of the population. This support from the poor is not surprising, since the party was the first elite party in 30 years to offer a universal health care scheme and public funds to develop the rural economy.

ARTIKEL PENUH (MORE) »

04
Dec

Semangat Pramoedya Sentiasa Hidup!

Semangat Pramoedya Sentiasa Hidup!

Semua karya Pramoedya adalah tentang kisah sebelum kemerdekaan Indonesia, dan beliau tidak menulis sejarah selepas 1945 kerana zaman tersebut belum selesai – Revolusi Nasional Indonesia belum selesai. Begitulah tanggapan salah seorang panel yang berucap dalam satu forum bertajuk “Pramoedya: Sejarah, Novel dan Politik Pembebasan” yang diadakan pada 24 November lalu.

Forum yang dianjurkan oleh Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) ini telah menjemput dua orang yang pakar dalam mengkaji karya Pramoedya, iaitu Max Lane dan Sumit Mandal, untuk berkongsi pengetahuan mereka tentang Pramoedya, seorang tokoh sasterawan yang amat terkemuka di rantau Asia Tenggara.

Max Lane yang berasal dari Australia berkenalan dengan Pramoedya sejak awal tahun 1980an dan tertarik dengan pemikiran Pramoedya sehingga menjadi penterjemah karya Pramoedya ke dalam bahasa Inggeris. Menurut Max Lane, kita perlu mengenali dan menghayati Pramoedya, bukan sahaja peribadinya yang sentiasa mempertahankan haknya, tetapi juga karyanya yang kaya dengan pemikiran yang progresif tentang pembebasan dan pembentukan bangsa.

Max Lane berkata, mengikut Pramoedya, kebangkitan bangsa di kepulauan Nusantara telah mencipta sesuatu yang baru, iaitu Indonesia. Indonesia bukannya lanjutan daripada sesuatu yang sebelumnya, tetapi penggulingan kekuasaan sistem penjajah begitu juga dengan unsur-unsur zaman lampau. Bangsa yang lahir daripada revolusi nasional adalah bangsa yang baru. Namun revolusi nasional dan pembinaan bangsa di Indonesia masih belum selesai, kerana terputus apabila Suharto berkuasa. Reformasi yang berlaku kemudiannya masih tidak cukup untuk menyempurnakan proses ini. Hanya rakyat biasa dapat menyempurnakan proses ini dari bawah.

Pada pandangan Pramoedya, revolusi nasional di negara seperti Indonesia perlu menyempurnakan tiga tugas revolusi – 1) revolusi borjuis seperti yang dilambangkan oleh Deklarasi Kemerdekaan Amerika Syarikat, 2) revolusi sosialis seperti yang terkandung dalam Manifesto Komunis, dan 3) perjuangan anti-penjajah seperti yang terkandung dalam “San Min Zhu Yi” ciptaan Sun Yat-Sen. Kalau tidak berlaku revolusi, iaitu penggulingan kekuasaan pemerintah, adalah sukar untuk membayangkan sesuatu negara bangsa itu sudah merdeka.

Max juga menyebut tentang pengaruh karya-karya Pramoedya, ramai pelajar menjadi aktivis selepas membaca tulisan Pramoedya semasa zaman pemerintahan Suharto. Bercakap tentang sastera nasional pula, Max mengatakan bahawa kalau sesuatu karya sastera tidak dapat dinikmati dan dihayati oleh semua elemen dalam satu bangsa (nation), maka tidak akan wujudnya sastera nasional.

Max juga mengatakan bahawa Pramoedya tidak pernah mengaku menyertai mana-mana parti politik kecuali Partai Rakyat Demokratik (PRD) pada tahun 1990an yang terdiri daripada anak-anak muda. Pramoedya memang sakit hati melihat zaman pasca-Suharto, kerana wujudnya konsumerisme, elitism dan politik wang yang berluasa. Pramoedya menaruh harapannya ke atas golongan muda dalam membangunkan pergerakan untuk menyelesaikan revolusi. Apabila salah seorang pemimpin PRD meninggalkan pergerakan dan melanjutkan pelajaran ke luar negeri, Pramoedya sangat marah dan menanya mengapa pergi ke Universiti luar negeri, kerana sekolah yang paling baik adalah organisasi!

Sumit pula berucap tentang pemikiran anti-perkauman Pramoedya. Bagi Pramoedya, bangsa itu bermakna sama taraf manusia. Pramoedya melawan sentiment dan pergerakan anti-Cina bukan sekadar membela nasib kaum Tionghua tetapi menentang perkauman dari asasnya.

Kisah-kisah dan karya-karya Pramoedya memang membuka minda semua orang, dan perlu dihayati dengan sedalam-dalamnya. Semangat Pramoedya akan sentiasa hidup dalam tulisannya dan terus menjadi inspirasi untuk golongan muda melangkah ke hadapan.

oleh.

Choo Chon Kai

14
Nov

Forum: Pramoedya – sejarah, novel dan politik pembebasan

Pramoedya Ananta Toer (1925-2006), merupakan sasterawan Indonesia yang terkenal di mata dunia. Beliau telah menghasilkan lebih 50 karya dan diterjemahkan dalam 41 bahasa asing. Beliau merupakan tokoh penulisan yang berhaluan kiri, karyanya menyampaikan pemikiran progresif yang menentang penjajahan dan pemerintahan zalim. Karyanya yang mendapat sambutan hebat termasuklah Bumi Manusia dan Anak Semua Bangsa, yang ditulisnya semasa dalam penahanan di Pulau Buru.

Pramoedya pernah ditahan selama 3 tahun pada zaman penjajah, 1 tahun semasa pemerintahan “Orde Lama” Sukarno dan 14 tahun semasa pemerintahan “Orde Baru” Suharto. Beliau ditahan selama 18 tahun secara total. Beliau ditahan pada masa Orde Baru bersama ribuan orang atas tuduhan memihak kepada Partai Komunis Indonesia (PKI).

“Had Pramoedya Ananta Toer been a Soviet dissident he would have received the Nobel Prize, but his status as a literary master is secure and, unlike some Latin American contemporaries, he remained unapologetic throughout his life.”
- Tariq Ali

Datanglah mendengar lebih mendalam mengenai tokoh sastera kiri yang terkemuka di rantau Asia Tenggara ini.

Tarikh: 24 November 2007 (Sabtu)
Masa: 8pm
Tempat: Dewan Perhimpunan Cina Selangor, 1, Jalan Maharajalela, Kuala Lumpur
Moderator: Fathi Aris Omar (Aktivis Media)
Kemasukan: Percuma

Ahli Panel

  • Max Lane – Penulis & Pengkaji Sejarah dalam tangan Pramoedya – ‘revolusi belum selesai’ (Max Lane merupakan seorang penulis, penyelidik dan penterjemah yang berasal dari Australia. Beliau mempunyai pengalaman lebih 36 tahun bekerja di Indonesia, Singapura dan Filipina. Hasil kerja beliau terbaru adalah penterjemahan karya Pramoedya, Arok Dedes, ke dalam bahasa Inggeris, Arok of Java. Beliau juga banyak menulis tentang pergerakan masyarakat di Indonesia, termasuklah buku terbaru beliau, Bangsa Yang Belum Selesai,: Indonesia sebelum dan sesusah Suharto.)
  • Sumit Mandal – Penyelidik, IKMAS, UKM, Politik anti-perkauman Pramoedya

Anjuran: Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) & Community Development Centre (CDC)

Sebarang pertanyaan sila hubungi pejabat PSM 03-22747791 atau Chon Kai 019-5669518

28
Sep

3,000 Burmese march in the streets of Kuala Lumpur

BURMESE RED MARCH IN THE STREETS OF KUALA LUMPUR

Kuala Lumpur, 28 September 2007

This morning, more than three thousand Burmese protesters , most of them wearing red marched in the street of Kuala Lumpur. They walked from Ampang Park to the Burmese Embassy, 2 kilometers away. There they had a very organized peaceful demonstration facing the local Riot police who were guarding the Embassy. Then they proceeded to the Chinese Embassy and the Russian Embassy to hand over a memorandum.

The demonstration was a joint effort of nine Burmese Organization here. Most of the protesters wore headscarf, carried posters and banners denouncing the military junta, calling for the killing to stop and demanding for democracy. Many also carried symbols symbolizing Buddha and portraits of Aung Sang Suu Kyi.

Only a handful of Malaysian were among the crowd to give solidarity. PSM’s Secretary General S.Arutchelvan in solidarity marched with the protesters to the three protest points. Among some of the organization present were SUARAM, AI and HAKAM. The protesters were very disciplined, very organized and had the entire program carried with such discipline and precision. They marshals kept the crowd in control. Many protesters took leave while in some places, the employer had to shut down the business today as almost all the workers were gone demonstrating. Most of those present today expressed anxiety about the situation back home.  The spirits were high throughout the program. The Malaysian police force who came in full force were amazed by the mobilization by the Burmese and maintained traffic control as well was very restrained.

It was a day when the diverse Burmese community came down with one message – Junta out ! Democracy Now !

27
Sep

PSM Statement on Burma – Stop Repression

PRESS STATEMENT :  27 SEPTEMBER 2007

STOP REPRESSION!

DEMOCRACY IN MYANMAR NOW !

Socialist Party of Malaysia (PSM) strongly condemn the violent repressions of Myanmar Junta against anti-government protesters which resulted in a raising number of casualties.  PSM is alarmed and concerned with news reports that Burmese soldiers have used baton and tear gas against the Buddhist monks and civilian protesters at Shwedagon pagoda, the holiest Buddhist place in Rangoon and elsewhere. We also hear that hundreds of people have been arrested and taken away in trucks. The number of people killed varies from five to eight till now. Key leaders have been arrested and curfews have also been imposed. Yet, we continue to hear the heroic struggle of the people in marching on for change. We salute the brave people of Myanmar at this very juncture of history.

The military junta government which currently rules the country is illegitimate as it was installed after a bloody coup and suppression of people uprising in 1988. The junta government has continuously suppressed the working class, students and other ethnic minorities and severely curbed civil liberties.

The violent clampdown against the protesters is another evident of the bloody rule of military and business oligarchy in Myanmar.

The recent waves of anti-junta protests arise from the decision of the government to increase the fuel of price between 300% to 500%. It definitely impacted the majority of Myanmar people who live in poverty. Despite threats from the government, people of Myanmar including Buddhist monks, have taken a courageous step to go to the streets and protest against the undemocratic junta government. The economic demands have rapidly spilled and have now become political demands calling for the military junta to restore democracy. The demonstration which started by the Buddhist monks’ have now become a huge movement with the support of the ordinary people with mobilization numbering more than 100,000.

PSM also condemn the inability of the The Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) government to deal with this issue. ASEAN Secretary General Ong Keng Yong merely stated that ASEAN hoped that “the situation remains peaceful”. ASEAN Governments have merely called on the Junta to handle the situation rather than condemning the atrocities committed by the military regime. Each of these Government too are more worried of similar uprisings due to neoliberal policies back home.

PSM calls upon the government of Malaysia to break its diplomatic ties and economic cooperation with Myanmar government, until democracy has been restored in Myanmar. Malaysia should also close down its embassy in Myanmar immediately and send back the Myanmar ambassador back home.

PSM would also like to point out the hypocrisy of imperial power like the US and Britain in dealing with Myanmar. While people die and suffer violence daily in Iraq and Afghanistan due to the presence of US and British troops, The Bush and Brown administration is unashamedly talking about democracy in Myanmar.

PSM extends our solidarity to the brave people of Myanmar who are now struggling for a better future of their country. The current protest movement shows that the people of Myanmar are fed-up and have decided to challenge till the end. No power in the world is stronger than the united movement of the people.  PSM believes that only the peoples’ resistance from below can put an end to the dictatorship. We in Malaysia are inspired by the resistance put up by the common people and await the victory which would eventually have to come.

Long Live the Uprising!

Choo Chon Kai

International Bureau
Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM)



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