Increase women's role in decision making and peacebuilding processes

An article regarding a two-day conference entitled “The Role of Women in Cross-Cultural Dialogue" held in Baku, Azerbaijan, was posted in The Jakarta Post Daily, 11 June 2008. This came to my interest as the title “Increase women’s role in decision making and peace-building process” was as well stated in the recommendations’ narratives in my master thesis entitled “Mending the Shards: Women’s Experiences During and After the Ambon Conflict”.

The conference then declared a Baku Declaration which among others voices a call on all governments to increase the participation of women in all spheres of decision-making, as well as in peace- building processes with a special emphasis on conflict resolution, and an agreement to promote the role of women in mass media aiming at valorizing their image as well as their achievements in ensuring the intercultural dialogue.

I hope these voices will be heard by all parties in all over the world for not putting women aside from peacebuilding processes and dialogues. Here are some lines from my thesis that proposing the same opinion. It came to my thought that it might be valuable to try this effort in the case of FPI-Ahmadiyah. Who knows..

During the conflict in Ambon, women were able to quickly mobilize their networks and strengths in giving pressure to all parties to stop the violent conflict. Tireless campaign to stop violence was conducted throughout the years by women from different ethnics and religion. Through prayer meetings, reconciliation, ceremonies, peace marches, they took a political stand against violence.

Women also bridge Muslims and Christians. Women, through their profession, also play big part in peace-building. As an activist, lawyer, paramedics, teacher, priest, journalist, or in any type of profession, women in Ambon has proved that they did maximum actions in serving the people or victims that need their hands. Women helped children, widows, widowers, handicapped victims, displaced persons, families, etc to heal their deep-rooted trauma and regain their courage to start their lives. In short, women implement the peace negotiations and rebuild community cohesion.

During the peace negotiations however, women were overlooked. Despite their significant role during tensions periods, out of 70 participants of the Malino Peace negotiations, only three women were invited.

It has to be highlighted that women’s contributions to peacebuilding and their unique experiences of violence signal the need for mainstreaming gender in all conflict prevention and peacebuilding efforts. Women have to be involved in formal political peace processes. Excluding woman groups from such efforts would mean that the government fails to see capacity of women in peace building. It is evident that in conflict and post-conflict situation women play major role in helping the survivors, among other by providing foods and shelters, but many would normally overlook their simple and non-heroic contributions.

Hujan Bulan Juni

Siang tadi saya menerima kiriman puisi dari suami tercinta. Senang karna Wahyu sering mengingatkan tentang hujan di bulan Juni. Ya, sekarang sudah masuk bulan Juni dan kami berdua kerap membicarakan Sapardi Djoko Damono dengan “Hujan Bulan Juni”nya. Indah sekali puisi ini. Thanks my beb.

Saya selalu senang menikmati hujan yang jatuh secara berirama ke bumi. Bau tanah dan rumput yang menebar setelah hujan usai adalah sensasi romantis yang tak bisa terjabarkan dengan kata. Menatap hujan sambil menghirup aroma romantis bumi dari tepi jendela bisa memperkaya hati ini dengan kuntum-kuntum bunga.

Hujan Bulan Juni

(Sapardi Djoko Damono)

tak ada yang lebih tabah dari hujan bulan juni
dirahasiakannya rintik rindunya kepada pohon berbunga itu

tak ada yang lebih bijak dari hujan bulan juni
dihapusnya jejak-jejak kakinya yang ragu-ragu di jalan itu

tak ada yang lebih arif dari hujan bulan juni
dibiarkannya yang tak terucapkan diserap akar pohon bunga itu

Menari dan Bernyanyilah Papa, seperti Daun Gugur

Sejak Papa mejalani perawatan cuci ginjal dengan metode CAPD (Continous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis) di bulan September 2007, kondisinya semakin lemah. Papa berulangkali harus dirawat di RS bahkan sempat mengalami kritis di hari Jumat dan Sabtu lalu, 30-31 Mei 2008. Tensinya yang naik drastis menyebabkan Papa sempat meronta kesakitan dan kehilangan kesadaran. Kami semua hanya bisa memegang tangan dan kaki Papa yang meronta, sambil menangis tak henti dan berusaha membujuk Papa agar tenang. Tapi rontaan Papa sangat masuk akal. Siapa kiranya yang bisa menahan sakit sedemikian rupa dengan tensi 256/100? Bahkan banyak yang mengira Papa sudah tidak bisa bertahan. Minggu, 1 Juni, Papa sadar tapi tidak ingat apa yang sudah terjadi di hari kemarin…lalu sorenya kami meminta gereja untuk bisa mengadakan Perjamuan Kudus untuk Papa dan kami sekeluarga.

Sedih melihat kondisi Papa yang begitu lemah, tapi juga terhibur dengan semangat Papa yang masih sedemikian besar. Di Senin siang, 2 Juni, saya sempat melihat mata Papa berair, lalu bertanya “Papa nangis?” dan dijawab olehnya, “Ah, gak mungkin aku nangis..kan Tuhan sudah kasih kesempatan untuk melanjutkan hidup ini. Ini anugerah”. Hah, Papaku selalu bijaksana. Saya hanya merespon jawabannya itu dengan berkali-kali mencium keningnya. Lalu saya teringat, semangat hidup Papa ini terekam di puisinya yang berjudul “Aku Ingin Menari Seperti Daun Gugur”. Ya, Papa seperti daun gugur itu, ia belum mau pergi sebelum menari seindah mungkin dan bernyanyi semerdu mungkin. Sebenarnya persembahan Papa sudah sedemikian banyak untuk kami—anak, menantu, istri, cucu, kelompok marga, kampus tempat Papa mengajar, dan terlebih untuk gereja—GKPI kecintaannya, dan semua persembahannya indah. Namun buat Papa, masih ada banyak mimpi yang ingin ia raih dan persembahkan.

Saat ini, Papa masih menjalani pengobatan di RS. Masih tergolek lemah dan sering uring-uringan dengan cekukan yang kerap mengganggu—saya baru tahu bahwa orang yang sakit ginjal memang sering didera cekukan. Tadi pagi saat menemani Papa bersaat teduh, ia tersenyum, lagi-lagi mencoba menunjukkan semangatnya yang masih membara. Ya Papa, menari dan bernyanyilah. Puaskanlah hatimu mengejar yang ingin kau lakukan, walaupun keterbatasan mengekangmu demikian dahsyat. Tapi Papa juga harus mau rehat jika sudah merasa letih. Kami sudah dianugerahi limpahan ajaranmu yang selalu berlandaskan kasih. We love U so much, Pa!

Ini adalah puisi Papa “Aku Ingin Menari Seperti Daun Gugur” (dan terjemahan bebasnya), diambil dari kumpulan puisinya yang diberi judul “Permata Kehidupan”.

Aku Ingin Menari Seperti Daun Gugur

Oleh: MS Hutagalung

Kuperhatikan sebatang pohon

Banyak daunnya yang rontok

Sebelum waktunya

Berserakan di tanah

Ada selembar daun

Yang lepas sendiri dari ranting

Karena cukup tua

Daun itu meliuk-liuk di udara

Seperti menari-nari

Segan jatuh ke bumi

Sebelum memamerkan tarian

Dan warnanya yang coklat kekuning-kuningan

Walaupun akhirnya jatuh ke tanah

Tempat asalnya

Akupun ingin seperti daun itu

Menarikan tarian yang paling indah

Atau menyanyikan sebuah lagu paling merdu

Sebelum jasadku kembali bersatu dengan tanah

Sebagai ucapan terima kasih kepada Pemberi Hidup

(Rawamangun, Akhir Mei 2007)

I want to Dance like a Falling Leaf

I saw a tree

Lots of its leaves were falling

Before their time

Scattered about on the ground

There was a single leaf

Off its branch

As its time was end

It was moving in the air

Like dancing

Feeling reluctant to land on earth

Before showing its dancing performance

And its yellowish brown color

Although finally down on earth

Where it belongs

I want to be like that falling leaf

Dancing the most beautiful dance

Singing the most melodious song

Before my body returns to become one with earth

As the expression of gratitude towards

The Maker of Lives

(Rawamangun, end of May 2007)

Tears and Rain

TEARS AND RAIN

(by James Blunt)

How I wish I could surrender my soul;
Shed the clothes that become my skin;
See the liar that burns within my needing.
How I wish I'd chosen darkness from cold.
How I wish I had screamed out loud,
Instead I've found no meaning.

I guess it's time I run far, far away; find comfort in pain,
All pleasure's the same: it just keeps me from trouble.
Hides my true shape, like Dorian Gray.
I've heard what they say, but I'm not here for trouble.
It's more than just words: it's just tears and rain.

How I wish I could walk through the doors of my mind;
Hold memory close at hand,
Help me understand the years.
How I wish I could choose between Heaven and Hell.
How I wish I would save my soul.
I'm so cold from fear.

I guess it's time I run far, far away; find comfort in pain,
All pleasure's the same: it just keeps me from trouble.
Hides my true shape, like Dorian Gray.
I've heard what they say, but I'm not here for trouble.
Far, far away; find comfort in pain.
All pleasure's the same: it just keeps me from trouble.
It's more than just words: it's just tears and rain.