DOCSLIB.ORG

Unity and Diversity: National Identity and Multiculturalism in Indonesia

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Unity and Diversity: National Identity and Multiculturalism in Indonesia Unity and Diversity: National Identity and Multiculturalism in Indonesia Budi Annisa Sidi A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Otago Dunedin New Zealand November 2019 Abstract In adherence to its national motto, Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (Unity in Diversity), Indonesia maintains a narrative of a culturally plural but unified nation. The government represents a people of over 1,000 ethnic groups across six nationally recognised religions, spread across more than 17,000 islands. Within the context of the national motto, people are expected to share a similar civic Indonesian national identity regardless of their ethno- regional or religious backgrounds. At the same time, Indonesia’s approach towards multiculturalism extends various degrees of recognition, accommodation, toleration and even discrimination towards different socio-cultural groups in conjunction with the diverse ethnographic landscapes across regions in the country. Using theories of identity, nationalism and multiculturalism, this thesis examines how the Indonesian national identity is interpreted, experienced and understood both by elites and the people, particularly in consideration of the country’s ethno-regional, cultural and religious diversity. It begins with an explanation of the mixed methods within a qualitative paradigm used for this research and continues with an examination of the historical and constitutional framework for national identity and diversity in Indonesia. I then analyse the opinions of the people from Aceh, Jakarta, Maluku and West Java on the aspects of their identity pertaining to the ethno-regional, cultural and religious diversity in Indonesia, using information gained through individual in-depth interviews with laypeople as well as questionnaires and focus group discussions with university students. The different demographics in each region provide a good comparison between more homogeneous and heterogeneous populations, as well as between Muslim-majority and Christian-majority areas. To add other perspectives, I also examine the opinions of various types of elites on issues pertaining to identity and diversity in Indonesia gathered through individual interviews. I argue that in its attempt to maintain national identity and unity, the Indonesian state has adopted an unequitable framework for multiculturalism. While its design is intended to safeguard diversity, this framework has fostered an environment which normalises privileges for Indonesia’s Muslim majority and disadvantages for minorities. This framework corresponds with the relationship between national, ethno-regional and religious identities in Indonesia. Participants tend to describe the Indonesian national identity in civic and cultural terms, such as the shared history of struggle against colonialism and values such as diversity and tolerance. Participants further share the i narrative of the subordination of their ethno-regional identity to the Indonesian national identity. In contrast, religious identity is largely regarded as the most paramount: for the general population, religion is perceived as a fundamental source of moral guidance and more salient than national identity. This salience of religion helps explain the continued Islamist demands for more accommodation for Islam and Islamic law within the state, which in some instances include demands for a constitutional status for Islam. Indonesia’s framework for multiculturalism mollifies these demands but has detrimental side effects for minority groups; this framework thus safeguards and challenges diversity at the same time. Ultimately, I argue that the Indonesian state has to strike a better balance in accommodating various identities in the nation while maintaining its unity. ii Acknowledgements I would like to dedicate this thesis to my late mother, Dr. Jetty K. Karjadi, who finished her PhD in Civil Engineering way back in the 1980s and showed me since my early childhood that girls can do anything they set their minds to. I thank my family for their constant support, especially my husband Reza and my son Aslan who moved to New Zealand with me for this PhD. I also thank my father Boedi, my mother Ina and my brothers for their unwavering support and prayers. I thank the entire Politics Department at Otago, particularly my superb team of supervisors: Assoc. Prof Vicki Spencer, Assoc. Prof James Headley and Dr Lena Tan, as well as Otago’s Graduate Research School. I also thank Assoc. Prof Annabel Cooper for being an amazing examination convener. I have also been blessed with an amazing cohort of PhD students who went through various stages of the journey with me: Paul Winter, Arshad Ali, Caroline van Noort, Can Cinar, Lazslo Szollosi-Cira, Okan Tan, Eeva Kilk, Jessica Valisa and Hizkia Respatiadi. Special shoutout to Carmen Fulco for constantly taking good care of me in the last few months of the PhD! My Dunedin journey would not have been the experience that it was without the friendship and support of these amazing people: Jelita Noviarini, Emma Noviarini- Temple, Tsani Fauziah Rakhmah, Dody Wibowo, Lucía Malone, Claudia Leong, Adan E. Suazo and Gertje Petersen. You are very dear to me. I thank the Cantores Choir for giving me the experience of a community in Dunedin and keeping me sane through singing, particularly the lovely Nicky Cassie. I am also grateful to have supportive employers, superiors and colleagues at Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. My special appreciation goes out to the amazing Mashita Insani Kamilia for being my advisor on all things legal and more throughout my PhD. My special thanks also go out to my best girls since undergraduate days: Syafitri Rosediana Kannegieter, Tessa Filzana Sari, Dian Farhani and Jenice Nurul Ain, as well as my childhood best friend Tasya Febrina. Thank you all for everything. This PhD journey has been a blessing; it has been an uphill challenge, and at times felt like an impossible task. Nevertheless, I have grown up so much through the process, and I am eternally grateful for it. Alhamdulillah. iii Table of Contents Abstract.............................................................................................................................. i Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................ iii Table of Contents ............................................................................................................ iv List of Tables ................................................................................................................... vi List of Figures.................................................................................................................vii List of Abbreviations .................................................................................................... viii List of Appendices ............................................................................................................ x Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 1 1 Research Methodology ........................................................................................... 13 1.1 Research Methods for Studying Politics .......................................................... 13 1.2 Mixed methods within a primarily qualitative methodology........................... 16 1.3 Designing Fieldwork........................................................................................ 19 1.3.1 Determining Locations ............................................................................. 19 1.3.2 Elites and Laypeople: Semi-structured One-on-one Interviews ............... 24 1.3.3 Tertiary Students: Questionnaires and Focus Groups .............................. 32 1.3.4 Participant Observation ............................................................................ 36 1.4 Ethical Considerations ..................................................................................... 38 1.5 Conclusion ....................................................................................................... 40 2 Theoretical Framework .......................................................................................... 42 2.1 Identity ............................................................................................................. 43 2.2 Nationalism ...................................................................................................... 51 2.3 Multiculturalism............................................................................................... 62 2.4 Conclusion ....................................................................................................... 71 3 The Challenge of Identity Making, Nation Building and Cultural Pluralism in Indonesia......................................................................................................................... 74 3.1 The ‘National Awakening’ .............................................................................. 75 3.2 The Revolutionary Years ................................................................................. 82 3.3 The New Order ................................................................................................ 92 3.4 The post-1998 Reform Era ............................................................................ 103 3.5 Conclusion ....................................................................................................
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Concise Ancient History of Indonesia.Pdf
    CONCISE ANCIENT HISTORY OF INDONESIA CONCISE ANCIENT HISTORY O F INDONESIA BY SATYAWATI SULEIMAN THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL FOUNDATION JAKARTA Copyright by The Archaeological Foundation ]or The National Archaeological Institute 1974 Sponsored by The Ford Foundation Printed by Djambatan — Jakarta Percetakan Endang CONTENTS Preface • • VI I. The Prehistory of Indonesia 1 Early man ; The Foodgathering Stage or Palaeolithic ; The Developed Stage of Foodgathering or Epi-Palaeo- lithic ; The Foodproducing Stage or Neolithic ; The Stage of Craftsmanship or The Early Metal Stage. II. The first contacts with Hinduism and Buddhism 10 III. The first inscriptions 14 IV. Sumatra — The rise of Srivijaya 16 V. Sanjayas and Shailendras 19 VI. Shailendras in Sumatra • •.. 23 VII. Java from 860 A.D. to the 12th century • • 27 VIII. Singhasari • • 30 IX. Majapahit 33 X. The Nusantara : The other islands 38 West Java ; Bali ; Sumatra ; Kalimantan. Bibliography 52 V PREFACE This book is intended to serve as a framework for the ancient history of Indonesia in a concise form. Published for the first time more than a decade ago as a booklet in a modest cyclostyled shape by the Cultural Department of the Indonesian Embassy in India, it has been revised several times in Jakarta in the same form to keep up to date with new discoveries and current theories. Since it seemed to have filled a need felt by foreigners as well as Indonesians to obtain an elementary knowledge of Indonesia's past, it has been thought wise to publish it now in a printed form with the aim to reach a larger public than before.
    [Show full text]
  • Surrealist Painting in Yogyakarta Martinus Dwi Marianto University of Wollongong
    University of Wollongong Research Online University of Wollongong Thesis Collection University of Wollongong Thesis Collections 1995 Surrealist painting in Yogyakarta Martinus Dwi Marianto University of Wollongong Recommended Citation Marianto, Martinus Dwi, Surrealist painting in Yogyakarta, Doctor of Philosophy thesis, Faculty of Creative Arts, University of Wollongong, 1995. http://ro.uow.edu.au/theses/1757 Research Online is the open access institutional repository for the University of Wollongong. For further information contact the UOW Library: [email protected] SURREALIST PAINTING IN YOGYAKARTA A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the award of the degree DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY from UNIVERSITY OF WOLLONGONG by MARTINUS DWI MARIANTO B.F.A (STSRI 'ASRT, Yogyakarta) M.F.A. (Rhode Island School of Design, USA) FACULTY OF CREATIVE ARTS 1995 CERTIFICATION I certify that this work has not been submitted for a degree to any other university or institution and, to the best of my knowledge and belief, contains no material previously published or written by any other person, except where due reference has been made in the text. Martinus Dwi Marianto July 1995 ABSTRACT Surrealist painting flourished in Yogyakarta around the middle of the 1980s to early 1990s. It became popular amongst art students in Yogyakarta, and formed a significant style of painting which generally is characterised by the use of casual juxtapositions of disparate ideas and subjects resulting in absurd, startling, and sometimes disturbing images. In this thesis, Yogyakartan Surrealism is seen as the expression in painting of various social, cultural, and economic developments taking place rapidly and simultaneously in Yogyakarta's urban landscape.
    [Show full text]
  • A Short History of Indonesia: the Unlikely Nation?
    History Indonesia PAGES 13/2/03 8:28 AM Page i A SHORT HISTORY OF INDONESIA History Indonesia PAGES 13/2/03 8:28 AM Page ii Short History of Asia Series Series Editor: Milton Osborne Milton Osborne has had an association with the Asian region for over 40 years as an academic, public servant and independent writer. He is the author of eight books on Asian topics, including Southeast Asia: An Introductory History, first published in 1979 and now in its eighth edition, and, most recently, The Mekong: Turbulent Past, Uncertain Future, published in 2000. History Indonesia PAGES 13/2/03 8:28 AM Page iii A SHORT HISTORY OF INDONESIA THE UNLIKELY NATION? Colin Brown History Indonesia PAGES 13/2/03 8:28 AM Page iv First published in 2003 Copyright © Colin Brown 2003 All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the publisher. The Australian Copyright Act 1968 (the Act) allows a maximum of one chapter or 10 per cent of this book, whichever is the greater, to be photocopied by any educational institution for its educational purposes provided that the educational institution (or body that administers it) has given a remuneration notice to Copyright Agency Limited (CAL) under the Act. Allen & Unwin 83 Alexander Street Crows Nest NSW 2065 Australia Phone: (61 2) 8425 0100 Fax: (61 2) 9906 2218 Email: [email protected] Web: www.allenandunwin.com National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication entry: Brown, Colin, A short history of Indonesia : the unlikely nation? Bibliography.
    [Show full text]
  • Analysis on Symbolism of Malang Mask Dance in Javanese Culture
    ANALYSIS ON SYMBOLISM OF MALANG MASK DANCE IN JAVANESE CULTURE Dwi Malinda (Corresponing Author) Departement of Language and Letters, Kanjuruhan University of Malang Jl. S Supriyadi 48 Malang, East Java, Indonesia Phone: (+62) 813 365 182 51 E-mail: [email protected] Sujito Departement of Language and Letters, Kanjuruhan University of Malang Jl. S Supriyadi 48 Malang, East Java, Indonesia Phone: (+62) 817 965 77 89 E-mail: [email protected] Maria Cholifa English Educational Department, Kanjuruhan University of Malang Jl. S Supriyadi 48 Malang, East Java, Indonesia Phone: (+62) 813 345 040 04 E-mail: [email protected] ABSTRACT Malang Mask dance is an example of traditions in Java specially in Malang. It is interesting even to participate. This study has two significances for readers and students of language and literature faculty. Theoretically, the result of the study will give description about the meaning of symbols used in Malang Mask dance and useful information about cultural understanding, especially in Javanese culture. Key Terms: Study, Symbol, Term, Javanese, Malang Mask 82 In our every day life, we make a contact with culture. According to Soekanto (1990:188), culture is complex which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, custom and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society. Culture are formed based on the local society and become a custom and tradition in the future. Culture is always related to language. This research is conducted in order to answer the following questions: What are the symbols of Malang Mask dance? What are meannings of those symbolism of Malang Mask dance? What causes of those symbolism used? What functions of those symbolism? REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE Language Language is defined as a means of communication in social life.
    [Show full text]
  • Rituals of Islamic Spirituality: a Study of Majlis Dhikr Groups
    Rituals of Islamic Spirituality A STUDY OF MAJLIS DHIKR GROUPS IN EAST JAVA Rituals of Islamic Spirituality A STUDY OF MAJLIS DHIKR GROUPS IN EAST JAVA Arif Zamhari THE AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY E P R E S S E P R E S S Published by ANU E Press The Australian National University Canberra ACT 0200, Australia Email: [email protected] This title is also available online at: http://epress.anu.edu.au/islamic_citation.html National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication entry Author: Zamhari, Arif. Title: Rituals of Islamic spirituality: a study of Majlis Dhikr groups in East Java / Arif Zamhari. ISBN: 9781921666247 (pbk) 9781921666254 (pdf) Series: Islam in Southeast Asia. Notes: Includes bibliographical references. Subjects: Islam--Rituals. Islam Doctrines. Islamic sects--Indonesia--Jawa Timur. Sufism--Indonesia--Jawa Timur. Dewey Number: 297.359598 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher. Cover design and layout by ANU E Press Printed by Griffin Press This edition © 2010 ANU E Press Islam in Southeast Asia Series Theses at The Australian National University are assessed by external examiners and students are expected to take into account the advice of their examiners before they submit to the University Library the final versions of their theses. For this series, this final version of the thesis has been used as the basis for publication, taking into account other changesthat the author may have decided to undertake.
    [Show full text]
  • Indigenous Knowledge and Customary Law in Natural Resource Management: Experiences in Yunnan, China and Haruku, Indonesia
    Indigenous Knowledge and Customary Law in Natural Resource Management: Experiences in Yunnan, China and Haruku, Indonesia By He Hong Mu Xiuping and Eliza Kissya with Yanes II Indigenous Knowledge and Customary Law in Natural Resource Management: Experiences in Yunnan, China and Haruku, Indonesia Copyright @ Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP) Foundation, 2010 All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the copyright holder. Editor: Ms. Luchie Maranan Design and layout: Nabwong Chuaychuwong ([email protected]) Publisher: Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP) Foundation 108 Moo 5, Soi 6, Tambon Sanpranate Amphur Sansai, Chiang Mai 50210, Thailand Tel: +66 053 380 168 Fax: +66 53 380 752 Web: www.aippnet.org ISBN 978-616-90611-5-1 This publication has been produced with the financial support from the SwedBio. Sweden. Disclaimer: The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and does not necessarily reflect the position of AIPP or that of the Swedbio. Indigenous Knowledge and Customary Law in Natural Resource Management: Experiences in Yunnan, China and Haruku, Indonesia By He Hong Mu Xiuping and Eliza Kissya with Yanes IV Contents ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS VI ACRONYMS VII Introduction VIII Part A: Traditional Naxi Natural Resource Management and Current Policy: A Case Study at Yuhu Village, Yulong county, Yunnan, China 1 1. Basic Information about Naxi Ethnic Minority 1 1.1 The Name of Naxi Ethnic Minority 1 1.2 Population and Distribution of Naxi 1 1.3 Changes in Political Status and Social Life of Naxi People since the Founding of the PRC 3 1.4 Social and Cultural Background of Naxi 4 2.
    [Show full text]
  • Situation Update Response to COVID-19 in Indonesia As of 28 September 2020
    Situation Update Response to COVID-19 in Indonesia As of 28 September 2020 As of 28 September, the Indonesian Government has announced 278,722 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in all 34 provinces in Indonesia, with 10,473 deaths, and 206,870 people that have recovered from the illness. The government has also reported 131,361 suspected cases. The highest increase of daily confirmed COVID-19 cases in Indonesia occurred on three consecutive days; on 23 September (4,465 new cases), 24 September 24 (4,634 new cases) and 25 September (4,823 new cases), since the first case of COVID-19 in the country was confirmed in March. However, the rate of recovered patients continues to increase, with 73.5 percent as of 25 September. The Minister of Health has recently reported that 16,286 medical interns and volunteers have been mobilized to COVID-19 referral hospitals and laboratories across the country; an additional 3,500 interns, 800 health workers and 685 volunteers such as lung specialists, anesthetists, internists, general practitioners and nurses have been identified and will be deployed when needed. On 14 September, the President of the Republic of Indonesia requested the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Mr. Luhut B. Panjaitan, and the Head of BNPB, Mr. Doni Monardo, to suppress the COVID-19 spread of cases, especially in the nine provinces with the highest number of cases, namely: DKI Jakarta, East Java, Central Java, West Java, Sulawesi South, North Sumatra, South Kalimantan, Bali and Papua. In the short term, three goals must be achieved, as follows: decreased number of daily cases, increase in the recovery rate and a decrease in the mortality rate.
    [Show full text]
  • Pelaksanaan Syariat Islam Di Aceh Sebagai Otonomi Khusus Yang Simetris
    Prof. Dr. Al Yasa` Abubakar, MA. PELAKSANAAN Syariat Islam DI ACEH SEBAGAI OTONOMI KHUSUS YANG ASIMETRIS (Sejarah Dan Perjuangan) Dinas Syariat Islam Aceh Tahun 2020 PELAKSANAAN SYARIAT ISLAM DI ACEH SEBAGAI OTONOMI KHUSUS YANG ASIMETRIS (SEJARAH DAN PERJUANGAN) Prof. Dr. Al Yasa` Abubakar, MA. Editor : DR. EMK. Alidar, S.Ag., M.Hum Tata Letak Isi : Muhammad Sufri Desain Cover : Syahreza Diterbitkan oleh: Dinas Syariat Islam Aceh Jln T. Nyak Arief No.221, Jeulingke. Banda Aceh Email : [email protected] Telp : (0651) 7551313 Fax : (0651) 7551312, (0651) 7551314 Bekerjasama dengan Percetakan: CV. Rumoh Cetak Jalan Utama Rukoh, Syiahkuala, Banda Aceh Email: [email protected] | Hp: 08116888292 Dinas Syariat Islam Aceh viii + 224 hlm. 14 x 21 cm. ISBN. 978-602-58950-5-0 Pengantar penulis BISMILLAHIRRAHMANIRRAHIM Puji dan syukur penulis persembahkan ke hadirat Allah Swt. atas segala karunia dan rahmat yang dilimpahkan- Nya, shalawat dan salam penulis haturkan ke pangkuan Nabi Muhammad Rasul penutup dan penghulu para nabi--yang diutus sebagai rahmat untuk semesta alam, serta kepada semua keluarga dan Sahabat beliau. Dengan izin serta karunia Allah Swt. penulisn buku dengn judul PELAKSANAAN SYARIAT ISLAM DI ACEH SEBAGAI OTONOMI KHUSUS YANG ASIMETRIS (Sejarah Dan Perjuangan) telah dapat penulis rampungkan dan selesaikan penulisannya. Untuk itu penulis mengucapkan terima kasih yang tulus kepada semua pihak yang telah membantu penulis, dengan caranya masing-masing, sehingga tulisan ini dapat penulis rampungkan. Terutama sekali kepada para mahasiswa, para peneliti dan para peminat yang sering mengajukan pertanyaan yang tajam dan menggelitik, kritik yang pedas, atau pujian berlebihan yang tidak menggembirakan, baik mengenai isi buku yang penulis tulis, atau juga mengenai kebijakan, dan kenyataan nyata pelaksanaan qanun- qanun yang berkaitan dengna syariat Islam selama ini.
    [Show full text]
  • {Download PDF} Jakarta: 25 Excursions in and Around the Indonesian Capital Ebook, Epub
    JAKARTA: 25 EXCURSIONS IN AND AROUND THE INDONESIAN CAPITAL PDF, EPUB, EBOOK Andrew Whitmarsh | 224 pages | 20 Dec 2012 | Tuttle Publishing | 9780804842242 | English | Boston, United States Jakarta: 25 Excursions in and around the Indonesian Capital PDF Book JAKARTA, Indonesia -- A jet carrying 62 people lost contact with air traffic controllers minutes after taking off from Indonesia's capital on a domestic flight on Saturday, and debris found by fishermen was being examined to see if it was from the missing plane, officials said. Bingka Laksa banjar Pekasam Soto banjar. Recently, she spent several months exploring Africa and South Asia. The locals always have a smile on their face and a positive outlook. This means that if you book your accommodation, buy a book or sort your insurance, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. US Capitol riots: Tracking the insurrection. The Menteng and Gondangdia sections were formerly fashionable residential areas near the central Medan Merdeka then called Weltevreden. Places to visit:. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Some traditional neighbourhoods can, however, be identified. Tis' the Season for Holiday Drinks. What to do there: Eat, sleep, and be merry. Special interest tours include history walks, urban art walks and market walks. Rujak Rujak cingur Sate madura Serundeng Soto madura. In our book, that definitely makes it worth a visit. Jakarta, like any other large city, also has its share of air and noise pollution. We work hard to put out the best backpacker resources on the web, for free! Federal Aviation Administration records indicate the plane that lost contact Saturday was first used by Continental Airlines in Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.
    [Show full text]
  • Integration and Conflict in Indonesia's Spice Islands
    Volume 15 | Issue 11 | Number 4 | Article ID 5045 | Jun 01, 2017 The Asia-Pacific Journal | Japan Focus Integration and Conflict in Indonesia’s Spice Islands David Adam Stott Tucked away in a remote corner of eastern violence, in 1999 Maluku was divided into two Indonesia, between the much larger islands of provinces – Maluku and North Maluku - but this New Guinea and Sulawesi, lies Maluku, a small paper refers to both provinces combined as archipelago that over the last millennia has ‘Maluku’ unless stated otherwise. been disproportionately influential in world history. Largely unknown outside of Indonesia Given the scale of violence in Indonesia after today, Maluku is the modern name for the Suharto’s fall in May 1998, the country’s Moluccas, the fabled Spice Islands that were continuing viability as a nation state was the only place where nutmeg and cloves grew questioned. During this period, the spectre of in the fifteenth century. Christopher Columbus Balkanization was raised regularly in both had set out to find the Moluccas but mistakenly academic circles and mainstream media as the happened upon a hitherto unknown continent country struggled to cope with economic between Europe and Asia, and Moluccan spices reverse, terrorism, separatist campaigns and later became the raison d’etre for the European communal conflict in the post-Suharto presence in the Indonesian archipelago. The transition. With Yugoslavia’s violent breakup Dutch East India Company Company (VOC; fresh in memory, and not long after the demise Verenigde Oost-indische Compagnie) was of the Soviet Union, Indonesia was portrayed as established to control the lucrative spice trade, the next patchwork state that would implode.
    [Show full text]
  • Where Internal and International Migration Intersect: Mobility and the Formation of Multi-Ethnic Communities in the Riau Islands Transit Zone
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Sydney eScholarship Where Internal and International Migration Intersect: Mobility and the Formation of Multi-Ethnic Communities in the Riau Islands Transit Zone LENORE LYONS AND MICHELE FORD University of Wollongong and University of Sydney While migration studies scholars have paid considerable attention to internal migration within Indonesia, as well as to international labour migration flows from Indonesia, they have rarely considered the intersections between these two processes. This paper addresses the gap through a close analysis of migration flows in one of Indonesia’s key transit areas – the Riau Islands. We argue that in the borderlands the processes of internal and international migration are mutually constitutive. The Riau Islands’ status as a transit zone for international labour migrants and as a destination for internal migrants determines its demographic profile and policies of migration control. Bordering practices are strongly influenced by the fact that not everyone who comes to the Riau Islands has the intention of moving on, and not all international migrants returning to the islands intend to go home. Our analysis demonstrates that internal migration cannot be understood as a solely national phenomenon, and that international migration cannot only be explained by push and pull factors in sending and receiving destinations. These complexities necessitate research and policy responses that take into account the unique character of the transit provinces, and the role that their geographical location plays in the formation of multi-ethnic communities and the management of migration. ndonesia is the focus of considerable attention within contemporary migration I studies.
    [Show full text]
  • On the Limits of Indonesia
    CHAPTER ONE On the Limits of Indonesia ON July 2, 1998, a little over a month after the resignation of Indonesia’s President Suharto, two young men climbed to the top of a water tower in the heart of Biak City and raised the Morning Star flag. Along with similar flags flown in municipalities throughout the Indonesian province of Irian Jaya, the flag raised in the capital of Biak-Numfor signaled a demand for the political independence of West Papua, an imagined nation comprising the western half of New Guinea, a resource-rich territory just short of Indonesia’s east- ernmost frontier. During the thirty-two years that Suharto held office, ruling through a combination of patronage, terror, and manufactured consent, the military had little patience for such demonstrations. The flags raised by Pap- uan separatists never flew for long; they were lowered by soldiers who shot “security disrupters” on sight.1 Undertaken at the dawn of Indonesia’s new era reformasi (era of reform), the Biak flag raising lasted for four days. By noon of the first day, a large crowd of supporters had gathered under the water tower, where they listened to speeches and prayers, and sang and danced to Papuan nationalist songs. By afternoon, their numbers had grown to the point where they were able to repulse an attack by the regency police, who stormed the site in an effort to take down the flag. Over the next three days, the protesters managed to seal off a dozen square blocks of the city, creating a small zone of West Papuan sovereignty adjoining the regency’s main market and port.
    [Show full text]