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December 2014 ISSN 1449–4418 A fearful Has Myanmar’s reform symmetry It is noteworthy that all process stalled? the high-level corrupt officials swept up in Myanmar’s best known citizen, Daw China’s vaunted post- Aung San Suu Kyi, gave a press 18th Party Congress conference in Yangon on 5 November anti-corruption campaign 2014. According to media reports, she are reportedly from expressed her concern that Myanmar’s ‘commoner’ families. reform process had stalled. Read more Read more Religious apartheid in Myanmar An unofficial The Myanmar government could find itself in breach of history of the international law over plans that could offer minority Cultural Rohingya Muslims citizenship if they volunteer to change Revolution their ethnic denomination. Read more The diaries of people A missed opportunity: who lived through the Cultural Revolution may environmental education show the ‘10-year in Indonesia catastrophe’ in a new light. Read more Indonesia’s new school curriculum for senior high school barely touches on human responsibility The passion of for environmental destruction, makes scant mention of Louise Lightfoot environmental damage, and no mention of overweening consumption. Read more A trained architect and ballet teacher, known in Indonesia promises to address Australia for promoting a fusion of classical ballet forest destruction and Indian dance, helped bring two Indonesia’s new president, Joko Widodo, has set himself cultures together. a major challenge to clean up bribery and corruption in Read more the forestry industry. Read more Remembering Munir Becoming Asian in Australia A new museum commemorating the life of Indonesian human rights activist Munir Visual perceptions of Said Thalib hooks the visitor into the larger Asian Australians have a story of human rights activism in considerable impact on Indonesia. Read more their sense of belonging to Australian society. Laos foots Bangkok’s Read more growing power bill Also in this issue The opening of a Bangkok shopping mall and a World 2015 Myanmar Update Wildlife Fund warning that the construction of the Don New books on Asia ASAA news Sahang dam in southern Laos would endanger the –New ASAA president survival of freshwater Irrawaddy dolphins form part of a –Inaugural fellowship complex web of the Thai capital’s electricity consumption. Read more

1 Asian Currents December 2014 Has Myanmar’s reform process stalled? The pace of reform in Myanmar say that nothing much in the way of has slowed—but the reasons for major reform happened during this call for a considered 2013–14 is not accurate. To give just assessment, not just a politically one example, from 1 April 2013, private daily newspapers were oriented one. authorised for the first time since By Trevor Wilson 1964, and from the outset they operated without direct censorship Myanmar’s best known citizen, Daw under the press freedom reforms put Aung San Suu Kyi, gave a press in place under the Thein Sein conference in Yangon on 5 November government. Daw Aung San Suu 2014. According to media reports, Kyi’s 5 November 2014 press she expressed her concern that conference was reported in these Myanmar’s reform process had very newspapers. stalled. She questioned whether any major positive changes had In fact, a large happened in the last 24 months. She number of new long- was speaking in her capacity as term government Chairperson of the National League reform plans were for Democracy. As a political developed during statement, what Suu Kyi said about 2013 and 2014, Myanmar’s reforms was not although most did unexpected. not call for immediate new Myanmar’s initial reforms, beginning policy changes. In in March 2011, were dramatic and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi: not quick succession, it surprised everyone, but they are still concerned by any produced the ‘first’ incomplete and not always operating backtracking as Five-Year Plan well. Many problem areas, such as such. (2011–16); the long- land reforms, judicial system reform term National Comprehensive and ending human rights abuses, Development Plan (2011–31); the have not yet undergone reform, Myanmar National Spatial meaning that much unfinished Development Plan containing goals business remains. for urban development; the Myanmar Reports that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi Tourism Master Plan (2013–20); the was concerned by perceived National Strategic Plan for the Myanmar government backtracking Advancement of Women (2013–22); and lack of further progress on and the Comprehensive Education reforms had been circulating for Sector Review (2014–20). several months. These concerns This was also the first time in more were, not surprisingly, picked up by than two decades that the leading international activist groups where international financial institutions high expectations of Myanmar’s returned to Myanmar, and the United reform process were not always Nations Development Programme realistic. But in her 5 November (UNDP) normalised its operations in press conference, Daw Aung San Suu Myanmar. Kyi said she was not concerned by any backtracking as such. Restarting basic Myanmar programs by the World Bank, the International The pace of reform in Myanmar has Monetary Fund and the Asian certainly slowed, but whether or not Development Bank (ADB) demanded this is the result of a reduced higher standards of long-term, commitment to reform calls for a nationwide planning, on which the considered assessment, not just a Myanmar government had to take politically oriented one. Moreover, to the lead. During 2012–14, the Thein

2 Asian Currents December 2014 Sein government, for the first time, negotiated several entirely new, While some of Myanmar’s substantive long-term programs with UN and other international agencies reforms are undoubtedly not which, under sanctions, had working as well as they should, previously been prevented from or even as intended, it is not funding normal programs in Myanmar. correct to characterise those These new long-term programs already undertaken as just target substantial institutional and cosmetic or merely symbolic. infrastructure gaps, together with offers of substantial funding, including: the Myanmar—Unlocking the Potential: Country Diagnostic plans and programs, either through Study with the ADB; a Aung San Suu Kyi herself or via the comprehensive democratic parliament in which the NLD held governance program with the UNDP, seats after April 2012, or through the covering a number of specific rule-of- normal consultations that were law reform programs; and the conducted in all cases. Exactly how Ayeyarwady Integrated River Basin much impact the NLD had on Management Project with the World discussions about specific laws and Bank, to name but a few. reforms during 2012–14 is not apparent, however. During 2013–14 alone, the World Bank agreed to fund projects worth Some significant political reforms several hundreds of million dollars were certainly initiated in the 2012– for Myanmar’s public health services, 14 period. Negotiations with all telecommunications reforms, public insurgent and ethnic groups were sector financial management, begun under the Myanmar Peace decentralisation of education funding Support Initiative, launched in March for schools and students, capacity 2012; most political prisoners, many enhancement and institutional of whom have resumed political strengthening in electric power activity quite prominently, were generation, and for multiyear released; and the former military national projects, all of which do not regime’s black list of overseas end until 2018–19. banned persons was abolished in August 2012. These socioeconomic plans and infrastructure programs might not More recently, on 18 October 2014, contain all the reforms that would be one key policy reform was released desirable or necessary for Myanmar, in draft form, the much-awaited but they were prepared in processes Draft National Land Use Policy. Most that were thorough and more important of all, political inclusive than ever before. Moreover, reconciliation between the authorities properly funded and technically and the opposition—the informal supported, these plans and programs understanding between President will become key vehicles for future Thein Sein and Daw Aung San Suu reforms. Indeed, having the Kyi—was cemented through the first- international agencies acting as the ever modern-day political leaders’ main implementers could even be a meeting with the Burmese Army way of preserving the integrity and leadership, convened by President quality of reforms needed. (Not that Thein Sein in Naypyitaw on the UN system always achieves 31 October 2014. that!) While some of Myanmar’s reforms The National League for Democracy are undoubtedly not working as well (NLD) participated in many of the as they should, or even as intended, consultation processes on these it is not correct to characterise those

3 Asian Currents December 2014 already undertaken as just cosmetic in Kachin State had broken down in or merely symbolic. They are reforms June 2011, anti-Muslim communal that will help change, once and for violence erupted in many parts of the all, the constricting mindset of the country on an unprecedented scale last 50 years in Burma/Myanmar. after mid-2012, and long-running insurgencies with groups such as the Reflecting on the pattern of Karen and some Shan groups Myanmar’s reform process since continued intermittently. 2011, it seems that many early reforms, such as the exchange rate/ With reforms failing elsewhere in the currency unification changes of world—in some parts of Eastern 1 April 2012, were quickly and Europe, and the fading promise of relatively easily implemented with a the Arab Spring in the Middle East— top-down decision or announcement. Myanmar’s leaders might have Now, by contrast, remaining areas wondered what else was in store for for reform are complex. They involve them and what other unanticipated many levels of stakeholders or political risks they might have to interested parties who need to be face. consulted and also need to Trevor Wilson is Visiting Fellow at the comprehend sizeable legal and/or College of Asia & the Pacific, Australian technical issues. The reforms are not National University. susceptible to quick or easy implementation, and will cost more This article has been published on the Asian Currents Tumblr. to introduce. This is why the pace of reforms has slowed so noticeably. But it does not mean that work on Call for papers further reforms has stopped, or that completed reforms are being for Myanmar Update reversed. Responding adequately to The conveners of the Myanmar the very high expectations for (Burma) Update invite paper reforms has simply become a more proposals for the 2015 conference, to challenging task. be held at the Australian National The Thein Sein government point of University, Canberra, 5–6 June. view, that Myanmar needs time, was The conference theme is ‘Making argued eloquently in the New York sense of conflict’. It aims to address Times of 13 November 2014 by the the breadth and depth of conflicts in Coordinating Minister for Economic Myanmar from a range of angles, Affairs in the President’s Office, and offering perspectives of people former Chief of the Myanmar Navy, working on the ground and those U Soe Thane. studying the country abroad. According to the New York Times (14 It also enables presenters to draw November 2014), during President upon discussions had at the 2013 Obama’s November 2014 visit to Update on ‘Debating Myanmar for the East Asian Summit, democratization’, and builds on the he ‘reassured Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi outcomes of an event that the ANU of America’s support for her and for held in Myanmar during March 2014, Myanmar’s steps toward reform, on the theme of communal conflict. despite evidence of backsliding in its transition from military dictatorship’. Further details are available on the It should also be remembered that conference website. although Myanmar’s political leadership was not facing direct challenge after 2010, nor was Myanmar confronting a peaceful BACK T0 PAGE 1 situation either: a 17-year ceasefire

4 Asian Currents December 2014 Religious apartheid in Myanmar The Myanmar government could There was a long history of find itself in breach of movement between the Middle East international law over citizenship and the Far East by Muslim traders plans for minority Rohingya before the advent of colonialism culminated in geopolitical division of Muslims. the region to the detriment of the By Jonathan Bogais current Muslim population. Part IV of the draft plan outlines steps for Myanmar has notified the citizenship assessment of the United Nations that it is Rohingyas, using as its guide the finalising a plan that discriminatory 1982 Citizenship Law, could offer minority Rohingya which has been used to deny Muslims citizenship if they volunteer Rohingya citizenship for decades. to change their ethnic denomination from Rohingya to Bengali, and The plan includes a nationality acknowledge Bangladeshi origin. verification process that started in August with the 2014 Census, the The plan would give members of the first in three decades. The authorities Rohingya minority a very limited intend to register all ‘Bengalis’ by choice: accept ethnic reclassification March 2015. The recorded population and the prospect of citizenship, or be will then be divided into three detained indefinitely. categories: ‘those previously In his address to the recorded [or] registered; those not UN General Assembly recorded previously but willing to go on 29 September, through the assessment process Myanmar’s Foreign according to Myanmar existing laws; Minister, Wunna Maung and those who reject definition in the Lwin (pictured), existing laws’. Any Rohingya refusing announced: ‘An action the label ‘Bengali’ would be placed in plan is being finalised and will soon the third category and denied the be launched’. He also asked the UN right to be considered for citizenship. to provide much-needed For people in the first two categories, development assistance. ‘We are the determination of eligibility for working for peace, stability, harmony citizenship will take place between and development of all people in January 2015 and October 2016. Rakhine state,’ he said. According to the plan, the authorities It was the first public reference to will construct temporary camps in the controversial plan, drafted by the required numbers for those government, largely in secret. Rohingyas who fail to meet the criteria for citizenship, those without The Rakhine State Action Plan adequate documents and those who outlines projects including rebuilding refuse to be registered, sequestering homes for displaced people, them in what amounts to arbitrary, improving health care and education, indefinite detention. Many Rohingyas and promoting reconciliation. More lost all their belongings, including controversially, however, the plan documents, during the recent contains a section on a process to sectarian violence following which determine whether Rohingyas are or over 140 000 were displaced and could become citizens, a condition to their villages burnt to the ground. qualify for possible government support. First, Rohingyas would be The government will also ask the UN required to register their identities as High Commission for Refugees Bengalis, a term most reject because agency for help to resettle in other it implies they are illegal immigrants countries those who fail to obtain from Bangladesh. citizenship, although this is unlikely

5 Asian Currents December 2014 to happen because the Rohingyas involved would not be ‘recognised Both the government and the refugees who have fled persecution and conflict across international opposition have yet to produce a borders’. That raises the strong vision for the policies and legislation possibility that Rohingyas could be forced from their villages and necessary to address this detained in camps indefinitely. humanitarian crisis within their own Myanmar's representative to the UN, borders. Ambassador Tim Kyaw, also voiced concern over the use of the term ‘Rohingya’ by the UN, stating that its Democracy representative Daw Khin usage would heighten tensions in San Hlaing to cut reference to white Rakhine state. ‘Use of the word by card holders from the bill. White the United Nations will draw strong cards were first issued in 1993 bythe resentment from the people of State Law and Order Restoration Myanmar, making the government's Council. Of the 850 000 people who effort more difficult in addressing this hold these cards, about 750 000 are issue,’ he said. Rohingyas. White card holders were In response, the UN General entitled to vote in both the 2010 Assembly’s Human Rights Committee general election and 2012 by- approved a resolution urging elections but appear likely to be Myanmar to allow its persecuted stripped of voting rights for next Rohingya minority ‘access to full year’s election. citizenship on an equal basis’ and to Other laws to protect the country’s scrap its controversial identity plan. national race and religion are The resolution expresses ‘serious currently under consideration in concern by the UN’ over the plight of Myanmar which, if enacted, would the Muslim minority in Rakhine state. include the introduction of This is the latest in a series of unspecified methods to enforce measures taken by the Myanmar family-planning measures by limiting authorities to address the ‘Bengali the number of children Muslim problem’. women may have to no more than two. Myanmar’s president, Thein Unfortunately, the leader of the Sein, signed into opposition party National League for law an amendment Democracy, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, to Burma’s Political has been reluctant to speak on the Parties Registration plight of the Rohingyas. Her Law this week, assertion instead that ‘the core of the President Thein removing the right crisis with the Bengalis lies with Sein signed an of temporary Bangladesh’s failure to control its amendment that citizenship border with Myanmar to stop appears to target migration’, is seen by nationalist the Rohingya cardholders to form minority. political parties or Buddhists as de facto support for serve as their members. The change their campaigns of discrimination and to the law appears targeted at the violence. Rohingya Muslim minority, many of Both the government and the whom hold the so-called white cards opposition have yet to produce a that grant them status as temporary vision for the policies and legislation citizens. necessary to address this Members of Myanmar’s parliament humanitarian crisis within their own agreed unanimously to a proposal borders. Perhaps the task appears submitted by National League for too difficult to broach in view of the apparent bipartisanship on the

6 Asian Currents December 2014 Rohingya issue and the acceptance that for many Myanmar Buddhists, violence is necessitated by the The term ‘Myanmar religious perceived existential threat that apartheid’ is an appropriate term to Muslims pose. use to describe the racial violence What is often forgotten in the and segregation that is enshrined at discourse about Myanmar’s discriminatory policies towards those all levels of Myanmar institutions Muslim people whose plight dates and state practices. from the days of British colonialism is that these policies contradict Article 362 of its own constitution relating to International law creates both rights religious rights: ‘The Union also and duties for states, and when a recognizes Christianity, Islam, state consistently disregards its Hinduism and Animism as the duties, it cannot expect the rest of religions existing in the Union at the the international community to day of the coming into operation of respect its rights. Recent visits, this Constitution’. It also contradicts however, by Present Obama and a international conventions to which it number of political leaders eager to is a party. compete for a share of Myanmar’s This differentiation of citizens large potential markets, abundant according to their religion is natural resources and, most of all, reminiscent of apartheid’s geostrategic position, are doing little classification of citizens by race, to make Myanmar accountable for its except that where the racist regime actions in segregating and in South Africa at least maintained marginalising over 1.2 million Muslim the pretence of ‘separate but equal’, people within its own borders. the Myanmar authorities—and the Jonathan Bogais is a political sociologist opposition—do not even do that. The and a specialist in foreign affairs. He is predominant outlook in Myanmar an adjunct associate professor, favours exclusion and is Department of Sociology and Social characterised by the insistence on Policy, University of Sydney. applying criteria that breach a This article has been published on the number of international norms and Asian Currents Tumblr. conventions.

The term ‘Myanmar religious apartheid’ is an appropriate term to use to describe the racial violence and segregation that is enshrined at all levels of Myanmar institutions and state practices. The ideologies that produce and sustain this apartheid system fall under many labels and - isms: racism, colonialism, religious fundamentalism, ethnonationalism, extremism and neoliberalism. Without the advent of a peacebuilding process, the nature of Myanmar’s religious apartheid will become starkly evident in ways increasingly difficult for the Myanmar government and opposition to defend and for the international community to ignore. BACK T0 PAGE 1

7 Asian Currents December 2014 A missed opportunity: environmental education in Indonesia’s new curriculum Indonesia’s new school come to the end of the UN’s Decade curriculum disappoints when it of Education for Sustainable comes to environmental Development (2005–14) it might education reasonably have been expected that the new curriculum would explicitly By Lyn Parker make a new commitment to In 2013, Indonesia education for environmental introduced its second new sustainability. school curriculum since Unfortunately, examination of the the resignation of former curriculum reveals that this has not President Suharto in 1998. Back come to pass. This is a competency- then, with the reinstigation of based curriculum, and the four core democracy, it was felt that Indonesia competencies (religious, social, needed a new, more democratic, knowledge and application) are more locally responsive and relevant cross-curricula. Just looking at the curriculum, and this was duly piloted curriculum for senior high school, the and rolled out in 2006. first core The reasons for the introduction of competency this second democratic curriculum is the are much less clear: press reports religious one: cited government officials and ‘To live and ministers who said that increasing practise the student gang violence and lack of teachings of tolerance meant that there was a the religion of need for more character building and Deforestation of peat the student’. swamp forest for oil palm This means religious and moral education to plantation in Sumatra. create a more peaceful society. that teachers of subjects like maths or dance must There is vast environmental teach this competency—and teachers destruction in Indonesia, and have been puzzled as to how they Indonesia is one of the top three should do this and how they should largest emitters of greenhouse gases assess students. While there is minor in the world—though on a per capita identification of values, such as basis, Australia is far more caring for the environment and being dangerous. Deforestation, the responsible for the environment, degradation of peatland, and forest particularly in geography, the fires are largely responsible, but propagation of character (budi Indonesia is also developing rapidly, pekerti) and religious education is so as a lower-middle-income country, vigorous that true education for with growing carbon-based energy sustainability (EfS) is largely and industrial output. neglected. The government acknowledges that This is a curriculum that presents a more needs to be done about religious worldview: the world is the educating the general populace creation of God, and nature was about environmental destruction, created for the use of humans. There climate change and loss of is a huge emphasis on thanking God biodiversity, and there have been for His bounty—often couched in various government commitments to terms of the wealth of natural providing environmental education in resources in Indonesia—and on Indonesia recently, including in Law realisation of the greatness of God. No. 32 of 2009 on Environmental In Chemistry Grade X, for instance, Protection and Management. As we

8 Asian Currents December 2014 the religious competencies to be achieved by students are ‘to realise Human responsibility for the order and complexity of electron configuration in the atom as a environmental destruction is barely manifestation of the greatness of The touched on, mention of One Great God; and to be thankful for the wealth of nature in Indonesia, environmental damage and in the form of oil, coal and gas as problems is scant, and there is no well as various other minerals as a mention of overweening blessing of The One Great God that can be used for the prosperity of the consumption. people of Indonesia’. It’s an interesting coming together of creationism and nationalism—in chemistry. have written about Islamic values and principles from both the Koran Science and Islam and the Hadith that emphasise In the curriculum, the emphasis on humans’ responsibility, as God’s the world as the creation of God is stewards appointed to look after the not presented as a contest of earth, to conserve resources, to epistemologies: rather, science and value water and even to hold evolution exist within the overall population growth in check. epistemology of God’s creation. This A missed opportunity is in line with Islamic views that there are two types of science: one Human responsibility for that is atheistic and outside Islam, environmental destruction is barely because it is based on nothing but touched on in the curriculum for human observation, experimentation senior high school, mention of and thought, and the science that is environmental damage and problems within Islam, which starts with the is scant, and there is no mention of creation of the universe by God from overweening consumption. For the free will of God to create. In this instance, in Chemistry Grade XI, the latter paradigm, science enables focus is on mining, ‘including positive humans to learn about their God- and negative impacts’ and ‘the given world, and over the centuries, impact of the burning of Islamic scholarship has made a hydrocarbons on climate change’, sterling contribution to the but there is no agent who does the development of science. In the burning or negatively impacts the curriculum, it is this second type of environment through mining and no science that is presented. connection to consumption. Students who take the maths and sciences Putting aside qualms one might have stream largely miss out on about creationism and the ability of sustainability education; it is only science and religion to coexist, one really those who take the social might also wonder why the writers of sciences stream, and within that, this curriculum did not draw upon geography, who are exposed to true the well-known ethical ‘resources’ or EfS—and then only for three or four values within religions such as Islam classes out of 44 each week. and Christianity that could have been mobilised to teach students EfS. In Given the scale of environmental Islam, for instance, there are values problems in Indonesia, and in order such as rahmah (mercy, kindness, to avoid the pessimism that can compassion), and principles such as accompany true education about the justice (adl) and mizan (balance, state of the environment, it would equilibrium, harmony) in the have been helpful to have some universe, characterising the unifying positive education about how young principle of tawhid. Several scholars people can help, and mitigate the disastrous impacts of carbon

9 Asian Currents December 2014 production and steadily consumption Indonesia promises of energy and consumables: more about the possibilities for human to address conservation, recycling, renewable energy, changing consumption forest destruction patterns, or other ways to Indonesia’s new president sets responsibly and sustainably use himself a major challenge to these ‘resources’. clean-up bribery and corruption in However, there is little evidence to the forestry industry. show that things are better in Australian schools. Environmental By Patrick Anderson education is supposed to be a cross- In late November, after a curricula priority in the new month in his new job, Australian curriculum, and all the Indonesia’s president Joko evidence points to low teacher Widodo (Jokowi), travelled to Riau awareness of this priority, as well as Province, Sumatra, to see for himself low levels of confidence about their the forest destruction that causes own knowledge and ability to embed smoke and haze to blanket Sumatra, this priority in different subject Malaysia and Singapore. areas. It would appear that the United Nations’ identification of Jokowi was blunt Education for Sustainable about the activities Development as a priority has largely of oil palm and fallen on deaf ears. pulpwood companies: ‘If they Lyn Parker is a professor in Asian Studies are indeed at the University of Western Australia. destroying the She leads a team undertaking a three- ecosystem because year research project on environmental education and environmentalism in President Widodo of their has been blunt Indonesia, funded by an ARC Discovery monoculture about the activities plantations, they Grant. The other team members are Pam of oil palm and Nilan (University of Newcastle) and Greg pulpwood will have to be Acciaioli (UWA), Yunita Winarto and companies. terminated. It must Suraya Afiff (Universitas Indonesia) and be stopped, we two PhD students at UWA, Kelsie mustn’t allow our tropical rainforest Prabawa-Sear and Athisia Muir. to disappear because of monoculture A version of this article was presented at plantations like oil palm.’ the ASAA 2014 conference. The president said he planned to This article has been published on the increase legal protection for Asian Currents Tumblr. peatlands to stop them being drained and cleared for oil palm and acacia plantations. Indonesia has about 20 million hectares of peat soils, which hold about 40 billion tonnes of carbon. Due to clearance and drainage, these soils release about one billion tonnes of CO2 each year. The president’s visit to Riau builds on the work of his new Minister for Environment and Forestry, Siti Nurbaya, who confirmed that the current moratorium on issuing new licences for forest use will be maintained until May 2015. The move, according to Siti, is follow-up on the memorandum of

10 Asian Currents December 2014 understanding (MoU) between the Corruption Eradication Commission The common interest between (KPK) and 12 ministries and agencies on accelerating the gazettement of plantation companies and local the forest zone. political elites remains strong, so The MoU was signed in July 2013, new corruption cases continue to and seeks to accelerate efforts to emerge. define forest boundaries and establish which parties have rights to the forests. More than half the land area of Indonesia is classified as palm sectors, elected officials are still forests, and these areas are home to being prosecuted for receiving bribes more than 30 000 villages. However, to run for office and fund their the rights of these communities to political parties. A usual scenario use, manage and control their involves candidates for district and customary forests have been ignored provincial leadership receiving by the government, which has payments on the promise that, if handed out forestry and agricultural they are elected, licences for oil palm conversion licenses without or plantation development will be establishing whether the forest areas awarded to the company providing are already burdened with rights. the bribe. For plantation companies, The hope is that with the KPK at the while the practice is known to be centre of efforts to gazette the illegal, it is the business model they forests, the common practice of have to follow in order to get the bribery to obtain licences will be district government to sign off on resisted. their licences. A study by the KPK in 2013 found As well as the focus on catching and that the potential for corrupt prosecuting corruptors and the transactions in the forestry and companies providing bribes, reform pulpwood sector is up to 22 billion of Indonesia’s election laws will be dollars every year. The forestry needed. Although Indonesia’s ministry claims to have gazetted election law provides a small more than half the forest zone in the payment to political parties for every last two years. However, that vote they receive in elections, the process has taken place without the amount is tiny, and can only cover a involvement of local communities, small proportion of the costs of and non-government organisations maintaining a political party and are protesting that gazettement running for office. Candidates and efforts are yet to include community their parties can’t access sufficient voices and to document community government funds to run election forest areas. campaigns without relying on illicit A number of challenges are still to be funding sources. Without a viable faced by the MoU on Accelerating model for funding political parties Forest Gazettement, including poor and election campaigns, corruption in coordination among ministries and the forestry and agriculture sectors agencies, and the fact that will continue and Indonesia’s forests implementation to date has been and forest peoples will continue to mainly a desk exercise rather than lose out. the detailed and slow work of Patrick Anderson is a policy adviser with coordinating efforts on the ground to the Forest Peoples Programme and a document the rights and obligations visiting fellow at ANU’s College of Asia of all forest rights holders. and the Pacific. Despite the increased attention to This article has been published on the corruption in the forestry and oil Asian Currents Tumblr. BACK T0 PAGE 1

11 Asian Currents December 2014 Remembering Munir A new museum commemorates Batu, which opened a year ago, on the life of one of Indonesia's most 8 December 2013. famous human rights activists. An investigation into his death found By Vannessa Hearman that intelligence officials from Indonesia’s State Intelligence Agency Indonesian human rights (BIN), A.M. Hendropriyono and activist Munir Said Thalib Muchdi Purwopranjono, helped plan was born in the hillside the murder. However, they remain town of Batu, near the city of Malang unpunished in East Java, in 1965. for the crime. Muchdi was Munir became known as a acquitted of courageous lawyer and activist just the murder by prior to the fall of Suharto—but even the South more so, after the fall of the regime, Jakarta in pursuing the state for the New District Court Order regime’s human rights abuses. Munir founded the in 2008. In Trained as a lawyer at Brawijaya organisation Kontras October 2013, University in Malang, the young following the disappearance of dozens Indonesia’s Munir distinguished himself in East of activists. Supreme Java for his progressiveness. At the Court cut the Surabaya Legal Aid Institute, he took 20-year sentence of the man up cases on human rights, land convicted of murdering Munir, former disputes, corruption and abuse of Garuda pilot Pollycarpus Budihari power by the authorities, before Priyanto, to 14 years. moving to the capital to work at the Munir’s widow, Suciwati, feels the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute. state has failed to punish these men Munir initiated the adequately, and the true nature of organisation Kontras the murder—that it was a political (Commission for the assassination—has never been Disappeared and revealed. She decided to set up the Victims of Violence) in Munir museum because she felt she Jakarta following the had exhausted every avenue and 1997–98 disappearance was tired of asking the state to do Munir of dozens of activists, the right thing. 13 of whom have never returned. He Through the museum, Suciwati also led a commission of wants people to recall Munir’s life, investigation, in 1999, into the post- not just about how he died—and in referendum violence in East Timor, particular, to remind them of the which called for a United Nations- richness of his life when he was sponsored international tribunal. His taken away from her, at the age work was recognised internationally of 37. through a number of awards. In September 2004, Munir left The museum, particularly in its Indonesia for Amsterdam to pursue location at Munir’s birthplace, reflects further studies. During his journey, a growing range of initiatives at the he was poisoned with arsenic, and local level and, to a certain extent, died painfully aboard the flight. the abandonment by activists of the central government in the face of His last days are chronicled through former President Yudhoyono’s patent a display at the museum devoted to failure to tackle past human rights him, Omah Munir (Munir’s House), in abuses.

12 Asian Currents December 2014 Historically, the New Order regime, under Suharto, has dominated the creation of museums and monuments and determined how Indonesian history should be written and reflected.

Historically, the New Order regime, under Suharto, which was in power from 1966 to 1998, has dominated Memory of the Suharto the creation of museums and authoritarian era is fast fading in monuments and determined how Indonesia—but is being partly Indonesian history should be written and reflected. While private countered by Suharto nostalgia, museums are increasing in Indonesia encouraged by elite politicians today, many focus on art or family and the Suharto family. history. The museum opened on Other panels deal with land disputes, what would such as at Nipah, where Munir was have been involved in representing poor Munir’s 48th farmers about to lose their land. birthday— two days Personal items, such as Munir’s Personal items serve as an before clothing, worn-out shoes, books, entry point to insert Munir International badges and awards, are also into the larger story of Human displayed and serve as an entry point human rights activism to insert Munir into the larger story under the New Order. Rights Day. The choice of of human rights activism under the site, the house Munir and Suciwati New Order. shared with their two children, and in There are also photographs of Munir which Suci said they had hoped to at work, and his wooden desk from grow old, was because Suci wanted the Surabaya Legal Aid Institute is to turn it from a place of lost dreams also there. Because of the range of into one of defiance. cases he was involved in—many of A team of curators, led by Andi them significant national rights Achdian, a history graduate from the cases—using them to tell Munir’s University of Indonesia, worked with story serves to educate human rights organisations to museumgoers about the history of assemble the museum, finding, for human rights activism under the New example, texts to illustrate the kinds Order. of cases Munir was involved in. Many Funding for the museum came from museumgoers donations and fundraising nights are young, involving Jakarta musicians and mostly celebrities. students. But One of the most novel aspects of the there are also museum (novel for Indonesia) is the Part of the task of families blurring of the personal and the extending Munir’s visiting Batu, political. The museum hooks the ‘presence’ is by distilling whose cool visitor into the larger story of human his figure into a symbol, hillside such as by the use of rights activism through Munir’s own images of his head. location story. His biography is presented in attracts many large wall panels such as the one local tourists. Therefore knowledge stating, ‘The beginning of Munir’s of, and sympathy for, human rights journey’. cannot be taken for granted. Another panel deals with the In addition, memory of the Suharto Marsinah case, where the young authoritarian era is fast fading in worker–activist, Marsinah, was raped Indonesia—but is being partly and killed in East Java, probably as countered by Suharto nostalgia, punishment for her involvement in a encouraged by elite politicians and strike in her workplace in 1993. the Suharto family (the Suharto

13 Asian Currents December 2014 museum in Kemusuk, Central Java, New centre will study opened in 2013). rare Asian languages The Munir museum establishes a place to remember him as both a A new research centre into how person and the human rights activist. language works has been set up at However, its creators also realise the the Australian National University’s limits of collective memory, and College of Asia and the Pacific (CAP). therefore seek to extend an The ARC Centre of Excellence for the understanding of Munir and human Dynamics of Language is drawing rights activism to new audiences. together the nation’s top linguists, Part of the task of extending Munir’s philosophers, psychologists and ‘presence’ is by distilling his figure roboticists to puzzle out the complex into a symbol, such as by the use of mechanisms of human images—Munir’s head, for example— communication. as well as through his personal story. Teams from the centre will visit sites in northern Australia, Asia and the Pacific to record rare languages that Under Indonesia’s new president, may just hold the keys to our distant past and offer hope for a brighter Joko Widodo, the future of human future. rights is uncertain. Funded by the Australian Research Council, the centre is a seven-year collaboration between the Australian Under Indonesia’s new president, National University, the University of Joko Widodo, the future of human Western Sydney, the University of rights is uncertain. The former head Melbourne and the University of of BIN, Hendropriyono, was part of Queensland, with partners in the the president’s campaign team. United States, the United Kingdom, Retired general Ryamizard Ryacudu, New Zealand, China, Singapore, who praised the soldiers convicted of Germany and The Netherlands. murdering Papuan leader Theys Eluay, has been appointed defence See full story on the CAP website. minister. New report on This does not bode well for the cultural links upholding of human rights in Papua. with Asia Dr Vannessa Hearman is lecturer and A new report aimed at improving acting chair, Department of Indonesian Studies, at the University of Sydney. cultural links between Australia and Asia has been published by Asialink This article has been published on the Arts in partnership with Arts Victoria. Asian Currents Tumblr. The report, On the ground & in the

know, draws on the Victoria–Asia Cultural Engagement Survey, which was developed to better understand the reasons why Victorian arts organisations engage with Asia, and their priority countries and regions. It found that Asia is a priority for more than 60 per cent of the organisations surveyed. On the ground & in the know is published as a free download. BACK T0 PAGE 1

14 Asian Currents December 2014 Laos foots the bill for power-hungry Bangkok By Danny Marks Simultaneously, local rural communities and wildlife in Laos will Bangkok’s ever bear the brunt of the environmental increasing electricity damage caused by these dams, and consumption is often the communities are worse off perpetuating injustice in Laos. after being forced to resettle. Seven months ago, in May, Bangkok’s Bangkok’s latest shopping mall, rapid growth Central Embassy, celebrated its over the past opening with aplomb, attracting few decades, several thousand Bangkok celebrities and its unique to this glitzy affair. form of The 144 000 square-meter luxurious urbanisation, and futuristic-looking mall was have resulted described by Travel & Leisure The newly opened in high magazine as a ‘monster of a Central Embassy electricity shopping mall: ‘a shopping complex’. During the same consumption monster of a shopping in two specific month, the World Wildlife Fund complex’. warned that the construction of the interrelated Don Sahang dam in southern Laos ways. First, unlike many other Asian would endanger the survival of cities, new development in the freshwater Irrawaddy dolphins, and peripheral areas of Bangkok over the called for a suspension of the past 15 years has mostly been in the project. form of townhouses and detached housing, which consume a lot of These two juxtaposed events, the electricity. Since developers sell opening of Central Embassy and the houses and condominiums after they construction of the Don Sahang dam, build them, they often do not invest which are occurring 870 kilometres in more expensive energy-efficient away from each other and in technology. Further, Bangkok different countries, might appear, at households use more appliances, and first glance, unrelated. However, their average electricity usage is they are linked because they form double that of the rest of the part of a complex web of Bangkok’s country. electricity consumption. To partially slake Thailand’s increasing thirst for The second form of electricity- electricity, Thai companies and state- intensive urban expansion is the owned enterprises are collaborating continuing proliferation of shopping with the Lao government to build malls, some of which use more more hydropower dams in Laos and electricity combined than some of import the electricity into Thailand. Thailand’s smaller provinces. Much of this electricity is used in The regulatory structure also Bangkok. contributes to metropolitan Middle-class and upper-class Bangkok’s high electricity Bangkok residents enjoy cheap, consumption. None of the five ever-expanding consumption of provinces in the Bangkok electricity while company executives Metropolitan Region (BMR) factors in and large shareholders of Thai electricity as a determinant of urban companies in the energy, real estate, growth. Nor do the national or construction and finance sectors, and provincial governments regulate Lao government leaders, reap large electricity usage in new buildings. profits.

15 Asian Currents December 2014 In addition, the government does not offer sufficient incentives for developers to follow green building Laos’ economic strategy reflects codes, nor penalise those who do not the interests of the Lao People's comply with them. And the electricity Revolutionary Party, which aims pricing structure does not discourage heavy users from using electricity—it primarily to enrich the elite while is not much more expensive for maintaining legitimacy through shopping malls or industries to buy brisk growth. electricity per unit than it is for home residents. In 2013, the BMR consumed about 40 per cent of the country’s electricity development. EGAT drafts electricity, even though the region Thailand’s Power Development Plan constitutes only 1.5 per cent of the (PDP) in a closed and non- country’s total land area and about participatory process. 22 per cent of its population. Thailand also has a cost-plus tariff As Bangkok is at the centre of system that guarantees EGAT earns Thailand’s centralised electricity revenues based on the amount of system, its increasing electricity electricity it sells, and legal consumption means suppliers need mechanisms that allow the authority to supply more electricity into the to raise tariffs to pass the costs of transmission grid. over-investment on to consumers. This incentive spurs continual To meet its growing energy demand, expansion of the system and a Thailand obtains its electricity supply penchant to overstate demand, mostly from natural gas. However, which EGAT has done for the past 20 the country’s natural gas reserves years. are projected to last for only another 10 years, and the government Since the late 1980s, local projects that electricity generation community groups and non- will double by 2030. government organisations in Thailand have forcefully opposed the While many countries are construction of new large power implementing policies to make their plants, particularly dams, within the energy sectors greener, the Thai country. This increased pressure on government is doing the opposite in EGAT, and the limited number of planning to build additional coal- sites left for dams, has driven EGAT power plants and import hydropower to build these large projects in electricity generated by large dams neighbouring countries where there in Laos. are fewer environmental regulations This response is largely due to the and less public scrutiny, and whose perverse incentive structure in the governments welcome these electricity sector. The state-owned investments. Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand’s energy, construction and Thailand (EGAT) has always been finance companies have also been protected by the national playing a role in encouraging government and allowed to maintain hydropower investment in Laos and a monopoly over both electricity the region. Hydropower has proven generation and distribution. to be lucrative because of the terms Despite previous attempts to of the contracts, enabling these liberalise and reform the sector, companies to export electricity weak regulation, a lack of regulatory cheaply into Thailand. oversight and little domestic To be able to invest overseas, these competition have enabled EGAT to companies need a willing partner, exert significant power over and they have found one in the Laos

16 Asian Currents December 2014 government. Laos’ economic strategy reflects the interests of the country’s only legal political party, the Lao Few Bangkok electricity consumers People's Revolutionary Party, which are aware of the injustices they aims primarily to enrich the elite are helping to perpetuate, and while maintaining legitimacy through brisk growth. rarely question the sources of their Since 2001, the main foundation of electricity. Laos’ economic development plan has been an investment-centric strategy to convert large tracts of sued the government for signing an land to achieve rapid economic agreement to purchase power from a growth through production and new hydroelectric dam, under extractive projects. construction on the Lower Mekong River at Xayaburi in northern Laos, A key pillar of this strategy has been but all of them lived in northeast the rapid enlargement of the Lao Thailand, near the Mekong. government’s hydropower output over the past decade. Laos currently Given how little opportunity exists exports most of this electricity to for dissent in Laos, fomenting further Thailand, and plans to export more dissent in Bangkok by exposing the as its generation capacity increases. perverse logic and injustices behind the construction of dams in Laos, The number of dams already built in and the purchase of power from Laos have had numerous detrimental them, could be one avenue to begin environmental impacts such as the addressing these inequalities. rapid depletion of fish stocks and damaged biodiversity through forest Danny Marks is a PhD candidate in Human Geography at the University of clearance. Furthermore, villagers Sydney. who have been resettled to make way for dam projects are, in many This article has been published on the cases, worse off as a result of Asian Currents Tumblr. inadequate compensation and loss of livelihood.

The beneficiaries of this development are Bangkok consumers, shopping mall and real estate developers, shareholders and executives of EGAT and Thai energy, construction and finance companies, and Lao Communist Party leaders. The losers are local Lao communities, the wildlife and ecosystems affected by the dams, and perhaps if more dams are built on the Mekong mainstream, downstream Cambodian communities and wildlife.

However, few Bangkok electricity consumers are aware of the injustices they are helping to perpetuate, and rarely question the sources of their electricity. While they have protested against dams planned for Thailand, they have, mostly, been silent when it comes to dam-building in Laos. Some villagers BACK T0 PAGE 1

17 Asian Currents December 2014 A fearful symmetry

Members of the privileged landing—being discreetly relocated, families of the party–state are shunted into delicate retirement or escaping China’s current anti- quietly ‘redeployed’. It’s all very corruption campaign. comfy; and it’s all very much business as usual. By Geremie R. Barmé What has been Tyger! Tyger! burning bright extraordinary about In the forests of the night, the Xi–Wang anti- What immortal hand or eye Could frame thy fearful corruption purge is not symmetry?—William Blake so much its style or extent, but the fact By September 2014, some 48 high- that, after nearly two level Chinese Communist Party years, members of the cadres, military officials and party– Purged: Zhou privileged families of state bureaucrats—that is, those Yongkang. the party–state have ranked at deputy provincial level/ gone on the record to ministry level and higher—had been observe why they are above the swept up in the vaunted Xi Jinping– grimy business of corruption. Wang Qishan post-18th Party Congress anti-corruption campaign. Members of this group have been of By that time, the highest-level interest to The China Story Project, a targets of the purge were the Hu- web-based initiative of the Australian Wen-era Party Politburo member government in collaboration with the Zhou Yongkang and the People’s Australian National University, for Liberation Army general Xu Caihou. some years. It is noteworthy that all 48 ‘tigers’— I first wrote about them in an article high-level corrupt officials—are for the June 2011 issue of China reportedly from ‘commoner’ families. Heritage Quarterly titled ‘The Most are from peasant or similarly children of Yan’an: new words of humble origins; none are easily warning to a prosperous age’ , and identified as being members of what again in ‘Red eclipse’, the conclusion is known as the ‘Red Second to the Australia Centre of China and Generation’—the children of the the World’s 2012 China Story founding Communist Party fathers yearbook: Red rising, red eclipse. and mothers of the Yan’an era and They feature once more in our early People’s Republic, nor from the upcoming China Story Yearbook Bureaucrat Second Generation—the 2014: Shared destiny. children of members of the first Over the years many observers have generation of representatives/ blithely dismissed these Maoist bureaucrats selected to join the remnants and treated them, at best, inaugural convocations of the as marginal figures, often deriding National People’s Congress or the them as has-beens. But in the closed National People’s Political system of China, these seemingly Consultative Committee, both defunct members of the ageing party founded in 1954. gentry, their fellows and their In the murky corridors of Communist families, should not be power, an impressive number of underestimated. The fury that their party gentry progeny, or the hauteur and unthinking air of offspring of the Mao-era superiority—as demonstrated by nomenclatura, have been implicated some of the following observations in corrupt practices, but word has it on the anti-tiger corruption purge by that, like the well-connected elites of more outspoken members of China’s other climes, they’ve enjoyed a soft Red Gentry—generates within the

18 Asian Currents December 2014 unconnected party–state In conclusion, I would observe that, bureaucracy and aspirational classes as statist Confucianism enjoys new should also not be overlooked. levels of official support (see, for example, our recent posting, ‘The For example, Ye Xiangzhen, Deputy Confucian return in an age of Head of the All-China Confucius extremes’), any serious student of Academy, a member of the fourth- high Maoism would be reminded of generation film makers and the the philosopher Li Zhi—the Ming eldest daughter of Marshall Ye Dynasty anti-Confucian firebrand— Jianying, one of the founders of the whose key works were reprinted People’s Liberation Army, remarked: during the mid-1970s anti-Confucius The Red Second Generation witnessed campaign. the frugality and struggles of their parent’s generation, the fact that they Among his many bons mots, Li were willing to shed blood and martyr remarked of the morality-sprouting themselves for the nation. They were bureaucrats of his day—in particular profoundly influenced by their fathers in his Book to be burnt—that: and relatively speaking are not easily corruptible. They speak of the Way and Morality yet in their hearts they crave lofty position; Zhou Bingde, former Deputy Chief of they are fixated on accumulating the China News Agency and niece of prodigious wealth. Zhou Enlai, commented: On the surface they are Moralists, deep The reason that bureaucrats from a Red down they crave riches; they cloak Second Generation background are only themselves in the refined garb of the very rarely involved in corruption is that Confucian, but their behaviour is no they have inherited the tradition from better than that of dogs and pigs. their parents of placing the People and This is an edited version of an article the Nation above all. posted on the Australian Centre of China Xu Xiaoyan, a lieutenant-general in in the World website on the 16 October the PLA and daughter of Xu 2014. Xiangqian, one of the famed 10 Professor Geremie R. Barmé is Director, marshals of the Communist Party’s Australian Centre of China in the World, Red Army, remarked: at the Australian National University. The Red Second Generation grew up This article has been published on the immersed in family admonishments, Asian Currents Tumblr. how could they give in to corruption like those others.

And Tao Siliang, Deputy Director of the China Mayors’ Association, and daughter of the pre-1966 party elder

Tao Zhu said:

Through revolution and the heritage of blood our parents bequeathed to us the Red Gene. I don’t believe that this gene will ever lose its lustre, because we will carry it forward. I’m willing to admit

that I’m a Red Second Generation because that’s just what I am, the second generation of revolutionaries. It is time for us to play the natural positive role that we have and support General Secretary Xi Jinping in carrying on the anti-corruption campaign to the very end and to pursue reform to the end. BACK T0 PAGE 1

19 Asian Currents December 2014 An unofficial history of China’s Cultural Revolution The diaries of people who lived Despite its extremes and through the Cultural Revolution extraordinary impact on Chinese may show the ‘10-year society, the political event has never catastrophe’ in a new light. been properly addressed in the nation’s official discourse. The only By Shan Windscript state-authorised historical When I first told my assessment, the 1981 Resolution mother about my research generated by the Dengist regime, project, she looked provides no objective or adequate somewhat bemused and then asked, assessment about the event. ‘But what good are those diaries?’ Instead, it completely negates the effect of the Cultural Revolution, and Like millions of other Chinese people, brushes over its many atrocities. she had been an ardent Mao supporter during the Chinese Cultural In the Revolution, but could not absence of immediately see the point of my an adequate research into diaries written by official ordinary Chinese individuals in that Cultural past. To her, the scribbled personal Revolution accounts are just like her memory of history, the prolonged political event—full of unofficial historical nostalgic warmth, yet of little Cultural Revolution relevance to the current age. She propaganda poster. and memory appeared to think they were just discourses remnants of a bygone era; an era have flourished. They range from whose nature had already been films, literature and art, to officially determined by the Chinese commemorative sites such as government, and insistently enriched museums, memorials and theme by memoirists, novelists, artists and restaurants. All have contributed to film-makers, both at home and influencing and enriching the public abroad. understanding of the Cultural Revolution, thereby challenging the What, then, is the point of looking at official voice that downplays the private diaries of ordinary people— complexity and significance of the many of whom were barely literate— event. when there are so many influential, well-educated voices out there What have been overlooked in the speaking about the Cultural miscellaneous discourses, however, Revolution? are the narratives of non-elite Chinese individuals about their The Great Proletarian Cultural experiences during the historical Revolution (1966–76)—later often period. Much has been discussed referred to as the ‘10-year from the perspectives of political catastrophe’—erupted nearly half a leaders and influential figures. But century ago. It raged across China the voices of ordinary people, the for about a decade, plunging the central components of history, the country into unprecedented driving forces of the Cultural upheaval. Today, scholars and the Revolution, are largely obscured. society in general often lament the lack of a ‘satisfactory’ official history Our current historical perception of of the Cultural Revolution. the political movement is, so far, like a huge landscape painting being viewed only from afar. While

20 Asian Currents December 2014 marvellous rivers and mountains underpin an expansive, plural dominate our visions, the small-scale approach to history ‘from below,’ human figures are barely visible. The calling attention to the dynamic main aspiration of my research is to relationship between individual bring us closer to the ‘scene’ so that subjects and their personal historical the human elements can be realities. perceived. And no other source can With these unique qualities of diary furnish better support for my pursuit in mind, we can begin to see the than diaries written by ordinary potential contributions of a study on people during the historical Cultural Revolution-era diaries to our occurrence of the Cultural existing knowledge of the period. Not Revolution. only can such an undertaking foster The values and significance of the a richer historical rendition of diaries, to be more specific, are people’s everyday lives, but perhaps determined by the unique nature of more importantly, it also calls into the genre. This can be elaborated, question of the validity of any grand broadly, in relation to the two master narrative on that period. fundamental characteristics of the The diaries of the Cultural diary. The first is related to the Revolution—the voices of people— temporal immediacy of diary writing. speak for a pluralised history of the It goes without saying that, in political movement, one that is writing a diary, the author records rather more complex and textured his or her immediate experiences than many mainstream retrospective without much foresight of the future. accounts suggest. They bring Compared with narratives common people’s existences to the constructed retrospectively after an foreground, restoring to them a event has finished, such as much-needed sense of place and autobiographies and memoirs, the agency in history. Though their temporal constraint of writing a diary narratives have all been means that its narratives are much circumstanced and shaped by the less mediated by the passage of time same social collective forces, each and subjective experience. They can one of them offers a distinctive, render individuals’ historical personalised version of the Cultural existences with a vivid sense of Revolution. Together, they tell us immediacy and intimacy, and that there exist as many histories of illuminate their historical milieus the Cultural Revolution as there are more effectively than other forms of people who experienced it, and that life writing. the human element of history is no less important than the great figures. Another feature of the diary that assures its importance is the genre’s It is in these terms that I managed heterogeneity. Anyone who can put to convince my mother about the pen to paper is able to keep a diary. worth of the diaries and my And no one produces a diary the research. It is my great hope that by same as the other. As personal now I may have also convinced you documents of people’s most intimate and, in the near future with a much opinions and histories, the private more in-depth study, a wider chroniclers are as unique as the audience of the academic community individuals who created them. and general public. For this reason the genre is Shan Windscript is a PhD. candidate in recognised in scholarly fields as a History at the University of Melbourne, highly versatile and diverse cultural– researching Mao-era diaries and historical source, capable of opening contemporary Chinese history. up to a wide range of possible This article has been published on the interpretations to the same past. Asian Currents Tumblr. Defying generalisation, diaries BACK T0 PAGE 1

21 Asian Currents December 2014 An Indian–Australian affair: the passion of Louise Lightfoot An Australian ballet teacher’s love In 1937, she visited London and of Indian dance helped bring two Paris with Burlakov to learn more cultures together. about emerging dance styles and to secure the rights to perform a By Amit Sarwal number of new ballets in Australia. In the 19th century, during Returning from Europe, she broke the British Raj, India her journey in India. When she attracted many curious and arrived in Bombay (Mumbai), she enthusiastic Australian travellers. instantly fell under the spell of India. Australians were attracted to Indian The following year, in order to bring curios, artworks, colourful clothes, more appropriateness and and paintings of grand Indian palaces authenticity to her own style of and bazaars; and the great Indian classical dance, and to Intercolonial Exhibition of Australia, present her experimental dance in a held in Melbourne in 1866 and 1867, vivid and hitherto unrevealed form had evinced the wide popularity of and style, Lightfoot discontinued her Indian nautch girls. partnership with Burlakov and In the early 20th century, Australians travelled to Kalamandalam on the were entertained by foreign dance Malabar Coast. troupes and companies performing For the next five years she lived in full-length ballets, and a vulgarised Kerala and Tamil Nadu, exposing form of Hindu dance. By contrast, herself to the techniques of the Indian classical dance, as it has come sacred dance styles, Kathakali and to be known, was virtually unknown Bharata Natyam, while teaching and unseen in Australia. classical ballet to children of the Louise Lightfoot British Raj. More significantly, she (1902–79), a trained became a great proponent of Indian architect and a ballet dance troupes and soloists, teacher, known in organising tours in South India and Australia for Ceylon (Sri Lanka). promoting a fusion of At Kalamandalam, Lightfoot classical ballet and immersed herself in Kathakali. She Indian dance at the was so thrilled by the whole Louise Lightfoot Lightfoot–Burlakov experience of learning this dance school—the First form and its accompaniments— Australian Ballet Company—was soon poetry, song, acting and dance—that going to change this with her Indian– she wanted others to share her Australian cultural collaborations. enthusiasm, appealing to the British Encouraged by Marion Walter Griffin in India to appreciate Indian dance, to take up dancing as a profession, and to Indian parents to allow their and inspired by experimentation with sons and daughters to dance. various Western and Indian dance As an impresario, Lightfoot arranged forms by her contemporaries—Anna many international performance Pavlova, Uday Shankar, Jean tours, including to Australia in 1952, Erdman, Martha Graham, Ruth St for Ananda Shivaram, the renowned Denis, Esther Luella Sherman (Ragini exponent of Kathakali, and singer Devi), Sol Hurok, and La Meri— Janaki Devi. She also worked with Lightfoot thought of exercising a the filmmaker K. Subramanyam in similarly enlivening effect upon Madras (Chennai) and published her dance in Australia. ‘perspective’ pieces widely in the

22 Asian Currents December 2014 Indian press. In recognition of her they de-provincialised and support of Kathakali, Vallathol popularised Manipuri dance on the Narayana Menon—Shivaram’s international dance circuit and paved mentor and the founder of the the way for other Manipuri dancers in university for art and culture, Australia. Kerala Kalamandalam—bestowed on From late 1951, Lightfoot the affectionate title Lightfoot and ‘Australian mother of Kathakali’. Shivaram Ananda Shivaram established an Indian was one of the first dance school in San Indian artists to tour Francisco and spent the then ‘race- several years touring prejudiced Australia’ the United States. in 1947 with Louise In 1957, she was Lightfoot. The Ananda Shivaram introduced to an Australian media and Ibetombi Devi. outstanding young overwhelmingly dancer, Ibetombi Devi, who had Ananda Shivaram described him as an performed for India’s first prime and Janaki Devi. ‘exotic Hindu temple minister Pundit Jawaharlal Nehru and dancer’ and his visit was labelled as a other important national and unique and rare opportunity from international dignitaries. ‘the most expressive artist’ of India. In Australia, Shivaram was For her next cultural tour of Australia celebrated as a visiting cultural that same year, Lightfoot selected ambassador. Devi to perform in company with Shivaram. The highlight of the tour Lightfoot was also was Ibetombi and Shivaram’s interested in learning brilliant performance on 14 May the other traditional 1957, titled Chitangada, broadcast dance forms of India, on ABC television from Melbourne. especially the folk dances of Manipur. Lightfoot’s collaboration with She toured Shivaram, Priyagopal, and Ibetombi internationally for four gave Australian audiences more years (1947–51) with exposure to Indian dance. Their Rajkumar Shivaram, dance tours had great cultural Priyagopal demonstrating significance and these performances, Singh and Lakshman Kathakali dance, and lectures and demonstrations Singh. when that association considerably enhanced the respect of ended, she sailed to Australians for India’s intellectual Bombay to meet Rajkumar heritage. Priyagopal Singh, who had impressed Over and above curiosity, it must her with his work in Jagoi—a form of have been difficult, aesthetically and Manipuri dance. artistically, for Australian audiences A distinguished member of the first to understand and fully appreciate a family of Manipur, Priyagopal Singh dance form with its roots reaching had performed in major dance back to 3000 BC. But Lightfoot’s centres of India, Delhi, Calcutta and extensive notes, commentaries, Bombay, but was more eager to explanations and interpretation of establish himself as a guru in the the art of Kathakali were a valuable international dance arena. aid in making the complicated and historically rooted dance forms In 1951, he and drummer Lakshman plainly understandable to audiences. Singh became the first Manipuri dancers to tour Australia, with Unfortunately, while Priyagopal and Lightfoot as their stage manager and Ibetombi have been forgotten, it is artistic director. With Lightfoot’s help, Shivaram alone whose impact and 23 Asian Currents December 2014 profound impression on many others Becoming Asian through Kathakali is acknowledged today. Shivaram, who moved in the in Australia social life of Australia, and charmed journalists and audiences alike, Visual perceptions of Asian brought the two cultures closer, and Australians have a considerable stimulated a period of vitality and impact on their sense of originality through Indian dance belonging to Australian society. form. By Andrzej Gwizdalski Louise Lightfoot published one One afternoon my Aussie monograph, Dance-rituals of Manipur colleague and I (newly (1958), and released her recording arrived in Australia) sat of Manipuri songs as Ritual music of outside a restaurant on Lygon Street, Manipur in the American Ethnic Melbourne. What happened next Folkways series (1960). shed fresh light on my understanding To revive the memory of Louise of Australianness. Lightfoot and her passion for The waitress first spoke only to me, Kathakali, in 1997 renowned dancer ignoring my colleague. She then and choreographer Tara Rajkumar said, ‘Could you ask your friend what created a dance plus dialogic he’s having?’ performance/installation, titled Temple dreaming, in Melbourne and ‘Why don’t you ask him yourself?’ I Delhi. said. ‘He’s from here and speaks better English than me.’ And in May 2014, Mary Louise Lightfoot, niece of Louise, published ‘Oh … I’m so sorry. I thought … ,’ she an e-book, Lightfoot dancing—Part 1: said looking at my friend,—‘you an Australian–Indian affair, which is don’t…’ part biography, part dance history She stopped herself from finishing and part intergenerational memoir. the sentence, confused and blushing. I thank the Music Archives of Monash University for their kind permission to ‘I know, I know I don’t look very use images from the Louise Lightfoot Australian,’ my friend replied smiling Collection, and Mary Louise Lightfoot for and trying to turn the awkward her encouragement and additional situation into a joke. information on Louise’s life. I remember joining in the short Dr Amit Sarwal is Alfred Deakin uncomfortable laughter, but at the Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the back of my socio-anthropologically Centre for Citizenship and Globalisation, trained mind something clicked, and Deakin University, and the founding convenor of the Australia–India became even more apparent years Interdisciplinary Research Network. He is later when I was researching working on an edited and compiled migration, identity and racial collection of Louise Lightfoot’s writings. discrimination. There I was, a white male from Central Europe, appearing This article has been published on the Asian Currents Tumblr. more Australian than my born-and- bred Asian-background Melburnian friend. That afternoon on Lygon Street, without a citizenship certificate and purely on my physical appearance, I became an Aussie, while my colleague was taken for a foreigner. Unfair? Certainly. New? Not really. This is a classic example of positive BACK T0 PAGE 1 and negative racial discrimination, 24 Asian Currents December 2014 well explored in the social sciences. Our physical appearance that day became a signifier that stood for all ‘They see you first time and call stereotyped and falsely assumed you Asian, assuming you’re slow conceptions of who is and who is not and boring without even trying an Australian. to know you.’ The influential cultural theorist, Stuart Hall, must have had a similar experience when he migrated from Jamaica to the United Kingdom in the These constructs still float in the early 1950s. As he often explained, minds of many, as shown in Karen referring to someone as black in Bailey’s racist rant on a Sydney train Jamaica didn’t make much sense. in July 2014, or as the bamboo But once he arrived in the United ceiling for Asian Australians aspiring Kingdom, his blackness became not to leadership positions indicates. only visible, but also inherited all Is it all because Asian Australians are sorts of historically and culturally constructed stereotypical meanings hardworking and well-organised, foreign to him. hence too dangerous, as Australia’s second prime minister, Alfred This exemplifies how human physical Deakin, suggested at the onset of diversity—once referred to as race— the White Australia Policy? If yes, becomes a floating signifier that may why hasn’t the same level of racial stand for diverse meanings, discrimination been applied to depending on the cultural context. hardworking white European While the 19th century pseudo- protestants, for example? scientific biological conceptions of race and racial hierarchies have long While racism in general, and racial been dismissed by modern science, discrimination of Asian Australians, cultural stereotypes anchored in our has been broadly researched, my physical appearance still float in the original work has focused on the shallow minds of many. These visual construction of identity. The stereotypes are frequently used to term ‘visual belonging’ refers to the sense of belonging to a people that a construct someone’s full identity, often purely on the basis of their person may experience, based on visual appearance. their appearance. For many, being an Asian Australian My research comprises in-depth interviews, surveys and the can be a distinct experience. In one context, an Asian appearance can development of community represent a well-educated, ethnographies with Asian Australians hardworking, talented professional. who arrived in Australia as refugees, settlers and international students, In another—perhaps more commonly—it may trigger some of and with those born in Australia to the worst racial prejudice constructed Asian parents. throughout Australian history. It strongly indicates that the way The fears of’ ‘being swamped by others visually perceive Asian Asians’, as expressed by the likes of Australians has a considerable impact Pauline Hanson, indeed arose earlier, on their sense of belonging to in the times of the Australian Australian society. This is evidenced goldfields riots in the mid-19th in some of the comments made to me by young Asian Australians: century. These negative significations were then exaggerated, institutional- ‘I don’t feel Australian because of the ised and maintained for more than way I look.’ the 70 years of the White Australia ‘They see you first time and call you Policy. Asian, assuming you’re slow and boring without even trying to know you.’ 25 Asian Currents December 2014

‘We tried to share our culture and tell them about our Karen people but the Aussies don’t care. For them we just Formal institutions and symbolic look Asian, and if you look Asian they figures are often used as facades think we all speak Chinese.’ for harmonious multiculturalism. ‘They followed me after school calling “go back to where you come from” and then threw stones at my windows.’ ‘Back in Thailand we were either Thai or It may first require taking a brave Burmese or Karen. No one would call us look at, and facing insecurities about, Asian. It was first when I came to our own national identity and colonial Australia they started calling me Asian. past, and our many unresolved I didn’t really know what that meant then. I know now and it’s not nice. I relations with Aboriginal Australia. don’t think I could call myself Perhaps then, after a cathartic Australian. I don’t look Australian. I’m debate, instead of labelling ourselves not white.’ Asian, Anglo or Aboriginal, we could all become just Australian. Appearance can be confusing. Many would Dr Andrzej Gwizdalski is a research fellow disagree that Australia in the School of Social Sciences at the is a racist country. Of University of Western Australia. This course we’re not article is based on a study presented at the ASAA conference in Perth in July racist! We’re a happy 2014. multicultural society with diverse people, This article has been published on the Senator Penny foods and cultural Asian Currents Tumblr. Wong festivals; we have the Racial Discrimination Act (1975), Penny Wong in the parliament and Opening a Door into Asia Tim Soutphommasane as Race The Asia Education Foundation (AEF) Discrimination Commissioner. is inviting secondary schools to By the same token, many Americans participate in an Opening a Door into would say that they’re not racist Asia event. because they have Barrack Obama The events aim to promote pathways as president. But the recent riots in for students beyond school by Ferguson, Missouri, are proof that enabling them to learn about ways to the United States has a racial continue developing Asia skills at problem. university. They are run in Formal institutions and symbolic partnership with various groups from figures are often used as facades for Australia's tertiary institutions and harmonious multiculturalism, but the are pitched at Years 9 and 10 real issues lurk behind, in everyday students.. situations, where people are Asia Literacy Ambassadors join with becoming Asians or blacks or, more university students and academics to recently terrorists, based solely on present half-day programs their appearance. demonstrating how Asia skills Solving this issue may take more enhance life and career choices. If than antiracial policies and you would like your students to institutions, and the genuine participate in an Opening a Door into engagement of many Asia event, contact the AEF. multiculturalists in fighting racial discrimination. The task calls upon everyone—especially those who loudly call themselves Australians while waving the flag. BACK T0 PAGE 1 26 Asian Currents December 2014

New books on Asia Lessons in terror from Indonesia By Zifirdaus Adnan It also details the Indonesian government’s counterterrorism Dinamika baru strategies, with the formation of jejaring teror di organisations such as the BNPT and Indonesia (New the anti-terror squad, DENSUS 88, as dynamics of terror well as ‘soft’ approaches to networks in discouraging involvement in Indonesia). By terrorism. These involve campaigns Ansyaad Mbai. that promote non-violent definitions AS Productions, of jihad, label terrorism as stupid, Jakarta, 2014. and talk about ‘no heaven for suicide With the present Islamic State (bombers)’. insurgency and the recruitment to its Indonesia’s soft approach to dealing ranks of many young people from with terrorist groups could be of around the world, including from benefit to other countries considering Australia, this is an important and a similar approach in their own timely book. countries. The interpretation of Although its focus is on jihadist Koranic verses and the Hadith (the movements in Indonesia, and the words and actions of the Prophet, Indonesian government’s responses and his approval of the actions of his to them, there is much of relevance companions), and statements by to other countries dealing with influential Muslim scholars and clerics similar movements. condemning suicide bombings and other violence could be adopted or As the former head of adapted to counter radical ideologies the Indonesian that use the Koran and hadiths to National Body for the justify violence. Prevention and Controlling of The main value of the book lies in Ansyaad Mbai. Terrorism (BNPT), the the detailed description of Indonesian Photo: ANTARA author, Ansyaad Mbai, jihadist movements. But remarks in is in a position to provide useful book by Beveerly Singh, an analyst information on the activities of recent from the Rajaratnam Centre for jihadist networks for Western International Studies, Singapore, and researchers who might otherwise find Jasminder Singh, an analyst from the collecting such information difficult. Strategic Nexus Research Centre, Singapore, help put the movements Mbai presents detailed information into a wider perspective. The Singhs on the dynamics of recent explain the rise of terrorist Indonesian jihadist movements since movements in the context of events 2010, including the failed Lintas such as the role of the United States Tanzim Aceh—a hybrid group in Afghanistan and Iraq and other consisting of elements of Jamaah Muslim countries, the conflicts in Islamiah and the Indonesian Syria and Yemen, and the oppression Mujahedeen Council—and Abu Bakar of Muslim minorities by the Buddhist Bashir’s Jamaah Ansharut Tauhid. majority in Myanmar. The book examines the recent Despite Mbai’s claims to objectivity, change of focus in the struggle of the it is worth heeding Natasha Indonesian jihadist movements, from Hamilton-Hart’s caution that the ‘far enemy’—the United States authorities trying to prevent and and its allies—to the ‘near enemy’— eradicate terrorism, rather than the Indonesian government, trying to understand the motives for specifically the Indonesian police. 27 Asian Currents December 2014 terrorist activity, may be more Overall, it sheds much light on interested in tailoring information to changing social processes and on suit their own objectives. Past current imaginings of China’s place in practices of Indonesian intelligence the world. officers—for example, in Women, sexual manipulating Muslim radicals—would violence and the seem to justify such caution. Indonesian killings of Although marred by some sloppy 1965–66. By Annie editing and translation inaccuracies, Pohlman. Hardback. overall this book makes an important 188pp. Routledge, contribution to the understanding of 2015. terrorist movements and their operations. The Indonesian massacres of 1965– 66 claimed the lives of an estimated Zifirdaus Adnan is a senior lecturer in Indonesian studies half-a-million men, women and at the University of New children. England. Histories of this period of mass This review has been published on the violence in Indonesia’s past have Asian Currents Tumblr. focused almost exclusively on top- level political and military actors, ASAA Women in Asia Series their roles in the violence, and their movements and mobilisation of Love and marriage in perpetrators. globalizing China. By Annie Pohlman’s book looks at the Wang Pan. Hardback, stories of individual women caught 248pp. Routledge 2015 up in the massacres and mass As China globalises, the arrests, focusing on their testimonies number of marriages between and their experiences of violence and Chinese people and foreigners is survival. increasing. These Chinese–foreign It aims not only to redress the lack marriages have profound implications of scholarly attention but also to for China’s cultural identity. provide significant new analysis on Based on extensive original research, the gendered and gendering effects this book outlines the different types of sexual violence against women of Chinese–foreign marriage, and and girls in situations of genocidal divorce, and the changing scale and violence. changing patterns of such marriages Based on extensive interviews with and divorces, and examines how women survivors of the massacres they are portrayed in different kinds and detention camps, this book of media. provides the first in-depth analysis of It shows how those types of sexualised forms of violence Chinese–foreign marriage where perpetrated against women and girl victims during this period. Chinese patriotism and Chinese values are preserved are depicted See the ASAA Women in Asia website for favourably, whereas other kinds of information on more titles in this series. Chinese–foreign marriage, especially those where Chinese women marry foreign nationals, are disapproved of. The book contrasts the portrayal of Chinese–foreign marriage with the reality, and with the depiction of Chinese–Chinese marriage where many of the same problems apply. BACK T0 PAGE 1

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ASAA news China expert new Social anthropologist ASAA president wins inaugural ASAA fellowship Professor Louise A social anthropologist with a special Edwards has been interest in the relationship between elected president of the medicine and sociopolitical change, Asian Studies especially in Indonesia, has been Association Association awarded the inaugural ASAA (ASAA) of Australia for Postdoctoral Fellowship. 2015–16. Dr Catherine Smith Professor Edwards is Professor of (pictured) graduated with Chinese History and Convenor of a PhD from the Australian Asian Studies at the University National University (ANU) of New South Wales (UNSW). She in 2012, with a thesis has a long association with the ASAA, titled ‘War, medicine and having served as secretary between morality in Aceh: an 1998 and 2004 and as editor of the ethnography of trauma as an idiom ASAA’s Women in Asia Series from of distress’. 1997–2009, and again from 2014. Her dissertation looks at the ways in Between 2004 and 2009 she was which conflict survivors in post- convenor of the ARC’s Asia Pacific conflict Aceh, Indonesia, have Futures Research Network—of which adopted the globalised notion of the ASAA was a major driver, with trauma into local healing practices former ASAA presidents and and political imaginaries. executive members Robin Jeffrey and John Fitzgerald among its initiators. After graduating from the ANU, Catherine completed a six-month After graduating with her PhD from postdoctoral fellowship at the Royal Griffith University, Professor Edwards Netherlands Institute of Southeast worked at a number of universities, Asian and Caribbean Studies. The including the University of fellowship enabled her to develop her Queensland, the Australian Catholic dissertation into a book manuscript. University, the Australian National University, the University of Since her graduation, Catherine has Technology Sydney, the University of worked as a sessional lecturer at the Hong Kong, and UNSW. University of Queensland and a consultant for the Asia Pacific Malaria Her research interests revolve Elimination Network and, currently, primarily around gender in Asia. She as a part-time research assistant at is completing a series of projects on the University of Queensland. She is gendered cultures of war in China. also a visiting fellow at the Her main teaching areas at UNSW Department of Political and Social are Australia’s Asian connection and Change, at the ANU, which will be the history of modern China. the host institution for the ASAA This report has been published on the fellowship. Here she will work under Asian Currents Tumblr. the supervision of Professor Edward Aspinall. Catherine will use her fellowship opportunity to produce publications relating to her doctoral research. ‘PhD students have the opportunity to do extensive fieldwork and usually 29 Asian Currents December 2014 come home with large volumes of Coming events valuable data,’ Catherine said. International conference, Latent ‘Many of us quickly find, however, histories, manifest impacts: interplay that only a small amount of this data between Korea and Southeast Asia, 26–27 February 2015, Canberra. goes into our dissertations, and An interdisciplinary, interregional conference, much of that is reduced in the co-sponsored by the ANU Southeast Asia process of turning the dissertation Institute and the Academy of Korean Studies. into a book. Further details. 4th International Conference, ‘Buddhism ‘This fellowship is a wonderful & Australia’, 26–28 February, 2015, opportunity for me to return to my Perth. The conference will investigate the field notes and develop some of the history, current and future directions of ethnographic material that I collected Buddhism in Australasia region. See conference website for details. during my doctoral research but that didn’t find a home within my Myanmar (Burma) Update 2015, ‘Making sense of conflict’, 5–6 June 2015, dissertation.’ Australian National University, Canberra. Catherine thanked the ASAA for Hosted by the Department of Political and Social Change at the ANU College of Asia and supporting early career researchers the Pacific. Details of previous conferences to make the transition from part-time and publications are available at the Update to full-time academic work, and for series website. For further information please helping to ensure that early career contact the convenors: Dr Nick Cheesman, ph. +612 6125 0181 or researchers have the opportunity to Dr Nicholas Farrelly, ph +612 6125 8220. publish much more of their research. The 8th Indonesia Council Open This report has been published on the Conference (ICOC), 2–3 July 2015, Deakin Asian Currents Tumblr. University, Waterfront campus, Geelong. Registration details and call for papers to Asian Studies follow. Join the ICOC 2015 (Indonesia Council Review Open Conference) Facebook group and stay updated. For information contact Jemma Asian Studies Review is the Purdey. ASAA’s flagship journal. It International Convention of Asian showcases high-quality Scholars (ICAS 9), 5–9 July 2015. scholarship on the modern Adelaide Convention Centre. See website histories, cultures, societies, for further information, or contact the languages, politics and religions of Asia convenor, Dr Gerry Groot. through the publication of research articles, book reviews and review articles. Website changes The ASAA is developing a new website. In coming months, you can expect a new and more interactive site featuring Asian Currents on its front page, and an expanded social media presence. For now, our current website cannot incorporate any new changes, although it remains a source of information on the ASAA and its activities. Asian Currents is edited by Allan Sharp. Unsolicited articles of between 850–1200 In the meantime, Asian Currents is words on any field of Asian studies are available as a Tumblr. welcome and will be considered for publication. Asian Currents is published six Amrita Malhi times a year (February, April, June, August, ASAA Secretary October, December).

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