law — Tatter Scoops

Walk At Your Own Risk!

25 Jan posted by Maureen

The early Monday news haunt me till this very minute.

9 innocent lives gone taken by one drunk, driver’s license-less and a meth head girl on Sunday morning in Jakarta.

Image from: Kompas

The driver and her 3 friends survived but those 9 lives are forever gone.

This has became a national headlines today and I feel sick down to my stomach.

Let me tell you, here, you ride the filthy public buses you’ll get groped by perverts, you ride the train you will get squeezed like sardines. You ride public mini-vans and you get raped! Now it’s not even safe to walk down the street? How sad has this city become is beyond me. This is just a daily part of commuting in Jakarta, a picture I took riding the all female train.

First of all, like I had blog before, sidewalks in Jakarta is pretty much nonexistent! They are either uneven, with dangerous pot holes, cracked or just pretty much occupied with those street vendors or covered with motorbikes trying to escape the congested traffic.

Now let’s talk about drivers courtesy in general here. Guess what, it’s pretty much nonexistent too.

As someone who doesn’t drive here, I’ve heard my father vented out about how rude people can get once they are behind the wheels here, be it two wheeled or four wheeled ones.

Road courtesy is nonexistent. Driver’s education? Nonexistent!

No wonder a lot of Indonesian drivers failed their tests if they attempt to get driver license abroad.

Do you even know how freaking easy it is to get a driver’s license here? Just bribe and voila! You can now drive and put everyone else’s lives at risk by having no ideas how to drive safely. The whole system is beyond broken and maybe that’s why I refused to drive here.

What pissed me and so many millions other Indonesians are the facts that this girl would only face 4 to 12 years in prison for what she did. Really? It’s a freaking DUI for God’s sakes. Is that how cheap the price of one’s life in my country? Among the victims were a 7 months pregnant lady. Killed with the baby inside! She went all Grand Theft Auto on these people and will just get a slap in the hand for it?!

This is so outrageous and make such a huge mockery out of our justice system. Personally, I think this girl should be handcuffed right away not tweeting and playing around with her Blackberry at the crime scene like shown on TV. From what I read, she had the time to locked her Twitter account just before she got arrested. There is no word to describe how disgusting that is. She should pay for what she did and spend the rest of her lives behind bars to think of those innocent lives taken by her stupidity!

So yeah, I guess in Jakarta walking now need to come with a warning label! Walk at your own risk.

What’s DUI laws are in your country?

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Filed Under: Jakarta Livin'

Mini-Skirt Is Not An Invitation For Rapist

18 Sep posted by Maureen

This is why I usually stay away from the news…

But there are times where the news knocked me down hard that I got all fired up and pissed-off is really an understatement. I felt sick to my stomach! The comment coming from our very own Jakarta’s Governor, Fauzi Bowo last Friday on his advise to women left me utterly disgusted.

“Wear sensible clothes, don’t wear ‘inviting’ clothes. You can imagine, if [a woman] wears short skirt and sits next to the driver, it could be ‘inviting’” – Fauzi Bowo

Deep breath…okay.

I was raised in a culture that pounded on girls to mind what we wear. To not draw attention to ourselves because we are girls. We the older generations were told to cover ourselves up. Back then, there is no way you would see teenage girls wondering around a mall wearing hot pants. Time has shifted obviously. Sometimes I roll my eyes seeing the things these young girls are wearing here in Jakarta because it wasn’t this way let’s say 15 years ago when I was younger but hey live evolves – or so it should.

But I never witness or experience us being taught about sexual harassment and the likes. We were never taught how to react if we are being sexually assaulted. It was all a hushed hushed kind of situation that no one really wants to talk about. Did parents taught their boys to be respectful to women? That there are boundaries not to be crossed when it comes to women? I honestly doubt it being Indonesia is pretty much a patriarchy kind of nation.

Growing up I heard my mother keep telling me “Watching a teenage girl is harder than watching a herd of sheep!” I used no never care about that nor did I understand until I became parent myself. Granted, I don’t have a daughter but it is a scary world out there these days.

Sexual education is still a big taboo here so we pretty much were left on our own. Never – draw – attention – to – yourselves – kind of doctrine. Now I remember why I always finds it uncomfortable to be a girl, a woman here. I remember walking through a slum of bus station in college to have guys calling me inappropriate names, made me hunched my back even more.

In high school I learned a lot about self defense because I was forced to do it. Taking three busses to and from school is HARD! You met all sorts of crazy nut jobs. Once, someone put his hand on my thigh under my school bag. This didn’t end well as I jumped out of my seat, pushed the jerk off of me until he fell on the floor, started yelling and cursing at that freak. I can’t tell you how many times I had to shove my elbow hard because some psychos tried to rub their penis on my shoulder. All these happened when I was in my Catholic high school uniform! Not in a friggin mini skirt! To protect myself back then, I started carrying a knife cutter in my school bag.

So dear Mr. Governor to have you made such comment not only made my blood boil. I do not wish anything bad happen to you but learn what COMPASSION really is about. Fix this damn city so it is safer for us women! You should totally be ashamed of yourself.

A woman can wear a tent for Pete’s sake and guys could still gang rape her if they want to! So that mini skirt comment is just way out of the line! To blame a rape victim because she wore a mini skirt does not only berated women, it’s like raping her all over again! Sexual harassment law should be more stringent and applicable here. Protect the women and give severe punishment to those who rape!

Seriously, I can’t tell you how many times I got so disgusted seeing the news about some rapist who just got sentenced 3 to 4 years while the poor woman have to live with the fact that she will be blamed for by the society for the rest of her life! The trauma alone cannot be rectifying by a few years behind bars.

Dear Mr. Governor, I know you have a daughter and God forbid she ever get rape and I do not wish that BUT how would you feel if it does? Then to hear people in power – such as yourself – telling her “You should never wear that mini skirt in the first place!”

And this is why women of Indonesia really are still living in the dark ages with this kind of Neanderthal way of thinking our Indonesian men – especially those in powers has.

Yes you apologize oh our holy Governor but you know what, the damaged has been done! You and that West Aceh district head asshole that once had made a similar remark about women and rape deserves to have karma bites your holy asses!

So ladies, rock your mini-skirts – or-whatever-it-is-you-want-to-wear – and be proud of yourself! Don’t let these twats dictate what we can or cannot wear!

Photo From: Dreams Time

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Filed Under: Jakarta Livin'

Inter-religious Tolerance, A Possibility?

11 Aug posted by Maureen

So it’s that time of the year again in Indonesia where you will see most restaurants either closed down during the day or spread a curtain on their usually cleared windows to cover the people eating inside. These veiled windows will be a very common sightings for a month.

It’s the holy month for the Muslim as they start their one month long fasting or known as Ramadhan. Being one of the largest Muslim populated country in the world, it means this whole month long event will affects everyone even from different religions.

When I was still working, the company’s canteen will be closed for lunch leaving us, non Muslim to find lunch somewhere else or just fast away and eat after 6PM where they will break the day’s fast – if they are on the second shift, etc.

Also because people who fast will be up before the crack of dawn, the ‘wake up call‘ can be really annoying for those who wish to sleep peacefully. On some parts of Jakarta, the kids will literally use firecrackers especially in the first few days. Imagine being woken up by them at around 3-4AM? But we put up with it as part of the custom.

Yes, it’s all about tolerance…

I do respect my Muslim neighbors and friends and growing up we are taught to do so.

But this one tweet I saw today got me thinking

“Fasting is about self control, not blindly forcing other people to conform to your standards or preventing others from going about as usual.” – Aulia

If it’s correct then why do we let FPI (Islamic Defender Front) still untouched by the laws when they go on a raid to ‘clean-up’ entertainment places such as bars, pubs, etc? Oh wait, I forgot our very own Jakarta’s governor Fauzi Bowo and the police chief himself had acknowledge these hard line Muslim group by attending their anniversary, right?

These entertainment places by law suppose to be close during the whole month, not all of them but around 400 nightspots will be shut down.

We – the non-Muslim – Indonesians are asked to respect our Muslim brothers and sisters in their holy month and we would love to do that but I personally don’t think it’s wise to force this into our throats by putting such tight controls.

And won’t it be nice to get the same respect and tolerance back for the non-Muslim? If there is such thing as balance interfaith tolerance then maybe just maybe there won’t be anymore church goers being attacked by FPI like on last Sunday. Maybe the government wouldn’t put such a tight stronghold on issuing church building permit.

Hats off to our brilliant smart Minister of Information, who decided to banned porn sites starting this month. Not that I’m pro porn sites but really, this mommy thinks blocking such sites solely won’t improve the mentality of this country. Morality of this country needs to fixed no doubt about that, but will blocking some websites help? I seriously don’t think so.

I dream of a peaceful country where there will be no more torching, attacks, burning, whatever against one another…until then Have a blessed Ramadhan to all my Muslim friends.

25 Comments
Filed Under: Indonesia, Musings

Sex Tapes & Quake Victims

22 Jun posted by Maureen

That got you wondering what the heck I’m talking about?

I’m talking about the recent scandal of sex tapes involving a singer, and two model/actresses that crowded not only the airwaves but also became Twitter trending topic. Everyday their news are on TV from major news time slots down to those infotainment gossip shows.

A sex tape(s) is a sex tape(s)…deal with it…move on already!

Not so much! This thing had caused so much uproar in Indonesia that the parliament members feels it is important to hold a special meeting to discuss it? Holly cow, Batman!

Ridiculous is an understatement, many Indonesians doesn’t even know that a pretty big earthquake at 7.1-magnitute struck Papua province last week, June 16, 2010. Why? Because everyone is too busy talking about these stupid sex tapes! What about the quake in Sumatra just last month? These people deserves more attention than these so-called porn stars wannabes.

People are living in poor conditions there and all the parliament can talk about is the sex tapes scandal? Way to go!

Using the anti-pornography law as an ‘excuse’ this has been dragged for far too long while people in these quake stricken areas can’t even have clean water! My heart breaks and enraged seeing the news as it clearly shows the priorities of our government. There are way too many problems in this country from corruptions to poverty so why on earth two sex tapes took over these big guys’ concern is beyond me!

When will our government really shake up and prioritize? Maybe in 20 years from now…well one can hope can’t I?

10 Comments
Filed Under: Indonesia, Musings

Religious Thuggery

14 Jun posted by Maureen

A couple of days ago a dear friend of mine forward me a link to sign this online petition to disband FPI. What the heck is FPI you asked? They are this big Muslim organization, literary translated means Islamic Defender Front. With their histories of violence acts in the name of religion, you bet I signed that online petition!

FPI has been left alone for far too long, untouched by the law because they are religious group? Come on!

This kinds of groups contributed to the bad imagine Indonesia have abroad and instead of ‘defending‘ their religion, it only makes Islam’s image more tarnished.

One fact that sadly most of these kinds of group’s followers seems to forget (or brainwashed?!) is Indonesia is NOT a Muslim country! Yes, Indonesia is one of the largest Muslim populated country in the world but again, it’s not a Muslim country or based on Muslim laws, there is laws here so for some group to pushed the law aside and shoved their own and starts burning down places such as massage parlors, bars, clubs even churches…that my friend is just wrong!

What most media failed to report is the way FPI has been terrorizing some churches located in RuKo (loosely translated: house store – a store that looks like a house) for money. FYI, to build a church here is so hard and the government tend to make the permit almost impossible to get that’s why a lot of churches has been using stores, hotels meeting rooms, even malls as a place to hold their services. Sounds like thuggery? I definitely think FPI stands for Front Preman Indonesia (Indonesia Thuggery Front). What a joke it is to use religions to attack women and children even killing them?

I’m no politics expert but from my personal experiences (for example: the killing of my mother’s distant relative in front of his family by Muslim group in Poso, and the many horror stories I’ve heard from relatives in Ambon) this has to stop!

I didn’t mean to offend anyone this is just my thoughts on how sad this country has become.

Will the government really step up and do something and take care of this mess before more blood is being shed? Who knows, I can only dream. I like this article written at The Jakarta Post. Is religious tolerance will become extinct in Indonesia? Well, if the government doesn’t do squad and still allowing these kinds of madness going on then I’m afraid we’ll soon be headed down that road.

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Filed Under: Indonesia, Musings

Dual Citizenship Dreams

10 May posted by Maureen

When Lil’ A was born in December 2006, the Dual Citizenship law for mixed children born out of marriages between Indonesian and foreign citizen parents were still pretty much fresh from the oven.

We were pretty lucky as the law stated children born after the law was implemented (June 11, 2006) should immediately granted with Indonesian citizen, while the ones that were born prior, have a more tedious steps to follow. By the time he was 7 months old, Lil’ A proudly have his Indonesian passport and the process at Indonesian Consulate in Houston was a breeze.

Although the law stated that when the child turns 18, they will have to decide which citizenship to follow and ditch the other one, it still brought plenty of happiness for mothers like myself. Prior to the law, Indonesia does not recognize dual citizenship and every children born out of a mix marriage will automatically follow their father’s citizenship. I’ve seen and read plenty of horror stories out there about nasty child custody battles resulting in children being totally seperated from their Indonesian mothers.

Several mix marriage associations such as KPC Melati and KPC Melati Worldwide are still actively lobbying Indonesian government to pass another citizenship law, this time to allow dual citizenship for the parents (mother/father). I am hoping this bill will be approve in the future as it would definitely makes life a little easier for a mix marriage couple.

Being Indonesian, it is somewhat of a hassle to travel abroad. Not only certain countries put such a strict ‘filtering systems’ for Indonesian visa applicants to avoid either illegal immigration movements or simply because of this country’s history to terrorism activities. By all means, I do not blame the ‘other country’ as they are just trying to protect their own and yes, there are way too many people who will bail out on their tourist visas once they landed in the country of their dream. These ‘reputations’ sometimes makes it hard for ‘genuine’ people who just wants to travel to obtain a visa.

Have to admit I am somewhat jealous of Lil’ A’s status of holding two passports and after seeing how it works can you blame me if I sometimes dream I could have a ‘blue passport’ too?

One example, when we were applying for a Chinese visa from The US of course Lil’ A used his American passport and were automatically granted with a 6 months multiple entry-90 days maximum stays visa-renewable! His Mommy? Not so lucky! I only got 3 months with maximum stay of 30 days and I can’t extend it without leaving the country first. When I showed our passports to my inlaws, their jaws dropped “That’s discrimination!” claimed my mother inlaw. No…that’s just how it is, their rules and as unfair as it seems, it’s one of the thing I hate about using my ‘green passport’.

These does not only happening to me, I’ve heard stories from friends who had to jumped through so much hurdles just to get a visa and how much easier it is to travel using the ‘blue passport’. One girl I knew who travel frequently to the Netherlands told me the first time she went there with her newly obtained American passport, the immigration officer didn’t even ask her any questions (oh she’s used to being ‘partially interrogated’ on her trips there) and just stamped her passport. Nice!

Someday…yes I still have hopes that one day it will be much easier for us who chose to ‘stay green’ to travel to these places that has strict ‘filters’ or better yet, a dual citizenship for women in mix marriages.

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Filed Under: Indonesia, Jakarta Livin', Musings