Savu & Rai Jua News
- Oct '05
DVD
release
An 80 minute video of
film, still images and songs recorded on Savu in
2004 has recently been released. The songs are
subtitled in Savunese and English, with sections
on the Savunese alphabet and Djingi tii Eu, the
Savunese tradition. >> More
info
"Postcard of the Savu
Islands"
Illiteracy
rates highest in Eastern Savu
A recent survey claims
that 52% of 10-24 year olds in Eastern Savu
(Hawoe Dimu) are illiterate. The survey was
conducted by the Kupang Regency Department of
Education & Culture and the Outside School
Education Department (PLS). It identified over
two thousand illiterates in Eastern Savu, aged
between 10 & 35 years.
Part of the problem is that tutors spend a great
deal of time and effort walking long distances to
reach their students, who are mostly exhausted
having arrived from their farms. Another part of
the problem is that lessons are conducted in
Indonesian, a language few in the area have
mastered or even speak. This only creates a more
complex learning environment for many Savunese.
Even more insideous is the religious overtone
that is imposed by religious figures, who look
down on those who still embrace the traditional
Savunese culture, Djingi tii Eu.
The survey also found that 309 children under the
age of 6 had no access to early childhood
learning. Just 36 children in Eastern Savu were
attending kindergarden. The head of the Kupang
Regency Department of Education & Culture,
Drs. John Manulangga, M.Ed. criticised the Kupang
Regional Government under Ibrahim Medah for not
allocating sufficient funds for educational
programs on the Savu Islands. In B'o D'ae (Bodae)
Village, the kindergarten is run by two
volunteers, Ina Kudji (Grace Manno) and Ama Beni
(Anky Lay). They have no experience in teaching
and absolutely no materials. The modest one room
kindergarden was built by a foundation on
property donated by a local, Ama Hale (Benyamin
Bessie).
|
|
|
| Ama
Beni |
Ina
Kudji |
Ama
Hale |
Ir.
Marthen Dira Thome, from the Outside School
Education Department, said that, evidently, the
Kupang Regional Government under Ibrahim Medah
has not allocated funds (sharing funding) for the
educational programs for the Islands of Savu.
"The provincial goverment has handed one
billion rupiah to the regional government to fund
the Outside School Education. But, the regional
government is acting nonchalantly, allocating no
funds for this particular area of Savu
Islands."
© raijua.com
Crisis
goes from bad to worse
As if times were not
tough enough for the Savunese, their seaweed
farmers have now reported crop failures right
across Savu and Rai Jua. The seaweed has
apparently been attacked by a pest.
Seaweed
farmers at Ma Tiki (Matiki) Beach
Farmers
have asked for help from the government, who say
they will consider the matter seriously. However,
as usual, the government is neglecting its duty
to lend a hand to the Savunese in their hour of
need. The government has already failed to
respond to the rise in malnutrition and other outbreaks caused by
the drought, despite claiming to be
monitoring the situation. Recent reports from Rai
Jua paint a desparate picture of wells drying up,
palm trees dying and food running out.
Basic infrastructure is ignored by the
government. The roads are not properly maintained
and there is dissatisfaction with PLN, the
government-owned company responsible for
providing electricity on the Savu Islands.
Electricity has not been properly installed into
people's homes and safety information is not
given to the people. The government seems to be
oblivious to the problems.
© raijua.com
Former
Governor criticises government inaction
The former governor of
East Nusa Tenggara, Mr Ben Mboi, has criticised
the government's failure to act. He ridiculed
them for apparently thinking that "just
because the Governor can enjoy his meals, the
people also have meals; or with health, just
because the Governor and the Head of the Region
are healthy, the people must also be
healthy". He said: "The government
talks too much about poverty, while doing nothing
about it. They need to get out of the office and
meet the people, but not from behind tinted
windows, in air conditioning cars." He
strongly urged the government to become actively
involved by going out and seeing the reality of
the crisis first hand, rather than just sitting
back in their offices waiting for reports to
cross their desk. "How else can the
government see how poor the people really are?
Relying on data is not enough", he said,
"because data can be misrepresented".
"Building a prosperous society requires a
government that is close to the people and
concerned for their needs. He lamented that the
government is currently very distant to the
people it is supposed to serve. Planning and
development seems to be driven by private
interests rather than the needs of the broader
community.
© raijua.com
New
air service
A new air service is
planned for the Kupang/Savu route. Trans Nusa Air
is owned by the owner of Toko Piet, a store in
Kupang. The airstrip on Savu is to be extended in
anticipation of the larger aircraft.
© raijua.com
A
new Savunese motocrosser
Continuing a family
tradition in the sport of motocross, Rey Ratu
Kore has been declared the region's new
representative, having recently won the Suzuki
Motocross. Former Savunese motocrossers, Pieter
Here Wila and his uncles, Juang and Dios Ratu
Kore, each gained provincial recognition for
their racing skills. Now, Rey Ratu Kore is
competing against motocrossers from other
provinces. However, the competition is tough. In
a race against Balinese motocrossers, Rey found
himself trailing far behind.
© raijua.com
Illegal
fishing vessels seized
The Navy has seized
three vessels for illegaly fishing the Savu Sea.
According to authorities, the vessels have only
been licensed to fish in the waters around Bali.
Nine people have been arrested, including six
Thai nationals. The three vessels have been
impounded in Kupang's Tenau harbour, along with
about 50 crew.
Authorities have not released the names of the
accused. However, the names of the vessels are
Kapal motor Patra Jaya, -Bima Kawan Setia I and
-Samudra Tuna Nusantara 03. Altogether, they were
carrying over 100 tons of catch.
The Navy Commander, Colonel Ary Atmaja, stressed
that the three vessels had clearly violated their
fishing license rules. The Navy is investigating
the matter further and will hand the matter to
Kupang's District Court.
The three illegal fishing boats
tied to the Navy vessel in Kupang
© raijua.com
Police
brutality in Ende
A Savunese man, living
in Ende, claims he was ill-treated by police,
following a minor traffic accident involving the
wife of Ende's Chief of Police. Police Chief
Bernabas Wangge admits to having physically hit
Rubenson Riwu Tude, however denies the allegation
of ill-treatment. Tude was admitted to hospital
with head and facial bruising. His story was
corroborated by a string of university student
organisations, who issued the following statement
concerning the incident:
"On Friday the 16th of September at around
9pm Central Indonesia Time, Rubenson Riwu Tude
was riding a motor cycle in Kelimutu Street, near
Ganyo Road. At this time, the wife of the police
chief, Mrs. Bernabas Wangge, drove by with her
child and driver. For no apparent reason, the
wife of the Ende police chief said to Tude:
"Do you want to live or die?" The
victim then approached the wife of the Ende
police chief and apologised while touching her
shoulder, as well as her driver's shoulder. After
he politely apologised, the driver demanded that
Tude stay right where he was and wait. An hour
later, two police cars arrived with uniformed
police, who then took Tude to the house of police
chief Bernabas Wangge. When they arrived, Tude
was abused by numerous policemen including the
police chief himself. As a result of the abuse,
Tude suffered bruising to the head, eyes, cheeks
and nose."
Tude's older brother came to his rescue,
embracing his brother in an attempt to shield him
from further abuse. When the abuse was over, Tude
was taken home. However, Tude was in such a bad
way that they then decided to take him to
hospital, afterwhich the matter was reported to
the police office.
Three important issues were emphasised in the
statement. Firstly, the brutal treatment of
Rubenson Riwu Tude was inhumane. Secondly, the
action was inappropriate considering the duty and
responsibility of policemen as stated in the
constitution. Thirdly, the kidnapping and torture
of Rubenson Riwu Tude involved the use of police
facilities to fulfil private interests.
Although Mrs Bernabas Wangge was reported to have
been using her husband's office vehicle
(government property) for her private needs, her
husband denied that his office car had been
inappropriately used by his wife and daughter. He
defended the allegation, saying that other people
use their office vehicles for their own needs,
while he uses his own personal car for official
purposes.
© raijua.com
Two
students injured in traffic accident
Two Savunese students
living in Kupang were injured when a car collided
with their motorcyle, sending them flying through
the air. The two Senior High School students,
Niken Lay and Citra Dub'u (Dubu), were on their
way to Oepoi Sports Stadium, where they were to
attent a school activity. Apparently, they were
in a rush and crossed the intersection without
noticing two cars travelling at high speed. The
second car almost added to the drama, screeching
to a halt just before the two students, who had
ended up in the gutter. Both were rushed to
Bayangkara Army Hospital, for emergency care.
Niken Lay suffered facial injuries and a severe
gash to the head. Her sports uniform was said to
be bathed in blood. Citra Dub'u suffered
abbrasions to the hands and feet, as well as
facial swelling. The driver of the car
accompanied the girls to the hospital. Citra
Dub'u said she does not remember how they ended
up in the gutter.
© raijua.com
|
