Petruk Pengen Terus Dadi Ratu (Petruk Insists to Continue Being the King)

This week in TWISEA we are featuring an article by our MA student Dimas Romadhon in response to Dr. Giora Eliraz’s article “Ahok, Islamism and Indonesian Democracy.”

Petruk suddenly becomes king. He leads rudely, but he is correct. He bulldozes the dilapidated system of the existing government. He challenges old rulers and elites, strips down their abominations. People, who had no power in the past, now are cheering. The deceitful old leader, corrupt family, and cronies who sucked people’s blood were all burned by Petruk into char. All done overnight.

Then Semar comes and says, “It’s enough, Son, go back home.”

***

The play above is familiarly known as Petruk dadi Ratu (Petruk becomes the king). This is a play about politics, about democracy. Petruk, only an ordinary people with no support from political elites, surprisingly became a king. He destroyed the bad system of past government, devastated the bureaucracy, and attacked those who enjoyed authorities around the throne. He came to power and became the public’s idol. Petruk is like Ahok, the incumbent Jakarta governor who ran for his second election. He was a man of nowhere and came from a minority. He was assertive and bold, hit fro, reformatted the system, and silenced dirty politicians. But what placed him as the center of attention during the local election in Jakarta is that he was accused of blasphemy by a number of (Islamic) organizations.

Click here for the rest of the story.

Disclaimer: Opinions in this article are those of the author and not necessarily the Southeast Asia Center.

Events

Asian Development Bank's 2017 Economic Forecast for Asia

Tuesday, April 25 | begins at 12:00 PM | Thomson Hall Room 317

Thai Student Association (ThaiSA) x Thai Food Festival 2017

Friday, April 28 | 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM | UW Intellectual House

For students planning on international travel, please read:

The UW has passed the Student International Travel Policy (SGP Chapter 211). This policy outlines three important pre-departure requirements for all students traveling abroad for official academic purposes:

- Register international travel with the Office of Global Affairs (OGA)

- Purchase comprehensive medical and evacuation insurance while abroad

- Request a waiver for travel to high risk destinations

Please visit the OGA website for more information and FAQs. 

The UW offers a wide variety of opportunities for student engagement abroad, including foreign study programs, international exchanges, research and service learning opportunities, and international internships. Student health, safety, and security are our top priorities. Administered by OGA, the policy establishes health and safety requirements to minimize undue risks to UW students. The spirit of this policy is threefold:

- Help ensure that UW students have a safe and successful academic experience abroad

- Raise awareness so that all UW students know about international health and safety resources and services when traveling abroad

- Institutionalize long-standing best practices that help ensure the University’s ability to consistently provide efficient and effective, 24/7 support to all students studying abroad

We ask that you take these steps to support this effort and this new policy:

- Inform students, faculty, and staff about this policy and the importance of working with the Office of Global Affairs before traveling abroad

- Stay safe together! Let us know how we can work together to raise awareness and advocate for safe and positive academic experiences abroad

Thank you for your time and support in this effort. If you have any questions or concerns please let me know.

All the best,

Jeff M. Riedinger, Vice Provost for Office of Global Affairs

Conferences & Journals

CKS Khmer Language and Culture Study Program, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, June 20 - July 29 - application deadline April 30

People In and Out of Place: 33rd Biennial Canadian Council of Southeast Asian Studies (CCSEAS) Conference, York Centre for Asian Research, Toronto, October 26 - 27 - submissions due April 30

Jobs (& Internships)

Are you still unsure about what you're going to be doing this summer or after graduation? The Jackson School has a great resource on their website for finding jobs and internships. The website is updated daily with new opportunities.

To find the website, follow these steps:

- Go to jsis.washington.edu

- At the top of the homepage, click Advising

- There's a menu bar on the right side of the page. Right under Advising is Career Services. Click that.

- If you scroll down just a bit, you'll see three clickable boxes. The one on the right says Search for Jobs & Internships. 

- You made it to the database!

The other way to access this resource is by going to the web address: http://jsisjobs.jobboard.io/

Happy Hunting!

Regional Director (Indonesia) at Ford Foundation, Jakarta - deadline May 4 @ 8:59 PM in your local timezone

PhD candidate "The formation of an Indonesian postcolonial academia," Faculty of Humanities - Amsterdam School of Historical Studies - application due May 18

Alliance for Tompotika Conservation Open until filled, posted April 2017

The Alliance for Tompotika Conservation ("AlTo") (www.tompotika.org) is a small non-profit conservation partnership dedicated to healing the broken relationship between humans and the rest of nature, starting in one very special place: the Tompotika peninsula of Sulawesi, Indonesia. AlTo runs field projects to protect endangered species, rainforests, and coral reefs; outreach projects to build long-term support for conservation; and quality-of-life projects to promote the dignity and self-sufficiency of local communities.

The Assistant Director will work with AlTo's Director and field staff to implement all aspects of AlTo's programs. AlTo is a small organization with few staff, so the Assistant Director must be flexible and able to work on a wide variety of daily tasks in both the United States and Indonesia. The position will be based on Vashon Island, Washington, USA, and, except when on travel, physical presence at the office is required weekly (i.e. must reside in Seattle area). When in the U.S., daily tasks will be centered around grant-writing, project management, and communications. The Assistant Director will also make up to four trips per year to Indonesia, generally of 2-4 weeks' duration. While in Indonesia, he or she will take an active part in our field conservation and outreach activities, ranging from night patrols of sea turtle beaches to school visits to meetings with government officials.

The ideal candidate to join AlTo's small, cohesive team will be a person who has demonstrated a strong concern for a stable planet, healthy and diverse wild nature, and sustainable human communities. Though his or her nationality may be from any country, s/he will be familiar with and at home in both Indonesian and Western culture. S/he will be well-organized, with outstanding communication and social skills, and be able to work closely and with respect, compassion, and a sense of humor with people from all walks of life. His or her work habits will demonstrate honesty, flexibility, reliability, and attention to detail in all things. S/he will be a team player, able to follow directions closely, collaborate with others, and also think creatively and independently to solve problems.

Qualifications:

The following attributes are required:

• Fluent in English

• Proficient in Bahasa Indonesia

• Outstanding communication skills (written, verbal), esp in English

• Excellent organizational skills, including ability to meet deadlines, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple tasks

• Excellent interpersonal skills, including cross-cultural sensitivities • High personal integrity and discipline

• Physical flexibility and stamina to work long hours and weeks at a time in the field and in rough conditions

• Strong commitment to nature and conservation, in word and deed • College degree (Bachelor's or S1)

• Strong computer skills (MS Office, PC or Mac)

The following attributes will strengthen your application:

• Academic background in conservation biology, environmental science or related field

• Experience with grantwriting and/or fundraising • Experience in rural Indonesia

Duties:

• Assist the Director with managing programs. The Assistant Director will likely take over leadership of AlTo's sea turtle program, and will assist with program development and management of various other field and outreach programs.

• Assist the Director with management of staff. The Assistant Director will be in close, regular communication via e-mail with AlTo's Tompotikan staff, receiving reports, helping to manage teams, troubleshooting, and helping with training.

• Organizational development and outreach. The Assistant Director will spend a significant proportion of his/her time writing and reporting on grants, as well as assisting with fundraising and communications of all kinds.

• Assist the Program Assistant with operational matters as needed.

• Other duties as schedules, needs, and abilities determine.

Contract Details:

• This is a full-time, permanent, salaried position. Normal work-week when stateside is c. 40 hrs/wk, with some evenings and weekends required. When in Indonesia, working hours are long, and determined by activities and conditions.

• Location: Vashon Island, Washington, USA. (At least 3 days/wk required on-site on Vashon Island. Commuting from Seattle, Tacoma, or Olympic Peninsula okay but no remote hires.)

• Open to any person who meets the requirements, regardless of national origin or any other factor. Assistance with U.S. work authorization will be provided if needed.

• Travel to Indonesia will be required, up to 4 times per year, for up to several weeks at a time.

• Benefits include health insurance, paid vacation (starting at 12 days/year), and retirement contributions.

• Salary $40,000 - $50,000 per annum, depending on qualifications.

To Apply: Send CV/resume, cover letter, a writing sample in English, and 3 references to: sheila@tompotika.org