[Nasional-e] [Nasional] Lampung : A melting pot surviving the tests of reform

Sat Sep 7 17:20:51 2002

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http://www.thejakartapost.com/detailfeatures.asp?fileid=20020907.O11&irec=2

    A melting pot surviving the tests of reform
The Jakarta Post, Bandarlampung, Lampung

In this era of regional autonomy, every province and regency has been 
craving the government's attention, with the exception of Lampung. Or so it 
seems.

As Jakarta's hinterland, Lampung seems to have been sidelined. The province 
with an area of 35,376 square kilometers and a population of 6.5 million has 
long been known as a destination for transmigrants from Java, Bali and other 
islands across the country. The settlers have mixed with the locals, 
comprising ethnic Malays, Rawas, and residents of Lampung and Semedo. 
Together, they have built the present-day Lampung, which was officially set 
up on Feb. 13, 1964. In a way, Lampung is to Jakarta what Australia is to 
the United Kingdom.

Many say that the province, like Jakarta, is a miniature representation of 
Indonesia, where people of various ethnic groups live together in harmony. 
Unlike Jakarta, however, no ethnic or religious conflicts have occurred in 
the province since the downfall of former president Soeharto in 1998.

Thanks to the reform era, Lampung has been bustling with activities that 
help promote the development of a civil society. One indication is the 
mushrooming non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that have been established 
since 1998. The number of press publications, especially printed media, has 
also increased.

Lampung, a coffee and pepper producer and home to one of the country's 
largest shrimp industries, is also associated with some of Indonesia's big 
businessmen, including tycoon Sjamsul Nursalim, the owner of PT Dipasena, a 
subsidiary of the Gajah Tunggal group, and the late Ahmad Bakri, the founder 
of Bakrie Brothers.

Lampung also has its dark side. The name Lampung brings to mind one of the 
country's worst human rights cases that took place in Talangsari village in 
1989. That year, troops led by Col. A.M. Hendropriyono, now chief of the 
State Intelligence Agency (BIN), crushed an alleged Islamic militant group 
led by Anwar Warsidi. At least 300 people were reportedly killed. The case 
has yet to be solved.

The Jakarta Post's reporters Ahmad Junaidi and Kurniawan Hari visited the 
province last week to look into issues related with conflict-prevention 
efforts, regional autonomy and efforts to promote civil society.

During the five-day visit, the Post also interviewed residents of Talangsari 
and elephant trainers at the Way Kambas elephant training center, Central 
Lampung.

They also visited the old Krui seaport in West Lampung, a port used for 
exports during the Dutch colonial days until the 1950s.

The drive across the province's long and quiet roads bringing the two 
reporters to eight regencies and two municipalities was another story. The 
driver of their rented van refused to travel at night as highwaymen were 
reportedly still operating on the roads.

The following are their reports.

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