faraway

Why are there any conflicts or wars in this world?

The question above always in my mind since in 1999 after I volunteered in Maluku (one of conflict areas in Indonesia and the conflict was started on 19 January 1999).

Last night, I watched 'Hotel Rwanda'. This movies is about the genocide in Rwanda in 1994. In only 3 months, one million people were brutally murdered. As I know, there were around 300.000 children were killed. The main character in this movie is Paul Rusesasabagina who is Hutu (one of race in Africa). Inspired by his love for his family, he summoned extraordinary courage to save the lives of over a thousand helpless refugees by granting them shelter in hotel that he managed.

I am really salute to his courage and his dedication. Well, I am always salute to people who dedicate their lives to IDPs, refugees, or marginal people in this world. For me that is a tough decision to dedicate our lives for the conflicts issue. I want to be like them. I have a dream that I can live and dedicate my live for IDPs or refugees. What I like is I can make them smile eventhough I can just do small things for them such as give them foods, medicine, play with them, teach them how to read, etc. I feel that I am useful and that is make me happy.

I do not like conflicts, wars and even separatism! Because all of them are a lethal assault for all innocent people especially women and children. The military always uses 'rape' as a weapon and the children will lose their lives and future. The worst thing is the use of children in military.

In mid of 1999 (at the beginning of Maluku conflict), I got the opportunity to be a volunteer of The Humanitarian Volunteers Working on Maluku group which is based in Jakarta. With four people who were male, I lived in Ambon for 4 months. The conditions were very difficult. To reach Ambon, we had to take a military Hercules aircraft from Jakarta. Then to get to the location we had to take a boat. I frequently heard the sound of gunfire and explosions. There had been many shootings at boats. Many IDPs fled to the safety if the hilly forests. It was a five-hours walk to reach them. The weather was very hot and we brought many supplies. I learned that we must be very careful not to create conflict among them when we distribute supplies. Their living conditions were very poor. I was very moved by there conditions. Eventually we hat to suddenly evacuate due to a riot in front of the hourse where we stayed. To reach the airport we had to climb a hill and wait with troops and refugees for six hours on the airstrip for the next Hercules to arrive.

This experience really influenced my life because of what I saw and lived through. I saw the difficult conditions of the IDPs and they lived in fear all the time. At all times there was danger and I had to learn how to manage myself in addition to keep helping them by whatever I can do for them.

Until now, I am still hoping that I will get an opportunity to work for IDPs or refugees again someday.

Galuh, 28 June 2005