Dance sparks calls for war
JAKARTA - SIMMERING anger in Indonesia over Malaysia's 'theft' of a traditional dance is spurring unlikely calls for war in the latest spat between the two traditionally testy neighbours.
The dispute started in Indonesia in August after word spread Malaysia had screened tourism advertisements featuring the traditional 'pendet' dance of Indonesia's Hindu-majority Bali island.
The ad quickly turned out to have been a botched promotion for a Discovery Channel programme on Malaysia, with no role played whatsoever by Malaysia's government, but that has done little to dampen feelings here.
Protesters vowing to 'crush Malaysia' have burned Malaysian flags and thrown rotten eggs at the country's embassy, while local media have for weeks run a steady stream of reports of Malaysian outrages, most of them recycled.
Many media have also studiously ignored an admission of guilt and apology from Discovery.
Nationalists - as they do in nearly every one of the two countries' frequent disputes - have already opened registration for volunteers willing to go to war with Malaysia, but admit this is largely a symbolic gesture.
'Malaysia has, in so many ways, robbed, stolen from and insulted Indonesia. We're offended as a people. We're angry, we're disappointed, we're upset,' Mustar Bonaventura, the coordinator of a Jakarta recruitment drive by nationalist youth group Bendera told AFP.
'We have 486 volunteers who have signed up and they are ready for any consequences. All that's left for us with Malaysia is war,' he said.
Mr Bonaventura conceded war was very unlikely, but said the group had stockpiled food, medicine and weapons including samurai swords and ninja throwing stars, just in case.
Indonesian politicians have also voiced their displeasure to Malaysia over the controversy, and received apologies in return, but the issue has refused to die down. -- AFP
Source: Straitstimes Online, 5 Sept 2009. Available at http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/SE%2BAsia/Story/STIStory_425775.html
Question1: Nationalistic demagoguery... Is Southeast Asia ripe for rivalry?
Question2: Anyone who subscribes to the Democratic Peace Thesis wants to explain this situation here? Malaysia just claimed to have a First World Democracy on 2 Sept 2009 (See previous post "Singapore-Malaysia, Brothers?" while Indonesia supposedly democratised after Suharto's demise!
The ad quickly turned out to have been a botched promotion for a Discovery Channel programme on Malaysia, with no role played whatsoever by Malaysia's government, but that has done little to dampen feelings here.
Protesters vowing to 'crush Malaysia' have burned Malaysian flags and thrown rotten eggs at the country's embassy, while local media have for weeks run a steady stream of reports of Malaysian outrages, most of them recycled.
Many media have also studiously ignored an admission of guilt and apology from Discovery.
Nationalists - as they do in nearly every one of the two countries' frequent disputes - have already opened registration for volunteers willing to go to war with Malaysia, but admit this is largely a symbolic gesture.
'Malaysia has, in so many ways, robbed, stolen from and insulted Indonesia. We're offended as a people. We're angry, we're disappointed, we're upset,' Mustar Bonaventura, the coordinator of a Jakarta recruitment drive by nationalist youth group Bendera told AFP.
'We have 486 volunteers who have signed up and they are ready for any consequences. All that's left for us with Malaysia is war,' he said.
Mr Bonaventura conceded war was very unlikely, but said the group had stockpiled food, medicine and weapons including samurai swords and ninja throwing stars, just in case.
Indonesian politicians have also voiced their displeasure to Malaysia over the controversy, and received apologies in return, but the issue has refused to die down. -- AFP
Source: Straitstimes Online, 5 Sept 2009. Available at http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/SE%2BAsia/Story/STIStory_425775.html
Question1: Nationalistic demagoguery... Is Southeast Asia ripe for rivalry?
Question2: Anyone who subscribes to the Democratic Peace Thesis wants to explain this situation here? Malaysia just claimed to have a First World Democracy on 2 Sept 2009 (See previous post "Singapore-Malaysia, Brothers?" while Indonesia supposedly democratised after Suharto's demise!
hey matt, peter here, saw your link on facebook. It's a cool thing that you are blogging.
ReplyDeleteI think you should probably give more of your own opinions in your entries though - your current format seems to lend itself better to a discussion forum :)