Jogja City

There was little cheer on Independence Day in disaster-hit areas across the country, with survivors too burdened by the problem of rebuilding their lives to engage in the usual fun and games Thursday.

Even the annual canopy of red-and-white national flags was conspicuously missing from many areas, with residents saying there were better uses for their limited funds.

Teenager Saryono was among those who sat out the commemoration in Klaten, Central Java, which was devastated by a May 27 earthquake.

After attending a flag-hoisting ceremony at his school, he played hide-and-seek with his friends in the rubble of a residential complex.

“Here there aren’t any competitions in conjunction with the Independence Day celebration, including for children. We’re still gripped by a gloomy mood,” coordinator of a local volunteer command post Ari Sarjoko told The Jakarta Post.

“We couldn’t think about holding competitions. The residents were even unable to hoist flags,” he said.

“Our belongings have all been destroyed. Rather than using our money to buy new flags, it’s better for us to buy our daily needs.”

Sarjoko denied residents deliberately avoided any celebration because they were angry at the government’s failure to provide promised cash assistance.

“We aren’t angry. We didn’t hoist flags because we don’t have any,” he said.

In Bantul, Yogyakarta, quake survivors also chose to keep the celebration subdued, with a simple joint prayer on Aug. 16 intended to help them rise above the tragedy.

“We just held a joint prayer to safeguard our village from further disasters,” said Sarjiman, a resident of Soge Sanden hamlet in Sanden district.

He added that residents believed it would be more worthwhile to pool their funds for the neediest survivors than spend them on games.

“How can we arbitrarily spend money for the celebration at a time when most of our neighbors live in tents?”

In Ciamis, West Java, thousands of survivors of the July 17 tsunami that ravaged Pangandaran beach marked the day with celebrations, but many others remained too traumatized to participate.

The liveliest celebration was held at Wonoharjo evacuee center, now sheltering about 200 displaced families. Teams vied for a host of prizes, ranging from boxes of instant noodles, pairs of sandals to kerosene stoves, that were hung on two poles.

“I’m happy with the celebration but not completely. I still want to have my own house. I’m bored living at the evacuee center…it’s hot here,” said Aan Anita from Bulak Laut village.

But the day passed somberly at nearby Cikembulan evacuee center. Members of the 130 families at the center played traditional instruments to mark the day, but did not arrange games.

In Jayapura, Papua, about 200 residents of remote Tanah Batu in Tanjung Ria village, North Jayapura district, joined the celebration for the first time Thursday.

With the sponsorship of a Jayapura-based businessman, various competitions were held in Tanah Batu.

Despite its location only six kilometers from Jayapura, it still does not have electricity or a passable road. Visitors must trek two kilometers from the nearest road to reach the village.

“We just want the government to build us bridges and provide electricity,” said village elder Kima Wanimbo.

“We just took part in the celebration for the first time because previously we could act only as onlookers,” said youth Yohanes Waker.

In Ambon, Maluku, national flags were in evidence throughout the city, once wracked by sectarian strife, draped from residences, cars and even motorbikes.

There also was hope for the future as Christians and Muslims have begun associating with each other again. The former rigid religious divisions for frequenting shopping centers, bus terminals and other public places have disappeared.

Maluku Protestant Church Synod leader Rev. Jhon Ruhulessin said the restoration of peace in the area displayed the commitment to nationalism of locals.

“We cannot build Maluku’s future if we lost our nationalism,” he said after attending a ceremony at Merdeka square in Ambon.

Idrus Toekan, head of the Maluku chapter of the Indonesian Ulema Council, lauded the regaining of communal togetherness. “It’s the duty of all of us to use the Independence Day celebration to improve our unity and brotherhood,” he added.

© of The Jakarta Post