Anak-anak korban Lapindo berkisah

By Imam Shofwan


One last Saturday, more than 400 peoples, mostly male between 20 or 30 years old, crowded out in Mega Blitz, a movie theater at Kebon Kacang, Jakarta. Many of them wear blue jeans and T-shirt, but some oldster also came. The program is “blogger party” including; talk show, discussion, joking plus lunch. Long breadline but sober and many discussions many where. Bloggers also accosted one to each other, took pictures, want to know peoples they met in blog walking.

Surprisingly, and this is ordinary in Jakartan’s civilization, this program labeled ”national forum.” The participant, claimed from Kuala Lumpur, Bandung, Jogjakarta, Surabaya, Surabaya, Makassar, Mataram plus two participants from Poso.The slogan, sloppier too, ”New Voice of Indonesia.” Farthest participan, come from Poso, a journalist, who ever occused swallow money from Poso refugees donation together with Poso regent Andi Asikin Suyuti!

Wimar Witoelar, columnist-cum-blogger-cum-talk show host-cum-former spokesman of president Abdurahman Wahid, meight became stunner of this intimate. Not only because big body, or chinese red shirt, loose short sleeve, and loud voice of his giggle. But Witoelar also tremendous in hosting this discussion. He mades funny chat, airily but serious. He make this program spirited, not only slogan. Witoelar sat in stage with four guests.

Opening, Witoelar said he get honour because invited by young people. ”Not many of old people invited in program like this,” he said. Grrrrr. Witoelar told that some 482 bloggers signed and joined in Mega Blitz that morning. His spoke with three bloggers –Andrianto Gani, Enda Nasution, Budi Putra—and one politician; Minister of Communication and Information Muhammad Nuh.

Witoelar easily say, ”Mr. Minister the last.”

This atmosphere maybe rid of Jakarta newspapers. Most of Jakarta’s journalist, which not yet discard a bad press style inherited by New Order, absolutely, quoted officials and officials. Muhammad Nuh quoted that government will never breidel blogger. ”(Breidel) is out of date,” Nuh said. Second, Nuh also quoted by said that Saturday, Oktober 27, became ”nasional blogger day ... belong to ours.” Nuh also gave a laptop as present. All about government was announced.

This New Order media, just called Koran Tempo, The Jakarta Post and Bisnis Indonesia, put Nuh statement widely in their headline. No one criticed and asked: what is national blogger? No one suggested blogger, for example, from Lhokseumawe, Singkawang, Tomohon, Maumere, Sorong or Niki-niki, invited first before claimed ”national blogger.” The problem, of Jakarta culture, from Soekarno’s era until Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, from media conglomerate until amatir blogger, not yet have a critical thinking habit about ”national,” label.

”Bloggers are complex, some of them serious, the other not serious. Some of them qualified, the other low quality,” Witoelar said. Blogger give applause.

Than he asked three bloggers to talk. ”Mister minister, afraid of stuck, it’s okey if want to go. It is not an expel!” Witoelar said. Muhammad Nuh asked permision to leave earlier. He has to got after his flight. Than Nasution, Budi and Gani speak. The point, they want blogger become new media ekspresion, who can ekspress the mind, opinion dan experience of bloggers around Indonesia, more freely and honestly than mainstream media. Budi said however the hosting is marvelous, good or not the blog is depend on it’s content.

Talk show was shindig and active. Many participant ask questions and give comment. But also many who only clap clap clap. Good atmosphere.Witoelar keep on smiling. Especially when next to lunch time.

Blog or weblog entered in publik awareness in 1999 when a California corporation, Pyra Labs, lounced www.blogger.com. It designed as a internet publication sistem. Its work mecanism designed for pleople who not familiar with technology. It rapidly developed. In 2002, peoples can publish teks, picture, voice and video in their blog. Politician who became first blog victim was Trent Lott, chief of Republic Party in American Senate, when his racialist statement, spread in blogs and mailing list. He finally regressed. Blogger also made Howard Dean became black horse in precident of Democrat party candidacy in 2004. Ironically, mainstream media practically not reckon blog.

Blogger flipped and joint with mainstream media during three boms bursted in London July 7 2005. BBC asked blogger help in supplied information, picture and video.BBC moreover gave space, in radio version, television, and web situs, for information who came from citizen.

Briefly, ”Indonesian blogger” maybe have to asked, what their Indonesia? This blogger program staked, one a half month before, not only by Indonesian. Of course there are Enda Nasution, Budi Putra and Gani. But there is Ong Hock Cuan from a public relations corporation Maverick. Ong is former journalis of Asia Times (Bangkok) dan Malaysia citizen. But Ong lived in Jakarta for along time. First time committee met in Maverick office in Jl. Belitung, Jakarta. Ong also diligent blogger.

AirilyWitoelar said, ”We don’t want to computing with Soempah Pemoeda ha ha ha ....”

Ong also help in finding place, sponsors and others. Three big sponsors embraced: Microsoft, Nokia and XL. Thrid of them give Rp 50 million. ”30 million in cash and 20 million in goods,” said Enda Nasution. Beside that, Departemen of communication and information also give full support.

Nasution thanks to sponsors many times. Proper. Without that 90 millions, participant cannot have lunch. Democraticly, when Microsoft quoted, the participant said.... hu hu huuuuu. Likely Microsoft have no much friends from bloggers circle in Mega Blitz.

More than all, from slogan until nationalism, many participant contented whith this program. For instance, Tiara Ischwara, owner of www.lolipops.multiply.com, claimed blog as alternatif media. Tiara chore in Brisbane. He use blog to share story to her family in Jakarta. ”More free to express opinion, more personal,” she said. Tiara in vacatioan in Jakarta when she visited in blogger party.

Blogger like Tiara, maybe, difficult imajined by Muhammad Nuh and Jakarta establishment will make discourage. But blogger like Witoelar, who his television program breideled frequently, in Soeharto era until Yudhoyono era, who can follow indigeneouse blogger track in that California. And discourage mainstream media and rulers.[end]

Indonesian version of this article published in www.pantau.or.id