Yogyakarta, Wednesday, April 24, 2024 – Dr. Wildan Sena Utama, M.A., a lecturer in the Department of History, featured at the workshop titled Mapping the Internationalization of Art in the Global South Context – Collaboration Among Art Institutions. Organised by the Biennale Foundation Discussion, the event aimed to disseminate ideas on why the values of the Bandung Spirit remain relevant in international politics and Indonesia’s foreign policy. It also served as a reflection on the upcoming 70th anniversary of the Asia-Africa Conference next year, and how to revive the Bandung Spirit at the grassroots level.

Dr. Wildan delivered his presentation at the historic Savoy Homann Hotel, one of the accommodations used by Asian and African leaders attending the 1955 Bandung Conference. During the workshop, he analyzed key values from the Asia-Africa Conference that are still important to promote and spread at the grassroots level today. These values include decolonization, world peace, and international cooperation—three principles from the Bandung Spirit that remain highly relevant. The Asia-Africa Conference Museum, managed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, regularly organizes discussions to keep the spirit of the Bandung Conference alive, recognizing its continued significance in today’s global political context.

The presentation was followed by contributions from representatives of the National Archives of Indonesia, the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, lecturers from UNPAD’s International Relations department, cultural figures from Bandung, and heritage activists.

On May 4, 2024, the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences at Universitas Padjadjaran (FISIP Unpad) hosted a public lecture featuring Prof. Dr. Pujo Semedi Hargo Yuwono, M.A., a professor from the Department of Anthropology at Universitas Gadjah Mada. In this lecture, Prof. Pujo addressed the topic “The Notion of Justice, Racism, and Coffee Cultivation in Colonial Java, 1870s-1930s,” combining anthropological insights with the colonial history of Java. Through this subject, Prof. Pujo—familiarly known as Mas Pujo—invited students to understand how the history of coffee cultivation in 19th-century Java reinforced racial and economic injustices, which continue to have lasting impacts today.

Mas Pujo emphasized the importance of understanding colonial history in the context of coffee cultivation to see its influence on current social and economic conditions, particularly within Indonesia’s coffee industry. The lecture, held at FISIP Unpad’s campus in Jatinangor, West Java, was attended by students from various departments. They were urged to recognize the exploitative nature of colonial coffee cultivation. Mas Pujo explained that this system was based on three principles: first, as a tool to enrich Dutch entrepreneurs; second, the myth of native laziness was used to justify forced labor; and third, all coffee production was directed to meet the demands of European industry, rather than benefiting the local population.

One of the key points of the lecture was the racial injustice surrounding the entire process of coffee cultivation, marketing, and consumption during the colonial era. Mas Pujo revealed that, at the time, Javanese people were prohibited from consuming coffee; they were only allowed to drink coffee leaves, while native laborers were forced to work on plantations. The right to market coffee was restricted to Dutch and Chinese trade guilds, and coffee could only be enjoyed by white individuals.

Through his analysis, Mas Pujo highlighted how colonial policies based on race created social injustices that continue to affect economic and social relations in modern Indonesia. This public lecture sparked active discussions among students, who were eager to connect the historical relevance of this topic to the current state of the coffee industry.

The full lecture can be viewed on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/live/RcER1qufrMI.

[Public Relations, FIB UGM, Author: Bonifacius Edo, Editor: Aldiza]

Thursday, April 25, 2024 – Delegations from Indonesia and the Netherlands gathered to attend the bilateral meeting of The 23rd Mixed Economic Commission between the Republic of Indonesia and the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Jakarta, Indonesia (25/4). In the agenda, both countries agreed to enhance bilateral cooperation in various sectors, including economy, investment, transportation, maritime, education and culture, energy and mineral resources, and health.

On this occasion, Mr. Didin Wahyudin stated that economic cooperation between the two countries needs to be strengthened, considering the potential in trade relations, renewable energy, and the Indonesian diaspora. In the investment sector, Indonesia views its relationship with the Netherlands as an opportunity to expand cooperation with Europe. The Dutch delegation agreed to design and continue government-to-government (G to G) and government-to-business (G to B) programs on wind energy, solar power, hydrogen, and more to strengthen energy cooperation. Among the implementations already carried out by the Netherlands to deepen the understanding of energy implementation in Indonesia are collaborations with Pertamina and the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN). Additionally, to support maritime cooperation, the Indonesian delegation emphasised the implementation of the 2022-2025 MoU by proposing a bilateral meeting to discuss sustainable port development and sea building.

Both Indonesia and the Netherlands appreciated the participation of both countries in fostering regional economic cooperation. Financial support from the Netherlands has been highly beneficial for investment. As a Development Partner of ASEAN, the Netherlands greatly values Indonesia’s warm reception.

[Public Relation of FIB UGM, Writer: Arviani Fayzaila Ramadhanti, Editor: Rifal Fadlurrahman, Translated: Aldiza]

The Department of Anthropology at Universitas Gadjah Mada invited Professor Emeritus Sabine Troeger from the University of Bonn to teach a research methodology course. She is both an experienced educator and practitioner with decades of experience in development studies and climate change. Among her achievements is involvement in the design and implementation of programs by the German International Cooperation Agency (GIZ) in various African and Asian countries. The course was held in 14 sessions during September 2024 and was attended by both undergraduate and graduate Anthropology students. The general lecture with Professor Sabine also served as a preparatory class for undergraduate students selected to participate in the 2024 Merdeka Campus Competition Program (PKKM).

In this course, students had the opportunity to deepen their understanding of applying participatory methods, widely used to engage communities in empowerment programs. Rather than just listening to lectures, students tried using several tools, such as Venn diagrams, spider diagrams, and well-being matrices, to understand how they can be applied in field data collection. In the second half of the course, students presented readings from scholars like Jurgen Habermas, Foucault, and Robert Chambers, which helped them apply theories to their own research.

Although the course was conducted in a block system with consecutive sessions, participants’ enthusiasm remained high from start to finish. This was due to the varied teaching methods and the active role students played in presenting their ideas. Professor Sabine Troeger expressed her delight in conducting the course and seeing the students’ enthusiasm. To close the course, she invited her students to dinner for an informal discussion about their research interests for the future. The hope is that through such activities, quality education as aligned with SDG 4, and partnerships for shared goals as aligned with SDG 17, can be achieved.

[Public Relation of FIB UGM, Writer: Novilatul Ananda Ramadhani, Editor: Aldiza]

On Tuesday, The UGM History Department held a public lecture titled “How to Teach the History of Timor Timur in Indonesia” (9/10). Prof. Dr. Asvi Marwan Adam, a historian and researcher at the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), was the keynote speaker for this lecture. The primary goal of this public lecture was to raise awareness about the history of Timor Timur, which is often presented with a limited or biased perspective.

In his opening address, Dr. Abdul Wahid, Head of UGM’s History Department, noted that this topic is particularly intriguing since it deals with a former Indonesian province and is rarely discussed in depth by academics.

“Timor Timur is our neighbor. We are so close to each other, yet unfortunately, very few Indonesians have thoroughly studied its history,” said Abdul Wahid.

In his lecture, Prof. Dr. Asvi Marwan Adam explained that his deep interest in the history of Timor Timur stemmed from the fact that it has largely disappeared from the history curriculum in Indonesia.  

“With Prabowo’s election as president and the appointment of several ministers who previously served in Timor Timur, could this pose a challenge in teaching Timor Leste’s history? Will the history being written or taught be aligned with those currently in power, meaning that military violence in the past could be covered up?” he questioned.

He emphasized that writing the history of Timor Timur is incredibly complex, especially due to the numerous human rights violations that occurred there. This complexity is reflected in the many films, books, novels, and memoirs focusing on human rights abuses in Timor Timur. Prof. Asvi’s presentation sparked an engaging and lively discussion, with the audience enthusiastically asking questions over two separate discussion sessions.

The panel concluded that a deep understanding of Timor Timur’s history is crucial to be presented objectively and openly within Indonesian education. Understanding the historical events in Timor Timur will help Indonesians view the past with a broader perspective and comprehend its impact on regional relations and humanitarian issues. By studying this history, young generations can become more critical of political interference in historical narratives and better appreciate the importance of justice and reconciliation processes.

[PR of FIB UGM: Aldiza, Translated: Aldiza, Photo: Adnan, Putu]