Dear Friends
I am forwarding on this message to you, as it so exactly expresses my own
feelings on the subject - and also gives an indication that many people in
the art world feel the need to speak out at this time.
Best wishes
Judy
Dear Judy, Astri Wright forwarded this to me for us to publish in our
AAIA web-site or send to all members via the list - or whatever you think.
Nia and Ismoyo are the owners of Brahma Tirta Sari Batik Studio in Yogya
and are currently exhibiting in the APT3 in Brisbane.
They were in Brisbane during the Opening celebrations week.
>
> Love from Cynthia
>
>
Below : Nia and Ismoyos' message
To Our Friends Around the World
We are gravely disturbed by the escalating level of violence and disharmony
regarding the freedom struggle of the people of Timor Timur. There is no
doubt that these people have suffered and are still suffering. However, of
equal concern for us is the rampant level of misinformation in the news
that is occurring throughout the world in this regard. In our opinion as
we traveled throughout Australia and then returned to Indonesia, there
appear to be ulterior motives on the part, as usual, of our respective
governments and their media to try to stimulate feelings of suspicion,
hatred and self-justification. The issues are clouded as always by
governments seeking power and money in their own self-interest. It seems
those working towards truly humanitarian ends are certainly in the
minority.
We seek through our personal creative work the path of perfection. That
is through our work, we seek to reach a higher degree of awareness and in
this way through our actions bring into focus actions of compassion and
justice. There is no way of perfecting of the self that does not involve
similar action within the larger context of one's community and the world
at large. We abhor the greed, corruption and violence of ruling powers
everywhere in the world, who in the name of justice carry out myriad
actions of brutality and injustice both cloaked in the name of democracy as
well as national protection. We find it difficult to believe in the pure
motivations of many ruling powers. The issues are complex and filled with
contradictions.
Within Indonesia at this time, the majority of the population is totally
disgusted with the actions of militarism and all the inherited decay of the
Soeharto era. But at this time in a struggle to move towards democracy,
short of a bloody revolution/civil war, the Indonesians have been trying to
maintain a level of patience to bring about these changes with a minimum of
bloodshed. They are equally filled with horror and disgust at the proven
injustices that they have continued to suffer under the leadership of the
present status quo regime and the inherited rotten legal and economic
systems. In addition to this they have suffered the financial depredations
of the hunger, unemployment and social instability. They have seen their
children killed at the hands of the military and police. Creating hatred
towards the Indonesian people does not resolve the injustices. What is
needed is support to work together with the Indonesian people to achieve
international judicial action that will help Indonesians bring the
political criminals to justice and cripple this reign of greed and
violence.
It is abhorrent to me to see in the international media, people being
encouraged to react to these complex issues with attitudes of hatred and
racism. So I take this opportunity to reach out to our friends around the
world. To join hands to fight against injustice and lies in all of our
countries. Let us realize that there are unspoken interests on the part of
all of our leaders. Let us not be allowed to be the pawns in their power
games. Let us join hands as the brothers and sisters of the earth to know
that we seek peace and justice for all humans. That although at times in
our countries, we are helpless to prevent violence and injustice, we must
not lose sight of the bond of humanity, that through our respective
traditions in the world that are richly different, that we have the
potential to create a world culture rich in its variety of cultures and
races. Let us remember the message of love and compassion that bonds us
all in our efforts in this fight for equanimity. Let us sing the song of
peace and love as the birds of the earth. Let us create this song as a
vibration to counter the media message of hatred, violence and racism. It
is in this way that we can resolve the injustices in the world and to help
those of other nations and races to fight against these injustices from
within their country. Join hands dear brothers and sisters of the earth.
Join hands and stand strong that we might create a positive energy to
counteract all of the negativity that sweeps around us like a great
whirlwind. We sing the song of peace and love and brotherhood and
sisterhood between all the peoples of the earth. Nia Ismoyo
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>From Astri;
"Be truthful in all things, understand cultural symbolisms, and be
slow to interpret the meaning of other's actions."
