Sinar and Murni
This is a video that has been going around for some time now. Their story was first told during the election race last year, and have recently been revived following a single released by a pop-music group here, inspired by the conditions faced by Sinar and Murni, and many other families like them.
Her name is Sinar. It means "ray of light". This six-year old girl is also light for her mother. Her daily life revolves around helping her disabled mother. She goes about her daily task with care and love.
Murni is her mother. She has been disabled for two years following a nasty fall. Since then, she is dependent on her daughter: eating, drinking, taking a bath and even using the toilet. Cooking is definitely part of Sinar's duty. She cooks only rice, just rice without any side dishes. The sympathies from neighbours and relatives are often the only thing to keep them going.
Sinar is a first year primary school student. She is often late for school because she has to take care of her mother in the morning. She is the youngest of six. Her older siblings, who are still very young also, live apart from Sinar and Murni, working as live-in servants. They don't go to school. They have to do this because of their economic situation.
Their father is have been away for years, merantau, working overseas, in Malaysia. "He has never sent a letter," Murni said just recently, about her husband working in Malaysia. She only has a photo album to help her cope when she misses her husband and her other five children.
Murni's house is in Desa Riso, Tapango Subdistrict, Polewali Mandar, West Sulawesi (Celebes). During last year's general election, her house was visited by many MP candidates currying favour. Their posters and pictures are still there, on the walls of Murni's house. But Murni and Sinar has been all but forgotten, they don't come here anymore.
But Sinar is still here, casting her radiant light upon her mother and her home.
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The story of Sinar and Murni represents the less glamorous side of Indonesia (despite the tall buildings and modern infrastructure and designer malls sprouting in big cities; despite corruption; despite the high profile case and political tussle regarding Century Bank and its 6.7trillion rupiah bailout; despite the luxury cells in state penitentiaries). This story -- and many others like this -- serves as a stark reminder of the long road still waiting ahead of us, leading towards the realisation of the Pancasila, the philosophical foundation that make up this country: 'social justice [and prosperity] for the whole of the people of Indonesia'
Post from mobile portal m.livejournal.com
Her name is Sinar. It means "ray of light". This six-year old girl is also light for her mother. Her daily life revolves around helping her disabled mother. She goes about her daily task with care and love.
Murni is her mother. She has been disabled for two years following a nasty fall. Since then, she is dependent on her daughter: eating, drinking, taking a bath and even using the toilet. Cooking is definitely part of Sinar's duty. She cooks only rice, just rice without any side dishes. The sympathies from neighbours and relatives are often the only thing to keep them going.
Sinar is a first year primary school student. She is often late for school because she has to take care of her mother in the morning. She is the youngest of six. Her older siblings, who are still very young also, live apart from Sinar and Murni, working as live-in servants. They don't go to school. They have to do this because of their economic situation.
Their father is have been away for years, merantau, working overseas, in Malaysia. "He has never sent a letter," Murni said just recently, about her husband working in Malaysia. She only has a photo album to help her cope when she misses her husband and her other five children.
Murni's house is in Desa Riso, Tapango Subdistrict, Polewali Mandar, West Sulawesi (Celebes). During last year's general election, her house was visited by many MP candidates currying favour. Their posters and pictures are still there, on the walls of Murni's house. But Murni and Sinar has been all but forgotten, they don't come here anymore.
But Sinar is still here, casting her radiant light upon her mother and her home.
---
The story of Sinar and Murni represents the less glamorous side of Indonesia (despite the tall buildings and modern infrastructure and designer malls sprouting in big cities; despite corruption; despite the high profile case and political tussle regarding Century Bank and its 6.7trillion rupiah bailout; despite the luxury cells in state penitentiaries). This story -- and many others like this -- serves as a stark reminder of the long road still waiting ahead of us, leading towards the realisation of the Pancasila, the philosophical foundation that make up this country: 'social justice [and prosperity] for the whole of the people of Indonesia'
Post from mobile portal m.livejournal.com