2005 APJC Fellowships: Islam after the tsunami May-June 2005, Indonesia

After the strong interest in the 2004 inaugural Fellowship program, and with support from the Myer Foundation, it was decided that the 2005 program would again focus on exploring Islam in Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation. Then, in the wake of the 26 December 2004 tsunami, with its particularly devastating effect on Indonesia, it was decided to include a visit to Aceh to observe the progress of relief and reconstruction work. Participants Eight Australian journalists and four from Indonesia took part in the 14-day program. Australian participants were: Ms Anne Barker, north Australia correspondent, ABC radio current affairs, Darwin Ms Kellie Mayo, chief of staff, ABC TV & Radio News, Melbourne Ms Michele Mossop, deputy photographic editor, Australian Financial Review, Sydney Ms Tamara Oudyn, journalist, ABC Asia Pacific News (TV), Melbourne Mr Greg Roberts, reporter, Leader Newspapers, Melbourne Ms Kanaha Sabapathy, journalist, Radio Australia, Melbourne Ms Emma Tinkler, journalist/feature writer, Canberra Times, Canberra Mr John Wallace, APJC (Australian tour leader) Mr Christopher Zinn, freelance producer/reporter, "Sunday", Channel 9, Sydney Indonesian participants were: Mr MMI Ahyani, former correspondent Jakarta Post and DeTik, Bandung (Indonesian tour leader) Mr Harry Bhaskara, managing editor, Jakarta Post, Jakarta Mr Elcid Li, journalist, MetroTV, Kupang, West Timor Ms Sirikit Syah, freelance TV journalist and director of Media Watch (NGO), Surabaya Ms Rieska Wulandari, freelance photographer, Bandung The program The program began in Surabaya (Sunday 29 May), with Australian participants joining Indonesian colleagues for a planning meeting, followed by a cultural orientation for the Australians. Then followed six days of travel by bus and train westward through Java to Jakarta, with visits to Islamic institutions and communities, and meetings with religious and political leaders, editors and journalists. In Jakarta (4-6 June), further visits included: a lunch discussion with senior editorial staff of the Jakarta Post and hosted by Chief Editor Endy Bayuni; a visit to DEPLU (Foreign Ministry) to finalise permits for Banda Aceh; a visit to the Australian Embassy for a briefing on Aceh, and a meeting with the head of the UN Office for the Coordination for Humanitarian Affairs. From Jakarta, the group flew (7 June) via Medan to Banda Aceh for two days of inspection of reconstruction work being carried out by various national and international agencies. The group received a further briefing from the OCHA office in Banda Aceh, was taken on a tour of work being carried out by Oxfam CAA, met local editors and journalists, met the military commander for Aceh, and attended a press conference for a visiting parliamentary delegation from Australia. The group returned to Medan on 9 June for a review session and farewell dinner, before departing for Australia on Saturday 10 June. Assistance in Indonesia Many individuals and organisations in Indonesia helped the APJC with the design and implementation of the program. Particular help came from: Ms Ati Nurbaiti, Managing Editor, The Jakarta Post Liberal Islam Network / Jaringan Islam Liberal (JIL) Jakarta Editors Club (JEC) Independent Journalists Alliance / Aliansi Jurnalis Independen (AJI) The APJC would also like to acknowledge the generous hospitality provided by Muslim and media organisations in Indonesia. They include: Aisyiyah, the women's wing of Muhammadiyah Pesantren Tebu Ireng, Jombang, Pesantren Al-Mukmin, Sukoharjo, Ngruki Pesantren Tauhid, Bandung Jawa Pos Group, Surabaya Jakarta Post, Jakarta APJC Fellows meet students of Tebu Ireng pesantren in East Java APJC Fellows interview Kuntoro Mangkusubroto, head of Indonesia's Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Agency Street scene, Banda Aceh