Congratulation to our New Minister of Health

Last Wednesday at 21^st October 2009, Our President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono aka SBY announce his new cabinet. This cabinet was called KABINET INDONESIA BERSATU Jilid II (United Indonesia Cabinet part II). To select all the ministers for this cabinet, SBY used fit and proper test. There are some steps that all candidates must through, and all of them must passed the health screening.  There is a controversial after SBY announced this cabinet, because one candidate that has been announced in the media wasn’t in this cabinet. Nila Joewita Moeloek, who was a candidate for minister of health, was replaced by Endang Rahayu Sedyaningsih in “the last minute” before the announcement. The reason of this replacement is because Mrs. Moeloek hasn’t passed the health screening. Because of that sudden change, many people judge SBY embarrassed Mrs.  Moeloek. Besides that, many people judge Endang Sedyaningsih wasn’t capable to sit in this position because she’s only echelon II in Department of Health (DoH), and then they treat her as a traitor  because she had collaborated with United States of Naval Medical Research Unit-2 (US NAMRU-2), as a researcher. Well, first of all, let’s ignore about this issue, and we can see our new minister of health’s background.

dr. Endang Rahayu Sedyaningsih, MPH, DR.PH born in Jakarta at 1^st February 1955. She got her bachelor degree from Faculty of medicine University of Indonesia at 1979, and her master and doctoral degree from Harvard School of Public Health at 1992 and 1997. She’s the director of Center for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Research & Programme Development National Institute of Health Research & Development-MOH since 2007. And in 2001, Endang was working at World Health Organization (WHO) in Jenewa, Swiss ^(1,2). Her publications can be seen in BiomedExperts.  There are so many publications written by her collaborated with her colleagues who are varied from Indonesia and another country

In my opinion, she is capable to do her job as a Minister of Health. It wasn’t easy to be accepted as an undergraduate student at University of Indonesia, especially it wasn’t easy to be accepted at Harvard. So I think she has “something” to offer for this country. She has many experiences working with many people that have different cultures, it made her mind WIDER and of course she has erudition. And with her background in research, I hope Indonesia will put more concern in that field. Research and development can help Indonesia to become healthier and stronger country. About her collaboration with US NAMRU-2 that has been one of the reasons for the controversial, she mentioned that she’s collaborating with many countries and US NAMRU is one of them. She said that this collaboration will be continued but in different shape, more transparent and gives benefits to both country. The US Navy will not interrupt the institution, and US-NAMRU-2 will collaborate with CDC and also NIH, it will change its name into Indonesia-USAaid Center for Biomedical and Public Health Research (IUC).

For many people who against her promotion as Minister of Health, please don’t use Indonesia as your excuse, because not every people in this nation against and underestimate dr. Endang. For every people who underestimate her, let her prove  her capability to this nation first before you say that she will be replaced in 100 days. Let us support our new cabinet and try to do our part. Congratulation for dr. Endang, hope so you can prove your self that you are fit for this position and bring some improvements to this country and also bring a fresh air to our research fields ..^^ ..Gbu

Menghadapi konflik Indonesia-Malaysia

Konflik antara Indonesia dan Malaysia kian memanas. Selain mengkliam Pulau Ambalat, Malaysia telah banyak mengklaim berbagai kebudayaan Indonesia, seperti batik, Reog ponorogo, lagu Rasa Sayange, dan yang terhangat ialah tari pendet. Awalnya ssaya kira konflik ini baru ada selama 10 tahun terakhir ini, tapi ternyata masalah ini sudah ada sejak jaman Pak Soekarno masih menjabat sebagai Presiden Indonesia. Dari yang saya baca Lagu kebangsaan Malaysia merupakan hasil copy irama dari lagu Gesang,salah satu seniman Indonesia, yang berjudul Terang Bulan. Bahkan gerakan “Ganyang Malaysia” sudah ada dari jaman Pak Karno. Selain masalah klaim ini, satu hal yang membuat saya sangat marah ketika saya membaca suatu forum di web berikut (http://www.topix.com/forum/world/malaysia/TK0OQAT9ICE7KMU4V), di mana lagu kebangsaan Indonesia digubah liriknya oleh seorang warga negara Malaysia menjadi lirik sampah. Berikut lirik yang ditampilkan di forum tersebut:

IndonSIAL wrote:

Indonesial tanah Cairku
Tanah tumpah muntahku
Disanalah aku merangkak hina
Jadi kubur
Indonesial negara miskin ku
Bangsa Busuk dan Tanah Miskinku
Marilah kita semua tidur
Indonesial negara miskinku
Mati lah tanahku
Modar lah negriku
Bangsaku Rakyatku semuanya
Miskin lah jiwanya
Tidurlah badannya
Untuk Indonesial Miskin
Indonesial Miskin
Mampous Modar
Datang kerja Malaysia
Tapi TKI Jadi perampok
Rompak Malaysia bawa wang ke Indon
Indonesial Pendatang Haram
Miskin lah Miskin lah
Datang Haram ke Malaysia
Tiada paspor
Bila kena tangkap dan hantar balik
Kata nya malaysia jahat
Indonesial Negara Perampok
Indonesial Menghantar perampok maling
pekerja TKI Indonesial
hantaq pi Malaysia
Indonesial Maling
Merampok lagu Malaysia
Mengatakan itu lagu mereka
Indonesial Tanah yang hina
Tanah gersang yang miskin
Di sanalah aku miskin Untuk slama-lamanya
Indonesial Tanah puaka
Puaka Hantu Kita semuanya
Negara luas hasil bumi banyak tapi miskin
Datang minta sedekah di Malaysia
Marilah kita mendoa Indonesial brengset
Gersang lah Tanahnya mundurlah jiwanya
Bangsanya Rakyatnya semuanya
Tidurlah hatinya Mimpilah budinya
Untuk Indonesial Miskin
Indonesial Tanah yang kotor Tanah kita yang Malang
Disanalah aku tidur selamanya bermimpi sampai mati
Indonesial! Tanah Malang Tanah yang aku sendiri benci
Marilah kita berjanji Indonesial miskin
Mati lah Rakyatnya Modar lah putranya
Negara Miskin Tentera Coma pakai Basikal
Miskinlah Negrinya Mundur lah Negara nya
Untuk Indonesial kurap

Sebagai seorang WN Indonesia, saya sangat marah membacanya, walaupun bila dinyanyika kata-katany tidak semuanya sesuai dengan irama aslinya Semakin membaca forum tersebut, semakin ilfil rasanya, karena warga dari kedua negara ini saling mengeluarkan kata-kata kotor di forum tersebut.

Rasa-rasanya kalau kita saling mengatai ga bakal ada habisnya. Masalah ini muncul tidak hanya karena salah satu negara saja. Di satu sisi, latar belakang Malaysia melakukan hal ini sudah dibahas dengan sangat baik oleh Pak Chandra Marsono di blognya (http://chandramarsono.blogspot.com/2009/08/malaysias-culture-confusion.html). Dari sisi Indonesia sendiri mungkin dikarenakan kecuekan kita sendiri sebagai warga negara, jujur saja saya sendiri malas dan tidak berbakat untuk belajar tari daerah, lagu daerah saja saya ketahui dari pelajaran semasa di bangku sekolah. Ketika memperoleh kesempatan magang di negara orang saya semakin menyadari betapa Indonesia negara yang kaya dan begitu indah. Selain dari sisi warga negara mungkin juga terdapat masalah diplomasi maupun birokrasi yang sulit dilakukan. Banyak aspek yang berpengaruh dalam masalah ini.

Tapi apakah kita mau saja diinjak-injak ketika kebudayaan kita diambil satu persatu? Lalu bagaimanakah respon kita yang seharusnya? Pertanyaan ini cukup mengganggu saya. Apakah kita perlu mengeluarkan sumpah serapah di internet dan berkata-kata kotor? Bukankah hal tersebut semakin membuktikan bahwa bangsa Indonesia merupakan kumpulan orang-orang tidak berpendidikan yang emosinya mudah disulut? Jujur saja saya tidak setuju dengan cara tersebut. Ada banyak cara untuk membuktikan bahwa kebudayaan tersebut milik bangsa Indonesia, pertama tentunya melalui cara diplomasi. Kita buktikan bahwa Bangsa kita merupakan bangsa yang berpendidikan dan cinta damai. Kedua kita dapat berkarya seperti yang dilakukan Saykoji lewat lagu terbarunya You Copy it (again), di sana dia katakan bahwa itulah cara dia melawan, perang makian di internet udah basi, melalui karya-karya seperti ini kita buktikan bahwa Bangsa Indonesia memiliki kreativitas tinggi dan tidak hanya bisa menjiplak hasil karya orang lain. Well, saya tidak punya bakat dalam menciptakan lagu atau menari, tapi saya mencoba membuktikan bahwa Bangsa Indonesia merupakan Bangsa yang terpelajar melalui tulisan saya..^^

Indonesia – We’re Not Afraid

This song is our answer as citizen of Indonesia for the twin bombs at Ritz  Carlton and JW Marriot last Friday (170709). I tried to translate it but it’s only a rough translation..^^..Hope u enjoy it, and lets shout together that we are not Afraid to those terrorists!!!!We can fight them together!!!!Together has power..Let’s unite!!Not only Indonesian but all human races in this world..X)

Pandji Pragiwaksono – Kami Tidak Takut

Terlalu lama gua berdiam

So long I’ve been silenced

Melihat membaca menonton membuat gua geram

Seeing, reading, watching made me sick

Jangan pernah kita anggap mereka pahlawan

Don’t ever we consider them as a hero

Atau diliput bagaikan pemenang

Cover them as a winner

Giliran yang pemenang media nggak datang

When the true winner has showned, the media hasn’t come

Teroris menjual berita baik basi

Terrorists are selling stale news

Teroris gak penting jadi jangan berisik

They are unworthy so dont be noised

Biarin mereka tertangkap dan tertembak mati

Let them get caught and shot to death

Kepada kalian yang berkeliaran

To all of u who has been prowling

Detasemen 88 kan datang

Detasemen 88 will come

Teman-temanmu sudah kami makamkan

We had buried your friend

Jadi sekarang giliran kamu yang gentar

And now is your turn to be  trembled

Kerjaanmu memang hanya intimidasi

You only intimidate others

Sekarang akhirnya senjatamu aku curi  hahaha

And now, I’ve stolen your weapon..HAHAHA

Coba ngaca liat wajahmu pusat pasi

Look in the mirror, your face are so pale

200 juta rakyat kami bersaksi

200 millions citizen will testify

Bangsa Indonesia! (Kami Tidak Takut)

Indonesia! (We’re not afraid)

Gue gak bego Gue tau loe gak takut (Kami Tidak Takut)

I’m not dumb, I know you (We’re not afraid)

Cuman mungkin loe ga terbiasa untuk jujur tentang ini sama diri loe sendiri (Kami Tidak Takut)

Maybe you usually not honest to yourself (We’re not Afraid)

Apalagi di depan orang lain (Kami Tidak Takut)

Especially in front of others (We’re not afraid)

Yang harus loe lakukan hanya mengulang satu buah kalimat (Kami Tidak Takut)

What you must do is repeat one sentence (We’re not afraid)

Dan sangat gampang (Kami Tidak Takut)

And it’s really easy (We’re not afraid)

Masa kita ga mau bersatu

We want to be united, don’t we?

Jelas-jelas ada usaha untuk kita hancur

In fact there are some efforts to destroy us

Bom Bali satu dua Kedubes Australia

Bali bomb, first & second, Australia’s embassy

Elo pikir itu apa?

What do you think it was?

Akuilah bahwa mereka mencoreng negara

Admit it, they have scratched our nation’s name

Masa Kanye West aja ngelompatin kita

Kanye west jumped over us

Singapur ke Australia

Singapore to Australia

Padahal dia ngefans sama gue

Whereas she is my fans..

Teroris yang berbahagia

Blissful terrorists

Puas-puaskan lah kau tertawa

Laugh until you were contented

Atau bahkan kau simpan semua  Kenang-kenanganmu hidup di dunia

Or just store all your memories in earth

Karena kami bangsa Indonesia

Because we’re Indonesian

Sudah muak dan kami tak takut

We already fed up and we’re not afraid

Kami maju dan kamu tersudut

We will barge ahead until you were cornered

Di neraka kavling mu menunggu

In the hell that’s waiting for you

Ayo bangsa Indonesia (Kami Tidak Takut)

Come on Indonesia (We’re not afraid)

Yang perlu elu lakukan adalah mengulangi kalimat ini dan ini sangat gampang (Kami Tidak Takut)

What you need to do is repeat this sentence and it’s realy easy (We’re not Afraid)

Kami Tidak Takut (Kami Tidak Takut)

We’re not afraid (We’re not afraid)

Ayo, kalo perlu berdiri dari tempat loe duduk (Kami Tidak Takut)

Come on, you can stand up from your seat (We’re not afraid)

Kalo perlu angkat tangan jari tengah loe ke udara (Kami Tidak Takut)

If necessary you can hold your middle  finger to the air (We’re not afraid)

Benarkah langkahku ? benarkah perwujudan kata-kataku ?

Have I do the right things?

Apakah Tuhan Engkau merestuiku ?

Are the Lord bless me?

Melawan musuhku yang juga hamba-Mu

To fight my enemies whom is Your child too

Hamba bukanlah umat terbaik-Mu

I’m not Your best servant/ child

Tapi keimanan hamba tak sampai membunuh

But my faith didn’t make me killed others

Hamba hanya ingin rakyat tuk bersatu

I’m only want  the civilians unite

Berdiri, bersama, melawan pembunuh

Together we stand to fight the murders

Amin Amen

Bangsa Indonesia (Kami Tidak Takut)

Indonesia (We’re not afraid)

Terlepas dari apakah yang melakukan kegiatan terorisme itu betul-betul teroris (Kami Tidak Takut)

In spite of what they did is really a terrorist (We’re not afraid)

Atau bahkan orang Indonesia sendiri yang berusaha untuk menakuti kita (Kami Tidak Takut) Kita harus buktikan bahwa kita tidak Takut (Kami Tidak Takut)

Or despite our own  people who tried to frighten us (We’re not afraid)

Kita tidak bisa diintimidasi (Kami Tidak Takut) We can’t be intimidated (We’re not afraid)

Kami Tidak Takut…Kami Tidak Takut… We’re not afraid…We’re not afraid…

Kami Tidak Takut…Kami Tidak Takut… We’re not afraid…We’re not afraid…

Kami Tidak Takut…Kami Tidak Takut… We’re not afraid…We’re not afraid…

Kami Tidak Takut…Kami Tidak Takut… We’re not afraid…We’re not afraid…

Pandji Pragiwaksono – Kami Tidak Takut

Terlalu lama gua berdiam

So long I’ve been silenced
Melihat membaca menonton membuat gua geram

Seeing, reading, watching made me sick
Jangan pernah kita anggap mereka pahlawan

Don’t ever we consider them as a hero
Atau diliput bagaikan pemenang

Cover them as a winner
Giliran yang pemenang media nggak datang

When the true winner has showned, the media hasn’t come
Teroris menjual berita baik basi

Terrorists are selling stale news
Teroris gak penting jadi jangan berisik

They are unworthy so dont be noised
Biarin mereka tertangkap dan tertembak mati

Let them get caught and shot to death

Kepada kalian yang berkeliaran

To all of u who has been prowling
Detasemen 88 kan datang

Detasemen 88 will come
Teman-temanmu sudah kami makamkan

We had buried your friend
Jadi sekarang giliran kamu yang gentar

And now is your turn to be trembled

Kerjaanmu memang hanya intimidasi

You only intimidate others
Sekarang akhirnya senjatamu aku curi  hahaha

And now, I’ve stolen your weapon..HAHAHA
Coba ngaca liat wajahmu pusat pasi

Look in the mirror, your face are so pale
200 juta rakyat kami bersaksi

200 millions citizen will testify

Bangsa Indonesia! (Kami Tidak Takut)

Indonesia! (We’re not afraid)
Gue gak bego Gue tau loe gak takut (Kami Tidak Takut)

I’m not dumb, I know you (We’re not afraid)
Cuman mungkin loe ga terbiasa untuk jujur tentang ini sama diri loe sendiri (Kami Tidak Takut)

Maybe you usually not honest to yourself (We’re not Afraid)
Apalagi di depan orang lain (Kami Tidak Takut)

Especially in front of others (We’re not afraid)
Yang harus loe lakukan hanya mengulang satu buah kalimat (Kami Tidak Takut)

What you must do is repeat one sentence (We’re not afraid)
Dan sangat gampang (Kami Tidak Takut)

And it’s really easy (We’re not afraid)

Masa kita ga mau bersatu

We want to be united, don’t we?
Jelas-jelas ada usaha untuk kita hancur

In fact there are some efforts to destroy us
Bom Bali satu dua Kedubes Australia

Bali bomb, first & second, Australia’s embassy
Elo pikir itu apa?

What do you think it was?

Akuilah bahwa mereka mencoreng negara

Admit it, they have scratched our nation’s name
Masa Kanye West aja ngelompatin kita

Kanye west jumped over us
Singapur ke Australia

Singapore to Australia
Padahal dia ngefans sama gue

Whereas she is my fans..

Teroris yang berbahagia

Blissful terrorists
Puas-puaskan lah kau tertawa

Laugh until you were contented
Atau bahkan kau simpan semua
Kenang-kenanganmu hidup di dunia

Or just store all your memories in earth

Karena kami bangsa Indonesia

Because we’re Indonesian
Sudah muak dan kami tak takut

We already fed up and we’re not afraid
Kami maju dan kamu tersudut

We will barge ahead until you were cornered
Di neraka kavling mu menunggu

In the hell that’s waiting for you

Ayo bangsa Indonesia (Kami Tidak Takut)

Come on Indonesia (We’re not afraid)
Yang perlu elu lakukan adalah mengulangi kali

mat ini dan ini sangat gampang (Kami Tidak Takut)

What you need to do is repeat this sentence and it’s realy easy (We’re not Afraid)
Kami Tidak Takut (Kami Tidak Takut)

We’re not afraid (We’re not afraid)
Ayo, kalo perlu berdiri dari tempat loe duduk (Kami Tidak Takut)

Come on, you can stand up from your seat (We’re not afraid)
Kalo perlu angkat tangan jari tengah loe ke udara (Kami Tidak Takut)

If necessary you can hold your middle finger to the air (We’re not afraid)

Benarkah langkahku ? benarkah perwujudan kata-kataku ?

Have I do the right things?
Apakah Tuhan Engkau merestuiku ?

Are the Lord bless me?
Melawan musuhku yang juga hamba-Mu

To fight my enemies whom is Your child too
Hamba bukanlah umat terbaik-Mu

I’m not Your best servant/ child
Tapi keimanan hamba tak sampai membunuh

But my faith didn’t make me killed others
Hamba hanya ingin rakyat tuk bersatu

I’m only want the civilians unite
Berdiri, bersama, melawan pembunuh

Together we stand to fight the murders
Amin

Amen

Bangsa Indonesia (Kami Tidak Takut)

Indonesia (We’re not afraid)
Terlepas dari apakah yang melakukan kegiatan terorisme itu betul-betul teroris (Kami Tidak Takut)

In spite of what they did is really a terrorist (We’re not afraid)
Atau bahkan orang Indonesia sendiri yang berusaha untuk menakuti kita (Kami Tidak Takut)
Kita harus buktikan bahwa kita tidak Takut (Kami Tidak Takut)

Or despite our own indonesian people who tried to frighten us (We’re not afraid)
Kita tidak bisa diintimidasi (Kami Tidak Takut)

We can’t be intimidated (We’re not afraid)

Kami Tidak Takut…Kami Tidak Takut…

We’re not afraid…We’re not afraid…
Kami Tidak Takut…Kami Tidak Takut…

We’re not afraid…We’re not afraid…
Kami Tidak Takut…Kami Tidak Takut…

We’re not afraid…We’re not afraid…

Kami Tidak Takut…Kami Tidak Takut…

We’re not afraid…We’re not afraid…

Indonesia’s Presidential debate

Presidential Election will be held at 8 July 2009 with three candidates. The first one is Mrs. Megawati Soekarno Putri, the former Indonesia’s president with Mr. Prabowo as her vice president; The second candidate is Mr. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono- SBY, our recent president with his vice president, Mr. Boediyono; And the last is Mr. Jusuf Kala or also known as JK – our recent vice president- with Mr. Wiranto as the vice president.

Each candidate has their own slogan. Mega-Prabowo has a slogan “Mega Pro – Pro rakyat,” or in English is Mega pro commoner. The commoner here referring to “wong cilik” which mean a people who can’t strive for themselves or sarcastically we can say as poor people. SBY-Boediono say “Lanjutkan!” – it means continue all the good things  that SBY has done these 5 years. And JK-wiranto’s slogan is “lebih cepat, lebih baik” – Faster is better. This slogan can be used to tease SBY because some people think SBY is too slow in making decision.

During the campaign, many banners have been spread around the nation, and many advertisements have been broadcasted in every channel, and there are also many ways of campaigning. The funny thing for me is their supporter and sometimes themselves tease each other..X)… And until today, the presidential debate has been conducted twice, and once for the vice presidential debate.

From my observation, these three candidates have their own uniqueness and also weakness. From these debates, I observed that the first candidate likes to open her speech with this sentence, “When I was a president…..bla bla bla…”.There always “when I was bla bla bla…”…She said the same sentence too to answer other candidate, “Ow, right, when you was in my cabinet”, or “Right, when you work for me”…Well..We live in present, not in the past..^^…And when she speaks I cannot see an eye contact, so there is no interaction between her and the audiences. Her speech and also her answers is not focus and over timed.Actually, I cannot see any advantage in choosing her as our next president.

The second candidate, SBY, who has a face like Nobita’s father..Xp, has a charisma as a leader. And what I like from him, he always answers the questions, point by point with precise time.So we can see that he has a good time management. He also makes a good interaction with the audience using eye contact and body languages.  And I never imagine that he can tell a joke using JK’s slogan. He said that He can be as fast as JK too…^^…

In the other side, JK as the third candidate always answer every question enthusiastically, with his body language and sometimes he will answer something spontaneously..When we see him talking/debating, we’ll feel his enthusiasm too. And he always keep his eye contact..he answered SBY joke with a sentence, “I can also continue what SBY has done”. Unluckily, he didn’t use his time wisely, so he can’t finished his answers at the time. But overall he is quite good.

The vice presidential debate was held last Tuesday, from the speech, I think Wiranto has the best speech and answers, but the others still give a good answers too. Boediono gave some perspectives, but same like JK, he didn’t use his time precisely, so for some questions, he can’t finished the answers.

The three candidates have tried to attract citizen’s sympathy, and now is our responsibility to choose our next leader for this country. Every people have their own choice and judgments. Hope so we can respect others’ choice and whoever the president and vice president will be, they will give their best to serve this country. And I also hope there will be no riot after this election. I’m praying the best for this country.

Nb. I hope whoever the president, He/she won’t choose Siti fadilah Supari as the Minister of Health (it’s only my opinion..Xp)

US NAMRU2 – Is it a treat or threat for Indonesia?

Maybe many of us never heard about this institution until year ago, when our minister of health, Siti Fadilah Supari, said about it in front of the press. Well…I know about this institution since two years ago. I was looking for an internship to fulfill my credit at Atma Jaya University, and I thought that US NAMRU is a suitable place for a biotechnology student like me. Last January (2008) I started my internship at US-NAMRU-2. There weren’t any difficulties to ask permission to be an intern there, at least for those times, because our minister of health hasn’t aware of its existence. Since that time I, and 15 friends who were an intern at US-NAMRU-2 was get introduced to US NAMRU’s history, activity’s and of course the staff.

Just a glimpse about US-NAMRU-2. This institution is a biomedical research center which is a part of US NAVY, in this case is Naval Medical Research Center (NMRC) in Maryland,US. This research center was firstly built in Guam at the world war II, but at 1955, US-NAMRU-2 was moved to Taiwan and at 1970, it was move here, at Jakarta (Indonesia). Why US-NAMRU-2 was moved to Jakarta? It’s because there was a pandemic at Boyolali, and our health minister at that moment, Prof. Dr. G.A. Siwabessy asked help from United states’ embassy. After these pandemics were successfully handled, US NAMRU-2 was officially moved to Indonesia at 16 January 1970. This research center has 4 research program such as Bacterial Diseases Program (BDP), Viral Diseases Program (VDP), Parasitology Diseases Program (PDP), and Emerging Diseases Program (EDP). US-NAMRU-2 was located at Jl. Percetakan Negara no.23 and 29, in the Department of Health area/complex. BDP,EDP, and entomology department (PDP) is working at building no 23, while the other PDP department and EDP is working at building 29. Actually Building 23 is a ware house and the building 29 is the main building, but US-NAMRU Commander Officer, Capt. Jones is working at building 23. (So, if you remember that our minister of health said that she felt humiliated because she was brought to a warehouse, well that’s NAMRU office actually..^^).This research center has many sophisticated machine that supported the research. The US-NAMRU-2′s staff mostly is an Indonesian.   The proportion between Indonesian workers with US’s is about 5:1.

Suddenly after 60 years in Indonesia, Our recent Minister of Health accused US-NAMRU-2 as a espionage from US government, and she said that avian flu pandemics in Indonesia was US’s responsibility, that US NAMRU took sample from Indonesian so they can make a vaccine and sell it to Indonesian people. Maybe it’s possible, but actually we’ve known that influenza viruses always mutate in a very short time, that’s why it’s hard to make a vaccines or drugs. For that accusation, US-NAMRU-2 can’t take any samples from Indonesia, and their position is still not clear until next president was elected.

From my view…Each side, both Indonesia and US has their own agenda. Indonesia needs help from US so they permit US NAMRU-2 to be built here, and US-NAMRU-2 needs sample to conduct their research. From the beginning US-NAMRU-2 has helped Indonesia, not only for 1968’s pandemics, but also for Tsunami in Aceh, and other emerging diseases in Indonesia, including avian flu. Besides that many researchers from Indonesia can use their talent there, and so many students from some universities (UI, Atma Jaya, UGM, etc) can get many information and help from US NAMRU-2. I’m one of the students that get so many benefits from there. I can finish my bachelor degree with US-NAMRU-2 help. From what I see there, I really respect the staff, the US-NAMRU-2 staffs are kind and they are so helpful. Even the CO, he can greet us and discuss about our research, he doesn’t underestimate us,  even we’re only a student. They also give us chance to learn as much as we can.

I agree that we need to protect our natural capital and we have a right to know the result of some research that take a sample from Indonesia. I think our Minister of health have some point about that. But I don’t like the way she talked about it. Just like she’s not well educated (Sorry Bu Siti, it’s just my opinion). It embarrassed our own country, having such a minister of health (that only can talk without thinking and so action less- specifically, I’m referring to her speech about avian flu and swine flu)

I think it’s ok if the government wants to kick US-NAMRU-2 from here, but they need to think about the consequences. Many workers will lose their occupation and students like me will lose an opportunity to learn many things. From my sight we still need to learn from them. We need to learn their ethos. They really know what they are doing. And they willing to work at weekend even in the bottom of their heart they don’t want ^^… Some native officers will come at weekend to check temperature and office condition, and some researchers still come to do their work. Few people from government institutions, who came to ask help or to learn some technique at US-NAMRU-2, don’t want to come at week end. For example they learn malaria culture and it needs to be refreshed at weekend, so they just let the culture died or asked US-NAMRU-2 researchers to take care for them. In the other side, a lecturer from other university who does his PhD project at US-NAMRU-2 didn’t know how to use PCR machines, vortex, and centrifuge. Actually he know anything about vortex at that time. He asked us, or another worker at US-NAMRU-2 to do it for them..Wew..It made me and my friends shock at that time..Luckily my lecturers at Atma Jaya really know not only the theory but also how to do the lab.

Maybe for some people, US-NAMRU-2 is a threat that will interfere our country, but for some researchers I think US-NAMRU-2 is like a treat, a place that they can develop their curiosity, learn many things; work with many people from other countries; because science is not a priority in Indonesia. For my own self, I think US-NAMRU-2 is not a threat as long both side give some boundaries and obey it..^^…Well, I learn many things there, and it will be unforgettable memories for me..X)