Tifatul, Where Is The Red Nose and Over-sized Shoes?

Tifatul Sembiring (aka TitS) is not one to miss an opportunity to take the tragic outcomes of a natural disaster and use it to inflict more pain and suffering on those who have already lost so much. The question needs to be asked, "why is this clown still a Minister?" He is an embarrassment as a minister, he is an embarrassment as a man, and he is undoubtedly an embarrassment to Indonesia.

When SBY makes it back form Hanoi after having left early from an ASEAN Summit to deal with the natural disasters of late that have plagued Indonesia, one of his earliest pieces of business after visiting the various disaster zones in Mentawai in Western Sumatra, Mount Merapi in the Yogyakarta area and the flooded areas of Jakarta should be to fire TitS.

The idea that these natural disasters are an opportunity to comment on the sinfulness of the community at large and that these disasters are nothing more than God's way of settling the score is something one might expect from the Westboro Baptist Church. The very idea of a vengeful God runs counter to the basic tenets of all religions, doesn't it?

But, as TitS is prone to do, his fingers got into gear way before his brain and out goes the Tweet that says to the effect “if they deny Our verses, then we will curse them for whatever (sins) they commit”. What exactly does that mean Mr TitS? Does that mean innocent men, women and children are being punished because of pornography or does it mean that if Indonesia does not become an Islamic state where there is 100% adherence to the faith that this is tantamount to "denying 'our' verses" and leaving God no option but to kill people at will through natural disasters?

The first Tweet that I saw from TitS was one that suggested those in need could contact certain organisations for assistance. Another was about those wanting to donate could do so through the Indonesian Red Cross (I think). However, it was only a matter of time before this religious oriented Tweet was made. Once again, TitS disappointed in his inability to exhibit any self control. If he truly believes that this is a case of a vengeful God settling the score, then so be it. He does not need to Tweet that and add to the pain and suffering already out there in the community.

The eruption of Mount Merapi claimed the life of her spiritual protector, Mbah Marijan. So, TitS, what was his sin?

Postscript:
Having perused the news I discovered that TitS is not the only one connecting these natural disasters to matters of religion. Din Syamsuddin, Head of Muhammadiyah, has also suggested that Indonesia's leaders introspect and think seriously about the sins of the nation.

Just as an aside. If these are connected to sin and God is being pro-active in making them happen, then they are not really natural disasters but part of the intelligent design of an all powerful God. So, maybe they are not natural disasters but God disasters?

Mount Merapi...

Fire Mountain...

Back in 1993 I lived in Condong Catur in Yogyakarta for a couple of months. It was the first time I had ever been to Indonesia. I lived in the shadow of this really impressive mountain called, Merapi. I will have to dig through my photo albums and scan a few of the images I have. Meanwhile, I will make do with these ones that I borrowed from the internet.

Mount Merapi is in the news of late. The vulcanologists are suggesting that a rather large eruption is imminent. The evacuations have started. There is a 10-kilometer exclusion zone around the mountain.

When I zoomed in on the map I was able to locate the little gang (lane way) that I lived on. I stayed in a "home stay". Although, I have now lost touch with the family that put me up all those years ago, I remember them fondly. They were instrumental in setting me on my way with learning Indonesian.

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Local Knowledge or Plain Stupid?

Mt. Kelud located in East Java has been on heightened alert for the past two weeks as volcanic and seismic activity has been increasing. The suggestions of the meteorological heads is that an eruption is imminent. Most recent reports say that in the last 24 hours the water temperature of the crater lake has increased a significant 25 degrees. Apparently a surge in temperature of this me is indicative of magma getting close to the surface and consequently it is also indicative of a possible eruption.

The Government has ordered an evacuation but it is thought that some 25,000 inhabitants have decided to play a little bit of Russian Roulette and are refusing to leave. The Government has also sort to put in place a 10km exclusion zone, but as with anything else in Indonesia, enforcement is the key and there appears that there has been little or no enforcement of the exclusion zone. Yet, the Government seems to be relying on the belief that they cannot force people to leave and if people want to stay then the outcome is not the responsibility of the Government.

Many locals are of the belief that they have experienced Kelud eruptions in the past and have excellent local knowledge as to where the lahar (a combination or mud, rock, and ash) if the volcano erupts. The question as to why stay when there is obvious and imminent danger; simply, who will tend the crops and the livestock if everyone flees. When it is all said and done, one still has to make a living and probably support a large and extended family.

Aside from this the villager have reverted to their traditional beliefs that if they are respectful of the mountain the mountain will be respectful of them. This means that villagers ensure the turning off of all lights and conversation is but a whisper.

Only time will tell if this local knowledge will trump the apparent foolishness of going head-to-head with mother nature and her fury!

The Child of Krakatau

Well, building bridges across the Sunda Strait was always going to be an interesting engineering challenge and not just because any bridge built there would be straddling one of the world's most active earthquake zones! The planned bridge would run within some 50 kilometers of the volcano that has arisen from where the old Krakatau volcano once stood and for want of a better name it has simply been named the Child of Krakatau.

It is one of those funny in a bizarre coincidence sort of a way. I watched a national geographic program on the Krakatau eruption a couple of weeks ago. The sentiment seemed to be that the Child of Krakatau, although not currently as big as its parent, had similar explosive potential and that in and of itself should be a frightful thought for anyone living in Southern Sumatra, Lampung, or West Java. The bizarre coincidence is that the watch alert on the Child of Krakatau has been raised as volcanic and seismic activity of the past week has seen a huge increase, which if the seismologists are to be believed is indicative of a possible larger eruption in addition to the multiple minor eruptions to date.

I can accept that nature is a powerful force and do not need to have this proved to me again. Is it just a simple case of the natural order of things where the earth restores balance to itself? Perhaps it is an inconvenient truth but what we should never forget...

perhaps we should be a little nicer to Mother Earth and She might be a little nicer to us!