BOOK REVIEWS
Book Title : Suara-Suara Sunyi: Kisah Kelompok Minoritas dalam Pusaran Politik di Indonesia
Authors : Andrean Yudo Pramono, Bambang Muryanto, Bhekti Suryani, Emi La Palau, Findamorina Muhtar, Gafur Abdullah, Irawan Sapto Adhi, Iwan Arifianto. Januardi Husin, Mahardini Nur Afifah, Mariyana Ricky PD, Muhammad Syaifullah, Riska Farasonalia, Rohman Wibowo, Sekarwati, Shani Ramadhan Rasyid, Sirojul Khafid, Pito Agustin Rudiana, Yuwantoro Winduajie
Publisher : AJI Yogyakarta
Year of Published : 2024
Total Page : 458 pages
The book Suara-Suara Silence, published by AJI Yogyakarta with the support of the Indonesian Justice and Peace Foundation, is an anthology of collaborative works by 19 journalists who explore the lives of minority groups in Indonesia in the political year of 2024. With the context of identity politics that often exacerbate differences, this book examines various challenges, struggles, and hopes from the perspective of minorities in gender, religion, beliefs, and sexual orientation.
The book Suara-Suara Sunyi is a mirror of reality that displays a portrait of the lives of minority groups in Indonesia. Through various stories that are arranged in depth, this book invites readers to see the issue of diversity with empathy and critical awareness. This book is important reading for anyone who cares about the issues of human rights, diversity, and social justice in Indonesia.
Chapter 1: Elections between Threat and Hope for Minority Groups
This chapter highlights the political dynamics faced by minority groups in the midst of a political year. In the context of elections, minority groups are often the object of politicization and discrimination. Some important stories in this chapter include:
Voices of Belief Adherents in Yogyakarta: The story of belief adherents who continue to fight against discrimination by using political space as an effort to voice their rights, even though they are often ignored by political parties.
Laroma adherents in South Minahasa: This group lost their right to vote because they refused to list their majority religion on their ID cards. This discrimination reveals challenges in bureaucracy and politics.
Twin Narratives of Rejecting LGBT in Soloraya: In the run-up to the election, LGBTQ groups face increasing social and political pressure, showing how gender identity is exploited for electoral campaigns.
This chapter also discusses how groups such as Chinese women in Semarang try to enter politics to carry the aspirations of their community, creating hope amidst existing threats.
Chapter 2: Discrimination Practices of Policies against Minority Groups
This chapter shows how existing policies often exacerbate discrimination against minority groups. The articles in this chapter document several important cases:
Multi-Layered Discrimination in Belimbing City: Religious minorities in this city face multiple structural barriers, from biased policies to discriminatory treatment by state officials.
The Ahmadiyah community in Central Java: They continue to be discriminated against even though their rights as citizens are guaranteed by the constitution.
Anti-LGBTQ Draft Regional Regulation in Bandung City: Efforts to create discriminatory regulations against the LGBTQ community have sparked fear among gender minorities in the region.
This chapter presents a picture that discrimination against minority groups does not only come from society, but also from government policies that are supposed to protect them.
Chapter 3: The Story of a Minority Group Preserving Diversity
In this chapter, the book presents the positive side of diversity in Indonesia through inspiring stories:
Young People Bringing the Light of Peace in Aceh Singkil: The young generation in Aceh Singkil is trying to create a peaceful space amidst religious differences that often trigger conflict.
Hindu and Chinese Historical Narratives in Demak: Exploring the history of diversity that is often drowned out by dominant narratives, especially regarding the role of Hindu and Chinese communities in the past.
Buddhist Traditions in Jatimulyo: The Buddhist community in this village uses local traditions to strengthen social harmony, showing how diversity can be celebrated through culture.
This chapter is a reminder that despite challenges, there are always individuals and communities who strive to maintain and preserve diversity.
Chapter 4: Portrait of Trans Women Living Side by Side with Aceh Qanun
This chapter focuses on the lives of transgender women in Aceh who must survive amid strict Islamic law. The articles in this chapter present three perspectives:
Acehnese Trans Women and Their Families: Their struggles to gain recognition and protection from their families and communities.
Discrimination in the Shadow of the Qanun: The harsh reality of discrimination they experience in their daily lives, including in access to jobs and housing.
Ikhtiar Berdaya: Efforts by the transgender community in Aceh to build economic independence and fight social stigma through training and community solidarity.
This chapter provides an in-depth look at the courage and resilience of transgender women in a hostile environment.
Chapter 5: The Threat of Marginalization of Marapu Believers in East Sumba
The final chapter discusses the struggle of the Marapu community who still face marginalization, especially in terms of education and human rights.
The Misery of Marapu Community: The conflict between environmental conservation and indigenous peoples’ rights is a central issue. Many of them were forced to lose their ancestral lands in the name of nature conservation.
Difficulty in Accessing Education: Marapu community children often have difficulty getting an education that accommodates their beliefs, showing a lack of inclusivity in the education system.
This chapter illustrates how important it is to recognize the rights of indigenous groups to create social justice.
To experience a deeper experience of the stories written by fellow journalists, you can read the Ebook via the following link: https://forms.gle/FUhRRuvRMq7nPBwy8.