In Memoriam: Rasool Khan

It is de javu, when I heard the news that Mr. Rasool Mohseni, commonly known as Rasool Khan, was killed by bomb suicide in Puli Khumri, northern Afghanistan a couple days ago. My deeply condolence for Afghanistan. My tears fall down to hear this very sad news and when I wrote this.

Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi rojiun. 

I interviewed him in 2009 and met him again in 2010, because I was deployed in Baghlan province again. He won the provincial election last year, so I would like to know what he had done so far after he was elected. 

In 2010, it was parliamentary election and his younger brother, Mr. Azim Mohseni, was the influential candidate, and he won. So my team interviewed two of them.   

He was the most powerful man and mujahidin in Baghlan province, northern Afghanistan and humble as well.

I still remember, how surprised he was once he knew my knowledge on Baghlan and its security situation in surroundings provinces and praised me for that. 

I still remember, how he took care for us, international observers, when we were there. In 2009, we stayed in a big, old and nice Guest House located in Band Do, Puli Khumri. He always sent his people to make sure that we were safe.

I still remember, what he said, when I saw and commented why her 2 daughters could play only in the yard of his house with neighboring female kids while their brothers played outside and going around the city, "It is Afghanistan." 

I still remember that UNAMA officers weren't surprised to know that we, international observers, knew him very well.

Rest in Peace, Rasool Khan. May Allah bless you and your soul.

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2013/05/21/world/asia/bombing-kills-key-figure-in-northern-afghanistan.html?from=global.home

Mari melihat Timur Tengah dengan cara yang berbeda

Meski banyak orang Islam di Indonesia, tapi pengetahuan kita tentang Timur Tengah sepertinya dan sebenarnya sangat terbatas. Pengetahuan-pengetahuan tentang Timur Tengah terkunci di bilik-bilik pesantren dan yang keluar ke masyarakat umum hanya yang terkait dengan agama saja, baik peraturan, larangan maupun kesakralan agama. Orang kemudian takut mendiskusikannya, karena khawatir disebut kafir atau bid’ah.

Even though most Indonesians are moslem, but our knowledge about Middle East countries is very limited. The knowledge is locked and discussed only among pesantren walls (traditional Islamic school and dormitory) and what spread out to the public is only about the Islam regulation, Islam forbids, Islam punishment and the sacred of them. People are then afraid to discuss further, otherwise they will be called as "kafir" or "bid'ah". 

Apalagi kemudian, masuk ke negara-negara Timur Tengah tidak terlalu mudah bagi orang Indonesia, misalnya kita mau ke Arab Saudi, harus dengan visa haji atau umroh dan harus dengan pasangan mahram, itupun ada musimnya. 

Additionally, it's a bit difficult to go to middle east countries for Indonesians. For example, if we want to go to Arab Saudi, it should be for hajj or umroh pilgrim with special visa, and with our own legal partner, especially for women, it is prohibited to go there alone or by herself. Women should be escorted by the husband. And we can't go there anytime.

Mereka yang pernah ke sana atau tahu tentang Timur Tengah merasa paling tahu tentang Timur Tengah, meski hanya dari satu sumber saja. Begitu ada sumber lain yang berbeda dengan sumbernya, maka mereka pun terganggu. Dan mengecam, bahwa itu untuk menjelek-jelekkan Islam.

People who ever been there, think that they are the only persons who know everything about middle east countries, though they know only from one source, or even their own experience. It is actually no big problem, everybody has their own reaction to their experience. The problem is when they find that there is another different, or totally different reactions and view from another source like theirs, they will feel disturbed and react, "It is to mischief Islam".

I was in burqa in a women apparel shop at Puli Khumri market, Prov. Baghlan, Afghanistan, September 2010 

Ketika saya ke Afghanistan dan bercerita sedikit tentang Afghanistan, karena memang cuma sebentar di sana sehingga yang bisa diceritakan cuma sedikit, banyak orang yang terkaget-kaget karena suasana Afghanistan jauh berbeda dengan yang ada di media massa. Catatan: Afghanistan sebenarnya masuk ke Asia Tengah. Tetapi banyak orang Indonesia, termasuk saya, menganggap Afghanistana daah bagian dari Negara Timur Tengah.

When I was back from Afghanistan and talked a bit about Afghanistan, its people, its situation, its landscape, many people were surprised because it is so different like what mass media talked. Note: Afghanistan actually belongs to Central Asia, not middle east, but many people, include I, think it is middle east countries. 

Mari kita lihat Timur Tengah dari berbagai perspektif sehingga lebih obyektif.

Let's see middle east countries from different perspectives, from different sources, from different reactions to be more objective.

Afghanistan after 2014?

The International Crisis Group has issued recently a report warning that the NATO troop exit in 2014 could be followed by collapse and a civil war. 

ICG atau The International Crisis Group telah menerbitkan sebuah laporan yang memperingatkan bahwa penarikan pasukan NATO dapat diikuti dengan munculnya perang sipil. 

Though the Afghan government dismissed the claims, ICG warns that Afghanistan could be headed towards “a devastating political crisis after 2014.” 

Walaupun pemerintah Afghanistan menolak klaim tersebut, ICG memperingatkan bahwa Afghanistan mungkin akan menghadapi "krisis politik yang menghancurkan pasca 2014." 

The group cites the potential for fraud and vote-rigging in the next election, as well as an unprepared police force and army if adequate preparation for the transition is not taken. The report’s release was released a day after the 11th anniversary of the war in Afghanistan.

ICG mengutip bahaya potensial akan terjadinya kecurangan dan pelanggaran pemilu pada pemilu yang akan datang, seperti juga polisi dan tentara yang belum siap. Laporan tersebut dikeluarkan setelah perayaan 11 tahun selesainya perang di Afghanistan.

Some people think it is good that NATO expels their soldiers from Afghanistan soon, or at least 2014 and let Afghanistan's army guards their own country. 

Sejumlah orang berpendapat, ada baiknya jika NATO menarik mundur pasukannya dari Afghanistan sesegera mungkin dan membiarkan tentara dan polisi Afghanistan menjaga sendiri negara mereka.

I used to be in Afghanistan in 2009 and 2010. I like to be in Afghanistan, and the people there are nice and friendly like Indonesians. I feel at second home. However, I agree with ICG and am pessimistic with that situation regarding that the quality of human resources in Afghanistan.

Sebagai seseorang yang pernah di Afghanistan pada tahun 2009 dan 2010, saya mempunyai pandangan yang serupa dengan ICG. Keramahan orang Afghanistan serupa dengan orang Indonesia, sehingga membuat saya suka berada di Afghanistan. Tetapi kualitas sumber daya manusia Afghanistan meragukan, jika pasukan NATO ditarik secepat itu.

The illiteracy there is so high, only 60% men and 20% women can read and write. The school buildings were empty and the classes open in the open air, sometimes under the tree or in the tents. Not enough book to read. 

Tingkat buta huruf di sana cukup tinggi, hanya 60% pria dan 20% wanita bisa baca tulis. gedung sekolah banyak yang rusak dan kosong. Kelas dibuka di udara terbuka, kadang di bawah pohon atau di dalam tenda. Buku bacaan kurang sekali.

A police who deployed in a poll station in Pule Khumri, Baghlan province, North Afghanistan, 18 September 2010

Even the German troops there who has to train Afghan police gives up. The training should take 3 years, and then reduce into 2 years, reduce many times until only 2 months. What quality we can expect from the very short course like that? How can they protect their own country?

Bahkan Jerman yang bertugas untuk mentraining polisi Afghanistan sepertinya menyerah. Jerman adalah negara yang sangat ketat tradisi pendidikannya. Mereka sudah membuat Lehrplan atau jadwal pengajaran yaitu 3 tahun untuk mendidik dan melatih polisi yang profesional. Tetapi training kemudian di persingkat menjadi 2 tahun, dipersingkat lagi hingga hanya 2 bulan. Kualitas apa yang bisa diharapkan dari polisi yang mengikuti training sesingkat itu? Bagaimana mereka bisa menjaga negaranya sendiri?

I saw young policemen everywhere with long weapons, they are young, 15 or 17 years old. Their eyes reflect fear. They don't hold weapon correctly, no wonder that many victims of bombs were young policemen like those who guarded the gate or front of buildings. They are inexperienced and unskilled. 

Saya melihat banyak polisi muda dengan senjata laras panjang di mana-mana. Mereka masih muda, usia sekitar 15-17 tahun. Mata mereka memancarkan ketakutan. Cara mereka memegang senjata tidak mantap, belum terbiasa dan tidak profesional. Tidak heran jika kebanyakan korban bom adalah polisi yang menjaga di gardu depan, karena mereka belum berpengalaman dan tidak terlatih.

Besides, there are still many warlords who are ready to fight each others.

Selain itu, masih banyak warlords (mujahidin) yang siap bertempur satu sama lain.