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Indonesia Unite: a defiant message | Indonesia Unite: a defiant message |
(about 6 hours later) | |
This week marks one month since deadly attacks on two luxury hotels in Jakarta killed nine people and injured dozens more. It also marks 64 years of Indonesian independence from Dutch rule, says the BBC's Karishma Vaswani in Jakarta, and a moment for its citizens to demonstrate their patriotism. | This week marks one month since deadly attacks on two luxury hotels in Jakarta killed nine people and injured dozens more. It also marks 64 years of Indonesian independence from Dutch rule, says the BBC's Karishma Vaswani in Jakarta, and a moment for its citizens to demonstrate their patriotism. |
It has been a tough month for 37-year-old Freddy, an Indonesian T-shirt vendor who had hoped to make a good profit with the expected arrival of the top-flight English football club, Manchester United. | It has been a tough month for 37-year-old Freddy, an Indonesian T-shirt vendor who had hoped to make a good profit with the expected arrival of the top-flight English football club, Manchester United. |
Many local traders ploughed their life savings into making T-shirts | Many local traders ploughed their life savings into making T-shirts |
In preparation, Freddy spent $1,000 (£610) making T-shirts, caps and badges - all emblazoned with the Manchester United logo; he did not mind the fact that he had to take out a loan to finish making his souvenir goods. | In preparation, Freddy spent $1,000 (£610) making T-shirts, caps and badges - all emblazoned with the Manchester United logo; he did not mind the fact that he had to take out a loan to finish making his souvenir goods. |
However, on 17 July - just a couple of days before the football club was expected in Jakarta - twin bombs exploded in the Ritz-Carlton and Marriott hotels, in Jakarta's business district. | However, on 17 July - just a couple of days before the football club was expected in Jakarta - twin bombs exploded in the Ritz-Carlton and Marriott hotels, in Jakarta's business district. |
The blasts went off at breakfast time, when hotel guests were heading downstairs for their morning cup of coffee. | The blasts went off at breakfast time, when hotel guests were heading downstairs for their morning cup of coffee. |
Manchester United had been due to stay at the Ritz-Carlton. Shortly after the attacks, the team cancelled their plans to come to Jakarta, citing security concerns. | Manchester United had been due to stay at the Ritz-Carlton. Shortly after the attacks, the team cancelled their plans to come to Jakarta, citing security concerns. |
Immediate impact | Immediate impact |
Freddy now spends his days outside the Ritz-Carlton and Marriott, trying to sell his Manchester United T-shirts to curious onlookers or die-hard fans, yet what he makes is not nearly enough to pay back his debts. | Freddy now spends his days outside the Ritz-Carlton and Marriott, trying to sell his Manchester United T-shirts to curious onlookers or die-hard fans, yet what he makes is not nearly enough to pay back his debts. |
"I hate the people who set off the bombs," Freddy tells me as he packs up his unsold T-shirts and caps. | "I hate the people who set off the bombs," Freddy tells me as he packs up his unsold T-shirts and caps. |
"They put me in a lot of trouble. I'm really worried, how will I pay back my debts? I still owe my friend money and he has been very kind because he understands this was out of my control. But I'm really concerned." | "They put me in a lot of trouble. I'm really worried, how will I pay back my debts? I still owe my friend money and he has been very kind because he understands this was out of my control. But I'm really concerned." |
Hundreds of street vendors in Jakarta are in the same position as Freddy. | Hundreds of street vendors in Jakarta are in the same position as Freddy. |
However, one man's patriotic impulse looks set to turn some fortunes around. Glen Marsalim is a freelance advertising professional - and now, following a brainwave, a part-time entrepreneur. | |
We're trying to bail the street vendors out so we can give them some hope Glen Marsalim | |
Disappointed by the news that Manchester United had decided to skip Jakarta on their tour of Asia - and devastated that his capital city had been hit yet again by deadly attacks - Glen decided to turn an act of terror into an act of defiance. | Disappointed by the news that Manchester United had decided to skip Jakarta on their tour of Asia - and devastated that his capital city had been hit yet again by deadly attacks - Glen decided to turn an act of terror into an act of defiance. |
That is how the "Indonesia Unite" T-shirt concept was born. | That is how the "Indonesia Unite" T-shirt concept was born. |
Glen transformed the unsold T-shirts which vendors like Freddy were desperate to sell into symbols of defiant pride - by printing "Indonesia Unite" on the reverse side. | Glen transformed the unsold T-shirts which vendors like Freddy were desperate to sell into symbols of defiant pride - by printing "Indonesia Unite" on the reverse side. |
"We're trying to bail the street vendors out so we can give them some hope. We have to bail them out because if we don't, then who will pay them back?" says Glen, as he shows the BBC around his T-shirt store, where many of the items are being sold. | "We're trying to bail the street vendors out so we can give them some hope. We have to bail them out because if we don't, then who will pay them back?" says Glen, as he shows the BBC around his T-shirt store, where many of the items are being sold. |
Indonesia Unite: born out of frustration and anger over the July terror attacks | Indonesia Unite: born out of frustration and anger over the July terror attacks |
"Our intention is to simply give them back their capital, so they can start doing something else again. | "Our intention is to simply give them back their capital, so they can start doing something else again. |
"By printing Indonesia Unite on the T-shirts, hopefully we will be able to make a fair amount of money - and give the sellers their capital back." | "By printing Indonesia Unite on the T-shirts, hopefully we will be able to make a fair amount of money - and give the sellers their capital back." |
The T-shirts are on sale in Jakarta for $5 each and have been extremely popular. When the BBC last checked with Glen, they had sold out. | The T-shirts are on sale in Jakarta for $5 each and have been extremely popular. When the BBC last checked with Glen, they had sold out. |
But the T-shirts are just one example of the patriotism that has overtaken Indonesia's youth in the wake of the July bombings. | But the T-shirts are just one example of the patriotism that has overtaken Indonesia's youth in the wake of the July bombings. |
Patriotic movement | Patriotic movement |
Within minutes of the blasts going off, an online movement called Indonesia Unite was born on popular social networking sites such as Twitter. | Within minutes of the blasts going off, an online movement called Indonesia Unite was born on popular social networking sites such as Twitter. |
Young Indonesians talked of their anger and sadness at the events that had taken place in their country. | Young Indonesians talked of their anger and sadness at the events that had taken place in their country. |
Many also spoke of their fears that Indonesia would now be seen as an unsafe place to visit by the rest of the world. | Many also spoke of their fears that Indonesia would now be seen as an unsafe place to visit by the rest of the world. |
To boost the morale of many youngsters and as an act of defiance, an Indonesian rock star wrote a theme song for the website - Kami Tidak Takut, or We Are Not Afraid. | To boost the morale of many youngsters and as an act of defiance, an Indonesian rock star wrote a theme song for the website - Kami Tidak Takut, or We Are Not Afraid. |
It has become something of a modern-day national anthem for the country's youth, and the lyrics are stirring: | It has become something of a modern-day national anthem for the country's youth, and the lyrics are stirring: |
"We must stand together, we must be strong, citizens of Indonesia. | "We must stand together, we must be strong, citizens of Indonesia. |
"We must not be intimidated, we must show the terrorists we are not afraid." | "We must not be intimidated, we must show the terrorists we are not afraid." |
So it is - with that heightened sense of patriotism - that Jakarta, along with the rest of the country, is attempting to celebrate Indonesia's 64th anniversary of independence from Dutch rule. | So it is - with that heightened sense of patriotism - that Jakarta, along with the rest of the country, is attempting to celebrate Indonesia's 64th anniversary of independence from Dutch rule. |
Red and white banners - the colours of Indonesia's flag - have been hung on street corners, something that happens every independence day. Band processions and multi-coloured parades march down the main streets of the city, shouting out to passers-by. | Red and white banners - the colours of Indonesia's flag - have been hung on street corners, something that happens every independence day. Band processions and multi-coloured parades march down the main streets of the city, shouting out to passers-by. |
Yet this year, it feels different. | Yet this year, it feels different. |
The celebrations coincide with one month having passed since the deadly attacks in Jakarta. For many citizens, it is a time to reflect on how their country changed on that day. | The celebrations coincide with one month having passed since the deadly attacks in Jakarta. For many citizens, it is a time to reflect on how their country changed on that day. |
After four years of stability, there is a sense among many here - especially among Indonesia's younger generation - that such attacks must be prevented in the future, at whatever cost. | After four years of stability, there is a sense among many here - especially among Indonesia's younger generation - that such attacks must be prevented in the future, at whatever cost. |
Building a sense of patriotism among the country's urban youth is one small step - but for many young people here, it is an opportunity to feel that they are not helpless and that they can contribute to rebuilding their nation's reputation. | Building a sense of patriotism among the country's urban youth is one small step - but for many young people here, it is an opportunity to feel that they are not helpless and that they can contribute to rebuilding their nation's reputation. |
Indonesia's image may have been tarnished by the attacks in the eyes of some people abroad but, in my mind, its spirit remains very much intact. | Indonesia's image may have been tarnished by the attacks in the eyes of some people abroad but, in my mind, its spirit remains very much intact. |