CRESCENT MOON

why the crescent moon suddenly became loose shards of glass littered the shed? night still sobbed on grain moisture, chills ridden haze, any pitch-black becoming unspeakable, should remain kuucap, "yes?" I, you, he, and they just figure behind the mask, on the stage when the play ends on a message vain, who champions? unless the-I can afford to buy text twist of the director,

Agats - Asmat, December 12, 2012

I'M LOOKING FOR ....

I sought thee
at every restless morning
worried because the sun chased ran deserted
dew fall into the water rumbles times
canoe swerved
paddle broke on the rocks
the liver was doubtful

where were you when the ink spilled solution
bathes the sky, as dark flashed
endless gloomy shadows
red cherry on top shaking dice
swords clashing,
boisterous hostile
similar fears iron frame heart
petrified burned time

where are you?
on a part
the day when the sun paled hit spitefuli
I ask your come on the Mighty Hands
sea ​​salt ruling
and abort the rapids

: I sought thee always
my leader ....

Agats - Asmat, August 5, 2010

WOMAN OF ASMAT (The Picture of Life’s Dimension)

CHAPTER3

 

By: Dewi Linggasari

 

GAHARU AND PROSTITUTES IN

ASMAT’S LAND

The local midwife working in the bearing room was affected for a while. She finds the uncommon disease on Mrs. Partus being examined then: syphilis which has formed kondiloma –cabbage’s flower—How long did the poor mother have suffer from a veneral disease without understanding that she has to be medicated immediately? Where did it come and does she notice that she suffers from a dirty illness? How come an Asmat woman is infected syphilis?

The local midwife, for a moment, was wondering before she could work well in helping a birth. The situation in Asmat, in late years, since gaharu (Aquilaria filarial) a kind of tree which smells fragnant, spread over, gives an exact answer. But why does it have to be the Asmat women?

Veneral disease is not a new problem for Asmat people, long time before gaharu is ubiquitous, the disease has spread over the area, there were 157 cases two years before the prostitute came there. In Bisman village especially, veneral disease was known since 1977 when the kontingen members of rowing competition in the ninth PON (some kind of competition as Olimpic Game) who went to Surabaya to participate, had sexual intercourse with prostitutes of Surabaya and take the veneral disease home to Ewer, one of the nine village in Agats district5). The disease cana be recognized by the victims wih pus coming out from the genital. As the victims walks, they open their thighs little to reduce the pain.

In 1996 gaharu started to spread over in Asmat. The wood-seekers were coming to gain benefit. First, they came alone or with male friends. However, at the later times, they came with prostitutes who are usually brought together to the forest. The women are prostitutes who be paid expensively as the reward. In August 1996, few month after the situation in BIs Agats was made fragnant by gaharu, there came four prostitutes who brought by the wood-seeker from Timika. When the four prostitutes were brought out by the security, twelve prostitutes came and lived in Asmat Inn. The prostitutes ran smoothly, even the official permisiion from the local government never existed. When the twelve prostitutes were brought out agan by the security after being jailed one night, there came forty prostitutes after few weeks later, when a ship docked. Asmat inn did became busy. An officer, a person of Indonesian Armed Forces, and businessmen were involved in the prostitution, so that it could last. Some reaction rose. The inn owner who could take advantage from the room rental and the wood seekers who could use the prostitutes service, of course, feel comfortable. But there a sides who became worried about the veneral disease, HIV/AIDS’s 7) threats, broken homes, anf decadence. Meanwhile, Asmat, who act the host, feel disturbed. One of them deliberately drank sopi to get stoned then went berserk and broke the Asmat Inn’s board. The breaking of the board rose from the feeling of having been offened because the term ‘Asmat’ was used as inn’s name, meanwhile, in the building using ‘Asmat’ term there is an illegal prostitution which never existed in Asmat area before.

The entrance bridge to Asmat In  also brought down, the inn was closed by the owner for some moment. The prostitutes did not seem ti run out of ides to make living in Asmat area, they stayed at the locals’ house and at the authorized sides’ in the village of Bis Agats. The prostitution was continuing. The weak government system of the village and the inability of the local government to overcome the prostitution problem in Asmat cause the prostitution to run ‘peacfully’ untouched’.

At the same time, a social part which disagreed with the prostitution became very unhappy. The unhappiness was finally realized in November 1997 by the mothers’ protest in demanding the prostitution to go away. Along line of mothers cames to houses the prostitutes lived in, they force them to leave. However,  the mothers could not do anything to the house accommodating most  of the prostitutes because the host was using a megaphone to draw the mothers away.

Three months after the protesting action, Agats was cleaned away from prostitutes. That situation did not last long, the prodtitutes came there again with fluctuating number forty people. The locals’ house were crowded by the new outsiders and by the visiting guest who should pay Rp. 1,00,000 – Rp. Rp. 200,000 for one time service given by prostitutes. Among the guest, there were Asmatan and schooling kids who did not ever know exactly the danger of the veneral disease and HIV/AIDS brought by the prostitutes when they were servicing. There were also guest having known about the venereal disease danger. However, they would take the risks for prostitutes’ service. The visitors seemed to be dependent to the prostitutes’ service thought the dependence brought deadly danger. Meanwhile, booze also courage the people who firstly had not dare to visit the prostitutes. Long live Agats’ prostitution then. All days, there looked the prostitutes wandering around, from the corners of the village to the forest, where the wood-seekers got gaharu from the first hand.

It was about three years that the prostitutes were wandering around in Agats, taking advantage from the wood trade benefit. The pissed community because of the weak local government’s working system to solve actual problem around there, immedietly reported to the 2 nd level authority of Merauke with the perforation to the Indonesian Legislative Assembly and the Provincial Council. The accusation letter equipped with kinds of society’s demand was finally responded seriously. In the middle of 1999, some officer who were less capable and the persons who were involved in a relation with the prostitutes were being mutated and replaced by new officers and new persons. At the same time, tribal organization was activated to wipe out booze and to care of the people messing up because of being stoned.

In AIDS day, Decembere 1^st, 1999, local religion and social personages signed a joint statement which declared refusal to the prostitutes in Agsts. In mothers’ day, December 22^nd 1999, the mother again, did some protesting action, sponsored by the organization of Catholic Women (WK), ti bring the twenty prostitutes, which illegally operated in Agats back to Timika. The security, which in this case is Agats police department, worked hard, bringing the prostitutes to Timika. There were two prostitutes married of those twenty prostitutes.

In February 2000, the prostitutes were only remained few persons which resulted in not worrying group, meanwhile, the prostitutes living in the forest are exeption, because the security personnel’s reach is not far asa that. A prostitutes who was pregnant without a man responsible gave a birth in the locak health center to a baby weighing abnormally. As she was pregnant, she was hiding in the forest, making a living by ‘ball sagu’ until the birth day came. While the twenty four prostitutes married, now live as the part of the society. Clarity, that as the days go by they went older, is a strong support to start a household life.

A house that a prostitute lived in, in a night, was burned down after the hostess pour out kerosene and lighted it with a match. The argument seemed to be between the husband and the wife of the rental house, so that in Februari 18^th, the house was remained in ruins. A new era of hope that prostitution will meet the end started to rise, however it did not last long. The rental house was built up again, new faces of prostitutes were coming. A prostitution house was permantly built around the district’s office and on the right of a kindergarten school. The twice-monthly arrival of Pangrango ship caused the mobility of the prostitutes to get easier. Every time the ship docked, there came new faces to replace the old faces of prostitutes long gone.

Agats local health center was once again shocked by the kondiloma case from Mr. Partus’s bearing room. For the second time, that poor Asmat woman was infected by veneral disease, unknown and unmedicated until the birth day came. The kondiloma could only be cured by an operation, intensive treatment, and sexually healthy behavior, so that the disease could not infect. The parties objecting the prostitutes’ existence, who have the biggest influence to spread venereal disease, in Asmat, felt interrupted again. But the feeling of being interrupted was stuck in a blocked valve. There is not even a single forum to voice, there is not a party able to clean the area from the veneral disease and HIV/AIDS threats7).

There were sides getting involved and taking advantage from the prostitutes’ existence, so that the prostitution ran smoothly. Then people are allowed to disagree or raise objection but still, they had to lose. The lose was terrible situation for Asmat preservation. Especially, women as the passive acceptor of the veneral disease and HIV/AIDS. Those two cases of Mrs. Partus’s kondiloma are evidence of how bad the effect of prostitutes’ existence, as the most potential side to cause the disease to spread, is.

The capital area of Agats was finally cleared from prostitution when millennium shift was happening, when a new head of district, Elissa Kambu, S.Sos reported the social fidgety there on the prostitution existence to the Head of Merauke Area, which was given a straight response then. The prostitutes were straightly obliged to be brought back to Timiks. The dark sides history of the area was temporarily closed. Few underground rostitutes living in the rental houses seemed like to be in-progress infection. What did happen to the untraced prostitutes living in the wood then?

***

Linggasari et al (2000: 29) partially states that the tradition which has been inherited by the elders palces sex as a legitimate couple would create power, fresness, spirit, and courage. After a sexual intercourse , a male Asmatan would be more capable of doing –mengayau. Nevertheless, sexual intercourse is an activity to regenerate with reproduction. In orther words, that legitimate sexual intercourse satisfies psychologically and biologically can appropriately satisfies psychologically and biologically can appropriately be said. Ces Manais is an Asmatan term to refer a healthy sexual intercourse.

Further, sex does not only bring positive result –Ces Manais but also the negative one –Namir Manawei, would appear as a result of an unmarried sexual intercourse. The intercourse could even cause the worst effect, death, because dishonesty could result in fight until death. Death could also happen because free sex could cause veneral disease and HIV/AIDS.

The prostitutes’ appearance, in Agats especially, has brought up veneral disease for more than 100%. For 25 months before the prostitutes operated, in Agats local health center’s report, it was counteh that there were 157 cases of veneral disease. Twenty four months after the prostitutes operated, the number increase to 399 cases, 32 of those were nine and eleven years old, were infected GO as the result of raping. Those numbers were really reported in the local health center after the patient came to get some medical treatment. Meanwhile , in satellite health center of Ewer, it was reported that eleven veneral disease victims were in the end of 1999, consisting of five men and six women. One victim of those was dead.

In the first few months of prostitutes’ appearance in Agats, there were no medical persons who care for their health, because their appearance was a new silly thing. However , interaction continually took place. The need of each other caused the two sides built a good relation. The prostitutes needed medical help so that they could retain their health, getting high-dosage antibiotic continually to avoid veneral disease. Meanwhile, the paramedic needed extra salary, because the standart salary would never be enough to fulfill monthly living needs in crisis.

On one hand, the paramedic’s service could retard the veneral disease to spread, but on the other hand, the services was like an umbrella covering up the prostitutes from disease, so that they could peacefully operate. The monthly report of Agats health center showed well, that although the technical efforts to prevent the prostitutes from veneral disease were done, but there were still syphilis and GO acting as pathetic symptoms. At the same time, the HIV/AIDS’s symptoms were inseparable with the former symptoms.

AIDS, which is an accumulation of troubling complexity, is a deadly threat after the unhealthy sexual behavior and the spreading diseases. Up to this time, those can not be predictable how many Agatsians who have been infected by HIV and positively AIDS. The blood test done by o doctor of Jakarta Health Departement in 1996, until now, was never reported. Five years later, as the prostitutes, providing as the highes risk-infecting group, have been operating in Agats, the blood test was never done. The question of, how many are Agatsians infected by HIV which keep coming, waits and answer.

A schooling-aged kid died because of AIDS in the village of BAsim, in December 1^st 1996. In 1999, there was a patient who died with AIDS identifying marks. Four months before the death, a doctor found the patient ill. He is an Asmatan who worked outside the area and the habit of having intercourse with prostitutes. Veneral disease is the main effect as the risk. When he went back to Asmat visiting his family, the strength to stay up in normal condition had run out. In the age of less than forty, the weight of his body no longer seemed to be normal, because it was smaller by day. The specified symptom on the tongue was strengthening the suspiciousness to AIDS.

The Asmatan concept, that a person is considered ill and deserving medication after there is no move, has been proved. The patient came to the health center when his body terribly skinny, his tongue was full of infection, and he could not anymore stand. The paramedic dealing with the patient became suspicious and worked more careful, because of fear HIV infection, so that, even a blood test did not succed to do. In Agats health center’s laboratory, there was no HIV/AIDS tester, until the middle of 2001 there was no agreement in this area to run HIV test for all members of society. The medical help given was in vain, his live was not saved, he died with question: “Did he die because of AIDS?”

Six cases of HIV/AIDS were found in 1992, in Papua. Seven years later, in November 1999, the number increased to 246 cases. The cases consisted of 160 cases of HIV and 86 cases were, in entire Papua, which numbered 174 cases or 65,4%. In early 2001, it increased to 320 cases, fifty of those were found by blood donor test. In broad estimation, there was one victim in each group of 1200 Merauke people, it meant that in the 6.405 Agats inhabitans, there were five inhabitans which were victims.

Basically, HIV/AIDS problem is sexually risky behavior, which means that it is one’s, who likes to have sexual intimacies with different pair in each intimacy, behavior. Such behavior highly risks in HIV/AIDS’s spread. If one has been infected by the disease and then has a sexual intercourse with a “clean” one, so the ‘clean’ one supposed to potentially be infected. Prostitutes and men who like to have sexual intercourse continually with different pairs are potentially infected because of the unlimited intercourse. Why is the number of the victims in Merauke massive? Probably, this following explanation could be the background of the answer, HIV/AIDS viruses were brought by Thailand fishermen finishing in Arafura Sea and the temporarily docked in Merauke harbor and in few spots of prostitution, the fishermen met the prostitutes. In other times, the prostitution, the fishermen met the prostitutes. In other times, the prostitutes also had sexual intercourses with the people around the prostitution spots, including Asmatans who traveled to Merauke and the other tribe’s people. The Asamatans who had been infected after then, went back home and had sexual intercourse with their wife, or wives for those had polygamy. The viruses were ubiquitous then. In 1992, two Thailand fishermen were positively infected, those viruses spread to prostitutes to infect the customers and housewives.

Prostitution, commonly, is the older profession which lasts in humanity’s history. It is certain form of sex out of marriage, being sexually intimate with anybody, exposed and it almost all times costs payment for sexual intercourse or others kinds of sexual intimacy giving satisfaction to those who pay or customers (Kinsey, 1963, POna, 1988: 1) The prostitutes get laid with their clints in order to sell their body to the clients. Buyers are kings (Indonesian Idiom), as the result, king’s wishes are obligatory in sexual intercaourse, such as the buyers unwilling to use condoms. The socialization that condoms could prevent one from the viruses receives a cold-blood argument from the prostitution customers, they state, “I’m down with it!” The  prostitutes are weakly abstaining to push their customers to use condoms. They worry about their income because their customers prefer not to use condoms (Pona, 1998: ii).

Condoms, as a thin membrance which technically protects every individual from venereal diseases and HIV/AIDS, is unknown by all members of society. The people who had known even, at times, prefer not to use it, although it is used for preventing from venereal disease and HIV/AIDS, with the a reason: “I’m down with it!”, meanwhile, the prostitutes are weak party to force the customers to use it. As the result, venereal disease spread. HIV/AIDS are the threat following at the later time. Two Mrs. Partus who have kondiloma are the later time. Two Mrs. Partus who have kondiloma are the actual proofs of the venereal disease spread in women as passive party who are capable for HIV/AIDS to infect.

Low voice against the prostitutes’ appearance is heard still. But the voice has remained echoing with no reason. The party who could take advantage from the prostitutes’ service even reacts sarcastically in the scratch of graffiti on the vegetable market’s wall saying, “AIDS break out violently, condoms act!!” condom have acted, but venereal diseases have spread and HIV/AIDS become horrible threat.

--------------------------

5) The Agats inhabitans number in 6.032, 3.329 men and 3.052 women. Of the number, there are 1.379 husbands spread over in time villages: BIs Agats, Asuwetsy, Yomoth, Peer, Uwus, Beriten, BIsman or Ewer, Yufri and Yaun. These village are located in the side of the river and only be reached by water transportation. Bisman, having the known village Ewer, is the nearest village to the district,s center of Agats, which is Bis Agats, extending 15 minutes of a speed boat and Johnson 40 PK trip. Uwus is the farthest village extending three or four hour of the same trip (Linggasari, 2002: 23 – 24).

6) PMS –veneral disease—is contagious disease from obe to another throught sexual intercourse (Djaelani et al). In relation with HIV/AIDS infection, it shows that veneral disease (PMS) could increase HIV risk sexually (Directorat General of PPM and PLP of the Indonesia Health Departement, Indonesia Research Group of Contagious Disease, 1996: 1) AIDS –Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome—is a syndrome or a set of symptom or a group od disease. Those kinds of symtoms happen because the system of human’s immunity is damage by HIV –Human Immuno Deficiency Virus –entering human’s body. The damage of the system makes the body susceptible to virus disease, bacterial disease, and other kinds of disease, including the bacterial which actually do not threat a healthy human (Djaelani, 1996: 2)

7)HIV/AIDS  in Papua tends to rise in worrying number, since it was firstly found in 1992. The six case found, seven years later, in November 1999, increase to 246 cases, 160 cases of HIV and 86 cases of AIDS. If it was counted in percentage, then the most cases were in Merauke area; 65,04%. In the early 2001, the number increase to 320 cases, and 50 cases of those were found throught blood donor test. According the 320 existed cases, it was counted that there was one, of 1.200 Merauke people infected Agats, one of Merauke’s districts, had 6.405 inhabitants. Mathematically counted, af all inhabitans, there was 5 – 6 people were infected.

WHAT CAUSES....?

because what you present?
your gze spinning into the sea storm rumble
strike
corals
eye brow scattered into spears
who clashed with swords
the opponent
Lemur was lying
to be victim

with what must erase sorrow imprison
helpless faces
ends at the end of the betting defeat
like a truncated timeframe
green leaves from twigs separate
the season is ungrateful

with what should I talk
word, solace
except confidence: justice the Supreme Director

Agats - Asmat, August 14, 2010

F E L T

felt I drank too
bitter dregs of coffee
last cup on a restless wind overturned
Silent night arbitrate negligence
: Ah defeat, reflecting sadhow
of a piece of mirror
sore and painful

felt I drank too
sweet wines in the hectic life of a victory party
laughter boomed
-though the "I" is not Anybody
just dust while hovering
and stop
absence spell
race race ended at the gate of time
today was false

: "I", just actors ....

Agats - Asmat, August 2010

DICE CUBE

stage what the hell  want you, O life? span wrapped around choice to stone dice rebound reach quasi courage bets only lethal in boisterous gambling table : Victory is nothing more dreadful of defeat because in the dark like a howling cry screamed death rip diaphanous night questioned the fairness
I left the old crowded banquet passed away to be quiet, silent lasting, extracts spiteful from spooky mask but the enemy did not stop blanket growl I'm waiting for the time efflux rate it sword slash  stem tyranny
Agats - Asmat, August 18, 2010

M O T H E R

anger never blow
the thundering breath
scrolling ocean waves
the sky was extinguished
scattered rock collapse
: Heart piece scattering
as sand
is rolled and
lament
cast coast

anger never thunders
in the rain which worried
run down
pain after stab self
desire and absence
drew the wrath of the opaque
windowpane
drizzle had turned into
hum introduction grief
the casement mortal dreams

mortal ....

Agats - Asmat, September 28, 2010

WAR OF FLOWER*

I sprawl
at the beginning of the lacing
respiratory strangle bruises
my eyes glazed
boisterous voice boomed revenge
no words spoken
except howl
: Is there life
must be opened with
pain?

I stumbled on stab
the sword
blood scattered
coloring tributary
silent - meaning pick deaths -
I whip at the end
expectation
opposing force attack is
confidence to win
I still fell
must wait for the roar of drums
the war broke
tomorrow is not the parched leaves
the yield scattered!

Agats - Asmat,  September 8, 2010

 *Puppet performnces at war beginners

DOOR OF PARADISE

O God ....
open the door paradise
else if leaf
shut out of grief
world stage
rove only search
is lost
hitting the wall: either
please not helpless
shouldered the word
there is no certainty

O God ....
if you allow
finger tapping
after the fight
exhausting, heart resigned
smudged revenge
: There is one that always dirindu
tinkling song of the stringed
 learned thy angel

in
reverse
door
The glory ....

Agats - Asmat,  Septembere 16, 2010

F I R E

: The lost children ....

there that never goes out of
flaming tongues of fire
stone pain heartburn
 hope scattered  like leaves infertile
date
today: just a dim shadow
the rest light that clamp
- of which the origin of the figure?
si I did not really know ....

revenge growl
passed away on silent dream
slaughter negligence
period lasting time frame
homeless girl
life stage smudged showdown
disc whizzing attacking opponent
grinned backfire
turned ambush
slash snobbery stems

girl....

Agats - Asmat,  September 23, 2010

H O U S E

"I want to go home ...."
breath at the end of the trip
explosion
night train rumble
roared tub howled in pain
a troubled split
station is also breathing
ocean passenger
nan grimly waiting
do not go too dark
: Where is the morning?

I had to go back
traitor who shared warm
under the covers heart
not stop grinning
- what the hell is going to play
staged
bosom puck just shadows
the mournful sobbing
on the surface of the pond
longing for silence
heaved a willingness

shelter in the place of origin ....

Jayapura, August 24, 2010