Suriname recently commemorated the arrival of Javanese immigrants who were transported from Indonesia by the Dutch 120 years ago, when the Dutch occupied both countries. The Jakarta Post’s Mustaqim Adamrah talked with Suriname’s Ambassador to Indonesia Angelic Caroline Alihusain-del Castilho about the role that Suriname’s 70,000 Javanese descendants have played in the country’s development and in bilateral relations. Here are excerpts from the interview.
Question: What does the 120th celebration of the arrival of the Javanese in Suriname mean for Indonesia and Suriname?
Answer: The theme that was chosen for this year’s celebration is “immigration to integration.” After 120 years, the Javanese have become full-fledged Surinamese citizens. They’re Javanese, but they’re Surinamese-Javanese.
For Indonesians, they can always look for a little piece of Java in South America.
Due to the presence of the Javanese, Suriname and Indonesia have a stronger and different connection than Indonesia has with other countries and than Suriname has with other countries.
For example, Suriname’s relationship with Belgium is more based on … benefits that both countries see, whether it’s financial, economic or in another sector.
But with Indonesia, the relationship starts with emotions — emotions of connection that have persisted for more than a century. That is something that creates more good will on both sides to get things accomplished, to understand each other, to trust each other.
How does the presence of Javanese descendents in Suriname influence the country’s development?
They are in the educational sector. They are entrepreneurs, engineers, medical doctors, politicians. They are influencing our development in every sector.
We have ministers who are Javanese, for example, the minister of education, the minister of social affairs and the minister of land development.
They have a radio station and a television station.
They’re actually in a very good position to influence policy.
What is the state of the relationship between Javanese and Surinamese and between the Javanese and the government?
We are kind of a melting pot of many, many ethnicities, cultures and religions. The Javanese have carved a space for themselves.
Javanese families nowadays are multicultural and multiethnic. All of us have family members who are Javanese or half-Javanese.
We respect their contributions, especially in the area of arts and culture, and their food. Everybody knows Javanese food. They even think it’s not Javanese food, but Surinamese food.
They have Javanese culture. They still practice Javanese culture. They preserve it as much as possible, but that does not stop them from becoming full Surinamese.
They are unmistakable partners. The Javanese have always been part of the government, and they probably always will be, whichever government is governing the country.
Do Javanese descendents help neighboring countries better understand Indonesia through them?
We’re not telling the Javanese to teach people about Indonesia.
But everybody who visits Suriname who has never been to Indonesia — whether from South America, from the Caribbean or from the US — when they meet the Javanese in Suriname, they learn not only about Surinamese cultural relations, but they also learn about the Javanese and their religion because the Javanese are a very open people, friendly and adaptable.
Every stranger visiting Suriname will have eaten in a warung (food stall) because there are many warungs in Suriname. It’s one of the most well-known businesses.
They sell bakmi goreng (fried noodles) and nasi goreng (fried rice), just like the warung here — and there’s pisang goreng (fried bananas).
So when people come to Suriname, they do experience Indonesia through the Javanese.
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