Embracing Hope Inong Bale in Metareum

Writer by: Ferdian A Majni

"Thank God, now the school in our village is free, the children have started school again. Peace is very influential for us, "he said.

Tucked in a corner of the sky the sun after a morning greeting goes away nan.The heat began to break through into the house and bare-walled thatched bamboo. The distance is almost invisible from the street full of gravel, as well as a small forest that covers the eye. This is where Nuraini Ibrahim (40 years), widow of the Aceh conflict victims lived with seven children.

The figure of middle-aged woman was seen there. He seemingly deft unleash binding sacks of rice. In the rice-paddy pour it on top of a blue tarp full of patches.He reheat rice in the hot sun before submission to the factory to be processed into rice.

After cleaning everything, Nuraini entrust rice that has been dried in the sun had on her son not to eat chicken. With the woman rushed toward the field.Understandably, since the residence of the husband, Jufri bin Mahmud, six years ago, all families must bear its own needs.

"My son is still small. For the needs of everyday family I look for wages in the fields, and even then on the season down into the fields alone, "said Nuraini, by telling his life back tears.

In one day be able to collect money Nuraini Rp 30000-50000, as a result of wage work in the fields. Not infrequently it will be in receipt of wages during the harvest season arrives.

"If I receive less money. Here the system after the new harvest we paid in rice, "he said.

At the end of the road intersection Nuraini has been awaited by colleagues of the profession with him. There was also a widow Inong another bale. "They are Lawiyah Ismail, Zainabun, Aaron and Lawati Nyakcek bint Abubakar,''said Yacob Hamzah, the Village Head Weevil, Metareum, Pidie. They went to plant rice seedlings in paddy fields is one of the villagers.

The village is situated at the foot of this mountain has 674 inhabitants. Five of them are widows of victims of conflict. When the conflict raging in Aceh, eight villagers died and 11 others get physical violence by security forces on patrol at that time.

Accompaniment of a red cloud in the sky began to swallow the hot sun in the afternoon, before sunset. He came home with sweat covering her body, smiling woman who still looked friendly.

Nuraini still remembered when tegah night he was awakened by armed men who questioned the existence of her husband. "Where's your husband, they asked in a tone he just snapped''silent.

Once threatened with the fire, guts Nuraini sour as well. "Have gone up to gunug pack''said Nuraini with trembling tones. Looking at her home in the security forces meet, the children cried frantically.

"After they yell at me about an hour, they seemed annoyed. Eventually they went to leave my home. But one of them had kicked me,''recalls a widow who had seven children.

After the event, Nuraini always haunted by a sense of fear. Various kinds of terror is often perceived. Impossible to leave his village, he did not know where to turn."Let alone for the cost of living in the shoreline, for I do not have any cost," the story of Nuraini six years ago.

Sadness continues to be felt Nuraini, he holds the status of widows while being pregnant four months for his eldest daughter. Jufri her husband, died on the way to bring home meat for the family before Meugang widths.

Eid festivities as Nuraini and tarnished in the minds of children, their husbands and fathers gone forever, lost in their memories are still wet. "Brother in the fire behind the house before dawn," said Nuraini tears.

Nuraini had to struggle to feed seven children. Fill in the daily life of farming and farming community of young plants as well as the Village Beetle in general.Tragically, none of his children could attend school. Limited economic and security conditions of an obstacle at that time.

After the peace in Aceh on 15 August 2005. The door began to open brightness, Nuraini started to feel a lot of changes in his life. Despite having to live without a husband. Nuraini want to remove the sheet of a bitter past.

"Thank God, now the school in our village is free, the children have started school again. Peace is very influential for us, "he said.

Nuraini did not want the kids to follow in his footsteps. He hopes his future could be useful. For the cost of clothing and school supplies their children now get help with a scholarship from the Aceh Reintegration Agency (Brda). "Children can Rp.1.600.000 scholarships for everyone, but my youngest son can not,''called Nuraini.

Noted as the widows of victims of conflict, Nuraini also get funds from the community economic empowerment Brda Pidie of Rp. 9000,000. The funds were given as venture capital.

"It should help fund the USD. 10 million. But the money was cut Rp1 million by the local board. He said, for administrative costs. So also with the help of a ought diyat Rp. 3 million, but I only receive Rp. 2.5 million,''said Nuraini.

According to Vice Chairman Brda Pidie, Husni Ismail, there were 1500 widows of victims of conflict in Pidie. Of that number, 1314 has been awarded grants amounting to Rp diyat. 3 million per life.

"Brda also has mengguncurkan economic empowerment grants for widows of victims of conflict, they could take the money that has been channeled through the Bank amounted to Rp. 10 million per family, ".

Attention to the widows of victims of conflict is also done by the Aceh Transitional Committee (KPA) Mila District. However, assistance from the KPA is only performed at certain seasons.

"Every Meugang and widths, the KPA has always helped bale Inong widow and her children,''said Muhammad Jakfar, Chairman of the NAC Region Mila.

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Compensation funds from the government does not make him recover. With his current condition measuring 4X4 cm, wrapped in bamboo mat walls and thatched looks increasingly fragile in eating termites. "If the night, the wind menerebos entrance, made me and the kids chills," he said.

It does not deserve to be called a house, if the house was inhabited by the size of eight family members. "I hope there is a pleasure to give my house help," pleaded Nuraini full of pity.

A similar fate experienced by widows of victims of other conflicts in the village of beetle, Metareum. Lawiyah Ismail, 45, is still feeling the trauma of his armed men frequently visited in the evening for asks you prihal whereabouts of her husband, the Muslim who was one of the most wanted man in the village.

The fear that continues to haunt her, just in 2002, with capital from selling one field and a cow, Lawiyah that moment in a young pregnant condition set out with her first child leaves home. ''A couple of months I was in the field, I got the news that my husband was dead, "said Lawiyah with eyes filled with tears.

With profound grief and sorrow, Lawiyah intention of returning to Aceh to see her husband's face one last time. But because of the situation in Aceh is getting worse, with the intention that forced him to cancel. Ratapinya much sadness in the overseas.

Lawiyah gave birth to her second child in Medan. He returned to his hometown after the Aceh peace. Now, she started her life again. All her husband's legacy in the form of a patch of rice field and a cow had he sold. "After returning to my hometown, I do not have anything else, to eat alone, I must ask my mother and brother,''he said.

Despite operating in fatigue whack, Lawiyah also lovingly devoted to her two children. He looks tough in front of her children who begin to grow. However Lawiyah still could not hide his shortcomings, until now he did not own their own home, he's only staying with her mother who feels cramped by its size. What reason should he give it later when her children grew up.

"If there is now a grant from Brda for economic empowerment. But what if my children go to school later, "he said.

Despite the gloomy past, Nuraini and embroidery Lawiyah still have high fighting spirit. They are not just a mere hope. They will do their best for their children because life will continue to spin. Nuraini and Lawiyah is a portrait of a widowInong bale is ready to hit the stream of life. Nuraini, widow Inong bale Lawiyah and other conflict victims also want to embrace their hopes are pending. And his hopes as a mother, widow of hope Inong bale in Metareum, Pidie. 


* Collection of writings of the participants of Peace Journalism Training. Conscience Cooperation Institute and the Embassy of Japan in Indonesia.

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