When someone had obsessed to change his destiny life, Asnawi Ali who moved away from Aceh to Sweden. Actually, the Newspaper deliveryman former went to Malaysia, then had a political asylum in Norway. In this country which located in Scandinavia peninsula, foreign journalist guide former went to Sweden for the least choice and married with Acehnese woman already. He was grown up when were a long and terrible conflict in Aceh, Asnawi was remembering his unforgettable memories in his lifetime about the conflict after Aceh Freedom was declared by the late. Tgk Hasan Tiro. Nowadays, Asnawi Ali who able to speak Norwegian language has an idea to prepare his own novel about the conflict stories in Aceh in English version. He has a dream to find out the printing corporate in Unites State. “ actually I would have to find out in United Stated because the following background stories relates with an American fictional role story in Aceh “ he emailed to famous Aceh daily journal, Kontras last Monday.
When he was taken back by his friend named Said Kamaruzzaman from Kontras, Asnawi told his own story life since leaved and go back again to Aceh after tsunami disaster that has killed his beloved parents in Banda Aceh. He also told about another life about the Acehnese communities life in Sweden which always had a struggle mission on their Acehnese freedom. Its turn out, there was a Acehnese building which located in Stocklom downtown named Meunasah Aceh that contains about the Acehnese social and religion activities less more than 100 Acehnese peoples. The following his true narrative story.
I was born in smallest village named Meunasah Beureuleng, Grong – Grong, Pidie district 1978, two years after Aceh freedom day was declared by the late. Tgk Hasan Tiro when had a terrible conflict area. I was grown up in that’s smallest village. We did not have a light, except templok fire light. But, he had a soul to wonder life as Pidie peoples. When I was still a kid, I was taken with my parent to live in Banda Aceh because he wants to have an entrepreneurship work idea in this capital city.
I finished my kindergarten, elementary school, and junior high school in Banda Aceh. Then I came back to Pidie to continue my study in Senior high school and learning in Islamic college named Pesantren darussa’adah, Teupin Raya for 3 years. Then, I came back to Banda Aceh and studying in Syiah Kuala University. When the monetary crisis was affected in Indonesia on 1997 which was followed by the resignation of Suharto from the throne of its power in May 1998, Aceh was still troubled by the conflict, the more helping way from the outside world. At that time I was often involved in the demonstration act with my all friends college students, especially demanding the revocation status of the Military Operation Zone (DOM) and judge the criminals human rights. In 1998 I became acquainted with a number of journalists from various countries. They often use my services as a guide for news coverage in Pidie, an area which claimed by GAM as a command center. Being a guide like that is very pleasing to me. First, I can be acquainted with many foreign journalists, both honorarium which I get enough pocket money for paying my college fee. In addition to being a guide journalist, I am also selling tabloid newspaper named “KONTRAS” on the sidewalk that located in Kampung Baru, Banda Aceh.
After the initial rise of the Aceh case DOM status was lifted on August 7, 1998, in line with the political dynamics of Aceh increasingly heated. People are increasingly aware to rise in the Acehnese nationalism title names. My job as a guide for foreign journalists had to switch to bring out the entry of foreign journalists to cover the activities of GAM in Pidie. The news was disseminated as part of the Free Aceh campaigns overseas. Due to frequent a courier foreign journalists who wish to cover the case of Aceh, so one day he heard the news that I was a military target for having arrested. Since that time my life was no longer feeling safe, that is why I moved to Malaysia. As a result, I was given up my college study in 2000. By going that's for the last time I saw my parents faces who died when the tsunami hit Aceh on December 26, 2004.
When I moved from Aceh, Pulau Pinang in Malaysia was the first Malay area that I arrived on, then moved to Kuala Lumpur. Two years I stayed in the capital city of Malaysia. Having been accustomed to live independently in Malaysia was not a wedge problem. I continue to persevere to my life and finally a Malay family in Malaysia sympathize with me. They gave me a temporary shelter and also facilitated me to get a work. The Malay family was most familiar with Acehese peoples, because they were also often read the Aceh conflict previously by watching the media in Malaysia. I also think "makcik" family such as a foster mother. While in Kuala Lumpur I was trying to assimilate with the Malay community, using their dialect accent the rhythm of language that sounds a really bit funny, but eventually also easy to follow it correctly.
Requesting A Political Asylum
Mid April 2002 I received a call from Acehnese people who lives in Texas, USA. He suggested me that I should have a political asylum immediately to the UNHCR office in Kuala Lumpur. The main of these reason was caused by police and immigration problem). Malaysia frequently raided settlers from the other countryside, especially from Aceh. As a part from that reason, when I pocketed the card information license from UNHCR, example that I can stay temporarily in Malaysia. At that time there was no place for immigrants from across the land (countryside). Police and immigration Malaysian citizens who frequently raided who aimed as illegal aliens (Illegal Immigrant) from Indonesia. For those people who had without complete documents, much less is known comes from Aceh, the various allegations addressed, impressed even exaggerated. Although I have pocketed the issue of UNHCR's recognition card already, Malaysian officials often seek other reasons to justify the arrest of people from Aceh. I am sure that the influence of the economic crisis and political policies in the country which makes the situation became like this, because I saw the Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta had always been like a bothers family.
Arrived in Scandinavia
I arrived in the oil city of Stavanger, Norway on March 2003 in spring time. At that time temperatures around were 10 degrees Celsius. The Acehnese's new refugee whoi had just entourage off the plane shivering. Although the jacket has been wrapped their own bodies, but temperatures was so cool. It was I felt it the first time that made virtually all newly arrived from Acehnese refugee who got the bad flu. The first impression is really strange. Bule (foreign peoples ) who got tall for the size of Asia looked everywhere, in addition time that the Norwegian language that we did not understand at all. It made me everything was strange. Although the majority of Norwegians understand English, but they're not going to answer in English when got a spoken, except we introduce ourselves as a tourist. It’s really hard to me to understand the Norwegian foreign language at all in my ear. I had never heard before. However, Norway's grammar with English language there is little same in common. Every immigrant must learn the language of Norway such as they were given a free education, language institute in Norway institution. Since the early arrival, all the necessities of life we are given free of charge, derived from social security within the refugee is limited to getting a job.
The snow which I saw on television previously, now it is on the front of my home yard where. I ever been drunk in the night and forgotten brought into the house, suddenly next morning the remaining water in that glass becomes frozen. Living alone without relatives, and add up for season climate life likes in the refrigerator, making me remember of my beloved hometown (home sick). The real solution, I should phone to Aceh and also reading news about Aceh every day via the Internet. In addition, I usually listen the Acehnese songs and Acehnese traditional comedy movies which sent by my relatives in Aceh. The Acehnese songs was easily obtainable on the internet for free, it's can makes me happy.
Last summer on August 2004 I got married with the Acehnese woman who lives in Sweden. The Acehnese tradition named “ linto intat” ceremony were very far away. Entourage drove across the state border between Norway and Sweden. The engagement ceremony way to her had done from the beginning, until the process refers to the Acehense customary law marriage. Spices food to feast, we were buying from Asian shop. We invited guests who came from Acehense residents who lives in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. There are separate facilities for residents who live in the three Scandinavian countries (Denmark, Norway, Sweden) that all the following countries could be go out into the country without having a passport. Everyone who wants to go out or entry as he pleased at any time without any inspection. If there is any checkout, we just need to show our ID cards which coming from one of these countries on the Scandinavian Peninsula. Because the distance between the three countries, such as triangular limited land, except Denmark and if we driving a car from Norway to Sweden in the border state board that labelled only limit specified "Välkommen till Sverige" (Welcome to Sweden), which shows the motorist that he/she has arrived to Norwegian-Swedish border already.
The equation between the three following countries are about their own language. The if three are peoples who comes from these countries could appears who speaks in their each languages and they would understood each others. The difference is only in some vocabularies, dialect, and intonation. Then while visiting other European countries would not required any visas. Once time ago, in mid-December 2004 (before the tsunami) I visited the Netherlands attended a seminar about Aceh and Papua case. I am free to enter only by showing passports Norwegian asylum issue. When the immigration were checked at Schipol Airpor in Netherlands, the immigration officer did not ask for a visa, but only to certify passport through a computer scanner. This is should done because among other European countries we can visit for 60 days without needing a visa.
After tsunami many ways for coming home easily, and also there are many paths to Aceh. When tsunami happened on December 26, 2004 I was very upset and feel like a rebellious if not to visit family in Aceh. In addition to wage war against the Dutch, this tsunami is the most fatal incident that happened in the history of Aceh. While others have not dared to return to the status as a recipient of asylum, I have to dare my self for coming back to Aceh, exactly one year. I was disguised under the pretext of want to visit Nias and Aceh to research about the tsunami program.
There were a Norway immigration office who provides Immigration of non-asylum passport and giving free ticket gift from IOM at Oslo branch to facilitates the tsunami victim families who wants to visit to Aceh or Sri Lanka who was also hit by the tsunami. Free facility is just my advantage traveling and flight back way from Stavanger-Oslo-Vienna-Singapore and finally to Medan more than about 12 hours. Whole body feels tired. However, with feelings of confidence and a little acting like a tourist, I entered the gate of arrival at Polonia Airport in Medan. Interestingly, only me alone who marched with Western tourists at the entrance of foreign arrivals. When I was going to be called an immigration officer, I was acting like a foreigner who always speaks English with Western tourists who like we had known familiarly. In fact, just that first time we met.
When the time came I called by an immigrant officer, I showed an Alien Norway Passport. With a relaxed as well, I replied that I had been living in Norway for long time ago and went to Nias and Aceh to research about the tsunami program. Because Norway is one of Europe's list of countries accepting visa arrival VoA (Visa on Arrival), I only paid for 25 U.S. dollars as a visa tourist for a month, on April 1 to 30 2005. I spent for a night in Medan and then the next day I continued my trip to Banda Aceh. I deliberately choose by a plane, not by road, caused I think it would not to be investigation act like once when we took the bus.
When I had arrived in Banda Aceh, I was very surprised because many buildings were a bad destroyed. Not much different from the impact caused by the atomic bomb on Nagasaki and Hiroshima. My parents' house in Banda Aceh, where located I grew up since the age of kindergarten, only remains on the back stairs. The top was shattered and the bottom just wide former home footprint. My mother and father who died in natural disasters that were a super powerful disaster. It also killed my young brother who was still finishing his own thesis college studying. House and former shop left only in the form of land as a family legacy. A month in Banda Aceh seemed not enough to go around entire city in ruins and met with my survivor relatives.
Back to Scandinavia.
After spent up for one month in Banda Aceh, I came back to Norway for having a prepare to move out to Sweden with my beloved wife on June 2005, it was a least time that I lived in Stanvanger city and then I moved to Sweden. Previously I lived two years in one of the richest countries in Europe. In Sweden which has a population of 9 million people that there is no difficulty in communicating, because I have mastered the language of Norway, that’s why within four months I have pocketed a diploma certificate SFI (Svenska For Invadrare), a kind of TOEFL Swedish language. The Europe mainland when measured from east to west the same extent as from Sabang to Merauke, every country has its own language. Especially for immigrants who wants to stay here should learn these language to be interacted and worked, it does not enough and very difficult time when only relying on the English language only. And id we talk about food, Alhamdulillah (thanks God) there were no problem. In addition for the many Asian shops (the Arabs) which selling halal food, a lots of European food also kosher for consumption. Since living in Sweden, the country where nearest the north pole of this way - every day I observed the developments which occurred in Aceh.
Finally, I remembered the word of Allah in Surah Ar Ra'd verse 11, "Verily, Allah will not change the fate of a nation, until the themselves who would like to change his own fate." To Acehenese peoples who is still struggling to obtain their own essential rights becomes true, so it can be changed and self-determination forward becomes a justice, dignified, and democratic.
Meunasah Aceh Stockholm
If we heard about the name of Sweden and correlates with Aceh, the main assumption must have been imagined in the mind of the reader about political elections in Aceh, Tgk Hasan Tiro and his close colleagues choose settled in Norsborg in Sweden, and controlling the GAM from there. However, in the”Bungong Jaroe” Rubric that this time I actually want to expose to the contrary. As usually live far from home, a society of immigrants will have a social community. And so do we as Acehnese peoples who lives in Sweden. There is a meunasah Aceh which was not far from the center of Stockholm. Which established since 1998 with the name of Svensk Atjehnisika Förening (SAF) Acehnese and Sweden United more than about 100 peoples now, including the woman and small children which includes the city of Stockholm in Hällefors and another areas. Just as meunasah Aceh in the village that serves as a social and religious activities, meunasah Aceh in Stockholm is also a gathering place amongst the nomads, places for worship ceremony, gathered at once consulted, including cooking for the family feast party, studying education for all groups, and places to exercise.
Among the religious activities which often done in Meunasah Aceh are tarawih prayer, Eid and Eid Qurban prayer, commemorating the birthday of Prophet Muhammad, and the customary feast banquet as is often done in Aceh. Many activities are religious or traditional that most importance for us. Especially for the children of Aceh who was born and grow up in Sweden. It will introduce them to his identity as a true Muslim and the children of Aceh. Adults peoples use this meunasah for internal meetings regarding the situation in Aceh, also for receiving local guest and outside who wants to get first hand info from a native about the situation in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam. The women also use this meunasah for various women typical activities, such as cooking and sewing are often done on holidays, Saturday and Sunday. (Asnawi Ali)
Asnawi Ali, never becomes an Indonesian Citizen Anymore.
WHEN many Acehnese in overseas who are interested to be Indonesians, Acehnese people in Sweden named Asnawi Ali just his own the opposite. He chose not to return to Indonesia anymore. The men who was born in Aceh are proficient in English, Swedish, Norwegian, and Malay speaking, asserts that although given an Indonesia free passport, he will not want to become these citizens. He was even more interested becomes a Malaysian citizen.
"No, I would never become an Indonesia anytime, except Malaysia. If I were a Malaysia citizen, next week would come back . If an Indonesian citizen, although given the money, I should never accept it at all. His opinion that, when he heard about Indonesia would becomes a traumatic life. Conversely, he would be ashamed as an Indonesia people. I never become an Indonesian citizen anymore, even if given a free passport, "said the man who is working as Fastighetsskötare or people who works at the commercial building properties.
Once again he emphasized that about his hurt feeling and traumatic life was also not due to have been living in developed countries with the economic establishment as his own reason that he never wants back to his original land. "General presumption about someone who wants to be living in Europe that he/she would be a prosperous life, it could never be done . I say honestly that actually we are Asians here, sometimes get racist treatment. It is also difficult to compete with the Europeans themselves. So, if you say that Europe countries are not a really a prosperous place, because I've got here and have seen in myself. "
Especially Sweden, a haven of political asylum seekers. The Aceh War makes many of its citizens to leave and chose the Scandinavian country as a refugee place. Asnawi himself had once time ever come to Aceh after the tsunami. It was still martial law, about mid-April 1 to 30, 2005. He returned clandestinely. At that time he was in Norway (March 2003 - August 2005). He moved to Sweden since August 2005. It's has 5 years already in northern European country. Previously, Asnawi fled to Malaysia in 2001 to 2003. Nowadays, in Sweden he have never been to Aceh / Indonesia anymore. Although it's peacetime day, Asnawi still do not believe to go home. Then while he went back to home, he could see the possibilities way.
Then, when he as the first generation was still 'hurt' by his country of origin, how he talked about the ancestral land? Typically, Asnawi said that his parents explained that Aceh is located in northern Sumatra and is situated next to Indonesia.
"For example, a father told his son that his father was born in Aceh and then being chased, that’s why he escaped to this Sweden country. That's when the father asked by his child that where is his father originally village from. In spite of this, when asked that where the grandmother and grandfather who had never met, "he explained. Asnawi said that they do not know anything about Indonesia. They are more familiar with Malaysia. In fact, almost every year come the holidays to Malaysia. So no wonder about the Acehnese peoples in foreign countries have more emotional attachment with our countryside. [Dwi].
KONTRAS tabloid No. 548 | XII on 1 to 17 July 2010.
It’s Really Hard to Get A Sweden Citizen.
As immigrants who feel unfamiliar in this new country like Sweden, one way to integrate is to be a Sweden citizen but it’s not easy going. It can be ascertained that if the immigrant who comes from outside the European region that pitted his fate here either through family ties, the adoption of children, immigrants patterned economic recovery or receiving political asylum, it is always longed definitely for that status. For the latter class of these immigrants, the first obvious reason is the need to guarantee security and freedom are concerned, if still active control of politics in exile country. It is much to know if the recipient of asylum in Sweden can not be extradited or taken any legal action, although also to interfere in domestic political affairs of another country, except involved with international terrorism network.
There is an another condition where someone were receiving an asylum, although not becomes a citizen yet but who are entitled to receive a passport and if in Sweden called "resedokument". With this passport can travel to anywhere place in this hemisphere except homeland and original country was listed on the first page of the passport. The status is still attached, although pocketed a permanent resident already and will disappear by itself to obtain the most recent status of a Swedish citizen.
In general, someone who wants to become a Swedish citizen should be required to stay in Sweden for 5-6 years continuously with a residence license and working permanence license in Sweden. Then if someone wants to obtain the citizen state is really difficult, because it requires about 6 months to determine a person if the application form endorsed as citizens or be postponed until all conditions have been required. Until now, the writer himself has not received such status and only wife and child who has obtained a positive answer from the Swedish immigration. If he wants to get it also requires a fairly expensive cost, once had to beg to pocket 1,500 Kronor (about USD 1.7 million) as the official cost of maintenance. However, Benefits are
derived equivalent facilities such as the Swedish citizens can live and work in 27 European countries. This allows for Sweden including from one EU member state. In addition, if you want to go out into all European countries without requiring a visa and arrived at the airport even if only to check whether someone has a genuine identity card or passport made a member of the European Union.
As usual the other European countries, Sweden began to tighten immigrants become citizens as immigrants flocked to the northern European country. Actually the facts show that in Sweden itself needs to support the population outside for Industry sector workers, especially for jobs that do not appeal to citizens of Sweden. Similar experience is never experienced before while wandering writer in Malaysia (2001 - 2003) which Malaysia country were really need The Indonesian Workers named TKI to build his own country.
The presence of immigrants in Sweden as well as mutualism symbiotic that is equally beneficial. Over time, due to the abundance of immigrants then began to apply stricter rules. When the general election in the autumn, some ruling party in Sweden started to give signals of new wisdom, which is a necessary condition for citizenship must master the language of Sweden is the Swedish standard sizes such as the ability to read, hear, written, and spoken the Swedish language and their knowledge of governmental functions Swedish empire.
reported that the population of Sweden whose parents background foreigners reached 16%. Sweden can not be built without immigrant services and the key is integration and EU economic climate is stable.
How to Be A Sweden Citizen.
A few weeks ago I wanted to manage the Sweden citizenship application because one of the conditions to be sufficient to request for them, which is already living in Sweden for 5 consecutive years. If a direct visit or via telephone to almost all public service offices in Sweden, a guest at the first time will contact the front desk or a phone operator and will be invited to meet with a Handläggare who handles correspondence affairs bureaucracy in the affairs of an application as a personal contact. That is according to my knowledge when managed something o via telephone to public services such as the tax office, social insurance offices, employment offices, municipal offices, traffic offices of road transport, and the central immigration office. (Migrationsverket)
Boring experience is with that last office. Spontaneously without accidentally were spoken oath in Acehnese language while the other person is a Swedish people. Instead of impatiently, but authorities at the Immigration office as apathetic. Sometimes the author surprised by a supposedly were an advanced country, but the management of public services to the people while calling less attention to the immigration office. For example, someone who wants to call may have to wait to queue up to 15-20 minutes just like to see an official VIP.
Sometime is not to mention earlier on the phone was talking to a machine like as the robot recording sound that should to follow an alternative menu press 1, press 2, press 3, press 4, press star, press fences, etc.. Which becomes boring way because after waiting for nearly a quarter of an hour and then your telephone out in vain, even telephone operator told back in touch with them at a later time. The operator ignored it even though the author is pleading to be allowed to speak briefly with one of Handläggare. When asked why such an answer, then heard, "Just nu ar det som ringer och alla manga linjer upptagna Ar vi därför Ater her ringer senare (nowadays, many people who wants to call and all telephone lines are busy therefore it should call another time)."
Do not give up until there, as alternative way that the authors request an email or phone number direct extension of immigration officers who wish to be contacted, but it still does not give the operator. It is commonly as a general knowledge among the Swedish immigrants that if you want to deal with them impressed "play hard". Maybe they know that the immigration office like a beautiful girl who were seeks by immigrants to obtain a visa extension of stay in one European country which is as a prosperous country.
Concerning the difficulty had phoned the immigration office I suspect that is due to a lack of workers who handles immigration matters or the lack of picket time at the reception place. This assumption is based on the fact that when the phone is opened to the public at 09.00 am and at exactly that moment I called them. Considerations about calling early to avoid queues on the phone like a jammed highway, but unfortunately it still can not do even call to the immigration office at all. Not a day or two, but almost every day trying to contact the author at the time just beginning to open the telephone service. The results also remain the same. It turns out again, not just writers who experienced this. A similar incident experienced by other immigrant who deal with the immigration office.
