Olivia Rianjani, Yogyakarta – The Gajah Mada University (UGM) traffic circle in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta was not just filled with passing vehicles yesterday.
Dozens of mothers who are members of the coalition Voice of Indonesian Mothers (Suara Ibu Indonesia) gathered at the traffic circle transforming the noise of the city into a symphony of concern titled "Feast and Prayer for Indonesia" on Monday December 22.
Wearing all-white clothing as a symbol of sincerity, the mothers carried kitchen utensils not for cooking, but to be used as percussion instruments.
The clanging of pots and the waving of white flags conveyed a silent yet powerful message: something is seriously wrong with disaster management in the country, particularly in the floods and landslides in Sumatra.
Rika Iffati Farihah, a representative of the protesters, emphasised that the action was born out of their distress at the government's slow response to the suffering in Sumatra.
"We urge the government to immediately declare the disaster in Sumatra as a national disaster. This is not just about statistics, it's about lives and livelihoods that have been lost", said Farihah with trembling voice on the sidelines of the action.
And it is not just the issue of the emergency response. The coalition also demanded a thorough investigation into ecological crimes. They believe that the disaster was not purely a natural phenomenon, but rather the result of systematic environmental damage that has been neglected up until now.
One of the most contentious points was a demand for a moratorium on the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program. The mothers argued that the massive budget for this program should be redirected to saving lives in the disaster areas.
Farihah highlighted the budget waste due to the inappropriate distribution of the MBG program where even elite private schools received free meals.
Secondly, the issue of quality where the food provided consisted mainly of packaged and ultra-processed foods, considered low in nutritional value and prone to waste.
And finally the logistical inefficiency due to the policy of distributing free meals during school holidays forcing parents to collect several days' worth of meals at once, which was deemed highly ineffective.
"The MBG funds are diverting resources from more important things. While children in Sumatra are losing their homes, large sums of money are being wasted on an immature program", added Farihah.
This action received considerable sympathy from the Islamic University of Indonesia (UII) Rector Professor Fathul Wahid who was also present at the action. For him, the presence of these mothers on Mother's Day was a strong warning to those in power.
"Disasters are often treated merely as a matter of numbers. This movement by the mothers reminds us that disasters are a matter of humanity and nature", said Wahid.
He agreed that given the magnitude of the damage in Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra, declaring a national disaster has become a necessity.
Concluding the action, the mothers demanded an end to intimidation against journalists and volunteers who are fighting on the front lines of the disasters and asked the state to be present with inclusive policies for vulnerable groups – women, children, the elderly and people with disabilities.
"As mothers, we don't just think about our own children, but all Indonesian children. We will continue to monitor this", Farihah concluded, with her hand still holding a white flag.
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Kado Pahit Hari Ibu: Di UGM, Perempuan Bersuara Lawan Kejahatan Ekologis dan Kelalaian Bencana".]
