Kisah VHR Media News Centre

The Drug Kiosk (3, finished)

Yuliyanti — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 18:40:28

"If you wish to use narcotics, then do not use injected drugs. But if you have to use injected drugs, then use a sterile needle. As a matter of fact, you can stop taking drugs. We have a program that can help you stop using them."

The police and society still assumes every drug addict is a criminal. In fact, the addicted are a vulnerable group of people

The Drug Kiosk (2)

Yuliyanti — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 14:55:42

They are accused of legalizing narcotics and of Christianization just because they distributing clean needles for free. Moreover, one of the field workers was paraded naked in the street and another almost hit by a bullet.

According to research conducted by Kiosk almost half of the drug addicts share needles. The Data Center of the Indonesian Hospital Association estimates 400.000 people will be infected with HIV

The Drug Kiosk (1)

Yuliyanti — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 13:18:48

"Can I get insul? Two, please..."

"I didn't bring it."

"Hey...Why don't you bring it? Do you forget?"

"I just got one..."

This was a dialogue between Rahmat, also called Poncol, and his father. Father and son were searching for hypodermic needles in Kios Universitas Atmajaya (a centre run by Atmajaya Catholic University). Both of them are drug addicts. Since one year father

There is Still Peace in Cisalada (3, Finished)

Indah Nurmasari — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 17:53:39

Ahmadyah Community still lives in harmony with their neighbors. The conflict of faith which still fills the media cannot disturb the harmony among them.

Humaedi is not afraid of the Joint Decree (an official letter from the Minister of Religion, the Attorney General and the Minister of Internal Affairs) demanding Ahmadiyah member to limit their activities. He still can't understand what should be wrong

There Is Still Peace in Cisalada (2)

Indah Nurmasari — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 02:58:33

Ghalib was confused when he witnessed the attack. He was then wondering what was really going on. "They are crazy people going berserks...," his father replied to him while they left the scene.

Then Ghalib and his father went to a mosque for shelter. He also saw some girls running in fear. "I was hiding too," he says. "I was afraid that I might be hit as well.

There Is Still Peace in Cisalada (1)

Indah Nurmasari — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 02:56:39

The Ahmadiyah community still lives in harmony with their neighbors. The conflict of faith which is still fills the media can not disturb the harmony among them.

Kampung Cisalada is bright and clear that day. The joy of playing children enlivens the neighborhood which is located on the foot of Mountain Salak, in Bogor. When we pass through Cobatok Village, close to Cisalada, the same atmosphere can

Lower Middle Class Also Struck by BBM (2, finished)

Liza Desylanhi — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 02:54:32

‘PAHE' (paket hemat - minimum parcel), that is how Santi calls her strategies to manage her expenditures. Transportation costs are not the only one she has been cutting down on. She also has to be clever in managing her food budget.

"I often fast on Mondays, but I can not fast on Thursdays because we have students visiting every Tuesday and Thursday. If I fast it is not

Lower Middle Class Also Struck by BBM (1)

Liza Desylanhi — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 02:51:47

The impact of the fuel price increase doesn't only affect the poor citizens. The white collar workers are also affected.

Early in the morning, before the sun rises, Santi (a pseudonym) rides on her bicycle to the Mayor's office yard in Depok, wearing a blazer and a pair of black shoes on her feet.

Every day, Santi is in a rush afraid she will

Hendrini and the Neglected People

Fathiyah Wardah Alatas — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 18:33:22

That woman is fond of collecting the cooked-rice leftovers, but for who?

Her fingers skilfully move between the numbers on her phone. Less than five seconds, and she is already talking with someone on the telephone. Then, she continues to dial another telephone number.

Hendrini, 64 years old, does that everyday. She contacts the restaurants, hotels, or her friends who were giving a party, asking to get

Children in the Grip of Nicotine

Fathiyah Wardah Alatas — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 14:50:04

Indonesia does not yet have a law to control the tobacco industry. More and more children become victims of the nicotine business.

WUSSH... Wusshh, billowing smoke keeps coming out from Yayan's mouth. The twelve year old is resting at the yard of an office complex nearby the Tebet railway station in South Jakarta. "My mouth tastes bitter, so I need to smoke," says the child who earns

We Don't Get the Cash Aid (3, Finished)

Yuliyanti — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 16:40:53

Head of one local resident in Kelurahan Senen Mujiwaras admitted that he and other head of local residents have some worries to distribute cards the Cash Aid. Many poor people are not listed on the receiver list. As a solution, Waras and his colleagues tried to put the unlisted poor people on the receiver list of rice for the poor program. However, their intention to help the poor was

We Don't Get the Cash Aid (2)

Yuliyanti — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 15:20:43

Maryani was expecting the cash aid after cards for cash aid were distributed in her village. Unfortunately, after waiting for several days she found out that her husband's name was no longer on the list as he had passed away two years ago.

Maryani works as a food seller. She became the breadwinner of her family after her husband's death. She also works

We Don�t Get the Cash Aid (1)

Yuliyanti — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 16:26:10

Not all poor people get BLT (cash aid for the poor; provided by the government as compensation for the rising fuel price-ed.). Some of them are even checked out of the list because of their current status.

Sahyati, 46, just cannot hide her anger. Accompanied by her grandchild, the widow of one child can only see her neighbors waiting in line to receive the cash aid at

We Want to Read Too

Liza Desylanhi — Wed, 14 May 2008 18:58:28

Tradition forbids Baduy children from going to school. All efforts to alleviate illiteracy face constraints.

It was raining hard that morning, yet sheer joy colored the faces of the children. Lying on a terrace, they were throwing tens of sate-sized bamboo sticks. Children of Baduy Luar - a traditional community living in Banten Province - were playing enclek on the terrace of Marno's house.

Bu Gito, the Housekeeper Agent

Yuliyanti — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 13:20:00

Who does not know Bu Gito? If people in Jakarta need a housemaid, they will for sure contact this famous lady from Cilacap in West Java.

Ruminah's house, which also functions as her office, in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, is always filled with people hunting for housekeepers. After they find a good candidate and pay Rp 600.000 administrative fee, they go home along with the housekeeper of