ID Nugroho and Wahyoe Boediwardhana, The Jakarta Post, Surabaya, Malang
Protesters from nine villages affected by the mudflow in Sidoarjo, East Java, blocked the Porong highway and railway tracks for over eight hours Monday to demand inclusion in the central government's compensation program. They plan to meet the governor today to put forward their demands.
The protest began at 8:30 a.m. when around 1,000 villagers, from Mindi, Siring Barat, Jatirejo Barat, Ketapang, Gempol Sari, Glagah Arum, Primbon, Kali Tengah and Gedang converged at four points along the highway, blocking traffic at the Porong turnpike, the Kuning Siring Monument, the intersection at the Brimob Training Center and the Porong Bridge.
Anti-riot and Brimob police units in full gear prevented onlookers from joining the protesters. The Brimob unit stopped those in Mindi from venturing out of their village. Police officers were pushed back to the end of the road from where they had to address the crowd.
At the intersection near the Brimob Training Center, demonstrators were forced by police to retreat. Some yelled obscenities at the police while others cried.
The protesters blocked traffic on the Porong highway and six train services were canceled.
The massive rally prompted Sidoarjo Vice Regent Syaiful Ilah to speak to the crowd. He urged the demonstrators to end their protest. They initially refused and asked Syaiful to provide a solution to resolve the problem.
"We finally agreed to meet Governor Imam Utomo on Tuesday to find a solution and try and meet people's demands," said Syaiful, who was optimistic tomorrow's meeting would be fruitful.
Team coordinator of the nine villages Bambang Koeswanto said residents had agreed to meet the governor and added they would take to the streets again and block the road if tomorrow's meeting failed.
In Malang, spokesman for state railway company PT KAI's Surabaya Operation Division Sudarsono said the road and railway blockades in Porong and Tanggulangin districts Monday had paralyzed the railway line between Malang and Blitar to Surabaya.
"If residents continue blocking the railway line until nighttime, PT KAI could incur a loss of around Rp 200 million (US$22,200) in revenue," said Sudarsono.
Sudarsono said, however, only six trains were affected.
"The disruption started at 8:30 a.m. and some train drivers returned to their departure stations because they couldn't continue their journey," said Sudarsono.
He urged the authorities to negotiate with the demonstrators so they could remove the blockade at Mindi village.
"Please, do protest, but not at the expense of other people's interests," he said.
Sudarsono added train passengers who bought tickets but were unable to travel could collect refunds at the place of issuance.
"We will fully reimburse the tickets and will provide new tickets for those who wish to reschedule their trip," he said.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Monday, March 24, 2008
Science for Kids: A practical approach to math, science
I.D. Nugroho , The Jakarta Post , Surabaya | Sun, 03/23/2008 3:05 PM | Discover
Math and science majors do not always scare elementary school students. This was proven by the 90 primary school students who enthusiastically took part in the Science for Kids program, held March 11 at the 10 November Institute of Technology Surabaya (ITS).
In Science for Kids, the ITS students presented math and science to elementary school students as real-life applications.
For example, the university students showed their juniors several magic tricks and explained them from a scientific angle. One such trick was pulling a tablecloth off a table without spilling the plates and cups atop it.
"Wow, it's like magic," said Ahmad Zulkarnain of Mabadiul Ulum elementary school, after watching an interactive video presentation on the application of Newton's Law.
The young students' enthusiastic responses did not dim throughout the video presentation on resonance, expanding objects and electricity, which included a story on fluorescent bulbs.
"These (fluorscent) bulbs can light up because they are filled with the gas krypton, but they are brighter than neon bulbs," said Nailul Hasan, a Physics major who explained the application of this science to daily life.
While the majority of elementary school students admitted that science and mathematics were not their favorite subjects, they still listened keenly to the explanations on statistics. This science of calculation, which is reputed to be difficult and complex, was made easier to understand through games and quizzes.
"Statistics is a close friend of numbers and a cousin of mathematics," explained Statistics major Novita.
Providing a simple, introductory approach to math and science to elementary-level students is the primary objective of Science for Kids, and its target, the grade-5 students who sat in neat rows in a room at the ITS rector's building.
These young students hailed from Raden Patah Islamic elementary school as well as the Menur Prumpungan, Mabadiul Ulum, Yapita and Klampis Ngasem I elementary schools.
"We're really excited about introducing mathematics and the natural sciences as basic science for elementary kids," related third-year ITS math and science student Bandung Arisanjoyo, who began the session with math, then went on to cover biology, physics, chemistry and statistics.
In general, math and science subjects are considered "monsters" among school students. According to Bandung, however, elementary school students are able to grasp the concepts if they are delivered in a simple, understandable manner.
"This is an opportunity to make kids like math and science," added Bandung, who explained to the young students the importance of the subjects to their futures.
"You cannot ignore the role of mathematics and the sciences in the development of science and technology," he said, urging the children to study math and science diligently, and not give up.
Parties recruit NU figures as vote getters in East Java
ID Nugroho , The Jakarta Post , Surabaya | Mon, 03/24/2008 11:47 AM | The Archipelago
Political parties in East Java have recruited members from a dominant local Muslim organization in an apparent strategy to win the province's first-ever gubernatorial election in July.
The Golkar Party, which holds 15 of the 100 seats in the provincial legislature, has nominated chairman of the Nadhlatul Ulama (NU) provincial chapter, Ali Maschan Moesa, as running mate of incumbent vice governor Soenaryo.
The coalition of the National Mandate Party (PAN) and Democratic Party (PD) nominated chairman of the NU-affiliated youth organization, Ansor Syaifullah Yusuf, as running mate of the secretary of the provincial government, Soekarwo.
The NU-affiliated National Awakening Party (PKB), which formed a coalition with the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), has decided to nominate influential NU figure Achmady as a candidate for governor and is seeking a suitable figure to run alongside him. PKB holds 31 seats in the provincial legislature.
Minority parties have approached female NU member Khofifah Inda Parawansa to be running mate of their governor hopeful Djoko Subroto, former chief of the Brawijaya Military Command overseeing security in the province.
Political scientist Kacung Marijan of Airlangga University said it was a clever political strategy but it would not guarantee victory in the July 23 election.
"The race will ultimately show which of the NU figures wins the hearts of the people," he said.
Kacung warned political parties not to misinterpret the changing political culture in the province, saying since NU returned to its 1926 nonpolitical khittah (principle) in 1984, NU members have not heeded their leaders in political matters.
"Nahdliyin (NU members) have become politically literate since this large Muslim organization pulled out of politics, because they have been able to separate religious matters from political ones. They know who they will vote for," he said.
According to Machmud Djujono, chairman of the Soenaryo-Ali campaign team, Ali will pick up votes in the governor race because he has a good track record in the province's politics, in addition to his influence among NU members.
Machmud said the pair made a suitable combination of nationalist-religious ideologies representing laymen and clerics.
Golkar hopes Ali will win a majority of votes from both party supporters and NU members, he said.
According to data from the local NU office, 40 percent of the province's 33 million residents are NU members.
The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), which holds 25 seats in the provincial legislature, has not adopted this strategy. PDI-P has decided to nominate influential PDI-P figure Sutjipto, with Ridwan Hisyam, a local Golkar figure, as his running mate.
Sutjipto, who is a member of the home affairs commission at the House of Representatives and a senior figure loyal to PDI-P chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri, is favorite to win the governor race. If so, the victory is expected to pave the way for the party to have Megawati win the 2009 presidential election.
Major political parties have been in fierce competition to win local elections in Java, home to almost 63 percent of the national population.
Math and science majors do not always scare elementary school students. This was proven by the 90 primary school students who enthusiastically took part in the Science for Kids program, held March 11 at the 10 November Institute of Technology Surabaya (ITS).
In Science for Kids, the ITS students presented math and science to elementary school students as real-life applications.
For example, the university students showed their juniors several magic tricks and explained them from a scientific angle. One such trick was pulling a tablecloth off a table without spilling the plates and cups atop it.
"Wow, it's like magic," said Ahmad Zulkarnain of Mabadiul Ulum elementary school, after watching an interactive video presentation on the application of Newton's Law.
The young students' enthusiastic responses did not dim throughout the video presentation on resonance, expanding objects and electricity, which included a story on fluorescent bulbs.
"These (fluorscent) bulbs can light up because they are filled with the gas krypton, but they are brighter than neon bulbs," said Nailul Hasan, a Physics major who explained the application of this science to daily life.
While the majority of elementary school students admitted that science and mathematics were not their favorite subjects, they still listened keenly to the explanations on statistics. This science of calculation, which is reputed to be difficult and complex, was made easier to understand through games and quizzes.
"Statistics is a close friend of numbers and a cousin of mathematics," explained Statistics major Novita.
Providing a simple, introductory approach to math and science to elementary-level students is the primary objective of Science for Kids, and its target, the grade-5 students who sat in neat rows in a room at the ITS rector's building.
These young students hailed from Raden Patah Islamic elementary school as well as the Menur Prumpungan, Mabadiul Ulum, Yapita and Klampis Ngasem I elementary schools.
"We're really excited about introducing mathematics and the natural sciences as basic science for elementary kids," related third-year ITS math and science student Bandung Arisanjoyo, who began the session with math, then went on to cover biology, physics, chemistry and statistics.
In general, math and science subjects are considered "monsters" among school students. According to Bandung, however, elementary school students are able to grasp the concepts if they are delivered in a simple, understandable manner.
"This is an opportunity to make kids like math and science," added Bandung, who explained to the young students the importance of the subjects to their futures.
"You cannot ignore the role of mathematics and the sciences in the development of science and technology," he said, urging the children to study math and science diligently, and not give up.
Parties recruit NU figures as vote getters in East Java
ID Nugroho , The Jakarta Post , Surabaya | Mon, 03/24/2008 11:47 AM | The Archipelago
Political parties in East Java have recruited members from a dominant local Muslim organization in an apparent strategy to win the province's first-ever gubernatorial election in July.
The Golkar Party, which holds 15 of the 100 seats in the provincial legislature, has nominated chairman of the Nadhlatul Ulama (NU) provincial chapter, Ali Maschan Moesa, as running mate of incumbent vice governor Soenaryo.
The coalition of the National Mandate Party (PAN) and Democratic Party (PD) nominated chairman of the NU-affiliated youth organization, Ansor Syaifullah Yusuf, as running mate of the secretary of the provincial government, Soekarwo.
The NU-affiliated National Awakening Party (PKB), which formed a coalition with the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), has decided to nominate influential NU figure Achmady as a candidate for governor and is seeking a suitable figure to run alongside him. PKB holds 31 seats in the provincial legislature.
Minority parties have approached female NU member Khofifah Inda Parawansa to be running mate of their governor hopeful Djoko Subroto, former chief of the Brawijaya Military Command overseeing security in the province.
Political scientist Kacung Marijan of Airlangga University said it was a clever political strategy but it would not guarantee victory in the July 23 election.
"The race will ultimately show which of the NU figures wins the hearts of the people," he said.
Kacung warned political parties not to misinterpret the changing political culture in the province, saying since NU returned to its 1926 nonpolitical khittah (principle) in 1984, NU members have not heeded their leaders in political matters.
"Nahdliyin (NU members) have become politically literate since this large Muslim organization pulled out of politics, because they have been able to separate religious matters from political ones. They know who they will vote for," he said.
According to Machmud Djujono, chairman of the Soenaryo-Ali campaign team, Ali will pick up votes in the governor race because he has a good track record in the province's politics, in addition to his influence among NU members.
Machmud said the pair made a suitable combination of nationalist-religious ideologies representing laymen and clerics.
Golkar hopes Ali will win a majority of votes from both party supporters and NU members, he said.
According to data from the local NU office, 40 percent of the province's 33 million residents are NU members.
The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), which holds 25 seats in the provincial legislature, has not adopted this strategy. PDI-P has decided to nominate influential PDI-P figure Sutjipto, with Ridwan Hisyam, a local Golkar figure, as his running mate.
Sutjipto, who is a member of the home affairs commission at the House of Representatives and a senior figure loyal to PDI-P chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri, is favorite to win the governor race. If so, the victory is expected to pave the way for the party to have Megawati win the 2009 presidential election.
Major political parties have been in fierce competition to win local elections in Java, home to almost 63 percent of the national population.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Photo exhibition explores lives of Java's Samin tribes
ID Nugroho , The Jakarta Post , Surabaya | Sat, 03/08/2008 6:18 PM | Arts & Design
Identity cards display more than just your name, date of birth and address. They also reveal your job, your marital status and your religion.
If you take a close look at the ID card of a Central Javanese Samin tribesperson, you will notice the religion section is left blank.
"It's because our religion is not one of the five religions recognized by the government," said Gun Retno, a Samin from Surabaya.
Little is known about the Samin tribe and, unfortunately, they are often stereotyped as lazy and anti-development.
This stereotype is derived from Samin Surantiko, a public figure who lived in the Samin community at the border of East Java and Central Java. Samin led his people through the struggles of Dutch colonialism and was known to refuse to do anything ordered by the Dutch.
His resistance inspired people in Pati, Blora, Kudus and Bojonegoro to respond to the Dutch in the same way. Their resistance to the Dutch, however, created the Samin stereotype, known as sedulur sirep.
Peter Dwiyanto, a photographer from Surabaya and alumni of Petra Christian University, has long felt troubled by the stereotype. He felt motivated to research the tribe for his final major work as a student. He lived for a month with the Samin tribes in Pati, Kudus and Blora to learn more about them.
He learned the people, who wear black clothes and batik headscarves, value honesty, reflected in a list of the tribes' 20 taboos.
The taboos include being jealous, envious, frugal and easily upset. Stealing, pilfering, touting, lying and being ungrateful are also taboo.
"Essentially the Samin people are honest in their activities and attitudes," Peter said.
Following this philosophy allowed Peter to enjoy unforgettable experiences during his stay in the communities.
"Someone left some money in a Samin community in the 80s and it is still being well-kept," he said.
Gun said the Samin maintained honesty in everything they say and do. They do what they say and say what they do. If they think they will not be able to do it, they will not say they can. Because of this tradition, the Samin are often regarded as strange.
Gun, who has four children, is reluctant to speak Indonesian because he thinks he is not proficient in the language.
"I prefer to speak Javanese because this is the language I know and understand best. When I speak Indonesian, I feel afraid I will make mistakes," he said in Javanese.
The farmer in black said that his choice to speak Javanese did not mean that the Samin rejected anything new introduced to them, including technology.
"We also have TVs, tractors to harvest the rice fields and other modern items in our village. But we only use them when necessary, not excessively," he said.
When it comes to education, the Samin prefer to teach their children about life based on their own experiences. The sons learn how to farm from their fathers while the girls learn cooking from their mothers.
"We don't teach them reading and writing, but if they want to, they can learn from their friends," he said.
As a result, most of the Samin do not have the same type of education as other Indonesians. After graduating from elementary school, they work on the land.
The Samin refuse to pretend they belong to one of six recognized faiths -- Islam, Protestantism, Catholicism, Buddhism, Hinduism and Confucianism.
"If we say we are Muslim or Christian, we have to live a way of life in accordance with the religion. But we are not Muslim and we are not Christian and we don't have any religion recognized by the government," he said.
The Samin have their own religion they call Adam so they prefer to keep the religion section on their ID cards blank.
"It seems we can't do that anymore because we have to fill in that part," he said.
A two-week photo exhibition featuring the life of the Samin people is being held at the French Cultural Center in Surabaya until March 11.
East Java town of Pacitan celebrates ancestors, 632rd anniversary
ID Nugroho , The Jakarta Post , Pacitan | Fri, 02/29/2008 11:56 AM | Java Brew
Ki Bonokeling, Ki Setroketipo and Kanjeng Jimat probably never imagined their lives in Pacitan would continue to be remembered by their descendants until today.
But it was at their graves that Pacitan residents recently held a series of celebrations to mark the East Java town's 623rd anniversary.
Unlike most cemeteries, the graveyard complex of Giri Sampoerno in Tanjung Asri village of Pacitan subdistrict is located on the top of a hill.
The graves there cover most parts of the hill, which is located one kilometer away from the heart of the town where President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono grew up.
The grave of Joyoniman, also known as Kanjeng Jimat, the 12th Pacitan regent who is remembered as the great leader who developed the town, can be found there.
He was also considered a holy man because it was through him that Islam began to spread through Pacitan.
"After Kanjeng Jimat gained power, Pacitan grew to become an advanced region," Imam Koesno, a senior citizen who is also the juru kunci (caretaker) of Kanjeng Jimat's grave, told The Jakarta Post.
Pacitan is known as the place where Javanese kings went to meditate and the place where the great Sudirman, a national hero, chose to hide when he was being pursued by the Dutch.
"I heard there's one cave where kings meditated and which was also used by the late former president Soeharto," Fathoni, head of the Pacitan Tourism Office, told the Post.
The history of Pacitan started with the arrival of Ki Bonokeling -- one of the messengers of King Brawijaya who was sent to the area bordering East Java and Central Java in the 12th century. Ki Bonokeling's descendants remained as significant figures for four generations.
When Islam arrived, the fourth Ki Bonokeling, the area's ruler, objected when Kyai Ageng Petung, who was also spreading Islam in Java, brought his religion to Pacitan. The two clashed and waged war.
It was believed the fourth Ki Bonokeling held divine powers which rendered him immortal.
However, Kyai Ageng Petung killed him by cutting his body into three; each body part was then buried in a different location and separated by a river. From then on, Islam began to grow in Pacitan.
The name Pacitan itself is believed to come from the word pace -- the fruit of the small bengkudu tree; the roots of which are used to produce dyes.
King Mangkubumi, who recovered from paralysis by drinking the juice of the fruit, was believed to be the first to mention the name. Setroetipo, a fifth-generation descendant of Bonokeling and who was a Muslim, was the person who gave the juice to Mangubumi.
"The story continued until Pacitan was controlled by Joyoniman or Kanjeng Jimat, the descendant of the tenth Bonokeling who held authority from 1840," said Koesno quoting the Babad Pacitan (the story told in Javanese and the languages of Sunda, Bali and Madura, which recounts the history of Pacitan).
Kanjeng Jimat himself was a simple man and a dutiful follower of Islam. One of his ambitions was to turn Pacitan into an Islamic city, so when he passed away, his wish was to be buried on top of a hill facing Pacitan city.
From his grave, a visitor can view Pacitan city and its surrounds all the way to Teleng Ria beach in the south.
The grave itself is simple and has no special monuments, but has become a magnet drawing Pacitan residents who believe some graves are sacred and hold special powers.
"There are three graves in Pacitan which are often visited and where people pray -- the graves of Kanjeng Jimat, Setroketipo and Buonokeling," said Koesno.
The simplicity and sanctity of Kanjeng Jimat is the inspiration for the celebration of Pacitan's anniversary in 2008.
Popular performances from the regency's 12 subdistricts, such as the traditional kirab parade and puppet shows, were organized for residents.
"Our philosophy is to use the celebration of Pacitan's birthday to improve the city and religious observance," Fathoni said.
Identity cards display more than just your name, date of birth and address. They also reveal your job, your marital status and your religion.
If you take a close look at the ID card of a Central Javanese Samin tribesperson, you will notice the religion section is left blank.
"It's because our religion is not one of the five religions recognized by the government," said Gun Retno, a Samin from Surabaya.
Little is known about the Samin tribe and, unfortunately, they are often stereotyped as lazy and anti-development.
This stereotype is derived from Samin Surantiko, a public figure who lived in the Samin community at the border of East Java and Central Java. Samin led his people through the struggles of Dutch colonialism and was known to refuse to do anything ordered by the Dutch.
His resistance inspired people in Pati, Blora, Kudus and Bojonegoro to respond to the Dutch in the same way. Their resistance to the Dutch, however, created the Samin stereotype, known as sedulur sirep.
Peter Dwiyanto, a photographer from Surabaya and alumni of Petra Christian University, has long felt troubled by the stereotype. He felt motivated to research the tribe for his final major work as a student. He lived for a month with the Samin tribes in Pati, Kudus and Blora to learn more about them.
He learned the people, who wear black clothes and batik headscarves, value honesty, reflected in a list of the tribes' 20 taboos.
The taboos include being jealous, envious, frugal and easily upset. Stealing, pilfering, touting, lying and being ungrateful are also taboo.
"Essentially the Samin people are honest in their activities and attitudes," Peter said.
Following this philosophy allowed Peter to enjoy unforgettable experiences during his stay in the communities.
"Someone left some money in a Samin community in the 80s and it is still being well-kept," he said.
Gun said the Samin maintained honesty in everything they say and do. They do what they say and say what they do. If they think they will not be able to do it, they will not say they can. Because of this tradition, the Samin are often regarded as strange.
Gun, who has four children, is reluctant to speak Indonesian because he thinks he is not proficient in the language.
"I prefer to speak Javanese because this is the language I know and understand best. When I speak Indonesian, I feel afraid I will make mistakes," he said in Javanese.
The farmer in black said that his choice to speak Javanese did not mean that the Samin rejected anything new introduced to them, including technology.
"We also have TVs, tractors to harvest the rice fields and other modern items in our village. But we only use them when necessary, not excessively," he said.
When it comes to education, the Samin prefer to teach their children about life based on their own experiences. The sons learn how to farm from their fathers while the girls learn cooking from their mothers.
"We don't teach them reading and writing, but if they want to, they can learn from their friends," he said.
As a result, most of the Samin do not have the same type of education as other Indonesians. After graduating from elementary school, they work on the land.
The Samin refuse to pretend they belong to one of six recognized faiths -- Islam, Protestantism, Catholicism, Buddhism, Hinduism and Confucianism.
"If we say we are Muslim or Christian, we have to live a way of life in accordance with the religion. But we are not Muslim and we are not Christian and we don't have any religion recognized by the government," he said.
The Samin have their own religion they call Adam so they prefer to keep the religion section on their ID cards blank.
"It seems we can't do that anymore because we have to fill in that part," he said.
A two-week photo exhibition featuring the life of the Samin people is being held at the French Cultural Center in Surabaya until March 11.
East Java town of Pacitan celebrates ancestors, 632rd anniversary
ID Nugroho , The Jakarta Post , Pacitan | Fri, 02/29/2008 11:56 AM | Java Brew
Ki Bonokeling, Ki Setroketipo and Kanjeng Jimat probably never imagined their lives in Pacitan would continue to be remembered by their descendants until today.
But it was at their graves that Pacitan residents recently held a series of celebrations to mark the East Java town's 623rd anniversary.
Unlike most cemeteries, the graveyard complex of Giri Sampoerno in Tanjung Asri village of Pacitan subdistrict is located on the top of a hill.
The graves there cover most parts of the hill, which is located one kilometer away from the heart of the town where President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono grew up.
The grave of Joyoniman, also known as Kanjeng Jimat, the 12th Pacitan regent who is remembered as the great leader who developed the town, can be found there.
He was also considered a holy man because it was through him that Islam began to spread through Pacitan.
"After Kanjeng Jimat gained power, Pacitan grew to become an advanced region," Imam Koesno, a senior citizen who is also the juru kunci (caretaker) of Kanjeng Jimat's grave, told The Jakarta Post.
Pacitan is known as the place where Javanese kings went to meditate and the place where the great Sudirman, a national hero, chose to hide when he was being pursued by the Dutch.
"I heard there's one cave where kings meditated and which was also used by the late former president Soeharto," Fathoni, head of the Pacitan Tourism Office, told the Post.
The history of Pacitan started with the arrival of Ki Bonokeling -- one of the messengers of King Brawijaya who was sent to the area bordering East Java and Central Java in the 12th century. Ki Bonokeling's descendants remained as significant figures for four generations.
When Islam arrived, the fourth Ki Bonokeling, the area's ruler, objected when Kyai Ageng Petung, who was also spreading Islam in Java, brought his religion to Pacitan. The two clashed and waged war.
It was believed the fourth Ki Bonokeling held divine powers which rendered him immortal.
However, Kyai Ageng Petung killed him by cutting his body into three; each body part was then buried in a different location and separated by a river. From then on, Islam began to grow in Pacitan.
The name Pacitan itself is believed to come from the word pace -- the fruit of the small bengkudu tree; the roots of which are used to produce dyes.
King Mangkubumi, who recovered from paralysis by drinking the juice of the fruit, was believed to be the first to mention the name. Setroetipo, a fifth-generation descendant of Bonokeling and who was a Muslim, was the person who gave the juice to Mangubumi.
"The story continued until Pacitan was controlled by Joyoniman or Kanjeng Jimat, the descendant of the tenth Bonokeling who held authority from 1840," said Koesno quoting the Babad Pacitan (the story told in Javanese and the languages of Sunda, Bali and Madura, which recounts the history of Pacitan).
Kanjeng Jimat himself was a simple man and a dutiful follower of Islam. One of his ambitions was to turn Pacitan into an Islamic city, so when he passed away, his wish was to be buried on top of a hill facing Pacitan city.
From his grave, a visitor can view Pacitan city and its surrounds all the way to Teleng Ria beach in the south.
The grave itself is simple and has no special monuments, but has become a magnet drawing Pacitan residents who believe some graves are sacred and hold special powers.
"There are three graves in Pacitan which are often visited and where people pray -- the graves of Kanjeng Jimat, Setroketipo and Buonokeling," said Koesno.
The simplicity and sanctity of Kanjeng Jimat is the inspiration for the celebration of Pacitan's anniversary in 2008.
Popular performances from the regency's 12 subdistricts, such as the traditional kirab parade and puppet shows, were organized for residents.
"Our philosophy is to use the celebration of Pacitan's birthday to improve the city and religious observance," Fathoni said.
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