Mr. Sunny Tanuwidjaja is the Executive Director of Center of Democracy and Transparency (CDT). CDT is a think tank that actively participate in educating the voters to elect leaders those are not corrupt, transparent, and professional (Bersih, Transparan, Professional or BTP) and in promoting new generation of leaders those meet the BTP criteria. CDT focuses its effort in local and regional elections rather than national election, although it has involved in several research project in national election.
Interview with Sunny Tanuwidjaja, September 2010
Ria Pangestu
I: Interviewer
ST: Sunny Tanuwidjaja
Mr. Sunny Tanuwidjaja is the Executive Director of Center of Democracy and Transparency (CDT). CDT is a think tank that actively participate in educating the voters to elect leaders those are not corrupt, transparent, and professional (Bersih, Transparan, Professional or BTP) and in promoting new generation of leaders those meet the BTP criteria. CDT focuses its effort in local and regional elections rather than national election, although it has involved in several research project in national election.
I: Could you share with us what is your vision and how do you find your vision?
ST: I do not have any grand or great vision about Indonesia, but hopefully through my work, I can contribute to create a society in which freedom of individuals is secured and the values of Christianity, are not only appreciated, but also adopted at society level as well as at individual level.
I: What do you think is or are the urgent issues in Indonesia? What do you think at the current moment and probably in the next five, ten years?
ST: I think that there are two issues. The first issue is, of course, how to improve the welfare of the people and the second issue is the issue of human right and religious freedom. Indonesia struggles as a nation in these issues because even our constitution is unclear about the commitment towards this diversity and pluralism.
I: What are the challenges that you face when you go back to Indonesia?
ST: My first challenge is about how to have a realistic expectation; especially in the level of quality of life. It is about the materialism that creates the demand and the pressure. The social pressure around you will demand you to become richer, especially if you are, you know, US educated students or individuals; you go here you have to be rich basically. But making a decision not to be and doing something that might not lead you to that level of life will create social pressure. The second thing is to define who you are in term of your capabilities, meaning that you have to position yourself in a way that you become indispensable. It is really not easy to find that position. It is going to require adaptation, improvisation, compromise, and often times it requires you to basically find ways to define it. The third thing also is to continuously understand what is going on around you. You are not supposed to only see what you see, but you want to see beyond what you see and try to understand its dynamics. We have to continuously look at the people around us, look at the society around us, which sometimes can be physiologically and emotionally difficult. And the fourth thing is really to maintain your zeal and belief that you are here because God wants you to be here, He has a purpose for you, and really to understand continuously what are His principles, at the context where you live and when you live at the moment basically.
I: What encourages and sustains you the most when facing hard issues and failures?
ST: Well, I think the belief that you are here not because of you, you are here because God wants you to be here, and knowing that allows you to not only understand, but also know that despite all of your failures, God still wants you to continue. By having the attitude and understanding because God wants you to continue, means that He is the One who is going to provide the strength and all the resources that you need, He will give you hope and courage to move forward.
I: You have been in our shoes before (studied or worked in the US, involved in ICF, etc). What is your advice for Indonesian Christians who are still studying or working in the US right now?
ST: First of all, is really focusing on what you are doing because what you are studying, although might not all be relevant, but it shapes who you are. The second thing also is you have to continue to listen to the word of God, the opportunity to have fellowship, and I think ICF is a great opportunity to learn about God’s word and desire. Thirdly, of course, you have to continue to listen to the world, to the society around you, to dare yourself to go to Indonesia and look what is going on there, what are the challenges, what are the people are facing at that time.
I: What are the things we can prepare here in the US to be able to effectively participate in creating transformation in Indonesia?
ST: I think the most important thing is really to prepare you. If there is an opportunity, you have to take it and contribute even when you are studying here.
I: Could you please give us some advice before we return to Indonesia?
ST: The most important thing is to understand the challenges and when you understand the challenges, make sure you know what you want. You might not be certain of it, but at least you get the sense of what you want. My biggest advice would be to know, or at least somewhat know what you want to do, how you want to do it, and do not try to indulge in the difficulties that you are doing to face. You know that you are going to face difficulties, but do not focus your energy on them, on trying how to deal with them, just do it basically.
I: Any advices for those who have hearts to serve Indonesian people yet plan to stay in US?
ST: I do believe that they can contribute, but I just cannot give an answer on the what and how. I just sense that there are a lot of things that they can do and I think they have to find the answer themselves instead of, you know, looking for the answer from me.
I: What is your hope for Indonesia in the future?
ST: My hope is that Indonesia could be a better place for everybody so that they can be the people as God intended them to be.