Forum Post: About Moderators Please Read (On Daratan)

ABOUT - Moderators Please Read, (On Daratan)

I have a small request for an inclusion in the about page of this website. I would like Occupy Daratan from Malaysia to be included in the brief history of the movement.

Occupy Daratan started on July 30th, 2011, making it the first faction of the movement preceeding OWS by almost two months. Although it is not as big as OWS, it is important to note the circumstances in which it started. Malaysia is a democracy, but it is not as free as US and activism has a long history of being regulated and demotivated in this primarily muslim land. I note Malaysia's Islam religion because it plays a big part in guarding hierarchic concepts in the culture. Pair this with the culture's foundation based on respect for authority and elderly rank, and it becomes clear Occupy Daratan is very special indeed.

Against all odds, and in the face of danger, they went ahead and forged the occupation without waiting for the security of knowing that other factions were already operating around the world. They have not concentrated on problems pertaining to economy, but on learning the principles of direct democracy, principles which are at the very core of the Occupy movement. Moreover, the movement has since sprung two other factions: Occupy Penang and Occupy Kota Bharu in Kelantan.

I live in Indonesia which is Malaysia's closest neighbor in distance and in culture. Unfortunately, Occupy Jakarta has been slow to start. This is certainly due in part by the fact that Indonesia is even more authoritarian than Malaysia, and protests are extremely discouraged in the capital. It wasn't long ago that protesters were often jailed for years and that their books were burned and made illegal. In fact, some literature remains illegal to this day.

My hope is that by including Occupy Daratan in the about page we can pay them a small tribute for the courage they have shown, and hopefully give some steam to Occupy Jakarta.