Puspa Agro

After flapping across the white, grey and dark colors of the clouds layers over-top of the large quiet waters, our airplane reached the land; probably and hopefully last city during staying in Indonesia as unwanted guest. Hoping that the next flight take me to final destination and soon find the real peace and get the prosperity.

I could not realize the airport’s name and I did not pay attention, and actually I did not want care at the time to know about the airport’s name and even location since I was feeling so happy and excited for my freedom, like a bird in the cage and then the cage door’s opened but the bird still can’t believe whether it is for real that she can fly and then after being sure that it is real, she flies in the heart of the sky with all of her emotions, excites without having any distention in her mind. The thing which made not inconvenient was when we were guided by immigration officers we worn all the same type and color of cloud which was making people around think about us who we are. I could not feel really freedom.

I had a dark grey hat as my hair was quit long. I could not have hair cut due to the hygiene issues inside IDC and we were all wearing purple batik as usually it was given to all refugees at time of release as uniform maybe.

The weather was quite hot, windy and half-cloudy sky. Almost 10 am or 11 am, perhaps which we (five new released refugees) escorted by Tanjung Pinang IDC officers arrived in a place where we never heard the name before. in IDC when I was about to be release, the immigration and IOM told me that we are going to be transferred in Surabaya city, the second biggest city in Indonesia but no specific name of the location.

Puspa Agro, a small government area surrounded by threes, secured by some security guards and electric gates, four high buildings and some stores mostly traditional market located in Sukodono, Sidoarjo city. The place where the immigration dropped us off in was two grey colored buildings with some orang lines, surrounded by some short fences as the walls having five floors each and each floor 22 unites. There were two other blue buildings beside these buildings where local refugees from Madura city of Indonesia were living, I was told.

When we just get out from the immigration black car, some other refugees whom released from the same IDC as us before were waiting us. We were usually in touch, especially when we were informed by immigration that we are going to be transferred to Surabaya city. We hugged one another as our tradition as welcoming and some of them took out our backpacks from the car. Some other refugees who were learning English in the classroom also came out for salutation and welcoming. The environment was very quiet, seems like not many people were living there; only few people passing from A building to B and/or invers meanwhile about 350 refugees were living in those two buildings. The refugees there were coming from nine different Asian and African countries such as Afghanistan, Sudan, Somalia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, Srilanka and Eritheria which Afghanistan’s’ refugees were the majority.

A short man with small body from building’s management came out from marketing room and asked us to enter in that room. He stared to introduce himself first and then told us about the accommodation’s regulations. The things that he insisted us to be careful about were; Not going out of town, respecting the attendance on the finger print machine two times per day, not working and not driving car/motorbike; there were few IOM officers too whom were confirming him by moving their heads. At the end of management explanations, IOM officer started to have some briefing too about the IOM medical process specially about being away from HIV/AIDS, which Jawa Timur was reported as highest number of HIV and TB. He mentioned that for primary health care, we should visit the nearest clinic/Puskesmes and the refugee himself should pay it from the monthly allowance but if serious problem or the illness could not be treated in Puskesmes, IOM will cover it. Since it was almost beginning of the month and the allowance already distributed for other refugees but we just arrived so they gave us some money as monthly allowance.

Actually, I felt not well with the regulations mentioned by management stuff. It is like other prison or IDC with less limitation which not allows us to feel free but since I was fresh comer there, and these limitations are nothing compare to IDC itself, I did not really pay attention about all those things as well as I was thinking and hoping that I would not stay here for long time. I thought of being resettled in one year or maximum two years. Later on, that person took me to fifth floor to showing me the room which I could live in it until being resettled to the third country. He showed me a room saying that I can locate there. A room with a small living room, one smaller bedroom, bathroom and kitchen connected to the living room full-furniture for two single. The room was so messy since the person who was living there was a young refugee who his only activity was playing Dota (game) on his laptop anytime he is not sleeping and from his face and reaction was clear that he was stressed enough as later he told me that he is in Indonesia since 2012. Actually, at first, I decided not to accept that room because of the disorders, which could be seen there, therefore I talked to the management person for another possibility and he shown me another room that an Iranian refugee was living in it but unfortunately that room was worse. I thought of not staying even few days there since it could take longer than one and half year and from another hand; I will stay whole day and night inside that room so the room and roommate should be convey enough. Finally, I chose the first one. I left my backpack in the room and it was already about 12:30 and lunchtime.

There were friends from the same Immigration Detention Center that we meet for the first time in IDC and few other friends who we knew one another in Bogor city that I met one by one. I remember when my father was saying. “Son, this life is so small; we meet some people and we separate but another day in another corner of this world we meet them back. As a famous proverb: mountain cannot reach another mountain but human does reach another human”. One of them who I had informed him about our coming to Surabaya, he already prepared meal for us. He had cooked Palau with chicken curry and it was very delicious, especially since it was about two years we could not have food like that as in IDC, the meals were prepared by Indonesian. Almost all the first week, I was invited by friends in Puspa Agro who knew me before for lunch and dinner; the meals were all afghan traditional food such as Shurba(afghan soup), Palau, Ghabuli-Palau, Biryani and so on. This is part of our culture in Afghanistan that if someone releases from prison after long time or come from another part of the earth that they did not meet one another for longer time, the close relatives and friends are inviting/treating them for having meals together and as in our culture we invite our guests in our house, we cook for them and prepare the unique meals and beverages of our city.

First days were passing so fast and I could not feel I am a refugee with lots of limitation, even I was feeling that I am already resettled. Few first days, I was going to Sepanjang by bicycle, the nearest traditional bazar which is about 3 km far from Puspa Agro. My friend who I knew him in Bogor was escorting me there for some necessary tools in the room to buy. Things such as carpet, fan, mosquito net and some other staffs to start another temporary life.

Those days, process for the resettlement was awesome I can say at least in our accommodation. Because every month minimum five refugees could be travel to Australia, News land, Canada and America but I can also say that among these resettlement countries, Australia was taking the biggest number of refugees as well as the duration of this process from the case submission up to traveling to the resettlement countries and USA had second position. The process steps such as pre-screen interview, RSC interview for USA forms filling for Australia, interview for Australia, medical check-up, and approval from the resettlement countries and then last step, which was receiving tickets for flight, was running well. This period could take four months up to one-year maximum in that time and every day refugees were waiting their turn. Generally, the circulation of this process was quite good and people were happy for it and counting down for their time to fly and to reach their last destination.

Besides, IOM had several activities for refugees. Learning activities such as English and Bahasa classes, monthly medical promotion classes and psychological classes as well as cultural, local and international events celebrations such as Eid-days, new-year, peace world day and refugee world day.

I had some goals for after being transferred to this place from IDC. I had decided to improve my English up to TOEFL or ILETS level and if possible, pass the examination to get the certificates too. Also to find some French speakers or institutions to refresh and at least to not forget my French language skill since it was almost two years I could not really practice it even though I was teaching basic French language inside IDC for refugees.

I start my actualities cooperation with IOM from second week arrived in Puspa Agro, for doing translation and being present in any class or event held by IOM. I was also introduced to Surabaya IOM team by Tanjung Pinang IOM team as I was one of the most active refugee there and helping the Organizations for migration and also the immigration officers.

There were lots of reasons for me to join those activities. For example: when I was translating for IOM to refugees or invers, I would improve my English level. Besides, I could get more experience how to talk in their position, respond and solve the problems if the discussions were about personal or general problems. And more important than that; I could receive high happiness when I was helping someone about any issue I could do something and after the problem solved or done, the person who I translated for, escorted or guided him was appreciating me and grateful of what I was doing for them. According to my previews almost two year’s experiences inside IDC, I could really feel that happiness in their happiness. In a situation where I was living, these appreciations were worthy enough to help me for facing the difficulties easier. Moreover all these things, by those activities what I was doing, I could get more close to people and build a strong relationship with many different nationalities. Actually, there were already two Afghan refugees who were doing translation and coordinating for IOM, UNHCR, Immigration and Management as focal points and each nationality had one or two focal points but since doing those activities was in my blood as some people were saying. I could not just sleep in my room when there was some program or gathering so I should be active and participate and do whatever I could for some others. By the way, my activities were not end-up only for Afghan refugees but anyone who would come to me and I could help in any case, I wouldn’t/couldn’t reject. My connection was bigger than being abstracted in ethnic, nationality or religion. I had contact with all of the refugees and non-refugees in accommodation. It was not only a business but also more a learning procedure for my future project which is working with one of United Nation Organizations. Therefore, I needed to learn and practice as much as possible about languages, rules, people and cultures, little bit about politic too.

Those last months of 2015, generally my movements and activities were limited with refugees, IOM, UNHCR, Management of the accommodation and hospitals where IOM medical team had contract for refugee patients to be treated. Means I was doing translation for refugees and escorting them to the hospitals or if the authorities would share some information or new regulation as usually, the policy for refugees could be changed time by time. In the same time, I was looking for some courses through Google near to our place for attending to improve my English and get the TOEFL but as I found out on websites that the fees were so high and it was impossible for me to pay from that monthly allowance which was giving to us by IOM. Therefore, I approached some of IOM officers to share about the English course that IOM could help me for its payment or provide a LOEFL English class in the accommodation or outside for those refugees whom have had better English skill. The IOM officer told me that she could not do anything but report this demand to main office in Jakarta if the higher officer may approve it and I requested her to do it as soon as she could. Fortunately, few days later than that, one of IOM regional officer came from Jakarta to our accommodation for visiting and survey the refugees’ conditions/situations. It was a good opportunity for me to talk to him about this issue too and when I talked to him, he told me whether the refugees who have advance level of English language could be one class or not? I replied yes, there are more than ten people who can join for advance class. He said that when he returned to Jakarta, he would discuss about this with his other colleagues and possibly IOM can hold an advance English class. After that discussion, I met IOM permanent officer who was often coming there and asked her several times about that issue but unfortunately no updates from Jakarta. Six months later from first meet with IOM regional officer, He came again to Puspa Agro. We had a general meeting with the presence of IOM, UNHCR, Immigration, Police, Management and Refugees. We talked about several problems that refugees had such as electricity usual cutting-off, medical process difficulties and not being well treated by manager of the accommodation. At the end the meeting, I got close to him and asked him about his promise for English class but he did not have positive replied, same words as last time (he will go to Jakarta and discus about this and will let us know). Unfortunately, until my last day in Puspa Ago, IOM did not arrange any advance English class for refugees. I tried to find some private institutes for improving my English and I did visit EF, TBI and IALF but due to the high price of fee (2, 5 up to 6 million Indonesian Rupiah) per semester, it was not possible for me as a refugee who is not allowed to work, have income to pay that much money. I really was disappointed about the situation that I was in it but I could not do anything except practicing by myself by reading sometimes and being in touch with English speakers.

Generally 2016 was a good year for resettlement and many other activities I had. The main focal point was one of those dozen refugees flight to Australia and I became the main focal point even though I knew that being focal point or representative is not that easy. It needs patience, morality and sacrifice. Focal point not only for refugees from Afghanistan but all the nationalities, even though each nationality had their own focal points. More responsibilities, more work to do and more improvement. I was happy with things I was doing for anyone who I could do something. I was doing all with passion and smile.

During my staying in that accommodation, I realized that there were some improper acts from management side which was not acceptable for refugees. The apartment management was acting like the refugees are the prisoners and they should be treated like criminals. They were entering to the rooms with their shoes to check whether refugees use extra electric items in the room or not since without permission as we had limitation for usage of electronic appliances meanwhile the electricity were usually cut off, minimum once per week. The security of the apartment was often insulting the refugees and if there some disputing or physical collision, the management put the refugees in the small isolation room made by management. The WIFI fee was much higher than the real price from the operator and the speed was very slow and if we would talk to the operator service, the management was not allowing us to contact, the water for taking bath was very dirty as many got skin illness and earache. And finally, the medical process for sick refugees was very slow respond and complicated. We needed to visit the primer health care service first paying from the monthly allowance and if the sickness could not be treated there, we could receive a referral letter addressed to IOM medical team and then we should wait sometime until one month so IOM would refer us to hospital. And this issue was annoying us because waiting for long time was worsening the ill person’s problems.

We proposed a general meeting with IOM, Immigration, Police, UNHCR and Management to solve these problems. We asked the immigration and police officers to handle our security problems as the manager is treating us like prisoners. Sometimes I was honestly feeling so abounded by humanitarian lows and rights. Sometimes I was too desperate about life.

It was not easy dealing with those officers and staffs as the IOM officer told us to accept whatever is available but do not complain too much, and the manager of the apartment shouted on me saying that that is not my property so we do not have right to propose and suggest what we need and the immigration warned us if they saw us riding motorbike or event being with a girl, they would put us in detention as they were even limiting us for being in relationship with Indonesian girls. The policy changed a little bit, in better way but the management and IOM medical team changed their behave. They became stricter because of anger that we complained about them. And since then, the supports of IOM reduced day by day saying that the budgets decreased by the donors as many sicknesses could not be covered by IOM anymore.

Despite all those problems, people were focusing mostly about future, about the awaited better life as everyone was counting days for their time to fly for their destinations their dreams and their peace. As well as I, keep breathing for surviving…