Fwd: Fred Burks Becomes Celebrity for a Week

--- Riza Sihbudi <rizasihbudi-/E1597aS9LQAvxtiuMwx3w@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> ATTACHMENT part 2 message/rfc822 
> From: "Fred Burks" <fredburks-ihVZJaRskl1bRRN4PJnoQQ@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: "Riza Sihbudi" <rizasihbudi-/E1597aS9LQAvxtiuMwx3w@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: Pak Riza, Inspirational Story: Website
> Founder Fred Burks Becomes Celebrity for a Week
> Date: Sat, 29 Jan 2005 14:14:32 -0800
> 
> This message is available on the Internet at
> http://www.weboflove.org/050129fredburkscelebrity  
> 
> Dear Pak Riza,
> 
> I thought you would appreciate the below message
> which I just sent out to my email list of over 1,000
> subscribers. Could you please pass it on to our
> mutual friends? Thanks again for the amazing article
> you wrote, too. I hope I get to see you again in
> more relaxed circumstances. You take care!
> 
> Last week I sent out an email describing both an
> excellent BBC documentary and my own personal
> experience as a presidential interpreter which
> reveal clear manipulations and fear-mongering by
> groups within the power elite in regards to the war
> on terror. The message is posted at
> http://www.WantToKnow.info/powerofnightmares for
> those who might have missed it. Here I would like to
> share with you more of my own experience, and the
> inspiring story of how this led to my becoming a
> celebrity for a week after recently giving testimony
> in the most prominent court case in Indonesia.
> 
> First and foremost, I have no doubt that it is my
> openness to divine guidance which has brought these
> and so many other unexpected miracles into my life.
> My deepest commitment for my entire adult life has
> always been to what's best for all. I continually
> ask for divine guidance in choosing what's best for
> all as I move through my life. I also surrender to
> God's will and fully trust that I am continually
> guided to what's best for all. You can read the
> inspiring story filled with little miracles of how
> this deep commitment led to my becoming the top
> Indonesian interpreter at the US Department of State
> at
> http://www.gcforall.org/inspirations0111#interpreter
> 
> 
> For a brief background to the story of my week as a
> celebrity, Indonesia is the fourth largest nation in
> the world with a population of over 225 million. It
> is estimated that over 80% of Indonesians are
> Muslim, yet these warm people are known for their
> tolerance and respect of other religions. When I
> lived there for a full year with a wonderful Muslim
> family back in 1981, on Christmas day I joined the
> whole family as they jumped into their car  to visit
> and pay respects to all of their Christian friends
> on this most important Christian holiday. Almost all
> Indonesian Muslims follow this tradition, just as
> Christians in Indonesia pay respects to their Muslim
> friends on the most important Muslim Holiday Idul
> Fitri.
> 
> Before 9/11, most Indonesians liked and supported
> both the American government and people. Whenever I
> visited Indonesia, friends and new acquaintances
> there almost always spoke very positively of the US.
> Immediately after 9/11 there was a huge outpouring
> of sympathy from all of my Indonesian friends, who
> sent very kind emails expressing support to our
> grief-stricken nation. When the US invaded
> Afghanistan, however, a few there began to question
> US motives behind this attack. But it was during the
> lead up to the war on Iraq and the following
> invasion that Indonesian support of the US began to
> drastically change.
> 
> Many of you know that reporting on the war in Iraq
> in the US was quite one-sided. The New York Times
> and Washington Post even belatedly published
> official apologies for not reporting significant
> news which questioned this war. European countries
> were more balanced in their reporting, while Muslim
> countries generally were biased against the US in
> their reporting on Iraq. Many Muslims felt that
> through deciding to invade this predominantly Muslim
> nation without the support of the UN, the US had
> clearly gone too far, especially when the claimed
> reason for the attack turned out to be bogus.
> Indonesian Muslims, like Muslims around the world,
> increasingly felt that their religion was being
> targeted, as it was continually linked to terrorism.
> 
> Given this background, you can understand why
> Indonesians were interested in my testimony in the
> highly publicized case of Abu Bakar Basyir. In
> court, I testified to personally witnessing heavy
> pressure by the US government put on Indonesian
> President Megawati Soekarnoputri to secretly capture
> and turn Basyir over to US authorities. Though US
> authorities have repeatedly denied ever putting any
> pressure on Jakarta to act against Ba'asyir (even
> after my testimony), many Indonesians have believed
> all along that Basyir was being scapegoated and
> falsely made out to be a terrorist in order to
> further turn public opinion against Muslims.
> 
> Basyir is a fundamentalist Muslim who has spoken out
> harshly against US and international intervention.
> He advocates incorporating religious law into
> Indonesian government. He is something like a Jerry
> Falwell or Pat Robertson in the US, fundamentalist
> Christians who speak out against evil in governments
> around the world, and who want the US to be run on
> religious principles. The vast majority of
> Indonesians do not agree with Basyir's principles.
> He does not have a large following there. But they
> do believe strongly in justice and democracy.
> 
> Few in Indonesia believe that Basyir is a terrorist,
> or that he has advocated violence. The reason his
> case has become the most highest publicized legal
> case in Indonesia is that most Indonesians suspect
> the whole case is being manipulated by the US and
> powerful, international elite groups. The team of
> lawyers representing Abu Bakar Basyir numbers close
> to 100. Yet most of these attorneys are moderate
> Muslims, with a few even from other religions. They
> are defending him pro bono--free of charge. They do
> this not because they agree with his beliefs, but
> rather because they see how international
> intervention has resulted in this man being unfairly
> made out to be an evil terrorist, based on evidence
> which does not hold up in court.
> 
> And so it was that in court on January 13th, in
> front of hundreds in the audience and dozens of
> reporters, I described my experience as a US State
> Department interpreter at a secret meeting in the
> home of the Indonesian president Megawati
> Soekarnoputri. In this meeting, I witnessed a
> personal envoy of Bush, supported by US ambassador
> to Indonesia Ralph Boyce and National Security
> Council expert Karen Brooks, put heavy pressure on
> Megawati to secretly capture and turn over Basyir.
> The reasons given were based solely on the testimony
> of Omar Al-Faruq, a suspected terrorist who had
> previously been secretly turned over to the US.
> President Megawati resisted the pressure, even
> stating, "I hope this does not lead to a severing of
> the good relations between the our two countries."
> 
> I had known that my testimony might make the news,
> but I was stunned at the extensive coverage given.
> It was simply miraculous! Walking out of the court
> room, I was surrounded by a sea of reporters who
> wanted to know more. Most Indonesians had thought
> that Americans did not like Muslims and supported
> the war on terror. One reporter asked: "As an
> American, why are you supporting an Indonesian
> targeted by the US government?" I responded, "Many
> Americans do not support the recent wars and
> targeting of Muslims. As an American citizen, I am
> one of many who highly value respect and cooperation
> among all peoples and countries."
> 
> Another reporter asked if I wasn't betraying my
> country in revealing state secrets. I told them
> about the important role of whistleblowers, people
> who reveal government manipulations which clearly
> are not in the interests of the country or world. I
> explained how whistleblowers are seen as heroes, to
> be commended for their bravery in exposing
> corruption in high places. I also told this eager
> audience about my work as manager of the successful
> website WantToKnow.info, which provides reliable,
> verifiable information on major cover-ups of which
> few people are aware.
> 
> They wanted to know what else I knew. I told them
> about my deep commitment to what's best for all
> people, and how this is what guides my life and all
> that I do. Asked about concern for my own safety in
> revealing these sensitive secrets, I told them "I
> have very little fear, because I trust that I am
> always guided by God to whatever is best. I'm
> prepared even to die whenever it is my time, though
> I trust that I am here to do some important work."
> It was miraculous to me to be able to share how my
> own deep faith and commitment brought me to this
> place.
> 
> News of my testimony was broadcast on all of
> Indonesia's major TV stations. National newspapers
> (and many international papers) the next day carried
> articles on the American who exposed secrets
> manipulations of his government. These articles
> generated even more interest in both my testimony
> and what caused me to be willing to testify. And so
> my remaining four days in Jakarta were filled with
> press interviews and invitations to speak at
> important institutions. I ended up on prime-time TV
> with one of the most respected news hosts in the
> country sharing my commitment to help all peoples
> work together for the good of all. Another miracle! 
> 
> I was invited to give a talk at one of the country's
> most prestigious research institutions and several
> other respected venues. The deputy chairman of the
> Indonesia's parliament stood up at one of my talks
> to inform everyone that he had cleared his busy
> schedule to come hear me speak, because he had heard
> that here was someone who was speaking deep truths.
> Another miracle! He even half-seriously offered me
> political asylum should I need it. 
> 
> I helped this prominent politician and many other
> influential Indonesians (and even a few foreigners)
> to see that it is not that the American people and
> government are targeting Islam. It is corrupt
> individuals within government and among the power
> elite who are using fear to forward their own
> selfish agendas, and who are manipulating public
> perception of Islam. These elite groups are
> profiting handsomely from the wars waged.
> 
> Bringing the message even deeper, I invited everyone
> to whom I talked to examine where each of us is
> pointing the finger of blame at other groups or
> individuals without examining the our own
> involvement. I invited all to see how we are
> allowing ourselves to become polarized. Christians
> and Jews are increasing led to be suspicious of our
> Muslim brothers and sisters, while Muslims, in turn,
> are led to be angry and suspicious of the US and its
> allies. I encouraged everyone to remember that we
> are all doing our best, that we are all one human
> family, and that we have the opportunity now to work
> together to break this vicious cycle of fear and
> blame, and to build a brighter future for all of us.
> 
> My father was a preacher, so you might notice that
> some of his character rubbed off on me. I don't mean
> to preach to anyone, but with all the national press
> attention, I was thrilled to have this powerful
> opportunity to remind the people of an entire nation
> that we are all beautiful people worthy of love,
> honor, and respect, and that we can choose to work
> together for the good of all. I clearly felt God's
> presence in providing me this miraculous opportunity
> to invite us all to join together in working for the
> good of all.
> 
> And the response was tremendous! Numerous articles
> were published daily on both my testimony and my
> talks. Calls poured in for interviews and
> invitations to talk. In addition to the prime time
> TV appearance, I was interviewed for an hour on one
> of the nation's most popular radio programs. I had
> reporters with me almost everywhere I went. I was
> truly a celebrity for a week. What a miracle! On my
> way home in the Jakarta airport, several people
> recognized me and thanked me for all I had done. As
> I stepped up to the currency exchange window to
> transfer my remaining rupiah into dollars, the clerk
> took one look at me and said, "You're Fred Burks!
> Thank you!" 
> 
> It was very strange and completely unexpected to
> become famous for one week. Given the choice, I
> would definitely rather not be famous, because you
> can't go anywhere without people wanting to talk
> with you. However, it was truly a lot of fun to have
> fame for just one week in Indonesia. Now I'm glad to
> be back home, leading a much more anonymous life
> again.
> 
> There are many other little miracles to this led up
> to this story. Though my testimony was strong, it
> was made even stronger by the testimony of two of
> Indonesia's most respected leaders. This was
> Basyir's second trial. Two years earlier, he had
> been found innocent of any terrorism charges, yet he
> was jailed for a year and a half (largely in
> response to intense international pressure) on
> immigration violations. When Basyir was due to be
> released, US Ambassador Ralph Boyce separately
> approached two of the top religious leaders in the
> nation. He privately pressured them use their
> influence to convince the Supreme Court and police
> to keep Basyir in jail or rearrest him. 
> 
> Basyir was, in fact, rearrested immediately upon
> release, but one of these religious leaders
> testified on the same day as my testimony to being
> pressured by Boyce. After our testimony, the other
> prominent leader acknowledged that he, too, had been
> pressured by Ambassador Boyce. So the continued
> denial by US authorities of any pressure in this
> case was in direct contradiction not only to my
> testimony, but also to that of prominent public
> leaders known and respected throughout Indonesia.
> Another little miracle.
> 
> Then there is the story of how I ended up coming to
> testify. When I first started talking openly about
> this secret meeting two months ago, I didn't even
> know that Basyir was on trial for a second time. The
> reason I revealed this information is that I had
> recently resigned from the State Department largely
> because of excessive new requirements for secrecy.
> As I had never taken a secrecy oath, I felt no
> obligation to keep this information secret after my
> resignation, particularly as what was being
> requested in this meeting was a violation of
> international law. I mentioned the secret meeting to
> a reporter who was interested in writing an article
> on my resignation. His article in the Washington
> Post included one paragraph about the Basyir
> meeting. 
> 
> One of the main lawyers on Basyir's team, a
> wonderful man named A.W. Wirawan, contacted me by
> email as a result of this article. When Mr. Wirawan
> asked if I would come to Indonesia to testify to
> what I had witnessed, I was surprised, but
> eventually agreed.  As I knew Basyir's attorneys
> were all working for free and would have to pay for
> my visit out of their own pockets, I told Mr.
> Wirawan that I would be willing to stay in someone's
> home to save them money. I should mention that the
> lead lawyer on Basyir's team is one of the most
> famous and respected lawyers in all of Indonesia,
> Adnan Buyung Nasution. He founded Indonesia's Legal
> Aid Society and has defended a number of the most
> important court cases in Indonesia's history.
> 
> The day after I sent the email offering to stay in
> someone's home, I received an email from Mr. Wirawan
> informing me that I would be staying in the home of
> the famous Mr. Nasution! Another miracle! In my time
> there, Mr. Nasution, his wonderful wife, several
> members of the legal team, and I had a wonderful
> time getting to know each other and sharing
> inspiring stories and important information. They
> were so happy with my testimony and all the press
> attention it drew that they threw a special going
> away celebration for me on my last evening at Mr.
> Nasution's beautiful home.
> 
> Besides inviting the legal team and several
> prominent Indonesians to this celebration, Mr.
> Nasution decided to invite Megawati. It was a long
> shot, but the legal team had thought getting me to
> come testify was a long shot, too. Sure enough, (now
> former) President Megawati gave us the great honor
> of coming to my going away celebration! Another
> miracle!!! She had appreciated my interpreting and
> warm manner in the several times I had worked with
> her. She also clearly supported my court testimony,
> though she was reluctant to say so publicly.
> 
> Megawati and I ended up having a great talk at this
> celebration. She even gave me the phone number of
> one of the Americans at that secret meeting, her
> long-time personal friend Karen Brooks of the
> National Security Council. Though I was never sworn
> to secrecy as an interpreter, and therefore was not
> breaking any laws in revealing these secrets, I had
> made a personal promise to Ms. Brooks over that
> phone not to reveal the contents of this meeting. I
> wanted to apologize to her and explain my reasoning
> for revealing this important information (she hasn't
> yet responded to my calls and messages). So to have
> Ms. Megawati, the former president of Indonesia,
> give me Ms. Brooks phone number helped me to clear
> the only regret I had about the whole amazing week
> in Indonesia. What a wonderful way to end a trip
> full of miracles!
> 
> I am extremely thankful to God and to all of the
> people who helped to make my trip and testimony such
> a miraculous journey. I know that every one of us is
> incredibly blessed. I know that the more any of us
> open to divine guidance and to doing what's best for
> all, the more likely blessings and miracles will
> flow in our lives. I invite us all to open our
> hearts and work together to build a brighter future
> for all good people on our beautiful planet. 
> 
> With much love and warm wishes for what's best for
> you and for all,
> Fred Burks
> 
> P.S. For those who would like more, below are a
> number of interesting links:
> 
> Here are of few of the articles in English about my
> recent testimony:
>
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4170629.stm
> - BBC
>
http://www.boston.com/news/world/asia/articles/2005/01/13/us_interpreter_testifies_in_indonesia
>  - Boston Globe
> http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2005/s1282108.htm -
> ABC Australia
> 
> For those wanting more on the incredible BBC
> documentary Power of Nightmares:
> http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/3755686.stm -
> BBC webpage devoted to documentary
> http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/4016713.stm -
> comments of those who've watched it
> 
> For an update on the most incredible, inspiring work
> of Bill Francis in helping to heal in Thailand after
> the tsunami, see http://www.tsunamihealing.com
> For a collection of videos of the devastating
> tsunami: http://www.tsunamivideo.net/asian
> 
> 
> For a few inspirational pieces I've written:
> http://www.weboflove.org/simplekeys - Simple Keys to
> a Fuller Life
>
http://www.gcforall.org/inspirations0304#intentionsfred
> - My Life Intentions
> http://www.WantToKnow.info/brighterfuture - Building
> a Brighter Future
>   
> See our archive of inspirational emails at
> http://www.weboflove.org/inspirationarchive 
> 
> Your donations, however large or small, help greatly
> to support this important work. 
> To make a secure donation:
>
http://order.kagi.com/cgi-bin/store.cgi?storeID=6CYJA
> 
> Explore these empowering websites coordinated by
> Fred:
> http://www.momentoflove.org - Every person in the
> world has a heart
> http://www.WantToKnow.info - Revealing major
> cover-ups & working together for the good of all
> http://www.gcforall.org - Building a Global
> Community for All
> http://www.weboflove.org - Strengthening the Web of
> Love that interconnects us all
> Together, we are building a better world based on
> love and cooperation
> 
> 
> Subscribe to our email list of inspiration and
> education (one email per week) by sending an email
> to fredburks-ihVZJaRskl1bRRN4PJnoQQ@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx with "subscribe 1" in the
> subject line. Subscribe to the list of insider
> information on deep cover-ups (one email every other
> day) by typing "subscribe deep" in the subject line.


=====
Satrio Arismunandar 
News Producer, Trans TV 
News Department, Floor 3 
Jl. Kapten P. Tendean Kav. 12 - 14 A, Jakarta 12790 
Phone: 7917-7000 ext. 4027,  Fax: 791-84558, 
Residence: (021) 771-2348     HP: 0813 1504 7103 





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