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'Love Letter to the Soldier'

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Dear Samsul,

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I have written two letters to you but you never replied.

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Hopefully, through this video letter, you will see your daughter and be moved to respond.

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I brought this video letter from Bupul to Merauke so you could watch it.

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Samsul, I still live in Bupul village with Mum and Dad.

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The village is still like before. The air is still fresh.

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But to this day there is still no electricity and no telephone.

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On the journey to Merauke we pass through many border security posts.

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The TNI post that used to be near the Maro River bridge ...

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... has been moved to near the Eligobel District office.

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As you know, the trip from Bupul to Merauke is really tough ...

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... usually between 4 and 5 hours.

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Samsul, I miss you.

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After you left me - when I was 5 months pregnant with our child ...

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... life was difficult.

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Many people ask who is the father of my child.

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Those who know that her father is a TNI soldier call her an army brat.

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Sometimes, when Yani is fussy and cranky,

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Mum and Dad become emotional and say to her:

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"Your father only knows how to make you, but he is irresponsible!'

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I usually just stay quiet and accept these words from my parents.

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Samsul, do you remember when we first met in 2008?

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You were very polite and kind.

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You used to visit our house often, bringing biscuits, cereal mix and milk.

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You came by the house every day until we started dating.

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I was still in high school at the time.

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I thought we were going to get married.

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But you left for Bandung in November 2008 when I was 5 months pregnant.

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You promised to move to Merauke and asked me to take care of our daughter.

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On 17 March 2009, our daughter, Anita Mariani, was born in the Bupul village.

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I call her Yani.

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Now Yani has grown big. She's three years old.

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She wants to go to school and become somebody useful for the nation.

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Samsul, Mum and Dad have grown old.

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They can no longer work to support our child.

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I find it difficult to work because I have to take care of Yani constantly.

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But I continue to fight to support our child.

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If you come back to us, of course I will accept you with open arms.

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I will continue to wait for you, Samsul.

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I don't care what people say.

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Love, from Bupul and Merauke, 21 November 2011.

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Maria Goreti Mekiw