WEBVTT 00:00:01.060 --> 00:00:07.091 Love Letter to the Soldier 00:00:22.022 --> 00:00:24.074 Dear Samsul, 00:00:24.074 --> 00:00:32.000 I have written two letters to you but you never replied. 00:00:32.010 --> 00:00:40.060 Hopefully, through this video letter, you will see your daughter and be moved to respond. 00:00:48.054 --> 00:00:56.050 I brought this video letter from Bupul to Merauke so you could watch it. 00:00:58.069 --> 00:01:04.020 Samsul, I still live in Bupul village with Mum and Dad. 00:01:05.002 --> 00:01:09.080 The village is still like before. The air is still fresh. 00:01:10.024 --> 00:01:14.034 But to this day there is still no electricity and no telephone. 00:01:21.029 --> 00:01:27.055 On the journey to Merauke we pass through many border security posts. 00:01:28.057 --> 00:01:32.055 The TNI post that used to be near the Maro River bridge ... 00:01:32.055 --> 00:01:36.065 ... has been moved to near the Eligobel District office. 00:01:43.074 --> 00:01:51.008 Samsul, I still keep the mobile phone, clothes, blanket and matress you left for me. 00:01:54.007 --> 00:01:56.038 Samsul, I miss you. 00:02:00.014 --> 00:02:07.032 After you left me - when I was 5 months pregnant with our child ... 00:02:07.032 --> 00:02:09.053 ... life was difficult. 00:02:11.009 --> 00:02:16.041 Many people ask who is the father of my child. 00:02:17.028 --> 00:02:27.025 Those who know that her father is a TNI soldier call her an army brat. 00:02:30.019 --> 00:02:33.056 Sometimes, when Yani is fussy and cranky, 00:02:33.056 --> 00:02:37.059 Mum and Dad become emotional and say to her: 00:02:37.059 --> 00:02:45.001 "Your father only knows how to make you, but he is irresponsible!' 00:02:57.084 --> 00:03:05.049 Samsul, do you remember when we first met in 2008? 00:03:05.049 --> 00:03:08.063 You were very polite and kind. 00:03:09.012 --> 00:03:16.034 You used to visit our house often, bringing biscuits, cereal mix and milk. 00:03:23.037 --> 00:03:28.086 You came by the house every day until we started dating. 00:03:29.012 --> 00:03:32.072 I was still in high school at the time. 00:03:33.012 --> 00:03:36.061 I thought we were going to get married. 00:03:37.049 --> 00:03:42.037 But you left for Bandung in November 2008 when I was 5 months pregnant. 00:03:43.052 --> 00:03:50.016 You promised to move to Merauke and asked me to take care of our daughter. 00:03:54.005 --> 00:04:02.080 On 17 March 2009, our daughter, Anita Mariani, was born in the Bupul village. 00:04:03.032 --> 00:04:05.066 I call her Yani. 00:04:06.092 --> 00:04:12.056 Now Yani has grown big. She's three years old. 00:04:13.010 --> 00:04:20.015 She wants to go to school and become somebody useful for the nation. 00:05:03.017 --> 00:05:07.001 Samsul, Mum and Dad have grown old. 00:05:07.029 --> 00:05:14.092 They can no longer work to support our child. 00:05:15.090 --> 00:05:23.007 I find it difficult to work because I have to take care of Yani constantly. 00:05:23.070 --> 00:05:29.063 But I continue to fight to support our child. 00:05:30.054 --> 00:05:38.087 If you come back to us, of course I will accept you with open arms. 00:05:39.092 --> 00:05:46.023 I will continue to wait for you, Samsul. I don't care what people say. 00:05:48.034 --> 00:05:53.030 Love, from Bupul and Merauke, 21 November 2011. 00:05:54.001 --> 00:05:56.041 Maria Goreti Mekiw 00:05:59.085 --> 00:06:08.081 The Catholic Church group JPIC MSC recorded at least 19 cases of sexual misconduct by the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) Border Security in the Bupul Village, Merauke from 1992 to 2009. 00:06:09.001 --> 00:06:14.026 Women were courted, impregnated and abandoned. Several women were also raped. 00:06:14.072 --> 00:06:22.098 Bupul is an administrative village of the Elikobel District, Merauke. It is located in the border of Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. Because of its location, Bupul is guarded by the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) Border Security.