This book that contains true stories from its author is laden with inspirations. Published by Qanita (Group Mizan Publishing House). The literary work tells the story of how Dr. Joserizal Jurnalis along with his MER-C team confronted death in their struggle for the sake of humanity and how they willingly left behind all the worldly interests.
This 348 pages book speaks about the history of how MER-C was first founded. Starting with his activeness in the Maluku conflict, the many numbers of medical personnels who were not neutral or who were pro towards the crusaders, made the heart of a UI graduate in the Faculty of Medicine, decide to form an organization that is named MER-C which has the symbol of two elements, the Red Crescent and the Globe which means “Islam the rahmatan lil ‘alamin” which can contribute for everyone.
All members of MER-C are volunteers who, every time doing their humanitarian acts, are not paid. The following is the story of how MER-C dared to visit the war zones for humanitarian missions such as in Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Palestine, South Lebanon Philippines and many others. Besides observing the health condition of Ustadz Abu Bakar Ba’asyir, Ustadz Abu Jibril and those who are imprisoned under the charge of “terrorism.”
In another chapter of the book, where the plan is that all royalties will be donated for the construction of a Hospital in Gaza, it tells about the biography of Dr. Joserizal Jurnalis as a child and until he went to university.
The assignment to Tual in Maluku as a doctor was the milestone for the emergence of the spirit to conduct Jihad, in a doctor who had said to the then Kapolri (Head of Indonesian Police- ed.), General Sutanto, that all long those who were accused as terrorists were the fighters in Maluku, that if it were not for their existence, perhaps Maluku would have separated from NKRI (Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia). And there are still many inspiring stories for the Muslims in general.
The experiences in Gaza is the most affecting and tense story. Reading it could make one feel the same challenges when they were bringing in reinforcement materials there, when they were blocked by the guards and heard bombings there, Subhanallah.
For someone with low guts, doing the struggle in that place was probably a fear. But for a Joserizal Jurnalis, he lives it with sincerity and genuine intentions. Not to mention that before plunging into the areas of conflicts, they must sign the “contract of death.”
Now MER-C is in the process of constructing a hospital in Northern Gaza. Their struggle is certainly not easy, they need a lot of donors and contributions from all of us. Reading about their experiences when surveying the location and wondering what guarantee would they have that the hospital would not bombed, just make us shudder in horror.
Let's pray and make a donation, may the hospital be able to stand upright and help more people who are in need. This hospital will be the first in Northern Gaza. Curently, Gaza only have two main hospitals, namely the Ash-Shifa Hospital, located in Gaza city, which becomes the reference for the northern and central region of Gaza, and the European Hospital located in the district of Khan Younis—that becomes the reference for the southern region of Gaza.
"SBY Breaks His Promise And Betrays The People Of Gaza"
Thus was the expression delivered by Dr. Joserizal, the Chairman of MER-C, while giving out information at the Book Review event for his book, “Jalan Jihad Sang Dokter” (The Way Of Jihad Of A Doctor) which he wrote together with Rita T Budiarti. Sunday (4/12) at Masjid Agung in Solo. Besides Dr. Joze Rizal, also present was Dr. Sunardi, chairman of Hilal Ahmar, who was invited as a speaker at the event. “I dare to send a letter to President SBY and say that you are inconsistent. Because, earlier when meeting with Mahmud Abbas, the President of Palestine, he promised to help the establishment of the hospital in Gaza. But the fact is that, it is never embodied,” Dr. Joserizal said.
The courage of MER-C for the creation of a hospital in Gaza should be given a remarkable appreciation. How could a small town which became the world's prison from the blockade by the Zionist Israel, establish a Hospital? But the fact is, the wish which had been promised by some ministers in Indonesia is just an illusion, it never gets done.
The Hospital which now stands in the northern part of Gaza from the initiation of MER-C, occupies an area of 165 hectares and if viewed from the top, the building is octagonal in shape. Most architects who designed the hospital are from the best sons of Indonesia. In fact, to repel the bullets and shells that come from any attack, all the walls are made of cast concrete, which is 30 cm deep. “Hopefully if attacked with rifles it would be impenetrable,” Dr. Joserizal said.
To date, the construction of the Indonesia Hospital reaches 30 % completion, it is only the physical building and not including the infrastructure. And a budget of 30 billion Rupiahs to construct the hospital is ready. However, for the construction of other facilities such as the installations of electrics, water and others, MER-C have not had the funds yet. Therefore, through a Book Review of this kind, it is hoped that it could strike a chord in the hearts of the Islamic Ummah, that they would be willing to set aside a part of their rizq for the construction of the Islamic Hospital in Gaza. Seeing the design of the construction which is uncommon, the Minister of Health of Gaza was astonished to see the planning of the Hospital.
When a participant asked in the Book Review event, “What if later after the hospital has been standing, the Zionist Israel immediately destroys it?” Dr. Joserizal lightly answered, “Don't blame it when the people of Indonesia are angered and other new Imam Samudra's would emerge. Strange, we do good for the good but are destroyed instead, so don't blame if Israel would also be attacked.”
At the end of the event, Dr. Joserizal Jurnalis gave an advice to all who want to do good in the social activities and strive to help each other, i.e do not be too afraid thinking of all things, otherwise it would burden one's intention. It is sufficient to plan, analyze and set out to depart. “We surrender and leave every thing to Allah…” he advised the participants, where some of them are medical students.
[Profile]: Yus Rizal Jurnalis alias Joserizal Jurnalis - A Doctor Specialist In The Battlefield
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The name Joserizal Jurnalis always appeared among the victims of war. But his appearance was notto carry a gun or bear a machette. The presence of Jose was always to carry syringes and medicines. He is always awaited by the civilians, as well as victims of war.
Yes, this General Surgery specialist doctor chooses to spend much of his life to help war victims. Not only war in the country, how many times have this man, who was born in 1963, conducted his missions overseas.
Once in 2003, the victims of the war in Iraq waited for his chilly hand. With a provision of 200 million Rupiahs (22,038 USD), a contribution from the public, Jose departed to Baghdad, the capital of Iraq. This father of three children at that time left with Fauzi Nasution, a General Surgeon, as well as Sarbini and Yogi Prabowo as general practitioners. The doctors who are unified under MER-C (Medical Emergency Rescue Committee) planned to be in Bagdad for a month. They did not care, although up to hours of their departure, they had not yet received the permission to enter Iraq. "We will enter through Jordan or Syria," Jose said then.
For Jose, Iraq is not the first foreign battlefield that he set out to. Before that, his service has lightened the burdens of the war victims when conflicts broke out in Mindanao, Philippines. In 2001, he entered Afghanistan to treat the civilian victims of the American attacks. At that time, along with the MER-C team, he penetrated Afghanistan via Quetta (Afghanistan-Pakistan border in the South East). Then proceeded to the area in the South of Kandahar which is the heart of Taliban defenses.
Still fresh in the memory of Jose, when his team was about to enter a town. At that time, the town in the South of Afghanistan was rained heavily with bombs. He then had a dialogue with the Taliban to get out the team of doctors from that town for the sake of a common safety. But the request was rejected. "Please don't doc., the people already knew that the doctors are coming. Then, we would not be able to overcome their disappointment," Jose said mimicking the answer from the Taliban fighters. "It's moments like that, that made these doctors feel how important their presence were," Jose reminisced.
It was the same feeling that he felt while helping the victims of conflict or disaster in the country. The bloody conflict in Tual (South East Maluku), Ambon, Galela, Halmahera, Bengkulu, to Aceh, are a major attention for the doctors of MER-C.
The Maluku tragedy was the trigger for the establishment of MER-C. When bloodshed erupted in the region, there was no single international institution that wanted to get involved. "We as doctors had an emotional attachment to it. So MER-C was formed," he said about the non-governmental organizations in the field of medical emergencies which is now already established for 11 years. Although MER-C is based on Islam, in the field they are forbidden to discriminate between the victims rescued.
According to Jose, the main problem faced in the area of conflict is always the limitations of equipments. In Maluku for example, he had to amputate a foot with a wood saw. While in Afghanistan, He had run out of syringes, as a result the existing supply of needles were used several times. A new problem arose, due to the lack of a means of sterilization, he then used boiling hot water. "If there was no antibiotic, honey could be used," he explained.
As an ordinary man, Jose admitted that he could not hide the feeling of fear while on the battlefield. But for him, the life and death of a person would not move back or advance ahead of the schedule determined by God. "But I also don't want to be takabur (arrogant)," he said. He still takes into account every step he makes, that he does not just rely on determination.
However, what have been done by Jose along with his team in MER-C do not only produce a positive response. There are also many cynicism directed at them. The critics accused that they are seeking popularity. Besides that, a notion surfaced that there are still many problems in the country, why bother coming to the areas of conflict in the countries overseas.
Not only crooked views from outside parties, Jose's had also been opposed by the family. His parents had always tried to prevent him. So was his wife, who prevented him the first time he was about to depart to Maluku. But Jose believes he only needs to tell his intention, without the need to get permission.
Perhaps for Jose, who was born in Padang, West Sumatera, this was the time for him to decide on an important choice in his life. All his life he had always followed the wishes of his parents. As a kid he dreamed to be an astronaut or a soldier. While in high school his ambition changed to become a nuclear physicist. But the father, Jurnalis Kamil urged him to become a doctor.
He then migrated to Jakarta to study at the University of Indonesia in the Faculty of Medicine. The title of doctor was achieved by this Kho Ping Ho comic junkie, 23 years ago. One day, his mother had an accident and broke her leg. The operation received by his mother turned out to be a failure. Jose then focused to be a specialist in bone surgery. But the title “specialist” never gives a sense of satisfaction. "I only felt as a real doctor after plunging in Maluku," Jose said.
Jose's presence along with the MER-C team, in any battlefield of course would not stop the war there. But their intention of saving every life is a major contribution of this country for the civilian population who make up the biggest number of the war victims.
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