Director of Gempera Meets with Prof. Ken Miichi to Discuss Social and Political Issues in Lombok

Gempera received a visit from Prof. Ken Miichi and his wife from Waseda University on Monday, March 6, 2023. Dr. Saipul Hamdi warmly welcomed Ken Miichi at the ICS office at the University of Mataram. In addition to Dr. Saipul Hamdi there were several Gempera staff present, namely Nurul Haromain and Firdaus. The meeting discussed many social and political issues developing in Lombok.

Ken Miichi is a researcher on the politics and culture of Sasak society. He shared about his research activities related to political government policies on the phenomenon of child marriage. This comparative political science lecturer is also completing his writing on the PKS party in Lombok. Ken Miichi in this meeting also asked a lot of questions about the case of Salafi aggression in East Lombok. Is there a political motive or not? In response, Saipul Hamdi shared many of his experiences and information related to the case of the attack on the mosque and Wahhabi headquarters in East Lombok.

Both lecturers Ken Miichi and Saipul Hamdi agreed to write together in the future. Ken Miichi is very happy to collaborate with local researchers. Saipul also offered Ken Miichi a desk at ICS office while he was in Lombok. Please feel free to use our very large space here to work together. I want to accommodate researchers from various countries who want to do research here at Mataram University, Saipul said. Ken Miichi also gave souvenirs of Japanese.