Meeting Barata

Selepas hampir 3 bulan tidak keluar membuat tugasan, hari ini 2/4/07, aku kembali ke lapangan. Jam 2.30 petang aku dijadualkan menemuramah Duta Cuba ke Malaysia, Pedro Monzon Barata. Beberapa jam sebelum ke kediaman rasmi Batara di Jalan Semarak, aku buat sedikit ulangkaji. Ya. Ulangkaji memang amat penting. Tanpa ulangkaji maknanya aku bakal memperbodohkan diri sendiri nanti. Aku cari segalanya tentang negara sosialis itu. Baca tentang Fidel Castro, terutama tentang hubungan "cinta" negara itu dengan Amerika Syarikat. Paling utama, aku mahu tahu kisah disebalik Teluk Guantanamo. Aku cari gambar teluk itu. Memang sangat indah dan yang paling penting, lokasinya amat strategik dari segi pertahanan.

Setiap kali kisah tentang tahanan tanpa bicara serta kekejaman tentera Amerika Syarikat terhadap ratusan tahanan terutama tahanan Muslim di Teluk Guantanamo dipaparkan di media, setiap kali itulah aku tertanya-tanya kenapa kem tentera laut Amerika ada disana. Lebih-lebih lagi sekarang 2 warga Malaysia telah ditahan di Penjara Guantanamo atas tuduhan terbabit keganasan pengeboman. Apa nasib mereka? Apa pula tindakan kerajaan? Dibiarkan sahaja hanya kerana AS kata mereka pengganas?

Satu dunia tahu Cuba dan Amerika Syarikat tidak pernah sebulu dalam apa jua perkara. Fidel Castro simply hates the U.S.A and vice versa, ever since Castro took power in 1959.

Apa status Teluk Guantanamo? Jika ianya hak Amerika Syarikat, mengapa masih digelar Teluk Guantanamo, Cuba bukan Teluk Guantanamo, Amerika Syarikat? Macam-macam persoalan berlegar di kepala. Dari pembacaan, aku tahu kenapa tapi aku mahu dengar dari Duta negara itu sendiri.

2.15 petang aku tiba dihadapan kediaman Mr Barata. It was an old mansion set among lush greenery. Senyap, tenang .. seakan-akan di pinggir sebuah desa yang nyaman. Who would have thought the white painted bungalow was just a stone's throw away from the heart of Kuala Lumpur. Myself and the cameraman were warmly greeted and invited in by the ambassador's house manager, Lucy. A Filipino lady with a very pleasant smile and nice accent. She reminds me of Philipines' telenovela actresses. We were ushered in and were asked to wait as the ambassador was on his way from his office. He had decided to have the interview at the residence rather than the office as, according to Barata, "it would be more comfortable and cozy." The interior decor was simple but nice. No big chandelier, no expensive looking furnitures. Just a set of sette, a couple of arm chairs and sofa. What interest and impressed me most was the paintings. Paintings from Cuba (as was told to me by Barata) lined up the walls beautifully. How I wish I had the money to purchase at least one good painting ....

We were offered drinks. I asked for warm water as I was not feeling quite well. Lucy also served us cookies, too.

Mr Barata arrived just 5 minutes after we sat down. Tall, curly brown with a dash of white hair here and there. Mancung sungguh hidungnya boleh disangkut hanger. Berkaca mata orangnya. There was no air about him. Wide smile, friendly. I found to be at ease talking with him. His accent .... waaaaa ... macam dengar pelakon Latin Amerika bercakap. Pekat abis accent dia ... hhahhaha

While I'm on the job, I'd usually cut down on the small talks. I like to get straight to work. The interview session lasted for more than one-and-a-half hour. My left hand was a bit shaky while holding the mic. Mana taknya ... sejuk weiii! Air-cond betul-betul kat atas kepala. Cuaca pulak mendung. Mr Barata tu relax je. Pakai kot .. memang ler tak rasa sejuk.

Misi aku untuk tahu tentang Guantanamo sudah selesai. Aku berpuas hati. Sebelum pulang ke pejabat, aku bersembang sekejap dengan Mr Barata. Berkenaan Cuba, Fidel, demokrasi, pendidikan, pilihanraya dan beberapa perkara. Banyak perkara menarik yang aku belajar. Aku akan berkongsi kisahnya nanti.

Nota kecik-kenot: Harapan aku untuk balik bertugas di lapangan rupanya terbantut. Big boss buat keputusan untuk kekalkan aku dengan apa yang aku buat sekarang, which is maning the desk. Cuma sekali sekala aku akan keluar membuat tugasan jika keadaan memerlukan. Z, who start work today after 2 months maternity leave will be given a new job scope to prepare for the election. Mula-mula tu kiciwa gak .. tapi seronok bila fikir duit minyak dan parking tak banyak abis. hehehheheh ... YIIEEHAAAA!!!!

Nota enot-enot: Font text utama aku perbesarkan bermula dengan entry ni untuk memudahkan korang-korang yang kurang daya penglihatan untuk membaca tanpa perlu mengecilkan lagi mata yang dah kecil. :D