The novel begins with thousands of refugees who wants to go back to their homeland, Indonesia. They feel depressing forced to live in a refugee camp in Uabelo and Tuapukan area in Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT). In the refugee camp, the fate of the refugees suffered the problems of life, humanity, injustice. There are thankful to be with their family but some are in sadness to be separated with their family. There is a family scene that is reflected in the novel when Merry saw her mother's illness. Merry was worried her mother would die and she will live alone. She felt that she she will be lonely as Carlo felt, the one who wandering in NTT Indonesia. This conflict is the main part reflects the country and the picture of Tanah Air Beta story depicted in the novel, in which Carlo had no parents, brother and sister as well.
This was torturing Merry desperately then she went to the border alone looking for Mauro, her long-lost brother. Merry who was originally hated Carlo and promised that she never want to talk to him anymore, eventually revealed her worry about her ill mother. The first irony found here in which Merry had to have a friend to share with and to accompany her to find her brother. In her heart, she felt the conflict, but finally ended it for good. This made them become friends again and went to the border to try to look for Mauro, Merry’s long lost brother. Eventually, they met Mauro and embraced at the "Jembatan Air Mata (bridge of tears)" at Mota A'in, Belu district, a bridge that separates Indonesia and East Timor today. This novel also tells a story of someone who is willing to become a teacher in the refugee camps in remote areas for the sake of educating the nation's children.
This second irony is reflected in the character of the teacher shows and even gave us an idea that can be considered to be thoughtless about the teacher's viewpoint. The reasons why the teacher was living in refugee gives the reader a vague idea, whether the teacher lives in refugee camps because of considering the role and obligations as educator or the teacher has a wish to be reunited with the children and her husband during the violence and polls that occurred at that time. Nationalism is understood that creating and maintaining the sovereignty of a country (in English "nation") to realize the concept of a common identity for a group of people. The nationalists regard the state is based on some "political correctness" (political legitimacy) (Purnomo, 2010). Developments in the mindset of young people showing love for the nation, conducted in accordance with the customs and lifestyle of today, information delivery strategies in order to foster morale, can be adapted to contemporary trends. It can be found in the next third irony. In addition to social and educational themes as described above, the novel is primarily raised bloody referendum in 1999, where East Timor separated from Indonesia and eventually resulted in a mass exodus for those who choose to remain in Indonesia as their homeland. Ironically, the existence of the refugee camp depicted in the novel, it is still there, to this day. This is the biggest irony is reflected in this novel. Picture of the suffering of living in refugee camps, separation from families and poverty is a reminder for us reflects people’s misery reflected in this novel.
Friendship, regardless of religion or ethnic background is also reflected in the novel that is set in the Komodo island. It can be seen clearly through the character of Abubakar (Arabs) and a Chinese (Koh Ipin and Cik Irene). They live in harmony in the camps. This is the fourth irony in which even after that, they already think that they are brothers so emotional bond that exists between them deepened. They confessed their love with their homeland, Indonesia as their ancestors who had lived for generations and live in Indonesia so that by the time the polls Indonesia and Timor Leste, they would still choose to live in Indonesia rather than to go back to their native country.
References:
Khairil, Setryana. 2010. Tanah Air Beta. Gradienmediatama.
Purwono. 2010. Buku dan Perpustakaan: Catatan Memori Bangsa Pembangkit Nasionalisme.
Alim Yahya, A.Rukayah.2011.Ironi dalam Novel Tanah Air Beta: Tinjauan Sosiologi Sastra. Fakultas Sastra UMI: Jurnal Tamaddun Vol.09(2).
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