PM Gillard sorry for forced adoptions

Belajar Bahasa Inggris di BBC Indonesia dengan membaca berita dalam dua bahasa, tentang permintaan maaf Australia atas adopsi paksa dan lelang lukisan Chinese Girl.

PM Gillard sorry for forced adoptions

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has issued an apology to people affected by Australia's forced adoption policy between the 1950s and 1970s. Tens of thousands of babies of unmarried, mostly teenage mothers, were thought to have been taken by the state and given to childless married couples.

Many women said they were coerced into signing away their children. Some said they were drugged, while others said their signatures were forged.

Speaking in front of hundreds of the victims, Gillard said the "shameful" policy had created "a legacy of pain".

Gillard also announced the Australian government would provide A$5 million (£3.4m) funding to improve access to specialist support, records tracing and mental health care for those affected by forced adoption.

PM Gillard minta maaf untuk adopsi paksa

Perdana Menteri Julia Gillard sudah mengeluarkan permintaan maaf kepada orang yang terkena kebijaksaan adopsi paksa Australia antara 1950-an dan 1970-an. Puluhan ribu bayi dari ibu yang tidak menikah, sebagian besar ibu remaja, diperkirakan diambil oleh negara dan diberikan kepada pasangan yang tidak memiliki anak.

Banyak perempuan mengatakan mereka dipaksa untuk menandatangani penyerahan anak-anak mereka. Sebagian mengatakan mereka diberi obat bius sementara yang lain mengatakan tanda tangan mereka dipalsukan.

Berbicara di hadapan ratusan korban, Gillard mengatakan kebijakan yang 'memalukan' itu telah menciptakan 'warisan penderitaan'.

Dia juga mengumumkan pemerintah Australia akan menyediakan dana A$5 juta untuk meningkatkan akses atas dukungan para ahli, penelusuran catatan, dan layanan perawatan jiwa bagi mereka yang terkena dampak adopsi paksa.

Chinese Girls sold nears £1 million

Vladimir Tretchikoff's painting of the Chinese Girl, thought to be the world's most reproduced print, has sold at auction in London for £982,050. The sum was around twice what had been predicted by auction house Bonhams.

It was thought the portrait of a young Chinese girl with green-hued skin and ruby lips would fetch up to £500,000. It was bought by British businessman and jeweller Laurence Graff and will go on public display in South Africa.

Tretchikoff, who grew up in Russia and Shanghai, eventually settled in South Africa in 1946 and completed the Chinese Girl in Cape Town in 1953. His model was Monika Sing-Lee, then 17, whom he spotted working at her uncle's launderette in Sea Point, Cape Town.

Perempuan Cina terjual hampir £1 juta

Lukisan Perempuan Cina dari Vladimir Tretchikoff, yang diperkirakan paling banyak direproduksi di dunia, terjual dalam lelalng di London senilai £982.050. Jumlah itu sekitar dua kali lipat dari perkiraan rumah lelang Bonhams.

Diperkirakan potret dari seorang perempuan Cina dengan kulit warna hijau dan bibir merah delima akan mencapai £500.000. Lukisan itu dibeli oleh seorang pengusaha dan pedagang permata Inggris, Laurence Graff, dan akan dipamerkan untuk umum di Afrika Selatan.

Tretchikoff, yang besar di Rusia dan Shanghai, akhirnya menetap di Afrika Selatan tahun 1946 menyelesaikan Perempuan Cina di Cape Town tahun 1953.

Modelnya adalah Monika Sing-Lee, ketika itu 17, yang ditemukannya bekerja di usaha binatu paman perempuan itu di Sea Point, Cape Town.