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Indonesia News Digest No
21 - May 20-26, 2001
Tempo - May 23, 2001
Jakarta -- Deputy Speaker of House of Representative (DPR) for
Political and Security Affairs, Sutardjo Surjoguritno, and House
Commission II received representatives of organizations that
demand the DPR disband Golkar Party today. The organizations
comprise the working team of 50 Petition, Forum of Islamic
Parties Alliance, Committee of Alert to New Order, Marhaen
People's Movement, and the executive of Association of Islamic
Students (HMI).
The organizations accuse Golkar of being a criminal left over
from the New Order. According to Deliar Noer, chairman of Forum
of Islamic Parties Alliance, the nation's problem should be
attacked at the roots, including disbanding the Golkar party
because it legitimized the New Order. This demand, according to
the organizations' representatives, is based on a survey held in
April 11, 2001 discussing the Golkar party and political crimes
of the New Order.
The organizations also explained how criminals of New Order,
including former president Suharto, the military, civil
bureaucrats, and the Golkar party have been categorized for their
crimes. Suharto and the military have been punished by social and
political sanctions, and even the bureaucracy had been
straightened out, though not yet enough.
Golkar that is the only criminal that has not paid for its past
crimes, and according to them, many Golkar supporters now act as
heroes that were not at fault for destroying the nation. Sutardjo
said he would consider this input but will not promise anything,
because it is related to the law and freedom of speech that is
guaranteed by democracy.
Detik - May 21, 2001
Djoko Tjiptono/FW, Jakarta -- The third year of the step-down of
iron-fist ruler Suharto was commemorated by students across the
country. In Jakarta, around 500 students of Student Action Front
for Reform and Democracy (Famred) assembled at the Hotel
Indonesia roundabout, Jakarta, Monday.
Famred calls three prerequisites to settle the country's crisis.
They are, try disgraced former president Suharto, dissolve the
parliament and try the former ruling party, Golkar, in
Extraordinary People's Court. As the news went online, Famred
still carried out their action by encircling the roundabout while
singing patriotic songs. Their action, so far, had proceeded
peacefully. Traffic around the area was relatively smooth as the
demonstrators tried to keep themselves from occupying the whole
portion of the street. The group reportedly was set to march to
Cendana, a plush housing complex at Central Jakarta, where the
Suharto clan maintains it as their sanctuary.
Meanwhile, security apparatus seemed pretty relaxed by only
watching the procession from the eastern part of the roundabout.
Previously, several students group, such as City Forum (Forkot)
had also taken part in the commemoration by taking the action to
the street.
East Timor
Labour struggle
Aceh/West Papua
Elite power struggle
News & issues
Environment/health
Arms/armed forces
Democratic struggle
Organizations demand that Golkar be disbanded
Students celebrated the third year of Suharto's step-down
Students demand Lemhanas and Golkar be disbanded
Detik - May 21, 2001
Bagus Kurniawan/HD, Yogyakarta -- Around one hundred students from various universities in Yogyakarta, Central Java staged a demonstration in front of the Yogyakarta Provincial Legislative. They demanded the disbandment of the National Resillience Institute (Lemhanas) and Distric Military Command (Kodim) because they are part of the Indonesia Military's (TNI) political institution. TNI itself must have been professional and back to their barracks.
In their action started at 10am local time, Monday, the students which grouped in the Yogyakarta Students' Struggle Committee staged a long march about 1.5 kilometres of Tugu Intersection before arriving at the Yogyakarta Provincial Legislative on Jl Malioboro.
In the student's opinion, Lemhannas must be disbanded because that's an extrajudicial institution. While Kodim has been an extraterritorial for TNI. "We also demanded to purge civil beuracracy from the military roles," said Gunawan, an orator from University of Janabadra.
Several other issues to speak out in the oration to mention among are they demanded to bring former President Suharto into court immediately and the Golkar's disbandment. In regards to the people issue, the students demanded to hike the workers' wages immediately and provide the cheap education for the people.
In regards to anticipate the clash be occurred with another masses, they prepared themselves by bringing wood stick to prevent from certain counter-group of masses using violence in their counter-action which have occurred recently in Yogyakarta.
The demonstration has caused no traffic jam and the students were guarded by around 12 security personnels from the Yogyakarta police unit.
Detik - May 21, 2001
Muchus Budi Rahayu/HD, Jakarta -- In solo, Central Java, an action to commemorate three years of the Suharto's stepping down on May 21, 1998 were cheered with the demands of the disbandment of the Golkar and the parliament. All elements of students and youths came to the Solo Golkar office on Jl Hasanuddin, Monday reported Detik.
The demonstration which grouped in the Anti New Order Alliance consist of Solo Student Executive Councils Forum, all youths organisation in Solo including Association of Islamic Student (HMI) and Democracy Front for Total Reform cosnsist of student organisation and Non-Governmental (LSM) in Solo.
The action started at Solo Press Monument on Jl Gajahmada which then around 200 people moved to do long march about two kilometres to the Solo Golkar office.
They demanded for the disbandment of parliament and Golkar or the New Order's remnants. In addition, they suggested to accelerate the general election and establishing the general election's committee which consist of the people, group or organisation that has active and important roles in efforts to eliminate old power.
Furthermore, they said that the power of the New Order's remnants may not join in the General Election. If needed, it must at present be done the nationalisation over the assets owned by the officials who did corruption during the New Order administration led by the ex dictator president Suharto.
In other site, Indonesian Muslim Students Action Front (Kammi) also staged a commemoration action for ex-president Suharto's steeping down. 50 people staged an action in front of the campus of the University of Sebelas Maret, Kentinga, Solo. In the action, they demanded the President Wahid or popularly known as Gus Dur to resign as Suharto did three years ago on May 21, 1998.
| East Timor |
Sydney Morning Herald - May 23, 2001
Mark Dodd, Dili -- Only 5 per cent of East Timorese understand the purpose of the United Nations-organised election to be held on August 30, a voter education survey released yesterday found. Most thought they would be choosing a president rather than an assembly.
The survey, undertaken by the US-based Asia Foundation with help from local non-government organisations, is the first to assess East Timorese political opinions and knowledge. Its findings raise serious concerns for the UN Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) on whether the August ballot can be called democratic with such a low level of public awareness.
The election is for an 88-seat Constituent Assembly which, once elected, will have 90 days to ratify a new Constitution.
"Of particular concern is that so few people -- just 5 per cent -- know that the purpose of the upcoming election is to elect a Constituent Assembly," an Asia Foundation official, Ms Tessa Piper, said.
"Sixty-one per cent mistakenly think that the election is to chose a president and 22 per cent think that the election is to achieve full independence." On a positive note, 75 per cent of those polled said they felt the country was heading in the right direction, although the survey also revealed a high level of anxiety about the potential for election-related violence.
The survey, conducted in February and March, polled 1,558 people living in 196 villages across all of East Timor's 13 districts. The international survey research firm AC Nielsen helped to design the questionnaire and train survey staff.
Ms Piper said that while the report offered specific recommendations on civic and voter education programs before polling day, she had doubts whether a turnaround could be achieved. "There is actually a staggering lack of knowledge on what this election is about. Whether or not we have time to do all of the work that is necessary ahead of the election is a very good question," she said. "Clearly there will be an enormous amount of work to be done by UNTAET and by the NGOs concerned to try and catch up and clearly it is going to be an enormous task."
UNTAETs director of civic education, Mr Colin Stewart, said, "These are important results and are helpful. But, I don't think they are shocking -- we knew we would be dealing with a significant challenge. I'm confident we will have the means and the time to address this."
Other important findings that will challenge the civic education campaign include a 34 per cent nationwide illiteracy rate. The incidence is highest in the enclave of Oecussi (69 per cent) and lowest in the capital, Dili (20per cent).
The survey found that 91 per cent of East Timorese chose the national language, Tetum, as their most preferred means of communication.
Agence France-Presse - May 22, 2001
Jakarta -- Indonesian authorities are preparing for the registration of some 100,000 East Timorese refugees in camps in West Timor, a report said Tuesday.
The government has set up 507 registration stations across East Nusa Tenggara province which includes West Timor, to find out how many of the refugees want to return home, and how many want to remain in Indonesia.
The refugees are the last of an estimated 250,000 who were forced across the border by pro-Jakarta militias during an orgy of violence and destruction wreaked in the wake of East Timor's vote for independence on August 30 in 1999.
Some 1,600 registration officials and 80 field supervisors have been fielded for the June 6 registration, the Antara news agency quoted Paul Amalo, a refugee official, as saying.
Amalo, who heads the representative office of the Task Force for Refugee Problems in Kupang, the capital of East Nusat Tenggara, also spelled out the requirements to qualify for the registration.
Any refugee should fulfill one of two requirements -- either they should be born in East Timor; born to a family, where either the father or mother was born in East Timor -- or had been living in East Timor for five years up to the August 30 ballot there in 1999. "So, an Indonesian serviceman or policeman who had been living in East Timor for five years, will qualify," Amalo said.
He said the "family approach" will be applied in the registration, where the whole family come to registration stations to fill up the forms, but the family head can "vote" in a secret ballot for the entire family to say whether they want to return or stay.
"The family head will enter the registration booth to cast a vote for the decision of his preference, whether to return to East Timor or to stay as an Indonesian citizen," Amalo said.
The papers, drawn up like a ballot paper, contain a drawing of "Garuda" (Indonesian eagle) to be pierced by those who opt to stay in Indonesia, and a map of East Timor for those who decide to return to their homeland. Indelible ink will mark the fingers of refugees who had registered to avoid double vote castings. Each family will also be issued with a card to collect food aid, and pocket money, Amalo said.
He said that the repatriation process for those who had opted to return to East Timor would take three days. Amin Rianom from the Indonesian coordinating ministry for political, social and security affairs said Monday that in addition to the United Nations, observers from countries in Africa, Europe and Latin America had been invited for the registration.
Rianom also said those that opted to remain in Indonesia would be resettled in the districts of Timor Tengah Selatan, Timor Tengah Utara, Belu, Alor dan Kupang. With the exception of Alor, which is an island northwest of West Timor, all other districts are in West Timor.
The authorities in West Timor said last month that around 119,000 refugees still live in the squalid camps. The United Nations and other foreign agencies estimate the number at between 50,000 and 100,000. They are eager to repatriate the refugees ahead of a June 20 deadline to register for elections in East Timor, which is currently under a transitional UN administration.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has repeatedly complained of intimidation by former pro-Indonesian militias against refugees wishing to return to East Timor.
Green Left Weekly - May 23, 2001
Jon Land -- The World Bank has been prominent in East Timor's transition to full independence -- so prominent in fact that the country now faces a looming struggle about whether the institution's neo-liberal economic model, so renowned for the hardship it has caused other poor countries, will be imposed on East Timor too.
In April, the aid watchdog group AID/WATCH sent two members to East Timor to collect information on the World Bank's activities and to meet with East Timorese non-government organisations, political leaders and student and youth activists. The 12 day visit confirmed to researchers Tim Anderson and Yoga Sofyar that the World Bank's presence and influence is causing many problems.
"There is a great deal of confusion about what the World Bank really is, because at the moment East Timorese public life is dominated by the presence of UNTAET [United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor], the peacekeepers and the civilian police", Anderson told Green Left Weekly.
"There is a common perception that the World Bank is a subsidiary or support group for the UN, which is not the case. There is a perception that the peacekeepers and some of the relief aid is quite good and effective, but there is also a great deal of resentment at the dual economy that has been set up by the UN, especially with staff on New York salaries, compared to the low wages of the East Timorese public service", Anderson added.
This resentment is magnified by the fact that decision-making is still very much in the hands of foreigners in the UN and in the World Bank. Anderson believes that with the withdrawal of the UN, which will follow the coming election of a new constituent assembly, the role of the World Bank will be increasingly that of a "neo-colonial power".
A number of East Timorese NGOs involved in monitoring development and aid are suspicious about the World Bank's motives and plans. Under Indonesian rule, the bank was responsible for funding transmigration and birth control programs, used by the Suharto dictatorship as a means of social control of the East Timorese.
Since the independence referendum in August 1999, the World Bank has stepped up its involvement in East Timor. A donors conference, organised by the UN and the World Bank in Tokyo in December 1999, pledged some US$522 million to the new nation.
The bank's Board of Governors has also established the Trust Fund for East Timor. Managed by the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, the TFET has received grants from ten industrialised countries, including Australia and the United States.
UNTAET's head, Sergio de Mello, recently applauded the role of the World Bank, claiming that: " Never before did the international finance institutions and the World Bank work as fast as we have in East Timor in bringing about actual results for the East Timorese".
But, according to Anderson, while the World Bank and UN sing praises about the amount of money that has been donated to the reconstruction effort, the East Timorese have very little information about where that money is and how it is being deployed.
"Where they do have information, they are enormously disappointed with what they learn, like the fact that highly-paid international consultants are being paid with some of this money", Anderson told Green Left Weekly.
"They are disappointed that decisions are being taken by the World Bank and by its associates such as the [Asian Development Bank] in ways that have little to do with engaging the East Timorese people and their representatives", he added.
According to Anderson, one example of inappropriate economic planning is the micro-credit program established by the ADB, supposedly to aid women in poor rural areas. This project, funded with US$7 million from TFET, charges interest rates of between 40%-80% a year, and international consultants have been paid US$600,000 to advise that it be privatised and turned into a profit-making venture.
There is also considerable anxiety about the World Bank's agenda for the development of East Timor's agricultural sector, a pressing issue given that around 90% of East Timor's population are poor rural farmers and labourers. Land ownership and use is a point of potential conflict.
"The concern is that pressure from the World Bank on the direction of agriculture is going to complicate and exacerbate disputes around land ownership", Anderson explained. "The World Bank is indirectly at the moment -- and I think with stronger pressure in the future -- pushing the East Timorese into developing cash crops for export, in particular, organic coffee." "This will create pressure on old traditional title and [lead to] the resolution of land disputes in favour of large landholders [who seek] to consolidate and create cash-cropping areas, which also poses the threat of environmental degradation.
"The World Bank hasn't openly pushed this so far, but there is no doubt they want the privatisation of agricultural services. Their plan for coffee -- which is not out in the open yet -- has doubts cast over it as a result [of] their phoney consultation with East Timorese economists", Anderson said.
Anderson explained that a group of East Timorese economists, retained by the World Bank to analyse the state of the country's coffee industry, resigned en masse after their work was trivialised. They had been offered US$10 a day each over a couple of weeks to complete a large study.
As a consequence of the visit to East Timor, Anderson said that AID/WATCH would be increasing its monitoring of the World Bank through building links and exchanging information with several East Timorese NGOs, along with producing a short documentary on the bank's activities.
Anderson also said the group would be pressuring the Australian government to play a better role in supporting East Timor's reconstruction and development, including supporting the new nation's right to have final say over how and where development aid money, including that in the TFET, is spent.
Suara Timor Lorosae - May 21, 2001
Partido Trabalhista Timor (PTT), on Friday, submitted its registration application with the Independent Electoral Commission. The party also nominated Xanana Gusmao and Jose Ramos-Horta as its candidates for the Constituent Assembly.
PTT President Paul Freitas da Silva and his followers were at the IEC to lodge their registration application. They said their party was the oldest in Timor Lorosae and was formed in 1974.
"Xanana and Ramos-Horta will be nominated as the party's candidates. These two piltical figures will be able to unite the people," said Paul Freitas.
| Labour struggle |
Detik - May 23, 2001
Hestiana Dharmastuti/HD, Jakarta -- On Wednesday, around 200 workers came to the Vice President Palace. They are demanding the disbandment of the Labour and Transmigration Ministry. Besides that, they are demanding to withdraw the Minister of Labour and Transmigration decree, (Kepmennakertrans) Number 78/Men/2001.
The workers which are generally consisting of women grouped in the New Indonesia Free Workers Union (Gaspermindo Baru). "We plan to meet with the Vice President and we want the Vice President to withdraw the minister decree because the Vice President was the one approved it," said chairman of Gaspermindo Baru, Miyadi Suryadi to the press.
For them, the minister decree was considered has mere accommodated the entrepreneurs' interest which are then more arrogant. The issue of this decree was pointed out as the result of conscription and collusion of any parties involved.
Meanwhile, the reason to demand the disbandment of the Labour and Transmigration Ministry is caused it didn't much help the workers for their better lives. "Not to protect the workers, it even becomes the entrepreneurs' second hand which are notably doing many corruptions. We also demanded the hike of Fuel and Gas to be postponed because it would be suffer the workers," said Miyadi.
Before they come to the Vice President palace, the workers moved by bus staging their action at the Indonesia Hotel roundabout.
Detik - May 22, 2001
Indra Shalihin/HD Detik, Jakarta -- Around 300 workers from the National Front for Indonesian Labour Struggle (FNPBI) staged a demonstration at the Indonesia Hotel roundabout. They urged the government to revoke the minister of labour decree No 78/2001 which is considered to harm the workers.
Besides the workers which grouped in FNPBI, the action was also followed by the 1 May Action Committee and Hero Supermarkert's employees who held a strike several days ago. As the schedule, after they gathered at the HI roundabout the demonstrators will continue their action to the Vice President palace on Jl Medan Merdeka Selatan, Central Jakarta The action started at 9am Jakarta time and did not cause a traffic jam because the demonstrators staged their action at the sidewalk of HI roundabout. Till at 10.40am local time, they were still at the site.
As known, the government has issued the minister of labour decree No 150/2001 regulates the national workers. Nevertheless, the workers rejected it. Finally, the government revised it into the minister of labour decree No 78/2001. Again, many parties rejected it. Finally, the government postponed the implementation of this decree till 14 days.
| Aceh/West Papua |
Indonesian Observer - May 21, 2001
Jakarta -- Security forces in Irian Jaya arrested 16 members of a Papuan separatist movement after an armed clash which injured five people, local police said yesterday.
The rebels were arrested on Friday after they tried to illegally enter Manokwari, a remote district in the north of the province. Manokwari Police Chief Lieutenant Colonel Budi Santoso said some of the rebels were armed with automatic weapons.
Rebels in the region, also known as West Papua, have been fighting for independence since 1963 when Indonesia occupied the former Dutch colony that covers the western half of New Guinea Island.
The separatists claim widespread support among indigenous Papuans, who resent the arrival of settlers from other parts of Indonesia, especially Java who are culturally and religiously different, however are given special favors and treatment by Jakarta-installed local bureaucrats and security forces.
Jakarta has recently granted all Indonesian provinces greater autonomy in a bid to diffuse separatist movements and redistribute wealth throughout the archipelago. A separatist leader Theys Hiyo Eluay, chairman of the Papuan Presidium Council, was last week tried over his activity leading a hoisting of the Free Papua Movement (OPM)s flag.
The government, as well as legislators have tried to play down calls for secession from Indonesia. They have offered a draft law on the provision of more prosperity to the province. But strong opposition remains from the people, who are determined to have their freedom from what they consider an occupying army.
Straits Times - May 24, 2001
Marianne Kearney, Jakarta -- Indonesia's six-week-old crackdown on Aceh's separatist rebels is as bad as any experienced during the worst years of the military operation conducted under the rule of former President Suharto, residents say. But the bloodshed has done little to dent the separatist movement or to capture the "hearts and minds" of the Acehnese people.
Officially, Indonesia is not waging a military operation against the rebels. It is just restoring security and trying to bring the lawless province back under the control of the government.
But for Aceh's residents, Jakarta's latest attempts to crack down on the separatists and to reduce their stranglehold over the province is every bit as aggressive as during the worst years of the nine-year military operation conducted during Mr Suharto's rule. Disappearances are common and civilians, far from being spared the violence, usually end up as its victims.
And the government's "hearts and minds" campaign -- which includes economic-assistance programmes as well as respect for human rights -- is also failing, Acehnese non-governmental groups say.
In Central Aceh, which only a few months ago enjoyed calm, a businessman complains that increasing troop numbers have escalated the violence. "Why don't they follow proper procedures? Are they members of this country who have to follow Indonesian laws or are they above the law?" he asked.
Despite strict rules of engagement -- including those which instruct troops in heavily-populated areas to minimise civilian casualties -- the businessman claims soldiers act with impunity. They harass, intimidate and sometimes abduct civilians with little fear of being prosecuted.
Military commanders paint an entirely different picture of their operations. They say their operations are restricted and they have no authority to pursue rebels into the villages.
Military spokesman Abrori Abbas, who is based in the town of Lhokseumawe, said the main task of the troops was to secure strategic installations and to restore peace to Aceh. He claims that, in North Aceh, the joint police and military campaign has been relatively successful.
Security around the Exxon Mobil oil refinery, which suspended operations in March amid security concerns, has improved, he said. Shops and other businesses in Lhokseumawe have reopened in recent days, he added. Government offices, which stopped operating for several months after the rebels claimed to have established a "shadow government" in the area, have also reopened.
Diplomats doubt the efficacy of the military's campaign, pointing to a recent offensive aimed at netting rebel commander Abdullah Syafi'e. It failed to capture him, but led to several civilian deaths.
Agence France-Presse - May 23, 2001
Banda Aceh -- Four people, including two rebels and a soldier, were killed in the latest violence in Indonesia's Aceh province as clashes continued between separatist rebels and government troops, a report said here Wednesday.
The two rebels were shot dead during an armed clash between separatists of the rebel Free Aceh Movement (GAM) and government forces in Tanah Jambo Aye in North Aceh on Tuesday, the Banda Aceh-based Serambi daily said.
The local GAM deputy commander, Sofyan Daud confirmed the casualties in the Lueng Angen clash, but said that five soldiers were also killed in the clash and in two other exchanges of fire in the same area on Tuesday. The local military commander could not be reached for confirmation.
In Pidie district, a soldier was shot dead while he was riding his motorcycle, Serambi said.
One army soldier was wounded when troops were ambushed in the Jaya district of West Aceh, the local military commander Colonel Endang Suwarya said. The local GAM commander, Abu Arafah, claimed that five soldiers were killed in the attack while another soldier was seriously injured by shrapnel. He also said that it was a military patrol that was ambushed.
Rebels also attacked a police post in Pantonlabu, but there were no casualties reported, North Aceh District Police Chief Adjunct Senior Commissioner Wanto Sumardi said. It was the second attack on the same post since Monday. The first attack also left no casualties.
A military post in Samalanga in the district of Bireun was also attacked on Tuesday without casualties. Four people on two motorcycles sped past the post, fired shots at it and threw a grenade, a resident said.
Meanwhile, a teenager was killed and three others were injured after they tampered with a grenade they had found in Ie Tarek Dua village in the North Aceh district of Kuta Makmur on Tuesday, their relatives said. The injured were all being treated at the general hospital in the district town of Lhokseumawe.
Violence has increased since Jakarta last month launched a military operation to rid the province of the rebels who have been fighting for a free Islamic nation in Aceh since the mid- 1970s.
Jakarta has dispatched some 1,100 troops to Aceh to reinforce the operation. The crackdown followed a year of inconclusive talks held in Geneva and shaky ceasefires between the two sides, which failed to stem bloodshed that has left some 600 dead already this year.
| Elite power struggle |
Straits Times - May 22, 2001
Marianne Kearney, Jakarta -- Jakarta has witnessed some very strange events in the last 48 hours -- the army's strategic reserve chief Lieutenant-General Ryamizard Ryacudu sitting astride a tank told his troops that he would defend democracy to the hilt, amid threats that the first democratically elected president was about to declare martial law.
"We are the people's soldiers. We'll be standing at the people's side if they find themselves in conflict with the government," said Lt-General Ryamizard.
Even more ominously for President Abdurrahman Wahid, after several of his soldiers had pledged their allegiance to the constitution and a united Indonesia, Lt-General Ryamizard warned that if they had to choose between the President and the people, the army was firmly on the side of the people.
"We will maintain loyalty to the President because he was legitimately elected, but if the people make a different demand, we will adjust ourselves accordingly," he said during Sunday's ceremony, according to the Jakarta Post.
Mr Abdurrahman has since denied the charges that he was planning to declare a state of emergency or sack Lt-General Ryamizard and the Armed Forces Chief of Staff. "Trust me that currently the President does not have a plan to issue the decree or replace the Army chief," said Defence Minister Mohammad Mahfud according to national newswire Antara.
The irony of 1000 strategic command troops and their commander pledging their loyalty to the country rather than one leader, and loudly voicing opposition to martial law has not been lost on observers here. The scene was a mix of some possible political posturing as well as a response to the real threat that Mr Abdurrahman might well be impetuous enough to dismiss his army chief and declare martial law say analysts.
However, some of the generals may also be stirring the crisis in an attempt to ensure that their favoured candidate's -- Ms Megawati -- path to the presidential seat is not blocked by opponents, say analysts. "They like to give the impression that they are apolitical but they are still playing at politics by supplying ammunition to the opposition," said analyst Kusnanto Anggoro from the Centre for Strategic Studies.
So has the Indonesian armed forces, not known for its tolerance for political expression during the Suharto era, suddenly become more democratic than the President, refusing to accept an offer of power?
To a certain extent the answer is yes. They no longer want to be used by one political figure such as Mr Abdurrahman, said Mr Harold Crouch from the International Crisis Centre. But the armed forces also see that they are no longer capable of running government, and to become part of a military government would not be a good career move, said Mr Kusnanto.
Instead they are far better to ally themselves with Ms Megawati who shares the same nationalistic concerns about the disintegration of Indonesia and is prepared to give the forces some power.
Ironically, however, it appears that part of the general's opposition to martial law springs from a well-founded fear of mass unrest. Something the army, rather than the President, is trying to prevent.
"They fear that there will be blood on the streets and they want to avoid this. They don't want a repeat of May 1998. Because although they may have started it, they know that they would not be able to handle it," said Mr Harold Crouch from the International Crisis Group.
In what is now being called the May riots of 1998, devastating violence broke out shortly after former president Suharto stepped down amid widespread riots that left more than 1000 people dead. The unrest saw ethnic Chinese targetted with their properties looted, shops destroyed and the women sexually harassed and raped by the rioters.
In the aftermath, there were allegations that members of the military were responsible for inciting the riots by exploiting existing racial and socioeconomic differences.
Sydney Morning Herald - May 21, 2001
Lindsay Murdoch, Jakarta -- Indonesia's President Wahid is refusing to drop plans to sack senior generals, declare martial law and disband parliament in moves that have intensified the country's power struggle.
Mr Wahid last week called a meeting of senior military, police and intelligence officers to tell them to be ready to impose a state of emergency ahead of the dissolving of parliament, the Herald has learnt. He ordered those present not to reveal his intentions publicly. Jakarta is now bracing for a possible showdown over Mr Wahid's moves before parliament resumes in 10 days to press ahead with plans to impeach him.
The stand by Mr Wahid, who is increasingly isolated and contemptuous of the politicians plotting his downfall, threatens to plunge the country into turmoil. His position late yesterday appeared untenable, with the military command and the Vice- President, Ms Megawati Sukarnoputri, moving during the weekend to head off his crisis plan. The military appeared set last night to openly defy the orders of Mr Wahid, who is their supreme commander, unless he backs away from the plans.
Amid speculation about a rift within the armed forces over the stand of their commanders, Mr Wahid publicly denied reports that he was about to sack the chief of the army, General Endriartono Sutarto. He snapped at reporters: "No ... there is no plan to replace him. It's just a lie, and you believe that lie."
A presidential spokesman, Mr Adhie Massardi, admitted that Mr Wahid had discussed the idea and had considered imposing a state of emergency, but had decided against it. "The reason why he discussed it was because he had received input from ordinary people who said the [political situation] was not feasible," Mr Massardi said.
It was unclear last night whether the defiance of the military chiefs and members of Mr Wahid's administration would force him to abandon plans for a state of emergency and to instead endure impeachment.
But analysts said that Mr Wahid's plan to disband parliament just days before it is reconvened on May 30 sets him against the main political parties, most of whom abandoned their support of him months ago and want him impeached.
Mr Wahid's actions have also further alienated a group of Muslim politicians who orchestrated his election in 1999 but are now adamant that Ms Megawati must replace him. Ms Megawati cancelled important anniversary meetings with her party at the weekend to hold emergency talks with senior generals and her advisers in Jakarta.
Ministers held an unusual Cabinet meeting at the presidential palace yesterday. Neither Mr Wahid nor Ms Megawati attended. In a televised address to tens of thousands of supporters in the East Java town of Malang, Ms Megawati said she was not ambitious to be president but would follow the wishes of her party to take the job. She rejected calls for a snap election.
Military sources indicated that unless Mr Wahid changed his mind, which he often does, senior commanders would not follow any orders to impose emergency powers and would wait for parliament to solve the impasse.
But since late last week reports have been sweeping Jakarta that Mr Wahid plans to sack generals, including General Sutarto and the military commander, Admiral Widodo.
On Saturday General Sutarto reiterated that the military would not support Mr Wahid's intention to introduce emergency powers and disband parliament. "Our decision not to support the President in issuing the edict is mainly for the sake of the people," he said. "As we are aware, the people constitute this nation, and the government can only accept the people's mandate."
General Sutarto dismissed the possibility of the military taking power, saying: "No ... we are not going to benefit from the current chaotic situation by taking power." If the leaders were in dispute the military would be on the people's side. "If Gus Dur [Mr Wahid's nickname] wants to replace me due to my stance I'll take it as a consequence."
But a group of 255 retired military officers meeting at military headquarters at the weekend backed General Sutarto's stand. "TNI [the military] firmly upholds the Constitution and is ready to defend it," said the group's leader, the former vice-president Mr Try Sutrisno.
Lieutenant-General Ryamizard Ryacudu, chief of the 30,000-strong strategic reserve, the main combat unit, yesterday urged troops to remain loyal to the nation, not to any individual. This appeared to be a swipe at Mr Wahid. The general ruled out a military coup but said the armed forces had detected the presence of "traitors" who had been stirring unrest in return for money.
Straits Times - May 23, 2001
Derwin Pereira, Jakarta -- Indonesia's military chief Admiral Widodo Adisucipto, seeking to defuse tensions that could trigger sporadic violence across the archipelago, called on the country's squabbling political elite to strike a compromise.
It was the first time since the crisis broke that the military has come out so publicly to project a united front in a bid to prevent a collision between President Abdurrahman Wahid and feisty legislators. Analysts saw the statement by Admiral Widodo as a move by the military to also maintain the moral high ground of neutrality.
In his statement, read out to reporters by chief of territorial affairs Agus Widjoyo, the TNI commander said: "The ranks of TNI call on all the political elite, and those who are competent, to be willing to show high statesmanship and make sacrifices to reach a compromise; a political solution that is most feasible." A solution should have as its "main orientation", the interests of the people, the nation and the state, he added.
The admiral gave little indication of what a compromise entailed. However, senior military sources have long talked vaguely about a power-sharing arrangement among all the major political groups. This, of course, included the generals who appeared to be beginning to gradually exercise a growing political influence in Indonesia.
Lt-Gen Agus disclosed that Adm Widodo had checked with the President about rumours in the capital over the weekend that he was making moves to replace the army chief and disband Parliament. But despite Mr Abdurrahman's spokesman having said previously that there were no such plans, there was no indication yesterday if the military chief got a satisfactory response.
All Lt-Gen Agus would say was that the "various reports relating to TNI have been clarified and confirmed". Army chief Endriartono Sutarto had told reporters previously that Mr Abdurrahman planned to impose a state of emergency -- something the general did not support.
Senior military sources told The Straits Times that Mr Abdurrahman was still contemplating sacking Gen Endriartono for not supporting his initiative. They said he was thinking of replacing the general with one of two possible candidates: loyalist Agus Wirahadikusumah and Lieutenant-General Johni Lumintang.
But the TNI has been quick to signal its objection to any such move. Last Saturday, as more than 100 generals met to voice their objection to his reported plans, 20 armoured personnel carriers were stationed not too far from the palace. These were joined a day later by thousands of soldiers from the Army Strategic Reserve Command.
Said a three-star army general: "We wanted to signal to Gus Dur that if he made any attempts to violate the Constitution, we will take sides with the people to oust him." The TNI's calculated brinkmanship has won support from several quarters in the country. Political observers said its statement for a compromise yesterday suggested that the military appeared to want to ride on this wave of new found support for its role after having been forced to the political sidelines following the fall of former President Suharto.
But there were also real security considerations. Gen Endriartono reportedly told the top military brass over the weekend that intelligence reports showed that palace elements were plotting to use military loyalists to stir up problems in Jakarta, and East and Central Java, to justify a decree for a state of emergency.
Sydney Morning Herald - May 23, 2001
Lindsay Murdoch, Jakarta -- The United States has entered the political debate in Indonesia, saying that the military must obey the civilian government, just days after army chiefs resisted moves by President Abdurrahman Wahid to impose martial law, dissolve parliament and call fresh elections.
The US ambassador in Jakarta, Mr Robert Gelbard, said after making high-level representations in Jakarta yesterday that Washington felt "very strongly that in any country the military should and must be controlled and responsive to their civilian leaders, including their commander in-chief".
Mr Gelbard said it was "essential that the military follows its constitutionally mandated role and be responsive to the civilian leadership" . He said the US was "very, very supportive of the whole process of building democratic institutions in Indonesia".
Indonesia's Foreign Minister, Mr Alwi Shihab, said after meeting Mr Gelbard that he agreed with the US position. Mr Shihab said his Government also expected countries like Australia to support the democratic process in Indonesia, especially during the current political crisis. He said he was in constant contact with Australia's Foreign Minister, Mr Downer.
Mr Gelbard's intervention followed the army's rejection at the weekend of calls by Mr Wahid to dissolve parliament, declare a state of emergency and hold fresh elections. The military command also rejected any move by Mr Wahid to replace senior officers.
The army now appears to have sided with Vice-President Megawati Sukarnopitri in the power struggle. In what was seen as a clear message to Mr Wahid, members of the army's elite strategic reserve (Kostrad) held a ceremonial parade in central Jakarta on Sunday, close to the presidential palace. In a speech, the commander of Kostrad, General Ryamizard Ryacudu, appeared to side with those seeking Mr Wahid's impeachment.
The events have added to tensions before a meeting of parliament next Wednesday that is expected to call for a special session of the country's supreme legislature, which has the power to impeach Mr Wahid. Fears are growing that the leadership crisis will provoke outbreaks of violence similar to the mass rioting and looting that swept Indonesian cities in 1998.
The International Crisis Group, headed by the former Australian foreign minister, Mr Gareth Evans, said in a new report that the crisis could lead to an outbreak of clashes between rival demonstrators.
Even more worrying were the opportunities this would provide for the urban underclass to repeat the violence that erupted just before the fall of the dictator Soeharto in May 1998, when hundreds of people were killed, the report said.
"The view that democracy has only brought disorder and chaos is growing stronger while the number looking back in favour on the enforced order of the Soeharto era seems to be growing," the Brussels-based group said.
Six factions of parliament representing the biggest political parties declared on Monday they would push for a special session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), the top legislature, in which Mr Wahid would face impeachment over his erratic leadership style.
The speaker of the MPR, Dr Amien Rais, said Mr Wahid would be asked by 700 MPs to deliver an accountability speech. "If the speech is accepted, he [Wahid] will prevail," Dr Rais said. "But if it is rejected, he will be finished." The International Crisis Group, which maintains a Jakarta office, said public discussion about the leadership crisis seemed to be overshadowed by fear that the nation is on the path to disintegration.
Straits Times - May 22, 2001
Robert Go, Jakarta -- A change of leadership in Jakarta is crucial to Indonesia's economic recovery, say business leaders and analysts.
After 19 months in which the economy has spiralled downwards -- from recovering to moving towards another potential crisis -- many businessmen and ordinary Indonesians yearn for a more consistent government.
Businessman Sofjan Wanandi told The Straits Times: "The business community wants and will support a government that can be trusted and can create stability. Indonesia needs professionals to run the show. Indonesia can't overcome the crisis and we face increasingly difficult challenges. We need this political instability to end."
Economist M. Sadli said: "Even at the cost of some freedoms or democracy, the business community prefers stability and a strong government. Stability will bring new foreign investments and add to the confidence levels of domestic businessmen."
A tycoon with interests in the transportation and export-and- import sectors said: "Businesses can't afford much more of this uncertainty. If allowed to persist, the political paralysis will flush the economy down the tubes. What we need is a strong government that can lead the way, instead of creating chaos."
The business community's sentiments coincide with a new poll of nearly 1,000 Indonesians who rated the leadership of President Abdurrahman Wahid as poor, even when compared with that of former President Suharto, who is accused of fostering endemic corruption.
The poll was sponsored by parties alleged to be close to the Suharto family, but several independent analysts have used it to illustrate how badly the public now regards Mr Abdurrahman's presidency. And while some here may feel nostalgic for a Suharto-style government, others insist that stability and a pro-business atmosphere could exist even under a reform-era government.
Mr Amir Sambodo, an adviser to Junior Minister for Economic Restructuring Cacuk Sudarijanto, said: "We don't want to go back to Suharto. That would be a setback to democracy. But people are fed up with this government and look forward to a new administration."
But Mr David Chang, head of Vickers Ballas-Indonesia, cautioned: "Military involvement or a confrontational shift of power would not be well received by foreign investors and could pose additional negative effects on recovery."
Straits Times - May 22, 2001
Devi Asmarani, Jakarta -- Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid is seeking to patch up ties with his old Muslim allies, who have turned political foes, a palace source said yesterday. The move is a desperate attempt to save his presidency if he fails to secure a compromise with his estranged deputy Megawati Sukarnoputri.
The source, one of the handful of people closest to the President, told The Straits Times the leader is eyeing a group of Muslim politicians and intellectuals. Some of them helped him into power in 1999, but they have turned into his fiercest opponents in the past year, as the Vice-President appears set to take over his post.
He would do this, because Ms Megawati had practically brushed off his offer to transfer more power to her, the source said. "He has already agreed to give more power to Ms Megawati, as recommended by the ministers, but she had rejected everything. We think she's stalling for time and aiming for the top job," the source said.
"If the worst comes to the worst, if she won't compromise with us, we are willing to compromise with anyone willing to do it with us," added the source. "We're willing to give more, after all we're desperate," he noted.
The source said Mr Abdurrahman's camp was lobbying Muslim figures grouped under the loose "Islamic force" coalition. In 1999, some members of the coalition, as well as the Golkar party, supported Mr Abdurrahman's bid to beat Ms Megawati in the presidential fray because they did not believe that a woman should be President.
But in the course of his 19-month administration, the groups have been the President's most vocal critics and even helped initiate investigations into two financial scandals that led to the issuance of two censures against him. They have lately shown support for Ms Megawati to replace him.
But Mr Abdurrahman's camp believes that eventually the coalition would topple Ms Megawati if she became the President. This group would eventually sideline Ms Megawati as in 1999, the source said, adding that Mr Abdurrahman's National Awakening Party (PKB) and his Nahdlatul Ulama Muslim organisation would most likely throw their support behind the Islamic coalition.
Relations between the country's two leaders have deteriorated over the past months. According to The Straits Times source, the two leaders had not had real communications since last Wednesday. Last weekend alone, the President called her 17 times and she did not answer, said the source.
The President was also wary of the fact that the Indonesian military seemed to be taking a hardened stance against him and were siding with her. Over the weekend, the President's camp was alerted to the fact that the tanks were rolling into the city, some heading into the palace.
The Straits Times learned that palace members had anticipated a planned coup by the army on Saturday night. Earlier on the same day, rumours were rife that the President would replace Army Chief of Staff General Endriartono Sutarto and that the leader was issuing a decree to disband Parliament, a move to which Ms Megawati objected firmly.
The next day, the Army's Strategic Command units held an unusual allegiance ceremony in which they pledged loyalty to the nation, not to any individuals or groups.
However the PKB's secretary general Mr Chatibul Umam Wiranu said: "It smelled to me like a psychological war." But despite the pressure, the palace source said the President would never consider resigning. "We've done nothing wrong. If he has to go, they'll have to impeach him."
Straits Times - May 21, 2001
Jakarta -- A senior Indonesian military commander yesterday urged troops to remain loyal to the nation and not to any individual after generals warned President Abdurrahman Wahid not to dissolve parliament or declare a state of emergency.
Lt-General Ryamizard Ryacudu, who commands the 30,000-strong Kostrad strategic reserve, also appealed to Mr Abdurrahman not to sack the army's hardline chief of staff, General Endriartono Sutarto, a vocal critic of the President.
"We call the soldiers to be loyal to the unitary state of ... Indonesia and not to any individual or any groups," Lt-Gen Ryacudu said. He also stressed that the military remained loyal to both the President and his deputy. Speaking to about 1,000 troops at their headquarters in Jakarta, Lt-Gen Ryacudu said: "I stress here, there will be no coup against the country or the President by the army."
His comments came a day after Vice-President Megawati Sukarnoputri held an emergency meeting with top generals after reports that Mr Abdurrahman planned to replace military commanders, disband parliament and declare martial law. Although the President has vehemently denied such plans, one of his spokesmen yesterday confirmed that the embattled leader had discussed such actions.
| News & issues |
Agence France-Presse - May 22, 2001
Jakarta -- Former Indonesian president Suharto was a better leader than Mr Abdurrahman Wahid, according to a readers' poll conducted by the Media Indonesia daily.
Mr Suharto outshone his successors, Dr B.J. Habibie and Mr Abdurrahman, according to the poll. The online survey, conducted to mark the third anniversary of Mr Suharto's resignation, showed that many Indonesians still hanker for the Suharto days.
Dr Habibie was judged by the respondents as a better leader than Mr Abdurrahman, whose poor scores "reflected the confusion of the people in taking stock of reforms", the newspaper reported.
Jakarta Post - May 21, 2001
Jakarta -- Members of the Anti-Communist Coalition (AAK) made visits to a number of major bookstores here on Saturday, but the alliance did not act on its earlier threat to raid them for leftist titles on Sunday.
AAK visited the Jakarta branches of well-known bookstores on Saturday to thank them for removing leftist books from their shelves in response to the group's threats. "We would like to express our gratitude to Gunung Agung and Gramedia bookstores for heeding the people's demand positively by withdrawing books regarded as leftist," AAK secretary-general Naufal Dunggio was quoted by Koridor.com as saying.
Meanwhile, Suaib Didu, the chairman of the Islamic Youth Movement (GPI), a part of AAK, said on Sunday that his organization did not conduct any searches on Sunday as it had earlier warned because the bookstores here had removed the books on communism from their shelves. "For this, we are thankful," Suaib told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.
Earlier, anticommunist groups had warned bookstore owners here that they would conduct major searches for leftist books displayed on their shelves on National Awakening Day, which fell on Sunday. The groups had earlier threatened to burn any leftist titles found in the stores.
Suaib said GPI members had been checking bookstores since May 2, 2001. "When we found any leftist titles, we neither burned them nor confiscated them. We bought them." He noted that since May 2, GPI members had bought some 20 books from Jakarta bookstores.
When asked if his members had burned the books, Suaib said his members studied them instead. "We need to know which books need to be republished, and which do not. If they are republished, then we have to decide if they should be for sale, or just for students at schools or universities. These are some of the questions AAK needs to find out," Suaib said. He added that regardless of the results AAK made from its research, it would hand over the results to the National Police Headquarters and the Attorney General's Office.
A group comprising authors, poets, journalists and activists staged a rally at the Proclamation Monument on Sunday to protest the campaign against the books. Participants included Franz Magnis-Suseno, Sapardi Djoko Damono, Fikri Jufri, Sabam Siagian, Ratna Sarumpaet and Nono Anwar Makarim.
Meanwhile, the chairman of Betawi Youth Forum, Rahmat H.S., said the search for books on communism would continue, and he urged the National Police to seize them. "We are not bluffing. We will continue the search for these books," Rahmat told the Post. Betawi Youth Forum is also a member of the AAK alliance.
Rahmat added that the alliance had sent a letter to National Police chief Gen. Surojo Bimantoro advising him to order the books seized, which he claimed were in violation of the 1966 People's Consultative Assembly's decree on the banning of the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) and its ideologies.
He said the alliance had given the police seven days to take "stern action against bookstore owners selling leftist books" However, he said, before conducting the search, members of the alliance would have a dialog on Saturday with people whom the alliance considered as "leftist", such as philosopher Franz Magnis-Suseno and political scientist Hermawan Sulistyo.
Franz's book, titled Pemikiran Karl Marx (Thoughts of Karl Marx), and Hermawan's Palu Arit (Hammer and Sickle), were among the books earlier burned by members of the alliance.
City police chief Insp. Gen. Sofjan Yacob said on Saturday that he had instructed the heads of Jakarta police stations to deploy personnel around major bookstores across the capital to prevent any security disturbances. "My intelligence officers also summoned two GPI members, and had a chat with them. In short, we told them not to take any harsh action against the general public, or do anything to provoke chaos," Sofjan said on Saturday.
Meanwhile in Batam, Riau, bookstores are reportedly cashing in on the sudden interest of "leftist" books. A store keeper at Lucky Media book store said books such as Revolusi Indonesia by Franz Magnis Suseno, Catatan Revolusi Rakyat by Che Guevara, Kronik Revolusi Indonesia and Rumah Kaca's Pramudya Ananta Toer were selling well. "We're still displaying them because many people look for them," storekeeper Anwar said on Saturday. He added that between two to four such books were sold each day.
Barelang Police Detective chief Adj. Comr. Bahagia Dachi said police are on alert but doubts if anti-communist groups plan to do anything in Batam. "We have not found any indication of the AAK groups operating here," he told the Post on Saturday.
| Environment/health |
Straits Times - May 23, 2001
Jakarta -- Illegal loggers are suspected of moving border posts between Indonesia and Malaysia in the rainforests of Borneo island, causing Indonesia to lose some territory, the government said yesterday.
"There are now many parts of Indonesian territory that are in Malaysia," Defence Minister Mohammad Mahmud told reporters at the presidential palace. "To deal with this border matter, the President has ordered his ministers to take immediate steps," he added.
The minister said Indonesia's military has claimed that private companies have shifted the posts and that hundreds of hectares of Indonesian land had been lost in this way. He did not name the companies involved or their country of origin. A 1,300-km-long border separates Indonesian West and East Kalimantan provinces from the Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak.
The region contains one of the world's greatest jungle wildernesses, which environmentalists warn is fast disappearing because of illegal logging.
Mr Mohammad said he would discuss the border problem with Malaysian authorities soon. "We will discuss again the problem of our border in East Kalimantan to make a new agreement, new border lines and together lay down border markers," he said.
The two countries have clashed several times over their borders in Borneo, including in Indonesia's West Kalimantan province. Each side has accused the other of moving border markers.
| Arms/armed forces |
Detik - May 22, 2001
Rizal Maslan/HD, Jakarta -- The meeting of the Army Forced generals at the Indonesian Military's headquarters last Saturday has indicated the evidence that the military have steadily inched their way back into position and are readying themselves for an attempt to take back their power. The meeting is a manifestation of insubordination or the disobedience over the Commander in Chief," said a statement received by Detik from nine student NGOs, Tuesday.
They are Center of Information and Action Network for Reform (Pijar Indonesia), Solidarity for Peace in East Timor (Solidamor), Indonesian Association of Muslim Students (PMII) for East Jakarta and South Jakarta representatives, Social Democracy Union (SDS), Jayabaya Anti New Order Post, People's Solidarity (Sorak), Street Kids' Solidarity (SAJA) and National Democratic Front (FND). According to them, the TNI's superior attitudes was caused by the issue of decree to disband the parliament and the replacement of high ranking military officials be regretted and worth criticised.
But, according to the nine of the NGOs, the one worth being criticised is the civil politicians who still last the Military's dual function in the parliament till 2001. Those politicians who hold the power in the parliament consist of the Golkar cadres and New Order remnants as well as their allies from the conservative wing at the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).
Student NGO also regretted, the step down of dictator president Suharto is not followed with the elimination of the New Order's in the parliament. Even pionered by the Golkar, the false reform force within the conservative and sectarian in the parliament has conversely interfered legal government led by Abdurachman Wahid or better known as Gus Dur.
They also rejected the military to play their active role in politics circle and demanded the Military to go back to barrack, disband the Military territorial institution, evoke the Military's dual function and criticised the Armed Forces' disobedience over the Commander in chief.