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Indonesia News Digest 16 – April 23-30, 2008
Jakarta Post - April 26, 2008
Abdul Khalik, Jakarta – The US Namru-2 research lab has
increasingly been accused of providing little benefit to
Indonesia, with officials, lawmakers and experts voicing
suspicion the lab is used for intelligence activities.
The criticism mounted following the United States' demand that
Indonesia grant diplomatic status to all of its 19 citizens
working at the Naval Medical Research Unit No. 2 (Namru-2) in
Jakarta.
University of Indonesia international law professor Hikmahanto
Juwana said diplomatic immunity given to the US researchers
violated international law. He cited the Vienna Convention that
says only diplomats are entitled to immunity.
"We are wondering what the use of diplomatic immunity is for a
researcher. Are they so in danger of being arrested or prosecuted
in their work that they need protection? Is Indonesia so weak
that they can protect foreigners working here?" he told The
Jakarta Post on Friday.
All the questions, he said, led many Indonesians to suspect the
American researchers were engaged in other pursuits, including
intelligence activities.
Indonesia and the United States are now negotiating a new MOU to
extend the operation of Namru-2 after the previous agreement
expired in 2005.
Indonesia said Wednesday it decided to grant diplomatic immunity
to only two American officials at Namru-2 and demanded the
laboratory be more transparent in its operations. The United
States on Thursday asked Indonesia to grant diplomatic status to
all its citizens at the laboratory, and denied it was not
transparent.
Bantarto Bandoro of the Centre for Strategic and International
Studies (CSIS) also called the US medical lab secretive,
pointing to complaints made by many government offices that the
center is difficult to access.
Several Indonesian officials, including Health Minister Siti
Fadilah Supari and Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono, have also
said the lab lacks transparency. Juwono said Thursday the United
States had rejected including Indonesian Military (TNI)
scientists in the lab's operations.
Former TNI chief Gen. Wiranto and former foreign minister Ali
Alatas in 1999 sent a letter asking then president BJ Habibie to
stop the operations of Namru-2 because it had compromised
Indonesian national security while offering little benefit to the
country.
Alatas told the Post on Friday he proposed the action because the
laboratory was "excessive" and gave "too many diplomatic status"
allowances to the United States.
Member of the House of Representatives' Commission I on defense,
security and foreign affairs Mutammimul Ula demanded the
government stop Namru-2's operation and investigate allegations
that it was used for intelligence activities.
Sydney Morning Herald - April 23, 2008
The Indonesian Government has endorsed a court's decision to
outlaw the radical Jemaah Islamiah network, sparking intense
debate about whether the move is a turning point in the region's
battle against terrorism.
A Foreign Ministry spokesman, Kristiarto Legowo, told the Herald
the administration had to respect the legal process and the
court's decision. "I think the essence here is it [JI] is now
banned and that we are all bound by it."
He declined to say whether the Government would formally list JI
as banned or discuss new moves against the network. JI members
carried out the Bali bombings and a string of other terrorist
attacks in a campaign to impose an Islamist state across the
region.
Last year the Foreign Minister, Hassan Wirayuda, said it was
impractical to outlaw JI as it was not a "formal organisation".
Sentencing JI's former leader and military commander to 15 years
in jail on Monday, the South Jakarta District Court ruled they
were caretakers of an "illegal organisation".
The Singapore-based terrorism expert Rohan Gunaratna hailed the
verdict as a "huge victory against terrorism", but others
questioned how the ban would be enforced and whether it was
legally binding.
A police spokesman, Abubakar Nataprawira, indicated there were no
plans to use the court's verdict to crack down on JI members.
General Nataprawira said police "only deal with people who commit
crime, whose actions have clearly violated the law on terrorism".
Australia welcomed the court's decision. The Foreign Affairs
Minister, Stephen Smith, said yesterday that it was a significant
move and "assessing its full ramifications may take some time".
Mr Smith said Indonesian officials would be carefully examining
the verdict, but it was up to Jakarta to decide whether to issue
a formal ban against JI.
Canberra has urged Indonesia to outlaw JI since its role in the
2002 Bali bombings, which killed 202 people, was revealed.
Banning the region's most dangerous terrorist network would send
an important public message and enable the arrest of key leaders,
Canberra argued.
The International Crisis Group director and JI expert Sidney
Jones said the verdict came "closer to banning JI as an
organisation and closer to declaring it an illegal organisation
than anything we've had thus far".
The decision "may make it easier for the police to actually
arrest and charge individuals who are also members of the [JI]
central command", Ms Jones said.
A law lecturer at the University of Indonesia, Rudy Satrio
Makatardjo, said the Attorney-General's office and the courts had
the authority to ban organisations, although lower court
decisions needed to be confirmed by the Supreme Court.
"Only when the case has reached Supreme Court will it be a final,
legal binding decision," he said. "Only then it is formally
banned."
[With reporting by Karuni Rompies.]
Demos, protests, actions...
Aceh
West Papua
Human rights/law
May Day 2008
Environment/natural disasters
Women & gender
Health & education
War on corruption
Land/rural issues
Islam/religion
Elections/political parties
Armed forces/defense
Economy & investment
Opinion & analysis
News & issues
Suspicions mount against US laboratory
Jakarta backs court's decision to outlaw Jemaah Islamiah
Demos, protests, actions...
Dayaks stage rallies, block airport
Jakarta Post - April 29, 2008
Nurni Sulaiman, Balikpapan – People of the Dayak indigenous tribe under the auspices of the Dayak Solidarity Organization on Monday staged simultaneous rallies in five cities across East Kalimantan, demanding the gubernatorial election, slated for May 26, be postponed.
Demonstrators in Balikpapan, Samarinda, Bontang, Tarakan and Malinau called on the administration to hold the election after the 17th National Games, which the province is scheduled to host from July 6 to 17.
"We expect the election not to be organized until after our voices are heard. We, the Dayak community who are indigenous people of Kalimantan, feel dejected and disappointed because our aspirations have never been accommodated. We don't require a governor from the Dayak tribe, but at least there should be a Dayak candidate to represent us," said rally coordinator Bayer Gabriel.
In Balikpapan, some 500 tribesmen blocked the highway to the Sepinggan International Airport but were prevented from entering the compound by police Mobile Brigade troops. In protest, they occupied an intersection connecting Jl Marsma Iswahyudi, Jl Mulawarman and Jl Yos Sudarso. Although flight activities were uninterrupted, passengers going in and out of the biggest airport in East Kalimantan were forced to take a ten-kilometer detour.
To secure the situation, the Balikpapan city police deployed eight truck-loads of anti-riot police personnel, an armored car and a water cannon.
Protesters rallied at the Balikpapan General Elections Commission (KPUD) office and the municipal council building before obstructing access to the airport.
At the council building, a number of Dayak community figures addressed the crowd and expressed their disappointment over unheeded aspirations in front of legislative speaker Burhanuddin Solong.
"We will continue to protest until our voices have been heard, failing which, don't imagine you can hold the election or National Games," cried Bayer in front of Burhanuddin.
In Samarinda, hundreds of Dayaks also rallied before the East Kalimantan KPUD office on Jl Basuki Rahmat. A commotion at one point ensued after protesters were engaged in a scuffle with authorities.
Four gubernatorial candidate pairs have been nominated to run in the election. They include Jusuf SK and Luther Kombong from the Golkar Party, Awang Faroek Ishak and Farid Wadjdy from the National Mandate Party, Nursyirwan Ismail and Heru Bambang from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and Achmad Amins and Hadi Mulyadi from the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS).
Tempo Interactive - April 25, 2008
Bayu Galih, Jakarta – A number of protest actions will be held in Jakarta today, Friday April 25. Based on data from the Metro Jaya regional police Traffic Management Centre, the actions will take place between 9.30am and 5pm.
The first action will be a protest in front of the National Elections Commission (KPU) office on Jl. Imam Bonjol in Central Jakarta. Organised by the Jakarta-West Nusa Tenggara Student Union (KMJ-NTB), they will be calling on the KPU to delay a scheduled election of regional heads in West Nusa Tenggara and immediately provide the legal framework to allow independent candidates to participate. The action is planned to start at 9.30am.
The second action will take place in front of the Chinese Embassy in the Mega Kuningan area of South Jakarta. Organised by Falun Gong Indonesia, they will be calling for an end to the torture and murder of Falun Gong practitioners in China. The action will take place between 10am and 1pm.
At 10.30am, Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) will be holding a demonstration in front of the Supreme Court building calling for the court to be `rescued' from the court mafia.
In addition to ICW, workers from the Confederation of Prosperity Labour Unions (KSBSI) will also hold a protest at the Supreme Court at 2pm.
The State Palace and the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) will also be targets for protest actions. Between 2-4pm, protesters from the East Kalimantan People's Coalition for the Eradication of Corruption (KRBK-Kaltim) will be demonstrating in front of the State Palace on Jl. Merdeka Utara in Central Jakarta. At 2pm meanwhile, protesters form the Anti-Corruption Social Forum (FORMAK) will hold a demonstration at the KPK.
Finally, at 5pm protesters from the Student Movement of Liberation (GMP) will also hold a protest action at Namru Laboratories at the Department of Health's Research and Development Division Complex in the Rawa Sari area of Central Jakarta. The will be calling on the government to conduct a review of the Namru-2 (Naval Medical Research Unit No. 2) Laboratory and US intelligence activities in Indonesia.
[Translated by James Balowski.]
| Aceh |
Tempo Interactive - April 24, 2008
Imran MA, Jakarta – The Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Agency (BRR) office in Lhokseumawe has been occupied by hundreds of tsunami victims.
The victims, who are members of the People's Movement for Tsunami Victims, are demanding that the BRR Regional II at Lhokseumawe pay out rehabilitation funds amounting to Rp15 million per home.
People from the villages of Pusong Lama, Pusong Baru, Keude Aceh and Kuala Meuraksa have come to the BRR office, set up tents and hung banners along the fences of the office.
Earlier, the BRR modified its policy for substituting rehabilitation funds from Rp15 million per home to Rp2.5 million per home. This policy is being challenged by the tsunami victims.
"The sum of Rp2.5 million in funds is inappropriate," said Sofyan, the coordinator of this action.
In his opinion, based on Presidential Regulation No 30/2005 on Aceh and Nias Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Master Plan, tsunami victims whose houses are slightly ruined should be compensated Rp10 million and those with heavily ruined houses should be compensated Rp25 million per home.
In response to this, Head of BRR Regional II Representative at Lhokseumawe T. Maksal Putra said that they would hear what people have to say. "Should there be anyone who disagrees with the rehabilitation fund of Rp2.5 million, then they should submit a report in writing," he said.
Maksal also reminded that those who have not yet been registered as the receivers of home-rehabilitation funds should enlist through coordinating in their own regions. "The data will be taken to the BRR in Banda Aceh," he said.
| West Papua |
Radio Australia - April 28, 2008
Reporter: Jeff Waters
Mark Colvin: There are growing fears for a group of ethnic Melanesian students in Indonesia who've been jailed for allegedly raising a banned flag during a peaceful protest.
Supporters of the group, from Indonesia's West Papua Province, say the prisoners have been charged with subversion, and are being mistreated in jail.
The cousin of one of the men is Herman Wainggai. He led a group of more than 40 Papuan asylum seekers to Australia two years ago. And as Jeff Waters reports, Herman Wainggai says he's worried his cousin will die in prison.
Jeff Waters: On the 3rd of March this year, a large group of Melanesian students gathered in central Manokwari in Indonesia's West Papua Province to call for a referendum on independence. It was one of a series of reportedly peaceful demonstrations held in the region in recent months.
Apparently a morning star flag, a nationalist Melanesian symbol, was raised. Police subsequently rounded up and arrested a number of demonstrators; one of them was Jack Wainggai, cousin of Herman Wainggai. Herman Wainggai was the subject of diplomatic tension between Jakarta and Canberra when he, his family and almost 40 others, were granted political asylum in Australia. Now Herman Wainggai says he's worried for his cousin's safety.
Herman Wainngai: I worry because my uncle die in prison. That's why now I'm really worried about my cousin. I don't want him to die when he's living in jail.
Jeff Waters: An Australian supporter of the Free Papua movement, activist Nick Chesterfield, says the prisoners are being mistreated.
Nick Chesterfield: Specifically in Manokwari, we've got very clear reports that each night Jack and his friends are being taken out and interrogated and very badly treated. They're being kept in damp cells, they're not being given enough food, they're not being given enough water and they're also having violent drunk criminals put in with them to attack them each night.
Jeff Waters: Campaign manager Andrew Beswick says Amnesty International is monitoring the case.
Andrew Beswick: Amnesty International doesn't support any political views necessarily on Papua one way or another. The political status there is a matter for the Indonesian people. What we say is that people have a right to express their political views and to do so peacefully, and they should not be in prison for doing so.
Jeff Waters: The spokesman for the Indonesian embassy in Canberra, Dino Kusnadi, says it would be inappropriate for him to comment on whether or not the men were arrested for raising a flag during a peaceful protest.
Dino Kusnadi: It's improper for me to elaborate on each individual cases as you ask me. But in general I can say that these people that's been detained, they have been charged, or they may have been charged with rebellion and subversive criminal acts.
Jeff Waters: But Mr Kusnadi disagreed that the prisoners would be mistreated.
Dino Kusnadi: We appreciate when we have reports like this we could report back to the proper authorities on whether that it is true or not. Of course, we have to acknowledge that there are limitations within the Indonesian police on the availability of jail cells.
Again, given with the attention of what's going on in Papua, the commitment of the central government, I'm sure that the authorities there will present their case as sound as possible before they go into the courts.
Mark Colvin: Dino Kusnadi, a spokesman for the Indonesian embassy in Canberra, ending that report by Jeff Waters.
| Human rights/law |
Detik.com - April 29, 2008
M. Rizal Maslan, Jakarta – Scores of people from the East Java Alliance to Combat New Style Communism (SPKGB) protested at the offices of the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) on Tuesday April 29.
In addition to demanding that the Komnas HAM 1965-1966 Ad Hoc Investigation Team be disbanded, they also set fire to red flags with pictures of the hammer and sickle and the words PKI – the banned Indonesian Communist Party.
The protest began at 10.20am with a 500 meter march to the Komnas HAM offices on Jl. Latuharhary in the Menteng area of Central Java. Upon arriving at the offices, the 50 or so people immediately began giving speeches.
They also brought banners and posters with messages such as "Disband.!!! The '65 PKI-Komnas HAM Conspiracy Ad Hoc Team", "Forbidden!!! Communists and their Defenders, Long Live Pancasila", "Komnas HAM is not the PKI's Political Vehicle", "The Years 1948-1965 = Murderers and Rebels, the people and the TNI- Polri [Indonesian military-National police] are ready to exterminate them".
During the action, protesters also trampled on red-coloured flags with pictures of the hammer and sickle and the words "PKI" in written in yellow. They then set fire to PKI flags while singing the patriotic song "Indonesiat disbanding the ad hoc team. The reason being he said, was because they believe Komnas HAM prefers to side with the interests of those victims who are ipso facto former members of, or people involved in the PKI.
"What about the victims of the PKI's brutality at the time, the governor and regional police chief in East Java at the time were killed, kiai [Islamic teachers] were also murdered, where was Komnas HAM [then]", he screamed.
After holding negotiations with police, representatives of the protesters were received by Komnas HAM's deputy chair for internal affairs M. Ridha Saleh in the public complaints office. Speaking emotionally, they used the opportunity to convey to Saleh their disillusionment with Komnas HAM and explain their position and experiences of the PKI's brutality.
Unable to receive a satisfactory response from Saleh, immediately after the dialoged finished they closed the front gate and sealed it off with lengths of wood and posters reading "The Komnas HAM offices have been sealed off by the anti-communist community because Komnas HAM has violated human rights". Before leaving, they covered the Komnas HAM office fence with the banners and poster condemning the PKI. (zal/ana)
[Abridged translation by James Balowski from two articles in Detik.com dated April 29.]
Tempo Interactive - April 29, 2008
Sutarto, Jakarta – Lawyers and human rights activists went to the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) offices on Tuesday April 29 to declare their support for the commission's continued investigation into cases of gross human rights violations, particularly the Talangsari case. They also urged Komnas HAM to issue subpoenas against retired military and police officer that have refused to be questioned.
Former Legal Aid and Human Rights Association (PBHI) chairperson Hendardi said that Komnas HAM has already summoned former TNI (Indonesian military) and police officers for questioning over violations in East Timor and the Trisakti, Semanggi I and Semanggi II shootings.
"Before, when they were still active they could be summoned. How is it that now that they are retired they're afraid," said Hendardi when reading out a press statement at the Komnas HAM offices in Central Jakarta. Hendardi was accompanied by lawyers Petrus Selestinus and Sugeng Teguh Santoso. They were received by Komnas HAM member Yoseph Adi Prasetyo.
On Thursday April 24, around 500 retired military and police officers gathered in Jakarta to declare their position, which in essence condemned Komnas HAM's moves to investigate human rights cases. They said that the investigations being carried out by the commission were one-sided.
Hendardi said he was surprised by the stand being taken by retired military and police officers in refusing Komnas HAM's summons to investigate the Talangsari case. By way of example he said, when they were summoned by the Truth and Friendship Commission looking into the East Timor case they were prepared to fulfil the summons.
But, in the case of Talangsari,"Why was it only Sudomo who arrived", asked Hendardi. Former coordinating minister for politics and security retired Admiral Sudomo did indeed fulfil the Komnas HAM summons when it was investigating the Talangsari case. According to Hendardi, the refusal by the retired officers demonstrates their lack of patriotism.
Notes:
The Talangsari incident revolves around a dawn attack by a battalion of army soldiers on the village in Lampung regency, which was believed to be home to a group accused of attempting to establish an Indonesian Islamic state. Officials said 27 members of the Warsidi-led Koran recital group were killed in the incident, but rights groups put the death toll as high as 246.
[Translated by James Balowski.]
Jakarta Post - April 28, 2008
Lilian Budianto, Jakarta – Human rights activists and political experts have criticized retired military and police generals for protesting against attempts to question them in connection to past atrocities.
Usman Hamid, coordinator of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence, said Sunday the move only demonstrated their attempts to preserve impunity.
He said the retired generals had violated the principle of equality before the law by calling on the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) to stop the investigations and urging the government to replace Komnas HAM members for abuse of power.
About 500 retired military and police generals gathered in Jakarta on Thursday. They said the rights commission had no authority to investigate the past atrocities, including the 1989 shootings in Talangsari, Lampung, because they occurred before the 1999 human rights law and 2000 human rights court law were enacted.
A provision in the 1945 Constitution states no new law can be applied retroactively unless the House of Representatives passes a law saying otherwise.
The former generals, including former Armed Forces chief Gen. (ret) Try Sutrisno and former Army Special Forces commander Gen. (ret) Wismoyo Arismunandar, have accused the commission of deliberately misinterpreting the law to force them to take responsibility for the Talangsari incident, in which more than 200 local residents were killed.
Try, Wismoyo and Gen. (ret) A.M. Hendropriyono, who was Lampung military commander at the time of the incident, have refused to answer summonses by the rights body.
"The generals have no justification in hiding behind the principle of retroactivity because a provision in the human rights court law says atrocities that occurred before the enactment of the law can be heard in an ad hoc court," Usman said.
The law says the ad hoc court can be set up by the president following recommendations from the rights commission and the Attorney General's Office.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono told human rights activists, including Usman, early last month he backed the move by Komnas HAM. He ordered all government institutions to support any investigation or examination conducted by the rights body into alleged crimes against humanity.
Yudhoyono's call came after Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono encouraged retired generals to ignore the rights body's summonses.
J. Kristiadi, vice director for the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, said the generals' protest was exaggerated. However, he said their move was a reaction to the rights commission's public disclosure of the planned investigations without personally notifying the senior officers beforehand.
He said the President should explain to the retired generals the investigations were not intended to force them to take responsibility. "They are summoned as witnesses and if they have done nothing wrong they should turn up and tell the public so," Kristiadi said.
Another political expert, Ikrar Nusabhakti, said the President's intervention could be interpreted as a move against the former generals, who will challenge Yudhoyono in the 2009 elections.
Radio New Zealand International - April 28, 2008
Non-governmental organisations and churches in Indonesia have released a report detailing what they say are thousands of cases of torture and abuse in Aceh, Papua and East Timor, while it was under Indonesian rule.
The Practice of Torture in Aceh and Papua covers a period of more than ten years. The external relations director of the groups behind the report, Poengky Indarty, says the government still uses torture as an effective and systematic method to get confessions from suspects.
Indonesia signed the Convention Against Torture in 1998 and first submitted its rights reports review in 2001. But Poengky Indarty says the convention is not part of the legal system in Indonesia.
The report will be submitted to the Geneva-based Committee Against Torture before it holds its second review of human rights progress in Indonesia.
Jakarta Post - April 28, 2008
Jakarta – The Press Council has issued a journalists' protection standard in a bid to protect media workers from violence, intimidation and censorship while upholding press freedom.
The guidelines say journalists are protected from acts of violence, seizure of their equipment and efforts to obstruct journalistic work by any party, which includes censorship. Media workers, however, must abide by the press code of ethics to be entitled to the protection.
"The protection standard is expected to help journalists work safely and peacefully so they can perform better," Press Council member Wina Armada Sukardi said over the weekend.
The guidelines say the state, the community and media companies are responsible for protecting journalists.
For stories that lead to legal disputes, the editors in chief or others responsible for publication represent the media companies. During questioning they can refuse to answer questions deemed irrelevant and can protect the identity of the sources.
Under the guidelines, employers cannot force journalists to write news stories that violate the press code of ethics.
When covering conflicts, journalists must be able to produce assignment letters, have insurance and safety equipment, and be well equipped with the knowledge and skills to work in conflict zones. They must maintain impartiality and avoid using symbols of any party in the dispute.
The guidelines also state journalists working in conflict-torn areas cannot be intimidated, held hostage or tortured, or killed.
Wina said the guidelines would enable the implementation of protection for journalists as stipulated in Press Law No. 40/1999.
The draft guidelines have been discussed three times in the past year with a number of media and nonmedia organizations, including the National Police, the Indonesian Military, the Justice and Human Rights Ministry and the Information and Communications Ministry.
Despite claims it recognizes press freedom, the government has drafted a criminal code that criminalizes works of journalism. There are at least 47 articles that media observers say can bring journalists to court, particularly for libel, defamation and inciting hatred of the government.
Human rights groups have said the draft criminal code places more restrictions on the press than the existing Criminal Code.
Jakarta Post - April 26, 2008
Lilian Budianto and Mariani Dewi, Jakarta – Non-governmental organizations and churches released Friday The Practice of Torture in Aceh and Papua 1998-2007 report, which details thousand of abuse cases in Aceh and Papua during the past military imposition and in Timor Leste during the occupation of Indonesia from 1975-1999.
The 202-page report was prepared by the Office for Justice and Peace of the Catholic Diocese of Jayapura in Papua, Jakarta-based human rights monitoring group Imparsial, Progressio Timor Leste, the Synod of the Christian Evangelical Church in West Papua and the congregation of Franciscans International.
The report will be submitted to the Geneva-based Committee Against Torture (CAT) as a recommendation before it holds its second review toward human rights progress in Indonesia.
"The government still uses torture as an effective and systematic method to get confessions from suspects," said Poengky Indarty, Imparsial's external relations director.
"Indonesia should not be doing it but torture is carried out not only by police officers, but also by the military. The convention is not part of the legal system in Indonesia. Torture is defined in the Criminal Code only as 'force by state officers in investigation' and the punishment is very light," she added.
Indonesia signed the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, Degrading Treatment or Punishment in 1998 and first submitted its rights reports review by the committee in 2001.
The Indonesian government, including its military and police chief leaders, will be in Geneva from May 6-7 to attend the second periodic review by the committee.
A number of victims will also go to Geneva to testify for the committee, which has the power to impose sanctions, including embargoes, on Indonesia if it fails to improve its human rights conditions within the given deadline.
The report provides the breakdown of more than 5,000 cases of torture, extra-judicial killings and injuries sustained in Aceh from 1998 to 2007 during the Military Emergency Phase I and II. It details approximately 242 documented cases of torture in Papua and other cases of abuse by military forces leading to human rights violations, including the large-scale destruction of entire villages.
The report also chronicles the situation of human rights in Timor Leste during the occupation of Indonesia from 1975 to 1999.
The report says the cycle of violence and torture is reoccurring because the government has not taken any effective steps to prevent the military and police from repeating the same brutal violence.
It says torture was used in Timor Leste and Aceh through military operations to instill fear in the people. Today a number of controversial mining companies operate in the regions and issues of separatism by the local residents remain.
In their recommendation to the committee, the NGOs and religious groups also wanted the government to run preliminary inquiries and bring to trial and convict the perpetrators of torture. This includes military commanders and chief police officers who may have given orders to carry out the torture.
Poengky said most of the allegedly involved officers had been acquitted of all charges and had even been promoted to higher positions.
She said the government had failed to fulfill the first committee's recommendations from 2001, saying they only satisfied one out of the 17 recommendations. The only recommendation the government fulfilled was when it invited special rapporteur on torture Manfred Nowak to visit Indonesia in 2007.
Jakarta Post - April 25, 2008
Lilian Budianto, Jakarta – Retired military and police generals met in Jakarta on Thursday, telling the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) to stop probing past human rights cases implicating armed forces officers.
They urged the government to replace Komnas HAM members, arguing they lacked integrity and legal backgrounds to work professionally. Those meeting at Balai Sudirman, Jakarta, included retired Army generals recently summoned by Komnas HAM concerning involvement in the 1989 Talangsari, Lampung, shooting incident.
The rights body earlier summoned former Armed Forces chief Gen. (ret) Try Sutrisno, then Army Special Forces commander Gen. (ret) Wismoyo Arismunandar and the Lampung military commander when the incident took place Gen. (ret) A.M. Hendropriyono. All of them defied the summonses.
Commissioner Johny Nelson Simanjuntak said the rights body would file to subpoena the generals with the Central Jakarta District Court.
Hendropriyono, who ignored the first summons scheduled for Feb. 22 and second on March 3, said he never received a summons. The former National Intelligence Agency chief insisted the Talangsari military action was a state duty to quell separatism.
In a statement read out at the meeting, the former generals demanded the government review the provision in the 2006 amended human rights law authorizing Komnas HAM to investigate rights cases that occurred prior to its enactment.
They argued that a provision in the 1945 Constitution stated that no new law could be applied retroactively. This would remove from Komnas HAM any right to investigate the Talangsari incident and other cases prior to the 1999 enactment of the human rights law, they added.
"We urge the government to be consistent and clear about the constitutional provisions, to prevent people from deliberate misinterpretation to justify their illegal moves," said the statement as quoted by Antara news agency.
The generals supported defiance of the summons issued by Komnas HAM, saying the rights commission had abused its authority.
Hendardi, who chairs rights group Setara Institute, slammed the generals' call, accusing them of hiding themselves behind a legal instrument to avoid facing responsibility.
"If Wiranto (a former armed forces chief implicated in the bloody 1998 riots) wanted to deny any human rights abuse charges, he should have shown up at Komnas HAM to explain about it," he said. "State duty is not justification for committing human rights violations." The Talangsari incident sparked debate when Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono encouraged retired generals to ignore the summonses because the rights body had no authority to investigate it, citing the retroactivity argument.
However, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono voiced backing for the Komnas HAM's move, ordering all government institutions to support any investigation or examination into alleged crimes against humanity conducted by the rights body.
The Talangsari incident refers to a dawn attack by a battalion of Army soldiers on the village, which was believed to be home to a group, led by Warsidi, accused of attempting to establish an Indonesian Islamic state.
Officials said 27 members of the Warsidi-led Koran recital group were killed in the incident, but rights groups put the death toll as high as 246.
Detik.com - April 24, 2008
M. Rizal Maslan, Jakarta – There are steps being taken by the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) that are damaging the interests of the state and even benefiting the interests of other parties. Because of this therefore, the Community of Retired Indonesian Military and Police Officers (KBP TNI-Polri) is calling on Komnas HAM not to be used as an instrument to attack the nation itself.
"So that Komnas HAM is not used as an instrument of to attack the nation itself. Komnas HAM should focus its attention more on fulfilling and protecting the basic human rights of the people such as welfare, education and employment opportunities", said KBP TNI-Polri chairperson retired Lieutenant General Saeful Sulun following a meeting of retired Indonesian military (TNI) and police (Polri) officers at the Sudirman public hall on Jl. Saharjo in South Jakarta on Thursday April 24.
KBP TNI-Polri also stated that it would not collaborate with and opposed all Komnas HAM activities that are based on one-sided justifications. Particularly those that obviously conflict with the law and are outside of Komnas HAM's mandate as regulated by legislation.
"We understand and support the stand taken by retired TNI and Polri officers who have chosen not to fulfil Komnas HAM's summons that use unilateral and arbitrary interpretations of the law," continued Sulun.
Because of this therefore, they are urging other institutions to be consistent and firm in correcting Article 28(i) of the 1945 Constitution in order to prevent multiple interpretation and misuse of the article. In addition to this, Article 43 of Law Number 26/2000 on the Establishment of a Human Rights Court also needs to be reviewed.
The group said that the law being used as an legal umbrella to investigate alleged gross human rights violations in East Timor and the Tanjung Priok shootings in 1984 does not need to be used as an unlimited justification to reopen other past human rights cases.
Komnas HAM is also being asked to immediately make qualitative and quantitative corrections to the composition of its leadership board in order that there be a balanced input from those elements in society that have integrity, experience and professional skills in the legal field in accordance with Article 84 of Law Number 39/1999 on Human Rights.
"In order to prevent manipulation by domestic non-government organisations (NGOs) for the purposes of damaging the nation and state, we ask the government and the House of Representatives immediately issue a law on NGOs for the purpose of guaranteeing transparency during the era of reform", added Sulun.
Sulun also said that there are indications that rogue Komnas HAM members and particular NGOs are acting in a proactive and arrogant manner by making use of legislative dictums. "This must all stop because it could destroy national unity and weaken the spirit of the security forces in the context of carrying out the duties of the state", he said by way of conclusion. (nvt/ana)
Notes:
Article 28(i) of the 1945 Constitution reads: "The right not to be charged on the basis of retroactivity is a basic human right that may not be breached under any circumstances."
[Translated by James Balowski.]
Antara News - April 24, 2008
More than one hundred retired armed forces and police generals met in Jakarta Thursday to discuss gross human rights violations.
Among those present were former Vice President Try Sutrisno, former armed forces commander Wiranto, former chief of staff Wismoyo Arimunandar, former chief of police Awaloedin Djamin and former chairman of the MPR Kharis Suhud.
Others who were present included former Jakarta governor Sutiyoso, the former governor of East Java Basofie Sudirman, the head of BIN Syamsir Siregar and the former head of the TNI/Polri Group Saiful Sulun., as well as the former chief of BAIS Aria Sudewo, EE Mangindaan former governor of North Sumatra, now a member of Parliament.
The meeting was closed to the public but before it began, Wiranto said that many people including retired officers still don't understand anything about gross human rights violations..
"There are many one-sided assessments which lead to accusations that the TNI behaved like the Nazi army or did things like what happened in Rwanda or Cambodia which led to millions of victims." he said.
He said that gross human rights violations as stipulated in Law No 26, 2000 on human rights courts say that a number of criteria must be met, such as genocide or crimes against humanity that were perpetrated systematically and had a wide impact.
Incidents such as the Tanjung Priok case in 1984, the Talangsari (Lampung) case in 1989, the disappearances in 1997/98, as well as the Trisakti case, the May riots and the Semanggi case in 1998/99 were not identified as gross human rights violations. This means that there must be a proper understanding of human rights violations not only by human rights enforcers but also by retired officers and officers still on active service.
Sutiyoso said that in its investigations about gross human rights violations, Komnas HAM must have a correct understanding of what is meant, and coordinate their investigations well.
He mentioned as an example the Talangsari incident which was a war against certain elements who wanted to engage in subversion and were in favour of setting up an Islamic state. The Talangsari case did not involve any human rights violations.
Sutiyoso said that no single TNI officer has ever intended to kill their own people. "What they did was to perform their state duties," he said.
He suggested that Komnas HAM should explain human rights values to the public at large so that the matter can be properly understood and not lead to accusations.
[Slightly abridged translation by TAPOL.]
| May Day 2008 |
Kompas - April 30, 2008
Basic changes in the struggle by the working class before and after reformasi represent a shift from a struggle for wages and conditions to a struggle for job security.
Since the enactment of Law Number 13/2003 on Labour, in particular Article 56 Paragraph 2 on Work Contracts for a Specified Period (PKWT) and on company contractors and labour services (outsourcing), the recruitment of contract workers and outsourcing has largely been carried out by third parties.
This has given birth to brokering practices that tend to favour the criteria of human trafficking rather then a distribution of labour that is fair for all parties.
Ade (25), not his real name, confidently entered the grounds of a factory in Serang, Banteng regency, West Java. His letter of acceptance as a new employee at the electronics assembly factory made the high school graduate feel like he was walking on air. At the entrance to the factory however, a person standing at the security post stopped him.
"Who delivered you to this factory?" they asked. When Ade showed his acceptance letter, the security guard snapped, "You have to pay 2.5 million rupiah if you want to work here". Ade's dream was shattered. He was forced to give up because he was unable to pay the"entrance fee".
"I gave 2 million rupiah to my younger brother to pay an [employment] agent", said Yangto. With that money they were able to work for a year with a monthly wage in accordance with the municipal minimum wage (UMK) of 927,000 per month. "After that, if he wants to keep working there, he has to pay again", he added.
Employment agents
Employment agencies are not actually new to the area. Although as suggested by another workers –st refer to him as Ratno – it has become a growing trend over the last five years. When he wanted to get a job he had to come up with 2-3 million rupiah to get a work as a contract worker for six months to a year.
"Yesterday there were two people who started work, [they] paid 2 million rupiah to work for three months. If their work is good, it could be extended for three more months. But, after that the [employment] agent is no longer responsible. Meaning, if they want to continue, yeah well they have to pay again", said Risman.
With a wage of 927,000 rupiah per month,an"entryfee" of 2 million rupiah really doesn't make any sense. But according to Bagus Musharyo, the coordinator of the Jakarta Social Institute for Labour, a job is a status symbol for jobseekers in the area.
This kind of attitude has provided fertile grounds for brokering practices and indicates a progressive weakening of workers' bargaining position. Welfare and workers' rights, which in the past were the subject of struggle, have now evaporated.
"If you don't come into work wages are deducted as well as [your status as a] permanent employee," said Wati, a women worker in Serang. Special leave for women has also ceased to exists. Pregnant women may have to work the third shift, meaning they have to work from 11pm until 6am next morning.
Strong network
Employment brokers have become better organised with assistance from "inside people". According to Nanang, another worker, out of the fee of 2.5 million rupiah, as much as 1 million goes to unscrupulous managers at the factory, 500,000 is for rouge village officials and the remainder is for the broker – who refer to themselves as "labour service providers".
According to Yanto, if a factory is seeking labour services the brokers always do it using the name of local people because they should receive preferential employment opportunities.
"In reality local people also have to pay the same amount of money to brokers in order to get a job. I was asked for 2 million rupiah if I wanted to work at a certain factory there," said Dul, a local resident who has been unemployed for a year.
Arman, another employee at a factory in Serang, said that employment brokers began to take root in his area over the last three or four years."They are like a mafia because their network involves rogue military and police officers. They spread terror and fear", said Arman.
This intimidation is not just in the form of threats, but also physical violence. It is for this reason that they don't want there real names mentioned.
In April this year, the Serang Labour Solidarity Forum (FSBS) found that the recruitment of contract workers and outsourcing by third parties had become an attractive choice for many companies because – aside from not having to spend money on finding new employees – the system allows companies to avoid paying severance pay.
For the general chairperson of the Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo), Sofyan Wanandi, systems of contract labour and outsourcing are a dilemma. On the one hand, companies loose money because they have recruit and train new workers.
On the other hand however, companies benefit because under contract labour systems and outsourcing they are not burdened by the obligation of paying severance when employees are sacked.
According to Wanandi, the cost of severance pay is extremely high, so supposing a company goes bankrupt, and the company is sold, many are unable to pay severance pay."These days many companies pay a game of cat and mouse and use contract systems and outsourcing for essential jobs at their companies", he said.
Aside from the issue of brokers, industry also faces the problem of illegal fees. In Serang for example, as related by Nanang, each company has to pay a monthly "donation" to several different parties, including unscrupulous village officials, military and police officers and "local security", which comes to as much as 150,000-500,000 rupiah per institution."Multiply that by the hundreds of companies here. It's a lot of money", he said.
In addition to illegal fees, other taxes are levied, which according to Wanandi come to is as much as 10 percent of production costs.
These levies continued Wanandi, are far too high compared with the wage cost component of capital intensive enterprises of 10 percent and a labour intensive enterprises of 25-30 percent."Illegal fees and brokering must be quashed. That's the government's job", asserted Wanandi.
Labour law revisions
Under a situation such as this, the most important thing that needs to be done at the moment is revising the labour law. Hendri Saparini, an economist from the Indonesian Awakening Team, says that contract labour and outsourcing do not represent a solution to problems facing global industries.
"We also don't agree with contract labour and outsourcing. But, there must be solution that is fair for both workers and businesspeople", said Wanandi. "We must push for a tripartite forum to bring together employers, workers and the government to revise theitment through brokering also hurts companies because they are unable to find the best quality employees."Thus,ce a breakdown of labour [resources], for example how many are skilled in field A and how many people in B. There's no specialisation", he said.
The rate of deindustrialisation in the manufacturing sector may well be influenced by this situation. "The slowdown has been consistent from year to year. In 2004 growth was 7.2 percent, in 2005 it was down to 5.8 percent, 2006 to as much as 5.2 percent, and in 2007 as low as 5.1 percent," said Saparini.
This decline can appears to be running parallel with the enactment of Law Number 13/2003. So who then, is the real culprit behind all these problems?
[Translated by James Balowski.]
Kompas - April 30, 2008
B. Josie Susilo Hardianto – The lunch boxes had only just been handed out when they began to discuss the story of Mardi – a worker in Tangerang, Banten province. He had just sent his two children back to his village."They've being entrusted with Mardi's parents so they can go to school", said Bagus, who provides support to workers.
Mardi's income as a contract labourer was simply not enough to cover the cost of looking after his children. Fortunately, his parents in the village were prepared to look after both children and at the same time befriend them during quiet periods.
There was another story about a worker who – although they were already working – was still receiving help from their parents. Every month their parents in the village provided them with rice because the wage they were receiving was not enough to meet their daily needs.
Bagus said that although they worked as a contract labourer in the formal sector, their parents continued to help by providing this subsidy, a social cost that should be born by the company.
Then, there is the tale of a worker who had to spend up to 2 million rupiah to obtain work as a contract labourer for three months. The question is, how can this be happening?
Market paradigm
Benny Hari Juliawan, a researcher on labour issues, says that these problems cannot be separated from the market paradigm that is gaining current within the labour market. The market, with its law of supply and demand plays the principle role in these cases.
According to Juliawan, these kinds of problems started after the economic crisis abated and liberalisation was seen as the most effective medicine. Although looking at it from earlier historical examples, it was initiated by Britain and the United States when Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan were in power.
Indonesia, as a part of the global community, cannot escape this. The enactment of Law Number 13/2003 on Labour was greatly influenced by a compromise with the current of liberalisation. One aspect of this was introduced by the emergence of the concepts of contract labour and outsourcing.
In this context, workers are viewed simply as an element in the production process and must submit to the ideology of the market, which is based solely on the law of supply and demand. Workers are the same as any other type of input, like thread, cloth or plastic, and their position is almost equivalent to that of an industrial commodity. Whereas producing a worker it is far different from producing goods or industrial materials.
Herry B. Priyono, a lecturer from the Driyarkara School of Philosophy, says that the commodification of workers is not 100 percent possible as is the case for other elements of production – like land or capital."Workers have free will, hopes and so on", said Priyono.
Workers have rights as human beings and as workers. Because of this therefore, workers cannot just be forced to summit to market mechanisms.
Juliawan says that it requires at least 18 years to produce a worker. He or she requires food, healthcare, education and protection, which cannot just be measured based on the law of supply and demand.
What often happens however, is precisely the opposite. A compromise is reached between the market and state, which gives birth to such mechanisms, whether they are legal or formal. All of this tends to place workers in a position of being no more than a commodity.
Such a view is of course wrong. Priyono again asserts that workers are not the same as land or capital. "They have free will", he says.
The state, says Priyono, should in fact take steps so that for workers, market performance does not act as brutally against them as it does with land or capital, which can be bought and sold. There is another paradigm that requires attention – the paradigm based on the concept of workers as human beings.
Position of the state
In early 2006 there was an article titled "Regulating Labour is not the Dominant Factor", which noted that the results of a survey by the World Economic Forum (WEF) in 2005 found that the factor that most hinders investment is government bureaucracy. Ranked next was inadequate infrastructure, tax regulations, corruption, the quality of human resources and policy uncertainly. "Labour is not the principle factor," said Juliawan.
Employers he said, are confronted with problematic regulations, such as taxes levied for generators or street lighting that they themselves have installed. In such as situation, the state or government has lost the character of bonum commune and tends to submit to the accumulation capital. This tendency moves the state away from its principle role as an agency that produces public policies and guarantees social welfare – the very purpose of the state's existence.
These tendencies have become rampant with the emergence of polices such as Law Number 13/2003 on Labour. Juliawan specifically points to the provisions which state that a worker can be contracted for two years, and if necessary, the contract can be extended for one more year. After this, if they are to continue to be employed, the worker concerned must be promoted to a permanent employee.
In reality however, this is not the case. Workers are maintained as contact labourers."Permanent employees are only employed as administrative staff", he said.
Worse still, there is has been a tendency for this to mushroom, with the instinct of labour market liberalisation embodied in Articles 64, 65 and 66 on labour placement and Articles 35, 36, 37 and 38 on the implementation of placement.
Predatory instinct
According to Juliawan, the compromise between the state and the current of liberalisation that arises in the labour law has in fact stimulated the emergence of what is referred to as predatory instinct. In Tangerang, West Java for example, it is customary for labour agencies to charge a fee for workers to be provided to a particular company.
The limited demand for labour also results in each agency competing against each other and workers are trapped within this fight. Under conditions such as this, the labour movement has appeared as part of this history.
According to Priyono, the existence of the labour movement has become what is referred to as a mutual check of the labour market that seeks to turn workers into a commodity.
Although it does not submit to the law of equity, the labour movement will exist and continue to exist for as long as the commodification of labour is not absolute. "This is because workers have free will", he said.
This concept further asserts that workers are not merely a factor in production, let alone a commodity. In this context, the state can also thus act to weaken the market through affirmative action and the enactment of laws. At the very least, the government can ensure that the market does not behave as brutally towards workers as it does towards land and capital.
For example at least, the state could explicitly state that although there is space for contract labour, dismissals are made difficult. Or after three years of working as a contract labourer, the state provides a guarantee that they will be promoted to a permanent employee. If after three years they are not promoted, the state could provide a guarantee to train the worker concerned so that they are not unconditionally surrendered to market mechanisms.
This is of course related to the ideological position of the state in guaranteeing – that in the public's interest – it functions so that society does not have to subsidize either capital or the state. If however it turns out that the state fails to recognise that workers have never submitted 100 percent to market mechanisms and become 100 percent a commodity, the state will become one that that is na‹ ve, or even stupid.
[Translated by James Balowski.]
Kompas - April 30, 2008
Through massive protest actions last year, workers throughout Indonesia united and successfully defeated efforts to enact the proposed draft revisions to Law Number 13/2003 on Labour that they believed failed to side with workers. For the majority of workers however, their struggle is far from over.
Over the last few years workers have not just experienced a progressive decline in prosperity levels, as a consequence of a drop in real wages and purchasing power. They have also felt the progressive strengthening of exploitative anti-worker practices under the regime of neoliberalism, through what is referred to as contract labour systems and outsourcing.
The abolition of contract labour and outsourcing will be one of the central demands of trade unions that make up the Workers Challenge Alliance (ABM) in the massive protest actions that they are planing for International Labour Day on May 1.
They will also be urging the government to immediately reduce prices, improve workers' wages and bring a reasonable national wage into effect. The ABM has stated that it will mobilise hundreds of thousand of its members to besiege the State Palace on the day.
On the same day, the National Workers Union (SPN), the Indonesian Metalworkers Trade Union (SPMI), the All Indonesia Workers Union (SPSI), the Federation of Metal, Electronic and Machinery Trade Unions (FSPLEM) and a number of other trade unions also plan to hold a May Day Fiesta the Bung Karno Sports Stadium in Senayan. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, People's Consultative Assembly Speaker Hidayat Nur Wahid and House of Representatives Speaker Agung Laksono are planning to attend the event.
Over the last few years, contract labour systems and outsourcing have become a global phenomena driven by demands for labour market flexibility by businesspeople in order to remain competitive in the global market. This has resulted in looser labour relations between employers and workers based contract systems and has done away with workers' normative rights.
According to Law Number 13/2003, labour contract systems and outsourcing are regulated under their own articles. Moreover under the draft revision of the law, contract labour and outsourcing would no longer be limited to non-essential jobs, but to all types of work and the contract periods can be extended up to five years.
Workers and employees consider this as a form of hidden colonialism or slavery by the owners of capital who want Indonesia to remain a cheap labour market.
The existence of contract labour and outsourcing has further weakened the bargaining position of workers and employees because there is no job security, wage certainty, social security, healthcare guarantees, severance pay or other welfare allowances if they are dismissed.
So they see this as the state discharging its responsibility to protect workers. The steady narrowing of employment opportunities means that workers are not faced with many choices, other than to accept the existing situation. Many are forced to allow themselves to be turned into objects of human trafficking by employment brokers and unscrupulous individuals within companies that treat them simply as hired or freelance labourers.
Aside from the issues of severance pay and wages, outsourcing and labour contract system through work contracts for a specific period (PKWT) represent two of the four most crucial and difficult issues in the revision of the labour law, which has still not been agreed to by workers, employers and the government.
The revisions to the labour law itself have been carried out under pressure from both employers as well as workers. Employees believe that there are a number of problematic articles that are unfavourable to the business environment, while workers believe that other articles fail to side with their interests.
The government itself considers these revisions to be urgent because without them, they cannot attract investment and it will be difficult to stimulate the real sector, so efforts to create job opportunities and reduce poverty will also founder.
No point of agreement however has yet been reached. Because it has encountered a dead end, the government finally decided to delay the revision process until after the 2009 general elections. On the one had, this saves the current administration from the responsibility of having to complete the revisions to the law, but on the other hand it creates uncertainty for both workers, businesspeople, the investment climate and the economy.
Reducing prices
The other thing workers are demanding is that the government reduce prices, improve wages and bring a reasonable national wage into effect.
With the inflation rate on food for February standing at 10.4 percent (year on year) and inflation for March already reaching 8.2 percent, the jump in the price of many basic commodities has rapidly eaten into purchasing power. This was confirmed by a recent Purchasing Power and Employee Perception Index Survey released by the All Indonesia Workers Organisation (OPSI).
In practical terms, workers' real wages have stagnated since 2004. Not just real wages, but for many sectors nominal wages have also declined. Data on economic indicators from the National Statistics Agency (BPS) shows that a decline in real wages has occurred in almost all the principle sectors that employ large numbers of low-skilled workers. On average, workers' real wages experienced a decline of as much as 10.6 percent between August 2006 and August 2007.
This continued decline in workers' welfare also more or less explains the phenomena of labour struggle that yet to shift from issue of welfare improvements and the fulfilment of their normative rights. Moreover for many workers and jobseekers, the issue is no longer just one of welfare, but simply of how they can enter and survive (job security) in the job market. (tat)
[Translated by James Balowski.]
Kompas- April 30, 2008
Khairina – The narrow lane in Rawa Terate, Pulo Gadung, East Jakarta, was dirty and suffocating that afternoon. Less than half-a-meter wide, the lane was filled with housewives sitting around and gossiping, young children crying and a small herd of goats.
The muddy dirt lane piled with rubbish gives off an unpleasant smell. The area is indeed not fit to live in. "[We] clean it up but it still looks shabby", said Eni, who has lived there for many years.
In rows along the narrow lane are simple terrace houses with earthen floors, walls made of cheap brick and no bathrooms. And when it rains, the houses flood. Living in these terrace houses are hundreds of factory workers employed in the Pulo Gadung industrial estate.
The rent for a terrace house measuring some 5x6 metres square, partitioned into two rooms, is as much as 250,000-300,000 rupiah a month. For a more "luxurious" house, with a ceramic floor and bathroom, the rent is 400,000-500,000 per month. But with a monthly wage that is only equivalent to the Jakarta minimum regional wage (UMR) of 972,604 rupiah, they are forced to contract whatever house they can find.
Life as a worker does not provide them with many alternatives. With the recent steep increases in the price of basic commodities, workers have had to tighten their belts yet again in order to survive. Moreover in a situation where many companies have reduced production, they are no longer able to rely on overtimepay."Right now he's lucky not to be sacked", said Eni, whose husband works at a furniture factory.
With her husband's income of only around 1.5 million rupiah per month, Eni has to wrack her brain to fulfil all of her family's needs. In addition to paying the rent on the house and electricity, Eni must also pay for her two children to attend primary and junior high school. Because her husband's wage is simply not enough, Eni limits her spending to a maximum of 20,000 rupiah per day.
Before the recent price hicks, this would have been enough to feed the family for two days. Now, with 20,000 rupiah Eni can only cook rice, vegetable soup and tempeh. "Kerosene has now reached 7,000 rupiah per litre. Onions are now 1,000 rupiah, and that only gets five bunches", she complained.
Eni's family no longer eats beef or chicken. She makes soymilk for sale in roadside stalls in order to supplement the family's money for daily necessities. Every two days Eni makes a profit of 20,000 rupiah.
"It helps out a bit. But, this year I won't going home to my village to celebrate the Lebaran holidays [at the end of the fasting month] because it's absolutely impossible to save anything", said Eni, who originates from Salatiga in Central Java.
Contract labour
Although life is difficult, Eni's is fortunate compared with Suparmi and Yeti. Their contracts at a swimwear export factory will not be extended after May. The Korean company is purportedly receiving few orders and has been forced to lay off employees.
Suparmi, who has worked their for four years, and Yeti, who has worked at the factory for one-and-a-half years, only have their contracts extended for three months at a time. They receive a wage in accordance with the Jakarta UMR but do not get any other entitlements such as healthcare or food allowance.
With an income that is barely enough to survive on, Yeti can only send what little money is left to her family and child in Magelang, Central Java. Suparmi meanwhile lives with her husband, who is also a factory worker, and her two children in Rawa Terate."PerhapsI'll return to my home village for a bit. LaterI'll try sending an application letter to another factory", said Yeti.
Since the rise in the price of basic commodities, Yeti economises by no longer buying food from roadside stalls because the price is just too high. A bowel of beef soup that used to be 5,000 rupiah for example, now costs 8,000 rupiah. A piece of fried chicken, that used to be 3,000 rupiah, now costs 5,000 rupiah. "But now, even if you want to cook it's the same because the price of kerosene and cooking oil is so expensive", complained Yeti.
Suparmi meanwhile, in order to economise, has in fact chosen not to cook proper food anymore. This afternoon for example, Suparmi only cooked instant noodles for her children's lunch. But because she has a child under five, it's difficult for Suparmi to cut down on snacks. Because of this, and rather than have her child whimpering all the time, she has resigned herself to using money for basic necessities to buy children's snacks.
"My kid doesn't yet understand that their mother doesn't have any money. Forcing me to sacrifice money for daily necessities for sweets," she said.
Increases living costs became even more difficult when public transport fares increased, even though the price of petrol had not yet gone up. Transport costs from Rawa Terate to Pulo Gadung, which used to be 1,500 rupiah, have now risen to 2,000 rupiah.
Target based work
According to Suparmi, signs that the swimwear factory was not getting enough orders were already apparent several months ago. Workers are now being asked to work according to targets, not by the hour as they did in the past. Even after working hours are over, they must still continue working if the target has not been met. Thus the company no longer has to pay overtime.
As a consequence, many employees are working long hours. They start work in the morning and return home at midnight."We're really very exhausted. But, what else can we do, wedon't have any choice", said Suparmi.
In addition to many factories closing down, companies are also moving their factories to the countryside, to areas such as Cikarang in West Java or Central Java. The reason for this is that the UMR in other regions is far lower than the UMR in Jakarta. "In the end many workers also move to Cikarang or chose to return to their home villages. As a result, a lot of boarding houses here are empty," said Eni.
Although life in Jakarta is more difficult, the three women said that they did not wish to return to their villages. For them, life in rural areas is far more difficult. "Even supposing that there is work for us, perhaps we would not be able to survive there. But, what else can wedo", said Eni.
[Translated by James Balowski.]
Suara Pembaruan - April 30, 2008
Thousands of workers from various companies held protest actions at different locations in Jakarta on Wednesday April 30 in the lead up to the commemoration of International Labour Day or May Day. Even larger waves of protest actions are planned for tomorrow.
Since early Wednesday morning, around 2,000 workers from 40 labour organisations that make up the Indonesian Association of Trade Unions (Aspek) held demonstrations at the Jakarta Regional House of Representatives, the Jakarta Labour Office and the Jakarta City Hall. Later they plan to march to the State Palace where they will protest until 6pm.
The majority of protesters gathered at the Hotel Indonesia roundabout in Central Jakarta. In a speech, Aspek Secretary General Indra Yana demanded that governor of Jakarta fulfil his promise to clarify the status of Jakarta's ambulance workers, pay outstanding wages and provide healthcare.
They also demanded an end to outsourcing and increases to the regional minium wage and called on President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono sack the Minister of Labour and Transmigration, Erman Suparno, because his ideas are counterproductive to the creation of fair industrial relations for Indonesian trade unions. They then moved off to rally at the city hall and State Palace.
Thousands of other workers from the National Trade Union (SPN) meanwhile were already filling the Jakarta City Hall demanding improvements to workers' welfare and for social security for workers.
"We are calling for Gubernatorial Regulation No. 82/2006 on Accident and Death Insurance to be applied consistently. The regulation has existed for some time but is not implemented by companies. We are calling on the provincial government to supervise the regulation", said SPN Jakarta chairperson Endang Sunarto.
The Metro Jaya regional police meanwhile said it would act firmly against any protesters that behave lawlessly during the May Day commemorations on Thursday. Metro Jaya police chief Inspector General Adang Firman said that they would be mobilising around 15,000 security personnel, comprising 10,000 police officers supported by 5,000 members of the Indonesian military and city public order officials on Wednesday and Thursday.
[Abridged translation by James Balowski.]
Jakarta Post - April 30, 2008
Jakarta – Most Indonesian domestic workers are denied their rights and many fall victim to abuse, the International Labor Organization (ILO) said here Tuesday.
Lotte Kejser, the ILO country chief technical adviser, said a 2005 study found 60 percent of 500 Indonesian domestic workers surveyed were either only partially paid or did not receive payment at all. The survey also found 20 percent of them suffered sexual harassment, while 40 percent faced psychological abuse.
ILO country director Alan Boulton said the abuse and harassment stemmed from the fact that domestic helpers were not recognized as workers.
"There has not been any recognition that domestic helpers are also workers. The starting point for ending the abuse and exploitation is to ensure that they get this recognition," he said, adding that this lack of recognition made it difficult for the ILO to determine the exact number of Indonesian domestic workers.
Kejser said the issue of domestic helpers' recognition was not covered under the country's 2003 labor law.
"Law number 13 on manpower, the key national labor law, does not incorporate domestic workers into the regulatory system for employment relations," she said, adding that no regulations were made requiring written contracts for domestic workers.
"Indonesia also does not have a minimum wage requirement for domestic workers. Besides that, days off are not covered under the labor law or any other legislation," Kejser said.
Apart from the local problem with domestic helpers, the plight of Indonesian migrants working mainly as maids overseas also remains a serious issue for the country.
The government has come under fire for its perceived failure to protect Indonesian workers abroad, although it has deflected some of the blame onto the migrant workers for using illegal means and unofficial agencies to get abroad.
Many Indonesian workers have been severely exploited and some even killed by their foreign employers. The government had difficulty tracing some victims because they left the country through human trafficking.
One of the ILO's designated ambassadors for Indonesian migrant workers, Franky Sahilatua, a prominent local singer, said migrant workers were considered successful if they were lucky enough to get good employers.
"It's not the system that makes them successful. They are just lucky to have good employers. The government should protect the workers' rights from before they leave until they return," Franky said.
As part of an effort to stop the abuse and exploitation of domestic workers, especially women, the ILO and the Asian Domestic Workers Alliance (ADWA) will hold a campaign to recognize domestic helpers as workers.
The campaign will kick off at Tugu Proklamasi in Menteng, Central Jakarta, on May 1, which is also International Labor Day. Over the following two days, ADWA will host a meeting for representatives from Bangladesh, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nepal, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand and the Philippines.
One Indonesian migrant maid, Sumiati or Mia, who recently returned from Hong Kong, said she hoped the campaign would make the government recognize domestic helpers as workers.
"We hope there will be a law to protect us. We have worked very hard to earn a living despite all the abuse and harassment. And we will encourage other Asian countries, which also send workers abroad, to establish laws on similar issues," said Mia. (trw)
Tempo Interactive - April 25, 2008
Aguslia Hidayah, Jakarta – Workers chose a unique way to socialise Labour Day which falls on May 1. Rather than holding a loud and noisy demonstration, this time round they took their protest to the stage. Through an event titled "A Day of Workers' Art", they held a musical performance at the Taman Ismail Marzuki Arts Centre in Central Jakarta on Wednesday April 23.
The event, which represents part of a series of events to commemorate May Day 2008, was entirely supported out of the pockets of workers from the Carrefour Indonesia Trade Union (SPCI) and the Indonesian Trade Union Congress Alliance (KASBI).
"The staging of this artistic event is to build a bond of solidarity and to unite the ranks to demand [labour policy] change", said SPCI chairperson Abdul Rahman. The policy changes being called for are no different from those articulated by workers last year – the abolition of contract labour systems, an end to low wages, the revocation of Law Number 13/2003 on Labour and an end to mass dismissals.
The stage, the colour of which was identical to the red uniforms worn by SPCI members, was adorned in a simple style, with two brooms made from palm fronds serving as decorations at each corner of the stage.
Each of the workers from the different regions voluntarily stepped up onto the stage to perform. Some played solo guitar, some read poetry, while others played music.
[Translated by James Balowski.]
| Environment/natural disasters |
Jakarta Post - April 24, 2008
Adianto P. Simamora, Hanoi – Forestry nations must change their forest management policies to help counter the effects of climate change and skyrocketing prices of food and fuel, leading forestry experts have said.
The experts, speaking at the Asia-Pacific Forestry Week conference here Tuesday, said climate change, soaring fuel prices and poverty, combined with increasing demand for forest products, would pose unprecedented challenges to the forestry sector in the Asia-Pacific region.
"Meeting the challenges requires enormous growth in skills and knowledge and reinvention of many existing forestry institutions," head of forestry for the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Jan Heino, said. "We must change. Forestry can't continue on the same path as in past decades."
More than 600 forestry experts and government officials from across the region are attending the conference, which will run until Saturday.
The conference, organized by the FAO, aims to identify ways to resolve forestry-related problems, such as enforcing laws against illegal logging and reducing poverty among communities living in forest regions.
According to renowned ecologist and author Norman Myers, the world has not made protecting forests a priority, with only US$20 billion per year allocated to conservation.
"Globally, countries are spending at least $200 billion each year on perverse subsidies that destroy biodiversity habitats, while the entire expenditure on conservation is less than a tenth of that amount," the author of The Sinking Ark told the conference.
Indonesia, which has the world's largest amount of rainforest with 120 million hectares, has come under pressure to improve the management of its forestry sector, especially given claims illegal logging is benefiting the rich.
Norman Jiwan, a researcher at Sawit Watch and a representative of an indigenous community of Kerambai people in Sanggau district, West Kalimantan, said government policies had destroyed local communities.
"The forest and natural resources helped Kerambai people survive before Indonesia's independence but their lives have changed since the government awarded concession permits to open the forest for palm oil plantations," Norman said.
Frances Seymour of the Center for International Forestry Research said Indonesia was a globally significant source of greenhouse gas emissions because of peat fires. "New interest in forests because of climate change provides an opportunity to shift the political economy of forests," she said.
Seymour said climate change was likely to increase the probability of high-intensity rainfall events, which would in turn increase the risk of landslides. "Maintenance of forest vegetation can help stabilize the slope for some types of land movement," she said.
Decision makers do not care much about forest, as evident in the continuing tolerance for destructive logging practices, overinvestment in wood-processing capacity and illegal logging and trade, she said.
| Women & gender |
Jakarta Post - April 29, 2008
Jakarta – Women from four Asian countries have gathered to discuss women's issues and gender empowerment from an Islamic perspective.
The symposium – attended by delegates from China, Indonesia, India and Pakistan – is being held by the Women's Empowerment in Muslim Contexts (WEMC) research consortium in Jakarta from April 28 to May 2.
WEMC director Vivienne Wee said she hoped the conclusions from the symposium would be used to mobilize support among policy and decision makers for initiatives that could change disempowering policies and practices.
"Women in the world today face different challenges and exploitation. They also have initiative and solidarity," Wee said. "This event will support their initiatives to fight against any power that marginalizes them."
On the first day of the symposium, the delegates explained the problems women in their countries were currently facing.
An Indonesian delegate said the country's female migrant workers still faced many problems, including debt bondage, in which workers suffer illegal salary deductions to pay off a debt claimed by the recruitment agency.
Speaking in the forum was chairwoman of the Association of Indonesian Migrant Workers in Hong Kong, Eni Lestari. "The law for female workers is still very discriminatory. Through this event, we are urging the government to tackle the problem immediately," Eni said.
Chinese delegate Shui Jingjun spoke about how Muslim women, who are a minority in her country, struggled to get the same rights and amenities as other citizens.
Farida Shaheed, a delegate from Pakistan, spoke about citizenship rights and poverty in her country. The representatives from Iran, Shadi Sadr and Mahboebeh Abbasgholizadeh, said women in their country were promoting an anti-stoning campaign and were struggling to win political rights.
WEMC is a research program consortium that first came together in 2005 through the partnership of universities, research institutions and NGOs from several countries.
WEMC explores women's diverse strategies for empowerment in the four countries, as well as two cross-border populations (Afghan refugees and returnees, and Indonesian migrant women workers).
The conclusions of the symposium will be announced on May 2. (trw)
Jakarta Post - April 26, 2008
Lilian Budianto, Jakarta – Women still have little chance of becoming legislators in the 2009 polls despite the new election law requiring that 30 percent of party candidates are female, a seminar here concluded.
It is likely that the law will only offer women from major parties the opportunity to enter the House of Representatives, while female candidates from smaller parties had almost no chance, said Ani Soetjipto, a political scientist from the University of Indonesia.
Under the law endorsed by the House earlier this year, every political party must ensure 30 percent of its legislative candidates and board members are women. Each party is also required to have one female legislator in every three candidates in the list it submits to the General Elections Commission (KPU).
Agun Gunandjar Sudarsa of the Golkar Party said this would prevent political parties from ranking their female candidates at the bottom of their list, which had occurred in previous elections.
Ani told the seminar Thursday that in small parties, which tend to only win one or two seats, women barely stood a chance because their House seats were likely to be given to the higher ranked male candidates. She also said the new 30 percent of the vote division number (BPP) approach could hinder women from becoming lawmakers.
The new law states that candidates who secure 30 percent of the necessary votes to win a seat at the House will automatically secure the seat, regardless of where they are ranked on the candidate list. Under the previous law, a candidate had to win 100 percent of the BPP before he or she was able to automatically secure a seat without having to wait by the list system. The BPP is calculated by dividing the number of voters by the number of seats available.
Ani said even though women could not be placed at the top of the list, they may lose out to their more politically-mature male counterparts who win 30 percent of the BPP.
Yuda Irlang of the Women's Voice Empowerment Movement (GPSP) said the new law would not mean much to women if they did not start building relationships amongst stakeholders early on.
"We do not merely aim to have more women at the House. We don't want to create what people may call an 'historic accident', in which women are forced to enter the House regardless of their experience and qualifications simply to abide by the law," she said.
Yuda, a member of Balcony Faction, a coalition of women's NGOs monitoring legislative policies at the House, said her side wanted the new law to offer more room for women on the political stage and to allow them to fight for more gender-orientated policies in the future.
In the long term, she added, the new law should encourage women to improve themselves, with more stakeholders involved in educating women politically, socially and economically.
Yuda said the government, political parties and non-profit organizations should start to strengthen relationships to familiarize both potential female candidates and voters about participating in practical politics.
State Minister for Women's Empowerment Meutia Hatta Swasono has repeatedly said more women at the House are necessary to ensure that lawmakers produce more women-oriented policies, such as mother's healthcare and gender equality at school in a "patriarchal society".
Berdikari Online - April 23, 2008
Berdikari, Jakarta – The head of the Central Deliberative Council of the National United Liberation Party (Papernas), Dita Indah Sari, received an award for being "one of the ten most inspirational figures for Indonesian women". The award ceremony, themed as "Tribute to Women" Was held on Tuesday evening (22/04) at the Sky Building in Plaza Semanggi by the State News Agency, Antara.
Other than Dita Sari who was awarded as an 'activist', the awards presented by the Minister for Women's Empowerment, Dr Meutia Hatta Swasono were also given to Sri Mulyani Indrawati, Indonesia's Finance Minister, Diana Santosa a batik entrepreneur, Ligaya Ita Tumbelaka, a researcher in Sumatran tigers at the Indonesian Safari Park, Dr Mirza Dikari Kusrini, an ecologist specialising in frogs; Meuthia Kasim from the media industry, film producer and director Mira Lesmana, singer Maia Estianty, novelist Ayu Utami and chess player Irene Kharisma Sukandar.
[Note by Vannessa (translating): The awards were a joint initiative between the State News Agency Antara, Kompas newspaper and Plaza Semanggi shopping centre to celebrate Kartini Day, the birthday of Indonesian feminist Kartini on 21 April.]
| Health & education |
Jakarta Post - April 26, 2008
Jakarta/Medan/Semarang/Pekanbaru/Kupang – The three-day national final high school examination ended Thursday with reports of the same old problems: cheating and exam paper leaks. The leaks occurred despite the government's promise to increase security measures.
Reports of cheating during the exam were made in at least four regions.
In North Sumatra, 17 teachers, including the principal, at a high school in Deli Serdang regency were named as suspects after local police caught them in the act of correcting their students' answer sheets.
In Surakarta, Central Java, the Independent Watchdog Team found answer keys to English and chemistry tests in four cell phones belonging to students.
In Riau, a teacher, who asked not to be named, told the press leaks of exam answer keys were organized by a group of five high school principals and a number of teachers in Selatpanjang district.
In Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, a number of teachers allegedly helped their students on the exams by sending answers to their cell phones by SMS.
Cheating seems to have been widespread again this year despite the increased security measures, head of the Education Assessment Center at the Education Ministry, Burhanuddin Tolla, said. However, no exam papers were leaked at the central and provincial levels, including by printing offices, he said.
"The misbehavior took place in the schools. After receiving the exam papers, they must have made the answer key quickly and distributed it to students. "Our independent watchdog team seemed unable to control this," Burhanuddin told The Jakarta Post on Friday.
He said the government had prepared supplementary exams in the event of cheating or leaks. Burhanuddin said those found guilty of aiding cheating or leaks would be punished to "teach them a good lesson" and to deter similar cases in the future.
Education experts Soedijarto and Mochtar Buchori said cheating would continue as long as the government continued to use the "high-standard national exam" to determine whether students could graduate while there remained large disparities among students in term of academic competency.
Mochtar said there needed to be serious efforts to improve the quality of disadvantaged schools before the national exam could apply.
Soedijarto said there should be better entrance tests for high schools with specialist study programs, as well as supplementary exams for those who fail the final exam.
Chairman of the Indonesian National Committee for UNESCO, Arief Rahman, said earlier this week that before the national final exam, there should have been preliminary tests to map academic competencies across regions.
"I agree with the national exam, but it should take into consideration the capacity of each region," he said.
Jakarta Post - April 23, 2008
Agnes Winarti, Jakarta – Literature advocates and book publishers demand the government give more support to the book publishing industry to serve readers with more affordable quality reading materials.
"Despite growing interest in reading nowadays, books are still expensive," said Wien Muldian, the founder of Forum Indonesia Membaca (Indonesia Reading Forum).
According to the Indonesian Publishers Association (IKAPI), there were 1,000 new titles published each month around Greater Jakarta last year, while in 2006, about 10,000 new titles were published. About 60 percent of nationwide book publishing and distribution is around Greater Jakarta.
Wien, who is also a librarian at the National Education Library, said publishers depended on large bookstores and distribution networks, forcing publishers to offer discounts of up to 50 percent to distributors.
"This matter may sound trivial but it affects readers greatly," said Wien. "A book originally priced at Rp 30,000 ends up tagged at Rp 50,000 because the publisher must raise its price to maintain its own profit after the large discount."
As a consequence, it is not the publisher or even the writer who profits most from the book, but the shop and distribution network, said Wien.
"It is high time the government intervened by creating a book policy acknowledging the interest of readers," she said, in line with World Book Day today.
The chairman of IKAPI Jakarta, Afrizal Sinaro, said 35 to 45 percent of a book's price accounts for the discount given to distributors and stores, 30 percent for the printing process and paper material, 15 to 25 percent for the publisher and 10 percent for the author.
Afrizal emphasized the main component in publishing books is the basic material, paper.
"With the price of paper increasing in the last five years, we have been requesting the National Education Ministry regulate paper prices for book publishing and relax taxes in printing, sales and royalties. I wonder why the government still ignores book publishing but not newspapers," said Afrizal.
About 260 publishers in Jakarta and 800 publishers nationwide are listed in IKAPI. Fifty percent of its members are textbook publishers, 30 percent are religious book publishers and 20 percent are children's and general book publishers.
Literature advocate Wien said the lack of access to good, affordable reading materials was the cause of Indonesia's low levels of reading compared to other developing countries in the region. "It's not a lack of interest in reading that is a problem in this country; our people just need more books."
| War on corruption |
Jakarta Post - April 26, 2008
Jakarta – The House of Representatives came under attack Friday for rebuffing the Corruption Eradication Commission's (KPK) move to search the office of an arrested lawmaker.
Critics have said the House's demand for a "permission letter" demonstrated the body was resistant to efforts to combat corruption.
Romli Atmasasmita, a criminal law expert from Padjajaran University in Bandung, said the House had no legal grounds to reject the KPK's search of lawmaker Al Amin Nasution's office. Al Amin was arrested on charges of bribery earlier this month.
"That is totally ridiculous. This shows the House is resistant to corruption eradication. Why do they urge the government to process the Bank Indonesia liquidity assistance (BLBI) scandal? Why was the House silent when the KPK searched the office of the Supreme Court chairman in the past?" Romli told The Jakarta Post.
He said the KPK did not need court permission to search lawmakers' offices. "Please do not lie. I was among those who drew up the law on the KPK. A permission letter is not necessary for the KPK in this case," said Romli, who is also an expert staff at the ministry of law and human rights.
He warned the House's refusal could be considered an attempt to hinder law enforcers' investigation. "If everybody is truly equal before the law, the House speaker can be arrested because he has violated the anti-corruption law," said Romli.
Prominent lawyer Frans Hendra Winata shared Romli's views, saying the KPK has full authority to raid the offices of any lawmaker implicated in a graft case. "The KPK has followed the law that was actually deliberated by the House itself," he said
House Speaker Agung Laksono insisted Friday on opposing the KPK's move, saying his decision was supported by House faction leaders in a meeting a day earlier. Agung said the House had strong arguments not to allow the KPK to search lawmakers' rooms.
"It's important to maintain the harmony between state institutions. The House is a political state institution with rights that must be respected by others," said Agung. "The KPK should not treat lawmakers like criminals," he added.
Irsyad Sudiro, who serves on the House's disciplinary council, said the KPK had to follow formal procedures before conducting the search. "As stipulated by the regulation, the KPK must come up with a permission letter from a district court," he said.
Lawmaker Ahmad Fauzi of the House's Commission III overseeing legal affairs raised the idea of disbanding the KPK.
"Some of our colleagues have started to talk about a suggestion to revise the law on the KPK. If necessary, the KPK could be dissolved," he said while accusing the anti-corruption body of "overreacting".
KPK chairman Antasari Azhar said Friday his office would go ahead with a plan to raid the office of Al Amin to collect more evidence as part of the investigation into his bribery case. "We already have permission from the Corruption Court," he said, adding that the 1999 corruption law only requires the KPK to ask for court permission.
Antasari said the KPK submitted the court letter to the House's General Secretariat on Tuesday before it was to search Al Amin's office on Friday. However, the House prevented the anti-graft body from entering any offices there, he added. (alf/ewd)
Jakarta Post - April 25, 2008
Abdul Khalik, Jakarta – More domestic and foreign businesses have opted to operate without bribery in Indonesia, an international graft watchdog says.
Trace International, a non-profit business association working with companies to raise anti-bribery compliance standards, said companies now realized it was in their best interest to avoid paying bribes.
"Even if you win a deal by paying someone off, the company's reputation suffers, and you risk losing your job or possibly worse. Hence, the cost becomes very expensive. It's just bad business," Trace International president Alexandra Wrage told The Jakarta Post in an interview here recently.
Three years ago, she said, when the organization offered anti- corruption training to companies here, no one was interested, and the conference last year had to be canceled because less than 10 participants registered.
"This year, we had to close the registration early because the hotel can't accommodate any more participants. You see, the people that come to the conference are people who want to do business without bribery," Wrage said.
Wrage rejected a suggestion that companies which refused to bribe officials to win contracts would end up losing money to competitors. She said companies willing to bribe officials were a small minority compared to clean firms.
Trace International works with 130 multinational companies and their 1,200 partners worldwide to campaign for business without bribery.
Wrage was in Jakarta to conduct business training and met with the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to discuss a possible joint venture to combat corruption.
Another factor which pushes companies to avoid bribery is that people worldwide have become fed up with corruption and countries around the world have put pressure on businesspeople to shun corrupt practices, she said.
"Companies are afraid because their executives are going to prison in the US and other countries. An executive sitting in America, for instance, can go to jail because an employee in Indonesia screws up," Wrage said.
The increasing awareness of the business sector, she said, is supported by an increasing number of officials who are tired of corruption.
"Within every government, including Indonesia, we find officials who say they've had enough, it's embarrassing. We want to become a sovereign country that can be proud of itself," Wrage said. She cited KPK's recent arrests of high-ranking officials and lawmakers as an example of change within the government.
Ten years ago, Wrage found no optimism, because corruption was generally accepted as a fact of life in Indonesia, she said. But now a great deal of optimism can be sensed among businesspeople and officials, which is a sign things are really beginning to improve in Indonesia, Wrage said.
| Land/rural issues |
Jakarta Post - April 30, 2008
Agus Maryono, Banjarnegara – "It's been more than two months since we had side dishes other than boiled vegetables to go with our rice, and only boiled cassava as a snack at most. But we endure it as best we can," said Suwandi, 40, of Watuurip village in Banjarnegara regency, Central Java.
"The most important thing is that our family stays healthy," he said.
Suwandi said he spent at least Rp 5,000 (approximately 55 US cents) on foods such as dried fish, tofu, tempeh and cooking oil. "That doesn't include rice, which costs Rp 5,000 per kilogram now," he said, a sentiment echoed by his wife Rastri, 35.
Rastri says she needs at least Rp 15,000 to cook a full meal that includes vegetables, spices, a kilogram of rice, five pieces of tempeh and a quarter kilogram of cooking oil.
"My husband makes at most Rp 15,000 a day from menial labor, provided he can find work. This money also has to go toward paying the monthly electricity bills and providing pocket money for our children. Basically, life is very harsh now," said Rastri.
To ensure that they can still afford rice and pay for their children's education, they have to skimp on side dishes. "To be able to buy cooking oil and tempeh, much less milk, is such a blessing for us," added Rastri.
Suwandi's family is part of some 400,000 people in Banjarnegara regency who are currently trapped in poverty. Banjarnegara is made up of 20 districts, and lies in an area which is 80 percent hilly. About 90 percent of its population of 1.1 million makes a living through farming.
According to a survey on food and nutrition resilience conducted between January and April, only five of the 20 districts in the regency are not categorized as facing a food crisis, while the rest are prone to severe food shortages.
The latter comprise the districts Pejawaran, Kalibening, Karangkobar, Bawang, Purwonegoro, Mandiraja, Banjarmangu, Pagedongan, Punggelan, Pagentan, Wanayasa, Madukara, Sigaluh, Pandanarum and Banjarnegara.
Those listed in the medium risk category are Susukan, Wanadadi, Rakit and Purworejo Klampok, while Batur district is ranked in the low risk category.
Singgih Haryono, the head of the food resilience division at the Banjarnegara agricultural office, told the media on Tuesday that survey indicators included the agriculture and health sectors and the number of impoverished families, which was the main factor in the list of affected areas.
He said that his office would continue conducting food resilience surveys in the future, especially in relation to agricultural issues, such as cultivation planning and realization, harvest failure, applied technology and low productivity.
Jakarta Post - April 28, 2008
Jakarta – Siti Supiati, a farmer in Cisait Muncang village, Banten, did not believe the government has raised the price of unhusked rice to Rp 2,200 (45 US cents) from Rp 2,000 and that of rice to Rp 4,300 from Rp 4,000, because she sold her harvest last month far under these prices.
"During the last harvest season in March, unhusked rice was priced by traders at only Rp 1,700 per kilogram and rice cost only Rp 3,900 per kilo," said Siti, who harvested almost four tons of unhusked rice from her 0.8 hectares of farmland.
Siti pocketed Rp 6.8 million from the harvest, Rp 4 million of which will be spent to pay laborers who helped work her land and to buy fertilizers.
"I net only Rp 2.8 million from four months of work to farm the land. That is not enough to cover my family's living costs and my two children's school fees for the next four months."
The 54-year-old has 10 children. Five of the kids married shortly after graduating from junior or senior high school and now work at nearby factories.
"Now I still have two children in junior and senior high school, while the remaining three, two girls, help me work my farm... following my husband's death in 2006...," she told The Jakarta Post at her simple house.
Despite soaring rice prices, local farmers remain pessimistic because they each own less than a hectare of farmland, and farmland in the province continues shrinking due to the rapid conversion into industrial sites and housing areas.
Darmin, who owns 0.7 hectares of farmland in Drunten Kidul village, Indramayu, West Java, said for the past 20 years the government has shown no commitment to improving the lives of farmers.
"The 10 percent increase in rice prices will not have a significant impact on farmers' lives, not only because the harvest season is over but mainly because the rice price increase still does not keep up with the skyrocketing prices of other basic commodities. Farmers may make more if they have two to three hectares of land," he said, adding he netted just Rp 2.55 million from the last harvest.
Darmin, the father of a 10-year-old son, said he and many other farmers had taken side jobs as ojek (motorcycle taxi) drivers to help meet their families' basic needs.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has urged people to farm dormant land to ensure the country's food security in the face of soaring world rice prices, which have reached $1,300 a ton.
Indramayu, Krawang, Subang and Cirebon make up the rice belt in West Java, producing almost two million tons of rice twice a year from around 160,000 total hectares of farmland.
Chairman of the North Sumatra chapter of the All-Indonesian Farmers Association, S.M. Hutagaol, has called on the government to raise rice prices to at least Rp 4,600 per kilogram, with a guarantee that the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) would purchase the rice directly from farmers.
Such a guarantee is necessary, he said, to prevent speculators from smuggling the rice to neighboring countries such as Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines.
"Without such a guarantee from the government and Bulog, traders and speculators will continue taking financial advantage of the price hikes," he said in Medan, the capital of North Sumatra, on Sunday.
Udin, a rice trader in Cirebon, said he had profited from the rice price hike because he still purchased rice from farmers at the old price. He said he bought rice for up to Rp 4,700 per kilo and sold it for a maximum of Rp 5,000.
Head of the local agriculture office in Indramayu, Apas Fahmi, called on the government to instruct local Bulog branches to purchase rice directly from farmers to foil speculators. "The rice price hike is not proportionate with the soaring prices of other basic commodities," he said. (Team)
| Islam/religion |
Jakarta Post - April 30, 2008
Abdul Khalik, Jakarta – A coalition of civil society groups is warning President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono against banning Ahmadiyah, saying the move would escalate attacks on the Islamic sect.
At a joint news conference here Tuesday, the Wahid Institute, the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH), the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) and the Setara Institute demanded the President not issue a joint ministerial decree outlawing the sect.
"More Ahmadiyah members will become the target of attacks by radical groups. If right now the government can't protect them from attacks, then violence will be much severe after the ban," Wahid Institute executive director Ahmad Suaedy said. He warned the President that a formal ban on Ahmadiyah would be a serious violation of the Constitution, which could lead to his impeachment.
"The ban would violate Article 28(1) of the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of religious beliefs," Suaedy said.
Setara Institute chairman Hendardi, who is also a human rights lawyer, threatened to bring the issue to the United Nations if the government went ahead with the ban.
"The government should stop meddling in citizens' private matters. Why don't Yudhoyono and his ministers take care of many other crucial issues, such as food price increases and poverty. Banning Ahmadiyah will make our country a pariah state and equate us with violence," he said.
On Monday, a group calling itself the Jamaah Al Mubalighin Communication Forum set fire to a mosque belonging to Ahmadiyah in Parakan Salak village in Sukabumi, West Java. Several days earlier, a radical group attacked Ahmadiyah mosques in Singaparna, Garut, and in Bogor, West Java.
The latest attacks came after the Coordinating Board for Monitoring Mystical Beliefs in Society (Bakor Pakem) declared Ahmadiyah "heretical" early this month and recommended the government outlaw it.
The government's board ruled the sect failed to honor its 12- point declaration regarding faith and social values consistent to Islamic values after being given three months to prove its commitment. The interdepartmental board said it found Ahmadiyah had continued to follow activities that deviated from mainstream Islamic teachings.
Chief security minister Widodo Adi Sucipto said last week the government would issue a joint decree based on the board's recommendation. The decree is currently being drafted by the Religious Affairs Ministry, the Home Ministry and the Attorney General's Office.
Since the recommendation was made public, demonstrations have hit several cities across the country to call for an immediate ban on the sect.
On Tuesday, Widodo said the government would reexamine some recommendations from the Bakor Pakem and allow the three ministries to discuss all relevant matters before issuing a decision on Ahmadiyah. "We will reconsider some Bakor Pakem's recommendations and let (the ministries) do their work," he was quoted as saying by Antara.
Jakarta Post - April 30, 2008
Nana Rukmana, ID Nugraha and Panca Nugraha, Kuningan/Surabaya/Mataram – Thousands of followers of the Ahmadiyah sect in Kuningan, West Java, are living in fresh fear of sectarian violence following the burning down of one of their mosques in Sukabumi on Monday.
In Manis Lor village, where there are some 3,000 followers, villagers declined to do their daily chores outside their homes despite the presence of riot police deployed to provide protection in the village day and night.
Kuningan sect leader Abdul Syukur and fellow leader Kulman Trisnaprawira said that village residents, mostly Ahmadiyah followers, were shocked by the burning of Al Furqon Mosque in Parakansalak, Sukabumi, in line with increasing demands for nationwide banning on the sect.
"Psychologically, our residents are shocked by the incident. Despite the absence of intimidation and terror and the presence of police personnel in the village, we are in constant fear of violence," Abdul told The Jakarta Post here on Tuesday.
He has asked local youth to help the police with security in and around the village to avoid unwanted incidents.
"I believe in the security authorities and their professionalism and we are optimistic nothing will happen in the village but we must be prepared for the worst case," he said.
Abdul and Kulman denied exclusivism and blamed their tendency to live apart on government and on the behavior of some Muslims.
They said that since 1954 when Ahmadiyah entered the regency, there had been no problems and social life had gone on peacefully. Serious problems only rose to the surface after the local administration declared the sect to be heretical.
"Who should be blamed for this? Ahmadiyah followers have now been isolated and persecuted by our own brothers and no sanctions have been imposed against them. We have lived here for decades peacefully. The problem emerged when local authorities abused their power to brand us as heretic," said Kulman.
He said Ahmadiyah followers have no objections to do Friday prayers with other Muslims and in other mosques "but it has been difficult for us to do so since we are branded heretic, our mosques are sealed and we are cut off from daily social contacts."
In Mataram, West Lombok, 57 families belonging to the sect agreed and said their being isolated in temporary shelters at a transmigration building has given the impression that they are an exclusive group.
The sect leader in the province, M. Djauji, said the families could not assimilate with society at large because they were displaced from their village in Ketapang to an isolated building.
"Despite the isolation, many people have worked in construction projects and as ojek drivers to survive the difficult situation," he said, adding his group has been isolated both physically and economically for two years since their homes and assets were destroyed in 2006.
He called on the government to stay neutral in handling the issue and take actions against those using violence against the sect's followers.
In contrast with the executive board of the country's largest Muslim organization, Nadhlatul Ulama, the provincial chapter in East Java called on the government to issue an immediate ban on the sect which it said has caused public unrest.
Deputy chairman of the NU provincial chapter Abdurrahman Navis said he opposed the violence against the sect's followers and the government should formally ban the sect to help stop the violence.
According to him, the government and all Muslim groups should hold dialogue to seek a peaceful solution to the sect and try to avoid sectarian conflict.
Jakarta Post - April 29, 2008
Desy Nurhayati and Wahyoe Boediwardhana, Jakarta/Malang – The government has maintained its silence on Ahmadiyah two weeks after a coordinating board of top government officials recommended a ban against the Islamic sect for "heresy".
State Secretary Hatta Radjasa denied the government was being indecisive about the controversy, which turned violent Monday when a mob burned down an Ahmadiyah mosque in the West Java town of Sukabumi.
"I don't think we are hesitant. The officials are still drafting a joint decree," Hatta said, referring to the Coordinating Board for Monitoring Mystical Beliefs in Society (Bakor Pakem), which comprises officials from the Home Ministry, Religious Affairs Ministry and Attorney General's Office.
He said the President had not yet discussed the issue because he was waiting for the team to submit its recommendation. "The three officials have not reported to the President. We will just let them finalize the draft," Hatta said. "We hope the officials draft a decree that benefits everyone."
He refused to comment on the Presidential Advisory Council, which reportedly has suggested the President reject the Ahmadiyah ban. "In compliance with the law, I cannot comment about the advisory council," he said.
Asked about Yudhoyono's private view on the controversy over the Islamic sect, Hatta said: "The President has not said anything about Ahmadiyah."
The President's inaction has drawn concern from the National Commission on Human Rights, particularly after Monday's violence targeting the Ahmadiyah mosque.
Deputy commission chairman Ridha Saleh said the rights body wrote to the President, the home minister, the attorney general and the National Police chief on Monday, calling on them to take immediate action to protect Ahmadiyah members.
"We urged the government to take concrete measures to ensure these acts of violence will not recur. The state is responsible for protecting all citizens from any threats and fears," Ridha told The Jakarta Post.
The rights commission also asked the government to initiate a dialogue "until a certainty is reached", Ridha said. He refused to go into detail, saying the rights body had set up a team to investigate the arson attack in Sukabumi.
Those supporting an Ahmadiyah ban include a group of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) clerics, who urged the President during his visit to the East Java town of Pasuruan on Sunday to issue a decree outlawing the minority Islamic group.
"Ahmadiyah has misled Muslim congregates and done the religion harm. The President should issue a regulation to ban Ahmadiyah," leading NU cleric Mas Subadar said.
He said all NU clerics across East Java were united against Ahmadiyah. "Those who support Ahmadiyah are not with us," said Subadar, who was among the Islamic clerics who issued a legal opinion in 1999 saying women could not serve as president and who supported an edict against liberal thought in Islam.
Jakarta Post - April 29, 2008
Theresia Sufa and Panca Nugraha, Sukabumi/Mataram – A group calling itself the Jamaah Al Mubalighin Communication Forum burned down a mosque belonging to the "deviant" Ahmadiyah sect in Parakan Salak village in Sukabumi regency, West Java, early Monday.
Sukabumi Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Gunthor Ghafar told The Jakarta Post the incident began when the forum members met Sunday for a Koran reading session at At-Taqwa Mosque, about 700 meters from Ahmadiyah's Al Furqon Mosque.
The forum members then issued a five-point ultimatum to the Ahmadiyah members, including a demand they "return to Islam" and take down the Ahmadiyah sign from Al Furqon Mosque.
Head of Ahmadiyah in Sukabumi, Asep, told the forum members they needed time to discuss the ultimatum.
The two sides then held a meeting around 7 p.m. on Sunday. During the meeting, Ahmadiyah agreed to remove its sign from the mosque, with the promise that the forum members would not vandalize Ahmadiyah property.
However, forum members attacked the mosque and burned it down shortly after midnight.
Earlier this month a government team – the Coordinating Board for Monitoring Mystical Beliefs in Society (Bakor Pakem) – recommended the Ahmadiyah sect be banned because its doctrines deviate from the teachings of Islam.
An Ahmadiyah spokesman told reporters in Jakarta the board's recommendation to ban the group on the grounds that it is heretical had led to an increase in attacks on its mosques.
"The recommendation has caused an escalation in the destruction of mosques run by Ahmadiyah across Indonesia," the spokesman, Shamsir Ali, said as quoted by Reuters.
A policeman guarding the Sukabumi mosque was reported to have been hurt in the attack and police questioned eight people in connection with the incident. The National Police later announced two men had been named as suspects.
"We are still investigating this case. We are still discussing the case with the (Sukabumi) prosecutor's office and military command," said Gunthor.
Asep demanded the police provide protection for the some 3,000 sect members in the regency. He also hoped police could catch and punish those responsible for the attack on the mosque.
In Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara, Ahmadiyah followers, who have been accommodated at the city's Transito building for months after being evicted from their homes, read their creed at the shelter's mosque.
The reading of the creed was intended to show the public that their beliefs are the same as other Muslims.
"Herewith I swear in the name of Allah and Rasulullah (the Prophet Muhammad) that we have no other God other than Allah, no religion other than Islam and no last prophet other than Muhammad...," M. Syaiful Uyun, an Ahmadiyah official in West Nusa Tenggara, said in leading the other members.
The members hoped their demonstration would counter claims the group was heretical and deserving of a ban.
"Bakor Pakem's recommendation is not based on facts and is blasphemous," said one Ahmadiyah member who asked not to be identified.
The members urged the government not to issue a joint decree banning Ahmadiyah, which they said would violate the Constitution, the laws of the country and human rights.
Associated Press - April 28, 2008
Niniek Karmini, Jakarta – Hundreds of protesters chanting "Kill, kill" set fire Monday to an Indonesian mosque belonging to a Muslim sect they claim is heretical, police said.
A policeman was wounded in the head when the crowd stoned the mosque in West Java province before setting it ablaze, said police spokesman Col. Dade Ahmad. Several suspects were taken in for questioning. The attack was the latest targeting the Ahmadiyah sect in Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation.
Most mainstream Muslims consider Ahmadiyah heretical because it does not consider Muhammad to be the final prophet. The sect was founded at the end of the 19th century in Pakistan.
Last week, a team of prosecutors, religious scholars and government officials said the sect "had deviated from Islamic principles" and recommended it be outlawed. There have been several acts of vandalism targeting Ahmadiyah since then.
About 300 people torched the mosque and destroyed an Islamic school building inside the Ahmadiyah compound in Sukabumi town just after midnight. Many sect members have since fled the area, seeking refuge with friends and relatives.
"We heard the attackers chanting 'Burn, burn' and 'Kill, kill,'" said Zaki Firdaus, one of the sect's members. "It was horrifying."
Around 200 people living on the mosque's compound got away before the crowd arrived. The police were called, "but the attackers came faster," Firdaus said.
Ahmadiyah followers have been persecuted for years, but last week's recommendation prompted an escalation, said sect spokesman Syamsir Ali. Four mosques have been destroyed since the April 16 announcement.
It was "like a poison, not a medicine for this nation," he said. "We don't know what will happen with us tomorrow."
Indonesia is a secular country with a long history of religious tolerance. But in recent years a hard-line fringe has grown louder and the government which relies on the support of Islamic parties in Parliament has been accused of caving in to it.
Ahmadiyah, believed to have 200,000 followers in Indonesia, has also faced persecution in other Muslim countries. Its followers insist it should be considered part of Islam.
Associated Press - April 23, 2008
Jakarta – An Indonesian sect leader was jailed for four years Wednesday for declaring himself a new Islamic prophet in a case brought to court following pressure from Muslim hard-liners.
Ahmad Mushaddeq, a retired civil servant, was arrested in October along with six of his followers. He formed the Al-Qiyadah Al- Islamiyah sect in 2000 and it once claimed 40,000 followers.
Indonesia is the world's most populous Muslim country and has a long history of religious tolerance and secular institutions. In recent years, however, such traditions have come under attack from an increasingly vocal hard-line Islamic fringe. About 85 percent of Indonesia's 230 million people are Muslims.
In its verdict Wednesday after several months of hearings, a three-judge panel at the South Jakarta District Court ruled that Mushaddeq, 64, was "guilty of violating the criminal code by committing blasphemous acts."
Several members of the hard-line Islamic Defenders Front in the court cheered the verdict and briefly scuffled with Mushaddeq's followers.
Mushaddeq's lawyer said he would appeal the verdict. "Does the judge think he is God?" asked Muhammad Tubagus. "This is against the constitution."
In addition to declaring himself a prophet, Mushaddeq also told followers they did not need to pray five times a day, fast during the month of Ramadan or perform the pilgrimage to Mecca – three pillars of Islam that most believers consider obligatory.
Hard-line Muslim groups, including the country's influential Council of Clerics, whipped up a media frenzy over the sect and threatened to attack its members unless the government arrested its leaders.
Rights activists and liberal Muslim critics have defended Mushaddeq, insisting that authorities should protect freedom of religion as guaranteed by the constitution and should not prosecute people for their beliefs. They accuse the government of caving into extremism so as not to appear un-Islamic ahead of elections next year.
The government is now preparing a decree to outlaw another Islamic sect, the Ahmadiayah movement. The group has branches worldwide and believes that Muhammad was not the final prophet.
In 2006, a former boxer was jailed for two years after leading ritual prayers in Indonesian, not Arabic as most Muslims believe is obligatory. Last year, a female leader of a sect that blended elements of Islam and Christianity was also imprisoned.
Jakarta Post - April 23, 2008
Desy Nurhayati, Jakarta – The Presidential Advisory Council is advising President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to cancel the issuance of a joint ministerial decree to outlaw "heretical" Islamic sect Jamaah Ahmadiyah.
A ban on Ahmadiyah would be a "bad precedent" to Indonesia's democracy and freedom of religion, council member and legal expert Adnan Buyung Nasution told a news conference after a meeting with sect leaders here Tuesday.
At the meeting, Ahmadiyah representatives were accompanied by activists from the Alliance of Religious and Belief Freedom.
"We will immediately advise the President to prevent the issuance of the decree for the sake of upholding democracy, tolerance and freedom of religion," Buyung said.
"We only have a little time to analyze the issue and meet with the President before the joint decree is issued. But we can assure that we will seriously handle this matter."
Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Widodo Adi Sucipto said last week the government would issue a joint decree based on a recommendation by the Coordinating Board for Monitoring Mystical Beliefs in Society (Bakor Pakem). The decree is currently being drafted by the Religious Affairs Ministry, the Home Ministry and the Attorney General's Office.
Bakor Pakem recommended the government outlaw Ahmadiyah for failing to honor the 12-point declaration regarding faith and social values consistent to Islamic values after being given three months to prove its commitment.
The interdepartmental board led by the junior attorney general of intelligence said it found Ahmadiyah had continued to follow activities that deviated from mainstream Islamic teachings.
Buyung said the board and the planned joint decree had no strong legal basis, and were only serving to take repressive actions against a group of people.
"We think the establishment of the board itself has no firm legal basis even though they acted based on the 1965 law on the prevention of the misuse and disgrace of religion," he said.
Buyung was quoted by detik.com as saying all but one member of the nine-member Presidential Advisory Council opposed a ban on Ahmadiyah. He identified the disagreeing member as Ma'ruf Amin, who is also deputy leader of the Indonesian Ulema Council that publicly declared Ahmadiyah a "heretical" Islamic sect.
Ahmadiyah spokesman Ahmad Mubarik said his group slammed the Bakor Pakem pronouncement that the sect hadn't committed to the 12-point declaration.
There should be an independent team, instead of the board, to decide whether Ahmadiyah had complied with the declaration or not, he said.
Ahmadiyah advocacy team member Lamardy said the sect demanded the President protect people in their religious beliefs.
Bakor Pakem, which was established in 1994, consists of senior officials from the Attorney General's Office, the Indonesian Military, the National Police, the Religious Affairs Ministry and the Home Ministry.
The Jakarta Legal Aid Institute, which is grouped in the Alliance of Religious and Belief Freedom, urged the Attorney General's Office to dissolve the board, saying it violated people's basic rights.
| Elections/political parties |
Jakarta Post - April 25, 2008
Bogor, West Java – Former Jakarta governor Sutiyoso on Wednesday joined the Indonesian Nationalist Party (PNI) Marhaenism and said he would contest the presidential election under the minor party's banner.
Sutiyoso officially joined during a national meeting of the party presided over by chairwoman Sukmawati Soekarnoputri, the younger sister of former president Megawati Soekarnoputri, who leads the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P).
"Of 16 parties that I know, PNI-Marhaenism is the right choice of political vehicle for my presidential bid. I have been familiar with the PNI since my childhood," Sutiyoso, a retired Army general, said.
The party's executive in charge of election campaigns, Yan Ali Asli, said Sutiyoso's nomination was not yet final. "We appreciate Bang Yos' incorporation into the party," he said, referring to Sutiyoso by his nickname.
Jakarta Post - April 24, 2008
Jakarta – The two rival National Awakening Party (PKB) camps have yet to show signs of reconciliation as they go ahead with their separate extraordinary congresses.
On Wednesday night, the PKB faction loyal to chief patron Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid held an executive meeting at the party's headquarters in Kalibata, South Jakarta.
"We called the meeting to familiarize PKB regional executives with the extraordinary congress," PKB acting leader Ali Masykur Musa said. He said executives from 26 provinces attended the gathering.
The congress will be held in Denpasar, Bali, starting on April 30. The rival congress will take place in Jakarta on May 2-4. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has declined to open either congress.
Ali said Gus Dur's faction was the legitimate side to represent PKB in the 2009 general elections. "We have told the General Elections Commission (KPU) that the highest authority within the party is the board of patrons, not the chairman," said Ali.
Gus Dur opened the meeting, which was also attended by top party executives including Secretary-General Zannuba Arifah Chafsoh, also known as Yenny Wahid, and head of the PKB faction at the House of Representatives Effendy Choirie.
In his opening speech Gus Dur said certain national figures who did not want him to contest the 2009 presidential election were behind the PKB rift. "There is a very strong attempt to keep me from the presidential election," said Gus Dur, whom PKB has nominated as presidential candidate.
The internal dispute within the PKB, the fifth-largest faction at the House, revolved around the dismissal of party leader Muhaimin Iskandar earlier this month at the request of Gus Dur, who is also Muhaimin's uncle.
The KPU has asked the two camps to settle the squabble before May 12, the final day of registration for parties intending to contest the 2009 legislative election.
Although he branded Muhaimin's congress illegal, Gus Dur said he would welcome his nephew to join the meeting in Bali.
Abdul Kadir Karding, a PKB politician supporting Muhaimin, said preparations were intensifying. The organizers have booked rooms at Borobudur Hotel in Central Jakarta for the congress. "We are ready for this meeting," Karding said.
He said Muhaimin's camp was the legitimate faction to represent PKB in the 2009 elections. "The board of patrons cannot register for the elections with the KPU as it only deals with formulation of the party's guidelines and monitoring the party's programs," he said.
The party's external affairs, including registration with the KPU, fall under the party executives, who are led by Muhaimin, said Karding. "Moreover, the law acknowledges only the leader as the legitimate representative of the party," Karding said.
Karding said he expected the two camps to reach an agreement, but was less certain about the chance of reconciliation. "We never know, politics always changes." (alf)
Jakarta Post - April 24, 2008
Apriadi Gunawan, Medan – The North Sumatra KPUD was scene to a wave of protests Wednesday, with demonstrators demanding it immediately halt ballot counting a day prior to the planned announcement of winners in the province's gubernatorial election.
The protesters also demanded the province's General Election Commission (KPUD) immediately hold a repeat election, saying many people had not been registered and failed to exercise their voting rights.
A protest coordinator from the North Sumatra Election Awareness Forum, Togar Hutabarat, said the KPUD should stop the vote count due to indications of election fraud. His group had found cheating to be widespread, especially on voting day, he added.
"We found people casting their votes three times during the election on April 16. It was very easy to cheat because the ink used to stain fingers after voting could be easily wiped off," said Togar at the KPUD in Medan.
He said such incidents had tarnished the North Sumatra gubernatorial election. He urged the KPUD to stop the vote count because the ballot papers did not accurately represent the voting public.
Leader of the Islamic Youth Movement, Irfandi, who participated in the rally, said the KPUD should hold a repeat election lest the elected governor be deemed illegitimate.
Irfandi said the KPUD should be held responsible for not being able to encourage people to vote. "The KPUD has failed to carry out its duties. It should hold a repeat election so people who failed to cast their votes on April 16 can have another chance to do so," said Irfandi.
Another protester, Anggiat Hutagaol, said non-voters were found virtually in every regency and city in the province, a majority of whom were in West Pakpak (60 percent), followed by Medan city (57 percent), Karo regency (50 percent), Pematang Siantar city (44 percent) and Sibolga city (40 percent).
"The percentage of those who did not cast their votes is significantly high. The KPUD cannot take it lightly because it concerns people's legal rights," said Anggiat.
KPUD member Tonni Situmorang said the vote count for the regency and city levels had been completed as of Wednesday, thus the office could not meet protesters' demand to halt the count.
"The KPUD finished counting votes for all regencies and cities today. As many as 22 of them have sent in their official reports, while the remaining reports from four regions – North Tapanuli, Sibolga, Nias and South Nias – are on their way here," Situmorang told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.
Situmorang said his office would tally the results to determine the governor-elect. "The KPUD will tally the votes and ascertain the winners on Thursday. No one can prevent us from performing our duties tomorrow," said Situmorang, adding that there was no legal basis for the KPUD to hold a repeat election.
Police reported they would deploy at least 300 personnel and two armored vehicles at the KPUD office in anticipation of possible incidents during the announcement of the elected gubernatorial pair.
Jakarta Post - April 24, 2008
Ridwan Max Sijabat, Jakarta – The victory of Ahmad Heryawan and his running mate Dede Macan Yusuf in the recent West Java gubernatorial election and of Syamsul Arifin and his running mate Gatot Pujonugroho in North Sumatra has not only silenced widespread hypothesis, but also slapped the Golkar Party and the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), the country's two major parties, in the face.
The West Java provincial chapter of the General Election Commission (KPUD) announced the so-called Hade pair's victory of 40.5 percent of the votes Tuesday, while the North Sumatra's KPUD is scheduled to confirm the Syamsul-Gatot pair's win Friday.
Almost none predicted the two unseeded pairs would win, because they lacked campaign funds and were backed only by minority parties. The major parties stood behind rich and senior figures, such as Danny Setiawan and Agum Gumelar in the West Java election and Ali Umri and Tri Tamtomo in the North Sumatra election.
Golkar was optimistic about its candidate Danny Setiawan's election victory because Golkar dominates the West Java provincial legislature, while Danny was the incumbent governor and his running mate, Iwan Sulandjana, the former chief of West Java's Siliwangi Military Command.
Agum of PDIP was optimistic because he was supported by a major coalition of parties controlling a total 40 percent of seats in the provincial, regental and municipal legislatures in the province.
Joyful about their own dream of victory, the major coalitions were apparently unaware of the reality – the election was no longer held through the representation system, where voters directly cast the votes of their choice. Major parties were busy designing elite-oriented campaign strategies and common political programs, which did not touch the people's real condition.
The people were also less interested in attending political campaigns conducted by the major parties during the campaign season because candidates failed to offer concrete programs to address the problems the people were facing. Besides being too old and supported by underperforming parties, the candidates nominated by the major coalitions failed to offer effective medicines to cure the people's sickness.
People in West Java looked skeptical about Agum's common programs and bored with incumbent governor Danny, who was deemed unable to deal with the soaring prices of basic commodities. People doubted Agum or Danny could generate more jobs and achieve significant progress in the least-developed northern coastal areas.
The people's apathy in the election was shown by a low voter turnout and according to the final vote count in West Java, more than 10 million of the 27.9 million eligible voters did not exercise their voting right.
Many low-income voters admitted to having received (political) money from certain party campaign teams, but did not vote for the respective candidates.
The major parties and their candidates did not learn much about the characteristics of eligible voters, especially the millions of commuters living in Jakarta's outskirts, such as Bekasi, Depok and Bogor, who do not feel like an integral part of West Java.
With the question as to whether the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) was behind the victory of Ahmad and Syamsul, the answer could be yes and no.
Yes because the PKS, which is close to the youth and the grassroots level, has nominated young candidates as alternative figures. Ahmad and Dede Yusuf were running their candidacy at the age of 41, compared to Danny and Agum who were above 50. According to the survey conducted by the Indonesian Survey Institute (LSI), which also conducted a quick count in West Java, 50 percent of 27.9 million voters in the province are young people, part of which did not participate in the 2004 general elections.
A "no" answer because Syamsul in North Sumatra was above 50 years of age, but as a businessman he is popular among Malays. The victory of Ahmad and Syamsul were also determined by their running mates. Besides the reality that voters were bored with the incumbent and old faces, Dede as a movie and ads star was also popular among millions of commuters in West Java. Gatot was relatively as popular as R.E. Siahaan's running mate Suherdi among some four million Javanese descents in North Sumatra.
The two gubernatorial elections in West Java and North Sumatra offer a good and valuable lesson for old major parties and their candidates about political recruitment. Parties need to review their ideology, common platforms and programs to match them to the social reality because the people are getting pragmatic and politically literate.
In contending the next gubernatorial elections in East and Central Java, East Kalimantan, West Nusa Tenggara, Bali, Riau and Lampung, major parties will be left behind and suffer losses if they continue to offer the same programs and old faces because they will be competing with young faces and their concrete programs.
The major parties are likely to have the same fate in the next legislative and presidential elections because the people will cast their votes for parties and candidates whom they are close with.
Therefore, parties need to revise their ideology and ideologize their supporters and the public to maintain their loyalty in any elections. It is true that according to the constitution, political parties are the main gate for political recruitment, but they should not forget the people's voting rights. They should realize the two recent gubernatorial elections could be seen as an effective means for the people to punish underperforming parties and public/political officials.
[The author is a staff writer at The Jakarta Post.]
| Armed forces/defense |
Jakarta Post - April 29, 2008
Abdul Khalik, Jakarta – A national team established by the President began on Monday efforts to transfer Indonesian Military (TNI) business assets to the state, even as some experts dismissed the process as all show.
Established under Presidential Decree No. 7/2008, the 10-member team, comprising officials and businesspeople, has the authority to assess and value all military business assets. It will then recommend to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono which assets and companies should be transferred to the state.
Team chairman Erry Riyana Hardjapamekas said the team would prioritize assessing major businesses belonging to the military, including its foundations and cooperatives.
"We will assess all the military businesses in term of their profitability and liabilities. Then we will recommend to the President what businesses should be taken over," he said.
Erry said he was optimistic the team would finish its work before the Oct. 16, 2009, deadline set for the transfer of all military businesses to the state.
Some experts have called the team toothless, accusing the President of attempting to buy time. They note his decree on the establishment of the team does not include the authority for the team to directly take over the businesses.
Secretary to the state minister for state enterprises, Said Didu, however, underlined the need for the government to do its due diligence, to avoid acquiring troubled business entities with more liabilities than assets.
"The team will clean up the problems before we turn the military businesses into state assets. After the team submits a list of healthy businesses to take over, the President will issue a separate decree legalizing the transfer of the assets," he said.
University of Indonesia military expert Kusnanto Anggoro, however, expressed doubt the President was serious about taking over the TNI businesses. He pointed out the issuance of the decree setting up the team came four years after the enactment of the law on the TNI that ordered an end to the military's involvement in business.
"It gives the impression that the government has allowed the military to break down its shares in its firms, as the law defines military businesses to be taken over as those with assets below Rp 20 billion. Four years is enough time for them to do that," Kusnanto said.
With both Erry and Didu estimating the total book value of the military assets at only Rp 1 trillion, Kusnanto said the military appeared to have been successful in the business transformation efforts.
"The state could end up getting nothing and the soldiers, who have received false hopes of seeing their welfare improved following the assets transfer, will be disappointed," he said.
Kusnanto said military business had served generals more than rank-and-file soldiers since Gen. Rudini led the Army in the early 1990s.
Jakarta Post - April 28, 2008
Usman Hamid, Jakarta – Indonesia has gone through a transitional period over the last 10 years, which has seen improvements in democratization and legal institutional reform, including the elimination of parliament seats granted to the military.
Other improvements include the endorsing of special autonomy and peace building in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam and Papua, as well as the county's ratification of several UN conventions, including current deliberations to support an ICC convention.
However, Indonesia still has piles of work to contend with, particularly when it comes to an old-fashioned policy that maintains impunity for servicemen from past human rights abuses.
Under the presidencies of Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid and Megawati Soekarnoputri, two major cases were brought to the rights tribunal – that of gross human rights violations in East Timor in 1999 and the 1984 Tanjung Priok massacre.
Unfortunately, though unsurprising, all of the involved perpetrators eventually walked free. Worse, former Army generals implicated in both cases found themselves subsequently promoted to higher or more key positions.
Recently, President Yudhoyono held a meeting with Kontras and victims communities, during which he made a vow to personally back any effort pursued by Kontras to resolve past human rights abuses. The President further promised to hold a special Cabinet meeting to review cases of past human rights violations and to appease demands for justice by the victims. We consider Yudhoyono's commitment as part of the state's commitment to eliminate impunity among servicemen.
Literally, "impunity" means "the absence of punishment". The principle was first imposed in Latin America amid a political transition from Machiavellian rule to democracy, in particular when new policies were created to resolve past abuses perpetrated under the dictatorship. As of today, impunity has become a phenomenon in many countries, including Indonesia, which, too, is in the midst of political transition.
In August 1997, Louis Joinet, the UN Rapporteur on Impunity to the UN Sub Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities, concluded a report that stated it was impossible in principle and in practice to bring perpetrators to account, whether in criminal, civil, administrative or disciplinary proceedings, since they were not subject to any inquiry that might lead to their being accused, arrested, tried and, if found guilty, convicted, or to reparations for victims.
Kontras has exhausted all means to eliminate the principle of impunity by filing cases of alleged past human rights abuses to the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM). Some cases have been investigated, including, among others, extrajudicial killings and torture in Tanjung Priok in 1984, the Trisakti and Semanggi shootings in 1998 and 1999, the Wasior and Wamena clashes, brutality and sexual abuses against ethnic Chinese women in May 1998, humanitarian impacts during the martial law in Aceh and forced disappearances of activists in 1997-1998.
Komnas HAM is currently investigating a series of torture and summary executions in Talangsari village in 1989, a series of killings against civilians accused as criminals in 1981-1985 and mass killings and torture of those allegedly connected with communist groups in 1965. A thorough investigation into these cases is required to achieve justice for the victims, as they have a right to the truth. However, justice is still a long way away.
The public is aware the Attorney General's Office (AGO) has argued that investigations and prosecutions can only be achieved once authorities (read: the parliament and the government) have established an ad hoc human rights tribunal to try suspected perpetrators.
Such an interpretation contradicts the Feb. 21, 2008, ruling by the Constitutional Court, which says the establishment of an ad hoc human rights tribunal by the parliament may proceed following a report by Komnas HAM, on which the AGO must proceed with further investigation.
There is hope, however, a mandate to establish an ad hoc human rights tribunal would be transferred from the parliament to the Supreme Court or another respected non-politically aligned body. For present human rights abuses, for which the retroactive principle is not applicable, Komnas HAM continues to find it problematic to complete inquiries due to the so-called impunity principle. The same principle ruled in the case of the 2007 military shooting of villagers in Alas Tlogo, Pasuruan, in East Java, as well as in alleged torture in Poso, Papua and Aceh.
In an apparent attempt to halt Komnas HAM's moves to investigate the incidents, the military has brought to court the alleged shooters, as was seen in the trial of military officers accused of murdering Papuan leader Theys Hiyo Eluay in 2001. It is clear the military set up their own tribunal with the intention of evading investigations led by Komnas HAM.
What can President Yudhoyono do? The answer is he must amend the military tribunal. According to the UN convention, military courts do not have sufficient statutory independence. Their jurisdiction must be limited to specifically military infractions committed by members of the military against members of the military, to the exclusion of human rights violations, which must come under the jurisdiction of ordinary courts.
It is the international community's obligation to closely monitor Indonesia's long and windy journey to scrap the impunity principle. Neighboring countries that wish to give support in the form of funds and exercises to the Indonesian Military are obligated to ensure the Indonesian servicemen entitled to the support funds and joint exercises are "innocent" of human rights violation.
The most important thing is to push for a thorough investigation into past human rights violations to give the public the identities of those responsible for the violent acts as well as the identities of victims entitled to compensation. Identifying the innocent figures will help prevent collective judgment against the military. This is how we can progress to achieve a democratic nation-state.
[The writer is an executive director of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras).]
| Economy & investment |
Jakarta Post - April 30, 2008
Rendi Akhmad Witular, Jakarta – President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono accepted on Tuesday a proposal from a powerful business lobby to help accelerate private investment in food crops and the energy and mineral sectors in hope of alleviating shortages of the commodities in local markets.
Chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin), Mohamad S. Hidayat, said the government had agreed to set up a committee for speeding up bureaucracy and eliminating overlapping regulations for businesses.
"The government must partner with the local private sector to help secure the supply of strategic commodities amid global turmoil. But we find it difficult to invest in the commodities because of spiraling red tapes and twisting regulations," he said.
Tasked primarily with providing short-cuts for doing business and setting up intensive communication with investors, the committee will be chaired by Yudhoyono with members including ministers and provincial governors.
"Such a mechanism will enable us to bypass all of the obstacles with the help of the committee. This will eventually lure in foreign investors to engage in strategic sectors, and provide leeway for local banks to channel loans," said Hidayat.
Hidayat and a group of noted businessmen – James Riyadi of Lippo Group, Franciscus Welirang of Indofood, Ari S. Hudaya of Bumi Resources, Sudhamek of Tudung Group, and John A. Prasetio of CBA Asia – met with Yudhoyono to push for the proposal.
Yudhoyono has given 10 working days for Kadin and the businesspeople to set up a kind of action plan for the committee to help address all of the problems and speed up investments.
Like other economic giants, Indonesia, Southeast Asia's largest economy, has fallen victim to skyrocketing global commodity prices, which has caused inflation accelerating to its fastest pace in 18 months.
The high inflation environment has deterred the central bank from further cutting its benchmark interest rate, which is needed for local companies to expand or for investors to start up new companies at low borrowing costs from banks.
Agriculture Minister Anton Apriyantono told The Jakarta Post the ministry would prioritize private investment in rice, corn, sugar, soybean, cattle and poultry.
"Most of the commodities are managed by small and medium farmers. But with incoming private investments from big companies we expect output of the commodities will soar," said Anton.
The ministry, he added, would help investors in seeking land for plantations, speeding up operating licenses, helping with technical knowledge and the mapping of potential areas for planting the commodities.
Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro told the Post some 20 production sharing contracts for oil and gas companies had requested the government to help them with various problems in their operations and investments.
"With the planned committee, we will help them provide fiscal privileges and address problems with local administrations over the overlapping of regulations and operating concessions.
"They have also demanded the government to provide them with fast track facility to help them speed up bidding process and in dealing with bureaucracy," said Purnomo.
Jakarta Post - April 29, 2008
Novia D. Rulistia, Jakarta – The government may again reduce its industrial output growth target for this year as soaring oil prices push up production costs and inflation.
"The revision is automatic. The government also revised its state budget and reduced its growth target from 6.8 percent to 6.4 percent," Industry Minister Fahmi Idris said Monday.
Dedi Mulyadi, head of research and development at the ministry, said the government was revising the target but further talks and studies were needed before coming up with exact figures.
"If there's a change, it must be below the current target of 6 percent," he said, adding they would wait for the National Development Planning Agency's (Bappenas) simulation before making a decision.
In March, the government cut the growth target from 7.4 percent to 6 percent, mostly due to external factors. It also revised the 2009 target from 8.6 percent to 6.5 percent.
The international oil price reached US$119.93 per barrel Monday, reaching another all-time high. Under the revised state budget, the government and the House of Representatives set the price of oil at $95 per barrel up from $60 per barrel. The inflation rate projection has been raised to 6.5 percent from 6 percent, far from market expectations of 7 percent.
Dedi said revising the growth target was necessary to sharpen the government's strategy in improving industrial performance. The government must focus on the downstream sector as it has high added value with a strong market and natural resources, he said.
The Industry Ministry said growth in the manufacturing sector could only rely on machinery, tools and carriers. The ministry predicts the sector will grow by about 9.77 percent, while wooden goods and forestry products will shrink by around 0.06 percent.
Industrial growth in 2007 reached its lowest point in the last three years, standing at 5.15 percent. It was 5.3 percent in 2006 and in 5.9 percent in 2005.
Analysts attribute the sluggish growth to the lack of fiscal and non-fiscal incentives enjoyed by businesses in countries such as China, India and Vietnam.
Jakarta Post - April 28, 2008
Jakarta – Already under threat of a fiscal calamity amid soaring oil prices and unrealistic government fuel subsidy spending, Indonesia is expected to miss this year's oil production target of 977,000 barrels per day (bpd), the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry said.
The ministry announced in a media statement over the weekend the country would only produce 965,000 bpd, 12,000 bpd short of its target, as some oil producing companies revised down their output targets.
The statement said the latest calculation was based on an accumulated full-year production estimate from oil-producing firms collected during a meeting last week. Although during the meeting a number of oil companies increased their oil production estimates, many more lowered them.
"Of 40 proposals that we have received, up to 16 operators report that their production rate this year will exceed the target," it said as quoted by Detikfinance, citing US-based Conoco Philips and Chevron as examples.
The remaining companies revised down their production rate, including state oil and gas firm PT Pertamina, which cited production of 132,000 bpd, down from its previous estimate of 145,000 bpd. The government has set an oil production target of 977,000 barrels per day in the state budget.
Energy analysts have said the country's depleting oil resources and lack of new explorations have contributed to the country's oil production decline over the past five years.
The short-coming would result in a lack of revenues from the energy sector, which this year is set at Rp 300 trillion (US$32.6 billion), to help cope with fuel and power subsidy allocations resulting from high-flying oil prices.
The 2008 state budget sets aside Rp 186 trillion for fuel and electricity spendings, with the assumption that oil prices will average $95 per barrel. With oil prices hovering well above $115 a barrel, pressure is increasing on the government to hike domestic fuel prices and ease subsidy burdens.
The government has offered no clear indications that any kind of price rise is on the cards, although Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro confirmed Sunday the government was considering applying non-subsidy tariffs for households and small businesses with an electricity capacity of greater than 2,200 watts.
Previously, the non-subsidy tariff was only aimed at business customers with electricity capacities of 6,600 watts or more.
A member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Indonesia is a net oil importer.
Jakarta Post - April 24, 2008
Aditya Suharmoko, Jakarta – Inflation is now the main threat to Asian economies, including the Indonesian economy, requiring further tightening of monetary policy, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said Wednesday.
"(It is) important to contain inflationary pressures, including by monetary tightening where needed," deputy director for the IMF's research department, Charles Collyns, told a press briefing here. "Many countries have tightened their monetary policy by raising interest rates to keep inflation under control."
During its last policy meeting, Indonesia's central bank maintained the benchmark interest rate at 8 percent to keep inflation in check, with year-on-year inflation reaching 8.17 percent in March.
Indonesia still has room to raise benchmark interest rate by 50 basis points, according to Bank Mandiri chief economist Martin Panggabean, to strike the balance between curbing inflation and accommodating industry needs to expand their businesses.
Raising the interest rate too high, however, could discourage businesses and consumers alike to seek bank loans as the cost of borrowing becomes more expensive.
Key commodity prices were likely to remain high throughout this year, said the IMF, as many stock market brokers had shifted their portfolios to commodities to cover their losses following the turmoil in global stock markets.
The Jakarta Composite Index has fallen 18.38 percent from 2,739.70 at the end of 2007 to 2,314.30 on Wednesday.
"The prices will be maintained at high levels, but they won't continue to rise. Policies may need to adopt quickly if the global downturn intensifies," Collyns said, adding that the Asian financial markets have not been immune to the global turbulence.
High inflation eats up people's purchasing power and could derail consumer spending, a crucial indicator for a country like Indonesia whose economy relies on strong consumption. Consumption makes up over 60 percent of Indonesia's economy, according to the Central Statistics Agency (BPS).
Separately, the government said almost all countries worldwide were facing rising inflation, spurred mostly by ever-increasing oil and commodity prices.
"However, domestically, everyday we hold a meeting to discuss the (consumer) prices, including rice, kerosene, cooking oil, soybeans... They are our main focus," said Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati.
Thus, changes in policy remains open, she said. The IMF forecasted inflation in Indonesia to reach 7 percent this year, higher than the government's estimate of 6.8 percent. It also predicted the country's economy to grow by 6.1 percent, lower than the government's expectation of 6.4 percent.
| Opinion & analysis |
Jakarta Post - April 28, 2008
Dicky Christanto, Denpasar – Indonesia's regimes since 1998 have made all sorts of promises but few have been implemented and – even worse – the oppressive political system persists, a discussion here concluded Saturday.
Rights activist I Wayan Gendo Suardana said he was living proof of how the current government is continuing the oppressive political system.
"I was detained, put on trial and sentenced to prison for an action the state deemed an insult to the president. So, what kind of government is that? We should have already known," he told the forum participants.
A former student activist turned rights advocate, Gendo was sentenced in June 2005 to six months in prison by the Denpasar District Court. He was found guilty of insulting the head of state following a street demonstration against the oil price hike. During the rally, Gendo burned a photograph of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
The discussion was held to review current government policies and to launch Gendo's political memoir Why I Burned the Photograph of eSBeYe. The discussion, organized by a group of activists called Frontier, also featured former lawmaker Sri Bintang Pamungkas.
Gendo said the government had wasted its time by imprisoning him because it failed to solve the real problem behind the protest. The oppressive action had only sullied the government's image as a regime concerned about democracy, he said.
"The government should pay more attention to the actual issue and not get distracted by creating other unnecessary and weak issues such as insults to public officials."
Sri Bintang Pamungkas said the government's approach to public issues had only revealed its inability and lack of integrity in governing the country, and the government should restore presidential mandates to the people.
"In the 10 years since the 1998 reform, almost nothing good has happened in this country. Indeed, what we see today is more suffering because people can hardly bear everyday burdens caused by the soaring prices of daily necessities," he told the forum.
Former rector of Udayana University I Wayan Wita, also at the discussion, disagreed with this statement. Many good things have occurred in Indonesia, although huge improvements were needed to create a welfare state to benefit every citizen, he said.
"I know we still have a lot of homework to do but now we have the Corruption Eradication Commission, the General Elections Commission and the Election Monitoring Committee, to name a few, which have played a vital role in increasing the quality of law enforcement and political process," he said.
"Most importantly, these institutions have gained the public's trust. So how can anyone say nothing good has happened in the country?"
He said activists should encourage people to be critical of government policies by demanding the government explain the reasons for its policies.
"Judging or criticizing the government's decisions is not enough. These activists should spread their knowledge and critical attitudes so the public will learn how to get involved in and influence the government's policy-making process," he said.
Jakarta Post - April 28, 2008
Frenky Simanjuntak, Jakarta – A recent statement by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono makes us wonder whether he, or his administration, is actually serious in their effort to fight corruption.
In his opening speech to the National Law Convention in Jakarta on Tuesday (April 15), he emphasized the importance of educating people about the law as being a higher priority than the enforcement process.
Furthermore, he said that if corruption were committed by a citizen because of lack of understanding of the law, then law enforcement bodies should take some responsibility for this happening. Finally, he said law enforcement should not use entrapment to apprehend corruptors, but remind them of their misdeeds.
There are three logical fallacies in this position. First, it puts less priority on law enforcement than on educating people about the law and regulations on corruption. While there is no doubt that it's important to educate people about the anti- corruption law, our national strategy to fight corruption makes enforcement, prevention and education equally important.
Indonesia, as one of the most corrupt countries in the world according to the Transparency International Corruption Perception Index, needs to step up anti-corruption efforts. So far we have made slow progress, as many corruption cases have not yet reached the legal stage. Enforcing the law, while at the same time socializing regulations, is the only way to tackle rampant corruption.
This nation, which many economic experts predict is on its way into another economic crisis, really doesn't have time to wait for people to be properly socialized in the law, while corrupters drain the precious resources that we have left.
Second, the President promised, which we all remember vividly, that he would "take command and spearhead" the fight against corruption during his election campaign, putting the blame on law enforcement agencies when corrupters admitted committing crimes "because they did not know it was against the law."
Corruption, by nature, is a white-collar crime. In this country corruption occurs at all level of life, from several thousand rupiah "cigarette fees" for government officials in the district office to speed up obtaining an I.D. card, to billions of rupiah of questionable disbursements from Bank Indonesia to our most respectable members of the legislature.
But while so-called "petty corruption" committed by low level government officials can sometimes be blamed on lack of understanding of the law and poor level of income, the same excuse cannot be applied to the big fish.
Generally speaking, the latter have abundant wealth, are mostly educated and sit in top jobs. We can assume they should have no difficulty accessing information, given the privilege of position and the wealth at their disposal.
Many of them have their own legal advisers, which by the nature of their profession, should be well informed about the rules and regulations on how to conduct business. If a person with this background commits corruption, is it fair to share their guilt with law enforcement agencies because of their ignorance of the law? No need to answer that, it's a rhetorical question.
Third, the President's comment that law enforcement agencies should not use entrapment, but rather remind people not to corrupt, is dumbfounding. Corrupters, especially the big fish, are usually good at wriggling out of situations. They have a full bag of tricks to cover their tracks, erase evidence, compromise witnesses, and an army of lawyers and advisers to back them up.
To apprehend this kind of player needs special strategies. Wiretapping, covert surveillance and the whole range of subterfuge methods are the rule of the game to catch them. One thing is for sure, no matter how elusive they are it is very hard for them to avoid conviction when they are caught red handed.
Therefore sometimes the most effective way to deal with them is to use entrapment. This has achieved good results in the recent past (the arrest of one prominent Electoral Commission former member comes to mind).
And the idea of reminding a possible corrupter not to do it again, is to put it mildly, rather strange. It reminds me of Steven Spielberg's science fiction movie Minority Report. The film depicts a special law enforcement unit, with the task of arresting a murderer before the murder takes place, based on the advice of three special agents with the power of pre-cognition.
At least in the movie, the would-be murderer is arrested. If we applied the idea mentioned in the speech, should KPK, after months of surveillance and collecting evidence on the suspect, send a counselor to remind him that what is proposed is illegal and then advise him to return to the path of righteousness, or should KPK send a crack law enforcement unit to pick him up? Sounds a bit like science fiction, doesn't it?
Recent apprehensions of dozens of government officials suspected of corruption, including the highly publicized arrest of suspected bribe-taker legislator Al Amin Nasution, not only gathered praise for KPK but also criticism. Coming not surprisingly from people related to the apprehended suspects, they criticized KPK methods and the grounds for arrest.
They use neutral terms, like clarification, perhaps to put them in a safer position, not openly defending a possible corruption suspect, in case the investigation process goes in the direction they do not want.
In relation to Al Amin's arrest, several party colleagues, members of the United Development Party (PPP), asked the KPK for clarification. They asked for reconstruction of the actual arrest procedure, which they said was full of contraventions. Of course they also stated that if Al Amin was proven guilty in the name of law, then he should be punished according to his crime. Members of several parties have also demanded clarification of different cases handled by KPK, in the name of law, of course.
All the questions, doubts and attacks, from many sides, on KPK law enforcement procedures, could demoralize this independent body. The last thing they need is for the President, the self- selected commander in chief of the nation's war against corruption, to make statements like this.
This may not only demoralize the KPK and other law enforcement agencies working against corruption, but it puts a question mark on the seriousness of the administration to work on this agenda. Luckily, they still have the popular rock group Slank on their side.
[The writer is a researcher at Transparency International Indonesia. He can be reached at fsimanjuntak@ti.or.id.]
Jakarta Post - April 26, 2008
"Nenek moyangku orang pelaut/Gemar mengarung luas samudera/Menerjang ombak tiada takut/Menempuh badai sudah biasa...."
(Our ancestors were sailors/They sailed across the oceans/Challenged the waves fearlessly/Surfed the storm familiarly.)
I Made Andi Arsana, Yogyakarta – In the early 1990s or before, the above song was popular in Indonesia. I wonder whether Indonesian children nowadays still sing this song. One thing for sure, children seem to be more interested in drawing mountain views rather than seas. Does it indicate a degradation of the maritime spirit? Let us go back a while.
In 1908, 100 years ago, Indonesians initiated the national awakening. It was followed by the Youth Pledge in 1928 declaring one state, one nation and one language: Indonesia. This then led Indonesia to independence in 1945.
In 1939, the Netherlands Indische stipulated the 1930 Ordnance concerning territorial sea and maritime environment, which was then adopted by the Indonesian government. It declared only 3 nautical miles of territorial sea measured from the coastline of each island.
With this ordnance, the maritime areas beyond 3 miles were considered as high seas. This, consequently, was disadvantageous to national security.
To deal with this situation, prime minister Djoeanda Kartawidjaja declared new Indonesian maritime claims through the Djoeanda Declaration on Dec. 13, 1957. This asserted that Indonesia should be seen as one nation consisting of land, maritime and space areas. The declaration also concerned the archipelagic baseline connecting the outer points of the outlying islands, from which maritime jurisdiction was measured.
In other words, the Djoeanda Declaration was the seed of the "Archipelago Principle" (Wawasan Nusantara). This was then followed by the stipulation of Law No. 4/Prp/1960 concerning Indonesian waters, which also governed basepoints and baselines.
In 1982, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) was signed and Indonesia ratified it in 1985 through law No. 17/1985. Since then, Indonesia has been bound by the convention. The convention also governs maritime boundary delimitations among coastal states.
In this regard, Indonesia deals with 10 neighboring states: India, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, the Philippines, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Australia and Timor Leste.
Indonesia has been considered reasonably productive in establishing maritime boundary agreements. Indonesia agreed to several maritime boundaries with its neighbors such as Malaysia (1969 and 1970), Thailand (1971), Australia (1971, 1972), Singapore (1973), Papua New Guinea (1973) and India (1974).
Unilaterally, Indonesia also claims continental shelf (1973) and exclusive economic zone (1983). However, there are still several unresolved boundaries to settle.
It has to be admitted that the relationship between Indonesia and its neighbors is still colored by maritime disputes and problems concerning ocean affairs. The case of the Ambalat Block in 2005, the lack of management of small outer islands and unfinished maritime boundary settlements with neighbors are just a few examples. Due to lack of information, people still think that Indonesia may lose islands. Simply speaking, there is still work to do.
With regards to maritime boundaries, some points need to be taken into consideration. Indonesia should devote her time and energy to settle the never-before delimited boundaries with the Philippines, Palau and Timor Leste. Along with that, unsettled segments of maritime boundaries also need to be finalized (with Malaysia and Singapore).
In addition, Indonesia also needs to delineate its continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles as indicated by Article 76 of the UNCLOS.
Such an extension may be made and should be submitted to the United Nations before May 13, 2009. Nine other states/parties have made their submissions, while Indonesia has only one year to go.
After maritime limits and boundary delimitation, information dissemination then becomes critical. The Indonesian government should disseminate information concerning maritime claims and boundaries so that people are well informed. Fishermen and people residing in coastal areas should be the main group for this dissemination.
This is to avoid misunderstanding and unwanted incidents in relation to maritime limits and boundaries such as border crossing in fishing activities. Together with this, the Indonesian Navy should be equipped with more sophisticated operational facilities.
Another important agenda is to enhance the expertise concerning ocean affairs, maritime delimitation and other aspects of the law of the sea. This expertise should cover technical and non- technical issues.
For example, Indonesia requires more geoscientists (geodesy, geophysics, geography, geology) with interest in the law of the sea.
The ultimate goal is to ensure security and stability, which in turn results in economic wealth. Being an archipelagic state, Indonesia should treat the sea/ocean as one of the focal points of economic development. As written by Idris, et al (2007), Indonesia should wake up the "economic giant", as the mega potentials of ocean resources are called. The stipulation of Law No. 27/2007 concerning the management of coastal zones and small islands is, ideally, a good start for this promising vision.
However, as also noted by Afghani (The Jakarta Post, April 15, 2008), serious attention should be given in order to avoid misinterpretation. It has been noted that there is space for improvement in the newly stipulated law.
It is time for us to celebrate 100 years of the national awakening with the consciousness and courage of a maritime nation. Let us teach our children to develop the spirit of a maritime nation. The next generations are also sailors, who will challenge the waves fearlessly. Happy birthday, Indonesia!
[The writer is a lecturer in the Department of Geodetic Engineering, Gadjah Mada University, and a researcher for the United Nations in ocean affairs and the law of the sea (2007). This is a personal opinion.]
Jakarta Post Editorial - April 24, 2008
The longer the Indonesian government waits before deciding to bring domestic fuel prices closer to international market levels, the more devastating will be the impact on the long-term foundation of the economy.
Waiting until Indonesian crude oil, which is usually US$7-$8 cheaper than international prices, exceeds $100 per barrel before the government increases fuel prices is only creating a big uncertainty because crude oil has fetched almost $120 in New York.
In fact, the average Indonesian crude price over the past three months has exceeded the $95 used to estimate the Rp 200 trillion (US$21.7 billion) budgetary appropriation for fuel and electricity subsidies for this year. Several analysts have estimated that even at current price levels, fuel and power subsidies would reach Rp 250 trillion and there are no signs of any price decline within the foreseeable future.
Uncertainty has been gripping the market and inflationary expectation is also on the rise as people increasingly believe that the government will sooner or later have to raise fuel prices.
It is not only economically unfeasible but also politically irresponsible to maintain such a huge sum of fuel subsidies, which are anyway enjoyed mostly by the middle and high-income groups of people.
It is likewise morally irresponsible for the government to allocate more than one fifth of the state budget for such wasteful spending, while not even half of that amount was appropriated for education, pubic housing and basic health services and food subsidies.
Yet more damaging is that capping fuel prices at artificially low levels will only prompt more export smuggling and misuse by industrial users and discourage energy efficiency, conservation and diversification.
It was not a surprise that the Downstream Oil and Gas Regulator reported Tuesday that subsidized-fuel sales in the first quarter had exceeded by almost 10 percent the earlier target even though fuel demand should have declined along with the lower estimate of economic growth this year.
The steady increase in the super-gasoline prices, which are floated on the international markets, may have prompted many car owners to shift to subsidized, lower-grade gasoline. But we shared the concern of many analysts that export smuggling had been mainly responsible for the higher demand for subsidized fuels.
As the World Bank Director for Indonesia Joachim Von Amsberg noted with great concern recently, "the multi-billion dollar fuel subsidy is a missed opportunity for investment, it's a missed opportunity for putting money into an education system that badly needs additional investment, it's a lost opportunity for public investment in infrastructure that is urgently needed."
It is mind-boggling to understand why the government has not yet learnt from past grave mistakes that maintaining prices through subsidies creates only artificial stability because such a measure addresses only the symptom of inflation, not the root cause. Government-fixed price curbs have always been a failure, because both producers and consumers get the wrong price signals and consequently the forces of supply and demand do not work normally.
Look at how investors have raised Indonesia's sovereign risks, as evidenced by the market demand for higher yields on government bonds. This means that the public sector's borrowing costs have increased.
The blunt fact is the longer this uncertainty over the fuel subsidy lasts, the more concerned will be foreign investors about the fiscal sustainability of the budget. This would consequently press down the rupiah exchange rate and increase imported inflation.
Inevitably, any fuel price rise will increase inflationary pressures but prices will eventually achieve their market equilibrium as the forces of supply and demand get the right price signals as what happened a few week after the 125 percent fuel-price hike in October 2005.
True, the President is now caught between a rock and a hard place because of the cascading impact of the steep hikes in food prices, the weakening global economy and uncertainty in the world financial market. But in so far as the fuel-subsidy trap is concerned, the blame should be put on the President and the House of Representatives. The longer "this time bomb" is left ticking, the more devastating will be its explosion.
The President should show his leadership. Deciding how to decide is as important as making the final decision.