Ulma Haryanto – After dying from burns sustained when he set himself on fire in an apparent protest at the Presidential Palace, Sondang Hutabarat is becoming a rallying point for movements across the nation.

Rallies to honor his death took place across the country on Monday, with demonstrators all interpreting the act of self-immolation their own way.

In Palembang, South Sumatra, campus-based anticorruption movement Gerak called on students not to be content with attending classes and easy lives, but to go out to the streets to protest government policies that are not pro-people.

Gerak South Sumatra coordinator Nachung Tajuddin called Sondang the "hammer" that would build solidarity among the student movement and the people of Indonesia.

In Jember, East Java, student activists held a march to honor Sondang's death, which they saw as a form of protest against the government's lack of progress in resolving cases of human rights violations.

"Many cases of human rights violations such as the Trisakti [University shooting in 1998], the murder of human rights defender Munir [Said Thalib], and incidents in Papua have not been resolved completely," said M. Sodik, a member of the Indonesian National Students Movement (GMNI) from Jember.

In Malang, East Java, Sondang's act was interpreted as a protest against corruption.

As of Monday afternoon, about a dozen Facebook groups had also been established to commemorate Sondang's act. Some have speculated that it could trigger a bigger protest, similar to the way Tunisian street vendor Mohamed Bouazizi's act of self-immolation catalyzed the Arab Spring movement.

But national defense analyst Bantarto Bandoro doubted it would have the same level of impact. "The Indonesian government still fares better than the majority of the Arab countries," he said.

"He wanted to raise awareness that there is something wrong with our politics, but what he did is not the start of a revolution." He added, however, that activists and other groups would certainly try and take advantage of the attention surrounding Sondang's death.

Even politicians have done so, with former President Megawati Sukarnoputri saying on Monday that Sondang's act showed there was something wrong with how the country was being run.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, according to his spokesman Daniel Sparingga, said there were a thousand messages in Sondang's death, and people should take from it what they need.

[Additional reporting by Antara, Markus Junianto Sihaloho & Anita Rachman.]

Soldier shot, policeman injured in clash

Jakarta Post - December 13, 2011

Apriadi Gunawan, Medan – A soldier from the Indonesian Military (TNI) and personnel from the North Sumatran police are reported to have been injured in what appears to be the latest in a line of clashes between members of the two institutions.

The incident was allegedly triggered by a minor traffic accident in Medan, in which a car driven by Brigadier Manurung, a member of the North Sumatra police office, clipped the motorbike of Second Private Andi Julianto.

In the ensuing confrontation, Julianto, a soldier assigned to the Bukit Barisan Military Command, was reported to have sustained a gunshot wound to his stomach, while Manurung suffered head injuries.

Both were rushed to two different hospitals in the city, Manurung to Bhayangkara Hospital and Julianto to Dr. Pirngadi Hospital.

Reports said that following the traffic accident, Julianto and Manurung were involved in a verbal tirade. Although both eventually moved on, it appeared that Julianto, seemingly still irked by the incident, called his friends. Twenty minutes later, they allegedly found Manurung and began to intimidate the police officer.

Clashes between soldiers and police officers have taken place recurrently, especially since the separation of the two institutions in 2000. In Medan, the incident is the third case in the past eight months.

Last month, a number of police personnel were involved in a clash with TNI soldiers during a police raid at a gambling den in Medan Sunggal district. No casualties were reported.

In a gambling raid in Medan Marelan district in April, police officer Brig. Sinuhaji was injured after being hit with a wooden beam by a individual believed to be a soldier, who apparently tried to interfere in the operation.

Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Heru Prakoso said clashes between police and TNI members were often triggered by misunderstandings. He added that every case had been settled amicably, including Saturday night's incident.

"Every case has been resolved. The police and military have agreed to watch over their respective units so as to prevent similar incidents," Heru told The Jakarta Post on Monday.

"During the fight, Manurung was cornered, prompting him to fire his pistol," Heru said, adding Manurung sustained head wounds from a sharp object during the clash.

Bukit Barisan Military Command Artillery Batallion commander Maj. Mahfud Ghozali said the incident between police and military members was due to a minor matter. He appeared reserved when asked who started the fight, saying that his unit did not want to blame anybody.

"It was just a misunderstanding. One of them was arrogant and the other was furious so the fight ensued," Mahfud said without elaborating.

He added the case had been settled as it had been followed up with coordination at the respective leadership levels. "It was settled. We have coordinated so such an incident will not happen in the future," said Mahfud.

Badarudin, sociologist of Medan-based North Sumatra University, suggested the case be brought to court as a way to avoid similar incidents from happening in the future.

Military-police clashes

March 3, 2006: One police officer and one soldier die, following a clash between police and military personnel, which sparked a weekend of violence in Ambon.

Aug. 8, 2006: One police officer and one soldier are killed in a shootout in the Monument area Mulyo Musirawa District, South Sumatra.

Feb. 13, 2007: A policeman is shot dead in an exchange of gunfire between police and soldiers in Mulia, the capital of Puncak Jaya, Papua.

June 7, 2009: A member of Megangsakti police station in Musi Rawas regency, South Sumatra shoots dead a soldier during police raid at a night spot.

Sept. 5, 2009: Dozens of unidentified men mob the Matraman Police station on Jl. Matraman Raya, Central Jakarta, hurling stones and flower pots at the office.

July 4, 2010: An attack on the Muaraenim police station by members of the military.

Aug. 17, 2010: Dozens of soldiers attack the Siantar Police station in Pematang Siantar, North Sumatra.

Death of self-immolating student sparks online movement

Jakarta Post - December 12, 2011

Jakarta – The death of Sondang Hutagalung, a student who set himself on fire in an anti-government protest, has sparked an online movement to make him an icon for an antigraft movement.

On Sunday, a group of users of the popular social networking site Facebook set up a group called An Anti-graft Solidarity for Self-Immolating Sondang.

"This group is set up to give support to Sondang for sacrificing his life in the fight against corruption and criticizing the government, which has failed to combat corruption," the group said in its description.

Tributes and condolences also poured in on the microblogging site, Twitter, where hundreds of feeds praised him as a martyr in the fight against graft.

"Time for change, remember Tunisia, dissolve the legislature," Rakrian Yoga said in his Twitter feed, alluding to the death of Tunisian street vendor Mohamed Bouazizi from self-immolation, which sparked the Tunisian revolution that led to the ouster of the country's president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.

The remains of Sondang were laid to rest at Pondok Kelapa cemetery in East Jakarta at noon. "We will bury him at Pondok Kelapa cemetery at noon, after a wake at his campus and his home," Sondang's brother, Bob Crispianza Hutagalung said before the burial on Sunday, as quoted by tempo.co.

The burial was attended by hundreds of people, including Sondang's friends and fellow activists.

Sondang died on Saturday afternoon after a week in intensive care. The 22- year-old, a student at Bung Karno University, set himself ablaze in front of the Merdeka Palace on Dec. 7.

Sondang was the youngest of four children of taxi driver Victor Hutagalung and homemaker Dame Sipahutar. Bung Karno University will grant an honorary bachelor's degree to him. The honorary degree will be granted in appreciation of the struggle of Sondang, who had been actively involved in a number of anti-government protests.

He doused himself with gasoline and set himself on fire in one such protests on Dec. 7, and was subsequently treated in the intensive care unit of Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital in Central Jakarta. He died on Saturday afternoon.

"A number of public figures and organizations suggested granting the honorary bachelor's degree," university deputy rector Daniel Panda said on Sunday in Jakarta as quoted by tempo.co.

He added that the granting of the degree should not been taken as encouragement for other students to do the same thing. "As an academic, I hope there will be no repeat of such a measure. There are other options. This is a too high a sacrifice."

He was in the class of 2007 of Bung Karno University's Law School and was reportedly due to attend his graduation ceremony. Police have yet to determine the motive for Sondang's death.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono expressed his condolences over the death of Sondang Hutagalung, a presidential aide said. "President SBY is saddened and shares the sadness of his [Sondang's] parents and relatives," presidential special staff for political communications Daniel said Sunday, as quoted by kompas.com.

Daniel said that many lessons could be learned from the unfortunate incident. "We believe that there are thousands of messages left following the death of Sondang," he said. Sondang sustained burns to 90 percent of his body.

Indonesian man dies after self-immolation

Agence France Presse - December 11, 2011

Jakarta – An 22-year-old Indonesian man has died after setting himself on fire near the presidential palace, according to police, in what is believed to be the country's first self-immolation protest.

The man, identified as student Sondang Hutagalung, died on Saturday after he was taken to hospital with 98 percent burns, Jakarta police spokesman Baharudin Djafar told AFP.

"He died yesterday from a sizeable percentage of burns on his body after setting himself on fire. We still don't know what caused him to immolate himself," he said.

Local media reported that Hutagalung had doused himself in petrol and torched himself near the state palace on Wednesday before running towards a billboard bearing the photograph of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Witnesses told the Jakarta Globe newspaper he had shouted anti-government messages. But Djafar said it was "not possible" to say he was protesting against the government or the president.

"He was the perpetrator as well as the victim. Only he had the answer – we couldn't guess his motive," he said. "But we hope nobody will repeat such an act. If you're unhappy with anything, you may protest but please do so without hurting yourself and others."

Presidential adviser Daniel Sparingga said on Thursday that Yudhoyono had been informed of the incident and "expressed his sympathy and concern".

Protests are common in Indonesia but the self-immolation is believed to be the first of its kind in the world's third-largest democracy of 240 million people.

Yudhoyono's popularity rankings have slumped despite strong economic growth, amid corruption and incompetence across all levels of the state. He was sworn in at the start of his second five-year term on 20 October 2009.

The first Indonesian president to be directly elected after decades of authoritarianism, Yudhoyono has won two clear mandates with promises of tough action on corruption, but is seen as too weak and indecisive to take on powerful vested interests.

Self-immolator may be a student, Kontras supporter

Jakarta Globe - December 10, 2011

Ulma Haryanto, Agus Triyono & Zaky Pawas – Slowly, the identity of the man believed to have set himself on fire in front of the Presidential Palace on Wednesday is being revealed.

Haris Azhar, chairman of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras), said based on an initial description, the man could be Sondang Hutagalung, a Bung Karno University student who was an active supporter of the rights group.

"According to [Sondang's] girlfriend and his family, his teeth and army- type shoes are identical to the victim's," Haris said, adding that Sondang's family had gone to the Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital (RSCM), where the man is being treated.

"The hospital still wouldn't allow [the man] to be visited by anyone. We can't confirm anything yet because the man is badly burned," Haris said.

Chrisbiantoro, a Kontras staff member, said that Sondang had an uneven set of teeth and a birthmark on his foot, and that he is known for wearing the same shoes everywhere. "The shoes were gifts from [Sondang's] siblings," he said.

Haris also said that for two months, Kontras and Sondang's family had lost contact with the student. Prior to incident, Haris said, Sondang left his cellphone with his girlfriend. "[Sondang] met with his girlfriend. But she said she doesn't know what he was up to," the Kontras chairman said.

Sondang, he continued, had participated in a number of Kontras rallies and was a member of Munir's Friends, which advocates for investigation into the death of renowned rights activist Munir Said Thalib.

"He has a student organization called Hamurabi. He likes to hang out at the Kontras office because there is training here," Haris said. "He is quite active in Kontras rallies and has been performing in theatrical demonstrations."

Chris said Sondang had showed no signs of wanting to end his life. "[Sondang's] family said he was not in any kind of trouble, but he has been rambling about doing something good for others," the activist said.

Separately, RSCM director Akmal Taher said doctors have drawn a DNA test sample from the victim, but DNA from Sondang's family has not been extracted.

Akmal said that since the incident, the man has been put under intensive care at the hospital, but his chances of survival are slim. "He has burns on 98 percent of his body. It is unlikely he will live," he said.

Actions, demos, protests...

Protest for self-immolator sees police injuries, arrests

Jakarta Globe - December 15, 2011

Zaky Pawas – Several police officers were injured and 10 students from Bung Karno University were arrested after an antigovernment rally in Central Jakarta turned to chaos on Wednesday.

"The Central Jakarta Police chief [Sr. Comr. Angesta Romano Yoyol] suffered a head injury. He was hit by a stone thrown by the demonstrators," said Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Baharudin Djafar.

Angesta was taken to nearby Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital but his injury proved fairly minor. Several other police officers also suffered cuts and bruises as the student protesters hurled rocks at them.

The students were commemorating the death of fellow Bung Karno student Sondang Hutagalung, who set himself on fire in front of the Presidential Palace in Jakarta last week.

The students wore their blue university jackets, which they smeared in fake blood, and held signs calling on President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to resign. They claimed that the government's inability to reduce corruption and poverty had been the source of Sondang's desperation.

Jakarta Police Chief Insp. Gen. Untung South Rajab said officers had been attempting to move the location of the protest, which had crippled traffic on the busy Jalan Diponegoro.

"We were just advising them to relocate because they had caused so much traffic," Untung said. "As we were in the process of negotiating with them when some protesters started hurling rocks. This is a democratic country. It's OK to demonstrate, but there are procedures that have to be met," he added.

Baharudin said 10 students were arrested but none had been charged. One of the demonstrators, who declined to give his name, denied that students had attacked the officers. "We don't know why we are being arrested," the student said. "This is police violence."

Police still questioning students on Central Jakarta protest violence

Jakarta Post - December 15, 2011

Jakarta – Ten students from Bung Karno University remain in detention at Jakarta Police headquarters on Thursday after a rally turned violent.

The students were taken into custody after Central Jakarta Police chief Snr.Com. Angesta Romano Yoyol was injured when he was hit by a stone thrown from the crowd of protestors on Jl. Diponegoro on Wednesday. He was taken to a nearby clinic and then to Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital.

Central Jakarta detective chief Snr. Com. Gatot Edy Pramono said students were still being questioned about the incident, kompas.com reported. The students demonstrated to support for their peer Sondang Hutagalung, who died after setting himself on fire in front of the State Palace last week.

Workers rally for human rights justices

Jakarta Post - December 11, 2011

Apriadi Gunawan, Medan – Some hundred workers in Medan, North Sumatra staged a rally on Saturday, calling on the government to address their rights and curb human rights violations.

Claiming themselves members of Indonesian Labor Union (SBSI) 92, they held the rally at Majestik cross section in downtown as part of a commemoration of International Human Rights Day.

They lambasted the Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono-Boediono administration as not being serious in dealing with human rights issues.

They pointed to pitfalls with which the workers were still vulnerable and exposed to regarding repression by local administrations when they voiced their own freedom of expression.

They said the workers did not have a full share over the merit of the independence the nation declared 66 years ago. The workers' rights for decent living and justice have been blatantly overlooked, they said.

Rally coordinator Purwadi reminded the government about the workers' contribution to development of the nation. He deplored the government policy allowing the implementation of outsourcing labor recruitment, which he said was unfair.

He said fights for outsourcing recruitment abolition, as well as for freedom of expression, were liable to repression. "The repression showed over those two issues are akin to government's pillory on the workers' rights for justice and welfare," he told The Jakarta Post. He also blamed the discouraging labor condition on outside interference in domestic policy.

Foreign investors and developed countries were said to have provoked the government into restraining the workers' rights to gain a better future.

Majda El Muhtaj, head of Indonesia Human Rights Study Center with State Medan University, said fights for human rights in the country still ended up in an impasse.

Reported acts of intimidation, eviction, murder and persecution, for which the government seemed to show negligence, he said, were evidence of human rights violations in the country.

"Tears of helplessness and bitterness reported on the media, almost everyday, are evidence that the expected good governance that would see public services cater to all people is still under question," he said.

Protesters target Democratic Party chief

Jakarta Post - December 10, 2011

Nani Farida, Jakarta – Democratic Party chairman Anas Urbaningrum became the target of protesters as demonstrators rallied for World Anticorruption Day in several cities across Indonesia on Friday.

Around 30 protesters attempting to approach Anas' house in East Jakarta were turned back by a similar number of police officers bearing shields and helmets who established a cordon around the home.

Several protesters wore vests identifying them as members of the Islam Defenders' Front (FPI). A banner reading "Catch Corrupters! Catch the Thiefs for the People" was also seen. "Today, Anas is a national icon of corruption for the biggest graft case," a protester said.

Anas has been embroiled in graft allegations following the detention of Nazaruddin, the party's former treasurer and current graft defendant.

Nazaruddin testified in court that Anas accepted bribes connected to the contract to build the athletes' village for the recently-concluded Southeast Asian Games. Anas was also alleged to have bought votes when he was running for party chairman last year. Anas has denied the accusations.

In Semarang, Central Java, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, also the party's patron, asked other countries, particularly Indonesia's neighbors, for cooperation in eradicating corruption. Yudhoyono asked them not to harbor corruptors who fled prosecution or questioning in Indonesia.

"Indonesia doesn't want other countries to be havens for corruptors who have stolen our state assets," the President said during an event marking World Anticorruption Day on Friday. Yudhoyono added that Indonesia would listen to the warnings it had received on several cases involving illegal logging, illegal mining and smuggling.

"However, other countries should not just warn us by benefiting from what was stolen from Indonesia," the President said, adding that he had asked leaders at the G-20, APEC and ASEAN summits to work hand-in-hand with Indonesia to fight corruption.

Yudhoyono also instructed ministers, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) and the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (PPATK) to focus on corruption affecting state and regional budgets.

Across Indonesia on Friday, demonstrators, mostly comprising students, marked the day with sniping criticism of the government. Some said the government was not seriously fighting corruption, with several big graft cases remaining in limbo.

The police fired tear gas into a crowd of hundreds of students in Makassar, South Sulawesi, who started to throw rocks after Governor Yasin Limpo declined to meet with them outside his office.

Makassar City Police chief Erwin Triwanto, who arrived on scene later, ordered his officers to retreat. The incident was diffused after the protesters were received by provincial secretary Andi Mualim.

The protesters had Andi sign an ersatz 'memorandum of understanding' listing graft cases for the government to investigate, including allegations of corruption surrounding Rp 8.8 billion of social aid funds.

The students also urged that Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) chairman-designate Abraham Samad fulfill his promise to investigate big graft allegations, including the Bank Century bailout and the SEA Games scandal.

In Yogyakarta, protesters reminded local authorities about a case implicating former Bantul regent Idham Samawi. "Fight corruption. If not you, who else," read one poster.

In Bandung, West Java, farmers joined students in a march to Gedung Sate, the seat of the West Java administration. They lambasted the government for "its failure to fight against corruption."

Indonesia's ranking on Transparency International's corruption index stands at 3.0.

[Andi Hajramurni, Slamen Susanto and Arya Dipa contributed to the story from Makassar, Yogyakarta and Bandung.]

Protesters slam government for lax corruption fight

Jakarta Post - December 9, 2011

Andi Hajramurni, Makassar – Commemorating International Anti-Corruption Day, which falls Friday, hundreds of university students in Makassar staged rallies on Thursday, demanding that the government take serious action against corruption.

The rallies were held sporadically on several university campuses. Students of the Indonesian Muslim University (UMI), State Islamic University (UIN) Alauddin and Makassar Muhammadiyah University and members of the Association of Muslim University Students (HMI) Makassar were among the protesters. HMI staged a rally in front of the provincial legislative building. Protesters also gathered under the Makassar flyover.

"Corruption has become more and more rampant, and involves members of the second United Indonesia Cabinet. Yet, none of them has undergone legal processing," HMI coordinator Abdul Rahman Alwi said.

Most of the protesters condemned President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vice President Boediono for what they said was a failure in their fight against corruption, which was the cornerstone of their election campaign.

They said that many corruption cases had caused massive state losses but had not been investigated.

They cited the cases of the central bank liquidity fund (BLBI), the Bank Century bailout, the SEA Games athletes' village, and corruption at the Manpower and Transmigration Ministry that reportedly implicates minister Muhaimin Iskandar and Finance Minister Agus Martowardojo.

"So far only Nazaruddin has been tried for the athletes' village corruption case even though a number of officials have been mentioned in testimonies. Government officials seem to be well protected," Rahman said.

They urged law institutions ranging from the police, prosecutors' offices, the court and the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to work more seriously in their fights against corruption.

They also demanded that corruption suspects, especially state officials, be arrested, tried and if convicted, that their fortunes be seized and made to benefit the people.

They promised that they would ensure the newly elected KPK chairman to prove his commitment to thoroughly process major corruption cases in his first year with the commission.

They said they would return to the streets with bigger rallies on Friday to commemorate International Anti-Corruption Day.

The Makassar Police said they were ready to deploy 2,600 joint personnel to safeguard the rallies on Friday.

International solidarity

People across the globe demand the release of Filep Karma

Amnesty International News Release - December 15, 2011

People in over 80 countries in every region of the world have come together to demand the release of Indonesian prisoner of conscience Filep Karma, who is currently serving a 15-year prison sentence for taking part in a peaceful ceremony where a Papuan regional flag was raised.

Filep Karma, 52, is one of the individuals Amnesty International supporters across the globe have chosen for the Write for Rights campaign, one of the largest letter writing campaigns ever undertaken. Hundreds of thousands of people have been writing letters, signing petitions, sending SMS messages and taking action online since 3 December to demand justice for Filep Karma and 13 other cases from a range of countries including Mexico, Nigeria, Russia, Sri Lanka, Turkey, USA and Zimbabwe.

At least 90 prisoners of conscience are currently imprisoned for peaceful political protests or possessing, raising or waving the prohibited regional flags of Maluku and Papua. Amnesty International calls on the Indonesian government to immediately and unconditionally release Filep Karma and all other prisoners of conscience in Indonesia, and to repeal, or at least re- interpret "makar" provisions to stop the imprisonment of non- violent political activists.

"Amnesty International was founded on the idea that people united can shine a light on injustice and create momentum for change," said Donna Guest, Amnesty International's Asia-Pacific Deputy Director.

"Hundreds of thousands of people from across the world are sending a clear message to the Indonesian government that they must uphold the right to free speech and immediately and unconditionally release Filep Karma and all other prisoners who are solely imprisoned for having peacefully expressed their views."

Filep Karma, a former civil servant, was one of 200 people who took part in a peaceful ceremony in Abepura, Papua province, on 1 December 2004. Police responded to the raising of the banned "Morning Star" flag by firing warning shots and beating people with batons. Filep Karma was arrested at the site of the ceremony. Police reportedly beat him on the way to the police station. He was subsequently charged with "makar" ("rebellion"), which prescribes punishments of life imprisonment or a maximum of 20 years' imprisonment. On 26 May 2005, Filep Karma was sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment.

Amnesty International takes no position whatsoever on the political status of any province of Indonesia, including calls for independence. However the organisation believes that the right to freedom of expression includes the right to peacefully advocate referendums, independence or any other political solutions that do not involve incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence.

The prohibited regional flags are first and foremost symbols for peaceful pro-independence or pro-autonomy movements in Indonesia and often simply reflect local communities' identities. They do not feature any "violent" logo or message in themselves, nor do they symbolize or imply violence. Thus the mere act of raising them is not a "violent" or "disruptive" act but a peaceful act.

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Indonesia is a state party, and the Indonesian Constitution guarantee the rights to freedom of expression, opinion, association and peaceful assembly. While the Indonesian government has the duty and the right to maintain public order, it must ensure that any restrictions to freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly are no more than is permitted under international human rights law.

Church leaders call for West Papua's independence

Vanuatu Daily Post - December 13, 2011

The Pacific Conference of Churches (PCC) is calling for the independence of West Papua and her people from Indonesia.

In a statement that was endorsed by the church leaders at their recent meeting in Samoa, they declared that, "beginning in 2012, we will celebrate a day of freedom in support of our brothers and sisters in Maohi Nui, Bougainville, New Caledonia, West Papua and peoples who yearn to be free. We call on the Secretariat of the PCC to designate such a day."

PCC's Acting General Secretary Reverend Francois Pihaatae said this designated day will be discussed in details during the staff planning retreat in early January of next year.

"The Pacific Conference of Churches is committed to the decolonisation of the Pacific region. We stand beside people under colonial rule and walk with them in their journey towards a future of their own choosing. It is unacceptable that in this day and age we continue to accept the existence of colonies in the Pacific region," Rev. Francois said.

Rev. Francois is calling on church members in the Pacific to join hands and pray about the situation in West Papua.

"Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we believe that true worship is about true commitment for the good of others. Let's walk with the people of West Papua through our prayers and ask God to provide them with comfort and protection in this very difficult time they are facing."

Vigil highlights issue of human rights abuses

Catholic Leader - December 11, 2011

Candles were lit in a vigil in the grounds of Brisbane's St Stephen's Cathedral to honour five West Papuans believed killed in a recent military attack on crowds gathered for the Third Papuan People's Congress.

Members of the West Papua Solidarity Group Brisbane staged the vigil on December 1, supported by Brisbane archdiocese's Catholic Justice and Peace Commission (CJPC).

The commission has also sent material to all parishes and schools in the archdiocese encouraging them to dedicate a day to prayer and action for the people of West Papua.

Two human rights lawyers from the Indonesian human rights organisation Kontras – Olga Hamadi (Papua) and Indria Fernida (Jakarta) – were also sponsored to attend a series of rallies and media conferences around the city recently.

CJPC executive officer Peter Arndt said the events, supported by the commission, were to promote greater awareness of human rights abuses in West Papua.

"Candles were lit at the vigil for the five Papuans believed to have been killed during a military attack (on October 19 in Jayapura, West Papua) which came after a declaration of independence by congress leaders," Mr Arndt said.

"Six of the congress leaders were arrested and beaten by police. Their names were also read at the vigil. It is believed that they were beaten while in custody."

"The West Papua Solidarity Group Brisbane, with the support of the CJPC, has sent money to the Franciscan Office for Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation to help pay for medical treatment for one of the men. Visiting human rights lawyer Ms Hamadi is a member of a legal team supporting the six arrested men."

Mr Arndt said the commission was pleased it was able to help to bring the human rights lawyers to Brisbane.

"We have been expressing concern about the military violence in West Papua for many years and it is good to have people who know the situation very well to better inform us," he said.

"We have been in regular contact with Church and community representatives in West Papua for some time and we know that things are very tense and difficult there. There have been too many unarmed civilians assaulted and killed by Indonesian security forces and it must stop."

Mr Arndt said Indonesian bishops have called for dialogue between Jakarta and leaders of the Papuan people, including the various independence groups, and Australia should be encouraging its friend and neighbour, Indonesia, to agree to this request.

"Life is very difficult with the constant threat of violence, and things must change," he said.

"We have been very pleased that Australia's media is giving more coverage to the situation and that politicians from all sides have been speaking out about West Papua.

"In recent times, we have heard speeches supporting the human rights of the people of West Papua and criticising the actions of the Indonesian military from Greens Senator Richard di Natale, LNP Federal MP Jane Prentice and State ALP MP Judy Spence."

Aceh

Deputy Mayor: Punk community a 'new social disease'

Jakarta Globe - December 14, 2011

Nurdin Hasan, Banda Aceh – Deputy mayor Illiza Sa'aduddin Djamal says she doesn't mind getting her hands dirty in her crusade against the punk community of Banda Aceh, proudly telling of how she has supervised police raids at cafes and city parks in recent months.

"The presence of the punk community is disturbing, and disrupts the life of the Banda Aceh public," Illiza told the Jakarta Globe.

Sixty-four young people have been held by the Aceh Police since Saturday for the supposed crime of being "punk". They have not been charged with any crime or brought before a court.

On Tuesday afternoon, police took the detainees to the Aceh State Police camp, located in the hills 62 kilometers outside of the city, to "re- educate" them. Mohawks and dyed hair came off as police shaved the men's heads and forced them into a lake. The women's hair was cut short in the fashion of a female police officer.

"This is a new social disease affecting Banda Aceh. If it is allowed to continue, the government will have to spend more money to handle them," the deputy mayor said, adding that religious scholars were assisting at the camp.

One of the 64 detainees, a punk music fan from Medan, North Sumatra, said he had traveled to Banda Aceh to take part in a concert that aimed to raise money for orphans.

"What is going on here? I work as a contractor for a bank in Medan. I'll probably be sacked for not coming in to work for a week," said the man, who asked to remain anonymous.

When his case was put to Illiza, the deputy mayor responded: "He's part of the punk community and whoever was caught has to go through our reeducation so they wake up."

She said the police would hold people from outside the province of Aceh for 10 days, but that Acehnese natives could be held longer. "If they join the punks, they will be treated the same as the rest of them," she added.

"They told us in their permit application that they were Aceh Youth, holding a concert to raise money for orphans, but they didn't say they were punks. They had marijuana and alcohol and everything at that concert," Illiza said.

Illiza added that public places in the city such as Taman Sari and the Tsunami Museum were becoming unattractive because young people did not take regular baths and dressed shabbily. "Their morals are wrong. Men and women gather together, and that is against Islamic Shariah," she said.

She guessed that the number of punks in the town was around 200. The punks in custody range from teenagers to people in their thirties. Illiza said that there had been some as young as twelve years old at the concert, but that they had escaped the police raid.

Fuazan, 20, an Acehnese punk whose head is now roughly shaved, said he was not impressed with his treatment at the hands of the police.

"What did we do to deserve arresting?" he asked, looking troubled. "We didn't steal and we didn't bother anyone. The punk community in Banda Aceh is not involved with criminality."

"So what's the crime that justifies us being brought to this camp? This country hasn't yet made it illegal to express yourself, right? And what of our livelihoods? Please help us," Fuazan said. "How are we supposed to support ourselves now that we've been brought here?"

Illiza, who claimed she has the support of the public, said the police would continue to hunt for punks in Banda Aceh.

"We will keep conducting raids until they're all caught, then we'll bring them for reeducation here. Aceh is a Shariah region," Illiza added. "Everyone should obey it and the punk community is clearly against Shariah. This training will be an example in Indonesia of the reeducation of the punks."

Indonesian sharia stronghold 'rehabilitates' punks

Agence France Presse - December 14, 2011

Nurdin Hasan – Indonesian sharia police are "morally rehabilitating" more than 60 young punk rock fans in Aceh province on Sumatra island, saying the youths are tarnishing the province's image.

Since being arrested at a punk rock concert in the provincial capital Banda Aceh on Saturday night, 59 male and five female punk rock fans have been forced to have their hair cut, bathe in a lake, change clothes and pray.

"We feared that the Islamic sharia law implemented in this province will be tainted by their activities," Banda Aceh deputy mayor Illiza Sa'aduddin Djamal, who ordered the arrests, told AFP on Wednesday. "We hope that by sending them to rehabilitation they will eventually repent."

Hundreds of Indonesian punk fans came from around the country to attend the concert, organised to raise money for orphans.

Police stormed the venue and arrested fans sporting mohawks, tattoos, tight jeans and chains, who were on Tuesday taken to a nearby town to undergo a 10-day "moral rehabilitation" camp run by police.

A girl cried as women in headscarves cut her long unruly hair into a short bob, and some of the men groaned as their heads were shaved, according to an AFP correspondent at the camp.

"Why did they arrest us? They haven't given us any reason," said Fauzal, 20. "We didn't steal anything, we weren't bothering anyone. It's our right to go to a concert."

A 22-year-old man from Medan city, who did not want to be named, said he feared he would lose his job for staying at the camp for 10 days. "I've just started with a bank in Medan. I don't even know what to tell them because I don't know why I've been arrested."

Police said the objective was to deter the youths from "deviant" behaviour. "They never showered, they lived on the street, never performed religious prayers," Aceh police chief Iskandar Hasan told AFP. "We need to fix them so that they will behave properly and morally. They need harsh treatment to change their mental behaviour."

A local rights activist Evi Narti Zain said the arrests breached human rights. "What the police have done is totally bizarre. Being a punk is just a lifestyle. They exist all over the world and they don't break any rules or harm other people," she said.

Hasan denied the accusation, claiming the rehabilitation programme was merely an "orientation into normal Indonesian society".

Aceh, on the northernmost tip of Sumatra island, adopted partial sharia law in 2001 as part of a special autonomy package aimed at quelling separatist sentiment. Only Muslims can be charged under sharia law, although the non- Muslim community is expected to follow some laws out of respect.

Nearly 90 percent of Indonesia's 240 million people are Muslims, but the vast majority practise a moderate form of Islam.

Aceh 'punks' arrested for 're-education'

Jakarta Globe - December 13, 2011

Nurdin Hasan, Banda Aceh – Dozens of young people were being held and punished by Aceh police on Tuesday for the supposed crime of being "punk," despite not being charged with any crime nor being brought before a court.

The 64 music lovers, some of whom had come from as far as Jakarta and West Java, were arrested by regular and Shariah police as they held a charity concert in Banda Aceh's Taman Budaya park on Saturday night.

Banda Aceh police took the arrestees on Tuesday afternoon to the Aceh State Police School for "reeducation." Aceh police chief Ins. Gen. Iskandar Hasan described the punishment awaiting them when they reached the police school in the Seulawah hills, 62 kilometers east of he capital.

"There will be a traditional ceremony. First their hair will be cut. Then they will be tossed into a pool. The women's hair we'll cut in the fashion of a female police officer," Iskander said on Tuesday. "Then we'll teach them a lesson."

Iskander denied the punishment constituted a breach of human rights. "We'll change their disgusting clothes. We'll replace them with nice clothes. We'll give them toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, sandals and prayer gear. It will all be given to them," he said.

"I'll remind [police] not to breach human rights. We are oriented to educating our community, our nation. This is our country too, right?" Iskandar said he would invite the Muslim Cleric Council to participate in "restoring their [the arrestees'] right thinking and morals."

Human rights groups opposed the action. Evi Narti Zain, executive director of the Aceh Human Rights Coalition, said the police's action was violent and illegal.

"What is this education? The police's action is inconsistent because the punks did nothing wrong," Evi said. "Punk music is their way of expressing themselves. It is normal and is found all around the world. It's their right to express their freedom. There's nothing wrong with punk kids."

Aceh Legal Aid Foundation's director, Hospinovizal Sabri, said he had tried to get the young people released since their arrest on Saturday night.

"On the night the punks were arrested by the Police and Shariah Police we met with them, and we went again to the police station and spoke to some of them this morning [Tuesday]," Hospinovizal said. "We are working hard to have them released because they have breached no law."

Hospinovizal said he aimed to take a habeas corpus type action before a judge to have the court force the police to release the young people. "There's a perception from some quarters in Aceh that they are human rubbish, but it is clear they are innocent and are only expressing their independence in their own way."

Iskandar said their date of release would "depend on the budget from the regional government."

A thousand Aceh police officers identified as drug users

Jakarta Globe - December 13, 2011

Nurdin Hasan, Banda Aceh – About a thousand police officers, out of 13,000, in Aceh were identified as drug users, Aceh police chief Ins. Gen. Iskandar Hasan said on Tuesday.

Iskandar said the number of police officers who were found to be drug users was between 850 and 1,000. One hundred and eighty nine of the officers were sent to a month-long training and guidance session for drug users at the Aceh Police station.

"We'll see whether they will change or not in a month using the indicators we have set up," Iskandar said. "If they cannot be changed, we're going to fire them."

The National Narcotics Agency conducted hair tests to determine if the officers were using drugs. A former subdistrict police chief was among those who tested positive. Iskandar said drug dealers want police officers to become drug users.

"It's their strategy to get to the legal enforcers, such as police, military and prosecutors," he said. "It is a strategy to secure their networks. If all the legal enforcers are silent, who will arrest them?"

Regardless of training and guidance, the police who were found to be drug users will be punished. Part of their salaries will be stopped, they will not be promoted or allowed to continue their studies.

Iskandar had previously said that Aceh was known as an international distribution point for crystal methamphetamine, with drugs coming from Malaysia and being distributed to other regions of Indonesia. Aceh is also known for its high quality of marijuana.

It's a tale of two Acehs for two events

Jakarta Globe - December 12, 2011

Antara & Nurdin Hasan, Banda Aceh – Arab movies good. Punk rock bad. That was the message from the staunchly Islamic province of Aceh, where authorities in the capital scrapped a scheduled punk rock concert but allowed a film festival screening Arabic movies to go ahead as planned.

Illiza Sa'aduddin Djamal, the deputy mayor of Banda Aceh, said on Sunday that the reason the concert was canceled was because the organizers had "fooled" the authorities into granting them a permit to hold the event.

"The concert would have been an abomination to Islamic teaching, and they also committed a permit violation," he said. Djamal alleged that the concert organizers falsely claimed in their request for a permit from Aceh's Consultative Assembly of Ulema (MPU) that the concert was a charity event whose proceeds would go to orphanages.

The deputy mayor did not say how or whether the authorities had even been able to disprove the claim.

"We don't want this kind of mistake happening again. We also call on parents to monitor their children to prevent them from being influenced by these questionable communities," he said. "This [punk] group threatens [Islamic] faith and deviates very widely from Islamic teachings, which is why we had to break up the concert."

People had come from as far as Jakarta and West Java for the event. They were rounded up and arrested on Thursday as they gathered at Taman Budaya park ahead of the scheduled start of the concert.

Sr. Comr. Armensyah Thay, the Banda Aceh Police chief, said the young people would be duly processed and those found in possession of drugs would be charged.

It was a whole different story, however, for the Arab Film Festival, which took place at Ulee Kareng Epicentrum in the capital. Authorities in Aceh have frequently been criticized for trying to impose Arabic cultural values there, although organizers of the film festival said their event was meant to do the opposite.

Fauzan Santa, rector of the Dokarim Writing School, which organized the festival, said the purpose was to spark a revival of Acehnese culture by showing how far removed it was from Arabic culture.

This, he said, was seen in the festival's slogan, "Sinoe Aceh sideh Arab, sinoe sideh hana rab," an Acehnese saying that translates to "Here is Aceh, there is Arabia, here and there are far apart."

"This film festival isn't just about entertainment, but through it we hope the people can distinguish between culture and religion," Fauzan said.

"For so long the Acehnese have assumed that Arabic culture is Islamic culture, when in fact it's just the culture of one particular group of people. Arabic culture is not Islamic culture because the latter is universal. Aceh has its own culture, so let's not get caught up in adopting Shariah law and stop assuming that everything that comes from Arabic culture is Islamic and hence has to be done here too."

Prime Indonesian jungle to be cleared for palm oil

Associated Press - December 9, 2011

Fakhrurradzie Gade, Aceh – The man known as Indonesia's "green governor" chases the roar of illegal chainsaws through plush jungles in his own Jeep. He goes door-to-door to tell families it's in their interest to keep trees standing.

That's why 5,000 villagers living the edge of a rich, biodiverse peat swamp in his tsunami-ravaged Aceh province feel so betrayed.

Their former hero recently gave a palm oil company a permit to develop land in one of the few places on earth where orangutans, tigers and bears still can be found living side-by-side – violating Indonesia's new moratorium on concessions in primary forests and peatlands.

"Why would he agree to this?" said Ibduh, a 50-year village chief, days after filing a criminal complaint against Aceh Gov. Irwandi Yusuf. "It's not just about the animals," he said, men around him nodding. "Us too. Our lives are ruined if this goes through."

Irwandi – a former rebel whose life story is worthy of a Hollywood film – maintains the palm oil concession is by the book and that he would never do anything to harm his province. But critics say there is little doubt he broke the law.

The charges against him illustrate the challenges facing countries like Indonesia in their efforts to fight climate change by protecting the world's tropical jungles – which would spit more carbon when burned than planes, automobiles and factories combined.

Despite government promises, what happens on the ground is often a different story. Murky laws, graft and mismanagement in the forestry sector and shady dealings with local officials means that business often continues as usual for many companies.

"This is really a test case," said Chik Rini, a World Wildlife Fund campaigner, noting that while it's not uncommon for timber, pulp, paper and palm oil companies to raze trees in protected areas, few developments occur in areas that seem so obviously off limits. "If they get away with it here, well, then no forests are safe."

Ibduh, the village chief, sits on the floor of a house rolling a cigarette as he and other men try to understand why – after years of stalling – Irwandi agreed on Aug. 25 to give PT Kallista Alam a permit to convert 4,000 acres of peat swamp forest in the heart of the renowned Leuser Ecosytem.

In addition to being home to almost every large animal found in Disney's adaptation of "The Jungle Book," it's teeming with thousands of plant and insect species, many yet to be identified.

Irwandi says there's nothing amiss with the concession. "I know what I have to do for the people of Aceh," the 51-year-old says, alleging that political opponents in coming provincial elections are trying to turn the tide against him.

But Ahmad Fauzi Mas'ud, spokesman for the Forestry Ministry, agrees with critics that things don't sound right. "We haven't received the documents for this license yet," he said by telephone as he boarded a plane in the capital Jakarta. "But if it's inside peatland, it can't be converted."

A copy of the map of the new concession, obtained by The Associated Press, has it sitting squarely on a parcel of peatland forest identified as off limits under President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's moratorium enacted in May.

For environmentalists, it's an all too familiar story. Fifty years ago in Indonesia, more than three-quarters of the archipelagic nation of 240 million people was blanketed in tropical rain forest. But half those trees have since disappeared.

Aceh offered a uniquely clean slate when its separatist insurgency came to an end after the devastating 2004 tsunami. The decades-long conflict had kept illegal logging at bay.

Irwandi, well-educated with a laid-back style and quick wit, made protecting Aceh's forests one of his first goals when he surprised the pundits and won the governorship in 2006. He was a former rebel, but not the fighting kind. For years, he'd led the propaganda campaign for the insurgents who saw the government in Jakarta as self-serving and corrupt.

He was serving a nine-year sentence for treason when the tsunami hit, crashing down the walls of the prison. "I didn't escape from prison," the rebel-turned-politician likes to say. "It escaped from me."

Irwandi fled to Jakarta, then Malaysia and finally Finland where he ended up joining exiled leaders of the Free Aceh Movement in negotiating an end to fighting after the tsunami – with both sides eager to end the suffering.

After his return and election win, Irwandi immediately banned logging in Aceh. To this day, he can often be seen pulling over on the side of the road when spotting a pile of recently felled trees. He also makes spot checks at old logging camps and saw mills.

Which is why his turnabout on the Tripa swamp forest – home to the world's densest population of critically endangered Sumatran orangutans – has left Ibduh and other villagers so confused and angry.

Already excavators have started knocking down trees and churning up soil. Drainage canals also have been built and villagers' drinking wells are already noticeably drier as result, they say. Security forces are deployed by the palm oil company along the perimeter of the forest, guns raised when anyone tries to enter.

Ibduh and other other, older men recall happier times when they could still earn money collecting rattan, honey and herbs for traditional medicine. Not long ago, they say proudly, pristine swamps and the Tripa river were teeming with catfish so large that many of them were able to earn enough at the local market to go to Mecca for the hajj pilgrimage.

Even now, gliding in a small wooden boat down the broad river that slices through the spectacular Tripa forests, saltwater crocodiles can be seen slipping silently from view. A rhinoceros hornbill lifts off with a gentle helicoptorish whoosh.

And as skies darken, troops of monkeys clamor in the branches above to settle in for the night. "But for how long?" asks Safari, 32, one of the men. "When that forest is cleared, these animals will all be gone, every last one of them."

West Papua

OPM says 14 guerillas were killed in police raid on hideout in Paniai

Jakarta Globe - December 15, 2011

Banjir Ambarita – The Free Papua Organization says 14 of its members died when the police raided one of its sites in the district of Paniai on Tuesday.

Leo Yeimo, spokesman for the Paniai chapter of the outlawed rebel group known as the OPM, said on Thursday that the bodies of all those killed had been evacuated from the group's former headquarters in Eduda. The site has since been transformed into a police station.

"We were constantly attacked by Indonesian security forces from the land as well as from helicopter. They even fired randomly at our headquarters, so many people fell victim," he said.

"We are still being pursued [on Thursday]," he said. "Helicopters are constantly looking for our hideouts. We know the terrain better so we will fight until the last drop of blood we have, we will never surrender."

Leo said six OPM guerillas had been badly injured in the police raid. He identified the injured as Paskalis Kudiai, 15; Martinus Kudiai, 30; Amandus Kudiay, 43; Daud Mote, 40; Yohan Yogi, 21; and Mon Yogi, 20. All six suffered gunshot wounds. It is unclear what if any treatment they are receiving.

Leo said that the group's leader, John Magay Yogi, escaped the raid unharmed. "The bodies of those who were killed have been evacuated to the forest and have been buried at our current hideout," he said.

The OPM spokesman said the guerrillas would launch an attack against security forces if they continued to harass civilians. "If you are looking for us don't threaten the people. Villagers have had enough, they are scared of security officials and fleeing their villages," he said.

Papua Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Wachyono said he could not confirm the OPM claims. "We don't know if there were casualties on the [OPM] side. What is clear is that they were attacked because they attacked us first," he said. "We will not tolerate any insurgency."

Wachyono said the police had confiscated two assault rifles and 53 rounds of ammunition as well as dozens of sharp weapons and bows from the OPM base. He said officers also seized combat gear and hundreds of documents and separatist paraphernalia, including an outlawed Morning Star Flag, a symbol of Papuan independence.

Supplies for the newly minted police station are being airlifted in because the surrounding area is not yet secure.

Police have intensified their crackdown on the OPM after a recent series of suspected guerrilla attacks in the province left five officers dead.

Reports of violence in Paniai district have increased dramatically in recent weeks, with security forces launching a renewed offensive there. According to people living in Eduda, more police officers and military soldiers poured into the area on Tuesday and Wednesday, displacing a number of civilian residents.

ICW to report Freeport to US Department of Justice

Antara News - December 15, 2011

Anti-graft organization Indonesian Corruption Watch will report the subsidiary of US mining giant Freeport-McMoRan to the US Department of Justice next month for involvement in a bribery case.

"We're drafting the report and we will send it in one or two months," deputy chairman of ICW Adnan Topan Husodo said during a national seminar on corruption on Thursday. He said that US law does not allow US companies operating in other countries to take part in bribery.

Human rights group Imparsial revealed that police received $64 million from Freeport between 1995 and 2004. National Police spokesman Gen. Timur Pradopo verified the payments, calling them "lunch money." Timur promised an audit.

"Even though it is being called a grant from Freeport, it was not supposed to be given to the National Police," Adnan said. "The security budget should be given to the state budget because the National Police are a government institution funded by the state budget, instead of by a private company."

Adnan said receiving money outside of the state budget equaled bribery. "Letting the police receive 'security payments' from private institutions will disrupt police independence," he said.

Freeport workers finally end turbulent 3-month strike

Jakarta Post - December 15, 2011

Jakarta – PT Freeport Indonesia workers have finally agreed to end their strike after the copper and gold mining giant decided to increase their wages by up to 40 percent.

According to Freeport spokesman Ramdani Sirait, the company has agreed to increase workers' base wages by 24 percent in the first year and 13 percent in the second year of their employment contracts. This would be equal to a 40 percent increase over two years on a compounded basis.

"In addition, Freeport has agreed to provide improved benefits including enhancements to shift and work location incentives, housing allowances, educational assistance and retirement savings plans," Ramdani said in a written statement

"For humanitarian purposes, Freeport has also agreed to pay a one-time signing bonus equivalent to three months of base wages."

Freeport and its workers union have also agreed that future wage negotiations will be based on living expenses and the competitiveness of wages within Indonesia.

Labor union spokesperson Juli Parorrongan said the current monthly wages ranged from Rp 3.3 million (US$361) to Rp 5.5 million. Juli said the union still not satisfied with the new arrangements.

"However, we decided to agree on the increase because we have to consider the humanitarian aspect, given that the striking workers have not been paid by Freeport for the last three months. We were forced to agree to end the strike, but this is not the end of our struggle," Juli told The Jakarta Post over the phone on Wednesday. Juli added that workers would go back to work on Saturday.

He added that labor union chief Sudiro and Freeport Indonesia president director Armando Mahler had signed a memorandum of understanding to end the strike which, has crippled the company's production from its Grasberg mine.

"The memorandum of understanding is an entry point and will be stated in a more comprehensive agreement that will be discussed later," Juli said.

Around 8,000 workers at the Grasberg mining site, which holds the world's largest recoverable reserves of copper, have been on strike since Sept. 15, demanding higher wages.

Prior to the strike, the labor union announced in July demands for Freeport to pay workers $35 per hour. According to the Manpower and Transmigration Ministry, the union later reduced its demand to $17.50 per hour in August, $7.50 an hour in October and $4 an hour more recently.

The prolonged negotiations between Freeport and the union followed repeated calls from politicians and government officials to renegotiate the government's contract with Freeport. The contract, renewed in 1991 and due to expire in 2021, has been said to position Indonesia on the losing side.

In October, the strike turned violent when two protesters were shot dead by police during a rally in Timika, the closest town to the Grasberg mine.

Freeport's main pipeline carrying copper and gold ore concentrate from the mine to the port was also sabotaged, and large amounts of concentrate stolen. The turbulent period resulted in the deaths of more than a dozen people in areas near Freeport's operations.

The strike and violence led Freeport to suspend its milling operation on Oct. 22. During the dispute, the Grasberg mining site's production was reduced to only 5 percent of its normal output of 230,000 metric tons per day. (rcf)

OPM waits for instructions to fight back after police shooting

Jakarta Post - December 14, 2011

Jakarta – The Free Papua Movement (OPM) has said that it is waiting for instructions to strike back after claiming that three of its fighters were injured in an armed clash with the police on Tuesday.

"There were victims from our side. We are still waiting for an order to fight back against Indonesian officers," an OPM spokesman, Leo Yeimo, said on Wednesday, as quoted by tempo.co.

He said that the three OPM members injured in the shooting with the police were: 15 year-old Paskalis Kudiai, who was shot in the head, 21 year-old Yohan Yogi, who was shot in the foot, and 20 year-old Mon Yogi, who was shot in the back.

The police earlier revealed that one Mobile Brigade (Brimob) officer was shot and injured in the shooting that took place in Paniai, not far from Timika, Papua, at 10:30 a.m. local time.

Tensions between the police and OPM in Paniai have been mounting since Nov. 30 when the separatist group burned down a district office and damaged seven bridges in the area. Armed conflict between the two groups has caused hundreds of Paniai residents to evacuate the area. (awd)

Papuan police take over OPM headquarters

Jakarta Globe - December 14, 2011

Banjir Ambarita, Jayapura, Papua – Papuan police have lifted the Indonesian flag, replacing the Morning Star flag, at an office believed to be the headquarters of the Free Papua Organization (OPM) in Eduda, Paniai. The headquarters will be turned into a police office.

Papuan police spokesman Sr. Comr. Wachyono said on Wednesday that police and military members raided and took over the headquarters.

"Hundreds of OPM members escaped to the mountains," Wachyono said. "A double loop gun, dozens of bullets, some Morning Star [flags] and some sharp weapons have been confiscated by police."

A member of the police Brigade Mobile unit was wounded by gun fire during the raid.

Wachyono said police decided to raid the headquarters because the group, under the leadership of John Magay Yogi, often attacked police officers and took their weapons.

"After John Yogi replaced his father leading the OPM Paniai branch, there were often attacks directed at officers, as well as weapon seizures. On Aug. 16 they attacked a police office and set a bridge on fire in Paniai Timur," Wachyono said. "He [John Yogi] is allegedly behind all of the incidents."

Papua police are anticipating counterattacks after the headquarter take over. "They could attack police offices or posts in suburb areas, so we putting all members on highly alert," Wachyono said. "The officers that have weapons are not allowed to patrol alone."

Paniai police chief Adj. Comr. Jannus Siregar said that crossfire ended today. "They were trying to attack while firing towards our officers in Eduda," Jannus said. "When the officers fired back, they ran into the forest."

According to people living in Eduda, from Tuesday until Wednesday morning, there were increasing numbers of police and military officers deployed in Eduda causing civilians to leave the region.

Wachyono, however, denied that people were leaving the region because of their fear of police. "There were no people evacuating," he said. "Instead, the people who have been disturbed by the group have reported to police asking for protection."

According to him, John's group often forcefully asked for money from civilians and threatened them.

[Additional reporting by Antara.]

Dead officer once attempted to burn down Papua police HQ: Spokesman

Jakarta Globe - December 14, 2011

Banjir Ambarita – It has been revealed that the officer who died after setting himself and part of a police dormitory in Serui, Yappen Islands, Papua, on fire had a history of mental illness and had previously attempted to set fire to the provincial police headquarters, Papua Police confirmed on Wednesday.

Papua Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Wachyono told the Jakarta Globe that the officer, Brig. Yosef Resubun, had once attempted to burn down Papua Police Headquarters in Jayapura, though he was caught lighting papers.

He said Yosef was detained for 21 days, during which time he was examined psychologically. "When arrested, his mental condition was checked and it was discovered that he had a mental disorder, though it was not permanent."

Wachyono said the officer was transferred to Yapen Islands Police. "He was transferred because in addition to attempting to set the police headquarters on fire, he also had a mental disorder," he said, "Throughout his time in Serui, he had been under surveillance, but sadly he set himself on fire."

Asked whether the depression was due to heavy work pressures, Wachyono said the incident was still under investigation.

Factbox - Vital information on Freeport Indonesia

Reuters - December 13, 2011

A three-month labour strike at Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc's Grasberg mine in Indonesia looks to be nearing the endgame, after sources said the US-based miner and a workers union were expected to sign a pay deal on Tuesday.

The worst ever labour disruption in Indonesia's mining industry, which began in September, has crippled production at the world's second-biggest copper mine in the remote province of Papua.

Below are some facts and figures on Freeport Indonesia and the strike: – The two sides have agreed to a pay rise of 40 percent over two years to end Indonesia's longest-running industrial dispute, and will sign the agreement in Jakarta, say sources. The current pay is $2-$3 an hour. The union had demanded an hourly rate of $7.50.

In early December, the Freeport Indonesia union, which represents about 8,000 miners, said it planned to extend the three-month strike until Jan. 15.
The Indonesian government was losing $8 million worth of taxes, royalties and dividends every day the strike was on.
Freeport Chief Executive Officer Richard Adkerson has been in the Indonesian capital for weeks, trying to broker a deal. – Adkerson is ranked 29 on the Forbes' CEO compensation list, with total compensation of $25.29 million and five-year compensation at $179.1 million. He owns stock worth about $172.8 million.
Freeport Indonesia began mining operations at the Grasberg site in 1972 and in 1988 discovered the Grasberg mine. In 1991, a new contract was signed to tap the huge riches of Grasberg mountain. Two mines are currently in operation – the Grasberg open pit and the Deep Ore Zone underground block cave.
The Grasberg open-pit mine produces base metal copper, and precious metals gold and silver. It employs about 23,000 workers when at full- strength and is about 3,400 km (2,100 miles) east of Indonesia's capital, Jakarta.
The firm began open-pit mining at Grasberg in 1990. Open-pit operations are forecast to continue until mid-2015, at which time the Grasberg underground mining operations are due to start.
The multi-billion dollar Grasberg project holds more gold and copper reserves than any other mine in the world.
Before the strike, Freeport Indonesia's copper output was forecast to be 1 billion pounds in 2011, from 1.2 billion last year. Gold sales are expected to hit 1.3 million ounces this year, versus 1.8 million ounces in 2010 and 2.5 million ounces in 2009. The primary driver for the dip in output are differences in ore grades as Freeport Indonesia work through different sections of the mine.
Indonesia's government owns 9.36 percent in Freeport Indonesia, which accounts for 1.6 percent of GDP in Southeast Asia's top economy. Freeport, the world's biggest publicly traded copper miner, has previously said it is in talks with Papua province, about selling a stake in its Grasberg mine.
Last year Freeport spent $155 million on various sustainable development programmes in Papua, including nearly $70 million on community development in one of the country's poorest regions.
Freeport's aggregate capital spending on its development projects in the Grasberg mineral district, was estimated at $288 million in 2010. Over the next five years, aggregate capital spending on these projects is expected to average $600 million per year.
Rebels in the eastern province of Papua have waged a low-level insurgency against the government for four decades, and previously threatened to blockade the mine after police killed a separatist in an attack in late 2009.

[Sources: Reuters, Freeport website.Reporting by Michael Taylor.]

Government: No political prisoners in Papua

Jakarta Globe - December 12, 2011

Arientha Primanita – Coordinating minister for political, legal and security affairs Djoko Suyanto on Monday denied that there are political prisoners detained in Papua as alleged by human rights organizations.

"No political prisoners in Papua," Djoko said. "I told Amnesty International that there are only criminals. In a seminar or demonstration, no one was detained unless there was also violence and destruction at the event."

Djoko said he met Amnesty International's Asia-Pacific director Sam Zarifi last week. He said it was up to Amnesty International to believe the government's statement, but claimed that the government has done its best for the advancement of Papua.

At least 90 people are in prison in Papua and Maluku for peaceful pro- independence activities, including Filep Karma, a Papuan independence leader currently serving a 15-year sentence in Abepura, Papua. Filep's case has received special attention by the human rights group.

On Dec. 1, 2004, Filep organized a peaceful demonstration in Abepura in which the banned Morning Star flag was raised. Filep was subsequently sentenced in May 2005 for treason and stoking unrest.

Washington-based Freedom Now said Filep, 51, would become one of 13 political prisoners around the world for whom it was currently campaigning, joining the likes of last year's Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo. The organization is also known for having worked for the release of now-free Burmese democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi.

Djoko said the Indonesian government was accused of violating human rights with legal enforcers abusing and killing people. He said that the government, on the contrary, should not use violence and that local people abuse legal enforcers.

"If military or police officers violate the law, they will be taken to military trial," he said. "And if ordinary people breach [the law] and police hunt them, it is for the sake of legal enforcement and not a human rights violation."

Djoko said he explained in the meeting the government's plan for Papua's development.

Freeport strikers accused of turning off investors

Jakarta Globe - December 12, 2011

Ririn Radiawati Kusuma – Tony Wenas, the vice chairman of the Indonesian Mining Association, said on Sunday that he was worried a union decision to extend its three-month strike at the Freeport mine in Papua would hurt the country's investment climate.

Juli Parorrongan, a union spokesman, was on Saturday quoted by Bloomberg as saying that the workers would continue their strike until at least Jan. 15. He said they had informed the manpower authority in Papua of the decision on Dec. 5.

About 8,000 of the 12,000 workers at the Grasberg mine, one of the largest copper and gold mines in the world, have been on strike since Sept. 15 seeking higher wages. The mine is owned by Freeport Indonesia, a subsidiary of US miner Freeport-McMoRan.

Tony, who until recently was president director of International Nickel Indonesia, a nickel mining company, said he was worried the strike could "spread to other mining companies."

The worst outcome, he said, would be if workers at manufacturing companies also started following suit. He said that apart from regulatory uncertainty, labor issues were key factors for investors in deciding whether to bring their money to Indonesia.

Juli was quoted as saying that workers "want to encourage further discussion aimed at settling the problem as soon as possible." He added that an agreement would immediately end the strike.

The Grasberg workers originally demanded a pay increase to $30 to $200 an hour, from $1.50 to $3 an hour. Their demand has since fallen to $7.50 an hour. The company has so far only be en willing to raise salaries by 35 percent over two years.

Freeport Indonesia spokesman Ramdani Sirait told the Jakarta Globe in a text message on Sunday that a 20-kilometer concentrate pipeline from mining sites to the port had been damaged during the strike, causing Freeport to be unable to deliver concentrate to a firm that processes it in Gresik, East Java. "We still can't deliver the material to the port," he said.

The strike caused Freeport to declare force majeure at the end of October on concentrate shipments from Grasberg because it couldn't fulfill certain contractual obligations. Grasberg is currently operating at about 5 percent of its daily 230,000 metric ton capacity because of the work stoppage, a mi ning official has said.

Freeport workers to extend strike into January

Jakarta Post - December 12, 2011

Strikers at PT Freeport Indonesia in Papua say they will remain on strike into 2012 if no agreement can be reached with management on new wages.

"At the moment the strike is still on and has been extended until Jan. 15, 2012," Freeport Indonesia employee union spokesman Juli Parorongan said on Sunday, as quoted by kontan.co.id.

The strikers – who are holding firm to a reduced hourly wage offer of US$7.50, down from an initial demand for $43 – would return to work as soon as a deal was struck, Juli said.

The union leader said he was confident management would soon agree to increase wages for the workers and seal a deal. "Negotiations are still ongoing, but it seems that we are coming close to an agreement," he said.

Tensions have escalated since 1,000 Freeport Indonesia employees went on strike on September 15, blocking access to the mining site. During subsequent demonstrations several people were shot dead by security officers.

Australia's ruling party puts more focus on Papua

Radio New Zealand International - December 12, 2011

New resolutions on Papua by the Australian Labor Party have been described as a shift in discourse in Canberra on issues around Indonesia's eastern region.

Resolutions adopted at the ALP national conference include calls for independent observers, media and human rights NGOs to be allowed access to Papua.

The ALP also wants those responsible for rights abuses, and for the killings and violence during the recent Papuan People's Congress, to be tried.

Camellia Webb-Gannon, who recently completed a PHD about the West Papua independence movement at Sydney University, says it's a departure from the ruling party's previous deferrals to Indonesian territorial sovereignty.

"That's significant and it probably reflects the media attention, the weighing in of Amnesty International, and other human rights organisations like Human Rights Watch and the campaign to free political prisoners, and that kind of thing. It probably just reflects the heightened awareness in general about West Papua that's taking place."

Jakarta unit final bid to resolve Papua crisis

The Australian - December 10, 2011

Peter Alford, Jakarta – After months of delay during which the Papuan situation has sharply deteriorated, the Yudhoyono administration's last shot at bridging the chasm between Jakarta and its troublesome eastern-most region is finally about to be fired.

The Unit to Accelerate Development in Papua and West Papua (UP4B) might be Jakarta's final chance not just Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's to peacefully resolve Papua's political future "within the unitary Indonesian state". UP4B, under retired Lieutenant General Bambang Darmono, is establishing offices and staff in the two Papuan provinces and will begin working on the ground early next year.

With a mandate to co-ordinate all government development activities towards "improving people's welfare" through "socio-economic" and "socio-political and cultural development", UP4B also has as-yet vaguely defined responsibilities for improving conditions of security and justice.

Stiff resistance to UP4B's involvement in security and political affairs, even within Mr Yudhoyono's cabinet, delayed the unit's establishment from May until September 20 when he finally signed the decree.

The concern was that political dialogue under the aegis of improving material conditions for Papuans in their homelands would aggravate the unhealed wounds of Indonesia's forced incorporation of the territory between 1962 and 1969.

General Darmono and Farid Husain, now the President's special envoy for Papuan dialogue, were key players in the 2005 Aceh peace agreement and argued that economic development without political settlement was doomed to fail.

Meanwhile, events had galloped ahead: escalating security forces-versus- separatist clashes; a violent strike at the giant Grasberg copper and goldmine now in its fourth month; three protesters killed at the Third Papuan People's Congress; and big rallies and illegal flag-raisings on "Free Papua" day, December 1.

Conviction is rapidly spreading among politically active Papuans that "special autonomy" has so failed them that only an independence referendum will satisfy.

"Papuan people have rejected special autonomy status. Now they have offered UP4B. What on earth is that?" said Saul Bomay, a community representative at a meeting on Wednesday with General Darmono.

Human rights & justice

Human rights abuse: North Sumatra second worst after Jakarta

Jakarta Post - December 14, 2011

Apriadi Gunawan and Yuli Tri Suwarni, Medan/Bandung – North Sumatra has been ranked second after Jakarta in terms of the highest number of human rights violation cases this year, the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) reports. North Sumatra was ranked third after Jakarta and East Java last year.

The rank of human rights violations in Indonesia is based on the number of human rights violation cases reported by members of the public to Komnas HAM. Based on data gathered by Komnas HAM from January until November this year, the five provinces with the highest number of human rights violations is Jakarta (866 dossiers), North Sumatra (446), East Java (432), West Java (417) and West Sumatra (315).

Komnas HAM commissioner Syafruddin Ngulima Simeuleu said the five provinces were often placed in the top five in terms of human rights violation cases.

Last year, he added, the five provinces were also placed in the top five of human rights violators. The difference this year, said Syafruddin, was that North Sumatra rose to second position, while East Java dropped to third.

He added the highest number of human rights violation cases reported by the public to Komnas HAM was on land disputes, including people evicted in areas around the new Kuala Namu Airport in Deli Serdang regency.

Syafruddin said apart from the land disputes, human rights violations in the province also include people's rights in obtaining welfare and justice. He added that in general, human rights violations taking place over the last two years in a number of provinces, including North Sumatra, was omission.

"Human rights violations reported by citizens to Komnas HAM this year is mostly due to omission rather than commission," Syafruddin told The Jakarta Post after speaking in a human rights seminar in Medan on Tuesday.

He described that human rights violation by omission could be interpreted as negligence, in which the institutions should have acted over an issue but failed to do so, while violation by commission can be interpreted that the institutions did what they should not have done.

In Bandung, West Java, around 300 evictees, human rights, labor and environmental activists, affiliated with the West Java People's Alliance (Aljabar), commemorated World Human Rights Day on Tuesday by holding a joint prayer for Indonesian human rights hero Munir.

The demonstrators staged the rally in front of the Gedung Sate governor's office and West Java legislative building in Bandung by carrying banners and posters against injustice and prayed for Sondang Hutagalung, a Bung Karno University student in Jakarta who set fire to himself in front of the State Palace last week.

"What the people say and what Sondang did is the peak of people's frustration against the leaders," said rally coordinator Dadan.

Groups slam government for ignoring human rights

Jakarta Post - December 12, 2011

Jakarta – Human rights groups have given President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's administration poor marks with regard to its commitment to upholding human rights.

According to a report by human rights watchdog Setara Institute, Indonesia's human rights index for 2011 is below standard at only 2.3 on a scale of zero to seven.

"The government has done almost nothing to resolve human rights violations in this country. Our report shows that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has yet to punish perpetrators of serious human rights violations such as the incidents in Wamena and Wasior in Papua, or the murder of human rights activist Munir," Setara Institute's chairman Hendardi said recently.

The watchdog interviewed 71 activists and community leaders from 13 provinces in Indonesia concerning eight categories of human rights enforcement: The resolution of human rights abuses of the past; freedom of expression; religious freedom; national plan on human rights action and performance of state human rights institutions; protection of the citizen; the abolition of the death penalty; the elimination of discrimination in Indonesia and the fulfillment of economic, social and cultural rights.

There have been no rights violations under Yudhoyono's watch: Minister

Detik News - December 12, 2011

Ramadhian Fadillah, Jakarta – Justice and Human Rights Minister Amir Syamsuddin says that during the era of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's (SBY) leadership there have been no human rights violations. On past human rights violations, the government is the process of finding a solution.

"What is clear is that there is a genuine and serious will to find a solution to all [past violations]. But the key thing I need to convey is that during the era of our current president's leadership there have been no human rights violations", said Syamsuddin after attending a National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) workshop at the vice president's office on Jl. Medan Merdeka Selatan in Central Jakarta on Saturday December 12.

According to Syamsuddin the government is in the process of finding a formulation and model to resolve outstanding past human rights violation and their prevention.

"What exists no is looking at the numbers that aren't too massive, also doing it out through personal approaches. This has already been conveyed but the means has indeed not been publicised", he said. "Be sure that before 2014, there will be good news for us all with regard to the efforts that are being made by the government, we are resolving them", he continued.

Syamsuddin was reluctant to be pinned down on providing justice to victims of past human rights violations.

"We want to take care of them although one by one but still paying attention to the principle that we are offering something as remuneration for those whose rights have been taken away. But the concrete form is up to God's will, soon we will publicise it", he explained. (aan/gah)

[Translated by James Balowski.]

Yudhoyono administration has failed to protect human rights: Survey

Kompas - December 12, 2011

Although during his 2009 election campaign President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono pledged to uphold human rights, the reality over the two years of his administration indicates a different reality. Human rights violations continue to occur and are disregard by the state.

Bi Purwantari – Yudhoyono's campaign promises covered guarantees of freedom and human rights, justice without discrimination, non- discriminatory politics and protecting women and children (Institute for Human Rights Studies and Advocacy, Elsham 2010). Instead of this, what has transpired is a continuing gloomy reality in the field of human rights.

More than three quarters of respondents in a survey organised by Kompas Research & Development in 12 major Indonesian cities on December 7-9, 2011 stated that they are dissatisfied with the human rights situation under the Yudhoyono administration. This negative rating covers an assessment of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights.

In relation to civil and political rights, respondents primarily focused on state policy in guaranteeing citizens' rights to gain equal treatment before the law, obtain a sense of security, and freedom of expression and protest.

On the question of freedom of expression or protest, half of respondents said that their rights are not guaranteed. A larger proportion of respondents (74.6 percent) moreover said they do not have a sense of security from acts of violence committed either by the state or fellow citizens.

Furthermore, 81.3 percent of respondents stated that they are dissatisfied with the state's efforts to guaranteed citizens' rights as subjects under the law. This lack of a equality in the eyes of the law demonstrates an ironic situation, particularly because President Yudhoyono often states that Indonesia is a constitutional state so the law should be upheld without discrimination.

Past violations

Advancements in the upholding of civil and political rights can also be assessed in terms of how a regime resolves cases of past human rights violations. According to almost 90 percent of respondents, the Yudhoyono administration has failed to deal with cases of past human rights violations. There have been almost no meaningful advances in the case of the 13 activists abducted in 1998, the shooting of students at the Trisakti campus and Semanggi in 1998 along with other cases of violence that have claimed lives in other parts of the country such as Papua.

Data collected by the Setara Institute for Democracy and Peace shows that the violence committed in Wasior in 2011 and Wimena (West Papua) in 2003 has yet to be fully investigated. Ongoing cases of violence occurring in the operational area of the PT Freeport Indonesia mine in West Papua also add to the public's pessimism about the Yudhoyono administration's protection of the Papuan people's right to life.

The neglect of past cases of human rights violations can be categorised as a state crime that will continue until there is information on or an acknowledgement of the fate and whereabouts of the victims.

Economic and social rights

Similar to the situation with regard to civil and political rights, economic, social and cultural rights represent basic rights that the state is obliged to fulfill in order to ensure that the dignity and welfare of citizens are protected. Included in this is the right to employment, a place to live and a reasonable education. In the public's eyes, the fulfillment of these rights by the state is still far from their expectations.

In the case of the right to employment for example, more than two thirds of respondents stated that their right to obtain reasonable employment is not yet protected by the state. The legalisation of contract labour systems or outsourcing is evidence that workers' rights remain unprotected. The plain fact is that 87.3 percent of respondents in this survey stated that the state does not protect workers from contract labour systems and does not provide a guarantee of adequate welfare.

Even more saddening is the death sentences handed down against Indonesian migrant workers in Saudi Arabia and Malaysia. Migrant Care data shows that as of October 2011 twenty-six migrant workers have been sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia. Other than glorifying migrant workers as "foreign exchange heroes", the state continues to disregard their protection overseas. It is this issue that generated a negative assessment by 92.2 percent of respondents in this survey with regard to the Yudhoyono administration's performance in protecting migrant workers.

In many cases, the resolution of human rights violations relies on the existence of state institutions, such as the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM). The principal task of this institution, which was formed in 1993, is to investigate cases of human rights violations, and it has become an institution that is relied upon to uncover these violations. The institution's limited authority however has resulted in Komnas HAM's investigations often ending up as just recommendations on paper. Cases of human rights violations uncovered by Komnas HAM are also unable to be taken before the courts. As a consequence, the right of victims to obtain justice has not been realised.

It is in this context that the public believes that institutions such as Komnas HAM have been unable to resolve cases of human rights violations. More than half of respondents stated that they are dissatisfied with Komnas HAM's performance in this regard. Apparently the public will still have to fight in order to win their basic rights. (Litbang Kompas)

[Translated by James Balowski.]

Kompas Survey Results

I. Evaluation of government

Public satisfaction with the government's efforts to guarantee the following rights