Journalists Thomas Dandois, 40, and Valentine Bourrat, 29, were allegedly reporting on the Papuan separatist movement for the French-German television station, Arte, when they were arrested on Thursday, said a French embassy official in Jakarta to French news agency AFP, kompas.com reported.

"Dandois was arrested on Thursday in a hotel room in Wamena, Jayawijaya regency, where he was talking with three members of the Free Papua Movement (OPM)," Papua Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Sulistyo Pudjo Hartono said on Friday. He declined to provide details of Bourrat's arrest, but stated that both journalists had been reporting despite entering Papua on tourist visas.

The government is known to rarely grant access to Papua for foreign journalists or international NGOs. Journalists who are detained by authorities in the region are usually deported.

"We are concerned that the activities of the French journalists were intended to trigger disruptions and instability in Papua," Hartono said as quoted by kompas.com.

He added that the three OPM members found with the journalists at the Wamena hotel came from Lanny Jaya regency, where last week, five OPM members were shot dead by members of the Indonesian Military (TNI). The shooting took place following the killing of two police officers, which was allegedly carried out by OPM members.

Hartono added that the two journalists were currently being questioned. (dyl)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/08/08/two-french-journos-detained-papua.html

Two West Papuan pro-independence activists arrested, severely beaten

Suara Papua - August 8, 2014

Arnold Belau, Papuan, Jayapura – Two members of the Manokwari district West Papua National Committee (KNPB), Robert Helemaken (17) and Oni Weya (21) were arrested and severely beaten by Manokwari city municipal police on August 8.

The incident occurred at 3.30pm local time in front of Block 4 of the Bumi Marina complex next to the Manokwari Pentecostal Indonesian Christian Church (GKI). When sought for confirmation by Suara Papua earlier this afternoon, KNPB Manokwari spokesperson Sarpas Mbisikmbo confirmed the incident.

"That's correct, two KNPB members were arrested and beaten by TNI/Polri [Indonesian military/Indonesian police] at around 3.30 West Indonesian time earlier today. They were detained while carrying out the KNPB's agenda, namely writing graffiti about boycotting August 17 [Independence Day celebrations] throughout the city of Manokwari", said Mbisikmbo.

According to Mbisikmbo, security personnel were violent in a very inhuman way, both when they detained them and after they were held at the police station. "We checked on the two at the police station, where they're being held. Their condition was quite a shock. Because they hadn't just been beaten, but security personnel had mistreated our friends", he explained.

Mbisikmbo said that Weya's condition was very critical, his lip was split and swollen, his chin swollen, there was a lump on his forehead and his eyes were swollen and he was unable see. When he was arrested Weya was also beaten with a rifle butt and repeatedly kicked in the chest, which is still painful. Meanwhile Helemaken's lip was split, his face swollen and his chest painful after being kicked and beaten by rifle butts.

When sought for confirmation, national KNPB spokesperson Bazoka Logo said he was very angry over the brutal actions by security personnel because they had arrested and treated the two KNPB Manokwari members improperly.

"Security personnel have a lot to learn. They [the KNPB activists] did nothing but were arrested and brutally beaten. The KNPB has never committed criminal acts. But we continue to be hunted down and arrested without any clear grounds", he said. "This is our land. This is our home. Being arrested, beaten and jailed has become normal for us. But, the KNPB will not stay silent. We will continue to struggle for our self-determination", Logo told the media.

When contacted by phone, Manokwari city police chief Assistant Superintendent Johni Edison Isir declined to give a response. There was also no answer to several SMS message sent to his mobile.

[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service.]

Source: http://suarapapua.com/read/2014/08/08/1611/polisi-tangkap-dua-anggota-knpb-dan-dipukul-secara-brutal

Special ministry suggested to oversee Papuan affairs

Jakarta Post - August 7, 2014

Jakarta – Award-winning human rights advocate Yan Christian Warinussy has suggested the establishment of a ministry to focus specifically on Papua.

Yan Christian, who was awarded with the Canadian John Humphrey Freedom Award in 2005, said a dedicated ministry was needed to handle all the problems in Papua under the next government.

Proposals had been made about including Papuans in the new government's cabinet, Yan Christian said in a statement in Jayapura on Thursday, as reported by Antara news agency. A number of regions, including Papua, wanted to be represented in the new cabinet, he said.

However, he added that the presence of a Papuan minister in the cabinet would not on its own guarantee positive change in the country's easternmost and least-developed region.

"A forestry minister from Papua, for instance, would have little or no time to think about Papua. He would not even have the authority to speak about the security issues in Papua," Yan Christian said.

"I don't believe that including several Papuans in the cabinet will help resolve the problems in Papua," he said. "Therefore, I think we should concentrate on the possibility of forming a special ministry to focus solely on Papua. The minister could then be assigned with seeking an end to the conflict in Papua," he said.

Papua, which is rich in natural resources, is beset by security problems with Free Papua Movement (OPM) separatists still hiding in border areas and forests. (hhr)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/08/07/special-ministry-suggested-oversee-papuan-affairs.html

West Papua conference in Vanuatu to provide platform

Radio New Zealand International - August 6, 2014

The Vanuatu Prime Minister says a West Papua conference in Port Vila this month will provide a platform for delegates to decide together whether they want to join the Melanesian Spearhead Group.

Joe Natuman says more than 50 delegates are expected to attend, and will allow a wide range of West Papua representative organisations from around the world to draft a new application to join the MSG.

Mr Natuman says the meeting will be organised by the Vanuatu National Council of Chiefs and the Vanuatu Christian Council.

"The West Papuans will have a meeting in Vila and decide what they wish to do. Whether they will organise themselves into one unified group and then from there they can decide whether they will wish to make another application to become a member of MSG. That's their business to decide."

Early this year, the Vanuatu government withdrew from a MSG foreign ministers delegation to Indonesia to discuss West Papua, saying the mission was unlikely to achieve what MSG leaders wanted it to.

Source: http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/251511/west-papua-conference-in-vanuatu-to-provide-platform

Victor Yeimo released from Indonesia jail

Radio New Zealand International - August 6, 2014

The Free West Papua Campaign says a political prisoner Victor Yeimo has been released from jail in Indonesia after serving more than a year.

Mr Yeimo is the Chairman of the West Papua National Committee and was jailed in May 2013 for leading a peaceful demonstration. He will remain on parole until 2016.

Five other West Papuans, known as the 'Jayapura five', were released in July after serving three years.

The five were arrested and imprisoned by Indonesia in October 2011 on charges of treason after the republic of West Papua was declared at the third Papua People's Congress.

Source: http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/251504/victor-yeimo-released-from-indonesia-jail

West Papua: NZ, Jakarta 'colonisers talking to colonisers', says Mana

Pacific Media Centre - August 4, 2014

Auckland (Pacific Media Watch) – Indonesia's ban on foreign journalists, torture and sexual assault by the military, and the New Zealand government's cosy relationship with Indonesia – one of "colonisers talking to colonisers", according to a Mana Party spokesman – were discussed at a weekend seminar.

The Auckland seminar heard from Victor Mambor, thought to be the first West Papuan journalist to have visited New Zealand, West Papuan exile Paula Makabory, as well as Australian-based activists, academics, members of Parliament and political party candidates in the upcoming election.

Mambor told the audience about journalist Ardiansyah Matrais, who worked for Mambor's newspaper, Tabloid Jubi. Matrais was killed in 2010 by the Indonesian military, and found naked and handcuffed, having been thrown into a river.

Two other journalists – Leiron Kogoya and Marlon Mramra – had been killed in the last six years over stories they had written, one for covering a story about police who raped a civilian in the police station, Mambor said.

In the same period, seven foreign journalists had been denied visas to West Papua and another five deported when they were caught by the military. Those foreign journalists who were allowed to report were assigned an Indonesian intelligence officer to tail them everywhere, whether they liked it or not, whose accommodation, food and transport costs were charged to the media organisation.

To make matters worse, government funding was allocated to media organisations which agreed to write "something good?" and the police had channelled funds directly to journalists who helped them cover up acts of violence by security forces, Mambor explained.

A new law amendment stipulates that local authorities would control the media, and that stories and broadcasts will have to be based on Islamic values, whereas most of the West Papuan population is Christian.

Stressful reporting

Independent New Zealand journalist Paul Bensemann, the only New Zealand journalist to have reported from West Papua in recent years, said the ban on foreign journalists meant that it was stressful reporting undercover from West Papua.

Constantly hiding from Indonesian police and intelligence operatives also meant that foreign journalists feared for the safety and wellbeing of their West Papuan sources, he said.

Maire Leadbeater of West Papua Action Auckland said the New Zealand government had "a long history of betrayal of West Papua".

The NZ government supported the colonisation of West Papua, first backing the Dutch colonisers in a bid to ensure that West Papua did not turn communist, and then after the invasion by Indonesia, deciding that New Zealand's basic long term interest was in the establishment and maintenance of a stable and friendly Indonesia, and that self-determination for West Papua was "only a slogan".

"Our policy is unfortunately still pretty much the same," said Leadbeater. The New Zealand government had resumed defence ties with Indonesia in 2007, refused to meet Benny Wenda in 2013 and banned him from speaking in Parliament.

Joe Collins, secretary of the Australian West Papuan Association said there was growing solidarity in Australia, with about a dozen solidarity organisations in existence, a large West Papuan community in Melbourne, a Morning Star football league and a successful freedom flotilla supported by indigenous Australians having been held.

Vast resources

But Paula Makabory, a West Papuan exile living in Melbourne, cautioned that West Papua made up one quarter of Indonesia's land mass and had vast resources of nickel, copper, oil, gas and timber and so Indonesia was unlikely to willingly grant it independence.

She said the indigenous West Papuan population had decreased significantly from 96 percent in 1971 to 59 percent in 2005, while the non-Papuan population had increased dramatically over the same period from 4 percent to 41 percent and so West Papuan cities were now mainly Indonesian.

The indigenous population was likely to be further decimated through attacks by Indonesian police and the military. 81 percent of households live in poverty because military attacks often see whole villages fleeing into the jungle where they live as refugees with no food, medicine, far away from their farms.

Nearly four million hectares of forest have been given to corporations for logging, further reducing natural resources.

Repression was still very real

"Tanks will be used to stop peaceful rallies. Indonesian police that have been trained by the NZ government are using guns to stop peaceful rallies. Just for raising the Morning Star flag, the police will come at you. It is like soccer in a field. Just come and kick, this is after the training by the NZ police," Makabory said.

Makabory showed photos of soldiers posing with a dead West Papuan, that the soldiers had taken to "show off their trophy". She also showed a photo of her brother with his intestines hanging out of his body.

"If you do this [kill West Papuans to use as 'trophies'] you will be promoted to high ranks," she said.

'Dismal record'

Pacific Media Centre director Professor David Robie said the New Zealand media had an "absolutely appallingly dismal record" in covering West Papua, with the exception of a few independent journalists and Radio NZ International.

The NZ mainstream media had "no tradition of independent international reporting", was dependent on foreign news agency services and had no dedicated foreign news editors who could make judgments based on their in depth knowledge of the situations of countries in the Asia-Pacific region, said Dr Robie.

He said the PMC had frequently run stories about the "black spot" lack of coverage on West Papua in the media and cited the 2011 Pacific Media Watch media freedom report in the region.

"The Pacific Media Centre has encouraged students to put a lot of attention into West Papua. We believe it is the major human rights issue in the Pacific but it is very hard to get that message across into mainstream media, so the only alternative is for independent media to do as much as it can," Dr Robie said.

He pointed out that foreign journalists based in Jakarta were granted permission to visit and report on any of Indonesia's 17,000 islands, except for West Papua, and risked having themselves and their media organisation's news bureau expelled from Indonesia if they breached this.

Dr Robie showed statistics of how mainstream media virtually ignored West Papua. He cited examples of how independent journalists reporting under cover had exposed realities in West Papua to the rest of the world and he praised the work of people such as SBS's Mark Davis and Fairfax Media's Michael Bachelard in putting Indonesia's new media policies to the test.

Repression techniques

Dr Elizabeth Stanley from Victoria University said the various techniques of repression used by Indonesia mirrored the abuses Jakarta had meted out in the former colony of East Timor, invaded by Indonesia in 1975.

Torture victims were nearly always civilians or rural farmers. The display of bodies was used to create fear. Repression took place through everyday social controls, curfews, searches, prevention of gatherings and training done by the New Zealand police had helped to further "normalise" militarised life.

Dr Stanley said that Victoria University was a provider of training to Indonesian police and when Indonesian dignitaries visited, the university vice-chancellor's office gave them a warm welcome. To make matters worse, many Indonesian officers who committed crimes against humanity in East Timor had now been transferred to West Papua.

Networks of spies and informers, and well funded militias who carried out abuses by proxy were other repressive techniques. The courts propped up this repression – only five of of 74 state killings between 1995 and 2005 made it to court.

Indonesia relied on foreign governments being reluctant to take a stand for West Papua for fear of jeopardising trade relations, such as the NZ government which recently proclaimed that Indonesia's dark days were over and that it was now a full blooded democracy.

The seminar had also invited all the political parties to present their positions on West Papua but only the Internet, Mana and Green parties showed up. All pledged their support for a free, decolonised West Papua, the release of all prisoners and an immediate end to torture.

The Mana Party's candidate for Mangere, James Papali'i, also slammed the New Zealand government. "Our government seems to be collaborating with Indonesia. These are colonisers talking to colonisers. The situation is a shame, it is quiet and nobody knows about it," he said.

Several speakers referred to the "groundbreaking" cross-party parliamentary motion by Green Party MP Catherine Delahunty for a "free media" and in support of human rights in West Papua.

Source: http://www.pmc.aut.ac.nz/pacific-media-watch/west-papua-nz-jakarta-colonisers-talking-colonisers-says-mana-8884

Komnas Perempuan wants Papua probe

Jakarta Post - August 4, 2014

Jayapura – The National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) has called for a full investigation into violence in the Lanny Jaya regency of Papua and the use of an excessive security approach there.

"Komnas Perempuan regrets the recurrence of armed violence between armed civilian groups and security personnel, which has caused casualties and displaced persons in Lanny Jaya regency," Komnas Perempuan said in a press statement as quoted by Antara news agency on Sunday.

The commission urged all parties, to exercise restraint, stop the violence and prioritize non-violent means to resolve any problems. Komnas Perempuan also asked police officers not to use an excessive approach in the regency, as it could lead to mass displacements.

Two police officers and a civilian were killed and several police officers were wounded in an attack by a civilian armed group on Monday. The Indonesian Military (TNI) launched a manhunt on Friday, killing five members of the Free Papua Movement (OPM) thought to be responsible for Monday's attack.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/08/04/komnas-perempuan-wants-papua-probe.html

Visiting West Papua editor appeals for real 'open door' for foreign media

Pacific Media Centre - August 1, 2014

Auckland (Pacific Media Watch) – The first West Papuan journalist to visit New Zealand has made a call for freedom for West Papua, and for the Indonesian government occupiers to lift the ban on foreign journalists.

Victor Mambor, 39, editor of the Jayapura-based newspaper and website Tabloid Jubi, has spent a week in the country lobbying for support for freedom of media visits to West Papua.

The chairperson of West Papua's branch of the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI), Mambor has been travelling around with human rights activist Maire Leadbeater of West Papua Action Auckland and Paul Bensemann, the only New Zealand journalist to have reported from West Papua in recent years.

At the heart of Mambor's campaign is his call to the Indonesian occupiers of West Papua to lift the ban on foreign journalists.

Sensitive to criticism that the outside world is barred from getting a glimpse into the military occupation of West Papua, the Indonesian government has produced statistics saying they are granting many foreign journalists permits to visit West Papua and report.

But, says Mambor, nearly all the permits granted have been for "anthropological stories" on the collections of skulls of Japanese citizens who were killed in West Papua in World War Two. Journalists from other countries are rarely granted permits if they want to report on human rights abuses or political issues.

When journalists from Europe and other places want to report on West Papua, they need to submit a proposal giving full details of the stories they will cover. Their applications for permits then go to a clearing house in Indonesia.

'Lose the moment'

Mambor says from there, the journalists are referred from pillar to post for months until they "lose the moment" and give up on getting permission. In addition, foreign journalists who enter the country without disclosing that they intend to report on Indonesia's human rights abuses, may be banned in the future.

"Even journalists who have permits are still followed by Indonesian intelligence once they arrive. In my opinion, there is still a ban, effectively," Mambor told Pacific Media Watch.

The Indonesian government also has ways of finding out who is critical of their human rights abuses and of keeping those journalists out, Mambor says.

Mambor is also lobbying for support for West Papuan journalists, as he has done in Geneva and the United States. "There is very limited concern about our situation. When journalists in Java have a problem, many journalists will fight strongly for them. When we have a problem, it is different," he says.

When Indonesian and West Papuan journalists cover demonstrations, the Indonesian police and military treat the West Papuan journalists like protesters, while affording press freedom to the Indonesian journalists. "They can even beat and arrest West Papuan journalists," says Mambor.

Press raided

Some recent problems include the Indonesian police having raided the printing press of Pelita magazine and confiscating all copies which had the West Papuan Morning Star flag printed on the cover.

In another case, Bintang Papua newspaper laid a complaint with the police against some civilians who had threatened their journalists. But under the guise of offering protection, the Indonesian police visited some newspaper offices in Jayapura and took photos of the journalists at Papua Post office while they were working, which caused confusion, Mambor says.

Mambor spoke of a gruesome practice whereby the Indonesian police and military make videos and take photos of West Papuans that they have tortured and killed.

These are sent to commanding officers and some inevitably leak into the public domain. West Papuan journalists cannot go to the jungle to document the Indonesian war against freedom fighters themselves, as they would be shot on sight, Mambor says.

Mambor would like foreign journalists to make direct contact with West Papuan journalists to improve coverage of his country. Mambor knows he is taking a risk by embarking on a speaking tour of New Zealand.

Police questioning

Previously, he has been "invited" by the Indonesian police for meetings after returning from speaking tours in Geneva and Brazil.

"I try not to take this seriously. I only meet the Indonesian police in a public place like a cafe or a hotel and I tell them to search google or read my newspaper if they want to know what I have written," Mambor says.

At the moment, the public lack information about the West Papuan struggle, he says. Many people do not even realise that West Papua has been under a 50-year military occupation and thousands of West Papuans have been killed by the Indonesian military during that time. The public tend to think that West Papua is the same place as the neigbouring and independent state of Papua New Guinea.

"Journalists in New Zealand need to learn deeply about West Papua and understand what context we are struggling in. We are not asking for special autonomy but we want our self-determination. Journalists need to break down the wall and learn freely about our struggle," he says.

Mambor pointed to a story broken by Bensemann in January – that the New Zealand police were giving money to Indonesia for police training. "The police used much of that money to kill West Papuans. They were killed with your money. Maybe people didn't know about that before," says Mambor.

He is speaking at a seminar this weekend organised by West Papua Action Auckland.

Source: http://www.pmc.aut.ac.nz/pacific-media-watch/nz-visiting-west-papua-editor-appeals-real-open-door-foreign-media-8883

Support for MSG bid strong in West Papua, says local journalist

Radio New Zealand International - August 1, 2014

Support for a West Papuan bid to join the Melanesian Spearhead Group is strong in Indonesia's Papua region, according to a leading local journalist.

A formal membership application by the West Papua National Coalition for Liberation was recently knocked back by the MSG whose leaders called for a more representative bid.

Following this, a conference is being organised in Vanuatu later this month for a range of West Papuan representative groups to reconcile and discuss a unified MSG membership bid.

This includes three leading groups – the Coalition, the administration of the Federal Republic of West Papua, and the National Committee for West Papua.

The Tabloid Jubi newspaper editor, Victor Mambor, says that many West Papuans are aware of the MSG bid. "Even now, many Papuan peoples, they say that the three organisations should sit together and look for solutions to join the Melanesian Spearhead Group."

Source: http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/251198/support-for-msg-bid-strong-in-west-papua,-says-local-journalist

West Papuan media influenced to not report on KNPB

Radio New Zealand International - August 1, 2014

A journalist from Indonesia's Papua region says police discourage journalists from covering issues or stories involving the National Committee for West Papua, or KNPB.

According to Victor Mambor, the KNPB is the leading pro-independence organisation in West Papua and, as such, is the subject of much attention from security forces.

Mr Mambor, who is currently in New Zealand to talk about challenges to media freedom in his homeland, says newspapers in West Papua are reluctant to report about the KNPB.

"Police have a good way to stop KNPB propaganda. They try to influence many journalists in West Papua to stop covering the KNPB news. I think all of the newspapers in West Papua, they cannot publish the news about KNPB."

Victor Mambor says an exception to this is his newspaper, Tabloid Jubi, which is prepared to report on the KNPB.

Source: http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/251179/west-papuan-media-influenced-to-not-report-on-knpb

Five insurgents die in Papua ambush

Jakarta Post - August 1, 2014

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – After being ambushed in the District of Pirime on Friday, Indonesian army personnel managed to kill five Papua insurgents who were subsequently deemed to have been responsible for the recent deaths of two police officers.

"Five insurgents had been shot to death," Cendrawasih Military Command commander Maj. Gen. Christian Zebua said in Jayapura on Friday.

Cendrawasih Military Command spokesman Lt. Col. Rikjas Hidayatullah, who was also on the scene, said that on the army side a private by the name of First Pvt. Rois was shot and afterward hospitalized for treatment.

According to the army report, the military personnel were en route to Pirime District when they were suddenly ambushed by a group of insurgents led by Enden Wanimbo, the same group that was held responsible for the killing of two members of the police from the Pirime Police office, First Brig. Zulkifli and Second Brig Prayoga, on Monday.

Commenting on the recent shooting, Reverend Samuel K Waromi from the Papuan People's Council (MRP) condemned the action that claimed the lives of the two police officers. "We need to implement a different approach to avoid similar incidents from occurring in the future," he said. (dic)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/08/01/five-insurgents-die-papua-ambush.html

Sexual & domestic violence

Rape victims 'blamed' in Indonesian culture

Jakarta Post - August 8, 2014

Dewanti A. Wardhani, Jakarta – Indonesia's patriarchal society has hindered victims of sexual assaults in getting justice as members of the legal system often lack sensitivity, activists have claimed.

Founder of the rape-survivor support group Lentera Indonesia, Wulan Danoekoesoemo, said many rape victims chose not to report their cases to the police because the law itself did not side with the victim.

"Some victims feel hopeless because it's difficult to process a sexual- assault case. Even if the cases are processed, the sentences for the offenders are too short," she said.

Wulan cited the recent case of four Transjakarta employees who sexually assaulted an unconscious woman in a shelter in Harmoni, Central Jakarta.

"The men were sentenced to 18 months in prison. After that they will be free. On the other hand, [the victim] is traumatized. She's scarred for life and she will have a difficult time moving on," Wulan told The Jakarta Post recently.

In the Transjakarta case, not only were the four defendants sentenced to short terms in prison, the victim was also verbally harassed by the panel of judges during the trial.

According to activist Kartika Jahja, who supported the victim throughout the trial process, the judges and the defendants' lawyers went as far as to ask about her clothes and ethnicity.

"During the trial, the panel of judges and the defendants' lawyers asked [her] such shallow and dumb questions as 'what were the colors of your undergarments that day?' and 'you're from Aceh so you must be a Muslim. Why did you wear short pants?'" Kartika wrote on her Facebook page recently.

Kartika criticized the questioning the victim. "How are those questions relevant to the case? [...] I was afraid that [she] would have a mental breakdown during the trial but she stayed strong," she said.

The questions posed by the panel of judges and the lawyers appear to demonstrate that the country has a tendency to blame the victim by questioning her choice of clothing. Victim-blaming in sexual assault cases in Indonesia is not unheard of.

In 2011, then Jakarta governor Fauzi Bowo, in response to a case of a gang rape of a woman by four men in a minivan in South Jakarta, said that women should not wear miniskirts while on public transportation to avoid "any unwanted consequences".

Women's Legal Aid Foundation (LBH APIK) executive Uli Pangaribuan said that such stigmatizing was why many rape victims chose to keep quiet.

"The reason why many rape victims in this country choose not to report to the police is because they're ashamed and they're afraid that society will put the blame on them," Uli told the Post recently.

She said that many people tended to normalize rape if the victim was wearing a mini skirt or a tight blouse. "It's very sad that people think women are 'asking for it' when they wear mini skirts or tight blouses. It does not justify rape," Uli said.

She said that many rape victims had to endure a second trauma during the trial process. Not only was the Transjakarta victim verbally harassed, she said, but the court did not allow her lawyers and supporters to be present during the trial.

"I understand it was a closed trial, but [she] should at least have had some support in there. [She] was all alone and she had to answer questions like, 'why were you wearing short pants in public?' and 'how short were they?'"

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/08/08/rape-victims-blamed-indonesian-culture.html

Labour & migrant workers

Up to 500 migrant workers extorted daily by police, military, officials

Jakarta Globe - August 6, 2014

Rizky Amelia, Jakarta – Advocacy group Migrant Care estimated that every day between 400 to 500 Indonesian migrant workers are extorted by security and immigration officers on their return to Indonesia, providing a glimpse of how entrenched corruption in the field could be.

Migrant Care chairwoman Anis Hidayah came to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) office on Wednesday to submit the group's findings. Anis also came with six former migrant workers who claimed to have been victims of a similar extortion scheme.

According to Anis, the group has recorded more than 1,000 extortion cases over the last ten years, which are said to involve police and military officials as well as from other government agencies.

"Everyday, 400 to 500 TKI [Indonesian migrant workers] are extorted," she said pointing to the group's estimate. The figure, she said, represented 45 percent of Indonesian migrant workers returning home everyday. The extortion scheme "is systematic," Anis continued.

The culprits, Anis alleged, are from the Military, Police, the Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration and the Indonesian Workers Placement and Protection Agency (BNP2TKI).

The meeting came after the KPK and the National Police conducted a joint- raid on July 25 at Soekarno Hatta International Airport in Jakarta to verify reports of widespread extortion practices against Indonesian workers returning home.

Siti Badriah, one of the six migrant workers who testified before the KPK, said she was extorted on her return from work in Brunei in 2004.

She said an officer approached her on arriving at Soekarno-Hatta's Terminal 2 and told her that because of her migrant worker's status, her immigration credentials had to be processed at Terminal 3. She was told to board a bus to take her to the designated terminal.

The minute she stepped on the bus, the extortion began. She was asked to pay off the bus driver, the porters and immigration officials before she was allowed to leave the airport.

"Why so little? You work overseas," Badriah said quoting a rogue official asking her for more pay, adding that she eventually spent at least Rp 300,000 for the series of pay offs.

KPK deputy chairman Bambang Widjojanto said that the agency was conducting its own research on the practice and was asking Migrant Care for its input, but did not elaborate further. "There are some testimonies [from extorted workers]. So [the findings] might even be more shocking," he said.

Source: http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/news/ngo-says-500-migrant-workers-extorted-daily-police-military-officials/

Political parties & elections

Yudhoyono says he's not supporting Prabowo's Merah Putih coalition

Jakarta Globe - August 8, 2014

Jakarta – President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has led his Democratic party in a political about-face, withdrawing support previously given by party officials for Prabowo Subianto's Merah Putih coalition.

In a video uploaded to Youtube on Thursday night, Yudhoyono said that he wished the Democratic Party to avoid aligning itself with either Prabowo or president-elect Joko Widodo's coalition.

"I think it's better for the political party that I am leading to be independent. It's better for us to become a balancing power and to not join Pak Prabowo's permanent coalition or Pak Joko Widodo's camp. That's the stance the party I lead has chosen," said Yudhoyono.

In the video, Yudhoyono said that he would provide further explanation about his party's stance at a later date.

Yudhoyono's statement was seen as an attempt to clarify the Democratic Party's political stance after several top officials declared support for Prabowo's camp, while others said that the party would establish cooperation with the new government.

Amir Syamsudin, a member of the party's board of advisors, said earlier this week that the party would cooperate with the incoming government.

"The Democratic Party will not burden the president-elect with demands because cooperation is not the same as power sharing. Our cooperation will focus on catering to the people's needs," Amir said.

In contrast to this announcement, last month senior Democratic politican Nachrowi Ramli joined a move aimed at putting up roadblocks in the House of Representatives to thwart Joko's policy plans. Nachrowi co-signed a memorandum of understanding establishing Prabowo's "permanent Merah Putih coalition" – and Yudhoyono did nothing to distance himself from the move.

A month earlier, Democratic party chairman Syarief Hasan said in a press conference that the party was abandoning its earlier commitment of neutrality in the 2014 presidential election.

"The Democratic Party decided and instructed all its members, supporters and associated organizations across Indonesia to fully support and vote for Prabowo-Hatta at the presidential election," Syarief said on June 30 in Jakarta.

Senior party officials Jero Wacik, E.E. Mangindaan, Amir Syamsuddin, Roy Suryo and Yudhoyono's son Edhie Baskoro lent credibility to the move by their presence at the press conference. "This is our official stance," Syarief said at the time.

The party had decided at its national meeting in May to remain neutral during the election, something that Yudhoyono reiterated shortly after the meeting was concluded.

However, he subsequently went quiet, leaving Max Sopacua, deputy chairman of the Democratic Party, to say as recently as Monday that the party had not left the Merah Putih coalition.

"The Democratic Party is still in the Merah Putih coalition," Max said as quoted by newsportal indopos.co.id, adding that Yudhoyono knew about the decision to join the coalition.

Source: http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/news/yudhoyono-says-hes-supporting-prabowos-merah-putih-coalition/

Court likely to reject Prabowo's election fraud claim on lack of evidence

Jakarta Globe - August 7, 2014

Carlos Paath, Erwin Sihombing & Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – The Constitutional Court is expected to reject a lawsuit filed by losing presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto based on a shortage of evidence to support his allegation of massive cheating – while a new survey suggests that the former Army general would in any case lose in an election rerun.

Masykurudin Hafidz, deputy coordinator for the People's Voter Education Network (JPRR), said the justices' comments during the first day of the hearing into the case indicated that Prabowo's lawsuit largely fails to substantiate its claims.

On Wednesday the full panel of nine justices gave Prabowo's legal team a day to fix numerous errors in their claim, saying the document lacked "substantial and convincing" arguments and relevant evidence, and contained a string of spelling errors.

"Yesterday's hearing indicates that the lawsuit is not strong enough to result in a finding of systematic, massive and structured [election] violations," Masykurudin said in Jakarta on Thursday.

He said it wasn't likely that the court would rule based on assumptions, let alone order revoting in eight provinces – North Sumatra, Jakarta, Central Java, East Java, Bali, North Maluku, Papua and West Papua – as Prabowo's team has demanded.

The revotes, if granted, would affect around 32 million votes, inconsistent with the Prabowo team's allegations of 24 million "problematic" votes across 52,000 poll stations as a result of "structured, systematic and massive" cheating by General Elections Commission (KPU) officials in favor of the winning pair Joko Widodo-Jusuf Kalla.

The vote gap according to the official KPU result, meanwhile, stands at 8.4 million votes, with Joko leading over Prabowo with 53.15 percent of the total 133.6 million valid votes.

The number of eligible voters who did not cast a valid ballot reached around 30 percent, or 56 million voters. "It's a small possibility that the court will consider revotes," Maskurudin said.

A gathering calling itself the Coalition of Advocates for Democracy called on the Constitutional Court to reject outright the legal challenge filed by the Prabowo camp – saying it was flawed both in substance and procedure.

"We suggest [the court] not accept the request of presidential candidate No. 1 [Prabowo]," said prominent jurist Todung Mulya Lubis, a member of the coalition.

He expressed his concern that some justices' past affiliations with political parties might affect their decision on the case – chief justice Hamdan Zoelva and justice Patrialis Akbar are former politicians from the Crescent Star Party (PBB) and the National Mandate Party (PAN), members of Prabowo's political coalition.

"The court should not turn this trial of the presidential election dispute into a political stage. Their investigation of the dispute will be a test for the court, with its reputation at stake," said Todung.

Separately, Trimedya Panjaitan, the head of the legal team for Joko-Kalla, expressed confidence that the court would not order a revote as long as it was unlikely to alter the election result.

"If that's not likely, then there's no use [revoting]," Trimedya said, "That is, if the court is being consistent with its handling of previous cases."

Meanwhile, Prabowo's legal team members said they had revised their written statement of claim ahead of the Thursday midday deadline imposed by the court.

"We've completed the documents – as suggested by the nine constitutional justices yesterday," lawyer Alamsyah Hanafiah said at the court upon submitting the revised lawsuit. "It's quite thick now, up to 196 pages." The document earlier contained 146 pages.

Another lawyer on the team, Elza Syarief, said the claim had undergone previous revisions since it was lodged on July 26. "We've made some improvements based on advice and input from the constitutional court justices before Wednesday's hearing," Elza said.

The team also said they had submitted a list of 76 items of evidence, the materials of which were so voluminous they required five vehicles to transport them to court. "We hope to bring in those five cars or trucks today," said Syahroni, another lawyer acting for Prabowo.

Syahroni said that 2,000 witnesses were standing by in Jakarta, ready to testify for Prabowo – although justice Arief Hidayat said on Wednesday that the court would only hear from 25 witnesses for the plaintiffs. "Technically, we will select from them those that can give quality testimony, who have the capacity," the judge said.

A recent survey conducted by the Indonesia Survey Circle Network (LSI-N) suggests that even if the court ordered the election rerun, it would be difficult for Prabowo to win due to an erosion of his levels of support.

The survey, conducted on Aug. 4-6 and involving 1,200 respondents from across the country, found that if the election was re-run at that time, 57.06 percent would have voted for Joko-Kalla and 30.39 percent for Prabowo-Hatta, with 12.55 percent undecided.

"The LSI-N survey also showed that 67.49 percent of respondents trust the official KPU result – that Jokowi-JK are the winners of the presidential election," said LSI-N researcher Ade Mulyana during a press conference on Thursday. "Only 18.52 percent don't trust it."

He suggested that Prabowo's popularity had declined because of growing public perception that we was a sore loser, based on his harsh reaction to the official result. "The public respond negatively to the Prabowo-Hatta team's delegitimization of the KPU and its decision," Ade added.

Source: http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/news/court-likely-reject-prabowos-election-fraud-claim-lack-evidence/

As court deliberates, doubts on Prabowo's claims of vote fraud

Jakarta Globe - August 6, 2014

Erwida Maulia & Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – The team of losing presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto says it will dispatch thousands of supporters in Jakarta to the Constitutional Court, which begins today the trial of a legal challenge against the official presidential election result that showed Joko Widodo as the winning candidate.

"Volunteers, sympathizers and politicians from our coalition members will stage a moral movement. God willing, around 30,000 to 50,000 of them will be present at MK [the Constitutional Court]," Andre Rosaide, a member of the campaign team of Prabowo and his vice presidential candidate Hatta Rajasa, said in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Another team member, M. Taufik, said the crowd would be there to "guard" the first hearing of the case. He added that other supporters would also stage protests at the headquarters of the National Police, the Election Organizers Ethics Council (DKPP) and the General Elections Commission (KPU) at separate locations in Jakarta. Police said they would dispatch at least 800 officers to secure the court.

The legal team of the losing pair filed a lawsuit at the court last month, challenging the official election result announced by the KPU on July 22 – which put Joko and his vice presidential candidate Jusuf Kalla in the lead with almost 71 million votes, or 53.15 percent of the total, over Prabowo- Hatta's 46.85 percent.

In the legal challenge filed on July 25, the Prabowo's camp claimed that they should be the winner of the election with 50.25 percent votes over Joko-Kalla's 49.74 percent.

In the first revision dated July 26, the Prabowo-Hatta legal team added that as many as 24.1 million "troubled" votes from more than 55,000 polling stations were responsible for "structured, systematic and massive" cheating that they alleged KPU officials of having committed – in favor of Joko- Kalla.

Last week, the team further raised the "troubled" voting figure to 50 million votes from 210,000 poll stations – although they still maintain that the final result should match their version: 50.25 percent vs 49.74 percent, in favor of Prabowo-Hatta.

Almost 479,000 polling stations were scattered across the country – with the voter turnout during the July 9 election reaching 133.5 million, representing 70.2 percent of Indonesia's eligible voters. The original document and the first revision were available on the court's website.

The Prabowo-Hatta team said the number of the "troubled" votes "is way much bigger" than the difference in votes between the two candidates, which according to the official KPU tally totaled 8.4 million votes.

The significant number of troubled votes "will thus very much influence the tally declared by the defendant [the KPU], and may reverse the vote gain," according to the first revision.

The team defines "troubled" votes as those including the unmatched number of voters and used ballots recorded at poll stations, the unmatched number of total ballots that include a mix of valid and invalid ballots, and the large number of people who cast their votes after showing only their identity cards.

The team also alleges that violations were not only committed by the KPU, but also by the campaign team of Joko-Kalla. Those violations include mobilizing people outside the original voters list (DPT) to cast their votes across Indonesia; "money politics"; recast of ballots by the same persons and the "massive" casting of votes by polling station officers.

'Confusing'

Hadar Gumay, a commissioner at the KPU, said last week, though, that the KPU was having difficulties in reviewing the lawsuit because many of the allegations were "confusing."

"We're confused. Some regions were mentioned [in the list of provinces as having 'troubled' votes], but it's not clear what the problems are," Hadar was quoted as saying by Detik.com.

"We've checked their attachment [to the list], but it appears to only contain the list of evidence, not copies of the evidence themselves. So we end up guessing. We must guess extra hard," he added.

A number of inconsistencies in the 146-page first revision document do exist. For example, Prabowo-Hatta's version of the final tally, at 50.25 percent to 49.74 percent, don't add up to 100 percent, only 99.99 percent.

At one point, the Prabowo-Hatta team says that "structured, systematic and massive" violations took place in "nearly all provinces," but then say that those were committed across "entire provinces."

In the breakdown by province, there is no explanation for some provinces mentioned in the list of where the alleged violations took place and how – as in the case of Riau Islands, Maluku and all provinces in Kalimantan.

Throughout the list the "structured, systematic and massive" cheating allegations are repeatedly mentioned, but facts offered in the explanation don't describe in full allegations of massive cheating.

In Aceh, for example, the team suggested a difference of only 637 votes between the total number of voters and the total number of ballots used across 246 poll stations. There were 2 million valid votes cast in Aceh.

In North Maluku, the team alleges a local office of the KPU reported the turnout of two polling stations in a village. But in reality, nobody came to the polling stations. The team provided evidence in the document that Prabowo-Hatta had one at those two stations, with 752 votes to 263 votes for Joko-Kalla.

Ultimately, the number of allegedly troubled votes the team mentioned in the document totaled only around 2.1 million votes, which would not be enough to match the difference of 8 million votes in the KPU's official tally.

As for other allegations of discrepancies, in Papua and West Papua, the team has protested the use of the traditional "noken" system, which means that tribal heads are allowed to vote on behalf of their people.

The Constitutional Court ruled in favor of this voting method in 2009, as difficult terrain and underdeveloped infrastructure in the two provinces made it difficult for tribal people living in mountainous areas or in the depth of the jungles to visit polling stations to cast their votes.

The Prabowo-Hatta team has accused Joko-Kalla of benefiting illegally from the system. The Joko-Kalla pair did win in the two provinces, 72 percent of the votes in Papua and 68 percent in West Papua.

"[Papua and West Papua] are a wrong target. Noken has been recognized by the state, with a 2009 verdict of the MK," political observer Boni Hargens said of the noken clause during a discussion in Jakarta on Tuesday, as quoted by metrotvnews.com. "If they want to dispute [the tally], dispute it on clauses other than noken."

Ray Rangkuti, of the Indonesian Civil Circle (LIMA), said if the Prabowo- Hatta team did manage to bring in "10 trucks of evidence" as they have previously claimed to support their accusations, the team would be able to meet the administrative requirements before the court agrees to proceed with the case.

"The Prabowo team wouldn't likely have difficulties to meet [the administrative requirements]. At least, as they've often claimed, they have prepared a dozen trucks carrying evidence of [alleged] cheating," Ray said on Tuesday.

He said Prabowo's declaration of rejecting the "legally flawed" official KPU result on the same day of the announcement on July 22, might serve as an obstacle for his legal team, which said to be composed of 95 lawyers. The KPU, in comparison, said they have hired 16 attorneys to represent them.

"Basically, if Prabowo rejects the presidential election, then all his rights concerning the election will be omitted, including the right to dispute the result at MK," Ray said. "This issue will surely trigger heated debates in the MK's hearing room. There will be a lot of legal arguments."

'Independent' court

Hamdan Zoelva, the chief justice of the Constitutional Court, on Tuesday assured the "independence" of the nine-justice court. He disclosed his background as a former politician with the Crescent Star Party (PBB) – one of the seven parties in the Prabowo-Hatta coalition – as a matter of transparency. Hamdan is known to be a politician with the party from 1998 to 2010, serving as deputy chairman from 2005 to 2010.

"Before I entered the Constitutional Court, I've removed all my ties with any organization, including political parties," Hamdan said, defending his impartial stance.

Still, Hamdan's admission of impartiality has not only been doubted by some Joko-Kalla supporters. Messages circulating among some supporters of the Prabowo-Hatta team say he's a brother-in-law of Siti Musdah Mulia, a member of the Joko-Kalla campaign team, and will probably rule in favor of Joko. Hamdan hasn't responded to this issue.

"Believe us. We will only decide based on evidence gathered during trial. There is nobody – be it the state institutions, mass organizations or protesters and media – that can pressure the court's justices with regard to their stances and opinions," he said. The court is expected on Aug. 22 to make a decision, which would make the result final.

Hamdan further called on supporters of both tickets to avoid gathering at the court building, saying that it might cause unwanted pressures on the justices. "I suggest that they let the teams of attorneys of all parties involved to handle the case here. There's no need to dispatch your people to pressure us," Hamdan said.

Source: http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/news/court-deliberates-doubts-prabowos-claims-vote-fraud/

'Even in North Korea this doesn't happen,' Prabowo has day in court

Jakarta Globe - August 6, 2014

Jakarta – Losing presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto testified before Indonesia's final electoral court of appeal on Wednesday, telling judges that "North Korean" levels of fraud had robbed him of the presidency.

"We are hurt by the violations and injustice carried out by the election organizer," Prabowo told the panel of judges at the Constitutional Court in Central Jakarta.

Indonesia went to the polls on July 9 to elect a successor to Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who is set to leave the State Palace after reaching the end of his two-term limit. The country's General Election Commission (KPU) announced on July 22 that Joko Widodo had won the ballot by 53.15 percent to Prabowo's 46.85 percent.

A furious Prabowo refused to accept the result, and his camp immediately cited systemic fraud in the process, even accusing – erroneously – a small army of hackers from China and South Korea of having found a back door into the commission's website and switching votes to Jokowi that had been intended for him.

Prabowo told the court to conduct revotes in several districts in East Java, Central Java, Papua, Bali, West Papua, North Sumatra and Jakarta. He also claimed that voters were intimidated when they wanted to cast their votes for him.

"This only happens in a totalitarian nation, even in North Korea such things do not happen," Prabowo said. "Votes [for Jokowi] reached 100 percent [in some areas]. That's unbelievable." Prabowo claimed that a thorough and fair assessment of the vote would have made him the winner with 50.25 percent of the popular ballot.

He told the court that he could produce "tens of thousands of witnesses" to substantiate his claims. "The fate of Indonesia is in this court," Prabowo said. "We agree to a democratic process. We will respect any decision as long as the process is honest."

Prabowo's lawyer Maqdir Ismail said the case was based mainly on the allegation that as many as 5 million people had voted illegally.

While Prabowo thrust into the proceedings with claims of millions of illegal voters and tens of thousands of witnesses, the court seemed more interested in ensuring that his written application to the court contained the bare minimum of evidence and was free from typos.

The judges at the Constitutional Court asked Prabowo to resubmit the legal challenge in "good Indonesian language" and asked him to provide specific evidence to substantiate each of the claims made therein. They gave him one day to fix the errors.

Justice Muhammad Alim pointed to some spelling errors, such as Indonesian words masif, which Prabowo wrote as "massif" (massive) and mengubah, which had been written as "merubah" (change).

Justice Aswanto said the case summary from Prabowo's camp also contained too many ambiguities. "What do you mean by pengkondisian [conditioning]?" Aswanto asked Prabowo, as quoted by Detik.com, about his claim that there was "conditioning" in the electoral process. "Please be concrete. Don't use vague sentences. Please use sentences with a single meaning so we can understand your problem."

Court judge Wahiduddin Adams said that Prabowo had not provided details for his argument. "The applicant said there was a flawed vote-counting process, but he did not elaborate beyond that," Wahiduddin said. "Every claim presented should be supported by a convincing and sufficient argument."

To the quiet relief of the press pack, Justice Arief Hidayat said the court would not need to see tens of thousands of witnesses to reach a verdict. Twenty five witnesses would do, the court said. "More important is the quality – the witnesses presented to the court should give high-quality testimony," Arief said.

Chief justice Hamdan Zoelva said the court would determine the case based on evidence, and asked Prabowo to return with sufficient evidence for the justices to verify.

"The court decision will be based on proof filed to the court," Hamdan said. "The ruling, which will be final and honest as stipulated by the Constitution, will be proper, transparent and open. All Indonesian people can see it."

Prabowo's lawyer Habiburokhman said the errors were merely typos, and they would be fixed immediately. Lawyer Eggi Sudjana admitted that the errors were a case of too many cooks. Around 100 lawyers have been working on the appeal.

Prabowo gave a curt response to journalists when asked about the errors in his application. "It's fine," he said.

The next hearing will be on on Friday morning to hear testimony from the relevant institutions. This will include the KPU and the Election Supervisory Board (Bawaslu). The court will also hear Prabowo's witnesses.

Source: http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/news/even-north-korea-doesnt-happen-prabowo-day-court/

Calls to block Joko's presidency 'excessive,' Democratic Party says

Jakarta Globe - August 5, 2014

SP/Robertus Wardi, Jakarta – Despite being a member of a rival coalition, the Democratic Party said it will not support calls to block president- elect Joko Widodo from being sworn in proposed earlier by fellow coalition members.

"I think that is excessive. We must respect the constitution," Democratic Party executive committee chairman Syarief Hassan told Suara Pembaruan on Tuesday.

Syarief's remarks came after members of the losing candidate, Prabowo Subianto's coalition – including the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) and the Golkar Party – indicated that they were preparing to form a special committee, or pansus, in the House of Representatives (DPR), which will stage inquiries surrounding the organization of the July 9 presidential election.

The camp has continued its allegations of "massive, structured and systematic" electoral fraud after the General Elections Commission (KPU) declared on July 22 that Jakarta Governor Joko Widodo had won the presidential election.

PKS politician Gamari Sutrisno even suggested on Sunday that members of Prabowo's coalition must boycott the presidential inauguration ceremony at the House of Representatives on October 20 even if the Constitutional Court, the only institution in Indonesia authorized to deal with electoral disputes, reaffirms Joko's win.

Gamari believed that the coalition's absence should foil Joko's inauguration. Prabowo's coalition – if they remain intact – will control 63 percent of the legislative seats.

But Syarief indicated that the Democrats might leave Prabowo's camp if the Constitutional Court dismissed Prabowo's challenge and confirmed Joko's win. The court, known as MK, has given a deadline of Aug. 22 to issue a final and binding verdict on the matter.

"We will wait for MK's decision. We will intensify communication [with Joko's camp] after August 22," he said adding that the Democrats will support whomever the new president may be.

"There is no such thing as an opposition in a presidential system... We will back [the upcoming government] if it is for the good of the people but will criticize if it is not."

Source: http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/news/calls-block-jokos-presidency-excessive-democratic-party-says/

Prabowo's camp fights 'a losing battle'

Jakarta Post - August 5, 2014

Jakarta – Political experts said that complaints filed with the Election Organization Ethics Council (DKPP) by a number of parties supporting the Prabowo-Hatta presidential campaign were unlikely to alter the result of the presidential election held on July 9.

On July 25, an organization called New Indonesia's People Movement filed a complaint with the DKPP against the East Java General Elections Commission (KPUD). The organization claimed that many people in East Java voted at polling stations in locations where they were not registered.

The voters in question, according to the complaint, failed to provide the A5 forms that would have established their legal right to vote at a polling station different from the one listed in the final voter list.

Veri Junaidi, executive director of the Association for Elections and Democracy (Perludem), said that New Indonesia's People Movement would find it difficult to prove that the East Java KPUD had deliberately allowed voters to cast their votes without the A5 forms in a move to manipulate the result of the election.

"If we isolate the administrative aspect, then voters must present A5 forms if they want vote in polling stations that they were not assigned to," Veri told The Jakarta Post on Monday.

However, he pointed to the primacy of Article 19 of Law No.8/2012 concerning elections, which stipulates that every citizen over 17 years of age or who has been married has the right to cast a vote.

"The DKPP should consider whether the East Java KPU attempted to support one of the candidates or just tried to grant people their right [to vote]," he said.

The DKPP was scheduled to hold a hearing of six complaints filed by various parties on Friday, all of which criticize the performance of either the KPU or the Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) as regulatory bodies overseeing the presidential election.

DKPP chairman Jimly Asshiddiqie said on Monday that five of the reports were filed by the team of the Prabowo-Hatta pair and one was filed by the Jokowi-Kalla team.

However, he emphasized that the DKPP could only impose sanctions on the KPU or Bawaslu if they were found to have abused their authority and that the body could not change the outcome of the election or order a revote.

"I have assured every party filing a report with the DKPP that we are not able of ordering a reelection or overturning the election result. That is the Constitutional Court's (MK) authority," Jimly told reporters.

Indonesian Voters Committee coordinator Jerry Sumampow commented on another report filed by Prabowo's legal team on July 21 that claimed the Jakarta KPUD had violated regulations by disobeying Bawaslu's recommendation to hold revotes at 29 polling stations in Jakarta.

Jerry said that while Prabowo's team had the legal standing to file the report, he did not believe that it would have an effect on the outcome of the election result.

"Even though they [the Prabowo campaign] can prove that the KPU should have held a revote in the disputed polling stations, [doing so] would do little to close the eight million vote gap separating the two pairs of candidates," he said.

The Prabowo-Hatta team has been pursuing all possible legal means of challenging the final KPU's announcement of the Jokowi-Kalla team as the winners of the presidential contest.

The Constitutional Court is scheduled to begin hearing the presidential election dispute trial filed by Prabowo's camp that alleges systemic fraud had occurred at 52,000 polling stations and had involved 21 million votes on Wednesday.

Despite weaknesses in the lawsuits, the Prabowo-Hatta team has reiterated its optimism that the court would issue rulings in its favor. (idb)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/08/05/prabowo-s-camp-fights-a-losing-battle.html

Prabowo supporters lock election commission gate

Jakarta Globe - August 4, 2014

Jakarta – Supporters of losing presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto on Monday locked the entrance gate of the General Election Commission (KPU) and called for its commissioners to be jailed.

News portal Tempo.co said that the Prabowo backers accused KPU chairman Husni Kamil Malik of having received Rp 25 billion ($2.1 million) in kickbacks to let Jakarta Governor Joko Widodo and his running mate Jusuf Kalla win the July 9 presidential election.

"Thank you, KPU, for ousting candidate pair No. 1 [Prabowo and his running mate Hatta Rajasa] by cheating," one of the protesters said, as quoted by Tempo.co. The activists also brought a banner that read: "KPU totally failed because it wasn't neutral."

"The KPU is not professional, so people are upset," Taufik, the head of the Jakarta branch of Prabowo's Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) Party, was quoted as saying by Kompas.com. He also said that the protests would continue until the KPU chairman and other officials were arrested for their crimes.

Protest coordinator Guntur Setiawan demanded an investigation, as the KPU should have been "independent, neutral and professional," Kompas.com reported. The protesters, calling themselves Jakarta People's Council, demanded a recount of votes and shouted slogans like "revolution until victory."

The KPU has announced that Joko and Kalla won the election with 53.15 percent, against 46.85 percent for Prabowo and Hatta, but the latter pair has challenged the official result. The Constitutional Court is expected to rule on the matter on Aug. 22.

Source: http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/news/prabowo-supporters-lock-election-commission-gate/

Prabowo's camp fires on all legal cylinders

Jakarta Post - August 4, 2014

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – The legal team of Gerindra Party presidential hopeful Prabowo Subianto is trying to call into question the official vote tally result of the presidential election won by Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) candidate Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, to ensure a Prabowo victory.

Since the announcement of the official vote count by the General Elections Commission (KPU), Prabowo's legal team has filed reports to the Constitutional Court (MK), the Election Organizers Ethics Council (DKPP), the Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu), the National Police, the country's Ombudsman and the Jakarta State Administrative Court (PTUN).

The latest legal attack launched by the team was a report filed with the National Police on the back of the KPU's decision to send a notice asking Regional Elections Commissions (KPUDs) to reopen ballot boxes on July 25.

"The content of the report is the same [as the one filed at Bawaslu earlier]," Prabowo's legal team member Didi Supriyanto told The Jakarta Post on Saturday.

He was referring to a report filed at Bawaslu on Thursday, in which the advocate team accused the KPU of violating the law since the ballot boxes opening, intending to obtain evidence inside the boxes in preparation for the lawsuit hearing at the court, and doing so without permission from the court.

Didi said the KPU's reasoning for a need for evidence did not justify the opening of ballot boxes, which the legal team feared could lead to evidence being tampered with.

Prabowo's legal team has filed four reports with the DKPP accusing the KPU and Bawaslu of breaching codes of ethics by allowing Jokowi to run in the 2014 presidential election without proper permission, as well as deliberately attempting to rig some of the votes in Jakarta.

In the reports, Prabowo's legal team accused the KPU and Bawaslu of misconduct for granting Jokowi's candidacy although he did not have permission from President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono when he registered at the KPU. With the same reasoning, the team also filed a report to the PTUN in the hope the court would deem Jokowi's candidacy unlawful.

The team also accused the Elections Supervisory Committee (Panwaslu) in Jakarta of deliberately trying to rig the vote by burning 265 uncounted ballot boxes in Cilincing, North Jakarta.

The most exhaustive report is the 146-page lawsuit filed at the court that says election fraud occurred nationwide conducted by the KPU. Submitted on July 25, the lawsuit claimed that fraud had occurred at 52,000 polling stations and had affected 21 million votes.

It goes on to claim that the number of those who exercised their voting rights in Aceh did not match the number of ballot papers used there in 774 polling stations, where there was a discrepancy of 637 votes.

"The KPUD in Aceh along with its personnel could not carry out its core duties and functions in accordance with existing law, so that a democratic presidential election could not be fulfilled," the document said.

The fraud also allegedly occurred in North Sumatra, where Prabowo's legal team accused the KPUD of abusing its power by inflating votes by 100 to 200 percent in South Nias regency.

In Java, Prabowo's camp believed systemic, widespread fraud had occurred in all provinces, including in Jakarta, which had drawn considerable attention as the Panwaslu there had recommended the regional General Elections Commission (KPUD) to investigate 5,817 polling stations and conduct revotes in 13 polling stations. The first hearing for the case at the court is scheduled today.

Association for Elections and Democracy (Perludem) executive director Titi Anggraini said that the KPU and Bawaslu had shown a remarkable improvement in their performance compared to the general election in 2009.

"The criticisms actually came from the increase in transparency and access to information which provided opportunities for many parties to criticize and get involved in the election," she told the Post. "That's the thing that really sets the current election organizers apart with the past.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/08/04/prabowo-s-camp-fires-all-legal-cylinders.html

Rival parties threaten to dash Jokowi's inauguration

Jakarta Post - August 4, 2014

Bagus BT Saragih, Jakarta – As the hearing on an election dispute at the Constitutional Court filed by the Prabowo Subianto-Hatta Rajasa ticket is about to commence, its supporters have bandied about plans to deligitimize the victory of rival ticket Joko "Jokowi" Widodo-Jusuf Kalla if they lose the suit.

Politicians from the Prabowo-Hatta camp plan to initiate an inquiry at the House of Representatives into the entire presidential election process, which they deem to have been "massively and structurally manipulated".

Gamari Sutrisno, a lawmaker from the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), which supports the ticket, said that boycotting the inauguration of Jokowi-Kalla at the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), slated for Oct. 20, was "very possible".

Supporters of Jokowi-Kalla have strongly denounced the plan. "We are disturbed by such blind political maneuvers such as the plan to boycott the inauguration of president- and vice president-elect Joko Widodo and Jusuf Kalla," Hasto Kristiyanto, the deputy secretary-general of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), which leads the Jokowi-Kalla coalition, said in a statement on Sunday.

He called the plan to initiate a legislative inquiry a "reflection of the excessive ambition for power".

NasDem Party politician Ferry Mursyidan Baldan, also from the Jokowi-Kalla camp, shared Hasto's opinion. "Their move is merely proof of political immaturity that does not reflect the true intention of improving the election system," he said.

A legislative inquiry is a House prerogative to monitor the government that gives it the authority to summon and question any individual whose knowledge and testimony is deemed necessary to the subject it is probing.

One of the latest high-profile inquiries was launched in December 2009 to scrutinize the government's controversial decision in 2008 to disburse Rp 6.76 trillion (US$572.76 million) in bailout funds to the then-ailing Bank Century (now Bank Mutiara).

Analysts have suggested that the plan to launch an inquiry into the presidential election was merely aimed at creating political turbulence to disrupt Jokowi's victory euphoria and perhaps his first months in office.

Lawmaker Tantowi Yahya from the Golkar Party, which supports Prabowo-Hatta, said he was optimistic the inquiry would soon be launched, even before Jokowi's inauguration. His statement was made on the basis that, according to the result of the April 9 legislative election, political parties supporting Prabowo-Hatta control 75.2 percent of the current House seats.

"We will certainly convey our formal proposal in the first House plenary meeting after the recess ends on Aug. 14," he said.

Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) political analyst J. Kristiadi said the inquiry, if approved, would merely be a waste of energy. "Whatever the motive, I think the move will be useless given that the electoral margin reached more than 8 million," he said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/08/04/rival-parties-threaten-dash-jokowi-s-inauguration.html

Aburizal's detractors to hold national meeting

Jakarta Post - August 4, 2014

Jakarta – Three organizations linked to the Golkar Party are planning to hold a national meeting in an initial move to rally for an early end to Aburizal Bakrie's chairmanship of the party.

Known as the old guard that cofounded Golkar, the three institutions – the Central Organization for Indonesian Employees (SOKSI), the Mutual Assistance Consultative Organization (MKGR) and Kosgoro – are gathering their regional leaders in the capital to recommend a Golkar national meeting to unseat Aburizal.

After the General Elections Commission (KPU) announced on Aug. 22 that Prabowo Subianto and his running mate, Hatta Rajasa, had lost the presidential election, Golkar members blamed Aburizal for choosing to join Prabowo's Gerindra Party coalition, and requested his early departure to pave the way for Golkar to join the new administration led by Prabowo's rival, Joko Widodo.

"We have invited the leaders of our regional branches so that their voices can be heard," SOKSI chairman Lawrence TP Siburian said on Sunday as quoted by kompas.com. He claimed that so far, the three organizations had garnered support from the leaders of Golkar branches in Bali, North Sulawesi, Aceh and Papua.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/08/04/aburizal-s-detractors-hold-national-meeting.html

Weak lawsuit leads Prabowo to claim more vote rigging

Jakarta Post - August 2, 2014

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – While struggling to amend errors in documents supporting a challenge to presidential election results at the Constitutional Court, the campaign team for the Gerindra Party's presidential candidate, Prabowo Subianto, has claimed that it has found more evidence of election fraud in the July 9 poll.

Campaign team member Andre Rosiade said on Friday that the team had found indications of vote rigging in almost half of all polling stations during the presidential election.

"We are asking this case to include 210,000 polling stations that relate to 50 million voters," he told The Jakarta Post, adding that fraud happened nationwide and that the new cases would be added to the lawsuit to be heard by a panel of judges.

Prabowo's camp previously claimed that fraud had occurred at 52,000 polling stations and had affected 21 million votes in its initial lawsuit filed at the court on July 25, enough to sway the official results of the election from the victory of Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P)'s ticket Joko "Jokowi" Widodo-Jusuf Kalla to the pairing of Prabowo and his running mate Hatta Rajasa.

After flaws were found in the lawsuit, the court gave the Prabowo side until Aug. 6, when the first hearing is to be held, for corrections to be made.

The team instead used the extra time to claim more cases of fraud, which might be considered unacceptable by the panel of judges. The new cases have not as yet been reported to the court.

Association for Elections and Democracy (Perludem) executive director Veri Junaidi said that the advocate team was not supposed to adding new cases on top of the ones already included in the lawsuit submitted to the court.

"The principle is that the lawsuit should be submitted within 3 times 24 hours since the announcement of the official vote tally results by the KPU," he said. "In my opinion, all of the substantial contents of the documents should be submitted within the time period. After that, they should not add contested subject."

Likewise, Constitutional Court secretary-general Janeddri M Gaffar said that court regulations only allowed a plaintiff to amend errors found in its initial document, but not to add cases. "But let's just wait for the panel of judges [to decide on the matter]," he told the Post.

Andre said the team was upbeat that it would succeed in contesting the official vote count by the General Elections Commission (KPU) since it had evidence, including that found in Papua, where Jokowi garnered 2 million votes despite no election reportedly being held in 14 regencies.

The KPU refuted the claim, saying that fraud only occurred in two districts in Dogiai regency and that the Election Supervisory Committee (Bawaslu) had recommended the local KPU (KPUD) conduct a revote.

Prabowo's legal team member Didi Supriyadi said the team would keep updating the lawsuit with any findings on election fraud and that the updates would be presented to the court.

"We still have new findings and they keeps growing," he told the Post on Friday. Until the first hearing, the team will keep modifying the lawsuit, he added.

Didi said the team had been working tirelessly to amend the errors in the initial lawsuit document submitted to the court, such as blank columns and data that were merely copy and pasted from one column to another.

Veri lambasted Prabowo's team of lawyers, saying that it was a shame that the legal team, which consisted of 95 lawyers, could not prepare more credible documents within the allocated time.

"It's better for Prabowo's camp to focus on regions where there were strong indications of fraud, rather than expanding the lawsuit to all regions [but compromising the quality of the documents]," he said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/08/02/weak-lawsuit-leads-prabowo-claim-more-vote-rigging.html

KPU accused of unlawful ballot box opening

Jakarta Post - August 1, 2014

Jakarta – The legal team for the Gerindra Party's presidential candidate, Prabowo Subianto, reported the General Elections Commission (KPU) to the Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) on Thursday for the alleged unlawful opening of ballot boxes.

Advocate team member Sahroni said that the KPU was attempting to tamper with the evidence that was due to be presented to the Constitutional Court by instructing all regional General Elections Commission (KPUD) to open their ballot boxes.

According to Sahroni, the ballot boxes should not have been opened before the first trial session of the election dispute, which was filed by Prabowo's camp on July 6, but the instruction to open ballot boxes was made after the announcement of the official vote count on July 22.

"The presidential election process had concluded on July 22 with the announcement of the vote tally results by the KPU, which means that all ballot boxes should remain sealed unless the court decided otherwise," he said.

The KPU instructed all KPUD across on July 25 to open all ballot boxes and look for the A5 forms, needed for eligible voters to vote in locations different from where they supposed to vote, as evidence to be presented at the court.

So far, four KPUD – Central Jakarta, South Jakarta, Malang and Riau Islands – opened their ballot boxes following the instruction by the KPU, Sahroni said. The KPU's instruction indicated that it did not trust its own evidence, said Sahroni.

KPU commissioner Ferry Kurnia Rizkiyansyah said that the instruction was needed to strengthen evidence in response to the lawsuit filed by Prabowo's camp.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/08/01/kpu-accused-unlawful-ballot-box-opening.html-0

Surveys & opinion polls

Supporters abandon Prabowo

Jakarta Post - August 8, 2014

Hasyim Widhiarto, Jakarta – Losing presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto and his die-hard supporters have vowed to fight until the last drop of blood to secure the presidency for the retired army lieutenant general.

However, a survey by a major pollster and a revelation that emerged from Prabowo's own inner circle suggested that it was only a matter of time before the Gerindra party chief patron would have to concede defeat.

A national survey of 1,200 citizens released on Wednesday by the Jakarta- based pollster, Indonesian Survey Circle (LSI), showed that should a second presidential election take place, the Joko Widodo-Jusuf Kalla pair would receive 57.06 percent of the vote, while Prabowo-Hatta would win just 30.39 percent. The remaining 12.55 percent, meanwhile, were undecided or refused to disclose their candidate preference.

The survey, conducted from Aug. 4 to Aug. 6 with a margin of error of 2.9 percent, also found that 67.49 percent of respondents trusted the General Elections Commission's (KPU) official election results.

The KPU has officially named Jakarta Governor Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and running mate Jusuf Kalla as the winner of the 2014 presidential election after the pair secured almost 71 million votes or 53.15 percent of valid ballots cast. Prabowo and his running mate Hatta Rajasa, meanwhile, received 62.5 million votes, or 46.85 percent.

"Those who trust the official election results want the people's choice respected in the election and they are expecting Prabowo to do the same," LSI researcher Ade Mulyana said.

Faced with a lack of evidence to support his claim of alleged election fraud, Prabowo will likely lose not only his legal challenge to the election results, but also support from his voters and loyal enthusiasts.

Gerindra executive Anhar Nasution, a member of Prabowo's presidential campaign team, considered the drop in public support for Prabowo in the wake of the election as normal. "Not many people are ready to sacrifice time, money and effort to consistently support a certain political idea," Anhar reasoned.

Anhar added that as of Wednesday, only about 70 percent of some 1,000 volunteer groups that declared their support for Prabowo-Hatta prior to the July 9 election were still committed to supporting the pair.

"Some of these [volunteer] groups contributed nothing more than public declarations of support for Prabowo-Hatta during the previous presidential campaign period, while some others quit shortly after the KPU announced the election results," Anhar told The Jakarta Post.

"It is clear that these groups only wanted to benefit from the hurly-burly of the recent presidential election and were not serious in supporting Pak Prabowo's efforts."

The Prabowo-Hatta camp has filed a lawsuit with the Constitutional Court, alleging that "massive and systemic" election fraud had benefited the Jokowi-Kalla pair. Despite the claims, the election itself was publicly perceived by international standards as fair, democratic, and transparent.

On Wednesday, the Constitutional Court opened its first hearing of Prabowo's lawsuit against the KPU. In a speech before the court, Prabowo claimed that elections in North Korea were much more democratic than in Indonesia.

During the first hearing, the panel of judges, led by Chief Justice Hamdan Zoelva, lambasted the documents prepared by Prabowo's legal team, which consists of more than 100 lawyers, stating that the lawsuit was plagued by errors and weak argumentation.

On Thursday, Prabowo's defense team presented sections of the improved version of their opening statements, as required by the court.

Prabowo-Hatta's Sahabat dan Relawan (Friends and Volunteers) leader Bram Bani said he would not disband his organization until Prabowo, "managed to become president". "We are ready to deploy our volunteers anywhere and anytime Prabowo-Hatta needs us," he said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/08/08/supporters-abandon-prabowo.html

Post-election survey shows Prabowo's popularity dropping

Jakarta Globe - August 7, 2014

Carlos Paath, Jakarta – Roughly a month after Indonesians across the archipelago elected a new president, defeated candidate Prabowo Subianto, who has spent the weeks after the election focused on challenging the official results released by the electoral commission, has seen his popularity drop, a survey shows.

"If the presidential election were to be held today, support for Joko Widodo and Jusuf Kalla would stand at 57.06 percent, while support for Prabowo and Hatta Rajasa would only be at 30.39 percent," Ade Mulyana, a researcher from the Indonesian Survey Circle (LSI), said on Thursday. He added that "12.55 percent of respondents did not know, or did not answer."

Ade also said that assuming the votes of undecided voters were to be equally distributed between both camps, Joko would earn 65.25 percent of votes, while Prabowo would earn 34.75 percent.

Ade said the institution had conducted the post-election survey to assess whether or not the public's perception toward the candidates had shifted after the General Election Commission (KPU) announced the official results of the election on July 22.

In its survey released two days before the election, LSI showed Joko leading with 47.8 percent over Prabowo, who earned 44.2 percent.

The official results by the KPU, announced some three weeks after the election, declared Joko a winner with just over 53 percent of votes over Prabowo, who earned less than 47 percent. Prabowo has subsequently filed a lawsuit to the Constitutional Court, challenging the KPU's results.

"This result shows that support for Joko and Kalla is stronger than support for Prabowo and Hatta. If a rerun of the presidential election was to be held, surely Joko and Kalla would win again," he said.

Ade attributed the former Army general's dwindling popularity to mounting negative perception towards Prabowo's refusal to accept the election result.

"A majority of them [Prabowo's voters] live in cities and are educated. They believe the KPU's tally and appreciate the people's choice in the July 9 presidential election," he said. "Prabowo and Hatta's distrust of the KPU and the decision [to challenge the results with a lawsuit] has led to a negative response from the public."

Ade said the long electoral process has exhausted most Indonesians, and that a majority of voters had high hopes that the court's decision would mark Prabowo's final effort to overturn the election results.

In a court hearing on Wednesday, Prabowo had called on the Constitutional Court to annul the KPU's results, emphasizing he had won the election by 52 percent.

Prabowo was adamant that the election had been tainted by systematic, structural and massive violations, and challenged the court to order a rerun of the election if it declined to meet his requests.

The LSI survey was conducted between Aug. 4 to 6 with 1,200 samples from all Indonesian provinces.

Source: http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/news/post-election-survey-shows-prabowos-popularity-dropping/

Internet & social media

Comms minister Tifatul blocks access to ISIS-related websites

Jakarta Globe - August 6, 2014

Ezra Sihite & Tunggadewa Mattangkilang, Jakarta – The Communication and Information Ministry has blocked access to websites about the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, the government announced on Wednesday.

"We have removed seven [websites]," Communications Minister Tifatul Sembiring said on Wednesday. "Seven real websites and 20 clone websites."

He said the ministry was also focusing on blocking access to pro-ISIS videos, but that the ministry would not take an active role in pursuing the owners of the websites. "That's the business of law enforcement," Tifatul said. "We only help the police."

ISIS, also known simply as the Islamic State, has declared a caliphate in the territories it controls in the Middle East. Dozens of Indonesians are believed to have joined the ranks of ISIS, which the government has labeled a terrorist organization.

Source: http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/news/comms-minister-tifatul-blocks-access-to-isis-related-websites/

Ministry bans eight bogus news sites

Jakarta Post - August 2, 2014

Jakarta – The Communications and Information Ministry has blocked eight websites that were found to be posting fabricated political news based on factual reports published by several respected online news outlets.

Communications and Information Ministry spokesman Ismail Cawidu said on Thursday that the ministry had blacklisted the eight fake news sites on Trust Positif on Wednesday afternoon.

Trust Positif is a public database accessible on trustpositif.kemenkominfo.com. It has a list of sites that contain negative content and violate prevailing laws.

Shortly after the official announcement of the country's presidential election result, several bogus news portals emerged using names similar to already-established news websites, such as tempo.co, kompas.com, detik.com, antaranews.com, inilah.com, liputan6.com and tribunnews.com.

The falsified news sites use the subdomain -news.com after its domain; for example, antaranews.com-news.com. Ismail said the ministry had blocked access to the fake news sites following an influx of complaints from people nationwide.

"We have blocked Internet access [to the eight websites], whose servers are in other countries. These websites can no longer be accessed from Indonesia," Ismail told The Jakarta Post.

National Police spokesman Agus Rianto said the creators of the fake news sites had no clear intention other than trying to cause trouble following the election result announcement. "We would like to thank the public for not being influenced or provoked by these bogus news publishers," Agus told the Post.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/08/02/ministry-bans-eight-bogus-news-sites.html

Environment & natural disasters

Audit finds companies responsible for haze

Jakarta Post - August 8, 2014

Jakarta – A preliminary finding by a compliance audit conducted by a government-sanctioned team has uncovered several irregularities involving local governments and agroforestry companies in Riau province that are likely to have caused rampant forest fires in the area.

The REDD+ Management Agency, the Forestry Ministry and the Riau Police jointly conducted the audit, which was executed between July 1 and Aug. 30 this year. The audit examined 18 agroforestry firms operating around potential hotspot areas in Riau.

Bambang Hero Saharjo, the team leader who is also a professor at the Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB) in West Java, said that eight of the companies being audited were found to be located on peatland.

The eight companies were identified by their initials; PT JJP, PT SRL, PT DRT, PT RUJ; and PT AA, PT SSL, PT ME, PT TFDI. The first group of firms are located in Rokan Hilir regency, and the latter grouping are located in Siak regency.

The team discovered that many of the companies had submitted bogus environmental impact analysis (Amdal) in order to exploit peatland that had a depth of more than three meters.

"Presidential Decree No.32/1990 on protected areas management as well as the spatial planning law clearly states that peatland can only can be exploited if the depth is less than three meters," Bambang said on Thursday.

Another finding of the audit was that the majority of the audited firms were also embroiled in land disputes with local residents, conflicts that played a role in triggering forest fires. The team has also found evidence that the Riau provincial government and the firms have failed to perform their duty to protect the fire-prone areas.

One example of such neglience occurred in Siak regency, where the Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD), which is tasked with carrying out fire management efforts, lacked adequate facilities and infrastructure.

In the neighboring Rokan Hilir regency, the regional BPBD had in fact only been inaugurated earlier this year. "Rokan Hilir regency is one the regencies which has the most hotspot areas," Bambang said.

The team also found that the regional government had failed to perform its role in monitoring fire-prone areas.

In June, there were 386 hotspots across Sumatra, with 221, or some 95 percent, located in Riau's regions of Rokan Hilir. According to data from the REDD+ Management Agency's forest and land fire monitoring system, 1,643 hot spots were found in Riau between June 1 and July 1 of this year.

Achmad Santosa, the deputy of law enforcement in the Presidential Working Unit for the Supervision and Management of Development (UKP4) said that based on the audit, the government could revoke the business licenses issued to companies responsible for the forest fires. "But we have to wait for the complete result from the audit," he said. (ask)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/08/08/audit-finds-companies-responsible-haze.html

Health & education

Government shows leniency toward drug users

Jakarta Post - August 8, 2014

Yuliasri Perdani, Jakarta – A new government regulation, which will come into effect next week, will allow drug users in the country to be sent to rehabilitation centers rather than being charged with drug offenses.

National Narcotics Agency (BNN) head Anang Iskandar said the regulation, which will be implemented on Aug. 16, would provide a legal framework for the agency, the National Police, the Attorney General's Office (AGO), the Law and Human Rights Ministry, the Social Affairs Ministry and the Health Ministry to join forces in promoting rehabilitation for drug users.

According to the regulation, which is being jointly issued by the six institutions, every drug user detained by the police will be assessed to determine his or her eligibility to enter a rehab program. Drug users who are found to also be trafficking drugs, however, will be excluded from the program.

"If it turns out that someone is just a drug user, the assessment team will recommend that he or she be rehabilitated during the police investigation," Anang told reporters.

Under the new regulation, the government is expected to launch a pilot project in 16 cities and regencies in August.

Initiated by the Law and Human Rights Ministry, the new approach was first announced in March following a series of meetings between several state institutions that were held in the wake of last year's deadly riot in Tanjung Gusta Penitentiary in Medan, North Sumatra, which housed 1,700 drug convicts – 60 percent of the prison's total population.

Contacted separately, National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Ronny F. Sompie, said the program would only be applied to drug users who surrendered themselves to authorities or the BNN.

"Detained drug users will be brought to justice. In such cases, prosecutors have a choice – as stipulated in the regulation – to request they enter rehabilitation as opposed to prison. We can't let police officers unilaterally decide to send them to rehabilitation as it would pave the way to corruption," he said.

Ronny added that the program would first be implemented in 16 locations that possessed adequate rehab facilities, such as South Jakarta, East Jakarta, Bogor, South Tangerang, Semarang, Surabaya, Makassar, Samarinda, Padang, Mataram and Riau Islands.

"The cities have infrastructure, such as rehabilitation centers. Later on, drug rehab centers will be established in other regions," Anang said, adding that all cities were expected to have rehabilitation centers by 2016.

Under the program, the BNN aims to rehabilitate 400,000 drug users every year, and eventually treat a total of 4 million drug addicts within 10 years.

Currently, the country can only rehabilitate 18,000 drug users per year, 16,000 of whom are handled by privately owned rehabilitation centers. The remaining 2,000 drug users are rehabilitated in government-run rehab programs.

Rev. Daniel Alamsjah, who runs the Betesda Drug and Mental Rehabilitation Center in Magelang in Central Java, said he supported the regulation, noting that drug users tended to relapse in jail.

"Being in prison has a negative influence on them. They get in with the wrong people and then their condition deteriorates. Some of my patients died in prison due to several causes, such as drug overdoses and HIV/AIDS," he said.

The existing 2009 Narcotics Law – which already allows judges to hand down rehabilitation orders rather than jail sentences to drug users – is deemed comprehensive enough regarding its provisions recommending rehabilitation.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/08/08/govt-shows-leniency-toward-drug-users.html

Sex workers & prostitution

Residents report police to Komnas HAM

Jakarta Post - August 1, 2014

Indra Harsaputra, Surabaya – Residents who oppose the closure of the Dolly red-light district in Surabaya have reported repressive actions by the police to the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM), following a clash with police in the area on July 27.

"The repression by police cannot be justified. We have reported the matter to Komnas HAM and filed a lawsuit over the violence committed by police against local residents," Red-light District Defense Front (FPL) advocacy team leader Anissa told the media on Thursday.

Anissa said her team was able to gather evidence, such as damaged buildings, medical reports of a number of residents and audio and visual recordings of field instructions ordering the cleansing of the former red light district.

"Seven people have filed reports as of now. They sustained wounds in the head, face and across the body after being beaten with hands and batons, kicked, trampled and gagged," said Anissa.

As was previously reported, police detained 24 people following the clash between members of a crowd who opposed Dolly's closure and police while public order officers were erecting "Prostitution-free Village" banners on Jl. Jarak, Putat Jaya subdistrict, Sawahan district, on July 27.

The Surabaya municipality officially closed the Dolly red-light area on June 18 this year. The closure was in line with Surabaya City Bylaw No. 7/1999 on the ban against utilizing buildings for vice and prostitution in Surabaya. Earlier, the Surabaya municipality also closed the Sememi and Jarak red-light districts in Surabaya.

Surabaya City Police Crimes and Intelligence Unit chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Sumaryono said police named six suspects following questioning. Two of them were not held in custody as they were still underage.

"Two of them were charged with violating Article 160 of the Criminal Code on incitement and two others with violating Article 170 of the Criminal Code on vandalism. The four suspects are currently being detained and they will be legally processed immediately," said Sumaryono. He added that among the four detained suspects were Ari Saputro and Subeki Yanto, both FPL activists.

Police have also seized evidence in the form of charred tires, damaged plaques, rocks, glass shards, sirens, cell phones, Molotov cocktails and sharp weapons.

Surabaya City Police chief Sr. Comr. Setija Junianta said the clash was triggered by residents who acted violently. Setija said the police and Indonesian Military (TNI) personnel were just supporting the municipality to turn Dolly and Jarak into prostitution-free places.

"Some societal groups disagreed with the banners and they blocked the road and burned tires in the middle of the road. When public order police and police personnel attempted to douse the flames, they were pelted with rocks instead," said Setija.

The protesting crowd, added Setija, tossed Molotov cocktails and even tear gas at the police barricade, so the clash was inevitable. "We have proof that the suspects, whom we have detained, had provoked the crowd," added Setija.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/08/01/residents-report-police-komnas-ham.html

Population & migration

Indonesia's big cities face more migration woes

Jakarta Globe - August 3, 2014

Ari Supriyanti R., Lenny Tristia Tambun & Vita A.D. Busyra, Jakarta – The Jakarta administration has threatened to evict squatters in its latest move to deter the influx of immigrants into the capital, whose number is predicted to increase by a third, following this year's Idul Fitri exodus.

The newcomers, who frequently arrive without a job or money, often receive the blame for Jakarta's poverty and social problems – but the slow pace of development in other regions only serves to drive them into the already densely populated city.

During the annual Idul Fitri exodus, Jakarta residents who visit to their hometowns to celebrate the holiday with family, often return with relatives hoping for a better livelihood in the capital.

While the city administration has tried to curb the settlement of undocumented residents with raids – sending those caught without Jakarta identity cards back – this year, the administration is trying out a different approach.

"Bring your relatives to Jakarta – there's no problem with that – as long as they have enough money to buy homes or to stay at hotels," acting Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama said last month. "There's also no problem with those coming here as domestic workers, because they will live in the houses of their employers."

But Basuki warned against people coming to Jakarta without either a job or money – saying they would inevitably end up building illegal settlements alongside railroads, riverbanks, dams and other prohibited grounds.

"Our solution is simple: as long as slum housing is there in Jakarta, we will continue cleaning it up – so there will be no places for those low- income people coming to Jakarta," Basuki said. "Because if they come, where would they live? There will be no more slum housing in Jakarta.

"Jakarta will be for creative entrepreneurs only – those whose income is better than that of beggars. Jakarta offers many opportunities to newcomers, so long as they are honest, willing to work hard, and are creative."

The less-outspoken Joko Widodo – the Jakarta governor and president-elect – is meanwhile trying to persuade those outside the city to stay where they are.

"It's hard to find a job in Jakarta – it's better just to stay in villages," Joko said as he visited a town in Central Java on Tuesday, according to news portal kompas.com.

Joko said formally banning people from coming into the capital and enforcing ID raids is not effective. "The ban is useless; people will keep recklessly coming to Jakarta after Idul Fitri to try their luck."

Purba Hutapea, head of the Jakarta Population and Civil Registry Agency, said whereas there would be no raids, officers would collect data on the occupants at boarding and rental houses.

"Newcomers are given permission to stay in Jakarta for 14 days. They will also need to self-report to local officials, such as the heads of local neighborhood or community units, while securing a Jakarta identity card," Purba told kompas.com.

Those who don't meet the requirements, he said, will be subject to a fine of between Rp 100,000 and Rp 20 million ($8.50 and $1,700), or a sentence of between 10 and 60 days imprisonment.

A recent study by the University of Indonesia's Demography Institute predicts 68,500 newcomers will arrive in Jakarta during this year's holiday exodus, up 34 percent from last year. The population of Jakarta presently stands at nearly 10 million.

Push and pull

Hartono Laras, director general for social development and poverty eradication at the Ministry of Social Services, blames regional administrations for the lack of firm action to curb urbanization – a longtime problem in Indonesia, which has uneven development between cities and rural areas.

"Regional administrations are very open and they don't prohibit people from migrating to cities," he said on Friday.

Hartono explained that as in previous years, the aftermath of Idul Fitri is expected to increase the population burden on big cities – and improving the situation will require effort from all parties.

Urbanization, Hartono said, could be attributed to two causes: the push factor – things that drive people to relocate – and the pull factor, which encourages people to move to a different area.

Hartono praised the passage of the Village Law earlier this year, under which development funds of between Rp 1 billion and Rp 1.4 billion must be channeled to every village in Indonesia – something he said could curb the push factor.

He added that the law is crucial for boosting village economy – particularly in the agricultural sector and small- to medium-size enterprises – and the creation of new jobs. In time, the law is hoped to slow the pace of urbanization, eventually reversing the trend and drawing people back to their villages, Hartono said.

The Social Service Ministry, meanwhile, claims to have been running programs intended to reduce urbanization – including the development of social infrastructure such as youth clubs as well as agricultural programs in villages.

"[The ministry] will try to give priority to village issues. We will conduct special activities and programs to persuade people to return to their villages," Hartono said.

Sociologist Bagong Suyanto at Airlangga University agrees that the lack of employment opportunities in other regions has grossly contributed to poverty and driven people to migrate to cities.

Bagong emphasized that as long as problems in villages – including the disparity of education and income with that of big cities – remain ignored, the flow of people from villages would continue. "Big cities like Jakarta and Surabaya are projected to receive around 100,000 newcomers per year," he said on Friday.

Imam Prasodjo, a sociologist at the University of Indonesia, pointed out a typical problem in villages:

"There is a lack of good jobs and decent facilities. Even if there were better jobs in villages, people would still think the jobs in big cities are much better," he told the Jakarta Globe on Friday.

"We cannot ban people from coming to seek opportunity in the cities, but what we can do is provide new incentives to the cities [to compensate for the resulting social problems]," he said.

Imam added that if urbanization were to be banned somehow, the government would have no choice but to contribute to the economic development of small towns and villages.

"And if there are not many opportunities that can be created in small, marginalized villages, then big cities should form partnerships with smaller towns in order to create new economic hubs that will link to the villages," Imam said, explaining that major harbors can successfully be developed in districts while the main markets remain in large urban centers.

Source: http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/news/jakarta/indonesias-big-cities-face-migration-woes/

Graft & corruption

KPK vows to cut corruption at low bureaucratic levels

Jakarta Post - August 5, 2014

Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is preparing follow-up measures after it conducted impromptu inspections last month in order to curb widespread corruption at low levels of the bureaucracy.

The KPK and several other parties conducted impromptu inspections at Terminal 2 of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Banten, on July 25 and at an emissions-test center in Kedaung Kali Angke in West Jakarta on July 23.

From the inspections, the KPK found many forms of corruption were at play, including the extortion of migrant workers at the airport and illegal fees at the test center.

KPK deputy chairman Bambang Widjojanto said on Monday that the KPK would pay close attention to "petty corruption cases" and would coordinate more intensively with relevant parties after evaluating the results of the inspections.

He said that for the airport case, the KPK would involve Migrant Care to give the commission a better perspective on the case. "[The KPK] has arranged a meeting with Migrant Care this week," Bambang told reporters at the KPK office.

Migrant Care plans to present migrant workers who experienced extortion to make statements, he said, adding that the NGO had studies on such cases and the KPK wanted input from it. "[The KPK] wants to integrate our studies with their studies," he added.

In addition, the KPK will review the effectiveness of the Agency for the Placement and Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (BNP2TKI) in protecting migrant workers, he said.

As for the test center case, the KPK promised to reveal the result of the impromptu inspection and its study on it this month, so there would be better governance procedures at every test center in the country, he added.

Migrant Care legal aid coordinator Musliha Rofik acknowledged that the NGO had ample data on the extortion of migrant workers at the airport as the practice had been going on for a long time.

When asked about the BNP2TKI's performance, she said the agency had to improve its performance because it was responsible for protecting migrant workers.

BNP2TKI head Gatot Abdullah Mansyur said the agency would conduct a coordination meeting with 15 relevant parties, such as Angkasa Pura, the immigration office and the police, on Tuesday in relation to the case.

The agency will be more careful in performing its duties and had announced its readiness to cooperate with any parties to prevent such practices, he said, adding that he would sanction any of his staff involved in such practices.

However, Gatot emphasized the importance of cooperation between relevant parties, such as the police and its Criminal Investigations Directorate, because the agency was not authorized to crack down on the culprits. (ask)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/08/05/kpk-vows-cut-corruption-low-bureaucratic-levels.html

Terrorism & religious extremism

Government bans support, endorsement of ISIL

Jakarta Post - August 5, 2014

Yuliasri Perdani and Ina Parlina, Jakarta – The government on Monday announced a ban on support for the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) movement and warned citizens not to join the rebel group's fight in Syria and Iraq.

Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Djoko Suyanto said that the rising profile of the ISIL movement in Indonesia, also known as ISIS, must be controlled as it posed a serious threat to the country's cultural and religious diversity.

"The government rejects and bans the teachings of ISIS [...] from growing in Indonesia. It [ISIL] is not in line with state ideology, Pancasila, or the philosophy of kebhinekaan [diversity] under the unitary state of the Republic of Indonesia," he said at a press conference after a closed-door meeting at the State Palace.

Those present at the meeting included Indonesian Military Commander Gen. Moeldoko, National Police chief Gen. Sutarman, National Intelligence Agency (BIN) chief Marciano Norman and Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Syaifuddin.

The meeting generated several strategies for curbing domestic support for ISIL, one of which includes the creation of a campaign organized by the Religious Affairs Ministry in cooperation with several religious figures to raise public awareness about the perils of ISIL.

The Foreign Ministry, the Law and Human Rights Ministry, BIN and the National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) will also work together to detect and prevent would-be jihadists from traveling to conflict areas, including the areas where ISIL is currently waging battle. The government has also ordered a ban on YouTube videos endorsing ISIL.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono called on citizens to carefully examine conflicts in the Middle East, including those involving ISIL, noting that "not all problems in the Middle East concern religion".

ISIL claims to have established a "Caliphate of the State of Islam" stretching from northern Syria to the west of Baghdad in Iraq. As many as 56 Indonesians have become ISIL fighters in Syria and Iraq, according to police chief Sutarman. He added that three of the 56 had already died.

Among those fighting with ISIL include Muhamad al-Indonesi, whose fiery speech in a recently uploaded YouTube video entitled Join the Ranks called on fellow Indonesian Muslims to join the ISIL struggle.

Sutarman revealed that Muhamed was a fugitive terrorist with links to the country's most-wanted man, the terrorist leader Santoso. "The man is a fugitive. He is connected to Santoso [...] and has been on the run for more than a year," he said.

Santoso, the East Indonesia Mujahideen leader, has pledged allegiance to the ISIL leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. ISIL has also received significant support from convicted terrorist and radical preacher Abu Bakar Ba'asyir, who is actively involved in seeking donations and recruiting fighters for ISIL, BNPT revealed.

The Law and Human Rights Ministry has confirmed that Ba'asyir, along with several other inmates, recently took a baiat, or oath of allegiance to ISIL at a prison on Nusakambangan Island, Central Java.

Sidney Jones, the director of the Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict (IPAC), supported the government's stance on ISIL, but noted the need for concrete actions to curb ISIL movement in the country.

"In terms of deterring support for ISIL, many Indonesians are already playing a role, rejecting ISIL on Facebook and Twitter, pointing to ISIL brutality against other Muslims and questioning al-Baghdadi's claim to the caliphate," she said in an emailed interview on Monday.

Jones pointed out that although Ba'asyir had thrown his support behind ISIL, many of his followers within Jamaah Ansharut Tauhid (JAT) were reluctant to follow suit.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/08/05/govt-bans-support-endorsement-isil.html

Indonesian government warns citizens not to support ISIS

Jakarta Globe - August 1, 2014

Josua Gantan, Jakarta – Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin appealed to Indonesian Muslims not to support the extremist Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, or ISIS.

He called on local Muslims to be wary of ISIS's request for support, stating that it is a radical movement that employs violent means to establish an Islamic state in Iraq and Syria.

In a press release on Friday, Lukman said that supporting ISIS runs counter to Indonesia's state ideology of Pancasila.

He said Indonesians guilty of supporting ISIS, or pledging allegiance to the radical group, which seeks to establish an Islamic Caliphate in parts of the Middle East, will be considered as having pledged "allegiance to a foreign country." This can result in the revocation of the offenders' citizenship.

Lukman also denounced ISIS affiliates in Indonesia that seek to recruit support while renouncing the state ideology. "To say Pancasila is thogut, or pagan, which needs to be resisted, is crossing the line," the minister said.

Lukman called on all Muslim leaders and organizations in Indonesia to guide their members to an understanding of Islam as rahmatan lil alamamin (a blessing to all humankind), adding that the unity of the nation must be preserved.

"Islamic teachings are about inviting and embracing all creeds graciously with wisdom, not through terror and violence," said the minister, who is a member of the moderate Islamist United Development Party (PPP).

Meanwhile, senior figures in some of the country's largest Muslim organizations have criticized ISIS.

Hasyim Muzadi, former chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Indonesia's largest Muslim association, spoke out against ISIS's influence in Indonesia. "ISIS is an extremist movement that has no respect for national sovereignty," he said, as quoted by Tempo.co on Friday.

Similarly, Ahmad Syafii Maarif, former chairman of Muhammadiyah, Indonesia's second-largest Muslim organization, said the jihadist group was committing "terror in the name of religion." "Do not bring it here, Indonesia is a safe country," Maarif said as quoted by metrotvnews.com on Thursday

The religious affairs minister also called on law enforcement agencies to be prepared to take action against the spread of ISIS in Indonesia.

The jihadist group has sought to gain support in Indonesia, which has the most number of Muslims in the world, by various means. More recently, a recruitment video was uploaded to YouTube showing an Indonesian member calling for jihad and support in his home country.

While Lukman anticipates an increase in support for ISIS in this country, Ansyaad Mbai, the head of the National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT), reported on Friday that there was currently only an estimated 30 Indonesians who have joined ranks of ISIS in the Middle East, as quoted by Kompas. He said the 30 people were from various regions, including Jakarta, East Java and West Nusa Tenggara.

National Police chief Gen. Sutarman, meanwhile, gave his assurance that hard-line groups in Indonesia affiliated with ISIS will be dealt with.

Source: http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/news/indonesian-government-warns-citizens-support-isis/

Freedom of religion & worship

Indonesia's Baha'i community grateful for long-awaited state recognition

Jakarta Globe - August 7, 2014

Jakarta – The Indonesian Baha'i Society thanked the government on Thursday for officially recognizing the monotheistic faith as a religion, after Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin's recent statement that worshippers will be protected by the Constitution.

"We are gratefully and happily welcome [the minister's] statement... that Baha'is, as Indonesian citizens, are recognized by the law," the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'i society said in a statement.

"We express our deepest gratitude to the government, members of the press and the Indonesian public for their attention interest in our society."

Through his Twitter account @lukmansaifuddin, Lukman tweeted last month that "Baha'i is a religion, not a sect," in response to a letter sent by the Home Affairs Ministry requesting clarification about the 200-year-old faith.

The ministry is currently reviewing the suggestion of officially allowing the religious option of Baha'i on Indonesian KTP, or identity card.

Citizens are required to state their religion on their KTP, which they acquire at the age of 17. At present, only six government recognized religions can legally appear on an ID card, namely Islam, Protestant, Catholic, Buddhist, Hindu and Confucianist.

"I told [the ministry] that Baha'i is a religion protected by articles 28E and 29 in the Constitution," Lukman tweeted on July 24.

Not long after, however, the Indonesian media began accusing the minister of promoting a new religion.

"That's a distortion [of my previous statements]," he said in response, adding that he was not authorized to make any such endorsements. "A number of online media sites have made misleading comments regarding my tweets, saying that I've inaugurated a new religion," Lukman said.

Lukman further emphasized that Baha'is – whether or not they can put their religious identity on their ID cards – deserve equal public services from the government, including those concerning population and legal issues.

Nevertheless, the Baha'i assembly in its Thursday's press statement, said it wanted the people of Indonesia to learn about the religion from a credible source.

"Baha'i is an independent religion, neither a traditional belief nor a sect deviating from another faith," the statement says. "The core of Baha'i teachings is the oneness of God; the oneness of mankind and the spiritual basis of every religion," the assembly explained.

Source: http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/news/indonesias-bahai-community-grateful-long-awaited-state-recognition/

Islamic law & morality

Dressing down for 'jilboobs' as Ulema Council issues fatwa

Jakarta Globe - August 6, 2014

Jakarta – The highest authority of Muslim clerics in Indonesia has issued a fatwa against what a leading Indonesian news website has dubbed "Jilboobs" – women who wear a jilbab, or Islamic headscarf, but skimp on adopting entirely the conservative dress code by wearing "tight" clothing below the neck.

The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) met on Thursday in Jakarta. The MUI is composed of clerics from Indonesia's largest Islamic organizations, including Muhammadiyah and Nahdlatul Ulama, and has a broad range of responsibilities including issuing halal certificates and advising the government on policy.

"The MUI already has a fatwa against pornography. But that means that you should not show the shape of the body by wearing a jilbab, but with tight clothing," said vice chairman of the MUI, Ma'ruf Amin, as quoted by Liputan6. "The MUI strictly forbids it."

Ma'ruf applauded Indonesian women for electing to wear the jilbab, but was critical of individuals who had elected to dress as they pleased. "We respect those who are already wearing the jilbab," he said. "But for those already wearing the jilbab, it should not be vulgar."

Source: http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/news/dressing-jilboobs-ulema-council-issues-fatwa/

Land & agrarian conflicts

Call for police, KPK to investigate land dispute

Jakarta Post - August 2, 2014

PT Sumber Air Mas Pratama, Jakarta – Hundreds of farmers in Karawang, West Java, who lost their land to PT Sumber Air Mas Pratama (SAMP) urged the National Police and the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to investigate allegations of bribery surrounding the issuance of a court ruling that granted SAMP rights over the disputed land.

In 2007, the Karawang District Court granted SAMP, a subsidiary of developer PT Agung Podomoro Land, rights over 67 hectares of from the total 350 ha of agricultural land located in Teluk Jambe.

On June 24, representatives from the district court evicted 48 farmers from the land with the help of 7,000 members of the police's Mobile Brigade (Brimob). The hundreds of farmers that resisted the expulsion were assaulted by Brimob personnel and had to be treated at hospital.

Karawang Farmers Association (Sepetak) head Hilal Tamami said that there were irregularities during the farmers' removal.

"For example, during the eviction, the district court representatives did not even know where the land allegedly owned by SAMP started and ended. They ended up claiming all 350 hectares of land," Hilal told The Jakarta Post recently.

Hilal said that he was certain that bribery was involved and that "the KPK should investigate this case".

The area had been a source of income for 420 farmers. "The farmers rightly own this land. The National Police and the KPK must take action," he said.

Christian University of Indonesia (UKI) law student Darmendra said that he and a few of his friends helped the farmers file a police report on June 30.

"We filed a report to the National Police on June 30 against SAMP and Agung Podomoro Land for persecution and vandalism. However, the police have yet to take action," Darmendra told the Post recently.

He added that the evicted farmers had legally owned the land. "The 420 farmers owned land certificates and paid land taxes. They own the land but they were forced to leave. Where is the justice?" Darmendra said.

Until Friday, he said, the area was being guarded by dozens of Brimob personnel and thugs. "If the National Police does not take action soon, [Capital law students] will protest. We will help the farmers voices be heard," Darmendra said.

Earlier this week, the KPK arrested Karawang Regent Ade Swara and his wife, local lawmaker Nurlatifah for allegedly extorting executives from PT Tatar Kertabumi, another subsidiary of Agung Podomoro Land, in return for issuing a permit to build a mall on disputed land in Karawang.

The KPK alleged that Ade, a Gerindra Party member, asked his wife, also a Gerindra member, to demand around Rp 5 billion (US$423.639) in cash from Tatar Kertabumi for his services in issuing the permit.

Hilal said that the similar practices had also implicated other state officials, adding that most of the land takeovers took place using force against local farmers.

Meanwhile, representatives from Agung Podomoro Land could not be reached for comment. (dwa)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/08/02/call-police-kpk-investigate-land-dispute.html

State & governance

Jokowi tested as parties want in

Jakarta Post - August 6, 2014

Margareth S. Aritonang, Jakarta – President-elect Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's commitment to non-transactional politics is being put to the test as he is forced to accommodate demands from politicians within his coalition who want a greater say in his newly formed transition team.

Apparently bowing to the pressure, Jokowi is expected to expand the team to make room for more politicians to get involved in managing the transfer of power from President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to him.

Jokowi said he was in continuous communication with all parties in his coalition, including the National Awekening Party (PKB), the Hanura Party and the Indonesian Justice and Unity Party (PKPI), which have yet to see representatives in the transition team.

"Of course we will talk to everyone. We want participation from all, not only party politicians but also volunteers as well as the public in general. This is just the initial phase [after the official nomination of the transition team]," Jokowi said.

Jokowi has also decided to appoint three senior advisers tasked with supervising the transition team. He said that the advisers had professional backgrounds.

Earlier on Monday, Jokowi officially introduced leaders of the team specifically tasked with coming up with lists of programs to be implemented by his administration.

The team comprises chief of staff, former trade minister Rini Mariani Soemarno Soewandi, and her four deputies – Paramadina University rector Anis Baswedan, defense analyst Andi Widjajanto, politician Akbar Faizal from the NasDem Party and Hasto Kristiyanto, deputy secretary-general of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P).

Jokowi's "sudden" announcement of the transition team has not been well- received by politicians in his coalition who feel they have been left out of the process.

Speaking to The Jakarta Post in separate interviews, two politicians, who wish to remain anonymous due to the sensitivity of the matter, harshly criticized Jokowi for excluding their parties from discussion prior to the announcement of the transition team.

"I was surprised to find out about the team from the media. I was even more surprised to learn that no members of our party were involved in it," said one of the politicians.

The politician criticized Jokowi for going it alone in forming the transition team. "The team should have ideally involved representatives from each of the parties within the PDI-P-led coalition because we all had roles in helping Pak Jokowi win the election," the source said.

Another source shrugged off a request from the Post to discuss the issue at length. "I don't know. I don't want to talk about it," the politician said.

Another politician, who is familiar with Jusuf Kalla's inner circle, claimed that the vice president-elect himself had little knowledge of the transition team.

"It's true that the idea [to set up the team] originally came from Pak Jokowi. But, as far as I know, Pak JK [Kalla's initials] was not involved in the comprehensive discussion of the plan, especially in the days leading to the official announcement," the source said.

The politician, however, praised the initiative. "Nevertheless, the establishment of the team is a laudable initiative because it will help prepare the new government," the source said.

The first in Indonesian history, the transition team, headquartered in Menteng, Central Jakarta, will have four core tasks: organizing strategies related to the 2015 state budget, designing the Cabinet, drawing up policies based on the vision and mission that Jokowi and Kalla introduced during their presidential campaign and accelerating the implementation of programs that are attainable in a short period, such as the Indonesia Pintar (Indonesia Smart) and Indonesia Sehat (Healthy Indonesia) programs.

In addition to preparing programs, the team will also be involved in coming up with a short list of candidates qualified to implement the programs. Jokowi has also set up a different team specifically tasked with scouting candidates for ministerial posts in his Cabinet.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/08/06/jokowi-tested-parties-want.html

Jakarta & urban life

Association protests street vendor eviction

Jakarta Post - August 5, 2014

Dewanti A. Wardhani and Sita Dewi, Jakarta – The Indonesian Street Vendor Association (APKLI) has criticized the Jakarta administration's decision to evict street vendors in several areas in the city.

During the Idul Fitri holiday last week, the Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) conducted raids in areas popular among street vendors such as the National Monument (Monas) in Central Jakarta, Jatinegara in East Jakarta and Kota Tua or Old Town in West Jakarta.

However, APKLI head Hoiza Siregar said on Monday that the city administration had not provided a solution for the evicted street vendors and should do so. She added that the vendors were now left jobless with no income.

"[The city administration] has not thought about the vendors' livelihoods. What if they turn to crime. Wouldn't that be more worrisome?" she said. Hoiza added that the evictions would not solve any problems. "After a while, the vendors might still return to the streets," she said.

She further said that she opposed the administration's new system to manage street vendors because not all vendors would be included in it.

In an attempt to better manage street vendors, the Jakarta administration will test a new system that will register all vendors, assign them to designated areas and give them banking access. The Cooperative, Small and Medium Enterprises (KUMKM) Agency has started a six-month trial with 2,875 vendors.

Each vendor was given a dual-purpose ATM debit card issued by city-owned lender Bank DKI that also functioned as a street vendor identification (PKL ID) card with the vendor's name and products.

The KUMKM Agency has earmarked two locations for trial in each municipality – Palmerah and Jl. Surabaya in Central Jakarta; Permai Koja and Plumpang Market in North Jakarta; Makasar and Jl. Lapangan Tembak in East Jakarta; Taman Puring and Bintaro in South Jakarta; and Jl. Meruya Ilir and Tegal Alur in West Jakarta.

Vendors must pay a small fee of Rp 2,000 (US 17 cents) to Rp 4,000 (34 cents), which will be automatically charged to their cards each day, to continue selling. "Not all vendors will be included in the new system. What will happen to them?" Hoiza said.

KUMKM Agency head Joko Kundaryo said the eviction was inevitable. "Street vendors have become a problem for the administration. They use the streets for their businesses and they add to the traffic and litter problems, so of course we must evict them," Joko told the The Jakarta Post on Monday.

He added that the city administration had already provided a place for street vendors to sell their products. "We've assigned more than 30 places for street vendors in each district. They should sell where they're allowed to. If not, they should know the consequences," Joko said.

Meanwhile, Jakarta Deputy Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama was angered on Monday when he received reports that a Satpol PP officer was arrested by the police last Saturday for allegedly using excessive force while evicting street vendors in Monas last Saturday.

"[An officer] was accused of battery. The police always arrest Satpol PP officers when they conduct raids in Monas. This is ridiculous. A Satpol PP officer was recently injured in the head by a police officer but was the latter arrested? No," Ahok told reporters at City Hall.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/08/05/association-protests-street-vendor-eviction.html

Transport & communication

An urgent call for reform in Indonesian boat safety

Jakarta Globe - August 3, 2014

Kennial Caroline Laia, Jakarta – Urgent reform in the Indonesian maritime transportation system is needed after a recent string of fatal boat accidents, analysts say, adding that the incoming Joko Widodo-Jusuf Kalla government should make the issue a priority.

"Our sea transportation system needs an immediate fix. If the government continues to neglect it, boat accidents in our waters will happen again and again," Suyono Dikun, transportation expert with the University of Indonesia, told the Jakarta Globe.

At least 50 people have died and dozens remain missing in four boat accidents that occurred in the past week across the archipelago. Officials have admitted that aside from rough waters, most of the incidents were caused by overcapacity.

A boat carrying at least 51 people sank in waters between South Sulawesi and Selayar Islands on Wednesday. Seventeen people are now known to have died in the accident, which marks the end of a tragic week in the country's maritime transportation system.

On July 28, the first day of this year's Idul Fitri, two people died and two remain missing after a ferry sank in the Nabire district of Papua. The following day, a ferry carrying some 70 travelers across a Kalimantan river sank, with the final death toll put at 18.

Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, a spokesman for the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), told state-run Antara news agency on Wednesday that the boat had been carrying more than double its maximum capacity.

On Wednesday, a fishing boat sank in Berombang river, located in the Labuhan Batu district of North Sumatra, claiming 13 lives – 10 of whom were children.

Last week at least three people died after an overloaded boat ferrying Indonesians home for the coming Idul Fitri holiday sank off southern Malaysia.

Three bodies were recovered, 10 people were rescued and eight more remained missing in the incident. The boat – carrying 21 Indonesian undocumented migrant workers – capsized and sank in rough seas off Malaysia's Johor state, said Iskandar Ishak, the local head of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, as quoted by AFP. Officials added that the boat had a capacity of just eight passengers.

Suyono blamed the government for the alarming number of disasters across Indonesian seas that could have been prevented, saying that state policies on safety in water transportation and their enforcement were far from sufficient to protect passengers.

Additionally, boat operators seem to lack concern over their customers' safety, loading as many passengers as possible for profit, regardless of the vessel's capacity.

"The government did not place transportation safety as a priority in its policy. Meanwhile, most Indonesian boat crews take safety precautions very lightly. For them, safety is a trivial factor in their business," Suyono said. "Despite the accidents and resulting casualties, boat companies, their crew and the government have not done anything to improve the situation."

He also pointed out that the Indonesian government has never allocated a special budget to improve the safety equipment on board boats and trains, nor are their employees trained on crucial, life-saving safety procedures.

"As far as money is concerned, I have never heard of the government distributing funds for any sort of safety features on boats," Suyono said.

Danang Parikesit, former chairman of the Indonesian Transportation Society (MTI), said that sea transportation was more prone to accidents than other modes of travel, due largely to a lack of supervision from the government.

"State management and supervision is close to nonexistent. In the context of the country's transportation system, safety equipment is not a priority, nor is the routine inspection of these equipment," he said.

"In addition, our evacuation procedures – which include the handling of victims – are far from meeting international standards. That is the main factor for the high number of casualties in boat accidents.

"This is beyond critical. MTI's study in 2008 shows that compared to other countries in the world, our government has failed to pay attention toward the safety in the sea or river transportation," he said.

Danang pointed out that the small amount of media coverage on boat accidents contributed to the public and the government's low level of awareness concerning water transportation.

"The media rarely covers boat accidents. Most report only on large incidents, so many tragic occurrences actually go undetected by the public," Danang said.

"The media should be more proactive in writing or reporting on stories related to water transportation in Indonesia in order to put more pressure on the government," he added. "Even after all the horrific accidents that occurred these past two months, our officials are still not taking action."

Meanwhile, Danang said, most boat operators continue operating despite having little to no understanding of the necessary safety features and procedures that may save passengers in case of an accident. "Most of these companies don't even equip their vessels with sufficient safety gear," he said.

Despite the pressing need for improvement in safety standards and the skills of boat personnel, inaction, little concern and a lack of understanding continue to be a detrimental force between the two entities that have the power to change the increasingly alarming situation: the government and transportation operators.

"In the past five years, no significant steps have been made to prevent accidents at sea. No attention has been made to safety. There has been no improvement at all," Danang said.

"I urge the new government to take the necessary steps in preventing further calamities at sea by not only tightening rules and regulations concerning water transportation, but also improving on the meager supply of safety equipment [on board vessels]," he added.

Both Suyono and Danang called on the incoming Joko-Kalla administration to prioritize sea transportation over other forms of travel, pointing to the fact that Indonesia is an archipelago.

"With thousands of islands separated by water, the transportation system in this sector should be placed at the government's 'to do' list," said Danang.

Suyono hopes the president-elect will tackle the issue before more Indonesians fall victim to negligence at sea. "The outgoing administration has failed in protecting its travelers. But this could be a lesson for the next government. They need to address the situation as soon as possible," he said.

Source: http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/news/urgent-call-reform-indonesian-boat-safety/

Foreign affairs & trade

KPK says ready to help Australia uncover Wikileaks corruption allegations

Jakarta Globe - August 1, 2014

Rizky Amelia, Jakarta – Indonesia's Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) pledged on Friday to help Australian authorities investigate an alleged international corruption scandal implicating two subsidiaries of the Australian central bank and authorities in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam.

The commitment from the KPK comes after Wikileaks on Tuesday revealed the Supreme Court of Victoria had issued an injunction on June 19 that prevented Australian media from reporting on corruption allegations related to Note Printing Australia (NPA) and Securency International, two subsidiaries of the Reserve Bank of Australia.

The gag order followed the secret June 19 indictment of seven senior executives from NPA and Securency concerning allegations of multi-million dollar bribes made in order to secure contracts for the supply of Australian-style polymer bank notes in several countries, including Indonesia.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, former president Megawati Soekarnoputri and Laksamana Sukardi, the State Enterprise Minister in Megawati's administration, were listed in the court order, which also mentioned the current and former heads of states of Malaysia and Vietnam.

"The KPK must be ready and is now preparing itself if the Australian government supplies data and preliminary information regarding the corruption allegations," KPK deputy chairman Bambang Widjojanto told the Jakarta Globe in a text message on Friday.

Yudhoyono on Thursday held a press conference demanding Canberra be transparent in order to clear things up. "The Wikileaks information... has tainted my good image and that of Ibu Mega," Yudhoyono told reporters.

"I really hope and I want the Australian government and authorities to open and reveal as clearly as possible the legal [case]."

The Australian embassy in Indonesia issued a statement on Thursday saying that even though Yudhoyono and Megawati were named in the court order it did not "imply wrongdoing on their part."

Yudhoyono said on Thursday that Australian authorities should work with the KPK to investigate the matter, but the corruption watchdog must further study the case before making any official statements or taking action.

KPK spokesman Johan Budi said that the anti-graft czar had never conducted a joint investigation with another country and, if it took place, it would be a first. "So far there has not been a [joint] investigation like that," Johan said on Friday.

Source: http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/news/kpk-says-ready-to-help-australia-uncover-wikileaks-corruption-allegations/

Indonesian president calls on Australia to explain WikiLeaks gag order

The Guardian (Australia) - August 1, 2014

Lenore Taylor – The Indonesian president, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, has called on the Australian government to explain the sweeping gagging order on international bribery allegations, saying he was shocked at Indonesian politicians being named in the injunction.

The Australian government's suppression order – intended to prevent "international relations" being harmed by court proceedings – appears to have instead created a problem, with Yudhoyono calling for an explanation.

The president held a media conference late on Thursday to complain about the Indonesians who have been named in the injunction, Antara news agency and the Jakarta Post reported. "We are shocked by the report by WikiLeaks. Given the facts I have obtained... the report is hurtful," Yudhoyono said.

"Such a policy by Australia to hide [alleged involvement] of certain non- Australian individuals is something that I am not comfortable with because it could instead trigger suspicions and accusations," Yudhoyono reportedly said.

"I am aware that this kind of report can go viral very quickly," he said. Yudhoyono added it was very sensitive because it related to the honour and dignity of the Indonesian politicians named. He reportedly said any Australian investigation should be open and transparent.

The Australian embassy in Jakarta was forced to issue a statement of reassurance that the injunction had been intended to protect senior figures from "innuendo".

The order of the supreme court of Victoria still prevents the contents of the case, or the injunction itself, from being reported in Australia, but it has been widely reported in the region after being revealed by WikiLeaks on its website.

Yudhoyono said his foreign minister, Marty Natalegawa, had spoken to the Indonesian ambassador in Australia and the Australian ambassador in Indonesia before the media conference.

According to Indonesian news website Viva, the secretary general of Megawati Sukarnoputri's PDI-P party, Tjahjo Kumolo, also demanded clarification as to why Indonesian politicians had been named in the leaked document.

The Australian embassy in Jakarta later issued this statement: "The Australian government obtained suppression orders to prevent publication of information that could suggest the involvement in corruption of specific senior political figures in the region, whether in fact they were or not.

"The government considers that the suppression orders remain the best means for protecting the senior political figures from the risk of unwarranted innuendo.

"This is a long-running, complicated case which names a large number of individuals. The naming of such figures in the orders does not imply wrongdoing on their part.

"The government stresses that the Indonesian [identities redacted] are not the subject of the Securency proceedings. We take the breach of the suppression orders extremely seriously and we are referring it to the police."

The leaked super-injunction comes as Australia and Indonesia were repairing their relationship after the revelations in documents from whistleblower Edward Snowden that Australia had spied in Yudhoyono, his wife and other figures in his inner circle.

The injunction was issued by the criminal division of the supreme court of Victoria "to prevent damage to Australia's international relations that may be caused by the publication of material that may damage the reputations of specified individuals who are not the subject of charges in these proceedings".

Source: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/01/indonesian-president-calls-on-australia-to-explain-wikileaks-gag-order

Mining & energy

Freeport sets minimum target for smelter development

Jakarta Globe - August 8, 2014

Copper mining giant PT Freeport Indonesia aims to complete 7.5 percent of its smelter development in the coming months, although the company has not released details as to when it plans to start construction on the project.

Freeport, a subsidiary of US-based Freeport McMoRan Inc., is planning to build a copper smelter with an estimated total expenditure of US$2.3 billion. The smelter development is part of the company's commitment under a recently inked agreement with the government.

By declaring that it is committed to developing a smelter, the company obtained the government's approval to resume exporting, which was halted on Jan. 12 when the government introduced its mineral ore export ban.

As a sign of its commitment, Freeport has also deposited surety bonds to the value of $115 million, or 5 percent of its total planned spending.

By depositing that amount, the company is seen to have reached 5 percent progress on its smelter, and will only have to pay 7.5 percent in export duty to resume its concentrate exports, according to a regulation on export duties for semi-finished minerals.

The progress of smelter development is determined based on the amount of money spent on its construction.

Under the new regulation, a company whose smelter development progresses to between 7.5 and 30 percent is required to pay 5 percent in export tax on its concentrate exports. If a company's smelter development progresses beyond 30 percent, export duty is removed altogether.

Freeport's president director, Rozik Soetjipto, said the company would spend around $100 million on land acquisition. He did not, however, give a time line for the acquisition of land, nor did he reveal the project's overall schedule.

It is likely that Freeport's smelter will be built in Gresik, East Java, which already has the necessary support infrastructure in place, as opposed to Papua where the company operates.

Freeport's planned smelter will be the second copper smelter in the country, after the one operated by PT Smelting Gresik. Freeport and another copper-mining giant, PT Newmont Nusa Tenggara, which accounts for 97 percent of the total copper concentrate produced in the country, will supply a certain amount of their concentrate to Smelting Gresik. However, due to capacity limitations, most of the concentrate will be sold overseas.

Under the 2009 Mining Law, the government requires mining companies to process their mineral ore into end-product metals. This requirement should have come into effect this year, but the government has allowed committed miners to export semi-finished products, such as concentrate, until 2017, to give them more time to complete construction of their smelters.

Freeport is collaborating with state-owned PT Aneka Tambang (Antam) to conduct a feasibility study for the development of its smelter. Antam president director Tato Miraza said that the smelter's development would only begin next year, adding, therefore, that it was unlikely that the smelter would be completed by 2017.

The building of smelters will be subject to close monitoring by the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry. The ministry's director general for minerals and coal, R. Sukhyar, said his office would evaluate progress on each smelter's development every six months.

"Every six months, development must reach at least 60 percent of its target. If the target is missed, we will halt the companies' exports," Sukhyar said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/08/08/freeport-sets-minimum-target-smelter-development.html

Government told to scrap fuel subsidy, not limit consumption

Jakarta Post - August 7, 2014

Khoirul Amin, Jakarta – A number of business associations have called on the government to entirely scrap the fuel subsidy, instead of limiting consumption of subsidized fuel types in certain areas, in a bid to avoid a swell in state spending.

Indonesian Food and Beverage Association (Gapmmi) chairman Adhi S. Lukman said on Wednesday that the recent regulation restricting subsidized diesel fuel consumption and the removal of subsidized fuel at gas stations along toll roads would discriminate against those could not access the subsidized fuel types.

"People in certain areas will no longer be able to use certain subsidized fuel types while those in other areas still can," he said.

The regulation is a follow-up to a decision by the Downstream Oil and Gas Regulatory Agency (BPH Migas) to stop selling subsidized diesel fuel and subsidized gasoline in Central Jakarta, as well as prohibiting gas stations in Java, Bali, Kalimantan and Sumatra from selling subsidized diesel between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m., to stay within the national subsidized fuel quota of 46 million kiloliters (kL).

The agency started halting the distribution of subsidized diesel fuel in Central Jakarta on Aug. 1, while a similar policy was imposed in other areas in Java, Bali, Kalimantan and Sumatra on Aug. 4.

The agency will also stop distributing subsidized gasoline (known as Premium gasoline) to every gas station located along toll roads throughout the country.

Adhi said that the policy would confuse most food and beverage traders as well as consumers. Those who were affected by the regulation would likely raise their product prices because half of their distribution cost was usually for fuel consumption, while those not affected would probably keep their product prices or follow their affected counterparts, he said.

Adhi said the situation would be worsened by possible food and beverage price hikes due to 10 percent value added tax (VAT) on raw materials, including agricultural products.

Based on a Supreme Court ruling in February that revised government regulation No. 31/2007 on strategic goods exempt from VAT, the government is expected to impose a 10 percent VAT on raw materials, excluding several commodities, such as palm oil.

Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) deputy chairman Natsir Mansyur voiced a similar concern, saying that the subsidized fuel ban was a fragmented policy that would have a huge impact on industry players.

"The regulation would likely raise prices as fuel consumption commonly contributes 30 percent to total production cost in any industry," he said.

He said the government should allow only registered vehicles to use subsidized fuel types or fully eliminate the fuel subsidy instead of imposing the restriction.

According to the World Bank quarterly report released in March, state spending would swell by Rp 56 trillion, consequently pushing up the budget deficit to 2.6 percent of the gross domestic products (GDP). Natsir also said he regretted that the regulation was implemented only based on the consideration of BPH Migas.

Industry Minister MS Hidayat, meanwhile, said that he personally expected a regulation that would not allow private vehicles to use subsidized fuel.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/08/07/govt-told-scrap-fuel-subsidy-not-limit-consumption.html

Freeport Indonesia to resume exports as production back to normal

Reuters - August 7, 2014

Freeport-McMoRan Inc's Indonesia unit will complete on Thursday loading for its first copper concentrate export shipment since new mining rules were introduced in the Southeast Asian nation, the unit's CEO said.

Production at its Grasberg mining complex is already back to normal levels, FreeportIndonesia CEO Rozik Soetjipto said.

Freeport clinched a deal with the Indonesian government late last month to end a six-month dispute over a controversial escalating tax on metal concentrates that halted all export at one of the world's biggest copper mines.

Earlier this week, the Arizona-based firm said it would resume copper concentrate exports on Wednesday, with an initial shipment of 10,000 tonnes to China.

"Concentrates that have been stockpiled for months (had) hardened, which slowed the loading process," Rozik said on Thursday. "At 1500 today, the loading will be finished... we still don't know if we can ship today or tomorrow morning, but it is supposed to be today."

Rozik did not give an estimate for concentrate exports for the year, and a company spokeswoman was unavailable for comment on Thursday.

Mining ministry and central bank officials forecast that Freeport will now export between 750,000-756,000 tonnes of copper concentrate in the second half of 2014, worth $1.5 billion.

The export tax was part of moves to force all miners to develop local mineral processing facilities, which would bring bigger returns for the government from Indonesia's mineral resources.

But mining industry executives in Indonesia have balked at the idea of developing downstream industries and building smelters, citing a lack of power and infrastructure in remote areas where mines are often located.

The escalating tax on metal concentrates kicked in at 25 percent and rises to 60 percent in the second half of 2016, before a total concentrate export ban in 2017.

Under a revision of the tax, Freeport will now pay a 7.5 percent duty on its copper concentrate exports, but that rate falls as it spends on its smelter, hitting zero once investment in the project exceeds 30 percent of total cost. Freeport currently smelts some 30 to 40 percent of its output from its Grasberg mine at a copper smelter in Gresik, East Java.

The firm is now looking at potential smelter construction sites in Gresik and Papua, with land acquisition costs likely to be around $100 million, said Rozik, adding that he hoped that ground-breaking would take place this year.

Freeport previously worked on a feasibility study for a copper smelter with Indonesia's Aneka Tambang (Antam), and Rozik said the state-owned miner may help with permit applications and construction.

Talks with possible partners for financing the smelter project are ongoing, he added, with both Antam and Newmont Mining Corp involved in the discussions.

Newmont, which runs the Batu Hijau copper and gold mine, has adopted a tougher approach to resolving the export tax dispute by filing for international arbitration.

Indonesian Mining Association Executive Director Syahrir Abubakar urged Newmont on Thursday to withdraw its arbitration case.

[Additional reporting by Yayat Supriatna and Adriama Nina Kusuma; Reporting by Wilda Asmarini; Writing by Michael Taylor; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman.]

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/08/07/indonesia-freeport-exports-idUSL4N0QD2QB20140807

Jokowi seen increasing subsidized fuel prices gradually

Jakarta Globe - August 7, 2014

Markus Junianto Sihaloho, Jakarta – With the government's subsidy on fuel expected to reach Rp 246 trillion ($21 billion) this year, up from an initial target of Rp 210 trillion, the incoming administration is seen needing to take a bold move to prevent the state budget from suffering a burgeoning deficit and causing the state's debts to swell.

Hasto Kristiyanto, deputy chairman of President-Elect Joko Widodo's transition team, said on Thursday that Joko's administration will not abruptly cut the subsidy and increase the price of subsidized fuel but will do it gradually in order to cushion inflationary and social impacts.

Hasto said that Joko's administration policy is to help balance the state budget, turn the public into producers and ensure that the public can still work.

Hasto said that his party, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), has in the past always rejected increasing the price of subsidized fuel but opted to cut fuel subsidies. Money from the subsidized fuel program could be used for other public initiatives.

In Joko's case, his administration would seek to allocate funds to social safety net programs like the Smart Indonesia Card (KIP) and Healthy Indonesia Card (KIS). The KIP will guarantee that all Indonesian children receive an education, while the KIS will ensure that all Indonesian citizens have access to medical care.

Hasto said that Joko and Vice President-Elect Jusuf Kalla's administration will take efficiency measures across sectors in an all-around effort to reduce the burden on the state budget. The government imports the majority of its fuel, and that has caused the trade balance to turn into deficit.

Gradual price increases

Joko's administration will increase subsidized fuel prices, after those policies for efficiency measures operate optimally, he said. Hasto said that the policy to increase the subsidized fuel price has to be conducted gradually in order to curb inflation. In June 2013, the government raised the price of subsidized fuel by an average 33 percent, and that cause inflation to accelerate.

Joko previously said that to keep the state budget from suffering a huge deficit, subsidized fuel price increases have to be conducted firmly and wholly instead of only partially or in certain areas. "It has to be conducted firmly but after making careful calculations," he said.

Joko said that economic, social and political impacts caused by higher subsidized fuel prices should be considered carefully. He described the energy sector as messy and said that many people were taking advantage of the disorganization through mafia practice.

The government has been pushing to build more refineries just as speculation abounds of a group trying to control fuel imports. Indonesia also seeks to use more natural gas to reduce dependence on crude oil-based products. "After that oil refineries will be built, and the mafia in the oil [sector] eliminated," Hasto said.

"The corruption rate must also decline. What's the point of reducing the fuel subsidy if corruption continues to run rampant. It will not be fair," he said. "Energy efficiency and energy conversion from fossil fuel to gas will also have to be carried out."

The president-elect also said that matters in the energy sector are not merely about the courage to remove the fuel subsidy but also about the wisdom to ensure fairness and weighting how much it benefits the public.

The government has already introduced several measures to curb consumption by prohibiting the sale of subsidized diesel in Central Jakarta and of subsidized gasoline along the Java toll road and by limiting the hours that subsidized fuel can be sold.

Joko disagreed with the newly imposed partial curb of sales of subsidized fuel, saying that such a policy is ineffective because the public will still find ways to access subsidized fuel by going to areas where the curb is not imposed.

Suryo Bambang Sulistyo, chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) also criticized the government's move to curb the use of subsidized fuel, calling the efforts insufficient.

"Kadin has always been in favor of the complete removal of subsidized fuel. I think the current administration has the right momentum to do just that as they don't have to worry about becoming unpopular," Suryo said on Wednesday.

The government imposed the measure to prevent the subsidized fuel from exceeding this year's 46 million kiloliter quota.

Fuel subsidy to soar

Economist A. Tony Prasetiantono warned that the cost of fuel and energy subsidies for the government could be double the cost spent to hold the recent World Cup in Brazil, saying that the cost for fuel subsidy is set to reach Rp 246 trillion, while the energy subsidy is targeted at Rp 103 trillion.

Reports say that Brazil had spent about $14 billion to host the event. Tony also reminded that subsidies for low octane fuel will run out before December while the subsidy for diesel will run out in October. He said that under such conditions, fuel subsidies for 2015 will likely soar from this year.

"Just imagine, our subsidies for fuel and electricity are twice the cost to hold the World Cup in Brazil. In Brazil they built infrastructure, while here the subsidies are for fuel and energy alone," Tony said.

As of the end of July, Indonesia had consumed 9.12 million kiloliters of subsidized diesel, or roughly 60 percent of the 2014 quota. Meanwhile, consumption of subsidized gasoline hit 17.08 million kiloliters, equivalent to 58 percent of this year's allotted amount.

Tony hoped that the next president would either increase the price of subsidized fuel early in 2015 to prevent the state budget from going into deficit or impose a new policy to ban private cars from using subsidized fuel.

Coordinating minister of economics Chairul Tanjung offered three options to control subsidized fuel consumption.

The first is for the current administration to cut subsidies, the second for the next administration to cut fuel subsidies and third for both the incumbent administration and the next to partially cut the fuel subsidy.

Chairul said he has long reminded the government about the fuel subsidies being too high and missing the target. He called for reduction in subsidies.

"Yes, I have long said that the subsidies were too much and they didn't reach the target. That's why the measure to cut the subsidy is an option that has to be taken," Chairul said.

He added that the fuel subsidy is not only the current government's problem but also an issue for the new government. He said that the elected president and vice president should talk with the current government about the transition and what measures can be undertaken, including discussion on reducing the fuel subsidy.

Source: http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/news/jokowi-seen-increasing-subsidized-fuel-prices-gradually/

Government to restrict subsidized fuel sales

Jakarta Globe - August 1, 2014

Ezra Sihite, Jakarta – The sale of subsidized fuel in Central Jakarta and on the capital's toll roads will be restricted starting this month in order to control rapid consumption which threatens to overrun the state's annual subsidy before the end of the year.

Authorities from the country's national oil-and-gas regulator have decided to halt the sale of solar diesel in Central Jakarta and premium fuel at petrol stations along toll roads.

The decision is seen as a necessary step to keep consumption below the budgeted 46 million kiloliters for this year – something that is looking increasingly unlikely at current rates of consumption.

"Fuel sales control is a response to the decrease in the subsidized fuel quota, from 48 million kiloliters to 46 million kiloliters, as stipulated in the 2014 state budget," Ibrahim Hasan, commissioner of Indonesian Downstream Oil and Gas Regulatory Agency (BPH Migas) was quoted as saying by the website of the Cabinet Secretary on Friday.

BPH Migas asked the Fuel Supply and Distribution Agency to start implementing the restrictions on Aug. 1.

As part of the fuel-saving measures, solar diesel fuel would not be distributed to regions which were known to be prone to smuggling between certain hours of the day, authorities said.

BPH Migas would also coordinate with local governments in a bid to reduce the sale of solar diesel to fishermen by 20 percent. "If there are business entities which sell solar diesel fuel and premium higher than the quota, the government will not pay the subsidy," Ibrahim said.

Source: http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/news/jakarta/government-restrict-subsidized-fuel-sales/

Economy & investment

High fuel imports hurt Indonesia's H1 trade balance

Jakarta Post - August 5, 2014

Linda Yulisman, Jakarta – Indonesia's trade balance continued to record a deficit in the first half of this year (H1), driven by a significant loss in the oil and gas trade, renewing pressure to further curb the consumption of subsidized fuel in the economy.

The nation's trade balance posted a US$1.15 billion deficit in the January-June period, as exports reached $88.83 billion and imports hit $89.98 billion, the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) reported on Monday.

A marked surplus of $4.96 billion gained from the non-oil and gas trade could not help bring the trade balance back to positive territory, as high, refined oil imports generated a sizeable deficit of $6.11 billion.

"The key to fix the trade balance is to curb imports. The good management of imports can result in a thin surplus or a modest deficit at the end of this year," Standard Chartered economist Eric Sugandi told The Jakarta Post.

While overcoming the high import of capital goods is difficult and takes longer due to the necessity of building the import-substitute industry, according to Eric, controling the importation of fuel would be easier.

Without fiscal space in the 2014 revised state budget, the most feasible option for the current government is fuel rationing, which began last week in Jakarta, Eric said.

The rationing could be expanded to Greater Jakarta and also to gasoline stations nationwide but excluding motorcycles, although the move would not be without social and political risks, he added.

From last week the government prohibited the sale of diesel fuel in Central Jakarta and at toll-road gas stations. It also applied a daily time limit for the sale of subsidized diesel fuel in Java, Sumatra, Kalimantan and Bali.

These measures were taken to keep the fuel consumption target of 46 million kiloliters on track, because as of July, data showed a possible allocation breach.

Raising the fuel price should be implemented gradually under the incumbent government of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and the incoming government led by Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, according to Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) economist Latif Adam.

"The incumbent government still can act as long as it is willing to take the risk of missing its inflation target. That will release some burden on the trade balance and current account that otherwise should wholly be passed to the next government," he told the Post.

Bank Indonesia (BI) has targeted this year's inflation to range between 3.5 and 5.5 percent, far lower than the 8.38 percent last year.

In a more positive tone, BPS deputy head for distribution and service statistics Sasmito Hadi Wibowo said exports might climb from July to December as seen in an annual pattern where demand usually peaked at year- end.

"Exports may exceed $90 billion in the second half of this year and with that we may see exports reach a similar level to last year," he said after the announcement.

Despite the more optimistic outlook, economists have also warned the rise in exports will not be sufficient to offset the losses caused by imports. The first half trade balance was largely controlled by imports compared to exports and the trend would likely continue despite possible improvements in overseas shipments.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/08/05/high-fuel-imports-hurt-ri-s-h1-trade-balance.html

Analysis & opinion

IS isn't the real threat

Jakarta Post Editorial - August 6, 2014

Indonesia has caught up with the rest of the world in responding to the threat following the declaration of the new Islamic State (IS) last month. The government realized the danger after it became clear that the self- declared caliphate had some support in the country.

Several Indonesians have joined the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), a rebel organization fighting against the two conflict-ridden states. ISIS has since become the IS, and the Indonesian volunteers have openly called on Muslims here to join them in pledging allegiance to the new state.

Maintaining vigilance is important, especially since the IS uses violence to further its cause. In parts of Iraq where it controls, it has given ultimatums to Christians to convert to Islam, be killed or leave the country. The IS has destroyed the tomb of Jonah, a prophet recognized by Jews, Christians and Muslims, inside a mosque complex.

Any decent Muslim will tell you there is nothing Islamic about this group. It is essential however that Indonesia keeps the IS threat in perspective and proportional.

The idea of a caliphate is as old as Islam itself, and like it or not, this aspiration is found among some Muslims in Indonesia. Some political parties have made it their chief platform and won votes in general elections. Although never a majority, they win enough votes to have some political representation, including in the present coalition government.

In a free and democratic Indonesia, you cannot ban an ideology, even if you wanted to. The ban on Communism and Marxism, a legacy of the Soeharto regime, is almost irrelevant today since they are widely considered spent or dead ideologies. China and Vietnam, the two largest Asian communist states, are communist in name only.

But Islam as a political ideology is alive here and many adherents believe that Indonesia should become an Islamic state, or at least governed by sharia (Islamic laws). This puts them at odds with the majority, including most Muslims, who believe that Indonesia should remain a secular Pancasila state that respects all religions and guarantees freedom of religion to all citizens.

We welcome the public denunciation of the IS by the government and the two major Islamic organizations, Nahdlatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah. We agree that the government should monitor the activities of the returning volunteers from the Syrian/Iraqi conflicts and those who have openly declared their allegiance to this so-called caliphate.

It would be wrong however for Indonesia to ban the ideology, for it runs counter to the freedoms of thought and speech guaranteed by the Constitution. Besides, any attempt to ban ideology is a futile and wasteful exercise. Any excessive response to the IS threat only indicates our lack of self confidence in Indonesia. Fight ideology with ideology. Fight fire with fire.

Education remains the best weapon to fight the IS ideology. Strong and credible law enforcement and better intelligence capabilities should be the weapons of choice in dealing with any violence the IS supporters may be planning in Indonesia.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/08/06/editorial-is-isn-t-real-threat.html

Prabowo's challenge is pointless. Move on

Jakarta Globe Editorial - August 5, 2014

Lawmakers supporting Prabowo Subianto have launched a political move to discredit the election result submitted by the General Elections Commission, or KPU, at the House of Representatives, even before the Constitutional Court begins its hearing to rule on whether there is sufficient proof to challenge the outcome.

As if to suggest that they don't believe that they have sufficient evidence for the court, they are looking for a political point of leverage. But we know that politics is about force, not justice and truth. Whoever has the bigger coalition at the House can pretty much get what they want.

If united, Prabowo's permanent coalition at the house – 63 percent of House members – will be able to form a special committee to investigate what they claim is massive election fraud. It is possible they could deem the KPU as incapable and ask for a national revote.

This is a desperate and shameless move by power-hungry politicians. They can't accept the reality that President-Elect Joko Widodo's victory is incontestable – having garnered around 8 million votes more than Prabowo. They know that the court is likely to confirm Joko's victory on Aug. 22.

But then again, we believe Prabowo's permanent coalition is divided. And should the court confirm Joko's victory, the coalition will crumble.

There have been splits within the parties that form part of Prabowo's permanent coalition. Some leading figures within the Golkar party, the biggest member, for instance, have expressed doubts about the challenge. Many members of Democratic Party and the United Development Party (PPP) have also objected to the initiative.

As people's representatives, it's time for them to act appropriately, and accept the defeat. Indonesians want to turn a new page and move on.

Source: http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/opinion/editorial-prabowos-challenge-pointless-move/

A citizen's president

New Mandala - August 1, 2014

Gerry Van Klinken – The quote I love best about Jokowi's win came from Lamb Of God singer Randy Blythe, posted on Instagram: "Holy crap! The World's First Heavy Metal President." It captured the down-to-earth popularity of the man. At the same time, entirely without intending to, it hinted at a certain political vacuity that hangs about Joko Widodo.

Indonesia never ceases to astonish with its optimism. Thais descend into the next kneejerk coup, Australians vote for climate change denialist Tony Abbott, the Arab Spring destroys itself in civil wars, and Europeans vote against Europe.

But Indonesians happily say no to another New Order general and go for Mr Everyman. The first president not to emerge from the nation's elite; a furniture-dealer president; someone who leads by example, talks to folk, has little time for ceremony, and who loves to roll up his sleeves and get to work. Who can help admiring the good humour, patience and sheer hope of this nation of 130 million voters who pulled this off? They conducted one of the most polarising elections in memory without a single bomb explosion, and only Prabowo talks of massive fraud.

At the same time there is no denying that Joko Widodo is no intellectual with a clear analysis of what needs to change to make Indonesia a more equal, more prosperous, more fair society.

He is not like Gus Dur, who had been writing clear, inspiring pieces for years about the shape of substantive democracy in Indonesia's future. Jokowi's speeches have been banal, not to say anti-political – a 'mental revolution', and more infrastructure projects.

When Prabowo suggested, notabene during the campaign, that direct elections were 'un-Indonesian,' Jokowi didn't fight back. As far as I know he never talked about the human rights agenda, about Papua, about historical cimes, or any of the other urgent social problems the country faces. He looks relaxed. Has he come into this presidency expecting big things to happen? It doesn't look like it.

A lack of programmatic ambition is no doubt part of his popular appeal. People loved him for not promising to be a 'strong leader.' They may have been critical of SBY's indecisiveness, but they didn't want another Suharto-era autocrat.

Curiously enough, Jokowi's lack of ambition may have also made him less of a threat to the Jakarta elite. Although he pokes fun at the most pretentious among them with his checkered shirt appearance, they show nothing like the antipathy towards him that they did towards Gus Dur.

His campaign team included some notorious figures from the old military establishment. Retired spymaster General AM Hendropriyono, the Butcher of Lampung (1989), has been linked to the assassination of human rights hero Munir in 2004. Retired General Wiranto was indicted in East Timor in 2003 over crimes against humanity in 1999. Since his win, key figures from most of the parties that had campaigned against Jokowi rushed to embrace him, declaring they had no disagreement with him.

In short, although Jokowi is surrounded by some of the best and brightest intellectuals to advise him (which will certainly empower his presidency), he and they are surrounded by a large, rather cohesive, political class suspicious of serious change. Unlike Gus Dur, who challenged the military by sacking Wiranto, Jokowi has not indicated he will challenge anybody or anything directly. All this is happening just at a time when the presidency has become more central than ever to Indonesian national politics. Recent constitutional changes have diminished the role of parliaments at all levels and left Indonesia with a much stronger presidency than before.

Self-funding rules that the parties themselves introduced now expose them to an unending cycle of corruption scandals. The failure of political parties to take up issues that are important to the public have fed growing cynicism about the basic institutions of parliamentary democracy. The best NGOs in Indonesia working on social change have long decided not to bother with parliament. They concentrate instead on direct lobbying to the president.

Jokowi's style is to encourage such direct discussions. He did it in Solo and Jakarta, and wants to do it as president. This kind of populism is an attractive idea – who wants another president like SBY who hardly ever answered unprepared questions?

But it is actually not the best way to build a democracy. Many NGOs know their stuff and do good work, but they are not elected. The presidential populism of which we might see more favours special interests, while the need is to somehow bring much larger portions of the population into the political process.

That doesn't mean Jokowi will not be a civilised president: someone who leads this great nation by setting a tone of dignity, simplicity, respect, openness. These are the qualities that attracted the millions of optimistic young volunteers to support his campaign through the social media.

What a contrast with the symbolism of resentment, intolerance, and autocracy Prabowo radiated. But people should not expect him to be an activist president. Instead he will be a facilitating one; a president who gives opportunities to people.

Perhaps, as he did as mayor of Solo, he will give opportunities next year to those who wish to mark the 50th anniversary of the horrendous anticommunist pogroms after 1 October 1965. Perhaps he will give space to small business entrepreneurs seeking some help against the big international corporations destroying their livelihoods. Perhaps he will support those who want more religious pluralism, who want to preserve the forests owned by indigenous peoples, who want more women in charge, or who want more money spent on universal health insurance.

Randy Blythe is actually not politically vacuous. When Nelson Mandela died he wrote: 'He sacrificed his own freedom so that his people could one day be equals in their own native country, because he knew something had to change. He was a living example of DOING THE RIGHT THING, NO MATTER WHAT THE COST.'

Jokowi himself is probably no Mandela, but he is more open than previous presidents to the many aspiring Nelson Mandelas among Indonesia's citizenry. This is a presidency for Indonesia's citizens. They must seize this opportunity now.

[Gerry van Klinken (klinken@kitlv.nl) is senior researcher at the Royal Netherlands Institute of Southeast Asian and Caribbean Studies (KITLV) in Leiden.]

Source: http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2014/08/01/a-citizens-president/