Jakarta – Man of the Year? Not exactly. But President-elect Joko Widodo made Time's cover in the Oct. 27 issue, which was posted on the magazine's website on Thursday.

Titled "A New Hope" by journalist Hannah Beech, Time's coverage highlights the importance of progress in Indonesia's democratic movement in the world's fourth most populous nation.

Joko's inauguration as the nation's seventh president takes place on Monday, and he succeeds President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, whose second five-year term will end. All presidents of Indonesia have made the cover of Time.

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/jokowi-makes-times-front-cover-new-hope/

SBY inaugurates 22 new envoys before leaving office

Jakarta Post - October 16, 2014

Ina Parlina, Jakarta – With less than a week to go before he leaves office, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono inaugurated on Wednesday 22 new ambassadors, including several for countries with which Indonesia has strategic interests.

The 22 new ambassadors, the majority of whom are career diplomats, include a politician from Yudhoyono's own Democratic Party, Toto Riyanto, who will be the ambassador to Brazil. Toto is also a former Indonesian Military (TNI) officer.

Also in the lineup is former Golkar Party lawmaker Aulia Aman Rahman, who will be ambassador to the Czech Republic; retired general Hotmangaradja Pandjaitan who becomes ambassador to France, and businessman-cum-jazz impresario Peter F. Gontha, who becomes the ambassador to Poland.

Toto said he had no idea why Yudhoyono chose him for the position. "I didn't know anything about it," he said after the inauguration ceremony at the State Palace on Wednesday afternoon.

Selecting candidates for an ambassadorial position is a prerogative of the President, but the candidates have to go through confirmation hearings at the House of Representatives.

When asked how he would handle his new job, Toto said: "All sectors must fight for [the interests of] Indonesia. I will do my best. We must build bilateral ties between Indonesia and Brazil."

Harry Purwanto, a career diplomat who is the new ambassador to Nigeria, said he was not personally worried about the Ebola outbreak despite being based in Abuja, the Nigerian capital. The WHO announced on Tuesday that it could soon declare the Ebola crisis over in Nigeria and Senegal.

"In fact, I am looking forward to it," said Harry, who recently served as a deputy for international cooperation at the National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT). "One of my priorities will be to protect Indonesians there [from Ebola]."

A former member of House Commission I on defense and foreign affairs and Hanura Party politician, Susaningtyas Nefo Handayani Kertopati, who oversaw the 22 new envoys' confirmation hearings at the House in June, said most of the candidates were well-suited to their new roles.

"For example, the new ambassador to France, Pak Hotma [Hotmangaradja], I know him personally. He has a good understanding about diplomacy, the military and culture. Another example is Peter Gontha; I hope that as he's known to be a successful businessman, he will promote Indonesia aggressively," Susaningtyas said.

Susaningtyas had previously said, however, that it would be best if such posts were given to career diplomats.

Not all of Yudhoyono's choices was sworn in on Wednesday. Ahmad Chozin Chumaidy, a United Development Party (PPP) executive, whose name appeared on Yudhoyono's list to become ambassador to Lebanon and who passed the confirmation hearing, was not inaugurated for unknown reasons.

Teuku Faizasyah, a former presidential spokesman who is now the new ambassador to Canada, maintained that all the candidates, including Chozin, had undergone a thorough assessment before being added to the list.

Last year, Yudhoyono's choices for 22 ambassadorships raised some eyebrows after Fauzi Bowo – who was known for his lackluster performance as Jakarta governor – was appointed Indonesia's ambassador to Germany. Many deemed his appointment a consolation prize after losing the Jakarta gubernatorial election in September 2012.

The Democratic Party, to which Fauzi belonged, backed the decision, arguing that he had extensive knowledge about Germany, having completed his undergraduate, master's and doctoral degree in the country at the Technical University of Brunswick and University of Kaiserslautern.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/10/16/sby-inaugurates-22-new-envoys-leaving-office.html

Prabowo's Islamic supporters call Zuckerberg visit a Zionist conspiracy

Tempo.co - October 14, 2014

Muhammad Muhyiddin, Jakarta – University of Indonesia political communications expert Ade Armando says that Prabowo Subianto's Islamic supporters are furious over Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg's visit to Indonesia.

Armando said he was disappointed by the attitude of supporters of the Greater Indonesia Movement Party's (Gerindra) patron Prabowo who said that the visit was only for commercial objectives.

"You can't think in such narrow terms. Not to mention linking Mark's visit to his Jewish heritage", said Armando when contacted on Tuesday October 14. "Don't keep provoking the nation, especially with racial issues", he said.

Armando added that the visit by Zuckerberg, a Harvard University drop out, should be taken advantage of because he wants to establish a service provider in Indonesia. So there will be an economic impact that can be felt by Indonesians. "Don't just see things through the prism of conspiracy", he said.

Armando cited remarks from the website VOA Islam (Voice of Al Islam – Voice of the Truth), which supports Prabowo. The VOA Islam website referred to Zuckerberg as wanting to implant Jewish influences in Indonesia. President elect Joko "Jokowi" Widodo is cited as being a member of the Rotary Club, part of the Zionist network.

Jewish international groups, wrote VOA Islam, have a strong interest in meddling in Indonesian affairs through Facebook. "The birth of a new government that is pro-Israel, that is their aim", wrote VOA.

Yesterday, Widodo said that he spoke about a variety of issues related to the internet with Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, one of which was utilising the Facebook social network for campaign activities.

"Earlier [they] mostly talked about the use of Facebook during the [election] campaign", he said, although Widodo did not elaborate on this.

Widodo also said he conveyed Facebook's potential to Zuckerberg. Widodo explain that Indonesia has a population of 240 people with around 70 million Facebook users. "This is a potential market for him", said Widodo.

According to Widodo, Facebook can be utilised to stipulated the people's economy. One of the uses of Facebook is to stimulate micro, small and medium sized business. "Earlier we talked about how to utilise Facebook to speak to the people", he said.

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

Source: http://www.tempo.co/read/news/2014/10/14/078614173/Pendiri-Facebook-Temui-Jokowi-VOA-Islam-Berang

SBY awards more medals to members of his cabinets

Jakarta Post - October 14, 2014

Ina Parlina, Jakarta – For the second time this year, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono awarded the Bintang Mahaputera Adipradana medal, the nation's second-highest civilian honor, to 33 figures, mostly former and outgoing members of his Cabinet on Monday, just days before his presidency ends.

Such civilian awards are usually given to mark Independence Day. In August, the outgoing president awarded 38 medals to various figures, while Monday's ceremony saw him giving another 68 accolades a week before he ends his second term in office.

The 33 awards went to 11 ministers, including Democratic Party executives, for example, Law and Human Rights Minister Amir Syamsuddin and Youth and Sports Minister Roy Suryo; 17 former ministers, for example, former law and human rights minister Patrialis Akbar and another former law and human rights minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra and former fisheries and maritime affairs minister Fadel Muhammad; and five other heads of state bodies.

Patrialis, who is currently a Constitutional Court justice, is a former National Mandate Party (PAN) politician who was known for his lackluster performance as a minister. Yusril is the founder of the Crescent Star Party (PBB) and Fadel is a Golkar Party executive.

Yudhoyono also bestowed the same award on Golkar Party executive and Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Sharif Cicip Sutardjo and two people who vied in the Democratic Party presidential convention: State- Owned Enterprises Minister Dahlan Iskan and former trade minister Gita Wirjawan.

During the event held at the State Palace, Yudhoyono also bestowed different medals of lesser of rank, the Bintang Mahaputra Utama, on 23 former and outgoing deputy ministers and the Bintang Mahaputera Nararya on six other state officials. The government also gave the lesser Bintang Jasa medals to six figures who have been fighting for Papuans' rights and welfare.

Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Djoko Suyanto, who oversaw the selection of medal recipients, said there was nothing wrong with awarding more medals this year.

"There is no provision saying they must be given only in August," Djoko said on Monday at the State Palace, and later added that it was the last medal award ceremony for Yudhoyono. According to Djoko, the awardees deserved the medals for their service to the country.

Award ceremonies often incur criticism because of the controversial recipients or because some are close to Yudhoyono, plus the number of recipients appear to increase ahead of the end of his presidency. Past recipients include Yudhoyono's wife, Ani Yudhoyono.

Former energy and mineral resources minister Jero Wacik, who is currently a suspect in an extortion case in his ministry, and former religious affairs ministry Suryadharma Ali who is facing corruption charges have also been controversial recipients. Their awards have not been recalled despite their legal statuses.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/10/14/sby-awards-more-medals-members-his-cabinets.html

Actions, demos, protests...

160 civil society groups reject return to Suharto's New Order dictatorship

Solidarity Net - October 16, 2014

Two thousand protesters from 160 civil society organisations that make up the People's Sovereignty Movement (GRB) demonstrated at the House of Representatives (DPR) building in Jakarta on Wednesday October 14 in protest against the political elite's about face and efforts to return to the New Order era of former president Suharto.

"One hundred and sixty organisations have joined this movement. We reject the UU Pilkada [law on regional elections that abolished the direct election of regional heads – JB] on indirect elections and reject the return to the New Order era", said one of the student protesters, Ari Lamodjong.

The number of organisation that make up the GRB has risen from an earlier 130 groups to 160 after a large number of student organisations also joined.

The protesters brought various kinds of paraphernalia that enlivened the protest led by action coordinator Ilhamsyah. The GRB opposes the return to the New Order dictatorship which muzzled freedom expression, freedom of the press, freedom of association and other civil rights.

[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service. The original title of the article was "160 Organisasi Tolak Kembali ke Jaman Orba".]

Source: http://solidaritas.net/2014/10/160-organisasi-tolak-kembali-ke-jaman-orba.html

Bekasi workers reject policies seeking to return Indonesia to New Order era

Solidaritas.net - October 15, 2014

Sherr Rinn – Around two hundred workers from the Solidarity Alliance for Labour Struggle (GSPB) held an action opposing the recently enacted law on regional elections (UU Pilkada) at the offices of the Bekasi regent's office in the Jakarta satellite city of Bekasi on Tuesday October 14.

The protesters were calling on Regent Neneng Hasanah Yasin to join other regional heads in opposing the UU Pilkada, which abolished the direct election or regional heads.

"Through this action we want to see the Bekasi regent's commitment to democracy, considering that she was elected through a direct election", said one of the GSPB leaders Ata Bu.

The enactment of the UU Pilkada is part of a packet of political policies that are seeking to return Indonesia to the era of the New Order dictatorship of former president Suharto. Prabowo Subianto and his Red and White Coalition (KMP) were the ones most responsible for the enactment of the law.

In addition to this, the GSPB also demanded a 50 percent increase in the minimum wage in order to compensate for the rise in living costs over the last 17 years. They also rejected plans to abolish sectoral wages, demanded effective supervision by the labour office, the issuance of a regional regulation (Perda) to ensure the normative rights of workers and the establishment of an industrial relations court (PHI) in the Bekasi regency.

"The demands for welfare and democracy must be a single packet. The working class in fighting for its rights and interests clearly needs democratic space to assemble, mobilise themselves, including space for the working class to gather its forces in order to build its own political vehicle", said GSPB general chairperson Sulaeman.

These things are principal reasons why the GSPB is fighting for democracy and workers' welfare.

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

Source: http://solidaritas.net/2014/10/gspb-tolak-uu-pilkada-tak-langsung.html

Mass movement needed to fight forces wanting return to Suharto's New Order

Solidarity Net - October 9, 2014

Jakarta – The Draft Law on Regional Elections (RUU Pilkada), which abolishes the direct election of regional heads and was successfully enacted into law (UU Pilkada) by the parties backing Prabowo Subianto's Red and White Coalition (KMP) is a threat to democracy.

The People's Sovereignty Movement (Gerakan Rakyat Berdaulat, GRB) has declared a state of emergency for democracy, which was with great effort struggled for during the New Order dictatorship of former president Suharto and has advanced over the last 16 years of reformasi (the post-1998 period of political reform).

The GRB is an alliance of 130 civil society organisations including, among others, the University of Indonesia Alliance for Democracy, the People's Liberation Party (PPR), the Student Struggle Center for National Liberation (Pembebasan), IndoProgress, Indonesian Human Rights Watch (Imparsial), the Jakarta Legal Aid Foundation (LBH Jakarta), the Indonesian Institute of Science Center for Political Studies (P2P LIPI), the Indonesian People's Struggle Union (SPRI) and a number of trade unions such as the National Trade Union (SPN), the Indonesian Transportation Trade Union of Struggle (SBTPI) and the Cross-Factory Labour Forum (FBLP).

On Wednesday October 8 on the grounds of the LBH Jakarta, the GRB held a free speech forum as warm up to an action planned for October 14. GRB activist Surya Anta from the PPR explained their opposition to the UU Pilkada and other anti-democratic regulations.

"We oppose the UU Pilkada and reject all legislation that is anti- democratic. We see that the democracy that we have struggled for and defended over the last 16 years, is now seen as something valuable, to be used as an opportunity by corruptors to get money and for transactional politics. The deficiencies in the current democracy should not be used [by the KMP] as grounds to return to the New Order, rather they should be answered by finding solutions and broadening this democracy", said Anta.

Anta also said that Prabowo and the KMP are taking advantage of democracy to return Indonesia to the New Order. "Prabowo was able to establish the Gerindra Party because of the existence of democracy in the era of reformasi. But after Gerindra succeeded in getting into parliament and becoming the third largest [party], now Gerindra wants to return to the very New Order that restricted the people's political rights", he said.

The political forces that want a return to the New Order, namely Prabowo and the KMP are consolidating. A number of pieces of legislation that limit the right to organise and the political rights of the people, such as the law on mass organisations, the social conflict management law, the UU Pilkada and the national security, law will become a packet of regulations that are ready to return Indonesia to the era of the New Order.

"So the democratic situation is in a state of emergency and requires a mass people's movement to fight it", he asserted.

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

Source: http://solidaritas.net/2014/10/grb-uu-pilkada-disahkan-darurat-demokrasi.html

West Papua

66 arrested as thousands rally for release of gaoled French journos

West Papua Media - October 15, 2014

66 West Papuan activists were arrested by Indonesian Police in Jayapura and Merauke, Papua on Monday, as rallies calling for respect of press freedom and the release of two French journalists who continue to be imprisoned without charge, attracted thousands of people across Papua and Indonesia.

Indonesian police had prohibited the rallies in Jayapura and Merauke on the pretext that rally organisers the West Papua National Committee (Komite Nasional Papua Barat or KNPB) is an incorrectly registered organization, and that demonstrators may use the constitutionally legal but police banned Morning Star flag on banners, posters and paraphernalia.

Arrested by Indonesian police in Wamena on August 6 and 7, Thomas Dandois and Valentine Bourrat remain in immigration detention awaiting trial, with their detention repeatedly extended in an unprecedented case – which usually results in a simple deportation.

Indonesian police finally announced on October 14 that the two journalists would be facing trial on October 20, on immigration charges of "misusing a visa", a mere 70 days after their initial arrest with a local school teacher Areki Wanimbo, two farmers and human rights defender in Wamena. The trial will begin on the Inauguration day of new Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, in a move clearly seen by most Papuan observers to be a direct challenge by colonial status-quo forces in Papua to the stated plans of Jokowi, to end the ban on foreign Press to report from Papua without restriction.

The plight of the two journalists has elicited record levels of support amongst Papuan civil society, in solidarity against the arrest of journalists carrying out their legitimate professional tasks.

The rallies planned to highlight the widely held view that the continued imprisonment of journalists seeking to report West Papua parallels with the criminalization of Papuan people's right to Freedom of Expression, by Indonesian occupation forces.

Many thousands of people openly defied the police ban, and attended rallies and marches in Timika, Nabire, Sorong, FakFak, Manokwari and remote Yahukimo held in solidarity with the detained journalists, and scores of fixers, human rights defenders and ordinary civilian sources that have been caught up in an unprecedented crackdown on the rights of Papuan people to speak with foreign journalists.

The rallies in Manokwari and Sorong were broken up forcibly by heavily armed riot police, however no injuries or arrests were reported in those centres.

In Java, members of the Papuan Students Alliance (Aliansi Mahasiswa Papua or AMP) in Surabaya, Jogjakarta and Bandung were joined at rallies by Indonesian civil society members. Despite being under close surveillance by Police, the Java based rallies allowed to proceed unhindered, highlighting the disparity in rights to Freedom of Expression between Indonesia and its occupied colony of West Papua.

26 KNPB activists were arrested at dawn in Merauke prior to the rally, as they gathered on the steps of the local Immigration office making speeches, and were forcibly dispersed and arrested by heavily armed riot police. Police later arrested another 20 at the KNPB office in Merauke, according to Tabloid Jubi.

In Jayapura, activists were outnumbered by heavily armed police, which intimidated many supporters into waiting at the sidelines of the area. KNPB activists regardless pushed on with a peaceful demonstration at Imbi park in Jayapura.

The 17 KNPB activists held a moving but silent vigil symbolising the absence of free media and freedom of speech in Papua. Jayapura Chairman of KNPB Agus Kosay told West Papua Media "we chose a silent action, silenced with a black cloth, because Indonesia silences democracy in Papua"

Police then moved in and arrested all 17, who are still being held by Police at time of writing. "We want to let the world see, (Indonesia says it is) a democracy but the democracy practised is in fact anti-democratic for Papua," Kosay explained.

List of those arrested

1. Agus Kosay - Male, Chief KNPB Central
2, Bazoka Logo - Male, Spokesperson KNPB
3. Elieser Anggaingom - Male, Member
4. Regi Wenda - Female, Member
5. Ribka Komba - Female, Member
6. Jimi Boroay - Male, Member
7. Marice Mambrasar - Female, Member
8. Lazkar Zama - Male, Member
9. Isak Silak - Male, Student
10. Petrus Petege - Male, Student
11. Palina Pakage Wanita Member
12. Marten Suhun - Male, Member
13. Manu Moi - Male, Student
14. David Walilo - Male, Member
15. Deren Sorabut - Male, Member
16. Wilem Wandik - Male, Member
17. Tinus Heluka - Male, Member

Indonesian Police have regularly changed their at-times-wild allegations that Bourrat and Dandois – who openly admitted they were operating in West Papua without a highly restrictive and rarely granted Journalism Visa and reporting permit for West Papua – have variously been involved in subversion, illegal arms transfers, espionage, supporting armed groups, and part of a foreign conspiracy to undermine Indonesia. Despite the public slander campaigns in the media by the colonial Police forces in Papua, the final charge of "misuse of a visa" is clearly a backdown, at the same time as it is handing a gauntlet to the new administration of President Widodo.

An international campaign led by Paris-based Reporters without Borders has also called on Indonesia to immediately release the pair, saying they were engaged in nothing more that independent, legitimate journalism activities. A petition launched by Reporters Without Borders and the Bourrat and Dandois support committee has been signed by more than 8,000 people worldwide.

Reporters Without Borders via a press release on October 15 "appeals to the Indonesian justice system, now responsible for their continuing detention, to release the two journalists and dismiss all charges."

"Reporters Without Borders again calls for a display of leniency by the authorities in this case. Indonesia cannot pride itself on being the world's third biggest democracy without respecting fundamental freedoms and human rights," it said.

The Paris-based media safety organisation also highlighted Indonesia's obligations to Press Freedom, by noting "As one of the latest countries to sign the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, in 2006, Indonesia cannot ignore the UN Human Rights Committee's General Comment No. 34, adopted in 2011. This comment says that it is breach of the covenant to "restrict freedom of movement of journalists and human rights investigators within the state party (including to conflict-affected locations, the sites of natural disasters and locations where there are allegations of human rights abuses)."

West Papua Media network members have also been caught up in the Indonesian police and army crackdown since the arrest of Bourrat and Dadois, including several local personnel who have been subjected to repeated death threats from Indonesian intelligence agencies. Over 24 of our network members were under various degrees of security threats within West Papua, with family members threatened for speaking with the French journalists. West Papua Media had been providing legitimate journalistic fixing services to Bourrat and Dandois for interviews with civil society figures outside of the Highlands. Protection measures have now been put in place, enabling network members to return to newsgathering tasks over the last week, after having operations and reportage severely curtailed by serious security threats and incidents.

Physical threats and active surveillance to WPM personnel were also extended to key members of it editorial staff in Australia, with Indonesian Police Spokesman Sulistyo Pudjo saying that WPM Editor Nick Chesterfield was also to be charged with Espionage and subversion, and would be seeking and attempting extradition to Indonesia. West Papua Media is still exploring legal options against the Indonesian police for defamation and stalking by sending its agents to carry out illegal activities on Australian soil.

[West Papua Media team and local stringers, with additional reporting from Tabloid Jubi and MajalahSelengkah.]

Source: http://westpapuamedia.info/2014/10/15/46-arrested-thousands-rally-for-release-of-gaoled-french-journos-defying-police-crackdown-on-calls-to-respect-press-freedom/

Papua arrests violate freedom of expression

UCAN News - October 15, 2014

Katharina R. Lestari and Ryan Dagur, Jakarta – The arrests on Monday of 49 Papuan protesters represent a deterioration of freedom of expression, Jakarta-based human rights watchdog Indonesian Human Rights Monitor (Imparsial) said today.

"Freedom of expression in Papua is the worst in Indonesia. There's a distinction between Papua and other regions in this country. It can be seen particularly when the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) stages rallies," executive director Poengky Indarti told ucanews.com on Wednesday.

Dozens of KNPB members were arrested Monday while staging peaceful rallies in front of immigration offices in Jayapura and Merauke. They were released after nine hours of detention.

The demonstrations were held to urge local authorities to release two French journalists arrested in August, along with three members of the Free Papua Movement.

Journalists Thomas Dandois and Valentine Bourrat, who were detained while filming a documentary for Franco-German television channel Arte, stand accused of breaking Indonesia's immigration laws because they were working on tourist visas instead of media visas.

Indarti called both the journalists' arrests and charges spurious. "If the journalists only violated immigration rules, just deport them. Why should they bother [with an investigation]?" said Indarti.

Indonesia is known to be overly sensitive about journalists covering issues in Papua, where a low-level insurgency against the central government has simmered for decades. The government rarely grants visas for foreigners to report independently in the region.

By branding all Papuans as would-be separatists, Indarti said the government has eroded basic freedoms of expression. "If the local government can't change their mindset, the situation won't change," she said.

Basoko Logo, spokesman of KNPB and one of the 49 detained protesters, urged the authorities to loosen its restrictions in Papua and West Papua provinces.

"Several police officers told us that we couldn't stage a rally as we didn't have permission," he told ucanews.com. "Since when does a peaceful protest need approval from the local police? The rule says that we only need to inform them. The local police don't have the right to ban us."

Father John Djonga, an activist priest, acknowledged that in the past some KNPB protests had lead to violence. "Still, the KNPB members must not be suppressed at all times," he said. The arrests "violate human rights," the priest added. Police sources could not be reached for comment.

Source: http://www.ucanews.com/news/papua-arrests-violate-freedom-of-expression/72177

Police, military exchange gunfire in Papua

Jakarta Post - October 15, 2014

Jayapura – Police have set up a team to investigate gunfire exchanged between members of the 756th infantry battalion and officers of Kelapa Dua Police's Mobile Brigade (Brimob) in Lanny Jaya, Papua on Monday. The incident resulted in the injury of military commander Lt. Ali Okta, who was wounded in his left leg.

"Today, I will go to Pirime, Lanny Jaya, to investigate the incident," Papua Police chief Insp. Yotje Mande told reporters on Tuesday.

Mande said the gunshots occurred after police officers Kelapa Dua, Depok, West Java, were sent to Papua to conduct a raid on motorists in the regency. "At that time a military officer in plainclothes refused to be checked and walked away toward a nearby military post."

According to Mende, gunshots were then heard emanating from the military post which was answered by gunshots by police officers.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/10/15/police-military-exchange-gunfire-papua.html

TNI officer shot by police in Papua

Jakarta Globe - October 13, 2014

Banjir Ambarita, Jayapura, Papua – A military officer was wounded in a shooting between police officers and soldiers in restive Papua province on Monday.

"It happened in Pirime, Lany Jaya district, this afternoon," Maj. Gen. Fransen G. Siahaan, head of the Cenderawasih military command, told the Jakarta Globe on Monday.

Fransen said the fight broke out when members of the National Police's Mobile Brigade (Brimob) were conducting a raid in Pirime subdistrict.

One member of the Armed Forces (TNI) happened to pass by in a truck. The patrolling Brimob officers insisted on searching the soldier, despite his claim that he was TNI. "There was a misunderstanding, the Brimob officer scolded the soldier and said: 'I am not afraid of soldiers!" Fransen said.

The argument escalated and the soldier, whose identity has not been disclosed, stepped out of the truck and walked to the TNI post in Pirime to report the incident to his commander. The post commander, Lt. Ali, along with several of his men, and the chief of Pirime Police, headed to the location to restore calm.

"But when they approached with the truck, the commander and the police chief were shot – maybe the Brimob members thought they came to retaliate and therefore they opened fire," Fransen said. He added that Ali was shot in his leg.

Fransen said the situation in Pirime was under control after the gunfire. He said he had coordinated with the chief of Papua Police to disarm all involved.

Papua Police Chief Insp. Gen. Yotje Mende, however, denied the incident in Pirime altogether. "It is not true that there has been a shooting between the police and TNI," he said.

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/tni-officer-shot-police-papua/

Freeport Indonesia has green light to resume open-pit mining – government

Reuters - October 13, 2014

Jakarta – Freeport-McMoRan Inc's Indonesian unit can resume open-pit mining at its Grasberg complex, one of the world's biggest copper mines, after it agreed to improve safety following a fatal accident last month, a government official said on Monday.

Hundreds of angry protesters blocked access for two days in early October to the open-pit area of the copper complex, where production had been halted following the death of four workers on Sept. 27. That area accounts for more than half of the mine's output.

Indonesia's mine ministry investigated the accident and then asked the Arizona-based firm to propose safety changes and policies last Thursday. These changes did not satisfy government officials, who asked Freeport to resubmit within two days. This has now been done and the miner has been given the green light to resume open-pit mining, said Bambang Susigit, a senior mines ministry official.

"We have agreed Freeport can resume operations at Grasberg," Susigit told Reuters, adding the company must implement four key safety improvements at the Papua mine.

Open-pit mining remained suspended on Monday, Freeport Indonesia CEO Rozik Soetjipto told Reuters in a text message, adding the company was still waiting for the decision from the director-general at the mines ministry. He said he hoped to receive notice of that decision soon.

Freeport workers involved in the blockade, which was not supported by labour unions, are still seeking talks with local management following the accident. Union officials could not be reached for comment on Monday. (Reporting by Dennys Kapa; Additional reporting by Michael Taylor; Editing by Alan Raybould)

Source: http://af.reuters.com/article/metalsNews/idAFL3N0S82YM20141013?sp=true

29 separatists arrested in Papua

Radio New Zealand International - October 13, 2014

There are reports in the West Papuan media that 29 members of the separatist West Papua National Committee, or KNPB, have been arrested by Indonesian government officials.

The group was arrested as Indonesia banned a peaceful protest calling for the release of two French journalist, Thomas Dandois and Valentine Bourrat. The local reports say the KNPB members are being detained at the Merauke police station.

The French journalists, who were arrested in August, are expected to be told this week whether they will be charged after being initially held for allegedly misusing their tourist visas.

Source: http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/256790/29-separatists-arrested-in-papua

Papua students in Yogyakarta call for release of French journalists

KRjogja.com - October 13, 2014

Agus Sigit, Yogya – The Papua Student Alliance (AMP) held an action at the zero kilometre point in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta on the afternoon of Monday October 13. During the action, scores of students called for the release of the two French journalists being detained in West Papua.

During the action, the students demanded the release of Thomas Dandois and Valentine Bourrat, who have been detained on charges of misusing their work visa. The two journalists have been accused of violating their stay permits and face five years in jail if convicted.

The students also called on the Indonesian government to be willing to provide freedom to journalists who wish to report on the Papua region.

One of the demonstrators, Sonny, said that through the action they hoped that the West Papua immigration office would release the two journalists immediately. "We are calling on the parties concerned to immediately release the two journalists because both are innocent of carrying out journalist activities in Papua", said Sonny.

The action in front of the central Yogyakarta post office proceeded peacefully. After conveying their demands, the students continued the action with a long-march towards the Papua dormitory under the escort of police.

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

Source: http://krjogja.com/read/233773/aliansi-mahasiswa-papua-desak-wartawan-asing-dibebaskan.kr

Papuan students in Surabaya demands release of French journalists

Surabaya News - October 13, 2014

Masrul Fajrin – The Papua Student Alliance (AMP) in the East Java provincial capital of Surabaya held a protest action in front of the Surabaya Grahadi building (governor's office) demanding the immediate release of two French journalists who were arrested not long ago on charges of misusing their passports.

Under the close supervision of police officers from the Surabaya metropolitan district police, the Papuan students called for the immediate release of two French journalists, namely Thomas Dandois and Valentine Bourrat, who have been detained by the immigration office on charges of misusing their visas.

Before arriving in Papua, the two journalists landed in Jakarta to seek a permit to make a documentary on culture in the West Papua region. After they arrived in Papua however, on or around August 6 they were arrested on the grounds that the visas they were using were tourist visas not working visas.

In response to this, the Papua students said they hoped that the related institutions and officials would immediately release the two journalists.

"Neither are criminals but rather they were simply carrying out their journalistic duties to investigate the cultures that exist in West Papua, so based on this release them immediately", said action coordinator Werner.

Although there were not a large number of protesters, police were forced to work extra hard to avoid traffic congestion because the Papua students insisted on giving speeches on the shoulder of Jl. Gubernur Suryo Surabaya (rul/rid)

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

Source: http://surabayanews.co.id/2014/10/13/4614/aliansi-mahasiswa-papua-tuntut-pembebasan-2-jurnalis-asing.html

Freeport's mine must improve safety or face more protests – Union

Reuters - October 9, 2014

Michael Taylor and Dennys Kapa, Jakarta – Workers at Freeport-McMoRan Inc's giant Indonesian copper mine are seeking face-to-face talks with local management following a fatal accident, and may plan a further mine blockade or strike action, a union official said.

Hundreds of angry protestors blocked access for two days last week to the open-pit area of the Grasberg copper complex, where production has been halted following the death of four workers on Sept. 27. The open pit accounts for more than half of the mine's output.

Fresh protests, blockades or strike action could be triggered if workers'safety concerns and other demands were ignored, said Albar Sabang, a senior official at a Freeport union, potentially hindering copper exports.

"Production is important but safety is number one," Sabang told Reuters, adding that protesting workers had demanded a meeting on Oct. 11-12 with Freeport Indonesia CEO Rozik Soetjipto. "If the demands are not met they will plan to do another protest," he said.

The Indonesian government is investigating the accident, which involved a collision between a light vehicle carrying nine people and a haul truck, and has laid out a number of required work changes for open-pit mining to resume.

Freeport has not responded to requests for comment, but the Arizona-based firm said in statements last week that it would work closely with the government accident investigation team and that safety at Grasberg is a priority.

A tunnel collapse last year killed 28 workers at the mine in one of the country's worst mining disasters. Union officials say five people have now died at the mine this year following an earlier fatality.

The Grasberg complex sits inside the Pacific "Ring of Fire" and faces regular earthquakes, as well as torrential rainfall that can trigger landslides down steep slopes. The mine's position on top of a mountain means workers also have to cope with altitude sickness and poor visibility due to thick mist.

Improvements demanded

A video on YouTube that purports to show the latest incident, shows a heavy duty hauling truck drive over a four-wheel drive vehicle at a bend in the road at the mine site.

As a worker standing between the two vehicles runs to avoid the haulage truck, the four-wheel drive vehicle is crushed. The video could not be independently verified by Reuters.

Workers at last week's protest complained that the company's management has put production ahead of worker safety.

"I ve only had one training session, which was at the beginning before I started working here," a worker who drives trucks similar to the one involved in the accident told Reuters. The worker declined to be named.

At a news conference late on Tuesday, mines ministry officials said changes needed at the mine before open-pit activities could resume included retraining haulage truck drivers, more safety meetings, greater use of mobile communications, guidelines to increase traffic safety and maintaining mining facilities when production has stopped.

Freeport officials are expected to outline planned safety changes at a meeting with the mine ministry on Thursday. "All our demands have a deadline so that the company will take them seriously," said Bambang Susigit, a senior mines ministry official.

Freeport, one of the biggest tax payers in Southeast Asia's largest economy, only recently resolved a tax spat with the government that halted exports for months and frayed relations.

Rio Tinto has a joint venture with Freeport for a 40 per cent share of Grasberg's production above specific levels until 2021, and 40 per cent of all production after 2021.

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/10/08/indonesia-freeport-accident-idUSL3N0S319220141008

Political parties & elections

Hatta hints at political detente

Jakarta Post - October 16, 2014

Yuliasri Perdani, Jakarta – As the inauguration of president-elect Joko "Jokowi" Widodo nears, National Mandate Party (PAN) chairman and defeated vice-presidential candidate Hatta Rajasa has reassured the public that his Red-and-White Coalition will not hamper the incoming administration.

Speaking to the press at his private residence in Cilandak, South Jakarta, Hatta eased concerns on rumors that the coalition, which controls a majority of seats at the House of Representatives, will disrupt Jokowi's inauguration slated for Oct. 20.

"Do not sensationalize something that eventually will not happen, such as that the KMP will boycott the inauguration. If [media outlets] keep raising the issue, the market will become nervous," he said, referring to the acronym of the coalition.

Hatta also confirmed his plan to attend Jokowi's inauguration. "[My religion] teaches that if we get an invitation, we must fulfill it as long as there are no obstacles," he said.

Hatta implied that he would encourage defeated presidential candidate and Gerindra Party chairman Prabowo Subianto to attend the event. "I don't know Pak Prabowo's schedule, but I will ask him [about his plan to attend]," he added.

After losing the hard-fought election on April 9 and failing in his legal challenge of the election result, Prabowo has not met with Jokowi or vice president-elect Jusuf Kalla.

Unlike Prabowo, Hatta appeared to accept his defeat and open the door to reconciliation. Last month, Hatta met with and congratulated Jokowi at a gathering at the residence of Nasdem Party chairman Surya Paloh. Hatta has also contacted Kalla to convey his congratulations.

Last month, PAN deputy chairman Dradjad Wibowo, secretary-general Taufik Kurniawan and executive Tjatur Sapto Edy attended the national assembly of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) in Semarang, heightening speculation that Hatta's party was inching closer to Jokowi.

In the following days, however, it appeared that the PDI-P had failed to woo PAN as the party backed the Red-and-White Coalition's agenda in scrapping the direct election of regional heads during the vote on the Regional Elections Law at the House on Sept. 26.

Also on Wednesday, the head of PAN's advisory council, Amien Rais, hinted that the party was open to possible collaboration with Jokowi's administration.

Positive signals from PAN appeared after Jokowi's overtures toward the Red-and-White Coalition's leaders, including coalition coordinator and Golkar Party chairman Aburizal Bakrie.

Jokowi is also slated to meet with United Development Party (PPP) chairman Suryadharma Ali, as well as outgoing President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono – who is also Hatta's in-law – in his capacity as chairman of the Democratic Party.

One of the deputies of Jokowi's transition team, Andi Widjajanto, said that the team was working to bring together Jokowi and Prabowo in a meeting in the near future. Prabowo's camp had not yet responded to the meeting request.

Gerindra deputy chairman Fadli Zon said that Prabowo would not reject a meeting offer from Jokowi. "[A friendly meeting] is good although there are differences [between related parties]," Fadli said.

Political analyst Ray Rangkuti of the Indonesian Civil Society Circle (Lima) applauded the reconciliation efforts, saying that they "might prevent Jokowi from facing obstacles or being humiliated" by lawmakers from the opposing coalition during his inauguration at the House.

"The friendly meetings with Jokowi also help the Red-and-White Coalition to revamp its image. The dialogues could be the seed of future cooperation between the coalition and Jokowi," he said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/10/16/hatta-hints-political-d-tente.html

Romahurmuziy named as new PPP chairman

Jakarta Post - October 16, 2014

Hans Nicholas Jong, Surabaya – The United Development Party (PPP) declared secretary-general Muhammad Romahurmuziy the party's new chairman, replacing former religious affairs minister Suryadharma Ali, who had been named a suspect in a graft case, at a muktamar (national congress) in Surabaya, East Java, on Thursday.

PPP deputy chairman Suharso Monoarfa said the party made the decision after it considered the opinions and aspirations of all of its regional boards.

"The elected chairman is granted the authority to [jointly with other party officials] choose members of the PPP's central executive board and the party's advisory council leader and deputy leader," Suharso said when he read out decisions reached during the congress on Thursday.

Members of the party's regional executive boards from 26 provinces attended the congress.

After reading out the congress decisions, Suharso asked participants to convey whether or not they agreed with the appointment of Romahurmuziy as their new leader. "Agree!" they shouted.

Speaking after his appointment, Romahurmuziy said he was committed to taking the party to a top-three position in the 2019 general elections. He also pledged to resolve ongoing conflicts that had split the party into two rival factions.

Attempts to resolve the internal rift had been taking place since Suryadharma's decision to offer the PPP's support to then-presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto by joining his Red-and-White Coalition ahead of the July 9 presidential election triggered conflicts between the two factions.

Romahurmuziy's faction blamed Suryadharma for the party's failure to secure leadership positions at both the House of Representatives and the People's Consultative Assembly, saying that he was incapable of leading the party.

The growing internal tensions led the party's council to issue a ruling on Oct. 11, ordering the two rival factions to hold an islah (reconciliation) and to plan the muktamar through a consensus.

Romahurmuziy's faction defended its decision to hold its own congress, claiming that the congress was legitimate and needed to reach an islah although Suryadharma insisted that the Surabaya congress was illegal.

When he was asked about the legitimacy of his appointment, Romahurmuziy said he believed he was a legal chairman as his appointment was made in accordance with the party rules.

He said the first thing on his agenda would be to choose the party's central executive board members. "We will also build political communications as widely as possible," said Romahurmuziy. (ebf)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/10/16/romahurmuziy-named-new-ppp-chairman.html

No deal yet for Jokowi, Ical

Jakarta Post - October 15, 2014

Sita W. Dewi, Jakarta – Less than a week before his inauguration, president-elect Joko "Jokowi" Widodo held a meeting on Tuesday with Golkar Party chairman Aburizal "Ical" Bakrie; the first of several that he plans to have with other party leaders from the rival Red-and-White Coalition, including defeated presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto of the Gerindra Party.

Speaking after the meeting, Jokowi said no deal had been struck with Aburizal. He only stated that on the issue of a possible coalition, Aburizal had said he would maintain the party's position within the Red-and-White Coalition.

"I asked him about the coalition, and he said Golkar would remain in the KMP," Jokowi said, referring to the acronym for the Red-and-White Coalition. Jokowi, however, hinted that Golkar may change its position in the future. "That's his answer today. We can't know what his answer will be next week or next month," Jokowi said with a chuckle.

The meeting took place at the Kunskring art gallery in Menteng, Central Jakarta. Aburizal, who referred to Jokowi as his "best friend", said during the press briefing after Jokowi had spoken that he had reiterated his coalition's commitment to working with Jokowi's administration, despite its defeat in the July 9 presidential election.

"We will act as a counterweight to the [new] administration, not an opposing role. Opposition means we would go against everything [the administration] does, but we won't take that road. We will support everything that's good and talk with them about things that we consider inappropriate," Aburizal said.

He also said that neither he nor other Golkar executives had been offered ministerial posts by Jokowi, adding that if any Golkar members were appointed as ministers, they would not be representing the party.

Jokowi also shrugged off claims that his move to have his own meeting with Aburizal and leaders of parties in the Red-and-White Coalition was decided after the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) successively failed to lobby them on several occasions, including most recently during the race for the House of Representatives and People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) leadership votes.

"It doesn't work like that. The [PDI-P] secretary-general had already done a lot of things. I just needed to meet with Pak ARB," he said, referring to Aburizal's initials, adding that he would contact other Red-and-White Coalition party leaders to meet with him. When asked whether or not he would also meet with Prabowo, Jokowi declined to respond.

One of the deputies of his transition team, Andi Widjajanto, said there was a possibility Jokowi would meet with Prabowo in the near future. "We will work to make the meeting with Pak Prabowo possible," Andi said. He added, however, that Prabowo's camp had not yet responded to the meeting request.

Jokowi is also scheduled to meet with the embattled chairman of the United Development Party (PPP), Suryadharma Ali, and outgoing President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in his capacity as chairman of the Democratic Party. "We have contacted Pak Suryadharma. As for Pak SBY, the meeting is scheduled for this Saturday," Andi said.

PDI-P deputy secretary-general Ahmad Basarah applauded Jokowi's overture toward Aburizal and other party leaders in the Red-and-White Coalition, saying it was a necessary step for Jokowi to prove that he could act above politics, and that he would not be a leader who was only supported by a handful of parties.

"Political party leaders should respond positively to Jokowi's efforts," he said, adding that such initiatives could help him deal with the House, which is now dominated by the Red-and-White Coalition.

Basarah also denied that the PDI-P leadership had not consented to the meeting. "[The meeting] proves that Jokowi has good leadership qualities and is capable of communicating well," he said.

Meanwhile, Indra J. Piliang, head of Golkar's research and development division, said Golkar could only join Jokowi's coalition if a rival camp within the party assumed the party leadership from Aburizal in a national congress, which is scheduled for early next year.

"There is a 50-percent chance that Golkar will change its stance after the national congress," he said. Indra said Golkar's membership within the Red-and-White Coalition would be short-lived, given the absence of support at the grassroots level.

"Several Golkar politicians serve as regents and mayors in the regions, and they think they are part of the government and they believe, therefore, they should back the government," he said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/10/15/no-deal-yet-jokowi-ical.html

Jokowi's 'silent operation' sparks speculation

Jakarta Post - October 15, 2014

Bagus BT Saragih and Margareth S. Aritonang, Jakarta – The decision by president-elect Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to remain secretive about the selection of his Cabinet members has fueled speculation over potential political interference from political elites.

To the surprise of many, Jokowi recently admitted the selection had reached the final phase, but only a few names for the positions have been leaked to the public and it remains unclear whether Jokowi will be able to announce the Cabinet lineup soon after his inauguration on Oct. 20.

"Every ministerial post has been [matched] with candidates. Each post has four to five [candidates]," he said.

Vice president-elect Jusuf Kalla argued that the reason for keeping the names of the candidates confidential was to prevent those who eventually failed to win the jobs from being embarrassed. "Can you imagine how embarrassed a candidate could be if he or she finally failed to become a minister?" said Kalla.

It may be due to such pressures that Jokowi carried out the recruitment in various unconventional ways and in unfixed meeting locations. Jokowi said the candidates that he interviewed might not have realized that they were actually being short-listed.

"Sometimes the interviews were done during light talks while having lunch at food stalls. The candidates that I talked to might not have realized that they were being assessed," he said.

Last week, Jokowi held a closed-door meeting with several business professionals at the Tugu Kunstkring Paleis restaurant in Central Jakarta. The meeting was supposed to be held in secret, with members of the Presidential Security Detail (Paspampres) ordering journalists to leave.

Among those seen at the restaurant were Social Security Management Agency (BPJS) president and former Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI) chairman Fahmi Idris as well as state-run Bank Mandiri president director Budi Gunadi Sadikin. PT Indosat CEO and Association of Indonesian Cellular Operators (ATSI) chairman Alexander Rusli was also seen at the venue.

Other candidates mentioned by numerous politicians include Deputy Industry Minister Alex Retraubun, Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) chairman Mahendra Siregar, state-run railway operator PT KAI's president director, Ignasius Jonan, and Deputy Finance Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro.

Several politicians from the Jokowi camp have hinted at the pressure Jokowi has faced in recent weeks from many parties to have their candidates approved.

Amid the speculation is that regarding pressure from Jokowi's patron, Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri. Jokowi has refuted such an assumption. "I have repeatedly said that the selection of ministers is my prerogative," he said.

PDI-P deputy secretary-general Hasto Kristiyanto, however, admitted that Megawati would have the final say on ministerial candidates proposed by the party. "[The decision about] that power [being] given to Megawati was made during our last congress," he said.

Echoing Jokowi, Hasto gave his assurances that Megawati would not abuse her power, though she was fully aware of Jokowi's respect and admiration for her.

Between five to seven ministerial posts are expected to be given to the PDI-P, which may nominate party secretary-general Tjahjo Kumolo, former House of Representatives deputy speaker Pramono Anung, actress-turned- lawmaker Rieke Diah Pitaloka, former lawmaker Eva Kusuma Sundari, as well as PDI-P deputy secretary-general and a deputy of the Jokowi-Kalla transition team, Hasto Kristiyanto.

Jokowi's coalition member, the National Awakening Party (PKB), may receive up to four ministerial posts. Candidates proposed by the party include chairman and former manpower and transmigration minister Muhaimin Iskandar, lawmaker Marwan Ja'far, former secretary-general Imam Nahrawi and deputy chairman Rusdi Kirana, who is also the owner of the nation's largest domestic airline, Lion Air.

Muhaimin, who was said to be eyeing the position of coordinating people's welfare minister, meanwhile, may fail to pass a screening by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (PPATK). Senior Golkar Party member Gen. (ret) Luhut Binsar Panjaitan, who rebelled against his party's decision to nominate Prabowo Subianto as a presidential candidate, is also a top contender coordinating political, legal and security affairs minister.

For the position of National Intelligence Agency (BIN) chairman, meanwhile, two figures were said to be strong candidates: former Strategic Intelligence Agency (BAIS) chief Rear Marshall (ret) Ian Santoso, who is close to Megawati, and former BIN deputy head As'ad Said Ali, who is also a senior member of the country's largest Islamic organization, Nahdlatul Ulama.

Several sources said that Kalla had also handed the names of some ministerial candidates to Jokowi. Among them were former state-owned enterprises minister Sofyan Djalil, former law and human rights minister Hamid Awaluddin, state lender Bank Rakyat Indonesia's (BRI) president director Sofyan Basir, former PT Toyota Astra Motor president director Johnny Darmawan and tycoon Rachmat Gobel.

Politicians from the Red-and-White Coalition that endorsed Prabowo have criticized the Cabinet selection process. "The ongoing political constellation has forced Jokowi to implement such a process," Golkar deputy secretary-general Tantowi Yahya said.

"Politics basically involves deals, which can only be achieved through compromising. That is why a non-transactional coalition is barely possible," he said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/10/15/jokowi-s-silent-operation-sparks-speculation.html

Perppu triggers confusion

Jakarta Post - October 14, 2014

Erwin Sihombing & Dyah Ayu Pitaloka, Jakarta – The Constitutional Court on Monday began hearing the judicial review on the recently passed Regional Elections Law, which stripped the Indonesian people of the right to choose their own governors, district heads and mayors, giving the power to local legislatures.

A total of nine petitioners, consisting of nongovernmental organizations, coalitions, associations and groups of individuals have called on the court to annul the law and give the people back their right to elect their regional heads.

In a disappointing response, the court urged that the plaintiffs withdraw their petition, arguing that outgoing President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has already issued a government regulation in lieu of law, known as a perppu, revoking the controversial ruling.

"There is no object [of dispute]," said Justice Arief Hidayat. The plaintiffs could still go forward with their petition, but even if the court accepted the judicial review, the ruling would be voided on technical grounds.

Several petitioners immediately withdrew their suit while others chose to press on, arguing that the House of Representatives could still reject the perppu.

Separately, law professor and Crescent Star Party (PBB) politician Yusril Ihza Mahendra argued that even if the House rejected the perppu, regional leaders would not be appointed by their respective legislatures.

The House is controlled by parties in favor of the revoked law, making it unlikely for the perppu to pass. This, Yusril said, would create a "legal vacuum." "If the perppu is rejected by the DPR, then there is no law regulating regional elections," said Yusril, a former justice minister.

Political watchdog Indonesian Parliamentary Center agreed the plausible situation could have dire consequences.

"Many regional leaders will soon face the end of their term," said IPC director Sulastio, and the fracass has created confusion for the General Elections Commission (KPU), who will be in charge of staging voting booths in areas that require a change in regional leaders.

"We feel that with the issuance of the perppu, the Regional Elections Law was automatically revoked. Therefore, there is a big possibility that we will continue to stage direct elections in our district in 2015," said Santoko, chief of the Malang district KPU in East Java. "But to be sure, we are waiting for instructions from the [head office in Jakarta]."

The legal uncertainty will also affect several other areas in East Java, South Sulawesi and North Maluku, where local elections are scheduled for May through June next year. Sulastio said the KPU must address the matter quickly and issue a decree to all of its regional offices.

"[The KPU head office] must take concrete steps by enacting an official KPU regulation... so the local organizers will not fall behind in preparing for the regional elections. These areas won't be able to plan their budget without a legal umbrella," Silastio said, before lambasting the KPU and the Elections Supervisory Agency's (Bawaslu) silence on the matter.

The likelihood of the end to direct regional elections has been circulating for months, "but [KPU and Bawaslu] have said and done nothing. This is very disappointing," he said. "The public must hear what these two institutions have to say. They are independent and they are directly linked to the entire issue."

Jeirry Sumampow, coordinator of the Indonesian Voters' Committee, another watchdog, said Yudhoyono must ensure that the House deliberates his perppu before his term ends next week, so as not to burden his successor, Joko Widodo.

"If SBY is really serious about issuing a perppu to save direct elections – and his legacy as president – then he must finish [the matter] now," he said.

The House pushed the regional elections law through after Yudhoyono's Democratic Party walked out of the deliberation process, leaving fellow opponents of the law outnumbered. Yudhoyono argued that he never gave such instructions, reiterating his stance to uphold the people's right to choose their own leaders.

[Additional reporting by Ridho Syukra & Ezra Sihite.]

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/perppu-triggers-confusion/

PPP not a new addition to PDI-P coalition, says Joko Widodo

Jakarta Globe - October 13, 2014

Markus Junianto Sihaloho, Jakarta – President-elect Joko Widodo has denied reports confirming his coalition has officially accepted the United Development Party, or PPP, into its fold.

"We will talk about this once the PPP has officially joined the coalition – now they are not even a part of it," Joko told reporters on Sunday, adding that he had indeed attended several meetings with PPP leaders but nothing had been decided, including the possibility of cabinet seats.

On Saturday, PPP deputy chairman Emron Pangkapi announced the party would name a new chairman to replace Suryadharma Ali during a meeting of party representatives in East Java this month, before officially declaring its support for Joko's coalition, which is led by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P).

Joko stressed, however, that he did not use the promise of cabinet seats to lure the PPP away from the opposing Red-White Coalition, or KMP, that backed losing presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto.

"We have never offered anything. We didn't offer anything to the parties [that were in the coalition from the start], let alone to newcomers," Joko said. "But the door is wide open, not only for the PPP but for everybody, although there are conditions, of course."

The PPP was rocked by a leadership crisis following the dismissal of Suryadharma, who was named a graft suspect for the alleged mismanagement of hajj funds during his time as minister of religious affairs, and has not bounced back since.

The party has confirmed it is set to hold a four-day national meeting in Surabaya this week to decide who will lead the party and which side to take in the country's political arena. "This is a deciding moment. We hope we can end the division and unite as a party," Emron said.

Also on Sunday, PPP secretary general Romahurmuziy confirmed that none of the party's politicians had been interviewed by Joko or his team. "Up until today, we haven't received any invitation for fit-and-proper tests to fill the cabinet," he told reporters in Jakarta.

Romahurmuziy, however, acknowledged Joko's unconventional ways of recruiting his ministers. "It's likely that some of us were interviewed without even realizing it," he said.

Joko has confirmed that he and Vice President-elect Jusuf Kalla had met all of their potential candidates but said they had been careful not to reveal signs they were considering them for a seat.

"I just chatted with them, in a [coffee] shop, J.K.'s house, at the office [City Hall], during all sorts of occasions. So [the candidates] didn't know they were being interviewed," Joko said last week.

According to the outgoing Jakarta governor, the cabinet candidates would be weighed on their vision, managerial skills and integrity, and he would be seeking advice from law enforcement agencies – including the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK), the country's anti-money-laundering body – in investigating their history.

Joko's supporters and political analysts have been divided over whether the president-elect needs to expand his four-party coalition by forming ties with parties from the Red-White faction, after the latter secured leadership of both the House of Representatives and the People's Consultative Council (MPR).

With Joko's inauguration a mere week away, some political analysts have said he will need to move faster if he wants to attract more parties to his coalition and ease House resistance against his cabinet's programs for reform. Another group of observers, meanwhile, believes that Joko would do better to focus on establishing a solid cabinet line-up that can implement his policies and maintain – and even increase – support from the public.

Last Friday, Joko announced his administration would consist of 33 ministries that will be overseen by four coordinating ministries. He said that he and Kalla were close to naming their choices.

Joko had initially planned for a total of 34 ministries, led by a mix of technocrats and politicians, under three coordinating ministries, but then opted to scrap several ministries created during the Yudhoyono administration. Others with similar roles will be merged.

Though the size of his a cabinet remains roughly the same, it is not certain whether he will retain his original ratio between pure technocrats and politicians.

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/ppp-new-addition-pdi-p-coalition-says-joko-widodo/

Groups press ahead to challenge controversial Pilkada law

Jakarta Post - October 13, 2014

Ina Parlina, Jakarta – Civil society organizations (CSOs) and activists, who are seeking to challenge the Regional Elections (Pilkada) Law at the Constitutional Court (MK), said on Sunday that they would continue petitioning to mitigate further opposition to direct elections at the House of Representatives.

The Constitutional Court is set to hear on Monday the first of nine judicial review requests filed by different groups challenging the newly passed Pilkada Law, which prevents people from voting directly for regional leaders, a mechanism that has been in place for a decade.

Bowing to public pressure, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono tried to reinstate the mechanism only days later by issuing two government regulations in lieu of law (Perppu) to annul the Pilkada Law and the Provincial Administrations (Pemda) Law, which had also been amended to have regional and provincial legislative councils (DPRDs) elect local leaders.

A number of petitioners are calling on the court to scrap Article 3 of the Pilkada Law, which gives authority to the DPRDs to elect governors, mayors and regents, while others are seeking to have the entire law annulled.

"We will not withdraw our petition because we are worried that the House will reject the Perppu and retain the Pilkada Law," Wahyudi Djafar, a lawyer representing six activists and four civil society groups, said on Sunday. "Such a withdrawal would remove our opportunity to reapply a similar judicial review petition in the future."

In the groups' petition, they argue that the provision goes against the principle of direct, free, fair and confidential elections and the principle of popular sovereignty as stipulated in Article 1 of the Constitution. According to them, local elections should be held by an independent institution.

"Therefore, despite the fact that the object of the judicial review no longer exists [due to the annulment], we will comply with what the court rules on Monday: Whether it will proceed or halt the judicial review," Wahyudi added.

Although Yudhoyono's Democratic Party has promised to do its best to ensure the House accepts the Perppu, many are skeptical given the fact that the majority of seats in the House are controlled by the Red-and-White Coalition, the supporters of the representative-based local-election mechanism.

Some believe that if the Perppu is discussed by the House in January during Joko "Jokowi" Widodo presidency, it may face hindrance from the Red-and- White Coalition, which is still bitter after losing to Jokowi in July's presidential election.

Golkar Party lawmaker Mahyudin reiterated a similar rejection, made by other lawmakers in the Red-and-White Coalition, that they would reject the Perppu.

According to Mahyudin, the coalition did not aim to hold power via local leaders nationwide; it was merely concerned about the costs incurred by direct elections.

Mahyudin, who is a former East Kutai regent, was quoted by Antara news agency as saying: "We consider direct elections are responsible for the high number of golput [abstainers] and they could potentially trigger horizontal conflict."

During a car free day in Jakarta on Sunday, two other civil society groups, the Association for Elections and Democracy (Perludem) and the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras), held a joint rally to garner wider support for direct local elections.

"We want to be ready to face any development related to the local-election mechanism," Perludem executive director Titi Anggraini said. "The Perppu provides no guarantee because it needs the House's consent before coming into effect and we cannot predict what decision the House will make."

Perludem and Kontras plan to file a judicial review request to reinstate direct elections should the House reject the Perppu in January. They had managed to collect 10,000 signatures as of Sunday.

Several online petitions on the change.org website, including Perludem's, have gathered the backing of tens of thousands of people.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/10/13/groups-press-ahead-challenge-controversial-pilkada-law.html

After House polls, Aburizal on the rocks again

Jakarta Post - October 10, 2014

Jakarta – Two mass organizations affiliated with the Golkar Party once again called on Thursday for the party to oust its chairman, Aburizal Bakrie.

Representatives from the Golkar Youth Circle and Eksponen Tri Karya said that according to the party's internal regulations, the current committee led by Aburizal had ended its tenure on Oct. 8.

"Considering that the internal regulations are the basis for all party policies, the central executive board must comply with them so that this organization can run transparently and democratically," Golkar Youth Circle spokesman Andi Sinulingga told reporters on Thursday.

Andi said a national congress in 2009 in Riau had recommended to extend Aburizal's tenure until 2015 based on the prediction that this year's presidential election would be conducted in two stages and so prevent another congress from having to be hastily organized this year to vote for a new chairman.

In fact, July's presidential election only had two candidates and was determined in one round.

The two organizations have presented Aburizal with an ultimatum, demanding that he leave his post within 14 days.

Calls to unseat Aburizal have mounted since the Prabowo Subianto-Hatta Rajasa ticket, which he recommended Golkar support, lost in July's election. Hopes that he will be dismissal have come from some of the party's senior politicians as well as members of Golkar's central executive board, such as Agung Laksono, who is also coordinating people's welfare minister.

Aburizal, however, has so far succeeded in riding his party's internal wranglings by focusing on leadership composition in the House of Representatives.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/10/10/after-house-polls-aburizal-rocks-again.html

Jokowi shrugs off threats

Jakarta Post - October 10, 2014

Hans Nicholas Jong and Yuliasri Perdani, Jakarta – President-elect Joko "Jokowi" Widodo responded calmly to the vengeful agenda of Hashim Sujono Djojohadikusumo, the brother and top aide of losing presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto, who said he intended to employ all of his political resources to limit the authority of the incoming government.

Hashim, a tycoon and the deputy chief patron of the Gerindra Party, in recent interviews said that Prabowo's Red-and-White Coalition would be an "active, constructive opposition" to Jokowi, who will start his five-year term on Oct. 20.

By utilizing its control over a majority of the seats in the House of Representatives, the coalition, Hashim said, would have power over Jokowi's agenda and retain veto power over appointments for more than 100 top positions, including chiefs of the National Police and the Indonesian Military (TNI). "Yes, Mr. Jokowi, there is a price to be paid," he told the Wall Street Journal on Monday.

The plot is rooted in Hashim's disappointment with Jokowi, who left his post as Jakarta governor to run for president and defeated Prabowo in the July 9 election. Hashim claimed to be the primary financial campaign backer for Jokowi's governorship bid.

While acknowledging Hashim and Prabowo's past financial support, Jokowi lambasted Hashim's vengeful plot.

"[Hashim] should have thought like a statesman," he said at City Hall on Thursday. "Yes, [they financially] supported me, however, I do not know the exact amount," he added.

Hashim's planned retaliation has also garnered criticism from vice president-elect Jusuf Kalla. "Our program is to advance the nation and improve prosperity. If [Hashim focuses on] thwarting us, it means he intends to go against the people. Maybe, he doesn't understand the meaning of democracy," he said on the sidelines of an event in Depok, West Java.

Hashim, in an interview with Reuters on Tuesday, said that the coalition was seeking to push investigations into alleged wrongdoings committed by Jokowi, including the graft-ridden Transjakarta bus procurement in Jakarta and alleged irregularities in the Surakarta education budget while Jokowi was mayor. "We will use our power to investigate and to obstruct," he said.

Hashim's agenda apparently failed to garner support from coalition members, including Golkar Party secretary-general Idrus Marham. "[We] do not mean to obstruct. The coalition will always act critically to seek solutions. The coalition works based on a vision and ideology that aims to defend the state's interests. The coalition is not a bully [pengganggu]," he told The Jakarta Post.

Bara Hasibuan, an executive of the National Mandate Party (PAN), reiterated that the party would not be involved in Hashim's personal vendetta.

"For PAN, the presidential race has ended and the country needs to move on to reach a better future. The task of all the political elite is to help the country move on and not provoke the public to keep the conflict alive," he said.

Phillips J. Vermonte, the head of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) department of politics and international relations, said that there was no need for Jokowi to be afraid of the threat from the coalition as he had some means to counter the attack.

He said Jokowi could utilize support from the public, as well as a team of experts in the presidential office. "He could establish a state palace institution filled with trustworthy people, so if he wanted to issue a regulation, it could help," Phillips said.

He said that Jokowi could not solely rely on his Cabinet since he would have to compromise on some of the ministerial seats for political parties. "Meanwhile, the state institution is an arena where Jokowi has full control," Phillips said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/10/10/jokowi-shrugs-threats.html

Impeachment of country's 7th president unlikely, MPR speaker says

Jakarta Post - October 10, 2014

Jakarta – The newly inaugurated speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly, Zulkifli Hassan, has stated that impeaching the president would be a difficult task. Presidents can only be impeached for violating the 1945 Constitution.

Zulkifli's statement was in response to reporters' questions regarding a mushrooming rumor stating that the Red-and-White Coalition, whose lawmakers dominate the House of Representatives, intended to impeach president-elect Joko "Jokowi" Widodo.

A further rumor stated that the coalition, which is led by Prabowo Subianto, who was defeated by Jokowi in the presidential contest on July 9, was making serious efforts to postpone Jokowi's inauguration as the country's seventh president, scheduled to be conducted on Oct. 20.

Zulkifli claimed that even if the rumor were true, the coalition could not impeach Jokowi because it encompassed only 62 percent of House members. "It would be very difficult for Prabowo's coalition to impeach Jokowi," he said on Friday as quoted by tempo.co.

According to the Constitution, the House could propose impeachment if at least 75 percent of lawmakers supported the proposal, said Zulkifli, a member of the National Mandate Party (PAN), one of the parties in the Prabowo-led coalition.

If the United Development Party (PPP), meanwhile, has indeed defected to Jokowi's coalition, Prabowo's coalition would find it even harder to impeach Jokowi, as its lawmakers in the House would constitute less than 62 percent, Zulkifli added.

Zulkifli, a 52-year-old Lampung-based former forestry minister, promised that he would not impede the inauguration of Jokowi and Jusuf Kalla. He said he would ensure the success of the inauguration for the sake of Indonesia.

As of Friday, Jokowi's support comes from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the National Awakening Party (PKB), the Hanura Party, the Nasdem Party and the Indonesian Justice and Unity Party (PKPI) at the House.

Meanwhile, the Red-and-White Coalition, Jokowi's opponents, consists of PAN, the United Development Party (PPP), the Golkar Party, the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), the Democratic Party and the Gerindra Party.

The PPP is likely to jump ship to Jokowi's camp out of disappointment at not having any of its members nominated as MPR or DPR speakers by the coalition. (alz)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/10/10/impeachment-country-s-7th-president-unlikely-mpr-speaker-says.html

Jokowi includes PPP in cabinet

Jakarta Globe - October 9, 2014

Lenny Tristia Tambun, Jakarta – President-elect Joko Widodo confirmed on Thursday the inclusion of the United Development Party (PPP) in his upcoming cabinet, substantiating rumors the PPP planned to jump from Prabowo Subianto's Red-White Coalition to Joko's Great Indonesia camp.

"Yes, the PPP is included in my cabinet," Joko said on Thursday. "But please don't ask if they will be getting one or more [ministerial] posts. All I'm saying is that they are, indeed, included in my cabinet." Joko said the cabinet was currently in the works and that fit-and-proper tests have been held as part of the process.

"We have actually started doing the fit-and-proper tests for minister candidates, but it's not yet completed," Joko said. "Hopefully it can be done soon. Maybe tomorrow, or next week."

He added that both the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) would be involved in the selection process as candidates will be required to submit a wealth report to both institutions. "Once ministerial posts are filled, I'll call and ask them to go to the KPK and the PPATK," Joko said.

In previous statements Joko has said he plans to fill 18 of 34 cabinet positions with non-party professionals, while the remainder will be selected from political parties within his coalition.

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/jokowi-includes-ppp-cabinet/

Return of 'old political actors' is boosting opposition

Jakarta Globe - October 9, 2014

Erwida Maulia, Jakarta – Political analysts have attributed the winning streak of the opposition Red-White Coalition in the legislature to the re- emergence of "old actors" in Indonesian politics – including those who played active roles during the early reforms era but are now considered part of the so-called emerging political oligarchs.

Despite the bitter loss of their candidate Prabowo Subianto in the July 9 presidential election, the coalition, also known as KMP, has proved to be far from powerless. They have nailed victory after victory in the following set of political battles against their rivals in the legislature – they have managed to scrap direct elections of regional leaders, as well as seize control of both the House of Representatives and the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).

Political analyst Fachry Ali said the loss, after the most bitterly fought presidential election in Indonesia's history, gave members of the coalition an "energy boost." This allowed them to aggressively undermine the influence of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the leader of the rival camp, despite the PDI-P's win in the April 9 legislative elections and the following victory of its member, Joko Widodo, in the presidential race.

Their "emotional energy" has probably also been fueled by the PDI-P's perceived lack of desired response toward maneuvers made by some KMP members to jump ship to Joko's side following his presidential election victory, Fachry added.

"How have they funneled their hugely strong political energy to the legislature? Which members in particular embody such energy?" Fachry, a political lecturer with Syarif Hidayatullah Islamic State University in Jakarta, told the Jakarta Globe on Wednesday.

"The answers are Amien Rais and Akbar Tanjung. In terms of real parliamentary politics, they are the strongest actors, mature in politics. The others are simply just rookies."

Amien, 70, the founder of Islamic-based National Mandate Party (PAN), has long been known as a major actor in Indonesia's reform movement – which was responsible for the fall of late president Suharto and his autocratic New Order regime after 32 years in power. Amien was the first speaker of the MPR elected after the fall of the regime.

Akbar, 69-years-old, meanwhile, is a veteran politician with Suharto's Golkar Party, which finished second in this year's legislative elections after the PDI-P. He was the speaker of the House during the same period as Amien's MPR leadership.

Both of them were part of the so-called "Central Axis," a movement within the MPR which was formed in 1999. This movement consisted mostly of Islamic parties, to prevent PDI-P chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri from assuming Indonesia's presidency, despite the PDI-P's win in the 1999 election. The axis, spearheaded by Amien, won, resulting in the election of Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid as Indonesia's fourth president, with Megawati as his vice president.

Amien retired as PAN chairman in 2005, a year after he lost to Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in Indonesia's first direct presidential election. Amien has remained the chief patron of the party ever since.

Akbar, too, chaired Golkar from 1999 to 2004. He lost to former Indonesian military commander Wiranto in the party's presidential convention in 2004, and later lost his re-election bid for Golkar's chairmanship to Jusuf Kalla, then Indonesia's vice president.

Amien and Akbar had largely retreated to obscurity from Indonesia's political stage until recent months; more specifically after the Constitutional Court rejected the Red-White Coalition's lawsuit challenging the result of the July 9 presidential election, upholding Joko's win.

The court's verdict had been expected to increase the likelihood of the coalition falling apart as some of its members began to intensify political talks with the PDI-P. The talks were in the hope of jumping ship to Joko's side from a then sunken one carrying Prabowo and his losing party.

But while most of the talks with the PDI-P seemed to have ended in deadlock, the Red-White Coalition has so far survived against the odds, contradicting many analysts' predictions of it collapsing. Rather, it has successfully grabbed control of the leadership positions in the legislature to offset their loss in the battle for executive power.

Amien was most recently seen attending a meeting of the PAN faction at the House, two days before PAN deputy chairman Zulkifli Hasan, who is related to him by marriage of their children, was nominated as the coalition's candidate for the MPR speaker post and was then elected to the position during an overnight vote that ended on Wednesday morning.

Various media reports, meanwhile, have suggested Akbar's increasing presence in meetings of the Golkar Party.

Aleksius Jemadu, the dean of Pelita Harapan University's School of Social and Political Sciences, noted "ideological differences" between coalition members – namely between Amien, PAN and the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) with their inclination toward political Islam and Akbar, Golkar and Prabowo's Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) with their secular- nationalist stance.

"But they have found a unifying factor. They are all 'victims' of direct elections, and [their presidential election loss] has triggered political jealousy toward Joko Widodo, who has become popular," Aleksius said. "They need to prove they still exist, otherwise they will gradually diminish [from Indonesia's political stage]."

Veteran politicians like Amien and Akbar, as well as Prabowo and current Golkar chairman Aburizal Bakrie – whom Aleksius refers to as the country's "political oligarchs" thanks to the current political situation that they have produced – are making sure that diminish they won't.

Other motives: Prabowo, or

Various analysts, Aleksius said, have suspected that the Red-White Coalition's legislative maneuvering – including endorsing a law allowing them to grab control of the parliament from the PDI-P and scrapping direct elections of regional leaders – were all intended to pave the way for them to somehow impeach Joko.

Furthermore, they have been alleged of aiming to abolish direct presidential elections through a constitutional amendment to finally deliver Indonesia's presidency to Prabowo, after he failed to do so through direct elections.

Prabowo's brother, Gerindra patron and tycoon Hashim Djojohadikikusumo, has publicly insinuated that the coalition was seeking to find evidence of Joko's wrongdoing.

In an interview on Tuesday, Hashim said coalition lawmakers were planning to investigate a corruption case regarding the Rp 1.5 trillion ($122.95 million) procurement of Chinese-made buses for the TransJakarta bus service – which was done by the Jakarta administration this year, while Joko was the governor. "We will use our power to investigate and to obstruct [him]," Hashim told Reuters.

Aleksius said Joko must be extra careful once he is inaugurated as Indonesia's seventh president on Oct. 20. "They will use every opportunity to sideline Jokowi," he said, referring to Joko with his popular nickname.

Fachry, though, thinks this is not all about Prabowo, questioning the likelihood of veteran politicians such as Amien and Akbar catering to demands of the former Army general and former son-in-law of late president Suharto.

"I think they [the strengthening Red-White Coalition] was unintentionally created, by the emotional defeat they shared. Other than that, they actually haven't got any real shared goals," Fachry said.

Furthermore, reformist figures such as Amien especially wouldn't want to be called anti-democratic by scrapping direct presidential elections or impeaching a president without a major blunder, he added.

Aleksius suggested that although the PDI-P, Gerindra and Golkar were all nationalist-secularist parties, the latter two might be more willing to accommodate, on the surface at least, an Islamic agenda that "religious" politicians such as Amien and PKS members wanted to push for.

With Gerindra finishing only third in the April legislative elections and presidential hopefuls from Golkar seem to have never been popular enough to win a presidential election, they can only enjoy support from the Islamic parties.

Ironically, Indonesian Islamic parties themselves cannot unite without at least a single, major nationalist party like departing President Yudhyonoyo's Democratic Party.

The Islamic parties also have been implicated in a string of corruption scandals that further dampen their popularity. As individual parties, none of them has been outstanding, resulting in them collecting only between 6 and 7 percent of the vote each during the April elections.

"They [secular and Islamic parties in the Red-White Coalition] are different. They have different motives [for their aggressive maneuvers in the legislature]," Aleksius said. "But, pragmatic interests have united them. They use one another for each of their own goals."

Such pragmatic interests actually make the coalition more prone to splits, Aleksius added. And even though their aggressive stance in the legislature does not exactly bode well with constituents – for example 80 percent of Indonesians still favor direct regional elections, according to a survey – the coalition doesn't seem to worry about risking their popularity.

"The next legislative elections are still five years from now," Aleksius said, suggesting that many things can happen in between that would probably work in favor of members of the coalition.

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/return-old-political-actors-boosting-opposition/

Indonesia dream-team dream at risk from pressure on Jokowi

Bloomberg - October 9, 2014

Herdaru Purnomo & Neil Chatterjee – Indonesian President-elect Joko Widodo's plan to install a team of experts and professionals at the top of the government of Southeast Asia's biggest economy is facing the increasing threat of political pressure.

Joko, known as Jokowi, pledged during his election campaign to forgo political horse trading and pick "only the best" for his cabinet. That promise is being undermined by messages telegraphed by his allies, including his own party head, former president Megawati Soekarnoputri.

"It is Megawati's prerogative to decide candidates to be conveyed to Jokowi for the cabinet," said Eva Kusuma Sundari, a PDI-P lawmaker and election campaign spokeswoman for Jokowi. "Indeed Megawati has prepared special candidates from PDI-P," she said, referring to them as "professional politicians."

Any conflict between Jokowi and his party leadership on the cabinet would add to deepening concern the former furniture businessman will struggle to deliver on his campaign manifesto to cut bureaucracy and corruption, attract investment and build infrastructure.

His Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, or PDI-P, has so far failed to find sufficient allies in parliament to establish a majority, leading foreign funds to pull almost $1 billion from Indonesian stocks in the past month.

Less than two weeks before he takes office on Oct. 20, Jokowi has yet to unveil his cabinet or lay out how he will reorganize Indonesia's government ministries, a bureaucratic shake-up he'd said he would announce in mid- September. He's grappling with a series of victories by the opposition in parliament, which has taken the speaker posts in both lower and upper houses.

'School kid'

The rupiah fell 0.3 percent and stocks dropped 1.5 percent on Wednesday, after opponents of Jokowi won the post of speaker in the upper house of parliament.

"Joko Widodo is a 'boarding school kid' in the PDI-P, he is not a man of influence," said Emrus Sihombing, a political communications lecturer at Universitas Pelita Harapan in Tangerang, near Jakarta. "If the cabinet is a result of transactional politics," it would tend to be more pragmatic and less firm, and that will be problematic for Jokowi, he said.

Megawati's proposals for Jokowi's cabinet include her daughter Puan Maharani; Tjahjo Kumolo, the secretary-general of the PDI-P; and Andi Widjajanto, a deputy head of Jokowi's transition team, said a person familiar with the process who asked not to be named because the talks were private.

Other nominees from within his coalition include Rusdi Kirana, the founder of Lion Air and now in the National Awakening Party, or PKB, and Ferry Mursyidan Baldan, an executive from the NasDem Party, the person said.

Offering posts

Jokowi's lack of a majority in parliament also increases pressure for him to offer posts to opposition chiefs to prise them from a coalition that controls the legislature. The lower house formulates laws, while the upper house has the ability to impeach the president.

Candidates from the United Development Party, or PPP, an Islamic party that was part of losing presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto's coalition, would secure seats in cabinet for joining his camp, Jokowi said on Wednesday. The president-elect has declined to say who is advising him on names for the cabinet, saying only that he has a "head hunter." "My cabinet is my prerogative," he told reporters at least twice last month.

Qualified experts

Megawati, the daughter of Indonesia's first independent leader Sukarno, and president herself from 2001 to 2004, hasn't yet responded to an interview request from Bloomberg News about the cabinet. Megawati, 67, is giving names from the PDI-P party to Jokowi for the cabinet, yet isn't putting pressure on him, said Hasto Kristiyanto, a member of Jokowi's transition team.

Putting capable Indonesian politicians into some posts may not be a problem if key ministries such as energy and mining are run by qualified experts, said Paul Rowland, a Jakarta-based political analyst.

"Megawati cares about where Puan is going to go, she cares about the family having input," said Rowland, the former country director for advocacy group the National Democratic Institute. "There will be constraints."

Jokowi will appoint technocrats to run about half the departments in his government, including finance, energy and agriculture, he said last month. Sixteen of the 34 cabinet positions will go to politicians, he said.

Public recommendations

"Mr Jokowi is an ambitious politician seeking to reform Indonesia's politics and institutions," said Nicholas Spiro, managing director at Spiro Sovereign Strategy in London.

"He poses a challenge to the establishment and needs to be – and, more importantly, be seen as – his own man. His 'political outsider' status is his biggest strength, but also potentially his biggest weakness."

Jokowi is considering 40 professionals, as well as politicians and public recommendations for the cabinet, a member of his transition team said, asking not to be identified.

These include Ari Soemarno, a former head of state energy company Pertamina and brother of Jokowi's transition team head Rini Soemarno. Others are Dahlan Iskan, the current minister for state-owned enterprises and former chief executive of publisher Jawa Pos Group, Emirsyah Satar, the chief executive of state carrier Garuda Indonesia and Ignasius Jonan, the head of state railway company Kereta Api, the person said.

"The cabinet appointments are very fluid, they can change at the 11th hour," said Fauzi Ichsan, a finance advisor to Jokowi's election campaign and an economist at Standard Chartered in Jakarta, who the transition team person said was also on the list.

The coalition is too absorbed in political developments to decide on the cabinet now, he said. "Quite likely it's going to be postponed" beyond the Oct. 20 inauguration date, Ichsan said, adding ideally it would still happen before the end of October.

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/indonesia-dream-team-dream-risk-pressure-jokowi/

Environment & natural disasters

Riau police lament 'light' sentences for those burning forests

Jakarta Globe - October 13, 2014

Jakarta – As thick haze continues to cover large parts of Sumatra, police in Riau say that those responsible for the problem are getting away with sentences so lenient that there is hardly any deterrent effect.

"It has come to our attention that the sentences are around three months in prison on average, which is very light, and the toughest sentence is only five months," Brig. Gen. Dolly Bambang Hermawan, the chief of Riau Police, was quoted as saying by state-run Antara news agency on Monday.

Dolly said that the courts are ignoring the fact that the raging forest and bush fires are a major problem. "Many people get sick, flights are disturbed," he said.

The courts are not only lenient in cases of private individuals caught setting fire to swathes of land, but also to companies, Dolly said, citing the example of Adei Plantation and Industry.

Last month, judges at the Pelalawan District Court in Riau sentenced the general manager of Adei Plantation to a year in prison and a Rp 2 million ($165) fine, even though prosecutors had sought a jail term of five years.

Adding to the long list of suspects, on Monday two men were arrested for allegedly burning down 3.5 hectares of land in Pekan Arbu. Since February, 244 people have been named as suspects in land-burning cases in the province. Thus far, 118 of them have been convicted.

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/riau-police-lament-light-sentences-burning-forests/

Firms blamed for fires

Jakarta Post - October 13, 2014

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – Poor compliance by companies and local administrations is the major cause of the rampant forest fires in Riau, a government-sanctioned audit team has revealed.

Bambang Hero Saharjo, who headed the team, said that of the 17 companies investigated in the audit, none passed the compliance test, which measured the companies' level of compliance with environmental regulations.

"Not a single one fulfilled its own promises, whether they are companies operating plantations or in industrial forests," he said.

The audit was conducted between July 1 and Aug. 25 by a team consisting of the Presidential Working Unit for the Supervision and Management of Development (UKP4), the REDD+ Management Agency, the Forestry Ministry and the Riau Police.

Riau is the first province to be audited by the team, as 93.6 percent of the 12,541 hot spots recorded between Jan. 2 and March 13 were located in the province.

Last year, slash-and-burn fires on plantations in Riau and some parts of Kalimantan triggered severe haze that blanketed Singapore and some parts of Malaysia. In response to the subsequent diplomatic uproar, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono apologized to the neighboring countries.

Forest fires remain endemic to Riau as the authorities struggle to contain the problem after it reemerged on several plantations in August.

UKP4 head Kuntoro Mangkusubroto said the 17 companies investigated, identified only by their initials, comprised 12 forestry companies and five palm-oil companies. "Of the five plantation companies, none of them fell into the category of 'compliant'."

The five companies were PT JJP in Rokan Ilir regency, PT MEG and PT TFDI in Siak regency and PT SAM and PT BNS in Indragiri Hilir regency; they scored between 18.5 percent and 48 percent for compliance to their 97 responsibilities.

"Only one of them [PT BNS] had a pretty high level of compliance, approaching 50 percent. But even that did not fall into the 'compliant' category," Bambang said.

Things were even worse among the forestry companies, which produce wood and non-wood products such as sago. The audit found that one firm PT SRL Block III, only complied with 7.22 percent of its 122 obligations. Another 10 companies: PT SPM, PT RRL, PT SPA, PT SRL Block I, II, IV, PT DRT, PT RUJ, PT AA, PT SSL, PT NSP and PT SG had a compliance level of 26.19 to 47.54 percent.

The last company, PT SRL Block V, meanwhile, had the highest compliance rating among forestry companies, at 52.38 percent.

The audit also investigated the performance of the regional administration in Riau in managing agro-forestry companies and environmental hazards in the province.

The administrations of Indragiri Hilir regency, Dumai city, Rokan Hilir regency, and Meranti Islands regency were found to have poor regulatory systems.

Some of the irregularities shown by the audit were due to the fact that all of the audited companies were operating in peatland, which is known to be extremely flammable.

Some of the companies also submitted bogus environmental impact analyses (Amdal) in order to exploit peatland of depths of more than 3 meters.

Presidential Decree No. 32/1990 on protected-area management states that peatland can only be exploited if its depth is less than 3 meters. The audit also found that the majority of the audited firms failed to secure their sites located in protected areas for various reasons, such as a lack of access or the fact that the land was being occupied by local residents.

"For example, a firm in Rokan Hilir is located on land where the whole area is occupied by local people, so there are no operations by the company," the audit said. "In that area, burning occurs openly around the access to the concession area."

UKP4 law-enforcement deputy Mas Achmad Santosa said that the unit would deploy a team to Riau to follow up on the audit. "We will allow a certain period of time for them to fix their problems."

Should the companies fail to improve their compliance ratings, sanctions will be imposed by the government depending on the level of failure. The next audit will be conducted in Central Kalimantan, another province suffering from endemic forest fires.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/10/13/firms-blamed-fires.html

Green groups want Jokowi to redefine growth

Jakarta Post - October 11, 2014

Hasyim Widhiarto, Jakarta – With ambitious growth targets being set for several years into the future, Indonesia must implement a comprehensive strategy to maintain environmental sustainability and avoid ecological disaster, green groups have said.

Although Indonesia has enjoyed steady economic growth in the past decade, which is expected to continue, World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Indonesia CEO Efransjah said that the country's limited natural resources should make the government consider maintaining "balanced growth" instead of sustainable development.

"Indonesia has a very ambitious target to increase its income per capita from US$3,000 in 2010 to between $44,500 and $49,000 by 2045. However, no sustainable growth [can be achieved] with finite resources," Efransjah said.

The government's preference to use quantitative indices, particularly gross domestic product (GDP), to measure development, according to Efransjah, had made the public relatively unaware of the impact of economic growth on the environment.

"By using other indices, like ecological footprint and biocapacity, we know whether we have reached our ecological limit," he said.

The ecological footprint refers to the comparison between humanity's consumption and the Earth's regenerative capacity, or biocapacity, by calculating the area required to produce the resources people consume, the area occupied by infrastructure and the area of forest required for sequestering carbon dioxide not absorbed by the ocean.

The Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation Agency (BP REDD+) chairman, Heru Prasetyo concurred with Efransjah, saying many environmental challenges, including forest fires and unsustainable palm oil production, had created challenges for the country's economic development.

To address the problems, Heru proposed the government involve stakeholders in the community. "We've been talking to palm oil producers, who are now considering the idea of a zero deforestation supply chain. Some big companies are doing that and we are moving to [persuade] others as well," Heru said.

Last month, the WWF released its "Living Planet Report 2014", in which it presented numerous gloomy pictures about the state of the Earth, enough to make WWF International director-general Marco Lambertini call the report "heartbreaking".

The report suggests that the world's population currently needs the regenerative capacity of 1.5 Earths to provide the ecological goods and services currently used every year.

"This 'overshoot' is possible because – for now – we can cut trees faster than they mature, harvest more fish than the oceans can replenish, or emit more carbon into the atmosphere than the forests and oceans can absorb," the report says.

In 2010, the Earth's biocapacity was approximately 12 billion global hectares (gha) – which amounts to about 1.7 gha for every person on the planet. Ten countries, including Brazil, Russia, India, Indonesia and China, accounted for more than 60 percent of the Earth's total biocapacity.

Paramadina University rector Anies Baswedan, who is also a deputy on president-elect Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's transition team, acknowledged the massive environmental problems faced by the country.

Anies said Jokowi, who will be inaugurated on Oct. 20, and his government would rely on strict law enforcement to tackle the country's problems, including those related to the environment "This time we are not going to allow those violating our law to go unpunished," he said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/10/11/green-groups-want-jokowi-redefine-growth.html

WWF: SBY not doing enough to halt rapid wildlife decline

Jakarta Globe - October 10, 2014

Harry Pearl, Jakarta – President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has failed to adequately address the population decline of Indonesia's wild animals and curb the country's growing ecological footprint, the director general of WWF International says.

Marco Lambertini, who was in Indonesia to relaunch the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)'s Living Planet Report 2014 on Friday, said Yudhoyono has "not done enough and the government has not done enough" to halt species decline or slow unsustainable growth. But he added: "I don't think any leader has."

The comments follow WWF's release of the tenth edition of its Living Planet Report last month. It claimed the world's wildlife population had dropped by more than half since 1970.

The population of vertebrate wildlife species – mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish – fell 52 percent between 1970 and 2010, according to the organization's Living Planet Index, which measures trends in more than 10,000 wildlife populations over roughly 3,000 species.

The worst decline was among populations of freshwater species, which fell by 76 percent over the four decades to 2010, while marine and terrestrial numbers both fell by 39 percent.

The report said species loss was most acute in the tropics, particularly in South America, but the Asia-Pacific area was not far behind.

"The trend in Indonesia reflects trends overall in the tropical region. The tropics have suffered much higher [loss]," Lambertini told the Jakarta Globe.

In South America species decline has been at its most dramatic, about 83 percent on average since 1970. The Asia Pacific area had the second-highest rate of decline at 67 percent.

"Development in the tropics and in the Asia Pacific has accelerated over the past three decades," Lambertini said. "It [loss] is a reflection of [that] acceleration."

An unsustainable toll

The trend doesn't bode well for Indonesia, whose economy is one of the world's fastest growing, but geared towards manufacturing, agriculture and extractive industries.

Indonesia already has the highest rate of deforestation in the world – almost twice that of Brazil, according to a recent study – with vast tracts of primary and secondary forest cleared for the plantation sector, notably oil palm plantations. And despite a moratorium on logging in 2011, deforestation is increasing.

"We should worry because biodiversity is the foundation of all ecosystems on earth," Lambertini said. "It helps ecosystem stability, productivity."

"They [species] provide invaluable services for us – clean air, raw materials, pollination. Indonesia is one of the top-10 countries in terms of biodiversity. It's a powerhouse of biodiversity."

Habitat loss and degradation, along with unsustainable exploitation through hunting and fishing were identified as the primary drivers of wildlife loss in the report. Climate change was the next biggest threat and its impact was growing, Lambertini said.

The report also measure humanity's ecological footprint, which captures how much biologically productive land and water is required to fulfill human demand. The world's ecological footprint showed that 1.5 earths would be needed to keep pace with the demands humans make on nature each year.

"The consequences are diminished resource stocks and waste accumulating faster than it can be absorbed or recycled," the report said.

Lambertini said the main challenges to halting wildlife decline were moving away from a fossil-fuel economy and creating a more sustainable supply chain.

Decoupling human development from an increasing ecological footprint was also a challenge, he said.

"It's down to good land planning and a framework guide at government and local government level. The situation is very serious around the world and Indonesia is not an exception."

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/wwf-sby-enough-halt-rapid-wildlife-decline/

Marriage & polygamy

Rp 1 million to regulate polygamy in East Lombok

Jakarta Post - October 15, 2014

Panca Nugraha, Mataram – East Lombok Regency in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) has issued a regulation (Perbup) requiring male civil servants to pay Rp 1 million (US$81) if they wish to marry a second wife, a move critics say is likely to increase divorce rates and trigger an uptick in cases of domestic violence.

The regulation was made based on Government Regulation (PP) No. 45/1990 on permission to get married and divorced for civil servants, which among other factors, regulates polygamy.

Article 4 of that regulation stipulates that civil servants seeking a second marriage must obtain written approval from their respective superiors and also requires them to provide an explanation.

The NTB branch of the Women's Legal Aid Foundation (LBH APIK) has reported a surge in complaints from women in response to Perbup No. 26/2014, which took effect in August 2014.

"There has been growing unease among the wives of civil servants because of the regulation. We have received many questions regarding the matter, especially from civil servants' wives who are afraid of having their husbands marry another woman," said Triyati, East Lombok representative for the NTB LBH APIK, on Tuesday.

Triyati added that many women had requested the NTB LBH APIK file an official complaint over fears that the new law would encourage polygamy among male civil servants. "The policy is also feared to potentially trigger increasing domestic violence and divorces."

Data at the LBH APIK revealed that polygamy was cited as the reason for divorce in 95 percent of all divorce cases filed in 2013 at the East Lombok religious court.

Separately, head of East Lombok regency administration's legal division, Lalu Dedi Kuswara, said that the Perbub did not solely regulate polygamy among civil servants.

The Perbup, he said, was issued to supplement taxes and retributions as generators of revenue. In addition to applying fees for polygamy requests and for filing for divorce, the new regulation imposes new levies upon some 100 activities.

"The law does not just regulate polygamy, but also other factors, including agriculture, horticulture and other sectors," he said. The levy, he added, would only be collected once all the required documents were prepared.

The Perbup also stipulates that a female civil servant is forbidden from marrying a man who already is already married to another woman.

Lalu said the levy was not imposed to encourage polygamy, but instead would have a deterrent effect on the practice. "For those criticizing the Perbup, why don't they ask for a revocation of the PP 45? Up to now, polygamy has been free of charge because the PP did not levy a fee," he said.

According to Lalu, the Perbup is still controlled by the PP 45, with the exception of the addition of a Rp 1 million levy. The same levy of Rp 1 million, he added, will regulate civil servants seeking divorce.

Previously, East Lombok Regent Mochamad Ali bin Dachlan said that the Perbup was a legal umbrella for the regency administration to boost the region's revenues outside taxes and retributions.

He said there were many potentials mentioned in the Perbup that were established to help rein in corruption practices. "I don't know why it is polygamy that has been put under the spotlight," he said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/10/15/rp-1-million-regulate-polygamy-east-lombok.html

Graft & corruption

KPK confirms Jokowi's squeaky-clean track record

Jakarta Post - October 15, 2014

Haeril Halim, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) cleared president-elect Joko "Jokowi" Widodo of three graft allegations on Tuesday, rejecting calls to investigate the Jakarta governor.

KPK deputy chairman Adnan Pandu Praja said the commission had followed up on the graft allegations, which related to Jokowi's tenure as Surakarta mayor and Jakarta governor, and found them to be baseless.

Adnan said the reports related to a suspicious overseas bank account allegedly in Jokowi's name; alleged corruption surrounding the Jakarta administration's procurement of Transjakarta buses in 2013; and the alleged misuse of the 2010 Surakarta City Community Education Aid (BPMKS) funds.

"Our team found no factual data [as claimed] on the BPMKS program. Jokowi's hands are clean on the BPMKS program. However, we did find a number of inconsistencies in the report itself that we received on the BPMKS case. One of those was the report said the total budget for the program was Rp 23 billion, when in fact it was Rp 21 billion," Pandu said at KPK headquarters on Tuesday.

Pandu went on that the antigraft body's probe had not discovered an overseas bank account in Jokowi's name, let alone one with US$8 million in it, a claim made previously by an NGO called Progress 98, which allegedly has close links to defeated presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto.

"We also worked with the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre [PPATK] to investigate the alleged bank account. But in this regard as well, Jokowi is in the clear," he said, adding that Jokowi's personal bank account contained no irregularities.

With regard to the Transjakarta bus procurement, Pandu said the KPK was about to follow up on the allegation report, but the Attorney General's Office (AGO) had begun to investigate the case without giving the KPK prior notice.

"Our legal agreement with the National Police and the AGO stipulates that the KPK cannot investigate a case that is being or has already been investigated by either of those law enforcement institutions. For further information about the Transjakarta case, please ask the AGO," Pandu said.

He concluded that no investigation would be launched into Jokowi based on the reports received so far, explaining that the commission could only launch an investigation if a graft allegations could be corroborated by evidence.

Pandu also denied claims that Jokowi had instructed him to clear his name ahead of his inauguration on Oct. 20 at the House of Representatives, which is now under the control of a coalition of parties that backed Prabowo's presidential candidacy.

"This is to avoid the issue from becoming a political football. We explained everything earlier to the people who filed the allegations. Today, I am speaking here because there is an rumor circulating that Deputy House Speaker Fadli Zon said the House wanted to summons the KPK to offer some clarification. We expect this explanation to suffice in giving the public a clear insight into what actually happened," Pandu said.

Earlier, Fadli said the House was planning to summons the KPK and the AGO following a report to the House filed by Rachmawati Soekarnoputri, the younger sister of Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri, who endorsed Jokowi during July's presidential election.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/10/15/kpk-confirms-jokowi-s-squeaky-clean-track-record.html

Hard-line & vigilante groups

Basuki and police issue orders to shoot armed protesters

Jakarta Post - October 14, 2014

SP/Deti Mega Purnamasari, Jakarta – The city's acting governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama has told his security staff that they are to shoot any demonstrators who become violent and are armed with either a gun or a sharp weapon.

Jakarta Police followed suit – the deputy chief of the force saying his officers would "shoot to disable" anyone turning up to a protest with a sharp weapon.

"We hope there'll be no tolerance for those igniting riots," Basuki said, as quoted by Kompas.com. "I've told my guards that if there are one or two [protesters] carrying machetes that they are to shoot them directly."

The acting governor's comments stem from a riot outside the City Council building on Oct. 3 by the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI). Several police officers were injured by members of the FPI, at least one of whom turned up to the demonstration with a large sword.

The protesters were trying to force the city government to cancel the upcoming inauguration of Basuki, whom the group has labeled an "arrogant non-Muslim."

In addition to unleashing his lawyers on the FPI, Basuki has said that a network of CCTV cameras will make it easier to prevent the kind of violent demonstration that occurred on Oct. 3. How useful these cameras turn out to be in practice remains to be seen given that countries where CCTV is ubiquitous rarely find the quality of images good enough to aid any prosecution.

"We will also add kevlar vests for members of the public order agency who are in the field," Basuki said. "We don't want any officers getting injured. The CCTV will help."

The deputy chief of Jakarta Police, Brig. Gen. Sudjarno, pledged to support the crackdown against violent protesters.

"We're doing it – we will take serious action against any kind of crime, including thuggery and theft," Sudjarno said. "We will shoot to disable perpetrators who are putting people in danger. What should we do? We will disable them." "When there's thuggery, we have to be strict," Sudjarno added.

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/jakarta/basuki-police-issue-orders-shoot-armed-protesters/

National Police chief greenlights FPI disbandment

Jakarta Post - October 11, 2014

Yuliasri Perdani, National – National Police chief Gen. Sutarman said on Friday that he supported the disbandment of the hard-line Islam Defenders Front (FPI).

Sutarman said that the Jakarta Police had submitted a recommendation to the Law and Human Rights Ministry to disband the organization, a decision made only a week after the police arrested 20 members of the FPI during a protest outside City Hall that turned violent.

Speaking at the National Police headquarters, Sutarman added that the FPI should have no place in the country if it continued to promote violence. He said that the government "must not lose in its fight against hard-liners."

"We allow everyone to hold demonstrations, but they should not violate the law. If the FPI creates unrest through violence, it should not have a reason to exist anymore," Sutarman said.

Last week, the Jakarta-based FPI protested in front of the Jakarta Legislative Council (DPRD) office against the inauguration of Basuki Tjahaja "Ahok" Purnama, a Christian of Chinese descent, as Jakarta governor.

The protest turned violent as they threw animal feces and rocks, which they brought to the scene, at police officers. Sixteen police officers were injured and several cars were damaged during the protest.

One police officer sustained wounds to his hands from a sword. A number of FPI members were then detained at the Jakarta Police headquarters, including FPI secretary-general Novel Bamu'min, who turned himself in after being on the run for almost a week.

Novel, who was allegedly the mastermind of last week's demonstration, could face six years' imprisonment for provoking others to violate laws under Article 160 of the Criminal Code. Another high-ranking FPI member, Shahabudin Anggawi, could face the same sentence.

In the wake of the incident, Ahok has said that community organizations that promote violence such as the FPI should be disbanded. Ahok said that only the police had ability to disband the FPI because even outgoing President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was powerless against it.

Sutarman said that even after the police submitted its recommendation for the disbandment of the FPI to the Home Ministry, the final decision would be in the hands of court judges. "The Jakarta Police can only submit a recommendation, the final say is with the court," Sutarman said.

Article 70, paragraph 1 of Law No. 17/2013 stipulates that the disbandment of a mass organization can only carried out by a district court based on a written request from the Law and Human Rights Minister.

Commenting on the FPI's violent protest, president-elect Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has said that he will enforce the law on any community organization that provoked unrest. "Those who violate regulations will be punished," he said.

Earlier on Friday, FPI representatives met with members of the City Council and vowed to continue holding protests in front of the council building every Friday until Ahok steps down from office. "We will stand here every Friday in protest until Ahok resigns from his post," said Jafar Shodiq, one of FPI members attending the meeting. (idb)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/10/11/national-police-chief-greenlights-fpi-disbandment.html

FPI leads another rally against Ahok

Jakarta Post - October 10, 2014

Jakarta – Despite criticism that their rally was just a way of looking for trouble, the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) insisted on organizing another rally in the front of the Jakarta City Council. This time, the FPI also invited women, children and the elderly.

This week's rally had the same mission as last week's, rejecting the appointment of deputy governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama as Jakarta governor. The FPI vowed it would continue organizing rallies until their demands were met.

During the rally, the FPI protested that Ahok, who is a Christian of Chinese descent, had repeatedly offended the Muslim majority.

According to kompas.com, there were around 100 participants, many of whom were women and the elderly, at the rally. Traffic congestion was unavoidable in the vicinity, affecting Jl. Menteng Raya, Jl. Kebon Sirih and Jl. Agus Salim.

Central Jakarta Police chief Sr. Comr. Hendro Pandowo said as many as 400 police personnel had been deployed to secure the rally.

Last week's FPI rally turned sour and ended in clashes with the police, injuring more than 10 police officers. The police then arrested several FPI field coordinators for further questioning. (alz/dic)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/10/10/fpi-leads-another-rally-against-ahok.html

FPI rabble-rouser could face 8 years as police eye mob's financial backers

Jakarta Globe - October 9, 2014

Bayu Marhaenjati, Jakarta – The senior leader of the Islamic Defenders Front who allegedly organized last Friday's riot outside the City Council could face a cumulative eight years in prison on three different charges as police said they would expand the investigation to reveal who financed the violent rally.

Habib Novel Bamu'min handed himself in to a Jakarta Police station on Wednesday following five days on the run from the authorities. Police wanted to question Habib in connection with his role in the organized riot outside the Central Jakarta building to protest the elevation of Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, a Christian and ethnically Chinese Indonesian, to governor of the capital.

"We have decided to detain him," Jakarta Police's head of general crime, Sr. Comr. Heru Pranoto, told the Jakarta Globe on Thursday.

Habib Novel, a leading figure in the hard-line Islamic group, was charged with Articles 160, 170 and 214 in the criminal code, which deal with incitement of violence, assault and obstruction of justice. "He could face detention of between five to eight years," Heru said.

At least 16 officers were treated for injuries after some 1,000 members of the FPI attempted to break through police lines and enter the premises of the City Council on Friday. Habib is one of 22 suspects named by police over the riot. Four of the 22 are under the age of 18 and will be processed as minors, police said.

Basuki has responded to the violence by saying it was time for the group to be disbanded, even as other politicians have gone on the record to say the FPI should be engaged with, as they were representative of a voice – however unpleasant – of the Indonesian electorate.

The acting governor will be mindful of previous false dawns over the group's ability to continue to operate. The FPI was on its final warning in 2013 when a raid on establishments in Central Java serving alcohol during Ramadan led to the death of a woman. The FPI was not disbanded despite an unambiguous pledge that their number was up by Coordinating Minister for Legal, Political and Security Affairs Djoko Suyanto.

Police in Jakarta have, however, indicated that they are looking into who was funding the FPI. Police said they will be looking at who paid for the buses to bring in FPI members from West Java cities, such as Tasik Malaya, to join Friday's protests. The existence of high-level politicians pulling the strings and filling the purse of the FPI has so far been only the subject of rumor.

"Later the investigation will be developed to find out why [rioters] were brought in from outside Jakarta and we will investigate who masterminded and who sponsored the demonstration," Rikwanto said.

Heru said police were still questioning some FPI members and had not ruled out naming more suspects.

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/fpi-rabble-rouser-face-8-years-police-eye-mobs-financial-backers/

Freedom of religion & worship

Indonesian government stands with FPI against interfaith marriages

Jakarta Globe - October 15, 2014

Jakarta – The Indonesian government has sided with Islamic hard-liners in requesting the Constitutional Court throw out a challenge to the 1974 Marriage Law by petitioners seeking recognition for interfaith marriages.

"We'd like the court to reject the plaintiffs' request for a judicial review, as it is unacceptable," Machasin, an adviser to the minister for religious affairs, told the court in Jakarta on Tuesday, as quoted by Kompas.com.

"Everyone is obliged to follow the regulations in our Constitution to guarantee recognition and respect toward one's rights and freedoms."

He claimed that if the court sided with the petitioners – a group of law students from the University of Indonesia – it would somehow "spark disharmony" in the country.

"It could cause social turmoil among our people, who are mostly Muslims," Machasin said, but did not elaborate.

Outside the court, protesters from the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI), a hard-line religious organization, also railed against the call for a judicial review, slamming it as an "inconsequential request."

"If we compromise with this inconsequential request, then they will continue to crush not only religious values but also marriage customs from every ethnic group in the Indonesian archipelago," Mirza Zulkarnaen, a lawyer for the FPI, said on Tuesday.

The petitioners, though, remain adamant about pursuing their objective of getting the court to strike a contentious article from the law that effectively denies state recognition of interfaith marriages.

"We hope the state will facilitate and legalize interfaith marriage as well as facilitate divorce [which is currently forbidden by some religions]," plaintiff Rangga Sujud Widigda said on Tuesday.

"We hope that the state will only deal with the technical aspect of this matter, while the right to interpret the legalization of interfaith marriage itself will be up to each individual."

Another plaintiff, Damian Agata Yuvens, said that if the court approved the judicial review, "it will be an extraordinary legacy for human rights development in our country."

In September, Rangga, Damian and three of their associates sought a judicial review of Article 2(i) of the 1974 Marriage Law, which states that a marriage is only lawful "when entered in accordance with the laws of the respective religions and beliefs of the parties."

This effectively outlaws interfaith marriages, given that nuptials conducted in one religion will not be "in accordance" with the laws of another.

The petitioners argue that this clause violates their constitutional right to be allowed to get married as they choose to.

Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin, who has been praised for taking a more moderate stance than his predecessors on key issues, has said only that state will recognize marriages that are in accordance with prevailing statutes.

"Each religion places marriage as a holy ritual. It isn't only a matter of civil administration or state recognition," he said last month as quoted by Tempo.co.

Lukman noted that Indonesia was not a secular country, which would make it difficult to recognize interfaith marriages. "Regarding the judicial review, the plaintiffs should ask Islamist scholars," he said.

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/indonesian-govt-stands-fpi-interfaith-marriages/

FPI rejects interfaith marriage at MK

Jakarta Post - October 15, 2014

Ina Parlina, Jakarta – Amid increasing calls to disband the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) for its record of violence, the hard-line Islamic group was permitted to present arguments during a hearing in the Marriage Law judicial review case at the Constitutional Court (MK) on Tuesday.

The FPI had earlier asked the court for the opportunity to present arguments concerning Article 2 of the Marriage Law that stipulates that marriage ceremonies should be conducted according to religious teachings.

The judicial review was filed by three graduates and one current student from the University of Indonesia's School of Law.

FPI lawyer Mirza Zulkarnain said it was important for religion to regulate the act of marriage. "If the legality of a marriage is based merely on a civil contract, it is not marriage, but merely a kumpul kebo [cohabitation] agreement."

Chief justice Hamdan Zoelva confirmed that the court had permitted the FPI's participation in the hearing as the group possessed the right to be heard as "a related party" in the case.

He added that the court had requested the participation of other relevant parties, including the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), Muhammadiyah – which is the nation's second-largest Muslim organization – as well as the House of Representatives.

Positioning itself as a Muslim interest group, over the years the FPI has been implicated in a number of violent attacks against those whom it often labels "infidels". The latest incident involves a violent demonstration against Jakarta Deputy Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama, whose leadership the group rejects because he is a Christian of Chinese descent.

In another incident in 2013, a resident was killed and three others injured during a clash between FPI members and residents of Sukorejo, Kendal, Central Java, that broke out after residents tried to prevent FPI Temanggung branch members from conducting a vigilante sweep of the village's red-light district during the fasting month of Ramadhan.

The Marriage Law neither sanctions nor outlaws unions between couples of differing religious backgrounds, nor does it stipulate that only couples of the same religious background can register their marriages with civil authorities.

Article 2's ambiguity, however, fuels opposition to interfaith marriages, prompting the judicial review, which seeks to secure greater legal certainty for interfaith unions.

Representing the government in the hearing, head of the Religious Affairs Ministry's research and development division, Muhammad Machasin, said that in a country upholding the ideology of Pancasila and a belief in one God, it was a Constitutional right to respect marriage.

"It is clear that upholding constitutional rights necessitates an obligation to respect the rights of others," he said.

Separately, Hendardi, chairman of human rights watchdog, the Setara Institute, praised the court for granting the FPI an opportunity to be heard regardless of its history of violent intolerance of others.

Hendardi said he hoped the FPI would learn from the example set by the court to respect others' rights and forsake violent intimidation of dissenting views.

"The government and the court must treat everyone equally," Hendardi said. "[The FPI] has been heard [at the court] in a democratic way. Therefore, it should learn that [in Indonesia] it must respect others and channel its beliefs in a democratic way."

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/10/15/fpi-rejects-interfaith-marriage-mk.html

SBY 'excuses' violence in 10-year tenure

Jakarta Post - October 14, 2014

Jakarta – Entering the last days of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's term in office, rights group the Setara Institute has highlighted his failure in promoting and defending harmony among interfaith groups in the country.

Setara Institute chairman Hendardi said Monday that Yudhoyono, who first assumed office in 2004, carried out his policies in a paradoxical way by flaunting the country's pluralism at international forums, while refusing to address flagrant displays of intolerance on the ground.

"The President exploited the issue [of pluralism] to obtain support from other countries, claiming that Indonesia was a role model, but in fact he could have done a lot more," Hendardi told reporters at a press conference on Monday.

Based on the institute's data, more than 200 cases related to religious intolerance were reported every year for the past few years, and most of them were never processed through legal channels. "Actually Yudhoyono, who has received awards for his contribution to pluralism, could have directly resolved these cases or, at least, contributed to the process but sadly he opted to stay silent," Hendardi said.

President Yudhoyono received the World Statesmen Award a from New York- based interfaith organization, the Appeal of Conscience Foundation (ACF), last year for his efforts to promote religious freedom in the country.

Various reports, however, have shown increasing incidents of religious intolerance across the country.

Another report from the Wahid Institute, which promotes pluralism and peaceful Islam, reported that such incidents had increased during his 10 years in office.

The report showed religious intolerance cases in 2012 stood at 274, up from 267 in 2011. In 2010, the institute recorded 184 cases, while 121 cases were recorded in 2009.

Yudhoyono is considered as having failed to deal with cases involving minority groups, such as attacks against Ahmadiyah followers in Ciekusik, Banten, in February 2011, and against Shiites in Sampang, East Java, in August 2012.

Yudhoyono also failed to act when the West Java administration sealed the Indonesian Christian Church (GKI) Yasmin in Bogor, despite a ruling by the Supreme Court in December 2010 stating that the church's permit was valid.

Bonar Tigor Naipospos, the Setara Institute's deputy chairman, said that Yudhoyono had also displayed a narrow perspective regarding other human rights cases by claiming that no serious human rights violations took place during his tenure.

"Human rights violations are not limited to military action, as happened during [former president] Soeharto's era. He should know that religious intolerance and the unsolved murder of human rights defender Munir are also examples of serious human rights violations," Bonar said.

Munir Said Thalib died from arsenic poisoning on Sept. 7, 2004, during a Garuda Indonesia flight to the Netherlands.

Law enforcers have failed to find the mastermind behind the murder, while the courts sentenced only two perpetrators, Garuda pilot Pollycarpus Budihari Priyanto and former Garuda president Indra Setiawan, to 20 years and 12 years in prison, respectively.

Meanwhile, Muchdi Purwoprandjono, a former deputy chairman of the National Intelligence Agency (BIN) who was accused of involvement in the case, was acquitted in 2009 of all charges.

Bonar added that Munir's case was a historic test for Yudhyono, as he could have been remembered for his great contribution if the case had been solved under his watch. "Our President, however, failed the test," Bonar said. (idb)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/10/14/sby-excuses-violence-10-year-tenure.html

Parliament & legislation

Lawmakers' track records draw ire

Jakarta Post - October 15, 2014

Margareth S. Aritonang, Jakarta – A survey conducted by a human rights watchdog, the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras), has found that more than 100 of newly sworn-in House of Representatives members have dubious track records.

Data compiled by Kontras shows that 63 lawmakers have been subjected to questioning as witnesses in various graft cases, 16 of whom were named graft suspects and five of whom were tried for graft.

"Not only that, nine lawmakers were also implicated in several human rights cases, 19 in criminal cases and 38 violated election regulations," Chrisbiantoro, Kontras deputy coordinator, announced at a press conference at the Kontras office in Menteng, Central Jakarta.

Chrisbiantoro added that the high number of lawmakers with questionable track records was an indication that political parties had done a poor job in picking legislative candidates.

"The lack of information that voters had about candidates and widespread vote-buying also played a significant role in easing the lawmaker's way into the House," He said.

The survey also included research on a number of high-profile lawmakers, such as Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) lawmaker Wayan Koster; Golkar lawmaker Setya Novanto; Desmond Mahesa from the Gerindra Party; and Edhie "Ibas" Baskoro Yudhoyono from the Democratic Party.

Koster has been questioned by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) in relation to several graft cases, including in the university laboratory procurement case, which put former Democratic Party Angelina Sondakh behind bars. The KPK slapped a travel ban on Koster back in 2012, and he remains a witness in the case.

Ibas has been mentioned in several graft cases, with the latest accusation coming from graft convict and former Democratic Party treasurer Muhammad Nazaruddin, who recently said Ibas had abused his father's name to rig government projects worth hundreds of billions of rupiah. The KPK, however, has always claimed that it was unnecessary to summon the President's son for questioning.

Meanwhile, newly elected House Speaker Setya has been implicated in a number of graft cases. The KPK has questioned Setya several times in connection to the Riau National Games (PON) graft case in which he has been accused of accepting Rp 9 billion (US$737,330) in kickbacks.

Commenting on the Kontras findings, Setya said people should always uphold the presumption of innocence and emphasized that he believed that law enforcement agencies would do their jobs.

"We should not accuse anyone without having enough evidence, otherwise we could be accused of defamation and he or she could be arrested for making such a baseless accusation," Setya told reporters at the House.

Agus Hermanto, a House deputy speaker from the Democratic Party, also played down the accusation and said the Kontras data was no more than assumption. (idb)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/10/15/lawmakers-track-records-draw-ire.html

Red-White Coalition prepared to block any Jokowi policy

Jakarta Globe - October 9, 2014

Markus Junianto Sihaloho & Basten Gokkon, Jakarta – The opposition to President-elect Joko Widodo on Wednesday managed to score a narrow victory, which completed the bloc's attempt to dominate all legislative bodies in Indonesia, prompting further anxiety about political stability in the country.

After dominating the leadership of the House of Representatives last week, losing presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto's Red-White Coalition also managed to gain full control of the People's Consultative Assembly, or MPR.

It is the highest legislative body in the country, and it has the power to amend the Constitution and impeach a president.

After an MPR plenary session marked by shouting and back-room lobbying lasting nearly 19 hours, former forestry minister Zulkifli Hasan of the National Mandate Party (PAN), backed by the Red-White Coalition, had the majority of the votes cast, at 347, compared to 330 for businessman Oesman Sapta Odang, backed by Joko's coalition.

Besides Zulkifli, four deputy speakers were selected, all members of the Red-White Coalition: Hidayat Nur Wahid from the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), Mahyuddin from Golkar Party, Oesman Sapta Odang who was nominated by the Regional Representative Council, or DPD, and E.E. Mangindaan from the Democratic Party.

Aleksius Jemadu, the dean of political sciences at Pelita Harapan University, said the opposition's rule over the MPR would affect Joko's survivability as president.

"There's even a chance that Jokowi won't finish his five-year tenure. Because the KMP [Red-White Coalition] favors [presidential] elections not by the people, but by the MPR. This will also be a way for them to control the executive bodies," he continued.

However, the newly elected speaker has denied any plan to weaken or even impeach Joko after his inauguration as president on Oct. 20, promising a smooth handover of power.

"The most important thing is to build a prosperous nation... that is our national goal, so there is no intention to impeach anyone," Zulkifli said after the grueling plenary session that lasted until the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Zulkifli gave his guarantee that Joko's inauguration would be safe and smooth, without any political disruption, as far as he was concerned. The PAN politician also said it was absurd for anybody to think of impeaching Joko.

"We need to prioritize the unity [of the nation], the MPR is the glue that holds all the different parts together," Zulkifli said.

Vendetta

But in an interview with the Wall Street Journal published this week, Prabowo's brother Hashim Djojohadikusumo said he was seeking revenge against Joko, whom he said had betrayed him.

Hashim said he was the president-elect's primary financial backer when he ran for governor of Jakarta two years ago. In return, he said, Joko promised not to run for president and stand in the way of his brother Prabowo's ambition to rule the country.

Joko defeated Prabowo by 53 percent to 47 percent of the vote during the July 9 presidential election.

Hashim detailed what the Red-White Coalition, which has control over the House and 31 provincial legislatures (DPRD), aimed to do with such enormous legislative power. "We'll be able to control the legislative agenda," he told the Journal.

The bloc aims to scrutinize every policy made and every action taken by the Joko administration.

The House also has the power to appoint people in top government posts, including chief of the National Police, Armed Forces and the judiciary, something the coalition isn't shy to exploit. "It gives us a lot of say in who those people will be," Hashim said.

In a separate interview with Reuters, he explained that the coalition was intent on using corruption cases that occurred during Joko's terms as Jakarta governor and mayor of Solo, Central Java, to obstruct him. "We will use our power to investigate and to obstruct," he said.

This would include looking into alleged corruption involving the Rp 1.5 trillion ($123 million) purchase of Chinese-made buses by the Jakarta administration earlier this year, as well as irregularities in Solo's education budget. Joko has never been accused of any wrongdoing in either of the two cases.

Not so easy

Yunarto Wijaya, executive director of think tank Charta Politika, said the chances of Joko being impeached by the MPR were slim. "The process is too complicated and too long," he said.

By law, the House would have to reach a formal decision before it can propose to the MPR to impeach a president.

The House is also required to secure a Constitutional Court ruling proving that a president violated the law or was no longer qualified to rule the country. To impeach a president, a two-thirds majority is required in a plenary attended by 75 percent of all MPR members.

Political observer Anas Saidi from the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) said some members of the opposition might not support attempts to impeach Joko. "It carries a huge political risk," he said, adding that Indonesia would likely see major demonstrations and conflict if that happened.

Muhammad Misbakhun, a lawmaker from the Golkar Party, the biggest member of the Red-White Coalition, said his party would not approve plans to impeach Joko. "You can't impeach [a president] that easily. There's no plan to create excuses for impeachment," he said. "We are merely balancing the government."

Theo Sambuaga, a deputy chairman of Golkar, said the party would also back away from plans to alter the Constitution, as some analysts have feared.

Several members of the Red-White Coalition have previously proposed that presidents should be appointed by the MPR rather than being elected directly by the people, as was the case during the rule of president Suharto.

The Constitution would have to be amended to enact such a system. By law it takes just one third of MPR members to propose changes to the Constitution. And to enact the changes, a vote of 50 percent plus one is required in a plenary session of two thirds of all MPR members.

"There are no such thoughts by Golkar [to amend the Constitution]. We'll make sure [direct presidential elections] continue because it's what people want," Theo said. However, Golkar did support the Red-White Coalition's move to scrap direct elections for regional leaders, in spite of massive public outcry.

Long road to stability

Yunarto of Charta Politika said another likely scenario would be to block reform-minded policies by Joko. "There will be more and continuous conflicts in the future that may eventually disadvantage investors who want to enter Indonesia, because they require political stability," he said.

Idrus Marham, deputy coordinator of the Red-White Coalition, said the revision of some 100 laws was on the agenda because of the undue leniency they afforded foreign investors in taking stakes in domestic firms.

"Foreigners can own over 90 percent of our banks. What will this country be [if this continues to happen]?" the Golkar Party politician said, hinting that the revisions would likely profit Indonesian tycoons and businesses, which had disputes with their foreign counterparts.

The coalition also expressed its wish to maintain the indirect election system for regional leaders, which President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono blocked with a recent government regulation in lieu of law, known as a Perppu, restoring the direct election of regional leaders.

By law, the Perppu must be endorsed by the House, 63 percent of which is currently controlled by the opposition, which will likely reject Yudhoyono's decree.

But University of Indonesia political observer Arbi Sanit said this would give Joko's four-party coalition a chance to get Yudhoyono's Democratic Party on board, tipping the balance of power.

"We can see the Democrats have the same strategic position [as Joko's coalition] on several important issues. This is the momentum to form a bigger coalition with the Democrats," he said.

But a big factor hindering the two sides from joining forces is a strained relationship between Megawati Soekarnoputri, the chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), and Yudhoyono, a former minister in Megawati's cabinet.

Joko's coalition also has a chance to gain another member, the United Development Party (PPP), the smallest party in the Red-and White Coalition, which was twice snubbed by other bloc members in its bid to gain a leadership post in either the House or the Assembly.

During the speaker selection process in the MPR, Joko's coalition accommodated the PPP's ambition, which PPP faction leader Aunur Rofiq said "marked a key step" in getting the two sides together.

[Additional reporting by Stefy Tenu and Carlos Paath.]

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/red-white-coalition-prepared-block-jokowi-policy/

Tight lobbies topple Jokowi camp by a thread

Jakarta Post - October 9, 2014

Margareth S. Aritonang, Jakarta – President-elect Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's Great Indonesia Coalition has proven that it is an equal match to opposition bloc the Red-and-White Coalition in the competition to secure leadership of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).

Backed by members of the Regional Representatives Council (DPD), the Jokowi coalition was short 17 votes in a close vote that eventually gave victory to the Red-and-White Coalition's nomination package.

The voting session, which ran from Tuesday night until early Wednesday saw members of the House of Representatives, along with DPD members vote for a speaker and four deputies for the MPR, a bicameral assembly that comprises House and DPD members.

The session wrapped with the Red-and-White Coalition triumphing, placing Zulkifli Hasan of the National Mandate Party (PAN), who is also a former forestry ministry, as the new MPR speaker; and the Golkar Party's Mahyudin, Democratic Party's EE Mangindaan and the Prosperous Justice Party's (PKS) Hidayat Nur Wahid as his deputies, in addition to DPD member Oesman Sapta, who was nominated in the Great Indonesia Coalition package.

The Red-and-White coalition, which controls the majority of the House, garnered 347 of the total 677 votes in the joint voting session.

Unlike House members, who are formal representatives of political factions within the legislative institution, the 130 DPD members are, by definition, representatives of their regions of origin, which liberates them from the interests of political parties.

The Great Indonesia Coalition has earned formal support from the DPD as it accommodated the council's aspiration to have Oesman Sapta of West Kalimantan nominated for MPR speaker.

Oesman was nominated along with the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P)'s Ahmad Basarah, the National Awakening Party's (PKB) Imam Nachrowi, the NasDem Party's Patrice Rio Capella and the United Development Party's (PPP) Hasrul Azwar as deputy speaker candidates. The Red-and-White Coalition only gave Oesman a deputy speaker position.

The thin vote margin, according to observers, however, is proof that, behind closed doors, DPD members are still closely affiliated with political parties. Voting, however, was carried out privately in private booths.

"Although DPD members work individually in nature, they are still affiliated with political parties in one way or another. Some of them, for example, are party politicians. They need support from political parties to reach out to regions, particularly large ones," political analyst Ari Dwipayana from Gadjah Mada University said Wednesday.

"Thus, such political affiliation influences their decisions. Support was obviously divided [in the selection of MPR speakers]," he emphasized.

Golkar deputy chairman Fadel Muhammad cited the significant role of DPD members in endorsing the Red-and-White Coalition's leadership candidates and claimed that Golkar had worked to divide the DPD, which originally agreed to collectively endorse Oesman.

Fadel claimed that he had used his network across the archipelago to divide the DPD. "I am a former chairman of the Association of Indonesia's Governors, thus I have a strong network in the DPD. This is how we were able to divide its support," Fadel said as quoted by Kompas.com.

Lawmakers who requested anonymity said vote-buying played a part in swaying DPD members to support Zulkifli of PAN, who was once questioned by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) for alleged graft, instead of Oesman; an allegation that politicians have declined to respond to.

Arya Budi from the Jakarta-based Pol-Tracking Institute said that "anything is possible behind the swing of support from DPD members".

"DPD is not as solid as political parties. It is thus easy to approach its members individually in exchange for either financial gain or political backing. The long recess to allow political lobbying during the voting session signaled it," Arya said.

Zulkifli's list of controversies

1. The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) questioned Forestry Minister and National Mandate Party (PAN) politician Zulkifli Hasan in June for his alleged role in the bribery scandal surrounding the decision to turn 3,000 hectares of protected forest in Bogor, West Java, into a commercial housing project.

Zulkifli was questioned as a witness for a suspect in the case, Francis Xaverius Yohan, an executive of construction company PT Bumi Jonggol Asri (BJA), whose 65 percent share was controlled by PT Sentul City. Speaking after five hours of questioning at KPK headquarters, Zulkifli denied that his office had issued a permit for BJA.

2. Zulkifli became the subject of ridicule in September last year after a video showed him engaging in a heated conversation with Hollywood actor Harrison Ford, who challenged the minister over the destruction of the Tesso Nilo National Park in Riau.

The footage was from Years of Living Dangerously, a documentary series about climate change that is set to be broadcast next year on the US TV network Showtime.

In the video, Ford lost his cool after getting vague answers from Zulkifli on why the destruction occurred. Ford was visibly furious upon hearing that Zulkifli blamed democracy for the forest's destruction.

"One thing that you have to know is that we are in the early stages of democracy, but we are sure that we will achieve balance in the long term in our forest," said Zulkifli.

After the interview, Zulkifli's tone was harsh, calling Ford's statements "cornering". Zulkifli later clarified the incident with Ford during the interview. "He was emotional during the interview. I can understand his love for the environment and rainforests."

"He asked me why all the 20,000 local residents in Kalimantan involved in illegal deforestation were not arrested? I said we used a welfare approach because this was about people who were mostly poor. But he got mad and accused us of being corrupt for letting them go free," Zulkifli said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/10/09/tight-lobbies-topple-jokowi-camp-a-thread.html

Armed forces & police

60 Brimob personnel withdrawn from Lanny Jaya

Jakarta Post - October 16, 2014

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jakarta – The National Police have withdrawn 60 Mobile Brigade (Brimob) members from Pirime, Lanny Jaya regency, Papua, and moved them to Jayapura following a clash between two Brimob members and soldiers from Army Infantry Battalion (Yonif) 756.

The Brimob personnel had been assigned to a security operation under the operational control of Detasemen III Pelopor regiment at Brimob in Pirime, Lanny Jaya regency, Papua.

"To calm the situation and prevent it from worsening further, we withdrew the Brimob members assigned to Detasemen III Pelopor regiment in Pirime to Jayapura," Papua Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Pudjo Sulistyo said in Jayapura on Thursday.

He further said the Brimob personnel had been replaced with colleagues another Papua Police Brimob division.

The clash between the Brimob and Yonif 756 military personnel occurred on Monday, during which Battalion 756 commander Lt. Ali Okta suffered injuries to his left leg.

The clash erupted after a member of Yonif 756, who was traveling on a truck, refused a security inspection conducted by several Brimob members, leading to a quarrel during which they shot at each other.

The police's decision to withdraw the 60 Brimob personnel was taken after Papua Police chief Insp. Gen. Yotje Mende led a team to investigate the cause of the armed conflict in Pirime.

"The team was working for two days to collect information from both parties and witnesses and to carry out an examination in the field. It was concluded that the conflict was triggered by a misunderstanding. The personnel, who are mostly young, were unable to control their emotions and this aggravated the situation," said Pudjo.

He further said both parties had agreed to end the conflict and apologized to each other, meanwhile injured personnel were undergoing medical treatment at Marthen Indey Hospital in Jayapura.

It was reported that the armed conflict had not affected the public or government activities in Lanny Jaya regency.

"I have held a meeting with community leaders and all agencies and working units, reassuring everyone that the situation in Lanny Jaya regency is under control," the regency's regional secretary, Chris Siholait, told The Jakarta Post in Tiom, Lanny Jaya, on Thursday. (ebf)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/10/16/60-brimob-personnel-withdrawn-lanny-jaya.html

Indonesia's police and military come to blows again

Jakarta Globe - October 16, 2014

Jakarta – Two police officers in Kutai Kartanegara, East Kalimantan, were beaten by members of the Indonesian Military on Tuesday, after a routine traffic stop escalated into a full-on fracas, as reported by Antara. The incident is the latest scuffle to strain the increasingly tense relationship between the rival forces.

On Tuesday, the National Police and the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) held a contentious press conference, which itself devolved into finger-pointing, to announce the findings of a joint investigation of a series of clashes in Batam last month that resulted in four shot.

According to East Kalimantan Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Fajar Setiawan, Tuesday's incident started when police officers stopped a vehicle as part of a routine operation.

However, the driver reportedly refused to cooperate on the grounds that he was a member of the TNI stationed nearby. A verbal altercation ensued, but the soldier left and returned to his base.

The unidentified TNI officer allegedly recruited an unknown number of soldiers to travel back to the scene of the argument and extract payback.

By the time the angry military mob reached their destination at around 11 p.m., the police blockade had disbursed, but two officers, identified as Brig. Deni and Brig. Bari, were still at the scene. Outnumbered, the two police officers were unable to defend themselves against the assailants.

"The two traffic officers... are now in intensive care at the Batara Agung Samboja Hospital. Their condition is improving," Fajar said, as quoted by Antara, on Wednesday.

Separately, Col. Totok Surahmat, spokesman for the Mulawarman Military Command, which oversees operations in East Kalimantan, confirmed that "several [military] personnel who had knowledge of the incident are currently being questioned."

The incident in Kutai Kertanegara came just hours after the results of a joint investigation into the Batam fracas were released. According to investigators in charge of the official inquiry, both sides continue to blame each other for the altercation.

Last month's skirmish began when police attempted to inspect a storage facility on suspicion it was being used to warehouse illegally diverted subsidized fuel.

The military admitted on Tuesday that the soldiers were indeed guarding the premises, but maintained they did not know that the facility was used to store pilfered petrol.

An argument ensued between the two soldiers and police officers trying to raid the facility. The situation quickly escalated and police opened fire, shooting the two soldiers in the legs.

Two more military personnel were shot in a similar fashion when they allegedly stormed the nearby police station in what appeared to have been yet another retaliatory strike.

The TNI blames the police for using excessive force and calls for sanctions against the police station's commanding officer Adj. Comr. Oxy Yudha.

National Police Chief Gen. Sutarman, however, was quick on Wednesday to say Oxy "might be innocent," adding that the country's main law enforcement body has not yet launched a criminal investigation into the shooting.

Poengky Indarti, executive director of the Indonesian Human Rights Monitor (Imparsial) criticized the investigation's contentious conclusion on Tuesday, arguing it would only fuel further tension between police and the military.

On Monday, Maj. Gen. Fransen G. Siahaan, head of the Cenderawasih military command, said an argument between the local police of Pirime, Lany Jaya district, Papua, and members of the armed forces reportedly escalated into a firefight.

However, Papua Police chief Insp. Gen. Yotje Mende denied the incident entirely. "It is not true that there has been a shooting between the police and TNI," Yotje said.

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/indonesias-police-military-come-blows/

Military, police still at odds after report on joint investigation

Jakarta Globe - October 15, 2014

Yeremia Sukoyo & Banjir Ambarita, Jakarta/Jayapura – The Indonesian Military and National Police continue to blame each other for last month's Batam altercation between the rival forces that left four soldiers shot, in a report released on Tuesday detailing the findings of their joint investigation.

The skirmish began when police attempted to inspect a storage facility in the Cipta Asri housing complex in the Batu Aji area of Batam, Riau Islands province, on suspicion that it was being used to warehouse illegally diverted subsidized fuel.

Military spokesman Maj. Gen. Fuad Basyar admitted on Tuesday that the soldiers were indeed guarding the premises, but maintained they did not know that the facility was used as to store pilfered petrol.

"From our investigation, yes, there were two military members from the 134th Batalion assigned to secure the location," he said without explaining who ordered the two soldiers to guard the facility.

An argument ensued between the two soldiers and police officers trying to raid the facility. The situation quickly escalated. Police opened fire, shooting the two soldiers in the legs. Two more soldiers were shot in a similar fashion when they allegedly stormed the nearby police station.

Fuad denied that the soldiers were seeking retaliation for the earlier incident, saying they were only "seeking explanation into why their friends were shot."

Fuad further blamed the police for using excessive force. "There was so much noise [police] felt the soldiers were attacking. Afterward Brimob [police Mobile Brigade] officers rushed out [of the police station] fully armed. Then there was more shooting," he said.

Speaking at the same press conference, National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Ronny F. Sompie maintained his officers only fired warning shots into the air during both incidents, without explaining how the injuries occurred.

Fuad said the military was urging police to investigate the conduct of its officers in both encounters, including that of the raid's leader, identified only as O.Y.P., "so that the shooters can face justice." "There were 12 fully armed [police] officers at the time," he said.

Fuad said the two soldiers guarding the facility that stored the illegally diverted fuel would face a military tribunal.

The military earlier said that Chief Pvt. Eka Basri, First Pvt. Ari Kusdiyanto, First Pvt. Eka Syahputra and Second Pvt. Hari Silistiyo were hurt in the incident, but it is unclear which of the soldiers were shot at the illegal fuel hoarding facility and which were shot in front of the police station.

Police spokesman Ronny confirmed the police would not charge the soldiers for obstruction of justice, and named only five civilians as suspects who acted as the facility's owners, operators and buyer.

"They will be charged with Article 55 on the Law on Oil and Gas," he said. The charge carries a maximum penalty of six years in prison and a maximum fine of Rp 60 billion ($4.9 million).

The investigation's contentious conclusion will likely fuel further tensions between police and the military.

On Monday, an Indonesian Military official in Papua said a beef with local police escalated into a firefight. The local police chief and the military's post commander were both shot, Maj. Gen. Fransen G. Siahaan, head of the Cenderawasih military command, told the Jakarta Globe.

"It happened in Pirime, Lany Jaya district," Fransen said, adding that the fight broke out when members of the National Police's Mobile Brigade were conducting a raid in Pirime subdistrict.

One member of the Indonesian Military happened to pass by in a truck. The patrolling Brimob officers insisted on searching the soldier, despite his insistence that he was with the military.

"There was a misunderstanding. The Brimob officer scolded the soldier and said, 'I am not afraid of soldiers!'?" Fransen said.

The argument escalated and the soldier, whose identity has not been disclosed, stepped out of the truck and walked to the TNI post in Pirime to report the incident to his commander.

The post commander, Lt. Ali, along with several of his men, and the chief of the Pirime Police, headed to the site to restore calm.

"But when they approached with the truck, the commander and the police chief were shot. Maybe the Brimob members thought they came to retaliate and therefore they opened fire," Fransen said. He added that Ali was shot in his leg, which apparently is a thing with the police here.

Fransen said the situation in Pirime was under control after the gunfire. He said he had coordinated with the chief of Papua Police to disarm all involved.

Papua Police Chief Insp. Gen. Yotje Mende, however, denied the incident in Pirime altogether. "It is not true that there has been a shooting between the police and TNI," he said.

Poengky Indarti, executive director of the Indonesian Human Rights Monitor (Imparsial), said an independent team must reopen the Batam investigation to ease tensions between the two bodies.

"The [House of Representatives] with its oversight powers must oversee [the investigation] of this case," she told the Globe on Tuesday.

Poengky also urged lawmakers to revise the Law on Military Tribunals, which stipulates that only the military has the authority to investigate its own officers.

"Criminal cases conducted by military members must be tried in normal courts," she said, adding that military tribunals should be limited to disciplinary cases such as insubordination and desertion.

Poengky said President-elect Joko Widodo had a huge task at hand in reforming the military.

"[The military's] argument that the soldiers didn't know they were protecting an illegal operation makes no sense at all. [That soldiers were] guarding a private facility indicates the military is still in the protection racket, which is barred under the Law on the Indonesian Military."

[Additional reporting by Nivell Rayda.]

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/indonesian-military-police-still-odds-report-joint-investigation/

Criminal justice & prison system

Komnas HAM calls on government to abolish death sentence

Suara Pembaruan - October 15, 2014

Jakarta – The National Commission on Human Rights, known as Komnas HAM, on Wednesday called for the government to abolish the death sentence, saying it violated the right to life.

Speaking at a discussion at Komnas HAM's offices for World Day Against the Death Penalty, commission member Roichatul Aswidah said Komnas HAM had recommended the government remove the death penalty from Indonesia's criminal code.

"Article 6 [of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights] stipulates the right to life..." Roichatul Aswidah said."The right to life is the right automatically given by God."

Data from human rights organization Imparsial showed there are 132 inmates awaiting execution in Indonesia.

This year marked the 12th World Day against the Death Penalty, which aims to promote discussion about the sentence among governments and the public.

The event, which was started in 2003, recently drew support from United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon who said the death penalty had "no place in the 21st century."

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/komnas-ham-calls-govt-abolish-death-sentence/

Foreign affairs & trade

Who needs an invitation to Joko Widodo's inauguration?

Sydney Morning Herald - October 16, 2014

James Massola, Michael Bachelard, Peter Hartcher – Prime Minister Tony Abbott is off to the inauguration party of incoming Indonesian President Joko Widodo this Sunday but it appears that he – and other world leaders – have not actually been invited.

Mr Abbott will be joined at the ceremony for the new president, who is widely known as Jokowi, by the Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, Papua New Guinea Governor-General Michael Ogjio, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, Thai deputy Prime Minister Tanasak Patimapragorn, Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Haitian Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe.

United States Secretary of State John Kerry, Japanese special envoy Yasuo Fukuda and the foreign ministers of Canada and New Zealand will also attend.

Agus Subagyo, a spokesman for the information office of the Indonesian MPR or People's Consultative Assembly, which conducts the ceremony, confirmed world leaders had not been invited. "No, they come from their own initiative as expressed through their embassies."

The decision by world leaders to attend – sans invitation – is said to owe much to a precedent set by former Australian prime minister John Howard.

In 2004, foreign heads of government did not, by convention, attend the inauguration ceremony for an Indonesian head of state. Mr Howard changed that, however, and caused a few diplomatic waves while doing so when he attended Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's inauguration.

Fairfax Media's then-Jakarta correspondent Matthew Moore reported at the time that the best evidence suggested Mr Howard had simply invited himself, creating "a protocol nightmare for countries keen for good relations with the new Indonesian president".

Major Indonesian trading partners such as Japan and South Korea rushed to send special envoys to attend the ceremony in the Indonesian Parliament.

And Mr Abbott, who views the relationship with Indonesia as one of Australia's most strategically important, is ready to take a leaf out of Mr Howard's book in travelling to Jakarta for Jokowi's inauguration after a difficult year that has been punctuated by spying revelations and disagreements over asylum seeker policy.

The third secretary of the Indonesian embassy in Canberra, Sezagerry Sumardi, refused to confirm or deny this week whether Mr Abbott had received a formal invitation to the ceremony, issuing only a firm but friendly "no comment".

A spokeswoman for Mr Abbott said simply that the prime minister was looking forward to attending the inauguration ceremony.

The "convention" established by Mr Howard, was followed by Kevin Rudd back in 2009 when the former Labor prime minister attended the inauguration ceremony for Mr Yudhoyono's second term. Former Rudd staffers, contacted by Fairfax Media, could not recall if "Kevin 747" had been invited to the 2009 ceremony, either.

An official in the Jokowi transition team, meanwhile, told an enquirer that "if Mr Abbott were to turn up, Javanese politeness would require that we accommodate him".

Despite the unconventional approach initiated by Mr Howard, it was a decision that appeared to pay off for the Australian Prime Minister – relations between Indonesia and Australia grew warmer.

Mr Abbott will be hoping his attendance will provide a similar early boost to relations between Canberra and Jakarta.

Source: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/who-needs-an-invitation-to-joko-widodos-inauguration-tony-abbott-and-other-world-leaders-invite-themselves-along-20141016-116yhp.html

SBY's foreign policies 'failing his people'

Jakarta Post - October 13, 2014

Jakarta – A coalition of NGOs said on Sunday that outgoing President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had failed to formulate pro-people foreign policies during his 10 years' tenure.

Migrant Care policy analyst Wahyu Susilo said that one of the indicators of Yudhoyono's failure in foreign policy was the 265 migrant workers facing the death penalty in the countries where they worked.

"Based on Migrant Care's data, there are 23 others who have been sentenced to death, while three workers, namely Yanti Irianti, Agus Damsiri and Ruyati, have been executed," Wahyu said during a discussion in Tebet, South Jakarta.

Yanti Irianti, a migrant worker from Cianjur in West Java, was executed by the Saudi government in 2008 for murdering her employer, while Agus, a migrant worker from Padang, West Sumatra, was also executed in 2010 for murder.

Saudi authorities beheaded Ruyati in 2011 after the country's Supreme Court declared that the Indonesian housemaid was guilty of murdering her employer a year before.

"Ironically, only a few days after Ruyati was beheaded, Yudhoyono told a conference that his government had made major progress on labor issues," Wahyu said.

The NGOs also accused Yudhoyono of failing to clamp down on tax evaders who kept their money in tax havens. Khoirun Nikmah from the International NGO Forum on Indonesian Development (INFID) said that the country had lost at least Rp 500 trillion (US$41 billion) from tax evasion issues.

Several Indonesian businesspeople have been known to hide their money in tax havens such as the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Singapore, Switzerland, Mauritius and Bermuda to avoid paying higher taxes at home.

"Yudhoyono should have used multilateral forums as a foreign diplomacy space to push the governments of tax havens to work together with the Indonesian government on this issue," Khoirun told The Jakarta Post after the discussion.

Khoirun said that she hoped that president-elect Joko "Jokowi" Widodo would do more than his predecessor in pursuing tax evaders, whose recouped money could be allocated to sectors in the country such as education and health.

Meanwhile, environmentalist organization Walhi pointed out that Yudhoyono had failed to deliver his promise to maintain low carbon emission levels.

"The President committed to keeping emission levels at 20 percent, but in fact he never made a single serious attempt to curb deforestation in this country," said Walhi's Irhas Ahmadi.

In August, Forestry Ministry secretary-general Hadi Daryanto told the Post that the government would proceed with plans to clear 14 million hectares of degraded forest from 2010 to 2020 because deforestation was "inevitable".

Irhas added that while on the one hand Yudhoyono always promised in international forums to control emission levels, on the other he continued to issue forest conversion permits, including licenses for the conversion of hundreds of thousands of hectares of forest area in Riau in 2008, which has led to forest fires and bothersome haze.

"Every statement [Yudhoyono] has made on environmental issues has just been to maintain his image. In reality he has done nothing," said Irhas. (idb)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/10/13/sby-s-foreign-policies-failing-his-people.html

Tourism & hospitality

Indonesia now number one destination for Australian child sex tourists

Sydney Morning Herald - October 12, 2014

Michael Bachelard – Every so often, a convicted Australian paedophile – we'll call him "Malcolm" – transfers small amounts of cash via Western Union to his "friends" in Indonesia.

Perhaps Malcolm is just being nice to some poor families in a country where 43 per cent of the population subsists on less than $2 per day.

But Australian police believe his "small but suspicious" cash transfers of $30, $40, $50, mean Malcolm may be buying sex acts which children are forced to perform live for him in front of a webcam. In other words, they believe, he's commissioning pay-per-view paedophilia.

But he does not stop there. Several times since 2013, most recently in the past three months, according to Australian Federal Police regional commander Chris Sheehan, Malcolm has travelled to Indonesia, usually for four to six weeks at a time.

"We know from our inquiries with the Indonesian police that he has a relationship with people here who have relationships with young children: family members," Sheehan told Fairfax Media in his Jakarta office. "We suspect he's arranged for pay-per-view, and likes the child, so he comes to Indonesia to access the child."

If Malcolm is doing this, he's joining a large and growing cohort of Australian paedophiles seeking their guilty pleasure in the poor villages and towns of their northern neighbour.

It may surprise many but Indonesia has, in the past three years, eclipsed Thailand, the Philippines and Malaysia to become the number one destination for Australian sex tourists. The latest figures, previously undisclosed to the public, show that 18 per cent of all sex offenders who appear on a state-based register come to Indonesia – that's 25 per month. Most start in Bali but they may travel to other destinations within the massive country.

Some are doubtless on holidays, Sheehan says. But for the dedicated predator, access to prey is what draws them, and there is plenty in a country where one-third of the population – 80 million people – are under 18 and desperate poverty makes them and their families susceptible to the lure of hard cash.

On the busiest part of Kuta's tourist strip, little girls like Lina, 12, and her little sister Lisa, 7, simply walk up to these men in the street.

They come from the dirt-poor mountainside villages of Karangasem in Bali's far east to sell woven bracelets to tourists. Other small children knock on car windows at traffic lights on Sunset Road or Benoa asking for money. Their mothers are often nearby, too, suckling babies and begging. These children – working for a living and starved of money, attention and affection – are incredibly vulnerable.

"A bule [white foreigner] already promised me a job once I graduate from elementary school," Lina says proudly. She met him on Kuta beach a few years ago and he was now paying for her to go to school for the first time – she's so far behind that she's in third grade.

Perhaps it's a legitimate offer of help, says slum school teacher Anggie Cahyani, from charity Sekolah Harapan Bali, but perhaps not. It can be hard to tell. But Anggie has seen plenty of examples of the wrong kind of charity.

In 1997, paedophile school teacher Peter Dundas Wallbran met his 8-year-old victim selling trinkets on the beach on Lombok. He offered to help, fostered the boy, paid for his education and clothing and charmed his family for seven full years while, in private, he was violently raping him.

Whatever happens in Lina's friendship with the friendly westerner, everyone here knows that, at 12, her career as a beggar is coming to an end. Adolescents are simply less cute than their younger brothers and sisters, so their earning power falls sharply.

"They get too old," says Nyoman Binar, an older woman also begging on the beach-front boulevard Jalan Pantai Kuta. "By 12, the girls are going to the massage [parlours]. I'm not sure what kind of massage because I don't have any girls."

Lina's big sister, 20, already has a baby who lives in the village while she has worked for several years in a spa. When we ask what kind of massage she performs, Lina avoids the question.

Western male tourists to Kuta, Seminyak or Sanur, though, know the answer. It's spelled out in the offers whispered into their ears by touts and taxi drivers: "You want sex, boss? We have girls – young girls".

And, in a country where the age of consent is 18, it's barely disguised even on public websites extolling Bali's sexual secrets. One thread informs men about a short-stay hotel with available high school girls, but only out of school hours and before 7pm lest "their parents knock on your door".

Slum teacher Anggie says the lure of money and pressure from the family to earn it made it difficult for her to keep teenage girls' minds on their studies. Many have met bule "friends" in the streets who lure them with phones, cameras and jewellery. The ultimate goal for some, Anggie says, is to marry one, because all westerners are considered rich.

The boys who get too old to beg often join one of a number of gangs such as Laskar Bali or Baladika Bali, where they are useful as footsoldiers before growing big enough to do the heavier lifting.

A few girls do go back to the village to look after the babies. But there is very little future there. The eruption of Mount Agung in 1963 rendered the soil infertile and wrecked water storage. Life in the eight-month dry season became one long search for potable water, and people left to beg in the city. Today's young Kuta beggars and trash pickers are the fourth generation.

Natalia Perry from the Safe Childhoods Foundation says there are two types of sex tourists: "prolific", who gather in paedophile forums, admit what they are and plan to abuse children; and "situational", who might see a young-looking girl or boy and give into temptation.

Both types flock from Australia and other Western countries to Bali, and the Indonesian police are yet to attack the problem hard, she says. "Of Indonesia, Cambodia, the Philippines and Thailand, Indonesia is the only country that has not tightened up."

Even admitting there is a problem is difficult for some local authorities, Perry says. "They feel they have the 'Bali is Paradise Island' image to defend: it makes them very sensitive about it."

In Western societies it's the historical abuse cases – from Rolf Harris to the Catholic priests – that have brought child sex assault to the fore. But in Balinese culture, people don't want to revisit old ills. "If you talk about something bad that happened in the past, you'll reawaken the evil spirits from the time," Perry says.

Indonesian police are also hamstrung by their investigative processes. They can only charge someone if a complaint is laid – in other words, if a child is prepared to make a statement. In a culture where parents may have helped facilitate the sex act, that is vanishingly rare.

There is also a widespread view (including among police, though it appears nowhere in the law) that if someone, even a child, has been offered and accepted money for sex, no crime has been committed.

Even if a man is arrested for paedophilia, another payment can see the problem go away. In one case last year, a South African man raped a 13-year-old girl who, unusually, made a complaint. The police arrested him, then helped facilitate a meeting at which the girl's parents came to a financial settlement with the rapist's family.

For all of these reasons child sex tourism is not going away in Indonesia. An increase in internet infrastructure and the increasing ability to speak English at the village level might mean that the pay-per-view style of offence that has led to convictions elsewhere will also boom.

Perry's organisation will soon launch a campaign in Bali to remind situational offenders that what they are contemplating is illegal and immoral. It attacks the self-serving justifications they use, such as "she needs the money" and "she wants it".

Prolific offenders – the planning paedophiles – will be reminded of a wide network of police forces, including the Australian Federal Police, the Indonesian Police and Interpol, who are now tracking them through their chat rooms and travel plans.

Every time an Australian sex offender travels, the destination country receives an alert, Sheehan says.

He also flags a new determination among Indonesia law enforcers to understand and address the problem. The case at the Jakarta International School – no matter how dubious are the facts – has galvanised Indonesian society. A recent conference talked about establishing a dedicated child protection taskforce.

"They are now looking at a national response; they are not sitting idly by waiting for it to become a crisis," Sheehan says.

Of people like "Malcolm", for example: "If we get information that this guy is doing something wrong in Indonesia, there is a good chance he's facing an extended period in an Indonesian jail."

Wallbrand, the Australian school teacher who raped a series of boys in Lombok, was caught in Australia, extradited to Indonesia, and sent to jail.

Sheehan said one of the key reasons the AFP had big posts in south-east Asia was to combat the scourge of sex tourism. "It's up there with counter-terrorism and people smuggling," he says.

"My advice to potential offenders is: reconsider travelling to Indonesia, the Philippines and other parts of southeast Asia, because you increasingly face the likelihood that you'll be investigated and then prosecuted."

Source: http://www.smh.com.au/world/indonesia-now-number-one-destination-for-australian-child-sex-tourists-20141010-1142ax.html

Mining & energy

Indonesia must be careful in renegotiating mining contracts: Stiglitz

Jakarta Post - October 11, 2014

Satria Sambijantoro, Bali – Nobel laureate economist Joseph E. Stiglitz has warned Indonesia to manage its natural resources carefully, warning against exploitation by mining firms proposing "bad contracts" that would put the government at a disadvantage.

Stiglitz, who advised US leaders Barack Obama and Bill Clinton on economic policies, cautioned Indonesian policymakers against "asymmetry of information" during the renegotiation of mining contracts, with the government particularly susceptible to unfair dealings and excessive business exploitation.

The situation could happen because most developing economies tend to have a limited grasp of mining operations, said Stiglitz, who won the Nobel Prize in economics in 2001 for his theory of markets with asymmetric information.

"For instance, a lot of the contracts say if the commodity prices go down, the country has to give a discount, but if the prices goes up, the company gets to keep all the profits," he said in an economics seminar in Nusa Dua, Bali on Saturday.

"There's an idea where many [mining] companies have to disclose all their financial dealings with emerging economies, and not all were surprised when many of the companies did not like that," added Stiglitz, a professor of economics at Columbia University.

Among the mining giants operating in Indonesia currently approaching the end of their contracts is Freeport McMoran Copper & Gold. Inc, which operates the world's largest gold mine in Grasberg, Papua.

The work contract between Freeport and the Indonesian government will end in 2021, with negotiation on the contract's extension to begin two years prior to the deadline, or in this case in 2019.

However, Freeport had lobbied the current administration to sign the amended contract before President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono leaves office on Oct. 20, Sukhyar, a director general for mineral and coal at the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry, said this week.

Natural resources play an important role in the Indonesian economy so policymakers must consider the country's best interests when negotiating with the mining firms, said Stiglitz, a former World Bank chief economist who is known for an advocate of stronger government intervention in the economy.

"There are a lot of bad contracts signed in the past [by emerging economies]," warned Stiglitz. "There is this unfairness that is going on."

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/10/11/ri-must-be-careful-renegotiating-mining-contracts-stiglitz.html

Economy & investment

Indonesia still lacks mainstay products to face AEC

Bernama - October 10, 2014

Jakarta – Indonesia needs more mainstay products in order to compete in the Asean Economic Community (AEC), Executive Chairman of the Indonesian Communications and Information Technology Council (ICITC) Ilham Habibie said.

"We in Indonesia still lack mainstay goods as local champion products. We should design such products like Japan's Toyota cars, or like what South Korea has done with its technology and information product," Indonesia's Antara news agency quoted him as saying here on Friday.

He said that in order to create local champion products a supporting system was needed which was impossible to be done by a private company. Standardisation by the government is a must.

With regard to standardisation in the development of a product, regulation was an important factor and the standard should already be made available before the product was produced, he said.

This should serve as a regulation for regional governments to develop mainstay products which will be released to the market, Ilham explained.

He said that the development of products started from the creation of a workable idea into the creation of a prototype through an incubation process. In these stages, what is needed is not funding but guidance.

"We can take an example from the United States. It is successful in the first phase by providing guidance. Usually, the results of guidance given to academicians in Indonesia are different because they do not understand risks in the fields such as delays, macro economic changes and in consistent regulations," he stressed.

In the face of the Asean free trade, Indonesia has prepared a master plan for the acceleration and expansion of its economic development (MP3EI). The scheme focuses on the development of infrastructure. Ilham said this scheme was good yet it was lacking implementation.

"All infrastructural facilities the government is planning to build are good. Implementation is thus a keyword. It should all be in the hands of the government, not in the private sector. The government should be responsible for the construction of the infrastructure," he added.

Source: http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v7/wn/newsworld.php?id=1075203

Analysis & opinion

Jokowi's first presidential order: New false teeth for 'Ibu' Eet

Jakarta Post - October 12, 2014

Kornelius Purba, Opinion – Amid rising concern over the reported plan to block the inauguration of Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and Jusuf Kalla as the country's president and vice president on Oct. 20, Jokowi demonstrated his proficiency at "dining table" diplomacy on Friday evening. He hosted a two-hour dinner in a hotel in Central Jakarta with three top politicians.

Just look at The Jakarta Post's frontpage picture on Saturday: President- elect Jokowi was firmly raising the hands of the speaker of the House of Representatives, Setya Novanto, and the speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly, Zulkifli Hasan. The two politicians belong to the camp of Prabowo Subianto, who lost to Jokowi in the July 9 presidential election. Irman Gusman of the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) was also present.

You may argue that the meeting means nothing because it was just a PR stunt. But please do not forget that the "dining table" approach and his eagerness to "listen to the people" are among his strongest trademarks that helped to rocket his career to become the country's seventh president within just three years.

The Friday dinner and the provision of free teeth for a housemaid were the combination of factors that helped me to believe that Jokowi will survive as the country's leader, although he will have to "swim in rough seas".

In a meeting on Thursday in Cikini, Central Jakarta with a group of people who had volunteered for him during the presidential election, a middle-aged woman opened wide her nearly toothless mouth in front of Jokowi and begged him to buy her a set of false teeth.

The woman, who was employed as a part-time domestic worker, told Jokowi that with a monthly salary of Rp 500,000 (US$40) she will never be able to buy the vital mouth equipment on her own.

However, before she showed him her own problem, she first requested Jokowi provide a public bathing, washing and toilet facility (MCK) in her slum neighborhood. Then she followed up with the tooth issue.

"On more request, Pak. This is about my teeth. I am teethless," Eet said, as quoted by several online media. Being toothless, she said, she could not taste food well. Jokowi totally agreed with her.

Jokowi spontaneously promised her a new set of dentures. "Tomorrow, come to my office. It will be directly checked," said Jokowi. "In my view, little things like this must also become matters of principle for the government," said the outgoing Jakarta governor.

Hopefully, Eet will have her new teeth by the time Jokowi is sworn into office in the next 10 days. It could become the first realization of one of Jokowi's promises as the country's seventh president.

Many Indonesians, and also the international community, are anxious about the survival of Jokowi's government. His political opponents now fully control the legislature.

He needs to realize that he cannot depend for much support on the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) because its chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri is surrounded by people who think God will punish those who oppose Megawati. Many of them are just sycophants and they will receive their karma.

I dare say there is no capable strategist within the party, not even her own daughter Puan Maharani. The absence of her late husband Taufiq Kiemas left a big hole that no one can fill. Only after his death did people realize how vital a role he played inside the party. Many people wrongly regarded Taufiq as a mere parasite on the daughter of the country's first president, Sukarno.

It was PDI-P that nominated Jokowi and Kalla for the presidential race. The party won the April legislative election, but the victory means nearly nothing since Megawati stubbornly refused to be more flexible and tactical against rival political parties.

The allies and supporters of Lt. Gen. (ret) Prabowo Subianto have vowed to torpedo the government of Jokowi and Kalla. It is sad that among Prabowo's die-hard supporters is Amien Rais, one of the icons of the nation's struggle to force Soeharto out in May 1998. History may eventually remember the lecturer of the Gadjah Mada University (UGM) as a traitor to our commitment to the supremacy of civil society. I voted for him and his National Mandate Party (PAN) in two elections.

For me, former Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung was a true ideological son of Soeharto. The soft-spoken politician could clearly still not forgive Megawati for her failure to pick him as her deputy when Megawati replaced Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid in 2001.

Prabowo was a man who could not accept defeat. Judging from his background from childhood, he will not hesitate to spend the rest of his life seeking revenge against the people who publicly embarrassed him and hurt his ego.

Current Golkar chairman Aburizal Bakrie is a man who was always afraid that his business empire would be demolished unless it had strong political backing from the government. He is a business tycoon who never hesitated to use religious and race issues to attract the nation's sympathy.

This is my perception of the four politicans. Hopefully, I am right, not wrong.

Jokowi will face severe opposition in the legislature, but we need to remember that after he became the governor of Jakarta in 2012, he was only backed up by a minority faction at the City Council. He reached out to the people with his blusukan (impromptu visits). The public will be his strongest supporters, as long as he succeeds in convincing them he is serving the nation, sincerely and smartly.

Let Kalla manage the other mechanisms to tame their political enemies. As long as they are still dirty, they will not be able to disrupt the government. The prisons are waiting for them.

[The writer is senior managing editor at The Jakarta Post.]

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/10/12/view-point-jokowi-s-first-presidential-order-new-false-teeth-ibu-eet.html

The week in review: Has the circus left town?

Jakarta Post Editorial - October 12, 2014

Endy M. Bayuni – When the circus leaves, the whole town would normally be saddened by it. This time around however, we should feel relieved, for the political circus we have been watching for much of the past fortnight in Jakarta finally ended this week. Hopefully, the political animals that were part of the show will settle down and start some serious work.

The election of the leadership of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) ended the inaugural sessions for the national legislatures, made up of politicians chosen in the April general elections. The House of Representatives (DPR) and the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) had already picked their leaders the previous week. These are our representatives for the next five years.

These opening sessions exposed the worst part of democracy as politicians scrambled for positions in the legislatures. They may claim there was nothing illegitimate about how they won their seats, but the wheeling and dealing that was on full display thanks to live television was something many people would probably rather not know or see.

Unlike in past elections, the deliberations to choose the MPR and DPR leaders went into the wee morning hours before the vote. On both counts, the Red-and-White Coalition (KMP), formed as a united force against incoming president Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, won.

It is not so much the process that was most disturbing as the intentions and the statements made by some KMP members. Being the sore losers they are – after their candidate Prabowo Subianto lost the presidential bid to Jokowi in July – they are now bent on depriving the new president a free passage in the legislature, promising a difficult battle every step of the way when he starts governing on Oct. 20.

The KMP victory in the election of the DPR and MPR leaders, where almost all positions fall under its control, raises the specter of gridlocks that could render Jokowi's government dysfunctional.

The opposition camp not only has a controlling majority, it also controls the direction and political agenda, since it seized all the top positions, including the speakership.

Those keeping score say that it's five to zero in favor of the KMP so far. But while the opposition camp has won all the battles, let's not forget that Jokowi won the war.

And with all the possible drawbacks of governing from a minority position, he will still be the chief executive officer come Oct. 20. This is a presidential system of government and the Constitution confers many powers and prerogatives on him to rule.

Granted, his powers may not be as overriding as when Indonesia's first two presidents, Sukarno and Soeharto, ruled. Today, Jokowi has to share more of his powers with others, including the legislatures.

This will be the ultimate test of statesmanship for any politician and not just for the incoming president: how to govern a nation effectively when power is so diluted.

There is a limit to how far the opposition coalition members can carry on with the charade before it starts backfiring. So far, it looks like their motivation has been only to exact revenge on Jokowi for stealing the presidency from Prabowo.

But public opinion has already rejected their maneuver to abolish the direct election mechanism for local leaders, replacing it with elections through the local legislatures. Sensing a major public outcry, outgoing President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono issued a decree overruling the local election law and put the power to elect local leaders back in the people's hands.

Early fears that KMP politicians would boycott Jokowi's inauguration have dissipated. As soon as Zulkifli Hasan, from the KMP, was appointed MPR speaker on Wednesday, he said he would see to it that the inauguration took place as scheduled.

You can't run politics solely on the basis of a personal vendetta forever. At some stage, these elected politicians need to start taking responsibility. Some members of the KMP are already feeling uneasy at playing Prabowo's game of blocking Jokowi's every single move. Time will tell how solid the opposition coalition is.

We get the leaders we deserve. So no one should grumble about the poor quality of the representatives we elected in April. If many of them now appear to be working for their party bosses rather than the people, despair not. There is a chance to vote them out in five years.

Sadly, from the opening performance of the national legislatures, we cannot avoid getting the feeling that we have put in place a government of the elite, by the elite and for the elite.

There is hope, however, that the executive branch under President Jokowi will live up to the adage of government of, for and by the people. After all, wasn't he elected because many saw him as the real people's president?

The next major item in the national political agenda will be the selection of the new Cabinet by the incoming president. Let's hope that Jokowi doesn't turn this into another fight of parceling out seats to political parties. That circus has left town.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/10/12/the-week-review-has-circus-left-town.html