Farouk Arnaz, Jakarta – Indonesia's National Police have been forced to apologize after officers in Riau stormed into a mosque and made a mess while pursuing students protesting about fuel subsidy cuts.

"For the incident that occurred on Tuesday in [the] RRI complex, the big family of National Police is asking for your pardon, especially from my muslim brothers and sisters," Sr. Commr. Agus Rianto, head of the National Police's Public Information Division, said on Friday.

The incident, which occurred on Tuesday, followed a student strike against President Joko Widodo's decision to hike fuel prices earlier this month. Protestors, who had gathered outside the Republic of Indonesia Radio building in Riau, refused to move on after student representatives spoke on air, sparking a confrontation with police.

With police closing in, students fled in a number of directions, police said, including into the Republic of Indonesia Radio building's mosque.

Police stormed into the mosque without removing their shoes and made a mess inside. Agus said the officers were only doing their duty and trying to enforce the law.

"It wasn't our intention to disrespect the norm of removing our shoes upon entering the praying room," he said, "but the situation forced us to act firmly because they insisted on not getting out of the room."

National police headquarters was also forced to accept the Riau officers used unnecessary force after they assaulted several protestors. Agus said hitting the students was "not right."

"To date, four students have gone through medical check up and reported to the national police's profession and protection division." The division is responsible for public reports on abuse of power by police.

At least 25 students were injured and one is in critical condition from the clash.

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/police-apologize-storming-riau-mosque-catch-rioters/

One dead in protest against fuel price hike

Jakarta Post - November 28, 2014

Jakarta – A protester died Thursday as a stone-throwing crowd clashed with police in central Indonesia during a demonstration against a dramatic increase in fuel prices, police said.

The 27-year-old man was found in the street after police fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse about 200 demonstrators trying to force their way into the local governor's office in Makassar, on Sulawesi island.

The city has been the site of small demonstrations since last week's decision by new President Joko Widodo to increase the price of subsidised petrol and diesel by over 30 percent.

Local police spokesman Endi Sutendi told AFP the crowd of students and local residents began throw-ing rocks at police, who responded by hurling more rocks back.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/11/28/one-dead-protest-against-fuel-price-hike.html

West Papua

Indonesian police to stop Free Papua anniversary activities

Antara News - November 30, 2014

Jayapura – Police in Papua have been prepared to disperse any separatist Free Papua Organization (OPM) anniversary commemoration event to be held on December 1.

Papua regional police deputy commander Brigadier General Paulus Waterpauw said to ANTARA News here on Sunday police personnel stood by in anticipation against any OPM anniversary activity.

Asked whether the police would go ahead with their plan even if the anniversary activity is conducted in the form of a religious rite, Waterpauw said it would be up to local police chiefs to decide.

However if the rite is accompanied by separatist flag raising a firm action will be taken, he said. "What is certain is we will act against any activity linked to OPM anniversary on December 1," he said.

He said situation in Papua as well as West Papua at present remains secure.

(Reporting by Evarukdijati/Uu.H-YH/F001)

Source: http://www.antaranews.com/en/news/96752/indonesian-police-to-stop-free-papua-anniversary-activities

Indonesia should step out of Papua with pride, says jailed activist

Sydney Morning Herald - November 30, 2014

Michael Bachelard, Jayapura, West Papua – Ten years after he was jailed for raising the outlawed "Morning Star" flag, West Papuan independence leader Filep Karma has called on Indonesian President Joko Widodo to voluntarily grant independence to West Papua so that Indonesia is not embarrassed in international forums.

In a secretly recorded interview with Fairfax Media in a hotel room in Jayapura, Mr Karma said Papuans were racially discriminated against, called "monkeys" by Javanese Indonesians, and should have the right "to build our country, our land, upon the culture of being Melanesian, not Malay".

The interview took place when Mr Karma was allowed out of jail briefly on November 15 to attend his daughter's wedding. He was returned by police as soon as the reception finished.

For his flag-raising, Mr Karma was sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment – triple the term recommended by prosecutors. The United Nations and Amnesty International have named him a political prisoner and demanded his release.

Papuans are preparing on Monday to challenge Indonesia once again by raising the flag in ceremonies across the country. It's the 53rd anniversary of colonial power Holland first recognising Papuan nationalist symbols in 1961. Local reports indicate police are massing to shut down protests.

Mr Karma, who also remains defiant, wearing a mini-flag to the wedding, has rejected all attempts to grant him remissions for good behaviour, amnesty or parole, believing they would be a tacit admission of guilt. "It is my right to be freed unconditionally, because it is everybody's right to speak," he said.

Mr Joko is popular among Papuan people and plans to visit the provinces of Papua and West Papua later this month. He recently told Fairfax Media that easing economic disadvantage was a key priority. Social and economic development would reduce separatist sentiment, he said. But the showing of Papuan independence symbols, including the flag, remain illegal.

Mr Karma said that though Mr Joko might be a good man, "we don't know who will be the next president after Jokowi, so he is no guarantee for us".

Drawing the analogy with East Timor, Mr Karma said Indonesia should willingly grant West Papua freedom, not be dragged into it by international pressure.

"I offer a solution and in my opinion it's a win-win solution: if Jokowi truly admits this is a democratic country and it does not colonise Papua, he should prepare the Papuan people for independence. He should facilitate it... just like Australia facilitated Papua New Guinea getting their independence."

In that case Indonesia could "step out of Papua with pride and without the need to show embarrassment or hang their heads like when they had to leave Timor Leste", which it "left in embarrassment, and its name was tainted in the eyes of the international world".

The independence push needed international support and should be held in an "independent, free country" so that Papuan activists would have the chance to "sit together and negotiate a solution".

"It took the UN, the United States, the Netherlands and the international community to incorporate Papua into Indonesia, so if negotiations are to be held, they should be done through an international forum."

Once independence was granted, Papuans would say "well, Indonesia was evil and cruel, but it does eventually realise its mistakes and it has acted better now, and it's a truly democratic nation", Mr Karma said.

Indonesia's Minister for Villages and Disadvantaged Regions, Marwan Jafar, told Fairfax Media he believed that if central government money was spent better on services then "the problem of Papua can actually be solved".

He acknowledged there were also human rights issues, but said most of the problems came down to central funds not being spent efficiently in the province.

Papuan deputy police chief Paulus Waterpauw said Indonesian police were now "more knowledgeable about human rights" than they once were, and that Mr Joko had the right approach.

"I think if there is someone who can do what Jokowi does – talk with the people, sit down and eat with the people, listen to their problems then set a policy to solve the problems – I think the Papuan issue can be resolved soon."

Source: http://www.smh.com.au/world/indonesia-should-step-out-of-papua-with-pride-says-jailed-activist-20141130-11x0fs.html

Freeport mining activities return to normal

Jakarta Post - November 28, 2014

Timika – Activities at the PT Freeport Indonesia (PT FI) Amamapare Port Site in Timika, Papua, returned to normal on Thursday after access to the location – which had been blockaded by residents and employees from seven tribes possessing customary rights to the PT FI mining concession – was reopened.

The blockade was due to the signing of a new agreement between PT FI and the workers' union called the New Era agreement.

Many employees viewed the New Era agreement as going against the Joint Working Regulation (PKB) and the Industrial Relation Regulation (PHI), which had been jointly agreed-upon between management and labor.

In addition, residents of Karaka village, located adjacent to the Amampare Port Site, demanded their village be connected with to the mine's electricity supply.

The road has been blocked by felled trees since Nov. 22. Residents also set up a tent in the middle of the road, preventing the loading and unloading of cargo.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/11/28/freeport-mining-activities-return-normal.html

Maire Leadbeater: West Papuans' long fight for freedom

New Zealand Herald - November 27, 2014

Waitangi Day controversies are minor compared to this battle for identity and self-determination.

Waitangi Day, New Zealand's national day, comes with controversy, robust historical debate and challenges to do more to address the grievances of the past.

It is sometimes a painful day but compared with the situation in West Papua we have it made. West Papuans celebrated their national day freely just once, on December 1, 1961.

The roots of the problem go back to the days of Empire and the Dutch East Indies. Indonesia's nationalist rulers waged a long and costly struggle before they finally won freedom from their colonial rulers in 1949. The Dutch did not want to relinquish their New Guinea territory and Indonesia's new leaders agreed reluctantly to leave the question aside in the short- term.

Meanwhile the Dutch encouraged the formation of a Papuan elite and began to prepare the colony for independence. In the 1950s New Zealand weighed in on the side of the Dutch when the issue came up for debate in the UN.

In April 1961 a New Guinea Council was inaugurated consisting of a majority of elected members, most of whom were Papuan. A New Zealand delegation headed by the Minister of Island Territories, Leon Gotz, attended the ceremony as did Samoan and PNG representatives.

The council was intended to run for 10 years, by which time the people could choose full independence. But Indonesian attacks were escalating from verbal threats to armed infiltration so in October the council called together a Peoples' Congress. A manifesto – West Papua's freedom charter – affirmed the universal right to self-determination and the right of the Papuan people to their own land.

In 1962 the West New Guinea dispute between Indonesia and the Netherlands descended further into open military conflict. A UN administration, UNTEA, was put in charge from October 1962 until May 1963. Whereas the December 1, 1961 event was largely an elite urban affair, the growth of a guerrilla struggle in the jungle from 1965 changed the dynamic. Indonesia was forced to bring in troop reinforcements to deal with the widening revolt.

In 1969 Indonesia cemented its hold on West Papua, then West Irian, by holding a phony act of self-determination called an Act of Free Choice, a plebiscite in which only a little over 1000 press-ganged men participated. Declassified Ministry of Foreign Affairs papers reveal that our ambassador was present for part of the process. Memos comment on the "questionable morality of the entire process". But when the matter came up before the UN we stayed quiet and our vote went for Indonesia.

New Zealand continues to frame any expression of concern for human rights in West Papua in the context of its support for the "territorial integrity" of Indonesia.

If the first 1961 Papuan Congress was a modest affair, that cannot be said for the second Congress which took place in 2000 during the more liberal regime of Indonesian President Wahid. About 3000 Papuans from every branch of society, including tribal people in traditional dress, affirmed their desire to separate from Indonesia and to establish their own sovereign state. The Third Papuan Congress, held in 2011, was even larger but it was broken up in a hail of police bullets, and five of its newly elected leaders were jailed.

In Auckland, Oceania Interrupted, a wonderful collective of Maori and Pacific women will hold a flag-raising performance event at Mission Bay beach at 5pm on Monday. They understand the enduring force of the desire for self-determination. Does our Government?

[Maire Leadbeater is a member of West Papua Action Auckland.]

Source: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11365000

Lofty aims at West Papua meeting in Vanuatu

Radio New Zealand International - November 27, 2014

Vanuatu's West Papua Unification Committee says it is aiming to ensure all opinions will be well represented at its summit next week.

The meeting hopes to form a united bid for Papuan membership of the Melanesian Spearhead Group.

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

The chairman of the committee Pastor Allan Nafuki says it is also hoped that the conference can produce an autonomous decision on self determination for independence.

"We are asking every group, whether pro, or not pro, we are expecting them to come, so that at the end of the summit, nobody will say the Vanuatu summit was not well represented. So we want to give everybody an opportunity at this summit."

Pastor Allan Nafuki says he has not heard of any West Papuans facing difficulties leaving Indonesia for the summit. About 200 West Papua representatives from around the world are expected to attend, with some of them arriving from today.

The conference will begin from the 1st of December, following a march of solidarity for the West Papuan people in Port Vila.

Source: http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/260423/lofty-aims-at-west-papua-meeting-in-vanuatu

Hopes Vanuatu meet will unite West Papua groups

Radio New Zealand International - November 27, 2014

The chair of Vanuatu's West Papua Unification Committee is confident next week's summit will produce a united West Papuan bid to join the Melanesian Spearhead Group.

About 200 West Papuans are expected at the conference, which is to begin from the 1st of December, following a march of solidarity for the West Papuan people in Port Vila.

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

The chair of Vanuatu's West Papua Unification Committee, Pastor Allan Nafuki, says he expects they will be able to deliver such a bid by the end of the summit.

"By this summit we expect all of them will sign requesting membership for MSG. Yes, I'm confident that this is one of our main highlights in our summit."

Source: http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/260437/hopes-vanuatu-meet-will-unite-west-papua-groups

Aceh

Aceh gives up GAM flag for oil

Jakarta Globe - November 27, 2014

Novianti Setuningsih, Jakarta – The government in Aceh has agreed to back down from its plans to adopt the flag of the now-disbanded separatist Free Aceh Movement, or GAM, after Jakarta pledged to allow the local government to control one of its oil and gas blocks, top officials said on Thursday.

"There has been a deal through the coordinating ministry for the economy," said Tedjo Edhy Purdijatno, the minister. "Both sides have reached an agreement."

The Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Sudirman Said said Jakarta had agreed to award Aceh control over one of its oil and gas blocks, the Pase block. The block, Sudirman said, would be managed by a province-owned enterprise Perusahaan Daerah Pembangunan Aceh.

But Jakarta still needs to issue a government decree awarding the local firm the block's management rights. A draft of the decree "is still being formulated. Just a little bit more required," Sudirman said.

Jakarta has criticized Aceh's adoption of the GAM flag as its provincial standard since it was proposed in March last year.

The central government argued that it violated the 2005 peace agreement between the GAM and the government, but Aceh Governor Zaini Abdullah, himself a former GAM commander, argued that the Finland-brokered peace deal did not include the specifics of Aceh's flag.

Officials in Aceh said the flag, featuring a crescent moon and star on a red background, predated the separatist movement, claiming it was the symbol of the ancient kingdom that once ruled the region.

But Jakarta insists, saying the symbol is one of those outlawed, a list which also includes the South Maluku Republic's Benang Raja flag and the Free Papua Organization's Bintang Kejora flag.

In defiance, thousands of people in Aceh have been raising the GAM flag, prompting forceful seizures and tensions between civilians and members of the security forces. When he returned to office for the second time this year, Vice President Jusuf Kalla immediately sought to appease tensions between Aceh and Jakarta.

Talks between Zaini and the central government, mediated by Kalla, who was instrumental in the 2005 peace deal, started last week.

Zaini earlier said Jakarta had promised Aceh control over the province's oil concessions and land management rights since the 2005 accord, but talks between the two sides stalled when then-president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono dropped Kalla as his vice president.

"Now that [Kalla] is vice president again" talks resumed, the governor said last week.

Zaini said that Aceh earlier wanted control over oil both onshore and as far as 370 kilometers offshore. Aceh also wants 70 percent of the profits.

Details of the deal are still obscure, but Jakarta has previously said it will only provide Aceh mining concession rights to oil and iron sand located along the coastlines of several islands in the province.

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/aceh-gives-up-gam-flag-for-oil/

Human rights & justice

Kontras urges Jokowi to revoke parole for Munir murderer

Jakarta Globe - November 30, 2014

Jakarta – One of Indonesia's most prominent human rights groups has called on President Joko Widodo to revoke a parole order which allowed the murderer of activist Munir Said Thalib to walk free.

The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras), which was founded by Munir to advocate justice for the victims of abuses committed by the state, joined other human rights organizations on Sunday in condemning the early release of Pollycarpus Budihari Priyanto.

Putri Kanesia, head Kontras' civil rights division, said the president has the power to overturn the order, which saw Pollycarpus freed on Friday after serving just eight years of a 14-year sentence for the deadly poisoning of Munir in 2004.

"We also urge Jokowi [Joko] to tell the Justice and Human Rights Ministry to not give a remission to Pollycarpus," Putri was quoted as saying by news portal Tribunnews.com.

Pollycarpus was released from Sukamiskin Penitentiary in Bandung, West Java, on Friday morning. He is now required to report regularly to parole officers and is forbidden to leave the country.

The Justice Ministry's director general of corrections, Handoyo Sudrajat, confirmed Pollycarpus's release on Friday and said the newly installed minister, Yasonna.H. Laoly, had signed the parole document after agreeing that Pollycarpus had met the requirements for an early release.

Kontras spokesperson Putri said that all commissions in the House of Representatives (DPR) related to justice and human rights should review Munir's case, which is unsolved.

"We also urge the fact-finding team looking into Munir's murder to publicly disclose the facts that they have found," Putri said.

Munir's life came to a painful end on Sept. 7, 2004, on board a flight to Amsterdam. The 38-year-old was on his way to study international humanitarian law at Utrecht University in the Netherlands.

Former Garuda Indonesia pilot Pollycarpus was seated next to Munir on the flight from Jakarta to Amsterdam. The flight included a stop in Singapore to refuel and take on more passengers. Pollycarpus was seen offering Munir a coffee at Singapore's Changi International Airport. A court later found that this drink had been spiked with arsenic.

Munir reboarded the plane on to Amsterdam while Pollycarpus remained in Singapore. The activist and staunch critic of the Indonesian government and military died in agony before the plane landed in the Netherlands.

A decade later President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono appointed a fact-finding team to look into Munir's death and subsequent police investigation.

Investigators found Pollycarpus had been in close contact with Muchdi Purwoprandjono, then deputy chief of the National Intelligence Agency (BIN), before and after the murder.

Hendropriyono is now a senior adviser to the president, who made mention of human rights on the campaign trail, promoting his credentials while pointing to the checkered rights record of opponent, former Army general Prabowo Subianto.

As Pollycarpus did not have a clear motive for the murder, activists have long suggested that he was acting on the orders of his alleged BIN handlers. Muchdi, however, has been acquitted in court, while Hendropriyono has never been prosecuted for his alleged involvement.

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/kontras-urges-jokowi-revoke-parole-munir-muderer/

Murderer of Munir released on parole

Jakarta Globe - November 28, 2014

Jakarta – Eight years into his 14-year sentence, the murderer of the prominent human rights activist Munir Said Thalib has been released on parole, Indonesian media reported on Friday.

Pollycarpus Budihari Priyanto, an off-duty Garuda Indonesia pilot who spiked the activist's drink with arsenic during a trip to the Netherlands in 2004, was sentenced to 14 years in jail for the killing.

Pollycarpus had been held at the Sukamiskin Penitentiary in Bandung, but was released on Friday morning, news portal Kompas.com reported. He will have to report to parole officers monthly and will not be allowed to leave the country, the report added.

In 2004, Pollycarpus was seated next to Munir on the flight from Jakarta to Singapore, where it picked up more passengers. The passenger manifest indicated that Pollycarpus got off in Singapore and didn't continue on to Amsterdam. But before he left Singapore's Changi International Airport, he was seen offering Munir a cup of coffee, which was spiked with arsenic.

Munir, a vocal critic of the Indonesian government and the military, eventually died on board, hours before the plane landed in Amsterdam.

A fact-finding team formed by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to monitor the police investigation into the case and conduct its own inquiry found that immediately prior to and after Munir's death, Pollycarpus had communicated extensively with Muchdi Purwoprandjono, who at the time was a deputy chief of the State Intelligence Agency (BIN).

In their court testimonies, several intelligence officials also said that Pollycarpus often visited the BIN headquarters and met behind closed doors with Muchdi. In at least one of those meetings, Abdullah Mahmud Hendropriyono, the BIN chief at the time, was also present. Hendropriyono is now an adviser of President Joko Widodo, who on the campaign trail promised to solve past human rights abuses.

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/murderer-munir-released-parole/

Activists dismayed by early release of Munir assassin

Jakarta Globe - November 29, 2014

Jakarta – Human rights groups reacted with dismay on Saturday at the decision to allow Pollycarpus Budihari Prijanto to walk free from prison after serving just eight years of a 14-year sentence for the 2004 assassination of human rights activist Munir Said Thalib.

"This is a bad sign for the government of Joko Widodo," said Hendardi, the head of the Committee of Solidarity Action for Munir (Kasum).

Hendardi, who is also the head of the Setara Institute, a rights advocacy group, said the release reflected poorly on the president's commitment to upholding human rights.

Another Kasum executive, Choirul Anam, said the group had contacted the president's office to request a review of the parole order.

"Joko should have reopened Munir's case instead of granting the release," Choirul said. "It is true a release on parole is the right of every inmate, but it should not apply to someone who has committed a serious human rights offense," Choirul added.

Indonesian Human Rights Monitor (Imparsial) executive director Poengki Indarti agreed the release order was a discouraging sign of the government's commitment to investigating past crimes.

"Pollycarpus's release has pushed back justice for Munir and farther away for other human rights campaigners, and this will damage Jokowi's image," she said.

The Justice Ministry's director general of corrections, Handoyo Sudrajat, confirmed Pollycarpus's release and said the newly installed minister, Yasonna.H. Laoly, had signed the parole document after agreeing that Pollycarpus had met the requirements for an early release.

An unsolved case

Poengki emphasized, however, that the greater issue remained that no one besides Pollycarpus had been convicted for a crime that activists maintain was likely state sponsored. Campaigners have long pointed to a total absence of personal motive for Pollycarpus to murder Munir, who was an indefatigable critic of the Indonesian military.

Munir founded the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) to advocate justice for the victims of abuses committed by the state.

His vocal criticism of the excesses of the state came to a painful end on Sept. 7, 2004, on board a flight to Amsterdam. The 38-year-old was on his way to study international humanitarian law at Utrecht University in the Netherlands.

Munir reboarded the plane on to Amsterdam while Pollycarpus remained in Singapore. The activist died in agony before the plane landed in the Netherlands.

In the subsequent investigation, witnesses testified that Pollycarpus was a frequent visitor to the headquarters of Indonesia's National Intelligence Agency, the BIN, where he would meet with the deputy head of intelligence, Muchdi Purwoprandjono. The head of Indonesian intelligence at the time, Abdullah Mahmud Hendropriyono, was also present for at least one of those meetings.

Activists have accused Muchdi and Hendropriyono of involvement in Munir's murder, but neither man has been convicted. Muchdi was acquitted by a court while Hendropriyono, who Joko has taken on as a key adviser, was never charged.

'A test of our history' – again

Activists hope the case does not represent a false dawn for Indonesia's future commitment to confronting and shining new light on the darker corners of its past.

Joko and Vice President Jusuf Kalla made mention of human rights on the campaign trail, promoting their credentials while pointing to the checkered rights record of their opponent, former Army general Prabowo Subianto.

There was, however, disappointment in activist circles when Joko placed Hendropriyono in a senior role in his government. They maintain that Hendropriyono is damaged goods and not someone to whom a reformist president should have given a seat at the table.

Munir's supporters will certainly continue to advocate for the case to be reopened, but human rights campaigners in general will point to stern rights tests throughout the country that Joko's administration will face over the next five years.

These include demands in Aceh – the semiautonomous province that waged a 30-year separatist struggle against Jakarta – for a truth and reconciliation commission to examine abuses perpetuated by Acehnese rebels and the Indonesian military; a loosening of the restrictions placed on foreign journalists from reporting in the restive province of Papua; and a strengthening of Indonesia's indigenous peoples' rights against land grabs for purposes including, but not limited to, oil palm cultivation.

Many also hope that Joko's much-vaunted "mental revolution" – a cornerstone of his presidential campaign epitomizing his pitch as a reformer – will stretch to confronting the 1965-66 massacre of anyone thought to be a communist sympathizer, in which more than half a million people were killed by the military and state-backed militias.

Former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said justice for Munir was "a test of our history" when he assumed office in 2004, and personally promised the activist's widow, Suciwati, that he would resolve the case before the end of his term. He never did.

A decade later, Joko faces the same examination, and some activists say that the new administration has not got off to a good start.

"Parole for Pollycarpus has not only hurt the sense of justice for Munir's family and friends," Hendardi said. "It has also damaged public justice and democracy in Indonesia."

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/activists-dismayed-early-release-munir-assassin/

Sexual & domestic violence

NGO uses documentary to campaign against violence

Jakarta Post - November 29, 2014

Sri Wahyuni and Suwastinah Atmojo, Denpasar – LBH APIK Bali, an NGO based in Denpasar, Bali, has been using a documentary on polygamy in a Balinese community, Bitter Honey, as a medium for campaigning against violence against women.

Chairwoman of the Bali chapter's Legal Aid Foundation of the Indonesian Women's Association for Justice (LBH APIK), Ni Nengah Budawati, said the film successfully portrayed the reality of what happens in the community and could help viewers identify with the situation.

"From the first time I watched it, I felt that it would successfully create a fluid ambience, especially among village housewives who are not used to actively participating in a discussion forum," Budawati said after a campaign held at the Wantilan hall of the Bali provincial legislative council building in Denpasar on Friday.

Held in conjunction with the annual 16-day campaign protesting violence against women (HAKTP) from Nov. 25 to Dec. 10, a screening of Bitter Honey was presented followed by a discussion forum presenting a local figure, a provincial councilor and an academic.

Bitter Honey is the latest feature-length documentary from US filmmaker Robert Lemelson and intimately and emotionally presents the stories of three families in Bali, revealing the hidden face of polygamy on the resort island.

As the film says, approximately 10 percent of Balinese families are polygamous. Men in these unions often take multiple brides without their spouses' consent.

Filmed over the course of seven years, the documentary portrays the plight of Balinese co-wives, for whom marriage is frequently characterized by psychological manipulation, infidelity, domestic violence and economic hardship.

"This film is capable of touching the hidden side of women in a polygamous family. The violence shown is very complex," Budawati said.

Separately, in a written remark read out by the film's field producer Ninik Supartini, Robert Lemelson said that as a project and film, Bitter Honey was specifically not an indictment of polygamy as a kinship system.

He expressed hope that the film would raise awareness in the domains of gender-based violence, STD (sexually transmitted diseases) transmission, psychological violence and manipulation and pointed toward some solutions to these problems.

"If it functions to create a positive social change in Bali and elsewhere in Indonesia, we will have done our job as socially conscious scholars, activists and filmmakers," he said.

Meanwhile, Bali provincial councilor Ni Made Sumiati said she had found over 1,000 cases of violence against women, most of which were related to polygamy.

She believed that together, people could fight violence against women. Sumiati established Tresna Yadnya NGO in 1999, which later became the embryo for the establishment of Sumiati Center in 2009.

"The role of the center will be further developed through the establishment of similar institutions across Bali next month, pushing the provincial administration to allocate funds for, or provide advocacy to, women victimized by violence," she said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/11/29/ngo-uses-documentary-campaign-against-violence.html

Labour & migrant workers

Protesting workers pin hopes on Prabowo's Red and White Coalition

Solidarity Net - November 28, 2014

Adela Eka Putra Marza – After expressing their disagreement several days ago over the setting of the Jakarta minimum provincial wage (UMP) for 2015, which has declined relative to the value of the rupiah against the US dollar, on Wednesday November 26 workers finally took to the streets to convey their demand for a revision of the UMP.

The thousands of workers who came from the Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPI), the Confederation of the All-Indonesian Workers Union (KSPSI) and the Confederation of Prosperity Labour Unions (KSBSI), which are part of the Indonesian Trade Union Council (MPBI), held huge protest actions at a number of sites.

The workers began the action at Jl. Perintis Kemerdekaan in East Jakarta by blockading access from Pulogadung in the direction of Senen. They then moved off towards the Wiyoto Wiyono toll road and closed of a length of road from Cawang to Pulomas, the inner-city toll road. However because they were blocked by police, the workers quickly left the toll road and moved to Jl. Letjen Suprapto in Cempaka Putih.

Following this, a convoy of workers riding motorcycles blockaded roads in the vicinity of Farmers Monument in Central Jakarta by parking their motorcycles in the middle of the street. They also gave speeches in front of the Jakarta provincial Labour and Transmigration Office voicing their demand for a revision to the Jakarta 2015 UMP and setting fire to a bier and a replica of a shrouded corpse.

"We demand an UMP of 3.5 million rupiah [a month] like Bekasi, specifically Karawang", shouted one of the speakers during a protest action in front of the Jakarta city hall as reported by the news portal Detik.com.

The Jakarta 2015 UMP was set at 2.7 million rupiah a month, in accordance with the Jakarta reasonable living cost index (KHL). Workers however, who say the UMP was set too low, are demanding an UMP of 3.2 million or 500,000 rupiah more than the KHL. In Karawang regency and Bekasi city in West Java [where the cost of living is lower], the regional and municipal minimum wage for 2015 was set at 2.9 million, slightly higher than Jakarta.

Dissatisfied, the workers continued the protest in front of the Jakarta Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) where the DPRD deputy speaker [from former Suharto general Prabowo Subianto's] Greater Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) M. Taufik received the workers and invited 15 representatives to discuss the issue. A short time later, Taufik came out and made a speech declaring his support for the workers. He promised to immediately discuss the Jakarta 2015 UMP with the relevant parties.

"I respect that you are conveying your wishes peacefully. Earlier we held a discussion with your representatives and tomorrow we will invite the wage council to discuss what your wishes are. I am sure that there is a good way [to achieve] your wishes. [I'm] certain there is a solution to everything if you're willing to discuss it", said the chairperson of Gerindra's Jakarta board of directors to cheers and claps from the workers.

Taufik even said that the workers' demands for a revision and increase in the 2015 Jakarta UMP was a reasonable request bearing in mind several important factors.

"If I say it's reasonable it's because of the effect of the BBM [fuel] price increase has not yet been included (in the calculations), plus there's also inflation. There are differences in the calculations of the KHL. This is a bit odd because in nearby areas right, the UMP is 2.9 million rupiah [a month]. So we must recalculate it. Perhaps the other day it didn't include the effect of the BBM increase," explained Taufik to journalists as quoted by Detik.com, adding that the UMP needs to be reevaluated.

The action was full of pro-Red and White Coalition (KMP) politics [the coalition of political parties in the House of Representatives (DPR) that backed Prabowo's presidential bid in July]. Workers also gave their support to the DPR to launch an interpellation motion over the fuel price hike. The president of the Indonesian Association of Trade Unions (Aspek), which is part of the KSPSI, Mirah Sumirat clearly articulated this in a speech. Earlier, the Indonesian Muslim Students Action Front (KAMMI), a student organisation affiliated with the KMP affiliated Justice and Prosperity Party (PKS) also declared its support for the KMP to launch and interpellation motion in the DPR.

Protesters from the MPBI who went to the DPR was also received directly by the chairperson of the DPR's Commission IV Dede Yusuf from the National Mandate Party (PAN) faction, which is part of the KMP. Speaking from atop the command vehicle, he promised to meet with the West Java, Banten and Jakarta provincial wage councils to reevaluate the minimum municipal wage (UMK) and the DPR's Commission III to request an explanation from the national police chief and the West Java police chief over recent cases of repressive actions by police against workers in Bekasi.

The KSPI is one of the trade unions that supported Prabowo in the July presidential elections. Meanwhile the KSBSI and the KSPSI supported winning candidate President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, although this support has waned after Widodo failed to appoint a labour representative as a minister in his new cabinet.

Following a split at a congress in 2013, the three labour confederations have now reached an agreement and plan to hold a national strike on December 10 and 11. In the future it is likely that there will be frequent labour actions driven by the KSPI with mutual support from KMP political forces in the parliament.

[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service. The original title of the report was "Protes UMK 2015, Buruh Titip Aspirasi pada KMP".]

Source: http://solidaritas.net/2014/11/protes-umk-2015-buruh-titip-aspirasi-pada-kmp.html

Employers lament massive rally

Jakarta Post - November 27, 2014

Fadli, Batam – The Batam chapter of the Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo) has claimed that the industrial sector in Batam, Riau Islands, will suffer losses of US$10 million per day during labor rallies, which yesterday saw protesters blocking roads and conducting sweeps of workers.

On Wednesday, a number of critical sites in Batam were secured by the police in response to a workers' rally said to be the largest in the city this month.

"We estimate a loss of around $10 million resulting from production stoppages in the industrial sector and other consequences of today's rally. They [workers] conducted sweeps on workers and blocked roads [...]," Batam chapter Apindo head Oka Simatupang told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.

Simatupang expressed concern that the violent rallies would perturb investors. "I believe that in the next few months, we will see some investors relocating from Batam because, as we've seen today, the situation is no longer conducive [to business]," Simatupang said.

Riau Islands Governor Muhammad Sani set the 2015 minimum wage (UMK) in Batam at Rp 2,685,302 (about $224), Rp 21,000 higher than the sum recommended by Batam Mayor Ahmad Dahlan. The 2015 UMK is an increase of Rp 285,000 from the 2014 figure.

Apindo has rejected the 2015 UMK set by the governor and plans to file a lawsuit at the Tanjung Pinang State Administrative Court (PTUN).

Riau Islands Manpower Agency head Tagor Napitupulu earlier said that the Batam UMK set by the governor was based on consultation with the provincial remuneration council regarding the increase in fuel prices.

"The Batam UMK also takes into account the recommendation of the Batam mayor. We hope every party will accept the decision and there will be no more controversy," said Tagor, who is also the head of the Riau Islands Remuneration Council.

On Wednesday morning, a number of thoroughfares connecting industrial zones were jammed with labor convoys coming from different directions and heading to the intersection near the Batamindo and Panbil industrial zones. They also headed to the Batam municipal office.

A group of people in work uniforms and members of labor unions conducted sweeps on factories and urged workers to join the rally. Those who refused were intimidated and even physically assaulted.

A Citilink passenger traveling from Batam to Padang, Zuhri, said he went to Batam's Hang Nadim International Airport hours early to avoid traffic jams.

"The roads have been congested since this morning. I was afraid I'd get to the airport late and be unable to find an alternative route," said Zuhri, who in the event arrived at the airport earlier than scheduled.

Hundreds of police, fire department and airport security personnel tightly secured roads leading to the airport to anticipate the arrival of protesters.

"We demand the 2015 UMK be set at Rp 3.3 million. It is non-negotiable. We will fight until our demand is met," Indonesian Metal Workers Union (FSPMI) Batam chapter head Suprapto said during the rally.

The protesters dispersed in the face of torrential rain later in the afternoon.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/11/27/employers-lament-massive-rally.html

Workers should improve performance: Minister

Jakarta Post - November 24, 2014

Jakarta – Manpower Minister Hanif Dhakiri says he is fully aware of workers' demands for wage increases following the recent increase in the price of subsidized fuels; however, he said, the wage increases should be adjusted with the quality of the workers' work performance.

"Workers' wages must be paid before their sweat dries. At the same time, the workers must increase their work productivity. They should not work in whatever way they like," he said as quoted by kompas.com in Jakarta on Monday.

Workers in several regions across Indonesia have staged protest rallies to demand wage increases following the government's policy to increase subsidized fuel prices, which took effect on Nov.18.

The new price of Premium gasoline is Rp 8,500 (70 US cents) per liter, up from Rp 6,500, while diesel sells for Rp 7,500, up from Rp 5,500 per liter.

Hanif said the ministry would urge businesspeople to increase incentives, such as transportation and meal expenses for their workers, the amounts in line with the financial capacity of each company. He urged bipartite forums to work more effectively in negotiating the workers' wage-increase demands.

"The dialogue must run better. All this time, during bipartite forums, representatives of related parties just come and sit, and then they are engaged in bargaining with their counterparts individually. Let's pull all of these together with their rights and responsibilities," said Hanif.

The minister further said businesses might suffer losses if their workers continued to demand wage increases. The ministry had attempted to anticipate this by examining thoroughly the components of basic needs, such as housing and clothing, of Indonesian workers.

"We must pay close attention to components of the expenses of workers, such as housing, clothing, transportation, health and education. We should not focus only on how to increase their incomes but how to minimize their expenses," said Hanif.

Among solutions being discussed are providing affordable accommodation near workplaces so that workers can save on transportation costs.

Hanif said he would coordinate with related parties to realize the plan so that there was a solution not only for the workers but also for the employers. "We want to invite all stakeholders in employment in Indonesia and urge them to no longer concentrate on wage increases as the one and only solution to labor issues," Hanif said. (ask/ebf)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/11/24/workers-should-improve-performance-minister.html

Indonesian workers mistreated as government promises help

Jakarta Globe - November 23, 2014

Edi Hardum & Farouk Arnaz, Jakarta – The recent arrest of an East Jakarta woman confirms the continued outflow of migrant workers from Indonesia to destinations abroad, despite the government-issued moratorium on sending such workers to several countries and evaluations that are supposedly in place.

The woman identified by the National Police as Nurhayati, or Nur Binti Komar, reportedly worked for Indonesian couple Iat Mansyur and Bungawati, who allegedly ran a syndicate responsible for the illegal shipment of thousands of Indonesian workers to the Middle East.

"Iat Mansyur was arrested in Malaysia. We have yet to nab Bungawati, though; she has also escaped to Malaysia," Sr. Comr. Agung Yudha, an official with the National Police's general crime division, told the Jakarta Globe on Sunday. "We're still developing [investigations] into this syndicate because so many people have fallen victim to them."

He added that Nur had illegally shipped thousands of Indonesian migrant workers to the Middle East via Malaysia.

The government in December 2011 lifted the moratorium on sending Indonesian workers to its Southeast Asian neighbor but still retains the ban on the shipment of workers to Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Kuwait, Syria and Lebanon.

Not only are the destinations illegal, but workers sent by the syndicate are also deprived of proper documents, rendering them completely without protection, while typically lacking the skills needed for overseas employment.

Agung said Nur, arrested in Condet, East Jakarta on Nov. 5, will be charged under human trafficking laws and the migrant worker protection law. If found guilty, she may face between two and 15 years in prison.

News of law enforcement officers arresting a huge number of people caught while attempting to send Indonesian migrant workers overseas illegally, have continued to make local media headlines. These headlines include the shipment of children, without proper documents and lacking training, as well as those sent to the countries where the moratorium still applies.

In August, for example, the National Agency for the Placement and Protection of Indonesian Workers (BNP2TKI) foiled the attempt of 500 Indonesians trying enter Malaysia via Batam in Indonesia's Riau Islands province. They were found to have planned to work in Malaysia, although equipped only with passport and not the other necessary documents.

According to BNP2TKI chief Gatot Abdullah Mansyur it is difficult to monitor the flow of Indonesian migrant workers to Malaysia because of the visa-free policy adopted by members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

In August, an officer with the East Nusa Tenggara Police reported his supervisor to the National Commission on Human Rights after the latter suspiciously halted an investigation into the planned shipment of 26 people from the province, also without proper documents for overseas employment.

'Highly complex'

Most recently, newly appointed Manpower Minister Muhammad Hanif Dhakiri found "inhumane" shelters crammed with workers to be dispatched abroad in two houses in Tebet, South Jakarta, during an impromptu inspection of activities of El Karim Makmur Sentosa, a supposedly legal migrant worker placement agency in the area.

On Saturday, Hanif said he had no immediate plan to lift the ban in place for the shipment of workers to the five Middle Eastern states.

He said he would do so only he was able to guarantee improved protection and service conditions for Indonesian workers in the five Middle Eastern countries and others, as well improve training and other programs aimed at enhancing the skills and quality of Indonesian migrant workers before they were dispatched to their work stations.

Hanif described the issues surrounding the management of Indonesian migrant workers as "highly complex," beginning from the recruitment process to their return home. "You can say that once they step out of their houses, they will encounter many problems," Hanif said.

In the recruitment process, many migrant worker placement agencies, also known as PJTKI, adopt a payment system under which employees who manage to recruit the most migrant worker candidates get highest salaries, Hanif said.

"Theoretically, this alone creates potentials for problems. It is things like this we want to make sure to cope with first before the moratorium can be lifted," he said.

Then there is the issue with the PJTKIs. As many as 520 of them are registered with the Manpower Ministry. But their legal status alone, judging by past experiences, is evidently not enough to guarantee that they do their activities – comprising of recruiting, training, sending and placing Indonesian workers in their overseas stations – according to regulations.

The minister added that he would evaluate all other PJTKIs registered with the ministry. "We will re-select [the placement agencies], and we will revoke the licenses of troubled ones," the minister said.

Critics have also questioned government agencies' promises to train migrant workers well before their overseas employments, as well as lax law enforcement that means illegal deliveries can continue running rampant, resulting in a large number of unregistered Indonesian migrant workers abroad and subsequently little to no protection for them.

Hanif said of the 6.2 million Indonesian workers abroad, 48 percent only completed elementary school, resulting in more than half of them working as house maids. The BNP2TKI said the workers sent home a total of $7.4 billion in remittances last year. It's not clear how many of those workers are illegal.

But in Malaysia alone, which hosts the largest number of Indonesian migrant workers, registered workers make up less than half of the population – 1.09 million, compared with 1.5 million unregistered workers.

Vulnerable

A recent report by international human rights group Walk Free Foundation, the "2014 Global Slavery Index," suggests that this situation makes many Indonesian migrant workers vulnerable to modern slavery.

The report ranks Indonesia as the eighth-largest country in terms of number of people living in modern slavery. It says brokers operating in Indonesia's rural areas are known to lure men and boys into forced labor on palm oil, rubber and tobacco plantations, including for overseas placement.

Many Indonesian women, meanwhile, have been trafficked for commercial sexual exploitation or as domestic workers; suffering from excessive working hours, deprivation of wages and a lack of health-care services.

Indonesian migrant workers, upon their return home, are also known to be easy prey for corrupt officers at points of entry, including the migrant workers' terminal at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, the country's main gateway.

Members of the Corruption Eradication Commission (PKP) caught several officers at the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport red-handed while extorting money from newly returning migrant workers some months ago.

Anis Hidayah, a prominent activist for the rights of Indonesian migrant workers, said the biggest flaw in the government's implementation of the moratorium and other programs related to the migrant workers' management was lack of evaluation.

"There has not been adequate monitoring [of the implementation], no approaches have been done to improve [the management]," said Anis, also executive director of the Jakarta-based non-governmental group Migrant Care. "The moratorium has been toothless."

She said that during the moratorium on sending workers to Malaysia between June 2009 and December 2011, there had been barely a halt in the shipment of Indonesians to the neighboring country.

It's the same with the implementation of the moratorium on the five Middle Eastern countries that has been in place since 2011, she added.

"This shows that the government has not been serious with the moratorium, that the implementation has been very weak," Anis said. "Now we can only await [the work] of the new government; whether they will do business as usual, will do better or even worse."

Vice President Jusuf Kalla, known for his brazen statements, said on Friday he wanted Indonesia to stop sending workers abroad at all five years from now, unless if they were skilled laborers.

"We want to end all of this [poor treatments of Indonesian workers abroad]... so five years from now, we have to stop sending them at all," Kalla said.

In order to allow for that to happen, he said, the government would create as many jobs as possible inside the country, especially in labor-intensive industries. "The agriculture sector will be crucial, too [to the plan]," Kalla said.

In the mean time, Hanif said he wanted to make sure all "naughty" placement agencies will be sanctioned according to existing regulations. Although Indonesia has harsh human trafficking and migrant workers' protection laws, enforcement has so far been deemed near-zero.

"I would not hesitate [sanctioning] naughty PJTKIs," Hanif said.

He emphasized that providing 200 hours of training and education as an example of what a PJTKI must do before sending any worker abroad.

President Joko Widodo, meanwhile, is expected to soon appoint the new chief of the BNP2TKI. Critics have questioned its overlapping functions with the manpower ministry, as well as its lack of achievements in Indonesia's migrant workers' management despite being specifically established for the purpose.

Golkar Party lawmaker Nusron Wahid is among those tipped to be the next BNP2TKI chief, which has drawn criticism from the Indonesian Migrant Workers Solidarity Forum, or FSPILN.

"We don't want the next BNPT2TKI chief to be a mere part of profit sharing among those in power; far from our ideal hope," FSPILN spokesman Imam Syafii said in a press statement.

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/indonesian-workers-mistreated-government-promises-help/

Migrants' blood on officials' dirty hands

Jakarta Globe Editorial - November 23, 2014

Most of the problems afflicting Indonesians working overseas stem from problems at home. So many are compelled to work abroad because they can't find jobs here at all; or, if they find one, wages are too meager to feed a family. Responsibility for the labor market's failure to provide citizens enough decent-paying jobs lays squarely at the government's feet.

Jumpstarting job growth for a developing nation of 250 million people is a tough task. But it's not too much to expect the government ensure its citizens' ability work abroad without being taken advantage of – or at the very least with the protection of their destination country's laws.

Yet we learn daily of Indonesians falsely imprisoned, abused, tortured or killed with impunity. The government has failed in its duty to prepare migrants.

Despite large training budgets, most workers go abroad without necessary survival skills, let alone language or basic cultural knowledge. In absence of an explanation by the feuding Manpower Ministry and National Agency for the Placement and Protection of Indonesian Workers (BNP2TKI), we have no reason not to believe officials have diverted money meant for migrants' benefit toward their own.

Despite persistent news reports that placement agencies mistreat migrants or put them in the hands of those who cheat and abuse them, seldom do we hear of any repercussions, let alone prevention.

Indonesia must not shy from using its full diplomatic leverage to forge and enforce agreements with receiving countries that assure our workers' protection. Passports must be kept by workers, not their employers. In addition, agencies that send workers abroad should provide employer data to embassies. Until officials do their jobs, Indonesians abroad are in for a world of abuse.

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/opinion/editorial-migrants-blood-officials-dirty-hands/

Political parties & elections

Golkar facing worst turbulence yet

Jakarta Post - November 29, 2014

Bagus BT Saragih and Ina Parlina, Jakarta – Conflict over the Golkar Party leadership has been predicted to be fierce because whoever wins will have significant influence over the country's political landscape up until the 2019 legislative and presidential elections.

Golkar, which was the backbone of the New Order government, has frequently been rocked by internal conflict, but analysts say it is on the verge of experiencing its worst turbulence since the fall of president Soeharto in 1998.

The current conflict, which erupted into a bloody clash at the party's headquarters in West Jakarta on Tuesday, is taking place as the party plans to hold a national congress to elect a new chairman. Chairman Aburizal Bakrie's plan to seek reelection has faced growing opposition, with his rivals accusing him of abusing his power to threaten and intimidate provincial and local chapters.

Aburizal's camp has unilaterally decided to hold the congress in Nusa Dua, Bali, from Nov. 30 to Dec. 3, sooner than the initial plan in January 2015. His opponents suggest that it is his strategy to block other candidates' campaign and improve his chances of winning.

Late on Thursday, the party's advisory council chairman, Akbar Tandjung, suggested that the congress be postponed until the two conflicting camps had reconciled. "The council will actively take steps to mediate the conflict," he announced at a press conference.

But many believe the congress will affect not only the party but also the balance of power at the House of Representatives, with analysts pointing out that Aburizal's ability to keep his job will determine Golkar's political stance for the next five years.

As the largest political party in the Red-and-White Coalition, which controls the House, Golkar effectively holds the most power, which could easily outmaneuver the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the party of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo.

"There are outsiders who want to break the Red and White [by meddling in Golkar's internal matters]. We have to prevent this," said Golkar lawmaker Siti Hediati "Titiek" Harijadi, the daughter of the late Soeharto.

Aburizal has repeatedly said he would keep Golkar within the Red-and-White coalition, while his rival, Agung Laksono, is expected to leave the coalition and join Jokowi's ruling coalition if he were to head up Golkar.

Agung's motivation was apparent in his meeting with Vice President Jusuf Kalla, a former Golkar chairman. "I gave [Agung] advice," Kalla said after the meeting. Kalla earlier said he was willing to act as mediator and facilitate a "reconciliation" meeting between Agung and Aburizal.

Many in the government, including Kalla and Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Tedjo Edhy Purdijatno, have made statements indicating they want Aburizal's reign to end.

"I've told [Aburizal] directly that many think he has failed in Golkar. I also told him not to take any undemocratic steps, [such as] putting pressure on [regional executives]," Kalla said.

Tedjo earlier said that the National Police should not give security clearance for the congress to take place in Bali.

The government has promised Golkar seats in government if Aburizal is ousted. Golkar politician Nusron Wahid has indicated that more Golkar members could secure senior government positions if Agung is elected Golkar's new chairman.

"It will be impossible [if Aburizal wins again]," Nusron said after his inauguration as the new head of the Agency for the Placement and Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers at the State Palace on Thursday.

Agung, who has set up the "Presidium of Golkar Party's Saviors", also filed a request with the Law and Human Rights Ministry to register the new executive board of the party, which excludes Aburizal and all of his men. Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna H. Laoly said on Thursday that his ministry was weighing its options.

Aware that Aburizal's win could have a bearing on his chances in the next presidential election, Gerindra Party chairman Prabowo Subianto has stepped up efforts to aid the embattled Golkar chairman. The two held a meeting on Tuesday, following the clash at the Golkar headquarters.

Gerindra patron Hashim Djojohadikusumo, however, denied that Prabowo had joined the fight to keep Aburizal in power. "We will never intervene," he said on Thursday, adding that Gerindra was not concerned about the possibility of Golkar leaving the Red-and-White Coalition.

Political analyst Siti Zuhro from the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) said it was obvious that the government wanted Golkar to join its coalition. "Kalla plays his hand through proxies, such as Priyo and Agung, yet they are up against Aburizal, who is still very powerful," she said.

Indonesian Parliament Watch (Formappi) analyst Sebastian Salang said that Golkar could sputter and become a minor political party in 2019 if it failed to settle the conflict soon. "The current conflict could end up with splinter groups leaving Golkar and setting up their own political parties," he said

Meanwhile, Bali Police chief Insp. Gen. AJ Benny Mokalu declared on Friday that police in Bali were ready to safeguard the Golkar congress at The Westin Resort, Nusa Dua, Badung, Bali. "We have closely watched the island's entry points, both seaports and airport," Benny said.

[Ni Komang Erviani contributed to this report from Denpasar, Bali.]

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/11/29/golkar-facing-worst-turbulence-yet.html

Golkar split, a proxy fight for leadership

Jakarta Globe - November 27, 2014

Robertus Wardi, Markus Junianto Sihaloho & Stefy Tenu, Jakarta – A heated split inside the Golkar Party is seen as a proxy fight between the ruling coalition and opposition as the party is playing an unmatched role in determining the stability of the country's political system and President Joko Widodo's new government.

Under Aburizal Bakrie as its chairman, Golkar strongly posits itself as the backbone of the Red-White Coalition, which previously supported Prabowo Subianto for president. But Golkar's younger cadres and several senior members, represented by former people's welfare minister Agung Laksono, want to end Aburizal's reign, and join Joko's coalition in the hope of receiving a cabinet seat.

The party is on the brink of another split ahead of the party's planned national congress next week, with critics of its current chairman threatening to stage their own convention. The congress is scheduled to be held in Bali from Sunday to next Wednesday.

The party is set to pick a chairman, but an internal leadership dispute – revolving mainly around the incumbent chairman Aburizal's wish to run for a second term – has already led to violent clashes. The dispute reached its peak on Tuesday as party leaders discussed preparations for the Bali convention.

Fist fights broke out between Aburizal supporters and his opponents. The incident came on the same day as Aburizal's deputy Agung Laksono staged a vote of no confidence against Aburizal's reign, airing suspicions on why the party chairman decided to move the congress two months ahead of schedule.

Golkar politicians critical towards Aburizal said on Wednesday that he had unilaterally changed the rules for next week's convention, voiding all supports garnered by seven other chairman hopefuls. Aburizal, his critics suspect, is trying to secure a re-election through consensus instead of an open vote, which he might lose, by issuing instructions to provincial and district level chapter leaders to support him as well as airing threats of dismissal to those not loyal to him.

"This is authoritarian and is undemocratic," Golkar politician Leo Nababan said of Aburizal's decision to change the rules. "This is one of [Aburizal's] tricks. He is violating [Golkar's] regulations. We don't want him to continue to bring the party down," Leo said.

Agung, who claimed to have support from 297 congress participants for his chairmanship bid, denounced next week's congress and formed a shadow leadership under the name "Golkar Savior Team." Agung announced that his camp will stage their own shadow convention on Jan. 15.

'Let's all save the party'

The split has local chapter leaders worrying that Golkar is heading for another schism.

"We hope our seniors at the central board will sit together and reach a compromise," said Wisnu Pudjonggo, of Golkar's Semarang, Central Java chapter. "Let's all save the party from another split. Must there be a new party emerging after this year's convention? Let's hope not."

Several former Golkar politicians have decided to form their own parties: the Democratic Party in 2001, the People's Conscience Party (Hanura) in 2006, the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) in 2008, and the National Democrat Party (Nasdem) in 2011.

Political observer Theofransus Litaay, of Satya Wacana University said Golkar is under serious threat of a split particularly with so many inside the party disliking how Aburizal seems to bow too much to former presidential candidate Prabowo, the chairman of Gerindra.

"[Aburizal] is at the edge of the cliff. Golkar is the second place winner in this election but afraid of the leader of a relatively new party," he said.

Senior Golkar politician Fadel Muhammad said those running against Aburizal must still attend the Bali congress, showing their commitment to keep the party united. "People will perceive you as losing before even fighting if you don't come," the former maritime minister said.

Outside intervention?

A statement from Tedjo Edhy Purdijatno, coordinating minister for security, which called for police not to give a permit for the Bali congress has outraged Golkar politicians. Tedjo, who is a member of Nasdem, one of parties that supports Joko, is accused of messing with the party's internal affairs.

Fadel said Tedjo's statement was part of Nasdem's attempt to break up Golkar and push it to join the ruling coalition. Hanta Yuda, executive director of the Poll Tracking Institute, said Golkar would likely join Joko's coalition if someone other than Aburizal leads the party.

But Siti Zuhro of the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) pointed out that Aburizal's rivals are also power hungry.

Agung is one of the figures who criticized Aburizal's decision to support Prabowo, even after he lost the election. "[Agung] is making it appear that not being inside the government is a bad thing," she said.

End game?

Akbar Tandjung, chairman of Golkar's advisory board, said on Wednesday that he had summoned all advisers for a meeting after Tuesday's fracas and decided to support Aburizal's every decision about the congress.

"I have also told Aburizal Bakrie to be open to our friends [those who disagree with Aburizal]," Akbar said, adding that Aburizal's rivals only want what is best for the party and to keep the party united.

Vice President Jusuf Kalla, a former Golkar chairman, said on Tuesday that he would summon the party's senior members if they were unable to settle their internal dispute.

The conflict escalated after a national leaders meeting decided on Nov. 19 that the party would hold its national congress.

The congress was initially scheduled for January 2015 and some critics say the change is part of a plan by incumbent chairman Aburizal Bakrie to sabotage the election so that he can secure a second term.

"I believe they can settle the problem. If they can't, I will talk to the seniors," Kalla said on Tuesday in his office. "I hope the party won't be divided. I believe my friends are mature."

Kalla said he had met with Bakrie to address some problems reported to him by party members. He said that many were disappointed with Aburizal's leadership style, which they characterized as undemocratic.

"Many have mentioned Pak Ical's [Aburizal's] failures and I've told him that directly. I told him not to take any undemocratic steps – don't put pressure on others. He said that no such thing has ever happened," Kalla said.

Akbar said he appreciated Kalla's offer. "But we will settle [the dispute] through the organizations' internal mechanism," he said.

[Additional reporting by Hotman Siregar & Novianti Setuningsih.]

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/golkar-split-proxy-fight-leadership/

Sour grapes are election victor's spoils for PDI-P

Jakarta Globe - November 27, 2014

Erwida Maulia, Jakarta – President Joko Widodo's recent appointment of attorney general H.M. Prasetyo amid strident criticism for the new AG's former membership in the National Democrat party, or Nasdem, suggests a significant shift in the political calculus on which the president has been relying.

Analysts identify three "tremendous" political challenges Joko faces. Hanta Yudha, the executive director of Pol-tracking Institute, said Joko's relations with his own party, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, (PDI-P) are changing.

It's been something of an open secret that his party's elite have been less than happy with chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri's decision to nominate Joko as the their party's presidential candidate. At the time, Joko was – and remains in many's eyes – a junior figure in the party, which he joined in 2005, the same year he ran for mayor of Solo.

Those knowledgeable in the PDI-P's internal affairs privately tell the Jakarta Globe that the party's half-hearted support for Joko in the presidential race was among the reasons for his quickly declining popularity in the months leading up to election day amid relentless character attacks by opponents.

Hanta said the PDI-P had been divided in two ahead of the election: the majority block that favored Megawati to run for a second presidency and the minority faction that supported Joko's nomination.

"In the end, Jokowi obtained a ticket to run in the presidential election," Hanta said, referring to the president with his popular nickname. "But he used the ticket that originally belonged to Mega. To the pro-Mega camp, she's done a great favor for Jokowi.

"Those two groups united to face off with Prabowo [Subianto, rival presidential candidate]. But they're still there, and there are potentials for them to re-emerge."

PDI-P lawmakers' divided stance on the subsidized fuel price hike is an indication to this, Muhammad Qodari of Indo Barometer said.

Joko's appointment of only four cabinet ministers from the PDI-P may be another indication, some believe, since Joko also handed Nasdem and the National Awakening Party (PKB) four cabinet posts each.

In terms of political calculations, PDI-P members believe their party should have gotten more seats, given that it is the largest party in minority coalition that supports the president's administration, Qodari said.

An anonymous source inside the party told the Jakarta Globe that the president has recently been growing distant from Megawati – and even no longer speaks directly with her.

"Jokowi probably no longer feels comfortable with the process within the PDI-P. He probably feels that it hasn't supported, hasn't defended him enough," Qodari added.

Joko, however, still needs the PDI-P, Hanta said. As the largest caucus in the House minority Awesome Indonesia Coalition (KIH), the party presents itself as Joko's only shield against the hostile majority the Red-White Coalition (KMP).

Political analysts say that the majority coalition's aggressive maneuvers to gain control of the House leadership, are seen by partisans as "revenge politics" – payback a bitter loss in the July presidential election.

Political scientists familiar with more developed democratic traditions elsewhere have, by contrast, noted that majority election of legislatures' leadership is a normal and proper feature of democratic institutions.

Many have even expressed optimism that the present exercise in divided government will enhance Indonesia's democratic institutions and processes – a sentiment echoed by Joko himself.

The first step toward reform is changing minds, and that requires good communication, Hanta says.

"Joko must have a strategy, how to maintain political communication with the PDI-P. He must not be dictated to by the PDI-P, but cannot be completely detached from it either," he said. "He must maintain support from all parties [in KIH], and PDI-P is one of those parties. Jokowi must deal with this issue proportionally."

The appointment of former Nasdem politician H.M. Prasetyo as the nation's attorney general has been seen by some observers as evidence of Nasdem chairman and media mogul Surya Paloh's growing influence over Joko.

Joko's announcement of Prasetyo as his choice for the nation's top law enforcement official last week came just hours after the president met privately with Surya. Megawati is reportedly unhappy with this.

Qodari said Joko may forge alliances with Nasdem to balance power battles waged around him by Megawati, Surya and Vice President Jusuf Kalla.

Qodari said that in order to avoid being dominated by Megawati and the PDI-P, Joko needed to ally more other sources of support, such as Surya and Kalla. "He may even need a new party to lean on; that's what we can read from the situation with Nasdem and Surya Paloh," he said.

Djayadi Hanan, research director of political think tank Saiful Mujani Research & Consulting, disagrees, however, with the characterization that Joko lacks agency or control of what others see as an unfolding struggle for power by those around him.

Djayadi points to his cabinet lineup, for example, as a compromise between Joko's own preferences, Kalla's picks and expectations from political parties that supported Joko's presidential bid. "At the very least, it shows that he's compromising. It doesn't necessarily mean he's not being independent," Djayadi said.

Joko has been visibly building his own power base by appointing close and trusted aides for several posts, such as Andi Widjajanto as cabinet secretary, Pratikno as state secretary and Andrinof Chaniago as the national development planning minister.

Economist Faisal Basri's appointment as head of the so-called Anti-Oil and Gas Mafia Task Force is another example, Djayadi said. Together, these four men from Joko's inner circle are generally seen as having no party affiliations. "Those appointments are his way of building his independence," Djayadi said.

Joko is also attempting to balance and solidify lines of authority as he prepares his administration to face the House majority opposition Red-White coalition.

Djayadi says despite consolidating his administration's lines of authority, Joko will also need to effectively lobby parties in the Red-White Coalition if he hopes to advance parts of his agenda that require legislative approval.

The president will also need to work on defining his "pro-people" policies in order to maintain and broaden public support, Djayadi said.

Joko will further need to have constitutional law on his side in dealing with conflicts in the House – and that will require solid, expert subject advisers, Qodari added, pointing to the president's controversial recent order barring ministers from obeying House lawmakers summonses to oversight hearings.

"Jokowi must remember that he must only bow to two things: the Constitution and the people."

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/sour-grapes-election-victors-spoils-pdi-p/

Government aids Aburizal's detractors

Jakarta Post - November 27, 2014

Bagus BT Saragih, Margareth S. Aritonang and Ina Parlina, Jakarta – The government has dragged itself into the escalating conflict within the Golkar Party, the second biggest legislative seat holder, by banning chairman Aburizal Bakrie from organizing a national congress in Bali this weekend.

A triumph of Indonesian politics for more than 30 years, Golkar is now on the brink of major turbulence with conflicting factions flexing their muscles to win the party's chairmanship succession scheduled for the congress.

Vice President Jusuf Kalla said on Wednesday that holding the congress in Bali could pose a security threat and create a negative image of the tourist island, citing the conflict between Golkar's factions on Tuesday that had resulted in bloody violence.

"November and December are peak season for tourists. If a similar conflict took place in Bali, it could attract international attention, which would not be good for Indonesia," Kalla, himself a former Golkar chairman, said at his office.

He said the escalating opposition to Aburizal had been triggered by mounting disappointment over the incumbent chairman's leadership.

Previously, Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Tedjo Edhy Purdijatno also made a similar suggestion, calling on the police not to issue a permit for the party's congress in Bali.

National Police chief Gen. Sutarman admitted he had received written notification from Golkar about the plan to hold the congress in Nusa Dua, Bali, from Nov. 30 to Dec. 3.

"But we have not issued an official response yet, pending our analysis of potential security disturbances," he said. "In a major tourist attraction like Bali, security is top priority."

Golkar executive Firman Subagyo accused the government of political intervention. "Jokowi's administration must not interfere with parties' internal affairs, otherwise it will be no different to New Order's authoritarian leadership," he said.

Cabinet Secretary Andi Widjajanto shrugged off the accusation. "There was no intention to intervene in Golkar's internal event. It is Tedjo's authority to ensure security in Bali, as part of Indonesia's efforts to promote Bali's tourism," he said.

Golkar's splinter group led by deputy chairman Agung Laksono claimed that they had "occupied" the party's headquarters in West Jakarta amid escalating tension between the group and the camp of chairman Aburizal Bakrie.

Supporters of Agung, who has established and is leading the so-called "Presidium of Golkar Party's Saviors", also filed a request with the Law and Human Rights Ministry to register the new party national board executives, which excludes Aburizal and all of his men.

"We hope the ministry will legalize this new executive board within one or two days," said lawmaker Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita from Agung's faction.

Lawmaker Agun Gunandjar said the chairman no longer had legitimacy as the leader of the party. "His undemocratic manner and abuse of power are considered violations according to Golkar's statute," he said.

Aburizal's camp flaunted support from the regions. In a declaration read out by the chairman of Golkar Southeast Sulawesi provincial chapter, Ridwan Bae, the provincial executives expressed their support.

"Golkar's statute does not recognize such a presidium [formed by Agung's camp]," he said before party cadres claiming to represent 31 of 34 provincial chapters.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/11/27/government-aids-aburizal-s-detractors.html

Aburizal's rivals to boycott Bali congress

Jakarta Post - November 26, 2014

Bagus BT Saragih, Jakarta – Golkar Party plenary meeting was violently disrupted on Tuesday, and culminated in rivals of chairman Aburizal Bakrie joining forces to plan their own party chairmanship election and reject the one planned by Aburizal's camp for Nov. 30.

Party deputy chairman Agung Laksono, himself intending to run for chairman, announced the formation of a presidium for the salvation of Golkar at the party's headquarters in West Jakarta.

The breakaway faction is intended to rival Golkar's central executive board, which Agung's camp said had "lost legitimacy". "The main task of this presidium is to hold the ninth National Congress in January 2015 at the latest, in Jakarta," Agung said.

Those present in the room agreed to name Agung the group's chairman. The former coordinating people's welfare minister then appointed senior party member Muladi head of the national congress organizing committee and party executive Ibnu Munzir head of the steering committee.

Aburizal has announced his plan to run for a second term despite the party's losses in this year's elections. He has also been accused of intimidating local party executives to pledge support for his bid, as well as maneuvering for the Bali congress.

Aburizal has appointed his confidant, Nurdin Halid, as the steering committee chairman of the congress, slated to take place in Nusa Dua, Bali, on Nov. 30, a schedule contested by Agung's faction, which claims that the 2009 congress mandated a congress to be held in 2015.

Other party members who have agreed to join Agung's faction include former House of Representatives deputy speaker Priyo Budi Santoso, party executive Hajriyanto Thohari, Golkar Youth Generation (AMPG) chairman Yorrys Raweai, senior party member Zainal Bintang, as well as lawmakers Airlangga Hartarto, Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita, Zainudin Amali and Agun Gunandjar.

Along with Agung, Priyo, Hajriyanto and Airlangga, Agus and Zainuddin have also declared their intentions to run for party chairman. These six, however, have agreed to join forces, with only one of them running as a single contender against Aburizal.

The only candidate who has not joined the presidium is former industry minister MS Hidayat.

A few hours earlier, several Golkar cadres were injured in a clash between members outside the room where the plenary session was taking place.

The violent conflict was ignited when members of Golkar's central executive board, led by deputy chairman Theo L. Sambuaga, a supporter of Aburizal, were about to commence the meeting to discuss the party's upcoming chairmanship election, which has been the cause of increasing infighting in recent weeks.

Preparations for the election were discussed during a plenary meeting on Monday, but the session was adjourned by chairman Aburizal after dozens of AMPG members poured into the meeting room in protest against Aburizal's authoritarian approach to organizing the vote.

To safeguard against similar disruptions, dozens of men guarded the meeting room on Tuesday afternoon. These men wore AMPG uniforms but Yorrys said they were "fake" and merely created by Aburizal as an attempt to legitimize his actions.

Enraged by the "fake" group, Yorrys came to the headquarters with more than 50 AMPG members, forcefully dispersing Aburizal's alleged decoys, some of whom were assaulted with sticks and helmets taken from parked motorcycles.

Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Tedjo Edhy Purdijatno denounced the violent clashes.

"The conflict [at Golkar headquarters] resulted in violence. I suggest that the National Police do not give the party permission to hold the congress in Bali," he said.

"Bali is our main tourist destination. If conflict occurs there, there could be travel warnings and Indonesia would be disadvantaged," he added.

Aburizal, for his part, was not spotted at party headquarters on Tuesday.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/11/26/aburizal-s-rivals-boycott-bali-congress.html

Opposition anger falls on Aburizal's deaf ears

Jakarta Post - November 25, 2014

Bagus BT Saragih, Jakarta – The Golkar Party moved ahead with a central executive board plenary meeting on Monday, arousing the ire of a growing segment within the party that rejects the effort to expedite the chairmanship election, which they see as an illegitimate means of helping secure a second term for current chairman Aburizal Bakrie.

The closed-door meeting, which was held at the party's headquarters in Slipi, West Jakarta, turned ugly after dozens of party members poured into the meeting room in protest against the plan to hold a party national congress on Nov. 30.

The angry Golkar cadres, believed to be members of the Golkar Party Youth Generation (AMPG) disregarded warnings by security officers, who tried to calm them down.

Aburizal left the meeting room prior to the arrival of the angry cadres, adjourning the meeting several minutes before the protesters entered.

Aburizal, accompanied by, among others, deputy chairman Fadel Muhammad, secretary-general Idrus Marham and party executives Sharif Cicip Sutardjo and Nurdin Halid, returned to the plenary meeting room about two hours later, only to make a short announcement that the meeting would be adjourned until Tuesday.

"Where are Aburizal and his men Fadel, Idrus and Nurdin, going? How dare they claim that Golkar belongs just to them?" AMPG chairman Yorrys Raweyai said. "We will disband the upcoming congress if they insist on holding it on Nov. 30," he added.

Golkar, the second-biggest winner in last April's legislative election, has seen infighting escalate in past weeks. The discord centers on moves by Aburizal's camp to secure support for the incumbent chairman, which opponents consider "undemocratic" and "illegal".

Golkar's upcoming chairman election is considered crucial, as it could alter the country's political landscape. Analysts predict that Golkar, one of the country's oldest parties, may jump ship to the camp of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and Vice President Jusuf Kalla if Aburizal is no longer in power.

If reelected, however, Aburizal is believed to favor keeping the party in the opposition and retaining its controlling power within the Red-and-White Coalition that dominates the House of Representatives. Previously, Fadel said that the congress would be held in Nusa Dua, Bali, from Nov. 30 to Dec. 3.

"It was decided by the national leadership meeting [Rapimnas] last week. It was due to proposals conveyed by almost all the provincial executives attending the meeting," the former minister said.

Aburizal's critics have accused his camp of threatening and intimidating local and regional chapters into supporting his bid for a second term.

They launched massive counter campaigns against the alleged strong-arm tactics, forcing Aburizal's camp to expedite the congress to prevent local and regional chapters from reconsidering.

"Aburizal should listen to the mounting concern if he does not want to see this party more divided," senior party member Agung Laksono, said.

As of Monday, seven Golkar politicians – Agung Laksono, lawmakers Airlangga Hartarto, Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita and Zainudin Amali, party executive Hajriyanto Thohari, former industry minister MS Hidayat and former lawmaker Priyo Budi Santoso – have declared that they will challenge Aburizal in the upcoming national congress.

Political analyst Heri Budianto said the next Golkar congress could result in splinter groups and the formation of new political parties. "Previous Golkar congresses have involved heated protests. As a result, [sometimes] the disappointed camps left Golkar and formed new parties," he said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/11/25/opposition-anger-falls-aburizal-s-deaf-ears.html

Environment & natural disasters

80% of forests in Central Kalimantan converted for plantations and mining

Jakarta Post - November 26, 2014

Sampit – The Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation Management Agency (REDD+) says around 80 percent of forests in Central Kalimantan have been converted for mining and industrial plantation use.

"Forests in Central Kalimantan are disappearing at an alarming rate. Many of the forests have been converted for oil palm plantations and mining areas," the agency's joint secretariat officer, Teguh Priyatmono, said Wednesday in Sampit, Central Kalimantan, as quoted by Antara news agency.

He said Central Kalimantan had been struck by a number of major disasters caused by excessive forest conversion, including floods and drought. During the dry season, he said, many springs dried out. During the rainy season, he added, the loss of trees that used to absorb rainfall triggered floods. Teguh said restoring forests in Central Kalimantan to their original condition would require greater awareness and commitment from all related stakeholders.

"Central Kalimantan is a pioneer province in reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation. This aims to push efforts and programs related to the government's plan of action to prevent land and forest fires," he said.

One of the programs initiated by the Central Kalimantan administration and the REDD+ Management Agency is a community-based forest and peatland fire control program.

"A serial training program for forest and land fire control teams was started in 2012. We provide the training to increase the capacity of local governments and communities to deliver effective land and forest fire control measures," said Teguh. (ebf)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/11/26/80-forests-c-kalimantan-converted-plantations-and-mining-redd.html

Ministry must limit land conversion: ICW

Jakarta Post - November 24, 2014

Jakarta – Anticorruption activists from the Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW) have called on the Environment and Forestry Ministry to limit the conversion of forests into other purposes amid rampant violations of permits issued by local administrations.

ICW researcher Emerson Yuntho said the current system of land conversion permits has opened the way for regional heads to be bribed by businesspeople to allow the opening forested areas.

He cited that the ministry has recorded Rp 273 trillion in state losses for converting 7 million hectares of forested areas in 2012.

"[Regional heads] have violated their authority to open forested areas with poor supervision from the central government," said Emerson on Sunday as quoted by tempo.co.

He suspected that the bribe money received by the regional heads might be used to support their political parties.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/11/24/ministry-must-limit-land-conversion-icw.html

Health & education

Employees fear downgraded health benefits in BPJS Health

Jakarta Post - November 26, 2014

Esther Samboh and Linda Yulisman, Jakarta – Dessy Rosalina, 29, used to receive reimbursements from her company for her health care, but now she can only hope that her benefits will not be downgraded after her company enrolled her in the national health insurance (JKN) program starting in January next year.

Her experience with the Healthcare and Social Security Agency (BPJS Kesehatan), which provides JKN services, had been unpleasant.

It took her days to enroll her mother and she was left unattended to for three hours by a partnering private hospital only to be transferred to a public hospital for better services.

Dessy's experience is shared by many other employees – especially those of mid-sized companies – who are now taking a wait-and-see attitude to their companies' policies on health care.

Employers will need to either resort to the low quality healthcare standard of BPJS Kesehatan and see their employees add their own private insurance, or top up benefits not covered by the public provider – consequently adding to costs.

"I will wait and see the BPJS plan that my office will implement. I am hoping for a coordination of a benefit system that cooperates with private [healthcare providers]. If my office only takes a pure BPJS service, it won't be as convenient as using private services," said Dessy, who works in the media industry.

Most employers (state-owned, large, medium and small enterprises), are required by law to enroll their employees on Jan. 1, 2015, at the latest, with a premium rate of 5 percent of employee salaries.

Employers have demanded a delay to this implementation with the government, to give time to BPJS Kesehatan to improve its services and quality.

BPJS Kesehatan spokesman Ikhsan said companies unsatisfied with the agency's services could take the coordination of benefit (COB) plan, in which firms could top up services not covered by BPJS Kesehatan, either using a direct company benefits system or through more than 30 private insurance firms that BPJS Kesehatan had partnered with.

This is especially helpful for hospitalization, because patients can go to any hospital, even if it does not partner with BPJS Kesehatan, and have their bills paid by BPJS Kesehatan up to a point, with the remainder covered by the additional healthcare provider.

As for outpatients, BPJS Kesehatan members should still go to Puskesmas (community health centers) for minor care and then if required, be referred to a doctor for more serious illnesses. Outpatient handling has received wide criticism because of long queues and the lack of quality health centers and doctors across the archipelago.

Over 131 million people are entitled to BPJS Kesehatan benefits, with 9,778 Puskesmas, 3,000 clinics and 3,786 individual doctors, according to data from BPJS Kesehatan's website on Nov. 21. This means that every Puskesmas is handling 13,397 BPJS members and every doctor is taking care of 34,601 patients.

Ikhsan acknowledged the shortcomings, but said he had done what it takes to improve services, increasing service facilities, human resources and service points. "The supply side [of healthcare infrastructure] is the government's responsibility. But yes, our end should be to improve services."

Companies, however, still feel that the COB plan is adding to their costs, because they will have to top up services not covered by BPJS Kesehatan and maintain the quality of employees' healthcare benefits, according to Adhi Lukman, chairman of the Indonesian Food and Beverages Association (GAPMMI).

"If BPJS [Kesehatan] services are good enough, there's no need for private insurance. Companies could just allocate funds to pay for BPJS [Kesehatan] premiums in exchange for private insurance costs," said Adhi.

GAPMMI consists of 390 food and beverage companies across Indonesia, such as Indofood, with employees of between 500 to 10,000 each.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/11/26/employees-fear-downgraded-health-benefits-bpjs-health.html

Governance & administration

Jokowi shows at nuptials of TNI chief's son

Jakarta Post - November 30, 2014

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Gen. Moeldoko threw a lavish wedding for his 28-year-old son Randy Bimantoro on Saturday.

In attendance were political heavyweights, including President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and Vice President Jusuf Kalla.

Soon after Jokowi entered the hall in the Jakarta International Expo, Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, he, and his wife, Iriana, greeted Moeldoko and his family, including the newlyweds, Randy and Rasyula Andari, the daughter of Maj. Gen. Toto Rinanto Soedjiman.

Jusuf Kalla then came up on stage with his wife, Mufidah. The First Family upstaged the newlyweds, as those present frenziedly snapped photos of the President.

After exiting, Jokowi, Iriana, Kalla and his wife were escorted to a VIP section, where they greeted officials and politicians, including Health Minister Nila Moeloek, Constitutional Court Chief Justice Hamdan Zoelva and Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) politician Maruarar Sirait. Jokowi spent less than 10 minutes in the hall before leaving.

Also at the reception were PDI-P chairwoman Megawati Soe-karnoputri, Gerindra Party chairman Prabowo Subianto, People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) speaker Zulkifli Hasan, former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Trade Minister Rachmat Gobel.

Hundreds of guests meant that waits to enter the hall topped 20 minutes, followed by another 20 minutes in line to greet the bride and groom – although jazz singer Dira J. Sugandi, backed by a full orchestra, was on hand for entertainment.

The wedding took place days after Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform Minister Yuddy Chrisnandi issued new rules banning government officials from lavish lifestyles. In a circular issued on Nov. 20, Yuddy banned officials from throwing lavish parties or other wasteful spending to "show empathy for the people".

The rule, which goes into effect in January, also sets a limit on the number of invitations issued for occasions like wedding receptions to 400, or no more than 1,000 participants.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/11/30/jokowi-shows-nuptials-tni-chief-s-son.html

Indonesia president pulls plug on official partying

Agence France Presse - November 28, 2014

Jakarta – Indonesia's president has ordered officials to eat local street food at meetings instead of fancy foreign fare and stop holding lavish parties, the latest moves by the new government to crack down on bureaucratic excess.

Snacks such as cassava, steamed corn and yam cakes should be served at official gatherings and the number of guests invited to high-ranking bureaucrats' parties should be limited to 400, a minister said.

President Joko Widodo, who took office last month and is known as a modest figure from a humble background, has made reining in official spending a key goal.

He has already slashed travel and meeting budgets for next year, and last week sought to lead by example when he flew economy class to Singapore for his son's graduation, winning widespread praise online.

Announcing the latest moves, Yuddy Chrisnandi, minister for bureaucratic reform, ordered officials to "stop anything that is excessive". He said that gluttonous officials were at risk of developing high cholesterol and high blood pressure, and that buying local snacks would help Indonesian farmers.

Chrisnandi said the rules on food would be applied in all ministries and government offices from 1 December. Those who broke them would face sanctions such as demotion or a postponement of bonus payments, he said.

The energy ministry, which is seeking to clean up its image following recent corruption scandals, has already sent out a list of permitted foods and has ordered drinks to be limited to coffee, tea and water.

The ban on lavish parties, due to come into effect early next year, is aimed at private functions held by high-ranking officials, which are often vast affairs at luxurious hotels. Chrisnandi said such events created an impression of inequality.

"There are high-ranking government officials organising weddings for their children... inviting thousands, causing traffic jams."

The moves echo an anti-corruption crackdown launched by China's leader Xi Jinping after he came to power in late 2012, which included banning fancy fare from official banquets.

Source: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/nov/28/indonesia-president-pulls-plug-official-partying-joko-idodo

Calls for Jokowi to explain controversial decisions

Jakarta Post - November 24, 2014

Hasyim Widhiarto, Jakarta – With his approval rating hitting the lowest point yet since his inauguration last month, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo must ensure he provides the public with clear and transparent reasoning behind some of his recent controversial decisions, to avoid growing doubt over his administration, analysts have said.

Although Jokowi had discussed his plan to reallocate the fuel subsidy immediately after his inauguration, political researcher Rully Akbar from Jakarta-based pollster the Indonesian Survey Circle (LSI), considered that Jokowi's decision to execute the plan last week was "too soon".

"Technically speaking, many people at all economic levels are still unable to understand the reasoning behind the government's decision [to increase fuel prices]," Rully told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.

"Even after Jokowi stepped up to announce the hike himself, such a non- populist decision will impact on him as the highest decision maker."

Less than a month after assuming the country's highest political office, Jokowi increased the prices of subsidized fuel on Nov. 17 to reallocate ever-increasing funds spent on fuel subsidies to finance the government's development programs.

Speaking in a press conference at the Presidential Palace, Jokowi said the price of subsidized Premium gasoline would increase from Rp 6,500 (53 US cents) per liter to Rp 8,500, while the price of diesel would be raised from Rp 5,500 to Rp 7,500 per liter. Kerosene remained unchanged at Rp 2,500 per liter.

In a nationwide survey held from Nov. 18 to 19, the LSI found that 44.94 percent of its 1,200 respondents said they were dissatisfied with Jokowi's leadership. The survey, held in 33 out of the country's 34 provinces, had a margin of error of +/- 2.9 percent.

Jokowi and running mate Jusuf Kalla garnered 53.2 percent of the vote in this year's presidential election, prompting Rully to consider Jokowi's current approval rating as "alarming".

Jokowi, who promised to support the battle against corruption and the judicial mafia, also surprised many legal and human rights activists by installing former NasDem Party lawmaker HM Prasetyo as attorney general on Thursday, instead of a non-political appointee. Jokowi has also been criticized for keeping Prasetyo's vetting process under wraps.

The director of Gadjah Mada University's Center for Anticorruption Studies (Pukat) in Yogyakarta, Zainal Arifin Mochtar, urged Jokowi to publicly explain the reasoning behind Prasetyo's appointment, otherwise the public would assume that he had bowed to political pressure instead of a larger public interest.

"With his prerogative right, the President can use any method to pick his attorney general. However, it is also important for the public to know why their President chose him [Prasetyo] over other, highly qualified candidates," he said.

The President's declining popularity has also prompted movie producer KK Dheeraj to delay the screening of a movie titled Jokowi Adalah Kita (Jokowi is Us), slated to hit cinemas on Nov. 20.

"[We] have delayed the screening. The fuel price increases have heated up the political situation, so we will wait," Dheeraj said on the official website of the 21 Cineplex theater chain.

Meanwhile, the Golkar Party faction at the House of Representatives is rallying support for an inquiry into the President's decision.

"We want to know the calculation [on the rising fuel prices]. We are gathering support for the inquiry from all party factions," said Golkar faction's secretary Bambang Soesatyo, as quoted by Antara news agency.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/11/24/calls-jokowi-explain-controversial-decisions.html

Parliament & legislation

Fuel price probe a no-go for Dems

Jakarta Globe - November 29, 2014

Robertus Wardi & Ezra Sihite, Jakarta – The Democratic Party said it would not support calls by members of the majority Red-White Coalition, or KMP, in the House of Representatives to launch a legislative inquiry into President Joko Widodo's decision to raise subsidized fuel prices.

The KMP circulated an inquiry petition this week that has reportedly garnered over 200 House members' signatures so far. Only 25 signatures are needed to warrant consideration by the full House, of which a majority must then vote to proceed with a formal inquiry, according to its rules of procedure.

No plenary session has yet been scheduled, as the opposition Red-White Coalition, which controls both a majority of the House and its leadership, will likely seek to lock in petition signatures from the majority of members beforehand. If approved, the House could form a special inquiry committee with authority to summon the president himself.

Syarief Hasan, the Democrats' executive chairman, said on Friday that the KMP's plan was excessive. Syarief argues that House Commission VII, which oversees energy, should first stage a hearing with the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry to demand explanation.

Answers at such a hearing may hardly be forthcoming. Earlier this week, Joko confirmed issuing a Nov. 4 order that ministers in his administration disobey all summonses to House oversight hearings until such time as the president deemed the House's affairs "settled."

House members should request an audience with the president regarding his decision to raise subsidized fuel prices, Syarief said. "If [Joko's] answers were not satisfactory then we can launch an inquiry."

If House Democrats hew to their party's line, they may foil attempts to launch a formal inquiry. The minority Awesome Indonesia Coalition (KIH), which supports Joko's administration, controls 246 seats out of the House's 560 seats. A "nay" from the Democrats could bring the inquiry's opponents to 307 against 243.

But it's unclear whether the Democrats' caucus whips will directly instruct members not to support the inquiry. Six members of the United Development Party (PPP) loyal to ousted party chairman Suryadharma Ali, who opposes his party's shift of allegiance to Joko's minority coalition, have signed the petition.

Secretary of the Cabinet Andi Widjajanto remains unfazed, however. "We're not worried, because the administration's argument is very clear," he said.

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/fuel-price-probe-go-dems/

House heading toward paralysis

Jakarta Post - November 28, 2014

Margareth S. Aritonang, Jakarta – The House of Representatives has once again been thrown into paralysis as the Red-and-White Coalition struggled to maintain control of the legislative body, following the breakdown of a peace deal on Wednesday.

On Thursday, the House canceled a hearing in which it expected to summon Health Minister Nila Moeloek and called off a meeting to discuss whether or not the legislative body should hold another selection process to find a replacement for retiring Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) commissioner Busyro Muqoddas.

The two meetings were canceled after only a handful of lawmakers from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P)-led Great Indonesia Coalition showed up.

Though Nila was ready to attend, the meeting room of House Commission IX overseeing health and welfare was deserted. Meanwhile, Commission III overseeing law and human rights, which was scheduled to meet on the selection process, was forced to postpone the meeting after no lawmakers from the Great Indonesia Coalition were present.

Only a small number of lawmakers from the United Development Party (PPP) and the Hanura Party could be seen in the meeting room.

"We will attend any meetings, as well as hearings only if we've completed amending the MD3 Law, as per the peace pact," lawmaker Abdul Kadir Karding of the National Awakening Party (PKB) said.

Abdul, secretary-general of the PKB, was referring to Law No. 17/2014 regulating Legislative Institutions, known as the MD3 Law, which is to be amended to tap lawmakers from the Great Indonesia Coalition for chairmanship posts within the House's internal bodies, including its 11 commissions.

An amendment to the law is included in the peace deal sealed by the two rival coalitions earlier this month after a month-long dispute over control of the House.

However, a House plenary meeting unexpectedly ditched the amendment on Tuesday due to technicalities; a decision made only one day after the government interfered with an escalating internal conflict within the Golkar Party – one of five members of the opposition Red-and-White Coalition – in the run up to its national congress to select a new chairman, slated to take place in Bali this weekend.

Besides Golkar, other members of the Red-and-White Coalition are the Gerindra Party, the National Mandate Party (PAN) and the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS).

Former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's Democratic Party has also recently joined the group, although it repeatedly claims to be a "balancing power" between the two competing coalitions.

Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Tedjo Edhy Purdijatno, a NasDem politician, was accused of meddling in the Golkar Party internal conflict for calling on the police not to issue a permit for the party's national congress in Bali.

Several lawmakers confirmed that the Golkar faction in the Legislation Body (Baleg), which is tasked with deliberating the MD3 Law amendment, declined to support the amendment only hours after Tedjo's statement went public.

A number of Golkar politicians said that the party would not change its position regarding the amendment, in spite of Jokowi's overture to install Golkar politician Nusron Wahid as the new head of the Agency for the Placement and Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (BNP2TKI).

In October, Jokowi made a similar move by appointing PPP politician Lukman Hakim Saifuddin as Religious Affairs Minister, although the Muslim-based party had yet to officially join the PDI-P-led coalition.

"I don't believe that what happened with PPP will take place in Golkar. Nusron's appointment has nothing to do with the party's future," Golkar lawmaker Azis Syamsuddin said.

Baleg itself has decided that the discussion over the fate of the MD3 amendment will take place after Golkar's national congress, scheduled for next week.

"[...] We have made an agreement. We'll see what happens. But Baleg is determined to make a decision by Dec. 5, before we take a one month recess," Baleg deputy chairman Saan Mustofa of the Democratic Party said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/11/28/house-heading-toward-paralysis.html

House standoff back to square one

Jakarta Post - November 27, 2014

Margareth S. Aritonang and Ina Parlina, Jakarta – The truce between the Red-and-White Coalition and Great Indonesia Coalition at the House of Representatives came to nought on Wednesday as the legislative body put the brakes on amending the Legislative Institutions (MD3) Law, a condition that was required for the resolution of the lengthy dispute between the two sides.

After weeks of discussion at the House's Legislation Body (Baleg), which was tasked with deliberating the amendment, a plenary meeting on Wednesday failed to approve the draft revision of the MD3 Law as lawmakers bickered over technicalities, despite an earlier agreement reached by all political factions through their representatives at Baleg to go ahead with the deliberation process.

Several lawmakers insisted the amendment should first be formally included in the National Legislation Program (Prolegnas) list, which the House had yet to formulate. Such a proposal, if met, could extend the time needed to complete the amendment beyond the Dec. 5 deadline already approved by both factions.

"This is to ensure that the process complies with the legal procedure. Thus, it's better to first complete the Prolegnas so that we can include the amendment in the list," Democratic Party lawmaker Benny Kabur Harman told the plenary session.

Several other lawmakers, particularly from the opposition Red-and-White Coalition, supported the argument, saying the inclusion of the amendment in the Prolegnas would provide legal grounds for the amendment.

Other lawmakers opposing the deliberation of the MD3 Law said the House should first settle a disagreement with sister-institution the Regional Representatives Council (DPD), which had been demanding a role in the amendment process.

The setback has caused more bad blood between lawmakers from the two coalitions, who are not yet over their bitter month-long battle for control of the House, which is now controlled by the Red-and-White Coalition, the political grouping that nominated Gerindra Party chairman Prabowo Subianto in the July 9 presidential election.

"They [lawmakers in the Red-and-White Coalition] are not to be trusted. They refused to approve [the amendment] as soon as all of us [the Great Indonesia Coalition's factions] submitted our lineups for all House internal bodies. They are not committed [to meeting their obligations]," said Johnny G. Plate, deputy chairman of the NasDem Party faction.

Many speculated that the renewed standoff resulted from what the Red-and- White Coalition deemed a political intervention by President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo in the internal affairs of the Golkar Party, which is a member of that coalition.

Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Tedjo Edhy Purdijatno, a NasDem politician, said on Tuesday that the National Police should not issue a permit for Golkar's planned national congress in Bali, following a violent clash between supporters of dueling factions within the party.

Golkar politician Azis Syamsuddin, who chairs House Commission III overseeing law and human rights, lambasted Tedjo's statement.

"The government must not interfere with political parties. This is the second time the government has made a questionable move after Cabinet Secretary [Andi Widjajanto's] circular prohibiting ministers from attending meetings with us. He [Andi] must be fired soon," he added.

Separately, Andi said the government would restore ties with the House only after lawmakers reached an agreement on the amendment of the MD3 Law.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/11/27/house-standoff-back-square-one.html

House calls on Jokowi to withdraw order

Jakarta Post - November 26, 2014

Margareth S. Aritonang, Jakarta – The House of Representatives has demanded that President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo immediately revoke an order prohibiting his ministers from attending meetings with lawmakers until the two coalitions in the legislature reconcile their differences.

Lawmakers, particularly those from the opposition Red-and-White Coalition, warned that the instruction, which was circulated in a letter by Cabinet Secretary Andi Widjajanto earlier this month, would only disadvantage the government as it might pose a risk to the government's budget proposals presented to the House.

"The President must revise the letter for the sake of the government, not the House. Understand that the House can run with the current situation but the government cannot because it will need approval from the House for its programs," House Deputy Speaker Fadli Zon said on Tuesday.

Fadli, a politician from the Gerindra Party, corrected Jokowi, saying that the latter's order was no longer applicable to the latest development in the House, where the majority of factions within the ruling Great Indonesia Coalition had officially submitted their lineups for each of the House's 16 internal bodies, including the 11 commissions, which allowed all meetings and hearings to take place.

He further explained that the current situation in the House was unlike what Jokowi had previously mentioned in explaining his reasons for issuing the order, ensuring that, "all House commissions are already very solid so that they can work properly."

Previously, Jokowi said that the instruction for all ministers to skip meetings with lawmakers was meant to avoid confusion, as his Great Indonesia Coalition had set up its own House leadership as well as internal bodies in a move to challenge the majority Red-and-White Coalition's move to occupy all leading posts at the House.

"If we [the government] go to one House meeting, it will be deemed wrong. If we go to another House meeting, it will also be deemed wrong. Then what?" Jokowi recently said.

However, as of Tuesday, all factions within the Great Indonesia Coalition – the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the National Awakening Party (PKB), the NasDem Party, the United Development Party (PPP) and the Hanura Party – had submitted their lineups to the House's secretary-general office as both coalitions had agreed to amend the 2014 Legislative Institutions (MD3) Law and the House's internal regulation to rearrange all chair positions to include the ruling coalition's lawmakers.

Several lawmakers from the Great Indonesia Coalition were seen attending meetings in various commissions from Monday.

However, PDI-P lawmaker Arif Wibowo backed Jokowi's instructions, stressing that meetings with lawmakers should take place only after the House's Legislation Body (Baleg) completed the revision of the MD3 Law to give a guarantee.

"With only two weeks left before a recess, the amendment of the [MD3] Law is the priority between the government and the House," said Arif, who is also deputy chairman of PDI-P faction at the House. "Everything can run normally again next year after we resume the session," he added.

The current House session will end on Dec. 5 before it resumes in mid- January next year after a month's recess. Baleg has set up a working committee to deliberate the amendment of the MD3 Law, which will be presented before a plenary meeting later this week for approval.

Following the approval, the team will be able to work on the amendment together with Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Hamonangan Laoly, who is representing the government.

The discussion on the amendment will be the only House's meeting attended by the government until it is finalized by Dec. 5.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/11/26/house-calls-jokowi-withdraw-order.html

Jokowi tells Cabinet to skip House meetings

Jakarta Post - November 25, 2014

Margareth S. Aritonang and Ina Parlina, Jakarta/Bogor – The beleaguered peace process between President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's Great Indonesia Coalition and the opposition Red-and-White Coalition in the House of Representatives has still not been finalized, with the President ordering his ministers to refuse to attend meetings with lawmakers.

An instruction to skip all meetings – circulated in a letter by Cabinet Secretary Andi Widjajanto and echoing an earlier call from State-Owned Enterprises Minister Rini Soemarno – has angered House members, who vowed to use their power to challenge Jokowi's administration if officials insisted on missing meetings with the House.

In a letter dated Nov. 4, Andi called on all Cabinet ministers, as well as other officials including the Indonesian Military (TNI) commander, the head of the National Police, the TNI chief of staff, the head of the National Intelligence Agency (BIN) and the attorney general, to postpone all meetings with House leaders and House internal bodies, including its 11 commissions, in order to allow the House to consolidate the truce that followed an agreement reached by the two coalitions.

Earlier, Rini issued a similar call prohibiting all officials of state- owned companies from attending meetings with lawmakers until the House had enacted the adjustments to chairmanships of all its internal bodies as mandated by the peace pact.

"The government has nothing to do with the House's [internal] procedures. Everything's been done. [All House commissions] now have all their members, so don't make excuses. It's unconstitutional," House deputy speaker Fadli Zon said on Monday.

Fadli, a politician from the Gerindra party, went on to warn officials that the House could strong-arm them into presenting themselves if necessary. "We will continue to invite [officials] to meetings. Let there be no doubt that we will take firm action if they refuse to come after the third request. We can force them to come here."

Chairman of House Commission III overseeing legal affairs and laws, human rights and security Azis Syamsuddin, meanwhile, lambasted Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Hamonangan Laoly, a member of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle's (PDI-P), for skipping two meetings slated to discuss the recruitment of a new Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) commissioner to replace the retiring Busyro Muqqodas.

"[Yasonna] told us in his letter that he could not come to today's meeting because he was to attend a meeting with President Jokowi," Azis said. Yasonna attended a meeting with the House's Legislation Body (Baleg) last week to discuss the National Legislation Program (Prolegnas).

Besides potential forced summons and blocks put on funding for their programs, government officials may also face tough questioning sessions with lawmakers, as the latter look likely to exercise their right to inquire into the government's decision to raise fuel prices. Responding to the House's bitter reaction, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo confirmed the order issued by the Cabinet Secretary.

"Of course it's true. If we [the government] go to one House meeting, it will be deemed wrong. If we go to another House meeting, it will also be deemed wrong. Then what?" Jokowi asked reporters on the sidelines of an event at Bogor Palace in West Java on Monday.

He was referring to the unsettled dispute between the two coalitions, as a result of which several House commissions do not yet have a definitive list of members, with several party factions still refusing to submit lists of lawmakers for the commissions and other internal bodies.

"If the House has settled the matter, then they can contact [the government to attend House meetings]. Why should they summon [the ministers now]? What for?" Jokowi said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/11/25/jokowi-tells-cabinet-skip-house-meetings.html

Film & television

women to take center stage at Jogja Asian film festival

Jakarta Post - November 29, 2014

Sri Wahyuni, Yogyakarta – The Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival (JAFF) 2014 is back for its ninth edition on Monday with a special focus on women.

Almost 70 of the 75 films to be screened during the weeklong event will focus on women's issues or were made by women, according to JAFF manager Ajish Dibyo.

"Issues facing women are not new – but women in the context of cinema has a very interesting and important element," Ajish told The Jakarta Post in Yogyakarta earlier this week.

Screenings for the festival, founded by auteur film director Garin Nugroho in 2006, are slated for the Yogyakarta Cultural Park, Bentara Budaya Yogyakarta and the Empire XXI Cineplex.

Hirokazu Koreeda's acclaimed family drama Like Father Like Son will open the festival on Monday, while Boong Joon-Ho's dystopian action film Snowpiercer will close the event on Dec. 6.

The festival will offer an Asian Features section, presenting films as diverse as M. Saffory's Zarandud from Tajikistan and Bety Reis and Luigi Acquisto's Beatriz's War, the first feature film from Timor Leste; an Asia in Focus section, which will explore contemporary Japanese cinema; and a Light of Asia section, which will feature short films such as Sidi Saleh's Maryam, which won top honors at the Venice film festival, and Requiem for a Night and Blue Eyed Boys from Iran.

Meanwhile, the Faces of Indonesia section will focus on local films, such as NOAH, Putrama Tuta's documentary about the band's return to the spotlight after frontman Nazril "Ariel" Irham was released from prison following a sex scandal; as well as films with a local theme, such as Frenchman Bastian Meiresonne's Garuda Power, about the wild, sensational side of Indonesian action and exploitation movies.

Ajish said that there was also an "interesting" new competition where students from local five universities would judge films screened at the festival. "We will not just talk about film students making films – but more on how films are a medium for appreciation [and how to] read information or situations that are not conveyed directly through cinema."

The festival's main jury comprises director Hanung Bramantyo (Ayat-ayat Cinta, Verses of Love), activist Olin Monteiro and film critic Makbul Mubarak; while the jury for the award given by the Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema (NETPAC) includes director Yosep Anggi Noen, whose short film took top honors at the Busan Film Festival, Francis Joseph Cruz a.k.a Oggs Cruz, and academic David Hanan.

The festival will feature a "community film jury", comprised of three local figures: Astu Prasidya, Bambang Kuntoro Murti a.k.a Video Robber, Alia Damaihati); while the short film jury comprises Kamila Andini, director of The Mirror Never Lies, Japanese director Osamu Minorikawa and Singaporean filmmaker Derek Tan.

The festival will give a space for film communities from Aceh; Palu, Central Sulawesi; Gresik, East Java; and Yogyakarta to share and discuss their film and filmmaking experiences, as well as a chance for viewers to watch films outside in its open-air cinema program, screening films such as Adriyanto Dewo's Tabula Rasa (Blank Slate), which approaches tolerance through food; and Angga Dwimas Sasongko's Cahaya Dari Timur: Beta Maluku! (Light from the East: We are Maluku!), which approaches ethic violence through soccer.

"Through this program we do not just encourage people to come to the cinema to watch films but we bring the cinema to the community, to bring the films closer to the people," Ajish said.

[For more information, visit jaff-filmfest.org.]

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/11/29/women-take-center-stage-jogja-asian-film-festival.html

Armed forces & defense

Jokowi grants TNI demand for new structure to boost attacks

Jakarta Post - November 29, 2014

Ina Parlina, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo agreed on Friday to continue with an Indonesian Military (TNI) plan for the formation of defense groups under a joint command, locally abbreviated as Kogabwilhan, designed for flexible and rapid troop deployment.

The plan will integrate the regional resources of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force into multi-service groups that will be positioned in certain defense flashpoints integral to preserving the country's territorial integrity and sovereignty.

Each Kogabwilhan group will be equipped with its own fleet of warships, jet fighter squadrons and Army units. Each group's commander, a three-star general, will be given the authority to respond without having to go through red tape at the TNI headquarters in Jakarta.

"As soon as possible, we will have it materialized. Let the plan be discussed and finalized by the officials before it is given to me," said Jokowi during a meeting with TNI commander Gen. Moeldoko and commanders of major commands from across the country on Friday at the Bogor Presidential Palace in West Java.

"The plan not only includes the Kogabwilhan, but also the Central Armada," Jokowi said. Jokowi was referring to the Navy's strategic plan to have three major armadas by 2024, namely the Western Armada, the Central Armada and the Eastern Armada.

Currently, the country divides the Navy's tasks between two commands: the Western Region Armada Command (Armabar) with headquarters in Jakarta and the Navy's Eastern Region Armada Command (Armatim) in Surabaya, East Java.

The plan will set the Eastern Armada flashpoint at Sorong, in West Papua, while it will make Surabaya the headquarters for the Central Armada.

Earlier during the meeting, Moeldoko said that he had proposed the establishment of the three Kogabwilhan to the government. "We have proposed the plan. We will just wait for the President to give the final say," he said.

Moeldoko also revealed a plan to built two new Army commands in Manado, North Sulawesi, and Papua. New military command structure to speed-up deployment responses Structure grants limited autonomy to regional commanders Navy to be divided into three main armadas: east, west and central

The idea to build the Kogabwilhan had actually been raised in 2008 under the leadership of Jokowi's predecessor, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who failed to issue a regulation endorsing the formation of the new structure.

The previous government had reportedly planned to have four Kogabwilhan groups covering several flashpoints in Aceh, Natuna in Riau Islands, Papua and Atambua in East Nusa Tenggara.

During the meeting, Jokowi also discussed the importance of having what he called "a big plan" for the TNI's future, including a plan to improve military defense systems.

Measures to deter prevalent illegal fishing by foreign ships operating in Indonesian waters was also high on the agenda, beside the planned policies to improve the welfare of military personnel.

Relevant ministers and officials had previously supported a plan to sink illegal foreign vessels involved in poaching.

Jokowi has repeatedly said the country lost around Rp 300 trillion (US$24 billion) annually from poaching and that there were currently 5,400 illegal ships operating in Indonesian waters because of a lack of firm action by the military and law enforcement authorities.

Several officials have complained about the alleged role of military personnel in backing poaching activities.

However, Jokowi refused to reveal the kind of military policy to be introduced in the near future, saying that regular follow-up meetings with the officers from major commands across the country were needed. "Later in the next meetings we will discuss the policies thoroughly," he said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/11/29/jokowi-grants-tni-demand-new-structure-boost-attacks.html

Batam military chiefs sacked after attack on police, TNI insists otherwise

Jakarta Post - November 28, 2014

Ina Parlina, Fadli and Apriadi Gunawan, Jakarta, Batam, Medan – Defense Minister Gen. (ret.) Ryamizard Ryacudu announced on Friday that the military (TNI) had dismissed top commanders within the Bukit Barisan Command in Batam, Riau Islands, following an armed attack by soldiers on the Riau Islands Police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) headquarters last week.

"The [Bukit Barisan] commander has been relieved of his duties, as has the [Batam] district commander," said Ryamizard at the Bogor Presidential Palace in West Java. "This was ordered by the President," he said.

Army Chief of Staff Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo, however, denied that the TNI had relieved Bukit Barisan commander Maj. Gen. Winston Simanjuntak and Batam district commander Lt. Col. Josep Tarada Sidabutar. "There has been no decision yet on the fate of the commanders. We have to wait for the outcome of the investigation," he said.

Dozens of members of the Army's 134 Tuah Sakti infantry ambushed and opened fire on the Brimob headquarters in Batam on Nov. 21, having vandalized the building hours before.

The incident, which lasted for almost seven hours, left one soldier dead, identified as First Pvt. Jack Marpaung, and injured a civilian, Kambani, who owns a nearby stall.

The conflict had its origins in a Sept. 21 clash between Brimob personnel and soldiers following an attempted police raid on a suspected illegal fuel-storage facility in Batam. Four members of the 134 Tuah Sakti infantry sustained gunshot wounds in the clash. (ren)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/11/28/batam-military-chiefs-sacked-after-attack-police-tni-insists-otherwise.html

Old guard Ryamizard to reboot New Order approach

Jakarta Post - November 28, 2014

Rendi A. Witular, Jakarta – After retiring from the military almost a decade ago, newly appointed Defense Minister Gen. (ret.) Ryamizard Ryacudu, 64, has returned to the fray with a plan to reboot New Order-era policies.

In a discussion held until late on Wednesday, Ryamizard's physically frail appearance had not dimmed his flare, as the highly decorated field commander credited with clamping down on separatist movements in Aceh and Papua spoke with force.

But his take on several defense issues left many puzzled, particularly over his vision for military management.

Ryamizard repeatedly emphasized the need for the military to expand its engagement in other sectors, with an expectation that it would eventually revive the outdated military doctrine of Total Defense System (Sistem Pertahanan Semesta).

The doctrine is an all-encompassing view that provides leeway for the military's "involvement" in civilian areas and institutions – more or less how the military operated during Soeharto's three-decades-long rule.

"The Soviet Union was torn apart not because it had no advanced weapons. It was dissolved because it did not apply the Total Defense System. Advanced weaponry cannot guarantee our unity and defense capability," said Ryamizard.

While the proposal is deemed effective at fending off foreign invasions, Ryamizard said that future threats to the nation revolved around terrorist acts stemming from the proliferation of extremism.

"The likelihood of foreign invasion is very small. Our immediate threats are actually extremism, illegal fishing and smuggling," he said.

He also recommended the revival of the military's (TNI) community-service program, popularly known as AMD, or ABRI Masuk Desa (military enters the village) during the New Order.

Soeharto used the AMD as a tool to spy on any form of resistance to his rule and to gain political support from villagers across the country to hold on to power.

"We can accelerate rural development through the revival of the program," said Ryamizard, citing his success spearheading an emergency response team after the 2004 tsunami in Aceh.

Ryamizard has also proposed placing the National Police under the Home Ministry rather than under the President, an idea he would present to President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo.

He argued that the since the TNI was placed under the Defense Ministry, there was no reason not to apply the same system to the National Police. "No countries place the police directly under the president."

The 1998 reform movement stripped the military of domestic security authority; separated from the military, the police was made the sole guardian of internal security.

Ryamizard has proposed changing that arrangement by re-vesting the military with some domestic security powers, particularly with respect to counterterrorism.

"Since terrorists use war gear, the military has the authority to step in. I will propose a greater role for the TNI to the House of Representatives," he said.

Ryamizard's penchant for action may stem from his long career as a field commander and comparatively little time spent behind the desk. Although he retired in 2005, most current TNI top brass retain a high level of admiration for Ryamizard for his leadership during combat.

However, analysts have argued that Ryamizard's appointment as defense minister had more to do with his influence in the TNI than it did his strategic vision for defense.

Ryamizard is known as a confidante of defeated presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto, founder of the Gerindra Party. Both graduated from the Military Academy in 1974.

Ryamizard acknowledged that the friendship had contributed to easing tensions between Prabowo and Jokowi. According to Ryamizard, he told Prabowo to bury the hatchet and continue to help build the nation.

"He [Prabowo] is like a brother to me. He sent me a letter congratulating me on my appointment as minister," said Ryamizard, who is also a confidante of Jokowi's patron and the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle's (PDI- P) chairwoman, Megawati Soekarnoputri.

"Although we have different political affiliations, our friendship remains. Pak Prabowo may look tough on the outside, but believe me, on the inside he is very soft. I know his character well," he said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/11/28/old-guard-ryamizard-reboot-new-order-approach.html

Komnas HAM cites rights violations in Batam clash

Jakarta Post - November 26, 2014

Fadli and Yuliasri Perdani, Batam/Jakarta – The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has identified four possible human rights violations in last week's armed clash between soldiers and police officers in Batam, Riau Islands.

During his visit to Batam on Tuesday, Komnas HAM commissioner Natalius Pigai said that the attack on the Riau Islands Police's Mobile Brigade (Brimob) headquarters, which was carried out by some 30 members of the Indonesian Army's 134 Tuah Sakti infantry, had violated the right to life, security and property.

During the Nov. 19 skirmish, armed soldiers fired bullets at the Brimob headquarters for hours, sparking fears among residents in the vicinity. The attack claimed the life of a soldier, injured a local citizen and damaged public facilities. The ongoing investigation has not yet identified the individuals responsible for the fatal shooting.

Natalius added that the unlawful use of firearms in the attack contravened the UN's 1990 "Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials" declaration.

"Both [the soldiers and police] recklessly used firearms, which were bought using public money," he said after a closed-door meeting with the head of Riau Islands Brimob Sr. Comr. Tory Kristianto at Brimob headquarters.

In addition to meeting with Riau Islands police officials in Batam, Natalius is also scheduled to hold talks with Wira Pratama Regional Military Command chief Brig. Gen. Eko Margiyono.

Natalius said that Komnas HAM would present its findings and recommendations on the Batam clash to the National Police chief, the Indonesian Military (TNI) commander and the coordinating political, legal and security affairs minister.

Last Saturday, the chairman of the House of Representatives' Commission III overseeing legal affairs and laws, human rights and security, Aziz Syamsuddin, along with several commission members, visited the Brimob headquarters and spoke with Riau Islands Police Brig. Gen. Arman Depari about the incident.

Meanwhile, in Jakarta, National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Ronny F. Sompie said that the police and the TNI had dispatched a joint team to look into the Batam clash.

"The investigation team members were selected by the chiefs of the police and military forces. Some of them are members of the previous investigation team," he announced on Tuesday.

Ronny was referring to a joint team that investigated the Sept. 21 brawl between Brimob personnel and Tuah Sakti infantry members after an attempted of a suspected illegal fuel-storage facility in Batam carried out by police. Four members of the 134 Tuah Sakti infantry sustained gunshot wounds in the clash.

After a lengthy investigation, the team revealed that two soldiers were involved in an illegal fuel-stockpiling business. The team, which was led by Maj. Gen. Maliki Mift, recommended the National Police prosecute a Brimob member, identified only as Adj. Comr. OYP, as there was enough evidence tying him to the incident.

The team's recommendations, however, failed to ease tensions between Brimob personnel and Tuah Sakti, prompting the storming of the Brimob headquarters weeks later.

In a bid to end the protracted clash between police and soldiers in Batam, Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Tedjo Edhy Purdijatno has said that the government would conduct a thorough evaluation on the leadership and recruitment system within the police and military forces.

Ronny said that the National Police would welcome the move. "There is no problem with that. It is the authority of President Jokowi [Joko Widodo] and his ministers to conduct that [leadership assessment]," he said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/11/26/komnas-ham-cites-rights-violations-batam-clash.html

Judicial & legal system

Prasetyo on mission to clean AGO's image

Jakarta Globe - November 29, 2014

Novy Lumanauw & Ezra Sihite, Jakarta – Newly appointed Attorney General H.M. Prasetyo vowed to restore the public's trust in his office, which many have dubbed as one of the most corrupt institutions in the country.

"People's expectation towards law enforcement agencies are so big, on the other hand, people's trust towards the prosecutors' office is so low," he said on Friday.

"This is a challenge. We must rise from this bad image [of the prosecutors' office]. There are still many shortcomings but we will meet people's expectations as quickly as possible."

The Attorney General's Office (AGO) had been hit with several graft allegations, most notoriously, the arrest of senior prosecutor Urip Tri Gunawan in 2008 by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) for accepting $660,000 in bribes from a businesswoman.

The AGO was rocked by another graft case when former tax official Gayus Tambunan admitted to bribing several prosecutors to stop his embezzlement and tax fraud case.

The prosecutors' office is also notorious for halting major cases involving big businesses or well-connected politicians, prompting suspicions of foul play causing public trust towards the law enforcement body to dwindle.

Several antigraft groups on Friday challenged the former National Democratic Party (NasDem) politician to prove his appointment was more than a "political gratuity."

Prasetyo is a career prosecutor who previously served as assistant attorney general for general crimes between 2005 and 2006 before quitting the Attorney General's Office to establish his own law firm.

He joined NasDem in 2011 and agreed to quit the party as a precondition of his appointment by President Joko Widodo.

Prasetyo was inaugurated as attorney general last Thursday, just a few hours after Joko's meeting with NasDem chairman and media mogul Surya Paloh.

Antigraft activists have been quick to criticize Joko's decision. Indonesia Corruption Watch expressed skepticism on Friday that the AGO under Prasetyo would resolve pending graft cases.

"The first [task] is to optimize the handling of corruption cases, particularly those involving high profile corruptors both at the national or local level," ICW researcher Emerson Yuntho said.

Prasetyo, he said, must reopen cases halted by his predecessors and retrieve uncollected fines and compensation from graft convicts.

The new attorney general should also increase prosecutors' roles in civil cases and as the country's representatives at international arbitration court against tax evaders, fugitives and rogue businesses which have caused the state massive losses.

Prasetyo "must complete these anti-corruption programs in the next 100 days. This will test Prasetyo's courage," Emerson said. "If he fails in the next 100 days, Prasetyo should resign as attorney general and President Joko should appoint a more able person."

The ICW warned Prasetyo that local graft cases, which seem to be appearing with increasing frequency, warranted greater care.

Prasetyo said the AGO had done a good job at prosecuting corruption cases, adding that this year there had been 1,270 cases handled by prosecutors across the country. "This is quite a lot. But a lot of people don't know about this because we haven't published this data," he said.

This year alone the Attorney General's Office had saved Rp 492 billion ($40 million) in state losses from the corruption cases it handled, Prasetyo said.

Antigraft and human rights groups have identified cases that have languished in the Attorney General's Office for years, including the gross rights violations surrounding the anti-communist crackdown of 1965-66; the Talangsari massacre in Lampung in 1989; extra-judicial killings by the military in the 1980s; and the so-called Trisakti and Semanggi tragedies of May 1998.

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/prasetyo-on-mission-to-clean-agos-image/

Indonesia corruption watch gives attorney general a long to-do list

Jakarta Globe - November 25, 2014

Hotman Siregar & Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – Indonesia Corruption Watch is urging newly inaugurated Attorney General H.M. Prasetyo to reform his office in a challenge to the former National Democratic Party, or NasDem, politician to prove his appointment was more than a "political gratuity."

Prasetyo is a career prosecutor who previously served as assistant attorney general for special crimes between 2005 and 2006 before quitting the Attorney General's Office to establish his own law firm.

He joined NasDem in 2011 and agreed to quit the party as a precondition of his appointment by President Joko Widodo. Prasetyo was inaugurated as attorney general last Thursday, just a few hours after Joko's meeting with NasDem chairman and media mogul Surya Paloh.

Antigraft activists have been quick to criticize Joko's decision. Over the weekend, ICW expressed skepticism that the AGO under Prasetyo would resolve pending graft cases.

"We at the ICW are very doubtful about corruption eradication in the future, especially now that the AGO is led by NasDem politician Prasetyo [sic], who didn't have a good track record while serving there," ICW member Agus Sunaryanto told the Jakarta Globe on Sunday.

"I think [Prasetyo's appointment] is merely a political gratuity by Jokowi to NasDem [...] Jokowi has abandoned the people's interest," he added.

Agus added that with Prasetyo already in charge, Joko had no other option but to set for the new attorney general "strict targets" that the AGO should attend to more closely. In particular, Agus said local graft cases, that seem to be appearing with increasing frequency, warranted greater care. In addition, Joko should also direct Prasetyo to reopen old cases abandoned by previous attorneys general, Agus said.

However, Joko must walk a fine line if he opts to follow the ICW's advice of directing the attorney general toward particular targets. Many observers would likely react with extreme concern at the prospect of undue interference in the judicial process and politically motivated prosecutions.

"[Prasetyo] must re-examine cases that have been abandoned [by the AGO]. He must deal with corruption cases without prejudice, and solve such cases quickly," Agus said.

On Sunday, ICW offered to-do list for Prasetyo that emphasized reforms to the prosecutors' ranks, as well as major human rights and corruption cases that the AGO has largely abandoned.

ICW's coordinator for legal and judiciary monitoring, Emerson Yuntho, said Prasetyo should begin with revising a regulation on career education for prosecutors. Emerson said this was responsible for the appointment of senior officials in the office without basis in merit.

"He also must discipline AGO employees, because many prosecutors have engaged in ethics violations, even corruption," Emerson said, adding that periodic performance evaluations were necessary.

ICW has identified 11 cases that have languished in the Attorney General's Office for years, which the group says Prasetyo must prioritize. Also on ICW's wish list are 102 regional graft cases, as well as gross rights violations surrounding the anti-communist crackdown of 1965-66; the Talangsari massacre in Lampung in 1989; extrajudicial killings by the military in the 1980s; and the so-called Trisakti and Semanggi tragedies of May 1998.

Former assistant attorney general for special crimes Ramelan has defended Prasetyo, saying his former political affiliation should not be used to judge him. Ramelan cited the case of Marzuki Darusman, the only non-career prosecutor appointed as the attorney general before Prasetyo. Marzuki, a Golkar Party politician, led the AGO from 1999 to 2001 under the late Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid.

"Although many Golkar members were allegedly involved in the Bank Bali [corruption] case, as soon as he took office, he [Marzuki] immediately cracked down," Ramelan said on Monday. "He detained then-Bank Indonesia governor Syahril Sabirin, Djoko Tjandra [now a fugitive]...

"So this matter of neutrality really depends on the individuals. Can they leave behind their political background? "Can they be independent? It depends."

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/indonesia-corruption-watch-gives-attorney-general-long-list/

Prasetyo challenged to resolve long-neglected cases

Jakarta Post - November 24, 2014

Margareth S. Aritonang, Jakarta – Newly appointed Attorney General Muhammad Prasetyo should prove his ability to reform the Attorney General's Office (AGO) by taking concrete action to resolve long-overdue cases that have been neglected by the institution.

The appointment of Prasetyo, a NasDem Party politician, to take over the position from Basrief Arief, has been criticized, with some questioning the former lawmaker's autonomy in leading the legal institution that has been tainted with poor law enforcement.

The lack of thorough supervision in the country's judiciary has meant that law enforcement institutions, including the AGO, have been unable to solve a number of cases on corruption and gross human rights violations.

A study by the Jakarta-based Indonesian Legal Roundtable (ILR), for example, in September this year, cited a lack of a supervisory mechanism as the reason why the Indonesian Law Enforcement Perception Index was at a level of 5.12 on a scale of one to 10.

The result showed a sluggish improvement on the ILR's study last year, when the Indonesian Law Enforcement Perception Index reached 4.53.

According to the US-based World Justice Project, the Indonesian Rule of Law Index achieved only between 0.4 and 0.5 in 2012, from a scale of 0 to 1 in 2012.

"Pak Prasetyo has a large responsibility to lead the AGO. He must prove he is a brave person, courageous enough to reform the institution and to be free of questionable interests, including from inside the AGO," National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) commissioner Roichatul Aswidah said recently.

Roichatul, who leads Komnas HAM's team tasked with settling cases of past gross human rights abuses, highlighted Prasetyo's significant role in determining the fate of such cases, which have been without any progress for more than 12 years due to technical bickering between Komnas HAM and the AGO.

"Komnas HAM would have preferred that President Joko [Jokowi] Widodo had appointed a person who was not affiliated to a political party, to avoid political interests becoming involved in efforts to solve cases of gross human rights violations, which are highly political," said Roichatul.

"However, since Pak Prasetyo has officially taken over the job, we have no other choice but to work with him for the comprehensive solution of the seven cases of rights violations, in which the results of investigations were submitted to the AGO years ago," she emphasized.

The unresolved cases consist of the 1989 Talangsari massacre; the enforced disappearances of anti-Soeharto activists in 1997 and 1998; the Trisakti University shootings; the Semanggi I and Semanggi II student shootings in 1998 and 1999; the mysterious killings of alleged criminals in the 1980s; the anticommunist massacres of 1965; and the various abuses that took place in Wasior and Wamena in Papua in 2001 and 2003, respectively.

Anticorruption activists also called for Prasetyo to be an independent, credible attorney general to solve corruption cases, including those that may involve law enforcers.

"Poor law enforcement in the country is basically due to the poor performance of law enforcement institutions, including the AGO, which is caused by poor leadership, poor human resources management, poor case handling and poor supervision," former Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) acting head Mas Achmad Santosa said in a statement.

"The government, especially Attorney General Prasetyo and other leading AGO officials, have to strengthen prosecuting organizations in these four aspects," he highlighted.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/11/24/prasetyo-challenged-resolve-long-neglected-cases.html

Criminal justice & prison system

Heavy sentence for poor firewood seeker in East Java deplored

Jakarta Post - November 27, 2014

Indra Harsaputra, Surabaya – Legal activists and environmentalists have strongly criticized a court in East Java that has sentenced a firewood gatherer to two years' imprisonment and a fine of Rp 2 billion (US$167,000) for cutting down mangrove trees.

Justice Awareness Legal Aid Institute head Jumanto said the court ruling against Busrin, 58, was unjust and legally discriminatory as many major companies had evaded the law although they had felled mangrove trees in large numbers.

"Busrin only finished elementary school and is from a poor family. We will file a judicial review with the Supreme Court," Jumanto told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

The mangrove damage, according to reports from the East Java Forestry Agency, was due to humans who looted mangrove forests in a massive manner for timber, conversion into farms and residences, as well as for the cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries.

Separately, Indonesia Environmental Awareness Community head Teguh Ardi Srianto said his group had found 20 hectares of damaged mangrove forest in Wonorejo, Rungkut district, Surabaya.

"Around 20 hectares of the mangrove forest has been logged by a developer there. The company plans to build a mangrove tourism pier, including a recreational area and swimming pool," said Teguh.

Separately, the Probolinggo District Court claimed that the verdict was fair. Court spokesman Putu Agus Wiranata said the defendant was sentenced by the court on Oct. 22 and was currently at Probolinggo city penitentiary.

"We are not selective in upholding the law because every citizen is in the same position before the law. The defendant was punished because he was proven guilty of cutting down mangrove trees to be used for firewood in a forest conservation area and cleared a 2-by-30-meter plot for farming," Putu told the Post on Tuesday.

As reported, Busrin was arrested by the Probolinggo Water Police Unit on July 16 this year based on a report from the Mangrove Supervision Community Group for damaging the mangrove ecosystem. During the arrest, Busrin admitted the timber was for firewood. The police submitted his dossier to the court on Sept. 24 and the court handed down the verdict on Oct. 22.

Putu said judges had considered every factor, including Busrin's financial ability. He added the defendant could not afford to pay the Rp 2 billion fine so the court replaced it with another month in prison.

Putu said Busrin violated Law No. 27/2007 on coastal areas and small island management, which stipulates that violators would be sentenced to between two and 10 years and fined between Rp 2 billion and Rp 10 billion.

"We handed down the minimum sentence because we considered his economic and educational background. We also believe the sentence will serve as a warning to other people because many of the mangrove swamps in Probolinggo have been damaged due to conversion," said Putu.

Putu added Busrin's actions had also threatened the marine ecosystem, which would impact on the livelihood of local fishermen, as well as cause floods and coastal erosion.

"Witnesses in court included fishing communities and the local village chief, who had conducted campaigns and warned residents not to damage and fell mangrove trees. Many mangrove destroyers there have not been caught," he said.

Putu added many people were against the court ruling, as they deemed it painful and controversial. However, the impact of the court decision would be felt in future to ensnare more perpetrators.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/11/27/heavy-sentence-poor-firewood-seeker-east-java-deplored.html

MoU on protection against gender-based violence

Jakarta Post - November 27, 2014

Semarang – The Central Java provincial administration has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with several parties to push for a justice system that is more sensitive to the interests of women and children as victims of violence.

"With the MoU, the role of law enforcers will be more concrete in facing issues of violence against women and children," said Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo in Semarang after signing the agreement on Tuesday.

Three points were reached between the governor, law enforcement agencies, the Family Planning and Women and Child Protection Agency (BP3AKB) and the Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology.

Together with the law enforcement agencies, Ganjar agreed on openness and the widest access to an integrated criminal justice system for women and children who were victims of violence. That is, the authorities must ensure justice prevails while handling and protecting victims of violence.

The BP3AKB and the Eijkman Institute regulate on DNA analysis applications for women and children victims of violence, as well as for human trafficking crimes.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/11/27/mou-protection-against-gender-based-violence.html

Police & law enforcement

Police chief urged to abolish virginity test

Jakarta Post - November 25, 2014

Semarang – An activist has urged National Police chief Sutarman to immediately issue a regulation to abolish virginity tests for female police applicants.

"There is a need to formally abolish virginity tests during the screening of female police applicants to show progress within the National Police. This measure will also protect women from discrimination," National Commission on Violence against Women (Komnas Perempuan) chairperson Yuniyanti Chuzaifah said as quoted by Antara news agency in Semarang on Tuesday.

She made the comments in response to ongoing polemics on virginity tests in the health examination procedure during the recruitment of female police officers.

Yuniyanti said virginity tests were no longer relevant for female police applicants. Moreover, she said, the National Police had stated that such tests did not determine whether a female candidate would pass the National Police recruitment process.

"Therefore, Komnas Perempuan urges the National Police chief to issue a written regulation on the abolition of the virginity test. Then, debate on the issue should stop," she said.

The women's rights activist went on to say many women had lost their virginity in sexual assault.

"How can she lose her right to become a female police officer because of a virginity test while a male applicant is not subject to the same test? That's discriminatory," said Yuniyanti.

Earlier, the National Police's medical and health center head, Arthur Tampi, asserted that no female police applicant failed the recruitment process solely because she was no longer a virgin.

"An applicant may get fewer points if her hymen is not intact; still, she can pass the recruitment process," he said in Jakarta on Friday.

Arthur said health and medical tests, including the virginity test, were required to make sure applicants could take part in all police educational activities.

The virginity test is carried out based on National Police Regulation No.5/2009 on health examination guidelines for police candidates. Article 36 of the regulation stipulates that a female police officer cadet must undergo an obstetric and gynecology examination. (ebf)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/11/25/police-chief-urged-abolish-virginity-test.html

Mining & energy

Government told to act fast as crisis looms

Jakarta Post - November 26, 2014

Raras Cahyafitri, Jakarta – Major oil and gas producers have called on the government to introduce a more flexible regulatory framework in order to prevent an energy crisis that could occur in the next five years if no serious efforts are made to prop up the country's declining oil production.

Indonesian Petroleum Association (IPA) president Lukman Mahfoedz said the production sharing contract (PSC) scheme applied to oil and gas exploration and production was among regulations that should be reviewed, as it was no longer attractive to new investors.

The current PSC made the world's major oil and gas companies think twice before entering the country's oil and gas sector, he argued.

"The current production share given to investors makes projects uneconomic. We need to prove that projects can be profitable, all the more so given that oil prices are falling,," Lukman said during a discussion with editorial staff at The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

According to the current PSC, the government owns all oil and gas fields while companies act as contractors to work on the blocks. Under this scheme, the government receives 85 percent of oil production and the contractors the remaining 15 percent. Meanwhile, for gas production, the government receives 65 percent and the contractors 35 percent. Contractors' spending is reimbursed under the under the so-called cost-recovery system.

The government's high production share has become a concern among industry players, because they have to bear the risk of losing large amounts of money if explorations fail.

"We hope that the new government is not afraid to look at and review, in particular, PSC terms for new blocks in frontier areas," he said, adding that regulations on the development of gas fields with high CO2 and the implementation of enhanced oil recovery (EOR) technology in old wells, which are both very costly, were also ripe for review.

Indonesia, a former member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), has been suffering from declining oil production as its fields are old and depleted. The government has been calling on contractors to step up exploration and secure more reserves.

Production sharing contract (PSC) schemeis no longer attractive Today, the country spends US$130 million per day to import fuel and its products

However, exploring the country's potential is increasingly difficult, particularly because a large proportion of untapped resources lie in the eastern part of the country, where geological conditions are more challenging. The cost of drilling an offshore well in a deep-water project can cost a company up to US$200 million, with only a 10 percent chance of success.

Moreover, complicated and unfriendly regulations have hindered exploration projects.

IPA vice president Roberto Lorato said Indonesia was estimated to still have a significant amount of oil and gas, but the potential was useless if the country failed to tap it.

"Indonesia is in grave need of increasing its supply, as it has to provide energy to a growing population. Even if it's able to combine all its oil, gas and coal resources, it's still in risk of a crisis," Lorato warned.

The IPA has estimated that the country will become a net energy importer in 2019, when the government of Joko "Jokowi" Widodo will end its term. The country's total energy demand is estimated to reach 6.1 million barrel of oil equivalent per day (boepd), while supply from oil, gas and coal will only be enough to support up to 6.04 million boepd. The gap between supply and demand will increase to 2.4 million boepd by 2025.

Today, the country spends $130 million per day to import fuel and its products, as domestic oil production can no longer support demand. Oil output was only 789,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd) as of the end of October, which is around half the level the country reached in 1977. Imports, moreover, have tainted the country's trade balance. A crisis, experts warn, could come even sooner if the government rests on its laurels.

Faisal Basri, an economist at the University of Indonesia who is also the head of the newly established Oil and Gas Management Reform Team, said the country was now the biggest importer of fuel in the world.

"I've seen research stating that Indonesia will become the biggest gasoline importer in 2018. However, if we combine the import of diesel with fuel which is equivalent to premium [gasoline], we are currently the biggest in the world," Faisal said in a recent interview.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/11/26/govt-told-act-fast-crisis-looms.html

Analysis & opinion

Indonesia health cards and the 'missing middle'

Jakarta Post - November 29, 2014

Rosalia Sciortino, Bangkok – The first-ever Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day on Dec. 12 will commemorate the UN endorsement of "universal access to health care without financial hardship" and urge governments to prioritize UHC for sustainable development.

In Southeast Asia, Singapore, Brunei, Malaysia and Thailand already implement UHC to some extent. In Indonesia, the National Social Security Law mandated the introduction of social health insurance already in 2004, but divergence of views and interest resulted in a decade-long delay. Only in 2014 was the Social Security Management Agency (BPJS) established to execute the national health insurance or JKN.

The JKN aims to enroll 121.6 million Indonesians in the first year and achieve universal coverage of an estimated 250 million in 2019, thus becoming one of the largest social health insurance schemes globally.

To finance the system, three funding streams have been determined: the government remains responsible for the poor and vulnerable, estimated at 86 million people; employees in the formal sector are to share the costs of 5 percent of their wages with employers; and the self-employed and workers in the informal sector are required to pay a monthly premium in the range of Rp 25,500 (US$2.10)-Rp 59,500, depending on ward class.

The government decision to pay the premiums for the poor and vulnerable is laudable. However, it may not be sufficient in a country where poverty dynamics are fluid and a large number of the near poor live close to the poverty line of Rp 233,000 monthly: nearly 40 and 60 percent of Indonesians live below 1.5 and 2 times this poverty line respectively.

The tenuous and shifting boundaries between poor and less poor make reaching the intended group difficult. Compounded by inadequate coordination across government levels, unreliable statistics and high population mobility, targeting has proven a time-consuming and expensive exercise prone to error and manipulation.

A 2011 analysis by the National Socioeconomic Survey found that Jamkesmas managed to cover only about 33 percent of the targeted group, while leakage to non-eligible beneficiaries reached 53 percent.

The recent launch of the Indonesia Health Card (KIS) can thus be considered an effort to broaden the targeting criteria and ensure inclusion of vulnerable populations. In 2015, 4.5 million underprivileged will become eligible for coverage, including 1.7 million social welfare beneficiaries, such as the homeless, orphans and the elderly in hospices.

This approach of gradually adding vulnerable groups and expanding coverage is in line with the JKN system and accelerates its realization. Still, its unitary principle should be upheld. Creating or recreating parallel schemes would complicate an already complex endeavor, confuse health service providers and the public and lead to differential treatment of patients.

To avoid interfering with delivery, the latest KIS branding should better apply to all JKN members, irrespective of program and financing streams. Similarly for the benefit package, if preventive procedures are envisioned for KIS cardholders they should also concern other JKN members. For JKN to be as comprehensive as planned, it is essential to gradually expand coverage beyond contraceptive services and immunization to the full range of preventive and rehabilitative services.

A more fundamental question is whether the KIS approach goes far enough in resolving the targeting problem and in expanding coverage. Given weak social welfare data and the unclear demarcation of vulnerability also vis-a-vis poverty, there is an increased risk of mistargeting and leakage as well as duplication in determining and registering beneficiaries.

Moreover, this approach leaves unresolved the major challenge of covering people in the informal sector – consisting of 54 percent of 118.05 million workers in 2012. For many of them to pay even a modest premium is a substantial burden, especially with a large family.

The average monthly income of a household in the informal sector, generally comprising four persons, is Rp 1,508,724 per month, with 80 percent of the households below that average and thus among those close to the poverty line. Also, regular payments may prove difficult to enforce for the low- middle class with irregular jobs and unstable incomes.

Other Southeast Asian countries are also challenged with covering the "missing middle" i.e. informal workers underrepresented in UHC. While the Philippines insists on their paid membership, Vietnam partially subsidizes their premiums and Thailand covers them fully. Shouldn't Indonesia contemplate Thailand's policy? After all, the real rich in the informal sector would prefer private insurance coverage and treatment.

The JKN 2012 – 2019 road map mentions the possibility of government subsidies for the "non-poor" in the informal sector, but whether it should be full or partial (and how partial) is not elaborated. This also depends on the government's capacity to ensure financial sustainability.

Indonesia has space for allocating more financial resources to health, being below the recommended 5 percent of GDP. The trillions in savings from the latest reduction in fuel subsidies will be partly devoted to expanding coverage of the low-middle class in the informal sector, which is expected to be badly affected, and yet not part of amelioration efforts such as the KIS. Higher tobacco taxes could also ensure additional revenues and reduce the burden on JKN by discouraging smoking.

Furthermore, close monitoring and elimination of inefficiencies and mismanagement could maximize the value of available funds. Responsible ministries could enforce measures to transition enterprises into the formal sector and compel companies to formally register their workers, thus reducing the numbers of subsidized JKN members.

These and other strategies could be considered to expand the scope and impact of KIS and realize JKN's promise of affordable care for all, so that those in the middle also have reasons to celebrate UHC Day.

[The writer is a health and social development adviser and author of Menuju Kesehatan Madani (Toward Civic Health, Gadjah Mada University, 2007).]

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/11/29/indonesia-health-cards-and-missing-middle.html

Harassing Jokowi

Jakarta Post Editorial - November 25, 2014

As expected, a number of lawmakers have moved to file a petition to request the House of Representatives to exercise its interpellation right to demand an explanation from the government on last week's decision to raise subsidized fuel prices.

Many will recall the protracted standoff between the government and House politicians over the controversial bailout of Bank Century in 2009, which led to the departure of then finance minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati.

It was a tumultuous period for then newly reelected president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who witnessed his most trusted people, like then vice president Boediono and Sri Mulyani, face the music at the House after it approved an inquiry and later an investigation into the case.

The Legislative Institutions (MD3) Law requires at least 25 House members from two parties to propose a House inquiry into a government policy that they consider is in violation of the law. An inquiry, or interpellation, requires the consent of the House and if the government's explanation is deemed unsatisfactory, the process can lead to a House-led investigation. If the House finds that the government's policy is legally flawed, it can exercise its right to express an opinion, which can pave the way for a president's impeachment.

Theoretically speaking, political maneuvering related to the fuel price increase marks the start of a long process that could potentially see President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo at risk of impeachment. In reality, however, such an attempt is difficult to realize, given recent developments in the House, which is moving toward reconciliation between the majority opposition and the minority pro-government blocs.

The opportunity for the House to endorse an inquiry into the fuel price policy looks to be hanging in the balance, however, as until Monday afternoon only 18 politicians from the Golkar Party, the National Mandate Party (PAN), the Gerindra Party and the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) had signed the petition. In their statement, supporters of the petition said they could not understand the logic behind the government's decision to raise subsidized fuel prices by Rp 2,000 (16 cents) per liter at a time when the market price was falling.

Last week, crude oil dropped to US$76 per barrel, with the average Indonesia Crude Price between January and October standing at $102 or $3 below the assumption set in the revised 2014 budget.

Clearly the lawmakers will deliberately disregard the fact that fuel subsidies have been accumulating and a price increase by Rp 2,000 per liter will do little to compensate for the state money burned to pamper private vehicle owners, including themselves. These politicians will turn a blind eye to the budget wasted on consumption, which for many years deprived the government of its opportunity to build basic infrastructure across the country.

Jokowi will not face any difficulty in responding to the inquiry if the House exercises its interpellation right, but the attempt to politically harass his government will not fade away quickly. The politicians will wait for the government to make a mistake and then will try again.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/11/25/editorial-harassing-jokowi.html