Jakarta – A health advocacy group has poured scorn on Rahmat Gobel after the hapless trade minister said he had decided to ban the import of used clothes because the garments could transmit the HIV virus.

Ayu Octariani of Indonesia AIDS Coalition (IAC) said that Rahmat's statement was regrettable and reflected a lack of awareness in Indonesia regarding HIV/AIDS.

"Let's not talk about educating the public just yet," Ayu said in a statement on Wednesday. "Even in the cabinet, which consists of educated people, there's still a misconception about HIV/AIDS."

Ayu said Rahmat's demonstrably ludicrous public comments proved that Minister of Health and Coordinating Minister of Human Development and Culture as the head of National AIDS Commission (KPAN) must work even harder to educate people about HIV/AIDS.

"[Used clothes] could transmit HIV and skin diseases, it's true, we have tested it in a laboratory," Rahmat told journalists after having a work meeting with Commission III of the House of Representatives, which oversees legal affairs, on Tuesday.

It was not clear on Wednesday whether Rahmat will face calls to resign or if President Joko Widodo will fire him.

Rahmat, through his Twitter account @RachmatGobel, backtracked on his comments on Wednesday. "I do apologize. I am clarifying [my statement] wearing used clothes can transmit various kind of diseases, thank you for your correction," he wrote.

The incident is not the first time an Indonesian cabinet minister has been exposed as ill-informed on the issue. In 2010 former communications minister Tifatul Sembiring was criticized after he tweeted that homosexuals were to be blamed for the spread of HIV/AIDS.

Tifatul also turned the acronym for AIDS into "Akibat Itunya Dipakai Sembarangan", or "That's what you get for sticking it just anywhere."

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/hapless-trade-minister-rahmat-scorned-saying-used-clothes-transmit-hiv/

West Papua

Australian human rights lawyer welcomes PNG support of West Papuans

ABC Radio Australia - February 6, 2015

A prominent Australian human rights lawyer has welcomed a statement of support for West Papuans by Papua New Guinea prime minister Peter O'Neill, saying it has "been a long time coming".

Mr O'Neill said he would speak out on behalf of Melanesians in Indonesian West Papua, saying it was "time for PNG to speak about the oppression of our people there".

Jennifer Robinson, a long-time advocate for the independence movement in the Indonesian province, said Mr O'Neill's change of heart on the human rights abuses in the province was a huge development.

"This is a very big turnaround – to go from trying to shut down the raising of the West Papuan flag (in 2013) to speak openly about supporting West Papuan's oppression and the oppression of Melanesians in West Papua," she said.

"This is a really big development and I think it's a testament to the ongoing campaign and a testament to the strength of the movement and the support on the ground within the population of Papua New Guinea."

She said relations with Indonesia had previously meant the government in PNG remained silent on human rights issues in West Papua, despite vocal support from other Melanesian leaders including in Vanuatu.

"As we saw in Vanuatu, there's been vocal criticism by local voters in response to government's failure to raise West Papua within the Melanesian region and I think Papua New Guinea and the prime minister is perhaps starting to feel that democratic pressure as we see the greater penetration of social media and more people talking about this issue," Ms Robinson said. "It's a very welcome development and one that's been a long time coming."

The United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), headed by exiled independence activist Benny Wenda, applied for membership of the Melanesian Spearhead Group earlier this week.

The group consists of the Melanesian countries of Fiji, PNG, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and a group representing the indigenous Kanak people in New Caledonia. Ms Robinson said there had been reports Indonesia had set up a task force to investigate membership application.

"I think they'll be very concerned and they ought to be: this shows that Indonesia cannot keep a lid on the West Papuan movement for independence and their claim for self-determination," Ms Robinson said.

"(Indonesian president Joko Widodo) has come into power and promised a change for West Papua but what we're seeing is status quo.

"Melanesian leadership is starting to see that there isn't going to be a change and are standing up. It's time Indonesia actually puts this on the table and starts talking about how to find a dignified response to this problem," she said.

The head of Indonesia's National Commission of Human Rights, Hafid Abbas, said Indonesia did not want to create a diplomatic problem with its neighbour, but said he hoped Indonesia's leaders would ask PNG for clarification on Mr O'Neill's comments.

"PNG is our neighbour, we should... cooperate in all aspects of our development. I hope that president Joko Widodo and vice president (Jusuf) Kalla and foreign minister Retno (Marsudi) will visit Papua New Guinea to make clarification because as a neighbour we have to feel a much stronger confidence to intervene in our internal issue," he said.

He said Indonesia was only a new democracy, having ousted an authoritarian regime just 16 years ago, and said it had a "great commitment to promote human rights".

Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-02-06/australian-human-rights-lawyer-welcomes-papua-new-guinea-suppor/6076818

PNG prime minister wants to do more for Melanesians in West Papua

ABC News - February 6, 2015

Papua New Guinea's prime minister Peter O'Neill has promised to do more to speak out on behalf of Melanesians in Indonesian West Papua. In the past, Port Moresby has stuck firmly to its position that West Papua is an integral part of Indonesia. It's been reluctant to talk about human rights abuses or to speak out on behalf of Melanesian separatists.

Mark Colvin: Papua New Guinea's prime minister Peter O'Neill has promised to do more to speak out on behalf of Melanesians in Indonesian West Papua.

In the past, Port Moresby has stuck firmly to its position that West Papua is an integral part of Indonesia. It's been reluctant to talk about human rights abuses or to speak out on behalf of Melanesian separatists.

In a speech to a PNG leaders summit today, Mr O'Neill said the time had come to speak about oppression of brothers and sisters in West Papua.

Jemima Garrett reports.

Jemima Garrett: Prime Minister Peter O'Neill told cabinet ministers, provincial governors, business leaders, and development partners such as Australia that 2015 will be a defining year for PNG in an increasingly uncertain world.

At home, Mr O'Neill sees a year in which core policies such as free education, better healthcare and infrastructure, and stronger law and order, take root, despite pressure on the budget from lower gas prices.

In the wider world, Mr O'Neill said, with increasing terror attacks, there must be no complacency about evil. In the region, he highlighted the role PNG has played recently in encouraging Fiji to return to democracy, and its support for Melanesians in New Caledonia.

And then he turned to the tricky issue of Indonesian West Papua, and signalled a change of approach.

Peter O'Neill: Sometimes we forget our own families, our own brothers, especially those in West Papua.

(applause)

I think, as a country, time has come for us to speak about the oppression of our people there.

(applause)

Jemima Garrett: Apart from Vanuatu, governments in the Pacific have been slow to speak out on human rights abuses in West Papua, especially after Fiji was instrumental in getting Indonesia admitted as an observer at the Melanesian Spearhead Group of nations.

With the increasing penetration of social media, Pacific voters have become more vocal about the failure of their governments to act. Mr O'Neill has taken note.

Peter O'Neill: Pictures of brutality of our people appear daily on the social media, and yet we take no notice.

We have the moral obligation to speak for those who are not allowed to talk. We must be the eyes for those who are blindfolded. Again, Papua New Guinea is a regional leader.

We must take the lead in having mature discussions with our friends in a more solid and engaging manner.

Jemima Garrett: On Friday, the United Liberation Movement of West Papua will submit an application for full membership of the Melanesian Spearhead Group. Grassroots campaigners are urging their governments to support their Melanesian brothers.

Indonesia will oppose the move, but with the Kanak Liberation Movement from New Caledonia already a full member, there is a precedent. The MSG leaders are expected to meet to make a decision in the middle of the year.

Mark Colvin: Jemima Garrett.

Source: http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2015/s4174912.htm

PNG PM speaks out on West Papua

Radio New Zealand International - February 6, 2015

Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister says the time has come for his government to speak out about oppression of West Papuans in neighbouring Indonesia.

In a departure from his previous deferral to Indonesia on such matters, Peter O'Neill says that PNG cannot keep ignoring abuses by security forces against the indigenous Melanesians of Indonesia's eastern region.

He made the comment at a PNG leaders summit in Port Moresby where he set out his government's core policies for 2015.

Referring to West Papuans as "our people", Mr O'Neill admitted to fellow PNG leaders that sometimes they have forgotten the plight of their fellow Melanesians across the border.

"Pictures of brutality of our people appear daily on the social media, and yet we take no notice. We have the moral obligation to speak for those who are not allowed to talk. We must be the eyes for those who are blindfolded."

Peter O'Neill has suggested he will look to engage more with Jakarta on the issue.

Source: http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/265454/png-pm-speaks-out-on-west-papua

West Papua inclusion in MSG described as vital

Radio New Zealand International - February 5, 2015

The United Liberation Movement for West Papua says it is vital that West Papuans have full membership in the Melanesian Spearhead Group.

The ULM was formed late last year at a major summit of West Papuan representative groups hosted by the Vanuatu government.

Representatives of the ULM have returned to the Vanuatu capital to formally submit the organisation's application for membership of the MSG. A member of the movement, Rex Rumakiek, says the time is right for West Papua to join the sub regional group.

"Economically and for security reasons, it is vital that West Papua must be part of the MSG. We have elaborated on security matters and the spread of terrorism and economic expansion an all those things. It is justified that it is important that West Papua must be part of the MSG."

Rex Rumakiek says MSG leaders do not need the endorsement of Indonesia's government to accept the membership application. MSG leaders are due to have their annual summit in June, in Honiara.

Source: http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/265395/west-papua-inclusion-in-msg-described-as-vital

MSG to help West Papuan struggle – KNPB

Radio New Zealand International - February 5, 2015

The chairman of the West Papua National Committee, or KNPB, says inclusion in the Melanesian Spearhead Group would open up solutions for his people's self-determination struggle.

Victor Yeimo and other representatives of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua have this week submitted their formal membership application to join the MSG.

The Movement was formed late last year at a major summit of West Papuan representative groups hosted by the Vanuatu government.

Mr Yeimo says Vanuatu and other MSG member countries have welcomed the West Papuan application. He says membership would help their cause.

"For too many years, we tried to put our struggle on the national (Indonesian) mechanism. The international, regional organisation is more helpful to us because we know our Melanesian sisters and brothers will open room for us to talk about our self-determination."

Source: http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/265409/msg-to-help-west-papuan-struggle-knpb

AMP urges Jokowi to close Freeport due to rights abuses in Papua

Tabloid JUBI - February 5, 2015

Jakarta – The Papuan Students Alliance (AMP) in Semarang city urged the Indonesian government under the leadership of Joko Widodo to close a number of national and foreign companies that are suspected to be involved in human rights abuses in Papua.

"Close Freeport and all foreign companies that are behind the crimes against humanity in Papua. Freedom and self-determination is a democratic solution for Papuan people," the chairman of AMP, Otiz E Tabuni said to Jubi on Sunday (1/2).

Tabuni said, due to the presence of companies in Papua, many Papuans have been persecuted and killed. The Indonesian military has violated the rights of the Papuan people in their attempts to safeguard important companies, including PT. Freeport Indonesia, he said.

Tabuni then questioned the legality of PT. Freeport because before the PEPERA or called "Act Free of Choice" conducted in 1969 on April 7th, 1967, the mining company, Freeport owned by the State of America signed a contract with the Indonesian government first. Indonesian claimed Papua as part of Indonesian for its interest before the legal status of Papua was clear.

He said from a total of 809,337 Papuans who had the right to self- determination process, only 175 people voted in the Act of Free Choice, making it illegitimate.

Indonesia then continued its control over Papua for 32 years through militaristic regime of Suharto. He said there have been many cases of violations of human rights occurred through a variety of military operations until a period of reform in Indonesia in 1998.

Up to now, there is not significant change of fundamental system in the regime of Jokowi. Human rights violations by Indonesian military is still ongoing, one of them was the shooting of five students in Enrotali district and many more cases of crimes against humanity committed against the Papuan People.

Secretary of AMP further said, the situation of terror, intimidation, arrests, shootings and even murder are still ongoing. Indonesian government and the United States continue to discuss on contract extension without asking the people of West Papua..

Seeing the complexity of all the problems in Papua, the AMP then demanded Joko Widodo – Jusuf Kalla to immediately shut down and stop the exploitation done by all multinational companies such as Freeport, BP. Tangguh LNG, Medco, Korindo and others from Papua.

Secondly, to draw the Indonesian military (TNI and police) from the Papua and end all forms of crimes against humanity against the people of Papua. Thirdly, to give freedom and self-determination as a part of democratic solution For Papuan People. (Mawel Benny/Tina) [The original title of this article was "AMP urges Jokowi to close Freeport due to illegal" (sic).

Source: http://tabloidjubi.com/en/?p=3644

Foreign Ministry to set up Papua desk

Jakarta Post - February 5, 2015

Jakarta – The Foreign Ministry will set up a special desk or working group to handle the Papua issue and to improve the country's engagement with its easternmost province.

The head of the Foreign Ministry's policy development and studies center, Darmansyah Djumala, said that the establishment of a Papua desk was recommended in a meeting between the ministry and heads of Indonesian representative offices abroad, in Jakarta on Thursday.

"Regarding the issue of the country's sovereignty, the meeting recommended the Papua desk's establishment. The ministry will set up a special working group to handle developments and issues relating to Papua," he said after the meeting.

According to him, the special desk will be tasked with screening and distributing information on all developments in the province. "Because we know that too much news on Papua released overseas is really inaccurate," he said as quoted by Antara news agency.

Regarding the increasing number of Papuan separatist figures overseas, Darmansyah said that with the working group's establishment, the government should change its perspective on Papua and had to promote its engagement with Papuan people.

"The solution is to have [government] engagement. We can no longer deploy the [current] approach of having distance. We have to be engaged. We have to be engaged with all public opinion-building groups such as media, politicians, social leaders and even Papuan separatist groups," he said.

Darmansyah added that Indonesia's foreign policy should also be aimed at enhancing ties with Pacific Island countries.

"The meeting also recommends the establishment of a Melanesian cultural center to win Melanesian countries' support for Papuan integration with Indonesia," he said. (rms)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/02/05/foreign-ministry-set-papua-desk.html

PNG PM Peter O'Neill vows to speak out against oppression in West Papua

ABC News - February 5, 2015

Jemima Garrett – Papua New Guinea's prime minister Peter O'Neill has promised to do more to speak out on behalf of Melanesians in Indonesian West Papua.

"Sometimes we forget our own families, our own brothers, especially those in West Papua," Mr O'Neill said. "I think, as a country, time has come for us to speak about the oppression of our people there."

Apart from Vanuatu, governments in the Pacific have been slow to speak out on human rights abuses in West Papua, especially after Fiji was instrumental in getting Indonesia admitted as an observer at the Melanesian Spearhead Group of nations.

With the increasing penetration of social media, Pacific voters became more vocal about the failure of their governments to act. Mr O'Neill has taken note.

"Pictures of brutality of our people appear daily on the social media, and yet we take no notice," he said.

"We have the moral obligation to speak for those who are not allowed to talk. We must be the eyes for those who are blindfolded. Again, Papua New Guinea is a regional leader.

"We must take the lead in having mature discussions with our friends in a more solid and engaging manner."

Mr O'Neill made the extraordinary comments during a major speech at the PNG Leader's Summit in Port Moresby, where he outlined his government's core policies for 2015, including free education, improving healthcare and strengthening law and order.

In the past, Port Moresby stuck firmly to its position that West Papua was an integral part of Indonesia. It has been reluctant to talk about human rights abuses or to speak out on behalf of Melanesian separatists.

Papua bid to join Melanesian Spearhead Group

On Friday, the United Liberation Movement of West Papua (ULWP) will submit an application for full membership of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG).

Grassroots campaigners are urging their governments to support their Melanesian brothers. The movement's spokesman, Benny Wenda, said the application marked a significant moment in their fight for independence from Indonesia.

"[For] 50 years, West Papua never had a united voice to achieve our goal for independence," Mr Wenda said.

"But this has changed, we can unite in one group called ULWP." Mr Wenda said in the 50 years under Indonesian rule, the Papuan people were looked upon by Indonesians as "second-class citizens and treated as sub-humans".

Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-02-06/png-pm-vows-to-speak-out-against-oppression-in-west-papua/6074572

Papuan students rally against Freeport smelter plans

Jakarta Post - February 4, 2015

Andi Hajramurni, Makassar – Mining giant PT Freeport Indonesia's plan to develop a smelter to process mineral ore in Gresik, East Java, has led to a protest being staged by Papuan students in Makassar, South Sulawesi.

Fifty members of the Solidarity Forum of Papuan Students and Communities staged a rally to protest the smelter construction from the Mandala Monument to a nearby overpass in Makassar on Wednesday.

In their speeches, the protesters firmly rejected Freeport's plan to build a smelter in Gresik, saying that local communities in Papua should benefit from their natural resources and enjoy improved prosperity from the wealth.

"Freeport's plan to build a smelter in East Java will result in people there enjoying the benefits while in contrast it will inflict losses on us as Papuans. Therefore, we firmly reject this plan," said Suarek Malik, the rally coordinator.

He said Freeport should uphold Law No. 11/1967 on mining, which stipulates people's rights in the case of land being converted into mining areas, by developing a smelter in the area and employing Papuans in the facility.

In the rally, the students also expressed support for Papua Governor Lukas Enembe in his rejection of Freeport's smelter construction plan, saying it would bring losses to Papuan communities. "The results of Papua's natural resources must benefit Papuans, not those from other regions," said Suarek.

The students also protested the fact that Papua seemed to be overlooked in industrial development. They said the government should prioritize industrial development in Papua also so that the territory could enjoy progress in development and eventually improved livelihoods for its people.

Suarek said the students urged President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to stop Freeport building its smelter outside of Papua. "The President must assert that the smelter can only be constructed in Papua," he said.

President Jokowi should also enforce Article 25 of Law No.4/2009 on minerals and coal, which prohibited the exportation of raw mineral ores, he added. (ebf)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/02/04/papuan-students-rally-against-freeport-smelter-plans.html

House pushes for Freeport smelter location in Papua

Jakarta Post - February 3, 2015

Ina Parlina and Raras Cahyafitri, Jakarta – The House of Representatives is pushing the government to make copper giant PT Freeport Indonesia establish its smelter in Papua, increasing concerns over whether the company will be able to complete development by 2017 when a full ban on ore exports will be implemented.

The House's leaders brought up the Papua smelter issue during a meeting with President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo on Monday.

The House's deputy speaker, Agus Hermanto, claimed that the President had agreed that Freeport Indonesia should build its smelter close to its mine in Papua instead of following its plan to build in Gresik, East Java.

"I say many problems will arise if the smelter is built in Gresik," Agus said after the meeting, without elaborating.

Freeport Indonesia, a subsidiary of US-based giant miner Freeport-McMoRan Inc., is required to build a copper smelter in the country as a consequence of the 2009 Mining Law that requires mining firms to process and refine their minerals in domestic facilities.

Recently, the company said that it had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to lease 80 hectares of land belonging to PT Petrokimia Gresik, located adjacent to the only copper smelter in the country, operated by PT Smelting Gresik.

The governor of Papua expressed his disappointment last week with Freeport Indonesia's decision to choose Gresik for the US$2.3 billion-smelter location.

House speaker Setya Novanto said that building a smelter in Papua would increase Freeport Indonesia's contribution to the country and the Papuan residents.

"The President agreed with us. Freeport has only contributed Rp 6 trillion [US$472.58 million] so far, while the government has disbursed Rp 35 trillion in special autonomy funds [for Papua]," Setya said.

Freeport Indonesia argued that it chose the location for the available supporting infrastructure. Moreover, according to Freeport Indonesia president director Maroef Sjamsoeddin, acid sulfur as waste from the copper smelter could be absorbed by Petrokimia Gresik if the smelter was built there. A similar strategy could not be taken in Papua as no fertilizer firm existed there.

Smelters built by mining firms must be completed by 2017 if the miners want to keep their businesses alive.

According to a regulation issued in January last year, the government will stop the relaxation of the ban on mineral ore exports in 2017. The full ban on mineral ore exports should have started last January. However, following concerns over massive layoffs as no smelters were ready to absorb production, the government under then president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono issued a regulation allowing semi-finished product, such as copper concentrate produced by Freeport Indonesia, to continue be exported until 2017. After the deadline, mining firms will only be allowed to export processed metal.

Meanwhile, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Sudirman Said told reporters after the Monday meeting that the House's suggestion would be discussed during negotiations with the company. "We will try hard to accommodate all interests," Sudirman said.

Earlier, during a meeting with the House of Representatives' Commission VII overseeing energy, Sudirman told legislators that forcing smelter development in Papua would only give Freeport Indonesia a chance to miss the 2017 deadline because development there would take more time. The ministry preferred to suggest that Freeport Indonesia contribute to the development of the downstream industry in copper to contribute to development in Papua.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/02/03/house-pushes-freeport-smelter-location-papua.html

Freeport faces class action over smelter

Jakarta Globe - February 2, 2015

Tabita Diela, Jakarta – Four activists from ProDem, an activist group, filed a citizen lawsuit against President Joko Widodo and Freeport Indonesia, the local unit of US mining giant Freeport-McMoRan, at the Central Jakarta district Court on Monday for allegedly failing to comply with the 2009 Mining Law's requirement on domestic smelting.

The lawsuit includes a demand that could disrupt Freeport Indonesia's production process for at least two months.

People Lawyers Union, or SPR, acted as the counsel for the four plaintiffs, namely Arief Poyuono, Kisman Latumakulita, Iwan Sumule and Haris Rusly. ProDem is a network of activists from organizations that advocate for democracy around Indonesia.

Arief, who is also the chairman of the State-owned Enterprises Labor Union, said they want the court to "cancel Freeport Indonesia's permit extension to export concentrate for six months and its contract extension."

The plaintiff said that based on the 2009 Mining Law, Freeport Indonesia should have had a smelter by 2014. Instead, it last month secured the export permits after renting land in East Java, on which it would build its smelter by as soon as 2018.

"The permits show there was a discrimination from the government against Indonesian businesses and corporations. Local mining companies abide by the law. So why did the government give Freeport Indonesia a privilege?" Arief said.

The plaintiffs also demanded the court halt Freeport Indonesia's exports or mining activities pending the lawsuit, which will take at least two months to hear.

SPR have represented several failed class actions in the past, including one that challenged then-president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono for raising the price of subsidized fuel in 2008.

SPR also represented a class action against Freeport Indonesia in 2013, over the deaths of employees in an underground training facility accident.

Alvon Kurnia Palma, chairman of the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI), said the legal complaint could potentially disrupt the production process at Freeport Indonesia. "The court can always ask the government to stop the export activity," Alvon said.

The vice president for corporate communications at Freeport Indonesia, Daisy Primayanti, did not respond to requests for comment.

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/business/freeport-faces-class-action-smelter/

Jokowi urged to uphold human rights in Papua, prosecute violators

Jakarta Post - February 1, 2015

Jakarta – Rights group Human Rights Watch (HRW) has said President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo should uphold human rights in Papua and bring perpetrators of rights abuses to justice.

The group said in its World Report 2015 that Papua's festering low-level pro-independence insurgency led by the Free Papua Movement (OPM) has continued to result in human rights abuses by Indonesian security forces.

At least 69 Papuans were imprisoned for peaceful advocacy of independence as of late October. The National Police arrested two French journalists, Valentine Bourrat and Thomas Dandois, on charges of "working illegally" on Aug. 6, 2014. They were released for time served on Oct. 24, after a Jayapura court sentenced them to two-and-a-half months in jail.

HRW deputy Asia director Phelim Kine said although President Jokowi indicated in July that he would seek to end the government stranglehold on foreign media access to Papua, he had not done so by year's end.

"President Widodo should uphold human rights and prosecute those who abuse them," said Kine in relation to the group's 25th report released on Friday.

"Indonesians have waited a long time for a government that will protect their rights rather than coddle the abusers. It's time for President Widodo to deliver," he said.

The World Report 2015 noted that the Indonesian government made some important progress on human rights in 2014. The House of Representatives passed the Mental Health Law in July to address the country's dire mental healthcare situation.

"President Widodo himself has explicitly promised to investigate specific enforced disappearances in 1998. He also gradually lifted the taboo on discussing the 1965 anti-communist massacres, the focus of Joshua Oppenheimer's award-winning film The Act of Killing," said HRW.

In February, Indonesia and Saudi Arabia signed an agreement that allowed Indonesian domestic workers in Saudi Arabia to keep their passports, communicate with their families, be paid monthly and have time off.

"President Widodo has spoken of the need for greater respect for human rights in Indonesia. He needs to back up those words with concrete actions," said Kine. (ebf)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/02/01/jokowi-urged-uphold-human-rights-papua-prosecute-violators.html

Human rights & justice

House slams Komnas HAM for 'incompetence'

Jakarta Post - February 5, 2015

Margareth S. Aritonang, Jakarta – Lawmakers have reprimanded the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) for making moves that they deemed as biased against the government.

House of Representatives Commission III overseeing law and human rights said that the rights body had been impartial on a number of issues including the arrest of Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) deputy chairman Bambang Widjonanto by the National Police, as well as its probe into the death of prominent rights campaigner Munir Said Thalib and its declaration that the Lapindo mudflow disaster constituted a rights abuse.

"You have become too political. I just realized that politics involves not only political parties but also Komnas HAM as well as non-governmental organizations," lawmaker Daeng Muhammad of the National Mandate Party (PAN) told Komnas HAM commissioners in a meeting on Wednesday.

Daeng further blasted Komnas HAM's overall performance, attacking the institution's international standing as "useless".

"Prove that you are reliable in handling domestic affairs first before parading the A-status accreditation granted to you by the PBB [United Nations]," he said.

Komnas HAM secured the 'A-status' accreditation from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in 2000 for its work in promoting human rights in Indonesia, granting the rights body enhanced access to the UN's human rights bodies.

While the majority of Commission III lawmakers shared Daeng's judgement of Komnas HAM's objectivity in handling cases, others have criticized its numerous endeavors including its probe on the death of Munir.

"What are you targeting by pursuing the so-called mastermind of Munir's murder when the legal process has been finalized as the murderer was already sentenced?" lawmaker Junimart Girsang of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) said, referring to former Garuda Indonesia pilot Pollycarpus Budihari Priyanto.

Pollycarpus, who was convicted for poisoning Munir when the latter was onboard a flight to the Netherlands, was recently released on parole. He was sentenced to 14 years in prison for his role in the murder. Komnas HAM has called for a fresh investigation into the murder of Munir.

Responding to the criticism, Komnas HAM chairman Hafid Abbas said that the institution's mandate was to fight for the rights of victims of human rights violations. "In doing that, we are objective and reliable," Hafid said.

With regard to the institution's compliance with the UN's human rights principles, Hafid told lawmakers that Komnas HAM would continue to comply unless the government instructed otherwise. "We will stop complying with the UN's principles if the government orders us to leave the UN," he said.

Meanwhile, in a separate hearing, Commission III held a session to dig deeper into the alleged abuse of power by KPK chairman Abraham Samad. On Wednesday, Commission III summoned Zainal Tahir, who described himself as Abraham's friend since 1996.

In the hearing, Zainal insisted that a photo depicting Abraham in a compromising position with a woman in bed was his work. He said that the photo was taken when the three shared a moment at the Clarion Hotel in Makassar, South Sulawesi, eight years ago.

Besides Zainal, Commission III also summoned PDI-P acting secretary-general Hasto Kristiyanto to the meeting to further explain his previous controversial announcement over a "secret" meeting with Abraham, which was released to the public amid escalating tension between the KPK and the National Police.

Hasto provided more details regarding the matter, including that in addition to such a meeting, Abraham had conducted several other meetings with figures who were affiliated with the PDI-P, including former National Intelligence Agency (BIN) chief AM Hendropriyono, who is known to have close ties with PDI-P chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri, and the wife of Cabinet Secretary Andi Widjajanto.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/02/05/house-slams-komnas-ham-incompetence.html

Indonesia urged to end religious intolerance, back women's rights

Jakarta Post - February 1, 2015

Jakarta – The Indonesian government should take decisive action to address religious intolerance and a rollback in women's rights, Human Rights Watch (HRW) has said in a newly released report.

The World Report 2015 says the human rights challenges facing President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, who took office on Oct. 20, 2014, are immense as he inherited a legacy of worsening sectarianism and security-force impunity from his predecessor, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

"President Widodo has spoken of the need for greater respect for human rights in Indonesia. He needs to back up those words with concrete actions," HRW deputy Asia director Phelim Kine said regarding the group's 25th edition report released on Friday.

Despite some important progress on human rights in 2014, the Indonesian government should move quickly to defend religious minorities from harassment, intimidation and violence by militant groups, HRW said.

Seven people were injured when Islamist militants carrying wooden bats and iron bars attacked the home of book publisher Julius Felicianus in Yogyakarta while his family conducted an evening Christian prayer meeting on May 29, 2014.

"Police arrested the alleged leader of the attack but later released him after local authorities pressured Felicianus to drop charges to maintain 'religious harmony'," the group said.

In September, the administration in Aceh passed two Islamic bylaws that extended Islamic law to non-Muslims, criminalizing the drinking of alcohol, consensual same-sex relations and all sexual relations outside of marriage. The bylaws permit as punishment up to 100 lashes and up to 100 months in prison.

"President Widodo's government should also address the rollback in women's rights over the past decade," said HRW. Many local regulations require female students and civil servants, among other women and girls, to wear the hijab.

Meanwhile, female applicants nationwide to Indonesia's National Police must take "virginity tests" that have been described as abusive, degrading and discriminatory.

In the 656-page world report, HRW reviewed human rights practices in more than 90 countries. Executive director Kenneth Roth said in an introductory essay to the report that governments needed to recognize that human rights offer an effective moral guide in turbulent times, and that violating rights can spark or aggravate serious security challenges.

"The short-term gains of undermining core values of freedom and non- discrimination are rarely worth the long-term price," he said. (ebf)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/02/01/ri-urged-end-religious-intolerance-back-womens-rights.html

Sexual & domestic violence

Women's minister vows to reduce violence, but lacks data to follow through

Jakarta Globe - February 6, 2015

Jakarta – Women's Empowerment and Children Protection Minister Yohana Susana Yembise vowed on Friday to curb domestic violence and trafficking of women, particularly in eastern Indonesia – a promise that, if seriously pursued, will quickly find itself challenged by the problem of quantification: No reliable dataexists on the prevalence of violence against women in Indonesia.

"We are looking for strategies to reduce the levels of domestic violence," Yohana told the Indonesian Women's Congress (Kowani) in Jakarta. "We're also keeping our eye on trafficking in Papua."

Any such strategy will invariably find itself hampered by the total absence of reliable data on which to measure its success or failure.

Although the National Socioeconomic Survey (Susenas) inquires about women's experiences of violence, its interviewers are required ask these sensitive questions in presence of women respondents' husbands and other male family members – who are, most often, the perpetrators – thereby exposing the women to further danger and yielding wholly invalid data.

Last year, a national survey on violence against women by the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) was canceled by its sponsor, the Women's Empowerment Ministry, due to a budget shortfall caused by construction of its new office building.

The long-planned survey would have used the gold standard WHO multi-country methodology for violence against women (incidentally, first piloted and validated in Indonesia in the mid-2000s). Its cancellation came despite support by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and USAID's offers of assistance.

"There's a big gap between women who live in eastern Indonesia and those who live in western areas," Yohana said. How big that gap is – and whether Yohana's strategies toward her stated priorities are working – cannot as yet be determined, however.

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/womens-minister-vows-reduce-violence-lacks-data-follow/

Political parties & elections

PDI-P lawmakers tell Jokowi to fire ministers

Jakarta Post - February 6, 2015

Margareth S. Aritonang, Jakarta – Politicians from the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) have launched fresh attacks against President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's administration, calling for the resignations of Cabinet Secretary Andi Widjajanto and State-Owned Enterprises Minister Rini Soemarno, whom they say have intentionally undermined the Jokowi administration.

PDI-P politicians condemned Andi and Rini – two figures in Jokowi's inner circle known to be his close confidants – for intentionally obstructing Jokowi from toeing the party line.

"They [Andi and Rini] have cut off our communication with Pak Jokowi. Andi, in particular, has often distorted the information regarding our political stances over several issues," PDI-P lawmaker Masinton Pasaribu told the press on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Masinton, a member of the House of Representatives Commission III overseeing legal affairs and laws, human rights and security, accused Rini, formerly known as a close aide to PDI-P chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri, as a foreign agent who operated to secure foreign interests.

In a separate interview, PDI-P lawmaker Effendi Simbolon concurred with Masinton, saying Andi and Rini both deserved to be fired. "Both of them have promoted policies that contradict the PDI-P's populist ideology," Effendi said.

"I am saying this to remind everyone of the presence of very liberal individuals within the President's inner circle who, if left ignored, will eventually bring the country to destruction," the lawmaker from the House Commission I overseeing defense, foreign affairs and information said.

Effendi added that Andi and Rini were not the only "mafia-like" individuals around Jokowi, adding that they had managed to build a loyal following behind them, about which he declined to elaborate.

Tensions between Jokowi and the PDI-P, the political party that endorsed his presidential ticket in last year's election, worsened following Jokowi's reluctance to inaugurate National Police chief candidate Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan, a former adjutant to Megawati during her tenure as president from 2001 to 2004.

Previously, several PDI-P politicians, including Effendi, slammed Jokowi's poor performance after 100 days in office, citing his lack of achievements and leaving the door open for impeachment.

Other PDI-P politicians have been involved in efforts to undermine the Corruption Eradication Corruption (KPK), the body that named Budi a graft suspect that prompted Jokowi to delay, or possibly terminate, Budi's inauguration.

Acting PDI-P secretary-general Hasto Kristiyanto recently reported KPK chairman Abraham Samad to the police for allegedly attempting to become Jokowi's running mate in last year's election.

The police, meanwhile, have named KPK deputy chairman Bambang Widjojanto a suspect for allegedly masterminding a case of perjury during an election dispute at the Constitutional Court in 2010.

PDI-P politician Sugianto Sabran, who was defeated in the trial, reported the case to police, despite Bambang's name having been previously cleared of any wrongdoing.

Coordinating Human Development and Culture Minister Puan Maharani, who is also a daughter of Megawati, recently made it clear that, despite the ongoing crisis, Jokowi was still "a party official" and the party was behind him.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/02/06/pdi-p-lawmakers-tell-jokowi-fire-ministers.html

As PDI-P says it still backs government, Jokowi urged to found new party

Jakarta Post - February 4, 2015

Margareth S. Aritonang and Hasyim Widhiarto, Jakarta – The ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), which led the Great Indonesia Coalition that officially endorsed President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's presidential ticket, has assured the public of its continued support of the government, despite recent differences between the President and PDI-P executives on the nomination of Comr.Gen. Budi Gunawan as the next National Police chief. The PDI-P's Puan Maharani, who is also Jokowi's coordinating human development and culture minister, reiterated the party's support of the Jokowi administration.

"We will always support Pak Jokowi and Pak Jusuf Kalla," Puan said on the sidelines of a meeting at the House on Tuesday. "We are still with Pak Jokowi until today. Likewise, Pak Jokowi is also still with the KIH [Great Indonesia Coalition]," she added.

The PDI-P has been in hot water over its firm calls for Jokowi to inaugurate Budi, who has been named a suspect in a bribery and gratuity case, amid a public outcry to reject the former adjutant of PDI-P chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri.

The party's rejection of canceling Budi's nomination has prevented Jokowi from reaching a decision on the matter.

The ongoing war of words between Jokowi's officials and PDI-P politicians regarding the matter has led to suspicion that the PDI-P may withdraw its support of Jokowi, which will increase opposition to the government in obtaining approval for its policies from the House of Representatives.

Infighting within the party has even encouraged some supporters, particularly those who volunteered to help Jokowi win the election last June, to set up a new party with Jokowi as chairman.

In an interview with The Jakarta Post, Volunteer Front for Jokowi for President (Bara JP) chairman Sihol Manullang said the organization was ready to support Jokowi should he decide to establish a new political party as a consequence of his ongoing dispute with the PDI-P.

"Our attachment to President Jokowi is mainly based on our shared ideological platform. Bara JP is ready to transform into a political party should President Jokowi give us an instruction to do so," he said. Founded in June 2013, Bara JP was one of the first volunteer organizations established to support the presidential campaign of Jokowi, who was then serving as Jakarta governor. Its first major action was to collect 4 million signatures in a petition for the PDI-P to nominate Jokowi as its presidential candidate.

In its national congress last year, Bara JP, which claims to have branches in 34 provinces and 67 countries, decided to reestablish itself as mass organization following the end of Jokowi's successful presidential bid.

While Puan said Jokowi's right to form his own party should be respected, Jakarta-based Institute for Policy Studies (IPS) executive director Muhammad Tri Andika doubted Jokowi's ability to establish a new political party, citing a lack of financial support.

"Without the capital, establishing a new political party is tantamount to political suicide for Jokowi," he said.

Andika suggested Jokowi seek support from the opposition Red-and-White Coalition, which controls the majority of seats in the House, should he insist on quitting the PDI-P.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/02/04/as-pdi-p-says-it-still-backs-govt-jokowi-urged-found-new-party.html

Simultaneous local elections to begin in 2016

Jakarta Post - February 4, 2015

Margareth S. Aritonang, Jakarta – Simultaneous local elections will take place next year as the majority of political factions in the House of Representatives agreed to move the schedule back a year from the original plan within this year as stipulated by the newly endorsed Law No. 1/2015, which is still under revision.

Although House Commission II, which is supposed to deliberate the revision, has yet to formalize the decision, lawmakers from the commission that oversaw governance, regional autonomy, state apparatus and agrarian affairs believed that the remaining time available would hamper the General Elections Commission (KPU) from organizing quality elections.

"Thus we agreed to move elections that are scheduled this year to February next year, which will be the first round of [regional] elections to take place," Commission II chairman Rambe Kamarulzaman said on Tuesday.

He added that the next round of local elections to take place simultaneously would be in 2017 and 2018, a year before the country holds the presidential election.

As such, a decision was included in the list of stipulations of the existing law to be amended. Rambe, a politician from the Golkar Party, explained that a working committee was examining measures to take to regulate all local elections.

Commission II noted that there would be some 230 vacant positions for governors, mayors and regents until the first round of simultaneous elections next year. The posts would arguably be temporarily taken over by the deputies or regional secretaries.

"We are still comprehensively discussing it. Anyhow, all vacant positions must not last longer than one year," Rambe said.

Besides agreeing to postpone simultaneous regional elections until next year, Commission II's working committee also agreed to simplify a requirement for the public review of candidates to allow political parties or coalitions of political parties to take the lead to do so.

This is contradictory to Article 38 of the existing law that requires candidates to undergo a three-month public review by an independent committee in order to promote transparency as well asaccountability. Excluding such an independent committee will also pose a question on who will review independent candidates.

The committee also agreed to endorse a one-package nomination that will allow political parties or a coalition of political parties to nominate a one pair ticket unlike the existing law, which allowed local heads to appoint their own deputies.

The list of revisions additionally includes a stipulation on a minimum threshold of only 25 percent of the total votes for candidates to win the elections.

Contacted separately, KPU Commissioner Hadar Nafis Gumay applauded Commission II's decision to halt the simultaneous elections until next year.

"From the very beginning the new law was endorsed, we have made all preparations to organize simultaneous elections in regions within this year," Hadar said.

"However, the choice to halt it until next year is better to adapt to the national elections later in 2019 that will allow us to work even better," he added.

The House decision to move the schedule to 2016 has also raised support from election watchdogs, such as the Association for Elections and Democracy (Perludem).

However, Perludem encouraged the House and the government to prepare a reward mechanism for all regional leaders who might retire ahead of terms in order to comply with the election schedule. "This is important to ensure justice while at the same time avoiding possible conflict," Titi Anggraini of Perludem said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/02/04/simultaneous-local-elections-begin-2016.html

Court dismisses lawsuit against Aburizal Bakrie over Golkar leadership

Jakarta Globe - February 2, 2015

Jakarta – A court has thrown out a challenge to tycoon Aburizal Bakrie's leadership of the Golkar Party, dealing a blow to the reformist faction led by Agung Laksono.

Yusril Ihza Mahendra, a former justice minister and the chief counsel for Aburizal's camp, revealed the ruling by the Central Jakarta District Court through his Twitter account on Monday.

"The judges at the Central Jakarta District State Court today accepted the exception filed by Aburizal Bakrie, Idrus Marham and others," Yusril wrote.

"Lawyers [for Aburizal] filed a competence exception arguing that the Central Jakarta District Court had no authority to handle the lawsuit filed by Agung Laksono and others," he added.

"All the arguments presented by [Aburizal's] camp were accepted by the court. Based on Articles 32 and 33 of the Law on Political Parties, party disputes should be handled internally by a party tribunal."

Golkar, the oldest party in Indonesia, was plunged into the worst crisis in its history last year following its weaker-than-expected showing in the legislative election in April and its failure, for the first time ever, to get one of its members on a ticket for the presidential election in July.

Critics of Aburizal blamed him for the party's decline, and staged their own congress in Jakarta in December to appoint Agung chairman, in response to a congress held just days earlier in Bali at which Aburizal was re- elected by acclamation.

Golkar stalwarts from both sides have tried to address the rift, including through the party tribunal, whose chief declared that the Jakarta congress was illegitimate – thus prompting Agung to take his case to court.

The court, however, ruled that the statement from the party tribunal chief, Muladi, was not an official ruling from the tribunal, and hence the dispute should be heard before the tribunal before it could go to court, Yusril said.

"Agung Laksono's legal team has been given 14 days to respond to the court's ruling," he added. "Now my colleagues and I can focus on the case [we filed with] the West Jakarta District Court."

That filing sees Aburizal suing Agung's camp over the legitimacy of the Jakarta congress and its decision to name Agung the party chairman.

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/court-dismisses-lawsuit-aburizal-bakrie-golkar-leadership/

Police vs KPK

Kompolnas starts vetting process for new top cop candidates

Jakarta Post - February 7, 2015

Ina Parlina, Jakarta – The National Police Commission (Kompolnas), which is tasked by law to advise the President on the appointment of the National Police chief, has begun interviewing high-ranking police officers as potential candidates.

Among the officers being interviewed for the top police position is the newly installed detective division head at the National Police, Comr. Gen. Budi Waseso, a controversial figure at the center of a standoff between the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and the police.

Waseso is seen to have spearheaded the criminalization of KPK leaders. The nomination of Waseso, who is also a confidant of Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan, whose candidacy will likely be dropped by President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, has been opposed by many.

Police expert Bambang Widodo Umar, who is a member of an independent team that has been advising Jokowi on how to deal with the current KPK-police standoff, has questioned the nomination of Waseso given his thin resume as a provincial police chief.

A former chief of the Gorontalo Police, Waseso was only recently promoted to three-star general, a move seen as paving his way to becoming the country's next top police officer.

Responding to objections to Waseso's possible candidacy, Cabinet Secretary Andi Widjajanto said Kompolnas' recommendation was nonbinding and that Jokowi had the prerogative to pick the candidate.

Andi said that Kompolnas, which is expected to give recommendations to Jokowi on the criteria for a police chief, would scrutinize the candidates especially carefully, starting by asking the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (PPATK) to provide reports on their wealth.

Andi added, however, that the President had yet to receive Kompolnas' list of candidates. "Since the President's departure [for his state visit abroad] until today, there has been no communication between the President and Kompolnas," Andi revealed.

Kompolnas member M. Nasser said his office had started interviewing candidates on Thursday, including Inspector Comr. Gen. Dwi Priyatno, whom many believe to be the frontrunner in the race, as well as the National Police's security maintenance division head, Comr. Gen. Putut Eko Bayuseno.

"As of this midday, there are two [candidates] who have been interviewed, Dwi and Putut," Nasser said. He added, however, that the interviews were being conducted only to anticipate Jokowi's canceling the inauguration of Budi Gunawan, the President's sole pick for the next police chief who is now a graft suspect.

Nasser also confirmed that Kompolnas had dropped Gunawan and Comr. Gen. Suhardi Alius, the new head of the National Resilience Institute (Lemhannas), from the candidates' list. Suhardi was recently replaced by Waseso as the detective unit chief following speculation that Suhardi had aided the KPK in its move against Gunawan.

"It is because Budi [Gunawan] is now a suspect, while Suhardi is too junior," Nasser explained.

Later on Friday, another Kompolnas member, Adrianus Meliala, said that the commission had completed its interviews of four candidates and that it would soon submit its recommendation to the President.

"The result will be submitted to the President soon. [However] it [the result] can't be disclosed [to the public] because it is exclusively for the President," Adrianus said.

Jokowi recently said that he would announce his decision regarding the controversial nomination of Gunawan as police chief amid speculation that he might pick a new candidate. Ahmad Syafii Maarif, another member of the independent team, has stated that Jokowi will not install Budi as National Police chief.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/02/07/kompolnas-starts-vetting-process-new-top-cop-candidates.html

Crisis averted as police call off raid on KPK

Jakarta Post - February 7, 2015

Hans Nicholas Jong and Ina Parlina, Jakarta – The National Police refrained from taking action that could escalate tensions in their standoff with the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), as President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo is overseas on his five-day tour of ASEAN countries.

Responding to reports that a group of police investigators had descended on the KPK headquarters in Kuningan, South Jakarta, on Friday afternoon to collect evidence for criminal cases involving a number of KPK commissioners, acting National Police chief Comr. Gen. Badrodin Haiti said the police had followed Jokowi's instruction to refrain from inflammatory actions until his return on Tuesday of next week.

"We must not do anything that could trigger unrest, such as arrests or raids," Badrodin said. He went on to explain that police personnel in the vicinity of the KPK headquarters were there to conduct regular patrols.

"The National Police were only present in front of the KPK's headquarters because there were demonstrations from people who supported the KPK and another group that is against the KPK. We couldn't allow them to clash," Badrodin said.

In anticipation of a possible raid by the police, protesters who supported the antigraft body gathered in front of the KPK's headquarters, marking the largest concentration of protesters since the KPK-police standoff started in early January.

The protest also attracted supporters of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), which has called for the KPK and the police to go through the legal process to find a solution to their disagreement.

A PDI-P-linked group called the Alliance to Save the KPK (ASI) pressed both the police and the KPK to respect the ongoing legal process. As the sun began to set, no incidents had been reported and the protesters started leaving the KPK headquarters.

Despite a fresh crisis being averted on Friday, stormclouds continue to loom over the KPK, which faces paralysis, since all of its commissioners now face criminal charges.

There are unconfirmed reports that all KPK investigators and staff would resign en masse if all KPK leaders were named suspects by the police. The KPK leadership is also expected to return their mandates to President Jokowi soon so that he can set up an interim leadership of the antigraft body.

KPK prevention unit deputy Johan Budi said Jokowi was responsible for attacks against the KPK and that he should take efforts to stop the criminalization of KPK leaders.

Responding to the threat, cabinet secretary Andi Widjajanto called on all KPK personnel to refrain from doing anything hastily.

Andi promised that the standoff would end once Jokowi returned from his overseas visit. "The President will make a decision soon. So please wait for the President to return," he said on Friday.

Contacted separately, KPK commissioner Zulkarnain dampened speculations that all KPK personnel were set to resign from their posts. "I don't want to jump to conclusions too soon. Let us look for evidence in all accusations," Zulkarnain told reporters.

Meanwhile, a member of the Civil Society Coalition and founder of the Indonesian chapter of an online petition website, Usman Hamid, said that by prevaricating in making a decision on the standoff between the KPK and the police, Jokowi had lost his credibility.

"In our opinion, there has never been a case where the credibility of a president has dropped to the level that he is at right now. His sluggishness in making any decision has turned all state institutions into laughing stocks," Usman said in a press briefing on Friday.

United Development Party (PPP) lawmaker Arsul Sani urged the police to postpone their criminal investigations into KPK commissioners.

"The National Police need to be wise. There is no urgency to continue their investigation into the cases as they will not have expired by the time the current KPK commissioners conclude their term at the end of the year," the member of House of Representatives' Commission III overseeing legal affairs said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/02/07/crisis-averted-police-call-raid-KPK.html

Police chief candidate Budi Gunawan's future remains clouded

Jakarta Globe - February 6, 2015

Markus Junianto Sihaloho & Farouk Arnaz, Jakarta – Several lawmakers are continuing to push President Joko Widodo to inaugurate graft suspect Budi Gunawan as the country's next police chief, claiming that the speaker of the House of Representatives, who has recently expressed support for whatever decision Joko might take, was not speaking on their behalf.

House Speaker Setya Novanto and four of his deputies met the president at the State Palace this week to discuss the fate of his sole nominee for the post of police chief, who has been named a suspect for bribery by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

Setya, who is a Golkar Party politician, promised that there would be no political fallout if Joko decided not to proceed with Budi's inauguration, despite the fact that the House already endorsed his nomination. But members of Setya's own party seem to disagree. Ade Komaruddin, chairman of the Golkar faction in the House, and his secretary Bambang Soesatyo, said Setya's remarks do not represent all legislators.

The speaker "cannot just reach his own conclusions as to what the House's official stance would be. Leaving the decision [to inaugurate Budi or cancel it] entirely in the hands of the president is degrading the supremacy of the House," Bambang said. "The House plenary endorsed [Budi] as police chief, as the president himself has recommended. Like it or not, the president must install him."

One of Setya's deputies, Fahri Hamzah of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), also changed his stance, despite being present at the meeting with the president earlier. "So what if [the president] inaugurates a corruption suspect?" Fahri said. "The president can always suspend him afterwards. The solution is simple."

Fahri said the president would show disrespect to all public institutions that have cleared Budi's nomination and risk disrupting their ties to the palace.

"Inaugurating [Budi] and suspending him afterwards is the best solution," Fahri said. But the House speaker denied that he made a hasty decision on the controversy. "The rules and regulations state that appointing a police chief is the president's prerogative," Setya said. "We can't refute this fact."

The Law on the National Police states that the House has up to 20 days to endorse the president's candidate, after which he can inaugurate his pick with or without legislative approval. But the law does not say that a president must inaugurate his pick after the House's endorsement.

Despite the absence of any legal threat, Joko has delayed Budi's inauguration, a move analysts said was prompted by fears of a political backlash, especially from his Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P). Budi served as a security aide to PDI-P chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri during her term as president.

Joko met opposition leader Prabowo Subianto of the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) last week, after which Prabowo aired his support for any decision Joko might take.

On Tuesday night, the president also met with leaders of the six-party Awesome Indonesia Coalition (KIH), which backed his nomination during last year's election. But experts have warned that although the party leaders, including the PDI-P's, might publicly support Joko, it would likely be another story behind the scenes should he decide to cancel Budi's inauguration.

Joko has said he would make a decision on the controversy next week, following his trips to several neighboring countries. But rumors persist that Joko may yet decide not to inaugurate Budi and come up with a new candidate.

The chief of the National Police's general supervision inspectorate, Comr. Gen. Dwi Priyatno, visited the police commission on Friday, sparking speculation he may be on the list of candidates to replace Budi.

"This is just a friendly visit to the commission," Dwi said at the National Police headquarters in Jakarta on Friday. "I have no idea [about being included on the list of candidates]. But whoever is appointed, will have to be ready."

Separately, Edi Hasibuan, a member of the National Police Commission, said Dwi's visit was part of the body's efforts to speak with National Police chief candidates. "We're still in talks with all the names. Later on, we'll make a decision choosing one of the nine," Edi said.

Potential candidates include three-star generals such as Budi Waseso, chief of the National Police's detectives unit; current deputy chief Badrodin Haiti; security chief Putut Eko Bayu Seno; National Defense Institute governor Boy Salamuddin and anti-narcotics chief Anang Iskandar. Intelligence chief Djoko Mukti Haryono; National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) chief Saud Usman Nasution; and former chief of detectives Suhardi Alius could also be on the list.

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/police-chief-candidate-budi-gunawans-future-remains-clouded/

Survey: Indonesians believe cases against KPK leaders engineered

Jakarta Globe - February 6, 2015

Hotman Siregar, Edi Hardum & Farouk Arnaz, Jakarta – A majority of Indonesians believe that there are hidden motives behind the National Police's abrupt investigations into leaders of the national antigraft commission, a recent survey has found.

The Joint Data Center, or PDB, a research division of BeritaSatu Media, with which the Jakarta Globe is affiliated, said that 58 percent of the 500 people polled suspected an ulterior motive in the probes, while only 15 percent believed the investigations were purely legally motivated.

The survey was conducted by phone with respondents in Jakarta; Semarang, Central Java; Surabaya, East Java; Medan, North Sumatra; and Makassar, South Sulawesi, between Jan. 28 and Feb. 1, with a margin of error of 4.5 percent.

PDB senior researcher Didik J. Rachbini said 67 percent of respondents believed there was an attempt to weaken the Corruption Eradication Commission, or KPK, while 12 percent disagreed.

"However, the public's expectations of President Joko Widodo doing the right thing are high," Didik said. "As much as 69 percent said they believed Jokowi could resolve the conflict between the KPK and the National Police."

All four KPK commissioners – chairman Abraham Samad and deputy chairmen Bambang Widjojanto, Adnan Pandu Praja and Zulkarnain – stand to be named criminal suspects by the police in a range of cold cases – some dredged up from a decade ago – that critics say constitute a blatant retaliation by the police against the KPK's naming of Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan, Joko's nominee for police chief, a suspect for bribery and money laundering.

So far, only Bambang has been declared a suspect by the police, for allegedly compelling witnesses to commit perjury in an election dispute heard by the Constitutional Court in 2010.

Abraham is now under investigation in two separate cases: violating the KPK's code of ethics – in itself not a criminal matter – by meeting members of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), reportedly to discuss chances of him becoming vice president; and doctoring his family card, a state-issued document.

Legal experts are unanimous on the need for an ad-hoc ethics tribunal of the KPK, and not the police, to hear the first case; while the second, even if proven, can be considered a misdemeanor at best.

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/survey-indonesians-believe-cases-KPK-leaders-engineered/

Indonesian military's growing presence seen as a threat

Jakarta Post - February 7, 2015

Hans Nicholas Jong and Nani Afrida, Jakarta – As members of civil society organizations express their concern over the expanding role of the Indonesian Military (TNI), military commander Gen. Moeldoko reaffirmed the commitment to intervene, if needed, in the standoff between the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and the National Police.

On Friday, Moeldoko said that soldiers were ready to help maintain security in the capital if tensions escalated as a result of the protracted dispute between the KPK and the National Police.

"We haven't received any specific instructions from the President, but we are ready, if we are needed, to help maintain security," Moeldoko said on the sidelines of a sporting event at the Army's Special Forces (Kopassus) command in Cijantung, East Jakarta, on Friday.

Human rights activist Mohammad Mu'tashim Billah, former National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) commissioner, said that Moeldoko's statement could be seen as a sign of the military's readiness to reclaim its domestic political role, which had been stripped following the downfall of president Soeharto in 1998.

"This could mean that they are ready to get involved in operations outside the military. If their role is getting bigger then it could be an indication that the gateway [for the TNI to make a comeback] has been opened," Billah told The Jakarta Post on Friday.

Another indication that the TNI was poised to venture outside its domain was the symbolic lunch between President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and Moeldoko on Tuesday, Billah said.

"The lunch sent a signal [from the President], as if he was saying that the current situation is chaotic and I open the door for you [the TNI] to enter," Billah said.

Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu said the meeting, which was also attended by the National Intelligence Agency (BIN) head Marciano Norman, was to discuss the current standoff between the KPK and the police and its potential impact on the TNI.

Earlier, Jokowi had instructed Moeldoko to deploy personnel to safeguard the KPK during the National Police's attempt to raid the antigraft body's headquarters in Kuningan, South Jakarta, following the police's decision to name KPK commissioner Bambang Widjojanto a suspect in a perjury case.

Indonesia Communion of Churches (PGI) secretary-general Jerry Sumampouw, meanwhile, criticized KPK chairman Abraham Samad, who also requested back- up from the TNI to secure the KPK headquarters. "We understand [why Abraham did that] but it is not right according to existing regulations," he said.

Political analyst from the Indonesian Civilized Circle (Lima), Ray Rangkuti, said that the idea the TNI could make a comeback to the country's political system was not far-fetched given the positive image the TNI had cultivated in the past few years.

"The public currently perceives the National Police as the institution that violates human rights the most," he said during a discussion in Central Jakarta on Friday. "This is a challenge, because if the police continue their way, then people will not think it is problematic for the military to be directly involved in domestic security."

A public opinion poll recently conducted by the Indonesian Survey Institute (LSI) found that the public's trust in the TNI was at an all-time high. Respondents to the survey placed the TNI as the most-trusted institution, in the same league as the presidency and above the KPK. Meanwhile, the National Police ranked sixth from 11 institutions.

Ray also pointed out how the National Mid-Term Development Plan (RPJMN) for 2015-2019 did not clearly distinguish between the authority of the TNI and the National Police. "The RPJMN has been directed to return authority to the TNI [to its original function]," he said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/02/07/indonesian-military-s-growing-presence-seen-a-threat.html

Detective vows to purge force from 'traitors'

Jakarta Post - February 6, 2015

Jakarta – National Police Detective Corps Comr. Gen. Budi Waseso said he would clean the unit from "traitors" that have caused the prosecution of Police Education Institute head Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan, who has been named a candidate for police chief.

Waseso said he was ready to be held responsible if more police officers faced crime allegations similar to what Gunawan recently faced.

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) named Gunawan a suspect in a graft case after the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) revealed that he possessed large bank accounts with irregular transactions.

"I'm not saying that the traitor is in [the crime investigation directorate]. [The police's Internal Affairs Division] is working on the case. And I will take responsibility for everything I said," Waseso stated on Thursday after being promoted to his current rank as a three-star general, as quoted by Antara news agency.

A close acquaintance of Budi, Waseso earlier made his pledge to purge "traitors" when he was inaugurated to his current position as the head of the National Police's Criminal Investigations Directorate (Bareskrim) amid the crisis caused by Gunawan's status as a graft suspect.

Waseso refused to name the "traitor", who he thought was responsible for Gunawan's prosecution, but confirmed that there were police officers under internal investigation.

A former chief of Gorontalo Police, Waseso directly launched investigations into cases related to KPK leaders immediately after his installment. His unit was soon involved in the controversial arrest of KPK deputy chairman Bambang Widjojanto, who is suspected of encouraging perjury in a local election dispute.

KPK chief Abraham Samad and deputy chief Adnan Pandu Praja have also been reported to Bareskrim for two separate cases and still under investigation.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/02/06/detective-vows-purge-force-traitors.html

Standoff puts brakes on KPK's graft handling

Jakarta Post - February 6, 2015

Haeril Halim, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on Thursday warned President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo that his indecisiveness in solving the current standoff between the antigraft body and the National Police had put it at risk.

The KPK leadership is in threat of total paralysis as all of its commissioners are now facing criminal charges – in which one of them has been declared a suspect by the police – following the commission's decision to name National Police chief hopeful Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan a bribery suspect on Jan. 13.

The police have named KPK commissioner Bambang Widjojanto a suspect for encouraging perjury when he was lawyer back in 2010, while the police are currently collecting evidence to charge three other commissioners – Abraham Samad, Adnan Pandu Praja and Zulkarnain – after receiving reports on their alleged past wrongdoings prior to serving as commissioners.

KPK prevention unit deputy Johan Budi said attacks against the KPK leadership could impact the handling of hundreds of graft cases.

Johan called on Jokowi, who he said had so far maintained a standoffish stance to the crisis, to stop the criminalization of the KPK leaders.

"[The inaction] has badly hurt the KPK and the public must know what impact the standoff could have on hundreds of graft cases that we are currently handling," Johan said.

According to Article 32 of Law No. 30/2002 on the KPK, any commissioner named a suspect in a criminal case must automatically be suspended from their post.

Johan further said that if all KPK commissioners were named suspects and resigned from their posts, Jokowi must take responsibility.

"If a total paralysis does happen, then the option that we will take is leave [the KPK] and return the mandate to the President. What's the point of staying if our the President does nothing to protect the KPK?" Johan added.

Many are convinced that the attacks against the antigraft body from the National Police, which were launched in lockstep with the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), were designed to prevent the KPK from ramping up its investigation into the Bank Indonesia Liquidity Assistance (BLBI) scandal which could have links to PDI-P chairperson Megawati Soekarnoputri in her capacity as president between 2001 and 2004.

The PDI-P has denied the allegations, saying the recent maneuvers of the party's acting secretary-general Hasto Kristiyanto, including his disclosure of Abraham having helped PDI-P lawmaker Emir Moeis get a lenient sentence in a graft case last year in return for the party's support for his position as a potential running mate for Jokowi, were personal in nature.

The PDI-P could also be seen as being complicit in the National Police's move against Bambang. The police declared Bambang a suspect in a perjury case after receiving a report from PDI-P politician Sugianto Sabran. Bambang was named a suspect for encouraging perjury in a local election dispute adjudicated at the Constitutional Court in 2010.

On Wednesday, House of Representatives Commission III overseeing law and human rights summoned Hasto to clarify his allegation that Abraham had breached the KPK's leadership ethics by holding a series of secret meetings with PDI-P figures to discuss his political ambitions.

Johan slammed Hasto for his campaign against Abraham, saying that he should have presented evidence to the KPK on the alleged code of ethics violation, instead of going public with the claim.

At the hearing with the House, Hasto also displayed photos of Abraham in a compromising position with a woman. "We are currently investigating the allegations of ethics code violations and we regret the fact that until today Hasto has failed to show us strong evidence for his allegations," said Johan.

Meanwhile, Law and Human Rights Minister Yasona H. Laoly, who is a former PDI-P politician, said on Thursday that if the KPK suffered a total paralysis, Jokowi would issue a government regulation in lieu of law (Perppu) that would enable him to appoint interim KPK commissioners until the tenure of the current leadership ends in December. "We have an option to expedite the selection of new KPK commissioners, but it is better to appoint acting commissioners," Yasona said on Thursday.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/02/06/standoff-puts-brakes-KPK-s-graft-handling.html

––––––––––––––––––––––––-

With one Budi fading, another steps up to keep PDI-P happy

Jakarta Globe - February 6, 2015

Jakarta – The police general who has pursued a raft of dubious criminal cases against antigraft commissioners who charged his superior with corruption now stands a very real chance of being named Indonesia's new police chief.

Budi Waseso, the National Police's chief of detectives and self-professed supporter of Budi Gunawan, the would-be police chief named a suspect by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), was on Thursday promoted to the rank of commissioner general, a three-star rank that makes him eligible for promotion to the four-star rank of National Police chief.

"Budi Waseso is included in the list of candidates," Adrianus Meliala, a member of the National Police Commission, which is tasked with recommending police chief candidates to the president, confirmed on Thursday.

Budi Waseso's rise through the police force since Budi Gunawan was charged on Jan. 13 has been startling. From heading up the officers' training center at the police academy, where he worked directly under Budi Gunawan, Budi Waseso was appointed chief of detectives – second only to the police chief in power – and now stands poised to head the nation's most powerful – and perceived to be the most corrupt – law enforcement agency.

Analysts, though, warn that if President Joko Widodo does nominate Budi Waseso for police chief, he will be committing the same mistake as when he nominated Budi Gunawan, namely making a concession to his political backers, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P).

Budi Waseso has made no secret of his support for Budi Gunawan, who served as the security aide to PDI-P chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri during her presidency from 2001 to 2004 and is widely believed to have been foisted onto Joko for the post of National Police chief by the PDI-P chief.

By nominating Budi Waseso for police chief, analysts say, Joko will be able to drop Budi Gunawan nomination while still saving face with the PDI-P and Megawati, his political patron. PDI-P officials have already signaled their approval of Budi Waseso's advancement in the ranks.

Tjahjo Kumolo, the minister for home affairs and previously Megawati's number two in the party hierarchy, said Budi Waseso "would make a great police chief," even though he has not been nominated. Tjahjo did not comment on the nine other three-star police generals who are also eligible.

It was also telling that the only congratulatory flower board sent to the National Police headquarters for Thursday's promotion ceremony was from Abdullah Mahmud Hendropriyono, a former intelligence chief and member of Megawati's inner circle, who is dogged by allegations of human rights abuses.

Hendropriyono serves as a senior adviser to Joko, in what is widely seen as yet another concession the president has made to the PDI-P chairwoman.

Budi Waseso, speaking to reporters after his promotion, was adamant that his office would press ahead with investigating the cases filed against the KPK's four commissioners in the wake of the antigraft office naming Budi Gunawan a suspect.

The police are widely accused of going into retaliation mode against the KPK by digging up cold cases – some dating back a decade – to pin against the antigraft commissioners.

However, Budi Waseso denied this, while skirting the question of why his office was working with uncharacteristic speed to investigate the cases. "My work has nothing to do with politics. People can say what they like. We shall prove it," he said.

"We must fight corruption. But if an institution is led by people who are less than credible we must correct it," he added, in a reference to the KPK that reflected more on the police force.

"We are careful so we are not accused of [retaliating]. But if the evidence is there, you can bet [the KPK leaders] will be named suspects." Budi Waseso also said he was ready if nominated for police chief.

With his promotion, there are now 10 three-star generals in the police force, including Budi Gunawan. Two are entering retirement age this year – intelligence chief Djoko Mukti Haryono and counterterrorism chief Saud Usman Nasution – which makes it unlikely that either of them will be nominated.

Rumored to be Budi Waseso's closest contenders are internal affairs chief Dwi Priyatno and Badrodin Haiti, the acting police chief.

However, Badrodin's nomination could trigger the same controversy as Budi Gunawan's. Both men were among the police generals flagged in 2010 by the anti-money-laundering agency for the suspiciously large transactions – in the millions of dollars – flowing through their accounts.

Other three-star generals include security chief Putut Eko Bayu Seno, National Defense Institute governor Boy Salamudin, and anti-narcotics chief Anang Iskandar.

The man who Budi Waseso abruptly replaced as chief of detectives, Suhardi Alius, is also eligible, but his nomination could prompt resistance from inside the police force. Suhardi was removed from office last month for reportedly leaking information about Budi Gunawan to the KPK.

Budi Waseso would seem to have the edge in the race to be police chief. Two of the last four police chiefs were previously the chief of detectives, including the last man to hold the post, Sutarman, who Budi Gunawan was originally slated to replace. And the two Budis' closeness means supporters of the graft suspect will also support the loyalist.

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/one-budi-fading-another-steps-keep-pdi-p-happy/

TNI ready to help maintain security over KPK-police dispute

Jakarta Post - February 6, 2015

Jakarta – Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Gen. Moeldoko has said soldiers are ready to help maintain security in connection with the lengthy dispute between the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and the National Police.

"We haven't received any specific instructions from the President but we are ready if we are needed to help maintain security," Moeldoko said on the sidelines of a soldier sporting event at the Army's Special Forces (Kopassus) command in Cijantung, East Jakarta, on Friday.

He said it was not the authority of the TNI to meddle in any disputes related to politics. "We don't want to comment on the current legal and politic issues," he said as quoted by Antara news agency.

Moeldoko reiterated that the duty of TNI was to maintain the stability of the state. He urged the public to stay calm and said there was no need to worry about the security of the nation.

He said the TNI was ready to help whenever needed, according to Antara news agency. "We abide by the orders of the highest ranking officer, in this case instruction from the President," he said.

He also said that he expected all security state apparatuses, including the TNI, to stay united and coordinate in implementing their respective duties. (hhr)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/02/06/tni-ready-help-maintain-security-over-KPK-police-dispute.html

Minister rebukes KPK staff for 'behaving like workers' over strike threat

Tempo.co - February 6, 2015

Fransisco Rosarians, Jakarta – Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Tedjo Edhy Purdijatno has issued another controversial statement.

This time, he was commenting on a threat by Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) staff to go on strike if all of the commission's leaders are declared suspects by the national police and forced to resign. "[Go on strike], no way, just like workers", said Purdijatno at his office on Friday February 5.

Purdijatno believes that KPK staff should not adopt an attitude like workers who often issue threats to stop work when they are conveying their demands. Nevertheless, he claimed that he is sure that staff at the anti- corruption agency will not go on strike. "It's up to them. But what exactly do they mean", he said.

Earlier, KPK deputy for corruption prevention Johan Budi state that some of the commission's staff would return their mandate and duties to President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo if all of the KPK's leadership is declared suspects. According to Budi, there will be no point in having KPK staff who cannot work because the anti-corruption agency is paralysed.

KPK staff issued the threat because they believe that Jokowi is taking too long to make a decision on ending the polemic between the KPK and the national police. The delay in making the decision has in fact created other problems that are far worse, namely the criminalisation of KPK leaders and paralyzing the commission.

[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service. The original title of the report was "Menteri Tedjo: Pegawai KPK Kayak Buruh".]

Source: http://www.tempo.co/read/news/2015/02/06/078640549/Menteri-Tedjo-Pegawai-KPK-Kayak-Buruh

Workers ready to become 'advance guard' in defence of anti-graft agency

Detik News - February 6, 2015

Moksa Hutasoit, Jakarta – Hundreds of workers form the Indonesian Metal Workers Trade Union Federation (FSPMI) demonstrated at the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) building to declare their support for the KPK that is in the midst of a conflict with the national police (Polri).

"Workers are ready to become the advance guard", shouted a worker's representative in a speech atop a truck parked in front of the KPK building on Jl. Rasuna Said in South Jakarta on Friday February 6.

Arriving in waves, there appeared to be around 400 workers taking part in the action, all wearing black clothing with organisational logos on the back of their shirts.

"This is not just a KPK problem, but an Indonesian problem", said another speaker. "If there are 1 thousand people to support the KPK, we will be one of them. If there is only one person left supporting the KPK, it will definitely be us", shouted the speaker to applause from other demonstrators.

A short time later, protesters from the Save Indonesia Alliance (ASI) arrived. They however took up a slightly different theme, "Save the KPK and Save Polri".

Not surprisingly, a contest of amplifiers took place. When a person from the ASI give a speech, the workers immediately turned the music to full volume. In general, the protesters from the ASI were young people who were passive in giving speeches, unlike the workers who were full of energy.

The two groups of protesters were only a short distance apart and were only separated by three fences erected by police that limited the two organisation's movements.

The action was afforded 'super' tight security with police officers on guard at the entrance to the KPK building while members of the paramilitary Mobile Brigade (Brimob) were on alert inside the building.

A mobile water cannon that was present earlier has begun to be withdrawn well away from the KPK building. The reason being that the slow lane on Jl. Rasuna Said was taken over by demonstrators and has now been closed by police.

As of 3.05pm, the action was still continuing will more protesters arriving. The situation remained favourable.

[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service. The original title of the report was "Ratusan Buruh Demo Dukung KPK, Jalur Lambat Rasuna Said Ditutup".]

Source: http://news.detik.com/read/2015/02/06/152319/2825908/10/ratusan-buruh-demo-dukung-KPK-jalur-lambat-rasuna-said-ditutup

Waseso receives three-star rank

Jakarta Post - February 5, 2015

Jakarta – The newly appointed Detective Corps chief at the National Police, Insp. Gen. Budi Waseso, received the commissioner general rank, opening up the possibility for promotion to the institution's top position.

The three-star rank was conferred by acting police chief Comr. Gen. Badrodin Haiti during a ceremony held at the National Police headquarters in South Jakarta on Thursday. A number of middle- and high-rank police officials were also present at the ceremony

"[The promotion is] 100 percent valid because it was a presidential decision, so [Waseso's] inauguration is official," he said after the ceremony.

Waseso, also former chief of the Gorontalo Police, was recently appointed chief of the Detective Corps to replace Comr. Gen. Suhardi Alius, who was appointed secretary of the National Resilience Institute (Lemhanas).

Separately, Edi Hasibuan, member of the National Police Commission (Kompolnas), said his commission would propose Waseso as one of five three-star police officials deemed to meet administrative and legal requirements to be nominated as police chief if the President asked the commission for the names of national police chief candidates.

"The commission orally submitted Waseso's name in a recent meeting with the commission," he said, adding that Waseso would be officially inserted on the list of police chief candidates when the President asked for it in time.

In line with the 2002 Police Law, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo is expected to ask the commission to propose a new list of high-rank police officials considered to meet the requirements to be nominated as police chief after the President decided not to swear in Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan as police chief.

Budi, who was the sole candidate for police chief and won political endorsement, has been named a suspect in a graft case. (rms)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/02/05/waseso-receives-three-star-rank.html

In Jokowi's indecision, a skirmish for power

Jakarta Globe - February 4, 2015

Carlos Paath, Ezra Sihite, Yustinus Paat & Markus Junianto Sihaloho, Jakarta – President Joko Widodo will decide next week whether to stick with his controversial pick for police chief or drop the nomination entirely, following a meeting with leaders of the parties backing his administration.

"I will finish everything next week," the president told reporters in Jakarta on Wednesday in reference to the crisis that has erupted over his nomination of Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan, a graft suspect, to become Indonesia's new police chief.

Joko previously said he had delayed inaugurating Budi, who is charged by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) with bribery and money laundering, but emphasized that he was not withdrawing the nomination.

Whether he finally decides to do so will have to wait for next week, he said. "It wouldn't be long. There are things I must sort out first," Joko said, declining to say what those things might be.

The president's latest remarks on the matter followed a meeting on Tuesday night that he hosted with the leaders of his six-party Awesome Indonesia Coalition (KIH), including his political patron, Megawati Soekarnoputri, the chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P).

Budi served as Megawati's security aide during her presidency from 2001 to 2004, and is widely believed to have been foisted onto Joko for the post of National Police chief by the PDI-P chief.

Noticeably absent from the meeting was National Democratic Party (NasDem) chairman, Surya Paloh, a key figure in the KIH who has always been present before Joko makes important decisions and appointments and is also a known supporter of Budi's.

Joko said the meeting was called to discuss the Budi quandary, which has seen the police go into apparent retaliation mode against the KPK by digging up cold cases – some dating back a decade – to pin against the antigraft body's four commissioners.

"I don't feel I need to hide anything," Joko said, adding that the meeting "was about the KPK and the National Police."

Vested interest

Joko continues to face a massive public outcry to scrap Budi's nomination and end the police's blatant criminalization of the KPK leaders, even as PDI-P and NasDem officials pile on the pressure for Budi to be sworn in immediately.

Political observers argue that the two parties have a clear vested interest in seeing Budi named the nation's top cop. With NasDem official H.M. Prasetyo appointed the attorney general, the observers say, Budi's appointment will clinch control of the country's two biggest law enforcement agencies for the party elites.

"There are certain elites who want to see [Budi] become the police chief," Hamdi Muluk, a political psychology professor at the University of Indonesia, told the Jakarta Globe on Wednesday. "We can identify these elites as being from the PDI-P and NasDem."

Joko, he added, "doesn't actually want Budi to become the police chief. But his power is limited, given the fact that he's not a party leader."

Hamdi said that severing ties with the KIH would leave Joko exposed to opposition Red-White Coalition (KMP), which controls the majority of seats at the House of Representatives.

But a surprise meeting last week between Joko and KIH leader Prabowo Subianto, whom Joko defeated in a close and bitterly contested election last year, has helped ease the pressure for Joko to proceed with inaugurating Budi, Hamdi said.

Six options

Cabinet Secretary Andi Widjajanto, one of Joko's closest advisers and branded a "traitor" by the PDI-P for urging the president to stay Budi's appointment, confirmed that Joko was "considering the risks" of whatever decision he would make.

"In total there are six options," he said. The first, Andi said, is for Budi to withdraw from the process; the second is to go ahead with inaugurating Budi; the third is for Joko to inaugurate and then suspend Budi; the fourth is to wait for a legally binding court ruling on Budi's bribery case; and the fifth is to scrap Budi's nomination and come up with a new nominee.

"The last option is to stay with the current conditions while making new [political] calculations," Andi said. He added the president was scheduled to go oversees this week and would only announce his decision next week.

"The president has some idea about what he plans to do," Andi said, but would not disclose which way he was leaning. He added that the decision could change if there were new developments during his trip abroad.

State Secretary Pratikno, another member of the president's inner circle, had suggested on Tuesday that the neatest solution would be for Budi to withdraw from the process to be named police chief – a move that he said carried little political and ethical consequences for the president.

But Andi said the president has hinted at this "several times" to Budi, to no avail. The National Police's deputy chief, Comr. Gen. Badrodin Haiti, confirmed that Budi had been asked to withdraw.

"He's still waiting for his pretrial hearing to conclude," Badrodin said on Wednesday, referring to Budi's motion to have the charges brought by the KPK quashed, citing improper legal procedures. "Hopefully the pretrial process will wrap up soon so [Budi] can decide whether he should back down or not."

However, legal experts contend that even if he succeeds in his pretrial motion, the court's decision would only mean the KPK would have to restart its investigation process – and not that he would go scot-free.

'No decision'

Syafii Maarif, the chairman of a nine-man team set up by Joko to advise him on the matter, said the president would likely scrap Budi's nomination and find a new candidate for police chief.

"Last night, Jokowi called me and expressed his decision to not inaugurate [Budi] as police chief," Syafii said on Wednesday in Yogyakarta as quoted by Kompas.com.

Joko last week met with members of the National Police Commission, the panel tasked with vetting potential candidates. The commissioners later said Joko had consulted with them on potential candidates, but that no decision was made during the meeting. Pratikno, however, refuted Syafii's claim: "There has been no decision at this time," he said.

Whatever decision the president announces will be supported by the PDI-P's Megawati, said party stalwart Pramono Anung. "We will not intervene," he said on Wednesday, adding that neither Megawati nor any other PDI-P official had forced Joko to nominate Budi for police chief.

However, Pramono said the party still held out hope that Budi would be inaugurated. "Budi has already gone through the confirmation process at the House. If there is a legal problem then the legal system should sort that out," he said.

Threat of impeachment

But mounting criticism of Joko from within the PDI-P's ranks suggests that Megawati and Joko don't see eye-to-eye on the issue.

PDI-P politician Effendi Simbolon, who called Cabinet Secretary Andi a traitor, also threatened to launch impeachment proceedings against the president if he refused to inaugurate Budi.

That Megawati would allow such a high-level official from her party to make such a statement without a word of protest is a strong indication that she endorses the stance, political analysts say.

Megawati's rule has gone unchallenged since she founded the PDI-P in 1999, with analysts pointing out that she imposes a tight grip on all PDI-P members – including Joko, who for weeks before his nomination in last year's election insisted that it was up to the chairwoman whether he ran for president.

PDI-P legislators at the House have also threatened retribution should the graft suspect Budi Gunawan not be named police chief.

"If the president goes ahead with the inauguration, there will be no problem from the party officials at the House," said Junimart Girsang, a PDI-P legislator.

"But if not, then our leaders at the PDI-P will likely support him but not necessarily the PDI-P team [at the House]. We will take our own stance. The PDI-P's central board has given the House team great independence, as long as the public interest is at stake."

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/jokowis-indecision-skirmish-power/

Take urgent measures, Jokowi is told as KPK assailed

Jakarta Globe - February 4, 2015

Jakarta – The national antigraft commission has called on President Joko Widodo to take urgent measures to halt an increasingly apparent attempt by the police to undermine anti-corruption leaders over their naming of a police general as a bribery suspect.

"If all the commissioners of the KPK [the Corruption Eradication Commission] are named suspects, then all of them will have to be suspended from active duty," Johan Budi, the KPK deputy for graft prevention, said in Jakarta on Monday.

"This will lead to a vacuum of leadership inside the KPK. I think it is time that Jokowi intervenes."

Police have charged Bambang with compelling witnesses to commit perjury when he served as a lawyer in a 2010 regional election dispute heard by the Constitutional Court. The police at the time dismissed the case after the court ruled in favor of Bambang's client, who was named the winner of the election.

Abraham has been reported to the police for allegedly violating the KPK's code of ethics by meeting with politicians in secret – which in itself is not a criminal offense and at most warrants an internal inquiry by the KPK – and for allegedly forging official documents.

Adnan and Zulkarnain, meanwhile, have also been reported to the police for allegations of crimes allegedly committed before they were inaugurated as antigraft commissioners.

Those reporting the cases to the police are either members of or people affiliated with Joko's Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, or PDI-P, which is demanding that Joko inaugurate Budi, the former security aide to PDI-P chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri.

Former Constitutional Court chief justice Hamdan Zoelva echoed Johan's concerns about the systematic efforts to undermine the KPK, and urged the government to take "bold steps" immediately to "save the KPK."

"There must be an emergency action by expediting the selection process of fresh [KPK] leaders," he said.

The House of Representatives, which is scheduled to select five KPK commissioners in a vetting process this December, can pull the process forward in light of the ongoing crisis, says Aziz Syamsuddin, the chairman of House Commission III, which oversees legal affairs and is responsible for vetting KPK commissioners.

"The law states that there should be at least three" active KPK commissioners, said Aziz, from the Golkar Party. "If there are fewer than that, then we should expedite the selection process."

Martin Hutabarat, a Commission III legislator from the Great Indonesia Movement Party, or Gerindra, said the president could also issue an emergency regulation in lieu of law, known as a perppu, to anticipate a void in the KPK leadership.

"The president should prepare a perppu to fill the possible void, at least until [definitive] replacements are named or until the KPK commissioners conclude their legal process and are cleared of all charges," he said.

Fence-sitting

Critics have savaged Joko for sitting on the fence rather than taking a decisive stand on the matter. The president has delayed Budi's inauguration but made clear that he is not rescinding his candidacy just yet.

House Deputy Speaker Fadli Zon, from Gerindra, said Joko needed to make a decision on the controversial police general, and "the sooner the better."

"The ball is now in the president's court and everyone is waiting to see what the president will do next," he said. "This is the only way to stop this mess from dragging on."

Joko's reticence to withdraw Budi's nomination was initially seen as a mark of his deference to Megawati, who is widely acknowledged as pushing for Budi to become police chief, and as an effort not to run foul of the House, after legislators from his own party threatened to launch impeachment proceedings if he refused to inaugurate Budi following the House's approval of the candidate.

But the picture changed last week after Joko met with Gerindra chairman Prabowo Subianto, his rival in last year's bitterly contested election.

Politicians from the Gerindra-led opposition, the Red-White Coalition (KMP), pledged after the meeting that they would oppose any attempt by the PDI-P-led Awesome Indonesia Coalition (KIH) to impeach the president if he rejected Budi.

Fadli, usually an outspoken critic of the president, said that Joko "will not be breaking any regulations" if he withdrew Budi's nomination.

Street protests

That the usually crowd-pleasing Joko has failed to heed the public outcry to withdraw Budi's nomination and take a stand against the police's criminalization of the KPK leaders is a baffling development, says Kuskridho Ambardi, a researcher from the Indonesian Survey Institute.

"People are dying to know how the president is going to decide," he said. "He'd better act soon and he'd better make the right decision."

Kuskridho said that by failing to act on public demand would hurt Joko's already declining popularity.

"People will protest on social media and on the streets. Budi hasn't been inaugurated yet and already people are protesting. So imagine what they'd do if he really was inaugurated," he said.

By taking swift and decisive action, Joko will be able to demonstrate to the public that he is taking full responsibility for a mess that he started by nominating the already highly controversial Budi last month, said Didik J. Rachbini, a politician from the KMP's National Mandate Party (PAN).

"It was the president's initiative" to nominate Budi, said Didik, who ran on a ticket against Joko in the 2012 Jakarta gubernatorial election. "So the president must quickly resolve this and not let it drag on and on. The president must realize that [Budi] should not be inaugurated," he said.

A close aide to Joko, however, said the impetus should be on Budi to withdraw from the process, rather than wait for the president to make that call.

"It's not easy to come up with a solution to end this," State Secretary Pratikno said on Tuesday, but added that the problem could "end right away" if Budi withdrew. "If he doesn't withdraw, the dilemma between the political and legal affairs will continue."

Classy KPK

The KPK leaders have taken the mostly outlandish allegations against them in stride.

Unlike Budi, who has surrounded himself with guards armed with assault rifles and semi-automatic weapons, and who has refused to heed a summons for questioning from the KPK, Bambang showed up at the National Police headquarters on Tuesday for questioning in his own case.

"As a leader of a law enforcement body, I will go and show our class. I will show that law enforcers should obey the law," he told supporters at the KPK headquarters before his departure, in a clear swipe at Budi.

He added that the allegations and threats that he and his fellow KPK commissioners faced were an "occupational hazard."

"Even if I have to die, I'll do it, but I believe that God is with the righteous," Bambang said. "The prayers of the poor and the victimized will save the country."

KPK chief Abraham echoed Bambang's statement: "What is happening to Bambang and other KPK leaders is a risk we have to take on this long journey to eradicate corruption in this country. Let's pray for the KPK's survival. May it always be as strong as it is today," he said.

The allegations in Abraham's own case were first raised by PDI-P acting secretary general Hasto Kristiyanto, who claimed that the KPK chief violated the antigraft code of ethics last by meeting in secret with him and the PDI-P's then-secretary general, Tjahjo Kumolo, to discuss running with Joko on the party's ticket in the presidential election.

Hasto claims that the KPK's naming of Budi as a graft suspect was motivated by revenge over the PDI-P's rejection of Abraham as Joko's running mate.

Abraham has acknowledged meeting with the politicians, but denied ever asking to be on the PDI-P's ticket in the election.

"I never expressed my interest to be a vice presidential candidate. Other people nominated me. I never promised anything" in exchange for the PDI-P's support, he said.

Cabinet Secretary Andi Widjajanto, formerly a member of Joko's campaign team and now one of his closest advisers, said he was willing to vouch for Abraham, adding that all meetings between the PDI-P elite and the KPK chief were "within the ethical boundaries set by the KPK."

Andi has since been branded a "traitor" by the PDI-P, which holds the distinction as the party with the most members charged, tried and convicted by the KPK.

Independent antigraft activists have called on Abraham to clarify why he met with the PDI-P officials in the first place, saying it would help end the damaging allegations swirling around the anti-corruption body.

"We need to understand the context of the meeting," said Ade Irawan, the coordinator of Indonesia Corruption Watch. "Was it a secret meeting that the KPK knew nothing about? If that was the case, then KPK has internal procedures to address the matter. But if it was just a seminar or a regular meeting, then of course there's no problem."

There have also been proposals for the KPK to establish an ad-hoc ethics council to investigate the allegations of wrongdoing by Abraham and the other commissioners.

"In the KPK law, it is mentioned that if there is an indication of an ethical violation, then an ethics committee may be formed," Zainal Arifin Muchtar, the director of Gadjah Mada University's Center for Corruption Studies, or Pukat UGM, told Detik.com on Tuesday.

He said the KPK's silence in the face of the various charges leveled against its leaders could hurt the institution.

The police, meanwhile, have shown no signs of calling Budi before an ethics tribunal over allegations that he laundered at least Rp 54 billion ($4.3 million) through his bank accounts, as flagged by the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center, or PPATK, the government's anti-money- laundering watchdog.

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/take-urgent-measures-jokowi-told-KPK-assailed/

Budi Waseso proposed as police chief candidate

Jakarta Post - February 4, 2015

Jakarta – Following President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's failure to inaugurate Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan as the new police chief, the National Police Commission (Kompolnas) has included the name of Insp. Gen. Budi Waseso on the list of police chief candidates proposed to the President for the National Police's top position.

Insp. Gen. Budi was recently appointed the new detective division head at the National Police headquarters to replace Comr. Gen. Suhardi Alius, who has moved to his new position as the secretary of the National Resilience Institute.

Edi Hasibuan, a member of the National Police Commission, said on Wednesday that Insp. Gen. Budi was verbally suggested by the commission to the President at the State Palace on Thursday.

"Besides four others, Budi Waseso meets all administrative and legal requirements to be named a new police chief hopeful," he said as quoted by tempo.co.

Budi will be promoted to the rank of commissioner general soon following his recent appointment to his current job. Edi said that according to the 2002 Police Law, police chief candidates must be senior police officials with a rank of inspector general or commissioner general.

"Besides, he is also a former chief of the Gorontalo provincial police," he said, adding that the four other candidates also met the requirements.

The four other candidates are Comr. Gen. Badrodin Haiti, Comr. Gen. Suhardi Alius, Comr. Gen. Dwi Piyatno and Comr. Gen. Putut Eko Bayuseno.

The President is expected to choose one of the five as police chief candidate and submit a proposal to the House of Representatives for approval. Asked whether the Budi Waseso's nomination would spark protest from the public, Edi said all five candidates had their own strengths and weaknesses.

"Let the President use his prerogative to pick one of the five," he said as quoted by tempo.co. (rms)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/02/04/budi-waseso-proposed-police-chief-candidate.html

Amid cop mess, Jokowi meets TNI generals

Jakarta Post - February 4, 2015

Ina Parlina, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo met with top officials from the Indonesian Military (TNI) over lunch on Tuesday amid uncertainty about the fate of Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan, the sole nominee for National Police chief who is suspected of graft. Jokowi may soon announce his decision on the matter.

TNI chief Gen. Moeldoko, Army chief Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo, newly inaugurated Air Force chief Vice Marshal Agus Supriatna and Navy chief Admiral Ade Supandi, as well as several other high-ranking military officials attended the lunch at Merdeka Palace.

Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu and National Intelligence Agency (BIN) chief Marciano Norman were also spotted during the gathering. Jokowi was accompanied by presidential chief of staff Luhut Binsar Panjaitan and Cabinet Secretary Andi Widjajanto.

Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Tedjo Edhy Purdijatno, who is also the head of the National Police Commission (Kompolnas), which cleared all allegations on Budi's fishy bank accounts, however, was not seen at the lunch.

Ryamizard said the ongoing rift between the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and the police was not discussed. They merely talked about the TNI, which remained solid and unaffected by the issue.

"[It was] just a lunch together to strengthen [communication and ties] between the President and his subordinates. [Because] the President is the supreme commander [of the military]," Ryamizard, who was also a former Army chief of staff, said after the lunch on Tuesday.

"Moreover, he was already pleased that we [the military] are united [and] remain solid. Thus, our solid [position] should not be damaged. So [the military] is not affected by the current political situation," he added.

According to Ryamizard, Jokowi's invitation to lunch was made following input from Luhut and others that such a gathering should be held twice a year to boost communication and relations between the President and the military.

Ryamizard, however, denied speculation that the meeting was held to discuss Jokowi's decisions on Budi, particularly if the President decided not to install the graft suspect as the next police chief.

"No. No such discussions were held. It was merely a lunch and the President was happy because the TNI is solid," he said, adding that Jokowi perceived the current situation as still conducive.

The Defense Minister also said there was no request from the President for security measures to guard against potential situations that might arise after Jokowi gives his final say on Budi.

The military, Ryamizard said, would remain loyal to the President as he is the military supreme commander.

When asked whether the military would remain loyal to Jokowi if any political turmoil occurred, Ryamizard said, it would, as the President is the military supreme commander.

Ryamizard added there was no reason why Tedjo was not spotted during the lunch with Jokowi. "He deals with political issues and other matters." The Defense Minister "deals directly with the policy-making of TNI".

Moeldoko said the President did not give any directives during the lunch, but merely discussed small matters. "The situation is safe and under control. Security is stable and well maintained, I told the President. The public should remain calm and not make noise," he added.

Earlier, before the lunch meeting, AM Hendropriyono, former advisor to Jokowi's transition team and former BIN chief, came to the Palace. Hendropriyono merely confirmed that he was summoned by Jokowi, but refused to say anything further about his visit.

Speculation that Jokowi might soon announce his decision on Budi, particularly a decision not to install him, was rife over the past couple of days.

State Secretary Pratikno said on Tuesday morning that "it would be beautiful if Budi stepped down [from his position]". "Such [a retreat] would end [the problem immediately]. If [he] does not step down, it means that [the President] should find a solution to the dilemma," he added.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/02/04/amid-cop-mess-jokowi-meets-tni-generals.html

Palace calls on graft suspect Gunawan to withdraw from police chief running

Jakarta Globe - February 3, 2015

Ezra Sihite & Novy Lumanauw, Jakarta – President Joko Widodo's sole nominee for police chief should withdraw from the process in a bid to quell the brouhaha spawned by his being named a corruption suspect, a close aide to the president said on Tuesday.

Pratikno, the state secretary, acknowledged that police general Budi Gunawan's status as a criminal suspect had put Joko in a difficult spot, and suggested that the best way out of the quagmire would be for Budi to drop out of the process to be named National Police chief.

"It's not easy to come up with a solution to end this," he said, but added that the problem could "end right away" if Budi withdrew. "If he doesn't withdraw, the dilemma between the political and legal affairs will continue," Pratikno said.

He indicated, however, that Joko would stick to his own policy of not rescinding Budi's nomination, instead putting the impetus on Budi himself to withdraw.

"That's our position. From the beginning, we have respected the law," Pratikno said. "In the end, the president should make a decision. Hopefully he'll do it soon."

Budi was named a suspect for bribery and money laundering by the Corruption Eradication Commission, or KPK, on Jan. 13, just three days after Joko nominated him to be the new National Police chief.

The police, which has a history of rash reprisals against the highly regarded antigraft commission whenever it charges a police general with graft, has since named all four KPK commissioners suspects in a range of cold cases – some dating back a decade – in what critics say is a blatant act of revenge.

Amid the furor, Joko delayed Budi's inauguration, but emphasized that he was not canceling it.

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/palace-calls-graft-suspect-budi-gunawan-withdraw-police-chief-running/

KPK chief admits PDI-P meetings as police row rumbles on

Jakarta Post - February 3, 2015

Ina Parlina, Haeril Halim and Margareth S. Aritonang, Jakarta – The conflict between the National Police and the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) continues to drag on amid a concerted police campaign to corner the four KPK commissioners by means of criminal charges and the latest admission by the KPK's chairman that he might have violated the commission's code of ethics.

There were few signs that President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo would make up his mind any time soon on a final decision on the future of Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan, whose installment as the National Police chief was postponed by the President after Budi was named a suspect by the antigraft body.

Jokowi insisted he would wait for the results of Budi's pretrial challenge against the KPK's naming him a suspect. The South Jakarta Court adjourned the first hearing for one week on Monday as the KPK sought more time to prepare its case.

In the meantime, the five leaders of the House of Representatives said on Monday that they would respect any decision made by the President on Budi.

The statement was made by House Speaker Setya Novanto from the Golkar Party after he, along with his four deputies – Fadli Zon of Gerindra, Fahri Hamzah of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), Taufik Kurniawan of the National Mandate Party (PAN) and Agus Hermanto of the Democratic Party – held a meeting with Jokowi at the Presidential Palace.

"We conveyed [to Jokowi during the meeting] that the House has fulfilled [its role in line with existing] mechanisms and procedures [...] This is the prerogative of the President and of course we will leave it to the President and will respect [his decision] whether [it is made] before or after the pre-trial [is completed]," Setya said.

Fadli added that should Jokowi decide against Budi's inauguration, it would not violate the existing law. "We have seen the regulation and it does not violate [the law]," he said.

Cabinet Secretary Andi Widjajanto, who accompanied Jokowi in the meeting, said the House "understands that although the political process has been completed, there is still an ongoing legal process".

In the meantime, despite increasing criticism from legal experts who insisted that a court has no legal mandate to examine a law enforcement agency's decision to name someone a suspect, the South Jakarta Court went ahead with processing Budi's request for a pretrial hearing. The trial was adjourned until next Monday.

The KPK's prevention unit chief Johan Budi said his office needed more time to prepare its defense because the police team changed its initial position and added a new accusation.

"Such a situation forced us to ask for more time to prepare our defense statements. We will be ready to face the next session to present our defense for sure," said Johan.

In the meantime, KPK chairman Abraham Samad acknowledged that he had met with members of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) before the presidential election last year, which he had earlier denied. However, he insisted the meeting was simply one of his many contacts with political party leaders.

"I also never offered any help [to the PDI-P to intervene in] a specific graft case that was being handled by the KPK [in exchange for being considered by the party as a vice-presidential candidate in last year's election]," Abraham said, countering senior PDI-P politician Hasto Kristiyanto's allegation that Abraham had helped to get a lenient sentence for PDI-P politician Emir Moeis in a bribery case.

"With regard to all criminal allegations against all KPK chairmen, we'll let the internal committee investigate them. All the criminal allegations against KPK chairmen are designed to weaken the KPK and it is hard not to find a connection to our decision to name BG a suspect," Abraham said, referring to Budi Gunawan by his initials.

[Indra Budiari also contributed to this report.]

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/02/03/KPK-chief-admits-pdi-p-meetings-police-row-rumbles.html

Budi refuses to answer KPK summons, again

Jakarta Post - February 3, 2015

Haeril Halim, Jakarta – Graft suspect and National Police chief candidate Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan has said through his lawyer that he will not answer the Corruption Eradication Commission's (KPK) second summons slated for Friday, claiming that "the KPK has no authority to issue a summons" for him.

One of Budi's lawyers, Frederick Yunardi, said on Monday that some KPK investigators handling his client's investigation were not legitimate as they were former investigators at the National Police who had given up their posts before joining the KPK.

Fredrick said the KPK had no authority to independently appoint ex-police investigators as its own investigators, as the National Police had the sole authority to determine whether someone had investigative authority or not.

Fredrick made the claim despite Law No. 20/2002 on the KPK clearly stating that the antigraft body has the authority to appoint and dismiss an investigator, whether they are a civil investigator or an investigator from the National Police or the Attorney General's Office.

Article 39 of the same law also stipulates that investigators and prosecutors on temporary duty with the KPK must temporarily be suspended from their posts at their respective offices until they finish their duties at the antigraft body.

In another show of defiance, the lawyer also cited Budi's power at the National Police, an institution that consists of hundreds of thousands of personnel, by challenging the antigraft body to bring Budi by force for questioning.

"Don't just talk [to the media] and say you will bring him by force. Just arrest him by force if you have the guts," Frederick said at South Jakarta District Court on Monday before the beginning of Budi's pretrial hearing, which was later put on hold.

After being nominated by President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo as the National Police chief candidate, Budi was guarded by dozens of police personnel in a move to provide high security for the three-star police general.

"The summons letters did not arrive at the right addresses. [KPK officers] only threw the letters at the compound [at four locations] because they were afraid of meeting members of the [National Police's] Internal Affairs Division. [They are] cowards," said Frederick.

He added that he would file a law suit at the court to challenge the authority of KPK investigators in working on graft cases, including those working on Budi's case.

The KPK has named Budi a suspect for alleged financial misdeeds in his capacity as head of the Career Development Bureau at the National Police from 2004 to 2006, where he amassed a total of Rp 95 billion (US$7.53 million) that he allegedly collected from bribes and gratuities, including bribes allegedly paid by officers in pursuit of higher positions in the force.

On Monday, the KPK also summoned a number of active police officers as witnesses to complete Budi's dossiers but none of them showed up for questioning. KPK spokesman Priharsa Nugraha confirmed the no-shows, saying that only one witness had informed the KPK of his absence.

The police officers in question are Adj. First. Insp. Revindo Taufik Gunawan Siahaan of the North Sumatra Police, Brig. Gen. Budi Hartono Untung of the National Police and Brig. Triyono of West Java's Bogor Police.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/02/03/budi-refuses-answer-KPK-summons-again.html

As PDI-P bears down, trusted trio bands around Jokowi

Jakarta Globe - February 2, 2015

Jakarta – If the current bitter struggle over the nomination of a new police chief indicates a growing rift between President Joko Widodo and his political patron, Megawati Soekarnoputri, as is increasingly apparent, then central to that tussle are a trio of senior officials closing ranks around Joko.

That, at least, is the latest talk swirling around the increasingly hostile attitude being taken toward Joko by Megawati's Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), following the president's decision last month to put the nomination of Budi Gunawan, Megawati's security aide during her presidency, on hold after he was charged with graft by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

Joko's surprise nomination of Budi, given the corruption allegations that have long surrounded the police general, has been attributed by many observers as a concession to Megawati, without whose blessing Joko would never have been nominated to stand in last year's presidential election.

The PDI-P has since pushed for Joko to inaugurate Budi after the House of Representatives formally approved of the nomination.

But deflecting some of the PDI-P's pressure directed at Joko is a group of senior cabinet officials, two of whom were long thought to be Megawati loyalists, insiders have revealed.

Among this group dubbed the "Trio Macan," or "Tiger Trio," after a now- shuttered Twitter account famous for all kinds of outrageous accusations about corruption and other alleged wrongdoings by high-level officials, is Andi Widjajanto, the cabinet secretary.

A source at the PDI-P tells the Jakarta Globe that Andi has been shielding Joko from senior PDI-P members' lobbying efforts to hasten Budi's inauguration. Senior PDI-P politician Effendi Simbolon went further, branding Andi a "traitor" last week and accusing him of "monopolizing" Joko.

Effendi suggested Andi, a former political science lecturer at the University of Indonesia, of becoming one of the most dominant voices in Joko's inner circle, calling him "a new kid who is trying to run this country."

The "traitor" label is an apparent allusion to the fact that Andi, whose late father, Theo Syafei, was a PDI-P stalwart, has long been thought of as close to Megawati. When his place in Joko's cabinet was announced, it was denounced by critics as one of the many political appointments that the new president seemed obliged to make.

Another official with even closer ties to Megawati but who insiders now say is helping put distance between Joko and the PDI-P is Rini Soemarno, the minister for state-owned enterprises, who previously served as minister of industry and trade under Megawati from 2001 to 2004.

The third purported member of the trio is Luhut Panjaitan, a former Golkar Party member who switched allegiances to Joko's camp for last year's election and now serves as the president's chief of staff.

These three are part of Joko's so-called kitchen cabinet, his closest ring of advisers, but critics say they are also responsible for leading Joko on a "neoliberal" path that is out of keeping with the PDI-P's long-espoused populist stance.

"The Trio Macan's political maneuvers revolve around 'economic liberalism,' with the United States at the center of the orbit," read an anonymously penned article in Kompasiana, the widely read citizen journalism platform of Kompas, the country's biggest newspaper.

"This group has cleverly managed to destroy the PDI-P's fundamental power based on nationalist-Sukarno-ist directives, and has artfully influenced the public perception with its portrait of the PDI-P as 'a party that must be smeared in the eyes of the public.'"

Whether there is any truth to this allegation is highly debatable, says Hamdi Muluk, a professor in political psychology at the University of Indonesia.

"We have to be aware of the existence of spin doctors, who make up stories or spin issues to influence and provoke people, or to delegitimize others," he says of the Kompasiana writer. "They are not some random people who have nothing better to do. They purposefully spread lies to muddy things up, to cause disorder."

He notes that a raft of similar allegations against other figures close to Joko emerged during campaigning for last year's election, and was part of the price for having an unfettered online media where anyone could make claims behind the cloak of anonymity.

But the notion that there is a rift, and a growing one, between Joko and the PDI-P is clear, says political observer Ray Rangkuti of the Indonesian Civil Circle (Lima). "The detachment is psychological, and in terms of communications," he says.

"Joko and Mega must talk directly, they must hold a private meeting. There's a growing impression now that the PDI-P doesn't support corruption eradication" – because of its support for Budi the graft suspect – "therefore Joko needs to have a heart-to-heart talk with Mega. I believe if both of them meet and talk in the a same language, they will find something in common."

Ray added that only through direct communications could Joko revoke Budi's nomination for police chief without drawing the ire of the PDI-P elite.

The standoff between the KPK and the police over Budi being named a suspect has had dire consequences for the antigraft commission, whose four commissioners, including chairman Abraham Samad, have now all been reported to the police in a range of cold cases widely perceived as a reprisal. In most of those cases, those reporting the alleged crimes are PDI-P officials or people affiliated with the party.

Joko has brought together a group of nine law enforcement experts to advise him independently on how to proceed with ending the standoff, which he repeatedly says is as much about saving the police force as it is about protecting the KPK.

Two of those advisers, law professors Hikmahanto Juwana from the University of Indonesia and Syafi'i Maarif of Yogyakarta State University, spoke at a forum in Yogyakarta on Sunday that declared the impasse a "national disaster" requiring an urgent response.

"This tragedy surrounding the conflict between the KPK and the National Police has actually become a national disaster," said Dwikorita Karnawati, the rector of Yogyakarta's Gadjah Mada University, which hosted the forum. "Therefore we academics won't stay silent and will keep voicing the nation's aspirations."

Mochtar Masoed, a professor of international relations at Gadjah Mada, read out a seven-point declaration drafted at the forum, including a call for the president to make "immediate and concrete moves" to end the criminalization of the antigraft officials – one of the advisory team's main recommendations issued to Joko last week.

The declaration also called for Joko's political backers to stop pressuring him into making concessions that served only their interests.

"We call on the entire nation to support the noble promises that the president has made by not interfering with the national leadership, and by giving the president the freedom to make independent decisions and actions in the interests of the nation and the Indonesian people," Mochtar said.

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/pdi-p-bears-trusted-trio-bands-around-jokowi/

PDI-P reveals new details to blacken KPK chief

Jakarta Post - February 2, 2015

Haeril Halim and Margareth Aritonang, Jakarta – As the standoff between the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and the graft-ridden National Police drags on, the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) has provided new details concerning the antigraft agency chairman Abraham Samad's alleged breach of ethics.

After previously denying an earlier report suggesting Abraham had attempted to negotiate a deal with the PDI-P to allow him to become President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's running mate in last year's presidential election, senior PDI-P politician and Home Minister Tjahjo Kumolo has admitted having had a meeting with Abraham.

Tjahjo said he was ready to give evidence to the National Police's Criminal Investigations Directorate (Bareskrim) should he be summoned to confirm a police report filed by an NGO that alleged Abraham abused his power and violated the KPK's code of ethics by holding secretive meetings with the party.

The police are currently working to collect evidence to charge Abraham after PDI-P acting secretary-general Hasto Kristiyanto urged the KPK last week to set up an ethics committee to probe the claims that Abraham had held several meetings with PDI-P politicians to talk about the possibility of him being paired with Jokowi.

"The meeting, in which Hasto was also present, was facilitated by Pak Abraham's friend named David, who is a physician. There were a total of five people at that meeting including Supriyansah along with Abraham and David," Tjahjo said on Sunday, adding that the meeting, took place at the Capital Residence apartments in Central Jakarta.

Tjahjo insisted that his statement was not meant as an attack on the KPK but only as a response to an earlier revelation made by Supriyansah, the owner of the apartment, after he was questioned by Bareskrim on Friday and pointed to Tjahjo's role.

"The meeting did not discuss anything. It was just an informal meeting, Neither Pak Abraham nor I wore masks [as claimed by Supriyansah]," Tjahjo explained.

Another PDI-P politician, Arteria Dahlan, also launched a salvo on Sunday by showing a photograph of Abraham with a retired Indonesian Military (TNI) officer, identified only as RNH, in a secretive meeting held at the house of former National Intelligence Agency (BIN) chief AM Hendropriyono, one of Jokowi's campaign advisors, in Jakarta to discuss his vice-presidential bid.

Arteria said that the meeting was held a week before the party decided to select Jusuf Kalla as Jokowi's running mate, adding that he had several photographs of Abraham holding secretive meetings.

The items will be submitted to the police as evidence to support the report against Abraham, according to Arteria. Abraham, who has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, would be required to resign if the police declared him a suspect in a criminal case.

Attacks on the KPK escalated after the agency declared President Jokowi's National Police chief nominee Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan a suspect shortly before his confirmation by the House of Representatives.

Since then, several police reports have been filed against all four KPK commissioners in regard to alleged past misconduct committed prior to assuming their jobs with the KPK.

As Budi's nomination is widely supported by Jokowi's political alliance and patrons, the President has nixed demands from civil society groups to side with the KPK in its row with the police, although Jokowi has postponed Budi's inauguration.

PDI-P deputy secretary-general Ahmad Basarah said the PDI-P could not guarantee House approval of a new nominee for the police chief should Jokowi propose one later.

"We don't want political factions at the House to humiliate the President by rejecting a proposed new candidate," Basarah said. "The best the President can do now is to inaugurate Budi Gunawan".

Meanwhile, KPK spokesman Priharsa Nugraha said the KPK would issue a second summons for Budi this week after he skipped a questioning session on Friday.

The KPK, he said, would not be distracted by a pretrial hearing at the South Jakarta District Court on Monday aimed at challenging the KPK's decision to name Budi a graft suspect. The hearing will be presided over by Sarpin Rizaldi, a judge who has been reported seven times to the Judicial Commission for alleged misconduct.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/02/02/pdi-p-reveals-new-details-blacken-KPK-chief.html

National police attorney warns of 'chaos' if police go on strike

Detik News - February 2, 2015

Ayunda W Savitri, Jakarta – The legal attorney representing national police (Polri) headquarters and Commissioner General Budi Gunawan, Frederick Yunadi has asked that the national police not always be blamed in the conflict with the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). According to Yunadi, in day-to-day terms for example, the police's role is far more significant.

"If 435 thousand police officers go on strike, what would happen? It could be chaos. If the KPK went on strike, for just one year, the police and the attorney general could handle corruption, it would still be secure", said Yunandi Monday, who also previously represented retired Commissioner General Susno Duadji.

According to Yunadi, the national police are regulated under the 1945 Constitution, while the KPK is only regulated by a law. So the KPK and the police are at different levels.

"How can the KPK direct to the president on who should become an government official. This issue has to be understood, don't blame Polri", he asserted.

Yunadi does not deny that there are rogue police among the 425 thousand officers. Recalcitrant officers have also been reprimanded. "I too often debate and argue with those kind of police officers", he explained.

Yunadi also does not deny that the Gunawan affair has now involved [the police] as an institution. "What's important is that it's not politicised", said Yunani accusingly referring to the Gunawan case.

[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service. The original title of the report was "Pengacara Polri: Bila 425 Ribu Polisi Mogok Bisa Chaos, Kalau KPK Mogok Masih Aman!".]

Source: http://news.detik.com/read/2015/02/02/143547/2821013/10/pengacara-polri-bila-425-ribu-polisi-mogok-bisa-chaos-kalau-KPK-mogok-masih-aman

Nationalist groups rally behind 'fat bank account' cop at pre-trial hearing

Berita Satu - February 2, 2015

Bayu Marhaenjati/FEB, Jakarta – The pre-trial hearing of national police chief candidate Commissioner General Budi Gunawan (BG) related to his declaration as a suspect by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) was marred by a protest action at the South Jakarta District Court (PN) on Monday February 2.

Scores of protesters from the non-government organisations the Defenders of the Unity of the Fatherland (Pekat), the Indonesian Underground Social Movement (GMBI) and the United Betawi Forum (FBB) held a protest action with the theme "Save Polri" (Save the National Police) in front of the PN building on Jl. Ampera in South Jakarta.

A huge red banner with the message, "The judge must have the courage to rule that the declaration of BG as a suspect is illegal", was attached to the fence in front of the court.

Other banners reading, "The judge must be impartial", "Safeguard the NKRI [Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia] from Foreign Funded Intervention" and "Reconcile my Indonesia, Unite my Nation", were also unfurled by the protesters.

"We stand here to safeguard the pre-trial hearing. The judge must be impartial and respect constitutional law", said one of the speakers from atop the command vehicle in front of the court.

In a press release handed out by the demonstrators the groups declared the following: The judge must be impartial in ruling on the pre-trial motion and side with the interests of the nation and the state as well as the people, respect the constitutional state, respect the law, respect the ethics of law enforcement and save Polri from attempts to destroy it.

Meanwhile around six beautiful women wearing head bands reading "Save Polri" could also be seen handing out leaflets to passing drivers.

Hundreds of police officers could be seen closely guarding the area around the court and two Barracuda armored vehicles were parked on the court grounds.

Traffic on Jl. Ampera in the direction of Jl. Cilandak had to be redirected as a result of the protest action while the lane from Jl. Cilandak in the direction of Jl. Ampera was left open. Several police officers were also busy directing traffic.

[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service. The original title of the report was "Sidang Praperadilan BG Diwarnai Unjuk Rasa".]

Source: http://www.beritasatu.com/hukum-kriminalitas/245622-sidang-praperadilan-bg-diwarnai-unjuk-rasa.html

PDI-P: Budi is clean, and not Megawati's stooge

Jakarta Globe - February 1, 2015

Jakarta – The party behind President Joko Widodo has continued to defend a graft suspect whose appointment as police chief was suspended by the president last month.

Budi Gunawan, a former security aide to Megawati Soekarnoputri, Joko's political patron and the chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), was not foisted onto Joko by Megawati, PDI-P official Ateria Dahlan said on Sunday, as quoted by Detik.com.

Budi's nomination as National Police chief was entirely Joko's choice, Ateria said, in response to mounting speculation that the president was under pressure from Megawati to advance her one-time favorite.

He claimed the widely circulated notion that Budi was Megawati's choice and not Joko's constituted a form of "criminalization" of the police general.

Ateria also defended Budi against graft charges leveled by the Corruption Eradication Commission, or KPK, that prompted Joko to call off his appointment to head the police force.

"Budi isn't clean? From what perspective? Even the analysis by the PPATK" – the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center, the government's anti-money-laundering watchdog – "found him normal," Ateria said. "And he is only a suspect, he has not been convicted."

That could soon change, given the KPK's record of securing a conviction, whether at an anticorruption court or upon appeal, of every individual it has ever named a suspect.

Ateria also denied that the PDI-P was working with the police to weaken the KPK, an allegation that has gained traction after party members and those linked to the PDI-P filed criminal complaints with the police against KPK commissioners, including chairman Abraham Samad and deputy chairman Bambang Widjojanto.

"We love the KPK. It's inconceivable that we want to destroy it, because the KPK was formed during Megawati's presidency," Ateria said.

Megawati's party also has the distinction of being the party with the most members charged, tried and convicted by the antigraft commission.

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/pdi-p-budi-clean-megawatis-stooge/

Surveys & opinion polls

Mixed bag of reviews again for Jokowi's Cabinet

Jakarta Post - February 7, 2015

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – The public and media have once again given mixed reviews to the Cabinet of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, with some ministers praised for progressive initiatives and others slammed for controversial statements and policies, a recent survey has revealed.

The survey, released on Thursday by the Political Climatology Institute (LKP), showed that Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti and Culture and Elementary and Secondary Education Minister Anies Baswedan received positive reviews.

"Susi, who gets the most media coverage, also received a good approval rating. It's the same for Anies, who is in the top five [ministers in terms of performance]," LKP founder Usman Rachman said.

The survey, with a 3.5 percent margin of error, ran from Nov. 1, 2014 to Jan. 31 this year. The LKP conducted the survey via monitoring the 10 leading national dailies and the 10 most popular online media outlets, as well as the quick polling of 600 respondents with random sampling in 10 major cities.

In terms of media exposure, Susi was the most reported minister, with a staggering 2,522 news items covering her statements and activities, followed in distant second by Transportation Minister Ignasius Jonan with 1,675, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Sudirman Said with 1,476 and Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform Minister Yuddy Chrisnandi with 1,270.

Susi was also the new media darling, with 49.34 percent of the news casting a positive light on her, followed by Yuddy with 48.41 percent and Villages, Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration Minister Marwan Jafar with 43.52 percent.

Trade Minister Rachmat Gobel and Anies came in fourth and fifth with 43.28 percent and 39.77 percent, respectively.

However, according to the survey, the media had been unkind to Coordinating Human Development and Culture Minister Puan Maharani, who received 26.96 percent in terms of positive media coverage.

Many respondents said her privileged position as the daughter of Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) chairperson Megawati Soekarnoputri had lead to Puan being given a seat in the Cabinet.

The bottom four in the survey were Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Tedjo Edhy Purdijatno; Technology, Research and Higher Education Minister Muhammad Nasir; Industry Minister Saleh Husin and Sudirman Said.

"But this doesn't mean that these ministers have the most negative media exposure. It means that their ministries are lacking in programs that have positive value that can be communicated through the media," Usman said.

In negative media exposure, Tedjo was on top with 19.27 percent, followed by State-Owned Enterprises Minister Rini M. Soemarno with 16.2 percent, Jonan with 12.28 percent, Home Minister Tjahjo Kumolo with 10.8 percent and Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna H. Laoly with 10.65 percent.

As for the individual performance of ministers, Susi once again received the highest approval rating from respondents, with 62.6 percent saying she had done a good job.

Second was Social Affairs Minister Khofifah Indar Parawansa with 51.4 percent, then Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin with 50.3 percent, Anies with 50.1 percent and Health Minister Nila F. Moeloek with 49.2 percent.

At the other end were Marwan with 39.7 percent, Manpower Minister Muhammad Hanif Dhakiri with 39.9 percent, Tedjo with 40.5 percent, Agrarian and Spatial Planning Minister Ferry Mursyidan Baldan with 40.9 percent and Public Works and Public Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono with 41.1 percent.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/02/07/mixed-bag-reviews-again-jokowi-s-cabinet.html

Media & journalism

Many media pay journalists below UMP

Jakarta Post - February 5, 2015

Fadli, Batam – The Newspaper Publishers Union (SPS) has admitted that 20 percent of its 500 members, as well as a huge number of media companies not affiliated with the union, pay their journalists below the provincial minimum wage (UMP).

"The SPS will tighten its membership, as this concerns journalist remuneration. Many media companies fail to pay their journalists in accordance with the UMP.

"We recorded that around 20 percent of the 500 SPS members still pay their journalists below the UMP, while there are currently thousands of media companies not affiliated with the SPS," said SPS acting head Ridlo Eisy on the sidelines of a press conference for the First ASEAN Summit for State- Owned Enterprises and Media and SPS Congress in Batam, Riau Islands, on Wednesday.

According to Ridlo, during the congress the SPS will make a regulation requesting that media companies work well in order to be able to pay their journalists well.

"It isn't fair for journalists to work well but be paid low while they are enticed with money outside," he said Ridlo.

The SPS would be unable to ensure that the regulation was effective or that media companies complied with it, but expected that they would abide by the rules, he added.

"Currently, the SPS' authority is not like during the New Order administration, when those who wished to publish a newspaper had to get a recommendation from the SPS and the newsprint quota was also set. Now, they are virtually free without limits, but the current condition is better compared to then," said Ridlo.

He added the SPS congress in Batam would elect a leader for the next period to replace Dahlan Iskan, chairman of the Jawa Pos media group and former state-owned enterprises minister. "But it looks like Dahlan Iskan will be reelected," said Ridlo.

The SPS congress in Batam will be held in conjunction with National Press Day. President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo is slated to inaugurate commemorations for the day on Feb. 9.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/02/05/many-media-pay-journalists-below-ump.html

Environment & natural disasters

APP fails to halt forest clearing: WWF

Jakarta Post - February 5, 2015

Jakarta – Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) is failing to stop deforestation and illegal activities in its concession areas by other parties, even in locations already identified by the company as having high conservation value and carbon stocks, a Rainforest Alliance audit report has said.

"APP has halted its own forest clearing and embarked on a wide array of assessments in its concessions; but, not much has changed on the ground," World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Indonesia forest commodity leader, Aditya Bayunanda, said on Thursday.

In a new forest conservation policy announced two years ago, APP pledged to halt forest clearing; however, its forests are still disappearing.

The Rainforest Alliance audit released on Thursday confirmed the findings by the WWF and local NGOs that forest clearing in APP's concessions continued despite its conservation policy.

"Forests continue to disappear, peat soils continue to be drained and social conflicts remain unresolved. The company has even failed to protect forests they are legally require to conserve," Bayunanda said.

The alliance audit further confirmed that other than stopping new canal development, APP had taken no action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the draining of over a million hectares of peatland under company control. The WWF said it was also very concerned about the lack of progress made by the company to resolve hundreds of cases of social conflict.

In 2014, APP announced it would restore and conserve 1 million hectares of tropical ecosystems beyond legal requirements. The WWF praised the announcement, saying that it was the right measure to address the company's legacy of deforestation of an estimated 2 million hectares of tropical forest.

Very little progress, such as on where forests will be restored or conserved and with what financing, has resulted from the announcement, however.

APP is reported to have invited the Rainforest Alliance to audit the progress of its new forest conservation policy.

The WWF has urged APP to act quickly and decisively to address the audit findings. The NGO says it will also carefully study the audit findings and advise APP customers accordingly.

"Today, APP promised change and WWF will monitor its next steps to see how serious it is about saving forests," said WWF Indonesia forest program director Rod Taylor. (ebf)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/02/05/app-fails-halt-forest-clearing-wwf.html

Concerns loom over Jokowi's climate change resolve

Jakarta Post - February 2, 2015

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – Now that the National Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation Agency (REDD+) has been abolished by President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, calls are mounting for him to ensure the country achieves its target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 26 to 41 percent by 2019.

The REDD+ program in Indonesia was deemed critical to meeting that reduction target, as the burning of forests and peatlands accounts for more than 60 percent of the country's overall greenhouse gas emissions.

Jokowi could extend the moratorium set by former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's on the issuance of permits for primary forests and peatlands in areas designated as "Conservation Forest", "Protection Forest", "Production Forest" and "Other Uses of Land".

However, Greenpeace Indonesia has said that on its own, an extension of the moratorium would be an inadequate response.

"Jokowi's commitment is clear [in extending the moratorium], but if we're looking at Yudhoyono's tenure, a mere extension is not enough if not backed up with a strengthening of the substance [of the moratorium]. This is what we haven't seen [from Jokowi]," Greenpeace Indonesia forest political campaigner Teguh Surya told The Jakarta Post.

He said that the current moratorium still lacked a strong legal foundation. "The legal basis [for the moratorium] should also be strengthened because the moratorium was only stipulated in a presidential instruction [Inpres], not as policy. It should have been made a policy, or at least a decree," Teguh said.

In addition to its weak legal standing, the current moratorium was also weakened by a lack of government monitoring, he added. "For example, the spatial planning of Aceh does not refer to the moratorium map at all, which is clearly in violation of the presidential instruction," said Teguh.

In 2013, the forestry ministry approved the Aceh administration's request to convert protected forest to non-forest zone through spatial planning bylaws.

With the environment ministry and the forestry ministry – back before they were merged into a single ministry by Jokowi – failing to monitor the implementation of the moratorium, now-defunct Presidential Working Unit for Supervision and Management of Development (UKP4) and the BP REDD+ decided to step in and conduct its own monitoring.

"If we look at the history of the moratorium, then the forest management that should have been done by the ministries was not done, which was why it was taken over by the UKP4 and the BP REDD+. So actually we were already on the right track [before the abolishment]," former UKP4 law enforcement deputy Achmad Santosa said recently.

With both institutions dissolved in Jokowi's new government, the Environment and Forestry Ministry should make sure that the moratorium was monitored rigorously, Teguh said.

Achmad said the scope of the moratorium should also be widened to include all forest areas in the country.

"In the future, the government should also impose a moratorium on permits to convert land from protected forest to production forest," he said.

Teguh added that the moratorium should also be imposed without a time-based deadline.

"It should not have a time limit. We are proposing a goal-based deadline, meaning that the sooner the goals [of the moratorium] are met, then the sooner the moratorium ends," said Teguh.

On top of the moratorium, Teguh said Jokowi should reorient the government's development programs toward sustainability.

For example, Teguh said that the third phase of Indonesia's National Mid- Term Development Plan (RPJMN), commenced in 2015 and lasting until 2019, did not specify how Jokowi would address forest fires, which he vowed to tackle after studying the dried peatland and man-made canals that locals were building to prevent further drainage of peatlands in the Riau Islands in November of 2014.

"The translation of the commitment [into policy] is not found in detail in the RPJMN. The development plan is still catered quite heavily toward business," he said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/02/02/concerns-loom-over-jokowi-s-climate-change-resolve.html

Health & education

Halal certification a bitter pill for Pharma

Jakarta Globe - February 6, 2015

Kennial Caroline Laia, Rahajeng K.H. & Harso Kurniawan, Jakarta – Four months have passed since a law requiring all food and pharmaceutical products distributed in Indonesia to have halal certification was passed, but resistance to the new legislation remains strong.

The passage of the law went largely unnoticed in the dying days of the Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono presidency, as the nation was fixated on the cabinet line-up of the incoming president, Joko Widodo.

That allowed the House of Representatives to easily push through the legislation that had been held up for eight years because of a raft of contentious provisions – most of which made it into the final version of the law.

While full compliance will only become mandatory by October 2019, the affected parties have expressed their doubt as to how effectively that can be done.

"We support the spirit of the law, in that it intends to protect consumers, but it's going to be difficult to implement," says Parulian Simanjuntak, the executive director of the International Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group, whose members include drug-making giants Bayer, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck and Pfizer.

Of particular concern to pharmaceutical firms, food producers and others is the sweeping definition of items subject to the new halal requirements. The law states that "It is mandatory for products that enter, are distributed and are traded in Indonesia to be halal certified."

It goes on to define those products as "goods and/or services comprising of food, beverages, medicines, cosmetics, chemical products, biological products, genetically engineered products, as well as items that are worn, used or made use by the public."

Parulian says that although the law allows a five-year transitional period before enforcing compliance, the process of certifying whether a product is halal will be "very complex," given the wide-reaching supply and production chains behind the product.

"It will be difficult to implement the law in the pharmaceutical industry because substances used come from various countries," he says. "That will make it difficult for the government to audit the producers on the halal status of their products. They'd have to visit those countries one by one."

Parulian says the government must amend the law to exclude pharmaceutical products from the new legislation.

"Should the government insist on enforcing it, pharmaceutical companies won't produce medicines here anymore because they will face sanctions as stipulated in the law," he warns. "Subsequently, the availability of medicines for the public will be affected."

'Positive step'

While the pharmaceutical industry has lobbied against the legislation since it was first conceived in 2006, the clerical council that has for decades been in charge of the non-mandatory halal certification for medicines, food and other items has cheered the passage of the law.

"This is a positive step taken by the government in its effort to protect the majority of the people with regard to the products they consume or use," says Amirsyah Tambunan, the deputy secretary of the Indonesian Council of Ulema, or MUI, the highest Islamic authority in Indonesia.

"We support this legislation. People want to be assured that the products they purchase are truly halal. We don't want questionable products to flow among the people without a legal safety net. This new system will give birth to [more] halal products, as mandated by the law."

The MUI, which has long sought to make halal certification mandatory, stands to benefit from the new law, which it helped draft.

For one thing, the law puts the council temporarily in charge of overseeing the certification process, for which producers, importers and distributors of affected products will be charged a fee.

That role will eventually be taken over by a Halal Product Certification Agency, or BPJH, which the government must establish within three years of the passage of the law, or by October 2017.

The cost of certification is expected to vary widely, with the government setting a Rp 5 million ($400) subsidy benchmark for products made by domestic small and medium enterprises. Larger producers such as multinational drug companies will not be subsidized for their considerably higher costs.

There will also be administrative sanctions and fines, still unspecified, for companies that fail to comply once the law goes into full force in October 2019.

The government has yet to issue supporting regulations stating who will be in charge of collecting the fines – whether it will be the responsibility of the BPJH or the various ministries and government agencies also involved in the matter, such as the Trade Ministry, the Industry Ministry, the Health Ministry, the Religious Affairs Ministry, the Agriculture Ministry, and the Food and Drug Monitoring Agency, or BPOM.

Bracing for AEC

Government officials are adamant that the law will stand as it is, despite the protests from the pharmaceutical industry and others.

Legitimate businesses should have no cause for concern because the law is based on actual needs and is intended for consumer protection, says Widodo, the director general for standardization and consumer protection at the Trade Ministry.

"The law will be implemented gradually," he says. "There will also be assistance for small and medium enterprises. We will help them so they can learn how to produce products that are compliant with Islamic law."

The Industry Ministry similarly sees no grounds for amending the legislation, says Euis Saedah, the ministry's director general for small and medium enterprises.

She says that among other benefits, the law will help prevent the anticipated influx of non-halal products once Indonesia's market is fully opened up to the rest of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations at the end of this year under the Asean Economic Community, or AEC.

The AEC is also expected to see Indonesian halal products compete with those produced in Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore, whose halal food industries and certification processes are far more developed than in Indonesia, which has the world's biggest Muslim population.

The MUI's Amirsyah says businesses should not perceive the law as an additional burden, arguing instead that it will provide a good opportunity to distinguish Indonesian-made halal products from those of other countries.

"This is also to promote Indonesian products through halal certification," he says, but declines to explain how. "The most important thing is to ensure that the people of this country are well protected."

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/halal-certification-bitter-pill-pharma/

East Java lawmakers want to ban girls from graduating school if not virgins

Jakarta Globe - February 6, 2015

Jakarta – Across a vast archipelagic country with diverse sets of values and a strongly decentralised political framework – local politicians in Indonesia can be relied on to come out with the occasional bizarre idea.

But a breathtakingly misogynistic bill currently being considered by lawmakers in East Java has raised the bar.

The city council of Jember wants to give a virginity test to all schoolgirls. The city will prohibit them from graduating high school if they "fail" the test.

Jember is the third-largest urban area in East Java with a population of around 300,000.

"What surprises us the most is they have had sex several times and with different partners," Habib Isa Mahdi, a lawmaker from the People's Conscience Party (Hanura), told Detik.com on Friday.

"Moreover, the Ministry of Social Affairs said that Indonesia is in an emergency situation against pornography – that's what drives us to make such regulation."

The idea was first debated during a meeting between the city council's Commission D and the Jember Education Agency on Wednesday. The council is drafting a regulation on "good conduct," which includes an article installing a virginity test as a requirement for female students' graduation.

The city council argued the regulation was necessary because many secondary and high school students were engaging in pre-marital sexual activities. Isa claimed that based on the data gathered from local hospitals, around 10 percent of Jember's approximately 1,200 HIV/AIDS patients were students.

"There's a need to protect our children," he said. "Jember has to be brave to act to save them."

The Jember Chapter of Nadhlatul Ulama (NU), the second-largest Muslim organization in Indonesia, opposed the proposal.

"Virginity is very sensitive. If a female student cannot meet the requirement, she'll be the subject of gossip in the society," Jember's policy chief for NU, MN Harisuddin, told the organization's official website on Thursday.

"Say the bill is passed, the test would be simple to conduct, but why is it only done for the female students? How about the boys?"

Mufti Ali, a lawmaker from National Awakening Party (PKB), told East Java news portal BeritaJatim.com this week that he wanted to expand the proposal beyond Jember to become a provincial law.

"If they're not virgins anymore, don't let them pass," he said. "It may sound like a joke, but it's serious. It's for the sake of the future. I agree that virginity should become a [requirement] for graduation. I will tell my friends to make it a regional regulation. We can't only rely on their conscience to behave well. There should also be pressure. If they're pushed [to behave well], that bad behavior can improve."

On the question of the regulation's obvious sexism, Mufti offers a pragmatic defense.

"We can't test the boys," he told the East Java news portal. "But at least with the regulation, girls will be afraid [to have pre-marital sex]. The boys will be prevented from the act because girls will become unwilling. This will scare them, that if they [have sex], they will not graduate."

And proving that he has an answer to everything to defend the proposal, Mufti says that victims of rape undergoing the test have nothing to worry about. "The medical team will be able to tell [if they have been the victim of a sexual assault]," he said.

Indonesia has drawn international condemnation for its often-vicarious relationship with evidence-based policy to battle social and health problems, from HIV transmission to drug trafficking. The trade minister said this week that he would push through a ban on imported clothes partly because used clothing could transmit the HIV virus. He later apologized.

Demands for virginity are not limited to the male politicians of Jember, Indonesia's police often use the degrading virginity test as a pre- condition for employing its female officers.

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/e-java-lawmakers-want-ban-girls-graduating-school-virgins/

Graft & corruption

Papua rogue cop says he is innocent

Jakarta Post - February 7, 2015

Jakarta – Labora Sitorus, the low-ranking police officer in West Papua who was sentenced to 15 years in prison but who is currently at liberty, is maintaining his innocence and claims he is a pawn in a bigger game.

In an interview that he gave to media outlets, including to a number of national news channels, Labora said the reason he left prison was that he did not want to take the fall for high-ranking police officers in Jakarta and in Papua, who should have taken responsibility for the graft case in which he was implicated.

"To this day, I don't accept the ruling made by the Supreme Court, because I was the sacrificial lamb in the game played by high-ranking officers in the National Police headquarters and the Papua Police," Labora said.

Labora also insisted that he did not run away from prison as he had been officially released by the Sorong Penitentiary because his detention period had expired. "It was the penitentiary that made the decision. My detention period expired and the prosecutor's office has not issued a letter to extend my detention," he said.

Labora was found guilty of illegal logging, fuel smuggling and money laundering. Suspicions of corruption were first noted by the police's internal affairs following the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre's (PPATK) findings in May 2013 that Labora, despite his relatively junior position, had amassed around Rp 1 trillion (US$79 million) in his bank account.

During an appeal hearing in September 2014, the Supreme Court sentenced him to 15 years' imprisonment and ordered him to pay a Rp 5 billion fine. Prosecutors had appealed to the Supreme Court after the Sorong District Court had sentenced Labora to only two years' imprisonment and ordered him to pay Rp 500 million in fines.

Based on a letter dated Aug. 24, 2014 from Sorong Penitentiary warden Isak Wanggai, Labora was released from detention. Wanggai said in the letter that there was no longer any legal basis for the penitentiary to detain him.

Attorney General HM Prasetyo had instructed prosecutors in West Papua to send Labora back to prison so that justice could be served, said a local prosecutor.

West Papua Prosecutor's Office head Herman Da Silva said the attorney general was adamant about the Labora case. "The attorney general has instructed us to immediately return Labora to prison to serve his 15-year jail sentence," he said.

Herman said local prosecutors continued to urge Labora to accept the Supreme Court's verdict.

Labora walked free after he was granted permission to seek medical treatment in March 2014. He has warned of a bloody clash if prosecutors seek police or military assistance to force him to serve his sentence, as around 1,000 youths are maintaining security at his plywood factory, PT Rotua, which is located in Sorong, where he has been living.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/02/07/papua-rogue-cop-says-he-innocent.html

Suryadharma gets cold feet, skips KPK summons

Jakarta Post - February 5, 2015

Haeril Halim, Jakarta – Apparently aware that he could be detained, graft suspect and former religious affairs minister Suryadharma Ali declined to comply with the Corruption Eradication Commission's (KPK) summons on Wednesday, arguing that the letter from the KPK had a minor typographical error.

Suryadharma did not comply with the summons only two days after the KPK detained senior Democratic Party politician Sutan Bhatoegana for bribery.

Suryadharma has been accused of rigging the 2012-2013 haj program, worth trillions of rupiah, while he was still religious affairs minister. KPK investigators were close to completing his dossiers meaning that if he had complied with the summons he may have immediately gone to the KPK's detention center.

Suryadharma's lawyer, however, denied speculation that his client did not comply with the KPK summons because he was afraid of being detained.

"It is untrue that my client is afraid of being detained. He is more than ready to face today's questioning, but confusion with the summons letter prevented him from coming. It says he will be questioned as a 'witness' in the case but in fact his status is as a 'suspect'," Andreas Nahot Silitonga told reporters at KPK head-quarters, adding that he had informed the KPK about his client's absence.

The KPK acknowledged that there was a typographical error concerning Suryadharma's status, but it rejected the lawyer's claim that he had informed KPK investigators about Suryadharma's absence.

KPK spokesman Priharsa Nugraha lashed out at Suryadharma for using the typographical error as an excuse to defy questioning.

"We expected him to come today. Concerning the typo, we have made the correction and will soon send him another letter. [The lawyer] never formally informed us about the absence of his client, we learned about his reason for not coming from the media," Priharsa said.

The KPK has accused Suryadharma of committing multiple offences, including rigging the procurement of pilgrims' transportation, housing and catering services in Saudi Arabia, as well as flying dozens of relatives and confidants to Saudi Arabia using haj quotas intended for pilgrims.

He was also accused of misusing haj funds, all of which accounts for more than Rp 1 trillion (US$79 million) in state losses according to the KPK's preliminary estimation.

Many have speculated that Suryadharma took advantage of the current standoff between the KPK and the National Police, which had taken much of the antigraft body's time and energy.

The KPK is now facing a total paralysis, since its four commissioners were charged with criminal offences after it named Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan a bribery suspect on Jan. 13 at the eleventh hour of his expected inauguration as the National Police chief.

The KPK has failed to summons dozens of police generals and mid-ranking police officers, including Budi himself, to testify in the investigation into the police chief nominee.

Gadjah Mada University (UGM) Corruption Studies Center (Pukat) director Zainal Arifin Mochtar said Suryadharma took his cue from Budi and those police generals who declined to meet KPK summonses.

"Those police officers set a bad precedent. Other suspects and witnesses in other graft cases could take it as an example. It is an example of disobeying the legal process," Zainal said on Wednesday.

Indonesian Legal Roundtable (ILR) researcher Erwin Natosmal said Suryadharma had made use of the weakened position of the KPK that resulted from multiple attacks that it withstood in the current crisis.

"His decision to skip the questioning session was an attempt to show that he is allied with [the police] in promoting the criminalization of the KPK, which could result in the total paralysis of the KPK leadership system," Erwin said on Wednesday.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/02/05/suryadharma-gets-cold-feet-skips-KPK-summons.html

Police officer refuses to serve 15 years in jail

Jakarta Post - February 4, 2015

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – Labora Sitorus was a lowly chief brigadier police officer stationed in a remote area in Sorong, West Papua. But he became a headache for Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna H. Laoly, Attorney General HM Prasetyo, Papua Prosecutor's Office chief Herman da Silva and West Papua Police Chief Brig. Gen. Paulus Waterpauw.

Labora has been included on a list of most-wanted fugitives in the province, although he has not gone anywhere. The owner of dubious bank account containing Rp 1.5 trillion (US$120 million) openly refused to serve his 15-year sentence and pay his Rp 5 billion fine, which were recently requested by the Supreme Court, saying that he was just an innocent victim.

Minister Yasonna said on Monday that Labora remained free because he was protected by a strong network of powerful people. The ministers intended to put Labora in a prison located outside Papua to minimize the risk of escape.

"It is impossible [for him to remain free] if he does not have some support. It means there is a strong network protecting him," Yasonna said concerning Labora.

The Financial Transactions Reports and Analysis Centre (PPATK) uncovered his large accounts in 2003. Police later announced that Labora and his family owned several companies that allegedly sold illegal timber and subsidized fuel.

In the meantime, the Papua Prosecutor's Office has formed a special team to bring Labora to prison. "To arrest Labora, we have formed a team of eight officers who will back up the Sorong Prosecutor's Office and catch him and put him in prison," Herman said at his office in Jayapura on Tuesday.

Besides forming the team, Herman added that his office would also work together with other related agencies to ensure Labora would abide by the law.

"We will also hold meetings with various parties, including the Indonesian Navy naval base X commander, West Papua Police chief and Cenderawasih Military Command chief, so the mission will be secure," said Herman.

The senior prosecutor quickly added that the involvement of the military and police in the Labora search operation did not mean that there were elements within the two institutions acting as Labora's protectors.

"We learned that Labora has many supporters among local residents, such as his employees. So we will try to avoid chaos during the extraction," Herman explained.

Legal observer and practitioner in Papua Latifa Anum Siregar said Labora could not avoid incarceration for any reason because the Supreme Court verdict was final. "He must obey the ruling. Labora has no excuses," said Latifa.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/02/04/police-officer-refuses-serve15-years-jail.html

Action demanded to jail convicted cop

Jakarta Post - February 3, 2015

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – The West Papua Police chief and the head of the High Prosecutor's Office have been urged to be firm and bold in recapturing and executing the sentence handed down against money-laundering convict Labora Sitorus, who walked out of the Sorong penitentiary last March.

"The heads of the West Papua Police and High Prosecutor's Office must be bold enough to seek Labora and execute the sentence handed down against him by the Supreme Court. Furthermore, the Sorong Prosecutor's Office has placed Labora on the wanted list. There must be clear action, not just appeals or statements," said legal and human rights lawyer and activist Yan Christian Warinussy in West Papua.

There was an impression that law enforcers were reluctant to apprehend Labora and had given him leeway to commit crimes, said Warinussy, strengthening public allegations of a collusion between law enforcers and Labora.

"This is important for the sake of law enforcement and to ensure that the police and prosecution institutions are not involved in Labora's business so far. I also hope the police and prosecutor's office could show progress in enforcing the law. Labora's business could poison leaders in both institutions," said Warinussy.

The Labora case first emerged in May 2013 following a leak from the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (PPATK) stating that a low-ranking police officer was linked to bank transactions totaling Rp 1 trillion (US$78.8 million). Later on, the Papua Police found that Labora and his family controlled some companies that illegally sold timber and subsidized fuel.

Labora was convicted by the Sorong District Court and sentenced to two years imprisonment and fined Rp 500 million. He filed for an appeal at the Jayapura High Court, which increased his sentence to eight years. Labora then filed for another appeal at the Supreme Court, which rejected his appeal and handed down an even harsher sentence against him: 15 years in prison and a fine of Rp 5 billion.

Papua High Prosecutor's Office head Herman de Silva said his office was still coordinating with the police in West Papua, especially the Sorong City Police and Sorong penitentiary officers, regarding the manhunt for Labora.

"We are still coordinating with the relevant parties, so I don't dare to say much. Basically, I've conducted coordination to recapture Labora and execute his sentence," Herman told the media in Jayapura on Monday. "We are currently still focusing on coordination with the West Papua Police chief, the Sorong City Police chief and the Sorong prison warden," said Herman.

Although it is known that Labora is in his home in Sorong, the West Papua Police can not arrest him because he is equipped with a letter of freedom issued by the Sorong penitentiary.

"Labora is currently at his home in Sorong. When police officers wanted to arrest him, Labora showed them the letter of release issued by the Sorong penitentiary. So, we are impeded by the letter," West Papua Police chief Brig. Gen. Paulus Waterpauw told Kompas on Sunday.

Paulus said the West Papua Police expected coordination between the Sorong Prosecutor's Office and the Law and Human Rights Ministry regarding Labora's release letter. "We have taken a stance to wait for an administrative explanation before detaining the convict," said Paulus.

A Sorong penitentiary warden said Labora had left the detention facility on March 17, 2014, saying he wanted to seek medical treatment. The prison's physician, who had examined Sitorus, said the former policeman suffered pains in his waist while his right leg was numb. Labora never returned.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/02/03/action-demanded-jail-convicted-cop.html

KPK locks up flamboyant Democratic Party cofounder

Jakarta Post - February 3, 2015

Haeril Halim, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) detained Democratic Party cofounder Sutan Bhatoegana on Monday, eight months after declaring the former head of Commission VII on energy at the House of Representatives a suspect in a bribery case.

The detention of Sutan came one week after the antigraft body pledged to complete all high-profile graft cases, including Sutan's, before the tenure of current KPK leaders – Abraham Samad, Bambang Widjojanto, Adnan Pandu Praja and Zulkarnain – expired in December.

KPK spokesman Priharsa Nugraha said that antigraft investigators decided to lock up Sutan after completing around 80 percent of his dossier and the KPK had a maximum of 120 days, as mandated by the Criminal Law Procedures Code (KUHAP), to complete the remaining 20 percent before sending his case to court for trial.

"He'll be detained at the KPK detention center located in Salemba in Central Jakarta for the first 20 days. The detention is extendable up to 120 days. The detention is to facilitate the completion of the remaining dossiers prior to the trial," Priharsa said.

After around 10 hours of questioning, Sutan declined to make any comment on his arrest, simply saying that he would follow all the legal procedures in his case.

"I will follow all the procedures. Let's leave it to the court, which has the authority to decide whether I am guilty or not," Sutan said as he put on an orange detainee vest before being rushed by KPK vehicle to the detention center.

The case against Sutan was first revealed after graft and money-laundering convict and former Upstream Oil and Gas Regulatory Special Task Force (SKKMigas) head, Rudi Rubiandini, testified at the Jakarta Corruption Court last year that the multimillion dollar bribes he received from a number of oil and gas companies were partly channeled to the House as payoffs to Sutan and other Commission VII members.

The House payoffs included a demand from Sutan for US$200,000 to pay "holiday bonuses" to Commission VII lawmakers in 2013. Another $140,000 was paid to ease the deliberation of the budget of the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry, which oversees SKKMigas, in 2013 allegedly as instructed by former Energy minister Jero Wacik, who is also a Democratic Party politician.

It has become common practice for state agencies under the supervision of ministries to be used as cash cows.

Due to his powerful position in control of the energy ministry Sutan also allegedly instructed Rudi to rig the bidding for a lucrative multimillion- dollar oil project held by a local unit of US energy giant Chevron, in which Edhie "Ibas" Baskoro, the youngest son of former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, was also implicated.

Sutan was allegedly at loggerheads with Yudhoyono's cousin Sartono Hutomo and a "friend" of Ibas, regarding to their alleged attempt to cut corners in the bidding for a $600 million offshore construction project.

Although the auction was held by Chevron, the winner had to be approved by SKKMigas, which was led by Rudi at that time.

Sutan allegedly conspired in July 2013 with Rudi to favor PT Timas Suplindo in the project, but their plan was opposed by Sartono, then Democratic Party chief treasurer – and friend of Ibas – who backed rival PT Rekayasa Industri (Rekin). Rudi, however, declared Timas the winner.

Sutan has been charged under Articles 11 and 12 of Law No. 31/1999 on corruption, in conjunction with Article 55 of the KUHAP on collective and continuous crime, which carry a maximum 20 years behind bars for a state official receiving bribes. The use of Article 55 implies the involvement other people in the case.

Sutan earlier said he would reveal "everything" during his upcoming trial, especially other parties involved in his case, but he did not mention specifically whether Ibas was one of them.

KPK deputy for prevention Johan Budi confirmed that Sutan had provided KPK investigators with meaningful information about others with regard to corruption plaguing House Commission VII, SKKMigas and the Energy Ministry. "We are stepping up our efforts to unravel the roles of other parties in the case," Johan said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/02/03/KPK-locks-flamboyant-democratic-party-cofounder.html

Anticorruption activist's shooter arrested

Jakarta Post - February 3, 2015

Jakarta – Police on Tuesday arrested a man suspected of having shot anticorruption activist Mathur Hussain in Bangkalan, East Java, last month.

East Java Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Awi Setyono confirmed in Surabaya on Tuesday that a suspect in the shooting had been arrested but refused to identify the suspect or give further details on the arrest.

"We will inform the public later, I'm still on the field right now" he said as quoted by kompas.com. He said the shooting was allegedly masterminded by a member of the Bangkalan legislative council (DPRD).

He added that a joint investigative team comprising personnel from the detective unit of the Bangkalan Police and the provincial police were still hunting down several others suspected of having a role in the incident.

Mathur, a 47-year-old director at Crisis Islam of Demoration (Cide), was shot while going into his house on Jl Teuku Umar in Bangkalan on Jan. 20.

The police have yet to identify the motive behind the shooting but many sides suspect a connection to a graft case implicating Bangkalan chief councilor Fuad Amin, who was arrested by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). (rms)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/02/03/anticorruption-activist-s-shooter-arrested.html

Civil service & bureaucracy

Open-recruitment system marred by extortion reports

Jakarta Post - February 3, 2015

Dewanti A. Wardhani, Jakarta – Despite the city's unrelenting fight against corruption, the Jakarta Inspectorate says dozens of complaints pertaining to last year's open recruitment have been filed alleging extortion and bribery.

City Inspector General Lasro Marbun said four agencies had been reported – by civil servants and non-civil servants alike – for various violations during the open recruitment. The four agencies were the Transportation Agency, the Cooperatives, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Trade Agency (KUKMP), the Manpower and Transmigration Agency, and the Fire Agency, Lasro said.

"After the inauguration on Jan. 2, I received many reports about the four agencies about irregularities during the open-recruitment process," Lasro told The Jakarta Post on Monday.

In 2014, the city administration held an open recruitment for all civil servants seeking middle-ranking positions. The tests included a written exam and a psychological evaluation, as well as an interview with a panel consisting of several officials. The participants were assessed by a team of senior civil servants and Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama.

Thousands of new officials were subsequently inaugurated on Jan. 2 and a second batch was inaugurated on Jan. 27.

Lasro, known to be a close associate of the governor, added that reports varied and most were anonymously submitted, but that all reports, however, stated that money had allowed certain candidates to secure a position. "For example, if one sought an echelon IV position, one would have to pay tens of millions of rupiah. Meanwhile, an echelon III position would require hundreds of millions of rupiah. The report claimed these fees were paid to individuals in the agencies, including to agency heads themselves," Lasro said.

Other reports, he said, alleged instances of cheating, where answer keys were stolen and sold to applicants, supposedly for millions of rupiah.

Agency heads at the four ministries had denied the allegations, Lasro said, with some saying they "did not completely understand the open-recruitment system". Moreover, he added, to date no proof of wrongdoing had been found, making the allegations very difficult to prove.

"The inspectorate has conducted a thorough investigation into these claims, but thus far we have come to a dead end. However, we want this incident to serve as a warning to all civil servants in the city administration that we will no longer tolerate any violations, no matter how small they are," Lasro said.

Civil servants, especially in Jakarta, enjoy many perks. They can only be fired, for example, if found guilty of the most serious offenses. Jakarta civil servants have exceptionally high take-home pay, with some positions recently receiving 200 percent or 300 percent raises.

Separately, Ahok acknowledged that such violations were rampant in the open-recruitment system and said he had also received reports of such actions.

"We can no longer fully believe the results of the written tests. In the next open recruitment, I will personally see all the participants who receive the highest scores to make sure that their scores are as good as their integrity and their work ethic," Ahok announced at City Hall in Central Jakarta on Monday.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/02/03/open-recruitment-system-marred-extortion-reports.html

Jakarta & urban life

Jakarta police pledge to curb bribes from motorists

Jakarta Globe - February 7, 2015

Bayu Marhaenjati, Jakarta – The capital's police force has promised to crack down on traffic officers taking bribes from road users.

The police were prompted to comment publicly on what is a long-standing issue after a video went viral on Youtube showing officers relieving bus drivers of cash at the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle in Central Jakarta.

"We will conduct an internal supervision of our officers," Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Martinus Sitompul said on Saturday. He then thanked the public for bringing the matter to his attention.

"We thank [the public] for the information," Martinus said. "We will investigate and, if it's proven, we will act based on the regulations. In the future, we will keep supervising and we are hoping the public [will continue] to report this kind of information."

Officers found supplementing their income will be sanctioned, he said. "We will issue internal sanctions or ethical sanctions," he said. "It can be disciplinary, a warning or a recommendation of dismissal."

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/jakarta/jakarta-police-pledge-curb-bribes-motorists/

Jakarta – World's worst for traffic gridlock

Jakarta Globe - February 4, 2015

SP/Deti Mega Purnamasari, Jakarta – Jakarta has been named the city with the worst traffic congestion in the world, according to a new study, while Surabaya – Indonesia's second-biggest city – has been ranked fourth among 78 international cities and regions.

The Castrol-Magnatec Stop-Start Index, published by British motor-oil company Castrol, used GPS data to calculate the frequency of stop-start driving among motorists across the globe.

Drivers in Jakarta made 33,240 stop-starts annually, the study found, while drivers in Surabaya made 29,880. Motorists in Istanbul, Turkey, which took the number two spot on the index, registered 32,520 stop-starts annually; while drivers in Mexico City, number three on the list, recorded 30,840 stop-starts on average.

At the other end of the scale, drivers in Rotterdam in the Netherlands registered 6360 stop-starts a year.

The index, which was put together using the GPS data provided by Tom Tom navigation users, said drivers experiencing more than 18,000 stop-starts a year experienced "severe" traffic.

The results won't surprise many commuters in the capital and Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama admitted there was more to do. He said he was unhappy with the index but did not deny his city had the worst traffic in the world.

"It is true anyway. If you don't have a train-based transportation system, there will be traffic congestion. Even Japan still has traffic congestion, let alone Jakarta," Basuki said on Wednesday.

"That is why we have started building a train-based transportation system, at least it can solve the problem gradually," he said.

Basuki said Jakarta's traffic was his biggest challenge in governing the capital and it would take decades until the city would overcome the problem. "This is homework for the next 30, 40 years. We can only endure it for now," he said.

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/jakarta-worlds-worst-traffic-gridlock/

Armed forces & defense

Air Force to beef up presence, at air bases near borders

Jakarta Post - February 5, 2015

Nani Afrida, Jakarta – The Indonesian Air Force plans to increase operations at bases near its borders in an effort to deter threats of incursion.

"We must pay attention to several air bases and put more forces in those areas so that other countries will not infringe upon our territorial integrity," newly installed Air Force chief of staff Chief Marshal Agus Supriatna announced after a leadership meeting in Cilangkap, East Jakarta, on Wednesday.

Agus said the Air Force would focus on five military air bases; the Soewondo military air base in Medan, North Sumatra; the Ranai military air base in Natuna, Riau Islands; the Tarakan military air base in Tarakan, East Kalimantan; the El Tari military air base in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara; and the Jayapura military air base in Papua.

Agus said that the five air bases were strategic given their locations near territorial outposts. "At Natuna, for instance, we know that the area is part of the South China Sea, thus it is very strategic for Indonesia."

Earlier, Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Gen. Moeldoko said he expected the Air Force to play a bigger role in safeguarding the country's territorial integrity in the South China Sea.

The South China Sea is a semi-enclosed sea bordering China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei, the Philippines and Taiwan. Due to its proximity to so many nations, complicated, often sensitive questions over jurisdiction are common. In recent years, a series of disputes over islands have rocked relations between China and other countries.

The Air Force chief of staff said some of the programs would include joint military exercises with other branches of the armed forces. In addition, he said efforts would be made to improve radar systems to better detect movements in the country's airspace.

At present, Indonesia lacks 12 of the 32 radar systems it needs to police its borders. Last year, the Air Force reported several illegal flights over Indonesian territory, particularly in the eastern part of the country.

"We need more radar systems to reduce the number of blind spots, which I hope we will get soon," Agus said.

On Wednesday, the Air Force held a two-day leadership meeting to draw up working plans for 2015. More than 300 high-ranking officers attended the meeting.

Besides discussing the plan to strengthen the five air bases, participants also deliberated matters related to the maritime axis doctrine championed by President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo.

The Air Force, Agus said, would play a key role in realizing that doctrine. "The maritime defense system needs both a strong Navy and a capable Air Force to secure the country's airspace," Agus said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/02/05/air-force-beef-presence-air-bases-near-borders.html

No need for new squadron in eastern Indonesia: Air Force

Jakarta Post - February 4, 2015

Nani Afrida, Jakarta – The Indonesian Air Force might cancel its plan to create a new jet fighter squadron in eastern Indonesia, a high-ranking military official said on Wednesday.

"There is no need to establish a new squadron base in eastern Indonesia, as we can send our jet fighters from Hasanuddin air base," the newly appointed Chief of Staff, Air Chief Marshal Agus Supriatna, told reporters during an air force executive meeting in Cilangkap, East Jakarta, on Wednesday.

Currently, the 11th Air Squadron at Sultan Hasanuddin Air Force Base just outside Makassar, South Sulawesi, is the country's easternmost fighter squadron. The squadron is made up of Russian-made Sukhoi Su-27/30 Flanker heavy fighter jets.

Agus said establishing a new jet fighter squadron solely to be kept in eastern Indonesia would not be effective. "The jet fighters can reach the target area faster," he said.

Last year, the Air Force planned to establish a new squadron in eastern Indonesia. Former chief of staff Air Chief Marshal Ida Bagus Putu Dunia said that the fighter squadron in eastern Indonesia was part of the Air Force's grand design. However he acknowledged that the government was ready in terms of facilities, infrastructure and personnel.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/02/04/no-need-new-squadron-eastern-indonesia-air-force.html

Criminal justice & prison system

Indonesia uses faulty stats on 'drug crisis' to justify death penalty

The Conversation - February 5, 2015

Indonesian President Joko Widodo's claim of a national drug "emergency" that necessitates the death penalty for drug crimes is based on questionable statistics.

Jokowi, as he is popularly known in Indonesia, recently cited some astonishing figures: 4.5 million Indonesians need to be rehabilitated due to their illicit or illegal drug use, and 40 to 50 young people die each day due to the same cause.

Jokowi argues that applying a no-compromise, punitive approach is necessary to combat the state of emergency represented by these numbers. He ordered the killing of six drug traffickers on death row by firing squad last month, and vowed to reject clemency requests from more than 60 people on death row for drug-related charges.

Jokowi ignores protests from human rights groups and pleas from the Australian government, whose citizens Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, members of the Bali Nine drug ring, are facing imminent execution.

But the Jokowi administration's attempt to present the death penalty for drug offenders as a policy based on evidence falls flat on one necessary ground: the evidence.

The figures quoted by the president and parroted by national officials and media outlets are based on studies with questionable methods and vague measures.

Government advisers cherry-picked the figures to lend credibility to a "national emergency" and ultimately justify an ineffective but politically convenient policy.

Dodgy estimate of the number of drug users

Let's start with the 4.5 million drug users who allegedly need rehabilitation.

This figure is a projection of the number of people predicted to use drugs in 2013, calculated by the University of Indonesia's Centre for Health Research working in collaboration with the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) as part of a 2008 study.

It is not an estimation of the actual number of people who are unable to manage their drug use and need support. Nor can it be generalised to represent the prevalence of drug use in Indonesia's population.

The most problematic aspect of this projection is its overly simplistic definition of "addiction", which is based solely on how often an individual uses drugs. The study classifies drug users into three categories – ever tried drugs, regular users and addicts – based on frequency of drug use. Those who had used drugs less than five times in a lifetime are persons who "ever tried drugs".

People who took drugs less than 49 times in the last year before the survey are classified as "regular users". And those who had used drugs more than 49 times in the year before the survey are "addicts". Participants who indicated that they had injected a drug, even if only once in the last year, are also categorised as "addicts".

What this amounts to is a projected estimate of more than 4.5 million drug users using dated surveys and imprecise classifications. From this projection there were supposedly 2.9 million "drug addicts" in 2013. The remaining 1.6 million people were recreational users who tried drugs less than five times in their lives or who may party once in a while with little risk of side effects.

The projected estimate of 4.5 million drug users implies that the couple of times my buddy Amin casually passed a joint around at New Year's Eve's parties makes him a drug user who should spend three to six compulsory months in rehabilitation and who is at the crux of Indonesia's drug crisis. It is this exaggerated version of the "drug problem" that government advisers repeatedly exploit to justify draconian policy decisions.

Questionable number of drug deaths

The 40 to 50 young people said to be dying each day because of drug use is even more problematic. These figures come from the same seven-year-old study by the Centre for Health Research and BNN.

To determine the rate of drug deaths in the general population, the researchers surveyed 2,143 people selected from population groups such as students, workers and general households. They asked how many of their friends use drugs, and among these, how many of their friends died "because of drugs" in the last year before the survey.

The study authors then applied the median number of friends who died (three) to their 2008 estimate of "drug addicts", arriving at a figure of 14,894. Divided by 365 days, this amounts to 41 "people dying because of drug use every day".

Methodologically, this is an ambiguous, inaccurate way of measuring deaths in any population, let alone overdose-related deaths – assuming this is what the survey refers to.

Since Indonesia does not collect reliable statistics on drug overdose, it is not clear what "dying because of drugs" means in the context of this survey. Does it translate to death due to respiratory depression caused by overdose? Does it mean dying due to injuries from police violence following a drug-related arrest? Does it refer to death associated with AIDS or hepatitis C in people who inject drugs? The study's methodology provides no definition.

Researchers agree the most reliable method to measure drug-related mortality is to prospectively follow a cohort of drug users who represent a target population for several years. Researchers should measure various behavioural, physiological and structural factors that could affect mortality. This can be disease or access to health services. Analysing the numbers of drug deaths in the group and the factors that may have contributed to these outcomes generally provides decent results.

Determining the need for rehabilitation

Practitioners and academics still debate the most clinically accurate definition of addiction. But there are widely accepted standard diagnostic measures and research tools that consider more than frequency and method of drug use. These accommodate key biological, psychological and sociological dimensions.

For instance, Indonesia's Ministry of Health uses the International Classification of Diseases and Health Problems (ICD-10). A number of standardised, reliable and World Health Organisation-approved research instruments also assess problematic drug use.

What sets these tools apart from the UI-BNN's survey's crude categorisation is their application of complex behavioural, cognitive and physiological elements. These include quality of the user's life, withdrawal symptoms, chronic relapse and clear evidence of harmful effects caused by uncontrolled use of a substance.

Indonesia's Ministry of Health estimates 74,326 people inject drugs in Indonesia, with the highest concentrations of users found in Greater Jakarta, East Java and West Java. International agencies such as the United Nations and World Health Organisation refer to this data as well.

This number mirrors the estimate of drug injectors in a 2011 BNN-UI survey. The BNN-UI survey also identified a little over 1.1 million non-injecting drug users in Indonesia. Most used ecstasy and crystal methamphetamine more than 49 times in the last year before the study.

But, as argued above, indicators such as methods or frequency of drug use alone are not enough to determine whether a person requires rehabilitation or not, nor whether rehabilitation itself is an appropriate method at all.

Among these individuals, only a few may be ready for or choose rehabilitation in BNN's centres. Others may decide to enrol in a methadone substitution therapy programme. Some may continue living productive lives while independently managing their drug use.

A matter of life and death

Analysts inside and outside Indonesia have eloquently argued against the death penalty for drug offences on human rights grounds. Ample evidence from Singapore, Malaysia and other countries proves its ineffectiveness in deterring drug trafficking and reining in drug use.

While all research has a margin of error, as evident in Jokowi's data on drug use, not all research is equally well planned or executed. At its worst, research can be manipulated to justify political ends, ignite public fear and lend dubious credibility to otherwise unpopular, unethical or punitive policies.

Policy makers planning a proposed action based on evidence-based research must use the newest, best available, objective evidence to understand a problem and to solve it with minimal unintended consequences.

With the imminent executions of Sukumaran, Chan and others on death row, policy decisions based on good evidence are a matter of life or death.

Source: http://theconversation.com/indonesia-uses-faulty-stats-on-drug-crisis-to-justify-death-penalty-36512

Death sentences may sink Indonesia's international image

Jakarta Post - February 4, 2015

Nani Afrida, Jakarta – Indonesia's influence in the international community may be overshadowed by the scorn it is getting for the recent executions of drug traffickers, human rights activists say.

"Indonesia will find it difficult to bargain or to negotiate with other countries, especially if it is about human rights cases," the Indonesian representative to the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR), Rafendi Djamin, said in Jakarta on Tuesday.

In January, Indonesia shot six drug convicts dead, including convicts from the Netherlands and Brazil. Brazil and the Netherlands have recalled their envoys temporarily from Indonesia to protest the killing of their citizens.

Regarding the diplomatic fall-out, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi said that Indonesia has "never been hostile" to other countries and it would maintain communications with those countries.

Ricky Gunawan, the director of the Community Legal Aid Group (LBH Masyarakat), said that the Netherlands has provided assistance to Indonesia for a long time, especially to improve law enforcement.

"Netherlands has supported Indonesia in improving its justice system by providing training programs for its law enforcers. The fact that its citizen was executed may make them withdraw the support," Ricky said.

He added that the relationship between Indonesia and Brazil was also very good, as the two countries had initiated a "from South to South" partnership.

Currently as many as 35 people from 15 countries are waiting to be executed after being convicted of drug trafficking.

President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has refused to grant clemency to eight drug traffickers. They include one each from Brazil, France, Ghana, the Philippines and Nigeria and two from Australia.

Rafendi predicted that the number of countries that will withdraw their support from Indonesia will increase if the government maintains the death penalty.

Besides losing more allies in the international community, Indonesia's negotiations attempting to free its citizens from death sentences in Malaysia and Saudi Arabia may be rejected as well.

"How can we ask for support from other countries to free our citizens from the death penalty, if we still punish people with the same sentence?" said Rafendi, who is also the executive director of the Human Rights Working Group (HRWG).

It has been reported that as many as 380 migrant workers from Indonesia are currently on trial and may face capital punishment in China, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia. Of that number, 17 of them have been convicted and sentenced to death.

On Tuesday, Migrant Care Director Executive, Anis Hidayah, said that the negotiations to free the migrant workers was being hampered as Indonesia was still imposing the death sentence at home.

Both Ricky and Rafendi expressed disappointment that Indonesia has implemented a double standard in its strategy to protect human rights.

"In the international community, Indonesia seems to respect human rights. In contrast, Indonesia violates human rights by imposing the death penalty. This is so embarrassing," Rafendi said.

Indonesia ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) in 2005. One of articles in the covenant stipulated that every state must protect the right to life.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/02/04/death-sentences-may-sink-ri-s-international-image.html

MUI backs capital punishment

Jakarta Post - February 4, 2015

Jakarta – The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) supports the move of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's government to expedite the execution of a number of drug convicts.

MUI deputy chairman Ma'ruf Amin said the council had in fact issued an edict to uphold the death sentence for serious crimes including drug trafficking.

"It's recommended that for certain types of crimes like murder or drug trafficking, the government should impose capital punishment," Ma'ruf said after a meeting with President Jokowi.

He said that especially for drug trafficking, the government must be swift in carrying out executions. "The effect has been very disastrous," he said as quoted by tribunnews.com.

The Attorney General's Office is expected to carry out the execution by firing squad of two Australians convicted of drug trafficking, Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan.

The two were arrested in Bali in 2005 for their roles in smuggling heroin through Indonesia to Australia. They have been on death row ever since.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/02/04/mui-backs-capital-punishment.html

Economy & investment

Deflation paves way for rate cut

Jakarta Post - February 3, 2015

Satria Sambijantoro, Jakarta – Indonesia recorded deflation in January as the decline in fuel prices dragged down food and transportation costs further than expected, creating room for the central bank to cut interest rates and loosen its tight monetary policy.

The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) announced on Monday that the month-to- month consumer price index (CPI) stood at negative 0.24 percent in January, with the decline in prices attributed to President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's move to lower the price of Premium gasoline, diesel fuel and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) earlier in the month.

Meanwhile, year-on-year inflation stood at 6.96 percent – lower than the market consensus of 7.5 percent.

"Deflation dynamics have begun and we expect a more pronounced slowing of inflation through February," ANZ Bank economists Daniel Wilson and Glenn Maguire wrote in a note released after the announcement.

"We continue to hold the view that inflation is set to decline sharply in coming quarters, creating a window of opportunity for Bank Indonesia [BI] to ease policy in the second half of this year," they wrote.

Factors contributing to deflation included several factors under the control of the government, such as air and land transportation costs. Some volatile food commodities, such as chili and cayenne, also saw deflation, thanks to the harvest season.

On a month-to-month basis, deflation on government-controlled commodities stood at 0.73 percent, compared to a 0.12 percent rise in volatile food prices and a 0.37 percent rise in core inflation.

As inflation is likely to ease further, there have been louder calls among economists and government officials for the Indonesian central bank to cut the benchmark BI rate and loosen monetary policy.

Vice President Jusuf Kalla, for example, said he had repeatedly urged BI to ease its rate to help boost the country's competitiveness and propel growth. "It's about time for BI to slash its interest rate in order for us to achieve 6 percent growth," said Kalla on Jan. 28.

BI executives have signaled little interest in loosening monetary policy in the near future, citing the risks of capital outflows due to the imminent interest-rate hike in the US.

However, regional central banks have dismissed such fears, with monetary authorities from Singapore to India already cutting interest rates this year with little impact on capital flows.

Those cuts led Asian Development Bank (ADB) president Takehiko Nakao to declare that risks from the US rate increase appeared to be "overblown". At present, the benchmark BI rate stands at 7.75 percent, the highest level since March 2009.

Credit Suisse economist Santitarn Sathirathai noted that BI may surprise investors, predicting the central bank could cut the benchmark rate by 50 basis points.

"With growth likely to remain sluggish over the next few quarters, the central bank is likely to take the opportunity to ease [its interest rate] to support economic recovery," he said.

"With year-on-year inflation falling faster than expected, the real interest rate in Indonesia will likely be healthier than most observers think," he added.

Nevertheless, BI spokesperson Peter Jacobs stated Monday that the central bank would stay on the tight-bias monetary policy course to safeguard the stability of the rupiah against the strengthening trend of the US dollar.

Data from the Jakarta Interbank Spot Dollar Rate (JISDOR) showed the rupiah had depreciated by 2.1 percent year-to-date, trading at 12,700 per dollar on Monday after falling 1.7 percent in 2014.

Any future changes to the BI rate, Peter said, would consider factors other than inflation, including currency risks related to uncertainties in the global economy.

He said this was because the sluggish economic recovery in China and Europe would limit growth worldwide this year, with the US dollar likely to remain the preferred asset, he explained.

BI is slated to hold a meeting on Feb. 17 to determine whether to maintain or lower the current rate.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/02/03/deflation-paves-way-rate-cut.html

Manufacturing needs boost

Jakarta Post - February 2, 2015

Linda Yulisman and Grace D. Amianti, Jakarta – The Trade Ministry's ambitious target of tripling exports within five years will require an investment of Rp 1.09 quadrillion (US$86.63 billion) in the manufacturing sector, which is a fivefold increase from the current level, and will not be possible without policy breakthroughs.

The manufacturing industry accounts for about 24 percent of Southeast Asia's largest economy and has been key to creating jobs and boosting exports, but its contribution to the economy has declined from about 30 percent a decade ago.

The Industry Ministry has set a target that investment in the manufacturing sector should reach Rp 447 trillion in the next four years, but an official has said it will need more than twice that figure to match the Trade Ministry's target of tripling exports from the $183.3 billion estimated last year.

"We really need extra effort to triple our exports. Our previous investment goal will not be sufficient to support the target," said Haris Munandar, the director of the Industry Ministry's industrial climate and quality policy research center.

Additional investment in manufacturing is vital to help expand a wide range of prospective export items, such as chemicals, plastics, textile, metal, pulp and paper and food and beverages.

Along with the investment, a large number of small-to-medium and medium-to-large enterprises would also be expected to proliferate. At least 9,000 new industrial firms could emerge if investment met the figure set in the ministry's plan, on top of nearly 24,000 such industrial firms now.

Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) economist Latif Adam considered these targets to be unrealistic. "The government's target of growing manufacturing investment by fivefold to help exports triple is not realistic," Latif said on Sunday.

To generate investment in the manufacturing industry, the government must achieve specific breakthroughs, including providing basic infrastructure to support industry and incentives to offset poor business conditions, particularly in areas outside Java, he said.

"Fiscal incentives must be flexible [...] Simplifying the licensing process for business players should be more realistic," Latif said, criticizing the government's so-called "tax holiday" fiscal-incentive policy as too rigid.

The new administration has launched a one-stop licensing system, which has eased the permit process, to attract investors.

The tax holiday – a policy rolled out under the previous administration led by former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono – gives a five- to 10- year tax break for five sectors, including base metals and oil refining and basic petrochemicals, for investments with a minimum value of Rp 1 trillion.

Indonesia also offers tax allowances that cut taxable income to 30 percent of total investment realized over six years, accelerates depreciation and amortization, charges tax of up to 10 percent for offshore taxpayers and carries forward losses from five to 10 years.

However, investors find these fiscal incentives unattractive because of their lengthy procedures.

Finance Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro maintained that the existing fiscal incentives were adequately flexible. "We just maybe need to market [the incentives] to companies and ease procedures so that they will be more attractive," he said on Sunday.

"Manufacturing is always a priority," Bambang added, citing natural resources, consumer goods and import-substitution as the primary sectors within the industry on which the government would focus.

The Industry Ministry's inspector general, Syarif Hidayat, said his office would continue to spur growth in the downstream industry by adding value to natural resources and agricultural commodities, such as by refining and smelting minerals like nickel and bauxite or processing palm oil, cocoa and rubber.

In addition, it will also further encourage sectors that have traditionally been the main drivers of exports, including textiles and footwear. "New investment will lead to higher production and the creation of new products, which will enhance our export opportunities," he said.

But skeptics have warned that the export target is unrealistic given the continuing weak global economic conditions, as major trading partners China and Japan, as well as European countries, struggle to boost economic growth.

Manufacturing has also often been criticized for its low labor absorption. Although it is key to the country's economy, the sector only employed 15.39 million people, or 13 percent of the national workforce, as of August 2014, relatively unchanged over a decade.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/02/02/manufacturing-needs-boost.html

Analysis & opinion

Our laborious police

Jakarta Post Editorial - February 5, 2015

At a time when the police are pressing ahead with charges against Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) leaders, apparently in retaliation for the KPK's move to name National Police chief candidate Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan a suspect, the police have allowed a low-ranking, high-income officer First Adj. Labora Sitorus to scoff at our justice system.

The police may even be protecting Labora, as Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna H. Laoly said the "security apparatus" and local residents had prevented state prosecutors from implementing a 15-year prison term handed down to him by the Supreme Court for money laundering last October. The police, in this case the West Papua Police chief, should have no difficulty ordering Labora to surrender to prosecutors in compliance with the law.

So when a petty police officer challenges the enforcement of the law and his institution fails to take action against him, something fishy must be going on. Speculation is rife that the investigation of Labora will lead investigators to powerful figures, either in or outside the force. That he can act above the law, as evident in his defiance of a legally binding Supreme Court verdict, is indicative of this assumption.

The police have long been criticized for their performance. Corrupt practices are allegedly abound in the police – ranging from traffic officers asking for money from or accepting bribes from motorists, to fat bank accounts associated with police generals – and may have prevented internal reform from taking effect.

Public confidence in the police has been consistently low, unfortunately partly because of the impunity that has helped high-ranking officers evade justice. None of the police generals linked to the fat-bank saga have been prosecuted. Police leaders have cleared them of any violations, including Budi.

Now that the police are at full throttle, striking back at the KPK leaders following Budi being implicated in a corruption case, the public has the right to question why the police opt to remain silent in response to Labora's failure to respect the Supreme Court's ruling.

Labora, posted to Raja Ampat, West Papua, stole the show in 2013 when the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (PPATK) discovered Rp 1.5 trillion (US$119 million) in his bank accounts. The Sorong District Court sentenced him to two years in prison and fined him Rp 500 million. Following an appeal, the Jayapura High Court increased his sentence to eight years.

Labora left Sorong Penitentiary in March 2013 to seek medical treatment at the Sorong Navy Hospital, but never returned because of a detention release letter from prison warden Isak Wanggai.

We do not know what Labora has done and who he has met since his release from prison, but no other suspect has been named in the money laundering case. It would be better for the police to settle the Labora case beyond doubt, rather than attack the KPK's leaders.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/02/05/our-laborious-police.html

Freeport's lack of commitment

Jakarta Post Editorial - February 4, 2015

PT Freeport Indonesia, a subsidiary of US-based mining giant Freeport- McMoRan Inc., deserves a strong rebuke from the government and the House of Representatives for its utter lack of commitment to developing a copper smelter to comply with the 2009 Mining Law.

The government had compromised in early 2014 by lowering the purity levels of copper, nickel, bauxite and other minerals to fall below those stipulated in the law to allow them to continue mineral exports after the 2014 deadline for the ban of unprocessed mineral exports.

The compromise was meant to prevent substantial worker layoffs and sudden falls in export earnings and state revenues for the central and regional governments, from royalties and other taxes.

But the export permit, issued during the transition period until 2017 when a total ban will be slapped on unprocessed minerals, is tied to higher export taxes of 20 to 60 percent, royalty payments and clear timetables for the development of smelters in the country.

So far, Papua-based Freeport Indonesia, the largest producer of copper and gold in the country, has failed to show any concrete progress in the development of its US$2.3 billion smelter project with an annual capacity of two million tons.

The company only reached a memorandum of understanding with state-owned PT Petrokimia Gresik on its plan to lease an 80-hectare plot of land in Gresik, East Java, for the plant project.

It is rather impossible for Freeport to complete the plant within the next three years, as the required feasibility study has yet to be made and dozens of other permits have yet to be obtained from the central and local governments.

The House was especially irked by Freeport's plan to build its smelter in the Petrokimia Gresik industrial complex in East Java, a corporate action seen as ignoring the interests of the Papuan people.

But Freeport's plan is understandably more commercially viable because the smelter project requires at least 600 megawatts of power and other supporting infrastructure that is unavailable in Papua. Gresik can easily fulfill those requirements. Petrokimia Gresik can also process sulfuric acid, a byproduct of the smelter.

The government should be forceful in ensuring that Freeport develops its smelter, but given the tight schedule, the company could be allowed to go ahead with its original plan to build the smelter in Gresik but with stricter timetables for each stage of construction and much higher export tax, as stipulated in the January 2014 regulation.

Freeport-McMoRan has a big stake in Papua as its Indonesia concession holds 30 billion pounds of proven and probable copper, 29.8 million ounces of gold and 308.5 million ounces of silver. Its mining operations in Papua have been highly profitable due to low (open pit) mining costs.

Hence, the only alternative for Freeport is pushing ahead with the smelter project, otherwise it will lose those huge mineral reserves if its mining license is not renewed after 2021. -

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/02/04/freeport-s-lack-commitment.html