Jakarta – Social Affairs Minister Khofifah Indar Parawansa confirmed on Saturday that former president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid and former army commander Sarwo Edhie Wibowo would soon be declared national heroes, as the review process was nearly complete.

To be named a national hero, evaluations are carried out by the Regional Title Research and Assesment Team (TP2GD), the Central Title Research and Assesment Team (TP2GP), as well as the Title, Order of Merit and Honors Council. Then recommendations are sent to the President for approval. Proposals can come from citizens, organizations, or government institutions.

"Gus Dur name has passed the review by TP2GP. He will then be reviewed by the Title Council in May. The bestowal as national hero will be done approaching Nov. 10 (Heroes Day)," said Khofifah in Amir Hamzah Park, Central Jakarta, on Saturday.

Among the particular requirements for a figure to be named a national hero are that the person must have produced a large body of work supporting the country's development, as well as exhibiting lifetime devotion and struggle for the country.

Gus Dur was known for his influential beliefs, especially on pluralism. He championed a tolerant teaching of Islam, and he was a chairman of Indonesia's largest Islamic organization, the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU).

The influential cleric was also known as a defender of the rights of Chinese who live in Indonesia, revoking a presidential instruction from the Soeharto era that suppressed their freedom to express their culture and religion.

Lt. Gen. (ret) Sarwo Edhie Wibowo, following the botched coup of 1965, was a lead architect of the purge of citizens linked to the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) – a campaign that ultimately claimed hundreds of thousands of lives.

Sarwo was commander of the Army's Para-Commando Regiment (PRKAD), now Kopassus, during the time of the botched coup. The proposal to name Sarwo a national hero has elicited heavy criticism from the public.

Sarwo was the father of former first lady Ani Yudhoyono and former Army chief of staff Gen. (ret) Pramono Edhie Wibowo.

Khofifah also highlighted that out of 163 people who have been named national heroes, only 13 have been women. "I hope people can start proposing female national heroes," she said. fsu/nvn)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/04/25/gus-dur-sarwo-be-named-national-heroes.html

Actions, demos, protests...

Medan market trader rally ends in riot

Jakarta Post - April 28, 2015

Apriadi Gunawan, Medan – A protest rally by hundreds of vendors who refuse to be evicted from the Sutomo Market in Medan, North Sumatra, descended into a riot on Monday.

Police arrested more than 20 people following the trouble. They were still being detained at the Medan City Police headquarters on Monday night.

A television journalist, identified as Yusrizal, was reported to have been injured in the riot after being mobbed by a group of vendors who also seized and damaged his camera.

Medan City Police operational division head Comr. Sugeng Riyadi said the arrested protestors included those who had incited the violence, as well as others who assaulted the journalist, blocked roads and vandalized a number of public facilities.

According to Sugeng, the protestors caused severe disruption especially for road users.

"They vandalized a number of traffic lights at intersections and blocked roads. This caused serious disruption to the public," Sugeng said at the riot scene on Jl. Sutomo.

The disruption was a continuation of the protest against the eviction of vendors on Jl. Sutomo over the past weeks.

The Medan municipality wishes to relocate the vendors from Jl. Sutomo to the Tuntungan wholesale market in Medan.

However, the planned relocation has been opposed by the vendors on the grounds that Tuntungan market is too far away and has few customers. "Let us remain here. Tuntungan market is deserted," said Boru Ginting, who claimed to have operated at the Sutomo Market for dozens of years.

Last month, the traders filed a lawsuit against the municipality's decision to relocate the traders from Sutomo Market to Tuntungan, a new market that reportedly cost Rp 59 billion (US$4.5 million) to build.

City-owned market operator PD Pasar Medan director Beny Sihotang said the administration would continue with its plan to relocate the traders to Tuntungan market, also known as Lau Cih market, despite the violent protest.

"The relocation process has been ongoing for three months. The government has allocated places i Lau Cih market for the traders. Just follow the program, what's the need for fighting?" Benny told reporters.

Benny argued that few buyers went to the new market because they still visited the old market where the traders continued to operate. "If the traders move to the new market, the customers will follow them," he said.

The protest was the second conducted by the traders. Earlier this month, hundreds of the traders at the traditional market staged a rally, rejecting the municipality's decision to relocate the market.

The traders blocked the crossroads of Jl. Sutomo-Jl. HM Yamin and Jl. Sutomo-Jl. Perintis Kemerdekaan and burned tires, causing heavy congestion in the areas for hours.

After blocking the roads, the traders marched to the Medan Administrative Court and filed their lawsuit against the municipality's plan.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/04/28/medan-market-trader-rally-ends-riot.html

Residents burn down police office

Jakarta Post - April 27, 2015

Jambi – An angry mob burned down Limun Police Office and the police chief's official residence on Saturday following the fatal shooting of a 20-year-old man, identified as Edwar, a resident of Pulau Aro, Pelawan district, Sarolangun regency.

"We have identified the perpetrators of the arson attack. We call on them to immediately turn themselves in," Sarolangun Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Ridho Hartawan said on Sunday.

Ridho acknowledged that Edwar was shot as he tried to escape a police drugs raid in the area on Saturday. "The shooting was conducted according to procedure. The officer had fired warning shots," he said.

However, Edwar's family claimed otherwise, saying that Edwar, who was planning to buy gasoline, was shot while waiting for his friend and sitting on his motorcycle. "Edwar was surprised to see six police officers. He tried to run but was shot," Edwar's family member Erik said.

Erik said Edwar died after being treated for several hours at Chatib Quzwain General Hospital in Sarolangun. The family say he was shot in the head.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/04/27/islands-focus-residents-burn-down-police-office.html

SBY's visit to UNJ met with protests over 2008 student death

Jakarta Post - April 25, 2015

Jakarta – Students at Jakarta State University (UNJ) held demonstrations against former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's visit on Saturday, where he was the special guest in a discussion held at the university.

After the forum concluded, a group of 10 students stood outside the university as Yudhoyono exited, bearing banners and using a megaphone to convey their message. Security officers and forum organizers managed to disperse the crowd before Yudhoyono left.

Students turned their anger on the security officers after Yudhoyono left, and a scuffle between the two sides nearly broke out.

"We are students here, why were we being dispelled? We are questioning why [Yudhoyono] came. He committed a human rights violation at the National University (Unas)," said one student as quoted by kompas.com.

The student was referring to a 2008 incident where a male student at Jakarta's National University died after clashing with police during a protest to reject a fuel-price increase.

The student's death ignited more controversy after doctors at Pertamina Hospital in South Jakarta ruled the death was the result of AIDS complications, despite many witnesses reporting he had been beaten by police and admitted to the hospital with head injuries. (dyl)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/04/25/sbys-visit-unj-met-with-protests-over-2008-student-death.html

West Papua

Activists call on Indonesia to open Papua to journalists

UCA News - April 30, 2015

Ryan Dagur, Jakarta – Dozens of activists from different NGOs staged "a silent rally" in front of the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday afternoon, urging President Joko Widodo to open Papua to foreign journalists, who have faced difficulty reporting on the embattled region for half a century.

Sealing their mouths with black tape to symbolize the absence of freedom of expression in the region, the protesters – representing the Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS), Institute for Policy Research and Advocacy (ELSAM), National Papuan Solidarity (NAPAS), and Papua Itu Kita – held a banner reading "Presiden, Buka Akses Kemanusiaan untuk Papua" (President, Open Access to Humanity for Papua).

"The media blackout in Papua denies the Papuan people's right to have their voices heard and allows human rights violations such as killings, torture and arbitrary arrests to continue with impunity," Zely Ariane, coordinator of NAPAS, told ucanews.com during the rally.

Similar rallies were organized simultaneously in 20 cities across the world. The UK-based TAPOL, an organization campaigning for human rights, peace and democracy in Indonesia, coordinated the rallies.

In its statement issued on the same day, TAPOL said that for more than 50 years, access for foreign journalists seeking to report on Papua has been severely restricted.

"Those who have entered Papua on tourist visas have been deported, arrested and even imprisoned. Just last year, two French journalists were sentenced to 11 weeks in detention under immigration charges," the organization said.

Thomas Charles Dandois and Valentine Bourrat were arrested on August 7 last year at a hotel in Wamena district with three suspected members of the Free Papua Movement. They were working for the Franco-German television channel Arte.

Andreas Harsono, an Indonesia researcher at the New York-based Human Rights Watch, noted that the blackout "is against the 1999 Press Law".

According to TAPOL, the de-facto ban on foreign journalists as well as NGOs and humanitarian organizations has contributed to the isolation of local journalists and made independent investigation and corroboration virtually impossible.

"It is extremely difficult to hold perpetrators of human rights violations to account, allowing them to continue to act with impunity," the organization said.

Viktor Mambor, who heads the Jayapura branch of Alliance of Independence Journalists (AJI), added that in recent years journalists from the Czech Republic, France and the Netherlands have been deported for reporting on peaceful political events in Papua.

Many foreign journalists use tourist visas because of the stringent visa application process, which involves the unanimous approval of 18 separate government agencies known as the Clearing House Committee.

"When access for media is limited, such [human rights] cases can't be publicly revealed," said Marthen Goo from Papua Itu Kita. "What is actually the main reason why this state treats us differently? We are repressed. It's different from other regions in Indonesia."

Source: http://www.ucanews.com/news/activists-call-on-indonesia-to-open-papua-to-journalists/73493

Police detain Papua commander, shoot suspect in legs

Jakarta Globe - April 30, 2015

Robertus Wardhy, Jayapura – Papua Police arrested three members of the outlawed Free Papua Movement organization in the country's easternmost province on Thursday, shooting a rebel commander in the legs and detaining two fighters.

Papua Police spokesman Patridge Renwarin told the Jakarta Globe that the police's special task force had nabbed Leonardus Magai, a commander of Paniai chapter of the separatist Free Papua Movement (OPM) at around 10.45 a.m. local time along with two other members.

Patridge said that police officers were chasing five OPM members in a car in Sanoba Atas village in Nabire district, Papua. Police said Leonardus was shot in both knees after the men opened fire on police.

"We arrested Leonardus and his two other friends, but the remaining two members managed to get away," said Patridge. Leonardus is currently being treated at Nabire District Hospital for his injuries, Patridge said.

The OPM, which is seeking independence for Papua from Indonesian rule, has waged a low-level guerrilla war against state security forces since Papua was annexed in 1969.

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/police-detain-papua-commander-shoot-suspect-legs/

Protests held over Indonesia's media blackout of West Papua

Sunshine Coast Daily - April 30, 2015

Mitchell Bland – Dozens of protesters gathered at Brisbane's King George Square last night as part of a global day of action against Indonesia's media blackout of West Papua.

Similar demonstrations were held in New Zealand, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Indonesia, the Solomon Islands, West Papua, the United States and England as part of a globally coordinated effort for the free and open access to Indonesia's most secretive region.

West Papua has been closed to journalists since Indonesia's contested annexation of the resource rich province in 1963, allowing numerous human rights atrocities to go unreported.

Reading a statement on behalf of human rights lawyer Jennifer Robinson, a leading member of international lawyers for West Papua and legal adviser to Julian Assange, Richard Gifford, said that opening West Papua was vital for free speech, transparency and accountability.

"The fact that Indonesia places special restrictions on travel and reporting in West Papua is a red flag to the world that something is wrong... if you [Indonesia] want to be seen as one of the world's largest democracies then you need to act as such," he said, quoting Jennifer Robinson.

Queensland Greens candidate for Ipswich Pat Walsh, who also spoke at the Brisbane demonstration, said silence on West Papua from Australia represented a failure in Australia's democracy and press.

"How can we as a population tolerate what's going on in Papua so close to our borders?" he said. "We tolerate it because we lack integrity in our politics... and there are vested interests at play."

Source: http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/protests-held-over-indonesias-media-blackout-west-/2623827/

The other victims of state sanctioned murder in Indonesia

New Matilda - April 29, 2015

Amy McQuire – A West Papuan independence activist, who has been in exile for 12 years after escaping the Indonesian-controlled province, has called on the Australian government to look on "in [and] sympathy in pain" for his own people, who are being "killed like animals" following the execution of two Australians.

Last night Australians Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran – along with six others from Nigeria, Brazil and Indonesia – were executed by firing squad on Nusakambangan Island, east of the capital Jakarta.

Mary Jane Veloso from the Philippines was spared after being given a last minute stay of execution to testify in the trial of an alleged drug trafficker. Another man – Serge Atalaoui from France – was also scheduled to be executed but last week received a temporary reprieve.

The killing of two members of the Bali 9 – Chan and Sukumaran – has sparked an emotional response across Australia.

Amnesty International's Crisis Campaigner Diana Sayed labelled their deaths "senseless, tragic and wasteful act of state-sanctioned murder".

"Hundreds of thousands of people came out to show their support for Andrew and Myuran and all of those on death row, signing letters, online petitions and hosting events. They respectfully called on the Indonesian government to stop the executions and to show mercy," Ms Sayed said.

"These efforts have served to strengthen the global campaign to end the death penalty putting the spotlight clearly on Indonesia."

West Papuan leader Benny Wenda today called on Australia to also pay attention to his own peoples' plight, with an estimated 500,000 Indigenous West Papuans killed under Indonesian occupation of his homeland.

Mr Wenda today sent his condolences to the families of those killed, and said his people shared their pain.

"I would like to remind the world that this is exactly what the Indonesian government is doing to my people. Over 500,000 West Papuans have been systematically killed by Indonesia ever since [it] illegally invaded our country in 1963," he said in a statement.

In 1969, about 1,000 Papuans out of a population of 800,000 were hand- picked to vote in the "Act of Free Choice", which is commonly referred to as the "Act of No Free Choice". There are concerns they were threatened or coerced into voting for West Papua to become part of Indonesia.

Since then there have been constant concerns over human rights violations in the province and brutal and violent crackdowns on peaceful demonstrations. Because of a notorious ban on international media, the atrocities have largely flown under the radar.

Mr Wenda said a photo, currently the subject of an Australian government complaint, showing an Indonesian police chief from Bali posing on a plane with Andrew Chan as he is transported to the island in preparation of his execution earlier this year, was similar to the photos taken by Indonesian security forces who pose with tortured West Papuans.

He compared it specifically with a photo of Indonesian soldiers holding the body of West Papuan independence activist Yustinus Murib, who was killed by military forces in 2003.

"I feel that these photos show the world the kind of attitude the Indonesian authorities have towards anyone who opposes them," Mr Wenda said.

"So many West Papuans like Yustinus Murib are also escorted by smiling and sadistic Indonesian soldiers and police officers, only to be killed like animals at the command of the Indonesian government."

He called on Australia and the world to understand the pain felt by West Papuans under Indonesian control.

"I know that the Australian government is launching an official complaint about the photo.... I hope that the Australian government as well as others throughout the world will also look with the same sympathy and pain at the humiliation and suffering of my people under the Indonesian authorities as well," he said.

"People all around the world can see the similarity with these sadistic looking photos."

"...My deep sympathy and pain is with all those who are facing execution by the Indonesian government. Myself and my people know exactly what it is like to face seemingly imminent death at the hands of the Indonesian military."

Mr Wenda said it was time for his people to be independent, and that they would continue to campaign in the face of military intimidation.

"We West Papuans cannot live under a regime which continues to kill us all the time and happily hold up our dead bodies like animal trophy kills. We will struggle on for the independence of our nation through the fulfilment of our right to self-determination. No matter how many of us are executed, we will continue to campaign to be at last free from this military occupation and terror.

"...Please look to my people's suffering against the brutality of the Indonesian government. We must not let Indonesia get away with executing people any longer."

Source: https://newmatilda.com//2015/04/29/other-victims-state-sanctioned-murder-indonesia

West Papua protesters call on Indonesia to 'stop murdering people'

NT News - April 29, 2015

Protesters outside the Indonesian consulate in Darwin have called on the country to "stop murdering people".

A small group gathered for a global day of action for media access in West Papua on Wednesday with about half a dozen police present. Similar protests will take place in Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, as well as internationally.

Protesters said the event had been planned for some time and the timing was coincidental after the executions of Australian drug smugglers Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran in Indonesia overnight.

"We're very disappointed with (Indonesian president) Joko Widodo for taking this action," protester Rob Wesley-Smith told AAP. "If they want to be a modern, contemporary country they should do away with the death penalty."

He said he had hoped President Widodo would have been more liberal than his militaristic predecessors. "We're calling on Indonesia to stop murdering people," he said.

He welcomed Prime Minister Tony Abbott's announcement on Wednesday that ambassador Paul Grigson would be recalled from Jakarta, but said there could be economic ramifications for the Northern Territory if Indonesia retaliated, such as by reducing its quota of NT cattle.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Adam Giles issued a statement on the executions, saying his thoughts were with the Chan and Sukumaran families. "The loss of a child is a tragedy for any parent, let alone in the circumstances witnessed in Indonesia overnight," he said.

Source: http://www.ntnews.com.au/news/northern-territory/west-papua-protesters-call-on-indonesia-to-stop-murdering-people/story-fnk0b1zt-1227326468288

West Papua: 'Open up' global plea to Joko for journalists, rights groups

Pacific Media Centre - April 29, 2015

London (Tapol/Pacific Media Watch) – The London-based human rights organisation Tapol is today launching a global appeal to President Joko Widodo for "free and open access" for international journalists, humanitarian groups and human rights observers in the Melanesian Pacific provinces of Papua and West Papua.

More than 50 organisations are co-signatories to a letter being sent to the president, including Green MP Catherine Delahunty, Pacific Media Centre and West Papua Action Auckland and West Papua Action Canterbury from New Zealand.

Global signatories include the Asian Human Rights Commission, Article 19, Minority Rights Group International and Reporters Without Borders.

Tapol and supporting groups are staging an #OpenPapua protest outside the Indonesian Embassy in London today.

The letter from Tapol coordinator Esther Cann says that "for more than 50 years, access for foreign journalists seeking to report on Papua has been severely restricted".

The plea calls for the president to:

Take steps to end violence and intimidation against journalists in West Papua, investigate allegations of violence, and prosecute those suspected of involvement.
Remove all restrictions on visits by foreign journalists to West Papua, and on freedom of movement within Papua, including the system by which visa applications are vetted by a clearing house of government departments.
Provide access for international humanitarian and human rights organisations to conduct their work, without fear of restriction, harassment or arrest and in accordance with international human rights standards.
Allow free and unrestricted access for all UN Special Rapporteurs wishing to visit and report on Papua.

Tourist visas

"Those who have entered Papua on tourist visas have been deported, arrested and even imprisoned," says the letter.

"Just last year, two French journalists were sentenced to 11 weeks in detention under immigration charges. They had travelled to the Papuan Highlands to report on an ongoing conflict between the Indonesian military and pro-independence armed movements."

According to the Jayapura branch of Indonesia's Alliance of Independent Journalists (Aliansi Jurnalis Independen, AJI), said the letter, in recent years journalists from Czech Republic, France and the Netherlands had been deported for reporting on peaceful political events in Papua.

At the local level, violence and intimidation of national and local journalists made independent journalism a high-risk activity.

The letter cites several examples:

On 30 July 2010, journalist Ardiansyah Matra'is was found dead after receiving repeated threats from the military while he investigated illegal logging.
On 24 August 2010, Musa Kondorura of radio KBR68H was attacked by two agents from the State Intelligence Agency (Badan Intelijens Negara, BIN).
On 3 March 2011 Banjir Ambarita, a journalist with the Jakarta Globe and Bintang Papua was attacked and stabbed after reporting on a police rape case which resulted in the resignation of senior police official Imam Setiawan.
In 2011, AJI reportedly recorded 7 cases of violence and intimidation against journalists.
In 2012 the number of recorded cases reportedly rose to 12.
In July 2013 the house of a local journalist for Majalah Selengkah, a critical independent news site, was raided by unknown persons who ransacked the place and removed a notebook.

"There are ongoing reports of serious human rights violations including torture, enforced disappearances, murder, ill-treatment, cruel or degrading treatment, excessive use of force and arbitrary arrest of indigenous Papuans by Indonesian security forces," the letter says.

Source: http://www.pmc.aut.ac.nz/pacific-media-watch/west-papua-open-global-plea-joko-journalists-rights-groups-9246

West Papua: Open access now 'vital', say NZ journalists, rights activists

Pacific Media Centre - April 29, 2015

Auckland (Pacific Media Watch) – The spokesperson for the main journalists union in New Zealand today criticised the Indonesian blocking of access for international journalists in the West Papua region but says he is even more concerned about the "intimidation" of local Papuan journalists.

Brent Edwards, convenor of the EPMU's Print and Media Industry Council, told Pacific Media Watch the lack of access for international journalists has been a "big concern".

"But as important, if not more important, is the treatment of journalists in West Papua," he said. "How free are they to go about their business of reporting free from fear of intimidation or government heavy-handedness?"

A global appeal, being launched today by the London-based Indonesian human rights organisation Tapol, is calling for President Joko Widodo to give "free and open access" to "international journalists, humanitarian organisations, and human rights observers into the two provinces of Papua and West Papua.

With the plight of self-determination for the West Papuan people, Edwards said the Indonesian authorities were trying to "clamp down on any expression of that particular view".

"I know, talking to one or two West Papuan journalists that I've met, they clearly do their job under tremendous difficulty and it takes quite a lot of courage on their part to do the job," he said.

"It forces them to adopt some level of self-censorship to try and avoid in order to keep publishing or broadcasting".

Human rights' abuses

Restricted access also affects human rights' groups entry into the region.

The Pacific Media Centre's director, Professor David Robie, himself wearing a black "free West Papua" tee-shirt, condemned the Indonesian "media blackout" and described changes by Indonesian authorities to allow a handful of selected Western journalists from Jakarta to visit Papua as being designed to "delude neighbouring countries".

He had written on West Papuan issues for several years and had never been allowed into the region. But he added that there been a shift in public information and while mainstream media in New Zealand had not caught up with the West Papua issue, social media and citizen journalism were creating a "global groundswell".

He was one of the signatories to the international Tapol letter.

Amnesty International New Zealand activism support manager Margaret Taylor said the region was a "very closed shop", herself having been denied access to the West Papua region since 2002. Taylor said when media or observers are not allowed access, "grave human rights abuses occur".

"Peaceful protest in Papua can end up getting you killed and or severly injured, and if you survive the experience you could end up in prison for decades, " she said.

"There is brutal repression regularly at the hands of military and police and because they go unobserved, they act with impunity".

'Public right to know'

Allowing international journalists entry into the West Papua province meant "the public's right to know is respected".

Edwards said: "If their right to know is to be respected, then journalists have to be free to move around and report as they wish without fear or favour. "Until that happens, there will be ongoing suspicion about Indonesia and its motives there."

Taylor said entrance for human rights groups and observers was "vital because in the darkness, bad things happen". "Human rights' observers and the media act as a great dose of sunshine and they put a spotlight onto the abuses."

Taylor said another main reason to get into the provinces, was to observe that President Widodo kept his promises.

Widodo's promises

"He made promises that he would open up access to Papua province and improve Indonesia's human rights' record, but there was no sign of improvement in this side of Indonesia at all".

For organisations like Amnesty International to do their job, Taylor said they needed to be "standing alongside" the Papuan people.

"Papuan journalists do put their lives and their livelihoods on the line for reporting and getting coverage out to the waiting world," she said.

"Let's make sure their efforts aren't wasted and then we can certainly add balance and weight to what they're saying by spreading their message far and wide."

World-wide attention According to Taylor, international pressure from New Zealand was attracting the "world's attention". "It is getting traction, the story is getting out there, people are aware of the issues," she said.

"Particularly here in New Zealand, we draw from a population, including Pacific and Melanesian people that say, well, 'hey, they're our brothers and sisters, and there is an increasing awareness of and acknowledgement of that and there is a need to act."

Edwards said for journalists, pressures from neighbouring countries was "one way of providing support for local journalists".

"It's ensuring the Indonesian government knows the international community of journalists, at least, aren't turning a blind eye to it and will continue to agitate for press freedom in West Papua".

Supporters of #OpenPapua staged a vigil in Auckland's Aotea Square yesterday and at Parliament in Wellington today.

Source: http://www.pmc.aut.ac.nz/pacific-media-watch/west-papua-open-access-now-vital-say-nz-journalists-rights-activists-9248

Rallies call for international access to West Papua

Radio New Zealand International - April 29, 2015

A group of protestors gathered outside New Zealand's parliament today calling on Indonesia to give access for media and aid groups to West Papua.

It was one of many rallies being held across the world to mark the Global Day of Action on West Papua.

A Green MP and protest organiser, Catherine Delahunty, says for more than 50 years, access for foreign journalists seeking to report on Papua has been severly restricted.

She says the media blackout denies the Papuan people the right to have their voices heard.

Ms Delahunty says all over the world, letters are being written and delivered to the Indonesian president Joko Widodo, calling on him to honour his commitment to making Papua more open.

"We're here at the New Zealand parliament because we passed a motion last year saying we supported journalist freedom in West Papua but our government has done very little other than allow us to do that motion. We need them to do more. We need them to talk to President Widodo, and challenge him to make sure that he is serious about open access."

Source: http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/272394/rallies-call-for-international-access-to-west-papua

GempaR urges government to open access to democracy and foreign journalist

Tabloid JUBI - April 26, 2015

Jayapura, Jubi – Youth, Student and Papuan People Movement (GempaR) urged the Indonesian Government to open the democratic space and immediately open the access for foreign journalists in Papua.

"We urge the Indonesian Government to open space for democracy in Papua as promised," the Secretary General of GempaR, Samuel Wamsiwor told Jubi in Abepura last week.

He said Papua is the most isolated conflict area towards democracy and foreign journalists in the world. And the silencing of democracy is not a fiction; because the Indonesian Government neatly covered the access of factual information occurred in Papua for the last decade.

"Papuan people continue to be slaughtered and killed for no apparent reason with different stigma. In addition, the space for human right activists in Papua is sealed. They're even being hunted like animal. And today we ask the government, patting the chest Indonesian said it has the space for democracy, but where is it?" Womsiwor said.

They also asked the government to immediately open the access to foreign journalists to freely make the reportage in Papua to look closer on Papua and to reveal the state's crime against Papuan people.

Meanwhile, youth representative, Philipus said Papuans today miss a real and open democracy to express their aspiration without any pressure from nobody. "We really missed and expected the openness of democracy and free access to foreign journalists in Papua. If Indonesia is a democratic state, thus it must open the space for democracy," he said.

So far, GempaR observed what was happening in Papua is the authoritarian process. It's basically the same with what had occurred in the new order regime that is the silencing of the media access and of voice of humanity. For this reason, GempaR asked the government to immediately open the space for democracy in Papua. (Arnold Belau/rom)

Source: http://tabloidjubi.com/en/2015/04/26/gempar-urges-government-to-open-access-to-democracy-and-foreign-journalist-in-papua/

Free West Papua rally in Nigeria

Radio New Zealand International - April 24, 2015

The campaign to push West Papuan independence from Indonesia continues to spread in Africa with a Free West Papua protest being held in Nigeria.

The protest outside the Indonesian Embassy in Lagos was organised by the Pan African Consciousness Resistance and follows a surge of support from South Africa for a Free West Papua.

A protestor at the event said that Africans support the rights of peoples whose right to self-determination has been denied.

"Like the people in West Papua. For us as pan-Africans, this is a global struggle, just like we waged against the apartheid regime in South Africa, just like we waged struggle against racism in America against African Americans..."

Meanwhile, Indonesia's government says West Papuans are experiencing more development in their region.

Jakarta is also making efforts to better recognise and promote Papuan culture with plans to host a major Melanesian culture and arts event in October.

Source: http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/271990/free-west-papua-rally-in-nigeria

Priority or not, Indonesia happy to host Vanuatu embassy

Jakarta Globe - April 23, 2015

Basten Gokkon, Jakarta – Regardless of apparently conflicting statements from the Vanuatu government about the opening of an embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia appreciates the Pacific nation's interest in the establishment of a diplomatic mission here, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Thursday.

Spokesman Arrmanatha Nasir was asked to comment on a statement by Vanuatu Prime Minister Joe Natuman, who was reported to have said, earlier this week, that the establishment of an embassy in Jakarta was not a priority.

Vanuatu Foreign Minister Meltek Sato Kilman Livtunvanu, in Indonesia to attend the Asian-African Conference, on Monday did speak of plans to open an embassy, which immediately were welcomed by his Indonesian counterpart, Retno L.P. Marsudi, and then rebutted by Natuman.

Arrmanatha told the Jakarta Globe on Thursday that the plans to strengthen ties were indeed discussed by the two foreign ministers, and that he didn't think it would be right to comment on the internal political dynamics of another country.

Papua concerns

Natuman was quoted as saying by news portal TabloidJubi.com that no decision had been made to open an embassy in Indonesia, and that his country was still focusing on reconstruction efforts after it was hit by a devastating cyclone in March.

"Every diplomatic policy from the Vanuatu government, such as opening an embassy in any country, including in Indonesia, has to be decided by the incumbent government," Natuman said. "So far, the government never made any decision [to open an embassy in Jakarta]."

Natuman also said Vanuatu would need to take many aspects of its foreign relations into account before it would enhance diplomatic relations with Indonesia.

The Tabloidjubi report quoted Natuman as saying that the human rights situation in what he called "West Papua" – the Indonesian part of New Guinea – played a role in the considerations to open an embassy

"Our attention is on West Papua and how we fight together against every human rights violation that is faced by the people there," he said. "Opening a Vanuatu embassy in Indonesia is not our priority."

"Currently, Vanuatu also has a lot of work to do, especially after hurricane Pam," Natuman added.

Hurricane Pam destroyed large parts of the island nation and left dozens dead, besides ruining crops and demolishing fishing fleets. In early April, Indonesia sent $2 million worth of aid to help Vanuatu's government relief efforts.

Melanesian Spearhead Group

Indonesia has been trying to boost its ties with Melanesian countries in the Pacific, ahead of a regional summit next month that may address possible Papuan membership of the Melanesian Spearhead Group.

Melanesia extends from Fiji to the Arafura Sea and is commonly thought to include Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Papua and the Maluku islands. The latter two are part of Indonesia.

Last year, a group of foreign affairs ministers of Melanesian countries visited Indonesia's then-president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to pledge their support for Indonesia's sovereignty over the provinces of Papua and West Papua, where government troops have been facing a low-intensity separatist campaign for decades.

However, the 2014 MSG pledge to respect Indonesia's sovereignty over Papua was boycotted by Vanuatu, a member of the regional grouping.

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/priority-not-indonesia-happy-host-vanuatu-embassy/

Aceh

Couple caned in Aceh

Jakarta Post - April 24, 2015

Jakarta – An unmarried couple have been caned by order of the Bener Meriah regency administration in Aceh after they were found guilty of making love.

The caning of Satrio Guntari bin Suwondo and Saidatul Husni binti Samsul Aam was carried out in public after Friday prayers at Al-Amin Pante Raya grand mosque in Bukit District, in accordance with the shariah code that is implemented in Aceh.

"The two convicts should have been whipped seven times but because they have already served a 30-day jail sentence, the caning sentence was reduced to six strokes," Simpang Tiga Redelong chief prosecutor Bambang Panca said.

Head of the Sharia Agency in Bener Meriah Tengku Almujani said the public shaming of the couple would be a good lesson for local people.

"It would certainly be a humiliation if those undergoing the caning were our own children or grandchildren. We hope this the last caning in the regency," he said as quoted by kompas.com. (rms)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/04/24/couple-caned-aceh.html

Human rights & justice

Reconciliation for human right cases possible: Komnas HAM

Tempo.co - April 24, 2015

Jakarta – The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has called for both judicial settlement and reconciliation for the country's seven major cases of human rights violations.

Komnas HAM commissioner Khoirun said reconciliation would be the final solution. "Ideally, we can have both, but if we can only solve [these cases] through reconciliation, we don't mind. Both are equally good," he told Tempo on Thursday.

Khoirun, however, hoped the ending of these cases would abide by three main principles: statements of truth, rehabilitation guarantee and that similar cases must not replay in the future. "These are our commitments," he said. "We also want a joint team to be established immediately."

The notion to resolve the seven cases of human rights violation via reconciliation surfaced in a recent meeting involving the Komnas HAM, the Attorney General's Office (AGO), the Justice and Human Rights Ministry, the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, the National Intelligence Agency (BIN) and the National Police.

Another topic discussed in the meeting is the planned formation of a joint team comprising personnel from the Komnas HAM and the AGO, which among others will look into the 1965 Talangsari tragedy and the Wasior rioting in 2003. The team will be formed after the conclusion of the 2015 Asian- African summit.

Source: http://en.tempo.co/read/news/2015/04/24/055660513/Reconciliation-for-Human-Right-Cases-Possible-Komnas-HAM

Sexual & domestic violence

Pretrial motion filed against police over Solo King rape case

Jakarta Globe - April 23, 2015

Ari Susanto, Jakarta – Activists have filed a pretrial motion against Sukoharjo Police for the lack of progress in the allegations of child trafficking and sexual abuse against the king of Solo, Pakubuwono XIII.

"We have already sent a pretrial motion to Sukoharjo District Court and the first hearing will be held in a few weeks," Tedjo Kristanto, a lawyer representing the Indonesian Children and Women Protection Institute (Elpapi), told the Jakarta Globe on Thursday.

Tedjo said the pretrial motion was filed because Sukoharjo Police in Central Java did not make any progress in the investigation.

The police have said that they did not have grounds to interrogate Pakubowono XIII, who has been accused of raping a 16-year-old girl and fathering her child.

Police claimed that testimony from all witnesses questioned, except for the victim, did not provide sufficient evidence that a rape had occurred.

Without additional testimony, the allegations did not meet the threshold needed to launch criminal proceedings, Sukoharjo Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Andy Rifai said.

Tedjo said Elpapi feared the police would likely drop the case and a pretrial motion was needed to ensure the law was enforced.

The case was unveiled when a 10th-grade vocational high school student filed a report to the police that she had been trafficked and raped. The girl also reported the case to Elpapi and sought assistance from the group in July last year.

The girl said a woman with the initials W.T. offered to give her a job working for the king but instead "sold" her for Rp 2 million ($155).

W.T is currently being detained and has been named a suspect. However, Tedjo said, according to child protection law in an illegal prostitution, both trafficker and buyer must be charged.

Andi has denied Sukoharjo Police would drop the charges. He said the investigation was ongoing. "The case is under investigation, it is not closed," he said.

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/pretrial-motion-filed-police-solo-king-rape-case/

Labour & migrant workers

Indonesian workers divided over plans to establish new labour party

CNN Indonesia - April 30, 2015

Abraham Utama, Jakarta – International Labour Day or May will be commemorated tomorrow on Friday May 1 in a number of different countries. On Thursday however, labour groups in Indonesia were still divided over plans to establish a new labour party.

Workers affiliated with the Indonesian People's United Resistance (PPRI) for example have emphatically opposed a plan by the Indonesian Labour Movement (GBI) to establish a political party in the name of the Indonesian labour movement.

"We (workers) must build a [political] party, but not just for workers, but for all the people. Not [just] a new party, but an alternative party", said Paulus Suryanta Ginting when speaking with CNN Indonesia. Ginting is one of the workers affiliated with the PPRI.

Ginting doubts that the GBI's talk about declaring a labour party tomorrow will be realised. He questions whether trade unions that have explicitly aligned themselves with certain political forces can merge and fight for the same goals.

On Thursday April 23, the GBI announced that it was determined to establish a labour party on May Day. Confederation of the All-Indonesian Workers Union (KSPSI) president Andi Ghani Nena Wea claimed that the idea of forming a party already has the support of several trade union with a large mass base such as the Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPI) led by Said Iqbal.

During last year's presidential election, the two labour organisations took different positions visa-a-vis their support for the presidential candidates. Andi Ghani and his group gave their support to the President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and Vice President Jusuf Kalla ticket while Iqbal and his KSPI garnered votes for the Prabowo Subianto and Hatta Rajasa ticket.

"How can it possibly be an alternative [political] party if it's still in cahoots with certain elements of the elite", said Ginting. He suspects that these labour organisation leaders will misuse workers' votes to increase their political bargaining power.

Speaking separately, Iqbal said that his group is not yet in full agreement with Andi Ghani, noting that forming a labour party is not as simple as just turning over a new leaf. "It can't just be declared all of a sudden. There has to be a process", said Iqbal.

According to Iqbal, there are at least three stages that workers need to go through in order create a party in their own name, namely political education among labour groups, the establishment of a mass organisation as an embryonic political party and an internal survey among workers on whether there is a need for a labour party.

"It mustn't just involve a small group of workers. The majority of groups must take part. Groups outside of workers must be invited, such as farmers and fisherpeople", said Iqbal.

On this last point, Ginting agrees with Iqbal. He said that an ideal labour party cannot be exclusively for workers, but must also reach out to other social groups that are suffering the same fate as and are struggling alongside workers.

According to Ginting, if the establishment of a labour party is forced, the party will die in its infancy. Its fortunes will be the same past labour movement projects: it will surface then flounder.

[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service. The original title of the report was "May Day, Buruh Indonesia Terpecah soal Pembentukan Partai".]

Source: http://www.cnnindonesia.com/politik/20150430085558-32-50203/may-day-buruh-indonesia-terpecah-soal-pembentukan-partai/

Unions to announce labor party on May Day

Jakarta Post - April 30, 2015

Jakarta – A group of labor unions is planning to declare a new political party after a May Day rally on Friday.

"The party will consist of alliances, groups, unions and other forms of citizen movements," said Ilham Syah, the chairman of the Preparatory Committee of the All-Indonesia United Workers Confederation (KP-KPBI), on Thursday.

He also claimed that the rally, which commemorates the international Labor Day, would this year be the biggest protest in years with a total of 178,000 people joining.

The protest will demand the repeal of a regulation stipulating a salary raise only once in five years and another on outsourcing. It will also demand revision of the 2004 law on industrial relations dispute settlements, urging the state to protect victims of mass lay-offs.

Not all unions agree with the plan to form a political party. Indonesian Prosperity Trade Union (SBSI) chairwoman Sunarti said she still has doubts about the sources of the party's funding.

"If the labor party gets bigger, where will the funding come from? I don't want to discourage the initiative, but I remind my fellows [labor activists] not to fall into the same trap [like other political parties]," she said.

"We should prepare well. We are criticizing political parties and the President while we let ourselves become one of them," she said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/04/30/national-scene-unions-announce-labor-party-may-day.html

Balinese workers call for wage rise in lead up to May Day

Sindo News - April 30, 2015

Puji Sukiswanti, Denpasar – Hundreds of workers from the Balinese United Labour Alliance (ABBB) held a rally at the Bali Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) building in the provincial capital of Denpasar on April 30.

They also commemorated International Labour Day with rallies at the Balinese governor's office and the Niti Mandala Renon eastern parking lot, also in Denpasar.

Action coordinator Ida I Dewa Made Rai Budi Darsana said that the workers were demanding wage rises adding that the Balinese provincial minimum wage (UMP) is too low compared with East Java and Jakarta, yet the cost of living in Bali is not very different from Jakarta.

"The cost of living in Bali is becoming increasingly expensive, we from the Balinese United Labour Alliance are demanding an UMP for 2016 of around 2.2 million rupiah [a month]", he told journalists in Denpasar on Thursday April 30.

Moreover, he said, Bali is special region so the current UMP of 1.6 million rupiah a month is very low and does not cover the cost of workers' living costs. "We hope that the government will understand the situation facing workers", he said.

During the action, the workers were received by Bali DPRD deputy speaker Nyoman Sugawa Koryy and DPRD members Nyoman Parta and Ketut Kariyasa. Nyoman Sugawa Koryy claimed that he can understand the complaints of workers in Bali.

"We will accommodate their demands for an increase in the UMP, we will discuss the matter further with other council members", he explained to journalists.

The ABBB is an alliance labour and non-government organisations (LSM) including the Balinese Trade Union (SPB), the United Balinese National Front for Labour Struggle (FNPBBB) and the Balinese chapter of the Indonesian National Front for Labour Struggle (FNPBI). (san)

[Slightly abridged translation by James Balowski for the Indoleft news service. The original title of the article was "May Day, Buruh Bali Tuntut Kenaikan UMP Rp2,2 Juta".]

Source: http://daerah.sindonews.com/read/995810/174/may-day-buruh-bali-tuntut-kenaikan-ump-rp2-2-juta-1430381509

PPRI: Any new labour party must be independent of political elite

Solidarity Net - April 29, 2015

Andri Yunarko, Jakarta – On Monday April 27 the Indonesian People's United Resistance (PPRI) held a press conference at the offices of the Jakarta Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (LBH) to declare its position on the commemoration of International Labour Day or May Day.

The PPRI's membership includes a number of different people's organisations such as workers, migrant workers, students, artists and the urban poor.

The PPRI spokespeople at the press conference were Ata (Solidarity Alliance for Labour Struggle, GSPB), Sultoni (National Labour Movement Centre, SGBN), Surya Anta (People's Liberation Party, PPR) and Nisma (Indonesian Migrant Workers Trade Union, SBMI).

In its statement the PPRI criticised the approach of establishing a political party that involves the political elite, including the planned declaration of a new political party by the Indonesian Labour Movement (GBI). Although the PPRI agrees with the need for the ordinary people to have their own political party, it must fulfill three conditions.

First, in building such a political party it is not enough to just announce it then consolidate it among the trade union elite only, instead it must involve all trade union members.

Second, such a political party cannot just be just for workers but must be for all oppressed people such as fisherpeople, farmers, the urban poor and students.

And third, such a political party must be free from cooptation and the interests of the political elite who serve the interests of capital. If a labour party is coopted by the interests of the political elite, then the party will only be calling itself a workers party, but not fighting for workers' interests, only the interests of the elite and capital.

"A new party does not [necessarily] mean it's an alternative [political party], like the KSPI [Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions] that wants to build a political party but still maintains a close relationship with the KMP (former New Order general Prabowo Subianto's Red and White parliamentary coalition – Ed) elite", said Surya, who is also the spokesperson for the PPR, referring to the many new political parties that have emerged in the lead up to elections but are established by elite groups with capital.

Based on the above, the PPRI is critical of and opposes the position taken by labour organisations that are in fact collaborating with the political elite. There will be no improvement whatsoever, and it could even jeopardise ordinary people's future, if such a political party collaborates with the political elite in support of interests that are far removed from those of the people.

Those elements of the trade union leadership that are affiliated with the GBI have a track record of allying themselves with the political elite. They include KSPI president Said Iqbal who encouraged KSPI members to support Prabowo during the July presidential election, and Confederation of Indonesian Workers' Union (KSPSI) president Andi Ghani Nena Wea (KSPI) and Confederation of Prosperity Labour Unions (KSBSI) president Mudhofir (KSBSI) who supported President Joko Widodo in the elections last year.

The PPRI believes that building such a political party must be done in the framework of abolishing the oppression of the ordinary people.

This includes the oppression of workers through outsourcing and contract labour systems, low wages, dismissals and the muzzling of trade unions. The oppression of migrant workers such as Nuraeni who was tortured in Kuwait and whose case has been ignored by the state. The oppression of farmers, such as the seizure of agricultural lands in Ramunia (North Sumatra), Rembang (Central Java) and in many other parts of the country along with land evictions without providing decent alternative housing.

Government policies to cut subsidies for the people are also impacting on the soaring price of basic goods, education and healthcare. The people's suffering is also aggravated by restrictions on democracy such as state violence against so-called 'street thugs' and limits on the freedom of opinion and expression in both the real world as well as the internet through draconian laws.

For the PPRI therefore, the urgent task at the moment is a program to improve people's lives, both in terms of welfare as well as democratic freedoms. This program will be proclaimed at May Day this year with a call for workers and the people to build their own political party without the political elite, for the broadest possible democracy and the redistribution of national wealth for the welfare of all.

[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service. The original title of the report was "PPRI: Bangun Partai Buruh Tanpa Kooptasi Elit".]

Source: http://solidaritas.net/2015/04/ppri-bangun-partai-buruh-tanpa-kooptasi-elit.html

Labour leaders flattered by invite to join Widodo on presidential jet

Kompas.com - April 29, 2015

Jakarta – Indonesian trade union leaders felt enormously flattered to be invited by President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to join him on the presidential plane to visit the Central Java provincial capital of Semarang to officiate the construction of 1 million homes for workers.

Confederation of the All-Indonesian Workers Union (KSPSI) president Andi Ghani Nena Wea said that they received extraordinary special treatment from the president during the journey.

Jokowi invited the trade union leaders along with several cabinet members to fly to Semarang as passengers on the presidential plane.

"This is a historical moment for the working class in Indonesia, yeah, Jokowi is the first president of Indonesia to invite trade union leaders to travel in the presidential plane", said Andi, who was part of the president's entourage, when speaking with Kompas on Wednesday April 29.

"There has never been an administration before Jokowi's that treated workers like this. Not until Jokowi now. Presidents before him always maintained a distance and tended towards formality when they met us", continued Andi.

According to Andi, there were two moments during the trip that convinced the trade union leaders that Widodo cared about workers. First, said Andi, when the aircraft was in the air Widodo stood up and walked to the row of seats at the back of the plane to speak with the trade union leaders.

"The president came up to us. He requested that the May Day, May 1 2015 [rallies] proceed peacefully. We immediately conveyed our commitment to maintain security", said Andi.

A number of ministers traveled on the flight, including among others Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Puan Maharani, Labour and Transport Minister Muhammad Hanif Dhakiri and Public Works and Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono.

The second moment, continued Andi, was when the president gave his greetings at a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of housing for workers, and he chose not to give a speech. The ceremony should have been used by Widodo to give a speech to trade union leaders.

"It wasn't planned at all. It was totally impromptu, outside of the normal protocol. The workers who were present welcomed the moment", said Andi.

The president's special treatment of the trade union leaders convinced them that Widodo is endeavoring to improve Indonesian workers' welfare.

Andi also guaranteed that the worker organisations would not try to overthrow the administration of President Widodo and Vice President Jusuf Kalla.

"One of the ways workers will show their appreciation to the president is that we will guarantee that the May Day [rallies] will be peaceful and orderly. We will prevent infiltrators from getting in", said Andi.

[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service. The original title of the report was "Diajak Jokowi Naik Pesawat Kepresidenan, Pimpinan Organisasi Buruh Tersanjung".]

Source: http://nasional.kompas.com/read/2015/04/29/20201361/Diajak.Jokowi.Naik.Pesawat.Kepresidenan.Pimpinan.Organisasi.Buruh.Tersanjung

Progressive rock band SID denies it will perform at KSPI May Day Fiesta

Solidarity Net - April 24, 2015

Jakarta – An announcement by the Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPI) that the punk rock band Superman Is Dead (SID) will be performing at the May Day Fiesta on May 1 has been denied by the band. This is despite the fact that the KSPI has been hastily distributing flyers saying that SID will be playing at the event, albeit with a small footnote that SID has yet to confirm its attendance.

On its official Twitter and Facebook pages, SID said that it would not be appearing at the event. "The flyer is a lie!" read an 8.39pm status update on the SID Facebook fan page on April 22.

The posting has attracted both positive and negative responses with some are saying that the posting has been engineered so that workers will not hold demonstrations to commemorate May Day.

The owner of the Facebook account, Ricky Mohammad YS, has confirmed that it is a lie as he knows SID's schedule of appearances.

"Moreover in the tour dates there is no May 1 SID stage appearance at the GBK [Bung Karno Stadium] in Senayan", he wrote, along with a link to SID's schedule of appearances that can be accessed at .

Not only that, there are also fans that are calling on the band not to sell the name SID. The Facebook account Giska Septiana wrote, "A trick to draw the masses... don't go on stage with the Er Ce Em puppets".

Er Ce Em (RCM) refers to the Love the Republic (Republik Cinta Management) owned by Ahmad Dhani who has been invited to appear at the May Day Fiesta.

FSPMI (Indonesian Metal Trade Workers Federation) and KSPI activist Amir Mahfouzh explained that SID's appearance is still waiting on a confirmation as printed in the flyer.

"Although in the end the agreement was canceled the flyer had already been printed. [But] SID will in fact not be appearing", he said.

This statement has sown confusion because the [Facebook] status on SID's appearance states that it is still waiting on a confirmation, so what exactly has been cancelled?

As reported earlier by the April 2014 edition of the Koran Perdjoeangan newspaper, one of the FSPMI-KSPI 2015 May Day Fiesta organising committee members, Herianto, said, "This year it will be the same, it's planned that Zaskia Gotik and Superman Is Dead will fill the music performances. We chose Zaskia Gotik because dangdut music [a popular music with strong Hindu type musical beat] is the music of the ordinary people, while Superman Is Dead is a band that takes up critical social themes". (See: FSPMI-KSPI invites Jokowi and Zaskia Gotik to enliven May Day 2015 )

Prior to SID announcing its decision not to appear at the May Day Fiesta, one of its fans criticised its appearance at the event.

"How could a 'critical' band of the caliber of Superman Is Dead be willing to perform at a pro-militarist party event? What is the use of this noise about OPPOSITION if you don't want to learn from history!", wrote Wahyu on the wall of the SID fan page on April 20.

The FSPMI and the KSPI supported former New Order general Prabowo Subianto from the Greater Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) during the July presidential election.

Many believe that Prabowo will return Indonesia to the era of former president Suharto's militaristic New Order regime. Aside from trade unions, a number of celebrities also supported Prabowo during the election including Ahmad Dhani and the RCM.

SID is known as a critical and political band. One of its campaign activities has been to oppose the Benoa Bay land reclamation project in Bali. Although SID is classified as non-mainstream and idealists, it has been widely acclaimed and won the 2014 Indonesian Choice Awards and the 2014 Indonesian Music Award as the best rock group.

Notes

In June 2014, a music video made by musician Ahmad Dhani as a tribute to presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto sparked outrage with its strong Nazi overtones. In the video, an adaptation of the Queen classic "We Will Rock You", Dhani sports a fascist-style uniform and holds a golden Garuda – a mythical bird that is Indonesia's emblem – but which, against the black of his paramilitary attire, looked remarkably like the German imperial eagle that the Nazis incorporated into their iconography. [Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service. The original title of the report was "Bohong! SID Bantah Akan Tampil di May Day Fiesta KSPI".]

Source: http://solidaritas.net/2015/04/bohong-sid-bantah-akan-tampil-di-may-day-fiesta-kspi.html

In lead up to May Day, labour groups agree to form political party

Viva News - April 23, 2015

Syahrul Ansyari, Foe Peace Simbolon – In the lead up to the commemoration of International Labour Day 2015 or May Day, the Indonesian Labour Movement (GBI), which is made up of the Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPI), the Confederation of the All-Indonesian Workers Union (KSPSI), the Confederation of Prosperity Labour Unions (KSBSI), the Indonesian Multi- Sector Trade Union Federation (FSPASI) and other people's organisations, has agreed to form a political party.

Ilham Syah, a representative from the Indonesian Labour Union Confederation Preparatory Committee (KP-KPBI), said that this year's May Day in Indonesia would be different. This year workers will not just be campaigning around normative labour issues but this year's May Day will be raising working class political consciousness.

"Enough already, you the workers and the ordinary people continue to be lied to by the political elite that are currently in power", said Syah at a press conference themed "Workers unite with the people to build their own political party" at the Sofyan Hotel on Jl. Cut Mutia in Cikini, Central Jakarta, on Thursday April 22.

KSPSI president Andi Gani added that workers represent the majority of the people who should have a determining power over all policies that are enacted by the regime of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and Vice President Jusuf Kalla (Jokowi-JK).

The fact is however, that workers have simply been turned into objects by those in power. "This cannot be delayed any longer, workers and the ordinary people who are fighting must have their own political vehicle", said Gani.

At this year's International Labour Day, workers will be calling on the Jokowi-JK administration to seriously implement the Constitution and the mandate of the 1998 reformasi movement. They feel that the government has no clear commitment to improve the welfare of the Indonesian people.

"If the government wants to restore Indonesia's national sovereignty, then the administration led by President Jokowi and JK must end the process of liberalisation that it currently taking place in all sectors, particularly the labour sector ". (mus)

Notes

The Indonesian Metal Trade Workers Federation (FSPMI), which is one of the most active trade unions affiliated with the Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPI), supported former New Order general Prabowo Subianto during the July 2014 presidential election. According media reports, FSPMI president Said Iqbal was promised the position of labour minister in a Prabowo government in return for his endorsement. It has also been reported that the KSPI has invited musician Ahmad Dhani, who sparked outrage last year for making a pro-Prabowo music video with strong Nazi overtones, to perform at this year's May Day Fiesta. Left-wing labour activist have therefore expressed concern over any labour unity project initiated by these trade unions due to their continuing support of Prabowo.

[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service. The original title of the report was "Organisasi Buruh Akan Mendirikan Partai Politik".]

Source: http://politik.news.viva.co.id/news/read/617623-organisasi-buruh-akan-mendirikan-partai-politik

Workers to establish political party after this year's May Day rallies

Kompas.com - April 23, 2015

Jakarta – The Indonesia Labour Movement (GBI) has agreed to form its own political party following the commemoration of May Day 2015.

"The party will be established from confederations, federations, trade unions and other people's movement organisations", said Ilham Syah from the Indonesian Labour Union Confederation Preparatory Committee (KP-KPBI) at a press conference in Jakarta on Thursday April 23.

During the press conference Syah explained that this year's May Day would be the biggest labour action ever. "There will be around 178,000 protesters at May Day, this will be the biggest action [so far]", he said.

The May Day action will be making a number of demands, include among others, calling for the cancellation of five-yearly wage increases, revisions to Ministerial Regulation Number 19/2013 on outsourcing, a total revision of Law Number 2/2004 on the settlement of industrial disputes (PPHI), protection from the state for workers that fall victim to mass dismissals and the drafting of a law on protecting workers.

The technical aspects of the formation of the political party will be discussed after May Day. The move has been made as a result of workers' dissatisfaction with the lack of attention from the government.

[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service. The original title of the report was "Setelah Gelar 'Mayday', Buruh Berencana Bentuk Partai Politik".]

Source: http://nasional.kompas.com/read/2015/04/23/16051541/Setelah.Gelar.Mayday.Buruh.Berencana.Bentuk.Partai.Politik

Political parties & elections

Soeharto family eyeing political comeback

Jakarta Post - April 25, 2015

Margareth S. Aritonang, Jakarta – The family of former strongman Soeharto has inserted itself into the deepening rift between the two competing factions within the Golkar Party.

The family, known as the Cendana family after the street where Soeharto had his private home, is once more in the spotlight after Soeharto's youngest son Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra lambasted Yorrys Raweyai, a member of the Agung Laksono's camp, for his alleged role in orchestrating "violent" efforts to occupy the party's faction office at the House of Representatives building.

From his Twitter account @HutomoMP_9, Tommy, commenting on the ongoing rift within Golkar, had harsh words for Yorrys. "I strongly condemn Yorrys' action. I always considered you a friend, but it turns out that you're actually a loser," Tommy said.

Tommy further warned Yorrys, as well as an unidentified third party, that he was ready to take any measures necessary to save the party, including violence. "I too have a violent side if you want to play violence, so it's better not to mess around," Tommy said.

Tommy's sister, Golkar lawmaker Siti "Titiek" Hediati Hariyadi, later confirmed that the account was Tommy's, and said that her brother had his reasons for being angry over recent events within the party.

Titiek, who is also a member of central board of Aburizal Bakrie's faction, further asserted that regional party supporters had expressed support for Tommy taking over the party's leadership. "There is an urgent need for the Soeharto family to return and save the party," Titiek said.

Titiek, who was once married to Gerindra Party chairman Prabowo Subianto, said that Tommy was needed to bring an end to the infighting and start a reconciliation process. "Holding a national meeting [to select a new party chairman] is the best solution, rather than waiting until 2016," she said.

An internal party tribunal earlier called for the two camps to reconcile until next year, when the party is expected to hold a congress to elect a new chairman.

The call, however, fell on deaf ears, with the Aburizal camp filing a lawsuit challenging Agung's leadership, which was declared during a congress in Ancol, Jakarta, a few months after Aburizal was reelected chairman during a congress in Bali in September.

Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna H. Laoly eventually endorsed the leadership of Agung, who vowed to shift Golkar's support for the opposition Red-and-White Coalition to the ruling Great Indonesia Coalition.

Many in Golkar, however, have responded negatively to calls for a new Soeharto-family leadership of the party. Senior Golkar politician Akbar Tanjung said the discussion was "irrelevant".

Although Akbar did not explicitly reject the plan, he called for the party to continue with its reform, which has been ongoing since the end of Soeharto's New Order regime in the late 1990s.

"Reform has brought fundamental change. It's not relevant to discuss the Soeharto dynasty," he said on the sidelines of a meeting at the House.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/04/25/soeharto-family-eyeing-political-comeback.html

Tommy Soeharto eyes Golkar leadership

Jakarta Post - April 24, 2015

Jakarta – Following reports that the youngest son of former president Soeharto, Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra, had expressed interest in running in the race for the Golkar Party leadership, senior party executives held a meeting with him and other members of the Soeharto family.

Akbar Tanjung, one Golkar executive who joined the meeting, said that Tommy was free to join the race. "That can definitely happen," Akbar said as quoted by tribunnews.com.

Meanwhile, Tommy's sister Siti "Titiek" Hediati Hariyadi said many Golkar members in the regions wanted her brother to lead the party.

"Supporters in the regions have demanded that the Soeharto family, particularly Tommy, take over the party amid the infighting," said Titiek at the House of Representatives.

Golkar was founded by Soeharto and served as his political vehicle to remain in power for more than three decades. "There is an urgent need for the Soehartos to return and save the party," said Titiek, former wife of Gerindra Party patron Prabowo Subianto.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/04/24/national-scene-tommy-soeharto-eyes-golkar-leadership.html

Supporters want Tommy to lead Golkar: Titiek Soeharto

Jakarta Post - April 23, 2015

Dylan Amirio, Jakarta – A daughter of former dictator Soeharto, Titiek, said on Thursday that many supporters in the region had demanded that her youngest brother, Tommy Soeharto, take the helm of the Golkar Party and help end the infighting that had divided the party.

"Supporters in the regions have demanded that the Soeharto family, particularly Tommy, take over the party amid the infighting," said Titiek at the House of Representatives. Golkar was founded by Soeharto and served as his political vehicle to remain in power for more than three decades.

"There is an urgent need for the Soehartos to return and save the party," said the former wife of Gerindra Party patron Prabowo Subianto.

Since December, members of Golkar have been divided between the camps of Aburizal Bakrie and Agung Laksono. Titiek, a Golkar legislator, and Tommy, who was once imprisoned for ordering the murder of a judge, are in the Aburizal camp. (ren)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/04/23/supporters-want-tommy-lead-golkar-titiek-soeharto.html

Police vs KPK

KPK left out from crucial discussion of Perppu on its future

Jakarta Post - April 25, 2015

Ina Parlina, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) said on Friday it had not been invited to any House of Representatives' discussions on the deliberation of the 2015 regulation in lieu of law (Perppu) on the appointment of its interim commissioners.

The anti-graft body delivered the criticism as the House Commission III overseeing legal affairs was holding a session to endorse a proposal to enact the Perppu into law to replace the 2002 KPK Law.

The law was to be presented to the House during a plenary session on Friday. "The KPK leadership was not invited; only the KPK legal division was invited," KPK acting chairman Taufiequrachman Ruki said on Friday.

The House only invited Attorney General M. Prasetyo and National Police chief Gen. Badrodin Haiti to discuss the regulation in a Commission III meeting, which took place on Wednesday. The two officials said they would support the decision to enact the Perppu into law.

Johan Budi, one of the KPK's interim commissioners, said the antigraft body had not received any invitation to join the discussion since the House started the deliberation process in February. "If we had been asked to give our opinion [by the House], then of course we would have gone," he said.

Following a month-long standoff between the National Police and the KPK, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo issued the Perppu in February, which appointed three acting leaders as he suspended KPK chairman Abraham Samad and deputy chairman Bambang Widjojanto.

The Perppu has two additional chapters stipulating the mechanism to fill the three vacant seats in the commission's leadership as well as legal and administrative requirements for KPK leaders.

It also removed the maximum age requirement of 65 for membership of the anti-graft body, as stipulated in the 2002 KPK Law, in an apparent move to accommodate Ruki's membership, who is now 68.

In discussion of the Perppu, lawmakers also mulled including the establishment of a permanent ethics committee to monitor the KPK in the new law.

Johan questioned the plan, saying the proposal "needed to be discussed thoroughly first" with all relevant parties. "It needs a thorough discussion. For example, what will be the mechanism for its membership selection?" he said.

Commission III chairman Aziz Syamsuddin approved the decision after the commission's 10 factions voiced their support for the motion on Thursday night.

The KPK said it would honor any decision made by the House regarding the deliberation of the Perppu, as it would only focus on maintaining its current performance.

"About the Perppu, we leave the decision completely to the House," he said, adding that the KPK was ready to implement any decisions made by the House. "For us, it is [important] to ensure the KPK keeps running due to the many cases being handled," Johan added.

Previously, anti-graft watchdogs warned of the possibility of a new plan to weaken the KPK as the Law and Human Rights Ministry Yasonna H. Laoly considered cutting short the tenure of the current KPK leadership.

Speculation was also rife that Yasonna would pick less reputable individuals as members of the selection committee.

A 2011 Presidential Regulation, issued by then president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, authorized the third batch of KPK leaders, including Samad and Bambang, to remain in their positions until December 2015.

Yasonna has said that a new batch of commissioners would be installed by September at the latest.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/04/25/KPK-left-out-crucial-discussion-perppu-its-future.html

Jokowi blindsided by Budi

Jakarta Post - April 23, 2015

Ina Parlina and Fedina S. Sundaryani, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has endorsed the decision made by newly installed National Police chief Comr. Gen. Badrodin Haiti to appoint Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan as his deputy.

President Jokowi said that Budi, who was named a graft suspect by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) in January, could help Badrodin consolidate the police force.

"I have instructed the police chief to begin internal consolidation and gave him the chance to strengthen the police force. I have also instructed him to step up internal monitoring and improve the force's human resources," he said on the sidelines of the Asian-African Conference Commemoration (AACC) event at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC) in Senayan, South Jakarta.

Earlier on Wednesday, State Secretary Pratikno reaffirmed that Jokowi had entrusted Badrodin and the police force's Rank and Promotion Council for High-Ranking Officers (Wanjakti) to make the decision regarding the deputy chief position, based on his earlier conversation with the newly inaugurated police chief.

"The police chief was to then report the decision to the President," he said.

Pratikno earlier explained that President Jokowi had been busy with the AACC and had not been made aware of the inauguration of Budi as deputy National Police chief. "How could the President know [about the inauguration] if he's been busy since this morning?" asked Pratikno.

Budi was sworn in in a closed-door ceremony attended by only a handful of high-ranking generals at the National Police headquarters in South Jakarta.

National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Anton Charliyan denied that the police force were trying to minimize publicity for the inauguration, although closed-door inauguration ceremonies are a rarity in the force.

"The ceremony was not closed-door, Wanjakti merely decided that the event should be modest in light of the fact that the police chief was very busy with the Asian-African Conference," Anton claimed.

Badrodin earlier said at the House of Representatives building that Wanjakti had chosen Budi during an internal deliberation session on Tuesday afternoon.

Budi remains a controversial choice for deputy National Police chief. He was initially nominated as chief before being named a graft suspect by the KPK. Although the South Jakarta District Court ordered the KPK to halt its graft probe into Budi, Jokowi refused to proceed with Budi's nomination, instead asking the House to endorse Badrodin.

Budi, once served as an adjutant to then president and current Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) chair Megawati Soekarnoputri, was not the only police general inaugurated in a new position.

Vice President Jusuf Kalla's former adjutant, Insp. Gen. Syafruddin, was promoted to replace Budi as the head of the police force's Educational Division (Lemdikpol) and is set to become a three-star general.

Budi Gunawan's inauguration took place after National Police detective division chief Comr. Gen. Budi Waseso declared that there was not enough evidence to continue the graft investigation into him based on the graft case dossier handed over by the Attorney General's Office (AGO) earlier this month.

"Our investigators and several legal experts all agreed that there was not enough evidence in the dossier to name anyone a suspect," he said.

After the South Jakarta District Court's ruling, the KPK was forced to hand over the dossier, which allegedly only contained a copy of Budi's wealth report, to the AGO in March. The AGO then transferred the dossier to the police force, citing efficiency, as the police had investigated the same case in 2010.

Chris Biantoro, a rights activist from the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras), raised concerns over Jokowi's lack of involvement in the appointment of the deputy National Police chief.

"This shows the government's lack of commitment to eradicating corruption. It has let the police force pick a deputy chief who was previously implicated in graft," he complained.

Police expert Bambang Widodo Umar suggested that his appointment as deputy police chief would be Budi's ticket to the top job, because Badrodin is expected retire to in 15 months.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/04/23/jokowi-blindsided-budi.html

We need Budi Gunawan's connections: Police chief

Jakarta Post - April 23, 2015

Fedina S. Sundaryani, Jakarta – National Police chief Gen. Badrodin Haiti defended on Thursday his selection of controversial officer Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan as his deputy, saying that Budi had the most extensive network of political connections needed to safeguard the police's interests.

"He's superb at conception and has a wide perspective and extensive connections. His diplomacy is also excellent," said Badrodin.

"A senior police officer who has no connections and is without public support will be in a very difficult position. That's why we're taking advantage of Budi's unrivaled network," he said.

Budi is a close associate of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's political patron, Megawati Soekarnoputri, chairperson of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle. He is also close to Vice President Jusuf Kalla and the chairmen of other major political parties.

He was officially sworn in during a closed-door ceremony on Wednesday at the National Police headquarters on Jl. Trunojoyo, South Jakarta.

Jokowi initially proposed Budi as the police chief in January, but withdrew the proposal days later, after the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) declared Budi a graft suspect.

The KPK transferred Budi's case to the Attorney General's Office (AGO) after the National Police named the antigraft body's two leaders suspects in separate cases that many believed were engineered by the police. The AGO then forwarded Budi's case to the police for investigation. (ren)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/04/23/we-need-budi-gunawans-connections-police-chief.html

National police chief defends secretive Budi Gunawan inauguration

Jakarta Globe - April 23, 2015

Farouk Arnaz, Jakarta – National Police Chief Gen. Badrodin Haiti has defended the under-the-radar inauguration of Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan as his deputy, claiming the abrupt inauguration was caused by a scheduling conflict.

"It was the result of a very fast process, initially I wanted to hold the inauguration on Thursday and make it open, with media and everything, but it turned out I have a presentation today," Badrodin said on Thursday.

Budi was inaugurated as National Police deputy chief on Wednesday despite critics saying that Budi, who had been named a suspect by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), was not an appropriate candidate for a force dogged by graft allegations.

Despite widespread public disapproval of Budi, the Wanjakti, an eight- member police committee that vets candidates for senior positions, had unanimously agreed last Friday to appoint Budi as the nation's second in command of law enforcement.

Badrodin denied he had been keeping the Wanjakti's decision a secret until the very last minutes to avoid protest. Prior to the inauguration, Badrodin kept refusing to confirm Budi's appointment to the media.

"Everything was unclear until Wednesday morning. It is unwise to announce something before it is fixed," he said.

Budi's inauguration has drawn criticism because the police did not seem interested in mass media coverage, which is unusual for such a key event.

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/national-police-chief-defends-secretive-budi-gunawan-inauguration/

Yogyakarta activists protest Budi's inauguration as deputy chief

Jakarta Post - April 23, 2015

Bambang Muryanto, Yogyakarta – Yogyakarta Anti-Corruption Civil Society Coalition activists tore up a copy of the Nawacita document containing the vision, mission and working programs of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and Vice President Jusuf Kalla's administration in protest of the inauguration of Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan as deputy National Police chief during a press conference in Yogyakarta on Thursday.

The coalition said Budi was a graft suspect and urged the President to cancel his inauguration.

"President Jokowi must take responsibility for the inauguration of Budi as deputy National Police chief, which was not done in line with procedure. We are doubtful about Jokowi's commitment to corruption eradication," said Wazingatu Zakiyah, an activist of the Women's Anti-Corruption Movement, one of the coalition members.

She was speaking at the press conference held at the Countercorruption Study Center (PUKAT) at Gadjah Mada University on Thursday.

Dozens of NGO activists wore masks bearing a likeness to Budi emblazoned with a big cross to demonstrate their rejection of his inauguration. The activists also brandied banners rejecting Budi. At the end of the press conference, they tore up the Nawacita document together.

National Police chief Gen. Badrodin Haiti inaugurated Budi as his deputy in a closed-door ceremony at the National Police headquarters in Jakarta on Wednesday. (ebf)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/04/23/yogyakarta-activists-protest-budi-s-inauguration-deputy-chief.html

Budi's inauguration invalid, says anti-corruption activists

Jakarta Post - April 23, 2015

Bambang Muryanto, Yogyakarta – Anti-corruption activists in Yogyakarta said on Thursday the inauguration of Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan as deputy National Police chief violated a presidential regulation as it was conducted without the properly informed consent of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo.

Wazingatu Zakiyah, an activist with the Indonesian Women's Anti-corruption Movement, said according to Article 57 (1) of Presidential Regulation (Perpres) No. 52/2010 on National Police organizational structure and work orders, the inauguration and dismissal of police officers from echelon IA and IB were decided by the National Police chief after consulting with the President.

In fact, she said, the National Police determined Budi's inauguration as police deputy chief internally, without first consulting with President Jokowi, who seemed to have been busy handling Asian-African Conference- related matters.

"The consultation ought not to be conducted only verbally. There should be a written document detailing the National Police chief's request to consult with the President about the deputy chief's inauguration," said Zakiyah in a press conference at the Countercorruption Study Center (PUKAT) at Gadjah Mada University on Thursday.

National Police chief Gen. Badrodin Haiti inaugurated Budi as his deputy chief in secrecy and out of the public spotlight in a ceremony at the National Police headquarters in Jakarta on Wednesday.

PUKAT researcher Hifdzil Alim said Budi's inauguration as deputy National Police chief was problematic because he still had the status of a graft suspect as determined by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

South Jakarta District Court judge Sarpin Rizaldi decided in March in favor of Budi in a pretrial hearing he requested to contest the KPK's actions.

Hifdzil said, however, that Sarpin only decided that the KPK did not have the authority to handle Budi's corruption case and he did not dismiss the core of his alleged graft case.

He further said Budi's inauguration as National Police deputy chief violated Law No. 2/2002 on National Police and Law No. 5/2014 on Civil Servants.

"Up until now, the National Police have never issued a letter of order to stop any investigations, which means Budi is still a graft suspect," said Hifdzil. (ebf)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/04/23/budi-s-inauguration-invalid-says-anti-corruption-activists.html

Environment & natural disasters

Deforestation continues for palm oil, says WWF

Jakarta Post - April 29, 2015

Jakarta – Millions of more hectares of forest across the country are likely to be destroyed in the near future despite a decline in the deforestation rate over the past decade, according to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).

The WWF on Tuesday released its 2015 Living Forests Report, projecting that between 2010 and 2030 around 35 million hectares of forests in Kalimantan, Sumatra and Papua would gradually disappear mainly because of rapid agricultural development.

"These three fronts are where the bulk of global deforestation is expected to take place in the next two decades under business-as-usual scenarios and without interventions to prevent losses," WWF International Forest Program director Rodney Taylor said on Tuesday in Central Jakarta.

Kalimantan is predicted to see the biggest forest losses, amounting to 22 million hectares, because of the past decade's significant expansion of large-scale oil palm plantations, which currently cover 11.7 million hectares in the country, according to the report.

WWF Indonesia policy and transformation director Budi Wardhana said that Kalimantan had lost almost half of its forests in the past decade. "And half of what's left can be destroyed in the near future. Oil palm plantations are the main cause," Budi said.

Meanwhile, 7 million hectares of forests on Papua will disappear as up to 10 million hectares of them are set to be cleared for massive development of agricultural products, the report shows.

Budi said that Papua was facing increasing deforestation threats even though it retained significant forest areas. "Deforestation rates in the region can surge if current proposals for agricultural development are realized," Budi said.

The report further shows that 5 million hectares of forests on Sumatra Island will be destroyed because of the expected expansion of oil palm plantations by small-scale producers.

Budi said that this was driving deforestation even into protected forests. "More than half of the forests have been cleared and what remains is at risk from land clearing for oil palm plantations," he added.

Based on the report, the overall deforestation rate in the country has declined from around 2 million hectares to 0.5 million hectares per year in the past decade, with deforestation mainly taking place in areas not intended for forestry purposes.

"If we look at the graphic, the deforestation rate has indeed declined, but if we see the factors that have caused forest losses, we can say that the rate is likely to increase," Budi said.

"And deforestation has also hit 13 percent of protected and conservation forest areas," he added. (alm)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/04/29/deforestation-continues-palm-oil-says-wwf.html

Bogor fails to keep promises on Puncak preservation: Watchdog

Jakarta Post - April 27, 2015

Indra Budiari, Bogor – Forest Watch Indonesia (FWI) says the Bogor regency administration lacks a commitment to protecting a conservation zone in Puncak, Bogor regency, West Java, alleging authorities have failed to follow up on promises to clear the area of illegal villas.

FWI coordinator Dwi Lesmana said that based on a recent FWI field investigation in Sukatani village, Puncak, four out of 27 villas in the conservation area demolished by the Bogor administration in 2013 have been rebuilt by owners.

He said one of the rebuilt villas was a five-story building, two floors of which have been finished.

"It is true that the villa owners committed a violation by building their villas in a conservation area, but so did the city administration, by failing to conduct strict supervision and spatial-planning enforcement," Dwi said during a discussion in Bogor.

Puncak, which straddles Cisarua and Megamendung district in Bogor, plays an important role as a water-catchment area to lowland neighbors like Jakarta. However, with a large number of villas built into the hillside, the Ciliwung River – which flows from Puncak – often overflows and floods Jakarta during the rainy season.

To address the issue, in late 2013 then Bogor regent Rachmat Yasin, who has recently been arrested for graft, ordered the dismantlement of all villas in the conservation zone.

Supported by Rp 30 billion (US$2.3 million) in funds from Jakarta, the Bogor administration has demolished more than 200 illegal villas. However, there has been no follow-up to restore the area's water-catchment capacity.

According to Dwi, during the demolitions two years ago, the regency administration promised land would be rehabilitated for "the sake of society". "But from what we saw in the field, it [the government] did not do anything after it tore down the villas. The action stopped there," Dwi continued.

Ernan Rustiadi, Puncak Conservation Consortium chairman, said annual flooding of the Ciliwung River was a severe problem that would not be solved building more dams or river-normalization alone. He said the problem had to be addressed at its roots, which included the rehabilitation of Puncak.

He said one of the main problems that – one yet to be acknowledged by Bogor officials – was river dumping by locals and visitors to the area, which causes huge piles of environmentally damaging garbage.

"We found at least 43 mountains of trash in the Puncak area," said Dwi, who is also dean of the Agriculture Faculty at the Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB). Consortium data showed that only 30 percent of trash in Puncak was taken to the landfill, while 70 percent was dumped in the river.

Previously, the Bogor Sanitation Agency said the agency was overwhelmed by the amount of garbage.

During the discussion, Ernan said the administration needed to actively campaign on the consequences of littering, and also had to make sure the community threw their garbage at legal dumps.

"Thankfully, there are a number of communities that have started campaigning and asking people to clean the Ciliwung River. The sustainability of the Ciliwung River can only be maintained if the Bogor administration cooperates with its residents in protecting the area," Ernan went on.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/04/27/bogor-fails-keep-promises-puncak-preservation-watchdog.html

Government taken to task for keeping forestry documents

Jakarta Post - April 24, 2015

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – The Environment and Forestry Ministry is in hot water after refusing to release what it deems to be confidential documents but which several civil society organizations say is public information, access to which is key to an ongoing study of forestry sector performance.

Forest Watch Indonesia (FWI) said Thursday that the ministry was currently on trial at the Central Information Commission (KIP) for denying the watchdog access to four kinds of documents. "When we were asked [by the government] to monitor the implementation of the SVLK [local timber legality verification system], we asked [for the documents], but they wouldn't give them to us even though we had been given the mandate," FWI executive director Christian Purba told The Jakarta Post. "That's why we had to file the lawsuit."

The four types of documents requested are the Timber Usage Working Plan (RKUPHHK), the Annual Timber Usage Working Plan (RKTUPHHK), the Industrial Material Fulfillment Plan (RPBBI) for volumes of more than 6,000 square meters and the Timber Exploitation Permits (IPK).

The RKUPHHK and the RKTUPHHK, are needed to compare the actual number of trees being logged with the ministry's stated aims, as well as to assess the compliance of companies in relation to permits granted by the government.

The RPBBI and the IPK, meanwhile, are used to monitor the supply chain of materials in the logging industry to determine whether they have been sourced in a legal manner.

The four documents are required by the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) – signed by the Indonesian government and the European Union (EU) to be disclosed to the public – as the EU will only accept legal timber from Indonesia. The agreement was ratified by Presidential Decree No. 21/2014.

As such, it was strange for the ministry to break the rules, Christian said. "This dispute shows that the ministry has drifted even further from the spirit of public transparency," he added.

Ministry spokesman Eka W. Soegiri said the government was unable to release the requested documents,as the trial was still going on, with a verdict scheduled to be handed down in early May 2015.

"This dispute occurred because there were differences in understanding between the ministry and the plaintiff regarding access to information," he told the Post on Thursday.

Once the verdict is issued, the ministry will accept it, even if it means it must provide access to the documents, Eka said.

The KIP judged the RKTUPHHK to be public information in a 2014 case filed against the forestry agency in Ketapang Regency, West Kalimantan.

"With such a precedent, the current trial should have ended a long time ago. But it's already been going on for six months now. There might be something fishy going on," Christian said.

This is not the first time the ministry has been put on trial for its reluctance to provide information.

The Indonesian Center of Environment Law (ICEL) also challenged the ministry at the KIP for refusing to provide a forestry map of Aceh between 2010 and 2013 in shapefile format. The ministry only agreed to provide the.jpg version of the map, reasoning there was no way for the ministry to validate the shapefile format.

According to the law on geospatial information, a person can be sentenced to prison if he or she releases information that is invalidated.

"But without the shapefile format, our analysis could be hampered. Our results will be different if we use the.jpg file," ICEL researcher Dessy Eko Prayitno said on Thursday.

The ICEL needed the shapefile format of the map because the format could be easily transferred and edited using the Geographic Information System (SIG).

The KIP, however, found the ministry not guilty. The ICEL is currently filing an appeal at the state administrative court (PTUN).

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/04/24/government-taken-task-keeping-forestry-documents.html

NGOs call for extension of forest moratorium

Jakarta Post - April 24, 2015

Jon Afrizal, Jambi – A number of NGOs in Jambi have called for the logging moratorium that has applied since 2010 and which is due to end on May 15 to be extended for the sake of forest conservation.

"If the moratorium is allowed to lapse, peatlands will be the first to be endangered as their status is neither protected forest nor national park," spokesperson of the Jambi branch of the Indonesian Conservation Community (KKI Warsi), Rudi Syaf, said on Thursday.

Rudi argued that even when the moratorium was still in place, many violations endangering forests were still committed. He said that unless the moratorium was extended a number of forests in the province would be endangered since forests in Jambi had been targeted for investment in production forests (HTI) and oil palm plantations.

He added that most of the areas in Jambi included in the moratorium were protected forests, national parks and other conservation areas such as the 160,000 hectares of peat land spread across the regencies of Muaro Jambi, West Tanjung Jabung and East Tanjung Jabung.

The moratorium, according to Rudi, should have been longer, for at least 20 to 30 years to give nature sufficient time to recover.

Efforts such as expanding customary forests in Jambi, Rudi said, were not comparable to the high rate of deforestation in the region, as more and more companies arrived in the province.

Minimal efforts through customary forests could only yield 3,000 hectares at a maximum in Lubuk Beringin, Bungo regency. At the provincial level the figure is 49,000 hectares. "It's nothing compared to the expansion that the companies are making, which amounts to hundreds of thousands of hectares," Rudi said.

Separately, Ferry Irawan of the Green Association said that the ending of the moratorium was made worse by the government's policy on bio-fuels as this could trigger a massive expansion of oil palm plantations, leading to widespread conversion of forests.

"This policy is dangerous for forests, especially in Jambi, which is a target [for investment in the sector]," Ferry said. The policy, according to Ferry, would also disadvantage farmers as only certified palm oil firms would be able to enter the market.

He therefore expressed strong opposition to the policy and urged that the moratorium be extended. This despite the fact that even when the moratorium was in place, many oil palm plantations were established in restricted areas.

"Of the 1.5 million hectares of forest included in the moratorium, half has been converted," he said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/04/24/ngos-call-extension-forest-moratorium.html

Health & education

Cigarette warnings covered by excise bands: Survey

Jakarta Post - April 28, 2015

Jakarta – The Indonesian Consumer Foundation (YLKI) revealed on Tuesday that the pictorial health warning on more than half of the tobacco product packages it surveyed were covered by excise bands.

"We suspect that the covering was done intentionally to blur the warning on health damage caused by smoking," said Tulus Abadi of the YLKI at the launch of the survey of pictorial health warning implementation on Tuesday.

Government Regulation (PP) No. 109/2012 on tobacco control stipulates that cigarette packages circulating on the market must bear a pictorial warning that must not be covered by anything, including excise bands.

The survey, conducted from February to March, took samples of tobacco products, including products from PT Philip Morris International (PMI), PT British American Tobacco (BAT)-Bentoel, PT Gudang Garam, PT Djarum as well as Minak Djinggo and Lodji.

PT BAT had the lowest compliance with the regulation as all of the pictorial warnings on the sampled products were covered by excise bands, while PT Djarum and PT Gudang Garam were more compliant with 41 and 50 percent respectively. Local brands led in compliance with 65 percent.

Tulus urged the Finance Ministry to issue a slimmer excise band and a regulation on the placement of the band. (fsu)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/04/28/cigarette-warnings-covered-excise-bands-survey.html

Indonesia children struggling with chronic malnutrition

Jakarta Post - April 25, 2015

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – Wawa, a two-and-a-half year old girl, looks happy in her smaller-than-average frame. She always smiles from ear to ear whenever her mother buys her porridge from a nearby street vendor or cooks her a local brand of instant noodles.

"Those are the foods that I usually give to my daughter," Wawa's mother Kus told The Jakarta Post on Thursday. "She doesn't like vegetables at all."

However, Kus, who hails from Lampung and now works as a domestic helper in Jakarta, said that she is not at all concerned that her daughter does not get enough nutrients crucial for her development.

"As long as she is happy, then I am happy," she said. Little does Kus know that her daughter is at risk of becoming stunted with such a diet, which is high in carbohydrates, but lacks other important nutrients.

It is not uncommon to hear stories like Wawa's in Indonesia, a country with a malnutrition problem so bad that 37 percent of children under 5 are too short for their age, a condition known as stunting.

Many of these children will not do well at school because the same nutrients that are needed for growth are also needed for healthy brain development.

The 2014 Global Nutrition Report places Indonesia among 31 countries in the world that are unlikely to meet global targets for reducing malnutrition by 2025.

"Based on the report, it's pretty clear that Indonesia should be doing better than it is from the numbers because it achieved a good GNP [gross national product] per capita, has a committed government, a highly educated workforce – at least in some parts of the country – and good agricultural production and, yet, its stunting rate is 37 percent," Global Nutrition Report co-chair Lawrence Haddad recently told the Post.

But what is worrying is the fact that Indonesia had only managed to make slow gains in reducing the numbers of under-nourished children.

"The number has been fairly flat for the last five or six years. So that's really worrying. You can start in a high place, but if the number isn't going down [then you're in trouble]," Haddad said. "It's a puzzle. No one really understands why [the number is so bad]."

It is believed that the mindset of people like Kus is the root cause of Indonesia's malnutrition problem.

"It's all about behavior," said Ravi K. Menon, the Indonesian country director for the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN). "Here, stunting doesn't only affect poor families, but also rich ones. It happens because nobody understands how to properly feed [their children]. Since there has been a lot of propaganda on what we should feed them, we fall for it."

Therefore, it is crucial for the government to find creative ways to change the mindset of its people when it comes to nutrition, according to Rachel Nugent from the University of Washington's School of Public Health.

"[You could] put healthy foods first under a very nice light to make them attractive while moving less healthy foods to the back. Sometimes these things don't cost too much," she said.

While it might not be too costly to try to change people's diets, attempts to reduce stunting alone in Indonesia would result in much greater benefits.

A study in 2013 by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) calculated that efforts to reduce stunting alone in Indonesia would yield Rp 48 million (US$3,700) for every Rp 1 million invested.

A study by a think tank called the Copenhagen Consensus Center even estimated a more fantastic number, reporting that every dollar invested in better nutrition in Indonesia could yield benefits worth $166.

"Feeding people properly – and starting early – is not just a moral imperative. It also makes a lot of economic sense," the think tank said in its 2015 book on the post-2015 development agenda, The Nobel Laureates' Guide to the Smartest Targets for the World.

The 2014 Global Nutrition Report places Indonesia among 31 countries in the world that are unlikely to meet global targets for reducing malnutrition by 2025.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/04/25/ri-children-struggling-with-chronic-malnutrition.html

Graft & corruption

Former chief detective Susno Duadji released on parole

Jakarta Globe - April 28, 2015

Farouk Arnaz, Jakarta – Susno Duadji, a former chief detective with the National Police convicted for his role in two graft cases, has been released on parole to allow him to reintegrate into society.

Susno, whose case made headlines on several occasions in recent years as he was long able to stay out of prison despite being convicted of corruption, served less than two years of his three-and-a-half year sentence.

"He's already out," Susno's lawyer, Fredrich Yunadi, told the Jakarta Globe last weekend. "Already around three weeks ago [he was released]."

The retired three-star general was said to be residing in one of his homes, in the upscale Wijaya area of Kebayoran Baru in South Jakarta.

Susno himself was not immediately available for comment, but workers at his house confirmed that the former chief of the West Java Police had indeed been released from jail.

"He usually exercises in the morning, going for a walk. Already around a month now," a male worker said, requesting his name be withheld.

The South Jakarta District Court convicted Susno of two counts of corruption in March 2011, sentencing him to three-and-a-half years in prison.

He was found guilty of misappropriating Rp 8 billion ($615,000) in security funds in 2008 for the West Java gubernatorial election when he served as chief of the provincial police force. He also accepted a Rp 500 million bribe to influence the outcome of a legal dispute over the ownership of a Riau fish farm in 2009.

Susno however filed an appeal with the Supreme Court, which upheld the lower court's ruling but failed to issue an order to detain the convict. He was then able to remain free, arguing that police and prosecutors had no right to arrest him.

The Constitutional Court later closed that loophole – ruling that prosecutors do not need a detention order to arrest convicted felons – but Susno remained a fugitive until he finally surrendered himself to authorities in May 2013.

Susno was ordered to pay a Rp 200 million fine and return Rp 4 billion to state coffers. He had been detained at Cibinong prison in Bogor, West Java.

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/jakarta/former-chief-detective-susno-duadji-released-on-parole/

Police general handed light sentence

Jakarta Post - April 23, 2015

Haeril Halim, Jakarta – A panel of judges at the Jakarta Corruption Court handed down on Wednesday a lenient five-year prison sentence to a police general in a high-profile graft case that led to a standoff between the National Police and the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) in 2012.

Wednesday's ruling on former deputy chief of the National Police Traffic Corps (Korlantas), Brig. Gen. Didik Purnomo, in connection to a Rp 198 billion driving simulator procurement project brought the case, to a close after a lenient sentence of 10 years was handed to former Korlantas chief Insp. Gen. Djoko Susilo in 2013.

Last week, KPK prosecutors demanded a seven-year sentence for Didik in connection to the case, which resulted in state losses of Rp 121 billion, while in 2013 Djoko's sentence demand was 17 years behind bars. Article 2 of the 1999 Corruption Law, which the two were charged under, carries a maximum sentence of 20 years.

In addition to Didik's light verdict, presiding judge Ibnu Basuki Widodo rejected KPK prosecutors' demand to strip the police general of his political rights to vote and to run for office in future elections.

"The defendant also should pay a fine of Rp 250 million to the state or serve an additional three months behind bars. It is unnecessary to punish the defendant further by not allowing him to run for office because it depends on whether the public wants to elect him or not," Ibnu said when reading out the verdict.

The panel of judge also ordered Didik to pay the state Rp 50 million in restitution, the same amount he pocketed for rigging the project for PT Citra Mandiri Metalindo Abadi (CMMA), which is owned by businessman Budi Susanto, who was sentenced to eight years behind bars in the case.

The firm later illegally subcontracted PT Inovasi Teknologi Indonesia, belonging to businessman Sukotjo S. Bambang, another suspect who remains free. The KPK said it was still working on Sukotjo's dossiers.

Didik's indictment painted a picture of outright graft, dirty money and of his recklessness as the deputy chief of Korlantas, the supervising body.

Didik accepted Rp 50 million to turn a blind eye to the illegal activity, which was engineered by his boss, Djoko, who accepted Rp 32 billion to act as a "guardian" of the project for the National Police – an institution deemed one of the nation's most corrupt.

As much as Rp 15 billion was funneled to the National Police's cooperative, while Budi and Sukotjo pocketed Rp 93 billion and Rp 3.9 billion, respectively.

In order to get then National Police chief Gen. Timur Pradopo to approve CMMA as the project winner, the two businessmen paid Rp 1 billion and Rp 1.5 billion in bribes to the National Police's General Supervision Inspectorate (Irwasum), which later recommended Timur approve CMMA as the winner.

At the time, Irwasum was led by former deputy National Police chief Comr. Gen. Nanan Sukarna, who has been questioned by the KPK in the case. Didik's indictment failed to provide details, however, regarding the recipients of bribes. Nanan has repeatedly maintained his innocence in the case.

Despite the fact that it was Timur who signed the CMMA appointment letter, the KPK has not brought him in for questioning.

Dissatisfied with the lenient sentence, Didik's lawyer, Harry Ponto, said his client may challenge the verdict at the Jakarta High Court. "We will make a decision within seven days after discussing the matter with my client," Harry told reporters after the hearing.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/04/23/police-general-handed-light-sentence.html

Islamic law & morality

Bali prohibition battle as Muslim conservatives increase their influence

Sydney Morning Herald - April 26, 2015

Jewel Topsfield, Jakarta – In 1918, the Dutch government established the Alcoholbes Trijdings Commissie to investigate the abuse of alcohol in the Dutch East Indies. Its findings were alarming. "The smell of alcohol filled the red light districts of Batavia [the former name for Jakarta]", according to Drunkenness in History by University of Indonesia history lecturer Kasijanto Sastrodinomo.

The Dutch police banned the locally-made "black" liquor popular among indigenous Indonesians. Between 1920 and 1925 they tried to eradicate arak, badeg and ciu from several areas of Java. Spying villagers were given prize money for dobbing in local alcohol producers, leading to overzealous tip- offs of fermented cassava cake makers. (The fermentation process produced ethanol.)

"This led to conflicts among people," Kasijanto writes. Meanwhile, Dutch and Indonesian police officers assigned to crack down on liquor sold in coffee shops had a tipple themselves. "As a result the fight against liquor was apparently not very effective," Kasijanto notes drily.

Meanwhile, the Dutch continued to import "modern liquor" such as brandy and jenever from Europe, lining government coffers with tax.

If all this talk of bootleg liquor, alcohol bans and exemptions for one class of people sounds strangely familiar, it is because Indonesia is once again facing a push for prohibition.

In a move that took many by surprise, the Indonesian government announced in January the sale of beer would be banned from convenience stores, street food stalls and beach vendors. (This was already the case for wine and spirits, which is, in any case, taxed to the hilt and prohibitively expensive for most Indonesians.)

As of April 16, beer can only be purchased from supermarkets and restaurants (although exceptions have now been made in tourism hotspots following a public outcry.) The Trade Ministry said the move was needed to crack down on underage drinking and protect morals and culture in society.

And then this month secular parties agreed to deliberate a bill that has expats breaking into a cold sweat across the archipelago. If passed in its current form, the bill, which was initiated by two Islamic parties, would impose a total ban on the production, sale and consumption of alcohol. Anyone caught drinking could face up to two years in prison or a fine of up to 50 million rupiah ($5000).

Before you cancel your flight: exemptions would apply. "Five star hotels, Bali and North Sulawesi might be examples of places to be exempted," Muhammad Arwani Thomafi from the United Development Party (PPP) – Indonesia's oldest Islamic party – told the Jakarta Post. Other proposed exemptions include religious rituals, pharmacies, customary uses and other authorised places.

However, many commentators point to the increasing sway of conservative Islamic groups. Associate Professor Greg Fealy from the Bell School of Asia-Pacific Affairs at the Australian National University, said the Islamic-led prohibition movement is "stock in trade" for parties like the PPP and Prosperous Justice Party (PKS).

"The interesting thing is the non-Islamic parties – previously known as middle of the road and not supporting Islamist agendas – are also supporting [the deliberation of the bill]," Fealy says.

He said President Joko Widodo's party, the Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), was the most obvious example. "Everyone wants to avoid alienating a constituency and limiting the sale of alcohol is seen as something that has broad community support."

Indonesians are not big boozers. According to the latest World Health Organisation figures, 92 per cent of the people in the Muslim-majority country abstain from drinking alcohol.

But expats and tourists love an ice-cold Bintang. Kadek Nova, a beach vendor in Bali for eight years, says if he can't sell beer he may as well stop selling drinks. "Almost 90 per cent of what we sell are beers. A few bottles of mineral water on the side per day, soft drinks even less, the rest would be beers. Between a crate to seven crates [a day], depending on the tourist season."

Kadek stays in touch with many of the tourists; they are repeat customers. "Many of those friends read the stories about the beer ban. They sent me SMS, saying if they can't buy beers in Bali, they will go somewhere else, like Thailand."

The restriction on beer sales met strong opposition on Bali, which is both strongly reliant on tourism and majority Hindu.

The Wall Street Journal reported that more than half of all beer sales in Indonesia might be hit by the decree because minimarkets and small retailers accounted for about 60 per cent of the market.

Even the governor of Jakarta seemed to think the whole thing was lunacy. (Admittedly the city administration owns a 26 per cent stake in beer manufacturer Delta.)

"What's so wrong about beer? No one has ever died from from drinking beer, people die from bootleg liquor. If alcohol is prohibited then I guess we should all also ban cough syrups. Those contain alcohol, too, you know," Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, known as Ahok, said in The Jakarta Post.

His comments enraged Prosperous Justice Party member Fahira Idris, who vented on Twitter that beer was addictive, just as dangerous as vodka and wine and furthermore contained carbon dioxide which could disrupt the heart's function.

The row over beer dates back to the Suharto era. Muslim leaders fiercely resisted a government plan for partial restrictions on alcohol sales because they wanted a total ban in line with countries in the Middle East.

The impasse led to no legal restrictions on alcohol sales and supermarket shelves groaning with beer, wine and spirits. Criminologists blamed alcohol for the increasing crime in cities.

News outlets pointed out Suharto was somewhat compromised: one of his grandchildren controlled a beer distribution monopoly in Bali and another family member had recently taken over duty-free alcohol sales nationwide.

An editorial in The Jakarta Post in 1997 said: "Indonesia could perhaps pass as the freest country in the world where the sale of alcohol is concerned. Cheap liquor can be bought by anyone, even at small roadside stalls in most cities."

Although it is now only beer that is readily available, Devie Rachmawati, a social issues analyst from the University of Indonesia, supports the ban in convenience stores.

Devie says young people spend hours hanging out at minimarkets because they have Wi-Fi. The stores, she says, only loosely implement regulations on the sale of alcohol. "Sometimes the fridges are not locked, sometimes they put beer on lower shelves where young people can access, and minimarket employees never check their customers' ID when they buy beer."

Devie says alcohol consumption is a health issue, which is why it needs strict law enforcement. But given so few Indonesians drink, Westerners inevitably feel the booze bans are personal.

"I will be selling my house and moving out of Yogyakarta this coming year because of the mounting influence of fundamentalism in the area," Charles Jarret wrote in The Jakarta Post.

"The beer ban – please understand that almost no one drinks anyway – are the last straw in a list of reasons. After living in Indonesia for 30-plus years, I now feel that it is time to leave."

Life in Indonesia is becoming increasingly uncomfortable for foreigners. Visas are harder to obtain. The government has proposed making foreigners sit a Bahasa Indonesia language proficiency test before they can obtain a work permit. And the controversial jailing of Canadian teacher Neil Bantleman over dubious child sex abuse charges has spooked the expat community.

But the Australian National University's Greg Fealy says while there may be an element of anti-Western sentiment in the crackdown on alcohol, he did not believe it was central. "Anecdotally people have a perception that alcohol use is increasing, which is linked to hard drugs."

Nine people were killed and three injured in a horrific accident near a bus stop in Central Jakarta in 2012. The driver of the minivan that hit them was believed to have been drink-driving.

"Although there is an inclination to see the [alcohol restrictions] as an Islamic issue, there are also broader matters of law and order," Fealy says.

At the eleventh hour, beach vendor Kadek Nova and others selling beer in Bali won a reprieve. On April 15 – the day before the minimarket came into effect, the government issued a guideline saying designated tourism areas would be exempt.

Kadek told his Australian friends not to worry. "Bali can sell beers, they can still relax by the beach and buy cool Bintang there," he said. "They are all happy and said they will come back to Bali."

Steve Carrole, the author of "The Ultimate Guide for Moving to Bali", is similarly sanguine about the prohibition bill. Several political parties have said they will not deliberate the bill without significant changes. The co-ordinating minister for the economy, Sofyan Djalil, told the Wall Street Journal the bill was unlikely to get through parliament.

"Those of us who have been around in this country for a while know that every once in a while some crazy scheme pops up to protect the country's citizens from... themselves," Carrole wrote in the Bali Manual.

He pointed to the 2008 anti-pornography bill, which some feared could mean the end of bikinis in Bali. "One look at any beach in Bali will tell you about how far that bill made it."

Source: http://www.smh.com.au/world/bali-prohibition-battle-as-muslim-conservatives-increase-their-influence-20150424-1ms8l5.html

Ahok disapproves of bikini party

Jakarta Post - April 23, 2015

Jakarta – Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama has expressed his disapproval over a controversial bikini party allegedly involving high school students.

"No, they can't hold a bikini party. They could get arrested. There's a regulation governing that. You can wear bikini at Ancol [beach], as you swim. [...] But if you go to a party dressed in a bikini, it's outrageous," Ahok said on Thursday.

The bikini party, dubbed 'Splash After Class', made a splash on the Internet after the invitation, including in video format, circulated on social media.

The event, which was initially slated to be held at 10 p.m. on Saturday, invited students from high schools in Greater Jakarta, supposedly as a post-national examinations party. The national exams for high school students were held from April 13 to 15.

Ahok then claimed that the students were not responsible for the party. "There's an event organizer that invited the students to come. We have sent letters to all the schools stating that their students can't attend such a party," he said. (fsu)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/04/23/ahok-disapproves-bikini-party.html

Hotel cancels students' bikini party

Jakarta Post - April 23, 2015

Jakarta – The Media Hotel and Towers management just recently announced their decision to cancel the controversial students' bikini party that was initially slated to be held in the hotel on Saturday.

The party, dubbed as 'Splash After Class', made a splash on the internet after the invitation, including in video format, circulated on social media. It was written "bikini summer dress" in the invitation.

The invitation mentioned that the event, that was initially planned to be held at 10 p.m. on Saturday, supported by several public and private schools in Greater Jakarta.

"We officially cancelled the pool party event because there is an indication that there would be underage children among the people who will attend the party," F&B Event and Sponsorship manager Ibnu M Iqbal said in an official statement released on Thursday.

They insisted that they only provided the pool for the event, while the details of the event, including the invitation, was under the responsibility of the event organizer, Divine Production.

The event has garnered critics from many, including Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) which claimed the event inappropriate. "We cancelled the event because we also supported the suggestion from KPAI," he added. (fsu)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/04/23/hotel-cancels-students-bikini-party.html

Agriculture & food security

100,000 hectares of farmland lost annually

Jakarta Post - April 25, 2015

Yogyakarta – Indonesia could face food crisis in the next three years because each year 100,000 hectares of farmland changes function as the population expands, the Agriculture Ministry has warned.

Head of the Agricultural Counseling and Human Resources Development Agency at the Agriculture Ministry Winny Dian Wibawa said the situation was exacerbated by declining productivity as a result of extensive damage to irrigation channels, poor quality seedlings and a lack of human resource development.

"Our farmland is vanishing, as 100,000 hectares of farmland are converted into shopping malls and shops every year," Winny said on the sidelines of an event at Gadjah Mada University on Friday.

She added that without serious efforts to improve the situation in the next three years, there was the grave threat of a food crisis. "So, for the next three years, the government should seriously focus on building food self- sufficiency," said Winny.

The program should be initiated with self-sufficiency in rice, corn and soybeans, she said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/04/25/islands-focus-100000-hectares-farmland-lost-annually.html

Parliament & legislation

Palace denies approving Rp 4 trillion for new House building

Jakarta Post - April 28, 2015

Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has yet to sign a presidential regulation (Perpres) that would allow the House of Representatives to construct a new multi-storey building in the legislative compound.

Cabinet Secretary Andi Widjajanto denied on Tuesday a claim made by House speaker Setya Novanto that the President had approved the budget for the building and that the construction would start this year.

"As far as I know, the Perpres has not been discussed in any detail," said Andi, adding that no funds had been allocated from this year's state budget for the construction of the building.

Setya said last week that Jokowi had approved the budget for the project and that he would attend a groundbreaking ceremony soon after his first budget speech at the House on Aug. 16 this year.

"The President will sign a commitment for the construction of a national icon and join the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the icon," Setya said.

Uchok Sky Khadafi, the director of the Center for Budget Analysis, said that the plan to construct the new building, which carries a price tag of Rp 4 trillion (US$300 million), would be vulnerable to graft. (ren)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/04/28/palace-denies-approving-rp-4t-new-house-building.html

House to have new multi-story building

Jakarta Post - April 26, 2015

Jakarta – The House of Representatives is once again in the spotlight for its plan to construct a new multi-story building in the legislative complex in Central Jakarta.

House of Representatives Speaker Setya Novanto unveiled the plan during his speech in a plenary session to wrap up the current sitting session late Friday.

Setya said that President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo had approved the budget for the project and he would, in fact, join a groundbreaking ceremony soon after his first budget speech at the House on Aug.

16 this year. "The President will sign a commitment for the construction of a national icon and join the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the national icon," Setya said in his speech.

Setya said that it was about time the House had its own building. "After 70 years of independence and 17 years of reform, the legislative body has never independently had its own building," he said.

The House unveiled the plan amidst criticism that the current batch of lawmakers had only registered a mediocre performance.

After seven months in office the House has managed to only to pass three laws, including the only one it passed during its third sitting period, the 2015 Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Law.

In the previous two sitting sessions, the House only passed a law on regional elections and a law on regional administrations, both of which were leftovers from the previous 2009-2014 term.

"The building will open the possibility of mark-ups and corruption. We have information that at least Rp 181 billion was missing from the Rp 800 billion of the first allocation budget for the House in 2011," Uchok said.

Uchok also said there was no urgent need for the House to have more space. "The new building is not important. You should know that the current building has many empty rooms that can in fact be used for many purposes," Uchok told The Jakarta Post.

Deputy Speaker of the House Agus Hermanto denied that the new building would be used as working space for lawmakers. "What we will build is a museum and library for the House," said Agus, a politician from the Democratic Party. Agus said that no details were available yet on how much the project would cost.

In 2011, the House of Representatives, under the leadership of Marzuki Alie, dropped the plan to start a Rp 1.8 trillion construction project in the House of Representatives complex.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/04/26/house-have-new-multi-story-building.html

House passes only one law during short third session

Jakarta Post - April 25, 2015

Dylan Amirio, Jakarta – The only law that the House of Representatives (DPR) managed to pass during its third sitting period of the 2014-2015 term was the recently approved 2015 Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Law, revealed the House's deputy legislative body chief Firman Subagyo.

The Golkar Party politician said that the situation was due to the fact that the House was making adjustments on a number of bills, such as those on housing, coal mining and the ban on alcoholic beverage suggested by the United Development Party (PPP) and the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS).

Another, simpler reason for the lack of bills being passed was that the third sitting period simply did not have enough time to deliberate bills, as the harmonizing process involves extensive discussions with regional administrations and residents.

"At the end of the year, we are aiming to finish and pass 37 laws," Firman told The Jakarta Post on Friday on the sidelines of the House's plenary session to end the third sitting period on Friday evening.

The KPK Law was passed during the House's plenary meeting on Friday. The law states that the current crop of acting KPK (Corruption Eradication Commission) leaders will be appointed the agency's official leaders until December 2015.

The law was previously a government regulation in lieu of law (Perppu) No. 1/2015 issued by the government to end uncertainty on KPK leadership. The House must agree to pass a Perppu into a law in the next sitting period, otherwise it will be voided. (nvn)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/04/25/house-passes-only-one-law-during-short-third-session.html

Setya apologizes for House punch-up

Jakarta Post - April 24, 2015

Dylan Amirio, Jakarta – House of Representatives Speaker Setya Novanto has apologized for the behavior of two prominent legislators who were involved in a punch up earlier this month at a hearing with officials from the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry.

The deputy chairman of Commission VII overseeing energy and environment, Muljadi of the Democratic Party, and Commission VII member Mustofa Assegaf of the United Development Party (PPP), traded blows on April 11 during a hearing with ministry officials including Minister Sudirman Said.

"I apologize to the people of Indonesia for letting this incident happen during a house hearing. We ask all House members to maintain their dignity and modesty and engage in non-violent democracy," Setya remarked during a House plenary session to close the third sitting session of the 2014-2015 legislative year on Friday. Mustofa has since been reported to the police for his actions.(nvn)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/04/24/setya-apologizes-house-punch.html

Jakarta & urban life

Ahok suggests legalizing prostitution in certain areas

Jakarta Post - April 28, 2015

Dewanti A. Wardhani, Jakarta – Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama is recommending that the city administration legalize prostitution in certain areas.

Last weekend, the Jakarta Police arrested members of an online prostitution group consisting of a pimp and six sex workers, one of whom was underage and pregnant, in the Kalibata City apartments in South Jakarta.

Earlier this month, it was also revealed that many sex workers in Tebet, South Jakarta, received clients who "booked" them via Twitter to meet them in their rented rooms.

Ahok said that legalizing a red-light district would provide an alternative solution for prostitution, which nowadays in Jakarta is conducted in plain sight and in various places across the city.

"Legalizing a prostitution site would be a solution because no matter how hard we try, we will never be able to eradicate prostitution. It will always exist as long as humans exist," Ahok said at City Hall on Monday.

He suggested that the city administration provide one apartment building as a prostitution site where visitors would need to provide identification. The sex workers would receive professional certification that would be useful for data gathering and would get periodic health checks.

Ahok said that the city would also give "religious guidance" to the sex workers and give them training in various areas in order to "supply" them with knowledge for when they leave the profession.

So far, Ahok said that the city administration's approach was "catching" prostitutes and forcing them into social shelters. However, he said, the sex workers would "return to the streets the minute they left the shelter".

Ahok cited the 10-hectare Kramat Tunggak brothel complex in North Jakarta, which was legalized by former governor Ali Sadikin in the 1970s, but was closed down in 1999 by then governor Sutiyoso, who later built the Jakarta Islamic Center on the land.

"But did prostitution in the area stop? No. The sex workers moved to Cilincing [in North Jakarta] and everyone knows that," Ahok said.

There are several illegal red-light districts in Jakarta, including Kalijodo in West Jakarta, Boker in East Jakarta and Bongkaran in Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta.

Bandung in West Java is also home to the Saritem brothel complex. Although it was officially closed in 2007, a number of sex workers still operate in the area.

"I understand that this idea would be impossible to implement, especially in our country where everyone claims to be pure from sin. But if anyone has a better idea, I would like to hear it," Ahok said.

Separately, a member of the AIDS Prevention Commission's monitoring and evaluation division, Muhammad Fahmi, said a legal prostitution site could help minimize the spread of AIDS.

"It would be a controversial policy in many aspects. However, from the point of view of health, if prostitution was centered, it would help the city administration monitor the sex workers' health and minimize the spread of AIDS through prostitution," Fahmi said over the phone on Monday.

He said that according to Bylaw No. 5/2008 on HIV/AIDS prevention, employers at all work places in which workers could potentially contract AIDS from their jobs were obligated to check their employees' health every three months. However, Fahmi said that employers rarely complied with the regulations and the city administration also largely failed to supervise them.

Meanwhile, councilor Hasbiallah Ilyas of the National Awakening Party (PKB) opposed the plan, saying legalized prostitution was unnecessary.

"I don't agree with the plan. I think legalizing a prostitution site would not provide a solution. Instead, the city administration should just increase monitoring of such activities and give counseling to its residents to prevent them from participating," he said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/04/28/ahok-suggests-legalizing-prostitution-certain-areas.html

Agencies, NGOs support ban at Car Free Day

Jakarta Post - April 27, 2015

Jakarta – Agencies and organizations have come to an agreement to support the city administration's policy on limiting activities on Car Free Day (CFD), usually held on two major streets in Central and South Jakarta every Sunday morning.

Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama confirmed recently that the city administration would revise Gubernatorial Regulation No. 119/2012. He said that existing laws that regulate Car Free Day were not detailed enough.

"We will [revise the gubernatorial regulation]. Previously we did not regulate in detail the kinds of activities that may be conducted during Car Free Day," Ahok said at City Hall.

He went on to say that after the revision, politically driven activities would be prohibited and requirements for receiving commercial activity permits would be tightened.

Ahmad Safrudin of the Committee for the Phasing Out of Leaded Fuel (KPBB) said during a recent press conference that the committee wished to return the CFD event to its main purpose, which was to improve the city's air quality and provide open space for the public to engage in recreation and exercise. "We want the CFD to be neutral, free from political movements," he said.

At present, the CFD on Jl. Sudirman and Jl. MH Thamrin does not only cater to residents' need for open space to do physical exercise, but also to their need to interact and express their support for or dissatisfaction with certain issues or government policies. Various peaceful rallies and efforts to gather support or collect signatures on petitions have taken place during the event.

Ahmad argued that political activities could spark friction among opposing supporters.

A brief period of tension between supporters of Ahok and the City Council during the CFD on March 8 had prompted the city to review the activities, Head of Transportation Agency Benjamin Bukit said recently.

Yoan Putra of Teman Ahok (Ahok's Friends), an organization that gathered signatures from the public at the CFD on March 8 to support Ahok, said that his team was not involved in the friction.

"It was between another of Ahok's supporter organizations, not us, and those who opposed them. We immediately dispersed our campaign that day to avoid worse friction," he said over the telephone.

Yayat Sudrajat, the head of the Transportation Agency's traffic and transportation development unit, said that every participant who wished to take part in the CFD had to address a proposal to his agency.

"We will discuss the proposal together with other participants and relevant authorities, usually on Tuesday, and decide whether recommendation letters will be granted or not," he said, adding that the letters would then be submitted to the Jakarta Police. Yayat emphasized that his agency would not grant any recommendation for political activities during the CFD.

The Coordinator of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) Harris Azhar told The Jakarta Post that the CFD was actually a public space where people could do anything they wanted, as long as they did not harm others.

"If the administration would like to ban certain activities at the CFD, they must determine the exact parameters first," he said via a telephone call. (prm)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/04/27/agencies-ngos-support-ban-car-free-day.html

Ahok floats idea of legalizing prostitution

Jakarta Post - April 27, 2015

Dewanti A. Wardhani, Jakarta – Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama has recommended the city legalize prostitution in certain areas, an official stated Monday.

Regional secretary Saefullah said during a weekly officials meeting that Ahok brought up the idea in order to better monitor prostitution and control the spread of various sexually-transmitted diseases.

"The governor suggested legalizing [prostitution] in one apartment [building], and the sex workers in the apartment would be given professional identities," Saefullah told reporters after a meeting at City Hall in Central Jakarta on Monday.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/04/27/ahok-floats-idea-legalizing-prostitution.html

98 unmarried pairs netted in Jakarta police raid

Jakarta Post - April 26, 2015

Jakarta – The police, in cooperation with local informal figures, raided a number of hotels in West Jakarta at dawn on Sunday and netted 35 unmarried pairs of youths.

The unmarried pairs and the hotels's on-duty managers were escorted to the Tambora Police for questioning.

Tambora Police chief Comr. Deddy Tabrani said that all the unmarried pairs and the hotels' on-duty managers were questioned and reprimanded. "The raid was carried out to detect and prevent prostitution in hotels in the municipality," tribunnews.com quoted him as saying

The police also arrested 63 pairs of young people in hotels and entertainment centers in Tamansari, West Jakarta.

The police have begun cracking down on prostitution in the city following the killing of a girl who was believed to have been employed as a sex worker in her boarding house in Tebet, South Jakarta.

Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama recently said that he was considering setting up a red-light district in the city to prevent sex workers from conducting work in hotels, entertainment centers and boarding houses. He further said that it was impossible to eliminate prostitution in the capital city. (rms)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/04/26/98-unmarried-pairs-netted-jakarta-police-raid.html

City works with police, military to create 'order'

Jakarta Post - April 25, 2015

Dewanti A. Wardhani, Jakarta – The Jakarta administration will enlist this year the help of the military and the police to enforce order among its millions of residents through the implementation of the 5 Orderly Jakarta (5TJ) program.

Earlier this year, Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama signed Gubernatorial Decree No. 224, which announced the 5TJ implementation in cooperation with the National Police, the Indonesian Military (TNI), and the Office of the Coordinating Political, Legal & Security Affairs Minister.

The 5TJ consists of Tertib Pedagang Kaki Lima (orderly street vendors), Tertib Hunian (orderly residences), Tertib Buang Sampah (orderly waste- disposal), Tertib Berlalu Lintas (orderly traffic) and Tertib Berdemo (orderly protests).

The decree also designated a 5TJ working group, headed by regional secretary assistant on governance Bambang Sugiyono. Deputy chairmen of the working group include officials from the TNI and police.

Jakarta, the capital of the third-largest democracy in the world, is set to deploy TNI and police officers whenever needed to achieve the 5TJ objectives.

Rujak Center for Urban Studies researcher Dian Tri Irawaty said the program would intimidate Jakartans. "The thought of armed men is intimidating. Residents will be more scared than obedient," she said.

Dian said she was worried the program would be a justification for the city administration to forcefully evict residents from their homes and vendors from the streets. She questioned the governor's decision to "hire" TNI and police officers to restore order in the city, as the city already had an agency tasked with doing so.

The city administration last year aired plans to arm Satpol PP officers, but the plan was met with protests from residents, Dian said. Satpol PP officers are currently only equipped with a truncheon.

"Assertive discipline is necessary in Jakarta, I agree, but it is not necessary to intimidate residents with armed men," she said.

However, Ahok, formerly a member of the Golkar Party and the Gerindra Party, said an assertive approach was necessary, especially in a large and populous city like Jakarta.

"We need to take a more assertive approach in governing Jakarta. However, assertive does not mean we will be physically rough on residents," Ahok said.

Ahok said he was impressed by the discipline and orderliness on display in a recent visit to an unspecified military office. The impression, he said, lead him to establish the 5TJ.

He said that the city this year would give provide per diem compensation for TNI and police officers who lent their services to the 5TJ program. According to Gubernatorial Regulation No. 138/2015 on TNI/Police officer honorarium in Jakarta, the city will deploy TNI and police officers for any activities in which additional help was needed.

Each officer will receive a total of Rp 283,000 (US$22) per day from the city administration: Rp 250,000 for their work, and Rp 38,000 for a meal allowance. The pay will be distributed through the Public Order Agency (Satpol PP).

"Rather than paying a daily honorarium for Satpol PP and Transportation Agency officers, it would be better to utilize TNI and police officers. Satpol PP and Transportation Agency officers do not perform [well]. TNI and police officers are far more disciplined," Ahok said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/04/25/city-works-with-police-military-create-order.html

Armed forces & defense

Kopassus wins praise from former foes

Jakarta Post - April 30, 2015

Bagus BT Saragih, Jakarta – Former rebels and their family members have applauded the Army's Special Forces (Kopassus) for inviting them to join celebrations of the unit's 63rd anniversary at its headquarters in Cijantung, East Jakarta, on Wednesday.

More than 300 former fighters with the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) and Free Papua Movement (OPM), who once waged fierce battles against the Indonesian Military (TNI), attended the event.

The ceremony also saw the presence of former high-ranking military leaders of East Timor, now Timor Leste, which gained independence from Indonesia in 1999.

Among the prominent guests were Boy Eluay, the eldest son of Theys Hiyo Eluay, one of Papua's best-known separatist leaders who was allegedly murdered by Kopassus officers in 2001, and Deputy Aceh Governor Muzakir Manaf, a former GAM commander and current chairman of the Aceh Party.

"Thank you, Kopassus. We deeply appreciate this," Boy said on the sidelines of the ceremony. "There has been no event like this before."

Boy, whose father was found dead after having allegedly been abducted by Kopassus members in Jayapura, said that he had previously rejected similar invitations.

"I was underground for a long time but I decided to show up today," he said. "It was traumatic to hear the word Cijantung again after such a long time," he said, referring to the area where Kopassus headquarters are located.

Boy argued, however, that as citizens, the people of Papuan should not harbor feelings of revenge against the TNI.

"We come from Papua with love. We are full of affection and forgiveness. This has been taught by our ancestors through local customs and religion," he said. "We want to go to heaven. So we are not vengeful."

The OPM began an armed insurrection for independence after Papua was recognized as part of Indonesia in 1969, with their grievances including the unfair distribution of wealth.

Following domestic and international outcry over alleged human rights abuses committed by the TNI, the central government in 2001 granted the province a special autonomous status and greater share of proceeds from its natural resources.

Muzakir, who once fought in the frontline against Kopassus, meanwhile, said he was pleased to have received the invitation. "I appreciate Kopassus for inviting us. This can provide the impetus to build mutual trust. As you can see, Aceh today is very peaceful and the people of Aceh support Indonesia," he said.

Muzakir also praised Kopassus, calling it a "far more professional and transparent force". "Kopassus is now a modern unit that keeps on innovating. Kopassus today is a force that can win support from the people," Muzakir said.

Kopassus commander Maj. Gen. Doni Monardo said that the invitation was mainly aimed at forging reconciliation, as well as helping Kopassus to become a force that respected human rights.

Human rights activists responded positively to Kopassus' overture, but urged the force to implement concrete actions, as well as conducting ceremonial events.

London-based human rights group Amnesty International (AI), however, said that accountability in solving past rights abuses remained the key for Kopassus to win back public trust.

"There has been a shocking track record of impunity for past crimes by Kopassus and other military personnel," Josef Roy Benedict, AI's Indonesia campaigner, told The Jakarta Post.

He also criticized the fact that most of the crimes allegedly committed by Kopassus members had never been tried in independent and accountable judicial processes.

"As long as there is a lack of accountability for these and other crimes allegedly committed by Kopassus, it will be extremely difficult for the unit to build trust with the public, in particular with victims of human rights violations," Josef said. (alm)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/04/30/kopassus-wins-praise-former-foes.html

Moving on, Kopassus to meet former enemies

Jakarta Post - April 29, 2015

Bagus BT Saragih, Jakarta – The Army's Special Forces, Kopassus, has taken a brave and unprecedented move to celebrate its 63rd anniversary – the force's anniversary actually falls on April 16 – by meeting its past enemies on Wednesday in a clear bid to wipe out the stain of scores of human rights violations.

About 300 of Kopassus' former enemies are scheduled to attend the event at the Kopassus headquarters in Cijantung, East Jakarta.

They include former fighters from East Timor, a former Indonesian province that is now a sovereign state called Timor Leste, as well as former Free Aceh Movement (GAM) and the Free Papua Movement (OPM) fighters and their family members.

Kopassus commander Maj. Gen. Doni Monardo has said that the meeting was mainly aimed at forging reconciliation, as well as setting a momentum for Kopassus to transform into a force that better respects human rights.

Human rights activists, who were always at the forefront in criticizing alleged human rights violations committed by Kopassus personnel with apparent impunity, have responded to the move positively. But they have also urged the force to follow through on the commitments, beyond conducting ceremonial events.

"It is indeed a good intention and positive move by Kopassus' current leadership to hold such a meeting, but the true test is beyond the meeting. We must wait until we see how the unit implements the commitment in the future," Al Araf, the program director of human rights NGO Imparsial, said on Tuesday.

He also said he appreciated Kopassus for letting its personnel have a handbook on human rights, so that their chances of violating human rights during the force's operations could be minimized.

"We hope Kopassus can be consistent because we really want past violations, such as kidnapping, torture and other extra-judicial offenses against civilians, never to happen again," he added.

Among those who were said to have confirmed their attendance at the meeting were former high-ranking officers of East Timor's armed pro-independence wing, Falintil, guerilla fighters, student and youth activists, as well as religious leaders.

One of the figures from East Timor will likely be Timor Leste Defense Minister Cirilo Cristovao, who used to be a member of the Indonesia-Timor Leste Commission for Truth and Reconciliation.

A son of the late Theys Eluay, one of Papua's most prominent separatist leaders who was killed by Kopassus in 2001, as well as former students and activists who were kidnapped in 1998, were also reportedly confirmed to participate in the meeting.

Military analyst and former lawmaker Susaningtyas Nefo Kertapati, who is scheduled to be a speaker in the forum, highlighted the importance for Kopassus to utilize its anniversary to build momentum to better prepare for the new global challenges.

"Kopassus, as well as other elite forces in the world, must adapt to the new types of 'enemy' in the world, which must be different compared with five or 10 years ago," she said, adding that the government should earmark more funds for Kopassus to let the force be equipped with up-to-date technology.

Susaningtyas also said that she supported Doni's policy to order all personnel to smile, greet and shake hands (3S) and avoid raging, glaring and punching (3M) to help the unit avoid conflict with the public and with other state institutions.

Starting with the little things, Kopassus is now taking a small step that may lead to a big leap as it strives to insert a humane touch into its interactions with civilians and overcome the unit's gruesome history.

"Kopassus should always be wary of attempts by anyone to misuse the force for certain interests other than that of the state," she said.

Doni, a former commander of the Presidential Security Detail (Paspampres) during the last term of president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, has said that he will lead the reform since positive public perception of Kopassus' accomplishments seemed to evaporate into thin air because of the burdens of its past.

Shortly after taking command in September 2014, Doni instigated a new rule of thumb in relation to forging discipline among personnel.

"I told them that I never want to hear the long-held creed suggesting Kopassus personnel can get away with violations as long as they don't get caught. If you commit a violation you will be punished," said Doni in his recent remarks to staff and journalists.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/04/29/moving-kopassus-meet-former-enemies.html

Criminal justice & prison system

Mary Jane Veloso: Why was she spared in the Indonesian executions?

The Guardian (Australia) - April 30, 2015

Kate Lamb, Jakarta – As a mother of two boys and a migrant worker subjected to domestic abuse, convicted drug trafficker Filipina Mary Jane Veloso was the only figure scheduled to be executed this week who drew widespread sympathy from the Indonesian public.

She was the also was the only one to be spared, granted an 11th-hour temporary reprieve by the Indonesian president, Joko Widodo, after a woman handed herself into police in Manila claiming to have recruited her.

The question remains: why on the basis of new evidence is Veloso still alive, while Australians Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, whose lawyers presented evidence of judicial corruption, were shot dead? Eight people – seven foreign nationals and one Indonesian – were executed by firing squad on Indonesia's Nusa Kambangan prison island on Wednesday.

Analysts say the outcome is a combination of factors – politics, shoddy diplomacy and the affinity many Indonesians feel with Veloso.

"The Mary Jane Veloso narrative as a foreign worker being duped hits very close to home," said Indonesian political analyst Yohanes Sulaiman. "So without considering her evidence is kind of, you know, similar to the plight of Indonesian workers in Saudi Arabia."

Every year there are horror stories about the mistreatment of Indonesian migrant workers ruthlessly beaten and tortured by their employees, some of who are on death row in Saudi Arabia for killing their employers in alleged self defence.

A high-school dropout and former domestic worker in Dubai, who left after an attempted rape, Veloso has consistently claimed she is a victim of human trafficking, duped into smuggling 2.6kg of heroin into Indonesia.

In a country that is virulently against drugs and where approval ratings for capital punishment are high, the Indonesian Twitterati came out in force to support a women they saw as one of their own in the days leading up to her scheduled execution.

The hashtag #MaryJane was among the highest trending topics, with messages lambasting the president not for battling drugs but "executing poor women, like migrant workers in Saudi Arabia!!"

Noting that "governments have proven to be sensitive to hashtags" and that Widodo seems to "intuitively understand his voters", Paul Rowland, a Jakarta-based political analyst said the decision would have pandered to a domestic audience.

While the choice to grant the reprieve was a combination of factors, Rowland acknowledged that "the public probably would have been in favour of the president taking a few extra steps".

Widodo did not have that much to lose when the Philippine president, Benino Aquino III, requested the execution be postponed after a woman claiming to have recruited Veloso unexpectedly turned herself in to Manila police. The Indonesian president has stressed he has granted only a temporary reprieve while Philippine authorities investigate, but Veloso's lawyers have vowed to continue their fight in the supreme court on the back of new evidence.

But most tragically for Chan and Sukumaran, the new evidence in their case – that judges were negotiating bribes for more lenient sentences – undermines the integrity of the Indonesian legal system in a way the new evidence in Veloso's case does not.

Muhammad Rifan, a former lawyer for the Bali Nine duo, told the Sydney Morning Herald that judges had asked for $130,000 to give a sentence of 20 years or less.

After the judges were allegedly ordered by senior government and legal figures in Jakarta to hand down the death penalty, that deal reportedly fell though.

The explosive claims, at a time when the country's anti-corruption body has suffered blow after blow under Widodo's rule, might have opened up an ugly "can of worms", said Sulaiman.

"The accusation of bribery threatens the idea of a fair justice system and the government has already invested too much prestige on being 'tough on drugs'", he said.

In a rush job, the judicial commission completed its investigation into the allegations earlier this week but did so without interviewing key witnesses or making its findings public.

"It is illogical," said Todung Mulya Lubis, of the Bali Nine legal counsel, "if the commission were to investigate then witnesses have to be questioned. Now they don't have the witnesses."

According to one researcher from Indonesia Corruption Watch, the judicial commission is generally viewed as quite clean, even though "there are some notes on some of the commissioners".

Outside court, the lack of diplomatic prowess from the Australian prime minister, Tony Abbott, did not do Chan and Sukumaran any favours either.

Abbott's insensitive remarks about conditional aid after the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami kickstarted a viral campaign to collect coins to pay Australia back.

In contrast, days before the executions Aquino met his Indonesian counterpart on the sidelines of the Association of South-east Asian Nations (Asean) summit in Malaysia, where he gracefully managed to plant a seed of doubt about Veloso's innocence.

"President Aquino doesn't seem to be 'shirtfronting' the Indonesian government in the same way Tony Abbott did," Rowland, referring to Abbott's aggressive comments about the Russian president Vladimir Putin, "so it got a more sympathetic reaction."

Source: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/apr/30/indonesian-executions-why-was-mary-jane-veloso-spared

Executed Indonesian may have been denied justice by clerical blunder

Jakarta Globe - April 30, 2015

Jakarta – Zainal Abidin, the sole Indonesian among a batch of eight drug offenders executed on Wednesday, may have been denied justice because of a bureaucratic blunder, the Supreme Court has revealed.

On its website, the final court of appeals said on Thursday that the case review that it received from Zainal – and subsequently rejected two days before he was put to death – had been submitted 10 years late.

The Palembang District Court in South Sumatra initially convicted Zainal in August 2001 to 18 years in prison for possession of 58.7 kilograms of marijuana. Prosecutors, who had sought the death penalty on trafficking charges, mounted an appeal with the Palembang High Court, which duly handed down the death sentence less than a month later.

In May 2005, Zainal's lawyers filed a case review, or PK, a final form of appeal that is heard by the Supreme Court. In keeping with procedure, the case review was filed with the original court hearing the case, which was expected to forward the case to the Supreme Court.

However, the Palembang District Court did nothing with the case for nearly 10 years, until April 8 this year, when it grew increasingly apparent that Zainal would be among the next batch of inmates to be put to death.

"The Supreme Court's assistant clerk for special crimes did not receive the PK until April 8, 2015," chief clerk Soeroso Ono said in the statement on the website.

"That means that from May 2, 2005, until April 2015, the case was not in the hands of the Supreme Court clerk. The Supreme Court had less than a week in which to hear the review, from April 21, 2015, when it reached the judges, to April 27, 2015, when the ruling was handed down."

Soeroso said it was worrying that the Palembang District Court had failed to forward the case to the Supreme Court for nearly a decade, and urged courts across the country to be more meticulous about sticking with judicial procedures.

However, there was no explanation from the Supreme Court for why it had not sought to stay Zainal's execution, given that his case review was still being heard when prosecutors notified him about the impending execution.

Legal analysts have also expressed concern that the court's rejection of the case review may have been influenced by the time pressure that the judges were under, and that had the review been heard in 2005, as it was supposed to, the outcome might have been different.

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/executed-indonesian-may-denied-justice-clerical-blunder-supreme-court/

Indonesia's laws pose risk of taking people's right to life

Jakarta Post - April 30, 2015

Jakarta – The Jakarta Legal Aid Foundation (LBH Jakarta) has said Indonesia's legal system is at risk of arbitrarily taking away people's right to life through capital punishment.

"The government's decision to delay the death sentence of Mary Jane Fiesta Veloso in the last minutes before her execution has shown that the implementation of Indonesia's legal system does not yet guarantee the rights of defendants and/or convicts," said LBH Jakarta public attorney Nelson Nikodemus Simamora as quoted by Antara in Jakarta on Thursday.

He further said a corrupt judicial system also created the risk of taking people's right to life arbitrarily. An executed death sentence could not be revoked if it is later proven that there had been a mistake in the court's ruling.

"What could we have done if Mary Jane was proven not guilty because her recruiter surrendered in the Philippines, but she had been executed with the seven other death row inmates?" asked Nelson.

The government executed eight prisoners early on Wednesday on the Nusakambangan prison island near Cilacap in Central Java.

The eight were Indonesian Zainal Abidin, Australians Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, Brazilian Rodrigo Gularte, Nigerians Sylvester Obiekwe Nwolise, Raheem Agbaje Salami and Okwudili Oyatanze and Ghanaian Martin Anderson. Veloso was spared after a woman who allegedly recruited her to act as a drug courier gave himself up to police in the Philippines on Tuesday.

LBH Jakarta director Febi Yonesta said he very much regretted that the National Police had not provided legal assistance for Veloso during the compiling of the police interrogation report. Veloso had not been accompanied by a Tagalog translator either during her interrogations or her trial.

"Extending such legal assistance and a translator is stipulated by Article 56, 51 and 177, or the Criminal Code Procedures (KUHAP). It was a failure that led to unfair results," said Febi.

Veloso had not been able to defend herself optimally because of language- related obstacles and this might have ended in her death if her recruiter had not surrendered to Philippine authorities shortly before her execution. (ebf)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/04/30/ri-s-laws-pose-risk-taking-people-s-right-life.html

Rally for Veloso dispersed by police

Jakarta Post - April 29, 2015

Jakarta – Police forcibly dispersed a peaceful rally held by a group of human rights activists in front of the State Palace on Monday night.

The rally was held to demand President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo call off the execution of the Philippines' Mary Jane Fiesta Veloso, a death row inmate convicted of trying to smuggle 2.6 kilograms of heroin in her suitcase from Malaysia to Yogyakarta, which according to her happened without her knowledge.

Mutiara Ika Pratiwi of the Perempuan Mahardhika human rights organization said on Tuesday that police officers approached her group and ordered its members to end the rally immediately.

"One of them verbally abused us and said that he was tired of handling many rallies on that day," she told The Jakarta Post over the telephone.

Ika said police broke two of the fingers of one of the protesters when officers tried to snatch away the banner she was holding. She said that she had sent a rally notification letter to the Jakarta Police on Monday afternoon, but did not get official permission as the police insisted that the submission must be done three days prior to a rally.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/04/29/greater-jakarta-rally-veloso-dispersed-police.html

Indonesia defends executions, after convicts die singing

Agence France Presse - April 29, 2015

Cilacap – Indonesia on Wednesday staunchly defended its execution of seven foreigners including two Australians as a vital front of its "war" on drugs as testimony emerged of how they went singing to their deaths.

Australia withdrew its ambassador in protest at the midnight executions, but Indonesian President Joko Widodo said he was merely applying "the rule of law" against narcotics traffickers.

The seven convicts – two from Australia, one from Brazil and four from Africa – were shot by firing squad along with one Indonesian, despite strident foreign appeals and pleas from family members.

Brazil expressed "deep regret" at the execution of its national, who is mentally ill according to his family, and said it was weighing its next move.

The condemned men reportedly all refused blindfolds and sang hymns, among them "Amazing Grace", as they went to face the firing squad in a jungle clearing, according to a pastor who was with them.

As the clock ticked down to midnight, a group of tearful supporters also sang hymns, embraced and held candles aloft during a vigil at the port in Cilacap, the gateway to the prison island of Nusakambangan.

After the executions, family members could be seen crying as they were ushered away by friends and supporters, an AFP reporter saw.

A Filipina originally set to be executed was given an 11th hour reprieve after a woman who allegedly duped her into ferrying drugs to Indonesia came forward to police in the Philippines.

The reprieve for Mary Jane Veloso was hailed in the Philippines as a miracle and a gift from God, but Indonesian Attorney General Muhammad Prasetyo stressed it was only a "postponement" to allow time for police investigations.

He added: "We are fighting a war against horrible drug crimes that threaten our nation's survival. I would like to say that an execution is not a pleasant thing. It is not a fun job," Prasetyo told reporters in Cilacap.

"But we must do it in order to save the nation from the danger of drugs. We are not making enemies of countries from where those executed came. What we are fighting against is drug-related crimes."

Prasetyo also played down Australia's decision to recall its ambassador, describing it as a "temporary reaction", while Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi stressed Jakarta's desire to "continue having good relations" with one of its most important trading partners.

Australia had mounted a sustained campaign to save its citizens, who have been on death row for almost a decade, and Prime Minister Tony Abbott said the executions were "both cruel and unnecessary".

"We respect Indonesia's sovereignty but we do deplore what's been done and this cannot be simply business as usual," he said, announcing Australia's unprecedented step of recalling its Jakarta ambassador.

Australians Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, ringleaders of the so-called "Bali Nine" heroin trafficking gang, were described by Canberra as reformed men after years in prison.

The families said their sons did "all they could to make amends, helping many others" in the years since their arrests, with Sukumaran teaching fellow inmates English and art, and Chan ordained as a minister in February.

"They asked for mercy, but there was none. They were immensely grateful for all the support they received. We too, will be forever grateful," the families said in a joint statement.

Widodo, who took office in October, says Indonesia is facing an emergency due to rising drugs use, citing figures from the national anti-narcotics agency showing that more than 30 Indonesians die every day due to drugs.

However some academics believe the agency's data is flawed, while critics accuse Widodo of pursuing a populist policy following recent political problems.

The bodies of Chan and Sukumaran, in plain wooden coffins, arrived in Jakarta after being driven from Cilacap in two ambulances. They were taken to a funeral home and will soon be flown back to Australia for burial.

There were very different scenes in the Philippines after the last-minute reprieve for Veloso, whose case attracted emotional appeals for mercy from boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao among others.

"Miracles do come true," her mother Celia told a Philippine radio station, adding that her daughter's two boys aged 12 and six were awake and yelling "Yes, yes, mama will live".

Little is known about the other four executed foreigners – three of them are from Nigeria but it is not clear whether the fourth held Ghanaian or Nigerian nationality.

The execution of the Brazilian, Rodrigo Gularte, has generated much criticism in his homeland, with his family saying he suffered from schizophrenia and should not have faced the death penalty.

Gularte's cousin was seen crying as she left the port of Cilacap, accompanied by a religious counsellor.

A Frenchman was originally among the group to be executed but he was granted a temporary reprieve after authorities agreed to allow a legal appeal to run its course.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/04/29/indonesia-defends-executions-after-convicts-die-singing.html

Eight convicts executed despite world leaders' appeal

Jakarta Globe - April 29, 2015

Jakarta – Indonesia carried out the execution of eight drug convicts by firing squad on Nusa Kambangan prison island off Central Java early on Wednesday despite multiple efforts from human rights activists and united appeals from world leaders to stop the killings.

Those people executed were "Bali Nine" duo Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, both Australians; Rodrigo Gularte, a Brazilian diagnosed with a mental illness; Raheem Agbaje Salami, Martin Anderson, Sylvester Obiekwe Nwolise and Okwudili Oyatanze of Nigeria; and Indonesian national Zainal Abidin.

Mary Jane Fiesta Veloso of the Philippines was saved from Wednesday's execution after President Joko Widodo met with several activists and ministers early in the day following a report that a woman who recruited Veloso had surrendered herself to Philippine authorities.

A Frenchman, Serge Atlaoui, was initially part of this group to be executed, but he was granted a temporary reprieve after his lawyer managed to file a final appeal on the verge of the deadline on Thursday.

'Utterly reprehensible'

Amnesty International said in a press release that the executions showed "complete disregard for due process and human rights safeguards."

"These executions are utterly reprehensible," said Rupert Abbott, Amnesty International's research director for Southeast Asia and the Pacific. "They were carried out with complete disregard for internationally recognized safeguards on the use of the death penalty."

"The death penalty is always a human rights violation," Abbott said in the press release, "but there are a number of factors that make today's executions even more distressing. Some of the prisoners were reportedly not provided access to competent lawyers or interpreters during their arrest and initial trial, in violation of their right to a fair trial which is recognized under international and national law."

"One of those executed today, Rodrigo Gularte, had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, and international law clearly prohibits the use of the death penalty against those with mental disabilities. It's also troubling that people convicted of drug trafficking have been executed, even though this does not meet the threshold of 'most serious crimes' for which the death penalty can be imposed under international law."

Joko and other senior officials have repeatedly said that the executions were necessary to end the drug emergency Indonesia is ostensibly facing.

Executioners and a total of 12 ambulances carrying coffins had been deployed to Nusakambangan earlier on Tuesday.

"Each person will face 14 executors," said the Central Java Police chief, Insp. Gen. Noer Ali. "There are nine people in total," he added, apparently unaware that Veloso's executed would be delayed.

Joint appeal

The executions were carried out despite a last-minute appeal from Australia, France and the European Union.

"It is not too late for a change of heart," the two countries and the EU said in the statement, urging Joko to cancel the executions. "It is our honest hope that Indonesia can show mercy to the condemned prisoners."

The statement says that the ideals of forgiveness and rehabilitation are just as fundamental to Indonesia's justice system as they are to their own.

"In making this appeal, we ask that Indonesia also reflect on the impact on its global standing and international reputation. We support Indonesia's efforts to secure clemency for its citizens abroad. Halting these executions would help its endeavors."

Australia, France and the EU also expressed their support for the recent statement by United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, in which he called for Indonesia to refrain from carrying out the executions and urged Joko to urgently consider declaring a moratorium on capital punishment.

"We fully respect Indonesia's sovereignty. But we are strongly opposed to the death penalty at home and abroad," they said.

"These executions will not deter drug trafficking or stop others from falling victim to drug abuse. To execute these prisoners now would achieve nothing."

Ban as a Western stooge

France, Australia and Brazil have been the most vocal critics of Joko's decision to carry out the executions.

A senior lawmaker from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) has criticized the UN chief for pleading with Joko not to execute the nine drug convicts on death row, implicitly accusing Ban of being a Western stooge.

"The death sentence is a positive law that applies in Indonesia and the judges' verdict is legal," said Tubagus Hasanuddin, a member of the House of Representatives' Commission I, overseeing international affairs.

"Ban Ki-moon's stance has proven that the United Nations can easily be influenced by big countries like Australia and France." Tubagus said Ban's statement, made through his spokesman last week, has undermined the UN's authority.

"Capital punishment is still being used in many countries, like in the Middle East, Singapore, Malaysia and many other countries including the United States," said Tubagus, a retired Army general who is now a lawmaker for Joko's PDI-P.

"Why hasn't Ban made a fuss about that, too? Is he upset because Jokowi criticized him at the Asian-African Conference?" he said, referring to the president's statement calling for UN reform over its failure to eradicate global economic inequality.

Home Affairs Minister Tjahjo Kumolo, another PDI-P stalwart, has also said that Ban's request would not change Indonesia's stance on capital punishment.

"Even if there are a thousand UN secretary generals [making such a request], President Jokowi will still hold on to the court's ruling," Tjahjo said. "The verdict was made by the judges, it is legally binding and has to be carried out."

Last-minute moves

A Yogyakarta court earlier on Tuesday was said to have rejected the second appeal that Veloso had filed.

"The rejection for the second appeal filed by Veloso is based on the law that stipulates there will be no second appeal if the first one has been rejected," Sleman District Court spokesman, Marliyus, told state-run news agency Antara.

The appeal was rejected only a few hours after it had been submitted by Veloso's lawyer on Monday afternoon.

But Anies Hidayah of the Migrant Care said that with the surrender of Veloso's recruiter it was clear that she was just a victim of human trafficking. "We have conveyed it to President Jokowi, and I think this is a chance for her to escape execution," she said after meeting with Joko.

Australian national Chan got married in prison on Monday, ahead of his execution, according to a media report. Chan, a ringleader of the so-called "Bali Nine" gang, married his Indonesian girlfriend Febiyanti Herewila in the maximum-security prison on Nusakambangan island.

"They just got married. They held a simple wedding in the prison," Chan's brother, Michael Chan, told news portal Detik.com.

Michael said his brother had decided to hold a simple wedding because he knew he didn't have much time left. "The time is limited and they knew there would be an execution on Tuesday. That's why they decided to get married today," the brother said on Monday.

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/eight-convicts-executed-despite-world-leaders-appeal/

Indonesia shows its ugly side with regressive executions

Eureka Street - April 28, 2015

Pat Walsh – I am writing this with a heavy heart. I grieve for Andrew Chan, Myuran Sukumaran and their loved ones, and the others executed by firing squad in Indonesia early this morning.

But they are not the only casualties of this bungled, cold-blooded killing. I am also distressed at the serious damage Indonesia is doing to itself and its international good name and, not least, at the damage President Jokowi is inflicting on himself and what he represents for many Indonesians dreaming of the best for their important country.

Indonesia is a country of great promise with a significant, maybe crucial, contribution to make to our troubled world. As a very large, pluralist, Muslim-majority democracy it offers a template for other societies in transition. President SBY was acutely aware of this opportunity and through his democracy forums and other initiatives did much to re-brand Indonesia in this positive light.

All this good work is being undone by the anal, small-town thinking the executions represent.

The death penalty issue will hobble Indonesia's foreign policy the way the East Timor issue did during the Soeharto years. Executing the many foreign nationals still on death row in Indonesia over the months to come will bracket Indonesia with the out-dated shrinking minority of countries that continue to execute drug traffickers.

Picking fights with more countries and having to invest resources in continually putting out spot fires rather than showcasing its real strengths is not in Indonesia's or the world's best interests.

There is a better way. A moratorium on the death penalty while Indonesia's constitutional court revisits the issue will allow President Jokowi a way out and an opportunity to go on the front foot.

He could, for example, convene a conference of nations with citizens on death row, including Australia, to tackle collectively and to everyone's advantage the scourge of drugs that is every parent's nightmare.

I have proposed such an initiative to Indonesia. I felt, however, like I was putting a message in a bottle into a sea of swirling cross currents.

By making the death penalty a signature policy of his presidency, and presiding over the bureaucratic and PR mess it has become, Jokowi has opened a pandora's box. In addition to alienating world opinion, it has again raised doubts about the credibility and independence of Indonesia's justice system.

It has also called into question Jokowi's competence, political judgement and motives. The death penalty was not a live issue during last year's presidential campaign. There is no popular movement in Indonesia to activate the death penalty that is remotely like the staunchly defended anti-corruption campaign, for example. It is an issue of Jokowi's own making.

Many have also been surprised at the president's refusal to respond to the individual merits of clemency appeals. It does not fit his attention-to- detail manner, and seems heartlessly cavalier on the part of a president with a deserved reputation for social sensitivity.

Rightly or wrongly, many conclude that he is playing politics with the issue and risks alienating the civil society activists who contributed to his win last year. Waiting in the wings is Prabowo, arms folded.

The executions and their over-the-top militaristic trappings are regressive. They represent the ugly side of Indonesia that has so often poisoned Australian and international perceptions of Indonesia. Indonesia's history is strewn with corpses. There's been too much killing.

Albeit judicial, this morning's executions are only the latest acts of state-sponsored killing in a long and bloody sequence that include the pogroms of 1965, the rape of East Timor, the war in Aceh and other excesses for which no-one has been held accountable, let alone shot, though post- Soeharto law provides for the death penalty for crimes against humanity.

They are a major setback to years of slog by myself and others to promote positive relations with Indonesia. Jokowi must find another way that will serve him and Indonesia better.

I am impressed by the strength of Australia's response, but also surprised. I suspect Jokowi didn't see it coming either. Why should he have anticipated such an outcry when Canberra has generally been so accommodating of Jakarta's excesses – be it the pogroms of 1965, Timor- Leste and now Papua?

Jokowi is no doubt confounded by the lack of logic in Australia tipping off the Indonesian police about the Bali 9 knowing it might lead to the death penalty then decrying the implementation of that penalty, or the Abbott Government saying more Jakarta less Geneva one day, then reversing it the next.

If Canberra is really serious about the principle at stake it must find ways of advocating for others still on death row in Indonesia. Human rights are universal. Australia's follow-up response to this morning's executions must also be proportionate to its protests if these are not to be dismissed as bluster confected for domestic consumption. The short term recall of Australia's ambassador will not be enough.

Our ultimate objective, however, must be to end the death penalty in Indonesia. It is tragically too late now for the two Australians and the others. But it will add some meaning to their lonely deaths and be in everyone's interest if Australia can help Indonesia's Jokowi rid himself of this bleeding albatross.

Source: http://www.eurekastreet.com.au/article.aspx?aeid=43873#.VUGYnaPLcv3

Bali 9 executions: Final insult as condemned pair denied pastor

Sydney Morning Herald - April 28, 2015

Tom Allard and Jewel Topsfield in Cilacap – Indonesian authorities have refused Bali nine duo Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran the right to have a pastor of their choice to witness their executions, outraging their families.

In heartbreaking scenes, the families of the condemned men arrived at the port of Cilacap on Tuesday morning for their last visit to Nusakambangan prison island, surrounded by friends.

They left the port at 9.30am local time (12.30pm AEST) and will be allowed to stay on the island until 2pm local time, when they will have to say their final goodbyes and return to the mainland.

Sukumaran's sister Brintha collapsed as she wailed in grief, surrounded by a large media pack. His mother Raji was also deeply distraught.

Chan's family arrived soon after, protected by embassy officials. Brother Michael was ashen faced, his mother Helen covered her face as she sobbed.

As they walked to the port, police with dogs tried to break up the media pack, with at least one journalist bitten on the leg.

Within an hour of the families' distressing and chaotic walk to Cilacap port, a convoy of 12 ambulances arrived. Inside nine of them were white coffins for each of those to be executed.

Adding to the anguish was news Chan and Sukumaran would not get their choice of minister. In an SMS, Michael Chan told Fairfax Media: "Last bit of dignity denied."

The decision, relayed this morning, follows earlier assurances to diplomats that Christian ministers Christie Buckingham and David Soper, who are close to both men, would be able to comfort the men in their last moments on earth.

Indonesian authorities said, instead, they would supply their own Christian advisers in line with the men's stated religion. The decision was made on the instruction of the office of the attorney general.

It is the latest of several snubs by Indonesia to Australia over the executions. Last week, Indonesia refused to heed the plea of Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop not to announce the executions would take place on Anzac Day.

The executions are proceeding despite the strong objections of the Australian government and the fact that a constitutional court challenge by the two men has been given a hearing date on May 12.

The two Australian members of the Bali nine heroin smuggling ring are expected to be killed by a firing squad at midnight on Tuesday, or shortly thereafter.

Nur Ali, the police chief of Central Java, said the firing squads were "ready at any time". But a spokesman for the attorney general Adi Toegarisman, standing alongside Mr Nur, said an execution site had not been decided.

There are several possible sites for the simultaneous killing of nine drug felons but Fairfax Media has been told by an inside source it will happen behind the firing range, which lies on the coast of the penal island of Nusakambangan, just a few hundred metres from mainland Java.

?Meanwhile, a message was read out on behalf of the girlfriend of Raheem Agbaje Salami, one of seven drug felons to be executed alongside Chan and Sukumaran.

"I beg to [Indonesian President] Mr Joko Widodo and all of Indonesia to stop the execution. They're good people and deserve for a second chance," said the girlfriend, who signed the letter "Angela". "I love my boyfriend and I do love all of them."

Raheem has shared a four-cell prison block with the two Australians since they were moved from Bali's Kerobokan prison to Nusakambangan in March.

Source: http://www.smh.com.au/world/bali-9-executions-final-insult-as-condemned-pair-denied-pastor-outraging-families-20150428-1muvxv.html

Bali 9 executions: Investigation into bribery allegations completed by KY

Sydney Morning Herald - April 28, 2015

Tom Allard – Indonesia's judicial commission has maintained it has completed its investigation into bribery allegations involving the judges who sentenced Bali nine pair Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran to death, despite conducting no interviews with witnesses.

In a bizarre media statement released overnight, the commission – which safeguards the probity of the Indonesian judicial system – said it had finished the probe but did not say what its findings were. Instead, it urged the Supreme Court to further investigate the explosive bribery allegations.

The former lawyer for the Australian drug smugglers during the 2006 trial, Muhammad Rifan, revealed on February 7 that there had been irregularities in the case.

In cryptic remarks made after visiting the Bali nine duo in Kerobokan prison, he said: "It's something that implicates us, it could discredit me. But for them I will take it."

He refused to publicly expand on the comments until on Monday, Fairfax Media revealed details of allegations, with Mr Rifan saying judges had asked for 1 billion rupiah (about $130,000) for a sentence of less than 20 years.

The deal fell through after the judges later told him they had been ordered by senior legal and government members in Jakarta to impose a death penalty.

The judges, it is alleged, then asked for an even greater sum for a lighter sentence. Mr Rifan declined to reveal the amount but said he could not possibly pay the alleged bribe.

Both the alleged bribes and interference from Jakarta are prohibited under Indonesian law.

Mr Rifan said he went public because the judicial commission had failed to interview him, and his former clients were about to be killed. He urged that the executions – expected soon after midnight Tuesday – be postponed until a thorough investigation was complete.

In its statement, the judicial commission said the investigation "was conducted professionally, carefully and without intervention from any party". It added that it had "no authority to change the judges' decision, including postponing the executions on Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran."

Nevertheless, it "expects the Supreme Court to be active investigating the bribery allegations".

The statement surprised and disturbed lawyers for the Bali nine duo. One of them, Todung Mulya Lubis, had recently received a letter from the commission summonsing him to an interview next week.

"That means they have just started the investigation," he said. "They still need to question all these key people. Both Rifan and of course Sukumaran and Andrew Chan."

Asked if the judicial commission had been subjected to political interference, Mr Todung said: "They made a very strange statement. I don't think executions should take place if the investigations have not taken place. I don't even know what is the outcome of the investigation."

On Monday night, Indonesian president Joko Widodo responded to Fairfax Media's report by saying "Such things should have been exposed years ago... Why it wasn't revealed in the past when it happened?"

But Barrister Julian McMahon, who also works for Chan and Sukumaran, pointed out that as soon as Mr Rifan made his remarks, an application for the judicial commission was lodged within days.

It was given a case file number by the commission in early March. Ever since, he said, the probe had apparently stalled.

"The allegation is only two and a half months old," he said. "As far as we are concerned, the investigation is obviously not yet complete. In reality, it hasn't even commenced."

Source: http://www.smh.com.au/world/bali-nine-executions-investigation-into-bribery-allegations-completed-by-judicial-commission-20150428-1mv3sq.html

Indonesia's dramatic executions hide the real problem

Al Jazeera - April 28, 2015

Michael Buehler – A firing squad in Indonesia has shot Australian drug smugglers Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran together with six out of seven other alleged narcotics traffickers. Their deaths have caused an international outcry.

Over the past few days, the foreign ministers of Australia, Brazil, France, and the Philippines had all expressed their dismay over their nationals' imminent execution.

The diplomatic frenzy culminated in a personal appeal by UN Secretary- General Ban Ki-moon to Indonesian President Joko Widodo to stop the executions. These diplomatic rows were accompanied by extensive press coverage and social media campaigns.

Widodo rejected all appeals for clemency, referring to his duty to protect Indonesian citizens from drugs. In numerous interviews, the president reiterated that the country was facing a national drug emergency, with dozens of Indonesians dying from substance abuse every day.

The executions of drug traffickers were necessary to prevent future drug related deaths.

Harm-reduction strategies

However, if the Indonesian government were really serious about protecting the wellbeing of its citizens, it would pursue harm-reduction strategies aimed at Indonesian drug users instead of executing drug traffickers.

Currently, Indonesia has not only some of the world's harshest laws against the trafficking but also the consumption of drugs.

Indonesian laws make almost no distinction between drug dealers and drug users and anti-narcotics laws that criminalise and discriminate against addicts have become more draconian over time.

In the late 1990s, politicians such as Religious Affairs Minister Tarmizi Taher, a physician, supported the establishment of methadone clinics and needle exchange programmes for drug users. President Abdurrahman Wahid, in office from 1999 to 2001, treated drug addiction as a health issue and not a criminal matter.

However, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, the "reform president" who was in power from 2004 to 2014, turned drug consumption into a security issue. The current president seems determined to continue his predecessor's conservative politics despite a global trend towards softening the approach to drug use.

The fall-out of the government's approach has been a national tragedy. Criminalising the consumption of even small amounts of drugs has led to a massive increase in the number of prison inmates.

Around 60 percent of the 12,000 people locked up in the capital Jakarta alone are imprisoned for substance abuse. Since most Indonesian prisons provide no health services, inmates are forced to engage in practices that carry a high risk of HIV transmission.

Counterproductive policies

The going rate for a used needle in a Jakarta prison is said to be less than 50 cents per shot. Indonesia's "war against drugs" is therefore directly responsible for an explosion of HIV/AIDS cases in Indonesia's penitentiaries. Official statistics show that around 30 percent of prison deaths recorded were due to HIV/AIDS.

While the country's approach to drug users is characterised by government incompetence and counterproductive policies, the international community has contributed its fair share to this deplorable situation. Many of Indonesia's drug laws are inspired by the US approach to drugs, which has seeped into Indonesia through the United Nations' conservative narcotics policy.

Furthermore, a surge in funding for law enforcement in recent years, partially paid for by foreign donor agencies promoting "good governance", has provided the Indonesian government with the financial means to enforce laws that take a hardline approach to drugs.

Widodo is a president who owes his political career largely to symbolic actions. He managed to convince people that he "reformed" his hometown Solo City, a campaign claim which made him governor of Jakarta in 2013 and catapulted him into the presidential office shortly afterwards.

Publicity stunts

Ever since, he has continued to pursue a political agenda that is driven by publicity stunts, such as personally inspecting broken water pumps in the slums of the capital.

The president has plenty of reasons to continue his superficial approach to the country's drug problem. The political capital that can be reaped from the dramatic execution of drug dealers is undoubtedly higher than if one were to focus on improving the everyday situation of drug users through harm-reduction programmes. However, his approach does very little to protect some of Indonesia's most vulnerable citizens.

The daily ordeal Indonesians with addiction problems suffer because of their government's short-sighted policies is a tragedy that unfolds more quietly than the headline-generating drama of executions. However, it is no less real and deserves the same level of diplomatic outrage and extensive coverage in international and local newspapers.

[Michael Buehler is a lecturer in comparative politics at the University of London's School of Oriental and African Studies. He has also been an associate research fellow at the Asia Society in New York City since 2011. The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera's editorial policy.]

Source: http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2015/04/indonesia-dramatic-executions-hide-real-problem-150428071623780.html

Rights groups urge government to abide by legal process

Jakarta Post - April 27, 2015

Tama Salim, Jakarta – Criticism mounted of the government ahead of its impending second round of executions expected on Tuesday, as civil society groups demanded it respect all the legal processes that are currently being pursued by the convicts to avoid death.

A team of rights activists representing Brazilian death row convict Rodrigo Gularte is asking the government to postpone the execution of at least one of the 10 convicts on death row, arguing that it had to respect the regulations and wait until all legal avenues are completely exhausted, including a case review that Gularte's team is lodging on Monday.

A member of Gularte's legal team, Alex Argo Widoyo, said the team would lodge a new case review based on 22 pieces of new evidence not previously presented at an earlier hearing, in the hope that Gularte would be reprieved.

Alex, who is a member of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras), claimed that the new evidence would prove that Gularte was suffering from schizophrenia, a legal avenue that previously proved unsuccessful.

"We have received new evidence that supports the fact that Rodrigo has been sick since 1982. On account of this, the Attorney General needs to allow for the possibility of postponement," Alex told reporters in Central Jakarta, on Sunday.

Another postponement of the executions was permissible, he claimed given the fact that officials had already put them off until after the conclusion of the Asian-African Conference Commemoration (AACC) out of respect for the foreign dignitaries.

"If the executions were held off to accommodate the AACC, why shouldn't they be postponed to accommodate legal efforts to overturn the rulings?"

He called for the executions to be postponed at least until there was a decision regarding the case review, which will be lodged with the Tangerang District Court on Monday.

The case review, Alex continued, would challenge Gularte's sentence by using Article 44 of the Criminal Code (KUHP), which stipulates that an individual suffering from mental illness must be exempt from execution. "Unlike the first case review, which focused on flaws in the judge's judgment, we will use Rodrigo's mental health as our premise," he added.

A coalition of NGOs is also urging the government to halt the executions and abolish the death penalty altogether.

The coalition, called the Civil Society against Death Penalty, said the government needed to rethink its execution policy because apart from the contravention of human rights, the legal process against those convicted had been flawed.

"In the case of Mary Jane Veloso, for example, it was written [on her dossier] that she was accompanied by [lawyers] from Yogyakarta Police. In fact, they only met her during Mary's trial," said the head of Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH Jakarta), Feby Yonesta, during a press conference at the Human Rights Working Group (HRWG) headquarters in Central Jakarta on Sunday.

He was referring to another drugs convict, from the Philippines, who is facing execution. He also claimed that Sleman District Court, which sentenced Veloso to death, had infringed her rights as it did not provide a proper interpreter for Mary. "The fact is that Mary cannot speak English. They provided an English translator but Mary could not understand all the accusations made against her because she can only understand Tagalog," Feby added, referring to the Philippine language.

He warned that the failure to conduct a trial in a language comprehensible to a suspect goes against the Indonesian Criminal Law Code Procedures (KUHAP).

"Article 51 of the law stipulates that in order to provide a defense, a suspect needs to be informed of all accusations made against them in a comprehensible language," he said. "Until the end of the trial Mary Jane did not understand all the accusations [made against her]," he added. (saf)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/04/27/rights-groups-urge-govt-abide-legal-process.html

AG in key post when alleged intervention led to Bali nine death penalty

Sydney Morning Herald - April 27, 2015

Tom Allard – Indonesia's Attorney-General and chief advocate for executing drug felons, H.M. Prasetyo, was a senior figure in the office of the Attorney-General in 2006 when it allegedly intervened to insist the Bali nine duo get the death penalty.

Fairfax Media revealed on Monday claims by the former lawyer for the Bali nine pair, Muhammad Rifan, that he was asked to pay 1 billion rupiah, about $130,000 at the time, to judges to ensure Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran got a sentence of less than 20 years in prison.

The deal collapsed, he says, after the Attorney-General's office and the Supreme Court intervened and told the judges to impose the death penalty.

The judges, from the Denpasar District Court, responded to the edict from Jakarta by asking for a "lot more money" to hand down a lighter sentence, Mr Rifan alleges. He was unable to pay the money and the death sentence was given.

Mr Prasetyo was deputy attorney-general at the time, a senior bureaucratic position. He left later that year to embark on a political career as a member of Partai Nasional Demokrat.

He was appointed to cabinet as Attorney-General by Indonesian President Joko Widodo last year, a controversial move because the position – crucial to combating Indonesia's endemic corruption – is seen as better done by an individual with no political affiliations.

Ever since his appointment, Mr Prasetyo has led the push for the executions of Chan and Sukumaran and other drug convicts, repeatedly saying their various legal appeals will fail.

Nine drug felons, including the two Australians, are due to be executed at midnight on Tuesday, or shortly after.

Mr Prasetyo has also said that the executions should take place before Indonesia's judicial commission – which examines claims of judicial wrongdoing – completes its investigation into the claims. He says the investigation is irrelevant. Mr Prasetyo could not be reached for comment on Monday.

Fairfax Media is not suggesting he knew about the alleged negotiations for money nor was involved in the alleged intervention from Jakarta. But as the most senior deputy attorney-general at the time, in charge of general crimes and the examination of legal actions, there is a clear potential for a conflict of interest.

Mr Rifan has vowed to provide further details of the alleged corruption to the judicial commission, if they ever get around to contacting him despite starting their probe almost two months ago.

Australia's Minister for Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop said Mr Rifan's allegations were "very serious". "They call into question the integrity of the sentencing process," she said.

"[It] underlines why we continue to request Indonesia to allow the judicial commission to finalise its review... An execution is an irrevocable step and I believe that these hearings and these appeal processes should be concluded before any decision is taken."

Meanwhile, lawyers for Chan and Sukumaran echoed Ms Bishop's concerns about the "disturbing" allegations. "This is unfair," Indonesian human rights lawyer Todung Mulya Lubis told reporters.

"People should not be executed if the judgment came from a defective process. We appeal to the Attorney-General. We appeal to the President. In the name of due process of law, fairness and justice, do not do the executions."

But, as United Nations secretary Ban Ki-moon urged the executions to be halted in a new statement, Ms Bishop said she was yet to see any evidence that the ratcheting up of international pressure on Indonesia was having an impact.

Source: http://www.smh.com.au/world/indonesian-ag-in-key-post-when-alleged-intervention-led-to-bali-nine-death-penalty-20150427-1mu7lq.html

UN chief appeals to Indonesia not to carry out executions

Reuters - April 26, 2015

Michelle Nichols, New York – United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appealed to Indonesia on Saturday not to execute 10 prisoners, including two Australians, for drug-related crimes.

Indonesia has so far informed seven of the 10 death row inmates, including the Australians and one Nigerian, that they will be executed in a matter of days, possibly as soon as Tuesday.

Nationals from Brazil, Ghana and the Philippines are also on Indonesia's death row. A temporary reprieve was granted to a French citizen who will not be in the next round of executions.

The United Nations opposes the death penalty in all circumstances and in a statement, Ban's spokesman said the secretary-general urged Indonesian President Joko Widodo to "urgently consider declaring a moratorium on capital punishment in Indonesia, with a view toward abolition."

Indonesia has harsh punishments for drug crimes and resumed executions in 2013 after a five-year gap. Six executions have been carried out so far this year.

"Under international law, if the death penalty is to be used at all, it should only be imposed for the most serious crimes, namely those involving intentional killing, and only with appropriate safeguards," Ban's spokesman said in a statement.

"Drug-related offenses generally are not considered to fall under the category of 'most serious crimes'," he said.

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/un-chief-appeals-indonesia-not-carry-executions/

Veloso is a poor woman, has two children: NGO

Jakarta Post - April 26, 2015

Cilacap – An NGO activist has said that Mary Jane Fiesta Veloso, a Philippine death row inmate convicted on drug trafficking charges, is only a poor woman, with two children in her home country, who departed for Malaysia to work as a domestic helper.

"Mary Jane is a young mom of two children left in the Philippines. She has been known as a poor citizen in the country," Cony Regalado, a migrant worker activist from the Philippines, said as quoted by kompas.com.

She was speaking during a rally to protest Veloso's imminent execution, held in front of Wijaya Pura quay in Cilacap, Central Java, on Sunday.

At the rally, Regalado urged President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to reconsider a second case review (PK) over Veloso's death sentence ruled by the Yogyakarta District Court. Veloso's legal team filed a PK for the second time recently after its first review request was rejected by President Jokowi.

"We are calling on President Jokowi to review again the second PK suggestion filed at the Sleman District Court on Friday. This is because we strongly believe that Mary Jane was a trafficking victim, who was deceived by Kristina, a Malaysian citizen," said Regalado.

The activist said Veloso, who was promised employment as a domestic helper in Malaysia, was ordered by Kristina to bring a suitcase said to contain used clothes to Yogyakarta – She said Veloso was not aware that the suitcase contained narcotics as she did not check its contents prior to her departure.

"Mary was deceived by a real drug trafficking leader from Malaysia, who claimed to be a migrant worker recruitment agent in Malaysia," said Ragalado, adding that she and migrant worker activists from several countries would strive to save Veloso from execution. (ebf)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/04/26/veloso-a-poor-woman-has-two-children-ngo.html

The last wishes: Bali nine men brace for execution on Tuesday

Sydney Morning Herald - April 26, 2015

Jewel Topsfield – Myuran Sukumaran has painted what could be his last self-portrait: a torso with a palm-sized black hole over the heart dripping with blood.

The eerie painting, brought back from Nusakambangan by their lawyer Julian McMahon, is a portent of Bali nine pair's ghastly fate – death by firing squad.

Sukumaran and Andrew Chan were officially given 72 hours warning of their executions on Saturday. Chinthu Sukumaran said his brother's last wish was to paint for as long as possible. Chan's was to go to church with his family in his final days.

The Indonesian government has not officially announced the execution date but several of the nine condemned prisoners were told it would be Tuesday.

The government had previously said it was waiting on the outcome of Indonesian marijuana trafficker Zainal Abidin's court case before setting a date.

However on Sunday Attorney General spokesman Tony Spontana told Fairfax Media the Supreme Court had rejected Abidin's request for a judicial review late on Friday.

The Chan and Sukumaran families were once again forced to make the grim ferry trip to Nusakambangan to visit their loved ones. Chan's fiancee, Feby Herewila, brother Michael, mother Helen and long-term friend and supporter Senior Pastor Christie Buckingham all boarded the ferry.

Michael Chan said the two Australians are still holding up "pretty well considering they feel that it is unjust given what has has happened over the last 10 years with their case".

Michael Chan and Myruran Sukumaran's brother, Chinthu, pleaded with Indonesian President Joko Widodo to intervene and spare their brothers' lives.

"it still doesn't have to be this way," a tearful Chinthu Sukumaran said. "I would ask the president to please, please show mercy. There are nine people with families who love them – mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, brothers and sisters. We ask the president to please intervene and save their lives."

Somewhere in the legal system in Indonesia, Michael Chan said, there has got to be mercy. "The president needs to show that now. He's the only one that can stop it and it's not too late to do so. so I ask the president please show mercy."

Sukumaran's mother Raji, father Sam, brother Chinthu and sister Brintha also visited Besi prison. They will be allowed to visit every day until the final hours when only a spiritual counsellor of their choice can be present.

The lawyer of another condemned man, Martin Anderson, described scenes of desolation and crying as the nine prisoners on death row began to say their goodbyes.

Anderson, Filipina maid Mary Jane Fiesta Veloso, and Brazilian Rodrigo Gularte all refused to sign their notification of exemptions, although this will have no effect on the execution.

Anderson's lawyer, Casmanto Sudra, said his client kept repeating in disbelief: "Fifty grams. Death". He was convicted of possessing just 50 grams of heroin in Jakarta in November 2003.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has made a last-ditch bid for mercy for the Bali nine pair. Mr Abbott made the appeal to the Indonesian president while in Turkey on Saturday to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli campaign.

He asked the president to extend clemency to Chan and Sukumaran, describing them as reformed individuals and asking for them to not be executed.

The Prime Minister has had limited success in his attempts to speak to Mr Widodo about the pair; after an initial phone call, Mr Widodo said he was too busy to take the second and third calls.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten, who is also in Turkey, said the news that Chan and Sukumaran could be executed as soon as Tuesday was a "deeply worrying development".

"No one thinks they deserve to escape punishment, but they don't deserve this," he said. "Labor opposes the death penalty in every circumstance, in every country. I believe it demeans us all."

Earlier on Sunday, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop spoke to Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi about the pair during a brief stop in the Middle East while flying back to Australia. Ms Bishop stressed the need for all legal processes to be determined before any action is taken.

Evangelist preacher Matius Arif Mirdjaja, a former drug addict and prisoner in Bali's Kerobokan jail who was baptised by Chan, said Indonesia would be remembered as a nation that killed a pastor and an artist, not drug kingpins.

"History will write that we are a nation that killed all the repented, a nation that loses empathy and compassion for people who have transformed their lives and helped others," he said.

On Monday Amnesty International will spell out the words #KeepHopeAlive with thousands of flowers at Blues Point Reserve, overlooking Sydney Harbour. A public protest will be held outside the Indonesian Consulate General in Sydney at 4pm on Monday.

Indonesia Institute president Ross Taylor said retribution in the wake of the Bali nine executions would not be in the best interests of Australia or the region.

"With (the Australians') deaths will come calls for retribution, including withdrawal of aid funding, trade and tourist sanctions and perhaps even the withdrawal of Australia's new ambassador to Indonesia, Paul Grigson," Mr Taylor said.

"To impose retribution of this kind would be counter-productive to Australia's interests in the region, and such action will invite an increase in the already high level of nationalistic sentiment, and a 'tit- for-tat' response from the new Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo government."

Meanwhile, lawyers for Gularte, who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia, will lodge a request for a judicial review into his case on Monday. They say Gularte was mentally ill when he tried to smuggle six kilograms of cocaine into Indonesia hidden inside surfboards and should be hospitalised not executed.

Gularte's lawyer, Christina Widiantarti, said he became angry and upset when he was notified of his execution on Saturday. "He said, I've been here for seven years, I did one mistake, everybody uses illegal narcotic, why do I have to be executed?" Ms Widiantarti said.

"Everybody there knows Rodrigo is mentally ill. He refused to sign the notification of his death. "Because he was angry, he didn't say what his last request was, he didn't say what to do after the execution."

On Friday lawyers for Veloso lodged a request for a second judicial review on the grounds she was "primarily a human trafficking victim in the first place, and therefore, must be protected".

However Foreign Ministry spokesman Arrmanatha Nasir told Fairfax Media that under Indonesian law only one judicial review was allowed.

Veloso maintains she was tricked by her godsister into carrying a suitcase lined with heroin into Yogyakarta, where she was seeking employment as a domestic helper.

Veloso's plight has captured the sympathy of Indonesians still reeling from the beheadings of two Indonesian domestic workers in Saudi Arabia earlier this month.

The hashtag #SaveMaryJane has been trending on Twitter with several local celebrities supporting her case for mercy. (With Amilia Rosa)

Source: http://www.smh.com.au/world/the-last-wishes-bali-nine-men-brace-for-execution-on-tuesday-20150426-1mtr7q.html

Grandmother found guilty of stealing logs

Jakarta Post - April 23, 2015

Jakarta – Situbondo District Court in East Java sentenced Asyani, 70, to 15 months probation on Thursday for stealing seven pieces of wood belonging to state company PT Perhutani.

The panel of judges, presided by Kadek Dedy Arcana, also ordered Asyani to pay Rp 500 million (US$38,750). But no imprisonment will be imposed should she fail to pay the fine.

After the trial, Asyani shouted to the judges claiming mistreatment and a miscarriage of justice. "This is not fair. I'm innocent," said Asyani as quoted by Kompas.com The case has drawn nationwide attention due to Asyani's age.

Activists, politicians and government officials have thrown their support behind Asyani, calling on law enforcers take into consideration a different approach in the prosecution of elderly lawbreakers. (ren)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/04/23/grandmother-found-guilty-stealing-logs.html

Foreign affairs & trade

Jokowi's patron walks among heads of state

Jakarta Post - April 24, 2015

Bagus BT Saragih, Bandung – The patron of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) leader Megawati Soekarnoputri, was in a front-row position on Friday when she walked alongside China President Xi Jinping during a memory-lane stroll for the 60th Asian-African Conference Commemoration (AACC) in Bandung, West Java.

Megawati, whose father Sukarno cofounded the conference, was seen smiling and talking proudly with China's First Lady Peng Liyuan during the event. Jokowi, Xi and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak were among the noted luminaries heading the walk.

Former president Megawati was the only party chairperson given the privilege at the event, with officials arguing that she deserved the VVIP treatment as she was Sukarno's descendant. Her daughter Puan Maharani was also seen walking behind her.

Several political analysts have criticized the AACC event as a waste of money, and suspected it is being held merely to please Megawati, whose relations with Jokowi have recently turned sour. (ren)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/04/24/jokowis-patron-walks-among-heads-state.html

Economy & investment

Economy suffers for Jokowi's distractions

Globe Asia - April 26, 2015

Muhamad Al Azhari, Jakarta – President Joko Widodo should free himself from the suffocating political "straitjacket" and focus on the economy for the rest of his term, as investors begin wondering if on-going sagas may start affecting his ability to govern the nation effectively, an analyst has said.

Wellian Wiranto, an economist with OCBC Bank in Singapore said that Joko has been at the helm of Indonesia for just over half a year, or about 10 percent of his five year term – with a long way to go until another election in 2019.

"However, the public gaze is never far away and some investors may be beginning to wonder whether the apparent drop in his popularity might start to affect his ability to govern effectively," said Wellian in an "Inside Indonesia" report released last week.

"From the police chief appointment saga earlier this year to the more recent honest-to-a-fault admission that he has not perused everything that he signs off on – including an indefensible approval for hand-outs to state officials for car purchases – he appears to have been busy shooting himself in the foot," the economist said in the report.

Wellian also cited the confusingly inconclusive leadership tussle within Golkar, a powerful opposition party, whereby one faction has clamored to join Joko and bestow his coalition with a parliamentary majority.

Where Golkar would swing is important for investors as with the party's support, Joko could win supports against the opposition.

"On top of that, the pre-election talks about how he is at the beck and call of Megawati, the head of PDI-P [Indonesian Democratic Party], have been rekindled, courtesy of her rather pointedly delivered speech in a party conference," Wellian said.

"As if things are not challenging enough on the political front, Indonesia's economy faces a tricky period as well," Wellian said.

"Dragged down by commodities weakness and a lackluster global economy, Indonesia's growth has slowed to just a whisker above the 5 percent level in the last quarter of 2014 and may well have dipped below that in the first quarter of this year," he said.

Indonesia's economy expanded by 5.01 percent year-on-year in the fourth quarter of 2014, accelerating from 4.92 percent year-on-year in the previous period. Meanwhile, for the year of 2014, the economy grew at 5.02 percent, the lowest in five years.

Josua Pardede chief economist at Bank Permata – a joint venture between UK lender Standard Chartered Bank and Indonesia's top automotive distributor Astra International – also projected first quarter growth to be weaker than the previous quarter.

"Investment remains slow as investors are still in wait-and-see [mode] over promises of Joko and over the law and political stability," he said.

Still, even though Bank Permata has a gloomy outlook on the first quarter growth forecast, its full year estimate, somehow, is a bit rosy.

It said Indonesia's economy is expected to expand by 5 to 5.3 percent this year, as the government spending is larger than last year and taking into account over Joko's promise to accelerate infrastructure development, reduce complex bureaucracy and focus on welfare programs.

However, in overall assessment, wellian of the OCBC concluded: "The first tenth of Joko's presidential term has been filled with too much political drama and, on balance, not enough economic actions.

"While the political challenges do not look like they will abate any time soon, Indonesia's future will be much better served if Joko re-focuses his efforts on reviving economic growth with foreign investors.

"Ultimately, how the economy performs will be the major determinant in just how secure his political career will be. A key plank in Bill Clinton's successful campaign strategy in the 1992 US presidential elections comes very bluntly to mind: "It's the economy, stupid.'" Wellian said.

"That will be a smart thing to remember as he tries to seize the agenda for the remaining 90 percent of his present term," Wellian said.

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/business/economy-suffers-jokowis-distractions/

Foreign debt – Digging a hole, filling a hole

Kompas Newspaper - April 25, 2015

Indonesia's foreign debt continues to rise, primarily because private sector debt is growing. Of the various issues related to private sector foreign debt, the composition of new debts to pay old debts needs to be given attention. The 'nomenclature' of this kind of foreign debt is referred to as 'refinancing'.

In every day terms however, it is easier to translate as "digging a hole, filling a hole". Indonesia's foreign debt figures for February 2015, which were published by Bank Indonesia (BI) in April show that there is tread towards an ever greater percentage of foreign debt being used for refinancing.

Total private sector foreign debt used for refinancing in February reached 13,465 billion US dollars. This is equivalent to 174 trillion rupiah based on the Jakarta Interbank Spot Dollar Rate (Jisdor) for Friday April 24.

The composition of private sector debt for refinancing has now reached 8.2 percent of total private sector debt for February 2014 which stood at 164.1 billion dollars US. What is of concern is that the amount and percentage of loans being used for refinancing continues to rise.

By comparison, in 2010, foreign debt used for refinancing stood at 1.99 billion dollars US or 2.7 percent of the total private sector debt. In 2011 this had risen to 3.75 billion dollars US or 3.9 percent.

In 2012, this increased again to 5.4 billion dollars US or 4.7 percent of total private sector foreign debt. In 2013, refinancing rose yet again to 8.4 billion dollars or 6.5 percent of total debt. Last year the composition for refinancing reached 7.4 percent of private sector foreign debt.

As foreign debt for refinancing increases, the growth in loans used by private corporations for investment obviously slows.

The growth in foreign loans for refinancing has risen in concert with a slowing of economic growth and the fall in commodity prices. In order to maintain cash flows, many corporations whose core business is in the commodity sector have had to seek new and bigger loans in order to cover old debts.

Over the last two years commodity prices have continued to decline triggered by weak demand from global markets. Over the last year however this situation has been aggravated by a drop in the price of crude oil that has created a negative sentiment for commodity prices. As an example, the international market price for coal, which reached around 100 dollars US per ton in 2011, currently stands at only 35 dollars US per ton.

In general terms, the management of foreign loans is being improved so that debtors don't default on their debts. The BI has issued a number of regulations, including among others, related to foreign loan hedging transactions that was implement this year.

Corporations that have a negative difference between foreign currency assets and foreign currency obligations must be have foreign currency available long before debts mature. In addition to this, they are subject to regulations on foreign debt ratio.

The fall in commodity prices should be a lesson for corporations in Indonesia. Corporations must be able to make projections about business prospects and whether they need fresh foreign loans. If they fail to do this, in the end corporations will be forced to dig holes to fill holes in order to save their business. (A HANDOKO)

Source: No link available.

[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service. The original title of the report was "Utang Luar Negeri – Gali Lubang Tutup labong".]

Analysis & opinion

Australia cannot respond meekly to Indonesian executions

News.com.au - April 30, 2015

Australian taxpayers spend millions of dollars every year training Indonesian military and police officers.

Many of these men, including former president General Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, return home to distinguished military and political careers. They become the custodians of Indonesia's inhumane capital punishment laws.

Human rights and the rule of law are key aspects of the Australian training courses, but given the record of the military and brutal units such as Kopassus special-forces, many of the messages fall on deaf ears.

During the past half century Indonesia's Javanese dominated military force, known as TNI, has only been used to kill its own citizens in places such as West Papua, East Timor and Ambon. It has been a brutal and uncompromising domestic security force.

Strong friendships have been forged between Australian and Indonesian officers who have joined each other in their homes, on golf courses in both countries or in Jakarta's famous karaoke bars.

Senior Australian officers sing the praises and the importance of relationships established during the courses, but when true friendship is required – such as during the "cruel and unnecessary" Chan/Sukamaran execution crisis – they apparently count for little.

In addition to the training places, Indonesian troops last year participated in 11 multilateral exercises with Australian military forces.

Dozens of senior Indonesian police also attend training courses in Australia and the bonds between counterterrorism officers in both nations have also become very close. At present there are 23 Indonesian officers training at Australian military academies and universities.

During the past year more than 150 places were offered to Indonesian military personnel and 70 were taken up at a cost to Australia of $2.5 million.

The funds come from the Defence Cooperation Program that last year devoted $3.7 million to Indonesia. That is the highest figure for all South-East Asian countries from a total budget of $17 million.

This money is on top of the annual $600 million in foreign aid that taxpayers devote to Indonesia in areas such as health, education and governance. And then there is the $1 billion Australian dollars provided in assistance following the Asian Financial Crisis and another billion in the aftermath of the Boxing Day tsunami.

Australia has rightly been a very good friend of Indonesia through thick and thin. It is now time to take stock.

We cannot afford to over react and hurt the people we are trying to help but equally we cannot be seen to be a meek diplomatic pushover. We must do more than just recall our ambassador and cease ministerial contact.

These gestures may be unprecedented but they will be seen as timid by many Australians and most Indonesians.

We don't want to go to war over a single act of barbarity sanctioned by a weak, compromised president Joko Widodo, but our response must reflect the anger of millions of Australians who are dismayed by the brutal torture and state sanctioned murder of two Australian citizens in a foreign field.

There needs to be a tough, tangible and visible response otherwise Australia will be seen as weak and that could have far greater ramifications down the track.

Source: http://www.news.com.au/national/australia-cannot-respond-meekly-to-indonesian-executions/story-fncynjr2-1227327793616

Damage is done, so what next?

Jakarta Globe Editorial - April 29, 2015

The execution has been carried out and the damage is done. We have to live with that. While we will unlikely feel any positive impact from the execution – nobody can say for certain that drug trafficking has miraculously gone done, or that drug traffickers are somehow spooked from operating in Indonesia – the negative impacts are already here and will be here to stay every time the world talks about execution for drug crimes.

Forget about the market reaction – the benchmark Jakarta Composite Index closed down 2.61 percent to 5,105.56, for a three-day slide – the memory of the country shooting eight people at the same will remain for a long time to come.

What President Joko Widodo may have accomplished by executing these eight people is to make the point that nobody should meddle in Indonesia's affairs. But we don't know what other world leaders think when they encounter Joko.

The government needs to launch a deliberate campaign of damage control. We believe it's time for Joko to scrap all plans to execute more convicts. Enough is enough. He should have learned the lesson from this unprecedented international fiasco. This is the biggest diplomatic fallout since Indonesia's annexation of Timor-Leste.

Joko must now show the world that Indonesia is a nation with full respect for human rights principles – no more arbitrary killings in Papua, no more persecution of religious minorities, and no more murdering of drug convicts just to make a point.

Indonesia can also show Australia how sorry we are, committing that our relations with the country will remain strong. We laud Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott's intention to maintain ties with Indonesia. We should humbly welcome his statement that he is a friend of Indonesia.

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/opinion/editorial-damage-done-what-next/

Acting in the best interests of Indonesia

Jakarta Globe Editorial - April 28, 2015

Judging from the statement by the Attorney General's Office, the nine drug convicts on death row may be dead by now or may still be alive as Indonesia continues to defy calls from human right activists and the international community.

Within this slim window of chance, people with a conscience can't give up on the nine people waiting for the firing squad. We have to keep the faith and hope alive. We call on President Joko Widodo to change his stance, considering the impact that Indonesia will receive if the authorities proceed with the death penalty.

What is the use of executing people for Indonesia? It will create much more harm than good.

The fact is that executing has nothing to do with drug eradication. Before carrying out the death penalty, we must fix our law enforcement agencies, and the prison and judiciary systems. We have to make sure first that these systems will allow us to arrive at the correct ruling. Without certainty that our system has minimum flaws, we can't execute people.

With regards to the planned executions, we doubt that such action is really aimed at creating deterrence. We are afraid that it was born out of political strategy of people surrounding Joko, and the president might be only a victim of his aides who provided him with false data and arguments.

Joko has made statements that prevent him from changing his stance. He publicly stated that he would not grant clemency to drug offenders. Thus, he had already made a decision before reviewing each case. This was a mistake, and backpedaling may be in the best interest of Joko and the nation.

Joko must delay the execution until he reviews each case. There is no shame in accepting and correcting one's mistake. This is not a sign of weakness. Rather, it is a sign of greatness. This is wisdom that will put him as a great leader.

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/opinion/editorial-acting-best-interests-indonesia/

Executions go against Indonesian interests

Jakarta Globe Editorial - April 26, 2015

Why should President Joko Widodo repeal the planned execution of 10 drug convicts on death row?

Forget the human rights argument for now – what about Indonesia's national interest and the people's aspirations? Will executing these convicts benefit the country and its people? Executing drug convicts has never been an issue for Indonesian voters. It's not an issue they think about when they vote a president into office.

Yes, most of us fully support efforts at eradicating drug trafficking, but by killing, supposedly to create a deterrent effect? That's not what Indonesians want.

Are the executions in the interest of the nation? Inviting massive international condemnation is not in the interest of Indonesia at all. We have been criticized as murderers.

Destroying our relations with otherwise friendly countries like Australia, Brazil and France is hardly an act of defending our interests either.

Arguing that executing these convicts can create a deterrent against drug traffickers is all myth. How many people have been sentenced to death? Has the amount of drugs in circulation gone down? No, it hasn't.

Saving Indonesian youths from drugs will need clean law enforcers. As long as law enforcers take bribes, we can never eradicate drug trafficking.

So is there any reason why should Joko continue with the planned executions? Political leverage, perhaps? Few voters will care about this enough, while the international community – which supported his ascension to the presidency – is turning against him.

It is time to put a stop to the executions – a policy initially meant only to divert attention away from the conflict between police and the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

Joko will come out as a human rights hero and a winner. That is something that people will remember.

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/opinion/editorial-executions-go-indonesian-interests/

West Papua sacrifices just as important as Anzac bravery

Sunshine Coast Daily - April 26, 2015

Mitchell Bland – As Australia celebrates its historic partnership with New Zealand and commemorates lives lost through war, our Pacific partners in West Papua and their plight for independence must also be remembered.

Australian World War II diggers and the 'Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels' fought and died together on the harsh terrain of Kokoda where an unbreakable connection between the two island nations was forged.

Now, over 60-years-later, the deeply oppressed West Papuans are urging Australia and the international community for help in their struggle for self-determination, against Indonesia.

West Papuan independence leader, International Spokesman for the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) and founder of the Free West Papua Campaign Benny Wenda is now asking Australia to return the favour.

"It is our time of need and I really hope that our Australian family could help to spread the message and support my people against the occupation of our country," he said.

"It is very tragic for my people that the government of Australia has ignored our 50 year long suffering for increased military and economic ties with Indonesia."

Although Australia often takes the moral high ground on international issues, the countless human rights violations and continuing atrocities towards the indigenous West Papuan's has largely been ignored.

Considering that West Papua is one of Australia's closest neighbours, the lack of support from Australia and the International community, is both puzzling and complex.

The limited media coverage is partially due to a media blackout imposed by Indonesia, as no foreign journalists are allowed into the country, West Papua is one of the most underreported armed conflicts in the world.

"The Indonesian government does not want the world to find out the truth about what is really happening in West Papua but when journalists finally get access they will be able to see the true genocide and illegal occupation we West Papuans are facing," Mr Wenda said.

Although there are no official statistics it is estimated that there have been anywhere between 100,000 and 500,000 West Papuan casualties through what has been called a creeping genocide.

The Neglected Genocide Report on Abuses in Papua, launched by the Asian Human Rights Commission reported that between 1977 and 1978, the Indonesian military carried out aerial attacks in the central highlands of West Papua, using two Australian helicopters, killing over 4,000 people.

Source: http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/west-papua-sacrifices-just-important-anzac-bravery/2618966/

Indonesia: The quality of justice

New Mandala - April 26, 2015

Hamish McDonald – It will be scant help to the two Australians and six other foreigners now facing imminent execution on Nusakambangan Island, but the case of fellow convict Serge Atlaoui, now subject to temporary reprieve, shows the inconsistencies and favouritism of the judicial system which sentenced them.

Atlaoui, a 51-year-old French citizen, is the first to face the firing squad out of 17 people arrested in November 2005 in a police raid at Tangerang, close to Jakarta, on what was described as the largest methamphetamine and ecstasy pill factory to be busted in Southeast Asia.

The Indonesian police said they had seized 62.4 tonnes of chemicals used for crystal methamphetamine and 6.6 tons of chemicals used to make ecstasy, as well as thousands of ecstasy pills and hundreds of kilograms of methamphetamine about to be transported to Hong Kong. Some of the precursor chemicals had arrived in shipments labelled as soy-beans.

Indonesian media reports said the raid followed months of surveillance by Indonesian, Australian, US and Chinese police.

Among the 17 arrested were the two Indonesian businessmen described as the ringleaders of the drug operation, the factory owner Benny Sudrajat (also known as Benny Oei) and his deputy, Budi Sucipto (alias Iming Santoso).

However a Chinese businessman known as Peter Wong, who seems to have helped with finance, sourcing of raw materials and assembly of technical expertise, escaped after later arrest, and is still wanted by Indonesian police.

Four other Indonesians went on to be charged in the case: a storekeeper named Samad Sani, a chemist named Hendra Raharja, Sudrajat's son Kevin Saputra, and a maintenance man named Toto Kusriadi. Four others, an electrician and three security guards, were released without charge.

The Frenchman, a welder by trade, was one of two Westerners, the other being a Dutchman named Nicholaas Garnick Gerrardus, alleged to have been a chemist. A third Westerner, a Dutchman known as "Max", appears to have escaped arrest.

Five Chinese citizens comprised a third group, said to be specialised in the production of methamphetamine, known in Indonesia by its Japanese- origin name, shabu-shabu.

Curiously, the three groups were given separate trials.

The two alleged masterminds, Sudrajat and Sucipto, were found guilty and sentenced to death, a penalty upheld at two levels of appeal. Both filed last year for a peninjauan kembali (PK, a trial review) which is still in the course of hearing by the original court.

Three other Indonesians (Samad, Rahardja, and Saputra) received jail sentences of 15 years, raised to 20 years on appeal. The fourth, Kusriadi, got 10 years.

The five Chinese each received 20-year jail terms, which were affirmed at the first appeal, then raised to the death sentence at the final appeal. One of them died in detention, and the other four have had PK applications before the Supreme Court apparently since early last year, without a decision.

The two Westerners received life sentences at their trial, which were upheld at the first appeal, and then elevated to the death sentence at the final appeal to the Supreme Court. The Dutchman, Gerrardus, has died while in jail, and the Frenchman, Atlaoui, still has a PK under way.

The ultimate sentencing seems to show a tendency for the foreigners to cop the heaviest penalties. All the foreigners ended up with the death penalty, while some of the Indonesians were shown relative leniency. And as Diane Zhang has previously shown, in 2015 there are more foreigners slated for execution than the total killed in the previous 16 years.

Notably, would Altaoui, a welder helping put the factory together, have been more implicated in the grand scheme of drug manufacture than the boss's son, Kevin Saputra, or the chemist Hendra Rahardja?

Justice has shown itself less than impartial in the handling of the PK processes. The ringleader, Sudrajat, has been allowed to call witnesses and experts other than those called to previous hearings of the case. Atlaoui has not.

The Frenchman, who has been held in a prison remote from Jakarta, has had to pay the costs of getting himself and a heavy police escort to the capital for hearings of his case review. The attitude of the prosecutor at the review has been that it is a mere formality, and at the start one of his officials asked Atlaoui for his body measurements to prepare for the execution.

The Dutch chemist, now dead, tried to clear Atlaoui by saying his work was simply to set up machines, and that he had not helped any production tests. Although supported by police evidence, the Frenchman never had this point accepted by the courts, and the final appeal judgement called him a chemist. Atlaoui has insisted all along he thought he was helping build an acrylics factory.

Up until a day or two ago, the Indonesian authorities were pressing to have Atlaoui face the firing squads alongside Andrew Chan, Myuran Sukumaran and others in their execution batch.

This was despite the fact that six other death row convicts in the Tangerang drug factory case, including the alleged principals, still have ongoing case reviews which might cast a different light on Atlaoui's level of involvement – and the professed Indonesian policy that convicts in the same case like Chan and Sukumaran should be executed at the same time.

The suspicion must be strong that the foreigner was to be scapegoat while the influence of the businessman Sudrajat was at work in the Supreme Court to eventually reduce or indefinitely delay his sentence.

In the event, the strong statement of the French foreign minister, Laurent Fabius, pointing out the vagaries of a "dysfunctional" Indonesian judicial system, has pulled Atlaoui out of the execution list, at least for now.

That Chan and Sukumaran are guilty of trying to smuggle commercial quantities of heroin is beyond doubt, and not contested.

That their appeals and reviews have been heard by such a flawed system, and that then, after 10 years of successful rehabilitation, their sentences were ticked off by a new president intent on showing himself tough on drugs, will not reflect well on Indonesia if the executions are carried out, on them or the others scheduled for the firing squad.

After all, doesn't the second principle of Indonesia's five-point state ideology, the Pancasila, read: Kemanusiaan Yang Adil dan Beradab – A Just and Civilized Humanity?

It would seem, when appropriate, Indonesia can be as inconsistent with ideology as it is with justice.

[Hamish McDonald is author of "Demokrasi: Indonesia in the 21st Century" and "Journalist-in-Residence" at The Australian National University's College of Asia and the Pacific.]

Source: http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2015/04/26/indonesia-the-quality-of-justice/