Jayapura, Jubi – President Joko Widodo should push for a resolution into the killings of four students in Paniai and other human rights abuse cases during his visit to Papua this weekend, a Papuan legislator said.

"He must convey to Papuan people about the certainty of solving the Paniai shooting case, Yahukimo case and other severe human rights violations that occurred in Papua," said the head of the Special Human Right Committee at the Papuan Legislative Council, Laurenzus Kadepa, on Wednesday (6/5/2015).

He said the government did not appear to be serious about upholding human rights. He urged the government to be assertive and take action against any military personnel or police officers involved in human right violations.

"It is to avoid such impact on the government and the State as well. Whether we meet the president or not during his mission in Papua, our stance will still remain the same: solve the Paniai and Yahukimo cases as well as other severe human right violations in Papua at the first place," he said.

Earlier, the Ecumenical Churches Forum in Papua stated its rejection against the president's visit before solving several violence cases by security forces towards civilians in Papua over the years. The Chairman of Ecumenical Churches Forum in Papua, Benny Giay last week said the churches forum refused the president's plan to visit Papua because they considered it would not give a benefit to Papuans.

"The president didn't show his good intention to solve the issues of violence in Papua, instead it continues to be happened at every time when the president planned to visit this region," said Giay. (Arjuna Pademme/rom)

Source: http://tabloidjubi.com/en/2015/05/07/jokowi-urged-to-push-for-paniai-case-resolution-during-papua-visit/

West Papua 'oil palm atlas' portrays industry's explosion in region

Monga Bay - May 6, 2015

Philip Jacobson – There's a saying in the Indonesian palm oil industry: Sumatra is yesterday, Kalimantan is today, and Papua is tomorrow. Tomorrow might well have arrived.

A new report sheds light on the industry's rapid expansion in Indonesia's easternmost region – and on the companies behind the plantation drive.

Some are major conglomerates. Others are more opaque, with no website or company name at their listed address in Jakarta. The authors of the report – it was published by the Pusaka Foundation, awas MIFEE and six other organizations – found that staff at several of their offices refused to give out any information. Local government officials could also be difficult to reach and reluctant to cooperate.

To inform their findings, the authors drew on Internet research and communication with local Papuan NGOs and church and indigenous organizations, as well as attempts to contact government and corporate sources.

The resulting West Papua Oil Palm Atlas portrays a frontier region's early encounters with a crop that has come to dominate the Sumatran and Bornean landscapes – a portrait made that much starker by the central government's foreign media blackout in the territory.

"Using the excuse of the conflict around the [local] independence movement, the Indonesian government makes it very difficult for international observers to access West Papua, and this has probably also resulted in a lack of awareness internationally about the ecological threats," reads a text accompanying the report.

The report's name refers to the entire western half of the island of New Guinea, a pair of Indonesian provinces where rebellion has simmered ever since Jakarta's invasion in the early 1960s.

Detailed maps by district grouping illustrate the extent to which oil palm is advancing in the region. In 2005, there were just five operational plantations, but by 2015 there were 21, with another 20 firms on the verge of obtaining their final permit and many more with an early-stage location permit.

"If all these plantations were developed, more than 2.6 million hectares of land would be used up, the vast majority of which is currently tropical forest," the text reads.

Conglomerates with holdings in the region are led by some of Indonesia's richest men: billionaires Bachtiar Karim (Musim Mas), Sukanto Tanoto (Royal Golden Eagle), Eka Tjipta Widjaja (Sinar Mas), Anthony Salim (Salim Group) and Peter Sondakh (Rajawali)

Other major corporate groups include George Tahija's Austindo Nusantara Jaya, Arifin Pangioro's Medco, Malaysia-based Lion, Hong Kong-headquartered Noble and Sri Lanka-based Carson Cumberbatch.

Some of the more mysterious outfits appeared to the authors to have mainly a speculative interest in Papua, obtaining permits in order to flip them to one of the big national or transnational operations with the capital to actually develop the plantation.

The government of Boven Digoel regency, for example, licensed at least eight Menara Group subsidiaries to plant oil palm over hundreds of thousands of hectares. Six of those companies have likely since been sold on to Pacific Inter-Link, a holding of the Yemeni-owned Hayal Saeed Anam conglomerate, and Malaysia-based Tadmax.

"This type of shady behind-closed-doors business practice makes it impossible for any dealings with the local indigenous community to follow principles of free, prior [and] informed consent (FPIC)," reads the atlas, which notes that almost all of the plantations in Papua have caused conflict with the local indigenous communities who rely on the forest.

In neighboring Merauke regency, the atlas reports on the progress of the Merauke Integrated Food and Energy Estate (MIFEE), a stalled megaproject the central government recently announced it would revive.

Thirty-three oil palm developers are believed to have obtained in-principle permits in the regency from 2007 to 2014, with 10 engaged in either surveying or planting, including South Korean multinationals Korindo and Daewoo.

"It seems highly likely that Korindo used its local experience and contacts to help Daewoo establish itself in the area," according to the atlas. "The two groups continue to cooperate, and local people report that the management of the two Daewoo companies and Korindo's PT Berkat Cipta Abadi appear to be the same."

The atlas is full of such insights.

To solve the myriad social and ecological problems the authors say have arisen from Papua's oil palm explosion, the atlas offers a variety of recommendations.

It asks the government to withdraw police and military personnel from plantation sites; develop guidelines about how to calculate compensation rates for use of community land; conduct a review of cases where rights violations are said to have occurred; create a transparent system for issuing permits, along with a website where anyone can view the documents; rethink its "top-down approach to development"; and more.

"It is hoped that this publication can become a tool for indigenous peoples and social movements who wish to understand the oil palm industry and defend their forest against these land grabbers, as they themselves should be the ones to determine what kinds of development will benefit their communities," the text reads.

"For environmentalists and supporters of indigenous struggles around the world, we hope that this will also be a useful insight into the dynamics of the plantation industry and the threats it is causing in the third-largest tropical forest in the world."

Source: http://news.mongabay.com/2015/0506-jacobson-oil-palm-explosion.htm

Open access for journalists to Papua: AJI

Jakarta Post - May 3, 2015

Jakarta – The Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) has urged the government to end restrictions on media access in Papua, as the world commemorates World Press Freedom Day on Sunday.

"We urge the government to open access for journalists to Papua. There is no reason to isolate it from the world," AJI head Sujarwono told The Jakarta Post over the phone on Sunday.

The government implements a strict access policy for foreign journalists to enter Papua, an area with a history of rampant human rights abuses. Journalists are required to obtain a special permit from a "clearing house" that consists of 12 government ministries and agencies, as well as the Indonesian Military (TNI) and the National Police.

Indonesian journalists working in Papua have, furthermore, reported intimidation from local authorities.

"Such New Order-style bureaucracy is outdated, as current technology allows information to spread quickly," Sujarwono said, adding that a lack of information regarding Papua resulted in more bad press than good press.

Previously, the Jayapura District Court convicted French journalists Thomas Dandois and Valentine Bourrat of abusing entry visas in October 2014 after they allegedly filmed members of the Free Papua Movement (OPM).

Sujarwono said that the media could help form a cleaner and more transparent government, as corruption and human rights abuse cases could not be uncovered due to the restriction.

President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo stated in June 2014 that he intended to remove obstacles for foreign journalists and international organizations to visit Papua, but has not mentioned the issue since.

"There hasn't been good synchronization between Jokowi and his administration. The clearing house should be disbanded," Sujarwono concluded. (fsu)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/05/03/open-access-journalists-papua-aji.html

Churches in Tanah Papua seek justice, peace and stability

Tabloid JUBI - May 3, 2015

Jayapura, Jubi – Amidst intimidation, illegal arrests, disappearances, torture and killings in Tanah Papua resulting from tensions between the Indonesian authorities and the Papuan pro-liberation groups, churches seek justice, peace, dignity and security for the Papuans.

The conflict in Tanah Papua (West Papua) has cost the lives of thousands since the late 1960s. A former Dutch colony placed under the United Nations administration in 1962, the region was unilaterally annexed by Indonesia and since then has experienced pro-independence insurgency. In 1969 Tanah Papua was formally incorporated into Indonesia, becoming Irian Jaya province.

Jan Bastian Rumbrar, ecumenical relations officer at the Evangelical Christian Church in Tanah Papua (GKITP) – a member church of the World Council of Churches (WCC) said, "The GKITP formed in 1958 following over 101 years of mission work laid down by German and Dutch missionaries, was tested with political dispute between Indonesia and the Dutch over the territory called Dutch New Guinea."

"The human as well as spiritual development of communities at that time met with despair as preparation for an independent church was not followed by political independence for the Papuans who are the indigenous inhabitants of the territory," he adds.

On the contrary, Rumbrar says, oppression followed the integration of the territory into Indonesia on 1 May 1963 under the United States brokered New York Agreement. While human rights violations have continued in the region, Rumbrar explains that the churches have played a strong role of being the "salt and light" (Matthew 5: 13-16) in a true biblical sense.

While human rights violations have continued in the region, Rumbrar explains that both Catholic and Protestant churches in Tanah Papua have voiced their cries, but little has been heard.

Concern over human right violations

Dr Fransina Yoteni, member of the WCC Central Committee from Tanah Papua and Rev. Alberth Yoku, chairperson of the Indonesian Christian Church (GKI-TP) underlined how difficult the situation in Tanah Papua remains. Human rights violations have been documented by the international organizations. Substantial actions are yet to be taken to end the violence against Papuans, they say.

These church leaders tell how economic impoverishment, inadequate health care and education systems and exploitation of resources have caused social and environmental degradation. They stress that development in Tanah Papua is only benefitting the political elite instead of common people.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu, said, "The people of West Papua have been denied their basic human rights, including their right to self-determination. Their cry for justice and freedom has fallen largely on deaf ears."

The WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, who visited Tanah Papua in 2012, said upon his return, "We support the struggle for human rights of the people of Papua. We urge an end to the on-going violence and impunity. We support the call for social and economic justice through serious dialogue and a concrete political process."

The Pacific Conference of Churches (PCC) has played a key role in demanding justice for the Papuan people. Supporting the struggle for justice and liberation from all forms of oppression, including from colonial legacies in the Pacific, have been longstanding mandates of the PCC. The PCC now strives to be more prophetic in advocating for the Papuan people in these very struggles.

"In the past few years, the PCC has sought to engage church leaders, fellow civil society, faith-based groups, governments and political leaders in the region not merely to raise awareness about, but more importantly to encourage concerted action against the oppression under Indonesian administration," said Francois Pihaatae, PCC general secretary and member of the WCC's Commission of the Churches on International Affairs.

"The PCC has renewed its commitment to accompany the Papuans inside Tanah Papua in their struggle against a daily oppressive reality and to contribute to breaking through their isolation," Pihaatae added.

Yet advocacy efforts by the churches can be a challenge. Jan Rumbrar shares that any move by the churches can be considered either pro-independence or anti-government, that can lead to stigma that can result into accusation of treason and therefore imprisonment.

Rev. Benny Giay of the Evangelical Papua Church describes situation of churches in Tanah Papua like "sweet potatoes growing between two stones" – on the one hand, the desire of Papuan people for self-determination, and on the other hand, the determination of the Indonesian government to retain control.

Investment in dialogue and peace process

In 2011, local church leaders met with Indonesia's then President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to promote a peaceful solution for Tanah Papua. The church leaders handed over a letter to the president asking to have a dialogue with the Papuan people. They also asked Yudhoyono for stopping the Matoa Operation in Paniai, Papua, which caused 14 deaths and burning of villages in 2011. At the time Yudhoyono welcomed such a dialogue, yet shared his concerns regarding the territorial integrity of Indonesia.

To aid the peace process, the Communion of Churches in Indonesia (PGI) has also establised a Papua Desk in Jakarta which undertakes research and advocacy on issues concerning Tanah Papua.

To support peace initiatives in Tanah Papua, the WCC Executive Committee issued a statement in 2012. The document urges the Indonesian authorities to take necessary steps to "release the political prisoners, to lift the ban on peaceful assembly of Papuans and to demilitarize Tanah Papua" and "enter into dialogue with indigenous Papuan people and to take adequate measures to protect their rights".

Source: http://tabloidjubi.com/en/2015/05/03/churches-in-tanah-papua-seek-justice-peace-and-stability/

Silenced democracy, civil emergency for West Papua

Tabloid JUBI - May 3, 2015

Jayapura, Jubi – The West Papua National Coalition for Liberation (WPNCL) said it strongly condemned the brutal and inhuman acts carried out by security forces against students and activists who support the liberation of West Papua during the demonstration against the annexation of Papua nation into the Republic of Indonesia on 1 May.

"Human rights and democracy in West Papua are at its lowest because the Indonesian colonial government through its apparatus has deprived the rights of civil society to gather, organize and express their aspirations. Critical voices and independent media are totally banned," Napi Awom of WPNCL said at a press conference on Saturday (02/5/2015) at the Elsham Papua Office.

The Government of Indonesia has silenced democracy and closed access to free specch in West Papua to force Papuans to accept the concept of nationalism of the colonial authority by putting down their slogan 'United Indonesia, at any cost'.

Meanwhile, Simen Alua of National West Papua Parliament added reducing the right to freedom expression and imposition of the concept of Indonesian nationalism are continuously applied through detention of hundreds of demonstrators and forced dissolution against the peace demonstration by the people of Papua in the entire land of West Papua and outside of West Papuan territorial.

"Yesterday, when West Papuan civil society held a peace demonstration against 52nd Indonesian colonialism in West Papua on 1 May 2015, the state's apparatus brutally arrested and disbanded this action and enforced the people to accept their ideology. Their acts were not dignified, inhuman and violated the human rights," Alua firmly said.

He further said the Government of Indonesia must stop pushing its concept of nationalism towards the people of West Papua through the slogan 'United Indonesia, at any cost' because Papuan people have right on self- determination which is verified and guaranteed in the preamble of Indonesian Constitution, UN Declaration on Human Rights and international covenants on civil, politic, economic and culture rights, and UN Declaration on Indigenous People Rights.

"We urged the Government of Indonesia to release the West Papuan politic prisoners and the human right activists and pro-democracy organizations in West Papua, Indonesia and worldwide to do the immediate, accurate and continual humanitarian advocacy because West Papua is now leading a status of Civil Emergency to Martial Law," he said.

In addition, the BUK Papua Coordinator Peneas Lokbere regretted the police/military officers' act that was very brutal against the Papuan civlians. "They have not even held the rally when the officers interrupted and arrested them. The officers were fully equipped as if it was a war," he said.

Further BUK Papua and KontraS Papua expected this incident could be an official evaluation towards the Police/Military repressive act in Papua because it wasn't the first time but repeatedly occurred in Papua. (Agus Pabika/rom)

Source: http://tabloidjubi.com/en/2015/05/04/silenced-democracy-civil-emergency-for-west-papua/

Mass arrests reported in West Papua on anniversary of annexation

Radio New Zealand International - May 2, 2015

Mass arrests are reported to have been carried out in West Papua on Friday, on the anniversary of Indonesia's annexation of the province.

The pro-independence KNPB says 12 activists were arrested outside a market in Manokwari, while 15 were arrested in Merauke. In the provincial capital, Jayapura, 30 people were arrested at rally against Indonesian rule.

A person who was at the rally, Rosa (last name withheld), says there was a heavy security presence in the city, and as soon as the rally tried to march, the police moved in to break them up.

"Once the demonstrators started to walk or march the police threatened them and said 'if you step forward we will shoot you', so then they had an argument and just in a short time they were arrested, like, they caught them and put them into the police truck."

Rosa says it's not known where those arrested were taken as the group couldn't find them at any police station, but she says 21 were released on Saturday morning without charge.

West Papua has been the scene of a low-level independence war with groups of ethnic Papuans fighting Indonesian rule.

Source: http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/272654/mass-arrests-reported-in-west-papua-on-anniversary-of-annexation

West Papua: Global protests in 22 countries call for end to media blackout

Pacific Media Centre - May 1, 2015

London (TAPOL/Pacific Media Watch) – Dozens of demonstrators dressed in black gathered outside the Indonesian Embassy in London this week to lead the global protest against West Papua's 50-year long isolation.

The demonstration was organised by TAPOL and Survival International, supported by Amnesty UK and the Free West Papua Campaign.

The rally was one of 22 protests around the world on Wednesday calling for free and open access to Indonesia's most secretive region.

Since West Papua's annexation in 1963, Indonesia has imposed a media blackout on the contested, resource-rich territory, allowing perpetrators of human rights violations to act with total impunity.

West Papua is one of the world's most isolated conflict spots. For decades, Indonesian security forces have brutally suppressed Papuan pro-independence movements.

The "Global Day of Action for Free and Open Access to Papua" has sparked rallies in West Papua, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, the Solomon Islands, Scotland, Germany, France, Italy and Spain.

Unprecedented protests

Protests in Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco also took place after the London rally. This global coordinated effort, the first of its kind, shows that worldwide solidarity for West Papua has reached unprecedented levels.

Esther Cann from TAPOL, a London-based NGO coordinating the rally, said: "This is the first time we've seen anything like this level of support for West Papua.

NGOs, parliamentarians and solidarity groups all around the world are telling Indonesia that human rights abuses in Papua can no longer be ignored. Papuan voices must be heard. In this age of information, it's astounding that there are blackspot regions like West Papua."

From the Solomon Islands to Scotland to San Francisco, hundreds of demonstrators from 22 cities in 10 different countries united to call for a free and open West Papua.

Demonstrators wore black, representing the ongoing media blackout in West Papua. They gathered to demand that President Joko Widodo fulfill his presidential campaign promise of opening West Papua to international journalists, humanitarian and human rights organisations.

A three-minute silence was observed to symbolise the silencing of the media in West Papua.

"President Jokowi himself has said that there is nothing to hide in Papua. So why is it still virtually impossible for journalists and NGOs to report on Papua? We know that serious human rights violations are happening in Papua, but we still have no idea of the scale of the killings and torture over the last 50 years," said Cann.

Outing the truth

"This global day of action is our way of telling the Indonesian government that the world is watching. Even though they've kept West Papua isolated for 50 years, the world has not forgotten. The truth must and will come out," said human rights activist Peter Tatchell, who took part in the protest.

At the end of the demonstration, a joint letter to President Jokowi signed by 52 Papuan, Indonesian and international groups and parliamentarians was delivered to the Indonesian Embassy in London.

The letter pointed out that "the media blackout denies the Papuan people the right to have their voices heard and allows human rights violations such as killings, torture and arbitrary arrests, to continue with impunity... The de-facto ban on foreign journalists, NGOs and humanitarian organisations contributes to the isolation of local journalists, and makes independent investigation and corroboration virtually impossible".

An Avaaz petition calling for media freedom in West Papua, launched by the Free West Papua Campaign and signed by more than 47,000 people was delivered to President Jokowi by Papuan students in Jakarta today.

Reporters without Borders, a co-signatory to the joint letter, criticised Indonesia's decline in media freedom.

Benjamin Ismail, the head of the Asia-Pacific Desk at Reporters without Borders said: "Indonesia's ranking in the World Press Freedom Index has worsened dramatically in the last four years.

"In 2015, it ranked 138 out of 180 countries. This year's position is mainly the result of the media blackout in West Papua orchestrated by the authorities."

Observers barred Access for UN human rights observers has been closed for eight years. In recent years, international humanitarian agencies and NGOs have been pressured to close their field offices and leave Papua.

International journalists and NGOs seeking to visit and work in Papua are currently required to undergo a stringent visa application process involving the unanimous approval of 18 separate government agencies known as the Clearing House committee.

In October last year, two French journalists were sentenced to 11 weeks in detention under immigration charges because they had tried to report the Papua conflict.

During a UN Human Rights Council event last month, Valentine Bourrat, one of the two journalists detained, stated that "...keeping Papua closed to journalists means that the Indonesian authorities are hiding human rights violations. As journalists we cannot let a murderous silence prevail."

Independent reporting by local and national journalists in Papua is dangerous and sometimes lethal. According to the Papuan branch of Indonesia's Alliance of Independent Journalists (Aliansi Jurnalis Independen, AJI), in 2014 there were 20 reported cases of violence and intimidation against journalists in Papua.

"Journalists must be able to work without intimidation, threats or restriction. We should be able to report independently and without fear for our security. Why is this not guaranteed to journalists in Papua? As Indonesian citizens, why are our rights not safeguarded?" said Oktovianus Pogau, a journalist with Suara Papua, a Papuan news site.

During his presidential campaign, President Joko Widodo publically stated that there was nothing to hide in Papua and promised to open the region. Yet six months into his presidency, Papua remains closed off to the international community.

While President Widodo has pledged his commitment to resolve past rights abuses, the execution of eight people for alleged drug trafficking offences less than 24 hours before the London rally put the future direction of Indonesia's human rights into serious question.

Source: http://www.pmc.aut.ac.nz/pacific-media-watch/west-papua-global-protests-22-countries-call-end-media-blackout-9250

Aceh

Aceh women, activists slam latest sharia-based regulations

Jakarta Post - May 6, 2015

Hotli Simanjuntak, Banda Aceh – Women activists in Aceh consider the latest sharia regulations banning unmarried men and women from riding together on motorcycles and separating female and male students in high schools in North Aceh to be unnecessary.

Acehnese activist Samsidar said the separation of female students from male students was an idea that was based only on the thoughts of men.

"This is a policy that is not important for the development of education in Aceh," said Samsidar, who is also a former member of the National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan).

She said such a separation was not a guarantee that education in Aceh would move in a better direction compared to other regions in Indonesia.

"It would've been better for the administration to issue a regulation siding with economically poor people having no access to education to be able to enjoy education," Samsidar said.

North Aceh is one of the regencies in Aceh with a high concentration of poor families. Many families in the regency cannot afford school fees for their children.

Samsidar also said that although Aceh had long been known as a populous Muslim region, never in its history had male students been separated from female students when they were studying in class.

"Such separation only applies in Islamic boarding schools, which implement such a regulation," she said.

She expressed hope that the North Aceh administration would think twice before issuing the regulation as it would have a bad influence on the education of young Acehnese.

She argued that student competitiveness would lessen because of the separation. This would influence existing teaching procedures.

The North Aceh regency administration also banned unmarried couples from riding together on motorcycles, banned women from dancing in public and from straddling motorcycles.

"There are some clauses banning women from dancing in front of men because doing so could incite negative perceptions and sometimes trigger sexual arousal," said the head of the North Aceh Legislative Council legislation agency, Tgk Fauzan Hamzah.

North Aceh Ulema Consultative Council head Abu Mustafa Ahmad Paloh Gadeng said the regulation banning unmarried couples from riding motorcycles together was urgent because relationships between young people in the regions had reached an alert level.

"We see it as important because many of the activities and relationships among our young people are deviating from Islamic teachings," he said.

Based on Islamic teachings, he said, it was clear that unmarried couples could not sit together on motorcycles. "It is clear that sitting together on a motorbike for them is violating Islamic teaching," he added.

Others, however, saw the qanun (bylaw) banning unmarried couples from riding on motorcycles together as a hindrance.

"There will be limitations and difficulties that women in Aceh have to deal with because of the regulation," Acehnese university student Nurul Aminah said.

She argued that not every woman could ride a motorcycle, so sometimes needed get on a bike with a man driving. "The regulation will restrict women's movements and their means of expression," Nurul said.

Other subjects regulated include raising animals such as dogs (unclean according to Islamic teaching), managing entertainment centers and controlling the movements of teenagers in the evenings.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/05/06/aceh-women-activists-slam-latest-sharia-based-regulations.html

North Aceh separates sexes in schools, next up: Motorbikes

Reuters - May 4, 2015

Reza Munawir, Banda Aceh – North Aceh district has passed legislation requiring schools to teach boys and girls separately and hopes to follow that up with a ban prohibiting the two sexes from riding motorcycles together.

Aceh, the only province that abides by Islamic sharia law in the Muslim- dominated nation, has over the years passed a series of strict faith-based regulations that has put it at odds with the rest of the country.

North Aceh last week approved the legislation, which also requires the Koran be read every night, and submitted it to the provincial government for approval.

"What we do now will be just like what happens currently in traditional Islamic boarding schools," said Fauzan Hamzah, a member of the district's legislature. "I hope this policy won't only be implemented in the North Aceh regency but in the entire province."

Lawmakers would next begin discussing legislation banning men and women from riding motorcycles together, Hamzah said. "I believe there won't be any obstacles [to this proposed law] because the majority of people support it," he said.

Lawmakers in 2013 banned women from sitting on motorcycles except side- saddle, but the regulation has rarely been enforced. The province also passed an anti-homosexuality law in October that punishes anyone caught having gay sex with 100 lashes.

Indonesia agreed to allow Aceh to use Islamic sharia law as its legal code as part of a 2005 peace agreement that ended a three-decade-old separatist movement.

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/north-aceh-separates-sexes-in-schools-next-up-motorbikes/

North Aceh bans unmarried couples from motorbike rides

Agence France Presse - May 4, 2015

Banda Aceh – A district in Indonesia's Aceh has passed legislation banning unmarried men and women from riding together on motorbikes, a lawmaker said Monday, the latest new Islamic regulation in the conservative province.

Members of parliament in North Aceh district last week approved the regulation, which will come into effect in a year, said lawmaker Fauzan Hamzah, adding that authorities were making "efforts to implement sharia law fully".

"Unmarried people sitting closely together on a motorcycle is clearly against Islamic sharia as it could lead to sinful acts," Hamzah told AFP.

Aceh, on the northern tip of Sumatra island, is the only province in the world's most populous Muslim-majority country that is allowed to implement Islamic law, and gay sex, gambling and drinking alcohol are already punishable by caning.

The province began implementing sharia law after being granted special autonomy in 2001, an effort by the central government in Jakarta to quell a long-running separatist insurgency.

The latest move to ban shared motorbike rides, which will affect more than 500,000 people on North Aceh, came after one city in Aceh in 2013 prohibited women from straddling male drivers on motorbikes, requiring that they ride sidesaddle instead.

The new regulation was the most eye-catching in a series of Islamic bylaws approved in North Aceh on Thursday, which also included a ban on live music performances and the separation of male and female students in school. The new rules will take effect in May 2016 after a one-year grace period.

Hamzah did not say what punishments would be meted out to unmarried couples caught together on a motorbike.

He did list several punishments that could be implemented for all the new Islamic laws, which ranged from a formal reprimand to fines and people being expelled from their villages.

"We will make efforts so that deeds which can lead to sin are eliminated gradually in North Aceh district," he added.

The provincial parliament in Aceh, as well as district parliaments, can pass their own Islamic bylaws.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/05/04/north-aceh-bans-unmarried-couples-motorbike-rides.html

Sexual & domestic violence

Violence against women and children tops 12,000 cases in 2014

Jakarta Post - May 5, 2015

Jakarta – The National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) recorded 12,510 cases of violence against women and children in 2014.

Komnas Perempuan chairwoman Azriana said on Tuesday that most of the violence was commited by members of the victims' local communities.

"Sixty-eight percent of the cases related to personal conflicts, while 29 percent of them happened in communities with perpetrators being among the community members," she said in Bengkulu as quoted by Antara news agency.

Azriana said she hoped Law No. 6/2014 on villages and Law No. 23/2014 on local government could strengthen local governments in preventing violence against women and children.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/05/05/violence-against-women-and-children-tops-12000-cases-2014.html

May day 2015

No answers yet in worker's alleged May Day suicide

Jakarta Globe - May 3, 2015

Bayu Marhaenjati, Jakarta – Police are still investigating the motive behind the alleged suicide of a worker who set himself on fire and leapt to his death from the roof of the Gelora Bung Karno stadium in Jakarta during a May Day concert on Friday.

"His death is still under investigation," Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Budi Widjanarko said over the weekend.

The man has been identified as Sebastian Manufuti, 32, a worker at a bottling company in Bekasi.

Sebastian reportedly climbed up to the roof of the stadium, where a concert was being held to mark International Workers' Day, doused himself with gasoline that he had in a bottle, set himself on fire, and jumped to the ground 40 meters below.

Family and friends said they were shocked that Sebastian would choose to take his own life. Several friends who attended the concert with him told the Merdeka.com news portal that Sebastian had been taking selfies with fellow activists and share them on social media during demonstrations earlier in the day.

He last shared a Facebook post around half an hour before the incident, when he wrote: "I will do all I can so that you, we and they will open their eyes, ears and hearts for social justice for the entire people of Indonesia."

Police found a cellphone, a portable charger, a rucksack, a wallet and an empty bottle, on the edge of the roof from where Sebastian was believed to have jumped.

"We found a bottle which we suspect held gasoline to set himself on fire. It still has some of the contents left. We are verifying the substance just to make sure," said Adj. Sr. Comr. Harry Sulistiadi, chief of the Tanah Abang subprecinct police.

The concert was immediately called off after the incident and officers rushed to secure the scene.

Sebastian's wife Samah, also a worker, said he never spoke about problems at work or complained about his salary, which was just above the Bekasi minimum of Rp 2.9 million ($223) per month. Samah, who was also at the demonstration, said she did not notice anything amiss with her husband that day.

Sebastian's body was examined at the Soekanto Police Hospital in East Jakarta before being taken to his family's home in East Jakarta. He was buried on Saturday, with hundreds of his colleagues and members of the Federation of Indonesian Metal Workers' Unions (FSPMI) present.

Friends described Sebastian as a passionate activist and speculated that he may have killed himself to bring attention to the many problems workers faced at his company, Tirta Alam Segar, a subsidiary of Wings Food that bottles soft drinks.

FSPMI secretary Al Jamaludin claimed there had been many accidents at the bottling plant that had gone unreported and the workers uncompensated. The accidents "range from severed fingers to mauled limbs [trapped in] the factory's machinery."

"Sebastian often advocated for better safety and tried to ensure his colleagues were compensated but [the company] never paid any attention," Jamaludin said. "He sacrificed himself to promote change for laborers."

Dipa, a worker at Tirta Alam Segar, said Sebastian operated a machine at the plant printing labels for the beverages. He had worked there for seven years, the last three as a union official.

Officials from Tirta Alam Segar and its parent company, Wings Food, were not immediately available for comment.

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/jakarta/no-answers-yet-workers-alleged-may-day-suicide/

May Day rally in Jakarta runs peacefully

Jakarta Post - May 2, 2015

Jakarta – Tens of thousands of workers from various labor unions in Greater Jakarta joined a peaceful, festive rally to commemorate International Labor Day – known as May Day – on Friday in Jakarta.

From 7 a.m., workers carrying colorful banners from dozens of unions gathered at the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle in Central Jakarta, which was cleared of any vehicles except Transjakarta buses and the workers' buses.

The city administration and Jakarta Police applied a Car Free Day policy on Jl. Sudirman and Jl. MH Thamrin in South and Central Jakarta, respectively, from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m., to make way for citizens to hold their annual rally.

Amin, 33, a worker from Serang, Banten, said he and his friends departed at 1:15 a.m. to arrive in time to prepare the rally's equipment.

"We have been on standby here [at the traffic circle] since 2:35 a.m. to wait for and pick up our colleagues," said the worker who is employed at a shoe-making company in Serang.

Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Unggung Cahyono said on Friday morning that they estimated in total there would be about 60,000 workers concentrated near the State Palace until the afternoon and another 50,000 at the Bung Karno Stadium in Senayan to watch musical performances in an event titled the May Day Fiesta.

Unggung added that to safeguard the rally, the Jakarta Police had deployed more than 14,000 officers from the National Police task force, the Jakarta Police task force, precinct task forces, the Indonesian Military (TNI) task force and the Public Order Agency (Satpol PP).

By noon, workers from various companies and labor unions gave speeches from at least eight stages in front of the State Palace, voicing their aspirations and entertaining their colleagues by singing.

Despite various stages from different and sometimes competing, federations and confederations, no tensions were detected.

"This is a national day, so all workers take a day off, no one does a shift today. Workers have to use this holiday to join the rally to fight for our rights," said Erik Meidi Lesmana, 24, a metal factory worker in Bekasi, West Java.

From one of the stages, Manpower Minister Muhammad Hanif Dhakiri told workers that the government was discussing the best way to give appropriate salaries to workers as well as predictable salary expenditures for employers.

This year, the main concern of the labor unions was the government's proposal of a new review system that would be carried out every two or five years from today's once a year.

Other concerns were the delayed provision of pension funds for many workers, several interviewed workers said.

Several labor unions under the Confederation of Indonesian Workers Unions (KSPI) gathered at Bung Karno Stadium in the afternoon to attend the May Day Fiesta, which featured dangdut singers.

This year's May Day was also used by the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) to generate momentum to demand better, standardized pay for journalists. The AJI held a rally at the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle. (prm)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/05/02/may-day-rally-jakarta-runs-peacefully.html

Peaceful May Day observed across country

Jakarta Post - May 2, 2015

Ina Parlina and Fedina S. Sundaryani, Jakarta – This year's May Day celebrations proceeded peacefully on Friday with workers mostly taking to the streets in festive moods.

This is the second year that workers have celebrated May Day as a national holiday.

"After monitoring the situation in several provinces, the May Day celebrations on May 1 have truly been a celebration. There were several rallies, with workers making their speeches, but there were no efforts to block roads or conduct sweeping activities [where demonstators prevent those wanting to work from doing so]," Vice President Jusuf Kalla told reporters on Friday.

Kalla visited National Police headquarters in South Jakarta to conduct a video conference with officials in a number of provinces to monitor May Day celebrations. The Vice President said this year's May Day celebrations had been much more peaceful than last year's.

He thanked National Police chief Comr. Gen. Badrodin Haiti for his efforts to secure the celebrations. Badrodin, meanwhile, said there were 170 potential hot spots nationwide where security problems could arise, which the police had monitored closely on Friday.

However, he said everything was under control. "There were around 352,000 workers [commemorating May Day] and so far it has all gone smoothly without any problems," he said.

Badrodin said that better communication between the police and leaders of workers unions had prevented possible clashes. "We have been better prepared this year, especially during technical meetings between provincial police headquarters and the worker associations," he said.

Earlier this week, All-Indonesia Workers Union Confederation (KSPSI) chairman Andi Gani Nena Wea met with President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo at the State Palace to discuss preparations for May Day. In the meeting, Andi expressed his optimism that Labor Day would proceed peacefully.

Jokowi encouraged workers' plans to hold rallies during Labor Day and called on the public not to worry about them.

During his recent visit to Ungaran, Central Java on Tuesday, Jokowi launched Sejuta Rumah, a program to build 1 million houses and low-cost rental apartments in nine provinces across the country.

Jokowi was joined by Andi and the chairman of the Confederation of Indonesian Workers Union (KSPI), Said Iqbal, during the visit.

The program targets low-wage workers, which includes laborers, fishermen, civil servants, as well as military and police personnel. The government has also pledged to expedite the construction of 10,000 low-cost apartments.

Meanwhile on Friday, at least 65,000 workers from Greater Jakarta congregated in several spots in the capital, including the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle, the State Palace and the Bung Karno Stadium to celebrate May Day. The Jakarta Police deployed more than 14,000 personnel to secure the event.

In their rallies, workers demanded better pay, the elimination of outsourcing, pension coverage and better protection for labor activists.

Responding to the demands of several worker associations to raise the minimum wage, Kalla said many companies paid their workers much higher than the minimum wage.

He called on workers to be grateful for the jobs they had as the prospect of unemployment remained for many. "We have between 2 and 3 million new workers every year but job vacancies are not available," he said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/05/02/peaceful-may-day-observed-across-country.html

Labor Day celebrated nationwide with range of demands

Jakarta Post - May 2, 2015

Andi Hajramurni and Suherdjoko, Makassar/Semarang – Workers across the archipelago marked International Labor Day, or May Day, on Friday, with street rallies and art performances, voicing their various demands.

In Makassar, South Sulawesi, as well as rallies and speeches, May Day was celebrated with artistic and musical performances, attracting protesters to enjoy the show after the rallies.

Performances were held on a stage erected under the Makassar flyover, organized by the Coalition of Democratic Community (Kamrad).

The workers demanded an end to violence against workers and the eradication of low wages and outsourcing in all fields of work in Indonesia.

"[Outsourcing] has long been a common enemy and has long been rejected. This requires serious attention from the Joko Widodo – Jusuf Kalla administration," said Umar from Kamrad.

Makassar City Police deployed 1,500 personnel to secure the May Day celebrations, including 150 policewomen. Dozens of the female police officers displayed a banner reading "The big family of Makassar City Police says Happy World Labor Day".

In Semarang, Central Java, meanwhile, thousands of workers celebrated May Day with rallies, speeches and theatrical performances on Jl. Pahlawan.

The chairman of the Central Java Federation of Workers Associations, Suwardiyono, said that workers in the province did not yet enjoy an equal relationship with bosses.

In Medan, North Sumatra, hundreds of workers grouped under the North Sumatra People's Movement Consolidation (KGR-SU) celebrated Labor Day with a rally at the provincial legislative council building.

They called on people not to trust political parties, arguing that parties, which were supposed to voice people's aspirations, had become routes to power for power's sake. This had led to workers' rights being ignored, KGR-SU coordinator Ronald argued.

"Let's build the people's politics. Forget political parties. Fight bourgeois politics," Ronald said during the rally.

In Pekanbaru, Riau, thousands of workers celebrated May Day with activities including performances and a dialog with the city mayor.

The celebration was centered at the Gedung Juang 45 building. Workers spread a giant poster in front of the building, bearing 12 demands addressed to the government.

Their demands included an end to five-yearly wage deliberations, pension implementation by July this year and rises in the prices of fuel and staple foods to be based on market mechanisms.

In Bandung, West Java, May Day celebrations were centered in front of the Sate Building on Jl. Diponegoro, with a range of workers' group in attendance.

Also participating were dozens of journalists from the Bandung branch of the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI). The latter carried posters reading "Journalists are workers too", "Media workers awaken, associate now" and "Apply a media sectoral wage".

The alliance's worker association division coordinator, Ari Syahril Ramadhan, said that journalists remained unaware of the importance of association in their workplace to help guarantee their welfare as workers.

"Despite mass media being such a large sector, with hundreds of firms, there are currently only 38 media workers associations," Ari told the rally.

[Apriadi Gunawan in Medan, Rizal Harahap in Pekanbaru and Arya Dipa in Bandung contributed to this story.]

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/05/02/labor-day-celebrated-nationwide-with-range-demands.html

Government policy, wages are workers' key gripes on May 1

Jakarta Globe - May 1, 2015

Markus Junianto Sihaloho, Bayu Marhaenjati & Mikael Niman, Jakarta – Calls for a cabinet reshuffle as well as the enactment of key legislation were among workers' demands on May Day this Friday, as tens of thousands of workers took to the streets of major cities across Indonesia.

The demonstrations in the capital were centered outside the State Palace in Central Jakarta, with dozens of labor unions represented among the thousands of people in attendance.

Jumhur Hidayat, the deputy chairman of the Confederation of Indonesian Workers Unions (KSPSI), urged President Joko Widodo to replace cabinet members deemed hostile to workers' interests.

He cited a recent policy issued by Manpower Minister Hanif Dhakiri allowing only company-level union representatives to conduct negotiations between workers and their employers. This, he argued, blocked workers from having access to more experienced lobbyists from national-level labor unions.

Jumhur also criticized Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti for refusing to rescind or delay a ban on the use of trawl nets.

"We still believe in the president," Jumhur said. "But we can easily make a U-turn if the government keeps issuing unfavorable policies."

Workers also called on the government to push legislation on a more independent manpower oversight system and protection of informal and domestic workers, as well as amend the Industrial Affairs Dispute Resolution Law and the Placement and Protection of Indonesian Workers Overseas Law.

Tens of thousands of workers also marched on Jakarta's main streets to reject government plans to revisit the minimum wage every two years. Provincial minimum wage negotiations are currently conducted every year.

Workers also demanded a better pension scheme under the universal social security system, known as the BPJS.

The workers began gathering at the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle in Central Jakarta on Friday morning before marching north on Jalan M.H. Thamrin to the State Palace.

Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Unggung Cahyono said more than 14,000 police and military personnel were deployed during the demonstration. He added that police had also been busy redirecting traffic away from the affected avenues of Jalan Thamrin and Jalan Sudirman.

Unggung said the workers' rally outside the State Palace had been scheduled to end at 5 p.m., but disbanded after the workers held Friday noon prayers on the streets.

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/jakarta/government-policy-wages-workers-key-gripes-may-1/

Time for workers to have their own political vehicle, challenge capitalism

RMOL - May 1, 2015

Ihsan Dalimunthe - Workers are sick and tired of the empty promises made by the political elite and President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo. It is time for workers to have their own political vehicle that is born out of their own womb.

Such was the declaration shouted by one of the speakers at a workers' mass action in front of the State Palace on Jl. Medan Merdeka Utara in Central Jakarta on Friday May 1.

"It's time for workers to build a political force that is born out of the people's womb and challenge the capitalist system in Indonesia. So our next task is to unify the forces of labour that are still fragmented", shouted the speaker.

With a political force formed by the working class, then of course there would be guarantees for the struggle of workers and employees in Indonesia from all sectors.

"We cannot focus on our differences any more, we need worker unity. Because the political elite and the Jokowi-JK [Vice President Jusuf Kalla] regime have clearly neglected the working class. Removing subsidies, prices keep going up, fuel prices are set by the market. This cannot be allowed. President Jokowi is not a people's president", shouted another speaker.

In addition to this, workers believe that they are exploited by the political elite in order for them to get into power by selling endless promises to pay attention to the working class.

"We cannot trust the [political] elite that are in power, those in power and those coming to power, those that would replace the president, ministers and the DPR [House of Representatives], the people including workers are still suffering. We have been lied to enough by the political elite, the president and his ministers", said one of the speakers who appeared wearing the uniform of the Indonesian Labour Forum of Struggle (FPBI). (wid)

[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service. The original title of the report was "Di Depan Istana, Buruh Teriak Jokowi Bukan Presiden Rakyat".]

Source: http://politik.rmol.co/read/2015/05/01/201044/Di-Depan-Istana,-Buruh-Teriak-Jokowi-Bukan-Presiden-Rakyat-

Workers say government 'sells' cheap labour to attract foreign investors

Okezone - May 1, 2015

Hari Istiawan, Malang - Hundreds of workers from the East Java city of Malang gathered at the monument traffic circle to commemorate International Labour Day on May 1. Some of the workers also brought their children to take part in the mass meeting.

The workers, who came from several difference company based trade unions under the Indonesian Workers Solidarity Struggle (SPBI) said that the labour system in Indonesia does not side with workers. Moreover the government intentionally "sells" Indonesia's cheap labour in order to attract foreign investors.

"Not to mention contract labour systems and outsourcing that adversely affect workers", said action spokesperson Firman Rendi on Friday May 1.

The workers also demanded decent wages and the cancelation of a government plan to raise workers' wages only once every five years. "The threat of dismissals for workers who fight for their rights also still haunts us", he said.

Worse still is the conditions faced by media workers who do not have a work contract with media companies and whose wages are still below the minimum wages.

The secretary of the Malang Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI), Yatimul Ainun said that the government must put pressure on media companies to fulfill the basic rights of journalists, many of which have still not been met to this day. "Pay journalists decent wages", said Ainun. (ful)

[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service. The original title of the report was "Rapat Akbar di Alun-Alun Tugu".]

Source: http://news.okezone.com/read/2015/05/01/340/1143179/buruh-malang-gelar-rapat-akbar-di-alun-alun-tugu

Workers in Bandung commemorate May Day with plan to establish labour party

Tempo.co - May 1, 2015

Dwi Renjani, Bandung - Hundreds of workers held a rally in front of the governor's office at the Gedung Sate building in the West Java provincial capital of Bandung on International Labour Day where they made a number of demands.

All Indonesia Labour Organisation Federation (GOBSI) chairperson Asep Salim said that they were demanding wage increases and urging the government to revise Law Number 13/2003 on Labour.

"We are asking that workers' wages be increased. Worker's wages at the moment are insufficient for our daily needs, we need a minimum of 4-5 million rupiah per month. Two million cannot bring prosperity to workers", said Salim on Friday May 1.

Throughout the demonstration hundreds of police were on alert in front of the Gedung Sate building where they had erected a barricade. The rally proceeded peacefully and did not create traffic congestion.

"We want to convey our wishes politely without having to cause a riot. What's important is that our wishes are heard", said Ferdi, one of the protesters.

The workers gave a number of speeches while unfurling the GOBSI flag and the red-and-white Indonesian national flag accompanied by the singing of the national anthem, Indonesia Raya.

According to Salim, they also plan to establish a labour party whose membership will include workers throughout Indonesia.

"Don't blame us, if we are not heeded then we will establish a labour party. Over the years there has been no meaningful change [for workers] so we will take steps to address this", said Salim.

[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service. The original title of the report was "May Day, Buruh di Bandung Tuntut Gaji Rp 4-5 Juta".]

Source: http://www.tempo.co/read/news/2015/05/01/058662597/May-Day-Buruh-di-Bandung-Tuntut-Gaji-Rp-4-5-Juta

May Day rally in Bandung slams companies for sacking pregnant workers

Metro TV News - May 1, 2015

Bandung - More than 3,000 workers demonstrated in front of the governor's office at the Gedung Sate building in the West Java provincial capital of Bandung demanding that companies pay more attention to their rights, particularly the rights of women workers.

"We can see that workers' rights at the moment are still emasculated by the big companies that employ workers", said Indonesian Trade Union Congress Alliance (KASBI) Cimahi branch secretary Dadan when speaking with Metro TV News on Friday May 1.

According to Dadan, workers in Indonesia, the majority of which are women, need serious attention. How is it that there are still companies that often dismiss women employees because they become pregnant.

"Women [workers] must be protected, such as providing menstrual leave, maternity leave as well as receiving decent wages, not instead dismissed on account of being pregnant, and this is sill happening in our country", he said.

The workers demonstrating at the Gedung Sate building represent an alliance of workers from five regencies and cities including Sumedang regency, Bandung regency, Cimahi city, Bandung city and Garut regency. (BOB)

[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service. The original title of the report was "Buruh Tuntut tak Ada Lagi PHK karena Karyawan Perempuan Hamil".]

Source: http://jabar.metrotvnews.com/read/2015/05/01/121536/buruh-tuntut-tak-ada-lagi-phk-karena-karyawan-perempuan-hamil

May Day rally in Yogyakarta calls for decent wages, maternity leave

Detik News - May 1, 2015

Edzan Raharjo, Yogyakarta - International Labour Day in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta was commemorated by thousands of workers from various different organisations who came together under the "People's Movement" (Gerakan Rakyat) to hold a rally in the Malioboro shopping district on Friday May 1.

Rallying in front of the Yogyakarta Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) on Jl. Malioboro, the workers held a sit-in taking up the entire road. Vehicles had to be redirected to the slow lane causing traffic to slow to a crawl.

The protesters unfurled their respective organisational flags and posters with messages such as "Viva Labour Day, free Novel Baswedan (a Corruption Eradication Commission investigator arrested by the national police)", "Don't steal our rights" and "Unconditional menstruation leave for women [workers]".

The rally was closely watched over by officers from the Mobile Brigade (Brimob) because other groups were also commemorating Labour Day in the vicinity of the DPRD. Brimob and female police officers also setup a barricade in front of the DPRD's front gate and anyone wishing to enter was questioned by officials.

The workers from Gerakan Rakyat made a number of demands including, among others, decent wages for workers, the abolition of outsourcing systems, an end to fuel price increases and a decrease in the price of food.

"Provide six months maternity leave, fulfill the right to breast feed [at work] for women workers", said Fransiska Maria from the Indonesia Breast- feeding Mothers Association (AIMI).

The workers then continued the action with a long-march to the zero kilometre point in front of the central post office under the tight police security.

[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service. The original title of the report was "Di Yogya, Buruh Rayakan Mayday Sambil Tuntut 'Bebaskan Novel Baswedan'".]

Source: http://news.detik.com/read/2015/05/01/110346/2903232/10/di-yogya-buruh-rayakan-mayday-sambil-tuntut-bebaskan-novel-baswedan

'It's time for workers and the people to build their own political party'

Solidarity Net - May 1, 2015

Makassar - In commemorating May Day 2015, a number of different organisations from the group People's Solidarity (SORAK) held a peaceful rally underneath the Jl. Jenderal Urip Sumoharjo overpass in the South Sulawesi provincial capital of Makassar on Friday May 1. During the action, the protesters called on the Indonesian people to build their own political party without the political elite.

SORAK is made up of 19 different organisations including the Nusantara Trade Union Alliance (GSBN), the Working People's Association- Organisational Saviours Committee (KPO-PRP), the People's Liberation Party (PPR), the Democratic Student Front-National Labour Movement Centre (FMD- SGMK), the Populist Student Front (FMK), FOSIS, the Student Struggle Center for National Liberation (PEMBEBASAN), the Independent Women's and Children's Committee for Social Action (KIPAS), the Indonesian Youth Student Front (FPPI), the Makassar Legal Aid Institute (LBH Makassar), the NGO Communal (LSM Komunal), the Indonesia Muslim University Islamic Religion Faculty Student Association Study Group (HMT FAI UMI), SRIKANDI, the National Students Front (FMN), the Police and Community Partnership Forum (FKPM), the Indonesian Federated Trade Union of Struggle (FSPBI), the Makassar Parking Workers Trade Union (SJPM) and the Anti-Corruption Committee (ACC).

During the action, the groups took up the theme: "Jokowi-JK have failed to bring prosperity to the people, it is time for workers and the people to build their own political party without the elite".

SORAK also issued 10 demands: the abolition of contract labour and outsourcing, the abolition of laws that fail to side with workers, an end to trade union bashing, the abolition of anti-democratic laws, the realisation of universal social security, free public transport services for workers in industrial zones, an end to subsidy cuts to fuel, education and electricity, free and quality education and healthcare, and end to militaristic practices against the people, an end to all seizures of the people's land and the implementation of agrarian reform.

The group also proposed two solutions to the government in order to resolve the people's problems, namely the nationalisation vital assets under the control of the people and developing an independent and pro-people national industrial program.

SORAK action coordinator Amri, who is also a member of the PPR said, "The government has failed to bring prosperity to the people and this has been demonstrated by every one of their policies that in fact bring suffering to the people. The people can only be prosperous if workers hold the power through their own political vehicle, build a political party without the elite and then campaign against militarism which threatens democracy and freedom".

Meanwhile KPO-PRP member Videlya Esmerella said that the state is a tool of repression and cannot resolve the conflict between the two social classes that have different interests, between those in power and those that are dominated. Because of this workers must build their own revolutionary party that is led by the working class itself.

"It's simply a lie if anyone says that the state can reconcile all the divergent interests and work for different social classes, it's time for workers to build a revolutionary party led by workers themselves", she said.

[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service. The original title of the report was "Sorak Makassar: Saatnya Buruh Dan Rakyat Bangun Partai Politik Sendiri".]

Source: http://solidaritas.net/2015/05/sorak-makassar-saatnya-buruh-dan-rakyat-bangun-partai-politik-sendiri.html

Two West Papuan students arrested at May Day demo in Surabaya

Okezone - May 1, 2015

Nurul Arifin, Surabaya - A protest action in the East Java provincial capital of Surabaya by students from the Papua Student Alliance (AMP) has ended in chaos with two demonstrators being arrested by police. The action was also marked by the use of the Morning Star, the symbol of the free Papua movement.

The action began with hundreds of students gathering in front of the State Grahadi building (the governor's official residence) on Jl. Jalan Gubernur Suryo, where they demanded that Papua be freed from the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI).

Earlier during the peaceful action, the students unfurled symbols of the Morning Star. Initially police allowed the action to continue. When thousands of workers arrived at the location to commemorate May Day the Papuan students began to disburse.

It was then that police moved in and arrested two students carrying Morning Star symbols. A scuffle between police and students was unavoidable. The two students were escorted to a police van and the Morning Star symbols seized as evidence.

"Two students were secured. We have also brought along the symbols (the Morning Star) as evidence", said the head of the district criminal investigation unit (Kasatreskrim), Assistant Superintendent Takdir Mattanette, from the Surabaya metropolitan district police (Polrestabes) on Friday May 1. Mattanette added that the two students would be held at the Surabaya Polrestabes for questioning.

In front of the governor's residence meanwhile, thousands of workers held an rally commemorating May Day where they gave speeches from a pickup truck. Demonstrations were also held at the governor's office. At around 3pm police released the two students because they were not carrying Morning Star symbols but drawings that resembled the symbol.

"They were released earlier. But we will still be asking for an explanation. Prior to the action, they also gave notice to the police", added Mattanette. (ful)

[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service. The original title of the report was "May Day, Demo Mahasiswa Papua Berakhir Ricuh".]

Source: http://news.okezone.com/read/2015/05/01/340/1143194/may-day-demo-mahasiswa-papua-berakhir-ricuh

Papuan students in Bandung call for end to military violence on May Day

Tempo.co - May 1, 2015

Dwi Renjani, Bandung - Scores of people from the Papua Student Alliance (AMP) joined workers demonstrating in front of the governor's office at the Gedung Sate building in the West Java provincial capital of Bandung on Friday May 1.

The protesters demanded that the government disband the regional military commands (Kodam) and district military commands (Kodim) and withdraw all non-organic troops from West Papua. They also demanded an end to exploration activities in Papua and for the Papuan people to be given the right to self-determination.

"End the violence and exploration in our land. We want to be free and determine our own future", said action coordinator Nas Karoba when speaking with Tempo at the Gedung Sate building on Friday May 1.

During the action they called on the government to end the crimes being committed by the Indonesian military. "In commemorating 53 years since the annexation of Papua, we ask that all of our demand be met. In December 2014, the Papuan people were shocked by the brutality of security forces that killed four Papuans [in Paniai]", said one of the protesters Ferri.

In addition to giving speeches, the Papuan students also held a theatrical action depicting the inhuman behaviour of military personnel against their rights and freedoms. Police maintained watch throughout the rally.

It was not just workers and students that demonstrated in front of the Gedung Sate building. Scores of journalists from the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) also conveyed their demands during the commemoration of International Labour Day, calling for welfare for journalists.

[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service. The original title of the report was "Curhat soal Nasib, Mahasiswa Papua Tebengi Aksi Buruh".]

Source: http://www.tempo.co/read/news/2015/05/01/058662603/Curhat-soal-Nasib-Mahasiswa-Papua-Tebengi-Aksi-Buruh

Hundreds of workers commemorate May Day in Aceh

Serambi News - May 1, 2015

Subur Dani, Banda Aceh -- Hundreds of workers from the Aceh Workers Alliance (ABA) held a peaceful action commemorating International Labour Day at the Simpang Lima traffic circle in the Achenese provincial capital of Banda Aceh on Friday May 1.

After gathering in front of the Great Baiturrahman Mosque, at around 8.40am the workers held a long-march to the Simpang Lima traffic circle. "Long live the workers, improve workers' welfare, workers must receive decent wages", shouted one of the speakers during a break in the march.

The protesters also brought posters with messages expressing their hopes in the government. In addition to workers, several journalists also commemorated May Day. As of going to print, the action was continuing under the close watch of police.

[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service. The original title of the report was "Ratusan Pekerja Aceh Peringati Hari Buruh".]

Source: http://aceh.tribunnews.com/2015/05/01/ratusan-pekerja-aceh-peringati-hari-buruh

On May Day, workers turn Jakarta business district into a 'sea of people'

Detik News - May 1, 2015

Mei Amelia R, Jakarta - Tens of thousands of protesting workers have packed the Hotel Indonesia (HI) traffic Circle in Central Jakarta this morning, Friday May 1, turning the Thamrin business district into a sea of people.

The workers came to the HI traffic circle to commemorate International Labour Day (May Day) and it is estimated that tens of thousands of protesters will arrive.

The protesters represent an alliance of several trade unions including the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions (KSBI), the Confederation of Prosperity Labour Unions (KSBSI), the All Indonesian Workers Union (SPSI), the Confederation of the All-Indonesian Workers Union (KSPSI), the All- Indonesia Workers Union Federation (FSPSI) and many others.

The protesters came not just from Jakarta, but also from the satellite cities of Bekasi, Tangerang, Bogor, Depok, Karawang and Purwakarta.

Wearing uniforms of red, blue, green and white, the protesters swarmed along the length of main thoroughfare between the HI traffic circle and Thamrin. They also brought flags from their respective trade unions.

After gathering at the HI traffic circle, the protesters will hold a long- march to the nearby State Palace where they will give speeches and hold Friday prayers. Following this, they will proceed to the Bung Karno Sports Stadium in Senayan, Central Jakarta, to take part in a thanks giving and musical entertainment.

[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service. The original title of the report was "Dipenuhi Massa Buruh Rayakan Mayday, Bundaran HI Jadi Lautan Manusia".]

Source: http://news.detik.com/read/2015/05/01/105318/2903226/10/dipenuhi-massa-buruh-rayakan-mayday-bundaran-hi-jadi-lautan-manusia?nd771104bcj

Journalist in Surabaya commemorate May Day with silent protest

Tempo.co - May 1, 2015

Avit Hidayat, Surabaya - Commemorating International Labour Day in the East Java provincial capital of Surabaya, the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) held a silent protest at the Surabaya monument for press struggle on Friday May 1.

The action was held as a protest against the many journalists who receive less than the minimum regional wage (UMR).

AJI Surabaya chairperson Prasto Wardoyo said that 40 percent of AJI's members are employed as casual workers and the majority of them are paid low wages, far lower that the Surabaya UMR of 2.7 million rupiah a month. "They're usually referred to as correspondents, contributors, freelance journalists, stringers or ghostwriters", he said.

Media companies treat journalists as employees without looking at their profession as reporters. "Before we faced an authoritarian ruler. Now, our enemy has changed", he said adding that journalist's enemy is now the mass media companies themselves.

This is why the media workers from AJI Surabaya turned up to hold the silent protest. They also made a balloon out of large plastic bags to which posters were attached with demands. Following the action, they marched from the Surabaya press monument to the East Java governor's office.

In concert with International Labour Day, AJI Surabaya is calling on media companies to improve their employees' welfare and the government to set a sectoral minimum wages bearing in mind the characteristics of the press industry. "We are also urging media companies to provide clear [employment] contracts to freelance journalists", he said.

[Slightly abridged translation by James Balowski for the Indoleft news service. The original title of the report was "May Day, AJI Surabaya Gelar Aksi Bisu Tuntut Kenaikan Upah".]

Source: http://www.tempo.co/read/news/2015/05/01/078662697/May-Day-AJI-Surabaya-Gelar-Aksi-Bisu-Tuntut-Kenaikan-Upah

Jokowi skips town as May Day protesters inundate State Palace

BBC Indonesia - May 1, 2015

Tens of thousands of workers from various different factory units, trade unions and labour confederations packed the streets in front of the State Palace in Central Jakarta on May 1 to declare the formation of a new labour party, although not all groups were united in this.

The protesting workers filled the parking area in front of the Palace where a command vehicle was parked with a stage and loudspeaker system upon which the workers took turns giving speeches.

Not coincidentally, the occupant of the Palace meanwhile, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, was conducting an official visit to Central Java.

Labour leaders from various trade unions gave speeches, the essence of which was their dissatisfaction with the behaviour of the established political party who treat workers as objects to garner votes at election time then after the elections, they pay no attention to workers' misfortunes.

If workers could be mobilised though a political party, imagine how big the impact would be, said one of the labour leaders.

"There are at least 30 million or so workers in Indonesia, if you add family members, the numbers would be even greater than those who voted for Joko Widodo when he won the recent presidential election", said Adi Wibowo from the United Indonesian Struggle (PPI).

However the planned declaration of a new labour party at the parking area in front of the State Palace was limited to discourse on the need to form a party.

On this Labour Day, the only group to confirm the formation of such a party was the Indonesian Labour Movement (GBI), which they see as a precursor to a future labour party. The GBI is an alliance of several movement groups, trade unions and labour confederations.

Some of the trade unions and labour movement groups have elected to pursue a different course of struggle and not join with the GBI. The reason for this, as stated by Suryanta Ginting from the Indonesian People's United Resistance (PPRI), was that the current discourse on the formation of a labour party has raised a number of basic questions.

Ginting noted that the figures behind the idea have in fact been busy with various political maneuvers, both during the general and presidential elections last year as well as post the elections.

Ginting also said that this smacks of political power plays that are not based on a struggle for workers' interests. Nevertheless, he said, he respected the rights of these groups.

[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service. The original title of the report was "Hari Buruh: Presiden Jokowi di Ngawi, buruh banjiri istana".]

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/indonesia/berita_indonesia/2015/05/150501_mayday_deklarasi

Labour & migrant workers

Moratorium violates workers' rights: Migrant Care

Jakarta Post - May 6, 2015

Jakarta – Rights group Migrant Care has slammed the government's recent decision to halt the sending of migrant workers in the informal sector to Middle Eastern countries, saying that the move will violate workers' rights.

"Every citizen is entitled to the right to work as guaranteed by the Constitution," Migrant Care director Anis Hidayah told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

Anis said that migrant workers opted to work abroad as the government had failed to meet its obligation to provide job opportunities within the country. "They are not given sufficient opportunities at home but are prohibited from going abroad. Where should they go?" she said.

The government halted the sending of Indonesian migrant workers to 21 countries in the Middle East as part of efforts to protect workers in the informal sector following mounting concerns over problems surrounding the workers, such as those related to labor regulations and rights violations.

The government will no longer allow migrant workers to be sent to Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates or Yemen.

Anis added that the government's move could lead to discrimination against workers in the informal sector.

"Domestic workers have a similar position to workers in other sectors. And this should be legally recognized by all countries," she said, referring to the International Labor Organization (ILO) Convention of 2011 on domestic workers, which the government had yet to ratify.

Article 3 of the convention stipulates that governments should take measures to push for the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation.

Meanwhile, Manpower Minister Muhammad Hanif Dhakiri said that according to the law, the government had the right to stop placing migrant workers in particular countries if it viewed that their employment would degrade human values.

Hanif said migrant workers in Middle Eastern countries lacked protection, especially due to a local culture in which employers had ultimate control over the lives of workers.

"This culture often leads to migrant workers becoming highly dependent on their employers. It also weakens their positions, their working conditions and lives," he said recently, adding that the culture complicated protection measures.

The government had previously suspended the dispatch of migrant workers to a number of countries in the Middle East in 2007. "Of the 21 countries, at least six were included in the last moratorium," Anis said.

She said that despite the previous moratorium, the placement of domestic workers had continued. "After these years, there has been no evaluation." (alm)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/05/06/moratorium-violates-workers-rights-migrant-care.html

Freedom of information & press

AJI declares police enemies of press freedom

Jakarta Post - May 3, 2015

Jakarta – The Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) named the police enemies of press freedom for the fourth time during an event held to commemorate World Press Freedom Day on Sunday.

"We declare the police enemies of press freedom, with 11 reported attacks on journalists by police from May 2014 to May 2015," said AJI advocacy department head Iman D Nugroho in Menteng Park, Central Jakarta, on Sunday.

The attacks allegedly committed by the police topped the 37 recorded attacks against journalists from 2014 to 2015.

Apart from the police, several security personnel, some citizens, a city council member and a doctor were reported to have committed violence against journalists. The police were first called enemies of press freedom in 2007

The police were also seen as having failed to bring justice in murder cases involving eight journalists, including Muhammad Fuad Syafrudin, a journalist from Yogyakarta's Bernas daily.

The AJI highlighted that police had continued to criminalize journalists despite the 1999 Press Law and a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the National Police chief and the Press Council, in which the police agreed to hand over cases involving journalism to the council.

"The police do not seem to understand the job of journalists. All journalists should be protected, not subjected to violence," said AJI head Suwarjono on the sidelines of the event. (fsu))

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/05/03/aji-declares-police-enemies-press-freedom.html

Indonesia's press freedom deteriorates

Jakarta Globe - May 3, 2015

Malang – Indonesia has dropped to 138th place in the latest World Press Freedom Index, as journalists declare police an enemy of free speech and activists call for an end to restrictions on news coverage in Papua.

International non-profit group Reporters Without Border released in conjunction with World Press Freedom Day on Sunday a report that downgraded Indonesia from its previous position of 132nd place, out of 180 countries surveyed.

Finland tops the list for five consecutive years, with three other Scandinavian countries – Norway, Denmark and Sweden – also dominating the top five positions, ranking second, third and fifth, respectively. The Netherlands is the only non-Scandinavian country in the top five.

At the bottom of the list is Eritrea (180th), North Korea (179th), Turkmenistan (178th), Syria (177th) and China (176th).

Meanwhile, North Africa and the Middle East have once again gained the status of "information black holes," dominating bottom places in the rankings.

Only Brunei and Thailand rank better than Indonesia among Southeast Asian countries, standing in 121st and 134th places respectively. Timor-Leste outranks the three nations in 103rd place.

Cambodia, the Philippines, Myanmar, Malaysia, Singapore, Laos and Vietnam all scored lower than Indonesia, while France is ranked 38th, the United States 49th, Japan 61st, Russia 152nd and Iran 173rd.

Reporters Without Borders, which promotes freedom of the press and information, considered the 2015 index an alarming reflection of the "worldwide deterioration" of both in 2014.

"There was a drastic decline in freedom of information in 2014. Two-thirds of the 180 countries surveyed for the 2015 World Press Freedom Index performed less well than in the previous year," the France-based NGO said.

"Beset by wars, the growing threat from non-state operatives, violence during demonstrations and the economic crisis, media freedom is in retreat on all five continents."

The Malang, East Java, chapter of Indonesia's Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) again declared the Indonesian police an enemy of the press, citing several cases of criminalization against journalists, including the arrest of two French reporters in Papua and the naming of Jakarta Post editor-in-chief Meidyatama Suryodiningrat a criminal suspect over the publication of a caricature deemed offensive by some Muslim groups.

"This is the fourth time the police have been labeled an enemy to the press since 2007," said Eko Widianto, head of the Malang AJI chapter. "President Joko Widodo must conduct major reforms to change the police force."

Citing data from the Institute for Criminal Justice Reform, Eko pointed out 80 cases of criminalization against Indonesian netizens for expressing their opinions via the Internet, with those targeted ranging from students and homemakers to activists and lawyers.

Eko blamed Indonesia's electronic information and transaction law, which was passed in 2008 and has since been deemed a threat to freedom of information. "[The law] has caused fear among people, preventing them from speaking up," he said.

The AJI called for an investigation into the unsolved murder cases of eight journalist, with the oldest – the murder Bernas Yogyakarta reporter Udin – dating back to 1997 and the latest – the death of Alfred Mirulewan, a journalist with the Pelangi tabloid in Maluku – taking place in 2010.

Eko also urged Indonesian officials to grant the media access to Papua and West Papua provinces, where local journalists are allegedly pushed by security forces to only write reports based on military and police directives.

Foreign journalists are barred from both provinces, while those who are permitted to enter are closely watched by security personnel. The restrictions have even garnered scrutiny from international rights group Human Rights Watch.

"The broad restrictions on reporting from Papua encourage security force abuses and profoundly undermine the public's right to know what's happening there," said Phelim Kine, deputy Asia director of HRW. "International Press Freedom Day is a golden opportunity for the Indonesian government to finally end its chokehold on foreign media access to Papua.

"[The president] should deliver on his promise to end the severe restrictions on media access to Papua and allow both foreign and domestic media to operate there without interference. Nobody is going to believe the government has 'nothing to hide' in Papua until media can freely report from there."

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/indonesia-press-freedom-deteriorates/

Political parties & elections

Government nixes Pilkada Law amendment

Jakarta Post - May 7, 2015

Jakarta – Home Minister Tjahjo Kumolo has spoken out against the House of Representatives' plan to revise the 2015 Local Elections Law and the 2015 Regional Administration Law, warning that the move could trigger new political battles.

The House recently announced that it would amend the two laws in order to allow the Golkar Party and the United Development Party (PPP) to participate in the elections set to take place concurrently in early December.

Without the amendments, the General Elections Commission (KPU) cannot accept the registrations of Golkar and PPP candidates for the 269 elections as both parties are riven by internal conflict, unless the two parties resolve their internal divisions peacefully or obtain a final and binding verdict before registration closes.

Tjahjo said that the amendment process could distract relevant institutions from focusing on preparations for the local and regional elections taking place throughout the country.

"These institutions could lose their focus, especially the KPU, particularly ahead of the simultaneous local elections [in late 2015]," Antara news agency quoted Tjahjo as saying in Semarang, Central Java, on Wednesday.

The House announced that it intended to amend the two laws after learning that the KPU had issued a regulation banning parties split by internal conflicts from registering candidates for regional head positions.

Political factions at the House previously tried to annul the KPU regulation by amending the two laws that empower the KPU and the Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) to uphold their independence in organizing elections.

A number of legislators have proposed an immediate review of the two laws to allow political parties experiencing internal conflict to contest the elections.

The ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), however, has indicated it will oppose any plan by the House to amend the two laws.

"We believe that revision of laws relating to people's lives is more urgent," PDI-P secretary-general Hasto Kristiyanto said on Tuesday.

"We don't want to revise election-related laws over and over again. As such, we will instruct our faction [at the House] to focus more on more popular regulations," Hasto said.

Vice President Jusuf Kalla has also spoken against the planned amendment. "We don't need to amend the law. With the House in recess, it would be difficult," Kalla said earlier this week.

An official from the Agung Laksono camp in the Golkar Party said that the House would make a mistake by amending the laws. "This is a misguided plan. We reject the plan because we see no relevance in the proposal," said spokesman of the Agung Laksono camp Leo Nababan.

During a hearing between the KPU and the House on Monday, the House managed to convince the KPU to adopt a proposal that would allow Golkar and the PPP to submit their latest court rulings on their leadership battles in order to enable them to register candidates to contest the 269 elections.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/05/07/govt-nixes-pilkada-law-amendment.html

PDI-P to oppose revision to election laws

Jakarta Post - May 6, 2015

Margareth S. Aritonang, Jakarta – The ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) has indicated it will oppose a plan by the House of Representatives to revise existing laws on local elections and political parties.

"We believe that revision of laws relating to people's lives is more urgent," PDI-P secretary-general Hasto Kristyanto said on Tuesday.

The House recently announced that it would amend Law No. 8/2015 on local elections and Law No. 2/2011 on political parties in order to allow the Golkar Party and the United Development Party (PPP) to participate in the elections set to take place concurrently in early December this year.

Amendments are required if the General Elections Commission (KPU) is to accept registration of candidates for the 269 elections from Golkar and the PPP, which are both currently riven by internal conflict, unless the two parties resolve their internal divisions peacefully or obtain a final and binding verdict by the end of the registration period.

"We don't want to revise election-related laws over and over again. As such, we will instruct our faction [at the House] to focus more on more popular regulations," Hasto said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/05/06/pdi-p-oppose-revision-election-laws.html

KPU a real problem, says Fadli Zon

Jakarta Post - May 5, 2015

Margareth S. Aritonang, Jakarta – Deputy House of Representatives Speaker Fadli Zon has slammed the General Elections Commission (KPU) for "chaotic" preparations for the upcoming simultaneous local elections and says the commission has been "too political" in going about its work.

"The KPU is a real problem. It has caused confusion at the grass roots level as it has been reluctant to adopt our recommendations," Fadli said on Tuesday.

The Gerindra Party politician was referring to the House's three-point recommendations, to be included in the KPU's regulations on local elections.

The House has pressured the KPU to include a ruling allowing the split Golkar Party and United Development Party (PPP) to register their regional head candidates with the commission.

Intensive lobbying by lawmakers has apparently convinced the commission of the necessity of revising the 2015 Local Election Law and the 2011 Political Party Law.

"Maybe we need to think about installing more politicians in the commission to avoid similar long and confusing problems in the future," said Fadli.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/05/05/kpu-a-real-problem-says-fadli-zon.html

KPU warned against adopting House recommendations on local elections

Jakarta Post - May 5, 2015

Jakarta – A political analyst has warned the General Elections Commission (KPU) against adopting the three recommendations proposed by the House of Representatives regarding this year's simultaneous local elections, saying that the polling body could get trapped in certain parties' internal conflicts.

"Political interests have forced the House of Representatives to take irrational measures," Toto Sugiarto, also a Para Syndicate researcher, said in a discussion on simultaneous local elections here on Tuesday.

A number of legislators have urged the KPU to allow parties currently experiencing internal conflict to contest the simultaneous local elections scheduled for December 2015.

The Golkar Party and United Development Party (PPP) are facing threat of disqualification from the elections due to prolonged internal conflict.

The commission and the government have urged the two parties to settle their internal conflict before July 26-28, the period in which parties will register candidates with the commission.

Deputy House Speaker Fadli Zon and a number of legislators have proposed an immediate revision of the 2014 Regional Elections (Pilkada) Law and the 2011 Political Party Law if the KPU declined to adopt the House's recommendations in its regulation on the registration of regional head candidates. (rms)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/05/05/kpu-warned-against-adopting-house-recommendations-local-elections.html

House to ensure Golkar, PPP participation

Jakarta Post - May 5, 2015

Margareth S. Aritonang, Jakarta – As the Golkar Party and the United Development Party (PPP) seem incapable of ending their respective party infighting, the House of Representatives is set to revise existing laws on local elections as well as on political parties in order to allow both parties to participate in the upcoming local elections.

The decision was made after hours of closed-door meetings between senior House figures and the General Elections Commission (KPU) at the legislative building on Monday evening, which eventually saw the KPU agreeing to include all recommendations by lawmakers in the KPU's regulations on the local elections, after the commission had previously refused to do so.

The KPU had insisted on accepting only two of three recommendations proposed by House Commission II, which oversees governance, regional autonomy, state apparatus and agrarian affairs, for divided parties taking part in an election; namely the provision of an inkracht, or a final and binding court ruling regarding leadership or reconciliation and the submission of a peace agreement, signed by the respective factions, to the Law and Human Rights Ministry.

Weeks of intense lobbying by lawmakers eventually convinced the KPU to adopt the third point that would allow Golkar and the PPP to submit their latest court rulings on their leadership battles in order to enable them to register candidates to contest the 269 elections that will take place simultaneously throughout the country.

"That is one of the alternatives for [divided] parties," KPU Commissioner Ida Budhiati said. "We will officially include such a recommendation in our regulations as soon as we have the legal basis to do so through the revision of the laws [No. 8/2015 on local elections and No. 22/2011 on political parties]," she added.

The KPU will invite parties or coalitions of parties to register their nominated candidates from July 26 to 28. The commission will accept the Aburizal Bakrie faction of Golkar and the Djan Faridz faction of the PPP if the Jakarta State Administrative Court (PTUN) fails to issue a ruling or if the rival factions within the parties fail to reconcile by the end of the registration period.

"That is the best solution to deal with ongoing legal battles [between factions within Golkar and the PPP] because it is neutral," said House Deputy Speaker Fadli Zon.

House Commission II is expected to begin soon the deliberation to amend both existing laws as soon as it resumes sitting on May 18. Commission II head Rambe Kamarulzaman insisted the discussions would not take long because of the urgency of the approaching registration process.

Last month, the PTUN suspended a decree by Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna H. Laoly that recognized Aburizal's rival, Agung Laksono as chairman of Golkar.

The PTUN is expected to announce its final ruling in the next 90 days after the decision, which upheld the challenge to the decree submitted by Aburizal.

The PTUN has also restored the PPP chairmanship to Djan Faridz after annulling a decree by Yasonna that recognized the leadership of Djan's rival, Muhammad Romahurmuziy last February. Yasonna has filed a legal challenge to the ruling.

Local leaders, meanwhile, have expressed concern over conflicts in regions as a result of the failure of party elites to resolve leadership disagreements.

"Clashes [between supporters of rival factions] have emerged in regions," Sofyan Mile, regent of Banggai in Central Sulawesi, said during a national meeting involving local leaders from across the archipelago to discuss the preparations for local elections in Jakarta on Monday.

"Conflict between the elites will flow down to the grass roots. There will be widespread conflict if this happens," he said, which was met with shouts of agreement from his colleagues attending the meeting.

The government is preparing all measures to anticipate conflicts that might occur during the first ever simultaneous elections that will be held on Dec. 9.

National Police chief Gen. Badrodin Haiti said that the police would deploy all resources to safeguard the elections, which have already cost the state almost Rp 7 trillion (US$538 million) in preparations.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/05/05/house-ensure-golkar-ppp-participation.html

Opposition mounts to Yudhoyono continuing as party chief

Jakarta Post - May 2, 2015

Jakarta – More members of the Democratic Party have expressed their opposition to the reelection of former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono as party chairman ahead of the party's national congress later this month.

A number of leaders of the party's regional branches, who were dismissed from their positions by the party's central board, declared on Thursday the formation of an opposition caucus and called on all party members to challenge what they called the domination of elites.

The group, calling itself the Caucus of the Democratic Party's Saviors (KPPD), launched attacks on a number of the party's elite figures who had been using Yudhoyono's leadership to maintain control of the party, with the former president's reelection likely maintaining their power over the party.

"Certain elites can put pressure on members at the lower level," Dendy Santoso, former head of the party's regional branch in Pasuruan regency, East Java, said on Thursday during the caucus' declaration in Central Jakarta.

Heru Sunaryanto, former Democratic Party regional branch head from Blitar regency in East Java, said the party had suffered a setback because of "Yudhoyono's cronies". He said one such crony was executive chairman Syariefuddin Hasan, who is known as a staunch supporter of Yudhoyono.

Yudhoyono was appointed party chairman during the Democratic Party's extraordinary congress in 2013, replacing Anas Urbaningrum, who was forced to resign after he was named a graft suspect by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

The caucus said the Democratic Party could suffer further from a "cult of personality" if members failed to stop Yudhoyono from being reelected.

Yudhoyono pledged that he would not seek reelection when his tenure came to an end this year. "I will only serve as chairman for two years at the most. After that, a regular party congress will choose a definitive chairman to replace me," Yudhoyono said during his speech at the party congress in Bali in 2013.

A copy of a letter instructing all party provincial and regional leaders to vote for Yudhoyono in the upcoming Democratic Party congress has been circulating among party members in an apparent attempt to suppress opposition within the party.

"Local party members have been intimidated into supporting Yudhoyono in the upcoming national congress. Otherwise, they will lose their votes in the party leadership election," said Irwan Purbowo, former head of the party's regional branch in Salatiga, Central Java.

Dendy, Heru and Irwan were among dozens of local party leaders who were reportedly dismissed by the Democratic Party central board for various reasons. The caucus claims at least 161 local party leaders have been dismissed from their positions.

In the upcoming party congress, 34 leaders of party provincial branches and more than 500 party regional branch leaders are expected to cast their votes in the chairmanship race at the party's third national congress, scheduled between May 11 and 13 in Surabaya, East Java.

Syariefuddin has responded to critics of Yudhoyono, saying that the party still needs the former president in the long run. "If there are members disagreeing with [the reelection of] SBY, they want to see the party's victory in the 2019 general elections," he recently said.

He stressed that any success achieved by the party could not be separated from the role Yudhoyono had played in the party and that the party's ability to secure 10.19 percent of the vote in the 2014 legislative election was due to Yudhoyono.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/05/02/opposition-mounts-yudhoyono-continuing-party-chief.html

Police vs KPK

Staffing shortages see KPK turn to TNI

Jakarta Globe - May 6, 2015

Kennial Caroline Laia, Jakarta – Activists are sceptical about plans by the Corruption Eradication Commission, or KPK, to recruit military officials, with some saying the move could strengthen the once-feared agency but most raising concerns about the body's independence.

Indonesian Military (TNI) spokesman Maj. Gen. Fuad Basya was the first to reveal the plan, saying on Tuesday that the KPK first came up with the suggestion during a meeting with TNI commanders.

"At the time the KPK leaders explained their wishes to recruit TNI investigators," he said, as quoted by Tempo.co news portal. "In principle we are ready to assist the KPK. If needed, we will provide [the KPK] with our best men."

But TNI officers are currently only permitted to assume certain civilian posts, such as with the Ministry of Defense, the Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) and the State Intelligence Agency (BIN).

"For the KPK it is not yet warranted [by law]," he said. "The most likely scenario is to wait for a revision of the Law on State Agencies."

The KPK relies on civilian auditors and officers on loan from the National Police, as well as dozens of former police officers who have joined the agency on a permanent basis.

This often makes it difficult to investigate corruption cases which involve the police, popularly dubbed the country's most corrupt institution. The KPK has also recently been the target of retaliation after naming active police officers suspects.

In 2012, police tried to launch an investigation against a leading KPK investigator, Novel Baswedan, in response to the KPK's move to charge then-police traffic corps chief Insp. Gen. Djoko Susilo for bribery.

Djoko is now serving 18 years in prison and the case against Novel was halted after then-president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono intervened.

But the case against Novel was revived shortly after the KPK in January charged then-police chief candidate Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan in relation to another bribery case.

The National Police also charged KPK chairman Abraham Samad and his deputy Bambang Widjojanto over cases dating back to 2006, as well as threatening to launch separate investigations against two dozen other leaders and investigators.

The fallout resulting from the Budi Gunawan case seriously weakened the KPK, particularly as Abraham and Bambang were suspended from active duty pending the investigations against them.

The military, which has long been involved in its own spats and rivalries with the police, has been actively assisting the KPK in the skirmish, including guarding the KPK headquarters in South Jakarta from a rumored police attack.

Involving TNI officers as members of the KPK's investigation team could potentially give the KPK much needed support in the ongoing feud with the police.

"Given the current situation between the KPK and police, it's quite understandable that the KPK is seeking help from other institutions besides police and the AGO [Attorney General's Office]," said Hendardi, chairman of the Setara Institute.

Haris Azhar, coordinator of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras), however called the plan "a dilemma."

"As we know, [the KPK's] position right now is shaky, so maybe they need backup," Haris said. "However, recruiting from the military could be harmful for the KPK should they investigate graft cases involving military officials or the Defense Ministry. Professionalism [of the KPK] will be at stake."

The TNI, once the dominant force in the government under president Suharto's reign, has been criticized about its lack of transparency and accountability, even in the post-New Order era. President Joko Widodo has increased military spending three-fold to quell the TNI's rivalry with the police.

Activists have noted that the TNI has done a poor job in reforming itself with officers involved in protection rackets, human rights abuses and illegal businesses which are rarely prosecuted or punished.

"Recruiting KPK investigators from the military is never a good option," Hendardi said. "They're not law enforcers and they should be doing their job without meddling with the civilian matters."

Haris of Kontras added: "I must say that there are more disadvantages than advantages about the plan. Moreover... whoever is involved won't bring too much change as long as the KPK continues to be weak like now."

Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) coordinator Ade Irawan said the KPK should focus on recruiting more civilian investigators and auditors to cope with the backlog of open cases.

Hendardi said the president's administration needs to issue key policies to strengthen the KPK, including making the ad-hoc agency a permanent body. "There must be efforts to strengthen the KPK's position so it won't be easily shaken by police and the AGO," he said.

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/staffing-shortages-see-KPK-turn-tni/

Senior minister defends police action in KPK case

Jakarta Post - May 6, 2015

Ina Parlina and Andi Hajramurni, Jakarta/Makassar – Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Tedjo Edhy Purdijatno dismissed on Tuesday speculation that deputy National Police chief Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan was behind the recent arrest of Corruption Eradication Commission's (KPK) top investigator Novel Baswedan.

The speculation was fueled by President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's specific order on Friday that Budi not take any controversial actions in the case.

Novel's arrest took place soon after Budi, once a candidate for the National Police chief, was sworn in as Badrodin's deputy. Budi had previously been named a bribery suspect by the KPK.

"No, it does not work that way. If something happens internally within the force, the deputy police chief looks into the matter and later reports it to the police chief," Tedjo said on Tuesday at the Presidential Office.

Tedjo said that Budi had strict control over internal police matters. "The deputy police chief has the task of managing the police's internal affairs, while the police chief oversees the police's external relations," he said. Novel was arrested last Friday as a suspect in an assault, which allegedly occurred in 2004 when he was serving as chief of detectives in Bengkulu. Soon after his arrest, Novel was detained briefly but was later released on Saturday after the National Police and the KPK struck a deal.

Novel filed a pretrial petition challenging the police actions at the South Jakarta District Court on Monday, arguing that irregularities occurred when police investigators arrested him.

Following the arrest, Jokowi was quick to issue a statement from his hometown of Surakarta ordering the National Police chief Comr. Gen. Badrodin Haiti not to detain Novel because it would erode trust between the police, the Attorney General's Office (AGO) and the KPK in their fight against corruption. Jokowi added the legal process must be fair and transparent.

The police ignored Jokowi's call by transporting Novel to Bengkulu in order to conduct a crime scene reconstruction later on Friday.

Tedjo, who is also the head of the National Police Commission (Kompolnas), which is tasked with monitoring the police, declined to comment on whether or not National Police detective division chief Comr. Gen. Budi Waseso, whose division is handling Novel's case, should be disciplined for his disobedience of Jokowi's instruction.

"Well, he has gone along with what Jokowi ordered; by not detaining [Novel]," Tedjo said, adding that Kompolnas would leave such evaluations to the police. "What is important is that the legal process continues but without sparking controversy," Tedjo said.

Meanwhile in South Sulawesi, the local prosecutor's office is currently looking into the case dossier of suspended KPK chief Abraham Samad after the South Sulawesi Police submitted the document on Monday.

Abraham was named a suspect in a document forgery case on Feb. 17 for allegedly helping a resident of Pontianak, West Kalimantan, Feriyani Lim, obtain a fake ID card and family card to apply for a passport at the Makassar Immigration Office.

Prosecutors had also received the dossier on Feriyani from the National Police's detective unit, said Muhammad Yusuf, an official at the general crimes unit of the South Sulawesi Prosecutor's Office.

"Currently, the dossiers on Samad and Feriyani, which we received from police investigators yesterday [Monday], are being examined by our team," said Muhammad on Tuesday.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/05/06/senior-minister-defends-police-action-KPK-case.html

No more probes into KPK: Badrodin

Jakarta Post - May 5, 2015

Haeril Halim and Fedina S. Sundaryani, Jakarta – A closed-door meeting between the Attorney General's Office (AGO), the National Police and the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on Monday agreed that the police would stop all probes into the KPK investigators that were looking into a bribery case alleging the involvement of deputy National Police chief Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan.

The agreement was made after tensions between the two institutions further escalated following the arrest of KPK investigator Novel Baswedan by the police on Friday.

National Police chief Gen. Badrodin Haiti said that he had ordered his subordinates to obtain his permission to probe the antigraft body's officials.

But he said that the cases involving Novel and suspended KPK leaders Abraham Samad and Bambang Widjojanto, had been pursued by the force prior to issuing his order.

"According to the agreement between the KPK, police and AGO, the cases [those of Novel, Abraham and Bambang] would continue but I have already issued an order to stop investigating [KPK investigators working on Budi's case]," Badrodin said after the closed-door meeting at the AGO office in Jakarta.

Badrodin said the other cases involving KPK officials were not part of the deal since such a move would obstruct justice. "The courts will later determine whether [Novel, Abraham and, Bambang] are guilty or not based on evidence presented during future trials," Badrodin added.

Abraham and Bambang were named suspects by the police after the KPK declared Budi a graft suspect in January at the 11th hour of his expected inauguration as National Police chief, which was consequently voided.

Many believe that the installment of retired police general Taufiequrachman Ruki, who later transferred Budi's case to the AGO, was part of a plan to undermine the KPK's maneuvers to proceed with cases involving high-ranking police officers.

The police recently reopened Novel's assault case, which had been closed under the tenure of police chief Gen. (ret) Timur Pradopo in 2012.

Monday's talk also agreed to form a joint anticorruption task force involving the AGO, police and the KPK, according Ruki, who represented the KPK at the meeting.

"The joint task force aims to build better synergy among the three institutions. It will be established soon," Attorney General M. Prasetyo said after the meeting.

Despite Badrodin's order, National Police detective division chief Comr. Gen. Budi Waseso said that police investigators would continue investigating KPK investigators handling Budi's case, but emphasized that the police would not make doing so a priority. "Our priority is investigating corruption cases," Budi said.

Separately, Novel's lawyer, Asfinawati, said on Monday that she had filed a pretrial motion with the South Jakarta District Court to challenge her client's arrest, which she said was marred by irregularities.

Novel was arrested at his house in East Jakarta at midnight on Friday. After the arrest, the police said that Novel owned four houses that had not been declared in the wealth report he submitted to the KPK. Novel insisted that he only owned one house in Jakarta.

"The arrest warrant says that Novel has been charged under Article 51, paragraphs 1 and 3 of the Criminal Code [KUHP] on assault, while the investigation order says Article 351 paragraphs 1 as well as Article 442 of the KUHP on misconduct in conjunction with Article 52 of the KUHP on additional sentences for a law enforcer committing crimes," Asfinawati said.

Asfinawati said that Budi had intentionally intervened on Novel's case by issuing the arrest warrant because it was the authority of investigators to decide whether to arrest a suspect, adding the arrest warrant had expired by the time of the arrest.

"We have collected strong evidence to back our pretrial motion. We will also present expert witnesses to support our arguments in the upcoming pretrial hearing," Asfinawati said. (alm)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/05/05/no-more-probes-KPK-badrodin.html

KPK official Novel Baswedan files pretrial motion against police

Jakarta Globe - May 4, 2015

Bayu Marhaenjati, Jakarta – Senior Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigator Novel Baswedan has filed a pretrial motion against the National Police over his arrest, which his lawyers say is riddled with irregularities.

Novel's lawyers filed the legal challenge at the South Jakarta District Court on Monday afternoon.

"There are several administration violations in the way the police handled the arrest and the detention," Lawyer Muji Kartika Rahayu told reporters, adding no date for the hearing has been set.

Officers from the police's detectives' unit arrested Novel at his home in Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta, last Friday in connection with a long-settled case widely seen as having been dug up by the police as part of an attack on the KPK.

Novel has been accused of involvement in the death of an alleged thief 2004, during his time as chief of the detectives' unit in Bengkulu – something he denies.

The police case against Novel has come under intense scrutiny over the past few days.

Investigators have been roundly criticised for some of the "evidence" they have confiscated, which has reportedly included two issues of Tempo magazine with lead articles titled "Targeting the Investigators" and "Why the Police Are Furious."

"We are still investigating the evidence," said Comr. Gen. Budi Waseso, the National Police's chief of detectives. "If we later find it to be unrelated to the case, we would be happy to return it."

Novel has claimed much of the evidence taken by police is completely unrelated to the case and has also accused them of making misleading claims, namely that he owns four luxury houses in Jakarta.

Novel said he owns one house in Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta, which he purchased for Rp 385 million ($30,000). He said he had another property in Semarang, Central Java, which he has gifted to his parents.

"The chief of detectives was making assumptions, and incorrect ones at that," Novel told news portal Kompas.com. "I only have this house in Kelapa Gading and another in Semarang."

Budi said his statement had been based on the fact that police officers had witnessed Novel visiting different houses. The senior detective said on Friday: "He owns four houses, luxurious ones. This Novel is extraordinary."

Following his arrest in Jakarta last Friday Novel was flown to Bengkulu for the case reconstruction that same day, despite his lawyers' protest that Novel was not even on the scene when the incident happened.

Following massive outcry, President Joko Widodo instructed National Police Chief Gen. Badrodin Haiti to release Novel on Saturday, saying the arrest threatened to further damage ties between the police and KPK.

Novel's lawyers have pointed out a number of irregularities in the arrest of the veteran investigator, including the lack of access to their client during his interrogation by police officers.

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/KPK-official-novel-baswedan-files-pretrial-motion-police/

Novel freed after police, KPK strike deal

Jakarta Post - May 3, 2015

Fedina S. Sundaryani, Jakarta – The National Police officially suspended on Saturday the detention of Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) top investigator Novel Baswedan, following a deal struck between police chief Gen. Badrodin Haiti and the leadership of the antigraft body.

The decision was made following a meeting on Saturday between Badrodin and acting KPK commissioners Taufiequrachman Ruki, Indriyanto Seno Adji and Johan Budi, who, along with two other commissioners, had come forward to be Novel's guarantors.

"Both sides have agreed that [Novel's] criminal case will go through the courts and the KPK has guaranteed that Novel will comply with summonses sent by the police," Badrodin told reporters at the National Police headquarters in South Jakarta. "Let the courts decide whether or not he is guilty."

Novel was arrested on Friday as a suspect in an assault that allegedly happened in 2004 when he was serving as the Bengkulu Police's chief of detectives.

After a 10-hour interrogation at the National Police headquarters, Novel was transferred for further questioning to the police's Mobile Brigade (Brimob) headquarters, widely known as a detention center for terrorist suspects, in Depok, West Java.

President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo issued a statement from his hometown of Surakarta, ordering the National Police not to make the controversial move or detain Novel because it would reduce trust between the police force, the Attorney General's Office (AGO) and the KPK.

Instead, investigators brought Novel to Bengkulu to partake in a crime scene reconstruction that night so that his case dossier could be quickly submitted to prosecutors. Badrodin claimed no reconstruction was possible at the crime scene because of bad weather. However, Novel's lawyers said their client had declined to take part in the reconstruction as he had not been involved in the assault in the first place.

Meanwhile, KPK acting chairman Ruki said the police had full authority over Novel's case and the antigraft body would not intervene.

"Neither the KPK leaders nor our employees are immune to the law. If any of us faces legal problems then let the police investigators handle them. We won't intervene as long as the police don't interfere with any of the cases handled by the KPK," he said.

The police first reopened an investigation into Novel in 2012 after the antigraft body named then National Police Traffic Corps (Korlantas) chief Insp. Gen. Djoko Susilo a graft suspect.

Then president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono requested the police halt the probe into Novel's case to avoid worsening the standoff between the police and the KPK.

Novel's recent arrest came soon after Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan, once a candidate for the National Police chief, was sworn in as Badrodin's deputy. Budi had been named a suspect by the KPK in January for bribery.

KPK leaders have maintained that Novel did not handle the investigation into Budi's bribery case, nor into another bribery case involving an Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle lawmaker, Adriansyah.

Novel flew into Jakarta on Saturday and went to the detective division at the National Police headquarters at 4:20 p.m. before he was allowed to return home.

When asked whether police investigators handling the case had intimidated Novel, Badrodin shook his head and said, "No, the police did not intimidate him."

Separately, one of Novel's lawyers, Muji Kartika Rahayu, said investigators in the case conducted the crime scene reenactment without the participation of Novel on Saturday morning.

Muji said Novel declined to take part as he had never admitted to committing the assault. Members of Novel's legal team also demanded the police to speak in plain language about the status of their client.

"The police chief and the President had ordered Novel to be released, but investigators insisted that their superior had authorized his detention," she said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/05/03/novel-freed-after-police-KPK-strike-deal.html

No need to treat Novel's case as criminalizing KPK: PDI-P

Jakarta Post - May 2, 2015

A member of the House of Representatives (DPR) from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), Ahmad Basarah, is saying that the recent arrest of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigator Novel Baswedan by the police should be looked at from the legal point of view.

The member of the House' Commission III overseeing legal affairs said that neither anti-corruption activists nor the KPK leaders should respond gratuitously to Novel's capture on Friday.

"There is no need to politicize this case, nor to exacerbate new political conflicts. There is no need to call it a 'criminalization' of the KPK," Ahmad said on Saturday as quoted by kompas.com.

However, he added that the National Police must also respect the legal point of view if a member of the force runs into legal trouble and is apprehended by the KPK and that it must prove solidly that Novel was guilty in this case.

Ahmad, who is also PDI-P deputy secretary-general, asked the police to process the case in a transparent manner and added that they should release Novel if they found nothing implicating the former police detective in this case.

Novel was apprehended by the police at the early hours of Friday morning in connection with an alleged 2004 torture and assault case that took place when he was serving as chief of detectives with the Bengkulu Police.

The National Police Criminal Investigation Division (Bareskrim) has been targeting Novel since he started an investigation into alleged corruption connected to the procurement of driving simulators at the National Police Traffic Police Corps (Korlantas) involving the then chief Insp. Gen. Djoko Susilo in 2012. (dyl/nvn)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/05/02/no-need-treat-novels-case-criminalizing-KPK-pdi-p.html

Police ignore Jokowi's orders

Jakarta Post - May 2, 2015

Fedina S. Sundaryani and Ganug Nugroho Adi, Jakarta/Surakarta – The National Police brushed off President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's order on Friday to release the Corruption Eradication Commission's (KPK) top investigator, Novel Baswedan, who was arrested in connection with an assault case that took place in 2004.

Novel was arrested at his home in Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta, shortly after midnight on Friday as a suspect in an assault that happened when he served as the Bengkulu Police's detective chief.

After a 10-hour interrogation at the National Police headquarters in South Jakarta, Novel, who was handcuffed and ordered to wear a detainee's jacket, was transferred for further questioning to the police's Mobile Brigade (Brimob) headquarters, widely known as a detention center for terrorist suspects, in Depok, West Java.

As news quickly spread of Novel's arrest, Jokowi issued a statement from his hometown of Surakarta, ordering the National Police not to make the controversial move or detain Novel because it would reduce trust between the police force, the Attorney General's Office (AGO) and the KPK in their fight against corruption.

"I have already instructed the National Police chief [Gen. Badrodin Haiti] not to detain Pak Novel Baswedan. Most importantly, the legal process must be fair and transparent," he told reporters. "The National Police, KPK and the AGO must work together to eradicate corruption," he added.

But Jokowi's orders fell on deaf ears, as officers in charge of the investigation moved to transport Novel at 4 p.m. to Bengkulu in a special police aircraft in order to conduct a crime scene investigation later in the evening.

The police appeared to have won support from some in Jokowi's administration. Vice President Jusuf Kalla said that the police force was only doing its job to solve a criminal case.

"They filed a report [about the arrest]. What is most important to me is transparency and the police force has promised to remain transparent. This is just a normal criminal case," he said after a meeting with Badrodin at the National Police headquarters.

Badrodin claimed that Novel's arrest was in line with the Criminal Law Procedures Code as the former police officer had failed to fulfill three police summonses for questioning as a suspect.

He emphasized that it was urgent to complete Novel's case dossier soon, as the case would expire next year as stipulated by Article 78 of the Criminal Code.

"If we do not solve this case then Novel's victims, or the person who filed the original report, could file a lawsuit against the police force. This is why it is urgent to complete the dossier as soon as possible," he said.

The police first reopened an investigation into Novel in 2012 after the antigraft body named then National Police Traffic Corps (Korlantas) chief Insp. Gen. Djoko Susilo a graft suspect.

Then president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono requested the police halt the probe into Novel's case to avoid worsening the standoff between the police and the KPK.

Novel's arrest came soon after Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan, once a candidate for the National Police chief, was sworn in as Badrodin's deputy. Budi was named a suspect by the KPK in January for bribery.

Meanwhile, National Police detective division chief Comr. Gen. Budi Waseso said that the arrest of Novel was to show that police officers were not above the law. "So if police officers shoot somebody then they can be charged. Novel is a good example of that," he said.

Other than incarcerating Novel, police investigators also searched four locations in Jakarta, two of which were houses owned by Novel, according to his wealth report.

Separately, one of Novel's lawyers, Muji Kartika Rahayu, slammed the police for lying and for not going public with Novel's arrest until midday Friday.

"We arrived at the police headquarters at 3 a.m. but were not given access until 8:30 a.m. By then, however, they were taking his fingerprints and giving him a medical check-up before they eventually handed us notification that they would detain Novel," she said.

[Ina Parlina contributed to this story.]

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/05/02/police-ignore-jokowi-s-orders.html

Detective chief confirms Novel's arrest

Jakarta Post - May 1, 2015

Fedina S. Sundaryani, Jakarta – National Police chief detective Comr. Gen. Budi Waseso confirmed on Friday that Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigator Novel Baswedan had been arrested just after midnight at his residence in Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta.

"Yes, he was arrested at midnight because he failed to fulfill three interrogation summons," Budi told reporters at the National Police headquarters in South Jakarta.

Budi explained that the arrest was legitimate and that Novel had been presented with an arrest warrant. He added that investigators had trouble completing Novel's case dossier as they still needed clarification on a few things from the suspect.

The police reopened an investigation into Novel, who was implicated in an assault case in 2004 when he was the Bengkulu Police's chief of detectives, after the antigraft body named Police Education Institute director (Lemdikpol) Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan, now the deputy police chief, a suspect in a bribery case.

Former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had requested in 2012 that Novel's case be postponed because of a heated conflict between the police and the KPK that arose when the antigraft body named then chief of the National Police Traffic Police Corps (Korlantas), Insp. Gen. Djoko Susilo, a graft suspect. (nvn)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/05/01/detective-chief-confirms-novels-arrest.html

Environment & natural disasters

Walhi calls for immediate review of forest concessions

Jakarta Post - May 7, 2015

Rizal Harahap, Pekanbaru – The executive director of the Riau chapter of the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi), Riko Kurniawan, has called for the audit and evaluation of concessions granted before a moratorium on the issuance of new conversion licenses for primary forest and peatland took effect in May 2011.

"The moratorium has been in effect since 2011, while Riau's forest concession permits have been over-issued since 2009. Almost all types of land in Riau, including peatland, have been awarded concession permits," Riko said on Thursday.

Concession permits for peatland more than three meters deeps, he went on, must be revoked, as the government had decided that peatland could not be used for any purpose.

Riko further explained that more than 50 percent of the total 4.4 million hectares of peatland in Riau was deep peatland. The depth of peatland in Kuala Kampar, Pelalawan regency, he said, reached 16 meters, making it the deepest peatland in the world.

"In the last two decades, Riau's peatland and its ecological function have been damaged by being continuously converted into human settlements, agricultural areas, plantations and industrial forests," said Riko.

"Carbon stocks amounting to around 4,000 tons per hectare have been released into the air as a result of land conversion and forest fires. Peat swamps have gradually lost their function as natural water storage that can prevent flooding and drought as deforestation has reached 160,000 hectares per year," he added.

He called for a moratorium on new concessions in Riau to prevent damage to forests and peatland.

"It is hoped that the moratorium can provide momentum that gives a chance to the government to improve our forest management while at the same time, nature can repair the damaged ecosystem," he said. (ebf)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/05/07/walhi-calls-immediate-review-forest-concessions.html

Activists urge Jokowi to renew forest clearing ban

Jakarta Globe - May 6, 2015

Kennial Caroline Laia, Jakarta – Environmental activists have called on President Joko Widodo to extend and strengthen a forest-clearing moratorium that runs out this month.

The moratorium on issuing permits to clear peat and primary forests was introduced in May 2011 by then-president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and slated to run for only two years. Yudhoyono extended it in 2013 on a temporary basis, and activists say Joko now has the chance to make a lasting positive impact by giving the moratorium a firmer legal basis.

Any extension to the moratorium "must stipulate punitive measures for people or companies that violate it," Zenzi Suhadi, a forest campaigner for the Indonesian Forum for the Environment, or Walhi, told the Jakarta Globe on Tuesday.

"This is needed to curb [the illegal] issuance of licenses for forest exploitation, whether for mining or for large-scale plantations," he added.

He noted that the moratorium as enforced by the Yudhoyono administration was for all practical intents toothless, noting that the Forestry Ministry issued mining and agriculture concessions for 12 million hectares of forest land, much of it ostensibly off-limits under the moratorium, between 2011 and 2014.

"During this period, there was no punishment for the violators," Zenzi said. "The next moratorium should include punitive measures to ensure that no one hurts the environment."

He also said it was important that the moratorium be supported by a new agency "to supervise its implementation as well as enforce the law."

"The government must consider extending the moratorium period. It's been proven that a two-year moratorium isn't as effective as expected.

Making it longer will help the government prioritize its to-do list, from evaluation to license review to management refinement," Zenzi added.

The original moratorium was enacted as part of a deal that would see Norway provide up to $1 billion in funds for climate change mitigation projects in exchange for demonstrable protection on Indonesia's part of high conservation value forests, including peat forests, which store enormous amounts of carbon dioxide.

Critics, though, have long argued that the moratorium does far too little to protect such areas, given that it applies only to new concessions and not to existing ones on peat and primary forests.

In the time since the moratorium went into force, nearly 970,000 hectares of peat forest have been cleared, half of that total coming from the heavily logged Sumatran provinces of Riau and Jambi, according to a study by Walhi and environmental nongovernmental organization Kemitraan.

The study also found that in some regions, up to four-fifths of the primary and peat forests identified as off-limits for new concessions are already protected under prevailing zoning regulations, hence the moratorium is doing little to expand the scope of forest protection.

Progressive revisions have also seen the map of areas protected under the moratorium shrink, with dozens of concessions issued across the country for land that was at one point included in the moratorium map, says Hasbi Berliani, Kemitraan's program manager for good governance.

The forest area that falls outside the moratorium map "is really wide." "It is really crucial for the government to strengthen [a] few points in the moratorium to protect other areas [that] haven't been included within. As long as the moratorium doesn't include it, it's useless," Hasbi said.

Zenzi echoed the sentiment, saying that what Indonesia really needed was not a moratorium on new concessions, but a termination program for existing licenses.

"The situation is critical," Zenzi said, noting that when the moratorium was renewed in 2013, it included new concessions for energy and food production, thanks to what he called corporate lobbying. "This cost the country 1.2 million hectares."

"This year, there's the possibility of intervention from the biofuel and food lobbies, and exemptions for border regions," Zenzi added.

Strong government commitment, he said, was key to an effective moratorium. "However big the intervention, once the government is committed to the people, it won't compromise or make any exceptions unless it's in the interests of the people," Zenzi said.

The Forestry and Environment Ministry says it wants to extend the moratorium as part of a wider program to cut carbon dioxide emissions by 26 percent by 2020, and has welcomed suggestions of environmental groups in drafting an extension.

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/activists-urge-jokowi-renew-forest-clearing-ban/

Health & education

Health insurance scheme amasses Rp 1.93 trillion deficit in first year

Jakarta Globe - May 6, 2015

Devie Kania, Jakarta – A year after its launch on Jan. 1, 2014, the Social Security Organizing Body (BPJS), which provides health care and insurance schemes for Indonesians, has posted a Rp 1.93 trillion ($148.22 million) deficit as claims exceeded premium income.

The health insurance agency generated Rp 40.72 trillion in premium revenue last year from its customers, which include employers, employees, workers of the informal sector and government officials.

Meanwhile, claims from customers – which include spending on curative health care, and rehabilitative in-patient care, preventive services like shots and screening tests – stood at Rp 42.65 trillion.

Of this figure, Rp 8.34 trillion was paid to 18,437 community health clinics, known as Puskesmas and Rp 34.31 trillion was paid to 1,681 hospitals.

The mismatch between claims and premium revenue means the government has to step in. "We expect the deficit can be plugged with a government [cash] injection," said Fahmi Idris, chief executive for the BPJS's unversal health care branch known as BPJS Kesehatan.

This year, the agency expects to receive up to Rp 5 trillion in funds from the government, of which Rp 3.46 trillion is expected to be disbursed sometime in the first half of this year, while the remainder will be allocated at the end of 2015.

Through the BPJS, the government subsidizes health premiums for all Indonesians, including citizens working in the informal sector. The government is still working to get as many health institutions as possible to participate in the program.

The agency had already estimated a potential deficit of up to Rp 1 trillion for the first quarter of 2015, said Riduan, its finance and investment director. Claims from January to March are expected to reach Rp 13 trillion, while the agency receives an average of Rp 4 trillion from premium income per month, he added.

This means premium revenue for the first three months stood at Rp 12 trillion, yielding to a shortfall of Rp 1 trillion.

In addition to seeking financial support from the government, the agency is working to make improvements in its operation that would allow it to generate more revenue and optimize claims. Its efforts include revising the activation date of insurance cards and raising the amount of premiums.

Starting June this year, new participants will only be able to use the health insurance card two weeks after they register – only slightly longer than the current seven days.

This is done to avoid "free riders" – people who only register when they are sick, or know they would need to pay for health care services in the immediate future.

With regard to the premium, Riduan said the health agency is still reviewing the current figure, although he signaled the possibility of an increase.

The current premium for clients of BPJS Kesehatan's health insurance schemes ranges from Rp 25,500 to Rp 59,500 per month, per person. "The increase plan will start in 2016, not this year," Riduan said.

He added that the agency still has Rp 400 billion in unpaid premium bills from regional governments who registered their officials last year.

These local administrations first need approval from their legislators to settle budget spending, delaying their premium payments. Also, more than 2 million registrants from the workers category have yet to pay their premiums.

Riduan said BPJS Kesehatan also plans to cooperate with state lenders to help participants in making their payments, including Bank Rakyat Indonesia, Bank Mandiri and Bank Negara Indonesia.

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/health-insurance-scheme-amasses-rp-1-93t-deficit-first-year/

Local bylaws risk stigmatizing HIV patients

Jakarta Post - May 4, 2015

Jakarta – The HIV/AIDS Research Center of Atmajaya University has released a study arguing that HIV patients may be stigmatized by local ordinances requiring them to admit their health status to their partners.

The bylaws stipulate that hiding HIV status from partners or spouses can be categorized as a crime, as such concealment is considered to put others' health at risk. The center said that such statutes exacerbated the stigma suffered by people living with HIV/AIDS.

"New HIV infections continue to be detected, meaning that HIV prevention [through the bylaws] has not been effective," center researcher Siradj Okta said on Thursday in a seminar held to discuss the study.

The regulations, the center said, would also discourage people from taking HIV tests for fear that they would be forced to confess their status if they were diagnosed as HIV-positive.

"According to criminal law theory, a person is unlikely to do something if it has legal consequences," Siradj told The Jakarta Post on the sidelines of the seminar.

Siradj further warned that the bylaws could in fact lead to increased incidence of HIV infections, which they were intended to reduce.

If people were discouraged from taking HIV tests, she argued, they would not realize if they were HIV-positive, increasing the likelihood of their transmitting the virus.

"Criminalizing those who hide their HIV-positive status is meant to prevent transmission of the virus. However, the HIV virus can be transferred from [many sources]. It is not criminalization that prevents HIV transmission but awareness among infected people," she said, calling for the bylaws to be scrapped in favor of more HIV-awareness campaigns.

"The problem is that the majority of presumed HIV-positive people are not aware that they are HIV-positive [...] the HIV virus is mostly transmitted by people who are not aware of their HIV status," Siradj added.

According to data the center gathered from the Health Ministry between 2012 and 2013, 80 percent of presumed HIV-positive people are unaware of their status.

The study also showed that the bylaws might also worsen the stigma attached to HIV sufferers by criminalizing them for failing to confess their status. "HIV-positive people could be seen as criminals because of the statute. They are not criminals, they are victims," Sirajd said.

He also said that the responsibility for HIV prevention must not rest solely with HIV sufferers. "Precautionary measures are everyone's responsibility. I would recommend the bylaws be reviewed. It's better to continue with policies that have been proved to be effective," he said.

Sirajd, however, admitted that his research was not ground-evidence-based as most research is. He conducted his research through secondary literature after failing to find a single instance of prosecution under the HIV statute.

He suggested future studies be conducted based on facts on the ground, although he said it would be difficult to find cases given the difficulty of upholding the bylaws.

Simplexius Asa, a human rights and HIV activist, concurred with Sirajd, saying that there were currently dozens of similar bylaws in force in local administrations in 34 provinces in Indonesia.

Since the first bylaw was issued in the early 2000s, Simplexius said, he had only found one case, in Papua, of the bylaws being upheld..

"It is very hard to uphold the bylaws because besides the local administrations' lack of professional judges, some accusations in HIV cases are too complicated to be proven," Simplexius said, adding that he agreed that the bylaws should be reviewed. (saf)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/05/04/local-bylaws-risk-stigmatizing-hiv-patients.html

Disability rights

Group wants disability bill revised

Jakarta Post - May 2, 2015

Jakarta – An advocacy group has criticized a House of Representatives' early draft of the disability bill, demanding a revision because of what it deems to be a discriminatory approach.

The draft disability bill has been included in the 2015 National Legislation Program (Prolegnas) to replace the current 1997 Disability Law that many consider ineffective and outdated.

"We consider the draft discriminatory because it focuses only on an approach to promote social welfare; in other words, it perceives disabled people as social problems," Fajri Nursyamsi from the Center of Law and Policy Study (PSHK) said on Thursday.

He demanded that the bill require the state to fulfill the rights of disabled people as part of human rights protection because Indonesia had ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) through Law No. 19/2011 on CRPD ratification. The CRPD requires the state to honor, fulfill and protect the rights of disabled people.

Fajri also called on the House to refer to a bill drafted by the independent Disability Draft Bill Working Group that adopts a rights-based approach and ensures the protection of their rights.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/05/02/national-scene-group-wants-disability-bill-revised.html

Islamic law & morality

Child protection commission backs nationwide alcohol ban

Jakarta Globe - May 6, 2015

Jakarta – The Indonesian Commission for Child Protection (KPAI) supports a bill being drafted at the House of Representatives that would ban – with some exceptions – the production, distribution, sale and consumption of alcoholic drinks across the nation.

"It is the time for the government to be decisive and to take action to protect Indonesian children from drugs and alcohol abuse," KPAI head Asrorun Ni'am Sholeh told news portal detik.com on Wednesday.

Currently there are local laws that limit the distribution of alcoholic drinks in various parts of the country, and there is a ministerial regulation that recently went into effect that bans the sale of alcoholic beverages in convenience stores.

But according to the KPAI head, uniform nationwide legislation would make it easier to protect Indonesian children against alcohol abuse. The draft bill, which is being pushed by two Islamic parties, has been submitted to the House Legislative Body, and is currently being refined.

"It was an idea from the United Development Party [PPP] and the Prosperous Justice Party [PKS]," Saan Mustopa, a member of the legislative body and Democratic Party lawmaker, told detik.com.

The proposed legislation seeks to ban all beverages with an alcohol content exceeding 1 percent and bring jail terms of up to two years for offenders.

Backers of the bill have previously said the proposed law was driven by concern for people's health rather than any ideological motives. There is also a belief among some lawmakers that alcohol is fueling crime.

There will be exceptions to the proposed prohibition, however, with alcohol being allowed in tourist areas, for traditional events, and for "medical needs."

Indonesia banned the sale of alcoholic beverages in convenience stores and other small shops last month, sparking concern among some officials that a nation-wide regulation could hurt tourism.

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/child-protection-commission-backs-nationwide-alcohol-ban/

Jakarta & urban life

Ahok benefits from relations with military, police

Jakarta Post - May 6, 2015

Dewanti A. Wardhani, Jakarta – As he confronts a hostile Jakarta City Council unsupportive of his policies, Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama is capitalizing on his friendly relations with the Indonesian Military (TNI) and the National Police, calling on both institutions to help him implement programs, including the five-point Orderly Jakarta (5TJ) program.

Earlier this year, Ahok signed Gubernatorial Decree No. 224, creating a legal foundation for the city's cooperation with the National Police (Polri), the Indonesian Military (TNI) and the Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Ministry.

Ahok enjoys close relations with TNI chief Gen. Moeldoko and has attended TNI morning assemblies and ceremonies. On Monday, Ahok held a meeting with National Police detective division chief Comr. Gen. Budi Waseso in City Hall, after which he praised Budi as a "cool policeman with a clean record".

The 5TJ consists of five working groups: the orderly residences group headed by the Housing and Building Agency; the orderly street vendors group headed by the Cooperatives, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Agency and the Trade Agency; the orderly waste-disposal group headed by the Sanitation Agency; the orderly traffic group headed by the Transportation Agency in cooperation with the Jakarta Traffic Police and the orderly protests group headed by the Jakarta Police.

All five groups, Ahok said, would need assistance from hundreds of police officers and dozens of Army personnel every day.

Housing and Building Agency head Ika Lestari Aji said this year her agency, in cooperation with the Public Order Agency (Satpol PP), the TNI and Polri, would focus on evicting residences living on waterways and riverbanks.

"We will evict residents in 14 locations this year, mostly in West and North Jakarta. We will try to finish it this year and we will cooperate with the TNI and Polri to secure and speed up the evictions," Ika said during a public meeting in City Hall in Central Jakarta on Monday.

Priority will be given to West Jakarta's Sekretaris River, North Jakarta's Cakung River and East Jakarta's Ciliwung River.

Transportation Agency head Benjamin Bukit said that to improve road traffic, the agency and the traffic police would focus on fighting the most common violations, including motorcycles driving against traffic, ngetem (public minivans and minibuses stopping arbitrarily to wait for passengers) and haphazard parking.

"In total we will focus on 10 areas this year, including Roxy and Tanah Abang in Central Jakarta; Bintang Mas and Marunda Cilincing in North Jakarta and Kota Tua and Slipi in West Jakarta," Benjamin said.

To encourage orderly waste disposal, the city will focus on the National Monument (Monas) in Central Jakarta and the Cakung drain this year. It will also cooperate with neighboring cities to create an integrated waste- disposal system. Moreover, the city will evict hundreds of street vendors in Basuki Rahmat, East Jakarta, and in locations in West Jakarta.

Meanwhile, Jakarta Police will be responsible for ensuring protests are orderly and do not devolve into riots. "The capital city wants to become a model of traffic and cleanliness," Ahok said recently.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/05/06/ahok-benefits-relations-with-military-police.html

Social security & welfare

Welfare programs still poorly delivered: INFID

Jakarta Post - May 4, 2015

Jakarta – The public is dissatisfied with the government's ability to implement its social-assistance programs, according to a recent survey.

Conducted by the International NGO Forum on Indonesian Development (INFID), the study revealed widespread dissatisfaction with the government's welfare programs, which the public said suffered from long delays and a lack of clarity.

The survey – which set the social barometer index at 5.56 (on a 1 to 10 scale) – was carried out from January to March, involving 2,500 respondents in 34 provinces.

Survey participants were questioned about the National Program for People Empowerment (PNPM), the Family Hope Program (PKH), the health insurance program, the Maternity Insurance (Jampersal), the School Operational Assistance (BOS) and the fertilizer subsidy program.

According to respondents, the BOS program was the most satisfactory program and the fertilizer subsidy program the least satisfactory program. Some 88 percent of respondents viewed the BOS program as beneficial, while only 58 percent saw the fertilizer subsidy program as useful.

INFID researcher Hamong Santono said that more than 50 percent of respondents said social-assistance programs failed to reach the people who needed them. "Many people who need assistance through the programs are unable to receive it," Hamong said.

He added that most respondents said goods, money and services received through the programs did not cater to their actual needs.

The survey, which in the previous year set the public perception index at 5.3, also showed that over 50 percent of respondents believed the pace of distributing the aid ran at a snail's pace.

Hamong said that such a perception had arisen due to the lengthy procedural process and burdensome qualification requirements. "The process is indeed time-consuming and complicated," he added.

On procedural matters, most respondents complained the government had yet to provide clear information on the programs, including information on objectives, targets, requirements and procedures.

The survey further revealed that problems surrounding the social-assistance programs had fostered an unequal distribution of resources for meeting the public's basic needs.

Alfindra Primaldhi, a researcher with the University of Indonesia who collaborated on the survey, said there was still deep inequality in the country. "Income, wealth and housing are the three biggest social inequalities," Alfindra said. (alm)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/05/04/welfare-programs-still-poorly-delivered-infid.html

Film & television

Still-missing activist's struggle to reach silver screen

Jakarta Globe - May 7, 2015

Ari Susanto, Solo – Wiji Thukul, a prominent Indonesian poet, human rights activist and freedom fighter, has been missing since 1998, just weeks before Suharto and his totalitarian regime collapsed.

While many believe that he was kidnapped by the Suharto government because of his resistance against the abusive regime, the Indonesian public is still in the dark about his disappearance. The state has yet too officially proclaim his death, though his whereabouts remain unknown to this day.

In an attempt to help raise awareness about Wiji's role in bringing down the totalitarian state and his fight for the nation's freedom, as well as to help unveil the mystery surrounding his abduction, non-profit organization Muara Foundation has announced plans to produce a movie on the poet's life.

Novelist and Muara Foundation chairwoman Okky Madasari, who met with Wiji's children, Fitri Nganthi Wani and Fajar Merah last week, said the family fully supported the project.

"We approached [publisher] Gramedia about releasing a compilation of Wiji Thukul's poems, called 'Nyanyian Akar Rumput' ['Grass Root Songs'] last year. Now, we will bring his story to the big screen and hope that people can enjoy it at theaters across Indonesia next year," Okky told the Jakarta Globe on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Literary Festival in Solo, Central Java, on Monday.

Okky, who is also ALF's program director, underlined the importance of celebrating Wiji's life and work as an example of courage and the fight for freedom in the face of an oppressive government, especially among Indonesia's youth.

The poet was one of many victims of human rights atrocities committed by the Suharto regime. He was hunted down, tortured and, ultimately, he was most likely abducted by members of the military.

The movie aims to keep the memory of both Wiji and this repressive era of Indonesian history alive in its people's minds, according to Okky. She hopes the film will inspire the younger generation to defend and support freedom of speech.

"The nation owes him [Wiji], and this film is a way to sustain his spirit and legacy among us," she said. "We will enlist the help of young movie makers as we want to spread Wiji's spirit among the younger generation."

The script – which was written by writer and journalist Is Mujiarso, better known Mumu Aloha – has been completed and shooting is scheduled to start in October or November.

The story will follow Wiji's early life, his freedom-fighting efforts, up until the time of his disappearance during massive protests to topple Suharto from his throne in May 1998.

The project will be directed by Yogyakarta filmmaker Yosep Anggi Noen, who was also responsible for "A Lady Caddy Who Never Saw a Hole in One." The short film garnered a Sonje Award at the 2013 Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) and won the Ladrang Award at Solo's Film Festival (SFF) last year.

His first feature-length movie, "Peculiar Vacation and Other Illnesses" (2012), was screened at several international film festivals, including in Toronto, Stockholm, Rotterdam and Busan.

Wiji's family, including his wife Siti Dyah Sujirah, or Sipon, hopes the movie will help Indonesians, young and old, better understand the reasons behind her husband's plight and his kidnapping. It may even inspire others to step forward about loved ones who also went missing 17 years ago, she said.

"I expect the movie to tell the truth [about what happened to Wiji]," Sipon added.

Who is Wiji Thukul?

Wiji worked in several factories in Solo to make ends meet. He was an active member of the Jagat Theater as well as literary communities of the Central Java Cultural Center. He studied dance at Arts Vocational High School (SMKI), but dropped out.

He soon began writing poetry to provoke and encourage people to confront the Suharto dictatorship, then joined the Budiman Sudjatmiko-led People's Democratic PARTY (PRD) in 1996 – a move that did not sit well with his wife.

"I did not agree [with his decision to join the PRD]. I told him that he could be pro-proletarian through poetry and the theater, instead of joining a political movement," Sipon said.

It didn't take long for the PRD to appear on Suharto's radar and secure a spot on the dictator's long list of enemies. Wiji began moving from city to city to avoid military arrest, Sipon recalled.

His family last heard from him in February 1998. The poet had contacted them to say he was in Jakarta to meet up with other activists.

Several witnesses have confirmed spotting him at student-led rallies protesting the government in the capital. But Wiji never came home and was never heard from again.

Budiman, fellow activist Andi Arief and even Sipon believe he is still alive. "I hope Jokowi [President Joko Widodo] will reveal my husband's whereabouts. He must have some clue [to where Wiji is]," Sipon said.

Pure poetry

Wiji's poetic style was heavily influenced by Marxist criticism, combining realism with socialist genres.

In addition to daring poems defending the rights of blue-collar workers, Wiji also encouraged Indonesians to rise up and fight against totalitarianism, such as in his piece titled "Warning," which ends with the stanza: "If ideas are rejected without a thought/Voices are silenced and criticism is dismissed without reason/Labelled subversive and a threat to security/There is only one word: Fight!"

The poem is among Joko's favorites. During his term as mayor of Solo, the president would often invite human rights activist to his residence, the historical Lodji Gandrung, to honor those who went missing while fighting for democracy out.

Notable poems by Wiji are "Say Your Words," in which he warned against the dangers of keeping silent ("If we enslave ourselves to fear, we will lengthen the line of slavery") and "Flower and Wall" – this time a warning to an oppressive tyrant ("If you force silence, I will prepare for you: Rebellion").

Many of his writings continue to appear throughout Jakarta as graffiti art.

Wiji's inspiring work earned him an award from the Wertheim Foundation in the Netherlands in 1991 and the Yap Thiam Hien Award from the Center for Human Rights Studies in 2002.

ALF goes to school

The Asean Literary Festival headed to Wiji's hometown with its ALF Goes to Solo event, staging discussions with the literary community Pawon and visiting two of the cities largest universities to promote literature among students. The festival also travel to Yogyakarta and Sumatra.

"ALF will tour several cities, meet local literary communities and promote literature. Our mission is to instill a love of literature among young people," Okky said.

The ALF program director addressed students of Muhammadiyah University (UMS) and Sebelas Maret University (UNS) to deconstruct Indonesia's literary scene, which she said is currently dominated by books that disregard women's rights.

The country's selection of pro-feminist novels, she added, is very limited. "Under the guise of morals, norms and religion, best-selling novels teach [women] to accept polygamy as a divine practice. Women are forced to be weak and do nothing. [In these novels], women are ruled over," Okky said.

She added that Indonesian literature has long treated women as objects to be dominated.

Okky also singled out the popular Chick Literature (Chicklit) genre and its motto of "be single and happy" for portraying "powerless" women who are controlled by capitalism.

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/still-missing-activists-struggle-reach-silver-screen/

Armed forces & defense

TNI to help Bulog distribute rice

Jakarta Post - May 6, 2015

Nani Afrida, Jakarta – Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Gen. Moeldoko says the military is ready to help distribute stock in the rice for the poor (raskin) program in border areas and on outer islands.

"The military always supports the food security program implemented by the government, especially by helping distribute rice to outer islands and border areas," Moeldoko said in Jakarta recently.

On Wednesday, Moeldoko met the executive director of the State Logistics Agency (Bulog), Leni Sugihat, at military headquarters in Cilangkap, East Jakarta. During the meeting, several problems involving food security were discussed, including the decreasing interest in planting rice.

"Farmland is being depleted while many farmers are more interested in working in the industrial sector," Leni said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/05/06/tni-help-bulog-distribute-rice.html

Criminal justice & prison system

Plans to scrap death penalty still in infancy

Jakarta Post - May 5, 2015

Jakarta – Attorney General Muhammad Prasetyo said on Monday that a proposed plan to abolish the death penalty was still only at the discussion stage, following a proposal from several legislators to remove it from the upcoming revision of the Criminal Code (KUHP).

"It's still far too early to discuss it. There is a proposal, but we haven't discussed it yet," said Prasetyo. The House of Representatives has included the revision of the KUHP in this year's priority programs.

International demands for Indonesia to abolish the death penalty have intensified following two rounds of executions of drug convicts since January.

The first-round consisted of six inmates from Indonesia, Vietnam, Brazil, the Netherlands, Nigeria and Malawi. The second batch comprised eight citizens of Indonesia, Australia, Nigeria, Ghana and Brazil.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/05/05/national-scene-plans-scrap-death-penalty-still-infancy.html

A tale of two headlines

Red Flag - May 5, 2015

Josh Lees – For weeks, the media displayed rare sympathy for two men, Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, who have now been executed in Indonesia. Rare indeed. It was an outpouring of humanisation and understanding that is almost never extended to the downtrodden in our society – not to refugees, not to Aboriginal people, not to Muslims accused of plotting terrorism, not to unionists and certainly not to convicted criminals.

On 30 April, Sydney's Daily Telegraph ran a front page branding Indonesian president Joko Widodo "cruel" and an article labelling the executions "an act of barbarity... the brutal torture and state sanctioned murder of two Australian citizens in a foreign field".

But nine years ago, when the death sentence was first handed down to Chan and Sukumaran, the Daily Telegraph was singing a rather different, and more familiar, tune. On 15 February 2006, its front page read: "NO SYMPATHY: Their drug operation would have destroyed thousands of lives – now they'll pay with theirs."

It's a dramatic example of the sheer cynicism of the media, not to mention the politicians who have echoed their line. The right suffered a minor identity crisis over the executions.

On one hand, it is embedded in its DNA to promote a vicious, lynch mob, "shoot the bastards" law and order agenda, especially when the perpetrators are brown-skinned. On the other hand, it can't pass up an opportunity to whip up a patriotic frenzy around the popular theme: civilised, modern Australia versus barbaric, backward foreigners.

People are right to oppose the death penalty, but the selective outrage from the media was not about humanitarian sentiment. It was about nationalism – and selling papers.

Source: https://redflag.org.au/article/tale-two-headlines

Indonesian prisons chief resigns after drug scheme unveiled

Jakarta Globe - May 4, 2015

Erwin Sihombing & Farouk Arnaz, Jakarta – The Indonesian government's top official in charge of prisons handed in his resignation on Monday following the discovery last month that a drug kingpin on death row was continuing to run his empire from behind bars with the help of officials.

Handoyo Sudrajat, the Justice Ministry's director general of corrections, said he had been unable to "impose enough supervision" and "impose tough reforms" in prisons across the country.

"I wasn't successful in managing the prisons. This [resignation] is what I can do to show my responsibility," Handoyo said on Monday.

Handoyo, previously a state auditor and later the head of graft prevention at the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), said he planned to retire.

His withdrawal comes just weeks after police arrested Freddy Budiman, a drug convict at the ostensibly high-security prison island of Nusakambangan, off the south coast of Central Java.

The arrest stemmed from the capture in March of one of Freddy's alleged pushers, who told police that he was still taking orders from the death-row inmate.

Freddy has since been transferred to a detention facility at the National Police's detectives' unit, where he is under constant surveillance.

Two guards at the prison island have also been arrested for helping him run his drug ring in exchange for promises of cash, cars and houses.

The National Police's internal affairs unit has arrested an anti-narcotics officer on suspicion of taking bribes from Freddy, a police source said on Monday. The officer was previously involved in Freddy's initial case.

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/indonesian-prisons-chief-resigns-drug-scheme-unveiled/

Bali nine: AFP 'know they did wrong': Lawyer

Sydney Morning Herald - May 4, 2015

Kristian Silva – The Brisbane lawyer who asked the Australian Federal Police to stop Bali Nine member Scott Rush travelling to Indonesia has dismissed a police explanation that the drug smugglers could not be intercepted by local authorities.

AFP Commissioner Andrew Colvin said on Monday that the authority was not in a position to arrest any of the Bali Nine before their ill-fated trip in 2005.

"At the time we were working with a very incomplete picture. We didn't know everybody involved, we didn't know all the plans, or even what the illicit commodity was likely to be," he said.

However Bob Myers, who was asked by Scott Rush's father to prevent his son leaving the country, said there was evidence this was not true.

Mr Myers contacted the AFP to inform them of Rush's suspected drug involvement, however it later emerged the syndicate had already been under investigation for several months.

"They deliberately brought the Indonesians into it," Mr Myers said. "They knew the imposition of the death penalty was likely and that was a consequence that they accepted."

Mr Myers pointed to two letters sent by the AFP to Indonesian authorities days before the smugglers departed Australia, which contained the passport details of eight drug mules and details of how they planned to transport heroin.

"They will be carrying body packs (with white powder) back to Australia with packs on both legs and also with back supports. They have already been given the back supports. The packs will be strapped to their bodies. They will be given money to exchange for local currency to purchase oversized loose shirts and sandals," one of the letters said.

Mr Myers said the letters proved the AFP could have arrested Scott Rush and others and charged them with conspiracy. "Even that didn't matter in the sense that they could have allowed them to come back here," he said.

On Monday, Commissioner Colvin could not guarantee the AFP would act differently if a Bali Nine-style situation emerged again.

"I wish I could assure you that this scenario could never happen again. But I cannot," Commissioner Colvin said, adding that the AFP had refused to exchange information in 15 cases during the last three years.

Mr Myers accused the AFP of "blatantly selling out" the Bali Nine for a perceived "common good".

"It was better that these people were subject to the death penalty rather than innocent Australian lives lost due to importation of drugs – that seems to be their justification," he said.

"They probably had sufficient evidence to charge them in February (2005), if not in March. Certainly by the 8th of April when Scott went through, the passport alert system was activated on three occasions. They could have had it all under control."

Mr Myers said he supported the AFP's current guidelines on dealing with potential death penalty cases, which was updated in 2009.

"They know they did the wrong thing and our hope is that they never do it again," Mr Myers said. "But it's too late. It was too late 10 years ago."

The Bali Nine's ringleaders Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were executed last week. In the immediate aftermath, Mr Myers described the executions as a "black day" for the AFP.

The seven other members are in Indonesian prisons serving lengthy jail terms.

Source: http://www.smh.com.au/world/bali-nine-afp-know-they-did-wrong-lawyer-20150504-1na6yl.html

Prabowo urged president to indefinitely postpone Bali nine executions

Sydney Morning Herald - May 1, 2015

Jewel Topsfield and Karuni Rompies – Military strongman and former presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto urged Indonesian President Joko Widodo to indefinitely delay the executions of 10 drug felons, including Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan, days before they were shot.

Fadli Zon, a senior official from Mr Prabowo's Gerindra party, said he delivered a letter to Mr Joko one to two weeks before the executions. "Mr Prabowo and we in Gerindra hoped that at least there would be second thoughts. This is about someone's life," Mr Fadli told Fairfax Media.

He said the prisoners had already served long sentences and the requests for clemency had come from friendly countries. "The case would be different if they were not friendly countries," Mr Fadli, one of the deputy speakers in the House of Representatives, said.

Australia, France, Brazil and the Philippines had all fiercely lobbied the government to spare the lives of their citizens on death row.

Mr Fadli said Gerindra supported the government's desire to deter drug smuggling and they were not saying that law enforcement should be ignored. "However at the same time we have our nationals on death row abroad and we try to save their lives."

Earlier this year, Mr Joko vowed to do his utmost to protect Indonesian citizens on death row on drug and murder charges.

Migrant Care says there are at least 290 Indonesian migrant workers facing execution in Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, China and Qatar, 59 of whom have already been sentenced to death.

The human rights group says Indonesia will find it difficult to beg for mercy for its nationals overseas when it continues to hold executions on home soil. The country was dismayed when two Indonesian domestic workers were beheaded in Saudi Arabia last month.

Mr Fadli said he did not know why Mr Joko had proceeded with the execution of eight drug felons. (Frenchman Serge Atlaoui and Filipina maid Mary Jane Veloso were given last minute reprieves because they had ongoing legal cases.)

"Although we do support the government wanting to create a deterrent effect, we think the government should have studied the cases individually," Mr Fadli said.

He pointed to the case of Veloso, who maintains she had no idea heroin was in the lining of her suitcase and was a victim of human traffickers. "It's worth further exploring her case completely until all legal avenues are exhausted."

Mr Fadli said Gerindra had met ambassadors from France and Australia and other parties, but insisted the plea for a reprieve was the party's own decision.

In March, former president Megawati Sukarnoputri reportedly told Mr Joko not to grant clemency to those on death row, blaming drugs for the spread of HIV in Indonesia. Ms Megawati is the patron of Mr Joko and the leader of his party, the Indonesian Party of Struggle (PDI-P).

At a speech on International Women's Day, Ms Megawati said drug use in Indonesia had entered a critical state and was the trigger for the spread of HIV.

"I therefore told Jokowi that those who sold drugs and who have been sentenced to death should not got their clemency pleas granted," she was quoted as saying on Indonesian news website Kompas.

In March, Mr Prabowo, a former army general, said the death penalty was a valid punishment for drug kingpins but the approach to executions should be "flexible". He also said he understood why Australia was doing so much to get Chan and Sukumaran off death row.

"If we keep looking for something negative we will see it as pressure, but if we look at it as a government's effort to protect its citizens I believe it is the country performing its duty," he told the Indonesian news site tribunnews.com at the time.

"We too try to defend our citizens, we also have many citizens on death row." (with Karuni Rompies)

Source: http://www.smh.com.au/world/former-candidate-prabowo-urged-indonesian-president-to-indefinitely-postpone-bali-nine-executions-20150501-1my9rx.html

Infrastructure & development

Government urged to boost spending

Jakarta Post - May 6, 2015

Grace D. Amianti, Jakarta – Indonesia must increase government spending on infrastructure and provide more fiscal incentives to spur economic growth, which fell to its lowest level since 2009 in the first quarter (Q1) this year, analysts say.

Glenn Maguire, ANZ chief economist for South Asia, ASEAN and Pacific regions, said Tuesday that government spending should be "activated efficiently" to spur economic growth in the second half of the year.

"The government has already announced it will fast-track some infrastructure spending from May, but any degree of slippage here will confirm our risk scenario that the second quarter could be weaker than the first one," Maguire said.

Indonesia saw growth in its gross domestic product (GDP) fall to 4.71 percent in the first quarter, lower than the 5.01 percent expansion recorded in the previous period. It is the slowest growth rate recorded since the third quarter of 2009, as an increase in investment was unable to offset a further decline in exports and a slowdown in government spending.

On a quarter-on-quarter basis, the economy shrank 0.18 percent, following a 2.06 percent contraction in the previous quarter. The quarterly contraction in the first three months was led by a 49 percent drop in government spending, while exports dropped 6 percent, Central Statistics Agency (BPS) data show.

Bank Central Asia (BCA) economist David Sumual said the GDP figure in the first quarter was slightly below his team's prediction of 4.8 percent, which was the lowest of all estimates surveyed previously by Bloomberg, due to the bleak outlook for global commodity prices.

David said the weak growth had been expected due to the decline in various economic sectors, such as retail, services and manufacturing. Low realized foreign and domestic investments, as well as weak government spending, made the situation worse, he added.

According to David, weak government spending is expected to continue until at least the end of the second quarter, despite the seasonal effects of Ramadhan and Idul Fitri in June and July, which could help boost domestic demand.

As part of his effort to boost growth by 7 percent within his five-year presidential term, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has increased capital expenditure for infrastructure projects to Rp 276 trillion ($21.17 billion), almost twice the Rp 156.4 trillion allocated in the original budget.

First-quarter state spending of Rp 367 trillion, although higher than last year, was dominated by spending on civil servant salaries and other fixed costs. Spending on infrastructure projects, on the other hand, remained below the targeted level.

BPS deputy of accounts and data analysis Kecuk Suhariyanto confirmed that construction on more infrastructure projects would begin soon, which could help spur growth, as investments from government and the private sector currently accounted for 32 percent of GDP.

BI spokesperson Tirta Segara said first quarter GDP growth was in line with several indicators monitored by the central bank over the last few months. Tirta said BI remained confident government spending would act as a stimulus for the economy starting in the second quarter.

However, Tirta added, the central bank maintained its view that economic growth would lean toward the lower end of the 5.4-5.8 percent range by year's end, depending on the realization of government programs.

"We continue to expect BI to reduce its policy rate once more, most likely in June, after the release of the first quarter balance of payments data on May 20. However, a risk to our view of a cut in the second quarter would come from a potential increase in pressure on the rupiah," Barclays economists Wai Ho Leong and Angela Hsieh wrote in a research note after the GDP announcement.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/05/06/govt-urged-boost-spending.html

Economy & investment

Multi Bintang's Q1 profit drops 42% on minimart sales ban

Jakarta Globe - May 7, 2015

Muhamad Al Azhari, Jakarta - Multi Bintang Indonesia, Indonesia's biggest beer producer, posted a sharp decline in profit for the first quarter due to the recent Trade Ministry regulation that prohibited minimarts and small retailers from selling beer to the public.

Net income declined 42 percent to Rp 107 billion ($8.2 million) in the January-March period from the same quarter in 2014, the company said in a statement on Thursday. Revenue slipped 23 percent to Rp 569 billion.

The regulation, which has been in effect since April 16, prohibits minimarts and small retailers (or off trade retailers as defined by Multi Bintang) from selling or distributing beverages containing an alcohol content of less than 5 percent, and that includes beer.

"This off trade ban has also caused an unintended consequence of uncertainty for traditional wholesalers, which further impacted on sales volume for the quarter," said Multi Bintang, which is controlled by Dutch brewer Heineken, said in a statement on Thursday.

"These traditional wholesalers are an important distribution channel in the route-to-market for most consumer goods in Indonesia, including beer. These traditional wholesalers supply to thousands of small and medium size hotels, restaurants, and cafes in their respective areas.

"This [regulation] effectively restricts off trade beer availability to only supermarkets and hypermarkets. Therefore, severely impacting on the availability of beer for many consumers of legal drinking age (above 21 years old) Indonesia-wide," the statement said.

"Multi Bintang, along with the industry association (GIMMI), have been in dialogue with the Ministry of Trade to resolve this major gap in the distribution chain," it said, adding that the company is in a dialogue with the ministry to find more effective solutions to provide accessibility of beers to consumers of legal drinking age, while at the same time addressing concerns of underage consumption.

In the meantime, Multi Bintang - the producer of various beer brands and soft drink, such as Bintang, Heineken, and Green Sands - is putting on hold its brewery expansion investment plan of circa Rp 635 billion, pending certainty of regulation. (Globe Asia)

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/business/multi-bintangs-q1-profit-drops-42-minimart-sales-ban/

Analysis & opinion

Raising class consciousness in Indonesia

Red Flag - May 7, 2015

Indonesian socialist Sherr Rinn writes of the need to bring radical politics into the labour movement, which is still hampered by the huge defeats of the Suharto era. The article was first published at Solidaritas.net Media Centre.

In 2012, the Indonesian labour movement experienced an unprecedented upsurge. During 2012, I estimate, around 2 million workers were involved in protests or strikes, There were factory occupations between May and October and two national strikes.

These mobilisations won important demands of the movement: a cancellation of a fuel price rise, the establishment of social insurance and the issuing of ministerial regulations that restricted outsourcing or labour hire. These outcomes further politicised many workers.

While the workers were not able to overcome the capitalist counteroffensive, these outcomes were very important for the Indonesian labour movement, which possessed a minimum of experience and knowledge.

This was all new experience. The policy of eradication of historical memory of Suharto's New Order regime over 32 years (1965-1998) left no memories of the experience of resistance among the masses.

Workers today have no idea that Indonesia once had a union, SOBSI, that had 3.3 million workers or 60 percent of all workers at that time and that it was political and left wing. Almost no knowledge of the experience of organisation has been passed on to the workers' movement. There is a knowledge vacuum, not to mention an ideological one, among workers.

A vacuum

Even though it has been 17 years since the dictatorship ended, there are at least three causes of this vacuum.

First, there was no or only small involvement of an organised workers' movement in the ending of the Suharto dictatorship. It was students and the "urban poor" who were the backbone of the mass street mobilisations demanding the fall of Suharto.

Second, there has been no significant change to the education curriculum within the unions from that used by the dictatorship's yellow unions before 1998. New unions formed after 1998 seem to have used the space opened to them with the ratification of ILO conventions and the legalising of the freedom to organise in 2000. But they retained the old curricula and outlook.

Third, the struggle method of mass action was accepted only in 2010. Prior to that, this method was used only by the left unions organised in the Aliansi Buruh Menggugat. The yellow unions engaged in it only on ceremonial occasions such as May Day. These were festival days, not actions with demands.

After the Federation of Indonesian Metal Workers Union (FSPMI) started to use mass actions in 2010 to provide solidarity with factories on strike and in the struggle for government social insurance, there was steady progress, resulting in the actions that took place in 2012. There were actions in 2011 and 2012 that closed down whole industrial areas in Bekasi (outside of Jakarta) and Batam (an island near Singapore.)

In 2013 there was stagnation following a counteroffensive by employers, who used both police, and thugs recruited from the impoverished slums that often are located on the edges of industrial areas. The union leaderships, at all levels, had no experience of this situation and did not discover tactics to overcome the employer offensive. And there were others who had accepted bribes of one kind or another from the employers.

The 17 years since the end of the dictatorship had not transformed the nature of the unions, despite their acceptance of mass action as a form of struggle. Leaders retained the old patterns from the dictatorship unions: federal, based on patron-client relations and with avenues for internal criticism closed off.

The backwardness of the Indonesian working class is not a result of a shortage of material that could be used for raising consciousness. There is an abundance of material, especially on the internet. The spread of knowledge is held back by an organisational situation that makes members dependent on their officials. New knowledge that teaches internal democracy is seen as a threat to the official leaderships.

Officials of unions have the privilege of being able to represent workers in the courts. Workers can at any time suffer all kinds of violations of their rights, up to and including sackings. Rather than prepare workers to defend themselves through a range of actions, officials cultivate dependence by making sure the education around legal issues is exclusively for themselves.

This legal emphasis also miseducates workers into thinking that their welfare can be advanced only through the normative rights embodied in laws. As regards the spreading of revolutionary consciousness, the threats are even more serious. The spreading of Marxism-Leninism has been banned since 1966 by parliamentary decree. Culturally, communism is taboo.

Accelerating awareness

When political-economic education, introducing left concepts, began among FSPMI workers in 2010, there was rapid progress. Workers quickly accepted mass action as a method of struggle, including in providing solidarity with factory and industrial estate strikes. Within only two years, the FSPMI was able to paralyse totally seven industrial estate areas in the Bekasi area. The union grew quickly and led factory occupations in hundreds of factories between May and October 2012. It quickly started to convince other sectors of society of its capacity as a new force in any struggle for change.

But fear and financial bribes have led the FSPMI elite to make opportunist compromises. 2013 was a dark year for workers, many of whom were sacked or did not have their contracts extended. The climax of this opportunism came when the FSPMI elite supported the presidential candidacy of Prabowo Subianto in 2014. The leadership had reached political bankruptcy.

Then these educational activities were closed down. The movement experienced more setbacks. In mid-2013, education was re-established via the Solidaritas.Net Association. This was established in an area called Cikarang close to the workers' area and used a medium that workers were using.

Observing how Facebook was used during the protests of 2010-2012, we also used cellular tools, as well as classes. There have also been efforts at unifying workers at the factory as well as municipal and national levels. Workers have taken to using smart phones – Chinese brands can be purchased for $64-100 – they have become proficient at communicating, whether via Facebook, Blackberry or Android operating systems.

The 2010-2012 experience means that there are more workers who are open to new information and ideas. This must be the starting point in filling in the knowledge and ideological vacuum created over the last 50 years. The desperate working conditions alone will not create a workers movement in Indonesia.

Source: https://redflag.org.au/article/raising-class-consciousness-indonesia

An unrealistic ban on maids

Jakarta Post Editorial - May 6, 2015

Manpower Minister Hanif Dhakiri announced on Monday that the government would stop the placement of migrant workers in 21 countries of the Middle East, so far among the top destinations of Indonesian workers, excluding those who are already on contract and working in those countries.

He said the policy was part of a road map to end the placement of domestic workers overseas, and that stopping the deployment of maids to the Middle East was because regulating their protection had been ineffective.

He added that the sending and placing of Indonesian migrant workers to the Middle East would be banned and would thus constitute a trafficking crime if carried out.

The ineffective protection of domestic workers, mostly women, had led to many abuses, he said, apart from a low wage level of up to Rp 3 million (US$229.79), "which is lower than the minimum wage of Bekasi", the industrial area east of Jakarta, which is Rp 3.2 million.

The minister's announcement is in line with that of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, who has said that the deployment of domestic workers should be stopped because of many problems in their working conditions, which "embarrassed" him when meeting with leaders in Malaysia.

The imminent ban on sending maids to the Middle East, Hanif said, was triggered by the recent executions of two domestic workers in Saudi Arabia.

Advocates of migrant workers are protesting against the "potential violation of women's rights to work". They also refer to earlier policies to phase out the deployment of maids, which failed owing to the demand in the Middle East for Indonesian domestic workers.

Policies restricting migrant workers from Indonesia have indeed been ineffective, partially due to the demand for domestic worker and also because of poverty and unemployment in the country.

Minister Hanif echoed earlier pledges on alternatives to domestic workers overseas: better wages and better work at home. But the indications are far from promising that Hanif's plan could fare better than those of his predecessors.

As a village head in Sumbawa, West Nusa Tenggara, told this newspaper, the village largely depends on the employment of migrant workers mainly in the Middle East.

The minister has said he "fully understands" the conditions faced by migrant workers, as his mother once worked in Saudi Arabia. Thus, it is surprising that he has easily taken a short-cut policy to banning Indonesian maids from working in the Middle East, if he understands that such an option is taken because villagers see it as the best available amid opportunities at home.

The minister rightly cited the vulnerability of women to abuse in the private space of employers, but it is the task of the state to facilitate the right of citizens to work while constantly working to improve their protection.

A moratorium would be the better option instead of banning people working anywhere. Labor agencies with decades of experience in the Middle East could easily continue to recruit workers illegally, making our migrant workers even more prone to abuse.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/05/06/editorial-an-unrealistic-ban-maids.html

Indonesia's retributive justice was deaf to pleas for reformed Bali duo

The Conversation - May 6, 2015

Giri Ahmad Taufik – In spite of vigorous appeals from Australia for Indonesia to spare the lives of Bali duo Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, most Indonesians were not persuaded.

Chan and Sukumaran were executed last week, along with five other foreigners and an Indonesian who were on death row for drug charges.

Australia argued that Chan and Sukumaran were reformed men who had learnt from their previous mistake. A reasonable person, regardless of whether they were Australian or Indonesian, would agree that executing a rehabilitated person serves no point.

Therefore, the question lingers. Why did the rehabilitation argument fail to convince the Indonesian public?

Comparing Australia and the Philippines

Some argue that Australian government diplomacy and some public campaign strategies contributed to the failure. The Australian government's "megaphone diplomacy" created antipathy among Indonesian officials. They prefer quiet diplomacy which emphasises friendship and personal networks among officials. Indonesians also saw social media campaigns such as Boycott Bali as arrogant and offensive.

In contrast, the Philippines government was more successful in its diplomatic strategy to save the life of its citizen, Mary Jane Veloso. The Philippines, one of the ASEAN countries, understands the culture of ASEAN diplomacy. The government avoided the spotlight and noisy diplomacy.

Philippines civil society engaged with Indonesian migrant worker organisations to campaign for Veloso's life. She was spared at the 11th hour.

Additionally, the portrayal of Veloso as a poor migrant worker who is a victim of human trafficking resonates well with the Indonesian public. It brings to mind images of poor Indonesian workers facing similar conditions in other parts of the world, especially in the Middle East.

But regardless of the questionable approach it adopted, Australia made valid arguments in the appeal to save Chan and Sukumaran. This failed to persuade Indonesians for two reasons.

First, Indonesians are at odds with the concept of rehabilitation for criminal offenders. Many Indonesians consider that the purpose of criminal sanctions is not to rehabilitate offenders but to requite the crimes they have committed.

Second, the flaws and corrupt practices in Indonesian correctional facilities raised doubt about the ability of Indonesia's prisons to rehabilitate inmates – especially those convicted of drug-related crimes.

A shift from rehabilitation to retribution

Retribution for crime is a concept embedded culturally in some segments of Indonesian society. Many Indonesians hold the view that a criminal is a person who needs to be punished rather than be rehabilitated.

The degree of abhorrence for criminals is based on the types of crimes committed. Traditionally, people who had committed murder or sexual abuse are abhorred more than other criminals. Recently, terrorists, drug traffickers and corrupters have been added to the list.

In terrorism cases, police raids on terrorist suspects often result in death. Some neighbourhoods refuse to accept the body of terrorist suspects to be buried in their local cemetery even if the deceased originated from the area.

This abhorrence is reflected in government policy. In 2012, the Indonesian government enacted Regulation Number 99/2012 which tightens the process and requirements for remissions of sentences for prisoners convicted of terrorism, drugs and corruption crimes.

Initially, Indonesia's penal system adopted a rehabilitative approach. This was reflected in the 1995 Law on Correctional System. However, the 2012 government regulation shifted the rehabilitative approach to retribution, especially for the above three categories of crime.

The 2012 regulation places an additional requirement on people convicted of terrorism, drugs or corruption offences to get their sentence reduced. They are required to become a "justice collaborator" by providing intelligence on conspirators in the drug or corruption crimes they were involved in.

In many cases, defence lawyers say that it is almost impossible for their clients to meet this requirement, due to the circumstances of the case, such as concerns for their safety or simply because they just do not know.

Corruption in the prison system

In drug and corruption cases, the retribution mindset is exacerbated by the rampant corruption in Indonesia's prisons. In recent years, Indonesia's National Narcotics Agency (BNN) has pointed out that correctional facilities have become headquarters of the drugs trade in Indonesia. Many convicted drug traffickers can freely operate their business from their prison cells.

Corruption crimes carry the maximum death penalty, but Indonesia has never sentenced a corrupter to death. In corruption cases, many convicts are released after serving less than half their sentences. They can also enjoy lavish facilities, such as air-conditioned rooms and en suite bathrooms. One high-profile corruption convict had her own own living room with state-of-the-art television set.

Needless to say, the operation of a drugs business or the generous discount on sentence and "five star" facilities do not come free.

Under these circumstances, where drug crimes are abhorred and the prison system is considered not effective in stopping drug and corruption crimes, death is seen as a the ultimate retribution in the most serious crime, such as trafficking substantial amounts of drugs.

[Giri Ahmad Taufik is a legal researcher at Indonesian Center for Law and Policy Studies (PSHK).]

Source: https://theconversation.com/indonesias-retributive-justice-was-deaf-to-pleas-for-reformed-bali-duo-41233

Policing the military

Jakarta Post Editorial - May 5, 2015

As part of its organizational restructuring, the Indonesian Military (TNI) merged on Monday the military police corps of the three armed forces into one institution dealing with enforcement of military law and discipline.

It will be remembered as one of the legacies of TNI Commander Gen. Moeldoko, who will reach retirement age in July, but the public will not care about it unless the new organization ensures justice is delivered when it comes to offenses committed by soldiers.

The public misperception about the military police as an instrument to justify impunity has not entirely been removed as they tend to work all-out only when they come under mounting public pressure.

The trial of 12 of the Army's Special Forces (Kopassus) commandos accused of a prison attack in which four detainees were killed in Yogyakarta two years ago was open to the public. The judges convicted three of the soldiers of premeditated murder, but handed down prison sentences far below the maximum penalty of death, while the rest were sentenced to between four and 21 months' imprisonment.

For human rights defenders, the punishment does not provide a deterrent, but they had anticipated the verdict primarily because the legal process involved military officers rather than independent, if not civilian, institutions.

In fact, since its inception in 1999, military reform has barely changed the military's justice system. A plan to revise the 1997 Military Court Law has stalled because of a lack of support from both the executive and legislative branches of power.

The only progress the country has made so far is amalgamating the previously exclusive military tribunal into the national judiciary system under the Supreme Court, although for technical matters the military will not entrust civilian judges with hearing cases involving soldiers.

Moeldoko has openly rejected the idea of revising the existing law on military courts, saying the old legislation ensures the military is not above the law. When installing Maj. Gen. Maliki Mift as commander of the TNI military police on Monday, Moeldoko expressed hope the new institution would enhance the military's discipline through the enforcement of the law.

With all due respect, however, the military court needs credibility. The revision of the Military Court Law, which is stipulated in People's Consultative Assembly Decree No. VI/2000, Decree No. VII/2000 and Law No. 34/2004 on the TNI, aims to promote military transparency and accountability. The revision was also part of the platform of then presidential candidate pairing Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and Jusuf Kalla.

The revision is, therefore, a debt that the nation, including the military, has to settle. President Jokowi and Vice President Kalla, regardless of their workload and efforts to consolidate the government, should not forget their pledges.

As the TNI's supreme commander, President Jokowi can at least initiate a public discourse on the revision and how and when it should be realized. Revising the Military Court Law will further progress the much-heralded military reform.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/05/05/editorial-policing-military.html

Indonesia's history of brutality

The Dominion Post - May 4, 2015

Dave Armstrong – Today we may think of the Dutch as a race of benevolent liberals, many of whom sit in Amsterdam cafes smoking hash and listening to bad Eurojazz, but like all colonists, the Dutch engaged in their fair share of brutality and exploitation.

That's why Indonesian nationalist Sukarno sided with the Japanese after they invaded in 1942 and declared himself president of an independent republic after the Japanese were defeated in 1945.

This displeased the peace-loving Dutch who used military force to try and regain their former colony, against the wishes of most Indonesians. Of course, New Zealand did nothing.

At the time, my father, a committed Leftie, thought Indonesia should be for Indonesians, so went around Wellington writing 'Hands off Indonesia' on various walls.

As much as dad and his comrades believed in worldwide revolution and the abolition of private property, they respected the private property of Wellingtonians so much that they didn't want to ruin it with paint, so they used chalk to write their graffiti.

Unfortunately, dad's semi-literate comrades who worked in factories – he was at university – couldn't spell 'Indonesia' so dad suggested that chalking 'Hands off Java' would work just as well.

In the mid-1960s, President Sukarno was seen by many in the Indonesian military, and the US, as being too close to the communists, so the military unleashed a bloody coup.

Up to 500,000 Indonesian civilians were butchered. Their murderers not only went free but were rewarded by new president, General Suharto, a great friend of the United States.

In 1974, a bloodless military coup in Portugal ended 40 years of fascist dictatorship there. Portugal's new socialist leaders declared their former colonies independent, including East Timor.

Suharto informed his American mate Henry Kissinger of his intention to invade East Timor, received his tacit approval, and unleashed a bloody reign of terror in our Pacific backyard.

A New Zealand television journalist, along with some Australian colleagues, was murdered by the Indonesians in East Timor soon after the invasion. Of course, New Zealand did nothing.

By the 1990s, Suharto's genocidal behaviour towards the East Timorese had outraged the world. US President Clinton, during a visit to New Zealand, signalled that something would have to be done. My God, New Zealand did something.

Now that Uncle Sam officially disapproved of Indonesia, it was OK for New Zealand to say 'me too'.

Indonesia reluctantly withdrew from East Timor and our peacekeepers served with distinction to ensure that East Timor became independent and democratic. For the first time, I was proud of something the New Zealand military did in my lifetime.

The corrupt Suharto was eventually deposed, yet the military remains and thousands of Indonesians still belong to paramilitary organisations of the type that carried out the 1960s slaughter.

Currently, the indigenous people of West Papua are suffering the same brutal repression from Indonesia that was faced by their East Timorese cousins. Of course, New Zealand has done nothing.

With such a history of brutality, carried out with the tacit support of countries like ours, is it surprising that the Indonesian Government has draconian drug laws and cruelly executes people the way it did to eight people convicted of drug trafficking recently.

New Zealanders, most of whom can't tell their Suhartos from their Sukarnos and don't know where East Timor or West Papua are located on a map, were justifiably outraged by the executions, and called for action.

Our Government, instead of reverting to its default setting of silently condoning Indonesia's bad behaviour, actually condemned the executions. Could this be because two Australian citizens were among the eight executed.

Indonesia should be a good friend and neighbour. Yet it has often been led by corrupt and brutal politicians. Perhaps this is because countries like ours, with our 'me too' foreign policy, have condoned Indonesia's bad behaviour for over 50 years.

Maybe that simply encouraged their leaders to laugh in our face over our objections to their ghastly executions, knowing that as long as Indonesia toes the Western foreign policy line, there is little danger of retribution for any of their bestial acts.

Source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/comment/columnists/68193305/indonesias-history-of-brutality

Bali nine executions highlight Australia's hypocrisy on the death penalty

Melbourne Age - May 4, 2015

Jennifer Robinson – Australia is up in arms over Indonesia's execution of the Bali Nine pair Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran. And rightly so: the death penalty is abhorrent and must be abolished. Australia agreed to this long ago: we abolished it in 1973. My thoughts and sympathy are with the families of the two Australians executed on Wednesday. I cannot imagine how I would feel if it had been one of my brothers.

Australia is right to raise an objection – and right to exercise diplomatic protection over Australians in trouble abroad. Both Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten, typically, unanimously, expressed their outrage. We even withdrew our ambassador to Indonesia in protest.

But if only Australia's outrage at the death penalty (that is, execution after due process) was principled and consistent, that is, it extended to our friends and allied nations like the United States, which executed 35 people last year alone.

And if only Australia's outrage at the death penalty was directed at Indonesia's execution of West Papuans without due process. Hundreds of thousands of West Papuans have been murdered by Indonesia's security services. Without the benefit of legal defence or their day in court, West Papuans are killed on mere suspicion or, worse, for simply expressing a political opinion.

Headlines about the execution of the Bali nine pair screamed that Jokowi has blood on his hands – but we only care if it's Australian blood. No one seems to care when it's our Fuzzy Wuzzy Angel friends and Anzac allies just 300 kilometres north of our shores.

If we, as Australians, are opposed to the death penalty, shouldn't we also be outraged about the fact that Australia is accused of providing financial, operational and forensic assistance to Indonesian "death squads" in West Papua As the ABC has reported, an elite counter-terrorism unit called Detachment 88, funded and equipped by Australia, has been involved in tortures and killings in West Papua as part of operations by the Indonesian authorities to stamp out the West Papuan independence movement and assassinate its leaders.

The simple fact is: we are against the death penalty in Indonesia when it's applied to our citizens with due process. We will even recall our ambassador in protest to make sure voters at home know this and see that objection. But we aren't against Indonesians killing West Papuans without any due process. In fact, we will help Indonesia to kill them by providing training and support to their "death squads" – and our ambassador will be celebrated in Jakarta for it. At least, when he is allowed to go back.

If we, as Australians, are so outraged about the death penalty, shouldn't we be conducting an inquiry about the role of our own police in tipping off Indonesian authorities about the Bali nine, when they were fully aware of the consequences under Indonesian law, as one AFP police chiefs admitted in a 2006 interview.

And if we, as Australians, were really against the death penalty and actually cared about governments putting people to death – in Indonesia or elsewhere – we would oppose it, whether it was with due process or (worse) without it. And we certainly wouldn't let our police or our overseas aid budget support it.

[Jennifer Robinson is an Australian human rights lawyer.]

Source: http://www.theage.com.au/comment/bali-nine-executions-highlight-australias-hypocrisy-on-the-death-penalty-20150504-1mz808.html

Purge the dirty cops from the system

Jakarta Globe Editorial - May 1, 2015

Within a week of one-time graft suspect Budi Gunawan being inaugurated as deputy police chief, the boys in brown have tried to arrest three officials from the antigraft commission that initially charged him. Coincidence? Hardly.

Budi, whose nomination as police chief was withdrawn in January because of the pending investigation by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), was sworn in on April 22. A day later, police briefly arrested Bambang Widjojanto, a suspended deputy chairman of the KPK – only to be ordered in no uncertain terms by President Joko Widodo to release him.

This past Tuesday, April 28, police in Makassar, South Sulawesi, tried to pull the same stunt with the suspended KPK chairman, Abraham Samad. But thanks to the tenacious efforts of his lawyers, working mostly on a pro- bono basis, Abraham was out again in a few hours.

And on Friday, the police targeted KPK investigator Novel Baswedan, again eliciting a chiding from the president. Police were scheduled to release Novel by early Saturday.

Antigraft activists may cheer at the releases, but these are minor victories in a dirty war being waged by dirty cops. With Budi Gunawan and his sycophant Budi Waseso, whose office is responsible for the arrests, appearing to act in defiance of explicit orders from police chief Badrodin Haiti to leave the KPK alone, Indonesia has a serious problem on its hands.

Let's call it like it is: the charges being leveled against the KPK officials are trumped up – a retaliation for their audacity in going after a police general. All of Indonesia can see this. But we need Joko and Badrodin to see it, too, to acknowledge that there is an evil in the system that needs to be purged.

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/opinion/editorial-purge-dirty-cops-system/