Makassar – Students of Muhammadiyah University were involved in a clash with police officers after a rally to commemorate National Awakening Day at their campus on Jl. Sultan Alaudin, Makassar, on Wednesday.

The students threw stones, arrows and Molotov cocktails at people outside the campus building, as well as using papporo (homemade guns), while police threw tear gas and spouted water cannons. Residents who were angry because the rally blocked the road also threw stones at the students.

The clash occurred at 5 p.m. local time when the police tried to disperse the rally, which had been conducted since morning.

University officials tried to calm the students and asked them to disperse but efforts failed as the clash continued. As this report was published the clash was not fully under control.

A similar clash also occurred between police officers and students of Allaudin State Islamic University on Wednesday. But it ended quickly and the situation returned to normal.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/05/21/islands-focus-students-clash-with-police-residents.html

Students rally in front of State Palace

Jakarta Post - May 21, 2015

Jakarta – More than 1,000 students from various organizations staged separate protests in front of the State Palace in Central Jakarta on Thursday.

The students came from various organizations such as the Executive Body of the Indonesian Alliance of Students (BEM), the United Front of Indonesian Muslim Students (KAMMI), the Indonesian Muslim Students Movement (PMII), and the Muhammadiyah Students Association (IMM).

KAMMI head of public policy division Barri Pratama told the Jakarta Post on Thursday that the organization protested against foreign companies that were taking over the economy from Indonesians.

Almost all of the students criticized President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's moves, including his choice of what they deemed as poorly performing ministers. The students also chanted hostile threats against Jokowi, but the rally passed off peacefully.

The Jakarta Police have stated that 50 students from BEM would be let in to the State Palace as they demanded to meet the President or they would sleep in front of the palace. The Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Unggung Cahyono said that 20 student representatives had been let in so far.

However, the traffic around the area was halted due to the protest, with Jl. Merdeka Utara near Monas, Central Jakarta, closed to road users. (fsu)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/05/21/students-rally-front-state-palace.html

On National Awakening Day, protesters call for Jokowi to 'abdicate'

Citra Indonesia - May 20, 2015

Jakarta – Scores of demonstrators from the Indonesian People's United Resistance (PPRI) demonstrated in front of the Presidential Palace in Central Jakarta on Wednesday May 20 calling on President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to abdicate from his throne.

"This action is not to support [Prabowo Subianto's] Red-and-White Coalition [KMP] or [Widodo's] Awesome Indonesia Coalition [KIH]. This action is to build a people's coalition and political alternative because the current administration has not implemented the mandate and wishes of the people, so it has failed to make any significant reforms to the Indonesian economy. And the parliament [also] cannot overcome [the problem]", said PPRI public relations officer Surya Anta.

Anta also believes that if the existing political parties (parpol), whether they be part of the KMP (Aburizal Bakrie's faction of the Golkar Party, Djan Faridz's faction of the United Development Party (PPP), the Greater Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra), the National Mandate Party (PAN), the Justice and Prosperity Party (PKS) and the Democrat Party), or those that are part of the KIH (the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the National Awakening Party (PKB), the National Democrats (NasDem), the People's Conscience Party (Hanura), the Indonesian Justice and Unity Party (PKPI), Agung Laksono's faction the Golkar Party and Romahurmuziy's faction of the PPP), if they cannot be relied upon then the people need a political alternative built from the ground up, based on the interests of farmers, the poor and students.

"Change cannot come about just by entering the parliament as a member of the existing political parties, including the PDI-P, the PKB and the NasDem. Moreover there has never been any pro-democratic legislation produced by the parliament", he added.

Anta hopes that in the future the ordinary people will not so easily be tricked by regime change because the mainstream economy that is being pursued by the Widodo administration is clearly very mainstream and orientated towards the free market and neoliberalism. "Because of this therefore we are calling on Jokowi to step down", he said in conclusion. (can)

[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service. The original title of the report was "PPRI Juga Tuntut Jokowi Turun Tahta".]

Source: http://citraindonesia.com/ppri-juga-tuntut-jokowi-turun-tahta/

National Awakening Day rally accuses Jokowi of relying on political elite

Citra Indonesia - May 20, 2015

Jakarta – Indonesian People's United Resistance (PPRI) spokesperson Surya Anta believes that the administration of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo is one that relies on the interests of the political elite so it cannot take Indonesia in a better direction.

"Change cannot be carried out by relying on the political elite, but must be built together with people's power, because it is the people who put Jokowi in the presidency", he said during a break in a demonstration in front of the State Palace in Central Jakarta on Wednesday May 20.

Anta said that he very much regrets the policies of the Widodo administration that are far from what had been expected, whether they be in economic, social, political or legal. Moreover during his term the KPK (Corruption Eradication Commission) has been weakened, while economic growth in the first quarter of 2015 has only been 4.71 percent, and the exchange rate of the rupiah has hit 13,000 to the US dollar.

"Because of this therefore we are calling for the corruptors to be arrested, tried and jailed immediately, and their wealth seized because they are inflicting financial losses on the state and bring suffering to the people", he said angrily.

Anta recalled that Indonesia's first president, Sukarno, once warned that the struggle of the Indonesian nation is to fight for their own nation. "Their own nation, what is that? [For the political elite] it is selling off [the country's] natural resources (to foreigners)!", he asserted.

[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service. The original title of the report was "PPRI: Jokowi Bersandar pada Elit Partai".]

Source: http://citraindonesia.com/jokowi-bersandar-pada-elit-partai/

West Papua

Manokwari under control following arrests

Jakarta Post - May 22, 2015

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – The situation in the Papuan town of Manokwari has remained peaceful following the recent arrests of 70 pro- independence activists grouped in the National West Papua Committee (KNPB).

West Papua Police chief Brig. Gen. Paulus Waterpauw said the situation in Manokwari and other towns in the province remained under control thanks to good coordination between the police and the military in the province.

"The situation in Manokwari and other towns in the province is under control and there were no social disturbances following the arrests of 70 activists," he told The Jakarta Post.

Seventy pro-independence activists were arrested while staging a rally in support of Papua becoming a member of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) on Wednesday. Four of the 70 arrestees have been named suspects as organizers of the rally and for failing to obtain a permit for it.

Waterpauw stressed that people were not prohibited from expressing their aspirations, but that demonstrations that utilized public facilities such as roads, parks and other public spaces had to obtain permits from relevant authorities. He added that his side would not tolerate any form of anarchism.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/05/22/manokwari-under-control-following-arrests.html

OPM declares open war on security forces, non-Papuan civilians

Jakarta Globe - May 22, 2015

Banjir Ambarita, Jayapura – Armed separatists in Indonesia's Papua province have declared open war on the military and non-Papuan civilians, insisting that their decades-long struggle for independence is not over and denouncing as a lie President Joko Widodo's reassurances that the region is peaceful.

Enden Wanimbo, a commander of the National Liberation Army (TPN) of the Free Papua Organization (OPM), told the Jakarta Globe on Friday that his group was declaring "a total revolutionary war from Sorong to Merauke," referring to the westernmost and easternmost ends of the region.

"This means all-out war against all Indonesians in the Papuan land," he said by phone. Enden, long sought by the Indonesian authorities and believed to be based in Lanny Jaya district, an OPM stronghold, rejected any notion of dialogue with Jakarta, saying that Papuan independence from Indonesia the was at the heart of the group's demands.

Indonesia annexed the territory, comprising the western half of the island of New Guinea, in 1969, following a ballot now widely considered a sham. The OPM has for decades mounted a low-level armed insurgency against the Indonesian security forces, who are regularly accused by residents and rights activists of a litany of human rights violations in their attempts to quash the insurgency.

President Joko, in a visit to the region earlier this month, said he wanted to tackle perceptions of the region as a conflict zone, and declared it open to foreign journalists for the first time since the annexation.

However, Enden said the impression that Joko was giving to the world about the situation in the region was a lie. "We want to show that President Jokowi's statement, that Papua is at peace, is not true," he said.

Puron Wenda, another OPM commander also based in Lanny Jaya, agreed that the president's assessment was false.

"The OPM is ready for war. We no longer want any more dialogues that are rigged by Indonesia [...] which likes to cheat us," he said. "Indonesia should get out of Papua, because we will continue to fight for an independent Papua," Puron said.

He said that the group of fighters he led with Enden would attack not just the security forces, but also civilians who were "non-Papuan," or not ethnic Melanesian.

"Businesspeople, construction workers, civil servants – all Indonesians will be killed, chased out; not just soldiers or police, anyone with straight hair," he said. "We're not a criminal group, we're not troublemakers, we're not a small group. We're Papuan freedom fighters."

Enden welcomed the foreign press to come to Papua and witness the coming war. "International reporters and national ones must be free to report the news from Papua," he said.

There was no immediate response from the military on Friday to the OPM's declaration of war, which comes just days after police arrested dozens of activists for staging a demonstration in support of de facto recognition of an independent West Papua state by a group of Pacific island nations.

At least 70 members of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) were arrested during the rally in Jayapura on Wednesday and held for questioning by police, the group's spokesman Sarpas Mbisikmbk said.

Sarpas said protestors had gathered to show support for the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULM), formed late last year by the KNPB, the West Papua National Coalition for Liberation and the Federal Republic of West Papua, to gain full membership in the Melanesian Spearhead Group, an inter-governmental grouping of Melanesian states.

The MSG is expected to decide on the ULM bid for membership in July, and Indonesia has recently stepped up its lobbying of Melanesian states to prevent the proposal succeeding.

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/opm-declares-open-war-security-forces-non-papuan-civilians/

Hundreds rally for West Papua liberation

Jakarta Post - May 22, 2015

Jayapura – Around 700 members of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) at the Papua Legislative Council (DPRD) supported on Thursday the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) by proposing that Papua become a member of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG).

"West Papuans from Sorong to Merauke fully support the ULPWP to bring Papua into the MSG," said KNPB spokesperson Basoka Logo at the Papua DPRD on Thursday.

During the rally, the crowd, using trucks and motorcycles, was escorted by about 400 police officers from Wamena, some 20 kilometers from Jayapura, to the Papua DPRD office, and escorted back to Wamena after the rally.

According to Jayapura Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Jeremias Rontini, they allowed the KNPB to hold the rally to maintain security and prevent violence.

"They applied for today's rally permit but it was rejected. However, to respect the instruction from President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo to prevent chaotic rallies, if I were to act repressively, there would be many victims. So I gave them the chance to hold the rally and I will no longer issue rally permits in the future," Jeremias said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/05/22/islands-focus-hundreds-rally-west-papua-liberation.html

Police arrest 84 activists in arbitrary move, KNPB says

Tabloid JUBI - May 21, 2015

Jayapura, Jubi – Indonesian Police have arrested and mistreated activists of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) in several locations while they were distributing leaflets calling for action, the organization said.

KNPB said police arbitrarily arrested its activists and other Papuans in Sentani, Biak and Manokwari.

"The police arrested 75 activists in Manokwari during the peace demonstration to support the ULMWP representing West Papua to MSG. The police dispersed the demonstration and detained 75 activists in Mobile Brigade Headquarters of West Papua Province.

Meanwhile, PRD Biak Chairman Mananwir Apolos Sroyer and KNPB Biak Chairman Yulianus Mandowen and NFRPB Coordinator Dorteus Bonsapia have been summoned for questioning and were later detained.

Then, six activists were arrested in Sentani while distributing leaflets to call for national action on 21 May 2015," the Secretary General of Central KNPB, Ones Suhun told Jubi on Wednesday (20/5/2015) in Jayapura.

He said although the police have arrested their members, KNPB would go ahead with the peace demonstration.

"As Central KNPB Board, we advised the Papua Police and West Papua Police to empty the entire jails in both provinces because KNPB activist are ready to occupy. Go ahead arrest us and put us behind bars because for KNPB the prison and jail is a palace," said Suhun.

Meanwhile, the Central KNPB Spokesperson, Bazoka Logo when being confirmed about the arrest, he said it was a common thing. These arrests indicated Papuans are not Indonesian citizens.

"With such actions by the police, the people of Papua, Indonesian and the world must open their eyes and see the Indonesian treatment towards Papuans. These treatments openly stated Papua is not part of Indonesia. Therefore Papuans should be aware and united in national demonstration to support ULMWP's membership in MSG," said Logo.

Based on the information received by Jubi, the Biak Police called three activists for unknown reason, and now they are still detained at the police's custody.

Meanwhile those who arrested in Sentani while distributing leaflets are Edo Pahabol (15), Yunani Balyo (25), Maris Tabuni (21), Ade Paragaye (18), Jasa Balyo (26) and Edoson Yare (23). These six activists were reportedly detained at the Doyo Police's Custody, while 75 activists are currently detained at the Mobile Brigade Headquarter of West Papua in Manokwari. (Arnold Belau/rom)

Source: http://tabloidjubi.com/en/2015/05/21/police-arrest-84-activists-in-arbitrary-move-knpb-says/

Papua police arrest 3 activists over Manokwari rally

Jakarta Globe - May 21, 2015

Robert Isidorus, Jakarta – Three activists have been named suspects for participating in a rally on Wednesday in support of West Papuan membership of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG).

Papua Police have arrested Alexander Hanekem, Nopinus Humawak and Othen Gombo, all of whom have been accused of "provoking the masses" during a rally in Manokwari, West Papua.

The trio's lawyer Theresje Julianty Gasperz said on Wednesday that his clients had so far refused to cooperate with police because they did not have legal counsel present.

At least 70 participants were detained during the demonstration, according to police, although most have been released.

The three men were among dozens of protestors that rallied peacefully in the provincial capital to show support for the United Liberation Movement for West Papua's (ULM) MSG bid on Wednesday.

The MSG is an inter-governmental organization composed of Melanesian states Fiji, Vanatua, Papua New Guinea, the Soloman Islands and the Kanak Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS). The MSG is expected to decide on the ULM's bid in July.

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/papua-police-arrest-3-activists-manokwari-rally/

70 arrested during rally in restive West Papua

Jakarta Globe - May 20, 2015

Robert Isidorus, Jayapura – Police in West Papua detained 70 activists rallying in support of West Papuan membership of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) on Wednesday.

Dozens of protestors, including students and members of pro-independence group the West Papua National Committee (KNPB), took to the streets of provincial capital Manokwari.

At least 70 members of the KNPB were arrested during the rally and are being questioned by police, the group's spokesman Sarpas Mbisikmbk said.

Sarpas said protestors had gathered to show support for the MSG bid of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULM).

The ULM, which is made up of the KNPB, the West Papua National Coalition for Liberation and the Federal Republic of West Papua, was formed late last year. It is seeking full membership of the MSG, an inter-governmental grouping of Melanesian states.

Papua Police Spokesman Adj. Sr. Cmr. Harapan Sitorus said the protesters did not have a permit to rally and they would be questioned to find out "which group they belonged to."

Police believe the KNPB is affiliated to the armed Free Papua Movement (OPM), which has staged a low-level insurgency against Jakarta's rule over Papua since the province was annexed by Indonesia in 1969.

In March, a policeman was assaulted and his firearm stolen during a KNPB fundraising event, police claimed.

The MSG is expected to decide on the ULM bid for membership in July, and Indonesia has recently stepped up its lobbying of Melanesian states to prevent the proposal succeeding.

President Joko Widodo visited MSG member state Papua New Guinea earlier this month and called for closer ties with the country.

Foregin Affairs Minister Minister Retno L.P. Marsudi, meanwhile, took a whirlwind tour of three Melanesian states to discourage support of the ULM bid in March.

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/70-arrested-rally-restive-west-papua/

SI may benefit if MSG bid gets in

Solomon Star News - May 20, 2015

The country could gain significant economic benefits if it supports West Papua's submission for membership in one of the regional's powerful body, the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG).

The sentiments were echoed by West Papua's Independence activist and member of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), Jacob Rumbiak, in an exclusive interview last week. Rumbiak who is once-upon-a-time a political prisoner and also an academic said, West Papua is rich in terms of natural resources.

He said, these resources could be shared with Melanesian countries through economic agreements if MSG members admitted West Papua into MSG.

Rumbiak revealed that the Copper mine Freeport in West Papua earns a total of USD250 billion annually and of that sum USD14 billion is paid every year as tax to Jakarta, Indonesia.

Rumbiak said, these big monies can benefit Solomon Islands and the Pacific region if the MSG members consider West Papua's submission for membership of the MSG and the body to advocate for West Papua's fight for Independence in the international arena.

Rumbiak added that the Freeport Copper Mine is just one of the many resources in West Papua. The former freedom fighter said, natural resources are in abundance in other areas of West Papua, this including in Fulmamora, Arianta, Maloku and Papua.

Rumbiak, however, strongly added that these resources can only be tapped for the benefit of the MSG countries if West Papuans are in control of their sovereignty, dignity and liberty.

Rumbiak reiterated his call to the Prime Minister, Honorable Manasseh Sogavare, to vote for West Papua's bid for membership citing it was the right thing to do.

Meanwhile a local group advocating for West Papua's admittance into MSG and eventual Independence, the Solomon Islands Solidarity Movement for West Papua (SISMWP), has called on PM Sogavare to vote for West Papua's bid for MSG's membership.

The SISMWP strongly stated that the country's vote for West Papua's admittance as an MSG member is a moral obligation in light of the country's fervent opposition to human rights violations.

Indonesia is amongst few of the countries in the world that continue to violate human rights and yet is shunned by so- called human rights advocators such as USA, England, Australia and New Zealand.

Source: http://www.solomonstarnews.com/news/national/7042-si-may-benefit-if-msg-bid-gets-in

Staggering HIV/AIDS prevalence in Papua's Wamena

Radio New Zealand International - May 20, 2015

An Indonesian organisation, the AIDS Prevention Commission, says that over ten percent of the population of the Papua town of Wamena is infected with HIV/AIDS.

The Highlands town with a population of almost 49-thousand has now reached 5,100 cases of HIV/AIDS, which the Jayawijaya-based Commission attributes largely to rampant prostitution.

Antara news agency reports the Commission's chairman, Gad Piramid Tabuni, as saying that his organisation is working with NGOs, public health centres and integrated healthcare posts in a race against time to tackle the high prevalence of infection in Wamena.

He says the commission is campaigning against unsafe sex and to rid the streets of prostitution at food and beverage stalls. Mr Tabuni called on churches and mass organisations to also work in the campaign.

Source: http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/274089/staggering-hiv-aids-prevalence-in-papua's-wamena

Don't just come to West Papua and make promises, Joko told

Sydney Morning Herald - May 20, 2015

Jewel Topsfield, Jakarta – Indonesian President Joko Widodo's visit to West Papua was as ephemeral as spray – the next day there was no indication it had happened, according to a Papuan MP.

Mr Joko released five political prisoners and announced an end to a decades-long restriction on journalists reporting on West Papua during a visit earlier this month.

However his co-ordinating minister for politics, law and security, Tedjo Edhy Purdijatno, later said journalists would still need permits and be subjected to "screening". This suggests no change to the current tight media restrictions.

Ruben Magay, a member of the Papuan House of Representatives, said Mr Joko should listen to West Papua and not mistakenly think its problems were solved.

"Don't just come to West Papua and make promises," he said. "I think the world should question why the government should close access of international media to West Papua."

West Papua was incorporated into Indonesia in 1963 but insurgents continue to fight government forces.

The separatist movement is an extremely sensitive topic in Indonesia, with many seeing parallels between West Papua and East Timor, which won independence in 2002.

Foreign journalists caught without permits – which are notoriously difficult to obtain – face criminal charges. Last year two French journalists making a documentary on the Papuan separatist movement were arrested and jailed because they did not have the proper permit.

And despite the release of the five political prisoners, who were convicted over a 2003 raid on an Indonesian military weapons arsenal, about 60 remain incarcerated on charges including treason.

These include Papuan independence activist Filep Karma, who was jailed for 15 years for raising the separatist Morning Star flag.

Mr Magay said Mr Joko should listen to Mr Karma's daughter, who has launched an open petition calling for the release of her father and other political prisoners.

He also called for justice for the four students killed in clashes with security officers in Enarotali last December. "The visit of Jokowi is like spraying a body. The day after it's gone and nothing has happened in West Papua," Mr Magay said.

Victor Mambor, the chairman of the alliance of independent journalists in West Papua, said Mr Joko had told foreign journalists on May 10 they could access West Papua the following day.

"The day after the chief political commander and law minister said 'not like that – foreign media still need permits'. Who is the president of Indonesia? I don't know," Mr Mambor said. He said West Papuans didn't know what to believe because some local journalists worked as informants for the special forces and police.

Adriana Elisabeth, from the Indonesian Institute of Sciences, said during Mr Joko's first visit to West Papua in December he had called for a dialogue to build peace. "For me this is a good signal. But on his second visit he said Papua didn't need dialogue, just better welfare," Dr Elisabeth said.

Father Neles Tebay, co-founder of the Papua Peace Network, believed Mr Joko was still committed to addressing the grievances of West Papua.

"There are at least 25,000 Papuans in Papua New Guinea, 2000 in The Netherlands and hundreds in Australia. They need to be consulted too for issues to be settled," he said.

"I still have trust in Jokowi that he is willing to engage with Papuans, especially in the jungle and the diaspora. He called Papuans in jungle to come down and talk."

Source: http://www.smh.com.au/world/dont-just-come-to-west-papua-and-make-promises-joko-told-20150520-gh61bu.html

Blocked from entering US, West Papuan leader seeks answers

Radio New Zealand International - May 19, 2015

The West Papuan independence leader Benny Wenda says he has no idea why he was blocked from traveling to the United States last week.

Mr Wenda was hoping to travel from London, where he lives in exile, to Los Angeles for a speaker's tour of California and Hawai'i.

But when he checked in at Heathrow Airport, an alert came up on his passport, and he was taken in for questioning by an official from the US Homeland Security Department, who then revoked his 10-year business visa.

Mr Wenda told Jamie Tahana he was last in the US a few months ago and has no idea why his visa has suddenly been revoked. But he says he's certain it's to do with his work on West Papua.

Benny Wenda: Yeah I was checking in and I handed over my passport to the check-in desk and then there was some issue. So I didn't know what the issue was and then suddenly they called US Homeland Security and they came after about 10 minutes and then after that they grabbed my hand and took me to the corner and then questioned me; 'What are you doing? Why are you going to the United States?' I didn't know what I'd done wrong and why and I have a visa for 10-years and a business visa is not a normal visa and I didn't know what was going on and then in the end they told me that my visa was revoked, but they didn't explain why.

Jamie Tahana: So they revoked your visa and they didn't explain why?

BW: No, they said that I had to go to the embassy. You know, this is not the first time I've been in the US. I've been almost three, four times and my last visit was in October when I used the same visa and I met with the Senate and some congress staff and also I was in New York meeting with the State Senator and Congressmen and the State Department and I'm just confused. At the human level I feel that why and I'm a little bit disappointed but, yeah, now I'm trying to use my lawyer, Jennifer Robinson, and she's trying to find out why the visa is invalid.

JT: You were in the [US a] few months ago and you made it as far as Capitol Hill in Washington, yet this time you're not allowed beyond Heathrow Airport. What's changed in those few months? Was there any suggestion of that from the Homeland Security officer?

BW: I don't know, I don't know, Homeland Security came and they told me my visa was revoked – that's all, there wasn't any explanation.

JT: This did happen in Papua New Guinea a couple of months ago. Were the circumstances of this similar to what happened the other day?

BW: Yeah, it's very similar. I don't know what their reasons are but I'm still questioning myself today.

JT: But you believe it is to do with your West Papua work?

BW: Yes, of course. There isn't any other reason because my campaign, the West Papua voice, is becoming louder and louder and also, on the other hand, our enemy is also working very hard to try and convince every country.

JT: So you were told to contact the US embassy, have you done that? Have you heard any kind of response?

BW: Yeah, we did try to send a request and send some information, some documents and we have to wait for five working days so I don't know what will happen.

[Originally aired on Dateline Pacific, Tuesday 19 May 2015.]

Source: http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/programmes/datelinepacific/audio/201754964/blocked-from-entering-us,-west-papuan-leader-seeks-answers

Police disperse activists at KNPB Merauke office

Tabloid JUBI - May 18, 2015

Jayapura, Jubi – At around 11:50 Papua time, police disbanded a gathering of activists at the secretariat of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) and Regional People Parliament (PRD) in Merauke, an activist said.

"That's right, the Operation Unit Chief and dozens officers came to the secretariat and forced those who were in the secretariat to go," PRD Chairman for Merauke Region, Pankrasia Yem told Jubi by phone from Merauke on Saturday (16/5/2015).

He explained two Military Special Forces members passed by the secretariat before the police came to take some pictures of motorbikes that were parked in front of the secretariat. About thirty minutes later, the police came.

"The Police came at the time when we want to hold a meeting to discuss about the preparation of a national demonstration on 21 May in Merauke. They came and dispersed us. They said KNPB was not allowed to hold any activities, even if it was only a gathering," Yem cited the police.

He also said the police entered their secretariat and took some their belongings, including clothes, bags, flask disks, old banners, camera and handycam.

Related to this incident, the Central KNPB Spokesperson Bazoka Logo said despite to prohibition and dispersion of KNPB activities, Indonesia must change the article of freedom of expression in public of its Constitution.

"The police could stop our entire activities if that article was removed. We have a right to express and voice our aspiration in public because the Constitution 1945 guaranteed it," Logo firmly said.

He further asked the Operation Unit Chief of Merauke Police doesn't misinterpret the Constitution 1945. He affirmed the Indonesian Constitution guarantees KNPB activities while the chief did violation on it. "We hope the police could immediately stop this old-fashioned acts. The Central KNPB urged the Merauke Police to stop this boring act," said Logo. (Arnold Belau/rom)

Source: http://tabloidjubi.com/en/2015/05/18/police-disperse-activists-at-knpb-merauke-office/

GempaR urges Jokowi to keep promises

Tabloid JUBI - May 18, 2015

Jayapura, Jubi – The Papua Students and People Movement (GempaR) urged President Joko Widodo to keep his promise to solve the conflict in Papua.

GempaR said after six month in office, Jokowi's policies had not favored indigenous Papuans. The transmigration program, the December shooting dead of four students in Paniai and the shooting incident in Yahukimo during the event of West Papua Solidarity for Vanuatu were proof of the government's failure.

Other evidence include the illegal mining case in Degewo, oil-palm plantation in Nabire, criminalization of human right activists Areki Wanimbo and Gustaf Kawer, violence toward Papua journalists in Nabire and Biak, the random shooting and arrest against hundreds of protester on 1 May, GempaR said.

"Therefore we asked Jokowi to resolve all these problems, because it was happened under his government that considered to weaken the position and dignity of Papuans on their own land," the Secretary General of GempaR, Samuel Womsiwor told Jubi by email on Sunday (17/5/2015).

He said GempaR asked Jokowi to be responsible on the human right violation in Papua (under six month of his government) and other human right violation since the integration of Papua into Indonesia and to immediately open the wide access for democracy in Papua.

"We also asked Jokowi to materialize his statement related to his statement about to open the access for foreign journalist and to immediately withdraw both organic and non-organic forces from Papua. We asked him to stop the discussion on the Mobile Brigade Headquarter because Papuan people are clearly rejecting this plan," he said.

Further, he said the president also must discontinue the discussion to establish 34 DOB (new autonomy region) in the National Legislation Program because the people of Papua do not need the Extension (Development).

Meanwhile, Majalah Selankah wrote the Papuan Parliament's Human Right Special Committee Chairman for Paniai and Yahukimo Cases, Laurenzus Kadepa asked the Indonesian President Joko Widodo to openly express to Papuan people about the settlement of Paniai and Yahukimo cases during his visit to Papua on 8-11 May 2015.

Jokowi must talk about the settlement of Paniai and Yahukimo cases and other severe human right violation cases in Papua to the people of Papua," said Kadepa. According to him, the president must talk about it to avoid the negative impact to both institution and the State. It's our decision whether we could meet and talk with him about this issue. "Firstly, he must solve the Paniai and Yahukimo cases and other human right violation cases in Papua as well," he said. (Arnold Belau/rom)

Source: http://tabloidjubi.com/en/2015/05/18/gempar-urges-jokowi-to-keep-promises/

House speaker lauds government allowing foreign media access to Papua

Tempo.co - May 18, 2015

Jakarta – House speaker Setya Novanto has welcomed the government's decision to open access to Papua for foreign media.

"The House viewed that the government's policy to give freedom to foreign journalists to enter Papua is a positive move to give information to the global community, " he said at the House complex in his speech to open the House 4th session for 2014-2015 on Monday.

Setya, however, reminded that the policy could backfire. "The concern is if this kind of freedom can create loopholes for [foreign] intelligence operations as often found by the authorities thus far," he said, adding that increased supervision was necessary to keep non-journalism activities from taking place in light of the policy.

"Papua has seen improved democracy as other regions have. So there is no need for us to cover up anything amid the more wide-open world. We just have to be careful of those who mean harm to us," he said. (Antara)

Source: http://en.tempo.co/read/news/2015/05/18/055667036/House-Speaker-Lauds-Govt-Allowing-Foreign-Media-Access-to-Papua

Indonesia's Melanesia policy no concern for West Papua group

Radio New Zealand International - May 18, 2015

The spokesperson for the United Liberation Movement for West Papua says he's not concerned about Indonesia's bid to become an associate of the Melanesian Spearhead Group.

The foreign ministers of the MSG are scheduled to meet on Thursday, where the ULM's application for full MSG membership is likely to come up.

In the lead-up to the membership decision, expected in July, Indonesia has increased its high-level lobbying in Melanesian countries, and last week, Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister Peter O'Neill gave his support to Indonesia joining as an associate member. Benny Wenda says he's not concerned by Jakarta's latest maneuvers.

"For us it's a different issue because West Papua, we are entitled to become a full member. If Indonesia's wants to be an associate member that's up to the Melanesian leaders, but West Papua is entitled to become a full member. So I'm not really concerned about Indonesia's request."

Government to free 90 more political prisoners

Jakarta Post - May 16, 2015

Jakarta – After giving amnesty to five political prisoners in Papua recently, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo plans to free 90 more political prisoners in the country's easternmost, resource-rich province.

Coordinating Minister for Politics, Law and Security Affairs Tedjo Edhi Purdijatno said in Jakarta on Saturday that the government was seeking political support from the House of Representatives for the plan.

"The political prisoners will be asked to seek abolition, or they will be released with the granting of amnesty. This will take more time because we have to win political support from the House," he said.

He said the names of the 90 political prisoners to receive amnesty had been sent to the state secretary minister to be submitted to the House. According to him, the House has the right to endorse or oppose the proposed amnesty.

Tedjo said that with the release of political prisoners, the security condition in Papua was expected to be more conducive.

"The state is changing its policy by changing from the security approach to the social welfare approach so that we will no longer stigmatize Papua as a conflict-ridden province. We want Papua to be a peaceful land," he said as quoted by kompas.com.

Jokowi gave amnesty to five political prisoners during his visit to Papua last week. (rms)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/05/16/govt-free-90-more-political-prisoners.html

Blocked from entering US, West Papuan leader seeks answers

Radio New Zealand International - May 16, 2015

The West Papuan independence leader Benny Wenda says he has no idea why he was blocked from travelling to the United States last week.

Mr Wenda was hoping to travel from London, where he lives in exile, to Los Angeles for a speaker's tour of California and Hawai'i at the invitation of Free West Papua groups in the US.

Mr Wenda says he was last in the US only a few months ago and has no idea why his visa has suddenly been revoked, but he's certain it's to do with his work in West Papua.

"I'm just confused. At a human level, I feel a little bit disappointed but, yeah. Now I'm trying to use my lawyer and she's trying to find out why my visa is invalid."

Source: http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/273811/blocked-from-entering-us,-west-papuan-leader-seeks-answers

LIfting of restrictions on journalists in Papua should not be questioned

Tabloid JUBI - May 16, 2015

Jayapura, Jubi – The Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) of Papua said President Joko Widodo's decision to lift the ban on foreign press I Papua was the right decision and should not be questioned.

"Why should it be questioned? It's a good policy, a good step from the Indonesian Government. Because it's connected to journalism, freedom of press and democracy," Victor Mambor, AJI Papua Chairman said in Jayapura on Wednesday (13/5/2015), responding to scepticism about the move.

"Papua is still part of Indonesia, thus it must be treated the same. It's my opinion. But perhaps the Indonesian Parliament has their own judgment," he said.

Further he is wondering why the president's assistants do not seem to support his policy on this issue that has widely published. "I wonder about the Jokowi's ministers because their remarks contradicted the president. But the parliament, they suppose to give the consideration, they should refer to legality and formality," he said.

"It's right the president said so, but it must be provided with legal support, because speaking about press is regulated under the Press Law. Meanwhile the Press Law only has three articles that regulated about Press Company, management of assets and so on," he said.

But there's a number of issues is not accommodated of the law. "The Press Law is not connected with reportage, immigration and another regulations. It is also not connected with the safety and other issues besides those that included in three articles. The government must see this. If required, it could be change," he said.

Mambor emphasized the government would only want good news instead of the critics or feedbacks, the government should consider changing the regulation and made it as they expect. "If the government wants good news and propaganda, they must change the Press Law. But it only would make Indonesia look worse at the international, especially in connection with the press," he said.

The Indonesian Parliament's Deputy Chairman Taufik Kurniawan earlier asked the President Jokowi to reconsider his policy to open access for foreign press in Papua. "I think it'd be better to reconsider because the issues in Papua which are currently are very sensitive could be easily politicized either its poverty or social aspects if there is no filter," Kurniawan said at the Parliament Building in Jakarta on Tuesday (12/5).

He said if it's not reconsider he worried Papua issues could be politicized by foreign journalists and result unexpected consequences. "So far some media who have special agenda judging the Central Government seems not supporting the development in Papua, while we don't see it anymore, because it's all the same. Papua is part of Indonesia," he said.

Source: http://tabloidjubi.com/en/2015/05/16/aji-decision-to-lift-restrictions-on-foreign-journalists-in-papua-should-not-be-questioned/

Rally in Fiji for West Papua

Radio New Zealand International - May 16, 2015

About 150 people turned out at a protest in Fiji's capital, Suva, on Friday to call for West Papua's inclusion in the Melanesian Spearhead Group.

The MSG foreign ministers will meet on Thursday, when the United Liberation Movement for West Papua's application to become a member will be considered.

The rally in Suva was joined by civil society groups, including the Citizens Constitutional Forum. Its spokesperson, Kasim Nazeem, says the protest was calling on the Fiji government to lobby for West Papua's inclusion.

"The Fijian government hasn't really come out and said whether they support West Papua's inclusion in the MSG or otherwise, so I think this march was to lobby Fiji since it is a influential player in the Pacific and also the Melanesian Spearhead Group."

Kasim Nazeem says the protest's organiser, the Fiji Solidarity Movement for West Papua, is also trying to collect signatures for a petition to present to the government.

Source: http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/273780/rally-in-fiji-for-west-papua

Human rights & justice

Activists blast AG's attempt to keep past rights abuse cases out of court

Jakarta Globe - May 22, 2015

Kennial Caroline Laia & Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – Human rights activists on Friday lambasted Attorney General H.M. Prasetyo's remarks for seeking settlements and not a full investigation into past gross human rights violations in Indonesia.

"We will try to resolve [the rights violation cases]. Of course, the option of a reconciliation and non-judiciary efforts is back on the table," the attorney general said on Thursday evening as quoted by Antara news agency.

Prasetyo aired the remarks after a meeting with chief security minister Tedjo Edhy Purdijatno, National Police chief Gen. Badrodin Haiti and the Justice Ministry's director general for human rights, Mualimin Abdi.

The attorney general said the agencies had agreed to set up a committee to conduct these "reconciliation" efforts, which include seeking out-of-court settlements for the victims and their families. The so-called "Reconciliation Committee" will fall directly under President Joko Widodo's purview.

The decision has caused an uproar among human rights activist who previously welcomed the AGO's decision to reopen seven major human rights cases, including the 1965-1966 massacre of alleged communist sympathizers that killed somewhere between 500,000 and three million Indonesians.

The AGO also plans to look into the 1998-1999 killing and kidnapping of student activists during the unrest surrounding the fall of former president Suharto.

AGO spokesman Tony Spontana defended the reconciliation approach, saying we want to step out of the shackles of an investigation which ultimately leads to a blame game."

Poengky Indarti, the executive director of Human Rights Monitor (Imparsial), said the government seemed eager to find an easy way out and ultimately let the perpetrators, some of them among the political elites of today, walk free.

Among the cases the AGO promised to investigate earlier was the massacre of civilian protesters in Talangsari, in Lampung province, on Feb. 7, 1989, in a military operation led by Abdullah Mahmud Hendropriyono.

Hendropriyono last year served as a senior adviser to president Joko's presidential campaign and remains close to Joko's political patron, Megawati Soekarnoputri, the chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P).

Also on the list is the kidnapping of dozens of student activists said to involve retired general Prabowo Subianto, who ran against Joko in last year's election.

"Reconciliation is a pragmatic stance from the government which will benefit only the perpetrators and disrupt the rights of victims and their families," Poengky said.

"The AGO must continue the investigation previously carried out by the National Commission on Human Rights [Komnas HAM], not discard it through reconciliation."

In 2012, Komnas HAM submitted a report to then-president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's administration which found indications of gross human rights violations in cases including the anti-communist purge.

Hendardi, chairman of the rights group the Setara Institute, said a reconciliation could only be done after a thorough investigation and prosecution of those involved. "The AGO hasn't even done anything yet but strangely it has already opted for reconciliation," he said.

Haris Azhar, coordinator of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras), said a reconciliation was not only unfair but also impossible. "The attorney general must use his common sense. Can you reconcile a crook and a mother who lost her child to kidnapping and murder?" he said.

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/activists-blast-ags-attempt-to-keep-past-rights-abuse-cases-out-of-court/

AGO offers reconciliation for unresolved human rights abuses

Jakarta Post - May 22, 2015

Jakarta – The Attorney General's Office (AGO) has offered a permanent solution for all unresolved human rights abuses through reconciliation.

Attorney General HM Prasetyo said on Friday that the National Commission of Human Rights (Komnas HAM) would focus on collecting preliminary evidence on all human rights cases it has recorded.

AGO investigators will focus on carrying out thorough investigations into the human rights cases starting with the preliminary evidence.

"Our main target is old cases you already know and that have happened within the past 50 years and for which the rights commission has had difficulty gathering evidence and this is why all the cases submitted to the AGO have been sent back or rejected," he said as quoted by tribunnews.com.

He mentioned seven old human rights cases handled by the rights commission – the 1965 tragedy, mysterious shootings, the Talangsari incident, the Trisakti and Semanggi I and II tragedies, the abduction of pro-democracy activists, the May 1998 rioting and the Wasior shooting.

He said the AGO and the rights body has set up a joint team to build a common understanding of the human rights abuses. (rms)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/05/22/ago-offers-reconciliation-unresolved-human-rights-abuses.html

Government forms team to settle past rights abuses

Jakarta Post - May 22, 2015

Hasyim Widhiarto, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's administration has decided to establish a non-judicial mechanism to resolve past human rights abuses in the absence of solid ground on which to settle the cases legally.

Speaking after a closed-door meeting with Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Tedjo Edhy Purdijatno, National Police chief Gen. Badrodin Haiti, National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) commissioner Nur Kholis and former Constitutional Court chief justice Jimly Asshiddiqie, Attorney General M. Prasetyo announced that the government was planning to establish a reconciliation committee to seek resolutions to past human right abuses.

"The establishment [of the committee] requires no law, while a Truth and Reconciliation Commission [KKR] can only be established under a [new] law," Prasetyo said Thursday at the Attorney General's Office (AGO) in South Jakarta.

"We opted for a non-legislative approach, since there are many cases that took place long ago. We have found it difficult to collect evidence, contact witnesses and find the perpetrators [for such old cases]."

Komnas HAM's Nur Kholis said the committee would be made up of representatives from related government institutions, civil society groups and families of the victims.

"The committee will serve as a consultative forum, with families of the victims included in the committee," he said, adding that the establishment of the committee was pending approval from Jokowi.

Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna H. Laoly previously said the government would prioritize a bill to set up a KKR.

The much-awaited bill states that gross human rights abuses taking place before the 2000 Human Rights Tribunals Law was passed should be resolved through the KKR. It also says that decisions made by the KKR will be legally binding and not subject to legal challenges.

The House of Representatives has also included the KKR bill on its list of 37 priority bills targeted to be passed by the end of this year.

Earlier this week, the House Legislation Body (Baleg), however, claimed the government had yet to formally submit the draft bill on the establishment of the KKR.

"[The government] has only submitted the title of the bill, without any academic draft or detailed explanation," United Development Party (PPP) lawmaker and Baleg member Arwani Thomafi said.

Nur said the progress of KKR bill deliberations was uncertain, making it difficult to predict how it would all turn out.

"Even if we press ahead with the KKR, it will take too long. If it is enacted this year, the KKR will be set up next year. Then we will have to select the commissioners. Thus, the KKR will only be able to begin working in 2017," he said.

Following years of investigations, Komnas HAM came up with reports citing seven unresolved cases of past rights abuses. The cases are: the 1989 Talangsari massacre, the forced disappearance of anti-Soeharto activists in 1997-1998, the Trisakti University shootings, the Semanggi I and II shootings in 1998 and 1999, the mysterious killing of alleged criminals in the 1980s, the communist purge of 1965-1966 and abuses in Wasior in 2001 and Wamena in 2003, both towns in Papua.

Komnas HAM has submitted the results of years of investigations to the AGO for further investigation, but to no avail because of the prolonged debate over technical issues. (alm)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/05/22/govt-forms-team-settle-past-rights-abuses.html

MPR demands president investigate past human rights abuses

Jakarta Globe - May 18, 2015

Novy Lumanauw, Jakarta – Members of the People's Consultative Assembly, or MPR, on Monday demanded President Joko Widodo address historic human rights abuses.

"There have many human rights abuses, but we demand the ones mentioned in the truth and reconciliation bill to be solved first," MPR Speaker Zulkifli Hasan said on Monday.

Zulkifli said cases that must be prioritized included the 1965 communist purge, human rights abuses in Aceh and Lampung, and the fall out from the 1998 May riots. The cases must be solved to provide closure and consolation for the families of victims, Zulkifli said.

Zulkifli said Joko has promised to resolve the aftermath of the 1998 tragedy, in which more than 1000 people died and there were widespread reports of gang rapes.

"They [families of victims] have been waiting for more than 17 years, it is not a short time and there has been no solutions from the government," Zulkifli said.

Muhammad Puri Andamas, student council president at Trisakti University, represents the families of students from the university killed during a 1998 demonstration.

He said he gave Zulkifli a letter of recommendation that requested the government immediately form a human rights tribunal to investigate the case. The families of victims have also urged the government to honor the slain students as reformation heroes.

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/mpr-demands-president-investigate-past-human-rights-abuses/

Political parties & elections

Golkar in daze after court ruling

Jakarta Post - May 19, 2015

Bagus BT Saragih and Ina Parlina, Jakarta – A court decision on Monday brought the settlement of months-long infighting within the Golkar Party back to square one, risking both conflicting camps not contesting the upcoming regional elections, as a permanent solution may fail to meet the General Elections Commission's (KPU) deadline for a resolution.

Expressions of happiness from dozens of supporters of Golkar's Aburizal Bakrie camp erupted at the Jakarta State Administrative Court (PTUN) in Pulo Gebang, East Jakarta, as presiding judge Teguh Satya Bhakti announced that the court had dismissed the leadership of his rival Agung Laksono within Golkar.

After weeks of hearings, the court decided to annul a ministerial decree issued by Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna H. Laoly that had recognized Agung as Golkar chairman, arguing that it stood on false grounds.

"Nine experts [provided by both the plaintiff and defendant] had dissented on whether Golkar's tribunal had made a decision [favoring Agung's camp]. The law and human rights minister was not within his capacity to interpret the tribunal's decision. [The ministry] can issue a decree when there is no internal problem," judging panel member Tri Cahya Indra read out the decision.

But the spontaneous euphoria did not last long as the court did not rule that the Aburizal camp was the valid representative of the party.

The decision put Golkar back in limbo, which could also mean the party is on the verge of being absent from the 269 regional elections set to kick off concurrently in December. The number is about half of the total regencies, municipalities and provinces in Indonesia.

The KPU has insisted on upholding its regulation, saying that any political party experiencing an internal dispute cannot participate in regional elections until there is a final and binding court decision or a reconciliation between conflicting camps by the end of June.

But reconciliation did not seem to be an immediate option for the supporters of Agung, a former minister who was Aburizal's deputy in Golkar during the previous chairmanship.

"This is unfair. We reject this decision. We are filing an appeal," Agung said while rushing to his car. An appeal will mean a longer judicial process to reach a final decision. It could take more than a year, based on previous cases.

Agung's lawyer, Lawrence Siburian, claimed that judges had ignored many facts and testimonies presented before the court.

"The law on political parties stipulates that only the party tribunal has the right to make a decision on a party's internal conflict. It was also ignored by the judges, as if the court had the right to determine the decision of the party's council," he said.

The House of Representatives, which is dominated by the opposition coalition to which Aburizal-led Golkar also belongs, has attempted to persuade the KPU to relax its regulation to enable Golkar, as well as the United Development Party (PPP), which is also currently facing an internal dispute, to take part in the regional elections.

Due to the KPU's insistence, lawmakers of the opposition parties have proposed an immediate revision to the Regional Elections Law, which has practically not been applied to guide any regional election since it was passed in February.

House speakers held a consultation meeting with President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to obtain the government's consent to revise the law as well as the Political Parties Law.

"We, of course, hope that there will be a final decision coming from the President. Let's just wait," House Speaker Setya Novanto of Golkar, considered part of Aburizal's camp, said after the meeting at the Presidential Office, adding that they believed Jokowi would take "a wise" stance on the matter.

Cabinet Secretary Andi Widjajanto said the President had yet to indicate his stance on the House's amendment plan.

"The President has listened to the [House's] considerations they used as the basis to revise [the two laws]. The President said it should first be studied at the ministerial level."

Aburizal's camp unilaterally decided to hold a congress in Nusa Dua, Bali, late last year, which named Aburizal the party's chairman for another five-year period.

Claiming cheating and foul play from Aburizal's camp to block local pro- Agung representatives, Agung's camp held its own congress a few weeks later. There he was declared Golkar's new chairman.

"The best feasible option is to end the fight peacefully otherwise none of the competing factions can nominate their candidates," said Titi Anggraini, executive director of the Association for Elections and Democracy (Perludem). (saf)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/05/19/golkar-daze-after-court-ruling.html

Aburizal camp legislators celebrate victory

Jakarta Post - May 18, 2015

Dylan Amirio, Jakarta – A number of legislators who have remained loyal to Aburizal Bakrie's leadership of the Golkar Party celebrated victory on Monday after the decision of the state administrative court to invalidate the decree of the law and human rights minister on Golkar's leadership.

The court accepted the lawsuits filed by the Aburizal camp to invalidate the minister's decree that had recognized the party's congress in Ancol North Jakarta and Agung Laksono's leadership of the party.

"Long live Golkar," Golkar faction chairman Ade Komaruddin yelled. "Truth and justice will always prevail," he said.

Firman Subagyo, Bambang Soesatyo, Dadang S. Muchtar, Roem Kono, Misbakhun and the daughter of late former president Soeharto, Siti Hediati bin Titik Soeharto, expressed their joy after watching the court session live on TV.

Titik said the Agung camp would be within its rights to appeal to the High State Administrative Court (PTTUN) but all sides should recognize Aburizal's leadership of Golkar.

Separately, Soeharto's youngest son Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra called on the two camps to make a reconciliation for the party's best interests in the future. (rms)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/05/18/aburizal-camp-legislators-celebrate-victory.html

Surveys & opinion polls

So far so good for Indonesia democracy, says survey

Jakarta Post - May 20, 2015

Jakarta – The majority of the public is satisfied with the implementation of democracy in the country after 17 years of the reform movement, but is dissatisfied with the performance of some democratic institutions, according to a recent survey.

Poltracking Indonesia released a survey on Tuesday showing that 43.5 percent of respondents were satisfied with the realization of democratic values across the nation since the fall of the New Order regime in 1998.

Poltracking executive director Hanta Yuda said the high level of public satisfaction was due to basic rights and freedoms that people felt they could now enjoy.

"The public is satisfied with the implementation of democracy as the system enables them to freely express their thoughts," Hanta said on Tuesday during the release of the survey in Central Jakarta.

The survey, conducted by the Jakarta-based pollster from March 23 to 31, involving 1,200 respondents, showed that 55 percent were satisfied with the state of freedom of speech in the country.

As many as 64.9 percent of respondents, who were surveyed through face-to- face interviews, also expressed satisfaction with the implementation of respect for differences regarding ethnicity, religion and race.

The advancement of human rights, another aspect that determines the democratic process in the country, also drew public satisfaction, with 52.6 percent of respondents viewing it as having been properly implemented.

Hanta said that despite the high level of satisfaction for the country's democracy, the public still had little trust in some democratic institutions due to their poor performance.

The survey showed that the House of Representatives ranked first in terms of public dissatisfaction, with 66.5 percent of respondents slamming its performance.

"Dissatisfaction over the performance of the House is due to the failure of lawmakers to run essential functions regarding legislation, monitoring and budgeting," Hanta said.

House Deputy Speaker Fahri Hamzah said the result of the survey was no surprise due to the legislature always being in the public eye.

"It's normal. Lawmakers speak every day and all eyes are on them. The House is basically an object of criticism for the public," said Fahri, a Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) politician.

The survey, which assessed 11 institutions, further showed that political parties and the National Police ranked second and third, with 63.5 percent and 55.9 percent in the public dissatisfaction rankings, respectively.

Hanta said that as products of the reform movement, the democratic institutions should improve themselves to gain public trust. "They should work to serve the broad public, not only secure their own interests. This is to improve the level of public trust," he said.

Meanwhile, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) had the highest public approval rating with 69.4 percent, according to the survey.

The country's antigraft agency was followed by the Indonesian Military (TNI) and the General Elections Commission (KPU), with public satisfaction levels of 67.9 percent and 44.8 percent, respectively. (alm)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/05/20/so-far-so-good-ri-democracysays-survey.html

Health & education

National exams plagued by cheating: Ombudsman

Jakarta Post - May 22, 2015

Jakarta – The Ombudsman has found that national exams administered for both junior and senior high school students in April and early May were plagued by problems, including one affecting the newly introduced computer-based examination.

The Ombudsman said many complaints were lodged about the computer-based exam, including the lack of support systems, a failure to log in to networks and problems with servers used by the Culture, Elementary and Secondary Education Ministry.

The Ombudsman received a total of 413 reports regarding the examination. "Reports on computer-based exams are higher in number because it is a newly introduced system," Ombudsman commissioner Budi Santoso told reporters in a press briefing on Thursday.

The commission also found problems with the manual test, which ranged from cheating, complicit supervisors who allowed the cheating and exam-material leaks.

"It's so unfortunate these old problems continue to happen over and over again. They should have been resolved," Budi said. West Kalimantan registered the largest number of complaints, with 45 reports, followed by Central Java with 36 reports and Bali with 34 reports, according to the Ombudsman.

Budi said the Ombudsman had also identified minor concerns, including supervisors preoccupied with reading newspapers and proctors thumbing through smartphones while on duty.

Culture and Elementary and Secondary Education Minister Anies Baswedan announced that the ministry would end the function of national exams as the sole determining factor of student graduation.

In spite of the decision, cheating among students was rife during this year's exam. Early in April, the ministry found that 30 packages of exam materials were leaked online, prompting the ministry to launch an investigation. The leaks of exam materials affected students in two provinces, Yogyakarta and Aceh.

The government is considering repeating the national exam at schools where students were suspected of cheating by obtaining exam materials ahead of time. The ministry, however, said leak was not found to be part of a systematic attempt at cheating.

The ministry's head of the Educational Evaluation Center (Puspendik), Nizam, said that although the ministry had yet to conduct an evaluation of this year's national exams, the computer-based exam could be deemed a success.

"From the data we have gathered so far, 99 percent of the schools that used the computer-based test approved of the method. Based on this, we hope more schools will choose the method next year," he said. (saf)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/05/22/nat-l-exams-plagued-cheating-ombudsman.html

Gender & sexual orientation

Muslim transgenders may perform 'shalat' despite absence of rule

Jakarta Post - May 18, 2015

Bambang Muryanto, Yogyakarta – Muslim transgenders, like other Muslims, have the same right to worship, such as perform shalat prayer, even though there is no fiqh (Islamic regulation) to guide how they should do so.

"There is a void in the regulations," sharia lecturer Nur Kholis of the Nahdlatul Ulama Islamic University (Unisnu), Jepara, Central Java, said in Yogyakarta over the weekend.

Nahdlatul Ulama is the country's largest Muslim organization. Nur was addressing a discussion forum entitled Membedah Shalatnya Waria (Uncovering Transgender Prayers) held at the Waria Al Fatah pesantren (Al Fatah Transgender Islamic boarding school) in Kotagede, Yogyakarta, to commemorate the Ascension Day of Prophet Muhammad (Isra Mi'raj) on Saturday.

The discussion, which was attended by transgenders, local community figures and activists, also coincided with the International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO), which is commemorated annually on May 17.

"Transgenders could be women, so when performing prayers they wear mukena [women's prayer robe] to cover their bodies," said Nur, who is also a supervisor of the pesantren.

He said that although there was no regulations on shalat for transgenders, the Islamic old school of thought classified transgenders as men behaving like women or vice versa.

"They are like that because something happened when they were four-month- old fetuses in their mother's wombs. Islam recognizes this," Nur said.

Meanwhile, the director of Yogyakarta Sunan Kalijaga Islamic State University's Center for Women's Studies, Alimatul Qibtiyah, said transgenders had been around for a very long time, even during the days of Prophet Muhammad.

"This shows that being a transgender is not part of social construction. Even during Prophet Muhammad's time, he was never said to have instructed any punishment against transgenders," said Alimatul, who is also an activist of Asiyah, the women's wing of Muhammadiyah, the country's second-largest Muslim organization.

She said there was no need to judge whether prayers by transgenders were in accordance with fiqh and that the matter was best left to God to judge. She suggested that it would be better if a regulation was made so that transgenders would have guidance in praying.

Separately, the owner of the Nurul Umahat pesantren in Kotagede, Abdul Muhaimin, said shalat was the peak of spiritualism before God and should not necessarily be measured by fiqh. He said it was a person's spiritualism while praying and their social behavior that mattered.

"A transgender who prays and then spreads peace across the world is much better than a non-transgender who also prays but commits violence," Muhaimin said.

He therefore suggested that transgenders choose the most comfortable way for them to pray, be it a woman's or a man's way.

The chairperson of Al Fatah pesantren, Shinta Ratri, said the pesantren had 40 transgender students. Of them, she said, eight chose the man's way to pray while the remainder prayed like women.

Rulli, one of the students, said he prayed in the man's way, wearing a sarong, because he found it more comfortable. "I have been told since childhood to wear a sarong when praying," Rulli said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/05/18/muslim-transgenders-may-perform-shalat-despite-absence-rule.html

Organizers cancel malang LGBT event over threats

Jakarta Globe - May 17, 2015

Dyah Ayu Pitaloka, Malang, East Java – An event planned to commemorate anti-homophobia day in Malang, East Java, was canceled after the organizers claimed to have received threats.

The event, themed "Celebrate Our Gender," was initially scheduled for Sunday in conjunction with International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, or Idahot.

Niken, one of the organizers of the event, said that she and a colleague started to receive threatening phone calls and text messages on Friday from people claiming to represent universities and several religious organizations in the city.

"Some people called and texted us to ask if we were going to gather people and invite the LGBT community," Niken told the Jakarta Globe on Sunday. "Some questioned our permit while others opposed the celebration outright."

One caller threatened to "forcefully dissolve" the event should organizers press forward with the celebration.

Niken and her team decided to report the threats to the police and obtain a permit, which they initially had not planned on applying for "because the event was going to be held indoors." "We expected no more than 20 people to attend," Niken added.

Police suggested that they cancel "Celebrate Our Gender" due to security reasons.

"The content of the discussion is debatable, it doesn't fall into the category of an academic seminar," local police official Teguh Priyo Wasono said on Sunday, without actually addressing the police's responsibility for ensuring the security of law-abiding residents or going after those making the threats.

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/organizers-cancel-malang-lgbt-event-threats/

Refugees & asylum seekers

Indonesian fishermen rescue starving migrants

Agence France Presse - May 21, 2015

Gianrigo Marletta, Geulumpang – Muchtar Ali began weeping when he saw the desperate, starving Rohingya on the overcrowded boat off the coast of Indonesia.

"I was speechless," the fisherman said, remembering the moment he saw the boatload of more than 400 Muslim migrants who were fleeing persecution in their native Myanmar, which is predominantly Buddhist.

"Looking at these people, me and my friends cried because they looked so hungry, so thin".

The fisherman from staunchly Islamic Aceh province, where there has been an outpouring of sympathy as Rohingya and Bangladeshis have come ashore in recent days, said that he also felt compelled to help because of their shared religion.

The Acehnese know pain and suffering: their province was crushed by the 2004 tsunami, with entire villages flattened and tens of thousands of locals killed. "We must help fellow Muslims, how can we not help destitute people like this? It would be a big sin," Ali said.

The wooden green boat had drawn global attention after harrowing scenes emerged of the migrants pleading for help off Thailand last week. They were rescued by fishermen early on Wednesday and brought to shore.

For the migrants, who had not been heard from for over three days, the rescue marked the end of a harrowing four-month journey.

The Rohingya, who included 140 women and children, were "totally exhausted" after being repeatedly towed out of Thai waters and then forced at gunpoint to leave Malaysian waters, said Chris Lewa, whose Arakan Project monitors migrant journeys across the Bay of Bengal.

"The worst were the Malaysians who pushed them out twice. They said the second time the Malaysians came with guns and said they'd shoot at the boat if they came back again," said Ms Lewa, whose researchers had talked to two of the migrants.

It is the latest grim tale to emerge from the region's migrant crisis, which has seen thousands of Rohingya and Bangladeshis arrive in Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia in recent days after being abandoned after a Thai crackdown disrupted people-smuggling and -trafficking routes.

The three nations have also sparked outrage by turning away seaworthy vessels, although Malaysia and Indonesia relented on Wednesday and said they would take in migrants provided they could be resettled or repatriated within a year.

As migrants have made it to shore, often malnourished after months at sea, they have recounted tales of being abused by smugglers and of deadly fights breaking out between rival groups armed with axes and knives.

The group rescued off Indonesia's Aceh were pushed for days between south- east Asian countries who were unwilling to accept them.

The Thai navy simply provisioned the boat and took the vessel out to international waters with authorities insisting the migrants wanted to travel south to Malaysia.

The boat lost contact late on Saturday, raising fears for the welfare of the hundreds on board.

The trawler was finally spotted late on Tuesday by fishermen off the coast of Aceh. Fisherman Ali described how he heard from others about the stranded boat late on Tuesday and he arrived to help in the early hours of Wednesday.

"They came close to us, they were shouting, calling for help," he said. "We looked at the boat and – wow – there were so many people aboard." He said several fishing vessels in the area were called in to help and the migrant boat was initially towed closer to shore. Fishermen then loaded the migrants into their trawlers and brought them to land.

Source: http://www.smh.com.au/world/indonesian-fishermen-rescue-starving-migrants-20150521-gh6a7c.html

Jakarta rebukes Tony Abbott for hardline refugee stance

Sydney Morning Herald - May 21, 2015

Jewel Topsfield, James Massola, David Wroe – The Indonesian government has rebuked Australia for refusing to resettle any of the thousands of Rohingya and Bangladeshi asylum seekers at the centre of the growing refugee crisis in south-east Asia.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott slammed the door shut on the prospect of Australia resettling any of the asylum seekers, declaring: "nope, nope, nope, we have a very clear refugee and humanitarian program".

"It's a refugee and humanitarian program which has been modestly expanded because we have stopped the boats and we are not going to do anything that will encourage people to get on boats," he said.

"Australia will do absolutely nothing that gives any encouragement to anyone to think that they can get on a boat, that they can work with people smugglers to start a new life.

"I'm sorry. If you want to start a new life, you come through the front door, not through the back door."

But in a further escalation of diplomatic tensions between Canberra and Jakarta, just weeks after the execution of Australians Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, Indonesian Foreign Ministry spokesman Arrmanatha Nasir said Australia could not ignore the humanitarian crisis.

"My point is this: countries that are parties to the convention on refugees have a responsibility to ensure they believe in what they sign," he said. "I hope all the countries that signed the refugee convention address the issue... if you believe it when you sign it, you should act upon it."

The Deputy Speaker in the Indonesian House of Representatives, Fahri Hamzah, said Mr Abbott's comments were regrettable. "Tony Abbott should not put the blame on the asylum seekers. They went on the boats because they were forced to do that," he said.

Indonesia is not a signatory to the UN convention, but Indonesia and Malaysia have agreed to provide humanitarian assistance to 7000 Bangladeshi migrants and Rohingya refugees still stranded at sea and provide temporary shelter for up to a year.

Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand had provoked international condemnation by turning back boatloads of the asylum seekers, who are fleeing persecution, but Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur have agreed the asylum seekers can come ashore, though they must be resettled by the international community within a year.

In contrast to Australia, the United States has said it is prepared to play a lead role in resettling some of those refugees as part of a multi-country response co-ordinated by the UN refugee agency.

Mr Abbott's hardline stance drew criticism from the federal opposition and refugee groups and came as Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak ordered the Malaysian navy and coastguard to conduct search and rescue operations for boats carrying stricken migrants, including ethnic Rohingya from Myanmar.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said Labor supported regional resettlement of refugees and that "where there is an unfolding humanitarian crisis in south-east Asia, Tony Abbott's 'not-my-problem approach' is disappointing".

"There's no doubt there's terrible violence happening in parts which are affecting the Rohingya people. I believe this government should at least engage with our south-east Asian neighbours but in terms of regional resettlement, Labor remains convinced that is the right way to go."

Amnesty's national refugee co-ordinator, Graham Thom, said Australia was one of the few nations in the world that had seen a decline in boat arrivals in recent years, but asylum seekers were now making longer and more dangerous journeys.

"It's extremely disappointing that now that Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand have said they will allow them to come ashore, that Australia as a country is unwilling to help, particularly as the US government, which is not in this region, is offering to help with resettlement," he said.

"You'd think Australia, which so often follows the US example, would want to be part of a regional response."

In South Korea, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop told Fairfax Media south-east Asian nations should abandon their reluctance to interfere in each other's internal affairs and tackle the issue of Myanmar's treatment of the Rohingyas.

She reiterated that Australia had "no plans" to take any of the Rohingyas beyond the current refugee intake. Ms Bishop said the problem needed to be dealt with at its source, which stemmed from the denial of citizenship by Myanmar to the Rohingya minority.

Though she stressed Australia would not interfere, Ms Bishop said, "Myanmar is a member of ASEAN, and I would assume that this... would be something that ASEAN could have on its agenda as it's a regional issue affecting a number of ASEAN countries."

Members of the Association of South-East Asian Nations, the premier regional forum, have a strict tradition of not interfering in one another's internal affairs.

Refugee Council of Australia chief executive Paul Power said he was dismayed by the Prime Minister's hardline stance after a "very clear appeal for help from Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia. Australia was the best placed nation in the region to assist with resettlement, he said.

"Up until now he has spoken about resettlement as the proper way to do things. Now he is clearly backing away from our commitment to resettlement," he said.

Greens leader Richard Di Natale called for Australia to "step up and help huge numbers of people fleeing persecution in our region".

[With Lisa Cox, Lindsay Murdoch, AFP.]

Source: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/jakarta-rebukes-tony-abbott-for-hardline-refugee-stance-20150521-gh6oq1.html

Shunned by much of Asia, migrants welcomed in Aceh

Agence France Presse - May 20, 2015

Langsa, Aceh – From rescuing migrants at sea to donating all they can, residents of Indonesia's Islamic Aceh province are warmly welcoming hundreds of desperate fellow Muslims who have fled their homelands – a contrast to the rejection they face elsewhere in Southeast Asia.

Around 1,800 Rohingya and Bangladeshi boatpeople have landed in Aceh in recent days, abandoned by people-smugglers after their boat journeys to Malaysia were disrupted by a Thai crackdown on long-established routes.

Migrants have also arrived in Malaysia and Thailand after being dumped by smugglers. Thousands more are still believed to be stranded at sea with little food and water.

The governments of Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand have insisted on turning back seaworthy vessels, sparking outrage.

Many in Aceh, the only part of Indonesia that implements Islamic sharia law, are dismayed by the national government's policy and have opened their arms to those who have made it to shore.

"They need our help. We saw that they are in a terrible condition, thirsty, hungry and neglected," 18-year-old student Cut Haya told AFP in Langsa, where hundreds of migrants are being housed in temporary shelters.

"As human beings, we have to help them, especially because they are our Muslim brothers and sisters."

Along with compassion for their religious brethren, Acehnese are also showing empathy following their own troubled recent past, including a long-running separatist conflict.

The insurgency ran for three decades and only ended after a monster earthquake and tsunami struck Aceh in 2004, killing almost 170,000 in the western province and tens of thousands more in countries round the Indian Ocean.

There has been an outpouring of public sympathy for the migrants, particularly the Rohingya, who are fleeing state-sanctioned persecution in their native Myanmar. The Bangladeshis are for the most part seeking to escape grinding poverty.

Caught off guard when the boats arrived, authorities scrambled to find food and shelter for hundreds of exhausted people – but where they have been stretched, ordinary Acehnese are lending a helping hand.

There has been a constant stream of Langsa residents bringing donations to the shelters in the small fishing town, with volunteers helping gather everything from eggs and noodles to basic toiletries and clothing.

In nearby fields, impromptu games of soccer and tug of war between locals and children from the camps have provided a brief escape for the young migrants from the misery of their situation.

Many get their first taste of Acehnese hospitality even before making it to shore – many of the arrivals have been rescued by local fishermen. The latest batch came ashore early Wednesday, with fishermen saving more than 400 from two boats off the coast.

"We are giving first aid to these people, we are feeding them, giving them water and providing a comfortable place for them," said search-and-rescue official Sadikin, who goes by one name.

But while the migrants wait indefinitely for refugee claims to be assessed – a process the International Organization for Migration (IOM) says could take months – attention is shifting to the others who could still be floating at sea.

A rally Tuesday attended by 100 people in the provincial capital Banda Aceh saw community groups demand more be done to save those still on the water, instead of turning them away.

"Back when the tsunami hit Aceh, people from all over the world came here to help us, regardless of race, ethnicity and religion," activist Muhammad Hamza told the rally. "Now it is time we show humanity by helping the Rohingya."

The country's biggest Muslim organisation, Nahdlatul Ulama, condemned the government's decision to bar migrant boats from coming to Indonesia, urging it to immediately rescue those in dire need.

"Where is our sense of humanity if we let them die at sea?" said Teungku Faisal Ali, chairman of the group's Aceh branch.

Steve Hamilton, the IOM's deputy chief of mission in Indonesia, said the response from the Acehnese people had been "fantastic", but not surprising given their history of war and suffering.

"They've seen great tragedy in their own province," he told AFP. "Aceh really understands what it means to have lost everything, because they went through it already."

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/05/20/shunned-much-asia-migrants-welcomed-aceh.html

People of Aceh on Rohingya crisis: 'It's worse than the tsunami'

Sydney Morning Herald - May 20, 2015

Jewel Topsfield and Karuni Rompies, Jakarta – The word spread via text message. Forty-seven Rohingya and Bangladeshi people had been rescued from the sea off Tamiang, in the Indonesian province of Aceh, and they desperately needed help.

Early Saturday, the head of the Tamiang Farmers and Fishermen Association, Muhammad Hendra, sent a text to his network of contacts.

Within hours the local community had donated so many clothes he had to tell them to stop. There were also 30 kilograms of rice, instant noodles, money and slippers – because, Mr Hendra says, the people were all barefoot.

"You know they were on boats for so long, they lost everything, we felt pity for them."

He is matter of fact about the extraordinary generosity of people who are themselves poor. The people of Tamiang are veterans of suffering, having lived through the 2004 tsunami and then the great floods of 2006.

"In all of those disasters, we were helped by outsiders, both by non-Aceh people and by foreigners," he says. "The help was provided without looking at our background, such as our religion. So now, we have the Rohingya and Bangladeshi people stranded on our land, they've been weeks, maybe months at sea and it's worse than what we experienced with the tsunami."

The people of Aceh regard the tsunami as punishment from God, Mr Hendra explains. But he sees the lot of the Rohingyas, who are persecuted by Rakhine Buddhists and live in an apartheid state in their home country of Myanmar, as more serious than that of the Acehnese who faced the wrath of God.

"The Rohingyas were punished by men, they were expelled because of their religion. I think what men did to men was more difficult than what God did to us through the tsunami."

Mr Hendra was told of rape and murder on the boats. "They did their s@#$ on the boats, everything was done on the boats. Bad things happened every day for weeks, maybe months. I cannot imagine the state of their psychology."

It turned out there were already 600 refugees in the Acehnese city of Langsa, an hour's drive away. "Apparently these people were part of the larger group," Mr Hendra says.

Donations of rice, soap, water, mattresses, money and instant noodles continue to pour in, but what's lacking now, are the things needed to perform religious rituals – headscarves, prayer mats and Korans.

Mr Hendra says Rohingya people are Muslims, just like the people of Aceh. "Aceh is known as the veranda of Mecca," he says. "The Rohingyas were rejected by Thailand, they were rejected by Malaysia, even our own Navy rejected them. I don't understand why the Navy did that, Aceh people helped them."

Cynics have suggested on social media that the people of Aceh responded so quickly because the Rohingya are fellow Muslims. Mr Hendra disagrees.

"We did it first of all because of humanity and secondly because they are Muslims. A few are non-Muslim but we helped them because we are human beings."

[With Karuni Rompies.]

Source: http://www.smh.com.au/world/people-of-aceh-on-rohingya-crisis-its-worse-than-the-tsunami-20150520-gh54wn.html

'We helped out of solidarity': Fishermen come to aid of boat migrants

The Guardian (Australia) - May 18, 2015

Kate Lamb, Langsa – When Myusup Mansur, a fisherman from the small island village of Pusung, first caught a glimpse of the boat in the distance in waters off North Sumatra, it was dark and impossible for him to make out the hundreds of migrants huddled on the deck.

It was only when two other fishermen pulled up and told him what they had seen that he realised what was happening: scores of people were jumping from the boat into the sea.

They headed in the direction of the boat while radioing in for rescue reinforcement on the way. "We helped them because they needed help," said Mansur, 38. "What is more human than that?"

Six hundred and seventy-seven migrants were brought ashore late last Thursday by Mansur and his fellow fishermen. While governments around the region have refused to receive what is thought to be thousands of migrants from Burma and Bangladesh stranded and starving in the Andaman Sea, the fishermen of Indonesia have stepped up to fill the humanitarian void.

More than 1,350 migrants, a mixture of ethnic Rohingya from Burma and migrants from Bangladesh, have landed on the shores of Aceh, Indonesia, this week and it has been the fishermen who have come to their rescue.

Mansur and the other two fishermen's small boats could each take only about 30 people but there were many more migrants waiting to be rescued. "I was lost for words," he said. "I was panicked, because I have never seen so many people in the water like that. I kept pulling them from the water one by one, I couldn't count how many, but my boat was full. After that I couldn't take any more and there were still people crying for help.

"I didn't understand their language. I couldn't ask them anything, and I couldn't understand what they were asking," he added. "They just kept calling to me for help."

Nearly two hours passed before six large fishing boats that had also been out at sea arrived to help. The fishermen laboured together, pulling the migrants from the sea and transferring them from boat to boat. Finally Mansur linked his small turquoise and orange boat to the migrant vessel to collect the women and children who had remained on board. He said he would do the same again if faced with another similar situation.

Suryadi, who only uses one name, from the fishermen association in Langsa, Aceh, said: "We helped out of solidarity. If we find someone in the ocean we have to help them no matter who they are. The police did not like us helping but we could not avoid it. Our sense of humanity was higher. So we just helped with the limited resources that we had at the time."

Over recent weeks, boats full of migrants have been pushed back and forth between the navies of Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand, with no country willing to take them in. The United Nations estimates there are up to 8,000 more migrants languishing at sea.

Those who have been rescued and brought to land have recounted horrific stories of murders over the last supplies of water and food during almost a month stranded at sea.

Andreas Harsono, from Human Rights Watch in Jakarta, said the fishermen were offering assistance that official channels had failed to provide. "The fact that these fishermen are helping these people shows that they have a better humanitarian understanding than government officials in Jakarta," he said.

Harsono said that in Aceh, a province that in the past was wracked by a decades-long separatist conflict, people understood suffering and the value of compassion. In Mansur's village a 45-minute boat ride away from the Langsa temporary camp where the 677 migrants are now being housed, that observation resonates.

When Mansur collected 30 women and children at sea and made the six-hour journey back to Pusung, the migrants were greeted with open arms. "We bought them a big bunch of bananas and water and they all bathed in our homes," said Saipul Umar, 54. "They were so weak, especially the small children. They were traumatised."

The migrants were given food, water, coffee and cakes, and a place to wash. "We treated them like family," said Sulaiman, 76. Others asked questions about their stories and why they were fleeing their countries.

After learning about the treatment of the ethnic Rohingya in Burma, where they are persecuted and denied citizenship, one village resident said that perhaps the migrants should have stayed in Pusung. "They wanted to live here," she said, "They didn't want to go."

Source: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/may/18/solidarity-indonesian-fishermen-boat-migrants-aceh

TNI orders Achenese not to rescue refugees 'even if boats are sinking'

BBC News Indonesia - May 18, 2015

The Indonesian military (TNI) has prohibited fisherpeople operating in Indonesia's northern most province of Aceh from picking up or bringing back ethnic Rohingya stranded at sea in Indonesian territorial waters, except in the case of boats that are sinking, according to the TNI's spokesperson.

"Otherwise our fisherpeople will be picking them up (Rohingya) beyond our territorial waters, [who will] then get out of their boats and board fisherpeople's sailboats, and enter our territory. We have prohibited that", TNI spokesperson Fuad Basya told BBC Indonesia journalist Heyder Affan on the afternoon of Monday May 18.

Earlier, a number of fisherpeople from Aceh said they had been prohibited from picking up or bringing back illegal migrants originating from Myanmar and Bangladesh.

Speaking with the BBC, two Acehnese fisherpeople said they had been prohibited from rescuing Rohingya refugees in the sea, "Even if their boats are sinking".

Fuad Basya denied this. He said that the TNI had not prohibited efforts at rescuing the refugees when, "...their boats are sinking or they are floating adrift in the sea and do not have a boat".

Basya said that foreigners entering Indonesian territorial land must have official documents. "The TNI has an obligation to safeguard Indonesia's territorial sovereignty, including at sea", he said.

The TNI has tightened up patrols in Sumatran waters in order to prevent the arrival of illegal migrants.

Called on to help

Earlier, a number of Achenese fisherpeople said that they felt called upon to help the refugees, some of whom are ethnic Rohingya from Myanmar.

"We heard shouts of Allahu Akbar [God is Great] and some of the men jumped into the sea to reach our boats", one of the fisherpeople Ar Rahman explained to BBC Indonesia journalist Sri Lestari.

Ar Rahman said that hundreds of Rohingya refugees were rolling badly when he and other fisherpeople reached the location after receiving information from radio communication between sailors.

Speaking with the BBC, an elderly Acehnese fisherperson named Yahya Hanafiah – whose nickname is Commander of the Sea – said that he had received requests from Acehnese fisherpeople to rescue the refugees stranded at sea.

"We asked fisherpeople in Aceh to rescue them for the sake of humanity, because our lives move in cycles right, who knows if later we will be in need", explained Hanafiah.

The hundreds of refugees who have been placed in the Kuala Langsa Aceh Port building came from a boat that was floundering in the sea after they were refused permission to enter Indonesia and Malaysia by the two countries navies.

[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service. The original title of the report was "TNI melarang nelayan Aceh membawa pengungsi Rohingya ke wilayah Indonesia".]

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/indonesia/berita_indonesia/2015/05/150518_tni_larang_nelayan_rohingya

Graft & corruption

Observers slam mysoginistic remarks over all-female KPK selection committee

Jakarta Globe - May 22, 2015

Basten Gokkon, Jakarta – Abdullah Hehamahua, a former adviser for the Corruption Eradication Commission, has received intense criticism for making sexist remarks about the anti-graft body's all-female selection committee recently appointed by President Joko Widodo.

Joko announced on Thursday his choice for nine new members of the committee, which will be led by economic analyst Destry Damayanti and state administrative legal expert Enny Nurbayaningsih as head and deputy head, respectively.

Other members of the team include Harkristuti Haskrisnowo, a criminal law and human rights expert; Betty Alisjabana, a technology, information and management analyst; Yenti Garnasih, a money laundering and criminal law expert; noted psychologist Supri Wimbarti; Natalia Subagio, the chairwoman of Transparency International Indonesia; as well as Diani Sadiawati, the director of legal human rights at the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) and Meuthia Ganie-Rochman, an expert on corruption sociology and social capital.

Upon hearing the announcement, Abdullah wasted no time to express his chauvinistic disapproval of the committee's lack of testosterone.

"Doomsday is coming," he said on Thursday, as quoted by news portal JPNN.com. "Excuse me, but I am a Muslim and have always been a good Muslim. I believe in what the Prophet Muhammad said: 'Whoever gives governmental matters to women, [they] will be led to destruction,'" he added.

Abdullah then claimed the committee would not be able to do their jobs in helping the anti-graft body tackle corruption, regardless of their professional backgrounds.

"Not only it would not be optimum, but it could lead to destruction; because of the emancipation of women, the state will be destroyed," he said.

Human Rights Watch activist Andreas Harsono called Abdullah's remarks "ridiculous" and "inconsequential." "In his comments, [Abdullah] interpreted Islam in a very conservative way," Andreas told the Jakarta Globe on Friday. "There are many female leaders in Muslim countries."

Pakistan, the second most populous Muslim-majority country, elected Benazir Bhutto as president twice, serving in 1988-1990 and 1993-1996. Bangladesh, the third most-populous Muslim-majority state, chose Begum Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina Wajed to be its prime ministers in 1991 and 1996, respectively. Turkey's Tansu Ciller, meanwhile, served as prime minister between 1993 and 1995.

Indonesia, as the world's largest Muslim-majority nation, elected Megawati Soekarnoputri in 2001 as its first ever female president.

"I strongly disagree with any statement that degrades women. Women have equal rights and responsibilities. It's about skills, knowledge and integrity," Poengky Indarti, executive director of a human rights watchdog Imparsial, told the Globe. "I have no problems with the fact that the committee is run by women – as long as they can do their job well."

Poengky slammed Abdullah for using Islam to back up his "misleading" and "bias" statements. "I myself am a Muslim and I think Islam respects women," she said.

Andreas assured that Abdullah's comments did not reflect all of Indonesia. "[Abdullah] is just embarrassing himself [by making such comments]," Andreas said.

The two activists stressed that what matters is the committee members' performance in carrying out their responsibilities. "The public's response has been positive so far. Let's just see how the women will work together," Andreas said.

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/observers-slam-former-KPK-advisers-mysoginistic-remarks-female-anti-graft-selection-committeee/

Jokowi names all-female selection team

Jakarta Post - May 22, 2015

Ina Parlina and Haeril Halim, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's decision to select nine female experts for the Corruption Eradication Commission's (KPK) commissioners selection team has won praise, with many saying the move could restore his credibility.

Defying speculation that he would pick legal experts who had served as legal counsel for graft suspects, Jokowi selected candidates that were mostly either professionals or scholars.

The move also appeared to be Jokowi's response to many of his critics who accused him of reneging on his campaign promise to step up the fight against graft, especially following his move to pick Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan as National Police chief candidate, who was named a graft suspect by the KPK in January.

Jokowi said on Thursday that the KPK could play a role in building good governance and the selection of the nine members of the team could further lend credibility to the antigraft body.

The President said the team members, whose backgrounds ranged from law, economics and management, psychology, sociology and governance studies, would have the integrity and expertise to select new commissioners for the 2015-2020 batch.

"With these criteria [met by members of the selection team], I hope the [chosen] commissioners will strengthen the KPK and create a synergy in building a system of corruption prevention and eradication," Jokowi told a press conference on Thursday morning.

Some of the more well-known members of the selection team are money laundering expert Yenti Garnasih, transparency activist Natalia Subagyo and Enny Nurbaningsih, the head of the National Law Development Agency, which is affiliated with the Law and Human Rights Ministry.

The team will work under the supervision of the State Secretariat, a departure from practices under Jokowi's predecessor, former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who placed the selection team under the Law and Human Rights Ministry.

KPK commissioner Johan Budi applauded Jokowi's selections and reminded the team to remain independent. Johan also expected that the team would select the best candidates for KPK commissioners given they had no ties to political parties.

"Without doubt, there will be political interests that could interfere with the selection process. Therefore, an independent and capable committee is urgently needed," he said.

Former KPK commissioner Busyro Muqoddas said members of the selection team should be mentally prepared to deal with possible interventions and bribery.

He also called on the team to regularly consult the KPK, antigraft campaigners and members of civil society when conducting the selection process. Jokowi is expected to have a meeting with the nine members of the selection team and brief them on his antigraft campaign stance.

State Secretary Pratikno said that Jokowi had appointed the nine individuals after considering 40 names. The President had also consulted a number of experts before making his pick.

Contacted separately, Teten Masduki, a member of the presidential communication team and a former antigraft campaigner, said the President had not opted to explain why he had chosen an all-female team.

"He only said the committee should be independent and professional, and comprise various expertise that complemented each other," Teten added.

Arsul Sani, a member of House of Representatives' Commission III overseeing legal affairs, which will conduct confirmation hearings on Jokowi's selections, applauded the President's move and said the diverse backgrounds of the team could become its main strength.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/05/22/jokowi-names-all-female-selection-team.html

A surprise lineup in KPK selection committee, but few objections

Jakarta Globe - May 21, 2015

Ezra Sihite, Novianti Setuningsih & Erwin Sihombing, Jakarta – President Joko Widodo announced nine new members of the Corruption Eradication Commission, or KPK, selection committee on Thursday, all of whom are women.

"In the past few weeks I have been working hard to form a selection committee for the anti-graft agency [KPK]. Its members have to be competent and possess integrity; they must possess skills and knowledge in a wide range of areas," Joko said on Thursday.

The president appointed economic analyst, Destry Damayanti, and state administrative legal expert, Enny Nurbayaningsih, as the committee's head and deputy head respectively.

Other members of the team include Harkristuti Haskrisnowo, a criminal law and human rights expert; Betty Alisjabana, a technology, information and management analyst; Yenti Garnasih, a money laundering and criminal law expert; noted psychologist Supri Wimbarti; Natalia Subagio, the chairwoman of Transparency International Indonesia; as well as Diani Sadiawati, the director of legal human rights at the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas); and Meuthia Ganie-Rochman, an expert on corruption sociology and social capital.

Joko's decision to form an all-female selection committee has been welcomed by female activists. "No one can doubt their [professional] backgrounds; we have a psychologist, an anti-corruption expert, legal experts. They are all great women," said Ani Soetjipto, a University of Indonesia political lecturer.

The new panel is completely different to potential candidates tipped in the media prior to the announcement – all of whom were males and most of whom were former members of the Independent Consultative Team.

The team was formed by Joko earlier this year to advise him on the then- growing conflict between the KPK and the police, which was sparked after National Police chief candidate, Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan, was named as a bribery suspect.

State Secretary Pratikno said the president chose the selection committee on his own, from 40 candidates proposed.

"He read their profiles. It was a long process, taking place for the past couple of weeks, before he finally decided on those names," Pratikno said, adding it was only a coincidence that the new selectors happened to all be female.

KPK deputy chairman Johan Budi applauded the president's choice, saying not only were the members known for their professional integrity, they were also free from political affiliations.

"I see the selected committee as having no affiliation or relation to any political parties," Johan said. "There will be a lot of political interests and people who will try to interfere in the selection of KPK leaders. "Therefore we need a selection committee that is credible, capable and free from political interests."

Chudry Sitompul, a criminology professor at University of Indonesia, echoed Johan's remarks. "I think all the nine names presented by President Jokowi are mostly new people. They are not yet contaminated by particular interests," he said.

Hifdzil Amil, a researcher at Gadjah Mada University's antigraft study center, said he could not be sure if the president had made the right choice. "I know several names," he said, adding the public in general were not familiar with the other names.

The KPK has for months been embroiled in legal problems, with two of its leaders, including suspended chairman Abraham Samad, under police investigation for old cases which are widely believed to have been resurrected and trumped up to weaken the agency.

The investigations forced Joko to suspend two antigraft officials and appoint interim commissioners.

The selection process for five new leaders is estimated to conclude by November after which the final candidates would have to undergo a House of Representatives vetting process. Inauguration is expected in December, and the five leaders will serve a four-year term.

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/surprise-lineup-KPK-selection-committee-objections/

Activists demand transparency in selection of committee to pick KPK leaders

Jakarta Globe - May 21, 2015

Yustinus Paat & Novy Lumanauw, Jakarta – Activists have called for transparency and public scrutiny to play a part in the selection process of members of a committee responsible for the appointment of new leaders to Indonesia's anti-graft body.

The president's office said on Wednesday it was in the final stages of appointing members for the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) selection team, with State Secretary Patikno saying it may consist of between seven and nine people.

He added names had been recommended to fill the positions by government officials, political parties and members of the public, and were under consideration.

"There are a lot of inputs concerning track records of each of the candidates. We will study them one by one," Pratikno said.

A final decision of who will make up the selection team is expected to by made by the end of the week. A list of a dozen potential members has been circulating in the media.

The selection process for new leaders is estimated to last for around six months, thus the current forming of the selection team.

Among the 12 names circulating as candidates are former KPK deputy chiefs Erry Riyana Hardjapamekas and Tumpak Hatorangan Panggabean, former KPK adviser Abdullah Hehamahua, former Constitutional Court chief justice Jimly Asshiddiqie and former National Police deputy chief Gen. (ret.). Oegroseno.

The seven other candidates are noted academics and law experts, including law professors Hikmahanto Juwana, Saldi Isra and Romli Atmasasmita; constitutional law experts Refly Harun and Margarito Kamis; criminologist Chairul Huda; and sociologist Imam Prasodjo.

Indonesia Corruption Watch researcher Emerson Yuntho said three people should not be on the list due to their questionable track records, but stopped short of naming them.

He called on President Joko Widodo to open the selection process to the public, as well as engaging the KPK itself in screening the candidates' backgrounds.

"KPK's input regarding track records of candidates of selection team member must be seen as the KPK's preventive measures against attempts to weaken and even dissolve the institution," Emerson said.

"We remind the president to be careful in selecting members of the KPK selection team because many people have a stake in trying to protect corruptors. The president, therefore, must listen to the public's aspirations and involve the KPK in the selection process," he added.

A researcher with the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI), Bahrain, told the president not to bow to suggestions or demands from people in his inner circle.

Echoing Emerson, Bahrain said: "Many people have an interest in the selection team for candidates of KPK leaders. If the team consists of members who have conflicting interests, be it with corruptors or political parties, the KPK will face a dangerous threat."

Most candidates are former members of the Independent Consultative Team, which was set up by President Joko Widodo in January to address the then growing conflict between KPK and the police, following the anti-graft body's naming of National Police chief candidate Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan as a bribery suspect.

In what has been widely seen as retaliatory attacks against the KPK, police have named two KPK leaders since – chief Abraham Samad and one of his deputies, Bambang Widjojanto – as suspects in separate historical cases, leading to the suspension of both.

Two interim KPK leaders, Taufiequrachman Ruki and Johan Budi, were then appointed to fill in the vacant leadership posts – although the KPK remains short of one leader at the moment, having only four leaders in total out of five mandated by the law.

The fifth leadership post has been left vacant since then-KPK deputy chief Busyro Muqoddas, who had been appointed to his post earlier than the others, saw his four-year term end in December last year. Meanwhile, the terms of the four other leaders, sworn in during 2011, are due to end in December this year.

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/activists-demand-transparency-selection-committee-pick-new-KPK-leaders/

Police drop probe into Budi Gunawan

Jakarta Post - May 20, 2015

Haeril Halim, Jakarta – In another blow to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), the National Police announced Tuesday they had dropped their investigation into an allegation that deputy police chief Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan had numerous bank accounts full of billions of rupiah in bribes.

The director of economic and special crimes at the National Police's Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim), Sr. Comr. Victor Edi Simanjuntak, who is in charge of the investigation, said the decision to drop the probe was made in April in a joint case review, involving police investigators handling the case and other legal experts.

The consensus at the meeting was that Bareskrim should not follow up on the KPK's dossiers on Budi due to a lack of evidence.

"No more follow ups [will come now that] the forum concluded that the KPK's documents [on Budi] were not worthy of an investigation. Not to mention that the pretrial decision ruled that the KPK's investigation was illegitimate. After all, what else is there to investigate?" Victor told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

In January, the KPK named Budi a suspect for alleged financial misdeeds in his capacity as head of the Career Development Bureau at the National Police from 2004 to 2006, where he amassed a total of Rp 95 billion, allegedly acquired through bribes and gratuities, including bribes allegedly paid by officers in pursuit of higher police posts.

The KPK's bold move forced President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to postpone inaugurating the three-star police general as National Police chief for a month before finally dropping Budi's candidacy in March after mounting public outcries.

Following the KPK's move, the police moved against two KPK commissioners, Abraham Samad and Bambang Widjojanto, by naming them suspects in petty criminal cases.

After a month-long standoff, the KPK passed its probe into Budi onto the Attorney General's Office (AGO), which then allowed the police to take it over.

Victor claimed that the police's decision to drop the case had strong backing as it had won approval from legal experts Chairul Huda of Muhammadiyah University in Jakarta and Teuku Nasrullah of the University of Indonesia as well as Yenti Garnasih, a criminal law and money laundering expert from Trisakti University in Jakarta.

Contacted separately, Yenti denied she took part in the April forum, saying that she was invited by the police to review Budi's case, only to have the meeting canceled by the force. "I don't think I got another invitation [after that]. They can't claim that I recommended the case be dropped because the truth is I was not there," Yenti said.

Yenti said she had been to Bareskrim once, but not for a case review. She was shown Budi's dossiers at that time but was not asked for her opinion or recommendation. "How could a recommendation be made without a case review? I dare not make a conclusion by only glancing at the case dossiers," Yenti said.

Meanwhile, Chairul said he attended the case review in April and found that Budi's dossiers from the KPK contained only weak evidence.

In addition, Teuku confirmed the lack of evidence in Budi's dossiers, but he said that the dossiers could have been corrupted during the transfer process from the KPK to the AGO and later to the police.

"This is strange because it is impossible for the KPK to name someone a suspect, not to mention naming a three-star police general, without collecting enough evidence. I am also not sure whether the dossiers were fully exposed or not because I don't believe that the KPK gave such incomplete dossiers to the AGO," Teuku said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/05/20/police-drop-probe-budi-gunawan.html

Graft suspect proponents touted for KPK screening team

Jakarta Post - May 19, 2015

Haeril Halim and Ina Parlina, Jakarta – After making several moves that have been criticized for confining the authority of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), the government is again under fire for considering law experts with track records of supporting graft suspects to be part of a committee to select new KPK commissioners.

Former Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) advisor Said Zainal Abidin has urged President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo not to select law professors Romli Atmasasmita and Margarito Kamis for the KPK screening team due to their track records against the antigraft body.

Zainal made the statement following information that Jokowi had received the names of candidates for the selection team, which included the two experts as well as legal expert Chairul Huda, who defended National Police deputy chief Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan during a pretrial motion to challenge the KPK's legal charges against Budi.

"To make the selection process objective, I think they should not be picked for the team," Zainal said at KPK headquarters on Monday.

Margarito, a constitutional law expert from Khairun University and Chairul, a legal expert from Muhammadiyah University, also testified on behalf of former energy and mineral resources minister Jero Wacik during a similar pretrial hearing against the KPK in April.

Former Democratic Party co-founder Sutan Bhatoegana also asked the three experts to testify for him when he sought to break free of KPK charges in March.

While promising to fight corruption during his presidential campaign, Jokowi's policies have appeared to run contrary to the spirit of the antigraft battle.

Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna H. Laoly, for example, has announced a plan to remove the KPK's authority in recommending remissions for graft suspects.

In addition, after the KPK's naming of Budi, a high-ranking police general, as a suspect in a graft case, the police pushed ahead with criminal charges against the KPK's leaders and investigators.

The battle between the KPK and the police led the Constitutional Court to allow graft suspects to challenge their charges through a pretrial mechanism.

While the development was a triumph for those who may have been wrongly convicted by law enforcement institutions like the police and the KPK, it has also led to a string of lawsuits against the antigraft body.

Unlike arrangements in previous years, this year the selection process to appoint new KPK commissioners will be supervised by the State Secretariat.

During the leadership of former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, the selection process was under the Law and Human Rights Ministry.

Minister Yasonna reportedly favors Romli, a law professor from Padjajaran University, to head the selection team and Romli says he is ready should Yasonna recommend his name to Jokowi.

State Secretary Pratikno confirmed that President Jokowi had received input regarding potential names for the committee.

"The President has received a lot of input and is now analyzing it," Pratikno said, although he refused to specifically mention Romli, Margito or Chairul.

The former Gadjah Mada University (UGM) rector said that criticism of several names would be a consideration for Jokowi as he made his choices.

"This is the time for the public to scrutinize [the names believed to be on the list]," said Pratikno.

Pratikno further said that Jokowi's selections would reflect his commitment to trying to bring harmony between the KPK, the National Police and the Attorney General's Office (AGO) in the country's fight against corruption.

In addition to the three experts, a number of KPK proponents and former KPK chairmen and advisors are also among the recommended names.

Meanwhile, Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) Emerson Yuntho urged President Jokowi to seek advice on the track records of the submitted names from a number of parties, including asking the KPK to make recommendations on whether the candidates supported graft eradication efforts or not.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/05/19/graft-suspect-proponents-touted-KPK-screening-team.html

Attorney General promotes son to coordinator at Jakarta office

Jakarta Post - May 18, 2015

Haeril Halim, Jakarta – Attorney General M. Prasetyo has promoted his son Bayu Adhinugroho to a strategic position at the Jakarta Prosecutor's Office, a move that anticorruption activists suspect will pave the way for the son to further benefit from his father's position.

Initially a subdivision head of general crimes at the Bandung Prosecutor's Office, Bayu will be stationed as a coordinator at the Jakarta Prosecutor's Office, a position that is more strategic and draws him closer to his father's axis of power.

Bayu was among 74 middle-ranking officers to get new positions during job rotations at the institution last week.

Emerson Yuntho of Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) said that he had yet to hear of any outstanding achievements by Bayu that could justify the granting of his strategic new post in the capital.

He called on Prasetyo, a former member of pro-government NasDem Party, to explain his son's promotion to the public. "It would be better if the AGO were to clarify [Bayu's] promotion," Emerson said on Sunday.

Emerson further said that failing to explain the decision to the public could create suspicion that it was a nepotism-based promotion, adding that it was also important for Prasetyo to explain how the appointment of his son met administrative requirements.

"The public has been left uninformed about the achievements behind his new appointment, just like his father's [appointment as attorney general]," Emerson added.

In November, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo was subjected to criticism for insisting on appointing Prasetyo despite antigraft campaigners questioning his track record in fighting graft.

The former NasDem Party legislator was not considered to be among the best and brightest during his regular tenure at the AGO.

Prasetyo did not reach much career success until 2005 when he was appointed junior prosecutor for general crimes (Jampidum) by then attorney general Abdul Rahman Saleh. Prasetyo stayed in the post only until 2006 as he was required to retire.

During his short stint on the job, Prasetyo was known for creating controversy rather than achieving goals. One noted case was an allegation that he was involved with helping drug dealer Hariono Agus Tjahjono get a lenient sentence.

Hariono, along with Ricky Chandra, was caught by the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) in West Jakarta for stashing 20 kilograms of crystal meth in 2005. While Ricky was sentenced by the court to life in prison, Hariono only received three years.

In his 33 years with the AGO, Prasetyo spent most of his time in human resource management, intelligence analysis, internal supervision and general crimes prosecution. Prasetyo was appointed Attorney General for his affiliation with NasDem after his retirement.

AGO spokesman Tony Tubagus Spontana defended the move, saying that there was nothing extraordinary about Bayu's appointment as the coordinator of the Jakarta Prosecutor's Office.

Tony further said that it was normal practice when officials or prosecutors were transferred to prosecutor's offices across the country. "Job rotation is an ordinary practice [at the AGO]," Tony said as quoted by Antara news agency.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/05/18/attorney-general-promotes-son-coordinator-jakarta-office.html

AGO fails to collect Rp13 trillion in restitution from convicts: ICW

Jakarta Post - May 18, 2015

Haeril Halim – A recent study conducted by antigraft watchdog Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) has found that the Attorney General's Office (AGO) has failed to transfer to state coffers a total of Rp 13.1 trillion (US$1 billion) in restitution from graft cases it won in court.

ICW researcher Emerson Yuntho, who cited a Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) audit on the AGO's financial report between 2012 and 2013 to support the finding, said on Sunday that Rp 3.5 trillion of the total restitution amount was from graft cases handled by the AGO's specific crimes division while the remaining Rp 9.6 trillion involved cases solved by the civil crimes division.

Emerson said that the antigraft watchdog intended to reveal the graft cases from which the AGO should have collected the restitution on Tuesday.

"Prosecutors have yet to collect a total of Rp 13.1 trillion from graft convicts, whose verdicts were legal and binding. The money should have been collected and sent to the state treasury," Emerson said on Sunday.

Emerson said the ICW study found that a number of things contributed to the AGO's failure to collect the restitution money from convicts, including the convicts' efforts to flee the country before their conviction or their refusal to pay the restitution to the AGO.

The researcher said that restitution collection was a recurring problem that the BPK found annually in its auditing of law enforcement institutions' financial reports.

The ICW urged Attorney General M. Prasetyo, a former politician from the pro-government NasDem Party, to instruct the AGO's newly established anticorruption task force to focus on the return of stolen money to the state through the restitution mechanism and not just focus on winning a court conviction.

"The public perceives that a prosecutor's job is only to win a court case without considering stepping up efforts to return graft money to the state. This should become a new focus for Prasetyo in the future," Emerson said.

Contacted Separately, AGO spokesman Tony Tubagus Spontana said he had not been briefed about the restitution matter uncovered by the ICW.

"I myself have yet to receive any information about it. Is it an investigation result? The BPK website might have such a report," Tony said on Sunday.

As of Sunday night, Attorney General Prasetyo was not answering calls from The Jakarta Post to confirm the ICW finding.

The Indonesian Forum for Budget Transparency (FITRA) in 2012 named the AGO the most corrupt state institution as indicated by the total amount of state losses potentially incurred by the agency.

FITRA said that based on BPK data, between 2008 and 2010, the AGO potentially lost Rp 5.43 trillion, more than 25 percent of the Rp 16.4 trillion of potential losses from 83 government institutions. The watchdog said that the BPK had found 473 cases of irregularities within the agency.

In a bid to improve its reputation for graft prosecution, the AGO recently established a task force consisting of dozens of its best prosecutors to expedite investigations into high-profile cases.

Employing more than 9,000 prosecutors around the country, the AGO has been criticized for its perceived lenience toward high-ranking officials, whom it has rarely managed to send to prison.

It is often compared unfavorably with the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), which has imprisoned many high-ranking officials, ranging from active ministers to an active Constitutional Court chief justice, with only 96 prosecutors, all on secondment from the AGO.

In addition to the AGO's perceived graft-ridden image, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo was strongly criticized by antigraft campaigners for Prasetyo's surprise appointment as attorney general. Prior to his appointment, Prasetyo was linked to the NasDem Party, which was one of the political parties that supported Jokowi's presidential bid.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/05/18/ago-fails-collect-rp-13-trillion-restitution-convicts-icw.html

Two army generals set to join KPK, says Moeldoko

Jakarta Post - May 16, 2015

Jakarta – Indonesia Military (TNI) chief Gen. Moeldoko says the TNI has selected two qualified military personnel with the rank of brigadier general to occupy the strategic positions of secretary-general and internal supervisor at the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

Moeldoko explained the two were from the Army. The individual who would occupy the secretary-general post had managerial skills while the other for the internal supervisor post was a senior officer in the Military Police, tribunnews.com reported on Saturday.

He said he did not know when the two senior officers would start their new jobs at the KPK.

KPK chairman Taufiequrachman Ruki said recently the two posts were open to the public, including universities, ministries, state institutions and the TNI. He added that if soldiers joined the commission, they were required to quit the military.

The recruitment of military officials to occupy the two strategic jobs has been linked with the so-called criminalization of two former KPK leaders Abraham Samad and Bambang Widjojanto, as well as senior investigator Novel Baswedan, by the police.

Former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono recently warned the government against bringing the military into domestic political affairs, including political positions in the KPK, as happened during the New Order era. (rms)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/05/16/2-army-generals-set-join-KPK-says-moeldoko.html

Islamic law & morality

House to prioritize alcohol prohibition bill in current sitting period

Jakarta Post - May 18, 2015

Dylan Amirio, Jakarta – House of Representatives Speaker Setya Novanto says the completion of deliberations of several draft bills will be prioritized during the House's fourth sitting period of 2014-2015.

Bills the House is working on include the controversial alcohol bill, which will prohibit the consumption, distribution and sale of beverages containing more than 1 percent alcohol, he said.

"The House is calling on all commissions to complete deliberations of all bills that are currently in the preparation or harmonization stages. These include the alcoholic bill and the public housing bill. It is expected that the bills will be passed soon," Setya said during his opening speech at the House on Monday.

The alcohol bill is considered a priority and when passed will carry a three to six month jail sentence for violators.

The House's legislative body (Baleg) earlier asserted that passing the bill initiated by two Islamic political parties, namely the United Development Party (PPP) and the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), would not be merely complying with religious norms.

During the third sitting session, the House managed to pass only one bill, namely the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) leadership bill, into law. (ebf)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/05/18/house-prioritize-alcohol-prohibition-bill-current-sitting-period.html

Islam & religious affairs

Indonesia never meant to be an Islamic nation: NU

Jakarta Post - May 21, 2015

Jakarta – The chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), the country's largest Muslim organization, Said Aqil Siradj, has said that Indonesia was founded on values of peace and tolerance, and not exclusively on Islamic teachings.

During his speech at the National Resilience Institute's (Lemhanas) golden anniversary on Wednesday, Said emphasized the role of religious figures in maintaining harmony in the country and how democracy and nationalistic values had kept the country together.

Said gave a speech titled Peranan Ulama dalam Membentuk dan Membela NKRI (The Role of Ulema in Shaping and Defending the Republic of Indonesia) in which he recalled the role of ulema or Muslim scholars during the struggle for the country's Independence.

"Sukarno [Indonesia's first president] invited members of NU to fight against invaders [colonizers]. [Nationalism] was part of their faith," he said.

Said added that the NU's ulema was at the forefront of defending the country's ideology of Pancasila, which is based on democracy.

"Since [before Independence], members of NU declared that we were going to establish a darussalam [a peaceful country] instead of darul Islam [Islamic country]," he said, adding that the organization embraced the principle until now.

He also spoke of the danger of organizations that wanted to establish an Islamic state, which he said NU had long been fighting against. "An organization that has the intention of establishing a religion-based state is a threat to Indonesia's unity," Said added.

Since the emergence of the Islamic State (IS) movement in Iraq and Syria, Indonesia, a country with the world's largest Muslim population, has seen growing influence of the movement.

Hundreds of Indonesians have flocked to the war-torn countries to join the movement, including wives and children of extremists that had earlier joined the fight or relatives of members of local terrorist groups.

The government has started to engage in action to curb growing sympathy toward extremists in the country with the help of mainstream Muslim organizations, including NU and Muhammadiyah, the second-largest Muslim organization in the country.

The government has also claimed to be closely monitoring the Internet to stop the local campaigns of the group.

The institute's anniversary coincides with National Awakening Day, which marks the emergence of Indonesian nationalism.

The institute, which is now under civilian management after restructuring in 2001, has been training Indonesian leaders since its establishment in 1965. The institute also has become a center for strategic studies, including food and political security, according to the institute.

The governor of the institute, Budi Susilo Soepandji, said the institute would continue to provide Indonesian leaders with training on leadership and nationalism, and continue to become a center for strategic studies.

"Lemhanas will continue the spirit of Sukarno when he established the institute. From the date of its establishment [May 20, which coincides with National Awakening day], we can actually tell what Lemhanas was established for," he said. (saf)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/05/21/ri-never-meant-be-islamic-nation-nu.html

Agriculture & food security

Indonesia dominated by infertile land, says expert

Jakarta Post - May 17, 2015

Jakarta – About 70 percent of Indonesia's land consists of infertile soil, says soil expert Nurhajati Hakim.

"Whole islands in Indonesia are dominated by ultisol or a reddish-yellow soil and peat land with a relatively a high level of acidity, which is unsuitable for plants to grow," Nurhajati said in Padang, West Sumatra, as quoted by Antara news agency.

Nurhajati said that even though there were volcanoes in Sumatra with fertile soil, overall the land was dominated by ultisol soil and peat land.

In Sumatra, for example, ultisol soil was found along the Bukit Barisan volcano range, while peat land was located in the western and eastern coastal areas of the island, she said.

Peat land dominated Kalimantan and Papua, which had small areas of ultisol soil, she said. The same conditions were also found in Sulawesi, which was dominated by peat land with the remaining parts consisting of ultisol.

Java, Bali and Nusa Tenggara, however, were home to active volcanoes with a majority of andosol soil, she said without giving further details.

"Infertile land does not mean that it cannot be planted on. If technology is applied, the soil can provide abundant agricultural production," Nurhajati said.

Therefore, she said, Indonesia could still enjoy a high level of production of various commodities, even if its land was mostly infertile. (hhr)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/05/17/indonesia-dominated-infertile-land-says-expert.html

Governance & administration

Jokowi says he's no coward

Jakarta Post - May 17, 2015

Hasyim Widhiarto, Jakarta – For the first time after seven months in office, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo met his campaign volunteers in public, asking them to support his recent policies, including the slashing of fuel subsidies and the execution of drug convicts.

During a speech on Saturday at the Cibubur camping grounds in East Jakarta, Jokowi said he would face the consequences of his controversial policies. "I'm ready to become unpopular. I'm ready to be attacked. Don't ever think that Jokowi is a coward. Keep that in mind," the President said.

On executing drug traffickers, Jokowi said he would do anything to protect the nation's interests and sovereignty. "When [the government] was about to execute the drug traffickers, I was warned that there would be foreign pressure, including from Amnesty [International], the United Nations and leaders from other countries. But I insisted that we have the legal sovereignty – that our law recognizes the death penalty," he said.

Jokowi repeated his standard talking point on defending capital punishment. "Fifty people die [in Indonesia] every day and 18,000 every year because of drugs, so why do we need to take care of one or two people who have been convicted as drug traffickers?" he said.

Defying international pressure, the government executed 14 death row prisoners in the first four months of the year, including 12 foreign nationals.

Despite his popularity in the months prior to last year's presidential election, Jokowi, an Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) politician, did not secure the nomination from his own party until March, less than a month before the legislative election and four months before the presidential election.

Observers said that the volunteer organizations supporting Jokowi put pressure on former president and incumbent PDI-P chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri to drop plans to run again and instead give the ticket to Jokowi. Jokowi won the election by a slight margin, a victory attributed to his volunteers.

Among the groups that organized Saturday's event were the Volunteer Front for Jokowi for President (Bara JP), Pro Jokowi, the Coalition of Youths and Volunteers for Jokowi (Kawan Jokowi) and the People's Struggle Post (Pospera).

Representing the organizations, Pospera leader Mustar Bonaventura said such gatherings would be held regularly. "This is just a start. The volunteer groups must continue existing and consolidate themselves," he said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/05/17/jokowi-says-he-s-no-coward.html

Parliament & legislation

House proposes new facilities as panacea

Jakarta Post - May 21, 2015

Hasyim Widhiarto, Jakarta – Defying public criticism over its poor legislative performance, the House of Representatives officially announced on Wednesday plans to construct new buildings at the Senayan legislative complex in Central Jakarta, arguing an improved work environment would help lawmakers boost their performance and get closer to the public.

In a speech delivered during a plenary session, Deputy House Speaker Fahri Hamzah said the House was planning to establish seven new facilities: the so-called Democracy Square to accommodate public rallies, a museum and library, an access street designated for visitors, a closed-door visitor center, offices to facilitate multi-purpose research, offices for lawmakers and support staff and a residential compound for lawmakers.

Development of the new facilities, according to Fahri, had been recommended by a small team established in February by the House to implement organizational reform.

Fahri, who serves as the team's leader, said the facilities would be built in stages, with Democracy Square as the top priority.

"In Jakarta, people stage rallies at the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle [in Central Jakarta], or outside the legislative complex, creating congestion and disturbing others.

This happens because the House does not provide enough space to engage public participation," the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) politician said, adding that the square would become the largest public rally spot in the country.

Fahri, however, did not elaborate on where funds would come from, nor the time-frame for the development project, saying the team would focus on disseminating the plan to lawmakers and the public first.

"Although the legislative body will only need a very small proportion of the state budget [for the project], we want to use it in an open and transparent manner," he said.

During the past several years, lawmakers have complained about the poor work environment, mainly attributing the problem to overcrowding.

In 2011, the House, under the leadership of Democratic Party lawmaker Marzuki Alie, floated the idea of constructing a new legislative building worth Rp 1.16 trillion (US$88.1 million). The plan, however, was canceled due to public criticism over lawmakers' poor legislative performance.

A similar fate will likely befall the current plan, according to Uchok Sky Khadafi of the Center for Budget Analysis (CBA).

"As long as lawmakers fail to improve their performance, the public will not allow lawmakers to use taxpayer money to build new facilities," Uchok told The Jakarta Post.

"Instead of building new offices, why don't the lawmakers use existing meeting halls or meeting rooms they rarely use [as office space] for support staff?"

After seven months in office the House has passed just three laws, including the 2015 Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Law, mainly due to prolonged infighting as a result of the formation of the ruling and opposition coalitions following last year's presidential election.

Some lawmakers, however, remain uninformed on the particulars of the proposed development project.

Gerindra Party lawmaker Sodik Mudjahid, who is also a member of Fahri's reform team, said his party had no knowledge about the infrastructure project proposed during Wednesday's plenary session, as no one from the party had attended the meeting prior to the announcement.

"In the previous House term, the Gerindra Party rejected the proposal to build a new building [for lawmakers]. However, we will thoroughly study the new proposal and later decide our stance," he said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/05/21/house-proposes-new-facilities-panacea.html

Armed forces & defense

Indonesian drone ready for military operations

Antara News - May 20, 2014

Purawakarta – Drones, which are unmanned aerial vehicles, manufactured by the Indonesia Maritime Institute are ready to be operated in border regions to carry out area surveillance missions.

A drone named OS-Wifanusa was successfully operated in a flight testing session in Waduk Jatiluhur, Purwakarta district, West Java province.

"If the government acknowledges our drone, we are ready to produce it in large numbers," Executive Director of the Indonesia Maritime Institute Dr. Y Paonganan said.

He affirmed that the drone made originally in Indonesia is no less advanced than the ones manufactured in other industrial countries.

The unmanned aircraft produced in Indonesia was able to take off and land on a river, lake, sea and land. The drone has a 2-stroke engine with a capacity of 170 CC and is able to lift loads weighing 60 to 70 kilograms.

"To take off in water, the aircraft only requires a distance of some 50 meters. As for taking off from land, it only needs a runaway about 30 to 40 meters long," Paonganan stated.

He further noted that research prior to manufacturing the unmanned aircraft had been carried out for about two years.

OS-Wifanusa has the ability to fly for five hours for a distance of 100 kilometers or 200 kilometers round trip running on Pertamax type gasoline.

Paonganan believes that the unmanned aircraft can be used by the government for military needs, especially to support their area surveillance missions.

"There are two functions of the drone – aerial photography and area monitoring. In addition, this equipment can also be used as spy planes by the military," Paonganan pointed out.

If the government intends to use the drone and it is required to meet military specifications, the Indonesia Maritime Institute is ready to meet the standards, he added. (Uu.KR-LWA/INE/KR-BSR/B003)

Source: http://www.antaranews.com/en/news/98978/indonesian-drone-ready-for-military-operations

Pressure mounts on military to drop female virginity tests

Jakarta Globe - May 18, 2015

Hotman Regar, Jakarta – Pressure is mounting on the Indonesian military to drop the invasive virginity tests it requires of female recruits, as another lawmaker from the House of Representatives' Commission I critisized the practice on Monday.

Charles Honoris, a politician from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), has blasted the procedure as discriminative and said it violated human rights.

"Virginity cannot be the moral basis of someone," Charles said. "Moreover, someone's virginity does not have any affect on either competency and capability in her duty and function as a member of TNI [Indonesian Armed Forces]."

Charles is the second lawmaker from House Commission I, which oversees defense, intelligence and security affairs, to criticise the so-called two-finger test in the past two days. Fellow PDI-P politician Tubagus Hasanuddin said on Sunday there was no connection between virginity and morals.

Charles said Indonesia has ratified the United Nations' International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and it was now Indonesian law.

He said the test – which the TNI requires female recruits to take to gauge their morality – discriminated against woman and the TNI must apply equal treatment to both male and female recruits.

The commander of Indonesia's armed forces, Gen. Moeldoko, has defended the practice and described it as a "good thing." He claimed last week the virginity test "is a measure of morality" and there was "no other way" to determine a person's morality.

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/pressure-mounts-military-drop-female-virginity-tests/

Surgeon-general says torn hymen shouldn't stop women joining military

Sydney Morning Herald - May 18, 2015

Jewel Topsfield and Karuni Rompies, Jakarta – The most senior doctor in the Indonesian military has said he does not believe a torn hymen should prevent a woman from entering the armed forces.

Female military applicants in Indonesia are subjected to virginity tests – including the unscientific "two-finger test" to determine if the hymen is intact – before they are accepted into the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI).

Human Rights Watch is lobbying countries – including Australia – who are attending an international conference on military medicine in Bali this week, to urge Indonesian president Joko Widodo to abolish the "discriminatory and invasive testing".

Speaking ahead of the conference, the head of the TNI health centre Major General Daniel Tjen told Fairfax Media that from a medical perspective, a torn hymen was "just like a tattoo".

"When someone has a tattoo it does not mean they have a health problem," Major General Tjen said. Major General Tjen said recruitment regulations, including the health test, were being reviewed.

"From the medical point of view, I will suggest to the team that a torn hymen does not significantly relate to someone's health. So, someone with a torn hymen can still become a military personnel. That's my personal view but as a medical person I will suggest that to the team."

He said he was optimistic that the new regulations would lead to better conditions.

But TNI commander General Moeldoko told reporters virginity was the gauge of a woman's morality. This was something a woman must have to serve in the armed forces, along with physical strength and academic aptitude.

The virginity test was a "measure of morality. There's no other way", General Moeldoko was reported saying in the Jakarta Globe. "So what's the problem. It is a good thing, so why criticise it?"

Human Rights Watch and the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims called on delegates attending the 41st World Congress on Military Medicine in Bali this week to denounce the tests.

"Indonesian military medical professionals insert a finger into the anus of the woman, widen her vulva with the other hand, and then press the woman's hymen forward so that her whole hymenal ring is visualised," International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims secretary general Victor Madrigal-Borloz said in an open letter to delegates.

"This procedure may exacerbate the woman's humiliation and cause physical pain due to the addition of a rectal examination in addition to the vaginal one."

Human Rights Watch Indonesia researcher Andreas Harsono said the UK and the US had indicated they would raise the issue at the conference. A spokesperson for Australian Surgeon-General Rear Admiral Robyn Walker did not respond to queries from Fairfax Media before deadline.

Major General Tjen told Fairfax Media virginity testing would not be discussed at the international conference because it was a domestic issue.

Last year it came to light that young female police recruits in Indonesia must also start their careers with the "two-finger test" to assess if they are virgins.

[With Karuni Rompies.]

Source: http://www.smh.com.au/world/indonesian-surgeongeneral-says-torn-hymen-shouldnt-stop-women-join-military-20150518-gh4844.html

Lawmaker urges TNI to 'rethink' TNI virginity tests

Jakarta Globe - May 17, 2015

Markus Junianto Sihaloho, Jakarta – A lawmaker from the House of Representatives' Commission I, which oversees defense, intelligence and security affairs, has urged the Indonesian military to rethink its invasive virginity tests for female recruits.

Tubagus Hasanuddin, a politician from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), said on Sunday there was no connection between virginity and morals. "If a non-virgin is robbed of her right to join the military, we need to rethink it," he said, adding he did not condone premarital sex.

Tubagus, a former high-ranked military official, said by law there were eight criteria that recruits had to meet to be accepted into the Indonesian Armed Forces, or TNI, but being a virgin was not one of them.

The so-called two-finger test, which the TNI requires female recruits to take to gauge their morality, has sparked international condemnation, but has been defended by top military brass.

The commander of Indonesia's armed forces, Gen. Moeldoko, asked reporters on Saturday: "So what's the problem? It's a good thing, so why criticize it?"

TNI spokesman Maj. Gen. Fuad Basya, meanwhile, said it was an appropriate part of a medical checkup, used to determine the mental state of female recruits.

Human Rights Watch has demanded President Joko Widodo ask military hospitals immediately to stop administering the tests, which violate international human rights treaties that Indonesia has ratified.

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/lawmaker-urges-tni-rethink-tni-virginity-tests/

'It's a good thing': Military chief on virginity testing of female recruits

Jakarta Globe - May 16, 2015

Jakarta – The commander of Indonesia's armed forces believes that invasive virginity tests for female recruits are a good thing and the only way to gauge the women's morality.

Asked for his response to growing international condemnation of the practice, Gen. Moeldoko told reporters at the State Palace in Jakarta on Friday that the so-called two-finger test was one of the requirements for women joining the Indonesian Military, or TNI. "So what's the problem? It's a good thing, so why criticize it?" he said.

He conceded, though, that there was no direct link between a woman being a virgin and her abilities as a member of the armed forces, but insisted that virginity was a gauge of a woman's morality – one of the three key traits he said a woman must have to serve in the TNI, along with high academic aptitude and physical strength.

The virginity test "is a measure of morality. There's no other way" to determine a person's morality, Moeldoko claimed.

His statements came a day after the group Human Rights Watch urged Indonesia to abolish the practice, pointing out that international treaties had described it as degrading and cruel.

"The Indonesian armed forces should recognize that harmful and humiliating 'virginity tests' on women recruits do nothing to strengthen national security," said Nisha Varia, HRW's women's rights advocacy director.

"President Joko Widodo should set the military straight and immediately abolish the requirement and prevent all military hospitals from administering it," Varia said in a statement.

The Indonesian Council of Ulema, or MUI, the country's highest Islamic authority, has also come out in opposition to the practice, saying it goes against Muslim jurisprudence, Tempo reported on Saturday.

Syarifudin Damanhuri, the head of an East Java district chapter of the MUI, suggested a religion test instead, arguing that it would give military recruiters a better profile of an individual's character than a virginity test ever could.

HRW said it was calling for the support of the International Committee on Military Medicine (ICMM), which will hold its world conference in Indonesia this coming week. The ICMM aims to foster collaboration between members of armed forces' medical services.

To justify the tests, military officers told female recruits they were crucial to preserving "the dignity and the honor of the nation," HRW said.

Officers who wish to marry require a letter of recommendation from their commanders, who only issue them upon confirmation that the fiancee has undergone a medical examination, including the "virginity test" at a military hospital.

The tests have been recognized internationally as violations of the right to non-discrimination and the prohibition of "cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment" under international human rights treaties that Indonesia has ratified, HRW said.

[Additional reporting from Reuters.]

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/good-thing-military-chief-virginity-testing-female-recruits/

Mining & energy

Government nixes non-subsidized fuel price hike

Jakarta Post - May 17, 2015

Raras Cahyafitri and Ina Parlina, Jakarta – On government orders, Pertamina is canceling plans to hike non-subsidized fuel prices, raising questions on the state-owned oil company's independence.

According to Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Sudirman Said the government asked Pertamina, which is free to set prices for non-subsidized products, to drop its plan to respond to public complaints.

"Pertamina's early announcement has confused people. In the future, we need to be more resolute in stressing the difference between subsidized and non-subsidized fuel," Sudirman told reporters on Friday.

News broke following the circulation of an internal Pertamina announcement that said the price would increase for non-subsidized fuels, such as Pertamax, Pertamax Plus and Pertamina Dex.

The document also said diesel fuel prices would increase to Rp 9,200 (70 US cents) per liter, although the subsidized diesel fuel price was set for Rp 6,900. Following complaints, Pertamina announced late Thursday that it cancelled its plan to increase prices.

President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has been holding firm to a potentially unpopular promise to raise fuel prices to reduce subsidies and boost funds for infrastructure development.

As the global oil prices plummeted this year, the government overhauled its fuel subsidy policy, removing the subsidy for Premium while capping the diesel fuel subsidy at Rp 1,000 per liter. Prices are regularly adjusted to match exchange rate and global oil price changes.

As the global oil price inched higher in recent months, the government increased premium and subsidized diesel fuel prices. However, sales prices are much lower than market prices, forcing Pertamina to bear the difference.

For example, the May price for premium was set at Rp 7,300 per liter, while the market price is over Rp 8,000. Meanwhile, subsidized diesel fuel was set at Rp 6,900 per liter, while the market price was around Rp 9,200.

Blocking Pertamina from increasing the non-subsidized fuel prices would likely lead to further losses for the firm, critics have said. Pertamina usually adjusts the price of non-subsidized fuel, such as the RON 92 gasoline product Pertamax, every two weeks. The chairman of the Association of Fuel Station Owners (Hiswana Migas), Eri Purnomohadi, criticized the government's move.

"The government shouldn't make a big deal out of this, because this is related to non-subsidized products. If there is any misunderstanding, they only have to make it clear but not by cancelling the corporate action," Eri said.

He said that consumers of non-subsidized products were mostly urban citizens with higher incomes, meaning that price increases were unlikely to affect low-income people, who used subsidized fuel.

"This has created uncertainty and distrust of the government. Pertamina is a price setter, so this will affect other distributors such as Shell and Total," he said. Later on Friday at the State Palace, Sudirman said the government was currently looking for the most appropriate time to make the announcement.

"The government keeps paying attention to the oil prices and is currently studying the pattern of the oil and fuel price adjustments so that it won't create problems for the public," he said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/05/17/govt-nixes-non-subsidized-fuel-price-hike.html

Economy & investment

Growth target for 2016 unrealistic, say economists

Jakarta Post - May 21, 2015

Tassia Sipahutar, Jakarta – The government's newly unveiled 2016 economic growth target has raised eyebrows, with economists describing it as being too ambitious.

Finance Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro said the government expected the gross domestic product (GDP) growth would reach between 5.8 and 6.2 percent next year, higher than the already ambitious target of 5.7 percent set for this year, despite lingering global uncertainties.

Speaking to lawmakers at the House of Representatives on Wednesday, the minister acknowledged that global uncertainties would remain next year, citing China's slowing economy, volatile commodity prices and the US Federal Reserve's unclear interest rate schedule.

However, the government argued the target would be supported by domestic factors, as it believed various ongoing infrastructure projects would begin to pay off in 2016.

"Investment activities, especially in infrastructure, which are scattered throughout many regions will be the main driver of the economy, which will be more focused on unlocking regional potential as well," Bambang said in his speech.

At 4.7 percent, Indonesia's economic growth in the first quarter of this year shrank to the slowest level in six years, with analysts predicting about 5 percent growth for the full-year as domestic demand remains weak and with global uncertainties affecting external demand and appetite to invest.

In its 2016 macroeconomic assumptions document, the government estimates that infrastructure improvement will help increase investment performance by between 8.6 percent and 9 percent year-on-year.

Exports are predicted to surge at an annual rate of 4.8 percent to 5.2 percent, supported by the manufacturing sector and other products that have higher added value.

On the other hand, imports are expected to climb by 4 percent to 5 percent compared to 2015, as the government seeks to pave easier access for imports of capital goods and raw materials and to curb illegal imports.

Besides GDP growth, the document also outlines the government's outlook on inflation and the exchange rate. The inflation rate is predicted to level at between 3 percent and 5 percent, and the rupiah exchange rate is predicted to hover around 12,800 to 13,200 per US dollar.

Meanwhile, the government hopes to see the budget deficit stand at 1.7 percent to 2.1 percent of GDP in 2016, according to the document.

DBS Bank economist Gundy Cahyadi said the growth target was a little optimistic, pointing to its own forecast of 5.5 percent for 2016, which he claimed was an improvement on the current trend of about 5 percent.

"Getting back to 6 percent is not impossible, of course, but there is a need to find a boost for growth in consumer spending in the economy. In the past, it used to be commodities. Fiscal spending, we think, remains the key for faster GDP growth going forward," he said in an email.

According to Gundy, inflation is expected to be biased to the upside, as the rupiah continues to be overshadowed by weak sentiment and the oil price trajectory remains uncertain. "Even the 5 percent inflation target for end-2015 is no longer a certainty at this point," he said.

Bank Central Asia (BCA) economist David Sumual also felt that the economic growth target was too high, saying that this year's target of 5.7 percent would be more suitable instead for 2016.

"Investment and government spending are expected to have improved next year. If infrastructure projects run smoothly, it will mean that investment prospects will be brighter and logistics costs will decline. However, the growth range is too high, it would be more appropriate [to set it] at 5.4 percent to 5.8 percent," he told The Jakarta Post.

Separately, Bank Danamon economist Dian Ayu Yustina said the GDP target would be difficult to achieve, considering the ongoing uncertainties in the external situation.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/05/21/growth-target-2016-unrealistic-say-economists.html

World Bank pledges billions in infrastructure financing for Indonesia

Jakarta Globe - May 21, 2015

Jakarta – The Washington-based World Bank has pledged up to $12 billion in new financing to Indonesia over the next three to five years, to support the nation speeding up infrastructure development.

"The World Bank is committed to building on the strong and successful partnership we have had with Indonesia for more than six decades," said Jim Yong Kim, president of the World Bank, in a statement on Wednesday.

Kim was in Jakarta during his meeting with President Joko Widodo and will remain in Indonesia from May 19 to 22.

"We plan to deliver one of our largest financial commitments in the world to Indonesia from the Jakarta office, sharing with Indonesia international knowledge and technical expertise in sectors ranging from energy, health, education, maritime economy, to the delivery of services at the local level."

According to the statement, of the total $11 billion in new financing, $8 billion is slated to come the World Bank International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD).

The $8 billion commitment represents a 25 percent increase over the lending provided to Indonesia from the previous 4 year period. IBRD provides loans and other assistance primarily to middle income bracket countries.

The World Bank will also channel $3 billion in combined financing from International Finance Corporation – the lender's private sector financing arm – together with the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA).

Aside from Kim's meeting with Joko, Kim has been scheduled to meet with a series of high-level government officials during his first visit to Indonesia, among whom are Vice President Jusuf Kalla, Finance Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro and Yogyakarta Governor Sri Sultan Hamengkubawono.

The World Bank president has also been scheduled to visit the Sunda Kelapa Harbor and the Tanjung Priok Port in Jakarta on Thursday.

The World Bank is not the only one offering Joko support to make good on his promises of a massive infrastructure push during his five-year term.

Chinese President Xi Jinping on a visit to Jakarta in April had already expressed his interest to increase China's infrastructure investments to Indonesia. China is offering $40 billion to set up a Silk Road infrastructure fund to boost connectivity across Asia, including to Indonesia.

Indonesia has also expressed interest in joining the China-backed $50 billion Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, which is seen as a rival to the World Bank.

In Indonesia, the problem with fixing infrastructure may not be about the money. Joko has budgeted Rp 290 trillion ($22 billion) for infrastructure projects this year, more than a 50 percent increase from the previous year, thanks to a fiscal windfall from eliminating fuel subsidies.

Yet, projects have stalled due to bureaucracy and a revision to the state budget. As of April 2015, the government had spent under 2 percent of its infrastructure fund. (Jakarta Globe & Reuters)

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/world-bank-pledges-billions-infrastructure-financing-indonesia/

Imports plunge as economy cools

Jakarta Post - May 18, 2015

Linda Yulisman, Jakarta – Indonesia's trade balance booked its fourth straight month of surplus in April, while the current-account deficit improved in the first quarter as imports plunged along with the country's slowing economy.

The country booked a US$454.4 million surplus in April, as imports dipped 22 percent to $12.63 billion during the month from the past year, the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) reported Friday.

Exports also dropped, albeit at a more moderate level at 8.46 percent to $13.08 billion on a yearly basis, caused by a 45 percent fall in oil and gas exports to $1.46 billion amid low global oil prices.

Slower imports were seen across some sectors – raw materials, intermediary goods and capital goods. Imports of machinery and mechanical equipment suffered the most, slumping by 186 percent to $1.87 billion from the past year.

Overseas purchases of vehicles and auto parts also fell steeply by 80.8 percent to $469.4 million in line with the weak domestic sales of four- wheelers and two-wheelers.

Sales of cars and motorcycles, both an indicator of domestic consumption, shrank sharply in the first quarter by 14.05 percent to 282,345 units and by 19.10 percent to 1.61 million units, respectively.

The economy, which is more than 50 percent driven by domestic consumption, saw its growth shrinking to 4.7 percent in the first quarter of this year, a level unseen since 2009.

"If economic growth continues to drop, imports will continue to slow down [...] the current account will be manageable," Bank Indonesia (BI) statistics department director Endy Dwi Tjahjono said. "If the economy picks up, the current-account deficit will increase because imports will be first to rise."

BI reported narrowing the current-account deficit – the nation's broadest measure of external balance and a major worry among investors that put the rupiah under pressure in the previous year – in the first quarter of this year to 1.8 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) from 2.6 percent in the previous quarter.

"The improvement in current-account performance was primarily driven by an improvement in the oil and gas trade balance as oil imports dropped due to low global oil prices and a drop in fuel consumption as a positive impact from the government's subsidy reform," the central bank said in a release on Friday.

It remained "vigilant" over a possibility of risk of a higher current- account deficit in the future as imports were expected to rise in the lead up to Lebaran and the time for companies to repatriate dividends and pay out foreign exchange debts.

But the BPS remained upbeat that the trade surplus could be maintained despite a seasonal import hike until June, said the deputy head for distribution and service statistics, Sasmito Hadi Wibowo. Surging imports would occur as manufacturers prepared for peak consumption around the Idul Fitri holiday in the country with the world's largest Muslim population.

"The surplus will likely be sustained as the value of imports will be lower as producers worldwide engage in a price war, while we may see a rise in the exportation of manufactured goods in coming months," Sasmito said. A price war, according to Sasmito, would come about as a result of tighter competition in the production of some consumer goods, such as cellular phones and various electronic items, engaging countries like Vietnam, China and South Korea.

The weak import data is in line with the slow manufacturing activity measured earlier this month by HSBC Indonesia's Purchasing Managers Index (PMI), which indicates the health of the manufacturing sector.

The index stayed at a low level of 46.7 in April on declining output, with a decrease in new orders and fewer new purchases by overseas buyers. The report also highlighted that new orders from overseas buyers dropped at the sharpest pace in the 49-month survey, with Indonesian firms reporting decreasing demand from foreign countries.

Atma Jaya economist A. Prasetyantoko said there was an urgent need for Indonesia to boost the exportation of more manufactured goods as the commodity booms seen in the past decade seemed to have ended.

"As commodity prices have tumbled to the level we see now, we cannot rely on commodity exports to drive economic growth. Manufactured goods must replace the commodities," he said. (foy/ind)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/05/18/imports-plunge-economy-cools.html

Government urged to implement steel import duty hike

Jakarta Post - May 17, 2015

Jakarta – The Indonesia Iron and Steel Industry Association (IISIA) is calling on the government to immediately implement its plan to increase steel import duties for exporters under the Most Favored Nations (MFN) clause, which is aimed at protecting the domestic steel industry from steel imports flooding into the country.

IISIA executive director Hidayat Triseputro said a policy to increase steel import duties was needed to increase both the use and absorption of domestically manufactured steel.

"We hope the government can immediately implement the policy to save the domestic steel industry," he said as quoted by Antara news agency in Jakarta on Sunday.

The government is planning to increase steel import duties to 15 percent from between zero and five percent for MFN tariffs. Steel industry players are hoping that the government can immediately issue a ministerial regulation on the policy.

Hidayat said it was expected that the implementation of import duties would run smoothly from upstream to downstream levels. (ebf)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/05/17/govt-urged-implement-steel-import-duty-hike.html

Analysis & opinion

Joko's reconciliation commission lacks moral weight

Jakarta Globe Editorial - May 22, 2015

For an administration that has been vociferous on following through with the letter of the law, the government of President Joko Widodo has shown a callous and wanton disregard for human rights.

Attorney General H.M. Prasetyo, the frequently gleeful official behind the executions of drug convicts earlier this year, has made a big show about how the government wants to address past human rights abuses.

The catch? There will be no prosecutions of violators; only attempts at "reconciliation" between the families of the victims and their persecutors, and vague "non-judiciary" resolutions.

In murdering the likes of Australians Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran by firing squad last month, the president and his henchman Prasetyo insisted repeatedly that they were simply following through on court rulings handed down years earlier; they failed to consider the fact that the condemned had genuinely reformed and were active in helping other inmates turn a new leaf.

So why should the army-backed militiamen who slaughtered up to half a million alleged communist sympathizers in the 1965-66 purge not be subject to the same unrelenting course of justice? There is no statute of limitations on murder – and apparently no consideration for character reformation in Joko's book, remember?

Why should A.M. Hendropriyono, the general behind the Talangsari massacre, who continues to enjoy close ties to Joko's patron, Megawati Soekarnoputri, not be brought to justice for the deaths of innocents?

Prasetyo's so-called "reconciliation committee" borrows from South Africa's exemplary Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The reason the latter proved instrumental in reuniting a country long riven by a racial divide was that it had the blessing of truly great moral authorities like Nelson Mandela and the Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and the willing participation of the one- time stewards of apartheid.

In Indonesia, where the perpetrators continue to justify or obscure their crimes, and even blame the victims, such a commission could never work. We simply don't have the moral leaders in our government to make it work.

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/opinion/editorial-jokos-reconciliation-commission-lacks-moral-weight/

Papua is not a problem but the way we talk about Papua is

The Conversation - May 21, 2015

Budi Hernawan – Many of us were surprised but pleased when Indonesian President Joko Widodo announced early this month that the decades-long restriction on foreign journalists in Papua would be lifted.

Access to Papua for international press and observers has been a longstanding issue. It was not only raised by rights organisations but also featured prominently during the 2012 Universal Periodic Review on Indonesia at the UN Human Rights Council.

But the pleasant surprise did not last very long. Less than 24 hours later, Minister for Security and Political Affairs Tedjo Edhy Purdijatno told Indonesian media that the access will be subject to the scrutiny of an agency.

Indonesian military commander General Moeldoko confirmed this statement separately, saying that the government has yet to formulate new rules of the game for foreign journalists.

Without waiting for further instruction from the national authorities, Papua police acted independently by announcing that foreign journalists will have to report to them.

While these statements reflect the ongoing conflicting policies on Papua, they reveal something much more problematic: the framing of Papua as a problem. Papua is not a problem. The way we talk about Papua is.

Conflicting policies for Papua

This is the fundamental issue that we have to address. Papuans have repeatedly expressed their concerns over crimes against humanity, including the recent killings of four students by the Indonesian security apparatus in Paniai. But the response of the government is simply to delay the case until it withers away.

They asked for an evaluation of the Special Autonomy Law, but the response was establishing UP4B, a government task force to accelerate economic development programs. This policy perpetuated the existing conflicting policies of Papua until the team finished its term last year.

Papuans have raised their voice over the shifting demographic composition, with an increased influx of people from other islands coming to Papua. The government responded by planning a new transmigration program, overlooking the creeping threats of ethnic conflicts.

Papuans have asked for dialogue with the national government, but so far the government only holds closed-door meetings with the Papua Peace Network.

They asked for open access for foreign journalists, but the response is a cacophony of mixed messages.

The government's off-target responses have often been informed by analyses that typically frame Papuans as incompetent. These analysts hold the view that government services in Papua such as health care, education and public services are declining because the groundwork personnel, who are largely Papuans, are absent from their work. This analysis is partly true if they isolate the case to the local level.

But such analyses ignore the question of conflicting government policies on Papua that contribute to the low quality of implementation. The Papuan public service is an integral part of the larger government machinery. Even when a policy has clear guidance and is equipped with strong supervision and mentoring, implementation could go wrong; let alone when there are conflicting policies with minimal supervision.

How outsiders frame Papua

If we look back to the history of Papua, since their first encounter with outsiders Papuans have been construed according to the mindsets of the outsiders. The first encounter with the Sultanate of Tidore through the hongi fleet between the 17th and 18th century was marked by violence and slavery. Although the contact was limited to the Islands of Raja Ampat, the Bird Heads area and the Island of Biak, this mistreatment illustrated that Papuans were framed as objects by the sultanate.

Following the unconditional transfer of sovereignty from the Netherlands to Indonesia in 1949, the Dutch retained then West New Guinea as the last resort of its imaginary empire legacy in Asia. In 1966 Yale historian Arend Lijhart described this act as "trauma of de-colonisation".

Since the territory was integrated into Indonesia in 1969, the name of the land has changed three times, illustrating the ways in which the government construed the land of Papua: from Irian Barat during Sukarno's period to Irian Jaya during Suharto's period and back to Papua under Abdurrahman Wahid, widely known as Gus Dur.

The change was not merely about names. It was also about different visions of Papua.

Sukarno envisioned the liberation of Irian Barat from the Dutch. Suharto promised a glorious and prosperous Irian Jaya. Gus Dur simply showed respect for Papuans and listened to their wishes by restoring the original name of the territory into the original name. As a result, among the three names, Papuans highly appreciate only the last change.

Friends in the Pacific

Papuans have been subjected to various framings without proper consultation with them. So, it is understandable that they have shifted their attention from the national government to the Melanesian Spearhead Group.

Although the Western world may never hear about this forum, Papuans found genuine dialogue and a warm welcome from the members of this sub-diplomatic forum in its neighbourhood: the Pacific.

They found ample space to express themselves as members of the Melanesian family. They have no worry about being judged or measured against foreign criteria any more because they have their own say and can speak for themselves despite all formal procedures.

Listen to Papuan voices

This is what we missed in the discussion of opening access for Papua: let Papuans speak for themselves. It is not a romanticism. Rather, it is a call on national and international policy-makers that Papuans should be given space to speak for themselves, whether with the national government, foreign governments, foreign journalists or international observers, so they are no longer framed as a problem.

Gus Dur set a clear example of how to engage Papuans with respect. This example can be translated into some form of governance that accommodates Papuans' concerns in a comprehensive policy based on justice, peacemaking and a spirit of reconciliation.

[Budi Hernawan is a Research Fellow at Abdurrahman Wahid Centre for Interfaith and Peace at University of Indonesia.]

Source: http://theconversation.com/papua-is-not-a-problem-but-the-way-we-talk-about-papua-is-41896

Jokowi's turn to solve the Papua question

East Asia Forum - May 19, 2015

Cillian Nolan and Sidney Jones, IPAC – Indonesia's Papua, covering its two easternmost provinces, simmers with the highest levels of deadly violence – inter-ethnic, electoral, land-related and domestic – in the country.

Home to a Melanesian and largely Christian indigenous population, it became part of Indonesia in 1969 after a highly contested referendum and has since been home to a low-level armed struggle for independence.

Papua's diverse population, with more than 200 distinct indigenous ethnic groups (and a large population of migrants from elsewhere in Indonesia), struggles with some of the lowest development indicators in the country.

Successive Indonesian administrations have failed to solve these problems or reduce the grievances that fuel the independence movement. This is despite the gradual 'Papuanisation' of the local government bureaucracy since 1999 and the implementation of limited special autonomy since 2001.

Will Indonesia's new President, Joko Widodo (Jokowi), who made the region a special focus of his 2014 election campaign, do any better?

The drivers of Papuan grievances include an influx of non-Papuan Indonesians, a failure to address isolation and poor social services in remote highland communities, and the need for more equitable sharing of Papua's vast natural resource wealth, including that derived from Freeport, the largest copper and gold mine in the world.

There are also demands to acknowledge the violence and procedural shortcomings that accompanied the 1969 Act of Free Choice, to ensure more accountability for human rights violations, extortion and rent-seeking by security forces, and to improve governance without exacerbating inter-clan rivalries.

Successive governments have combined a 'security approach' and a 'prosperity approach' in different proportions. They have confronted the armed Free Papua Movement (OPM) with force and cracked down on non-violent pro-independence groups while simultaneously pouring in poorly targeted and supervised funds for 'development'.

Jakarta policy-makers and abusive security forces are not the only source of the problem. Local Papuan elites have not helped by competing with each other for spoils. Over the past five years civil society groups have demanded a 'dialogue' with Jakarta but lacked the focused agenda to drive one.

And while willing to meet with these groups, senior Indonesian government officials have also been wary of anything that smacks of negotiation with a separate party. This is especially the case after Indonesia's experience with two other separatist areas: East Timor, which voted to break away in 1999, and Aceh, where a negotiated peace in 2005 led to the former guerrillas dominating local politics.

Jokowi's predecessor, Soesilo Bambang Yudhoyono, tried several initiatives that were well intentioned but ultimately failed. One was the creation of a government unit intended to coordinate programs across ministries in Papua with a focus on improving education and infrastructure. Hampered by resistance from the bureaucracy and poor leadership, it was disbanded not long after Jokowi's inauguration.

A second was a draft law on enhancing special autonomy, known as Otsus Plus, an effort to improve the 2001 law that after more than ten years had clearly failed to deliver benefits for Papuans. A draft law written by advisers to the two provincial governors focused too much on unrealistic increases in the value of central government transfers to Papua, but also included creative provisions on affirmative action for indigenous Papuans and protection for customary land and natural resource rights.

Proposals such as reserving smallholder plots in plantations, requiring resource investors to obtain the consent of indigenous communities and provide shares in compensation, and allowing communities to limit the in- migration of outsiders might all have restored a sense of meaningful local political autonomy absent from the 2001 law. But in the end, Otsus Plus also failed through a combination of disputes, delays and public anger over the lack of any consultation with civil society.

A third initiative in Yudhoyono's second term was a series of meetings with the main advocacy group seeking dialogue, the Papuan Peace Network (JDP). The meetings were exploratory rather than substantive, producing no policy changes before Yudhoyono left office. Their main success was to secure acknowledgement that dialogue – however it might be defined – was an important tool in conflict resolution.

It is now Jokowi's turn to look for solutions. But the situation on the ground is changing in a way that complicates matters for Indonesia's new president.

Expanding palm-oil plantations and mines, legal and illegal, have brought in more non-Papuan migrants and increased Papuan migration across clan boundaries, sometimes bringing conflict in their wake. Local elections have pitted clans against one another, starting new feuds. The OPM has increased its attacks on soldiers and police, especially in the highland districts of Puncak Jaya and neighbouring Lanny Jaya.

In response, the military and police increased their presence, adding a new police command in West Papua at the end of 2014. More and more new administrative districts have been carved out of existing ones in a way that threatens to further disperse the limited pool of capable civil servants.

Early proposals by Jokowi's cabinet ministers have done little to signal a new approach. They include suggestions to revive the old unpopular policies of transmigration and to increase administrative division. Vice President Jusuf Kalla, who helped broker the Aceh peace, has a long-standing interest in working toward a ceasefire with the OPM but earlier failed attempts have now given way to other priorities. Without a coherent policy that would address Papua in all its complexity, many are concerned that the new president will be pressured by conservative advisers who stress the 'security approach' to Papua.

If the new administration wants concrete ideas, it could do worse than to look back at Otsus Plus and start a new conversation on how to ensure that future large-scale development of Papua's vast natural resources does not crowd out Papuans themselves. In the meantime, the problems continue to fester.

[Cillian Nolan and Sidney Jones are the Deputy Director and Director of the Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict (IPAC), Jakarta.]

Source: http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2015/05/19/jokowis-turn-to-solve-the-papua-question/

Turning a new page in relations with Papua

Jakarta Post - May 19, 2015

Cillian Nolan, Jakarta – In his fourth visit to Papua in just over a year, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo last weekend told Papuans that he wanted to "turn over a new page" in their relations with Jakarta.

Offering a pardon to five political prisoners and the easing of restrictions on visits by foreign journalists, he seemed to be signaling a new openness in policy on Papua.

But a real change is going to require a far more coordinated approach. Jokowi called the release of the five prisoners "a first step" but said little about the reasoning behind it or what would come next.

The five were each serving terms of between 20 years and life in prison for their role in a 2003 weapons raid at the Jayawijaya Military Command (rights groups say only two were actually involved).

Two soldiers were killed in the raid and many more civilians in reprisals that followed. Other political prisoners in Papua have made it clear that they will not accept clemency because it would require an admission of guilt.

Those close to the President say he is considering a broader amnesty drive, which would not entail admitting wrongdoing and would be more widely welcomed.

If the pardons were meant to signal a greater political openness, they came at time when the police are clamping down on freedom of expression in Papua.

Their primary target is the West Papua National Committee (KNPB), a pro- independence group that occupies the radical fringe of activist groups.

Some of its members have advocated violence as part of a strategy to turn Papua into an "emergency zone" to attract more international attention. This is clearly unacceptable, but nonviolent meetings are different.

In recent weeks, the provincial police commander has said he is determined to dismantle the KNPB. He has ordered district commanders to break up meetings – public or private – of the organization, which he said were bent on undermining Indonesia's territorial integrity.

KNPB demonstrations – some of which have turned violent – are routinely shut down with force, such as when the police allegedly shot at six KNPB activists in Yahukimo in March. On May 1, as KNPB supporters rallied in cities across Papua, the police arrested at least 40.

If Jokowi's intention is to look forward rather than backward, one way to change dynamics in Papua would be to commit to upholding basic freedoms of expression and assembly while making it clear that violence (and incitement) by NGOs, mass organizations and security forces alike will be prosecuted.

This would mean sending a message that peaceful dissent will no longer be considered makar (treason). Jokowi could also commit to improving incentive structures to ensure the best-performing police are sent to Papua, recognizing the challenges of policing there.

At the same time, he would have to commit to dramatically stepped up accountability for violence committed by security forces. One major omission from the trip was any mention of an investigation into the shooting of four civilians allegedly by security forces in Paniai on Dec. 8 last year, a key commitment made by Jokowi on his last visit.

Ensuring improved accountability is perhaps the single most important confidence-building measure needed in Papua.

The timing for Jokowi's visit may have been influenced by the upcoming summit of the Melanesian Spearhead Group. Its members are due to meet later this month to consider an application for membership by an alliance of three pro-independence lobby groups, including the KNPB.

Jakarta has responded with a renewed diplomatic charm offensive in the Pacific in an effort to block the move, including the President's follow-on visit to Port Moresby.

The real challenge for Jakarta is to understand and address Papuan issues as part of an overall strategy on Papua that includes everything from regional division (pemekaran) to palm oil production.

Jokowi told Aljazeera in an interview in Jayapura last week that "there are no longer any problems in Papua" and thus there is nothing left to discuss.

A more productive response would be to channel grievances in Papua into a domestic forum and then pair this with a government agency with the authority to do something about them. Setting up domestic communication channels has been the goal of the Papua Peace Network since 2009, but Jokowi believes his own occasional visits are a suitable replacement.

A new page in Jakarta-Papua relations is going to require more productive communication at many levels. It will require making good on Jokowi's commitment to ensuring Papuans have access to the same economic opportunities as other Indonesians, that the security agencies uphold human rights while responding to the region's high levels of violence and that the millions of dollars in special funding the two provinces receive are spent more effectively.

Papuans themselves will have to take responsibility for a large part of this. But they need a more engaged partner.

[The writer is deputy director of the Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict, Jakarta.]

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/05/19/turning-a-new-page-relations-with-papua.html