Jayapura – Police on Wednesday seized ammunition, two government-issued firearms and an airsoft gun from two houses in Sentani, Jayapura regency, Papua.

"We raided two houses and found hundreds of rounds of ammunition, two firearms and an airsoft gun," Jayapura Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Sondang Siagian told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.

The raids were conducted between 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. local time after police had received information that the houses were used to stash ammunition and firearms.

A student identified only as RS was arrested on Tuesday for carrying firearms. Questioning of the student indicated that people carrying firearms and ammunition often stayed at the two houses.

"The house owners, Werius Enumbi, Dorce Enumbi and Simson Tabuni, are currently being investigated for possible connections to the contraband," said Sondang.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/05/island-focus-papua-police-seize-ammunition-firearms.html

Papua needs dialogue more than railway or Freeport

Tabloid JUBI - February 5, 2016

Victor Mambor, Jayapura, Jubi – What is needed most in Papua is not the construction of railways or the extension of Freeport Indonesia's contract, but a dialogue between Jakarta-Papua to seek a common ground, researcher for Indonesian Institute of Sciences, Cahyo Pamungkas said.

Cahyo, speaking in a seminar held by the Indonesian Institute of Sciences last week, said the Indonesian government should not worry if later the aspiration for independent has risen in dialogue. Freedom is not necessarily defined as independence.

He said Muridan Wijoyo in his book 'Papua Road Map' published in 2004 explained for Papuans, freedom is big "F" rather than little "F", for example how to let indigenous Papuans do planting without seeing the military. It is a form of freedom.

"Within dialogue, it could be negotiated when they asked for freedom. I think before building a railway and continue the Freeport's contract; we should build the bridge of connection between Jakarta and Papua. It is more important than building a railway. How could we build the railway without a bridge to connect Papua and Jakarta? This gap must be faced," he said.

He further thought the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) could become a forum of dialogue between Indonesia and Papua. Those who represented the indigenous Papuans are the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP). The Indonesian Government must recognize it.

"The logic is the first whether the Indonesian Government recognize the MSG or not? If Indonesia recognized the MSG, it should automatically recognize the MSG members including ULMWP. In this contexts, both ULMWP and Indonesia are the MSG members," he said.

It has two consequences. The organization that supports the MSG must be treated as legal organization. For example, the West Papua National Coalition for Liberation (WPNCL), the Federal Republic of West Papua (NRFBP), the West Papua National Parliament (PNWP). The three organizations are pro-independence group and affiliated under ULMWP.

"ULMWP and Indonesia are both members of MSG. ULMWP should be recognized and embraced for dialog. It's our opinion. Dialogue between Indonesia and Jakarta could be mediated by MSG which both Indonesia and ULMWP are the legal members of the organization," he said.

Papua problem could not be solved with guns and economic development. It should be more than it: there is a problem of identity as well as the trauma of human right violations in the past. If those issues are not resolved, regardless what it takes; it would be difficult to settle the Papua problems.

"Perhaps this is the time to reopen books written by Dutch missionaries that said other nation could not resolve the Papua problems than Papuans themselves," he said.

At the same place, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Political, Legal and Defense Affairs for Domestic Political Affairs, Major General Yoedhi Swastono said ULMWP is the representative of Indonesian-Melanesian abroad while in the country the Indonesian Melanesian Community Brotherhood has been declared on 6 October 2015 in Ambon by five governors of Papua, Papua Barat, Maluku, North Maluku and East Nusa Tenggara.

"The Indonesian Melanesian Community Brotherhood is the cultural organization under the Ministry of Internal Affairs. So, it's not true if said the Papua Diaspora abroad only representing the indigenous Papuans," he said.

In general, it's all about distrust of Papuans towards Jakarta and vice versa. "Jakarta doesn't know how to create a grand design. It is said its key is dialogue. I agree with it," he said. (Arjuna Pademme/rom)

Source: http://tabloidjubi.com/eng/papua-needs-dialogue-more-than-railway-or-freeport/

Government considers amnesty request from Papuan separatists

Jakarta Post - February 5, 2016

The government will consider a request for an amnesty and living assistance from 10 former members of a Papuan separatist group known as the Free Papua Movement (OPM).

If granting amnesty was deemed a peaceful resolution and persuasive of separatist groups to allow a ceasefire, then the government may fulfil the request, said Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Luhut Panjaitan in Jakarta on Friday.

"We will see. If the request is a solution, the President himself will grant it," Luhut said as quoted by tribunnews.com.

President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo gave an instruction in January to prioritize a soft approach in addressing separatism, instead of a hard approach involving force and firearms.

In an attempt to create peace in regions of conflict, Luhut said, the government would begin to adopt a more holistic approach that involved various measures, such as engaging in negotiation and dialogue, in order to realize a lasting peace.

"Peace is holistic; it can't stand alone. Until now [efforts] have been partial, but now we want to be holistic," Luhut said, adding that any solution for former separatists who had surrendered would be made in accordance with the law and its limitations.

Luhut, however, said that he was aware of rebel groups that would end their fighting to obtain amnesty.

Last week, 10 former members of the OPM met with National Intelligence Agency (BIN) chief Sutiyoso in Jakarta to ask for an amnesty and living assistance such as public housing from the government. Sutiyoso said the local administration of Papua itself had already made plans regarding their requests.

In May 2015, during Jokowi's second visit to Papua, the President granted clemency to five prisoners as part of efforts to foster peace in the province.

At the time, Jokowi called on security personnel to promote dialogue with Papuan people to build mutual trust, in order to change the repressive security approach to a development and welfare approach.

The government said it was also preparing an amnesty requested by former Free Aceh Movement (GAM) combatant Nurdin bin Ismail, popularly known as Din Minimi, and his group members, following their surrender in late December, 2015. (afr/bbn)(+)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/05/govt-considers-amnesty-request-papuan-separatists.html

Jakarta clueless about Papua problems, says Papuan legislator

Tabloid JUBI - February 4, 2016

Victor Mambor, Jayapura, Jubi – Papuan legislator Laurenzus Kadepa accused the Indonesian Government of lacking ideas to solve problems in Papua.

As a result, authorities resorted to stigmatizing the resistance of civilians, including the Papua Free Movement, by branding them Security Disturbing Movements, separatists, armed groups and recently terrorists.

His statement was in response Security Minister Luhut Binsar Panjaitan's statement in an online media who said the armed groups in Aceh and Papua were also included as terrorist network category in the draft of Terrorism bill established by the government.

"I see a new stigma because they loss their sense and idea to resolve the Papua problems. Now it comes the stigma of terrorist to follow the handling of the Law on Terrorism. Special Detachment 88 will certainly take action. Could it resolve the Papua problems?" Kadepa told Jubi via text message on Wednesday (3/2/2016).

According to him, which group they accused as the armed group? It must be explained in detail. In Papua, there are many armed groups with different motives.

"There are some groups that actually fighting for Papuan independence, but there are also formed to counter the Free Papua, and some are fighting for another reasons. All have weapons. So which group in Papua they are putting in that category," he said.

He is concerned about other way to be applied to criminalize the resistance of Papuans in demanding justice, the settlement of human rights violation in the past and present and some other things.

Quoted from online media, the Minister of Political, Legal and Defense Affairs Luhut Binsar Panjaitan said the indicator of terrorist group is not applicable and marginalizing the Muslim group. According to him, as quoted from RMOL, the armed groups in Papua and Aceh are also included in the terrorist network category by the government in the draft of Terrorism Bill.

"Do not think it would only applicable for Islam group, do not think it would only applicable for ISIS, but if in Papua or Aceh or in my hometown Batak land, there are groups who commit a danger for the country, they might be accused under the law," Panjaitan said on Monday (1/2/2016).

According to him, the revision of draft Law No. 15/2003 on Combating Terrorism included the definition and criteria about terrorism. "We are not alone in drafting the Terrorism Bill. We involved the constitutional law experts and criminal law experts on the formulation of draft. (Arjuna Pademme/rom)

Source: http://tabloidjubi.com/eng/jakarta-clueless-about-papua-problems-says-papuan-legislator/

OPM accuses police of staging arms find

Jakarta Post - February 4, 2016

Jakarta – The Free Papua Movement (OPM) has denied that hundreds of rounds of ammunition, firearms and explosives confiscated by police during a raid on Wednesday night belonged to the organization, and have accused the authorities of staging the arms find.

OPM spokesman Saul J. Bomay said the OPM did not have the funds to purchase such an amount of weaponry. "The raid was set up by the security forces to increase tension in Papua," he told kompas.com on Thursday.

Officers from the Papua Police and Jayapura Police raided two houses in Pos VII and Doyo Baru in Sentani in Jayapura regency on Wednesday at 7:20 p.m. The owners of the properties have been identified as Werius Enumbi, 32, Dorce Enumbi, 48, and Simson Tabun, 31. They are currently being questioned at Jayapura Police precinct.

In the raids police seized 241 rounds of ammunition, two firearms and a replica gun, four pipe-bombs, a flag of the West Papua National Committee, a laptop and a mobile phone, kompas.com reported.

OPM secretary general Anthon Tabuni claimed that the Indonesian Military (TNI) had staged many incidents purportedly involving the OPM, citing 10 Puncak Jaya residents described as OPM members who were reported to have surrendered to authorities last week.

Local media reported earlier this month that 10 former members of the OPM/National Liberation Army surrendered to the authorities and had requested amnesty from the government because they had grown weary of fighting.

Jayapura Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Sondang Siagian said the raids were a follow-up to case of illegal firearms possession by a college student named Roberth Sambon on Feb. 2. (rin)(+)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/04/opm-accuses-police-staging-arms-find.html

Indonesian House of Representatives 'to counter' reports on Papua online

Tabloid JUBI - February 4, 2016

Victor Mambor, Jayapura, Jubi – Golkar lawmaker Tantowi Yahya urged the government to 'counter' news about Papua online. Tantowi made the remarks at a national seminar held by the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) in Jakarta last week.

He said reports that put Indonesia in negative light must be countered. You can see, a lot of websites, portals used the word 'condemnation' yet there is no counter-attack, "said Tantowi.

He believes Papua issues conducted through cyber and others can be countered. "However we are now in difficult position where we cannot give a counter-attack on these issues in international forums, "he added.

He said, the internationalization of the issue of Papua is a matter of concern. If this is unstoppable, not only the issue of Indonesia, but the problems of the world. Now the issue of Papua is running. "The sympathy and support from some of the countries to Papua has been a real loose in front of us," he said.

Now, he added, there is a change in the international Papua issue. If once there is a desire for the government to solve the problem of poverty, left behind and injustice in Papua but now the issue is violation of human rights.

"Free Papua activists abroad knew the issue will not get attention by the international world. They turn it into a human rights issue. Like it or not, there are results including the support of countries that want Papua separated from Indonesia, "he said.

He further said, do not think that activists of the Free Papua movement do not pay attention to the political uproar in Indonesia. Now the Papua issue in the international community cannot be countered.

In the same place, chairman of the Papua Desk in Kemenkopolhukam, Major General (TNI) Yoedhi Swastono, called the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG), which is more likely to discuss social and cultural issues of race Melanesia, including Papua. While the United Liberation Movement of West Papua (ULMWP) is representative of Melanesia Indonesia abroad.

"Last October in Ambon we have declared Melanesian brotherhood Indonesian society which was formed by five governors of Papua, West Papua, Maluku, North Maluku and East Nusa Tenggara, "said Yoedhi.

He said Indonesia's Melanesian brotherhood society is established to fostering cultural organizations Ministry of the Interior (Home Affairs Ministry). "So it is improper to speak Papua Diaspora abroad that only group representing the people of Papua," he said. (Arjuna Pademme/Tina)

Source: http://tabloidjubi.com/eng/indonesian-house-of-representatives-to-counter-reports-on-papua-online/

Indonesia's secret dossier to suppress Papuan independence movement

Sydney Morning Herald - February 3, 2016

Jewel Topsfield, Jakarta – Indonesian authorities compiled a secret dossier of prominent Papuans that details their "weaknesses" – such as women and alcohol – and outlines a strategy to "suppress" the independence movement.

The secret documents, leaked to Fairfax Media, target religious leaders, political activists and even Papuan university students who live outside the troubled province.

They highlight the Indonesian government's paranoia about the pro-independence movement in Papua and its sensitivity towards claims of human rights violations.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo, elected in July 2014, promised to take a new approach to Papua.

He has visited Papua several times, released six political prisoners, including Papua's most famous political prisoner Filep Karma, vowed to stop transmigration to Papua and announced the lifting of restrictions on foreign media in Papua.

However the 2016 Human Rights Watch world report says suppression of the rights to freedom of expression and association in Papua continued.

The "Papuan Action Plan", dated March 2014 – months before Mr Joko came to power – is branded with the logo of the Indonesian State intelligence Agency or BIN and purports to come from the "Deputy-II Chief" of BIN.

The agency said an internal investigation would be "immediately" launched into the source of the documents following questions from Fairfax Media.

"BIN has never issued such a document," said BIN's director for information, Sundawan Salya. "We are an intelligence operation and therefore would never use such an open document."

The dossier lists the strengths and weaknesses of numerous Papuans and describes tactics to "suppress the movement" and "divide and fragment" opinion within the movement.

The pro-independence movement in Papua is especially sensitive in Indonesia given its experience with East Timor, which voted to break away from the republic in 1999.

Markus Haluk, the former chairman of the Central Highlands Papuan Student Association, is one of the Papuans named in the documents. It is reported that he attends seminars demanding a "liberated Papua" and always criticises government policies.

His strengths are his ability to motivate Central Highland people who are not university educated and create "propaganda via media". His weaknesses? "Money and women".

"I think it's harassment of my pride, my character," Mr Haluk told Fairfax Media. "I have a wife, I am not a playboy. I know there are many ways Indonesia (achieves its goals). It's intelligence strategy, Jakarta's strategy to kill a fighter."

Mr Haluk said he would not be afraid or panic. "My struggle is to save Papuans. I am not sponsored or paid by anyone. And I will keep fighting until the truth is upheld in Papua."

The documents list a "minimal" and "maximal" goal for each Papuan named in the dossier, which authorities hoped to achieve between April and October 2014.

The "minimal" goal tended to be that the person would not contend there were severe human rights violations in Papua or would reject Papuan independence.

The "maximal" goal was usually that the person would support the Republic of Indonesia or support a draft law on enhancing special autonomy in Papua that former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's government was trying to push through at the time.

Mr Haluk said he did not consider the intelligence agency's strategy to have been a success. "Papua has been incorporated into Indonesia since the late 1960s but people are still hoisting the (banned West Papuan national) Morning Star flag in the forests, protests demanding (that) Papua separates from Indonesia are still going on," he said.

Beny Dimara, a prominent religious figure who works with Papuan university students in Yogyakarta, is named in the documents as someone who "follows separatist politics".

However he told Fairfax Media he had nothing to do with pro-independence activities. "I am a priest and my concern is only one and that is making young Papuans better in their knowledge of God and in their education."

Indonesia has a history of spying on Papuans. Documents from Indonesia's elite special forces unit Kopassus, leaked to Fairfax Media in 2011, revealed members of the small armed resistance as well as ordinary Papuans were under intense surveillance.

The 2006-2009 intelligence briefs revealed informants infiltrated every aspect of daily life, including American tourists being watched while they attended a traditional dance outside the capital Jayapura in case they met with pro-independence groups.

Agus Sumule, a lecturer from the University of Papua, said Papuans are the only ethnic group in Indonesia spied on by their own government.

"Indonesians approach Papuans with racism and a paternalistic attitude," Mr Agus said. "The feeling of being part of Indonesia is not there for Papuans because of the stigma put on Papuans that we are separatists, that we are not able to do things as the Javanese people do, for instance."

A 2015 report by the directors of the Institute for Policy Analysis for Conflict in Jakarta said Papua struggled with some of the lowest development indicators in the country.

"Successive Indonesian administrations have failed to resolve these problems or reduce the grievances that fuel the independence movement," it said.

This was despite the implementation of limited special autonomy since 2001 and vast amounts of development spending.

Last May dozens of activists from the West Papua National Committee, a pro-independence group, were arrested during peaceful rallies in Jayapura.

And the government has still not released results of official investigations into the shooting of five protesters by security forces in the town of Enarotali in December 2014.

Theologian and activist Benny Giay, who is described in the documents as a "prominent clergyman who can influence and can generate separatist enthusiasm", said surveillance was a reality in Papua.

"This is paranoid, this is crazy," he said, when told about the documents. "They are often following us or sending journalists to interview us on certain topics. They will attend press conferences, attend our church meetings."

Dr Giay said Jokowi, as the president is popularly known, had told the world he was addressing Papua but had done little except announce new road construction.

"I told Jokowi it will take generations to build trust because the problem is a lack of trust from Papuans towards the military."

[With Karuni Rompies.]

Source: http://www.smh.com.au/world/indonesias-secret-dossier-to-suppress-papuan-independence-movement-20160203-gmkkbr.html

10 former Papuan separatists request amnesty

Jakarta Post - February 2, 2016

Ten former members of a Papuan separatist group, the National Liberation Army/Free Papua Movement (TPN/OPM), have asked the government to grant them an amnesty, a senior intelligence official has confirmed.

The former Papuan rebels were received by National Intelligence Agency (BIN) chief Sutiyoso last week. "This is a good step [forward], as a domino effect following [the surrender of Acehnese rebel leader] Din Minimi," Sutiyoso said on Monday as quoted by tempo.co.

Sutiyoso said the former rebels also requested living assistance, adding that such issues had already been discussed with their regional government and it would most likely be granted because their requests were simple enough, such as for public housing. "The local government has already made plans," Sutiyoso added.

Teranus Enumbi, a former rebel who once served as a platoon commander in Tinggi Nambu, Puncak Jaya, said they had grown weary of fighting before surrendering to Puncak Jaya Governor Jaya Henock Ibo. They subsequently asked to meet with Sutiyoso following their submission.

The former separatists traveled to Jakarta at the end of January and will return to Papua this week. (liz/bbn)(+)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/02/10-former-papuan-separatists-request-amnesty.html

Foreign journalists need freedom to cover Papua

Tabloid JUBI - February 1, 2016

Victor Mambor, Jayapura, Jubi – The chairman of the Jayapura city branch of the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI), Victor Mambor, said although President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has declared that Papua is open to foreign journalists, the fact on the ground is different.

Foreign journalists are still having difficulties in working in Papua, Mambor said. Foreign journalists should not only be allowed to visit Papua, but also report freely, he said.

Mambor made the remarks during a national seminar held Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) in the auditorium of LIPI, Jalan Gatot Subroto, Jakarta last weekend. He said, although foreign journalists are free to visit Papua, they are not free to report.

"As journalists, we know the risks. Missing and dying on the spot of coverage is the risk the comes with being a journalist, " said Mambor, who also is also editor-in-chief of Jubi

According to him, since Jokowi announced restrictions on foreign journalists in Papua were lifted, 18 foreign reporters have visited Papua, 12 of them at the invitation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The other six entered independently. It's two different things.

Not all foreign journalists can enter Papua independently, even after he did the coverage and wanted to come back to Indonesia. One of them was French journalist Cyril Payen, who some time ago his visa was refused for no apparent reason.

"We appreciate the government rules, but if it is not publicly explained, this will be a loose cannon or bola liar. If they are rejected or do not meet the procedures, should be explained openly. Moreover, the problem is the visit letter. French radio reporter was given a letter to go to Jayapura, while he covered not only in Jayapura. It was then a problem when he went out of Jayapura "he said.

"The French came with two permits, to coverage and make a video. Because of the coverage he was called by the Indonesian consulate in Bangkok, "he continued.

According to him, even though foreign journalists has received permission from Jakarta, but there will be Papua police and army involvements when they come. He said they had tried to discuss with the relevant local military commander and police chief foreign correspondent but these two institutions refused.

"I also wonder whether the president's instruction was known by the police chief and military commander or not." He said.

At the same occasion, director of the Alliance for Democracy in Papua (ALDP), Latifa Anum Siregar, who also presented as a guest speaker in the seminar stated until now the access of foreign journalists to Papua has not been as expected.

"I think until now there will be journalists who proudly calls itself the first came and got extraordinary flexibility when Jokowi talked to open access of foreign journalists to Papua," she continued.

Another speaker, Tantowi Yahya, said the president's decision to open access for foreign journalists to Papua remained controversial at the central government level.

"When we talk with stakeholders in government, they also have not one word. There is a desire, there is also a look at the impact of the enormous freedom. That is why since the reign of Soeharto to SBY was never opened, "said deputy chairman of commission I of the House of Representatives. (Arjuna Pademme)

Source: http://tabloidjubi.com/eng/foreign-journalists-need-freedom-to-cover-papua/

Human rights & justice

Imparsial: Justice must be served in past abuses

Jakarta Post - February 1, 2016

Fedina S. Sundaryani, Jakarta – Responding to President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's pledge to resolve several past gross rights abuse cases by the end of the year, human rights watchdog Imparsial has urged the government to answer victims' demands for justice.

The government announced last year that it would establish a human rights task force, also referred to as a reconciliation team, to pursue non-judicial resolutions to seven human rights abuse cases that have haunted the nation for decades.

However, al-Araf of Imparsial said that in spite of Jokowi's pledge, the government would not get far if it insisted on relying solely on the reconciliation team to resolve the cases.

Al-Araf said the reconciliation team's main purpose was to uncover the truth about the seven cases, which were initially investigated by the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM). The results of the investigations were submitted to the Attorney General's Office (AGO) in 2012.

"We must continue working [to resolve past rights abuses] and [the government] must follow up on our findings. It has already promised and committed to resolving all these cases. However, we must remember that using non-judicial method does not remove the possibility of [the cases] being tried in court," he told The Jakarta Post on Saturday.

The planned reconciliation team should not, he said, be given ultimate authority to resolve all past rights abuse cases. "The reconciliation team's [objective] is only to discover and publicize what happened; the mechanism for justice should not be impeded."

The reconciliation team is likely to comprise figures from the Office of the Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister, the AGO, the National Police, the National Intelligence Agency (BIN), the Indonesian Military (TNI) and Komnas HAM.

The government has committed to resolving seven human rights violation cases, namely the 1989 Talangsari incident in Central Lampung, the 2001 and 2003 Wamena and Wasior incidents in Papua, various kidnappings and unresolved shootings in the 1980s, the 1965 communist purge and the May 1998 riots.

Previously, Attorney General M. Prasetyo said that the AGO would seek to resolve the issues through non-judicial mechanisms because of the complex technical problems involved, such as difficulties in gathering evidence.

Al-Araf furthermore called on the government to backtrack on its stated refusal to issue any formal apology if the reconciliation team found enough evidence to prove state involvement in the violation of human rights.

"An apology from the state is part of the process to resolve these past human rights cases. If the facts show that [the government] was at fault, then there must be an apology," he said.

Separately, Prasetyo said that the government was still tying up some loose ends before it could establish the task force.

"We are still moving forward. We have been holding meetings with various stakeholders, as the cases cannot be resolved by the AGO alone. All stakeholders involved must be asked to join in the discourse," he said, adding that he was optimistic the cases would be resolved this year.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/01/imparsial-justice-must-be-served-past-abuses.html

Labour & migrant workers

Workers and activists criminalised after being assaulted by police

Solidarity Net - February 7, 2016

Jakarta – As many as 23 workers, a student and two Jakarta Legal Aid Foundation (LBH) officials have been named suspects in relation to an October 30, 2015 action that ended with police attacking workers. Despite the assaults, the Metro Jaya regional police are instead charging the workers and activists as provocateurs.

LBH Jakarta public defender Maruli Tua believes that the naming of the activists is a form of criminalisation by police and ads to the long list of earlier cases that befell leaders of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) such as KPK investigator Novel Baswedan and KPK commissioners Bambang Widjianto and Abraham Samad.

"The cases of Tigor (public defender) and Obed (assistant public defender) will now be handed over to the Attorney General's Office. Tigor and Obed who documented and were at the workers' action on October 30, 2015 have been named suspects along with 23 other workers", explained Maruli.

LBH Jakarta along with trade unions and other civil society organisations will fight this attempt at criminalisation.

Those who are being criminalised have already received summonses as suspects, including Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPI) General Secretary Muhammad Rusdi who received a summons on Wednesday, February 3 requesting that he present himself for questioning on February 10.

Meanwhile the status of the command vehicle belonging to workers that was seized by the Metro Jaya regional police is still unclear and may be used as evidence.

This raises big questions about why the workers, who were assaulted and injured, their command vehicle damaged and fired on with tear gas, who were arrested after being injured during the October 30 action, are the ones who have been named suspects and face legal action. Meanwhile no action has been taken against the police who committed the assaults.

As reported, on October 30 last year the Indonesian Labour Movement (GBI) held an action opposing Government Regulation Number 78/2015 on wages. This regulation determines annual wages increases based on the inflation rate and economic growth according to the National Statistics Agency's (BPS). Based on this formula, wage increases for 2016 have been set at no more than 11.5 percent.

[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service. The original title of the report was "Buruh dan Aktivis Korban Pemukulan Polisi Malah Dijadikan Tersangka".]

Source: http://solidaritas.net/2016/02/buruh-dan-aktivis-korban-pemukulan-polisi-malah-dijadikan-tersangka.html

Workers flood Jakarta to protest layoffs

Jakarta Post - February 6, 2016

Jakarta – Thousands of Indonesian labor union members flooded into Jakarta for a massive rally on Saturday, urging the government to stop layoffs at multinational corporations.

Simultaneous rallies were held in Jakarta, Bogor, Batam, Bekasi, Depok, Medan, Surabaya, Semarang and Tangerang. In total, 30,000 workers joined in the action, said Said Iqbal, the chairman of the Confederation of Indonesian Workers Union (KSPI).

"Today, 30,000 workers demanded two things: stop the layoff of Indonesian laborers and revoke the 2015 government regulation that has led to low wages," he said at the rally as quoted by Antara news agency on Saturday.

The rally started from the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle and continued up to the State Palace before finally gathering in Kelapa Gading, a commercial district in North Jakarta, to celebrate the 17th anniversary of the Indonesian Metal Labor Union Federation (FSPMI).

As previously reported, some Japanese and South Korean factories have announced plans to cut jobs in Indonesia. The FSPI has claimed that thousands of workers will lose their jobs if the plans were to be implemented.

Calling the claims exaggerated, Vice President Jusuf Kalla pledged to boost economic growth to minimize layoffs in 2016. "We will try to keep the economy running to reduce the magnitude of layoffs," he said as quoted by Antara. (ags)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/06/workers-flood-jakarta-protest-layoffs.html

Prabowo confidant Fadli Zon rolls out red carpet for workers at FSPMI Congress

Detik News - February 6, 2016

Ahmad Masaul Khoiri, Jakarta – House of Representatives (DPR) Deputy Speaker Fadli Zon from Prabowo Subianto's Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) has had frequent discussions with DPR colleagues and Indonesian Metal Workers Federation (FSPMI) chairperson Said Iqbal over the recent wave of mass layoffs.

Zon, as a representative of the people will fight for the interests of workers and employees.

"If [you our] friends come (to the DPR) there's no need to demonstrate. We'll open the DPR's doors wide and roll out the red carpet [for you]. We want workers to be prosperous and affluent", said Zon after opening the 5th Congress of the FSPMI at the Kelapa Gading Sports Mall in North Jakarta on Saturday February 6.

Attending the event was FSPMI chairperson Said Iqbal. Upon hearing Zon's remarks, the thousands of workers present cheered and clapped.

The wave of mass layoffs (PHK) taking place recently is a threat to workers and the government is being called on not treat the matter lightly. "The government should not underestimate this problem because job opportunities are the right of all citizens. This is a constitutional mandate", said Zon.

Zon is calling on the government to formulate policies that support decent wages with the aim of bringing prosperity to workers. "This congress is an opportunity, for [our] worker friends who are the correct ones to criticise policies that are not pro-people", he said.

Society, he continued, want workers who are solid and strong. Because of this therefore, Zon hopes that the 5th Congress of the FSPMI will produce pro-people policies. "[In] Indonesia if workers are prosperous then the ordinary people are also prosperous. This represents the backbone of our industry", said Zon.

The FSPMI Congress is being attended by thousands of workers, some of whom arrived after holding a protest action at the State Palace earlier this afternoon. (nwy/try)

[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service. The original title of the report was "Di Kongres FSPMI, Fadli Zon: Buruh ke DPR Jangan Demo, Kita Gelar Karpet Merah".]

Source: https://news.detik.com/berita/3136494/di-kongres-fspmi-fadli-zon-buruh-ke-dpr-jangan-demo-kita-gelar-karpet-merah

Panasonic plays down union claims, but confirms layoffs

Jakarta Post - February 5, 2016

Jakarta – Japanese electronics maker Panasonic says that the figure mentioned in claims made earlier by a labor union about mass layoffs in some of the company's plants is much higher than the actual number.

PT Panasonic Manufacturing Indonesia president director Ichiro Suganuma said his company shut down one plant and terminated the jobs of 425 workers, not two factories and 1,600 workers as reported earlier by the Confederation of Indonesia Labor Unions (KSPI).

Suganuma added that the move was made amid a drop in demand for compact fluorescent lamps in the domestic and Japanese markets. "People now prefer LED [light-emitting diode] lamps so we focus on making LEDs now," he said via text message.

Despite the plant closure and layoffs, Suganuma asserted, "The more important thing is that our commitment to the industry remains the same and our investment in LED technology development is still big."

Panasonic now runs two lamp factories in Pasuruan, East Java and Cileungsi in Bogor, West Java.

KSPI president Said Iqbal said Tuesday that the firm's two factories in Pasuruan, East Java and Cikarang, West Java, were closed in January and February respectively and the jobs of 1,600 workers were terminated.

The KSPI also reported on the planned layoff of 900 workers by television producer PT Toshiba Consumer Products Indonesia in Cikarang in April. Toshiba clarified that the actual figure was 360 workers were being laid off, which was lower than the union's report.

According to Toshiba, it had to terminate the jobs of its permanent workers as the company located in Cikarang produced well under its capacity last year because of a drastic drop of demand for televisions in the Middle East, one of its export destinations.

"The site only produced 30,000 TVs out of a maximum 350,000 capacity," said a Toshiba executive who refused to be named.

Separately, Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) head Franky Sibarani said that the board was currently seeking formal clarifications from both Panasonic and Toshiba about the matter.

"We can facilitate them to improve competitiveness, such as by issuing any necessary policy and coordinate with the relevant ministries," Franky said Thursday. He also said that investment in the electronics industry remained promising despite the reported layoffs.

BKPM data shows principal permit investments in the industry were recorded at Rp 530 billion (US$38.4 million), an 85 percent increase year on year.

Earlier on Wednesday, Manpower Minister Muhammad Hanif Dhakiri lamented that the report came first from the workers union instead of the companies. "Actually in our system, we require companies to report any layoff plan to either us or the regional manpower agency," he said.

"We cannot rely on labor unions that are not in their capacity to provide the reports. However, we use the information as a tip-off subject to further follow-up," he added.

Hanif said the report made by the KSPI about the total number of people laid off in 2015 was higher than the ministry data. The ministry data shows 48,843 people lost their jobs last year, as compared to the KSPI's claim of 50,000. The ministry data also recorded that in 2014, the number of the laid-off workers amounted to 77,687. (rbk)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/05/panasonic-plays-down-union-claims-confirms-layoffs.html

126 Indonesian workers face death in Malaysia

Jakarta Post - February 5, 2016

Jakarta – Ministries are pooling their efforts to save 126 Indonesian migrant workers facing the death penalty in Malaysia for drug-related offences, an official said on Thursday.

The government has used consultations, legal aid and a diplomatic approach to try to save the workers, director for the protection of Indonesians and legal aid at the Foreign Affairs Ministry Lalu Muhammad Iqbal said.

All the defendants are currently undergoing legal proceedings in Malaysian courts. "We are still looking for the right method for addressing this issue," Iqbal said in Ponorogo regency, East Java, as quoted by tempo.co on Thursday.

The ministry has long cooperated with the Manpower Ministry and non-governmental organizations to try to save migrant workers who faced the death penalty abroad. That synergy has resulted in 282 Indonesian migrant workers being saved from the death penalty in Malaysia from 2013 to 2015, Iqbal added.

Meanwhile, Migrant Institute executive director Adi Candra Utama said the drug cases of the migrant workers were caused by domestic problems. The Migrant Institute reports that such problems include manipulation of the workers' personal data like their ages.

"The [problems at the] grassroots level should be first resolved, so that we can ensure the [protection of] migrant workers," Adi said, adding that internal factors accounted for 80 percent of the causes of migrant workers' problems.

There are 429,872 Indonesian migrant workers abroad with the highest number, 127,827 people, working in Malaysia according to the Agency for the Placement and Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (BNP2TKI) in 2014. (afr/rin)(+)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/05/126-indonesian-workers-face-death-malaysia.html

20,000 workers to protest layoffs and low wages: Union

Jakarta Post - February 3, 2016

Labor unions plan to send 20,000 members to rally in front of the Presidential Palace and the Supreme Court on Feb. 6 to protest layoffs and to urge the government to revoke the recently introduced formula for setting minimum wages.

The rally follows the announcement of mass layoffs at companies such Japanese electronics giants Panasonic and Toshiba, which adds pressure on the government to swiftly implement stimulus packages designed to offset the economic slowdown.

"Not only in Jakarta, simultaneous rallies will be held by thousands of workers in Surabaya, Batam, Bandung, Medan, Aceh and Makassar," the chairman of the Confederation of Indonesian Workers Unions (KSPI), Said Iqbal, said in Jakarta on Wednesday.

PT Panasonic Lighting, with facilities in Cikarang, West Java, and Pasuruan, East Java, as well as PT Toshiba Indonesia in Cikarang have announced the layoff plans to their workers, according to Said.

"It affects 1,700 KSPI members at Panasonic and 970 members at Toshiba. Around 600-700 Panasonic Lighting workers in Pasuruan were to be laid off in December and January, and another 900 to 1,000 workers in Cikarang would follow from January to March," he said as quoted by kompas.com on Tuesday.

Currently, Said continued, the labor union was negotiating with the management of Panasonic and Toshiba on compensation for the workers. Both companies would officially stop operations in March, he said.

Beside those two Japanese companies, Said added, two South Korean electronics companies also shut down operations in January, namely PT Samoin, which had laid off 1,200 workers, and PT Starlink, which had dismissed 500 employees.

This situation, Said argued, sent a negative signal to the public, especially as the Industry Ministry had not been informed about the shut downs. The global slowdown has hit electronics manufacturer hard, curbing domestic purchasing power and hence demand.

"It proves that the economic policy packages issued by the Joko Widodo-Jusuf Kalla administration are ineffective in their implementation. The policy packages only aim to accommodate investors, but in fact they [the investors] choose to wait and see amid the shutdown news," Said claimed.

The union leader blamed the latest minimum wage formula for causing a drop in purchasing power and curbing demand, which then prompted the manufacturers to halt operations. (ags)(+)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/03/20000-workers-protest-layoffs-and-low-wages-union.html

Political parties & elections

PPP faction seeks reconciliation

Jakarta Post - February 6, 2016

Erika Anindita, Jakarta – One faction of the internally riven United Development Party conveyed its intention to reach an islah or reconciliation in a national meeting on Friday.

PPP secretary-general Muhammad Romahurmuzy said on Friday that the Islamic-based party aimed for "a complete reconciliation" that would unify the two opposing factions.

Romahurmuzy's camp, which claims its authority from a PPP national congress in Bandung, West Java, in Oct. 2011, opened a two-day national meeting at Pondok Gede Hajj Dormitory in East Jakarta on Friday.

The national meeting, attended by at least 1,000 members, will on Saturday collect and consider input from each provincial executive board in an attempt to find a solution to the party's civil war.

"Disagreements aside, let us return to our founding principles," Romahurmuziy said in his opening speech.

Opposed to Romahurmuzy's camp is the faction led by Djan Faridz, who was elected chairman at the party's national congress in Jakarta in November 2014.

In early January the Law and Human Rights Ministry revoked a decree it had issued in March the previous year that recognized Romahurmuzy as PPP chairman.

However, minister Yasonna H. Laoly has yet to issue a decree recognizing one leadership or the other, despite a Supreme Court ruling recognizing Djan's leadership in November last year.

Djian's camp was entirely absent from Friday's meeting, having on Wednesday reported Romahurmuzy to the National Police, insisting that the legal PPP structure was that set up at the Jakarta congress.

Djan's camp declared its support for President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's administration in late January, jumping ship from the Gerindra Party-led opposition coalition. (rin)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/06/ppp-faction-seeks-reconciliation.html

Opposition coalition not dead yet: PKS cadre

Jakarta Post - February 6, 2016

Jakarta – A senior member of the Islamic-based Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), Hidayat Nur Wahid, has insisted that the opposition Red-and-White Coalition (KMP) continues to remain in existence, despite most of its member parties having jumped ship to the government coalition.

"There has been no official declaration that the KMP has disbanded. There remain the PKS and the Gerindra Party as members," Hidayat said on Friday as quoted by kompas.com.

Hidayat said that although a number of erstwhile members of the coalition, including the National Mandate Party, Golkar Party and United Development Party (PPP), had expressed their support for the government of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, none of the parties had issued an official statement announcing their withdrawal from the KMP. "If we disband, we will announce it. We will not bow out silently," Hidayat said.

The KMP, which initially consisted of five political parties – Gerindra, PAN, the PPP, Golkar and the PKS – was formed to support the nomination of Prabowo Subianto in the 2014 presidential election.

Following Prabowo's loss in the election, the parties established an opposition coalition in the House of Representatives, succeeding in wresting control of many House leadership positions.

Recently, however, PAN, Golkar and the PPP publicly changed their stance, voicing support for the policies of President Jokowi's administration.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/06/national-scene-opposition-coalition-not-dead-yet-pks-cadre.html

Golkar restores rights of dismissed members in reconciliation move

Jakarta Post - February 4, 2016

Tama Salim, Jakarta – The Golkar Party has taken another major step forward in healing its internal rift after the leaders of the two rival camps agreed to restore the rights of party members who were dismissed throughout the entire course of the conflict.

Aburizal Bakrie, the chairman of Golkar as elected in the 2009 national congress in Riau, said that he would honor the recent decree issued by the Law and Human Rights Ministry, which reinstated the leadership roster from the Riau congress to allow the party to host a new congress that would settle the leadership dispute.

Among the points brought up in the recent decree, the government ordered Golkar to restore the rights of members who had been dismissed by Aburizal for insubordination during a previous attempt to host a congress in Bali in 2014.

"The ministerial decree clearly states the names [of executives from the old roster], and we will retain those names, even at the regional branch level," Aburizal said after a meeting with rival Agung Laksono at the private residence of Vice President Jusuf Kalla in Central Jakarta, on Wednesday.

Agung, who resumed his position as Aburizal's deputy following the issuance of the ministerial decree, was among those dismissed for opposing several of Aburizal's political decisions in the lead-up to the 2014 national congress.

Other executives who had been shown the door were Priyo Budi Santoso, Zainudin Amali, Agun Gunanjar Sudarsa, Leo Nababan and Yorrys Raweyai.

Eager to block Aburizal's claim to the chairmanship, Agung and his supporters had banded together to form a new management roster, which was legitimized at a national congress in Jakarta in November 2014, before being annulled at the end of 2015 by a ministerial decree honoring a Supreme Court ruling from October.

At least 18 senior Golkar politicians were dismissed as a result of the prolonged infighting, which had been brewing since the party failed to secure victory in the 2014 legislative elections.

Tensions flared after the incumbent chairman threw support behind Prabowo Subianto of the Gerindra Party in the presidential election, resulting in the party's ouster from the ruling circle for the first time in its 50-year history.

As returning deputy chairman of the party, Agung said that the source of conflict surrounding the dismissal of members had been resolved and their rights restored.

"From the very beginning – even before today, we agreed not to continue the practice [of dismissals]. Whoever was wronged will be rehabilitated," Agung said on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Kalla, who has been working as a mediator in the conflict, revealed that the party was open to the possibility of amending its statutes and bylaws in the hopes of preventing future conflict.

"Let's just say the party statutes and rules will undergo relevant changes in order to promote unity in Golkar and avoid future conflicts like this," Kalla said after the meeting. "We'll improve the system within Golkar [to ensure] a democratic national congress," he added.

In the meeting, Kalla personally asked the two camps not to include what he deemed as "problematic" individuals as organizing members of the party's upcoming congress, an apparent swipe at former executives Nurdin Halid and Yorrys Raweyai. "He wants figures who are amenable and accommodating to all," Agung said.

Separately, political analyst Gun Gun Heryanto said the current roster of Golkar executives would do well to restore the rights of its dismissed members to ensure the future of the party.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/04/golkar-restores-rights-dismissed-members-reconciliation-move.html

Golkar questions KPK's place at congress

Jakarta Post - February 1, 2016

Jakarta – Golkar Party executive Ade Komarudin has questioned the Corruption Eradication Commission's (KPK) plan to involve itself in the party's upcoming extraordinary national congress.

KPK deputy chairman Saut Situmorang said on Saturday that the antigraft body may step look the running of the congress following intelligence reports that a large sum of money would be distributed during the congress where a new party chairman is set to be elected.

The KPK deputy chairman said that the antigraft body had reason to believe that illegal practices could take place at the planned congress as such activity had occurred in other political parties in the past.

"The KPK has previously refused [to be involved in politics]. The KPK knows better," said Ade, speaker of the House of Representatives, as quoted by tribunnews.com, recalling previous statements from KPK officials.

Ade, however, said that he agreed to uphold accountability during the congress. "There shouldn't be any evil conspiracies."

Following a long standoff between two rival camps in the Golkar Party, executives of the country's oldest party have agreed to hold the extraordinary meeting before May this year, in which the leaders of the two camps, Aburizal Bakrie and Agung Laksono have been called on not to run in the chairmanship race.

Saut did not rule out the possibility that the KPK could conduct sting operations during the congress, as it had in the past. The KPK previously arrested Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) lawmaker Adriansyah after catching him red-handed accepting money on the sidelines of the party's national congress in Bali.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/01/national-scene-golkar-questions-KPK-s-place-congress.html

Surveys & opinion polls

Indonesians trust business more than government: Survey

Associated Press - February 2, 2016

Anton Hermansyah – Indonesian citizens have more faith in business than the government, in terms of solving prolonged social issues such as poverty and unemployment this year, an Edelman Trust Barometer 2016 survey has indicated.

The results of the survey were due to people becoming more realistic as euphoria for President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's administration had faded after one year, Edelman Indonesia CEO Raymond Siva said.

"After one year, it's the normalization period during which people's trust declines, returns to normal. This also happened in India with the rise in optimism when PM Narendra Modi was elected, but it went back to normal afterward," he said in Jakarta on Monday.

According to the survey, Indonesians were very concerned about poverty reduction, expecting businesses to provide jobs, reduce unemployment and increase welfare in society.

Indonesian citizens, Siva continued, tended to perceive business value not in terms of growth and profit, but in terms of integrity; how businesses treated their employees and how much they were concerned about social and environmental issues.

"Even corporate social responsibility [CSR] is no longer significant. Indonesians see that as an excuse for corporations to do things that negatively affect society or nature," Edelman South East Asia and Australia CEO Iain Twine said.

The Trust Barometer survey is conducted in 28 countries across the region, involving respondents 18 years or older. Each country has a total 1,150 respondents. (ags)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/02/indonesians-trust-business-more-government-survey.html

Environment & natural disasters

Retailers to crack down on plastic bags

Jakarta Post - February 5, 2016

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – Customers will have to pay for plastic bags when they shop at shopping malls, department stores, supermarkets and other retail outlets throughout 23 of the country's major cities starting Feb. 21.

In an effort to reduce plastic waste, Indonesian Retailers Association (Aprindo) chairman Roy Mandey said on Thursday that all modern retailers in 23 of the country's major cities were ready to implement the policy set by the Environment and Forestry Ministry last year.

"All retailers in these cities have been targeted to implement the education program. We will start doing this to show that the retail industry have made a commitment to support the government's program," he told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.

The 23 major cities are Ambon, Balikpapan, Banda Aceh, Bandung, Banjarmasin, Bekasi, Bogor, Denpasar, Depok, Jakarta, Jayapura, Kendari, Makassar, Medan, Palembang, Papua, Pekanbaru, Semarang, Solo, Surabaya, Tangerang, South Tangerang and Yogyakarta.

The association chose Feb. 21 as the date to kick off the campaign so as to coincide with National Waste Awareness Day.

The ministry's director general for dangerous toxic material and waste management, Tuti Hendrawati Mintarsih, said that the government has yet to confirm the price to be charged to customers for plastic shopping bags.

The ministry has proposed a charge of Rp 500 per plastic bag and suggested that customers could get Rp 200 back if they return the plastic bags to the retailers. But Tuti said that, through local ordinances, regional governments would have the final say on how much shoppers will be charged.

She expected that the price will vary between regions and are likely to be between Rp 500 and Rp 5,000. "So [the prices] will be flexible, depending on the agreement between regions and retailers themselves," Tuti said.

Aprindo, meanwhile, has proposed a Rp 200 charge for each plastic bag. "Under the assumption that such a price will be affordable to the public," Roy said. "But we're just hoping for the best decision. We will leave it to the regional governments [to decide]".

The ministry considers Rp 200 to be too low and is thus unlikely to deter people from using plastic bags. "This is still a trial period, from February to June, so Aprindo should have nothing to worry about," she said.

Banda Aceh Mayor Illiza Sa'aduddin Djamal said on Thursday that his administration would likely apply a reasonable price. "It could be around Rp 500 [I suppose], based on what the ministry ask," she said.

Banjarmasin Mayor H. Muhidin said that his administration was currently in talks with local retailers and the city's environment agency, adding that the city was ready to implement the policy by Feb. 21.

Indonesia is following in the footsteps of others in the region by implementing a curb on the use of plastic bags. Last year, Hong Kong started charging people 50 cents per plastic bag, a move that resulted in a 73 percent decrease in plastic bag consumption.

Data from the ministry shows that people consume up to 9.8 billion plastic bags every year in Indonesia, with 95 percent of the bags made with plastics that take considerable time to break down naturally.

Plastic shopping bags are so resilient, pervasive and toxic that we have arrived at a tipping point, the entire ecosystem is off balance, with tens of thousands of turtles, whales, other marine creatures and sea birds dying each year after having ingested plastic material.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/05/retailers-crack-down-plastic-bags.html

Gender & sexual orientation

NU, PKB take tough stance against LGBT community

Jakarta Post - February 6, 2016

Tama Salim and Ina Parlina, Jakarta – The traditionally inclusive National Awakening Party (PKB), the political party of the country's largest moderate Muslim organization, is debating whether it will issue a tough stance against the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, following a recent controversy sparked by a statement from Research and Technology and Higher Education Minister Mohammad Nasir.

PKB deputy secretary-general Daniel Johan said that during a three-day national meeting, party executives would decide the party's political stance toward contemporary issues, including a plan to reject the rights of the LGBT community.

Daniel, however, maintained the party would continue to champion the rights of minority groups, in spite of a consensus among party members to reject any attempt to amend the 1945 Constitution to recognize same-sex marriage.

"We have agreed to reject same-sex marriage, although we'll continue to honor the rights of individuals from the group, who can keep their rights as citizens protected by the Constitution," Daniel told The Jakarta Post on Friday.

Daniel said that the party would continue to espouse the values of pluralism and multiculturalism, which were well-promoted during the party's early period, when founding member Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid was an influential figure in the party. "We haven't changed in that sense; there's no reason to doubt PKB's commitment to pluralism," he said.

Jazilul Fawaid, secretary of the party's House of Representatives faction, argued that the rejection of the rights of the LGBT community was based on what he called "eastern" and religious values.

"We reject their rights to be granted the same constitutional rights. That is also the case if they campaign for such rights and actively seek out followers for their cause," said Jazilul.

As for those who self-identified as being members of the LGBT community, he said the PKB would treat them with respect by providing guidance and help. "But, they don't need to be isolated," he said.

He said the party would continue to be defenders of minority groups. "PKB promotes diversity and pluralism, but even such liberties require limits; it must not violate the rules of law, ethics or religion," he said.

Meanwhile, although supporting the call to ban members of the LGBT community from university campuses, chairman of country's largest Islamic organization, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Said Aqil Siradj, said that the community should not be subjected to hate.

"Well, [as humans] everything should be done in a civilized manner; we must not spark hatred," he said. "[However] I support the [previous] call of research, technology and higher education minister [Muhammad Nasir] that it [LGBT practices] should not be allowed on campuses because it is not only against religious teachings but also human nature." Said later deemed the LGBT phenomenon in the country as "quite dangerous".

LGBT activities on campus came into the spotlight recently when conservative media coverage attacked the Support Group and Resource Center on Sexuality Studies (SGRC) at the University of Indonesia (UI), highlighting its LGBT Peer Support Network, a counseling service in cooperation with melela.org, an online platform for LGBT people and their supporters to share their experiences. The group also encourages discussion and studies on topics surrounding gender and sexuality.

Messages have been circulating online calling on the public to establish anti-LGBT groups on campus and several lawmakers have slammed the SGRC UI.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/06/nu-pkb-take-tough-stance-against-lgbt-community.html

Komnas HAM slams vilification of LGBT by officials

Jakarta Post - February 5, 2016

Liza Yosephine, Jakarta – The National Commission of Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has described as a violation of human rights recent statements made by public officials vilifying the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual (LGBT) community.

Komnas HAM described the vilification of LGBT members by several political figures as contradictory to the fundamental principles of the nation, according to a statement received from Komnas HAM by thejakartapost.com.

Technology, Research, and Higher Education Minister Muhammad Nasir argued in January for the prohibition of LGBT students from university campuses describing them as morally corrupt.

The statement was followed by various statements by other officials, including Culture and Elementary and Secondary Education Minister Anies Baswedan, People's Consultative Assembly chairman Zulkifli Hasan, House of Representatives member Reni Marliawati and Bandung Mayor Ridwan Kamil, who all made similar discriminatory statements regarding LGBT people.

The commission says that such statements are also not in line with President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's development principles of Nawa Cita in which the government affirms Indonesia's pluralism and intends to strengthen social restoration through policies aimed at strengthening education in favor of diversity and creating space for dialogue among citizens.

Disparaging comments fueled discrimination and triggered violence toward the LGBT community, Konmas HAM stated.

According to research conducted by the commission in 2015, the LGBT community especially have difficulty in fulfilling its right to health, work, fair legal treatment and freedom of expression. The research also found that the media played a large role in helping the public understand LGBT issues.

Komnas HAM urged public officals to put a stop to negative comments that violated human rights and incited violence toward the LGBT community.

The commission also called for law enforcement agencies to curb abuse instigated by community organizations or individuals toward LGBT people and referred to the Social Affairs Ministry Regulation No. 8/2012 on minority groups in which LGBT people are included, as well as Home Ministry Regulation no. 27/2014 on the guidelines for the planning, control and job evaluation work plan for regional development in 2015 that is also inclusive of gays, transsexuals and lesbians.

Furthermore, the commission emphasized the importance of applying the 2006 Yogyakarta Principles, a set of international human rights principles relating to sexual orientation and gender identity. (bbn)(+)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/05/komnas-ham-slams-vilification-lgbt-officials.html

Graft & corruption

Courts let graft convicts off the hook too easy, watchdog says

Jakarta Globe - February 7, 2016

Jakarta – Indonesian courts have been very lenient toward corruption defendants last year, sentencing them to an average of just 26 months in prison, the country's most prominent antigraft watchdog said.

The Indonesia Corruption Watch released a study on Sunday (07/02) examining all 564 corruption cases heard by anti-corruption courts across the country last year. The report found that 68 defendants have been acquitted by the courts with a whopping 401 defendants only receiving light sentences of less than four years.

Last year, only three defendants were sentenced to more than 10 years, while the remaining were handed down sentences of between four and 10 years.

The group also found that 309 of the defendants convicted last year were only ordered to pay the minimum fine of Rp 50 million ($3,650). Conversely just 33 defendants were ordered to pay more than Rp 200 million. The maximum fine for corruption offenses is Rp 1 billion.

It is a worrying trend, ICW said in a statement, considering that the defendants are still up for sentence cuts and parole. It added that the light sentences would do little to deter others from committing acts of corruption.

The courts only acquitted 16 defendants in 2013 and handed down prison sentences with an average of 35 months' imprisonment. The figure rose to 28 acquitted in 2014, while the average prison term handed down dwindled to 32 months.

The ICW also noted that the Supreme Court has not set a standard of how much prison time a defendant should receive for cases where the state has suffered material losses, leading to huge disparities in the length of prison terms handed down.

The Palembang District Court last year sentenced a man accused of embezzling Rp 10 million to one year in prison, while the Bengkulu District Court handed a prison term of the same length for a case where the state had suffered losses of Rp 6.3 billion, the report pointed out.

"Disparities of sentences will hurt people's sense of justice. [Disparities] occur because judges enjoy great independence to make a ruling as they please without accountability for their judgments," the ICW said.

"The judiciary must enact reforms to strengthen its supervisory function to establish a more accountable court system to support the drive to eradicate corruption. The government should also enact stronger regulations in the fight against corruption like a law on asset seizures to address issues found in retrieving stolen assets."

Source: http://jakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/courts-let-graft-convicts-off-hook-easy-watchdog-says/

Seta claims innocence in Freeport scandal

Jakarta Post - February 5, 2016

Fedina S. Sundaryani, Jakarta – Former House of Representatives speaker Setya Novanto has maintained that he played no part in an alleged conspiracy involving gold and copper mining company PT Freeport Indonesia (Freeport).

Following a seven-hour questioning session conducted by investigators from the Attorney General's Office (AGO) in South Jakarta on Thursday, Setya denied that he had promised to help with the extension of Freeport's mining contract, set to expire in 2021, in exchange for shares in the company.

"What is clear is that I never asked for any shares and never abused the President or Vice-President's name. Such accusations are untrue. Everything now is in the hands of the investigators, to whom I have already told everything," he told reporters on Thursday.

Setya resigned last month from his leadership position at the House to avoid political embarrassment after a report filed by Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Sudirman Said to the House's ethics council accused the former speaker of involvement in the conspiracy.

A recorded conversation Sudirman submitted along with the report gave details of a meeting Setya had with then Indonesia president director of Freeport Maroef Sjamsoeddin and tycoon Riza Chalid.

A voice believed to be that of Setya's was heard asking for an 11 percent share for President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and a nine percent share for Vice President Jusuf Kalla.

Setya also said that he was ready to meet a future summons from prosecutors.

"Yes, I am always prepared [for another summons]," he said.

On Monday, House Commission III overseeing legal affairs established a working committee to assist the AGO's investigation into Setya with Democratic Party lawmaker Benny K. Harman serving as its chairman.

Benny said the committee would not interfere with the criminal investigation already being conducted by the AGO, and would instead oversee how the AGO would handle the conspiracy case.

Meanwhile, the AGO's junior attorney for special crimes Arminsyah said that Setya had confirmed during the questioning session that a meeting with Maroef and Riza had occurred but the senior Golkar politician continued to deny that the voice on the recording was his.

"Setya denied that it was his voice on that recording, and it's within his rights to do so. We are still looking for other evidence and we have already asked an expert from the Bandung Institute of Technology [ITB] to analyze the recording and see if it matches with Maroef's testimony," he said, referring to Maroef's confirmation at a prior questioning session that the voice on the recording was that of Setya's.

Arminsyah said that based on findings from the forensics expert, there was no doubt that Setya's voice was the voice heard on the recording.

Although the AGO's preliminary investigation has led prosecutors to believe that a conspiracy did occur during the meeting, Arminsyah acknowledged that they had yet to gather enough evidence to move forward with the investigation and name suspects.

"We need at least two pieces of evidence [before we name a suspect] and at present we only have one and that is Maroef's testimony. We will be more resolute once we collect all the evidence," he said.

Arminsyah said that Setya had asked to leave the questioning session early on Thursday because he had to leave for West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) to join a Golkar Party meeting there.

"He will be questioned again either on Tuesday or Wednesday," he said, adding that Setya had pledged to attend the next session.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/05/setya-claims-innocence-freeport-scandal.html

KPK commissioners protest law amendments with no-show

Jakarta Post - February 5, 2016

Tama Salim and Ina Parlina, Jakarta – The House of Representatives has been forced to cancel a crucial first meeting to deliberate a rough draft of the 2002 Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Law revision, after the antigraft body's commissioners failed to show up for the session on Thursday.

For the meeting, the KPK only sent its spokesperson Yuyuk Andriati, its information department deputy Hary Budiarto, legal department head Setiadi and members of its legal team Nur Chusniah and Anatomi.

Soon after the afternoon session kicked off, Golkar lawmaker Firman Soebagyo called for the meeting to be adjourned due to the absence of KPK leaders.

Firman's call was met by protest from Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) lawmaker Hendrawan Supratikno, who urged the chairman to allow the KPK officials to give an explanation regarding their commissioners' absence.

"This is an important meeting [for KPK commissioners to miss]. We don't need to occupy ourselves with any further explanation – the meeting should be called off so we can continue with the next step of meeting antigraft experts on Tuesday," Firman said.

Chairman of the session, lawmaker Totok Daryanto of National Mandate Party (PAN), proceeded to ask the KPK to submit a written statement to the House legislative body (Baleg) regarding the no-show.

"With the submission of the written response, this meeting is adjourned," Totok said, ending the session. "This meeting is cancelled not because we don't want to listen to what the KPK has to say. We just want to have an open discussion."

The KPK Law revision has been a point of contention between legislators and the government for the past few years. Following months of a back-and-forth, the House finally included the bill in this year's Priority Legislation Program (Prolegnas).

Last year, in spite of the potential that the amendment could weaken the KPK, then acting KPK chairman Taufiqurrahman Ruki gave the green light for legislators to amend the KPK Law, which would allow for the curtailing for the agency's authority.

KPK spokesperson Yuyuk said leaders of the KPK declined to attend the meeting as a protest against the revision plan. She said that KPK leaders argued that current provisions were still a suitable backing for the antigraft body's operations.

"The KPK leaders did not attend the meeting for a number of reasons, so today we are here to submit a letter to the Baleg chairman underlining our rejection of the KPK Law revision," Yuyuk told reporters after the meeting at the House compound in Central Jakarta.

Yuyuk said the antigraft body had yet to report to President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo regarding their stance on the KPK Law revision, although it was not the first time it had voiced its opinion on the issue. She said however that KPK commissioners could still attend future meetings with the House.

In the letter addressed to lawmakers, KPK chairman Agus Rahardjo urged both the House and the government to prioritize the deliberation and drafting of other laws related to corruption eradication, including the consolidation of articles in Law No. 31/1999 on graft crimes.

Agus also urged legislators to prepare the draft bill for assets confiscation as an implementation of Indonesia's commitment to ratify the UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), and consolidate the draft for revising the Criminal Code (KUHP) and the Criminal Code Procedures (KUHAP).

Separately, the Presidential Palace reiterated its stance on Thursday on the controversial plan to revise the KPK law, with President Jokowi remaining consistent in his support of the KPK in its anticorruption campaign.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/05/KPK-commissioners-protest-law-amendments-with-no-show.html

Law amendment bill weakens agency: KPK

Jakarta Post - February 4, 2016

Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is rejecting the draft bill on the revision of the KPK law, saying that it contains provisions that will weaken the antigraft body.

Learning of the latest draft proposed by a majority of House of Representatives' factions, KPK deputy chairman Laode Muhammad Syarif said the articles in the bill are mostly aimed at cutting the antigraft body's authority.

"The draft bill aims to weaken. More than 90 percent [of its contents] do not strengthen the KPK," he told reporters on Wednesday.

Laode cited as an example Article 12a in the bill, which stipulates new requirements to conduct wiretapping. The article not only requires the KPK to request a permit from a supervisory board to conduct a wiretap, it also limits a wiretapping period to only three months with a single possible extension.

The bill also raises the minimum amount of state losses that triggers a KPK investigation to Rp 25 billion (US$1,83 million). Currently, the antigraft body can proceed on a corruption case that incurs Rp 1 billion ($73,000) in state losses. Laode said the amount of state losses should not become a basis to limit a KPK investigation.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/04/national-scene-law-amendment-bill-weakens-agency-KPK.html

KPK coaxes Prasetyo to halt Novel case

Jakarta Post - February 2, 2016

Haeril Halim, National – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is lobbying the Attorney General's Office (AGO) to withdraw the dossiers of an assault case involving its senior investigator Novel Baswedan in a last-ditch attempt to stop the case from going to trial.

KPK deputy chairman Saut Situmorang confirmed the move on Monday, saying that the antigraft body was maintaining dialogue with relevant parties to help coax Attorney General M. Prasetyo to meet calls to drop Novel's case.

"We are currently maintaining communication with forces outside of the KPK," Saut told The Jakarta Post on Monday. Saut refused to disclose details of the KPK's lobbying efforts aimed at preventing the Bengkulu District Court from commencing the case's trial.

The court has yet to set a start date for the trial but the KPK will lose any of hope getting the case dropped after the court announces a date for Novel's first hearing. Prasetyo could not be reached for comment as of Monday afternoon.

Novel stands accused of shooting a robbery suspect during his tenure as Bengkulu Police chief detective in 2004. The police reopened an investigation into the case in 2012, after the KPK had named then-National Police Traffic Corps (Korlantas) chief Insp. Gen. Djoko Susilo a graft suspect. Then president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono requested the police drop the investigation into Novel's case to avoid worsening a standoff between the police and the KPK, but the police reopened the case after the KPK named Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan a bribery suspect in January last year.

Despite alleged irregularities in their handling of Novel's case, the National Police completed an investigation late last year into Novel and sent his dossiers to the Bengkulu Prosecutor's Office, which is under the supervision of the AGO.

The prosecutor's office recently completed its indictment against Novel in the case and sent the indictment to be tried at the Bengkulu District Court despite condemnation from legal experts who acknowledged Novel's case was married with irregularities.

Novel's legal team from the Indonesian Legal Aid Institute Foundation (YLBHI) met with KPK commissioners on Monday to urge them to ask the AGO to halt Novel's trial.

After Monday's meeting, Novel's lawyer, Lelyana Santosa, said that KPK leaders had their thrown support behind the team's efforts to withdraw the indictment.

"We have to use the remaining time because the AGO still has the authority to withdraw the indictment [before the court sets a date for Novel's trial]," Lelyana told reporters at KPK headquarters on Monday. "The KPK said that it will try its best, whatever it takes, to halt the trial," the lawyer went on.

Another one of Novel's lawyers, Julius Ibrani, said that Prasetyo should not worry about withdrawing Novel's indictment because such a mechanism was regulated under Article 144 of the Criminal Law Procedures Code (KUHAP).

"The article says that prosecutors can make a change to an indictment before the court sets a trial date, whether it is to improve the quality of the indictment or to stop the prosecution'," Julius said.

Saor Siagian, another member of Novel's legal team, said that Novel's prosecution had affected the performance of the KPK.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/02/KPK-coaxes-prasetyo-halt-novel-case.html

Terrorism & religious extremism

Jokowi turns to Islamic groups to fight radicalism

Jakarta Post - February 5, 2016

Erika Anindita, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo asked for the help of Islamic groups on Friday in order to tackle the spread of radical ideology in Indonesia, in the wake of last month's terrorist attack in the capital city.

Jokowi met with representatives of the country's largest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and the Islamic Dakwah Indonesia Institution (LDII) at separate times at the State Palace on Friday to discuss deradicalization programs.

NU executive council chairman Said Aqil Siradj said Jokowi asked the NU clerics to intensify preaching aimed at curbing the dissemination of radical teachings in Indonesia.

"The President asked us to always assert the issues of terrorism, radicalism and drugs in our preaching," Agil said as quoted by kompas.com.

The biggest Muslim organization has long preached about peaceful Islam and is involved in deradicalization programs throughout the country.

Deradicalization in Indonesia was important to prevent the escalation of tension between Sunnis and Shiites, as is occurring in the Middle East, taking place in Indonesia, Agil added.

Similarly, LDII chairman Abdullah Syam expressed the organization's support for deradicalization, saying it also strongly rejected radical ideology, terrorism and drug misuse.

"We are against everything that contradicts Pancasila [national ideology] and Islam's 'rahmatan lil alamin' [blessing for the universe]," he said as quoted by kompas.com.

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Luhut Pandjaitan and Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Syaifuddin accompanied Jokowi when he received the visits from both organizations' representatives.

Luhut said Jokowi wanted to develop cooperation with Islamic community organizations to help the socialization of deradicalization and prevent drug misuse, as quoted by tempo.co, adding that Jokowi would invite other Islamic community organizations in the near future.

Government is strengthening the deradicalization programs after the terrorist attack in Jakarta last month that left eight people dead, four civilians and four terrorists, and injured dozens more. One of the dead terrorists had been sent to prison for terrorism acts in the past. (afr/rin)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/05/jokowi-turns-islamic-groups-fight-radicalism.html

Government to prevent radicalization in prisons

Jakarta Post - February 5, 2016

Jakarta – Based on the assumption that prisons accommodating convicted terrorists may be fertile ground for radicalization, the government has introduced measures to curb the spread of radical teaching among inmates, a minister says.

Now, for example, prisoners housed at Nusakambangan in Central Java have been divided into three groups: ideologists, militants and sympathizers, said Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Luhut Panjaitan.

"This has been done so that there is no more lecturing can occur during imprisonment," he added in Jakarta on Thursday.

The measure was taken after the government learned of the alleged role of Nusakambangan prison inmates in the recent Jakarta attack that killed eight people.

Apart from continuing to manage convicted terrorists, Luhut said, the government would also carry out deradicalization programs within society.

To curb the spread of radical ideologies, he demanded that Muslim organizations like the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), Nadlatul Ulama (NU) and Muhammadiyah play a continuous role.

The minister, however, stressed the need for a comprehensive approach in dealing with terrorism. He said that economic disparity and hardship are triggering factors in acts of terrorism, making some more vulnerable to radical ideologies.

Luhut said that the Islamic State (IS) organization appeals to its potential recruits with what could be described as an alluring offer as antidote to their economic situation. "[IS] continuously offers 'one way of life' to recruit new members," Luhut said on Thursday as quoted on tempo.co.

There is a need for an overall amendment in every sector of the economy, he added. The government is currently focusing on strengthening the economy with the aim of reducing inequality through programs such as village development and the construction of infrastructure. Luhut said these programs intend to push economic growth and thus reduce terrorism.

In combating terrorism, he said that it was important to simultaneously conduct both a soft and hard approach to ensure effectiveness because doing only one or the other proves to be useless. (liz/bbn)(+)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/05/government-prevent-radicalization-prisons.html

More violence likely for Indonesia as small groups seek to impress Islamic State

Sydney Morning Herald - February 2, 2016

Jewel Topsfield, Jakarta – More terrorist attacks are likely in Indonesia as local Islamic State groups compete to carry out plots and establish their supremacy, terrorism expert Sidney Jones has warned.

Ms Jones said the personal rivalries and power struggles between Indonesian IS supporters portended more violence. She warned foreigners would be back on the terror hit list, along with police officers and Shiite Muslims.

The warning comes as 17-year-old Andika Bagus Setiawan was sentenced to five years' jail for his role in a foiled terror attack timed to coincide with Christmas and New Year celebrations.

Targets for the planned attack, which was directed by Bahrun Naim, an Indonesian who joined IS in Syria in 2015, included the governor of Jakarta, Basuki Tjahya Purnama, better known as Ahok, and high-ranking police officials such as national police chief Badrodin Haiti. Naim also directed his cell to stab Westerners in the expat precinct of Menteng in Jakarta.

However Ms Jones said the January 14 Jakarta attacks that killed eight people were not masterminded by Naim, despite police initially claiming he was responsible.

She said they are now known to have been carried out locally by a group called Partisans of the Caliphate (Jamaa Anshar Khilafah, or JAK), which is believed to be led from prison by Indonesia's leading pro-IS cleric, Aman Abdurrahman.

"The enormous publicity generated increased the pressure on Aman's rivals to undertake operations in Indonesia as soon as possible," Ms Jones says in the report, entitled "Disunity among Indonesian ISIS supporters and the risk of more violence".

"The competition will produce an increase in terrorist plots that regional law enforcement agencies will be hard pressed to contain."

For example, after the January 14 attack near one of Jakarta's best-known landmarks, the Sarinah department store, Bahrumsyah, another Indonesian based with IS in Syria, reportedly ordered his followers to undertake a similar action immediately.

"The fact that it has become much more difficult to cross into Syria from Turkey means that there will be more potential fighters willing to take on the war at home than in 2014 or 2015," the report says.

More than 215 Indonesians had been deported by Turkey as of December 2015 after trying but failing to cross into Syria. "While some families are still leaving, the message that it is becoming harder is getting through," the report says.

Ms Jones said if the government was interested in targeted deradicalisation programs, it could look at some of these deportees from Turkey, many of whom sold everything they had to try and join IS in Syria.

She also said the government needed to focus more on prisons, where many terrorist plots are hatched. Proposals included giving specialist training to prison officials in charge of extremists; closely supervising visitors and monitoring their conversations; and increasing surveillance of post-release prisoners.

Andika, the youngest member of Naim's group, was arrested in late December. The court heard he had been asked to prepare explosive materials for bombmaking and plan to attack certain targets.

Judge Simbolon said aggravating factors included hampering the government's program of combating terrorism and the boy's strong intention to carry out the attacks and bombings.

However Andika's lawyer, Nurlan Arman Remi, said it was a severe punishment for a minor when the attack had not even occurred.

Source: http://www.smh.com.au/world/more-violence-likely-for-indonesia-as-small-groups-seek-to-impress-islamic-state-20160202-gmjnlu.html

Hard-line & vigilante groups

Medan gang leaders call for calm, police probe

Jakarta Post - February 2, 2016

Apriadi Gunawan, Medan – Leaders of youth organizations Ikatan Pemuda Karya (IPK) and Pemuda Pancasila (PP) agreed on Monday to refrain from violence following a fatal brawl on Saturday, urging the police to thoroughly investigate the case.

"I have asked all IPK members to refrain from violence. No further action has occurred as we have been told by chairman Budi Panggabean," IPK's Medan branch chairman, Thomas Purba, told reporters at the organization's office on Monday.

He said the call was made in accordance with the legal requirements of the police investigation into the incident, adding that the brawl was spontaneous.

"We have asked the police to investigate the incident thoroughly so inaccurate information does not circulate," Thomas said.

He added that IPK members had not attacked the PP office, but were only passing by Jl. Thamrin on their way to a swearing-in ceremony in the Denai area when they were trapped in traffic and became engaged in an argument with PP members.

"We did not attack the PP office because at that time we had women and children in our entourage. It is not possible that such as attack occurred," Thomas said.

He added that his organization had lost two members, Monang Hutabarat and Roy Silaban, in the incident, while four others were injured. Those injured in the brawl were taken to the hospital for treatment but all have since returned home.

Thomas said that there had frequently been friction between the IPK and PP, which he put down to miscommunication.

Both organizations, established decades ago during the rule of Indonesia's second president Soeharto, were at that time affiliated with the ruling Golkar Party.

IPK has reportedly remained affiliated with the party while PP, which was founded by Japto S. Soerjosoemarno, left the party and became an independent organization. PP leaders, including Japto, then established the Patriotic Party in 2001.

Separately, PP deputy chairman Sakhyan Asmara, who is also acting head of PP's North Sumatra branch, said that he had called on all PP cadres to refrain from violence as had been requested by the commander of the Bukit Barisan commander. He said that PP cadres would fully obey the instruction.

"We made the call for the sake of the people's comfort and security," Sakhyan told The Jakarta Post on Monday. He said he regretted that the brawl had occurred and caused anxiety in the community.

To prevent such an incident from occurring again in the future he suggested that local administrations and law enforcement bodies revive a youth forum that was established in 2002.

He said the forum was effective at reducing conflict among youths, adding that after the forum was established no violence had occurred as all problems could be quickly settled by taking them to the forum.

The bloody brawls between IPK and PP occurred in a number of places in Medan on Saturday afternoon and continued until very late in the night. Two were killed in the incident and four were severely injured.

Although local people's daily activities in Medan had returned to normal on Monday, security personnel were still seen guarding a number of locations, including the PP office on Jl. Thamrin and IPK office on Jl. Sriwijaya.

Shops along Jl. Thamrin, Jl. Asia and Jl. Sutrisno, which were previously closed because of the incident, were also reopened on Monday.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/02/medan-gang-leaders-call-calm-police-probe.html

Police name seven suspects in fatal Medan brawl

Jakarta Post - February 2, 2016

Jakarta – The North Sumatra Police have named seven people as suspects in a fatal brawl between two gangs in Medan that claimed two lives on Saturday.

The clash between youth organizations Ikatan Pemuda Pancasila (IPK) and Pemuda Pancasila (PP) in a number of places in Medan on Saturday left Monang Hutabarat, 49 and Roy Silaban, 40; both members of IPK, dead and four others injured.

Police had named the seven suspects after questioning 144 people involved in the bloody brawl, North Sumatra Police chief Insp. Gen. Ngadino said on Tuesday as reported by kompas.com. Police also confiscated video recordings, motorcycles and broken bricks used in the brawl as evidence.

The seven suspects have been identified as Sarimuda Palawi, Jamaludin, 65; Aulia Putra Hendrawan Nasution, 20; M. Fadillah Lubis, 20; Agam Mispi 46 ; Ferdinan Harianto Butar-Butar, 38; and Dedek Saurudin Hutagalung, 22.

Besides naming the suspects in the death of Monang and Roy, North Sumatra Police had also named nine suspects for illegal possession of firearms and other weapons such as knives and bows and arrows, Ngadino said.

"We will take firm action against all members of youth organizations engaging in any follow-up brawls. The Police and TNI [Indonesian Military] have fully secured the situation in North Sumatra," he said as quoted by kompas.com on Tuesday.

Police and TNI personnel escalated security in Medan following the fatal clash on Saturday as news spread that there would be a counterattack by one of the groups.

The clash between the PP and IPK on Saturday was not the first between the two organizations as they were involved in several such clashes last year. (rin)(+)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/02/police-name-seven-suspects-fatal-medan-brawl.html

Police name at least ten suspects in fatal Medan clash

Jakarta Globe - February 1, 2016

Medan, North Sumatra. Police have named at least ten suspects in a fatal clash between youth groups Pemuda Pancasila and Working Youth Alliance in Medan, North Sumatra, which killed two people and injured four others.

Medan Police chief Sr. Comr. Mardiaz Khusin Dwihananto said after interrogating more than 30 people involved in the clash, police charged seven people "for direct involvement to the incident."

"It's possible for us to name more suspects," Mardiaz said on Sunday (31/1), refusing to identify the name of the suspects.

Meanwhile, North Sumatra Police general crimes chief Sr. Comr. Dono Indarto said on Monday that 10 suspects have been charged with illegal possession of weapons, although it is not known if some of them are the same as the ones charged with assault.

The incident occurred when 160 members of an organization called Working Youth Alliance (IPK), driving ten cars and 60 motorcycles, cruised around the provincial capital's main streets since 3:15 p.m. on Saturday. When the group passed Jalan Thamrin, which is near the headquarters of their rivals, Pemuda Pancasila, a clash ensued.

Chairman of the IPK's East Medan chapter, Monang Hutabarat, was among the two people killed in the incident. Another dead victim, identified as Sepri, was also a member of the IPK as were the four injured.

The victims were slashed and assaulted with machetes and knives by members of the PP, which has also been linked with countless cases of violence across the country.

Mardiaz promised to firmly investigate both youth groups to uncover the mastermind of the clash, adding "the police will investigate promiscuously and all parties will be processed and prosecuted properly."

Since Saturday night, a joint force of 1,500 officers from the National Police and the Indonesian Military (TNI) has been deployed to various areas in Medan to prevent further clashes.

Source: http://jakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/police-name-least-ten-suspects-fatal-medan-clash/

Freedom of religion & worship

Bangka's Ahmadiyah followers evicted

Jakarta Post - February 6, 2016

Ahmad Junaidi, Jakarta – Women and children of the Ahmadiyah religious sect in a district in Bangka regency, Bangka Belitung province, were evacuated on Friday evening to save them from the wrath of local residents.

The evacuation was made after negotiations between Ahmadiyah leaders, local ulemas, the military, the police and the local administration failed to reach an agreement.

"Under police and military escort, they were moved to another place in the regency due to security concerns," Jamaah Ahmadiyah Indonesia (JAI) congregation spokesman Yendra Budiana said. Yendra said some male members remained at JAI's office in Srimenanti village, Sungailiat district.

Six Ahmadiyah families live in the district and 17 Ahmadiyah families live in the regency. At noon, hundreds of residents stood outside the office of the Ahmadiyah, which was used as a meeting place for a mediated discussion led by Bangka Military Command chief Let. Col. Utten Simbolon.

Utten said the local ulemas and administration leaders had offered the Ahmadiyah four options, two of which included leaving their faith or moving to another area. "They asked for the options to be written out so they could also reply in written form," he said.

In response to the demands, Ahmadiyah legal advisor Fitria Sumarni said the Ahmadiyah was a legal religious organization listed in Indonesia and one that upheld the principle of peace.

The Jakarta-based Setara Institute has asked the central government to intervene to prevent the eviction of the Ahmadiyah in Bangka regency, accusing Bangka Regent Tarmizi as one of the main instigators of the expulsion.

Bonar Tigor Naipospos, the institute's deputy chairman, said the planned eviction had been objected to by Home Minister Tjahjo Kumolo but Tjahjo's objections were ignored by Tarmizi. "Tarmizi's opposition to the home ministry is essentially opposition to the President," said Bonar in statement on Friday.

Earlier, the New York-based Human Rights Watch issued a statement urging the Indonesian government to immediately intervene to protect members of the Ahmadiyah from intimidation and threats of expulsion.

The Ahmadiyah have been under threat since June 2008 when the government of then president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono signed a decree ordering the Ahmadiyah community to "stop spreading interpretations and activities that deviate from the principal teachings of Islam".

Those who violate the decree can face up to five years in prison. Following the decree, militant Islamists launched several violent attacks on Ahmadiyah followers including an attack in Cikeusik in February 2011 in which three Ahmadis were killed.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/06/bangka-s-ahmadiyah-followers-evicted.html

Ex-Gafatar members have nowhere to go

Jakarta Post - February 5, 2016

Safrin La Batu, Jakarta – Members of the former Fajar Nusantara Movement (Gafatar) at the Bina Insan Rehabilitation Center in Cipayung, East Jakarta, are facing uncertain futures as they have nowhere to return to. Most of them sold their houses before joining the others in Kalimantan.

Forty-seven-year-old Dedy and 45-year-old Supriyanto, from Bogor of West Java and Cilandak of South Jakarta respectively, said they wanted to leave the center, but none of their families in Greater Jakarta have come to pick them up. They said they had been rejected by their families and people in their hometowns because they are ex-members of Gafatar.

The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) on Wednesday declared Gafatar a heretical movement as it is reported to have attempted to combine the teachings of Islam, Christianity and Judaism and because it declared Ahmad Mussadeq, the founder of the banned Al-Qiyadah al-Islamiyah organization, a prophet.

"I will get a headache here because I have nothing to do. I miss my life in Samarinda [in East Kalimantan] where I could take care of my farm every day," Dedy told The Jakarta Post.

Supriyanto, who stays at the center with his wife and two children, said that while their children could cheerfully play during activities scheduled by the center, parents could only wander around the center complex since there was nothing for them to do.

The center's head, Harjanto, said that one of the obstacles facing the ex-Gafatar members was that the majority of them no longer had homes. Hence they had to rely on relatives.

"We are currently communicating with authorities from areas where they belong. The authorities help us identify their families before we return them," he said. He added that out of 600 people relocated to Bina Insan, around 350 people are still waiting for their families.

The government evacuated hundreds of former Gafatar families, including Dedy's and Supriyanto's, to their hometowns following a recent mob attack against them in Mempawah regency, West Kalimantan.

Coming from Greater Jakarta, Dedy's and Supriyanto's families, who migrated to Kalimantan to start farming several months ago, were subsequently forced to return to Jakarta.

According to Dedy, he became interested in farming after he joined Gafatar several years ago while he was still in Bogor. The organization was disbanded in August last year, but he and other ex-members of Gafatar continued their agricultural activities.

"So we did not farm as Gafatar members. The organization had long been disbanded. We were there as a farming community," he explained.

Dedy, who used to work as a trader, said he had decided to sell his house and other properties in Bogor and moved to Samarinda three months ago to start a new life on a farm.

"Indonesia has a huge amount of land, but almost every staple food we have here is imported. Rice is imported. If this country wants to gain food security it should encourage its citizens to work as farmers, or at least it should not limit their farming. The fact is that the majority of Indonesian youth today no longer see farming as an interesting profession," he explained.

In Samarinda, Dedy started from scratch with the money he got from selling his home. He began to cultivate a plot of land a local resident had lent him for three years.

"I planted cassava and other types of vegetables on just one hectare of land. The cassava was about to be harvested, but I left it all because I was forced to go," he said, adding that the relocation order came despite the fact that the ex-Gafatar members where he lived did not experience any conflicts with local residents.

"Some neighbors even cried when we went because we had become very close. Some of them even said they were ready to accommodate us in their houses," Dedy said.

Similarly, Supriyanto, who once worked as an electrician in Cilandak, also said he sold his house and properties to go to Melawi in West Kalimantan to start a farm. He said he and hundreds of his friends, also ex-members of Gafatar, had already started cultivating about 100 hectares of land borrowed from local residents when government officials told them to leave the area. "There was no compensation from the government. We just left the land and came here," he said.

Supriyanto and Dedy said living in a farming community was more than just about earning a living. They said they could easily control and educate their children in the community. "In the community, my children were also the children of other families. Everyone took care of my children just like I took care of theirs," Dedy said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/05/ex-gafatar-members-have-nowhere-go.html

Minister says Gafatar leaders must be prosecuted

Jakarta Post - February 5, 2016

Haeril Halim, Jakarta – Coordinating Human Development and Culture Minister Puan Maharani said on Thursday that the government should take legal action to follow up the recent Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) edict declaring the Fajar Nusantara Movement (Gafatar) a heretical organization.

The daughter of ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle Party (PDI-P) chief Megawati Soekarnoputri said that the National Police should bring former leaders of Gafatar to justice for spreading controversial teachings.

"There should not be generalization [regarding Gafatar members]. [The investigation] should clearly separate those who are ordinary followers, the victims, from those who are leaders," Puan told The Jakarta Post after holding a meeting with Vice President Jusuf Kalla on Thursday at the vice presidential palace.

The MUI declared the mass organization as heretical on Wednesday but called on the People not to spread prejudice or take action against members.

There has yet to be an official response from the government as a follow up to the edict, which is not legally binding. There is no obligation for the government to follow up the edict with formal regulation or legal action.

MUI chairman Ma'ruf Amin said the Gafatar movement had been close to treason as the group members had begun to move from their hometowns to Mempawah regency in West Kalimantan to start what they allegedly claimed to be a new state.

"We'll never tolerate such a mission because, for MUI, it is the unitary state of the Republic of Indonesia [NKRI] to which we have made our commitment. We will let the government handle the case," Ma'ruf said during the edict announcement.

Gafatar hit the headlines when it was revealed that a number of people reported missing were found to have joined the group.

Thousands of people from across the country left their homes to join the group's community in Mempawah, the putative capital of Gafatar's caliphate, but were displaced after a mob ransacked and razed the community property on Jan. 19. Many of the members have now been returned to their respective hometowns.

Puan called on the Religious Affairs Ministry to purge the minds of Gafatar members, saying that they had been indoctrinated by Gafatar leaders and urged people across the country to welcome and nurture them during the rehabilitation period after their return.

Many Gafatar members deny that they had been forced by the group's leaders to leave their hometown to join the caliphate movement, saying that they moved to Mempawah because they wanted to develop an independent farming method away from home.

Human rights campaigners lambasted the government for evacuating Gafatar members from Mempawah instead of finding the perpetrators that had violated and ransacked the properties.

In response to the criticism, Social Affairs Minister Khofifah Indar Parawansa said that, if Gafatar members really wanted to continue their independent farming practice outside Java, the government would involve them in a transmigration program after they complete a re-education program.

Khofifah said that many of Gafatar's members had been returned to their homes, adding that the government did not provide extra security for them because it believed that people in their respective residents would welcome their return and would not harm them.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/05/minister-says-gafatar-leaders-must-be-prosecuted.html

Gafatar is heretical: MUI

Jakarta Post - February 3, 2016

Marguerite Afra Sapiie, Jakarta – The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) has issued a fatwa against the Fajar Nusantara Movement (Gafatar), declaring it a heretical organization that spreads deviant religious teachings, but calling on Muslims not to take the law into their own hands.

Based on its findings, the MUI's edict commission concluded that Gafatar was a successor to the Al Qidayah al-Islamiyah group that the MUI had previously declared heretical.

"The Gafatar is deviant as its ideology unifies Islamic, Christian and Judaic teachings, which the MUI describes as syncretism," MUI chairman Ma'ruf Amin said during a press conference on Wednesday.

People who follow Gafatar and accepted its teachings were thus considered apostates (murtad) and infidels based on Islamic teachings, he said, adding that they should repent if they considered themselves Muslims.

As for those involved in the movement but who did not accept its teachings, Ma'ruf called on them to leave the group and return to their communities.

He stressed that the government should assist them and take measures to protect them from discrimination and violence.

Meanwhile, MUI edict commission chairman Hasanuddin AF urged the Muslim community not to commit violence or discrimination against Gafatar members.

"Don't steal the property and wealth of the former members of Gafatar," said Hasanuddin, adding that communities were obliged to accept those who wanted to return to society.

"Furthermore, the government should protect them, particularly those who have lost their property, wealth, lands and jobs," he added.

Before issuing the fatwa, the MUI conducted research in Yogyakarta, Aceh and South Sumatra to gather accurate information on Gafatar, which was behind multiple missing-person reports in recent months; it later transpired the people involved were not missing, but had moved away to join the sect-like group.

Apart from carrying out research in the three provinces, the MUI central board also obtained information about Gafatar from its local office in North Maluku, Central Sulawesi, West Kalimantan and other offices in Java.

While Gafatar has declared itself a social organization unaffiliated to any religion, the MUI discovered deviant religious teachings in its activities, according to MUI edict commission secretary Asrorun Niam.

"One of the teachings demanded recognition of their spiritual leader, Ahmad Musadeq, as a messiah," Asrorun said, referring to the founder of Al Qiyadah al-Islamiyah.

Musadeq was sentenced to four years in prison by the South Jakarta District Court in 2008 for religious defamation after he declared himself to be a new prophet.

The fatwa also stipulated the mechanism the government should use to protect people from deviant religious teachings and the legal actions that should be imposed on those who lead people astray with false theology, Asrorun added. (bbn)(+)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/03/gafatar-heretical-mui.html

Komnas HAM calls for protection of Gafatar members

Jakarta Post - February 2, 2016

Nani Afrida, Jakarta – The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) is calling on the government to protect Fajar Nusantara Movement (Gafatar) members, following a plan to disband the group.

"These people can't be abused or hurt because of their beliefs. Komnas HAM will put efforts into protecting their rights, as Indonesian citizens and also as human beings," Komnas HAM chairman Nur Kholis told The Jakarta Post on Monday.

Nur said the commission would observe and monitor Gafatar members. "We will also coordinate with relevant institutions such as the Religious Affairs Ministry and the police, if Gafatar members face threats. It is a state's duty to protect its people," he added.

It was previously reported that the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) would ask the government to ban Gafatar after issuing an edict last week stating that the teachings spread by the controversial organization were "heretical".

"After the edict was issued, we want the group to be banned and its followers put back on the right path," MUI chairman Ma'ruf Amin said.

Gafatar members, accompanied by a coalition of civil society groups, on Monday visited the Komnas HAM office in Jakarta to give an open statement.

They asked for support in three areas. First was for Komnas HAM to investigate the eviction of former Gafatar members from their homes in West Kalimantan on Dec. 19, while second was for the government to prioritize protection and human rights in tackling Gafatar members' cases. Last was for the National Police to impose the law on the mobs that forced the evictions and burned Gafatar members' homes.

Gafatar member Yudhistira Arif Rahman said Gafatar members had experienced more than just material losses after locals evicted them from Mempawah, West Kalimantan.

"It was not only material losses, we also experienced trauma, especially the children," Yudhistira said during his visit to Komnas HAM.

He added that some women had suffered miscarriages during the incident. "After we leave the camp, what we will do? We have nothing now," he said.

Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin previously said that Gafatar was an illegal organization and that community members were not permitted to join it.

The group's spiritual leader, Ahmad Mussadeq, was sentenced to four years in prison in 2008 for religious blasphemy after he declared himself a prophet. Gafatar has been in the spotlight ever since a number of people reported missing were revealed to have joined the group.

Thousands of people from across the country left their homes to join the group in Mempawah, but were displaced after a mob ransacked and razed their community on Jan. 19. The group members have now been returned to their respective hometowns.

Human Rights Working Group director Rafendi Djamin said the government had violated the rights of Gafatar members by not providing them with protection from local people.

"The violent eviction of members of Gafatar shows that the government failed to uphold its responsibilities and act as a protector of its own citizens. A state does not control interpretation of belief, but it does control how people who hold beliefs have their freedom protected," Rafendi said recently.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/02/komnas-ham-calls-protection-gafatar-members.html

Rights activists report govt for negligence in Gafatar case

Jakarta Post - February 2, 2016

A member of the Fajar Nusantara Movement (Gafatar), accompanied by human rights activists visited the headquarters of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) on Monday to report the government's negligence in the forcible eviction of Gafatar members from their homes in Mempawah, West Kalimantan.

The eviction by a mob of local people had caused the Gafatar members not only material losses amounting to billions of rupiah, but also trauma, said Yudhistira Arif Rahman Hakim, a Gafatar member.

Hundreds of Gafatar members were now awaiting promised assistance from the government in terms of food and development funding because they had nothing, he added.

"What will [my friends] do? They have nothing [...] we now call on the government to fulfill and respect our rights," Yudhistira said as quoted by kompas.com.

Gafatar came into the spotlight when a doctor, Rica Tri Handayani, and her son were reported missing on Dec. 30, 2015. She was an active member of the group while she was at university. Rica and her son were located by police on Monday at Pangkalan Bun Airport in Central Kalimantan.

The group's spiritual leader Ahmad Musadeq was imprisoned for religious blasphemy as he once declared himself a prophet.

Negative publicity about the group led local residents in West Kalimantan to forcibly evict the group. The government repatriated thousands of them to their former hometowns, such as Balikpapan in East Kalimantan, Banyuwangi in East Java, Jakarta and Semarang in Central Java.

Gafatar members deny they spread deviant religious teachings. They said that all they did in West Kalimantan was farm and build settlements to achieve food security and economic independence

Meanwhile, activists from several organizations – One Justice Foundation (YSK), the Indonesian Legal Aid Institute Foundation (YLBHI), Pro-democracy Network, Advocate, Nationalist-Tolerance Movement Alliance and Indonesia Citizens Struggle Union – have demanded the government reinstate all the rights of Gafatar members that were lost during the forced eviction.

"We asked Komnas HAM to push the government restore the basic human rights of the Gafatar members that have been violated," said YSK chairman Sugeng Teguh Santoso, who was speaking on behalf of the group.

The government, particularly the police should have enforced the law against the intolerant citizens who had burned and damaged the houses of Gafatar members, instead of relocating the latter, Sugeng said, adding that the police should investigate and arrest whoever was responsible for the arson that had resulted in the loss of property of hundreds of Gafatar members. (bbn)(+)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/02/rights-activists-report-govt-negligence-gafatar-case.html

Investigation of Gafatar leader invites criticism

Jakarta Post - February 1, 2016

Human-rights activists have slammed an investigation into the leader of the controversial Fajar Nusantara Movement (Gafatar) by the Attorney General's Office (AGO), labeling it a violation of his right to religious freedom.

The government is keeping an eye on Gafatar, calling the group illegal and saying it has deviant principles following the disappearance of several of its members. Gafatar leader Mahful Muis is being investigated by the AGO in relation to the case.

Human-rights advocacy group the Setara Institute stated recently that faith did not fall under the legal domain and therefore could not be tried. "The government cannot prosecute a belief," the organization claimed.

Chairman of Setara, Hendardi, said the attorney general had to learn from the criminalization of citizens conducted by the government in the past, which evidently failed. "Any legal action will be futile and will violate human-rights principles," he said.

Citing the example of convicted cult leader Lia Eden who still did not change her beliefs despite her incarceration, Hendardi said that if the will to change does not come from the individual them self then the government's efforts are useless.

He called for the government to focus on protecting its citizens regardless of what religion they held to up hold the equal rights of every individual.

Mahful along with the movement's organizers and followers were questioned on several issues at the AGO. The Gafatar members were accompanied by Alvon Kurnia Palma, chairman of the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) and Sudarto, a representative from the Bhineka Tunggal Ika National Alliance.

The interviews were recorded and written down for later submission to the Coordinating Board for Monitoring Mystical Beliefs in Society (Bakorpakem).

During the investigation, members were questioned in relation to plans to establish a sovereign state, blasphemy and the integration of three religions into one, as well as on allegations that Gafatar is a continuation of Al Qiyadah al-Islamiyah and Milah Abaraham communities.

The Gafatar members will be called back into the AGO when the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) issues a fatwa (edict) on their movement.

Association of Indonesian Muslim Intellectuals head Jimly Asshidique said there was already enough evidence to drag the leaders of Gafatar into the court of law. Jimly pointed out two allegations which could be held against them.

First, their plan to form a new sovereign state, he said. "That can already be taken up with the law; there are existing legal instruments. There is no need to wait for the terrorism-law revision," Jimly said as quoted on Tempo.co.

Second, Gafatar has permitted its members to break the law, he added. The movement itself has become the cause of illegal activity, Jimly continued, while linking several reported disappearances.

He supported the scheduling of a hearing based on the aforementioned allegations. "It can not necessarily be proven, but let the court decide," he said. Should the court declare them innocent, all parties would have to respect the final verdict, he added.

Jimly said many still misunderstood court hearings, considering them to merely pick a winner and a loser in a case. Whereas, there is an element of public education during the process, he further said.

Jimly said a hearing could channel the public's concerns and calm any outrage. "The law enforcement must act immediately and not be afraid of winning or losing," he said. (liz/dan)(+)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/01/investigation-gafatar-leader-invites-criticism.html

Muhammadiyah opposes plan to ban Gafatar

Jakarta Post - February 1, 2016

Haeril Halim, Jakarta – Muhammadiyah has advised the government against banning the controversial Fajar Nusantara Movement (Gafatar), warning that doing so could backfire and lead the group's thousands of members to radicalism and violence.

The country's second-largest religious organization emphasized that the government should not exaggerate the threat of Gafatar, saying the group was more of a socio-economic than a religious problem.

Muhammadiyah suggested that the issue would be better handled by the official Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), rather than the government.

"Resolving [the Gafatar controversy] using political and theological approaches will only create more problems. An edict will not solve the problem, and the government has no authority to declare whether a belief is heretical or not. Let the MUI worry about that. The government should stay neutral," Muhammadiyah secretary-general Abdul Mukti told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.

Mukti said that Muhammadiyah would not follow the MUI in issuing an edict against Gafatar, as his group considered the wave of people joining the group to be part of an urban phenomenon in which people try to find religious alternatives to fit their expectations.

"The decision to return [Gafatar] members to their hometowns is correct – they surely couldn't stay any longer at refugee barracks or in their community [in Mempawah, West Kalimantan]. Muhammadiyah is ready to help the government with the rehabilitation process," Mukti added.

Meanwhile, the country's largest Islamic organization, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), criticized the government for failing to prevent a mob from attacking Gafatar's camp in Mempawah.

"As long as they keep their beliefs in their heart then there's no problem, but if the group tries to propagate its teachings in society, then that's another story," NU leader Masdar F. Mas'udi said.

Indonesian Communion of Churches (PGI) secretary-general Jerry Sumampouw on Sunday confirmed that several Christians had joined Gafatar, but insisted the PGI would not judge them for doing so.

"We cannot stop them if they choose to join [Gafatar]. Faith is a personal matter. The AGO is going too far by prosecuting beliefs," Jerry said.

The MUI meanwhile said on Sunday that it would ask the government to ban Gafatar after issuing an edict last week confirming that the teachings spread by the controversial organization were "heretical"."The verdict will be announced next week. Let's just wait and see," MUI chairman Ma'ruf Amin said on Sunday.

Ma'ruf said that the MUI, which is notorious for issuing edicts against Islamic minority groups it considers heretical such as Shiite Muslims and Ahmadiyah, had completed its investigation into Gafatar, the spiritual leader of which is self-declared prophet Ahmad Mussadeq, the founder of the banned Al-Qidayah al-Islamiyah organization.

The government banned Al-Qidayah al-Islamiyah after the MUI issued an edict decrying the group as heretical. Following the ban, Mussadeq was sentenced to four years in prison by the South Jakarta District Court in 2008 for religious defamation.

Gafatar has been in the spotlight ever since a number of people reported missing were revealed to have joined the group.

Thousands of people from across the country left their homes to join the group's community in Mempawah, but were displaced after a mob ransacked and razed their community on Jan. 19, and have now been returned to their respective hometowns.

"After the edict is issued, we want the group to be banned and its followers put back on the right path," Ma'ruf said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/01/muhammadiyah-opposes-plan-ban-gafatar.html

Agriculture & food security

KPPU to start price-fixing hearings against chicken cartel

Jakarta Post - February 3, 2016

Jakarta – Having compiled enough evidence, the Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU) is ready to summon 12 big corporations in its investigation into an alleged price-fixing conspiracy in the poultry industry.

The commission launched the investigation after receiving numerous reports about irregularities in the chicken-price rise. Chicken, according to Central Statistics Agency (BPS) data, is one of the top-five staple foods in Indonesia.

"We will start the preliminary sessions in the next two weeks [...]. We are preparing the letters of summons, which will be delivered to them soon," said KPPU head Muhammad Syarkawi Rauf as quoted by Tempo.co on Wednesday.

According to him, the large breeding companies control 90 percent of the chicken market. The companies are accused of creating oversupply in the market to put small breeders out of business. However, he refused to reveal the names of the 12 suspect companies.

Meanwhile, the Jakarta administration has decided to shorten the supply chains of some food commodities in the city to curb the recent fluctuations in food prices and inflation.

Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama said the local government had shortened the supply chains of some commodities including cows, rice and chickens. State Logistics Agency (Bulog) will be involved in shortening the rice supply-chain.

"We have begun to enter the market and started buying directly from breeders," he said as quoted by Kontan.co.id, saying that the measures would both reduce and stabilize staple food prices in Jakarta. (ags)(+)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/03/kppu-start-price-fixing-hearings-against-chicken-cartel.html

Jakarta & urban life

'Becak' drivers ask Komnas HAM for help

Jakarta Post - February 3, 2016

Jakarta – Becak (pedicab) drivers across Jakarta are seeking help from the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) to mediate a meeting with Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama that seeks to find a win-win solution for the total ban of becak in the capital.

Three-wheeled becak have been banned since 2007 under Bylaw No. 8/2007 on public order. Hundreds of becak have been confiscated by the authorities since the issuance of the bylaw, leaving most of the drivers without jobs.

"We asked the commission to mediate a meeting between becak drivers and Ahok. The commission has agreed to send a letter to Ahok to realize the meeting. Hopefully the meeting will be held this week," Rasdullah, a coordinator for becak drivers in Jakarta, said on Tuesday.

The drivers also asked the commission to ask Ahok to temporarily stop cracking down on becak in the capital while the two parties meet and discuss possible solutions to the matter, he said.

Rasdullah said recently that hundreds of becak drivers were left jobless after their becaks were confiscated.

He said the drivers were only asking that the bylaw be revised to give becak room to operate in particular parts of the city such as small alleys, traditional markets and within residential areas.

Ahok said last Thursday that he would not change the bylaw because it had been issued a long time ago, suggesting that the drivers look for different jobs themselves without the help of the administration.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/03/greater-jakarta-becak-drivers-ask-komnas-ham-help.html

TNI opens procurement process to public

Jakarta Post - February 1, 2016

Nani Afrida, Jakarta – The Indonesian Military (TNI) has turned over a new leaf by announcing the contracts for its procurement projects this year, the first time it has made such a disclosure to the public.

Last Friday, the TNI signed 389 contracts for goods and services projects worth Rp 5.9 trillion, including procurement of bullets, military vehicles, weapons, communication equipment and other supporting infrastructure.

TNI chief Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo said that the contracts had followed the bidding process stipulated by Presidential Decree No. 70/2012 on governmental goods and service procurement. "The contracts are to meet the needs of the Navy, Army and Air Force, excluding routine spending," he said.

Gatot said he expected that the TNI would publish new procurement contracts in the future, so that the TNI's budget disbursement would improve significantly and meet planned development targets.

The Air Force published its procurement contracts two weeks earlier in what it told reporters was an effort to improve transparency.

"By opening the process of our working contracts to the public, we take a step toward public transparency," Air Force spokesperson Air Commodore Dwi Badarmanto said. Wawan Purwanto, an intelligence and security expert from the University of Indonesia, said he appreciated the improved transparency in military institutions.

"The TNI is a closed-institution and it is difficult to request information from them, so a more open procurement is good news for taxpayers because now they know where their money goes," Wawan told The Jakarta Post.

He said that public also expected TNI personnel to become members of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). "This is a sign that they want the TNI to be open and transparent," he added.

UK-based antigraft watchdog Transparency International (TI) awarded Indonesian's defense and military sector a score of D, which indicates high risk, in 2015, slightly better than 2014's score of E, which indicates a very high risk.

Scores for the index, which assesses 135 countries across the globe, range from A, for very low risk, to F, for very critical risk.

TI researcher Tehmina Abbas suggested that the high corruption risk in Indonesia's defense sector was due to the long-standing secrecy surrounding procurement in military projects, in which leaders are not transparent about spending and block any attempted scrutiny from the public.

Abbas said Indonesia also lacked laws that ensured effective monitoring, particularly of procurement. "The government should publish all procurement contracts and conduct regular audits," he said.

In recent years, the government has continued to increase military spending, giving the Defense Ministry Rp 102.3 trillion (US$7.5 billion) in 2015, an increase from Rp 17 trillion in 2010.

Military expert al-Araf of Imparsial also appreciated the TNI's step, however, he said that TNI still needed to improve its transparency and accountability by allowing the KPK to investigate TNI corruption cases.

"Openness about procurement is not the only aspect of transparency and accountability. TNI also needs to open the possibility of investigations into their previous procurements, especially of weaponry systems," al-Araf said.

He added that the revision of Law No. 31/1997 on Military Court should also be priority. "The law gives impunity to military personnel to commit crimes, including corruption," he said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/01/tni-opens-procurement-process-public.html

Mining & energy

Revised regulation to ease burden faced by ailing miners

Jakarta Post - February 6, 2016

Raras Cahyafitri, Jakarta – The government is revising the regulation on the assessment of smelter development, connected to leniency in export permits, as part of its efforts to support mining firms mired by financial woes.

The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry director for mineral at the mineral and coal directorate general, Mohammad Hidayat, said Friday that his office was evaluating a regulation on the requirements for selling processed and refined minerals.

"Several matters have to be adjusted to adapt to the current situation. This adjustment is not only meant for Freeport but also for numerous other companies that are having difficulty with smelter projects," Hidayat said, playing down suggestions that the move was related to ongoing negotiations between the Indonesian government and PT Freeport Indonesia following the latter's export permit expiry late last month.

Mining firms around the world have been under pressure amid a prolonged slump in global commodity prices.

Hidayat said the regulation adjustment would likely cover new measurements in the assessment of smelter development and the withdrawal procedure for surety bonds.

Under current regulation, mining firms working on smelter projects have to deposit 5 percent of their total investment in local banks as collateral to ensure that they will continue the development. The surety bonds are a prerequisite for the firms to obtain permits to export semi-finished mineral products.

"We need to check further, to help them continue the project by allowing the companies to withdraw the fund in accordance with the progress of their smelters. We cannot hold these funds if operations are hindered due to a lack of funds," Hidayat said.

The smelter development is part of the government's added-value minerals policy, mandated under the 2009 Mining Law.

The law obliges mining firms to have processed and refined minerals in domestic smelters by 2014. However, most firms have been reluctant to comply with the new obligation, saying such projects are not economically feasible.

Moves to work on the projects were only seen in late 2013 after the government said it would officially ban raw mineral exports in early 2014 as a consequence of the value-added policy. Meanwhile, a relaxation was granted to allow those companies producing semi-finished minerals, such as copper concentrate, to continue exporting product until 2017, so long as a commitment to smelter projects was confirmed.

Reportedly, small-sized smelters have been progressing at a snail's pace with only six new smelters beginning operations last year. According to figures from the mineral and coal office, three nickel smelters, one bauxite smelter and three lead-zinc smelters are scheduled to be operational this year. However, no significant progress has been reported with regard to other smelters, those refining valuable minerals, particularly copper, as in the case of PT Freeport Indonesia.

Following Freeport Indonesia's export permit expiry, the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry declined to grant an extension recommendation as the company failed to show significant development with its smelter project in Gresik, East Java. The ministry also requested the firm increase its deposit to US$530 million due to the commitment delays.

Hidayat admitted that the requirements for PT Freeport Indonesia would also be reviewed. He did not provide further details regarding the review.

Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Sudirman Said revealed that the company had requested some discounts to the required deposit. "They made the request because they are in financial trouble," he said.

Freeport Indonesia is a major contributor to its 90.64 percent owner, Freeport McMoRan Copper and Gold Inc., who announced poor performance last week. Moody's Investors Service has cut the company's credit rating to junk status. Richard Adkerson, chief executive officer of Freeport McMoRan Copper and Gold Inc., said, as quoted by Bloomberg, that the company had considered selling its mining assets either wholly or partially.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/06/revised-regulation-ease-burden-faced-ailing-miners.html

Plunging oil price to hurt national output by 9%

Jakarta Post - February 2, 2016

Raras Cahyafitri, Jakarta – The continuing decline in crude oil prices will mean that Indonesia will not meet its national oil production target this year and output will likely fall by nine percent, according to the Upstream Oil and Gas Regulatory Task Force (SKKMigas).

SKKMigas has put the oil price at US$20 per barrel, its worst-case scenario, and the price will force oil companies to cut down national oil production to 753,400 barrels of oil per day (bopd).

The figure will be more than 9 percent lower than the target of 830,000 bopd stated in the state budget. The state budget originally put the oil price at $50 per barrel.

"That will happen if companies make no additional investments to maintain their work amid declining revenues because of the price," SKKMigas deputy chief Zikrullah said.

Fewer commitments in the development of oil wells, services and work-over, which are necessary to help the country deal with natural declines in oil production, are the main contributors to low output.

To give a clearer picture, SKKMigas has drawn some scenarios on oil price levels, in which its highest assumption of $40 per barrel will see the country produce 818,900 bopd.

Production is estimated to hit 810,300 bopd at $35 per barrel, 790,100 bopd at $30 per barrel and 780,000 bopd at $25 per barrel.

The country has been struggling to boost production from domestic fields to meet rising energy demand. The country's demand is estimated to soon reach 1.6 million bopd.

The gap between supply and demand has forced the country to import a significant amount of crude oil and petroleum products.

In the past few years, Indonesia frequently failed to meet production targets for various reasons, including unfriendly regulations on taxes and a prolonged permit process that lowered investment appetite.

In 2015, national oil production reached 785,766 bopd, lower than the target of 825,000 bopd.

Oil has long been a major contributor to the country's revenues. However, the portion oil to Indonesia's overall revenues has started to dwindle due to declining production and, now, a plunging price.

The benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for March delivery was at $32.69 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, according to figures from Bloomberg. The benchmark Brent for April's settlement was at $34.97 a barrel on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange.

Earlier, the price slumped as low as $26 per barrel, the lowest in 12 years and increased worries that the low price would continue plunging for a longer period of time.

Operating under a more frugal policy, state-owned Pertamina is planning to reduce its operational expenditure by around 30 percent. Meidawati, the company's senior vice president for strategic planning and operation evaluation, said many projects would be postponed.

"The number of development wells to be worked this year will be reduced to 96 from 149. However, we will increase work-over wells to 194 from a previous plan of 186," she said. The company will also reduce work on the exploration of wells to 23 from 34.

As a consequence, the company is estimating that its production will reach 296,000 bopd, lower than a previous plan of 326,000 bopd. "These are the assumptions for $30 per barrel."

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/02/plunging-oil-price-hurt-national-output-9.html

Economy & investment

Joint decree aims to lift local rubber demand

Jakarta Post - February 5, 2016

Anton Hermansyah, Business – Five ministries are combining forces to jack up domestic consumption of natural rubber with the issue of a joint ministerial decree (SKB) on mandatory rubber utilization across several sectors, targeting an increase of at least 100,000 kilograms of natural rubber consumption this year.

The five ministries are the Trade Ministry, the Industry Ministry, the Finance Ministry, the Transportation Ministry and the Public Works and Public Housing Ministry.

"Previously, the rule has been issued as a presidential instruction. But it needs a quicker process, prompting us to change it to a joint ministerial decree from related ministries," said Trade Ministry agricultural and forestry export director Nurlaila Nur Muhammad as quoted by kompas.com on Thursday.

Under the new measure, rubber consumption will be directed to uses such as road pavements and dock fenders. Malaysia and Thailand have already mixed asphalt with rubber for paving roads, she explained.

Global demand for natural rubber has declined due to falling tire production amid decreasing automotive sales. The oil price slump worsened the situation as the price of synthetic rubber got cheaper.

Despite Indonesia's strategic position as one of the biggest producers of natural rubber, domestic consumption in the country is very low, absorbing only 18 percent of production. From last year's production of 3.2 million tons, domestic consumption came to only 600,000 kg.

"We must push rubber usage outside tire manufacturing. Beside asphalt-mix, rubber can be used in construction too, especially for cushions in bridges, railways and earthquake resistant houses," director of the Indonesian Rubber Research Institute Karyudi told thejakartapost.com. (ags)(+)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/05/joint-decree-aims-lift-local-rubber-demand.html

Pressure on for electronics producers

Jakarta Post - February 3, 2016

Jakarta – The electronics sector is unlikely to feel any respite this year amid pressure to do another round of mass retrenchments as consumers continue to reduce their spending to cope with the impact of the country's slowing economy.

A trade union under the Confederation of Indonesian Workers Unions (KSPI) said more companies planned to lay off workers in the near future. KSPI chairman Said Iqbal said several plants, including those under the Panasonic and Toshiba brands, had recently announced downsizing plans.

"Following the laying off of 600 workers at its plant in Pasuruan [East Java] early January, PT Panasonic Lighting Indonesia plans to cut 900 more jobs at its Cikarang plant [in West Java] this month," Said told reporters here on Tuesday.

"PT Toshiba Consumer Products Indonesia reportedly plans to axe 900 jobs at its Cikarang plant in early April," he added.

When contacted by The Jakarta Post, a Panasonic executive said the company's top management would soon clarify the matter. Separately, a PT Toshiba Consumer Products Indonesia executive who declined to be named confirmed the plan, but said 360 jobs would be cut, not 900 as claimed by the KSPI.

He added that the company had also terminated 1,000 workers' contracts last year following a drop in its production to 30,000 units per year from its plant capacity of 350,000 units. He went on to say that in April, the company would change its name as it had been acquired by a Chinese television maker.

"We'll keep producing Toshiba TVs, but we remain open to the possibility of producing other electronic devices and therefore may need more workers in the near future," he said.

In contrast to the KSPI's and business players' claim of mass layoffs, data from the Industry Ministry shows a rising trend in manpower absorption in the electronics and telematics sector, with 485,398 workers in the sectors recorded in 2013 compared to 361,727 in 2007. The ministry projected that the number would increase to 549,677 and 578,267 in 2014 and 2015, respectively.

The ministry's director general overseeing the electronics sector, I Gusti Putu Suryawirawan, said his ministry was studying the matter.

The KSPI head said the government needed to keep abreast of layoff plans to decide what steps to take. "Bureaucracy is complicated, which means news about layoffs doesn't reach the ministry fast enough. It usually gets the data only after three months," he said.

Real data provision has been a classic problem for years in the archipelago, with different institutions coming up with different figures. The KSPI claims that more than 50,000 workers lost their jobs last year. (rbk) Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/03/pressure-electronics-producers.html

Carmakers want steel duties scrapped

Jakarta Post - February 3, 2016

Khoirul Amin, Jakarta – Automakers are asking the government to drop duties imposed on steel products widely used in car manufacturing to help locally made vehicles become more competitive.

Most car producers in the country still require imported steel products such as hot-rolled coil and cold-rolled coil.

The government imposes antidumping measures on imported steel products to protect local producers, but the Association of Indonesian Automotive Manufacturers (Gaikindo) is demanding exemptions for steel products used in car manufacturing, insisting the supply from local steel makers is not sufficient.

"Many car manufacturers import certain steel products from China, Japan and South Korea to keep their production costs low," Gaikindo chairman Jongkie Sugiarto said recently.

However, with production costs forced up by the antidumping measures, Indonesia-made cars might lose their competitiveness against Southeast Asian peers Malaysia and Thailand, he said.

Finance Minister Regulation No. 224/2014 on antidumping measures on imported cold-rolled coil from Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, China and Vietnam has been implemented since the end of 2014.

The regulation stipulates a range of import duties on steel products made by certain producers in the listed countries.

Cold-rolled coil produced by Chinese Wuhan Iron & Steel Company Ltd. and Qinhuangdao Tongye Cold Rolled Strip Steel Co. Ltd., for example, is subject to 13.6 percent and 43.5 percent import duties, respectively.

Jongkie said his association had discussed the matter with President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and that there had been a follow-up from both the Trade Ministry and the Finance Ministry.

Trade Ministry anti-dumping committee (KADI) chief Ernawati said on Monday that her committee was still investigating whether the measure lasting until March this year – would be revoked.

"We're still investigating alleged ongoing dumping practices on cold-rolled coil from Japan, China, Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam, and the final decision is expected to be made in the first quarter of this year," she said. Ernawati said the decision to revoke or maintain the measure would depend on the findings.

Meanwhile, Indonesian Iron and Steel Industry Association (IISIA) executive director Hidayat Triseputro said many of the association's members had noticed a significant drop in demand from local automakers following the implementation of free-trade agreements with a number of steel-producing countries.

His association, he said, expected the government to retain the antidumping measures on a number of steel products, as a lot of imported steel products were sold below fair market price. Any revision to the policy should be based on findings from the investigation, he said.

"I think what the government needs to do is to optimize local production for both hot-rolled coil and cold-rolled coil, as well as encouraging automakers to use local products," Hidayat added.

Demand for steel products from the national auto industry is estimated at around 1 million tons a year, with hot-rolled coil and cold-rolled coil making up 50 percent of demand each.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/03/carmakers-want-steel-duties-scrapped.html

Analysis & opinion

Commentary: Indonesia's forgotten coffee murder case

Jakarta Globe - February 7, 2016

Nivell Rayda – There is something about the mysterious death of 27-year-old Wayan Mirna Salihin that captures people's imagination so much that when the Jakarta Police announced that they finally had a suspect – Mirna's own friend Jessica Kumala Wongso – people went to social media expressing jubilation, rejoicing at the prospect that whoever is responsible will be closer to facing justice.

Mirna died after drinking an iced coffee at a posh cafe inside an equally upscale Grand Indonesia shopping mall.

We could thank Mirna's father for giving doctors permission to perform an autopsy on Mirna's body, a crucial part of any murder investigation but something that many Indonesians consider taboo.

Without the autopsy we could never have guessed that there was a high-enough concentration of cyanide in her stomach to kill dozens of people and her killer would roam free.

Then there's Jessica, the friend who arrived nearly an hour early and ordered and paid for Mirna's Vietnamese ice coffee drink. From day one, people were quick to assume that she might be behind the killing, as she does not behave like a typical grieving friend.

After her arrest, the Internet is flooded with conspiracy theories and speculation about the possible motive, from the plausible to the bizarre. There are also arguments between experts who reject the theory that Jessica is the real killer. Not to mention the countless memes featuring Jessica's photo and the text: 'Let's Grab a Coffee!'

Perhaps it is the way Mirna's life was cut short at such a young age which fascinates a lot of Indonesians. Or that her untimely death came just mere weeks after she got married to a friend she met while studying in Australia, a young man named Arief Soemarko. Or is it the fact that she was one of a pair of twins (she has a twin brother named Sendy Salihin) which captivates many Indonesians? Or perhaps it is all of the above.

Whatever the reason, we can thank the Internet for keeping the conversation alive, fueling our fascination with the gruesome murder of a young woman. Activists can only wish that the Internet had been a greater part of our daily lives back in 2004, the year when human rights defender Munir Said Thalib was assassinated.

Munir died on Sept. 7, 2004, on board a Garuda Indonesia flight to Amsterdam as it flew over Budapest. Hours before his death, as the plane made a short stop in Singapore, Munir was offered a cup of coffee by Pollycarpus Budihari Priyanto, an off-duty Garuda pilot and suspected State Intelligence Agency (BIN) operative, who laced the coffee with a lethal dose of arsenic.

Pollycarpus was sentenced to 14 years in prison after the Central Jakarta District Court, on Dec. 1, 2005, found him guilty of murdering Munir. But those who masterminded the murder, giving Pollycarpus his orders, remain beyond the reach of the law.

An independent fact-finding team, established by then-president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in November 2014, found that immediately prior to and after Munir's death, Pollycarpus had communicated extensively with Muchdi Purwoprandjono, who at the time was a deputy chief of the BIN.

In their court testimonies, several intelligence officials also said that Pollycarpus often visited the BIN headquarters and met behind closed doors with Muchdi. In at least one of those meetings, Abdullah Mahmud Hendropriyono, the BIN chief at the time, was also present.

The South Jakarta District Court, however, acquitted Muchdi of all charges on Dec. 31, 2008, despite the judges hearing in Pollycarpus's trial ruling that Pollycarpus had acted on Muchdi's instructions. Hendropriyono was never charged.

A fearless man

Munir was a fearless human rights defender who was not afraid to speak out for victims of injustice even during former president Suharto's New Order regime, when activists were often jailed or kidnapped.

Without Munir, we would have remained blinded by the fact that for years the military was involved in some of the world's worst mass killings, forced disappearances, running protection rackets for big businesses and criminals without fear of prosecution.

He had helped uncover the murder of labor activist Marsinah, who was kidnapped and murdered by the military for demanding her company to obey the local minimum wage requirements in 1993. He had also represented Suharto's critics and political foes and unraveled the kidnapping and torture of 23 students and activists in 1997 and 1998 – one has been confirmed dead and 13 are still missing and presumed killed.

Munir investigated the massive loss of civilian lives following the 1999 referendum in East Timor as well as gross human rights violations in the restive areas of Papua and Aceh.

Given these achievements, it would be fitting that the government unravel the truth behind his death or at the very least honor him by carrying on his important work.

Instead, the government did the opposite. The people Munir was fighting against, those he accused of gross human rights violations, now hold powerful positions in Joko's administration.

Hendropriyono, the man linked to but never charged for Munir's murder, the former military officer Munir accused of being responsible for the massacre of 27 civilian protesters in Talangsari, Lampung, in 1989, served as an adviser to the president during his 2014 campaign.

Wiranto, the former military chief believed to have been responsible for the deaths of thousands in the aftermath of the 1999 East Timor secession from Indonesia, is now the leader of a party in Joko's coalition, the People's Conscience Party (Hanura).

The president has also named as his defense minister retired general Ryamizard Ryacudu, who led several military campaigns in Aceh and Papua that resulted countless civilian casualties.

The current intelligence chief, Sutiyoso, also a chairman of a party in Joko's coalition, the Indonesian Justice and Unity Party (PKPI), was the commander of the Jakarta Military Command when his men carried out a deadly military raid in front of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) headquarters in 1996 to oust then-chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri.

Megawati, the daughter of Indonesia's first president Sukarno, who was ousted after the 1965-66 massacre of suspected Communist members and sympathizers, eventually set out to form her own party: the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) of which Joko is a member.

In June, the government announced it would establish a "reconciliation commission" to seek a "permanent solution for all unresolved human rights abuses," which Munir had spent his lifetime to uncover.

But it seems the focus of the commission is to seek compensation for victims and not to bring those responsible to justice. Joko's administration has also refused to reopen Munir's murder case and instead provided a parole for the person convicted of poisoning Munir, Pollycarpus, on Nov. 28, 2014.

Munir has given up so much for the country, even his life, fighting for countless victims of injustice despite the constant death threats he and his family received.

We, the powerless, can only voice our anguish through articles and social media posts, through weekly rallies known as "Kamisan" in front of the State Palace every Thursday and immortalize the legend that is Munir in murals, T-shirts and books, wishing that the true killers of Munir will some day face justice.

Meanwhile, the powerful say and do nothing, not even three of the student activists who were kidnapped in 1997-98 who have now become some of the country's top politicians.

It is through his work that we as a nation realize that we must not let this country again fall under military rule.

Munir has inspired us to speak up and fight. He had helped us realize that injustice, no matter how puny must not be tolerated, which also means that the killer of an innocent, young newly-wedded woman must not walk free, whoever it may be.

[Nivell Rayda is a news editor at the Jakarta Globe and author. The views expressed are his own.]

Source: http://jakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/commentary/commentary-indonesias-forgotten-coffee-murder-case/