Jayapura – Papua Police chief Insp. Gen. Paulus Waterpauw has denied accusations that officers from the Mimika Baru Police assaulted and tortured a local man, a picture of whom, stripped and with his hands tied, has gone viral on social media.

"In reality, officers saved the man in question from an angry mob that had caught him raping a 10-year-old child," Paulus said when contacted by The Jakarta Post on Friday.

The man, identified as AW, 20, had been caught in flagrante delicto raping the child, Paulus said, adding that he had fled but had been caught. Locals then repeatedly beat him and bound his wrists before reporting him to the Mimika Baru Police.

Paulus insisted that his men had acted according to procedure, and that the video in question, by showing the suspect only once already in police custody, created the misleading impression that it was the police who had stripped him.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/13/islands-focus-police-chief-denies-officers-mistreated-papuan.html

House wants more action on Papua separatism issue

Jakarta Post - February 11, 2016

Tama Salim, Jakarta – Lawmakers have criticized the government for lacking a unified approach in dealing with separatism in Papua, the country's easternmost province.

Members of the House of Representatives' Commission I, which oversees defense and foreign affairs, blasted the Foreign Ministry for not doing enough to counter public relation campaigns conducted by separatist groups from Papua, which they said were slowly garnering support abroad.

"There is a sense that their struggle for independence is gaining momentum ever since Benny Wenda's group launched its human rights-themed campaign overseas," Democratic Party lawmaker Darizal Basir said, referring to the controversial leader and founder of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), a separatist group that has garnered worldwide attention since gaining the approval of Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu in South Africa last year.

The ministry, which had so far avoided addressing the issue, dismissed the allegation that separatist groups in Papua were gaining ground.

"I think it's too early to say that their leader is Benny Wenda, because [the separatist groups] are still very fragmented," Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi said in a hearing with Commission I on Tuesday.

"Benny Wenda flying the ULMWP flag does not necessarily represent the aspirations or struggles of our friends [in Papua]," she said, before asking leaders of Commission I to turn the hearing into a closed-door session due to the sensitivity of the subject.

Commission I chairman Mahfudz Siddiq further berated the government for what he considered a failure to conduct damage control on the issue of Papuan separatism.

Mahfudz further urged the Foreign Ministry to take the initiative in coordinating its public relations campaign with other government agencies.

Mahfudz said the ministry could work with the National Intelligence Agency (BIN) to broker a deal that would allow members of separatist groups to give up their cause.

"BIN has already struck a deal that made waves abroad. If that doesn't work out, I'm wary of the impact it might have on [the government's efforts]. This might become fodder for the separatists," the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) lawmaker said on Tuesday.

Late last month, 10 former members of the Free Papua Movement (OPM) met with intelligence chief Sutiyoso in Jakarta to seek an amnesty and living assistance in exchange for turning themselves in to the authorities.

Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Luhut B. Pandjaitan said in response that the government would consider the request and would promote dialogue with the group.

In January, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo instructed his cabinet to prioritize a soft approach in handling separatism, over the hard approach that involves force and firearms.

Separately, international relations analyst Adriana Elisabeth of the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) warned the government against underestimating the conflict in Papua.

"This problem has been brewing for years, so I think as the highest political symbol, the President should make a point of engaging in more concrete work that would politically open up room for dialogue," Adriana told the Post.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/11/house-wants-more-action-papua-separatism-issue.html

Aceh

Aceh fishermen nominated for UN award for rescuing migrants

Jakarta Post - February 10, 2016

Aceh fishermen are nominated to receive the 2016 Nansen Refugee Award from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNCHR) for rescuing hundreds of migrants from Myanmar and Bangladesh in Indonesian waters.

Geutanyoe Foundation international director Lilianne Fan said the organization had submitted the fishermen as candidates to receive the award in recognition of their services to save many lives of those who were stranded at sea.

"If they hadn't been rescued by the Aceh fishermen, the lives of the children and the Rohingnya people and Bangladeshis may not have been saved," Fan said on Wednesday as quoted by news agency Antara. According to a statement on its website, the UNCHR once a year awards the Nansen Refugee Award to an individual, group of people or an organization to honor extraordinary service to refugees and outstanding work on behalf of the forcibly displaced. The UN body focuses on giving assistance to refugees as well as providing education for the children of the displaced in various countries.

Fan said the Aceh fishermen exemplified concrete humanitarian action in saving the lives of the refugees without exhibiting racial or ethnic bias.

The number of Rohingya refugees currently residing in the Aceh province has reportedly fallen to be 350 from the initial 1,010 people.

The refugees currently live in shelters located in Kuala Langsa harbor, in the town of Langsa, and also camps in Bayeun village in East Aceh and Blang Ado village in North Aceh.

The Geutanyoe Foundation is an Aceh-based NGO that focuses on humanitarian issues. The foundation has been working with the fishermen and focuses on helping the refugees improve their living conditions and create social and livelihood programs in their camps in Aceh. (liz/bbn)(+)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/10/aceh-fishermen-nominated-un-award-rescuing-migrants.html

1965 mass killings

Interview with Academy Award nominee Joshua Oppenheimer

Jakarta Post - February 10, 2016

Callistasia Anggun Wijaya, Jakarta – American documentary film director Joshua Oppenheimer is set once again to focus global awareness on Indonesia's past human rights abuses as his critically acclaimed documentary "The Look of Silence" is up for the Best Documentary in the 2016 Academy Awards on Feb. 28.

"The Look of Silence" tells the story of a family in North Sumatra who confront the murderers of their son. The film is the second installment of Oppenheimer's documentary on the same theme; "The Act of Killing" was released in 2012 and also globally acknowledged.

Thejakartapost.com's Callistasia Anggun Wijaya, spoke to Oppenheimer by Skype over the weekend talking about his latest Oscar nomination for "The Look of Silence" and the hopes he has for resolution of Indonesia's human rights cases.

Q: What expectations come with this nomination and with global acknowledgment of your work?

A: I hope this nomination can draw attention to the issues that this film is raising. We're using the nomination to lobby American lawmakers, to demand documents that would reveal America's role in the 1965 killings [of communists in Indonesia].

We're using the attention that comes with a nomination as a kind of opportunity to deepen the impact of the film, to encourage and strengthen the struggle for truth, justice and reconciliation in Indonesia and at the same time to demand acknowledgment from the US.

Q: Have you ever thought of coming back to Indonesia to make another movie about these issues?

A: Honestly, it is difficult for me because I cannot return to Indonesia safely. So how am I supposed to make another movie in Indonesia when I cannot safely return to Indonesia?

I hear about thousands of screenings around the country and it has been a very sad thing to me that I cannot personally be there, be a witness of that transformation, even in a single screening of the film in Indonesia.

Given the situation for the time being I won't be returning to Indonesia any time soon and I won't make any movie there. But maybe one day I'll return, if there is a chance I can safely return to Indonesia I might be interesting in making another film.

Q: Did you ever receive threats from the government?

A: Not so much from the government but I mean I received pretty regular threats in some social media and some emails and some telephone [conversations]. I don't know exactly where they were from. Actually, I don't know who threatened me.

Q: What is the content of the threats?

A: The threats usually prohibit me from coming to Indonesia. There was one threat which said "don't come back to Indonesia, unless you want us to use your head as a football."

I think that I heard story about a person who looked like me who returned to Indonesia. He has been harassed in Indonesia. He contacted me afterward, that he had been arrested and detained just because he looked like me. It was a year ago.

Q: Who is your look-alike?

A: He's not an Indonesian and he has left, he got out of the situation but he was detained for some days. I cannot comment, I promised him not to tell the story.

Q: How do you see the efforts toward human rights settlement in Indonesia?

A: I think for most Indonesians and these films, of course they want to be able to talk about the past and the government to acknowledge the truth and set up a truth commission, and they want the government to stop teaching the history lesson of the New Order because people don't want to send their children to school to be lied to and brainwashed.

Millions of Indonesians who live with secrets in their family who have a sense of that kind of secret that their parents never told them, want to be told about what happened so they can know where they come from.

Q: What do you think of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's lack of significant efforts on past human rights violations? Jokowi has made no real effort to settle past human right issues.

A: We have to keep urging and constructing a strong political basis so Jokowi can have political capital to finally admit that what happened was a mistake and make an apology to the victims.

We need to build for Jokowi to bring change. We need to build a movement for change to constitute the political capital so Jokowi can do the thing I believe in his heart he would like to do.

Q: How's Rukun's family now?

A: They're really well. I cannot talk so much about them, especially about where they are but they're actually well in a safer place.

The sad thing is Adi's father died when we were editing the film. Adi's mother has some health problems although she is 100 years old or more.

Q: Did Adi ever receive threats like you?

A: No he hasn't. That is something I'm so glad about.

In a movie screening on 10 November 2014, people gave a standing ovation to Adi for he was deemed as a person who has done something heroic. Such a reaction has been consistent since the first screening of the movie. (rin)(+)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/10/interview-with-academy-award-nominee-joshua-oppenheimer.html

Oppenheimer reflects on implications of Oscar-nominated documentary The Look of

Jakarta Post - February 9, 2016

Callistasia Anggun Wijaya, Jakarta – The American documentary film director Joshua Oppenheimer is set to make his way up the red carpet at the 2016 Academy Awards later this month, voicing the important message that past human rights abuses still haunt many Indonesian families.

Oppenheimer's The Look of Silence is up for Best Documentary Feature at the 88th Academy Awards set to be held in Hollywood, the US, on Feb. 28.

The film follows a man probing his brother's murder in the violence that racked the country from 1965 to 1966. The critically acclaimed documentary, released in 2014, is the companion piece to Oppenheimer's award-winning Oscar nominee documentary The Act of Killing, which was released in 2012.

The two documentaries tell stories encompassing a dark chapter in Indonesian history, namely the 1965 to 1966 communist purge, in which up to a million people with alleged links to the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) were murdered, kidnapped or tortured.

For The Look of Silence, Oppenheimer befriended Adi Rukun, an optometrist living in North Sumatra whose brother Ramli Rukun was brutally killed in 1965.

While The Act of Killing focuses on the perpetrators boasting of how they butchered people associated with the PKI, The Look of Silence shows how Adi confronts his brother's murderers who live free, with some now grasping the reins of regional power.

The confrontation results in powerful scenes, as Adi's repressed feelings bubble up as he asks his brother's murderers why they did what they did. Oppenheimer refers to the film as an Indonesian production.

"This is the first Indonesian film ever nominated for an Oscar. The movie was made by Indonesians and for Indonesians," he told thejakartapost.com in a Skype interview from Los Angeles over the weekend.

While The Act of Killing also received an Oscar nod in 2012, it was not an Indonesian production, according to Oppenheimer, as he did not involve many Indonesians in his crew, fearing their safety might be at risk given the appearance in the film of the likes of Vice President Jusuf Kalla and the chairman of paramilitary group Pancasila Youth, Yapto Soerjosumarno. Conversely, sixty Indonesian crewmembers, who remain anonymous, worked on the making of The Look of Silence.

At one point during production, Oppenheimer and his crew, including cinematographer Lars Skree and producer Signe Byrge Sørensen, emptied all numbers on their mobile phones and bought a second car, allowing them, if need be, to make an instant switch after leaving perpetrators' houses to throw any hired goons or cops off the scent.

Despite the myriad challenges he faced, an Oscar nomination never crossed Oppenheimer's mind.

"We made these movies in order to hold up a mirror inside Indonesia and outside Indonesia so that everyone in the world can recognize the terrible consequences of what happens when human beings turned against one another, kill, frighten and torture one another and create a whole regime of fear," said the 41-year-old director.

"We try to capture what happens when a whole society is built on a story of lies, justifying crimes against humanity."

The nomination is also expected to draw people's attention to human right issues.

In his acceptance speech after winning best documentary at the 2014 BAFTA Awards, Oppenheimer accused the UK and the US of "help[ing] to engineer the genocide, and for decades enthusiastically support[ing] the military dictatorship that came to power through the genocide". This part of the speech was cut by BAFTA when it posted the acceptance video online.

Oppenheimer is currently working on a petition to force the US to acknowledge its role in the 1965 violence. At least 50,000 people, including activists from Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have signed the petition.

The auteur will meet members of the US Senate in Washington DC this week, urging them to make available all documents relating to the US role in the genocide.

However, his actions will remain limited to overseas, as he is reluctant to return to Indonesia – a country where he spent 12 years making the two documentaries – in the face of threats. He has not returned to the country since completing the production of The Look of Silence in 2013.

The Copenhagen-based director cited "several threats" from individuals he declined to mention. "There was one threat that said 'Don't come back to Indonesia, unless you want us to use your head as a football.'"

Oppenheimer has also provided guarantees of the safety of Adi, the film's protagonist, who now lives safely with his family away from North Sumatra. A whole network of people, from human rights activists to journalists, are monitoring Adi's safety and whereabouts.

Oppenheimer and his anonymous Indonesian codirector received the prestigious Suardi Tasrif Award in September last year from the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) for The Act of Killing and The Look of Silence. The judges expressed their opinion that the two documentaries had unveiled facts relating to past human rights abuses that could help spur movement toward settlements and reconciliation.

The Tasrif award was inspired by Suardi Tasrif, considered the author of the code of ethics among Indonesian journalists.

Resolving past rights abuses

The Look of Silence trains its focus on a single protagonist – Adi – but he serves as a synecdoche for untold grieving families left without justice and without answers in the wake of the government- and military-backed brutality of 1965-1966.

Through the documentary, Oppenheimer expresses hope that the government will settle past human rights abuses, hopes given impetus by President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's promise to do just that during his 2014 presidential campaign.

Jokowi's administration announced in January that it would settle past human rights cases this year, aiming for reconciliation with victims' families.

However, the intention has been criticized by human rights activists, who disdain any reconciliation process that does not entail assigning responsibility for the crimes, and, where possible, meting out justice.

Jokowi's administration moreover gave the cold shoulder to an International People's Tribunal 1965 held in The Hague in November to shed light on the notorious yet hushed-up killings. His ministers refused to acknowledge the tribunal, citing that Indonesia had its own justice system.

The tribunal, which had no legal status to enact measures in Indonesia, stated that grave human rights abuses had taken place in 1965-1966, and called on the government to act to resolve them.

While holding out some hope in Jokowi, Oppenheimer realizes that the President is in a difficult position to keep his promise, as he "depends on power from people who have blood on their hands".

The Look of Silence was officially distributed in Indonesia through the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM), but other state bodies have called for a ban on screenings of the film.

In October, the annual Ubud Writers and Readers Festival (UWRF) was forced to cancel a series of panel discussions on the 1965-1966 violence, including screenings of The Act of Killing and The Look of Silence.

Oppenheimer believes that despite the daunting obstacles to resolving past rights abuses, new generations of young Indonesians will take on the torch of justice. "I just hope that people can come together in a non-violent way to demand justice and reconciliation, as the films have encouraged," he said. (rin)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/09/oppenheimer-reflects-implications-oscar-nominated-documentary-the-look-silence.html

Labour & migrant workers

Workers, legal aid lawyers fight disobedience charges

Jakarta Post - February 13, 2016

Indra Budiari and Safrin La Batu, Jakarta – When Dian Septi Trisnati decided to take part in a labor protest demanding a review of the calculation used to set the minimum wage, she never expected she would end up a victim of police brutality – and a criminal suspect.

Dian, a member of the Cross-Factories Workers Federation, said the protest that took place in front of the State Palace in Central Jakarta on Oct. 30 had been held, as with similar rallies, because workers had been left with little choice.

"It ended violently," she told The Jakarta Post recently. "A lot of workers were beaten by the cops. They treated us like dangerous criminals, even though none of us brought any weapons."

The demonstration in question involved thousands of workers from across Greater Jakarta who staged a rally demanding the revocation of the then newly issued Government Regulation (PP) No. 78/2015, which stipulated that the calculation of minimum wage increases takes into account the current fiscal year's inflation and gross domestic product (GDP) growth rates.

The rally ended with a clash between protesters and the police. The latter claimed the demonstrators had refused to disperse at the agreed time of 6 p.m, but organizers said it merely took some to disperse, given that the protesters numbered in the thousands.

The police arrested 23 workers and two lawyers from the Jakarta Legal Aid Foundation (LBH Jakarta) accompanying the demonstration. All were subsequently charged with articles 216 and 218 of the Criminal Code on disobeying an official order, with a maximum sentence of four and a half months in jail.

"I was taken to a police truck, where a police officer kicked me in the head. They finally released us from the Jakarta Police headquarters 24 hours later, but we went home as suspects," Dian said at the Indonesian Ombudsman office.

Along with lawyers from LBH Jakarta, Dian and her fellow suspects filed a report to the ombudsman on Thursday, claiming that the police had committed "maladministration" in their duties by beating them and charging them with crimes.

They demanded the institution investigate the case and decide if any violation had been committed by the police. Their case dossiers are to be submitted to state prosecutors by the end of the week.

"The police officers responsible, as well as assaulting citizens who were merely fighting for their rights, were furthermore not wearing uniforms," LBH Jakarta lawyer Maruli Rajagukguk said.

The officers in question had been wearing blue shirts rather than uniforms, he said, making it impossible for workers and LBH Jakarta lawyers to identify the name and rank of the officers who beat them.

He added that while the workers were staging a protest to fight for the annual minimum wage calculation, the legal aid activists had not taken part in the protest. "They were there just to make sure that the workers' rights were not violated in the protest, but the police showed no mercy," Maruli continued.

Contacted separately, Jakarta Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Mohammad Iqbal insisted that all measures during the incident had been conducted based on standard operation procedure, adding that prosecutors had, moreover, accepted the dossiers.

The suspects, he insisted, had the legal right to challenge their suspect status. "That's what pretrial motions are for. They have the right to file for a pretrial petition."

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/13/workers-legal-aid-lawyers-fight-disobedience-charges.html

Banks may lay off more workers this year

Jakarta Post - February 11, 2016

Grace D. Amianti, Jakarta – Layoffs in the banking industry may continue this year, but the number will not be as high as in 2015 when thousands of workers lost their jobs, a senior official from the Financial Services Authority (OJK) has said.

Financial Services Authority (OJK) deputy commissioner for banking supervision Irwan Lubis said in Jakarta on Tuesday there had been massive layoffs in the banking industry last year after some banks took consolidation measures to improve the efficiency of their businesses.

For this year, Irwan predicted that some banks would still have to reduce their workforce, but if they were to do so, the numbers would be far lower than last year.

Last year, several banks decided to offer early retirement programs to their employees as they struggled with rising expenses and falling revenues caused by the country's economic slowdown. Among the banks that decided to cut back employees were the private lenders Bank Danamon and CIMB Niaga.

Irwan Lubis said the banks had reduced their workforce through voluntary early retirement programs, which offered a special retirement package for their workers. "The compensation offered by the banks was deemed quite attractive by their employees. More employees applied for the early retirement than the number approved of by their employers," Irwan said in Jakarta on Tuesday evening.

After enjoying more than 20 percent loan growth for years, domestic banks recorded credit growth of just 10 to 11 percent last year. Furthermore, net profits declined in the face of to numerous economic challenges.

Bank Danamon, the country's sixth largest bank, offered an early retirement program to the employees of its micro-banking unit, Danamon Simpan Pinjam (DSP). Danamon finance director Vera Eve Lim said the early retirement program was conducted in compliance with prevailing laws and regulations, and the bank had consulted with its labor union.

"In this regard, some 2,000 employees of Danamon Simpan Pinjam participated in the early retirement program in 2015," Vera said in an email on Tuesday. She added that Danamon had taken the initiative to strengthen the growth of DSP, which is one of the company's core mass-market businesses.

Publicly-listed CIMB Niaga, part of Malaysia's CIMB financial group, also cut at least 1,700 employees last year through an early retirement program, its strategy and finance director Wan Razly Abdullah said.

Both banks have suffered declines in earnings starting in 2014 and continuing until September last year due to Malaysia's sluggish economic growth.

Danamon saw year-on-year (yoy) net profit declines of 36 percent in 2014, followed with 21 percent yoy, 16 percent yoy and 10 percent yoy declines in the first, second and third quarters of last year, respectively.

The profit declines in Danamon were mainly caused by the country's weak sales in vehicles, as 36 percent of the bank's loans are centered around its auto-financing subsidiary, Adira Finance.

Meanwhile, CIMB Niaga suffered from yoy net profit declines of 45.3 percent in 2014, with 92.4 percent yoy, 91 percent yoy and 88.5 percent yoy declines in the first, second and third quarters, respectively.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/11/banks-may-lay-more-workers-year.html

Thousands rally in Jakarta for permanent employee status

Jakarta Globe - February 10, 2016

Jakarta – Around 20,000 contract government workers staged a rally in Central Jakarta's main streets demanding full-time civil servant status on Wednesday morning (10/02).

Protesters demanded the government to promote contract government workers who failed the 2013 civil servant enrollment test to meet civil servant requirements and install them as permanent workers.

Under the regulations, the honorary workers are paid under the state or regional budgets but will receive no pension funds.

Sr. Comr. M Iqbal, Jakarta Police spokesman, said around 9,000 joint security personnel of police and soldiers are prepared to safeguard the rally.

"Officers have been deployed since 6 a.m. this morning, and will stand by securing the area until the protesters disburse," he said as quoted by CNN Indonesia.

According to the Jakarta Police's traffic monitoring center, thousands of contract teachers arrived at the State Palace on Jalan Medan Merdeka Utara at 8.50 a.m, causing severe traffic disruptions heading to Jalan Medan Merdeka Barat and Harmoni, Central Jakarta.

Traffic closures are expected on Jalan Medan Merdeka Selatan, Jalan Merdeka Barat and Jalan MH Thamrin near the Hotel Indonesia roundabout.

Source: http://jakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/thousands-rally-jakarta-permanent-employee-status/

Is labour leader Said Iqbal politicising layoffs to benefit the Prabowo camp?

Seruu.com - February 9, 2016

Indonesian Trade Union Confederation (KSPI) chairperson Said Iqbal is again talking up the issue of mass dismissals (PHK), saying most recently that the wave of layoffs has also hit the pharmaceutical industry.

"In February the company again carried out sackings (of) pharmaceutical workers at a multinational drug factory", said Iqbal recently.

Iqbal said that hundreds of workers were sacked by pharmaceutical companies in February including, among others, PT Merck, PT Novartis, PT Sandoz and PT Sanopi Aventis. According to the KSPI, the reason for the dismissals was because the companies wanted to improve efficiency.

Not long after this however, one of the companies cited by the KSPI as carrying out layoffs, PT Merck issued a clarification. Corporate Communications Manager Merck, Melisa Sandrianti said that the company has not been dismissing employees. "PT Merck Tbk has not been laying off its employees as reported", said Sandrianti recently.

This is not the first that that Iqbal has raised the issue of mass dismissals. Earlier he also talked up the issue of the closure of PT Panasonic Lighting in Cikarang, West Java, and Pasuruan in East Java, as well as PT Toshiba Indonesia in Cikarang.

He said that these closures would result in the dismissal of thousands of workers. "Around 2,500 workers will be sacked", said Iqbal not long ago. Iqbal explained that these workers comprised around 1,700 KSPI members at PT Panasonic and 970 KSPI members at PT Toshiba.

Soon after this however, the head of PT Panasonic Gobel Indonesia, former trade minister Rachmat Gobel responded by saying that the dismissals that took place at his company were not as severe as stated by Iqbal. Five hundred workers were dismissed, not thousands. Gobel also denied that there were factory closures but that they were simply downsizing.

"The reduction in workers was an efficiency measure that needed to be carried out in order to strengthen comparativeness in the era of the ASEAN Economic Community (MEA). So Panasonic carried out downsizing in three factories and two factories were merged into one, so this left a total of two factories", said Gobel.

So the claims being made by Iqbal and his group have been consistently rejected. Certainly we cannot ignore the stagnant global economy that continues to impact on the Indonesian economy. A number of foreign companies such as Ford have indeed carried out dismissals and even stopped operating in Indonesia.

However talking up fictitious mass dismissals as is being done by Iqbal is disgraceful and will not improve the situation. Because of this therefore, we have to ask what the motive is behind Iqbal and his KSPI 'group'.

If you look carefully, Iqbal is a labour leader who supported former general Prabowo Subianto in the presidential elections (pilpres) in 2014. So it is not strange that after the defeat of his champion by Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, Iqbal has appeared somewhat 'unfriendly' towards President Jokowi.

Moreover Iqbal's dislike of Jokowi has been apparent since he became the governor of Jakarta. In 2013, Iqbal mobilised workers to attack Widodo's policy on setting the provincial minimum wage (UMP) which was deemed to hurt workers.

And after Prabowo was defeated in the presidential election and Jokowi became president, Iqbal has often talked up issues with the aim of attacking the government, or at least creating uproar.

Iqbal was one of the people who blew up the issue of the mass immigration of Chinese foreign workers into Indonesia because of the Widodo government's closeness to China. It turned out however, that according to data from the Department of Labour the number of Chinese workers working in Indonesia between 2014 and 2015 was less than 50,000.

Most recently Iqbal has again become 'popular' over the issue of mass dismissals which have turned out to be nothing more than empty talk. Is this just the politicisation of the issue of mass layoffs by Iqbal who is indeed close to political groups outside of the current administration?

If we look at his track record, it is very likely that this is indeed what Iqbal is doing. The desired effect of efforts by people such as Iqbal has been refuted arguments and data, because of the manipulation and politicisation of issue such as mass dismissals for personal political interests is behaviour that cannot be admired. (hd)

[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service. The original title of the report was "Said Iqbal, Penggemar Politisasi Isu PHK"]

Notes

While the exact number is unclear, media reports do suggest that companies are laying off workers amid a slowdown in the economy and declining domestic purchasing power, primarily caused by the drop in global commodity prices which adversely affects countries like Indonesia with a high dependence upon raw material exports. This has been particularly so in the mining and minerals sector.

In the case of Panasonic, the closure of its plant in Pasuruan, East Java, was actually due to a significant drop in demand for compact fluorescent lamps in favour of LED lamps. Labour activists also point out that in many cases companies are using the current economic climate as a justification to dismiss workers who are then reemployed as contract or temporary employees with lower wages and working conditions.

According to data released by the Department of Labour in January 2015, as of October 2014, a total of 64,604 foreign workers were registered in Indonesia, a decline from 68,957 in 2013 and 72,427 people in 2012. The largest number workers come from China, amounting to 15,341 people, followed by Japan (10,183), South Korea (7,678), India (4,680), Malaysia (3,779) and the United States (2,497).

Source: http://mobile.seruu.com/utama/sketsaindonesia/artikel/said-iqbal-penggemar-politisasi-isu-phk

Trade union rejects Chinese unskilled workers

Jakarta Post - February 9, 2016

Jakarta – The Confederation of Indonesian Workers Unions (KSPI) has urged the government not to relax requirements for Chinese investors who want to use their own unskilled workers for projects in Indonesia because such a policy would threaten local workers.

KSPI chairman Said Iqbal said the government had let Chinese investors bring thousands of unskilled workers to the nation, but had not shown the same flexibility to other foreign investors who had long been running businesses in Indonesia.

"We want the government to prevent Chinese investors from taking unskilled workers and protect the existing upstream industry in Indonesia," Iqbal said on Monday as quoted by Tempo.co.

With the recent layoffs at a number of foreign companies in Indonesia, including Japan's electronic manufacturer PT Toshiba, Iqbal said the reason was not the high demand for increased wages from workers, but was instead due to the weakening of people's purchasing power that created implications for the drastic slump of electronic product sales.

The union urged the government to revoke articles of Government Regulation (PP) No. 78/2015, which stipulates that the minimum wage shall be increased by a total percentage achieved by adding percentage inflation and percentage growth of gross domestic product (GDP) each fiscal year.

"We want the revocation of the regulation and to be given a decent wage, so that people's purchasing power will increase," Iqbal said.

Citing a report published by the International Labor Organization (ILO), Iqbal said that the average Indonesian wage was considered low among Southeast Asia countries.

The average Indonesian worker's wage is US$170 per month, lower than the Vietnamese average wage of $187 per month, Malaysia and Thailand's average $390 per month and far from Singapore's average, which reaches $3,000 per month. (afr/bbn)(+)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/09/trade-union-rejects-chinese-unskilled-workers.html

Government says industry stable despite layoff concerns

Jakarta Post - February 9, 2016

Khoirul Amin, Jakarta – The local electronics industry is expected to remain stable amid layoff concerns surrounding Japanese electronics giants operating in the country, an official says.

According to the Industry Ministry's director for the electronics and telematics industry, Zakiyudin, there is still high demand from Indonesian consumers for electronic products and the sector is likely to grow this year, with the consumer market still developing.

Japanese brands Toshiba and Panasonic have recently been in the spotlight amid labor union claims that they plan to lay off hundreds of employees working for plants that operate in Indonesia, but the Industry Ministry has dismissed the claims.

"Panasonic and Toshiba are not carrying out massive layoffs – they are restructuring," the ministry's director general for metal, machinery, transportation equipment and electronic industries, I Gusti Putu Suryawirawan, told reporters.

Putu said that while the country's overall electronics industry growth was relatively stable, the industry was affected by the local currency exchange rate, as most its components were imported from overseas.

The head of the ministry's research and development department, Haris Munandar, said his ministry had been developing an early warning system for industry development in light of an unusual surge in imports.

Indonesia's electronics and telematics industry grew by 2.5 percent in the period between 2012 and 2015, with investment in the sector rising 25 percent during the same period, according to ministry data.

Total investment in the industry rose to US$6.6 billion last year from $5.9 billion in 2014, and the industry took on 499 new employees in 2015 as compared with 488 employees the previous year.

The Confederation of Indonesian Workers Unions (KSPI) previously announced that Panasonic had closed its two factories and laid off 1,600 workers, while Toshiba planned to lay off 900.

PT Panasonic Manufacturing Indonesia clarified the claims, with president director Ichiro Suganuma stating that his company had shut down its one lamp factory in Pasuruan and offered voluntary retirement programs to 425 workers.

The closure of Panasonic's lamp plant was due to a significant drop in demand for compact fluorescent lamps; the company has now shifted focus to developing light-emitting diode (LED) lamps, for which there is growing demand.

"The important thing is that our commitment to the industry remains the same and our investment in LED technology development is still large," Ichiro said.

Meanwhile, Toshiba has clarified that the actual figure was 360 workers laid off, lower than the labor union's report.

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

"The site only produced 30,000 TVs out of a capacity of 350,000," said a Toshiba executive who refused to be named, adding that the company had also terminated 1,000 workers' contracts last year following the drastic drop in production.

Toshiba Indonesia was recently acquired by Chinese television maker Skyworth Corp. in a ¥3 billion deal that will be fully materialized this year, with a possible change of brand in April. "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," the source said.

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

"We can help them to improve competitiveness, including by issuing any necessary policies and coordinating with the relevant ministries," Franky said recently.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/09/govt-says-industry-stable-despite-layoff-concerns.html

Political parties & elections

Bawaslu wants more authority to handle poll violations

Jakarta Post - February 13, 2016

Nurul Fitri Ramadhani, Jakarta – After being largely left out of handling disputes resulting from last year's simultaneous regional elections, the Election Supervisory Committee (Bawaslu) has demanded that it be granted more authority to deal with electoral complaints.

Bawaslu chairman Muhammad said that the committee ought to have full authority to handle criminal violations in the election process.

Currently, Bawaslu receives complaints regarding violations of election laws, including criminal cases, only to report them to the National Police and Attorney General's Office (AGO). Most cases remain unresolved in the hands of the police because their investigations require at least two pieces of evidence, which takes a lengthy process to collect.

"Bawaslu should be the only institution handling the reports. We should run a certain type of court to settle all election disputes and violations except those related to election results, which are handled by the Constitutional Court," Muhammad said.

Bawaslu should also be given full authority to handle administrative violations, issues related to candidate registration, campaign funds misuse and voter registration, he said.

It has become common practice for political candidates to file lawsuits against decisions taken by regional general elections commissions (KPUD) at the State Administrative Court (PTUN) after the KPUD rejects their candidacy for legal reasons. "Bawaslu should be the one to hear the complaints and its decision should be final and binding," Muhammad said.

KPU commissioner Juri Ardiantoro dismissed the proposal saying that there was no specific regulation that barred candidates from filing complaints with institutions other than Bawaslu, such as the state administrative court, the police, the district court and the Supreme Court.

"Of course those institutions have no authority to reject the lawsuits. And that's why we need to evaluate existing regulations," Juri said. Some of problems also arose due to a lack of coordination between the KPU and Bawaslu during the candidate registration process, he said.

The KPU sometimes declined to register candidates due to administrative violations, such as missing the deadline and failing to enclose school diplomas, a lapse that Bawaslu could tolerate.

People's Synergy for Democracy in Indonesia (Sigma) director Said Salahuddin also objected to the proposal for Bawaslu to handle the criminal violations.

"Bawaslu should stay away from criminal violations and be given greater authority to hand down heavier penalties for those failing to meet administrative requirements. This will make the work of election organizers more effective," he said.

Said, however, doubted if the House of Representatives would allow the change to happen. "The House appears unprepared to deliberate regional election bills. They haven't even prepared a draft bill," he said.

The House has listed Amendment to Law No. 1/2005 on the election of governors, regents and mayors, among its priority bills under the 2016 National Legislation Program (Prolegnas), and started its deliberation earlier this month.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/13/bawaslu-wants-more-authority-handle-poll-violations.html

Journalism & media freedom

Violence against journalists on the rise with 46 cases in 2015

Jakarta Post - February 11, 2016

Nani Afrida, Jakarta – Last year saw more journalists become victims of violence and various other forms of abuse and disruption when doing their jobs, reports the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI).

In the report, released on Tuesday to coincide with the National Press Day, AJI reveals that cases of violence against journalists increased to 46 in 2015 from 40 and 39 in 2014 and 2013, respectively.

"We found out that the situation faced by Indonesian journalists is growing more critical as levels of violence have worsened in the past three years," AJI chairman Suwarjono told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.

Suwarjono said that the election of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, the first democratically elected civilian President in the post-Soeharto era, had failed to make a difference.

Worsening violence against journalists, he claims, shows that the state is failing to protect journalists as they carry out their jobs. "We are concerned about this because according to the 1999 Press Law, journalists should be given protection," Suwarjono said.

Based on data from AJI, police were responsible for 14 cases of violence against journalists. "We observed that more police are being violent toward journalists. We had 6 cases in 2014 and that number more than doubled in 2015," Suwarjono said.

He said that the culture of impunity within the police force was the reason for the spike. "The police institution never imposes punishments on their personnel," he said.

Asep Komaruddin from the Legal Aid Institute for the Press (LBH Pers) said that his institution recorded the same trend, where most cases of violence against journalists went unpunished. "Based on our data, from 2008 until today, no case of violence against a journalist has been tried or processed legally," Asep said.

The attacks against journalists have included beatings, intimidation and the destruction of journalists' equipment. The disturbing trend has also affected foreign reporters assigned to work in Indonesia.

Late last year, during a Papuan Students Alliance (AMP) rally at Hotel Indonesia (HI) traffic circle, journalist Archicco Guiliano from ABC Australia, Step Vaessen from Al-Jazeera and Chris Brummitt from Bloomberg were stopped by police officers and ordered to delete pictures they had taken.

Based on an investigation by LBH Pers, Archicco Guiliano was taking pictures of the chaos and was positioned in front of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. Officers approach him and told him to delete his photos. He refused and was reportedly hit by the officers.

Step Vaessen witnessed the incident and photographed it on his cell phone. Police officers then approached him and asked him to erase his photos. When he refused, the police reportedly grabbed his phone and did it for him.

Article 18 of Law No. 40/1999 on the press stipulates that anyone who intentionally prevents journalists from doing their jobs can face a two-year prison term or be fined Rp 500 million.

The National Police did not return a call from the Post when asked for their response to the allegations.

Besides physical violence, LBH Pers noted several other problems that affected the work of journalists. "We found that during 2015 there were some regulations made that threatened the freedom of the press or freedom of expression," Asep said.

He expected that more regulations were being drafted this year to further limit the press's freedom. He said that the press's freedom would most likely continue to decline once the regulations were passed.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/11/violence-against-journalists-rise-with-46-cases-2015.html

Environment & natural disasters

Cities backtrack on bag tax

Jakarta Post - February 10, 2016

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – Most of the cities planning to join a campaign to tax plastic bags have withdrawn from the program, saying that they were not ready to implement it.

Only nine out of 23 cities scheduled to start requiring customers to pay for plastic bags used when shopping at malls, department stores, supermarkets and other retail outlets starting Feb. 21 are ready to implement the policy set by the Environment and Forestry Ministry last year.

"Not all [cities will start requiring customers to pay] on Feb. 21," the ministry's director general for dangerous toxic material and waste management, Tuti Hendrawati Mintarsih, said during a media briefing in Jakarta.

In fact, only one city, Bandung, is considered fully ready to implement the plan because it already has a regional regulation.

Besides Bandung, cities like Jakarta, Bogor, Banda Aceh, Makassar, Denpasar, Surabaya, Tangerang and Balikpapan have also stated their readiness to implement the policy, despite the lack of existing regulations.

"We have talked [with Jakarta]. The governor even said that he could implement the policy before Feb. 21," the ministry's waste management director, Sudirman, said on Tuesday. "Jakarta is the capital of the country, so it has to become a pioneer."

Mayors of these nine cities have already issued written statements to pledge their participation in the program, especially after striking a deal with retailers in their respective administrations.

Some cities currently only had acting mayors, like Surakarta in Central Jakarta and Banjarmasin in Central Kalimantan, a condition that prevented them from making strategic decisions, including issuing regulations on plastic bag charges,

Earlier this year, the Indonesian Retailers Association (Aprindo) said that all modern retailers in 23 of the country's major cities were ready to implement the policy.

The 23 were Ambon, Balikpapan, Banda Aceh, Bandung, Banjarmasin, Bekasi, Bogor, Denpasar, Depok, Jakarta, Jayapura, Kendari, Makassar, Medan, Palembang, Papua, Pekanbaru, Semarang, Surakarta, 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.

However, what has left most of the cities not ready to start the program is that the price to be charged to customers for plastic shopping bags has yet to be decided by regional governments.

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 bags to the retailers. Aprindo, meanwhile, has proposed a Rp 200 charge for each plastic bag.

As there has been no agreement, the ministry plans to issue an order to regions that would serve as a guideline to formulate the price. Local governments would not be able to set a price lower than the benchmark set by the ministry.

The ministry had been conducting an online survey since Feb. 5 to get a response from the public regarding the plan. As of Tuesday, 7,974 respondents had participated in the survey, with 87.2 percent of them saying that they would support the policy.

The survey also found out that 91.5 percent said that they were willing to bring their own shopping bags. As for the ideal price, 32.6 percent chose Rp 500, while 23 percent chose Rp 1,000 and 21.5 percent chose Rp 2,000.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/10/cities-backtrack-bag-tax.html

Health & education

Health crisis emerges, regions struggle

Jakarta Post - February 14, 2016

Syofiardi Bachyul Jb and Hotli Simanjuntak, Padang/Banda Aceh – Floods that have submerged a number of regions in Indonesia over the past week have begun to result in major health consequences for local residents, as hundreds in the affected areas report the quick spread of respiratory and other diseases.

In West Sumatra, at least 250 residents within the Pasaman regency reportedly suffer from gastritis, acute respiratory infections (ISPA) and/or skin diseases after heavy downpours brought floods to the Rao and Panti districts, home to more than 2,000 people.

Pasaman Health Agency head Desrizal said on Saturday that all the patients had received treatment at Puskesmas (local community health centers). "There is a possibility that the diseases have emerged due to shock and anxiety," he said, adding that the agency had also set up health posts in the affected districts to provide emergency medical aid.

Meanwhile, in South Sumatra, residents of the North Musi Rawas regency have been struggling with the widespread skin diseases that emerged after floods inundated some parts of the region earlier this month.

M. Kosim, who lives in Muara Rupit subdistrict, said he and his family members had been suffering from itchy skin over the past week, adding that, after they began to scratch, red, pus-filled spots had also appeared on their skin.

Kosim claimed that dozens of people in his village were also experiencing a similar condition. "We have received some medicine from the Puskesmas, but it doesn't work," he said on Saturday, as quoted by Antara news agency.

After a prolonged dry season, the rainy season finally arrived in many parts of the country in December and has since intensified. A series of heavy downpours have subsequently triggered floods in several provinces, including Aceh, North Sumatra, West Sumatra, Riau and Central Java.

In West Sumatra, at least seven people have died over the past week due to floods and landsides triggered by heavy rains. On Saturday, search and rescue team members in South Solok regency managed to recover the body of a 2-year-old child after a landslide had buried a house in Alam Pauh Duo district the previous Monday, killing the child and five other family members.

In Riau, floods have hit three regencies: Kampar, Rokan Hulu and Kuantan Singingi. Leaders of the three regencies have declared an emergency response status, saying they were overwhelmed with carrying out anticipative measures.

Meanwhile in East Java, floods from the overflowing Kalikemuning River in Sampang had submerged thousands of houses across the regency since Thursday and have killed at least one local resident. The victim, 14-year-old Faisal Sipli, was swept away by the river's strong current on Thursday. His body was finally found two days later.

Sampang Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) head Wisnu Hartono said the flood had been the region's biggest to date. "We have experienced some floods in the past, but never this big," he told Antara.

In Aceh, at least three regencies – East Aceh, North Aceh and Bireun – have been hit by floods triggered by heavy rains and overflowing rivers. The North Aceh BPBD reported on Saturday that at least 4,000 residents had moved to public facilities, like schools and mosques, or moved to relatives' houses after floods submerged seven districts in the region.

Meanwhile in Bireuen, Jeunieb district is reported to be the worst-hit area in the regency as it was engulfed by up to 1-meter-high floodwaters. "Many villagers have fled their homes to stay in the district's capital so as to avoid the worsening situation," Jangot Tungko subdistrict bead Apriadi said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/14/health-crisis-emerges-regions-struggle.html

Yogyakarta moonshine traders have powerful friends

Jakarta Post - February 13, 2016

Bambang Muryanto, Yogyakarta – Eliminating the production and distribution of bootleg liquor, locally known as oplosan, in Yogyakarta will not be easy with law enforcers even expressing doubts about their capacity to crack down on sales of the dangerous substance, which resulted in dozens of deaths in the province recently.

Earlier this month, 26 people, most of them university students, died after consuming oplosan at a variety of venues in the province. Dozens of others, meanwhile, are in a serious condition in hospital after drinking the substance.

Despite the high death toll, local authorities seem to be reluctant to take initiatives to eradicate the root of the problem: the oplosan producers and vendors.

Although the police, as of Friday, had arrested five suspects for allegedly making or selling the oplosan that killed the young people, there has so far been no attempt by local authorities to seize oplosan products in local markets to prevent another deadly incident from happening.

Yogyakarta Provincial Legislative Council (DPRD) member Eko Suwanto lambasted on Friday the slow progress made by the Yogyakarta Police and the province's Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) in cracking down on oplosan sales in the region.

He also said he suspected that many oplosan makers and vendors were receiving protection from local security personnel and mass organizations in running their illegal activities. "Both the police and Satpol PP exercise the state's authority. They must not bow down to any power behind the vendors," Eko said.

Many residents of Yogyakarta – considered to have a relatively low cost of living – prefer oplosan to beer or branded liquor because of the price disparity and greater alcohol content.

A 300-milliliter bottle of oplosan with an alcohol content of around 40 percent is sold for around Rp 30,000 (US$2.23), while a 330-ml can of locally produced beer with an alcohol content of 4.7 percent costs around Rp 18,000.

Regular oplosan consumers in Yogyakarta, meanwhile, said it was easy to purchase the illicit alcohol in the province. "Oplosan sellers are available in various places in the region," said Arcie, a university student who regularly drinks and trades oplosan.

Separately, Yogyakarta Police spokesperson Comr. Sri Sumarsih urged local residents to report to the police should they find any indication of any group assisting the oplosan trade. She added that if there was support from state institutions, the Yogyakarta Police would coordinate to resolve the matter.

"If the support is being provided by the police, just file a report to the police internal affairs division. We will follow up on it and definitely impose sanctions on the culprits," she said.

Traditional fermented-drink researcher Raymond Micheal Menot, however, said oplosan was not the correct term to refer to the alcoholic drink that had caused the deaths.

The term oplosan, or mix in the Javanese language, refers to drinks, such as cocktails, which are mixed by an expert who is familiar with the alcohol content. "A drink that kills people should not be called oplosan because it's a blend of alcohol and mosquito lotion, or battery fluid and headache pills," he said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/13/yogyakarta-moonshine-traders-have-powerful-friends.html

Liquor should not be banned, but controlled: Industry

Jakarta Post - February 11, 2016

The alcohol industry has called on the House of Representatives to draft a bill that would become the legal basis to regulate the distribution of alcoholic beverages in society.

If such a bill was passed into law, it would allow regulators to control and monitor the distribution of such beverages, rather than totally banning the commodity, said Indonesian Malt Beverage Producers Association (GIMMI) executive committee member Bambang Britono on Wednesday as quoted by kompas.com.

What Indonesia needed was comprehensive regulations on the chain of production and the marketing of alcoholic beverages instead of total prohibition because there was no reason to completely ban liquor, Bambang added.

"Research findings from the Health Ministry's research and the development agency as well as the WHO have indicated that there is no alcohol emergency issue in Indonesia," Bambang said on Wednesday as quoted on kompas.com, adding that the results had shown low levels of alcoholic consumption in the country.

Indonesia Spirit and Wine Alliance (ISWA) spokesman Ipung Nimpuno made a similar statement, saying that the US National Prohibition Act, commonly known as the Volstead Act, which prohibited the production, importation, distribution and sale of alcohol between 1920 and 1933 was an example of how such a law failed to reduce alcohol consumption.

"What actually happened was a rise in crime and the growth of mafia organizations who smuggled alcoholic drinks," Ipung said. Ipung said proper control and monitoring would provide greater certainty in regulating the alcoholic drinks sector in Indonesia.

Indonesian Alcoholic Beverage Entrepreneurs Association (APMBI) spokesman Stevanus voiced his concern about the public perception of oplosan (bootleg liquor), which could become an alternative to properly made alcoholic drinks.

"For us, oplosan is not alcohol but poison. Oplosan is not a beverage because the ingredients are not for consumption, unlike an alcoholic drink," he said.

The APMBI has conducted a number of campaigns to raise public awareness of the dangers of bootleg liquor in several areas including Bali and Surabaya. The organization is aiming to collaborate with the government to educate the public and reach a wider audience.

House of Representatives' inquiry committee (Pansus) member Abdul Fikri, who is a Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) lawmaker, said the committee would take into consideration all the input from the alcohol industry.

He said the alcohol prohibition bill was still very simple and needed further contributions from various parties. "The point is how can we organize, provide security and save the younger generation. That is our objective," he said. (liz/bbn)(+)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/11/liquor-should-not-be-banned-controlled-industry.html

Student city has a taste for bootleg booze

Jakarta Post - February 10, 2016

Bambang Muryanto, Yogyakarta – Yogyakarta is the repository of Javanese culture, a famed center for intellectuals and students.

But the city is gaining a less attractive renown: With 26 people, most of them university students, recently passed away after consuming illegally produced alcoholic concoctions, the city is making a name for itself as a haven for bootleg liquor.

Sales of the bootleg booze, known locally as oplosan, have been mushrooming since the 1990s and the drink can be easily sourced in every corner of the city, which is home to some 120,000 university students. Some vendors sell the drink openly, others keep their trade underground.

Many denizens of Yogyakarta – considered to have a relatively low cost of living – prefer oplosan to beer because of the price disparity and greater alcohol content.

A 300 milliliter bottle of oplosan with alcohol content of around 40 percent is sold for around Rp 30,000 (less than US$3), while a 330-ml can of Bintang-brand beer with alcohol content of 4.7 percent costs around Rp 18,000.

"Oplosan is both bitter and sweet. As it flows down your throat, the burning sensation is fiercer than with other drinks," said a Yogyakarta State University (UNY) student by the name of Arcie on Tuesday.

Like any other university student on a budget, Arcie usually chips in with friends to buy several bottles of oplosan for a drinking binge. "We drink when we are bored with our studies and societies. We have a lot of homework, but even though I drink frequently, I never fall behind," he claimed.

The illegal distribution of oplosan has been making headlines in the city after 26 people died in separate incidents last week after consuming brews sold by a number of vendors.

The police arrested a couple from Depok district who allegedly produced and sold the oplosan consumed by some of the victims, including nine students from the remote and indigent province of Papua.

Local musician Gonjes Matopane said drinking oplosan was habitual among youngsters because of the drink's low price.

He added that the concoctions often proved lethal, however, because producers experimented with the addition of any number of substances. "They often experiment by mixing the brew with various substances to increase the intoxicating effect," said Gonjes.

Based on his experience, consumers often mix oplosan with paint thinner, mosquito repellent, sedatives, ethanol and soft drinks.

A Yogyakarta oplosan seller initialled J said most of his customers were university students, blue-collar workers and other low-income citizens. He explained that he did not produce oplosan daily, but worked to order.

"When there's orders, or on special occasions, we may produce 20 liters of oplosan. We sell a bottle of oplosan for Rp 30,000, but sometimes the youngsters haggle the price down to Rp 20,000," said J.

He claimed that oplosan was in reality harmless, as producers always tasted the brew before bottling and selling it, and professed ignorance as to the cause of the recent spate of deaths. "Perhaps they didn't feel drunk after drinking a liter of oplosan, so they just kept drinking," J hazarded.

An expert team from Sardjito General Hospital in Yogyakarta found high methanol content in the blood of an oplosan drinker who was treated and later died at the hospital.

In large doses, methanol attacks the central nervous system, weakening the victim, who eventually suffocates. Forensic expert Lipur Riyantiningtyas said that methanol content above 15 milligrams in human blood could be fatal. "Just 15 milligrams can cause blindness, as it destroys the eye nerves," she said.

Faisal Haryono, a physician at Sardjito Hospital, said those who had died had arrived in the early hours, already unconscious. "We might have saved them, if they'd been brought to the hospital earlier," said Faisal. "It's been a tough week. Many young and bright individuals have left us in such a regrettable way."

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/10/student-city-has-a-taste-bootleg-booze.html

Gender & sexual orientation

Indonesia asks messaging apps to remove same-sex emojis in LGBT backlash

Sydney Morning Herald - February 13, 2016

Jewel Topsfield and Karuni Rompies, Jakarta – The Indonesian government has asked instant message apps to remove same-sex emojis? "that could potentially cause public unrest" in the latest backlash against homosexuality.

Emojis are a small icon or sticker used online and in text messages to express emotions. They have become so popular, phone manufacturers have added dedicated emoji keyboards to their devices. In 2014 Apple added 50 gender-diverse emojis to its collection.

But now the popular app LINE, which had 30 million users in Indonesia as of late 2014, pulled its lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender stickers from its online store in Indonesia on Thursday. Communications and Information Ministry spokesman Ismail Cawidu said LINE had responded swiftly to the furore over its "somewhat vulgar" stickers.

"The ministry is appreciative of LINE Indonesia for its understanding and discretion in dealing with matters that could potentially cause public unrest, especially the concerns of mothers for their children in terms of the negative influence the circulation of these LGBT stickers could cause," he was quoted saying in news wire detik.com.

The LINE sticker sets, which can be used as well as text in messages, had titles such as "love is love" and "enjoy gay life" and featured images such as same-sex couples hugging and a man in his underwear frolicking in flowers.

LINE Indonesia said it had shut-down access to the stickers in Indonesia because they were considered "sensitive". "We always try to be neutral and non-discriminatory while considering the sensitivity of the local culture," LINE Indonesia's head of public relations, Teddy Arifianto?, told Fairfax Media.

Mr Ismail said the ministry would contact popular messaging app Whatsapp – which is owned by Facebook – and ask the company to also remove its LGBT themed stickers.

Homosexuality has never been outlawed in Indonesia, a Muslim-majority country that practises a moderate form of Islam. (The exception is the province of Aceh, where Sharia law is implemented and gay sex can be punished with 100 strokes of the cane.) Transvestites, known as waria, have been a feature of Indonesian public life for hundreds of years.

However a furore last month over a brochure distributed by a support group for gay students at the University of Indonesia has sparked a backlash against the queer community. Higher Education Minister Muhammad Nasir said publicly affectionate gay students should be banned from university campuses.

Indonesia's top Muslim clerical body, the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), is reportedly preparing a fatwa, or religious edict, that will recommend the prosecution of Muslims who join in LGBT activities.

"What I see is that the attack against the LGBT group is getting bigger recently," said Yasmin Purba, a rights activist from the Indonesian Legal Foundation. "They are bullied in social media and attacked in real life. Indonesian people love gay or transgender characters in show business, we even have a minister people believe to be gay. Why are people attacking LGBT right now?"

Ms Purba said she recently attended a workshop on LGBT at Cemara hotel in Jakarta which was closed down by police following a tip-off from the hardline group the Islam Defenders Front (FPI).

"The police told us they were protecting us and so we had to leave," she said. "Some of us had already even booked rooms in that hotel. They said we could not stay there or if we wanted to, we had to get permission from the police. That's insane."

Human Rights Watch recently wrote to Indonesian President Joko Widodo? urging him to defend the rights of LGBT people and publicly condemn officials "grossly discriminatory" remarks. Asked about the issue on Friday, Luhut Panjaitan?, one of Mr Joko's most senior ministers, said all Indonesian citizens were entitled to be protected.

Source: http://www.smh.com.au/world/indonesia-asks-messaging-apps-to-remove-samesex-emojis-in-lgbt-backlash-20160213-gmt8i8.html

Indonesia must protect LGBT rights: Human Rights Watch

Jakarta Post - February 12, 2016

Jakarta – The New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) urged President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to defend the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in a letter sent to the President on Friday.

HRW also condemned government officials' discriminatory remarks made against LGBT communities since January, the watchdog said in a statement.

HRW has recorded that local government and education officials have touted discriminatory anti-LGBT measures, including by suggesting bans on LGBT student groups on university campuses and ordering police to halt an HIV outreach event for gay and bisexual men.

"President Jokowi should urgently condemn anti-LGBT remarks by officials before such rhetoric opens the door to more abuses," said Graeme Reid, LGBT rights director at HRW, in a statement on Friday. "The President has long championed pluralism and diversity. This is an opportunity to demonstrate his commitment."

According to international law, the government was obligated to protect everyone in the country regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, the statement said.

Moreover, protecting LGBT people from violence and discrimination was part of Indonesia's human rights commitment, Reid said. "President Jokowi should make an unambiguous statement of support for the fundamental rights of all Indonesians and pledge to protect LGBT people from attacks."

The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has condemned government officials' vitriolic statements and also urged law enforcement agencies to protect LGBT people from violence.

Research and Technology and Higher Education Minister M. Nasir said in January that the LGBT community "corrupts the morals of the nation" and that members of the community should be barred from university campuses.

Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) lawmaker M. Nasir Djamil made similar demeaning remarks, saying that "LGBT groups cannot be allowed to thrive and be given space. Especially considering that they have entered campuses through academic discussion," he said last month.

The statements were made in response to the Support Group and Resource Center on Sexuality Studies (SGRC) at the University of Indonesia (UI), which offers counseling for LGBT students.

Following the controversy of LGBT groups on university campuses, the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) also planned to issue a fatwa, a non-legally binding edict that would recommend the prosecution of Muslims who take part in LGBT-related activities, MUI chairman Ma'ruf Amin said earlier this week.

HRW also recorded that sharia police in Aceh province arrested a pair of young women for "hugging in public" in October 2015. Moreover Brawijaya University authorities canceled an LGBT event in November, claiming they had received threats of an attack.

The Islam Defenders Front (FPI) harassed participants in a seminar on access to justice for LGBT people on Feb. 4, according to HRW.

A 2014 UN Development Program report called on the government to mainstream human rights protections for LGBT people across all state institutions, and to "officially recognize the existence of LGBT people as an integral part of Indonesian society."

As many as 12 UN agencies – many operating in Indonesia – signed a pledge to help governments end violence and discrimination against LGBT people in 2015. (rin)(+)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/12/indonesia-must-protect-lgbt-rights-human-rights-watch.html

Indonesia bans gay emoji and stickers from messaging apps

Associated Press - February 12, 2016

Indonesia's instant messaging providers must remove gay emoji and stickers from their apps, the government has ordered, prompting a human rights outcry.

The government move comes after a social media backlash against Line, a popular smartphone messaging app, for having stickers – an elaborate type of emoji – with homosexual themes in its online store.

Homosexuality and is not illegal in Indonesia but LGBT matters are a sensitive issue. At the same time most of Indonesian society, which follows a moderate form of Islam, is tolerant, with gay and transsexual entertainers often appearing on television shows.

But Twitter and Facebook recently exploded with criticism of Line and its competitor WhatsApp for containing gay content. Line on Tuesday said it had removed all LGBT-related stickers from its local store after complaints from Indonesian users.

Ismail Cawidu, a spokesman for the government's communication ministry, said the government would tell WhatsApp, owned by Facebook, to do the same as Line. "Social media must respect the culture and local wisdom of the country where they have large numbers of users," he said.

Human Rights Watch called on President Jokowi Widodo to protect gay and lesbian rights after his government's latest high-profile step to discourage visible homosexuality.

In a letter to the president, HRW said the government should publicly condemn officials who make "grossly discriminatory remarks" against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

"President Jokowi should urgently condemn anti-LGBT remarks by officials before such rhetoric opens the door to more abuses," said Graeme Reid, LGBT rights director at Human Rights Watch. "The president has long championed pluralism and diversity. This is an opportunity to demonstrate his commitment."

In January the higher education minister Muhammad Nasir said openly gay students should be banned from the University of Indonesia's campuses. His statements followed controversy over news a sexuality research centre planned to offer counselling services for students.

Nasir's statement sparked public controversy in Indonesia for weeks, with objections from human rights groups but support from the Indonesian Ulema Council, an influential board of Muslims clerics.

Gay rights advocate King Oey urged the government to respect international treaties signed by Indonesia protecting the rights of minorities and women. "Gays and lesbians are not illegal in Indonesia," Oey said. "We urge people who are concerned with human rights to not sit by silently."

In 2014 lawmakers in Aceh, a conservative Indonesian province, passed a law that punishes gay sex by public caning and subjects non-Muslims to the region's strict interpretation of Islamic sharia law. In October 2015 sharia police in Aceh arrested a pair of young women for "hugging in public".

Source: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/feb/12/indonesia-bans-gay-emoji-and-stickers-from-messaging-apps

Indonesia bans 'gay' emojis on messaging apps including LINE, Whatsapp, Facebook and

Agence France Presse - February 12, 2016

Indonesia's Government has demanded all instant message apps remove same-sex emojis or face a ban in the Muslim-majority country.

The emojis, which are available on apps including LINE, Whatsapp, Facebook and Twitter, depict same-sex couples holding hands and the rainbow flag, commonly used to symbolise the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.

"Such contents are not allowed in Indonesia based on our cultural law and the religious norms and the operators must respect that," Ismail Cawidu, spokesman for the Communication and Information Ministry, said.

He said of particular concern was that the colourful emojis and stickers could appeal to children. "Those things might be considered normal in some Western countries, while in Indonesia it's practically impossible," he said.

Mr Cawidu said the ministry had contacted all companies that used such content, including Twitter and Facebook, and failure to comply with the request to remove the emojis could lead to the apps being banned in Indonesia.

LINE Indonesia has already removed its gay emojis from online stores and issued an apology.

"LINE regrets the incidents of some stickers which are considered sensitive by many people," the messaging app said in a statement. "We ask for your understanding because at the moment we are working on this issue to remove the stickers."

While homosexuality is not illegal in Indonesia, the topic remains a controversial subject. In January, the University of Indonesia told a support group providing sex education and counselling for LGBT students that they did not have permission to hold meetings on campus.

And last year Aceh, the only province in Indonesia which implements Sharia law, introduced caning as a punishment for gay sex.

Prominent gay activist Hartoyo said the move to ban the emojis was symptomatic of a wider crackdown on LGBT rights.

"This is just the latest in a series of incidents that have happened recently," he said. "The Government has let this ignorance go on for far too long and it has put our nation in danger."

Source: http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/2016-02-12/indonesia-bans-gay-emojis-on-messaging-apps-including-line-whatsapp-facebook-and-twitter/1547234

Police break up LGBT workshop after complaint

Jakarta Post - February 10, 2016

Indra Budiari, Safrin La Batu and Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – Police have once again bowed to hardliners at the expense of minority groups and civil society by shutting down an LGBT group's closed workshop at the Cemara Hotel in Menteng, Central Jakarta.

Filing a report to the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) on Tuesday, Yuli Rustinawati, chairman of LGBT group Arus Pelangi, said dozens of Menteng Police officers had disbanded a workshop on access to justice for LGBT communities last week.

The police officers said they were deployed to the hotel as soon as they received a report from hardliner group the Islam Defenders Front (FPI). "The officers told us we should secure a permit from the police to hold such an event, otherwise it would be disbanded," Yuli told The Jakarta Post. She insisted that no regulation stipulated that an event held indoors with fewer than 50 people required a police permit.

Based on the National Police chief's Instruction No. Pol/02/XII/95 on permits and notice of community activities, events that require a permit are music festivals, shadow puppet shows, Javanese theatrical performances and other shows. Arus Pelangi's event, held between Feb. 1 and 8, was none of those. With the tagline "LGBT Rights are Human Rights", the workshop gathered 26 participants from LGBT groups from eight provinces.

On the third day of the workshop, participants and committee members received uninvited guests in five FPI members and a police officer who asked that the event be disbanded immediately as it did not have a permit.

"We weren't committing any crime by holding the event, so we decided to continue," said Lini Zurlia, the event's organizing committee and Arus Pelangi member.

However, a few hours later around 25 uniformed police officers swarmed the lobby and gave the hotel management no choice but to ask the committee to stop the workshop. Lini said Arus Pelangi decided to change the venue, so the workshop could be finished as scheduled.

West Jakarta Police spokesperson Comr. Suyatno said the group should have informed them about the activity, emphasizing that the police did not intend to prohibit such activities.

"But as Indonesians, we normally report our activities [to local police], especially if it involves inviting outsiders," he told the Post. "We would then process the event proposal and see whether or not nearby residents accepted it. Then we would make our recommendation. If something bad happens, who will society blame?" he said.

Human Rights Watch Group (HRWG) ASEAN program manager Daniel Awigra lambasted the police's actions. "What's the basis of it? The police are responsible for protecting everyone, regardless of their politics, religion or sexual orientation. The [LGBT community] are not a threat to safety, public order, public health or morals," he said.

Daniel believed that the police's actions stemmed from society's tendency to look at everything through a religious lens only, including homosexuality, which has been increasingly perceived as a contagious disease following recent remarks from various public officials and religious leaders.

Daniel then pointed out how the World Health Organization (WHO) had declared that homosexuality was not a disease back in 1990.

It was not the first time the police have disbanded an event following pressure from certain groups. In November 2015 the Jakarta Police did not give the go-ahead for a discussion on terrorism held by the Association of Journalists for Diversity (SEJUK), as the FPI accused the association of putting up a provocative promotional poster for the event.

A month later, the police also pressured the Jakarta Arts Council to cancel a discussion on the 1965 tragedy following a protest from dozens of artists who said that political issues should not be brought up at an arts festival.

In December, hundreds of FPI members inspected cars passing through Taman Ismail Marzuki in Central Jakarta where the Indonesia Theater Federation Award was being held. They were trying to stop Purwakarta Regent Dedi Mulyadi from attending the event as they accused him of debasing the tenets of Islamic by using the Sundanese greeting Sampurasun instead of the Muslim-approved assalamualaikum.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/10/police-break-lgbt-workshop-after-complaint.html

Ulema Council to ban Muslims from LGBT advocacy

Jakarta Post - February 9, 2016

Haeril Halim and Indra Harsaputra, Jakarta/Surabaya – Following the recent controversy over LGBT groups on university campuses, an ulema group has paved the way for banning all activities that advocate freedom of sexual orientation.

The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) has confirmed that it is currently preparing a fatwa, or a non-legally binding edict, that will recommend the prosecution of Muslims who join in LGBT-related activities.

MUI chairman Ma'ruf Amin told The Jakarta Post the government-sanctioned body was preparing the fatwa and was soon to announce it.

Ma'ruf said that as the MUI had earlier issued a fatwa declaring LGBT communities "religiously, culturally and morally deviant", through this fatwa it was looking to ban Muslims from joining any groups promoting LGBT rights in Indonesia, a country with a majority Muslim population.

"We want Muslims to be cautious of LGBT [activities]. This is not about LGBT people, but more to do with their movements. There is a lot that is deviant about it," Ma'ruf said recently, adding that the fatwa was an effective way of reminding Muslims about the "danger" of LGBT movements, which he noted had increased in recent years in Indonesia.

Ma'ruf said that the fatwa would also seek a ban on LGBT groups in Indonesia.

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), triggering hostile remarks from public officials including Research, Technology and Higher Education Minister Muhammad Nasir and Education and Culture Minister Anies Baswedan.

The hostility was exacerbated by a tough stance against LGBT rights from the country's largest Islamic organization, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) – known for its moderate stance on minority issues – as well as from the traditionally inclusive National Awakening Party (PKB).

MUI edict commission secretary Asrorun Niam said that LGBT activity was a deviant way to channel sexual desire and if spread widely in society it could disrupt "legal and social" order.

He said that the MUI was also looking to recommend that the government include articles that provided legal basis for charging people who enjoyed such "deviant sexual activity", adding that human rights in Indonesia should comply with religious and moral values.

Asrorun called on Muslims across the country not to discriminate against LGBT people, whom he said "should be rehabilitated to cure their homosexuality". "For those who campaign for [LGBT rights], there should be firm legal prosecution to protect the legal and social order of society," he said.

Setara Institute deputy chairman Bonar Tigor Naipospos called on the government to reject the MUI's call to ban LGBT groups in Indonesia, saying a fatwa could not be used a basis to make a law or regulation.

"In the process of making a law, lawmakers should not only consider the views of religious groups but also [...] members of the public. Indonesia has strong influences from religious groups, thus, it is difficult to expect the state to legitimize LGBT [expression], but it does not mean that the government should not give LGBT people the same treatment as other citizens," Bonar said.

Amid the controversy, organizers have postponed a Valentine's Day "G Nite Party" in Surabaya, East Java, citing lack of a security guarantee or protection from law enforcement agencies.

"We eventually postponed the event, scheduled for Feb. 7 at one of the karaoke parlors in the Maj. Gen Sungkono area, after police were unable to provide security to revelers," GAYa Nusantara board member Dede Oetomo told the Post on Sunday.

Dede said that after the police questioned them on their event licensing, the organizing committee immediately consulted with the Surabaya City Police.

"The police did not ban the event, but they could not guarantee [our security] if we were attacked by religious groups. In the event of an attack, police could also not blame the [attackers] because the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual (LGBT) community has not been recognized in Indonesia," said Dede.

Surabaya Police spokesman Comr. Lily Djafar said police would call off the G Night Party event on the grounds it did not have a police permit.

"Any activities involving a crowd must have permission from the police – without one they are regarded as illegal. If the event were to be held, we would take action in accordance with applicable laws," said Lily.

She added that if the organizers applied for a permit, police could not immediately issue it because in general, police only issued permit for events that did not disturb public order.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/09/ulema-council-ban-muslims-lgbt-advocacy.html

Graft & corruption

KPK exposes more corrupt practices at Supreme Court

Jakarta Post - February 14, 2016

Tama Salim and Ina Parlina, Jakarta – The arrest of a Supreme Court official in charge of handling civil suits and appeals for receiving bribes has again exposed rampant corrupt practices at the country's highest judicial institution.

Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigators arrested on Friday night the head of the Supreme Court's subdivision for civil lawsuits, appeals and judicial reviews, Andri Tristianto Sutrisna (ATS), who is accused of accepting a bribe at his private residence in Gading Serpong, Tangerang in Banten.

Andri was arrested after allegedly receiving from a middleman Rp 400 million (US$29,629) in cash, which KPK investigators seized along with a suitcase full of money of an undisclosed value.

As a result of the raid, KPK investigators also detained five other individuals, including the businessman who allegedly bribed Andri, Ichsan Suaidi (IS), and Ichsan's lawyer, Awang Lazuardi Embat (ALE).

KPK investigators apprehended Ichsan separately in a sting operation at his apartment complex in Karet, South Jakarta, after getting a tip-off about the bribery attempt. Two security guards from Andri's housing complex and Ichsan's driver were also detained for questioning.

Ichsan allegedly bribed Andri through his lawyer Awang, who is accused of having delivered the money through the businessman's driver, who worked as a courier in the scheme.

The KPK said the bribe was paid in exchange for having the Supreme Court delay issuing a cassation ruling in a graft case involving Ichsan, whose case the court had earlier rejected.

"After questioning and evaluating the case, we have decided to move forward with the second stage of the investigation, naming ATS, ALE and IS as suspects," KPK spokesperson Yuyuk Andriati said during a press conference in South Jakarta on Saturday.

Friday's arrest was a repeat of a similar incident that took place in 2013, in which a non-active Supreme Court staff member, Djodi Supratman, received a bribe from Mario Cornelio Bernardo, a legal practitioner from the law firm of Hotma Sitompoel and Associates.

Djodi received Rp 150 million from Mario through a middleman in exchange for rigging the cassation of a fraud case involving Hutomo Wijaya Ongowarsito.

The bribe was paid for the services of Djodi in convincing a justice presiding over the case to issue a ruling that would put Hutomo behind bars. The Jakarta Corruption Court sentenced Jodi to two years in prison for the crime.

The arrest of Andri has sparked speculation over whether a non-judge, an administrative staff member, could intervene in a case or if he would have to be acting on behalf of a justice.

A Supreme Court spokesman, justice Suhadi, said it was unlikely Andri would have been able to intervene in an ongoing civil case as he had no authority to communicate with litigants.

"Given his position, it is less likely he could meddle in the case. However, we do respect the KPK and believe its law enforcement is done extra cautiously and based on strong grounds," Suhadi said.

Suhadi later defended the internal monitoring mechanism of the Supreme Court, which has long opposed the idea of judges being monitored by the Judicial Commission, saying the court carries out thorough internal monitoring on all staff members all the time.

The Supreme Court's internal monitoring body oversees all staff members at the court, not only its justices, while the Judicial Commission only has the power to monitor judges.

Judicial Commission deputy head Farid Wadji was concerned with the latest development, saying the alleged actions that led to the arrest were a blow to the continued efforts to overhaul the graft-ridden judiciary.

"All judiciary members should take a lesson from the incident. They must improve their professionalism and maintain integrity," Farid said.

Suhadi, however, said the Supreme Court is currently pushing for greater transparency in line with a recent initiative ordered by President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's administration to develop an integrated database of legal cases that will be accessible via an online management system, which is expected to help prevent irregularities in prosecutions, as well as to improve coordination between law enforcers and the judiciary.

"The Supreme Court will continue to improve our existing website-based ruling management to allow the public to access our rulings immediately after they are announced. Such transparency will prevent wrongdoings," Suhadi said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/14/KPK-exposes-more-corrupt-practices-supreme-court.html

Wannabe civil servants easy prey for hoaxes, extortion

Jakarta Post - February 13, 2016

Ganug Nugroho Adi, Ruslan Sangadji and Arya Dipa, Klaten/Palu/bandung – Indonesia's bureaucracy is notoriously corrupt and inefficient, and the competition to secure positions within it is fierce, particularly at the regional level, with some willing to pay millions of rupiah in bribes to secure even a low-paid state job.

Others, meanwhile, have fallen victim to ersatz recruitment schemes targeting desperate job seekers. In Klaten, Central Java, the regional employment agency reported that dozens of people had recently been taken in by scams promising employment with the local administration.

The agency's employment affairs unit head, Dodhy Herman, said those duped had been contract civil servants (CPNS), and had been promised to be appointed as full civil servants without having to undergo any of the usual selection procedures, in return for payments of between Rp 50 million (US$3,700) and Rp 160 million.

The ruse, Dodhy said, was convincing, with every victim receiving, after paying the money, a "notification letter" purportedly sent by the National Civil Service Agency (BKN) confirming his or her appointment.

"This is obviously a fraud," Dodhy said on Thursday. "How could a CPNS receive confirmation so quickly? The Employee Identity Number [NIP] takes time to be processed and issued."

The state currently employs 4.5 million civil servants and 400,000 contract employees. Although contract employees and CPNS receive much lower salaries than civil servants, vacancies are always vastly oversubscribed, as the positions are widely seen as a route to financial security.

Hermawan of Klaten, a victim of the hoax, said he had spent Rp 30 million to bribe a person claiming to be a regency administration official responsible for recruiting civil servants. The person, Hermawan said, had asked him to pay another Rp 20 million after he received the official placement letter.

"I waited for six months but never received a letter," the 31-year-old said. "After I crosschecked with the local administration, it turned out there was actually no CPNS registration that year."

Meanwhile in Central Sulawesi, a recent investigation carried out by the provincial ombudsman revealed that extortion had been commonplace during CPNS recruitment processes in Sigi regency between 2013 and 2015.

The ombudsman found that some local officials did not immediately hand over CPNS appointment letter to individuals who had passed the recruitment, instead pawning them to money-lenders or loan sharks for between Rp 10 million and Rp 25 million per letter.

"A CPNS who wished to obtain the letter would be asked to pay off the debts with his or her own money," Central Sulawesi Ombudsman head Sofyan Farid Lembah said, adding that the institution had forwarded the findings to the regent of Sisi. Attempts to take advantage of job seekers are also evident in the emergence of websites falsely announcing CPNS recruitment for ministries and other state bodies.

Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform Ministry spokesperson Herman Suryatman said that the ministry had recently reported 17 websites to the National Police's Criminal Investigation Bureau (Bareskrim) for falsifying civil servant recruitment information.

"The websites publish recruitment schedules and even quotations from the administrative and bureaucratic reform minister. It is exploitation," he said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/13/wannabe-civil-servants-easy-prey-hoaxes-extortion.html

AGO to drop prosecution of Abraham, Bambang, but not Novel

Jakarta Post - February 13, 2016

Fedina S. Sundaryani, Jakarta – The Attorney General's Office (AGO) is considering dropping prosecutions of two former Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) leaders Abraham Samad and Bambang Widjojanto, but will continue to bring criminal charges against the antigraft body's top investigator, Novel Baswedan.

Attorney General M. Prasetyo said on Friday that he had consulted a number of parties, including the National Police and the Supreme Court, before terminating the prosecutions of Abraham and Bambang for the sake of public interest, also known as deponering.

However, Novel's case would receive different treatment, he said. "We have already asked for their opinions on these two people [Abraham and Bambang]. However, each case must be treated differently and we should not make generalizations. We have different considerations," Prasetyo told reporters on Friday.

Early last year, Abraham, Bambang and Novel were named suspects by the National Police following the KPK's decision to name former police chief candidate Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan a graft suspect.

The two KPK commissioners were charged with minor offenses and forced to leave their posts at the antigraft agency, while the police force also dug up a decade-old assault case implicating Novel.

Since then, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has instructed the AGO to resolve the issue, while public pressure has also grown on Prasetyo to end the apparently spitefully motivated prosecutions.

Prasetyo earlier sent a letter to House of Representatives Commission III, which oversees legal affairs, asking it to support the move to drop the case against Abraham and Bambang. Lawmakers rejected the proposal, accusing the AGO of attempting to share the risk of making the controversial decision.

Separately, National Police chief Gen. Badrodin Haiti said he would prefer to have Abraham's and Bambang's cases go to court to allow them to prove their innocence.

"Of course the police force would like to have the legal certainty of a court decision to determine whether they are guilty. That is what investigators have hoped for during the whole investigation process," Badrodin told reporters at the National Police headquarters in South Jakarta on Friday.

Meanwhile, the victim of Novel's alleged assault, Dedi Muryadi, met with the current KPK leadership on Friday in an effort to ensure the criminal prosecution against the top KPK investigator continues. Dedi's lawyer, Yulisman, said that the alleged victim had cried as he told the story of how he had been shot by Novel, who was the Bengkulu detective chief at the time.

"My client demands a proper legal process without any intervention. This is a state run on the rule of law [...] It can only be described as persecution if criminal charges are brought against an innocent person. However, in this case, [the assault] did happen," Yulisman said at the KPK headquarters in South Jakarta.

Novel is accused by the police of shooting a robbery suspect during his tenure as Bengkulu Police detective chief in 2004. The police first reopened the investigation into Novel in 2012 after the antigraft body named then National Police Traffic Corps (Korlantas) chief Insp. Gen. Djoko Susilo a graft suspect.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/13/ago-drop-prosecution-abraham-bambang-not-novel.html

AGO abandons plan to question tycoon Reza

Jakarta Post - February 12, 2016

Fedina S. Sundaryani, Jakarta – The Attorney General's Office (AGO) said on Thursday that it had dropped a plan to question oil kingpin Reza Chalid as a witness in an alleged attempt to extort shares from a mining company.

The AGO's decision comes in the wake of three ignored summonses issued to Reza, who, along with Golkar Party politician Setya Novanto, was implicated in an apparent conspiracy to secure shares in gold and copper company PT Freeport Indonesia in return for helping the firm secure an operating contract extension.

In a recording, Reza and Setya were heard proposing to then Freeport president director Maroef Sjamsoeddin that the firm give shares to President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and Vice President Jusuf Kalla to smoothen its ongoing contract negotiation process.

The AGO's junior attorney for special crimes, Arminsyah, confirmed that the AGO had stopped attempting to summon Reza, who is thought to have fled overseas. "We won't summon him again, but we will still try to get his testimony in different ways," Arminsyah said at the AGO headquarters in South Jakarta.

Arminsyah declined to specify to which methods he was referring. He did say, however, that the AGO had still not named any suspects in the case, as it was still compiling evidence for the preliminary investigation.

Last year, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Sudirman Said filed a report to the House's ethics council accusing Setya of promising to secure an extension to Freeport's mining contract, set to expire in 2021, in exchange for shares in the company.

To the report, Sudirman attached the recording of the conversation between Setya, Reza and Maroef. A voice believed to be Setya's was heard asking for an 11 percent share for Jokowi and a 9 percent share for Kalla.

Following the controversy, Setya resigned from his post as House of Representatives speaker to avoid political embarrassment. Maroef also resigned from his post as president director, leaving negotiations between the company and government in limbo.

Setya initially refused to be questioned by the AGO, arguing that a special permit from the President was required to question a lawmaker. But House factions later agreed to form a working committee to provide political support for the AGO's investigation into Setya, leaving him with no option but to answer the summons.

The former House speaker's third questioning by the AGO was held on Thursday; speaking to reporters afterwards, the disgraced former speaker was tight-lipped.

"I have already disclosed everything I know and feel [about the issue] and I have explained it to the best of my ability. Hopefully I was able to answer all the AGO's questions [...] As a good citizen, I will comply with the AGO. The questioning was fluent and professional," he said following the two-hour questioning session. Setya added that he was willing to be cooperative and meet any future summonses from the AGO.

Setya's lawyer, Firman Wijaya, said that while the Golkar lawmaker acknowledged that he had met with Reza and Maroef to discuss his daughter's wedding, he had maintained his innocence during the questioning. "The main point is that he did not use the President or the Vice President's names in any way related to shares," Firman said.

The lawyer added that Setya did not know the whereabouts of Reza, believed to have left the country at the onset of the scandal, and that there had not been any recent communication between the two men.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/12/ago-abandons-plan-question-tycoon-reza.html

PKS, third party to reject KPK Law amendment

Jakarta Post - February 12, 2016

Jakarta – Opposition to the planned amendment to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Law is strengthening in the House of Representatives as the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) has followed the Democratic Party (PD) and Gerindra Party in rejecting the proposed amendment.

"The PKS faction meeting on Thursday resulted in an agreement to oppose the continued deliberation of the KPK Law amendment," said the chairman of the PKS's faction at the House, Jazuli Juwaini, in Jakarta on Friday as reported by kompas.com.

The PKS would only agree to the amendment if it aimed to strengthen the anti-graft body by enabling the KPK to handle bigger cases, Jazuli said, adding that any revision of the KPK Law must also involve KPK commissioners so that representatives of the government and the House would get valuable input on the amendment.

During a meeting of the House's Legislation Body (Baleg) on Wednesday, only Gerindra rejected the amendment process. The following day, the PD also announced its new stance of opposing the amendment based on an instruction from party chairman Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

The House had postponed Thursday's plenary session, which, among other issues, was due to begin the deliberation of the KPK Law amendment, following the announcement of the PD's new stance.

Among the controversial new articles in the amendment are the formation of a KPK supervisory body, limits on KPK investigators' power to wiretap and the ability of the KPK to stop investigations in certain circumstances.

Anticorruption activists have expressed concern that amending the KPK Law will weaken the anti-corruption body

With the PKS's move, the amendment is currently supported only by the members of the ruling coalition: the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), Hanura Party, Golkar Party, National Awakening Party (PKB), National Mandate Party (PAN), United Development Party (PPP) and NasDem Party. (bbn) (+)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/12/pks-third-party-reject-KPK-law-amendment.html

KPK to retain Novel after Jokowi demands deal-free solution

Jakarta Post - February 11, 2016

Haeril Halim and Ina Parlina, Jakarta – Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) leaders have dropped a plan to dislodge investigator Novel Baswedan following an order from President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to settle Novel's assault case without any back-room deals.

KPK chairman Agus Rahardjo, who earlier hinted at Novel's possible "expulsion" from the KPK following the Attorney General's Office's (AGO) decision to pull Novel's case from the Bengkulu District Court, said on Wednesday that he had received the President's instruction and that the KPK would comply with it.

"I support [the order] of the President. It is a positive gesture. The case should be settled without any deals. Novel will stay with the KPK," he said.

Novel himself has earlier expressed dissatisfaction over the KPK leaders' plan to offer him a position outside of the KPK. KPK deputy chairman Saut Situmorang previously asked Novel to resign to minimize possible future conflict between the institution and the National Police.

Since Novel resigned from the National Police and became a KPK investigator, he has been involved in several high-profile investigations against top police officers, including former police traffic corps chief Insp. Gen. Djoko Susilo.

In a show of revenge, the police in 2012 opened an assault case against Novel, accusing him of shooting suspects when he was serving as an officer at Bengkulu police in 2004.

Then president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono asked the police to drop the investigation to avoid worsening the standoff between the KPK and the police.

However, the Police reopened the case when the KPK and the police entered another standoff in January 2015 following the KPK's decision to name Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan a bribery suspect.

Despite the KPK's recent assault case withdrawal, Novel remains in limbo because the AGO has yet to officially drop the case, a situation that antigraft campaigners deem leaves room for negotiation between the KPK, the AGO and the police.

Agus called on the AGO to drop Novel's case to comply with the President's order, saying "It is not us who make the decision, but the AGO."

In addition to Novel, the National Police also named former KPK chairman Abraham Samad and his deputy Bambang Widjojanto suspects in separate cases during the 2015 standoff, presumably because they both signed investigation warrants for Budi's case.

The National Police sent both the dossiers of Abraham and Bambang to the AGO last year but their cases were left in limbo due to the AGO's indecision on when it would take the two cases to court for trial.

Separately, Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Luhut Pandjaitan emphasized on Wednesday that Jokowi wanted the three cases to be settled with certainty immediately. "Of course [there will be certainty for Novel] as the President wants certainty," Luhut said.

Although he stopped short of commenting on the alleged deal between leaders of the KPK, the AGO and the National Police, Luhut said he believed there was no such swap over Novel's case.

Attorney General Muhammad Prasetyo confirmed on Wednesday that his office had yet to make a decision to stop Novel's case, saying "we are still studying [Novel's] dossiers", adding that the AGO would also consider reviewing Abraham and Bambang's dossiers.

Previously, the palace has stated that Jokowi ordered the AGO to immediately settle the cases and let the AGO work on the mechanism, whether through a deponering (dropping a case in the public interest) or issuing a letter ordering prosecution be stopped (SP3).

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/11/KPK-retain-novel-after-jokowi-demands-deal-free-solution.html

Dems join Gerindra in opposing KPK law amendment

Jakarta Post - February 11, 2016

The Democratic Party (PD) has joined Gerindra in opposition to amending the Corruption Eradication (KPK) Law, which has been proposed by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and supported by all other members of the ruling coalition.

PD chairman Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has reportedly instructed all lawmakers from the party to oppose amending the KPK Law, although in previous meetings in the House of Representatives' legislation body (Baleg), PD representatives had expressed their agreement to the revision.

"Bapak [Yudhoyono] has said it is not timely to revise the law. It is too sensitive. In fact, corruption cases are still rampant. Therefore, Bapak instructed me as a Baleg member to oppose the revision," said Ruhut Sitompul, a PD lawmaker, on Thursday as quoted by kompas.com.

Ruhut, who said Yudhoyono's instruction was made on Wednesday, would explain the party's stance during the House's plenary session on Thursday. "I will fight in the plenary session, it is up to the people to decide," Ruhut added.

Among the controversial new articles that will be included in the amendment are the formation of a KPK supervisory body, limits placed on the power to wiretap by KPK investigators and allowing the KPK to stop investigations if they do not have adequate evidence.

Anticorruption activists have expressed concern that amending the KPK Law will only weaken the anti-corruption body.

Gerindra has long voiced its opposition to amending the law. "We, the Gerindra faction, have voiced our opinion that the moves to amend the KPK Law should stop immediately," said Baleg member Aryo Djojohadikusumo from Gerindra on Wednesday. All the points of amendment would undermine the KPK, said Aryo at a meeting of the legislation body.

The PD has since the elections in 2014 stressed its position as "a balancing party". Meanwhile Gerindra currently stands alone with the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) as opposition parties after members of the Red and While Coalition (KMP) have steadily defected from that coalition to join the ruling coalition. (bbn) (+)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/11/dems-join-gerindra-opposing-KPK-law-amendment.html

KPK leaders' 'suggestion' seen as conspiracy to remove Novel Baswedan: Activists

Jakarta Globe - February 10, 2016

Jakarta – Activists and lawyers suspected that there is a plan to oust one of the country's most prominent anti-graft investigators from the Corruption Eradication Commission and reassign him to one of Indonesia's state-owned companies.

Novel Baswedan, a senior officer at the anti-graft body, or KPK, who has led investigations into many high profile corruption cases, has been named a suspect for allegedly fatally shooting a thief in 2004 during his time as a police investigator in Bengkulu province, but was only prosecuted recently in what is widely perceived as retaliation after the KPK charged a top police general for bribery last year.

Prosecutors last week announced that it is withdrawing its criminal prosecution against Novel from the Bengkulu District Court following talks between President Joko Widodo and Attorney General H.M. Prasetyo.

But in a surprise twist, newly-installed KPK commissioners had apparently asked Novel to "devote" himself to a state-owned company of his choice and resign from his position as an anti-graft investigator, his lawyer said during a press conference at the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) office in Menteng, Central Jakarta, on Tuesday (09/02).

KPK deputy chairman Alexander Marwata confirmed that such a request was made but added that it had only been a suggestion.

KPK "leaders want KPK employees to go to SOEs and ministries so that they can be agents of change to fight corruption from inside SOEs and ministries," he told Tempo.co. "But up to this point there are no talks [with SOEs and ministries about the transfer]; it is still a suggestion."

Activists were quick to express their disappointment at the KPK's suggestion. "It is really disappointing that the KPK prefers to transfer [Novel] to an SOE because it shows [the new KPK leaders] are reluctant to have anything to do with the case. This is not a legal case, it is political," Miko Ginting from the Legal and Policy Study Center (PSHK) said at press conference.

Executive director of the Indonesian Civil Society Circle (Lima) Ray Rangkuti echoed the sentiment. "It is inappropriate for [KPK] leaders to oust him just like that. The KPK Ethics Council must identify parties meddling with the KPK by transferring Novel to an SOE," he said.

Presidential spokesman Johan Budi said that during a meeting with Attorney General H.M. Prasetyo, shortly before prosecutors withdrew Novel's case from the Bengkulu District Court, President Joko Widodo only instructed to resolve Novel's case "within the corridors of the law."

"There are no strings attached, no trade-off whatsoever. The president has made it clear that the case should be resolved within the corridors of the law," he said.

Source: http://jakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/KPK-leaders-suggestion-seen-conspiracy-remove-novel-baswedan-activists/

House deliberates revision of KPK laws despite public outcry

Jakarta Globe - February 10, 2016

Jakarta – All ten parties at the House of Representatives' Legislative Body agreed to form a working committee for the proposed revisions to the laws governing the powers of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) after a hearing session with several legal experts, in Jakarta on Tuesday (09/02).

The lawmakers proposed four revisions altering the scope of the KPK's powers in the following areas: methods of conducting investigations, wiretapping, recruitment protocols and the establishment of a supervisory body to monitor the KPK.

Firman Subagyo, deputy chairman of the Legislative Body, said the four areas of revision will be deliberated by the working committee. This is because the law only permits the body to discuss any possible amendments to existing laws for a maximum of up to 20 days.

The committee will also schedule a meeting with KPK commissioners. In an apparent sign of rejection, the commissioners earlier refused to attend the discussions on the issue with the Legislative Body last week, and sending some deputies and spokespeople instead.

The revisions have been proposed by 45 lawmakers from President Joko Widodo's ruling coalition.

Facing the music

This decision on the working committee came despite an outpour of criticism from the public, legal experts and anti-graft activists.

Abdul Hadjar Fickar, a legal expert from Trisakti University, said the proposed revisions are in fact part of a clear attempt to weaken the KPK, adding that the House is misleading the public by saying that the proposed revisions are strengthening the KPK.

"There are currently [legal] mechanisms to control and supervise the KPK, such as a pretrial motion. Even if KPK commissioners [have] abused their power, they can be [criminally charged]. The supervisory body's [proposed revisions are intended] to weaken the KPK," Abdul said.

Abdul also criticized the proposed amendment granting the KPK the authority to issue a case termination letter thereby allowing the KPK to drop a charge at any point. He argued that anti-graft commissioners may be the subject of political pressure or bribery in exchange for dropping an investigation or charge.

Aradila Caesar, a researcher with Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW), said the revisions would make the anti-graft agency prone to many possible forms of intervention.

He said that the establishment of a supervisory body, which will also be appointed by and responsible to the president, would be one such form of intervention. Additionally, on wiretapping, which requires the proposed body's approval, would mean the anti-graft agency would have less authority than the body supervising it, Aradila said.

The KPK will also be prone to intervention from other law enforcement agencies and there will likely be a conflict of interests if the KPK may only recruit investigators and prosecutors from the National Police or Attorney General's Office, as proposed. This is especially the case if the KPK were to investigate a case linked to the police or the AGO.

An online petition titled "Don't Kill the KPK, End KPK Law Revisions" has since been launched by Suryo Bagus, an alumnus of the Anticorruption School, an institution co-founded by Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW).

As of Wednesday afternoon, the Indonesian-language petition on the website Change.org had been signed by more than 57,000 people.

This year's plans for the revisions came after House lawmakers proposed changes to the KPK law last year, which included stripping the anti-graft body of the authority to conduct wiretapping without a warrant and the authority to prosecute its own cases. The proposal was scrapped after massive public outcry.

Source: http://jakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/house-deliberates-revision-KPK-laws-despite-public-outcry/

Civil society groups urge House to reject KPK Law amendment

Jakarta Post - February 9, 2016

Erika Anindita, Jakarta – A coalition of anticorruption civil society groups has urged all political party factions in the House of Representatives to retract their support for the amendment of Law No. 30/2002 on the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

The coalition, which includes Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW), Transparency International Indonesia (TII) and the Indonesia Budget Center, handed over an online petition entitled "Don't Kill the KPK", which drew more than 56,000 signatories, to the House Legislation Body (Baleg) at the House complex in Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Tuesday.

"If the House supports the idea of strengthening the KPK, it must refuse the law amendment, just like what the Gerindra Party has done," ICW researcher Donal Fariz said in a press conference at the House complex on Tuesday.

The online petition on the rejection of the 2002 KPK Law revision was initiated by Suryo Bagus, an alumnus of the ICW's Anticorruption School (SAKTI) program. As of Monday, 56,865 people had signed the petition, leaving messages of disappointment for the House over its plan to amend the law.

"We hope Baleg can listen to the public's suggestions," said Donal. He appreciated the stance taken by both the Gerindra Party and its chairman, Prabowo Subianto, over the planned KPK Law revision, adding he hoped that other parties could take the same path.

In the petition, the coalition also urged the House to cancel the deliberation of the KPK Law draft revision and asked Baleg to consider the impact of the amendment on corruption eradication measures in Indonesia.

The coalition urged the government, especially President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, to reject discussions on the KPK Law draft revision with the House. The coalition urged Jokowi to pull the draft from the National Legislation Program (Prolegnas) 2015-2019 as well.

Baleg started discussions on the KPK Law revision on Feb. 1, when it heard arguments from supporters of the law amendment. It was also reported that Baleg had delayed the establishment of a working committee (Panja) on the KPK Law amendment due to complicated dynamics caused by sharp differences of opinion among political party factions in the House.

The 2002 KPK Law draft revision is among priority bills listed in the 2016 Prolegnas. House speaker Ade Komarudin recently said the legislative body was targeting to finish the deliberation of 37 out of 40 priority bills in the 2016 Prolegnas this year.

Meanwhile, Baleg chairman Supratman Andi Agtas hoped suggestions from the public could give the body good advice in harmonizing the KPK Law draft revision.

As many as 45 House members support the KPK Law amendment. They comprise 15 lawmakers from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), 11 members from the NasDem Party, nine members of the Golkar Party, five members of the United Development Party (PPP), three members of the Hanura Party and two members of the National Awakening Party (PKB). (ebf)(+)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/09/civil-society-groups-urge-house-reject-KPK-law-amendment.html

Government naïve about KPK law revision: Bambang

Jakarta Post - February 9, 2016

Jakarta – Former commissioner of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Bambang Widjojanto has criticized the government for its lack of awareness and understanding of the articles of the KPK law set to be revised by the House of Representatives.

"If the revision is in the Prolegnas [National Legislation Program], but the President had not received the revision bill, then that is just ignorance," said Bambang as reported by kompas.com on Tuesday in response to a statement made by presidential spokesman Johan Budi.

The government should know which parts of the articles of the KPK law are to be revised, said Bambang, adding that any bill that had been included in the Prolegnas should be understood by the government, including the President.

Johan said previously that the President had not received the revision bill of Law No. 30/2002 on the KPK.

"It is not clear which part of the revision would weaken the KPK and which part would strengthen it. The latest stance of the President is that the revision should be implemented to strengthen the KPK," Johan said on Monday, adding that Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna H Laoly knew more about the revision.

Bambang said an academic paper was needed as a reference for both the government and for lawmakers about which parts of the law needed to be revised.

"If a revision is held without an academic paper, it is procedurally invalid. The question is why are they in a hurry? What is the objective of the revision, to strengthen or weaken the KPK?" he added.

The House needed to give civil society groups wider access to the revision process, said Bambang, arguing that any bill that had been included in the Prolegnas should be be open to public consultation.

Bambang argued that the President should immediately ascertain which parts of the law needed to be revised so that the government could take a stance that would be acceptable to the public. "If Johan [Budi] has no access to the bill, how can we, the general public, know about it?" he asked. (bbn)(+)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/09/govt-na-ve-about-KPK-law-revision-bambang.html

Terrorism & religious extremism

Indonesia links imprisoned terrorists to Jakarta attacks, vows crackdown

Sydney Morning Herald - February 12, 2016

Jewel Topsfield, Jakarta – Indonesia has cracked down on terrorists incarcerated on the notorious penal island of Nusakambangan amid concerns the Jakarta attacks were plotted there behind bars.

Fairfax Media understands 27 mobile phones were found in the cells of Indonesia's leading pro-Islamic State cleric Aman Abdurrahman and the Australian embassy bomber Rois after the January 14 attacks. The four terrorists killed in the Jakarta bombings had reportedly visited Nusakambangan three times since May last year.

Chief Security Minister Luhut Panjaitan led a delegation to the island on Thursday after ordering radical extremists be moved to a maximum security unit in Pasir Putih prison. A source told Fairfax Media that security X-rays at five of the prisons visited on the island on Thursday were not working.

Mr Panjaitan said an important outcome of the visit was tighter security for drug dealers and terrorists, with more officers guarding high-risk prisons. Drug convicts with heavy sentences and leading terrorists would be placed in solitary cells, with visitors regulated.

Mr Panjaitan told reporters he went to Nusakambangan because the government understood that some of the activities of the convicted terrorists within the jails were "very free"."They have too much freedom. The government of Indonesia is now trying to implement the regulations," he said.

Terrorism expert Sidney Jones recently wrote that the January 14 attacks, which killed eight people, are now known to have been carried out by an Indonesian group called Partisans of the Caliphate (Jamaah Anshar Khilafah) which is believed to be led from prison by Aman.

There is no information that Rois, who is on death row over his role in the deadly 2004 Australian embassy bombings, was directly involved in the Jakarta attacks.

The head of Pasir Putih prison told Fairfax Media that Mr Panjaitan had ordered that Aman and Abu Bakar Bashir – the man who inspired the 2002 Bali bombings – be placed in maximum security cells three days ago.

"They can only be visited by their immediate families, such as wives and children, plus doctors and lawyers," prison head Hendra Eka said. He said the cells were also guarded by 10 fully armed police and military officers.

Mr Panjaitan said Indonesia could now trace the source of funds for drugs and terrorism, with the flow between Russia and Indonesia "quite huge".

Australia's financial intelligence agency Austrac last year said it had seen an increase in the number of financial transactions in Australia suspected of being linked to terrorism, particularly involving IS.

However Australian ambassador Paul Grigson told the Rappler news outlet earlier this month there was no evidence of a financial link between Australia and the Jakarta attacks.

[With Karuni Rompies.]

Source: http://www.smh.com.au/world/indonesia-links-imprisoned-terrorists-to-jakarta-attacks-vows-crackdown-20160212-gmt1w6.html

A bunch of amateurs? Indonesia's homegrown jihadis ridicule Isis after Jakarta attack

The Guardian (Australia) - February 11, 2016

Kate Lamb, Jakarta – As Abu Tholut sips on his guava juice, his wispy silver beard brushing against the glass, he mulls the state of global jihad and his not insubstantial role in it.

"Al-Baghdadi," scoffs the 54-year-old convicted terrorist, letting loose on his views of the leader of Islamic State. "When I went to Afghanistan in '85, he would have been just 14.

"We call him," he says with a smirk, "anak kemarin sore". The phrase in Indonesian refers playfully but somewhat derogatorily to the new kid on the block – like a child born just "yesterday afternoon".

Tholut is seated with an entourage in a small restaurant in a suburban backstreet of Bekasi, a city 30km outside Jakarta, just months after being released from prison.

It was his second spell in jail for terrorism offences – in 2011 he was jailed for his involvement in a militant training camp – but he is now out on parole and is freely speaking his mind.

The backdrop to his remarks is an attack just weeks ago in the centre of the capital, which left eight people dead and dozens more injured. Isis has claimed responsibility for the assaults near Jakarta's Sarinah department store, the worst terrorist attack in Indonesia since 2009.

In the world's largest Muslim-majority nation, home to a radical fringe of sometimes interconnected but oscillating jihadi networks, it has raised fears about the spectre of more to come.

Tholut – himself a former senior member of one of those networks, Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), the south-east Asian militant group behind the 2002 Bali bombings – has strong views about what happened on 14 January.

"We can see in the video that they seem to be thinking on the spot. They were both thinking: 'Where should we go? All right, you go there.' It's like they didn't plan things and planned on the spot instead. Then the police came, and they shot them. A traffic cop," he laughs.

The Sarinah attack was a laughable, bungled mess, he adds. "Why did they bring a bomb into the parking lot, and then they just sat there? Who knows what they were doing, tinkering with it, then one sat down, and suddenly the explosion happened!" An animated Tholut pauses before laughing again: "What were they doing there?"

Aside from the oddity of hearing a convicted terrorist dissect the work of rookie jihadis over Nasi Padang (a banquet of small, spicy dishes stacked across the table), Tholut appears to have a point.

The Sarinah attacks were likely motivated by lethal, ideological convictions, but overall they were clumsy. The shooters struggled to hit targets even at close range. One attacker, seemingly by accident, killed himself as a bomb he was preparing to throw at police exploded. In total four attackers died and four civilians.

Many believe, though, that the lack of relative success of the attacks will not deter others in the future.

Since the deadliest terror attack in Indonesia – the Bali bombing that killed 202 people – there has been a string of smaller-scale attacks across Indonesia, among them a car bomb at the Australian embassy in 2004 and the bombing of the Ritz-Carlton and JW Marriot hotels in 2009.

In the years since, the police have been the main target, in retribution for damage authorities have inflicted on extremist networks.

But the evolution of Isis – and its attraction to the hundreds of Indonesians who have left their country to join it – has significantly altered the dynamics, with foreigners once again becoming targets.

Speaking at a recent forum in Jakarta, analyst Sidney Jones spoke of the changing nature of the targets. "We are in, I think, for more attempts at violence. Unfortunately, the three groups that everyone is targeting are police, number one, and foreigners and Shia [Muslims] number two and three" said Jones, "Foreigners for the first time since 2009 are back on the agenda."

In the wake of Sarinah, the government has turned its attention to bolstering the country's counter-terrorism laws and thwarting planned attacks, but there are other glaring issues in the system that many believe desperately need to be addressed.

Competition between pro-Isis figures, flourishing extremism in Indonesian jails and the prospect of trained fighters returning from Syria are all factors of concern in Indonesia's extremist landscape.

Structurally the fragmented nature of Isis-aligned networks here is one reason why analysts like Jones believe there will be more attacks.

A leadership struggle has developed between three Indonesians who have joined Isis in Syria, and it appears to be driving a battle for control of the Indonesian and Malaysian wing of Isis, Katibah Nusantara.

The three Indonesians in question are Bahrumsyah – who currently heads the Malay-speaking fighting unit – Abu Jandal and Bahrun Naim.

"The competition between these three can have lethal consequences in Indonesia because how do you prove you are the person most deserving of leadership and acknowledgement? It's by organising your followers to do something," Jones says.

While it is believed the latest attack was locally organised at the behest of hardline cleric Aman Abdurrahman, the competitiveness between the three kicked in immediately after word reached Syria.

Bahrumsyah, who was apparently surprised by the news, ordered one of his contacts to conduct a similar assault directly after, according to a February 2016 report by the Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict (Ipac). Police arrested the suspected would-be attacker before he had the chance to follow through.

Months earlier Bahrun Naim – who has organised a comprehensive jihadi committee on the encrypted messaging app Telegram – sent funds for attacks in Indonesia, and has tried to engineer lone wolf attacks in Malaysia and Singapore as well.

These threats and the Jakarta attacks have led the Indonesian president, Joko Widodo, to call for the country's counter-terrorism strategy to be revised.

Authorities have complained of the lack of legal framework to pursue would-be terrorists and there is a push to bring in more stringent laws by mid-2016. While support for Isis was criminalised in 2014, no current legislation outlaws travelling to join Isis.

At least 300 Indonesians have continued to leave for Syria – would-be fighters, families, women and children – but it is getting harder to get there. Last year alone 215 people were deported back to Indonesia, and tighter border controls have been cited as one possible explanation for the refocusing of jihadi energy at home.

One of the biggest vulnerabilities is the Indonesian justice system itself, where hardline sentiment has grown and flourished.

In the months leading up to the Sarinah attack, each of the four perpetrators visited the maximum-security prison of Nusa Kambangan to meet with pro-Isis leaders. One of the Sarinah gunmen was released on terrorism charges last August, raising questions about recidivism and monitoring of convicted terrorists post release.

Meanwhile, lax controls inside Nusa Kambangan have also allowed jailed cleric Aman Abdurrahman to become a spiritual figurehead of the pro-Isis movement from behind bars.

A fluent Arabic speaker, Abdurrahman has translated streams of extremist doctrine into Indonesian, which is then widely circulated on hardline websites.

Days before the Sarinah attack he issued a much-shared fatwa calling for his followers to join Isis in Syria "and if you cannot emigrate then wage jihad with spirit wherever you are".

The freedoms enjoyed in prison have drawn criticism – even from senior hardliners in the Indonesian jihadi movement. One is Abu Jibril, once second in command in JI.

"It is very free, he has laptops and cell phones. When I was arrested I wasn't allowed any of that," Jibril told the Guardian, comparing his own detention in Malaysia to Abdurrahman's. "You can translate all the news from Syria and thus help to form public opinion about Isis in Indonesia."

Jibril made the comments after speaking at a hardline event at a Bekasi mosque in late January, where he and Abu Tholut outlined their conception of an Islamic caliphate.

"The forming of a caliphate in Indonesia is inseparable from the global Islamic community," explained Jibril after his sermon. "The forming of a caliphate should be agreed by the Muslim community worldwide."

While both speakers are virulently anti-Isis, the event shows the old jihadi guard hasn't faded into oblivion just yet.

Hundreds of men in prayer caps and women in face veils attended the event, which was patrolled not by any visible police presence but burly members of the Islamic group Majelis Mujahidin Indonesia (MMI).

Dressed in black vests with the words MUJAHIDIN printed in bright yellow capital letters across the back, the MMI members busied themselves on walkie-talkies around the mosque perimeters.

In the courtyard people posed in front of a replica Ka'bah, the black shrine of Mecca, while inside the event was being MC'd by a former police officer who joined the other side.

That two senior ex-JI members are given free reign to espouse their radical but non-violent views might be unnerving, but analyst Taufik Andre, from the Institute for International Peace Building, says the police are watching.

Andre believes the authorities are prioritising Isis while taking a soft approach to JI. "The police are trying to negotiate with the JI elite to influence them not to carry out attacks here," he says, "And for that there will be no law enforcement, or action."

Yet in the long term, JI could be more of a threat. The JI network took a series of hits after the Bali bombings, but there are strong indications the group has been quietly reconsolidating: recruiting members, conducting religious outreach and producing weapons clandestinely.

To what end, though, no one really seems to know. "That's what makes it dangerous. Something with powers yet to be known," says Tholut. "You have to remember that the majority of the people who were in Afghanistan and the Philippines are in JI. The trained ones are all there."

Documents seized by authorities in 2013 show that JI is thinking globally and long-term by targeting the recruitment of highly trained professionals, including chemical technicians and Arab and Chinese linguists.

And in terms of organisational capacity, Jones says the group "may be back up to the strength in had in 2000, 2001", a year before it orchestrated the Bali bombing. Although she says it does not see – for now at least – Indonesia as a legitimate battleground for jihad.

Now he is a free man once more, Abu Tholut says he may go back to keeping animals, especially "venomous" ones, but he is of the opinion that his old network may be more dangerous in the future than the less experienced newcomers who support Isis.

"All they have to do is wait for the orders. If JI decides that this is the day to take action, they will do it. This is what the government is afraid of," he says, "far more so than Isis." Source: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/feb/11/indonesia-homegrown-jihadis-lethal-cocktail-terror-isis-jakarta

Terrorism law amendments should not threaten rights: HRW

Jakarta Post - February 9, 2016

Jakarta – The House of Representatives should reject proposed amendments to Law No. 15/2003 on the eradication of terrorism, which are unnecessarily broad and vague and would unjustifiably restrict freedom of expression, a rights watchdog has said.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Tuesday that some of the 2003 Terrorism Law's proposed amendments contradicted Indonesia's international human rights obligations and could lead to violations of fundamental rights. Among the proposed amendments is stripping Indonesians of their citizenship if they are suspected of traveling abroad to fight for the Islamic State (IS) movement.

"Indonesia's legitimate security concerns don't give the government a green light to override fundamental human rights," HRW deputy Asia director Phelim Kine said on Tuesday.

"The Indonesian government should ensure that measures to keep people safe don't trample basic rights such as freedom of expression and association."

The law revision is part of the government's response to an attack near the Sarinah department store in Central Jakarta on Jan. 14. The incident killed eight people, including four attackers allegedly linked to IS.

HRW cited National Police chief Gen. Badrodin Haiti, who justified the amendments on the basis that authorities' ability to counter terrorist threats had been hampered by regulations that currently "did not allow for the prosecution of Indonesian citizens who had joined overseas terrorist groups".

The group also cited Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Luhut Pandjaitan's warning on Jan. 21 that Indonesians would "have to give [up] some of [their] freedom" as part of the price for tougher terrorism laws.

Luhut, HRW further said, had indicated that amendments to the law would include confiscating the passports of Indonesians suspected of joining or fighting with IS and declaring that they "didn't belong to the government or the Indonesian people anymore".

The rights group highlighted President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's statement supporting the proposal on the basis that it would allow the National Police to "take preventive action against suspected terrorists".

HRW said neither Luhut nor Jokowi had elaborated on the possible duration or judicial process the government would apply to the proposed passport confiscation or the stripping of citizenship.

"The government has also not provided any details on whether an amendment to strip Indonesians of their citizenship would apply only to dual or naturalized citizens, whether the citizenship-stripping would only be a possibility following a criminal conviction, or be subject to any form of judicial review," it added.

The group cited a 2013 UN report that stated "international law [...] obliges states to provide for an opportunity for the meaningful review of nationality decisions, including on substantive issues."

It says that if citizenship is revoked, "lodging an appeal should suspend the effects of the decision, such that the individual continues to enjoy nationality – and related rights – until such time as the appeal has been settled."

HRW said Luhut had also mooted criminalizing "insults" to the state such as a refusal to "recognize the Republic of Indonesia".

The group also cited National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) chief Comr. Gen. Saud Usman Nasution, who said on Jan. 21 that pending amendments to the law would including adjusting the official definition of "treason" to include those who joined "radical groups" or declared "caliphates" abroad.

"The term 'radical groups' is overbroad and could encompass any number of groups that do not necessarily commit or intend to commit violence against civilians for ideological or political purposes,' HRW said. (ebf)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/09/terrorism-law-amendments-should-not-threaten-rights-hrw.html

Indonesian radicals jailed for role in Islamic State training, recruitment

Sydney Morning Herald - February 9, 2016

Jewel Topsfield, Jakarta – An Indonesian meatball seller who claimed he was lured to join Islamic State in Syria by the promise of a large payment will serve three years behind bars.

The 33-year-old was one of seven Indonesians sentenced in the West Jakarta district court on Tuesday for involvement with IS.

Ahmad Junaedi, a meatball seller from Malang in East Java, spent 24 days in Syria, where he participated in military training using AK-47s and learned how to assemble weapons.

Junaedi had earlier claimed he was promised a large payment by Abu Jandal, one of the Indonesian IS leaders in Syria, but returned home because he felt cheated.

Another Indonesian, Tuah Febriwansyah, also known as Muhammad Fachry, was sentenced to five years' jail for encouraging people to join IS online.

In March 2014, Fachry reportedly participated in a rally at the Hotel Indonesia roundabout in Jakarta, where he declared his support for IS. He was accused of creating the radical site almustaqbal.net, which disseminated news on IS.

The judge said he had distributed information online, including videos and articles, that could create a feeling of terror, were intimidating and could inspire others to join IS.

Koswara, a 28-year-old former drug courier, was sentenced to four years for buying plane tickets and organizing visas for Indonesians travelling to Syria in 2014 and 2015.

Koswara had previously told the court he he attended religious classes conducted by convicted militants whole serving time in a Jakarta prison for drug offences.

Last year coordinating minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, Luhut Panjaitan, said the Indonesian government had decided to build separate jails for terrorists to isolate them from the rest of the prison community.

"We'll have three types of prisons later on: prison for terrorists, prison for drug offenders and regular prisons," Mr Panjaitan said in November.

Helmi Muhammad Alamudi, was sentenced to three years and six months' jail. The court heard Helmi assisted Indonesians to travel to Syria from June 2014, including ordering plane tickets. He also stayed in an IS camp in Syria for two weeks, where he worked as a guard for two hours a day.

Three other men were sentenced to between three and four years' jail.

Up to 500 Indonesians are estimated to have left for Syria, although some have been arrested and deported while trying to cross the Turkish border and some are women and children.

Meanwhile radical Indonesian cleric Abu Bakar Bashir appeared at a court in Cilacap, central Java, for the final day of his application for a judicial review into his 15-year sentence.

The 77-year-old is considered to be the spiritual leader of Jemaah Islamiah, which was responsible for the 2002 Bali bombings which killed 202 people, including 88 Australians.

His conviction for conspiracy over the Bali bombings was quashed but he was jailed for 15 years in 2011 for supporting a militant training camp in Aceh.

In court on Tuesday, Bashir said he admitted guilt and fully realised he would spend time in prison. However he denied being the financial backer of the militant training camp in Aceh and said his role had merely been to provide assistance. "I am guilty in the eyes of the government but I am innocent in the eyes of Islam," he said.

Bashir's lawyer, Ahmad Michdan, said his client should receive less than three years' jail to reflect the small role he played. The Supreme Court will now rule on whether to allow the judicial review.

[With Amilia Rosa, Karuni Rompies.]

Source: http://www.smh.com.au/world/indonesian-radicals-jailed-for-role-in-islamic-state-training-recruitment-20160209-gmppfd.html

Hard-line & vigilante groups

Mayor under fire after opening HTI office

Jakarta Post - February 12, 2016

Bogor – The mayor of Bogor, West Java, Bima Arya Sugiarto, has been severely criticized by a number of civil society organizations after he made a speech at the opening of an office of Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI), an organization known for its strong opposition to state ideology Pancasila.

Teguh Santoso, the chairman of human rights organization Yayasan Satu Keadilan, called Bima's decision to attend the meeting "unfortunate" given HTI's strong opposition not only to Pancasila but also to Indonesia's governmental system.

"His presence at the meeting could be taken as legitimizing the position of the HTI. It also shows that he doesn't have a clear stance or ideals," Teguh said as quoted by tempo.co.

In a photo that went viral, Bima was seen making a speech at a podium with the HTI flag in the background. On Thursday, a coalition of organizations called the Civil Movement for Pancasila (Grup) also criticized Bima's presence at the meeting, claiming that it showed that he supported the "anti-Pancasila" organization.

In an official statement to defend his attendance at the meeting, Bima said: "A leader should always reach out to any invitation for meetings, and differences in belief, religion and political views should not be reasons for not making friends."

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/12/greater-jakarta-mayor-under-fire-after-opening-hti-office.html

Freedom of religion & worship

HRW urges government to lift ban on Ahmadis in Subang

Jakarta Globe - February 11, 2016

Jakarta – International human rights advocacy group Human Rights Watch urged President Joko Widodo's administration to lift a ban on the Ahmadiyah religious community placed by local authorities in Subang, West Java.

The New York-based watchdog said Subang district officials and Muslim clerics issued a letter that bans all Ahmadiyah activities in Central Subang on Jan. 29. The following day, they placed a banner outside the Ahmadiyah mosque stating that it was closed.

The three-page letter was signed by Tatang Supriyatna, head of Subang district, five other local officials and four Muslim clerics who support the ban. The Subang guarantors include its police chief, the district Indonesian Military (TNI) commander, the local Religious Affairs Ministry representative and the chief of Sukamelang village, where many Ahmadiyah live.

Phelim Kine, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said the Subang officials who tried to prevent the Ahmadiyah community from practicing their faith seem oblivious to religious freedom.

"Indonesian officials should be at the forefront of defending rights protected under the constitution and international law, not issuing unlawful prohibitions that undermine them," Kine said in a statement received on Thursday (11/02).

The 400-member Ahmadiyah community in Subang has been a target of official harassment and intimidation since October last year, the HRW said. The construction of an Ahmadiyah mosque in Sukamelang village is currently sought to be stopped due to lack of permit, which the Ahmadis claimed had a valid construction permit issued in 2004.

According to HRW, the recent intimidation occurred on Jan. 16, when a neighborhood leader, Amir Syaripudin, accused the Ahmadiyah in a letter to the Sukamelang village chief of "blasphemy against Islam" and implied that there could be violence against the Ahmadiyah unless the local government curbed their activities.

The Subang district chief Tatang Supriyatna responded by convening a meeting on Jan. 29 with the leaders of the Ahmadiyah community and local government and security officials, pressuring the community "to disband" and to convert to Sunni Islam.

The following day, Supriyatna had a banner placed outside the Ahmadiyah mosque that says the property is officially "Closed/Banned" and lists the names of the 10 officials and clerics who support the ban.

"Jokowi needs to demonstrate the political will to protect the rights of religious minorities by both taking action against officials who seek to deny those rights and repealing discriminatory legislation, " Kine said, adding that Jokowi's silence is giving free rein to people abusing the Ahmadiyah.

The harassment and intimidation of the Ahmadiyah in Subang coincides with similar persecution on Bangka Island, where the local government's threat of expulsion prompted the police on Feb. 5 to evacuate the community's women and children due to fears of violence.

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

Violators are subject to up to five years in prison. The Ahmadiyah have long suffered persecution in Indonesia. They identify themselves as Muslims, but differ in opinion on whether Muhammad was the "final" monotheist prophet. Consequently, some Muslims perceive the Ahmadiyah as heretics.

Source: http://jakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/hrw-urges-govt-lift-ban-ahmadis-subang/

Ahmadis in Bangka told to convert or leave

Jakarta Post - February 9, 2016

Jakarta – An Ahmadi group in Srimenanti, Bangka, has reportedly been discriminated against by the local administration, including being evicted.

Indonesian Ahmadiyah Congregation (JAI) spokesperson Yendra Budiana said that men from the group had been denied identity cards. "There were pressures from certain groups for them to not be granted ID cards," he said on Monday, as quoted by tribunnews.com.

Yendra said that Ahmadis in West Nusa Tenggara, East Java, Central Java and West Java had experienced similar treatment. He cited as an example around 5,000 Ahmadis living in Kuningan, West Java, who often encountered problems when applying for IDs and getting married.

Earlier, the JAI sought the government's protection for the group in Bangka after the Bangka administration issued a letter pressuring Ahmadiyah followers in Srimenanti subdistrict to convert to the Sunni teachings of the Indonesian Muslim majority or face expulsion from the regency.

The local authorities finally visited the group on Friday, asking them to convert or leave. The media reported that 20 Ahmadis left the area that day.

The government has denied the evictions. The ministry's director general for political affairs and general administration, Soedarmo, said that on the contrary, it had tried to provide protection for the group. "It's not true. [They were] not evicted. There were only three families in the area," he said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/09/national-scene-ahmadis-bangka-told-convert-or-leave.html

Islamic law & morality

Kediri bans students from celebrating Valentine's Day

Jakarta Post - February 11, 2016

Jakarta – Students in Kediri in East Java have been banned from celebrating Valentine's Day in any form as the romantic celebration of love is considered by some in the city to be antithetical to Indonesia's culture and morality.

Kediri Education Agency head Siswanto said the leaders of the city's elementary, junior and senior high schools had gathered to discuss the matter and an official letter had been sent out to ensure that no event would be conducted celebrating the occasion in any form.

"Valentine's Day is not in line with Indonesia's culture and morality," said Siswanto as quoted by Antara news agency on Thursday.

The Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) will increase patrols at popular hangout spots often visited by young people, including boarding houses and hotels.

Besides Kediri, Banda Aceh in Aceh has also banned students from celebrating Valentine's Day. The occasion is deemed haram, or forbidden, because it is not in line with the teachings and values of Islam. (cal/kes)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/11/kediri-bans-students-celebrating-valentines-day.html

Agriculture & food security

Harvest failures loom as floods wash out regions

Jakarta Post - February 13, 2016

Syofiardi Bachyul Jb, Ganug Nugroho Adi and Suherdjoko, Padang/Surakarta/Semarang – Farmers in Sumatra and Java are on the verge of another harvest failure as floods submerged thousands of hectares of farmland in the respective regions this week.

In South Solok regency, West Sumatra, floods triggered by heavy rains over the past several days have damaged at least 800 ha of rice fields across six districts due to mud accumulation.

"The figure, however, does not include the affected side crop areas," said South Solok Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) head Editorial on Friday. He also expressed concern over limited food supplies for local residents following the floods.

"Many local farmers were set to harvest their crops over the next two weeks. With everything in their field damaged, what shall these people eat next month?" said Editorial, adding that more than 1,500 local residents had fled the neighborhood due to the disaster.

In West Sumatra's Limapuluh Kota regency, floods have submerged 2,490 ha of rice, corn and chili fields and, of the affected farmland, 4.5 ha is currently confirmed to have experienced crop failure. "The failure is likely to cost local farmers around Rp 1 billion [US$74,100]," agriculture and horticulture agency head Aprizul Nazar said.

After a prolonged dry season, the rainy season finally arrived in many parts of the country in December and has intensified since then.

While last year's extended dry season, caused by the El Nino weather phenomenon, saw thousands of ha of farmland experience crop failure, a series of heavy downpours over recent weeks has created similar anxiety among farmers and local residents in the country's flood-prone regions, including North Sumatra, West Sumatra, Riau, and Central Java.

Floods also occurred in Sukoharjo and Surakarta in Central Java following incessant rain from Wednesday to early Thursday. In Sukoharjo regency, hundreds of homes in Bondosari, Grogol, Mojolaban and Bulakrejo districts were engulfed.

The floods originated from secondary irrigation channels from the East Colo Dam, a tributary of the Bengawan Solo River, one of the country's longest rivers, engulfing both hundreds of homes and at least 300 ha of rice fields.

"More than 200 homes were submerged by up to 1 meter of water. The BPBD, together with volunteers, TNI and police personnel were at hand to help residents," Sukoharjo BPBD acting head Suprapto said.

Meanwhile in Magelang regency, a 3-meter-high cliff in Sidosari subdistrict, Salaman district, collapsed on Wednesday evening due to heavy rain, destroying two houses. No fatality was reported as a result of the incident but the inhabitants were forced to evacuate.

In Grobogan regency, heavy rains caused the Lusi River to overflow and flooded residential compounds in Plendungan and Jetis for the whole of Thursday and Friday.

Meanwhile the Pekalongan municipal administration has prepared seven evacuation centers to accommodate people displaced by floods as an anticipatory measure considering the high intensity of rain across the region.

"We have also prepared temporary shelters in every subdistrict. The assembly site is the subdistrict hall, From here we will proceed to accommodate affected people at prepared shelters," Pekalongan BPBD official Hengki Susilo Hadi said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/13/harvest-failures-loom-floods-wash-out-regions.html

Pesticide industry expects 5 percent increase in sales

Jakarta Post - February 10, 2016

Jakarta – The association of pesticide producers, CropLife Indonesia, expects a further increase in pesticide demand in Indonesia thanks to the government's intensified program of improving farming productivity in the country.

CropLife Indonesia chairman Midzon Johannis said the group estimated there would be at least a 5 percent increase in pesticide sales in Indonesia this year.

"The Agriculture Ministry has many programs to boost production so there will be more plants to protect and they need more pesticide," he told The Jakarta Post on the sidelines of a press conference in Jakarta on Tuesday.

This year the ministry has launched aggressive targets compared to last year. Rice field expansion, for example, is aimed at 200,000 hectares (ha), a 1,000 percent leap from 20,000 ha of new rice fields targeted last year.

To boost productivity, it has also signed Rp 4.6 trillion (US$338 million) worth of contracts to buy agriculture equipment and Rp 30 trillion of subsidized fertilizer in January, according earlier media reports.

Midzon said that to boost sales of pesticides, the association would not only focus on direct marketing of the products but also educating farmers on the right methods of using pesticides, which would lead to effective results and maintain farmers' trust in pesticides.

In 2001, the organization launched the "Stewardship Program", through which its members jointly fund experts in the field to train farmers on how to use pesticides properly every year.

Dadang, a toxicologist from the Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB) said many farmers in Indonesia still misused pesticides due to a lack of education. He noted at least 23 mistakes that farmers made, including erroneous dosages, mixtures, spray timing, parts of plants that needed to be sprayed, handling of chemicals, the re-use of containers and broken sprayers.

"These mistakes threaten farmers' health, waste pesticide, have ineffective results and reduce plants' resistance to some diseases and insects," he said at the same event.

According to CropLife Indonesia, developing a new product, when a currently available product is no longer effective, costs about $100 million, with 10 to 15 years of research and development.

The data also show that 100,000 pathogens or infectious organisms and tens of thousands of nematodes or roundworms threaten agricultural products.

The use of pesticides, though considered the last option in plant protection under the Crop System Law, was inevitable in practice and had increased harvests by 40 percent, Midzon said.

Stewardship Program manager Dedi Triadi said that every year, the body focused on different regions, including those outside its company members' customers' areas. CropLife Indonesia's members are BASF, Bayer CropScience, Dow AgroSciences, DuPont, FMC, Monsanto, NuFarm and Syngenta.

This year, the organization will focus on training cacao farmers in Sulawesi; vegetable, chili and tomato farmers in several highland areas in East Java; and onion farmers in Probolinggo, East Java.

Every year, the program embraces about 1.1 million farmers, a relatively small proportion of the country's 26 million farmers. "Hence, we are now approaching other companies and the government to integrate efforts in the program to achieve more effective results," Dedi said.

Besides CropLife Indonesia, other companies have also conducted independent training for farmers in chemical handling. The government also provides training through the Community Empowerment Body (LPM) at the village or sub-district level. (rbk)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/10/pesticide-industry-expects-5-percent-increase-sales.html

Village & rural life

Confusion reigns over village assets

Jakarta Post - February 12, 2016

Nurul Fitri Ramadhani, Jakarta – More than a year after the passing of the Village Law, village administrations around the country remain in the dark over the legal status of the village-run businesses mandated by the law.

The Yogyakarta-based Institute for Research and Empowerment (IRE) blamed the Villages, Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration Ministry for the lack of progress, accusing it of failing to provide clear and specific guidelines regarding the ownership and management of village assets operated for village-owned enterprises (BUMdes).

IRE researcher Sukasmanto, a specialist in management and social entrepreneurship, said that the new law and follow-up regulations from the ministry had created confusion among villagers and village administrators, who were uncertain if they legally owned assets such as rivers, water and mountains, or if they could only manage the assets.

"This could be dangerous because if villagers have no legal status over the assets that they manage, private entities or corporations can arbitrarily lay claim to the assets, leading to land conflicts," Sukasmanto said, adding that villagers often lacked knowledge of legal issues, preventing them claiming their rights.

Villages, Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration Minister Marwan Jafar last year issued Ministerial Regulation No. 4/2015 on the establishment, management and dissolution of village-owned enterprises in an attempt to accelerate village development.

The regulation, however, does not touch on asset ownership, simply giving vague explanations on procedures to establish BUMdes, previously stipulated in Home Ministerial Regulation No. 39/2010 on BUMdes.

Marwan previously said that the regulation was part of a target to build 5,000 new BUMdes in five years, adding to the 11,945 BUMdes in 28 provinces. Aceh has the most, with 6,474. Last year, the ministry registered 2,000 new BUMdes, and plans to register another 3,000 this year.

Triharjono, a resident of Bleberan village in Gunung Kidul Regency, Yogyakarta, who is involved in the management of the Gunung Kidul tourism area that constitutes the village's BUMdes, said that the ministry had the right intention to empower villages, but had failed to provide clear guidelines.

"The ministerial regulation continues to confuse us. Most of the business units that we consider BUMdes in our village have no legal status, while the regulation says that a BUMdes should have one," Triharjono said.

Kenere village in East Flores regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), where BUMdes activities are dominated by three sectors – micro finance, production and distribution of agriculture commodities and services – are experiencing the same problem.

"The BUMdes really do boost livelihoods and add to our incomes, but we have no idea who owns our natural assets used as BUMdes. As such, it's difficult for us to feel free to manage and develop them," said Rubanus, a villager from Kenere.

Ahmad Erani Yustika, the development and empowerment of rural communities director general at the ministry, acknowledged that the ministry had failed to come up with clear definitions.

"We want the villagers to fully own the assets and manage the BUMdes. However, it needs a long discussion because of the major impacts the issues could have," Ahmad said. "We want to help villagers to run BUMdes properly and efficiently," he said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/12/confusion-reigns-over-village-assets.html

Governance & administration

Fate of spending overhaul rests with ministers

Jakarta Post - February 12, 2016

Tassia Sipahutar, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's plan to overhaul the government's spending system will depend on his ministers and whether or not they have a clear and strong will to direct their subordinates to follow through with the changes.

The overhaul would require a massive "mental revolution" at the ministerial level, economists said.

At a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, the President called on ministers to spend taxpayers money based on priority programs rather than simply disburse it to all units.

Jokowi said the new model would revamp the budgeting system implemented across ministries and agencies that for a long time had forced even funding across programs, no matter what their level of priority.

A former furniture businessman, the President said it was time for his ministers to take full control of each ministry budget and to only disburse funds for important projects that were in line with the administration's list of priorities. "Not all divisions need budgets and activities. Don't force it. We have a focus and priorities," he added.

By adhering to the priorities, the government expects to see significant improvement in overall state-budget absorption, spending quality and achievement of target. The government, however, realizes implementation of the new model may not be as easy as falling off a log.

Finance Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro said the officials' compliance would largely depend on each minister's leadership. "The ministers should stress what they want [from subordinates] because we have only have a limited budget," he said on Thursday.

The government has not come up with a detailed 2017 state budget, but funding constraints have always been a major issue for the state budget.

Funding is now more of a challenge as the government pursues massive infrastructure plans, especially because tax revenue – the main source of funding – has remained low.

Last year, for instance, the government only managed to reap Rp 1.06 quadrillion (US$79.35 billion) in tax revenue, 82 percent of its target. The remaining funding needs were met from loans, both domestic and from overseas.

Coordinating Economic Minister Darmin Nasution even acknowledged that implementation of the new model would require a whole new attitude and that the ministers would face "a real test" if resistance emerged from their subordinates.

Industry Minister Saleh Husin said he would stick to existing programs for the new model, while Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry secretary-general Teguh Pamudji said his focus remained on providing infrastructure to support the country's energy sector.

Separately, Maybank Indonesia chief economist Juniman and Bank Danamon economist Anton Hendranata said they were certain the new model would trigger opposition – as was the usual when changes took place.

Juniman suggested the government first evaluate existing programs before launching the new spending model for the 2017 state budget, citing similarities or overlaps in various ministries' projects.

Anton, meanwhile, said ministers with strong goodwill could sway their staff toward changing their work focus and eventually push for higher budget absorption. "Money that the government generates from the economy [tax revenue] must be pumped back into the economy." (rbk)

[Raras Cahyafitri and Stefani Ribka contributed to the story.]

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/12/fate-spending-overhaul-rests-with-ministers.html

Armed forces & defense

20 organizations support state defense program

Jakarta Post - February 12, 2016

Erika Anindita, Jakarta – Representatives of 20 mass organizations signed on Friday an agreement with the Defense Ministry to support a state defense program that will involve Indonesian civilians.

"The strength that would be developed through this program is not physical strength or military skills but spiritual strength based on patriotism and nationalism," Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu said in a press conference in Jakarta on Friday.

The minister expressed the hope that more organizations would take part the state defense program, which kicked off on Oct. 22, 2015. Since the program kicked off, more than 4,500 people had expressed their readiness to become trainers in the program, said the minister.

The government aimed to provide 100 million Indonesians with quasi-military training through the state defense program over the next ten years, he added.

Among organizations that signed an agreement were the Indonesian National Youth Committee (KNPI), Red and White Troops (LMP), Comedian Art Association (PSKI), Indonesian National State Defense Association (IKBNRI), Bikers Brotherhood MC Indonesia, Indonesian Islamic Boarding Schools Association (IPI) and Indonesia Genetic Working Group.

The program aimed to encourage people to be more disciplined, optimistic, hard working as well as to provide people with leadership skills, the minister said. (bbn)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/12/20-organizations-support-state-defense-program.html

This Asian power just bought Russia's lethal Su-35 (and it's not China)

National Interest - February 12, 2016

Dave Majumdar – Indonesia hopes to sign a deal with Russia to purchase ten advanced Sukhoi Su-35 Flanker-E fighters next month.

The powerful Russian-built air superiority fighter would replace Jakarta's current fleet of American-built Northrop F-5E/F Tiger II fighters. The Su-35s will join Jakarta's existing fleet of sixteen older Sukhoi Su-27 and Su-30 Flankers – of which Indonesia operates several variants despite its small fleet.

"I will go to Russia in March to sign off the contract," Indonesian defense minister Ryamizard Ryacudu told reporters on the sidelines of a meeting with a Russian Security Council delegation in Jakarta, according to Defense World.net. Other local Indonesian media corroborate the report.

Ryamizard said that Indonesia would purchase a maximum of ten Su-35s. However, the actual number acquired could be as low as eight, according to the Indonesian daily Tempo. Initially, the country had wanted as many as sixteen of the advanced Russian fighters.

Ryamizard said that the small purchase would allow Jakarta to buy a more sophisticated aircraft if one became available later. "If brand new technology comes to surface, we can update (the fighter jets)," he said.

Even though the quantities are small, the sale looks to be the Su-35's first export success outside of China – opening the door for other nations to follow. While Indonesia's decision to purchase the Su-35 may be welcome news in Moscow, Jakarta is not turning its back on Washington. Ryamizard pointed out that Indonesia operates a fleet of Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon and other European-built hardware.

"We have F-16s from the U.S. We have many war vessels from Europe too," Ryamizard told the Jakarta Post. "We also engage in many other forms of defense cooperation with the U.S. We don't favor any one country."

Jakarta, nonetheless, is consciously diversifying its supplier base – no doubt mindful of U.S. sanctions which had hobbled its forces in previous years. "Commitment to strengthen defense cooperation with Russia and the procurement plan is the way for Indonesia to show the world that it is a neutral country in terms of defense cooperation," Ryamizard said.

There remains a possibility that Jakarta will upgrade its F-16A/B fleet, which means there might still be an opportunity for Lockheed Martin in the very near future.

[Dave Majumdar is the defense editor for the National Interest.]

Source: http://www.nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/asian-power-just-bought-russias-lethal-su-35-its-not-china-15196

Indonesia invites ASEAN to engage in defense industry

Jakarta Post - February 9, 2016

Nani Afrida, Jakarta – Coordinating Maritime Affairs Minister Rizal Ramli has conveyed a plan to improve the national defense industry by encouraging countries in Southeast Asia to obtain minority stakes in the Indonesian defense industry.

"Indonesia invites countries in ASEAN to hold stakes in the defense industry [...] Depending on only domestic tax for the defense industry might be dull," Rizal said on Monday as quoted by Antara news agency.

Rizal was in Mataram to attend the National Mass Media convention, a press event aimed at addressing challenges regarding the development of the country's maritime axis vision. He said involving other parties in the country's defense industry could help the sector to develop.

Currently Indonesia has several companies that focus on defense, namely state-owned land system and weapons maker PT Pindad, aerospace industry player PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PT DI) and shipbuilding company PT PAL.

According Rizal, when France dominated the Airbus company, its sales were low. However, after several European countries joined Airbus, the company became a European aerospace giant and defeated US-based aircraft manufacturer Boeing.

He added he believed the defense industry in Indonesia could experience the same success if it invited ASEAN members to obtain stakes. Rizal also said the maritime industry in Indonesia had the momentum at present to succeed globally.

However, Rizal noted that Indonesia still lacked the ability to develop brand and marketing strategies when selling its defense industry's products overseas.

PT Pindad president director Silmy Karim said that before divesting defense industry stakes to other countries, Indonesia should have clear reasons for doing so.

"What is the reason behind the divestment? Is there technology transfer? Or is it to increase sales? Or as defense diplomacy? The stance should be clear," Silmy told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

According to Silmy, the defense industry was very different to the commercial industry, citing the development of Airbus.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/09/indonesia-invites-asean-engage-defense-industry.html

Mining & energy

Freeport to get export permit despite failure to pay deposit

Jakarta Post - February 10, 2016

Jakarta – PT Freeport Indonesia has received a recommendation from the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry for the extension of its export permit although the gold and copper mining giant has yet to pay a roughly US$530 million deposit as a guarantee for its development of a smelting plant.

"We have issued a recommendation for Freeport to get a permit extension for another six months," Bambang Gatot Ariyono, the ministry's director general of mineral and coal said in Jakarta Tuesday.

He said that Freeport would be allowed to export up to 1 million tons of copper concentrate during the six-month period. Bambang said that the recommendation was issued because the company had agreed to pay the required 5 percent export tax. "Then, the $530 million deposit requirement, we are still discussing," he said.

The recommendation from the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry will be used as the basis for the renewal of the export permit which will be issued by the Trade Ministry.

As reported earlier, Freeport's copper concentrate exports were stopped in late January because the mining giant had not met the government's demand that it pay $530 million as a guarantee of its commitment to building a new smelting plant.

The company is required to pay the deposit because the construction progress of the smelter is behind, at only 14 percent, far below the minimum 60 percent.

Previously, the ministry's minerals director Mohammad Hidayat said that the government would ease requirements for mining companies to build smelting plants. "With the current economic condition it is financially difficult for mining companies to build smelters," he said.

Smelter development is mandatory for all mining firms as a consequence of the 2009 Mining Law that requires all minerals to be processed and refined before export. The law allowed a five-year period for the necessary facilities to be completed, ending in 2014, so that companies would have time to prepare for the full ban on exporting raw-minerals.

However, most mining firms have been reluctant to work on processing facilities, citing the massive investment needed. The 2014 deadline passed with no significant smelter developments in sight. As consequence, the government relaxed its policy and allowed companies to continue exporting semi-finished minerals, such as copper concentrate, until 2017, as long as they were making progress on smelter developments.

Freeport, which runs one of the world's biggest copper mines in Papua, produces around 2 million tons of copper concentrate a year. As much as 30 to 40 percent of the total production is shipped to an existing smelter in Gresik, East Java. The remainder is shipped overseas.

The new smelter, expected to cost $1.2 billion, will be located near the existing one in East Java.

The government's demand for a smelter deposit was "inconsistent" with an agreement reached between the two sides in mid-2014, Freeport CEO Richard Adkerson said as reported by Reuters in late January.

According to that agreement, Freeport must sell the government a greater share of the Grasberg mine, and invest in domestic processing to win an extension of its mining contract beyond 2021.

The US mining giant wants to invest $18 billion to expand its operations at Grasberg, but is seeking government assurance first that it will get a contract extension.

Freeport's long-held desire to continue mining in Indonesia beyond 2021 has been beset by controversy, including cabinet infighting, resignations and a major political scandal that led to the resignation of the House of Representatives speaker.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/10/freeport-get-export-permit-despite-failure-pay-deposit.html

Revenue loss from oil slump may top Rp 100 trillion

Jakarta Post - February 9, 2016

Tassia Sipahutar, Jakarta – State revenues are estimated to fall between Rp 67 trillion (US$4.91 billion) and Rp 100 trillion this year, as declining global oil prices gnaw away at the state's coffers.

Finance Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro said recently that the ministry had calculated the potential loss faced by the country as a result of slumping oil prices.

"According to our preliminary calculations, revenues will fall in the oil and gas sector and mineral and coal sector," he said at the State Palace. "If oil prices fall to the level of $40 per barrel, we stand to lose about Rp 67 trillion in revenues. If they fall to $35 per barrel, we may lose almost Rp 100 trillion."

Bambang added that the ministry was conducting another calculation to use to revise the 2016 state budget and would submit it to the House of Representatives for approval early in the second quarter.

Under the initial budget, the government sets the average Indonesian Crude Price (ICP) assumption at $50 per barrel and expects to reap around Rp 1.82 quadrillion in total revenues this year.

The budget also states that the government expects to obtain Rp 41.4 trillion in oil and gas income tax (PPh), Rp 78.62 trillion in oil and gas non-tax revenues (PNBP) and Rp 40.82 in mineral and coal non-tax revenues.

However, since the budget was passed last October, global oil prices have plunged. The price of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) has dropped more than 33 percent to $30.89 per barrel, while that of Brent has slipped more than 31 percent to $34.06 per barrel, according to Bloomberg data.

Despite the bleak situation, a Bloomberg survey showed that several analysts believed the price would rebound by more than $15 per barrel by the end of 2016 as global oil surplus shifted to deficit, triggered by lower US shale output.

New York crude will reach $46 a barrel during the fourth quarter, while Brent in London will trade at $48 in the same period, the median of 17 estimates compiled by Bloomberg this year show.

Bambang said that tax income from the mooted implementation of a tax amnesty could offset revenue loss from lower oil prices. The amnesty is expected to bring in at least Rp 60 trillion as tax evaders declare their assets and pay their arrears.

Meanwhile, the government is adamant that the turmoil in oil prices will not affect an upcoming sale of global Islamic bonds or sukuk. It will reportedly hold road shows in Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, Kuala Lumpur, Paris and London in March to attract investors for the sukuk.

Bambang said that the government might rely more on Western investors for the bonds if those in the Middle East proved unenthusiastic. "According to our analysis, investors' appetite for the sukuk is still high.

"Asian investors, including those from the Middle East, have only played a bigger role [in Indonesia's sukuk market] since last year. In previous years, it was always European and American investors." No details were immediately available regarding the amount of global sukuk that the government would sell in 2016, but the government has previously said that it will maintain the portion of foreign-denominated debt papers at between 24 percent and 30 percent of total gross bond issuance, which has been set at Rp 542 trillion.

The government sold $2 billion worth of sukuk last May, the largest sukuk harvest since 2009.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/09/revenue-loss-oil-slump-may-top-rp-100t.html

Infrastructure & development

Infrastructure firms expand, book aggressive profit

Jakarta Post - February 13, 2016

Prima Wirayani, Jakarta – Infrastructure companies recorded growth in assets value and profits last year thanks partly to the government's mammoth budget allocation in the sector.

State-run construction firm PT Waskita Karya booked a stellar 104.89 percent year-on-year (yoy) growth in its net profit last year to Rp 1.05 trillion (US$77.81 million) from the Rp 511.89 billion recorded in 2014.

Waskita corporate secretary Hadi Susilo attributed the growth to the increase in his firm's revenues. "Government spending on strategic infrastructure, such as toll roads, provided significant contribution," he wrote in a text message on Friday.

Waskita's full year financial report, as submitted to the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX), reports that the publicly-listed company reaped revenue of Rp 14.15 trillion last year or 37.51 percent higher yoy than the Rp 10.29 trillion pocketed the previous year. The company's costs of goods sales rose 33.22 percent yoy to Rp 12.23 trillion last year from Rp 9.18 trillion in 2014.

President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo boosted government capital expenditure (capex) funds – a spending allocation that includes ministerial investments and infrastructure projects – to around Rp 290 trillion in the revised 2015 state budget, compared with Rp 156 trillion in the original budget formulated by then president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

This year, the government initially set aside around Rp 201.6 trillion for capex in the 2016 state budget, which was approved by lawmakers in late October. However, in a bid to achieve its economic growth target, it plans to increase the amount to more than Rp 310 trillion during the upcoming revision of the 2016 state budget.

Hadi said that his firm would remain focused on infrastructure projects this year and has set a target to close new contracts worth Rp 63 trillion by year-end, adding that 80 percent of the deals would come from the sector.

Meanwhile, following investments carried out by the publicly-listed company throughout the year, state-owned toll road operator PT Jasa Marga saw its assets value increase by 15.25 percent yoy to Rp 36.72 trillion last year.

"Last year, we invested in the construction of 13 new toll roads, whose total length reached around 600 kilometers," Jasa Marga finance director Reynaldi Hermansjah said over the phone. The investments eroded the company's revenues, causing a decline in profits, he added.

Jasa Marga booked Rp 9.85 trillion in revenue last year, a 7.41 percent increase yoy compared to Rp 9.17 trillion garnered in 2014. Its net profit increased 3.52 percent yoy to Rp 1.47 trillion.

Reynaldi said that his firm would allocate Rp 14 trillion capex this year, far higher than Rp 4 trillion last year, as the toll roads were near to completion and were slated to start operation in 2018.

BNI Securities analyst Thendra Crisnanda said that the government's focus on developing strategic projects would be a big slice of cake for infrastructure company growth. "The higher infrastructure budget will also affect the firms' performance this year," he said.

Responding to the higher budget, state-run builder PT Adhi Karya have set a target to seal new contracts worth Rp 25.1 trillion this year. The firm booked new contracts amounting to Rp 1.1 trillion in January, mainly contributing to its construction business line of 86.9 percent.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/13/infrastructure-firms-expand-book-aggressive-profit.html

Toll-road projects face delays as government unable to acquire land

Jakarta Post - February 9, 2016

Farida Susanty and Tassia Sipahutar, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's plan to speed up the development of toll-roads in the country may face further delays as the government is running out of money to acquire land for the strategic projects.

The Public Works and Public Housing Ministry said the cost of acquiring land for the toll roads was estimated to reach Rp 40 trillion (US$2.9 billion), more than the currently available funds.

"Almost all of our budget allocation for land procurement was spent in January," the ministry's head of land procurement Herry Marzuki said recently.

He said the ministry had spent Rp 233.4 billion on land procurement for the trans-Java toll road, while the trans-Sumatra toll road received Rp 7.3 billion and other toll roads outside Java used Rp 354.4 billion.

The ministry had a budget of Rp 1.4 trillion for land procurement this year. However, of that amount, only Rp 864 billion will be effectively spent on land procurement while the remainder will be used to pay for "other expenses" such as administration fees and land measuring.

"The presidential regulation stipulates that the development of the toll roads needs to be accelerated. So I don't think they can forget about the funding," Herry said.

The ministry has pinned its hopes on additional funding from the revised 2016 state budget later this year, as well as land procurement funds and loans from the General Services Agency (BLU) for land clearing. It plans to get an additional Rp 7 trillion of land procurement funds through a proposal to the Finance Ministry.

The regulation also stipulates that a company can procure land in the government's name using its own private funds, which will be then paid back through the state budget or a calculation on the return of investment (ROI).

President Jokowi listed 47 toll roads in his presidential regulation on the acceleration of the development of national strategic projects, including the Pandaan-Malang route in East Java, Manado-Bitung in North Sulawesi and Balikpapan-Samarinda in East Kalimantan.

The presidential regulation aimed to solve various problems regarding infrastructure projects, including easing the issuance of permits.

Jokowi aims to progress infrastructure development in the archipelago to boost the slowing economy.

The government allocated Rp 104.7 trillion in the 2016 state budget to the Public Works and Public Housing Ministry for infrastructure projects, putting it among the ministries that received the highest budget allocations. The ministry aims to build 1,000 kilometers of new toll roads by 2019.

Meanwhile, Herry also said that based on his estimations, the ministry would need to spend Rp 2.5 trillion by March, as land clearance was almost nearing completion. "We cannot stop procuring land. That's why the government really needs to secure the funds," he said.

Responding to the problem, Public Works and Public Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono said the ministry had prepared some solutions to the land procurement issue.

"We can use the remaining funds from bidding, or ask investors to procure it for us first, because there's a mechanism for that in the regulation. We will pay them back with the revised state budget allocation," he said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/09/toll-road-projects-face-delays-govt-unable-acquire-land.html

Economy & investment

ADB to lend another $10 billion to Indonesia

Jakarta Post - February 13, 2016

Tassia Sipahutar, Jakarta – The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will boost lending to Indonesia to about US$10 billion within the next five years to finance the country's infrastructure projects.

The Japan-backed bank will increase loans to Indonesia from the $740 million annually received from 2010 to 2014 to $2 billion per year or $10 billion over the next five years, annouced ADB president Takehiko Nakao in Jakarta on Friday.

The news was delivered after ADB president Nakao and his entourage met with President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo at the State Palace.

Jokowi was accompanied in the meeting by National Development Planning Board (Bappenas) chief Sofyan Djalil and Finance Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro. It was the second time that Jokowi and Nakao had met, their first meeting occurring in January 2015.

The ADB's new loan commitment comes months after Indonesia joined the China-backed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), which is also expected to provide loans for Indonesia's infrastructure projects.

Last year, the ADB provided a total of $1.67 billion in loans to the country, which included a $400 million policy-based loan to promote financial market development and financial inclusion, another $400 million policy-based loan to develop the energy sector, and the bank's first results-based loan of $600 million to support upgrading Sumatra's power transmission and distribution networks.

In a press conference, Nakao dismissed rumors of a supposed rivalry between ADB and AIIB. Nakao – who previously served as Japan's vice minister of finance for international affairs – said that the two multilateral organizations were actually working together to identify one or two projects to co-finance, possibly to be approved in the second quarter.

The ADB's membership currently comprises 67 members. At the end of 2014, Japan controlled the bank's largest subscribed capital and voting power with 15.7 percent and 12.8 percent, respectively. Indonesia, on the other side, had 5.1 percent and 4.4 percent, while China had 6.5 percent and 5.5 percent.

Data from the ADB shows that Indonesia has so far received $32 billion in sovereign and non-sovereign loans, $437 million in technical assistance and $430 million in grants.

The situation is different at the AIIB, with China controlling the largest stake with 30 percent of all 57 members. Indonesia itself holds 3.4 percent. Indonesia has not obtained any loans from the 57-member AIIB, but is in the process of proposing financing for six infrastructure projects, with an estimated total value of $2 billion.

Despite downplaying the competition, Nakao did express his contentment at seeing the current administration's willingness to borrow from the ADB.

"I want to make it clear that previously the Indonesian government was a little bit reluctant to borrow from the ADB or international institutions, but I think to use diversified resources to finance investment in addition to tax revenue, private sector, PPP [public private partnership] and so on, is very good and they are using us as a diversified funding resource."

He put emphasis on the ADB's wide variety of lending instruments and "flexible approach", which were also promised by AIIB president-designate Jin Liqun during his visit to Jakarta in last November.

Separately, Sofyan and Coordinating Economic Minister Darmin Nasution said that the new ADB loan commitment with a coupon of less than 2 percent would work in Indonesia's favor. "Don't worry. If people compete, it will be good for us," said Darmin.

Meanwhile, both Samuel Asset Management economist Lana Soelistianingsih and Standard Chartered Bank Indonesia economist Aldian Taloputra said that Indonesia could benefit from the tight competition between Japan and China as it would open way for competitive loan pricing.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/13/adb-lend-another-10-billion-indonesia.html

Moody's sees stable growth ahead, headwinds remain

Jakarta Post - February 12, 2016

Tassia Sipahutar, Business – Indonesia is predicted to see stable growth in the near future after taking several measures, but the economy remains susceptible to external headwinds, according to a report by rating agency Moody's.

The report, which was published on Thursday, highlights the country's economic recovery and recent government policies. "The government has recently made progress in facilitating infrastructure development, and the declining inflation has allowed for monetary easing," it says.

The infrastructure measures started when President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo decided to slash fuel subsidies in late 2014 to free up budget funds for infrastructure development.

That resulted in a significant jump in infrastructure-related spending under the revised 2015 state budget. For the first time ever, spending on infrastructure exceeded that of energy with Rp 290.3 trillion (US$21.71 billion).

Reforms continued in 2016 with an even higher allocation for infrastructure-related work at Rp 313.5 trillion and with an earlier tender process and commencement of infrastructure projects.

The government also issued 10 policy packages to accelerate infrastructure spending and improve the investment climate, which Moody's said should support investment.

At the same time, full-year inflation eased to 3.3 percent in 2015, down from 8.4 percent in 2014, paving the way for Bank Indonesia (BI) to lower its key interest rate in January, the first cut in 11 months.

Moody's expects growth to stabilize at 4.7 percent in 2016, before picking up to 5 percent in 2017, below the average rate of 5.6 percent in the past 10 years. Moody's forecast for this year is lower than the government's projection of 5.3 percent and BI's estimate of 5.2 to 5.6 percent.

According to the report, external shocks may worsen the country's fiscal, debt or balance of payment metrics, especially given Indonesia's high exposure to commodities, which are suffering from low prices. However, the rating agency said Indonesia had exhibited prudent fiscal management with a deficit ceiling at 3 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP).

Such fiscal management allowed for rapid consolidation in the country's debt burden from around 100 percent of GDP at the start of the millennium to 23 percent in 2012.

"We expect the government to continue to adhere to its fiscal rules, likely at the expense of fiscal accommodation. While this would further weigh on economic growth, it will likely keep the debt burden low."

Overall, Moody's maintains the government bond rating at Baa3 stable. A Baa3 rating indicates that the obligations are medium-grade and subject to moderate credit risk and that the issuer has an acceptable ability to repay short-term obligations.

The stable outlook, meanwhile, indicates a low likelihood of a rating change over the medium term. Indonesia's rating may be upgraded if the government diversifies its revenue sources to ensure a sustainable increase in revenues.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/12/moody-s-sees-stable-growth-ahead-headwinds-remain.html

BKPM relaxes factory construction stipulations

Jakarta Post - February 10, 2016

Khoirul Amin, Jakarta – Investors will be allowed to kick off the construction of their factories and other investment facilities without having to wait for the issuance of environmental assessment documents and construction permits under a new investment program to be launched by the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) next month.

BKPM chairman Franky Sibarani said in a press conference on Tuesday that the board would launch a new mechanism allowing investors to begin construction while application processes for building permits (IMB), environmental licenses and other regional licenses are still underway. "We hope to launch the mechanism in the fourth week of February," Franky said.

The scheme, abbreviated KLIK, will allow new or existing investors with new investment worth more than Rp 100 billion (US$7.3 million) and/or employing at least 1,000 local workers to begin construction before obtaining an IMB or environmental licenses such as environmental impact analysis (Amdal).

Franky explained that BKPM had so far included nine industrial zones in the mechanism, with support already assured from the respective regional administrations.

"We hope that the nine zones will be a pilot project and that other local administrations will follow suit," he said, adding that 20 industrial zones had initially applied for the scheme.

Among the designated industrial zones in the initial phase are four zones in Central Java, one in East Java, one in South Sulawesi and three in Banten. Franky said he expected the mechanism to help investors kick off their businesses in the country and provide jobs for more local workers.

The BKPM's deputy director for investment monitoring and implementation, Azhar Lubis, said at the same event that there were 49 unresolved cases in the board's "debottlenecking" projects as of January this year, including 42 left over from last year's 88 cases.

Debottlenecking refers to efforts to help potential investors overcome any problems, including to do with environmental licensing, port location licenses, raw sugar import and industry-grade salt import.

Franky said that he expected that KLIK, coupled with debottlenecking and other measures, would boost employment across the archipelago. Last year alone, 40 companies investing in the country as part of the government's "job vacancy" program employed 20,683 workers, with a target of 184,779 workers by 2019 once the investment is fully realized, BKPM data show.

The 40 companies plan to invest a total of Rp 45.8 trillion, with 59.6 percent realized last year.

Manpower Minister Muhammad Hanif Dhakiri said that the news belied recent labor rallies over layoffs, claiming more jobs were opening up than there were layoffs, and questioning the validity of union data.

The Confederation of Indonesian Workers Unions (KSPI) recently announced that Japanese electronics giant Panasonic had closed its two factories and laid off 1,600 workers, while Toshiba planned to lay off 900 workers.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/10/bkpm-relaxes-factory-construction-stipulations.html