Benny Mawel in Jayapura and Ryan Dagur in Jakarta, Indonesia – Indonesian police are seeking to question a Catholic priest over possible treason charges for leading a prayer service attended by members of an alleged Papuan separatist group.

Father John Djonga was summoned by police to appear at the station in Wamena on Feb. 19. However, the priest refused to appear, telling ucanews.com that police also needed to contact his superiors at Jayapura Diocese and that he needed to retain counsel before agreeing to meet with investigators.

Father Djonga led a prayer service on Feb. 15 to inaugurate the office building of the Papuan Customary Council, where a banner of the separatist United Liberation Movement for West Papua was unveiled.

"I came to the program as a priest on behalf of the Catholic Church. I just led the service," he said. "The council fights for the Papuan people so that they can be free from poverty. It also fights against human rights violations and for other social issues. I prayed for this during the service," he said.

Father Djonga, a noted human rights activist in the province, said he told police to send him a second letter in which diocesan officials also were notified "as I serve the diocese."

He faces up to four months in prison by declining to answer the initial summons.

Father Yulianus Bidau Mote, chairman of the diocese's Commission for the Laity, said Father Djonga's presence at the ceremony was a priest representing the diocese, therefore police needed to contact the diocese before summoning one of its priests for questioning.

"Don't just send a letter. As an institution, the local police must be able to provide the diocese with notification," he told ucanews.com.

Police said they wanted to interview Father Djonga as a possible witness to an act of treason; it was unclear if the priest was a suspect himself. According to Papua Police Chief Inspector Gen. Paulus Waterpauw, police had questioned three witnesses so far.

Source: http://www.ucanews.com/news/indonesian-police-to-question-priest-on-treason-charge/75295

Aceh

Aceh mayor says no to fashion show

Jakarta Globe - February 29, 2016

Banda Aceh – Officials in Aceh disbanded a talent show on Sunday evening (28/02) for featuring a fashion show displaying clothing deemed inappropriate under the province's shariah bylaws.

Female participants of the "Indonesian Model Hunt 2016," staged at the Grand Nanggroe Hotel in provincial capital Banda Aceh, were mostly dressed in what many in other Indonesian cities like Jakarta considered casual: tank tops and tight jeans. But the outfits proved to be inappropriate for officials in Aceh, which adheres to shariah law.

Aceh Mayor Illiza Saaduddin Djamal argued that the would-be models, most of whom were teenagers and children, weren't wearing headscarves, which the province's bylaws requires for its female residents.

"It [the show] violated shariah laws. [Organizers] did not have legal permit for the event and the venue," Illiza said on Sunday. "We have to stay alert and avoid activities [and events] that can potentially ruin Aceh's image."

After the model hunt was disbanded, children joining the competition were sent back to their parents while the teens were brought to the Public Order Agency's (Satpol PP) office to be lectured on their "misbehavior."

However, Panda Pohan Siahaan, the coordinator for the model hunt, said that organizers had adjusted the event to the local Islamic culture, and the girls had been told to keep their headscarves on during the show, although not all complied.

The coordinator quickly apologized to the city government and promised to refund the participants' registration fees.

Source: http://jakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/levee-breaks-hours-rain-flooding-homes-bekasi/

1965 mass killings

Leftist festival relocated after permit failure, protests

Jakarta Globe - February 29, 2016

Jakarta – A leftist festival dubbed "Belok Kiri Festival" or "Turn Left Festival," scheduled to start last weekend in Taman Ismail Marzuki, Central Jakarta, has been relocated to the Jakarta Legal Aid Foundation's office following protests and lack of permit.

The festival was slated to take place at Galeri Cipta II, Taman Ismail Marzuki from Saturday (27/02) through March 5, but police refused to issue a permit for the event following protests from several mass organizations, including the Homeland Youth Devotee (Pecat), Indonesia Islamic Youth Movement (GPII), Indonesian Islamic Student (PII), Indonesian Islamic Youth Legal Aid and Jakarta Activist Front (Froaja).

The groups accused festival organizers of promoting the spirit and ideas of communism and the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI). Police said they chose not to issue the permit for safety reasons.

Indraswari Agnes, secretary general of Belok Kiri Festival, said the event was relocated to the headquarters of the Jakarta Legal Aid Foundation (LBH) on Jalan Diponegoro, Central Jakarta, and postponed to the coming weekend.

"Actually, we have sent a notification letter to the Menteng Police about the event and got a police stamp on that, but the management of Taman Ismail Marzuki wanted a legal permit – which is uncommon for such an event," Agnes told the Jakarta Globe on Monday.

"We will probably continue the festival next Saturday and Sunday at the LBH office with a discussion. We will release an official announcement later," she added.

The eight-day festival was to include an array of activities, including a dramatic reading, picture workshop, book discussions, film screenings, cultural discussions, a comic workshop and music concert.

In an official statement, organizers of Belok Kiri Festival called the cancellation an effort to restrain people's freedom of speech and expression.

"The activities of Belok Kiri Festival are certainly far from an attempt to divide the nation, as concerned by several parties. Moreover, the event aimed to invite all people to critically re-read the history of Indonesia and reveal past atrocities that were covered up by the interests of the New Order," organizers said.

Anti-communists sentiments surfaced in Indonesia after a military-backed purge against the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) members and its suspected sympathizers in 1965-66 killed between 500,000 to one million suspected Communists and paved the way for the rise of former president Suharto's New Order regime.

The sentiment continues despite the strongman's fall in 1998, thanks to decades of anti-communist propaganda. Efforts to uncover the truth behind the killings have been met with great resistance. Communism is still banned in the country.

Source: http://jakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/leftist-festival-relocated-permit-failure-protests/

KPBI: Belok Kiri.Fest ban violates freedom of expression

Tempo.co – February 28, 2016

Arkhelaus W., Jakarta – The Preparatory Committee-All Indonesia United Workers Confederation (KP-KPBI) condemned Jakarta Police's action banning the Belok Kiri.Fest event to be held at Taman Ismail Marzuki (TIM), Jakarta. The KP-KPBI viewed that the ban violated the freedom of association and expression.

KPBI collective leaders chairman Michael viewed that the ban was a backward step in democracy during President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's era. Michael said that the ban was similar to criminalization against 26 workers during a protest launched on October 30, 2015.

"The government has shown it's authoritarian nature by violating the basic right to associate and express opinion," Michael said in a press release received by Tempo on Sunday, February 28, 2016.

Michael added that the government only facilitated permits for investments. Hampering the organizing committee to gain the permit for Belok Kiri.Fest event, Michael said, was an effort to restrain the freedom of association and expression.

The KPBI also viewed that the reason to ban the event based on rejection and threats posed by certain individuals could not be justified. "The state should protect its citizens against threats, instead of supporting the aggressive side," Michael added.

Earlier, the Belok Kiri.Fest event was scheduled on Saturday, February 27, 2016 at Taman Ismail Marzuki. However, the event was relocated to the Jakarta Legal Aid Foundation (LBH Jakarta) due to a ban issued by the Police.

"The event will be held with several changes and improvisations," Belok Kiri.Fest committee spokesperson Veronica said in a press conference on Saturday.

Source: http://en.tempo.co/read/news/2016/02/28/055748991/KPBI-Belok-KiriFest-Ban-Violates-Freedom-of-Expression

Labour & migrant workers

Labor union sides with govt on housing savings

Jakarta Post - February 27, 2016

Farida Susanty, Jakarta – The Confederation of Indonesian Workers Unions (KSPI) has reinstated its support for the newly passed public housing savings (Tapera) program, pinning its hopes on the new system to help the country's workers afford housing.

"We regret the Indonesian Employers Association [Apindo] stance that opposes the facility to purchase housing through Tapera. Housing is a primary need that is becoming a luxury for workers now," KSPI chairman Said Iqbal said on Friday.

He referred to Apindo's public rejection of the program on fears of additional employment burdens, which have reached more than 30 percent of wages, according to the association.

The union holds the view that the funding program would be able to gather Rp 2.7 trillion (US$201.8 million) monthly from around 44.4 million formal workers in the country, equal to around Rp 32.4 trillion yearly.

With the expected funds, the union has suggested that the government tackle at least 10 percent of the housing backlog among the country's workers each year from the beginning of the Tapera program, aiming to fulfill the need for housing in 10 years.

However, Said asked the government to make the percentage of monthly wages set aside for the fund – which remains undecided – proportionate between employees and employers, with 1.5 percent each.

The figure was different to an initial cut stipulated in the bill, which was then removed to be stipulated in an upcoming government regulation, at 2.5 percent of monthly wages from workers and 0.5 percent from employers.

The government, along with the House of Representatives, on Wednesday deliberated the Tapera bill becoming law, pending approval from President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo.

The law aimed to gather the financing needed to provide housing for low-income people nationwide, with a backlog of around 15 million currently, according to the ministry's data.

Formal workers and individuals with salaries above the minimum wage are obligated to join the program, while workers with salaries below the minimum wage and informal workers can join voluntarily.

The program is expected to gather Rp 50 trillion to Rp 60 trillion in the first five years and will be merged with the ministry's housing loan liquidity facility (FLPP), which could add Rp 33.3 trillion.

However, with the current system, Apindo remained skeptical about the role of the program in providing housing for workers, as currently only certain workers are prioritized for financing through the housing program and there is a lengthy wait to gather sufficient funds.

Those eligible to apply for the housing support have to qualify as low-income people, who do not possess a home have held membership for a minimum 12 months.

"The people who will get it are not guaranteed to be those who pay; they will not know for whom the money is used. Nobody knows," Apindo vice chairman Suryadi Sasmita said on a separate occasion, adding that workers who already had homes would also be burdened by the cut.

Apindo remained firm in its stance to file a judicial review with the Constitutional Court, with the initial goal of pushing the government to amend the law. They also demanded a single pool of housing funding instead of several programs that overlapped, as is the case with the Workers Social Security Agency (BPJS Ketenagakerjaan), which gathered an estimated Rp 36 trillion from its pension fund (JHT) for housing.

The Public Works and Public Housing Ministry's director general for housing finance, Maurin Sitorus, defended the government's system of gathering funds for low-income people from workers, saying the government lacked funds for housing finance.

"For the Rp 30 trillion belonging to the BPJS, if the housing cost is Rp 500 million, it can only finance 60,000 houses," he said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/27/labor-union-sides-with-govt-housing-savings.html

Layoffs not as severe as reported, but caution needed

Jakarta Post - February 23, 2016

Jakarta – Government, businesspeople and economists have said that the issue of mass layoffs that has spread on social media recently is not as severe as a labor union claims.

However, they did not deny the presence of work contract termination and warned industry players and the public to remain vigilant about the ongoing slow economic recovery.

The Manpower Ministry has issued preliminary data on laid-off workers in response to the mass layoffs reported earlier by the Confederation of Indonesian Workers' Union (KSPI).

The data, sent to The Jakarta Post on Thursday, shows that as of Feb. 15, there were 1,450 workers whose contracts had been terminated this year. KSPI, on the other hand, has claimed that at least 12,000 workers had stopped working.

Manpower Minister Hanif Dhakiri said he regretted that the union had used questionable data to raise the issue, leading to public unrest and a misperception of the actual situation.

"Their data has to be corrected. The media should also double-check with related companies to avoid stirring up the public," he said. He also challenged the union to come to him directly and provide a copy of their data.

Previously, companies, in sectors ranging from automotive, electronics, mining to banking, that are said to be terminating workers, have also clarified their perspective.

Mitsubishi recently said that it did not terminate workers' contracts but offered early retirement to assemblers amid the declining local demand for commercial cars last year. Of 1,800 workers to whom the offer had been made, 183 have reportedly accepted it.

TV maker Toshiba said that it would terminate the contracts of 360 workers, not 900 as claimed by KSPI, as demand from the Middle East dropped drastically in 2015.

Lamp maker Panasonic also clarified that it would only lay off 425 workers, not 1,600 as was claimed, due to drop in demand for compact fluorescent lamps in the local and Japanese market.

Similarly, the Financial Services Authority (OJK) said that layoffs might hit the banking industry too this year, but far lower than last year, when some 3,700 employees of private lenders Danamon and CIMB Niaga accepted early-retirement offers.

Mining companies, such as Chevron, ConocoPhillips and Star Energy, are also reportedly planning layoffs and delaying recruiting new employees but have so far avoiding stating any specific number.

Economists also believe that the number of layoffs is not as high as what has been spread via social media but have suggested that businesses make more of an effort to adapt to changing market demand to stay competitive in the sluggish economy.

"I believe that layoffs may be present, but they're not as bombastic as what is being claimed by KSPI. However, the number might not be as low as the ministry data, as many small and medium enterprises companies in the regions don't report [employee data]," Latif Adam, an analyst at the Indonesian Institute of Science (LIPI) said recently.

According to the Manpower Law, companies planning to terminate workers must report to the ministry or regional administration to ensure that compensation is paid. "Businesspeople may not want to be responsible for making payments, so they don't report," he added.

Latif said that current layoff happen from a combination of sluggish global economy and inability of businesses to adapt to changing market demand.

Enny Sri Hartati, an economist with the Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (INDEF), said that terminations could persist as long as the global and local economy remained sluggish, so the government needed to ensure that investment in labor-intensive sectors could absorb workers that were being laid off. (rbk)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/23/layoffs-not-severe-reported-caution-needed.html

Freedom of speech & expression

Facebook suspends Indonesian user for posting historical photos featuring topless

Jakarta Post - February 27, 2016

Marguerite Afra Sapiie, Jakarta – Facebook has suspended an Indonesian woman's account after she posted a series of historical photos of local women, based on numerous reports of "nudity" and "explicit content" that it received.

Facebook user, 23-year-old Dea Basuri, compiled a series of photos she found on the internet in an album on her Facebook page titled "The Culture of Real Indonesian Women", showing how these women dressed within their cultures and tribes in the past.

Some of the photos, which were mostly in black and white, depicted Indonesian women in traditional attire that only covered their bodies from the waist down, leaving their breasts exposed.

"I saw the historical photos that I have collected so far as a valuable aspect of Indonesian history." Dea wrote in her Twitter account on Wednesday.

She posted the photo series as a response to the broadcast of the Puteri Indonesia 2016 beauty pageant last weekend, in which the television channel decided to blur the legs and cleavage of contestants wearing traditional Indonesia kebaya. A level of censorship she deemed unnecessary.

The album went viral within 24 hours with almost 3000 shares on Facebook. However, Dea received a notification from Facebook on Tuesday night at around 7 p.m. saying that her account had been suspended for not following Facebook community standards.

"How is it considered sexually explicit to upload pictures of Indonesian women in the past where the picture was taken within daily life?" Dea wrote in her Twitter on Wednesday.

The photos were not intended to be pornographic, obscene, or controversial as they were aspects of history that could help society to more deeply contemplate the sexualization of women's bodies, Dea wrote, adding that she just wanted to share and educate the public about the issue.

She questioned why it was okay for celebrities and men expose an excessive amount of skin, such as men who took bare-chested selfies, but when it came to historical photos of women in their traditional clothes, it couldn't be tolerated.

"If Facebook can be a supporter towards the rights of LGBTQ individuals, then I believe it can be a supporter of women's rights," Dea wrote questioning Facebook's known stance of equality in the work environment.

Social media users have thrown their support behind Dea by sharing her Twitter posts as well as signing Dea's online petition appealing to the Facebook CEO titled "Dear Mark Zuckerberg: Please stand up for gender equality and the preservation of history".

Dea sent an appeal to Facebook asking the social-networking giant to reactivate her account at 12 a.m. on Wednesday, while in return she said she would also take down the album and make it unavailable to the public. However, Facebook has not yet responded to her appeal. (rin)(+)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/26/facebook-suspends-indonesian-user-posting-historical-photos-featuring-topless-women.html

Facebook suspends user for posting historical photos of topless Indonesian women

Asian Correspondent - February 24, 2016

Hanis Maketab – Facebook has suspended the account of a young Indonesian woman who posted historical photos of local women to protest the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission's censoring of a beauty pageant recently.

Last Saturday, the Puteri Indonesia 2016 pageant was broadcast on local channel Indosiar, but viewers were puzzled when they saw that television censors were blurring out the chests and legs of some contestants who were wearing the traditional Indonesian kebaya, considered a national costume.

Of late, Indonesian conservatives have increasingly justified the need for censorship to "protect traditional Indonesian culture".

This led Dea Basori, 23, to question the censors. Speaking to Asian Correspondent, Dea said she decided to search the internet using the keyword "Indonesian women old photos" and compiled the pictures she found into a photo album on her Facebook account, which she made accessible to the public.

The pictures were mostly black and white images of Indonesian women throughout history, dressed in traditional attire. Many of the women in the photos were topless or bared their nipples. "I did this to counter the censors and ask, 'whose culture are you protecting?' Is their definition of Indonesian culture a true reflection of it?"

She added that her album, entitled "The Culture of Real Indonesian Women", received almost 3,000 shares within 24 hours of uploading. However, on Tuesday night at around 7pm local time, Dea received a notice from Facebook informing her that her account had been suspended.

"Facebook told me to write an appeal if I wanted to get my account back up," she said, adding that her account's suspension was apparently a result of the photos, as her post had received about 50 reports for "nudity" and "explicit content". "The photos I posted are all over the internet; all I did was compile them. And besides, it's a part of our history – how can people be offended?"

She also criticized Indonesian censors and conservatives for their contradictory stance: "Why are women told to cover up, but not men? We see men freely posting photos of their bare chests or going topless in advertisements. How can you sexualize women's chests but not men's?"

Dea, a dental student, is of Javanese descent and is proud of her heritage. She said she felt "sad" for those who felt the need to report the photos.

In her appeal to Facebook, she wrote that she understood that Facebook had the right to enforce its policy to keep the social media platform a safe place to socialize. But she felt that Facebook also had the potential to be used as a tool to educate people and be a safe space for discussion towards better understanding among the public.

"I saw the historical photos that I have collected so far as a valuable aspect of Indonesian history. They shouldn't be contrived as pornographic, obscene, or scandalous photography, but rather as an aspect of history that could help society contemplate the over-sexualization of women's bodies.

"There shouldn't be intimidation towards individuals who are genuinely eager to educate the public about Indonesian history," she said.

This is a photo of the censored beauty pageant, which went viral among Indonesian netizens: http://jakarta.coconuts.co/2016/02/22/netizens-shocked-tv-censors-blurring-puteri-indonesia-contestants-wearing-traditional

Source: https://asiancorrespondent.com/2016/02/facebook-suspends-user-for-posting-historical-photos-of-topless-indonesian-women/

Political parties & elections

KPK to stay out of Golkar Party national congress

Jakarta Post - February 29, 2016

Tama Salim, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) decided over the weekend that it would not directly take part in the upcoming Golkar Party national congress slated for April.

Despite earlier remarks on possible vote buying relating to the congress, KPK commissioner Laode Syarif said the antigraft body refused to formally accept any offer to take part in the political event or provide input on preparations for the congress.

"We will not be directly involved in the Golkar congress, but our message is very clear: there shall not be any vote buying," Laode told The Jakarta Post on Saturday. KPK spokesperson Yuyuk Andriati previously said that the commission would only help political parties with preventive measures and awareness-raising initiatives.

Amid allegations that candidates in the party's leadership race have resorted to vote-buying ahead of the congress, Golkar chairman Aburizal Bakrie said on Tuesday that the KPK and the police would be brought in for preventive measures to ensure that candidates did not resort to dirty tactics to win votes.

The proposition was also endorsed by various members of the party, including deputy chairman Agung Laksono, party veteran Theo L. Sambuaga and young guns like Ace Hasan Syadzily.

Previously, KPK deputy chairman Thony Saut Situmorang issued a warning to politicians nationwide that reports of vote-buying ahead of the Golkar congress might prompt the antigraft body to closely monitor the event.

Saut indicated that such oversight practices were necessary considering the party's recent endorsement of the government after almost a year of positioning itself with the opposition coalition led by the Gerindra Party.

As the party that won the second largest number of votes in last year's presidential election, Golkar stands to become a formidable camp in Jokowi's administration, with enough political clout to demand strategic positions in government. "People who go into politics will more or less determine the direction in which our country is going," Saut said recently.

Ahead of the congress, two of the party's strongest contenders, House of Representatives Speaker Ade Komaruddin and Golkar's House faction leader Setya Novanto, have become the subject of smear campaigns.

Setya was accused on social media of asking someone to falsify his signature for the attendance record of a House plenary meeting on Tuesday, when he was actually away in the regions campaigning.

Ade was accused of vote-buying practices in the regions, as well as allegedly accepting a private jet from a businessman in Kalimantan. Both parties denied any involvement in the incidents, but have leveled thinly veiled accusations at each other.

Political analyst Gun Gun Heryanto of Jakarta State Islamic University (UIN) recently suggested that party chairman Aburizal was merely paying lip service to the public regarding the plan to involve the KPK in the upcoming congress.

"The inherent mentality is to normalize certain kinds of political costs such as travel expenses and accommodation [that enable regional branch executives to participate in party events hosted in big cities]," Gun Gun explained.

The political communications expert said that party executives could start by drafting an agreement on provisions to ensure the transparency of political funding by candidates running in the leadership race.

He recommended taking lessons from the 2014 presidential election, such as requiring candidates to report their campaign funds or having independent auditors crosscheck donations and other financial income. "If everything is left to the candidates, there will always be vote buying," he said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/29/KPK-stay-out-golkar-party-national-congress.html

Emron named interim PPP chairman

Jakarta Post - February 26, 2016

Jakarta – The United Development Party (PPP) agreed to appoint Emron Pangkapi as interim party chairman during its national meeting (Mukernas) on Thursday.

Chairman of the Mukernas steering committee Irgan Chairul Mahfiz said that while Emron would remain in his position as deputy party chairman, he had been given the authority to lead the party.

"He will carry out the duty as party chairman and has been granted rights and obligations equal to those of an actual party chairman," Irgan said as quoted by kompas.com.

The PPP kicked off its Mukernas on Wednesday where the party will be expected to set a date for a national congress (Muktamar). Party members elect a new central board and party chairman during a Muktamar.

Rival factions, one led by senior politician Djan Faridz and another by lawmaker Mohammad "Romi" Romahurmuziy, have been battling over who should lead the party.

The power struggle within the PPP dates back to the most recent presidential election as its members had taken differing stances with regard to the two contesting pairs: the Joko "Jokowi" Widodo-Jusuf Kalla ticket and the Prabowo Subianto-Hatta Rajasa ticket.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/26/national-scene-emron-named-interim-ppp-chairman.html

Golkar cleans up image ahead of congress

Jakarta Post - February 25, 2016

Fedina S. Sundaryani and Margareth S. Aritonang, Jakarta – The Golkar Party is striving to clean up its image by inviting the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and the National Police to monitor its congress next April, when party members will vote for a new party chairman.

Amid allegations that candidates for the party's leadership race have resorted to vote-buying ahead of the congress, Golkar chairman Aburizal Bakrie said on Tuesday that the KPK and the police would prepare preventive measures to ensure that candidates did not resort to dirty practices to win votes.

"I previously announced that I would write a letter and we [with the KPK and police] will create a system. We can't just do things the way we want," he said following a Golkar central executive board meeting.

After a period of dual leadership, the country's oldest party is set to hold a national congress in April, during which a new chairman will be elected.

Aburizal earlier said that to curb vote-buying he would drop the requirement for candidates to submit letters of endorsement from regional Golkar branches.

During Golkar's previous 2014 Bali national congress, a candidate running for the party's top post needed to get at least 30 percent of 529 votes from regional branch leaders nationwide in order to contest the election. A candidate also had to collect endorsement letters from provincial and regency branch leaders.

Aburizal won the vote by a landslide, prompting his rivals to claim that the vote had been rigged. Shortly thereafter, current deputy chairman Agung Laksono held another congress that ended with him being chosen as the party's chairman, a development that set into motion a year-long leadership dispute that is expected to be resolved in the upcoming congress.

Meanwhile, seasoned Golkar politician Yorrys Raweyai, who was a member of Agung's faction before he jumped ship, said on Wednesday that transactional politics had been a chronic problem for Golkar and the party's central board had decided to do something about it.

Members of the central board agreed to write a letter to the KPK and the National Police's detective department to seek counsel on the setting up of an election system that would be free of transactional politics.

"Based on news reports, Golkar appears to be very vulnerable to transactional politics. [The letter to the KPK and the police force] is intended to prevent it and we hope we can lead the way to building a new political tradition and eventually become a model for the nation and other political parties," he said.

Yorrys also said the KPK and police would also advise Golkar. "They have their own way of working, their own standard operational procedures. We just want to ask for their opinion on how to prevent [transactional politics]," he said.

Separately, Agung confirmed that the party central board would send a letter to the KPK and to the Financial and Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (PPATK) next week.

Rumors of transactional politics have swirled following a civil society group's decision to report House of Representatives Speaker Ade Komarudin, a strong contender for the Golkar chairmanship, for allegedly accepting favors from a businessman in the form of flying on a private jet to help him campaign for the race. Ade quickly rejected the allegation and claimed that he had not even declared his intention to run.

Earlier this month, seasoned Golkar politician Nurdin Halid, who is predicted to become the head of the party's steering committee, also claimed he had received reports from an unnamed party branch leader from North Sulawesi that one of the candidates had promised the regional party executive S$10,000 (US$7,120) in exchange for an endorsement.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/25/golkar-cleans-image-ahead-congress.html

Environment & natural disasters

Minister orders early containment of fires in Kalimantan, Sumatra

Jakarta Post - February 29, 2016

Haeril Halim, Syofiardi Bachyul Jb and Rizal Harahap, Jakarta/Padang/Pekanbaru – The Home Ministry has ordered local administrations in Kalimantan and Sumatra to launch preventive measures to contain forest fire after the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) discovered a growing number of hot spots in the two provinces.

In Sumatra, small fires were detected in 68 locations on Sunday, which, if not tackled immediately could grow bigger to become forest fires in the near future. Satellite data also showed 38 hot spots in East Kalimantan and one in North Kalimantan on the same day.

The ministry said on Sunday that local administrations in the two provinces had followed up on its instructions by launching a joint operation with local branches of the BNPB, the police and the Indonesian Military (TNI) to contain the growing hot spots.

Failures to contain hot spots last year resulted in the burning of 2.61 million hectares of forest and peatlands in Sumatra and Kalimantan, causing a choking haze for about five months and leaving 21 people dead and more than a half-a-million people suffering from respiratory problems.

"Local administrations [must also] map areas prone to fires in their jurisdictions. They are cooperating with all related parties including the police, the TNI, social and health agencies and the Indonesian Red Cross [PMI]," Home Minister Tjahjo Kumolo told The Jakarta Post.

A problem with the instruction is that failure to comply with it carries no punishment or sanctions for local officers, but Tjahjo said that tight monitoring would be carried out by the ministry to ensure that local leaders did their best to prevent forest fires.

"If they cannot afford preventative action [...] they should make a report to the central government," Tjahjo added.

BNPB spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho confirmed on Sunday that local efforts had been made in Sumatra and Kalimantan to put out the growing small fires, and had already decreased the number of hot spots from 69 in Sumatra and 24 in East Kalimantan on Saturday.

However, the number of fires in North Kalimantan increased to four on Sunday due to intensive land clearing by local farmers.

"Kutai Kartanegara and East Kutai [regencies] started to see fires 2 weeks ago. Our satellite always detects new fires there. It means that new land clearing keeps happening," Sutopo added.

Last year's fire crisis cost the economy Rp 221 trillion (US$16.5 billion), or around 1.9 percent of the country's GDP, or more than double what was spent on rebuilding Aceh after the 2004 tsunami.

In addition, efforts to extinguish the fires cost the BNPB alone around Rp 734.5 billion. That amount does not include the hundreds of billions of rupiah spent by related ministries and government agencies on fire-containment efforts last year.

Fire-containment efforts in Kalimantan and Sumatra this year include the establishment of canal separators in a number places, Sutopo explained, adding that "any emergence of new fires will be automatically dealt with by local officers".

Although it is difficult to imagine no fires at all in Kalimantan and Sumatra due to the huge area of peatlands and forests prone to fires there, this year's fires are expected to be far less serious than last year's because 2016 has seen a relatively wet dry season compared with 2015.

"The El Nino weather phenomenon is expected to end in April, then the onset of La Nina will be stronger which will make this year's dry season relatively wet across Indonesia. This situation will assist fire containment efforts for the whole year," Sutopo added.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/29/minister-orders-early-containment-fires-kalimantan-sumatra.html

Government to reform forestry revenue system to foil rampant graft

Jakarta Post - February 23, 2016

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – The government is planning to reform its non-tax state revenue (PNBP) system in the forestry sector following a finding that corruption in the sector is causing trillions of rupiah in state losses every year.

The national plan is laid out in a draft by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and other related government institutions including the Finance Ministry, the Environment and Forestry Ministry and the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK).

KPK forestry-sector investigator Hariadi Kartodiharjo told The Jakarta Post on Monday that related government institutions would kick off an integrated plan to improve the revenue system on Wednesday.

"The draft has been finalized. There will be a brief presentation [during the signing ceremony] to make sure that every government institutions adopts the plan that has been discussed."

The plan is a follow-up on a KPK study published in October, which found that state losses from missing potential non-tax state revenue in the forestry sector between 2003 and 2014 amounted Rp 86.9 trillion (US$521 million), or Rp 7.24 trillion per year.

The number was based on a calculation of all forestry products that could be collected and shows the necessity of establishing a non-tax state revenue system to prevent illegal logging.

The KPK report cited ineffective law enforcement, inaccurate production data and auditing by timber plantations, a lack of transparency on royalties data within government ministries and poor coordination between central and regional administrations as causes for the lost timber revenue.

The Environment and Forestry Ministry responded to the finding by revamping its online system as well as conducting an audit, according to Hariadi. "But it's not just the Environment and Forestry Ministry [that needs to act]. The Finance Ministry and the BPK also [have to be involved]," he said.

Therefore, the national plan stipulates that there should be an online non-tax state revenue system connected to the Finance Ministry, the government institution tasked with collecting non-state tax revenue, said Hariadi.

"There is already an online system but it's still partial. For instance, the system is being managed by the directorate-general of sustainable forest products management at the Environment and Forestry Ministry, but it will now be merged with the system at other government institutions," he said.

Moreover, the BPK is preparing a list of agro-forestry companies that are prone to corruption. "These companies are at high risk from a financial perspective," Hariadi said. "The BPK is also designing an appropriate audit system."

He added that the reform would be implemented in 12 provinces: Aceh, North Sumatra, West Sumatra, Jambi, Palembang, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, Central Sulawesi, South Sulawesi and Papua. "These provinces have a high potential for non-tax state revenue. It follows that they also have a high potential for state losses," said Hariadi.

He said that the KPK would help these provinces to collect non-tax state revenue in the forestry sector. "Many provincial administrations are complaining that they find it difficult to collect data from regencies. So, in the national action plan, each governor must ask for data [on the forestry sector] from regency administration in a uniformed format. The data will then be forwarded to the KPK. So, if there are any obstacles in collecting the data, the KPK will call the regents [in question and ask them to submit the data]," Hariadi said.

Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) activist Emerson Yuntho said that the national action plan should be accompanied by a thorough evaluation and monitoring process. "We're worried this will become another action plan with no comprehensive evaluation and monitoring," he said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/23/govt-reform-forestry-revenue-system-foil-rampant-graft.html

Health & education

Residents question police probe into established Cikini abortion clinics

Jakarta Post - February 25, 2016

Jakarta – When the police started investigating a number of abortion clinics in Cikini, Central Jakarta, the immediate question from local residents was: "Why only now?" as they had known about the clinics for a long time.

"I am not surprised. Most of residents here know that those clinics are operating. The middlemen [who liaise between patients and doctors] live in the area," said Hendi, a resident of Jl. Cisadane 19, whose house is located in front of one of the clinics, as reported by tribunnews.com on Thursday.

Hendi, who has been living in the area since 40 years ago, said that he had noted at least 10 abortion clinics operating in his neighborhood, including some that had been in operation for a decade. So far the police have investigated nine abortion clinics, including those located on Jl. Cimandiri No. 7 and Jl. Cisadane No. 19.

"That clinic has been in business for more than 10 years. It's crazy, to think how many lives have been ended there. It could be thousands," Hendi said, while pointing at the house.

He said the abortion clinic on Jl. Cisadane 19 was busy in the evening and most of the patients arrived in cars. "Most patients are young women. There are patients who come with their mothers and there are those who come with men of approximately the same age as them," he added.

He explained there were groups of people, who offered services connecting patients with clinics. The men who stand by along Jl. Raden Saleh in Cikini approach slow-moving cars that are believed to be people seeking abortion services. Other middlemen just give a signal by waving their hands.

Head of Jakarta City Police's specific crime division Adj. Sr. Comr. Adi Vivid said that before raiding the nine abortion clinics on Jl. Raden Saleh, the police had conducted a month-long undercover operation in which two female police officers acted as patients and visited clinics and talked with middlemen.

Evidence confiscated during the raids included abortion equipment, human bones found dumped in drains near the clinics and blood inside plastic bags, said a police officer, adding that ten suspects had been arrested, including clinic owners, doctors, nurses, middlemen and those given the responsibility of disposing of fetuses.

Adi explained that the middlemen, whose role was to attract clients, could earn up to 40 percent of the total cost of an abortion, which reportedly ranges from Rp 3 million (US$223.66) to Rp 6 million.

Hendi said he appreciated the police investigation into the abortion clinics because he believed that abortion was prohibited by all religions.

But he also expressed his pessimism that the police would consistently monitor the abortion clinics, saying that it was unlikely the police only recently found out about the clinics as they had been there for years. (bbn)(+)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/25/residents-question-police-probe-established-cikini-abortion-clinics.html

Gender & sexual orientation

Future uncertain for Yogyakarta transgender school

Jakarta Post - February 28, 2016

Bambang Muryanto, Yogyakarta – Al Fatah Islamic School for transgender people in Yogyakarta has ceased all activity and its owners and students are keeping a low profile after the school was shut down by local authorities amid protests from a local hard-line group.

Al Fatah, located in a house owned by the leader of the school, Shinta Ratri. was calm and quiet when journalists visited the school in Jagalan, Kotagede subdistrict, on Saturday. Several transwomen shut themselves in their rooms as journalists approached.

Shinta also refused to talk to the press about the shutting down of the Islamic school, which was established elsewhere in 2008 and moved to Jagalan in 2014.

She wanted to take a break, she said, and had no plans to re-establish the school at another location. "I am still tired and I want to calm myself first. Life goes on, and I also need to earn money," the former makeup artist told thejakartapost.com through a text message.

Authorities decided to close down Shinta's school after a local meeting on Wednesday. The authorities claimed that Al Fatah was a public nuisance, with motorcycles blocking the road whenever the school held events and activities. There were also reports of noisy karaoke nights and alcohol consumption at the school.

The meeting was urged by the Yogyakarta Islamic Jihadi Front (FJI), a group that opposes lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people. Banguntapan subdistrict chief Jati Bayu Broto said the decision was taken in the public interest.

Aditia Arief Firmanto from the Yogyakarta Legal Aid Institute, representing Shinta, meanwhile insisted the latter had [not] closed the institution out of fear of the FJI. "Shutting down the school is a violation of human rights. These students are being denied the right to a religious education," Adita said on Saturday.

The legal aid institute also deeply regretted the failure on the part of the Banguntapan Police to address a broadcast message allegedly sent by the FJI threatening to seal Al Fatah on Feb. 19, distressing and frightening Shinta and her students. "[The Banguntapan Police] said they had no cyber division, and could only use Article 335 of the Criminal Code to track down the sender," Adita said.

Meanwhile, Banguntapan Police chief Comr. Suharno denied that his force had refused to respond to the reports, but had suggested that the complainants report instead to the Bantul Police or Yogyakarta Police, both of which have cyber divisions.

Al Fatah teacher Abdul Muhaimin said he would continue to fight for the school's right to exist and educate, noting that activities were limited to reciting the Koran, learning how to pray and celebrating Islamic holidays, and did not extend to anything that might disturb the peace and order of the neighborhood.

"Why do we need permission for a Koran recital? Parking issues can be managed. It is of the upmost importance that we do not let this problem interrupt the students' right to learn their religion," said Muhaimin, who is also the headteacher of the Nurul Umahat Islamic Boarding School in Kotagede.

The Sharia and Law School of Nahdlatul Ulama Islamic University in Esparza has cooperated with Al Fatah since 2014, aiming to improve the quality of the transwomen's life.

Separately, FJI leader Darohman said the group would allow Al Fatah to operate again under the condition that the transwomen repented and returned to being men. "If they do not change, their prayers will not be accepted," he said. (rin)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/28/future-uncertain-yogyakarta-transgender-school.html

NU joins anti-LGBT bandwagon with edict

Jakarta Post - February 27, 2016

Fedina S. Sundaryani, Jakarta – The country's largest Islamic outfit, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), has become the latest organization to campaign for the prosecution of members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.

In an official statement signed by NU chairman Said Aqil Siroj and issued on Thursday, the organization declared it would not recognize the existence of LGBT groups and their activities, claiming that LGBT people's sexual orientation was incompatible with human nature.

Because of the perceived deviation from the laws of nature, NU called on the House of Representatives and the government to start deliberating a law in order to categorize homosexuality as a crime, which could carry sanctions for anyone campaigning for LGBT rights.

The Muslim organization also called for the rehabilitation of members of the LGBT community. "[The law should also stipulate] rehabilitation for every person who has LGBT characteristics so they can return to normal," the statement read.

Senior NU cleric Asrorun Niam Sholeh said his organization made the announcement after months of concern over increasing support for the LGBT movement. NU, which is known for its moderate interpretation of Islam, had concluded that existing laws were not enough to keep LGBT campaigners in check, Asrorun said.

"Based on NU's evaluation, LGBT activities should be prohibited and categorized as crimes, so there must be a legal mechanism [to address them]. The law currently only defines what a legal marriage is, which implies that homosexual activities are not legal," he told The Jakarta Post.

As for rehabilitation of LGBT individuals, Asrorun said the government should offer various methods given the range of possible causes of homosexuality and other "deviant sexual orientations".

NU is the latest organization to declare war on the LGBT community. Earlier, the National Awakening Party (PKB) made a similar call to criminalize those campaigning for LGBT rights.

The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) also previously expressed its rejection of LGBT people, citing a fatwa it issued in 2014 stipulating that the promotion of LGBT activities was against Islam. At the time, MUI chairman Ma'ruf Amin also called for legislation on LGBT activities.

Recently, a leading Indonesian psychiatric association classified homosexuality, bisexuality and transgenderism as mental disorders, saying they could be cured through proper treatment.

The Indonesian Psychiatrists Association (PDSKJI) said that most of the time, homosexuality was triggered by external factors, such as a person's social environment, and therefore could be healed through psychiatric treatment.

Referring to the Mental Health Law and the association's mental health and mental disorder diagnostic guidelines, the PDSKJI categorized homosexuals and bisexuals as "people with psychiatric problems", while it said transgender people had "mental disorders".

Amid the ongoing controversy, Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) lawmaker Tifatul Sembiring caused an uproar on Friday by publishing a tweet from his Twitter account @tifsembiring suggesting that homosexuals should be put to death.

Quoting a verse from the hadith, a compilation of the sayings and deeds of the Prophet Muhammad, Tifatul said: "#FridayThoughts: The Prophet said kill the person and their partner who commit the acts of the people of Luth [homosexuals] and kill the person and the animal who have sexual intercourse." The first part was a quote of an Arabic sentence.

Many Twitter users reacted quickly and angrily to the tweet, including movie director Joko Anwar and actress Hannah Al Rashid.

Other Twitter users posted a statement taken from a circular issued by National Police chief Gen. Badrodin Haiti last October, ordering police officers to be aware of and to prevent hate speech in relation to several issues, including sexual orientation and gender.

The circular also cited several laws that could be used against those who disseminated hate, such as the Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE) Law, the Abolishment of Racial and Ethnic Discrimination Law and the Social Conflict Law.

Despite the wave of criticism, Tifatul, who once served as information and communications minister under the administration of president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, stood by his remarks, saying he was not spreading hatred but simply quoting a verse from the hadith.

"Quoting the Prophet's hadith is hate speech? What are you talking about, Mas?" he said, in reply to a tweet from Joko Anwar. Tifatul subsequently deleted the controversial tweet.

How the persecution evolved

Jan. 23: Research, Technology and Higher Education Minister Muhammad Nasir says LGBT people should be banned from entering universities. The minister is reacting to the Support Group and Resource Center on Sexuality Studies (SGRC) at the University of Indonesia (UI), which offers counseling for LGBT students.

Jan. 26: Nasir says LGBT communities are allowed to host campus activities if they have been granted permission from their university. Furthermore, he specifies that such groups will be allowed on campus as long they do not promote indecent acts, such as intimacy and sexual intercourse.

Jan. 27: Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) legislator Nasir Djamil says the LGBT community should not be allowed to grow or be given room to conduct its activities.

Jan. 30: TV personality Indra Bekti is reported by a 23-year-old man on charges of sexual assault that allegedly took place in 2010.

Feb. 12: Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform Minister Yuddy Chrisnandi says it is inappropriate for civil servants to be homosexual. Having more than one wife for a man is still normal, even though it is prohibited by regulations and the ethics code.

Feb. 12: Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Luhut Pandjaitan defends the LGBT community, saying that whoever its members are, wherever they work, they continue to be Indonesian citizens. They have a right to be protected as well.

Feb. 15: Vice President Jusuf Kalla says the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) has summoned the UN Development Program Indonesia to seek clarification on US$8 million in funding allocated for LGBT programs in several countries in Asia, including Indonesia, and demanded termination of any LGBT programs in the country.

Feb. 17: Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin sees the LGBT community as a social problem that threatens religious life and the strength of family and national identity.

Feb. 18: The Kelapa Gading Police in North Jakarta name dangdut singer Syaiful Jamil, known also as Ipul, a suspect after he reportedly admitted to molesting a 17-year-old boy. He is currently in police custody.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/27/nu-joins-anti-lgbt-bandwagon-with-edict.html

Gays and lesbians feel heat of discrimination and prejudice in Indonesia

Sydney Morning Herald - February 27, 2016

Michael Neilson, Jakarta – On the University of Indonesia campus in Depok, south of Jakarta, there is a group that gets together twice a month over a "pot-luck" dinner to discuss topics generally considered taboo in Indonesia.

The group is not involved in organised crime or murder, as wild rumours percolating in late January suggested, nor is it planning to take over the university with its "lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender propaganda".

Set up by a group of students and teachers, the Support Group and Resource Centre on Sexuality Studies is merely a place to meet and discuss sexuality and gender issues.

But the group became the lightning rod for a debate about being queer in Indonesia, after the University of Indonesia objected to a brochure it had disseminated about its "LGBT Peer Support Network", which featured three gay men and a pansexual woman discussing the benefits of counselling.

An image of the brochure went viral online gaining a lot of attention – some of it positive, but most of it condemning the group. The university distanced itself from the group, issuing a statement saying it was not responsible for its activities as it had not asked for a permit.

"[University of Indonesia] strongly states that the Sexuality Group and Resource Centre has no rights to use the name and logo of the [University of Indonesia] in its activities," the statement read.

Conservative Islamic newspaper Republika soon picked up on the story with a front-page article titled "LGBT poses serious threat", and what support group member Luna Siagian describes as a "witch-hunt" began.

Research, Technology and Higher Education Minister Muhammad Nasir joined in the debate, initially stating lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students on campus corrupt the nation's morals, before later clarifying he meant only those that were publicly "affectionate".

An MP from the Prosperous Justice Party, Muhammad Nasir Djamil, also commented, saying "LGBT groups cannot thrive and be given space. Especially given they have entered campus through academic space."

Speculative articles were written about the group's members, including a profile piece in Republika about co-founder Firmansyah's sexual orientation.

Members were cyber-bullied, and wild rumours circulated online linking them to criminal activities. Siagian received multiple messages daily criticising her about her sexuality.

The media exposure of the group led some members to be interrogated by their parents. One of the co-founders was kicked out of home, says Siagian. "They treated us like we have a mental illness, prone to instability... even psychopaths," she says.

"I want people to be more sexually knowledgeable. People are very hesitant about even calling things penis and vagina – it makes sexuality a taboo thing. I want people to be able to talk more openly about these things."

There are no national laws prohibiting homosexuality in Indonesia, but the local government of Aceh has implemented Sharia law and criminalised homosexuality. Across Indonesia discrimination is common.

"Indonesian society generally sees lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex as 'sakit' or not normal," says Professor Baden Offord?, who teaches human rights at Curtin University.

"Discrimination... is mainly because of religious, social, cultural and state sanctioned attitudes... that are in some places based on tradition, on proscriptions against homosexuals by Imams and Islamic law, or simply by the state's focus on the family as the basic unit of society."

In March 2015, Indonesia's top Muslim clerical body, MUI, issued a fatwa proposing same-sex behaviour be punished by caning or even the death penalty, and labelling it a "disease" that can be cured.

Currently MUI is considering a fatwa that would prohibit Muslims from joining any groups that promote LGBT rights. The Islamic Defenders Front is regularly involved in shutting down such advocacy groups and the events they run.

Lini Zurlia, who describes herself as a queer feminist, is a member of Arus Pelangi, one of more than 120 LGBT advocacy groups based in Indonesia.

Zurlia was present when members of the Islamic Defenders Front, accompanied by police, turned up at an Arus Pelangi workshop in Jakarta, and ordered them to shut it down. She says they have learnt to expect such things can happen, yet they still try to keep the community together.

Originally from a small village in South Sumatra, Zurlia has not yet come out to her conservative Islamic family, and does not know how to do so. "If they knew, they would reject me, as an adulterer, as a member of the family."

Zurlia says it is quite easy for her to hide her identity, but transgender people are easily identified and often prevented from getting jobs. Many end up homeless and/or working as prostitutes.

Chusnul Chasanah, from the Jakarta-based Centre of Law and Policy Study, says the discrimination is based on a misinterpretation of the country's morals, laws and religions.

She says respect for differences is one of the most important moral teachings in the Koran. The 1945 Constitution also provides for respect of all Indonesians based on difference, which includes people of different gender and sexual orientations, she says.

Along with the non-governmental organisations, there is increasing support from the Human Rights Commission.

Commissioner Muhammad Nurkhoiron says lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are guaranteed protection under the Constitution and President Joko Widodo's "Nawa Cita" – the President's nine point agenda.

"One of the priorities [of the commission] is to ensure the state... conduct their duty to respect, protect and fulfil lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights."

The commission is compiling its first Minority Rights report, that will make recommendations to the government on the state of minority rights, including those of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. He says it will become an annual report, monitoring the progress and setbacks of fulfilling those rights.

Despite having their groups and events regularly targeted by authorities, LGBT groups say Jakarta and Bali are "heaven" in comparison to the smaller villages around the archipelago. They say they are able to go about their daily lives, as long as they are not publicly affectionate.

"There is a vast gap between the norms and opinions that Indonesians express in public and the way they behave in their daily lives," says Elizabeth Pisani, a journalist and epidemiologist who has spent more than 28 years in Indonesia.

"Whatever the moral panic of the day, most Indonesians are extremely 'live and let live' in their daily lives. They don't want to be forced into taking a position, they don't want to have things stuck in their face," she says.

Tegar Ramadan was one of the gay men pictured in the LGBT Peer Support Network brochure. He believes as people become more aware of different sexual orientations and gender identities, they will become more accepting.

"I was afraid before I decided I would fight for my rights. I was afraid of being visible, political for this matter because that would attract attention," he says. "But if it's not me then who, and if it's not now then when? Because the change will not happen unless we fight for it."

Source: http://www.smh.com.au/world/gays-and-lesbians-feel-heat-of-discrimination-and-prejudice-in-indonesia-20160227-gmt8ng.html

Authorities shut down Yogyakarta transgender Islamic school

Jakarta Post - February 26, 2016

Bambang Muryanto, Yogyakarta – Local authorities of Kotagede district in Yogyakarta have decided to shut down the Islamic Al Fatah School for transgender students and ban any religious activities from taking place on the premises, citing "public order" issues following pressure from local hard-liners.

The decision was made after a meeting between representatives of Al Fatah, security officers, local officials, the Yogyakarta Islamic Jihad Front (FJI) and local people on Wednesday night.

"We decided to close down the transgender Islamic school considering security, order and public comfort issues," Banguntapan subdistrict chief Jati Bayu Broto told journalists at his office on Thursday.

Each party was given an opportunity to express opinions in the meeting where Al Fatah's leader, Shinta Ratri, and two of her colleagues met with dozens of FJI followers represented by Umar Said. The meeting then continued as a dialogue between local officials and local people.

Afterwards, the participants of the meeting took the decision to close down the Islamic school with the justification that the school was located in a cramped residential area. "Whenever there are activities, motorcycles are parked on the street and disturb the public," Jati said.

Members of the FJI had visited the school on Feb. 19, claiming they wanted to find out for themselves what activities were taking place inside the school for transgender students.

Shinta refused to meet journalists following the decision to close the school down. "I'm sorry. I am psychologically tired. I want to let myself calm down first," she told thejakartapost.com through a text message.

Public attorney Aditia Arief Firmanto from the Yogyakarta Legal Aid Foundation, who represented Shinta, said the meeting was not a dialogue but instead was a judgment forum against the transgender Islamic school. The organizers suffered psychological abuse, he said.

"There was no clarification in the meeting. Our clients could not defend against the accusations of alcohol, karaoke and other activities at the Islamic School," Adit said, adding that another lawyer from Legal Aid discreetly attended the meeting and saw Shinta raising her hands to make clarifications, but the moderator of the meeting never gave her the chance.

The administration of the Al Fatah Islamic School decided to halt operations following advice from Shinta's family, but not because of the push from the FJI. "The FJI's pressure is not a legal regulation that must be followed," Adit said.

Former Jagalan village chief Sholehudin said Al Fatah had never reported its activities to officials following its establishment in the village in early 2014 after moving from Notoyudan village in Yogyakarta city.

"But I have never heard any negative reports on the transgender Islamic school. We would know if there were because village officials hold regular meetings," Sholehudin said, adding that he lives near the school and retired in April last year.

FJI troop commander Darohman expressed gratitude that FJI's objection against Al Fatah was supported by the locals. "The Islamic school may re-open but the transgenders must show repentance," he said. (afr/rin).

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/26/authorities-shut-down-yogyakarta-transgender-islamic-school.html

Indonesia's Defence Minister threatens 'warfare' against 'threatening' gay community

Agence France Presse - February 25, 2016

Indonesia's gay community has come under attack, with the country's Defence Minister labelling the community a "threat" and likening fighting it to "a kind of modern warfare".

Ministers and religious leaders have denounced homosexuality, blocked lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) websites and emboldened hardliners launching anti-gay raids.

When a minister criticised counselling services for gay students at a university last month, it triggered a heated media debate and was the start of what activists say has been a sustained assault on gay rights.

The Government has shut down a slew of websites, ordered TV programs depicting gay lives off the air and demanded all instant messaging apps remove same-sex emoticons – like men holding hands and the symbolic rainbow flag – or face a ban.

Hardline Defence Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu this week labelled the influence of the gay community "a threat" and said fighting it was akin to "a kind of modern warfare".

"It's dangerous as we can't see who our foes are, but out of the blue everyone is brainwashed," he was cited as saying by news website Tempo.

Indonesia's top Islamic clerical body has revived a push for gay sex to be criminalised, saying it is not only "deviant" but against the country's founding principles, and MPs are reportedly considering drafting an anti-homosexuality bill.

Homosexuality is generally taboo in the world's most populous Muslim-majority nation and gay people have in the past suffered verbal and physical attacks. However it is legal in most of the country, with a notable exception being ultraconservative Aceh province, and homosexuals have mostly been able to quietly get on with their lives.

It is unclear why the recent furore has gained such momentum, but it follows a push by religious leaders and conservative politicians to bolster public morality in Indonesia, with crackdowns on prostitution and the availability of drugs and alcohol.

Activists also say that gains made abroad for LGBT rights, particularly the legalisation of same-sex marriage across the entire United States in June, have heightened scrutiny of Indonesia's gay community and fanned homophobia.

Much of the concern from senior political figures has revolved around a sense that the LGBT community is seeking to push for changes viewed as contrary to Indonesian culture, like same-sex marriage.

"What's forbidden is [groups] saying 'Hey you, let's be lesbian and gay.' That's wrong," said Vice President Jusuf Kalla, who has requested the United Nations Development Fund not finance LGBT programs in Indonesia.

Despite his silence so far, many still have faith in President Joko Widodo, whose past promises to address human rights abuses and champion minority groups have earned him the strong backing of almost all LGBT people in Indonesia, said Teguh Iman from Suara Kita, a Jakarta-based group.

Source: http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/2016-02-25/indonesias-defence-minister-threatens-warfare-against-threatening-gay-community/1552380

Police ban rally held by LGBT supporters

Jakarta Post - February 24, 2016

Bambang Muryanto, Yogyakarta – Police banned on Tuesday activists from Democracy Struggle Solidarity (SPD), a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) support group, from holding a rally at the Yogyakarta Monument.

"We didn't let them hold the rally because their notification was submitted too late," Yogyakarta Police chief Sr. Comr. Pri Hartono said.

About 60 SPD activists jostled with 300 police officers as the activists attempted to approach the monument. Occasionally protesters and officers were seen to trade blows.

Pri said the police banned the activists from holding the rally to avoid a clash with members of the hard-line Yogyakarta Islamic People's Forum (FUI) who had already asked to hold a rally opposing the LGBT community at the monument. "I hope they [the SPD] can change their schedule. Tomorrow? Whenever, we will protect them," Pri said.

SPD spokesperson Ani said the demonstration was a counter rally to that held by the FUI. "Stop hate speech against minorities and marginalized groups. Tear down banners with hate speech against the LGBT in the city," Ani said.

She said her group demanded that the government protect equally the rights of all citizens, including LGBT people, to express their opinions and determine their own sexual orientation.

She added that the group would fight against practices that violated democracy in Yogyakarta, such as racism, sealing of houses of worship and hate speech against minority groups. "These represent the real face of Yogyakarta, which is hidden behind a slogan of 'Yogyakarta, City of Tolerance'," she added.

Meanwhile, members of the hard-line Muslim group erected banners at the monument, expressing their opposition to the LGBT. Earlier, the group organized a competition to make anti-LGBT banners and put them up in many locations in the city.

Separately, Muslim scholar AM Safwan of Muthahari Islamic boarding school, spoke out on the pros and cons of the LGBT issue, urging both camps to engage in dialogue. "Both camps should respect the law of the country. Allow all groups the right to strive for their rights," Safwan said.

On Nov. 20, 2014, a group of assailants attacked dozens of transgender people participating in a rally to celebrate the Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) at the monument. At least four demonstrators were injured in the attack. No arrests were made.

The FUI have past form in expressing opposition to LGBT proponents. In September, 2014, the University of Sanata Dharma (USD) was forced to cancel a seminar on LGBT issues following threats from the FUI.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/24/police-ban-rally-held-lgbt-supporters.html

Police disperse pro-LGBT rally in Yogyakarta

Jakarta Globe - February 24, 2016

Jakarta/Yogyakarta – Yogyakarta Police shut down a rally supporting the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community at the Tugu Monument in Yogyakarta on Tuesday (23/02) afternoon, citing the failure of the group to secure the proper permits.

Yogyakarta Police chief Sr. Comr. Prihartono Eling Lelakon said the rally was dispersed as protesters – identified as the Solidarity of Democracy Struggle (SPD) – had failed to secure the proper permits from police.

The rally was to challenge an opposing demonstration of hundreds of protestors from the Youth Generation of the Indonesian Islamic Front (AM FUI), which was scheduled for the same day at the city's Nol Kilometer on Jalan Panembahan Senopati. The anti-LGBT rally was just two kilometers from the Tugu Monument, where the pro-LGBT group planned to protest.

Eling said the permit had been denied to prevent the two rallies from meeting. "We don't issue the rally permit [for SDP] since it's not the right time [to stage the rally]. If the group is willing to reschedule to tomorrow morning, then we will issue the permit and give full security," Eling told reporters at the scene on Tuesday, as reported by Kedaulatan Rakyat.

The pro-LGBT group had filed for the rally permit only the day before the protest, whereas the anti group had filed a week earlier, he said.

According to a witness, pro-LGBT group members were intercepted while marching from Jalan Jenderal Sudirman to Tugu Monutment by dozens of anti-LGBT protesters on motorcycles.

"The Tugu Monument was occupied by the Islamic group members, so that the pro-LGBT group only staged the rally near the McDonalds Restaurant [on Jalan Jenderal Sudirman] and safeguarded by police personnel," a 23-year-old witness Angre Edvra told Jakarta Globe, adding that Jalan C. Simanjuntak was temporarily closed during the incident.

Source: http://jakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/police-disperse-pro-lgbt-rally-yogyakarta/

LGBT rights defenders: Intolerant groups proliferating, state remains silent

Tempo – February 23, 2016

Shinta Maharani, Jakarta – Hundreds of pro-democracy activists were threatened and intimidated by intolerant groups when they held a peaceful protest action at a square alongside the McDonalds fast-food restaurant near the Tugu Monument in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta on Tuesday February 23.

The threats began before the protest began and continued throughout the action itself. Before holding the demonstration, a broadcast was circulated calling for the demonstration by pro-democracy groups at the Tugu Monument to be broken up. The broadcast was made by a section of the Islamic Community Forum (FUI).

The broadcast included written information about figures and participants of the protest including their vehicle types and number plates followed by their addresses. It said they would hunt down anyone who supported the pro-lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) action.

The pro-democracy activists held their ground near the McDonalds restaurant until 7.30pm maintaining solidarity and support between activists and ensuring that they would be safe on the streets. "We received information that there would be sweeps by intolerant groups", said Pro-Democracy Solidarity spokesperson Ani near the McDonalds restaurant on Tuesday evening.

Ani said that the state is failing to provide a sense of security from the proliferation of intolerant groups whose demonstrations and protests are increasing the number of cases of intolerance and violence.

The activists were not just defending the rights of LGBT people, but also protesting violence against farmers who are opposing the construction of a new airport in nearby Kulonprogo regency.

Ani said that since 2014 there have been at least 20 or so cases of intolerance or violence against pro-human rights civil society groups. Unfortunately, law enforcement officials have failed to guarantee their sense of security.

She said that today's action represented an opportunity to retake democratic space. "We're fighting an anti-LGBT, racist, fascist, repressive and oppressive movement", she said. As many as 150 activists were initially planning to demonstrate at the Tugu Monument. Police however banned the action on security grounds because hundreds of people from the Youth Generation of the Indonesian Islamic Front (AM FUI) were already guarding the area.

Based on Tempo's observations, hundreds of people from FUI had been on guard at the Tugu Monument, the zero kilometre point near the central post office and the Abu Bakar Ali parking area near the Malioboro shopping district since late morning. Some carried green flags along with their motorcycles. During the action they expressed their strong opposition to LGBT people with banners.

FUI AM public relations division head Fuad Andreago said the broadcast had been issued by militia groups that oppose LGBT people. "The broadcast by the militia is natural. They felt troubled because they were challenged by a counter action", said Andreago.

[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service. The original title of the report was "Pembela Hak LGBT: Kelompok Intoleran Merajalela, Negara Diam".]

Source: https://nasional.tempo.co/read/news/2016/02/23/078747586/pembela-hak-lgbt-kelompok-intoleran-merajalela-negara-diam

Defense Minister Ryacudu claims LGBT supporters waging proxy war on Indonesia

Okezone.com – February 23, 2016

Jakarta – Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu believes that the emergence of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in Indonesia is part of a "proxy war" to take over a country without needing to send military troops.

"For 15 years now I have produced (writings) on modern warfare, this is the same model. A dirt cheap war", said Ryacudu at the Ministry of Defence offices in Jakarta on Tuesday February 23.

According to Ryacudu, the threat of a proxy war represents a danger to Indonesia because other countries have an interest in not confronting the country directly. Because of this therefore, we should be on guard against supporters of LGBT people who are asking for their communities to be legalised.

"(LGBT people) are dangerous, if we fail to see (our foes), before you know it [we'll] be brain washed, wanting all kinds of freedoms, that's dangerous", said the former army chief of staff (KSAD).

Ryacudu explain that this proxy war is frightening because the enemy is unknown. In fighting another country, the enemy can easily be detected and resisted.

"[But] in a proxy war, all of a sudden the enemy has already taken over the country. If an atomic or nuclear bomb was placed in Jakarta, Jakarta would be destroyed, but [the Central Java city of] Surabaya wouldn't be destroyed. But in a modern war everything is destroyed. That's dangerous", he explained.

Ryacudu added that modern warfare is no longer conducted with weapons, rather it makes use of ideas. "A war of weapon systems isn't dangerous, but what is dangerous is brain washing that distorts the understanding of the state ideology", he said. (ful)

[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service. The original title of the report was "Menhan: LGBT Bagian dari Proxy War".]

Notes

Ryamizard Ryacudu is a former army general known for his hardline stance on separatism and xenophobic remarks and criticism of rights activists. In 2001 he praised the killing of prominent Papuan independence leader Theys Eluay, saying the Kopassus soldiers who murdered him were "heroes". He is a close ally of Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) chairperson Megawati Sukarnoputri and as army chief of staff during her presidency oversaw military operations in Aceh and Papua resulting in countless civilian casualties.

Source: http://news.okezone.com/read/2016/02/23/337/1319545/menhan-lgbt-bagian-dari-proxy-war

Transgenderism is a mental disorder, says Indonesian psychiatric body

The Guardian (Australia) - February 23, 2016

Oliver Holmes, Bangkok – The leading psychiatric body in Indonesia is claiming that transgender people suffer from a mental health disorder and gay and bisexual people are at risk of mental health problems.

In the latest outburst in an increasingly divisive domestic debate on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) issues, the Indonesian Psychiatric Association said transgender people "can be categorised as persons with mental disorders", which it said "may cause suffering and obstacles in functioning as a human being".

The IPA also said that homosexuals and bisexuals were in danger of developing a psychiatric disorder unless they "maintain their mental health by guarding their behaviour, habit, healthy lifestyle, and increasing their ability to adapt to their social environment".

For almost half a century, the global medical profession's consensus is that homosexuality is a healthy variation of sexual orientation. The medical community also rejects the idea that transgender people suffer from a mental health disorder.

Homosexuality is not illegal in Indonesia and the country is mostly tolerant of LGBT people. However, there has been a recent spate of inflammatory statements against LGBT people by officials

There has also been an outpouring of anger on social media by those wanting the government to ban gay content on smartphone messaging apps, namely emojis of two men or two women holding hands.

The government succumbed to the pressure and demanded that the messaging companies Line and WhatsApp remove them, sparking condemnation by human rights groups among others.

The IPA said it had found it necessary to issue its statement following growing discussions on "social media, mass media and the community" regarding LGBT issues.

"People with homosexuality and bisexuality can be categorised as people with mental problems," the body said, adding that they suffer from "physical, mental and social problems, growth and development, and/or life-quality problems, thus giving them risks to experience mental disorders".

It said not all gay and bisexual people would develop a mental health problem but claimed they faced a higher risk of doing so than heterosexuals. "Many factors contribute in the surfacing of mental disorder in someone. Among them are genetic, neurobiological, psychological, social, culture, and spiritual factors," the IPA said.

It added it supported people with mental health problems and disorders by providing "promotional, preventive, curative, and rehabilitative" services and that it supported "research efforts on homosexuals, bisexuals, and transsexuals based on Indonesia's local wisdom, culture, religious and spiritual aspects".

Human Rights Watch sent a letter to the Indonesian president, Joko Widodo, ethis month to condemn a growing anti-LGBT sentiment in the country. The letter said HRW had documented arbitrary arrests, harassment, threats, and violence against LGBT people in Indonesia this year.

"Human Rights Watch calls on your government to take a leadership position by stating publicly that the rights of all Indonesians need to be respected, including those of LGBT people, and by committing to reforms that protect instead of persecute this marginalised minority," the New York-based group said.

It also pointed to several anti-LGBT comments this year by officials including the higher education minister, Muhammad Nasir, who banned LGBT groups at universities. Indonesia's vice-president, Jusuf Kalla, has also asked the United Nations Development Programme not to fund LGBT schemes in the country.

The Indonesian Broadcasting Commission fed hostility towards the LGBT community when it said this month that it discouraged television and radio stations from broadcasting programmes that portrayed LGBT behaviour as normal.

It had been pressured by the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (CPC), which said it was concerned that young boys were starting to cross-dress because they had been "brainwashed" by television programmes, the Jakarta Post reported.

"We reject any LGBT campaigns or propaganda because it goes against our regulations that promote child protection. The commission demands that the government protect our children from deviant sexual orientation," a CPC spokeswoman was quoted as saying.

The Twitter hashtag #DaruratLGBT (LGBT emergency) has increasingly being used by homophobic users.

This month, the chief security minister, Luhut Panjaitan, said LGBT people were Indonesian citizens and had the right to be protected. But he added that he was grateful none of his family were part of the LGBT community.

Source: http://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/feb/22/transgenderism-mental-health-disorder-says-indonesian-psychiatric-association-lgbt

Sex workers & prostitution

Indonesia to close all red-light districts by 2019

Jakarta Post - February 23, 2016

Callistasia Anggun Wijaya, Jakarta – The closure of the Kalijodo red light district in North and West Jakarta is just one stage in the government's ambition to close down all 168 such areas across the country by 2019 as part of its efforts to eradicate prostitution.

The government has already close down 68 red-light districts, while another 100 would be closed down within three years, said Social Affairs Minister Khofifah Indar Parawansa on Monday, adding that the decision was made at the ministry's national working meeting in January.

Her ministry had coordinated with regional governments in an effort to close down the prostitution facilities, Khofifah said. "Mojokerto has prepared the closure of the only prostitution location in East Java," Khofifah said, adding that the East Kalimantan governor had also sent a letter to her to inform her of the closure of a red-light district in the province.

In connection with the closure of Kalijodo red-light district, the Social Affairs Ministry has offered former sex workers in the Kalijodo red-light district training to provide them with the various skills they need for better jobs after leaving the district, which is being demolished by the Jakarta city administration.

Those, particularly from outside Jakarta, who take up the offers would be trained at the ministry's women social working facility (PSKW), said Khofifah during a visit to the center in Pasar Rebo, East Jakarta.

"This place is open for all former prostitutes from outside Jakarta. We will register them after they arrive here," Khofifah said, adding that the ministry was not involved in sending them to the facility as that was the job of the Jakarta city administration. "We continue to coordinate with the Jakarta city administration regarding the closure of Kalijodo," said Kofifafah.

The demolition of the Kalijodo red-light district has become a hot topic in the media in recent weeks, following a fatal car crash in which the driver had been returning from the district. Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama, supported by the police and the military, plans to demolish all buildings occupying state land and turn it into a green area.

Data from Pejagalan subdistrict show that about 500 prostitutes, mostly from West Java, worked in the red-light district. However, so far no former prostitute has come to the PSKW to seek assistance at the ministry's facility, which currently only accommodates 25 former sex workers, who were arrested by Public Order Agency officers, although the center can accommodate some 120 people.

The PSKW only takes care of prostitutes from outside Jakarta, while those from Jakarta will be accommodated by a social institution owned by the Jakarta city administration.

The former prostitutes in the center receive training according to their interests and talents, health care, consultations by psychologists and religious services for six months before they are sent to their respective hometowns or other places. (bbn)(+)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/23/indonesia-close-all-red-light-districts-2019.html

Graft & corruption

Indonesia government to back revisions to anti-graft law: Senior minister

Reuters - February 29, 2016

Jakarta – Indonesia's government will back controversial revisions to the law governing its top anti-graft agency, a senior cabinet minister said in a statement on Monday.

Lawmakers in parliament have been in discussions to review the authority of the popular Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), proposing revisions that critics say will leave the agency unable to effectively fight endemic graft in Southeast Asia's biggest economy.

"The government will agree to the revisions as long as they can be shown to strengthen the KPK, and not weaken it," said chief security affairs minister Luhut Pandjaitan.

Criticism from anti-corruption activists and the KPK itself last week prompted President Joko Widodo to ask parliament to suspend its discussions.

Among parliament's proposals, which the government backs, are the limiting of the KPK's powers to wiretap suspects without a warrant and setting up a watchdog for the KPK.

"All this time, the wiretapping has been done without any coordination or clear accountability even within the KPK," Pandjaitan said, adding the new law should call for the agency to set up a standard operating procedure to approve wiretaps.

The government agrees with the KPK's need to hire independent investigators, Pandjaitan said, while parliament has sought to limit its pool to just the police and attorney general's office.

The new chief of the KPK, Agus Rahardjo, has threatened to resign if the revisions proposed by parliament are enacted, saying they will make it impossible for the agency to make arrests.

The KPK suffered huge setbacks last year when a bitter rivalry with police prompted the arrests of three key KPK personnel and several cases ground to a halt.

Parliament and police are widely perceived to be among the most corrupt institutions in Indonesia, and MPs and police officials are often the targets of KPK investigations.

Source: http://jakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/indonesia-govt-back-revisions-anti-graft-law-senior-minister/

More PKB lawmakers in spotlight on Maluku kickbacks

Jakarta Post - February 26, 2016

Haeril Halim, Jakarta – The National Awakening Party (PKB) is at the center of a bribery investigation related to infrastructure projects in Maluku as more of its lawmakers have been implicated in the case.

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) questioned on Thursday three more PKB lawmakers – Fathan, Alamuddin Dimyati Rois and Mohammad Toha – to discover the recipients of Rp 41 billion in bribes allegedly channeled to 24 members of the House of Representatives Commission V overseeing infrastructure.

KPK spokesman Priharsa Nugraha said investigators had attempted to find out from the PKB politicians whether discussions had been held on the infrastructure projects, worth Rp 1.4 trillion, that would be funded through constituency funds for Maluku and North Maluku.

"One of the points of the questioning was related to discussions on the constituency funds," Priharsa told The Jakarta Post.

The case emerged when the KPK arrested businessman Abdul Khoir in a sting operation on Jan. 14 when he was alledgedly handing over S$99,000 to Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) lawmaker Damayanti Wisnu Putranti, also from Commission V, in an apparent attempt to get support to be awarded projects.

The CEO of construction firm PT Windhu Tunggal Utama (WTU) was unsuccessful in his bid because of the KPK raid.

After four hours of questioning, Fatan fled from the dozens of journalists waiting for him to emerge from the KPK headquarters. He crossed the busy Jl. Rasuna Said in the afternoon and hailed a taxi to avoid questions. He was almost hit by car in the effort.

Journalists then obstructed his taxi for several minutes, but still failed to obtain a statement from him. Breathless Fathan smiled and gave a thumbs up to reporters from inside the taxi after saying, "That's enough, friends."

Alamuddin and Toha were still being grilled in the interrogation room at the time. Despite having been questioned, the three PKB politicians' remain mere witnesses in the case, in which Damayanti is so far the lawmaker to be declared a suspect.

"Investigators need to get as much as information as possible to build a strong case, including finding out the distribution chain of funds [from Abdul]," KPK spokesperson Yuyuk Indriati said.

On Thursday last week, the KPK grilled a PKB lawmaker on Commission V, Musa Zainuddin. To date, four PKB politicians have been implicated in the case.

Abdul reportedly channeled a total of Rp 8 billion to Musa, who allegedly distributed it to several lawmakers. The antigraft agency has questioned other Commission V members, such as Golkar Party's Budi Supriyanto and National Mandate Party's (PAN) Andi Taufan Tiro.

Budi was allegedly paid US$404,000, while Rp 8.4 billion was allegedly intended for Taufan. Meanwhile, Damayanti allegedly received Rp 4.2 billion on several occasions before her arrest.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/26/more-pkb-lawmakers-spotlight-maluku-kickbacks.html

Prosecution of KPK officials hampers graft fight: ICW

Jakarta Post - February 25, 2016

Nurul Fitri Ramadhani, Jakarta – A corruption watchdog reported on Wednesday that the country had seen a decreasing number of corruption cases prosecuted by law enforcers as a result of the criminalization of several antigraft officials.

Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) found that around 550 corruption cases had progressed to the investigation stage in 2015, less than 629 cases in the previous year. It resulted in a decrease in acquired state losses, which stood at Rp 3.1 trillion (US$231 million) last year, a significant drop from Rp 7.1 trillion in 2014.

ICW senior researcher Febri Hendri said the lower number of cases was due to the criminalization of Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) officials, which caused the resignation of two former commissioners, Abraham Samad and Bambang Widjojanto.

Early last year, the police named both men suspects in separate cases, following the antigraft agency's move to prosecute high-ranking police general Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan in a bribery case. A former adjutant of former president Megawati Soekarnoputri, Budi was on track to become the National Police chief at the time.

The police also reopened a shooting case implicating the antigraft body's top investigator Novel Baswedan, which had been dropped in 2012 after a request from then president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. Febri said no big fish were caught last year as the KPK, the police and the Attorney General's Office (AGO) tended to work on lower and middle-level cases.

ICW data, collected through media monitoring and from law enforcers' official websites from July to December, showed that most of the graft cases related to the misuse of state and regional budgets, with 134 cases. Another common motive was embezzlement in the procurement of goods, with 107 cases.

Middle and high-level officials from local administrations and ministries were the main actors in the graft, playing roles in 167 cases. Private directors, commissioners and employees followed with 98 cases.

One example was the misuse of social aid funds by Bengkalis regent Herliyan Saleh, which caused Rp 29 billion in state losses. The police are currently handling the case.

East Java had the most corruption cases, with around 54, totalling Rp 332.3 billion in state losses. North Sumatra and West Java came second and third with 43 and 32 cases, respectively. The AGO was the most active law enforcement agency last year, handling around 369 cases, followed by the police with 151 cases. The KPK managed 30 cases.

The AGO's special crimes investigation coordinator, Adi Sutanto, said the corruption cases handled by the institution were mostly related to procurement and that a number of cases remained unresolved. "This was due to difficulties in gathering documents, data and evidence. We must complete that first because it matters to people's lives," Adi said.

The police claimed that they had handled more cases than the ICW data showed, citing around 927 cases with state losses of Rp 437 billion. The National Police's Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim) corruption crimes director Sr. Comr. Erwanto Kurniadi said the different figures were the result of calculation methods.

"ICW counted only the number of cases, but failed to calculate that one case can involve more than one suspect," Erwanto said. Erwanto added that the police did not easily progress cases from pre-investigation to the investigation stage. If sufficient evidence was not found, they preferred to drop a case.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/25/prosecution-KPK-officials-hampers-graft-fight-icw.html

Parties want amendments to KPK law off the table

Jakarta Post - February 24, 2016

Tama Salim and Ina Parlina, Jakarta – On the back of a deal between President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and the House of Representatives to postpone the revision of the 2002 Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Law, political factions at the legislative body have made a proposal to have the planned amendments officially dropped from the House agenda. Gerindra faction secretary Fary Djemi Francis said an internal faction meeting had decided to push for the removal of the draft revision of the law from the 2016 National Legislation Program (Prolegnas) priority list.

The meeting also decided that Gerindra would continue to block any proposals to establish a supervisory body for the KPK; to diminish the antigraft body's wiretapping authority; to give the commission the authority to terminate investigations; or to prohibit it from recruiting independent investigators.

"Gerindra sees those four proposals as a plot to weaken the KPK. So we demand [the amendments] be removed from the Prolegnas," Djemi said on the sidelines of the plenary meeting on Tuesday.

The Democratic Party faction also made a similar demand. Deputy Speaker of the House Agus Hermanto, a politician from the Democratic Party, said his party would continue to reject any plan to amend the KPK Law.

Furthermore, Agus said, his faction declined to take the blame for the inclusion of the draft bill in the Prolegnas. "The House and the government are equally responsible for the Prolegnas and its annual priorities list," Agus said after Tuesday's plenary.

Meanwhile, United Development Party (PPP) lawmaker Arsul Sani said that political party factions at the House needed to convene a meeting at which all agreed to remove the amendments to the law.

Arsul, whose party would only endorse amendments that would strengthen the KPK, said that the current draft bill could not be used to predict the extent of possible damage to the antigraft body.

"It's not true that all the amendments are designed to the detriment of the KPK. Though you could argue that the current draft was drafted to weaken the KPK, it still is only a draft," he said.

During a meeting with leaders of the House on Monday, Jokowi succeeded in convincing them to postpone the planned amendments, arguing that more time was needed to inform the public about the revision plans.

However, the State Palace declined to comment on Tuesday on whether the planned amendments would be dropped altogether from the Prolegnas. "There was no discussion on the matter," State Secretary Pratikno said.

Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung also declined to comment when asked if Jokowi had set a timeframe for when the government would recommence the discussion of the amendments.

Monday's deal has cast doubt on a previous agreement between the House and the government to work on the much-awaited tax amnesty bill.

The government had initially struck a deal with the House to deliberate both pieces of legislation simultaneously, in which the legislative body would deliberate the antigraft bill while the state prepared the tax amnesty bill for endorsement by lawmakers. Pramono said the government still wanted the House to deliberate the tax amnesty bill.

Last October, Jokowi and the House speakers agreed to postpone a similar plan to amend the law, electing to "focus on mitigating the economic downturn".The decision was also made after a closed-door consultation meeting held at the palace amid mounting public pressure to nix the revision.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/24/parties-want-amendments-KPK-law-table.html

Police insist top KPK investigator go to court

Jakarta Post - February 24, 2016

Fedina S. Sundaryani, Jakarta – Even after the Attorney General's Office (AGO) decided to drop the criminal prosecution against Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigator Novel Baswedan, the National Police have continued to challenge the move, saying that there is enough evidence against him.

National Police spokesperson Brig. Gen. Agus Rianto questioned the AGO's claim that it lacked evidence to proceed with the case against Novel.

"We respect whatever decision has been made but the statement that the case lacks evidence contradicts the prosecutor's previous decision to declare [Novel's] case dossier complete," he said at the National Police headquarters in South Jakarta.

Agus said that if the AGO had lacked evidence for the case to be tried in court, the AGO would have notified police investigators about it. However, the Bengkulu prosecutor's office, which handled Novel's case, had accepted the case dossier and had even submitted it to the Bengkulu District Court for a court hearing.

On Monday, the AGO dropped the controversial case and claimed that the evidence investigators had compiled was unreliable. AGO junior prosecutor for general crimes Noor Rachmad said that a gun presented by the police as evidence had been registered under the name of "Polres Bengkulu" instead of "Polresta Bengkulu", as it was initially coded.

Noor also indicated that the police had not found anyone who had witnessed the alleged assault. The AGO also cited the case expiry date, Feb. 18, as another reason it had decided to drop the case.

Novel was accused of shooting two robbery suspects during his tenure as Bengkulu Police chief detective in 2004. However, the National Police reopened in the case in 2012 after the KPK senior investigator led a graft investigation into then National Police Traffic Coprs chief Insp. Gen. Djoko Susilo.

On order from then president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono the police decided to halt the probe, but police investigators dug it up last year in a second standoff between the antigraft agency and the police, reportedly due to one-time police chief candidate Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan's graft suspect status.

The KPK's move to name Budi a suspect in January last year voided his inauguration as National Police chief, a position that was eventually handed over to former National Police deputy chief Gen. Badrodin Haiti.

Novel's case was scheduled for trial on Feb. 16 but Attorney General M. Prasetyo withdrew the case two weeks earlier following an instruction from President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to settle the cases as soon as possible.

Former KPK commissioners Abraham Samad and Bambang Widjojanto had also been named as suspects for minor offences but the AGO has since strongly insinuated that these cases would also be dropped.

Agus said that the National Police would not be looking into the case anymore. "We already handed it over and it has been declared complete, what other evidence should we look for? There is no need to do so. The National Police fully respects the AGO's decision," he said.

Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Luhut Pandjaitan applauded the AGO's move to drop Novel's case. However, he also denied that Jokowi had demanded the case be dropped as "the President has never intervened [in Novel's case]. The President had only asked that it be settled quickly".

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/24/police-insist-top-KPK-investigator-go-court.html

Big-bang repatriation on way

Jakarta Post - February 24, 2016

Rendi A. Witular, Tassia Sipahutar and Khoirul Amin, Jakarta – The draft bill on a tax amnesty, submitted by the government to the House of Representatives on Tuesday, is expected to pave the way for an unprecedented repatriation of billions of dollars kept overseas by wealthy Indonesians, but at a cost of immunity from prosecution for all manner of tax crimes.

If the bill is passed, with its implementation scheduled for the second half of this year, Indonesians with illicit cash overseas will receive hefty incentives to repatriate the funds.

A copy of the draft, obtained by The Jakarta Post recently, stipulates that such individuals will only have to pay penalties of between 1 percent and 3 percent of their repatriated assets – far lower than the current corporation taxes of up to 25 percent on and 30 percent income tax for individual taxpayers.

The repatriated assets will be required to be invested in government or state-owned company bonds with a holding period of at least three years. Such rupiah-denominated bonds usually offer a yield of at least 8 percent per year.

However, the bonds can then be switched to other investment instruments such as private company bonds upon request. The repatriated funds can also be invested in the government's infrastructure projects, property and government-priority industries, according to the bill.

"The tax amnesty is more than just a tool to increase state revenues. It will be the catalyst for the repatriation of Indonesian assets deposited overseas," said legislator Johnny G. Plate. "The expected repatriations will help strengthen domestic liquidity, as we are in need of more funding for infrastructure."

Finance Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro had earlier estimated that around Rp 2.7 quadrillion (US$195 billion) worth of assets are kept by wealthy Indonesians overseas and Rp 1.4 quadrillion of domestic assets have not been properly reported.

Inflows of such funds are greatly anticipated by policy-makers at a time when Indonesia is in dire need of foreign funding to keep its economy intact amid fears of another global economic meltdown.

A source at the ministry said the government particularly expected the amnesty to trigger repatriation of cash deposited in Switzerland worth billions of dollars owned by 84 Indonesians who appeared to be heavyweight politicians and businessmen. The ministry received the data on the individuals from intelligence exchanges with authorities in the US, France and South Korea.

Rich Indonesians with assets overseas are likely to feel comfortable with the repatriation as anyone joining the amnesty will be immune from possible criminal prosecution for their tax evasion and avoid administrative penalties on their declared assets.

Data and information provided when applying for the amnesty will not be able to be used as a legal basis for criminal investigations or prosecutions of any kind, according to the bill.

"Many businessmen will be comfortable joining the amnesty and repatriating their assets as there will be a raft of legal protections and certainties," said businessman Sofjan Wanandi, who is also chief advisor to Vice President Jusuf Kalla.

Since the fall of president Soeharto in mid 1998, many members of Indonesian conglomerates with close links to the former dictator and their families have parked their assets overseas to escape prosecution.

"What's important is for the repatriated funds to be invested here to generate jobs and bolster economic activities," said Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) chairman Rosan Roeslani. "It's better for the funding not to be invested in paper here but in real economic activities."

Sofjan, who is among the architects of the amnesty along with Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Luhut Pandjaitan, expects the facility to be implemented in the second half of the year.

However, the bill's deliberation is likely to be contentious as the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the biggest faction in the House, has refused to support the bill unless President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo agrees to amend the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Law to curb the authority of the antigraft body.

Excerpts of key articles in tax amnesty bill

Article 2: All taxpayers have the right to an amnesty except for those suspected of a tax crime and under investigation by the Attorney General's Office (AGO) or who are currently on trial or serving prison time for a tax crime.

Article 3:

Penalties on assets registered in Indonesia:

2% if lodged less than three months after the law is passed,
4% if lodged between month four and six,
6% if lodged between month seven and 12 (the amnesty will last for one year).

Penalties on assets registered overseas:

1% if lodged less than three months after the law is passed,
2% if lodged between month four and six,
3% if lodged between month seven and 12.

Article 4: The penalties are calculated based on net assets as reported in 2015.

Article 11: Taxpayers wanting to apply for an amnesty on their cash or equivalent registered overseas should first repatriate funds into a designated local bank. Repatriation of non-cash assets should be completed with such a bank a year after the law is passed. Only assets registered overseas before Dec. 21, 2015 can be repatriated.

Article 12: Repatriated assets are required to be invested in government or state company bonds within holding period of at least three years. Taxpayers can switch the bonds after a year to other investment instruments: bonds of private companies whose trading is supervised by the Financial Services Authority (OJK), government infrastructure projects, sectors categorized as government priorities; property.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/24/big-bang-repatriation-way.html

AGO finds lack of evidence in police's case against Novel

Jakarta Post - February 23, 2016

Haeril Halim, Jakarta – The prosecutors' office dropped a controversial assault case involving Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigator Novel Baswedan on Monday, citing a lack of evidence in support of the long-running case.

The Attorney General's Office (AGO) said the 12-year-long case failed to reach the prosecution stage before its expiry date last week, since the police had built it on weak evidence.

It said that the gun presented by the police as evidence was unreliable because it was registered under the name of "Polres Bengkulu", while in fact the Bengkulu Police at that time coded their weapons with "Polresta Bengkulu".

"[Lack of evidence and expiry] are the main grounds behind the decision to issue a cessation for the case," junior prosecutor for general crimes (Jampidum) Noor Rachmad told a press briefing.

Novel was accused of shooting a robbery suspect during his tenure as Bengkulu Police chief detective in 2004 but it appeared from the start that the case was fabricated by the police. The National Police reopened the investigation in 2012 after the senior KPK investigator led a graft investigation into then-National Police Traffic Corps (Korlantas) chief Insp. Gen. Djoko Susilo.

Although the case had been halted by an order from then-president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, it was resurrected last year in the wake of a standoff between the anticorruption agency and the police regarding the legal status of police deputy chief Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan.

The KPK had named the police general a suspect in a bribery case, which had prompted the police to bring up cases against Novel, as well as two former commissioners Abraham Samad and Bambang Widjojanto.

Novel's case had earlier been taken before the Bengkulu District Court after pressure from the police. But the AGO withdrew the case on Feb. 3 following an order from President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo who had instructed Attorney General M. Prasetyo to settle the controversial case immediately.

Jokowi has also instructed the prosecutors' office to end the cases involving Abraham and Bambang.

The AGO's decision to drop Novel's case sends a message to the National Police that it should not be reopened in the future. "With the issue of the cessation letter, the case against Novel has been dropped," Noor said, adding that the AGO had sent the letter to the Bengkulu Prosecutors' Office ordering prosecutors in charge of the case to comply.

The case was heard at the Bengkulu District Court on Jan. 29 and was scheduled for trial on Feb. 16, but Prasetyo, after receiving instructions from Jokowi, ordered the withdrawal of Novel's dossiers from the court, an intervention that managed to prevent the case being tried before its expiry.

The Criminal Code (KUHP) stipulates that law enforcement institutions have a maximum of 12 years to investigate and prosecute a criminal case.

The KPK chairman applauded the AGO's decision, urging the national police not to reopen the case in the future, while another KPK leader Laode Muhammad Syarif said that he expected the AGO to also swiftly drop Abraham and Bambang's cases.

Commission spokesperson Yuyuk Indriati said on the termination of Novel's case, and Bambang's and Abraham's in the future, "It is hoped that there will be no more criminalization of KPK officials in the future."

The KPK's decision to name Budi a suspect in January last year voided Budi's inauguration as the National Police chief after Jokowi canceled the ceremony due it his graft-suspect status. He instead inaugurated former National Police deputy chief Gen. Badrodin Haiti as police chief in February.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/23/ago-finds-lack-evidence-police-s-case-against-novel.html

Terrorism & religious extremism

Luhut pushes for stronger counterterrorism squad

Jakarta Post - February 27, 2016

Fedina S. Sundaryani, Jakarta – Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Luhut Pandjaitan is pushing to improve the country's counterterrorism efforts by increasing resources for the National Police's Densus 88 unit as well as revising the 2003 Terrorism Law.

Early on Friday, Luhut met with National Police chief Gen. Badrodin Haiti for a discussion about what he sees as a lack of support for the counterterrorism squad.

"[We talked about] the fact that Densus 88 still has some deficiencies and that the President has agreed to make improvements, so the counterterrorism unit can play a better role in the future, because the kind of terrorist threat we are dealing with now is different," he said, adding that the government planned to fund better equipment and facilities.

The government has moved swiftly to announce its plans to strengthen counterterrorism measures following a fatal attack on Jl. Thamrin in Central Jakarta last month. The attack, which claimed eight lives, including those of the four assailants, has been linked to members of the Islamic State (IS) movement in Syria.

Apart from pledging to allocate an additional Rp 1.9 trillion (US$142 million) in funds for Densus 88, the House of Representatives on Thursday opened the legislation process for revising the Terrorism Law, which is also a government initiative.

"We also hope that [the deliberation on the antiterrorism bill] can wrap up quickly, because we want our country to be safe. We have all agreed that the police force needs more authorities [to tackle terrorism]," Luhut said.

Indonesia's concern over possible future terrorist attacks is not unfounded, given that an estimated 384 Indonesians are thought to have joined IS in Syria. Furthermore, there are 598 former terrorist convicts walking free.

The Australian government recently updated its travel advisory for Indonesia, urging its citizens to exercise a high degree of caution in Indonesia as "recent indications suggest that terrorists may be in the advanced stages of preparing attacks in Indonesia."

Meanwhile, Badrodin explained that Australia's updated travel advisory was based on information Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Tito Karnavian had conveyed to Australian authorities on the sidelines of a discussion on a criminal case.

"Of course, Australia also asked us about the Thamrin attack. We have been able to handle the situation well from the beginning and have even legally processed 16 people [connected to last month's attack]," he said.

Since the attack in January, the National Police have arrested and detained 16 suspected terrorists and they are currently on the hunt for one other man allegedly connected to the attack. Furthermore, investigators plan to question two convicts who are already in prison.

Police investigators have temporarily concluded that the 16 suspects were connected to five radical groups across the nation that have plans to commit future attacks.

"So, that is one problem that may be interpreted as a security issue, which is why [Australia] may have updated their travel advisory for their citizens who wish to travel to Indonesia," Badrodin said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/27/luhut-pushes-stronger-counterterrorism-squad.html

Much-awaited antiterrorism bill on track for deliberation

Jakarta Post - February 26, 2016

Tama Salim and Ina Parlina, Jakarta – The House of Representatives has officially opened the legislation process for revising the 2003 Terrorism Law to strengthen measures to thwart growing radical propaganda.

The government initiative, which the House only formally received on Tuesday, will be discussed by lawmakers through a joint special committee composed of members of House Commission I overseeing defense and intelligence and Commission III overseeing legal affairs and security, according to House Deputy Speaker Agus Hermanto.

"The special committee will be formed very soon, but it is clear that the legal affairs and the security commissions will be on it," Agus told reporters after the meeting.

In response to a fatal attack near the Sarinah department store in Jakarta on Jan. 14, the government has intended to strengthen measures to prevent terrorist activities in the country.

The Jakarta attack, which claimed eight lives including the four assailants, had been linked to Syria's Islamic State (IS) militant group. The country has seen hundreds of Indonesians fleeing abroad to join the group in the war-torn country.

During a previous joint meeting by House Commissions I and III, the government outlined a new category of terrorism offenses as part of its planned revision of the counterterrorism law.

This new category would fill the gaps in current legislation, Attorney General Muhammad Prasetyo said last Monday, covering the sales of chemical, biological, radiological, micro-organism, nuclear and radioactive weapons as acts of terrorism.

The government also proposed prohibiting relations with terrorist groups abroad, as there is currently no law that can be used to incriminate Indonesians who go overseas to join such groups. The new provisions will also prohibit Indonesians from undergoing military training in other countries.

Additionally, the proposed revision also includes a ban on adopting radical Islamic values, recruiting people for terrorism purposes, sending proxies for terrorist attacks, funding terrorist movements, giving assistance to terrorist groups and committing violence in the name of terrorism, Prasetyo said.

"If we continue to use the old means, it will be hard for us to address terrorism in the future," he said during the meeting with legislators.

Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Luhut Pandjaitan, who was also present at last week's meeting, said the revisions would also focus on enabling law enforcers to arrest alleged terrorists planning to carry out attacks by making use of intelligence reports.

Separately, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung said the amendments were essential to bring even more comprehensive preventive guidelines to the table as the threat of terrorism continues to lurk across the country. "This can be a tool for the government to take preventive action," he said at the State Palace on Thursday.

A recent report on IS in Indonesia, published by the Institute for Policy Analysis and Conflict (IPAC) earlier this month, revealed some gaping holes in Indonesia's current counterterrorism law, as many of citizens "remain wary of draconian security legislation reminiscent of the authoritarian past".

The report suggests that the government increase its focus on prevention programs, taking care to strengthen the woefully lax Indonesian prison system.

"The problem is that while attacks like those on Jan. 14 help rivet the attention of senior officials for a few weeks, other priorities inevitably take over and Indonesia slips back into taking for granted that the problem has been solved," IPAC reports.

The draft bill would order tighter cooperation among relevant authorities such as the National Police, the Indonesian Military, the Attorney General's Office and the Supreme Court.

The government would also involve Islamic organizations, such as Indonesia's largest Muslim organizations Nahdlatul Ulama, Muhammadiyah and the Indonesian Ulema Council, to help the deradicalization programs, Luhut said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/26/much-awaited-antiterrorism-bill-track-deliberation.html

Police to monitor city mosques accused of recruiting for IS

Jakarta Post - February 24, 2016

Fedina S. Sundaryani, Jakarta – The National Police have vowed to follow up on reports that five mosques in Jakarta have been used as recruitment centers for the Islamic State (IS) movement.

Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Anton Charliyan told reporters on Tuesday that the police force and the National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) were working together to monitor any possible terrorist threats or radicalization centers.

"We are following up [on information that five mosques are being used as recruitment centers] to make sure that it is not a hoax. We will follow up on any information, no matter how insignificant. However, we do not just suspect mosques. A lot of places can be recruitment centers because of the openness of the internet," he said at police headquarters.

A report published by abc.net.au on Monday described a secretive gathering of IS supporters at the As-Syuhada Mosque in Jakarta led by hardline Syamsuddin Uba, who declared IS as a place where sharia is upheld.

Another recording uploaded as IS propaganda on YouTube showed a different cleric promising that those who join IS would have their welfare guaranteed without having to shell out a single penny.

The article claimed that at least five mosques in Jakarta were being used to host IS sermons, including the Al Fataa Mosque in Menteng, a wealthy part of the capital. One of the terrorists involved in last month's deadly attack, Afif, was said to have regularly prayed at the Al Fataa Mosque.

Anton noted that although mosques remained one of the locations where police suspected IS recruited its members, the radical movement is thought to be concentrating on those with low levels of faith.

"They are now recruiting those who are weak in the faith. It is actually more difficult now to recruit people who have strong faith, such as students from pesantren [Islamic boarding schools]. Although there is an exception for pesantren with particularly hardline beliefs," he said.

Data from the BNPT shows that the counterterrorism agency found 19 pesantren that were in danger of becoming radicalized. Ten of the pesantren are found on the island of Java, while the remainder were found in Lampung, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) and South Sulawesi.

Only one potentially radical pesantren can be found in Poso, Central Sulawesi, where the Santoso-led East Mujahiddin (MIT) group is active.

The pesantren are said to be affiliated with several known radical groups, such as Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), Jama'ah Ansharut Daulah (JAT), Darul Islam (DI) and the Indonesia Mujahidin Council (MMI).

The same data also noted that there were several characteristics that radicalized people displayed, including a refusal to eat meat that has been butchered by other people, not praying at a mosque and also marrying without a guardian since they no longer believe their relatives to be real Muslims.

Both the BNPT and the police force have pointed their fingers at terrorist convict Aman Abdurrahman for being the main distributor of IS propaganda since the movement burst onto the international scene in 2014.

Despite being heavily guarded on the Nusakambangan prison island in Central Java, Aman was able to translate IS propaganda and even convinced fellow terrorism convict Abu Bakar Ba'asyir to make a pledge to IS.

Two weeks ago Aman, Abu Bakar and three other terrorism convicts had been moved into isolation at the Pasir Putih prison on Nusakambangan to prevent any contact with their radical networks.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/24/police-monitor-city-mosques-accused-recruiting-is.html

Government tells campuses to stay on alert for radical student movements

Jakarta Post - February 23, 2016

Nurul Fitri Ramadhani, Jakarta – The Research, Technology and Higher Education Ministry has called on university campuses to remain vigilant regarding religious student organizations to thwart any influence by radical groups.

The ministry also wants teaching staff, including lecturers, deans and even rectors, to have more critical discussions with students so that they do not simply accept extreme doctrines.

The ministry's director general for learning and student affairs, Intan Ahmad, told The Jakarta Post on Sunday that vulnerability to radical doctrines, such as those from the Islamic State (IS) militant movement, escalated when students were close-minded. It was the responsibility of educators to encourage critical thinking, he said.

"Universities have to be more sensitive [to issues] as the government can't always tightly monitor the activities [of radical student organizations]. Lecturers can involve students in discussion, teaching them how to think critically so that they always "ask why" when receiving new information," Intan said.

He encouraged for a discussion to be embedded in all courses, not only those concerning religion and civic education. But admitted that would not be easy as not all lecturers were capable of engaging students in such discussion.

He also said that he had already asked the Religious Affairs Ministry to strengthen tolerance teaching in religion lectures. "We can't deny that radical ideology, in any form, is very dangerous, so it must be a never-ending effort," he added.

The country has seen a growing influence of Islamic militant movements over the years. The dissemination of fundamentalist ideologies to young generations is currently at an alarming level, and it is spreading through hard-line religious student organizations, according to a study.

Research conducted by the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) in five state universities – the University of Indonesia (UI), Bogor Agriculture Institute (IPB), Gadjah Mada University (UGM), Airlangga University and Brawijaya University – has shown that a number of fundamentalist Islamic student organizations have dominated campus activities.

The organizations include Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI) and the United Front of Indonesian Muslim Students (KAMMI), a group very interested in the Islamic political agenda of Egypt-based Ikhwanul Muslimin (IM), as well as various transnational Islamic Wahabi groups.

HTI is known as a fundamentalist Islamic group spreading an ideology that opposes the principles of the Pancasila, the Constitution and the national motto, Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (unity in diversity). In almost all its activities, HTI campaigns for the implementation of sharia and an Islamic caliphate system.

LIPI senior researcher Anas Saidi said that conditions at the five surveyed universities were not improving, and if anything support was growing for such organizations, currently capturing more than 50 percent of all students. "It's dangerous. If it keeps going, Indonesia may face terrific ideological clashes in 10 to 20 years from now," Anas said.

He pointed out that the organizations were deemed worrying as they preached very closed-minded Islamic teachings and did not allow space for democratic thinking, insisting on their interpretation of Islamic values.

According to the research, students majoring in science and engineering are more susceptible to the worrying ideologies, while those studying social and political science, humanities and philosophy are more resistant, because they are more open-minded and don't see things in absolutist terms.

Anas further said that the organizations had very well-structured recruitment system, not promoting jihad or violence, but taking a very soft approach through meetings and recitation to embed their doctrines.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/23/government-tells-campuses-stay-alert-radical-student-movements.html

House agrees to increase antiterror agency budget

Jakarta Post - February 23, 2016

Marguerite Afra Sapiie, Jakarta – House of Representatives Commission III overseeing legal affairs has agreed to increase the budget for the National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) to bolster the agency in its battle to eradicate terrorism..

The decision to support the budget increase proposal was made at a hearing between members of Commission III and BNPT officials on Monday.

The budget increase will help the BNPT recruit more personnel to support the establishment of a stronger institution, both structurally and functionally, Commission III chairman Trimedya Panjaitan said on Monday.

Earlier, BNPT chairman Saud Usman said that with the old allocation of Rp 311 billion (US$22.35 million), his institution could not optimally carry out its tasks, particularly deradicalization programs. This year, the government has allocated Rp 330 billion plus Rp 200 billion to purchase land for the agency's new headquarters.

"With the existing allocation, there are so many routine activities that we can't execute. We have received funds for de-radicalization programs from outside institutions, but we still don't have enough money to do everything we need to," Saud said.

Trimedya said Commission III also encouraged the BNPT to enhance cooperation with other government agencies such as the National Police, National Intelligence Agency (BIN), Indonesian Military (TNI) and related ministries, especially the Office of the Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister.

Meanwhile, Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) lawmaker Junimart Girsang said that Commission III would support the BNPT's efforts to obtain adequate funds from the state budget needed to strengthen its role in coordinating related agencies to fight terrorism. (bbn)(+)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/23/house-agrees-increase-antiterror-agency-budget.html

Hard-line & vigilante groups

Rizieq cancels preaching over protest

Jakarta Post - February 25, 2016

Banyumas – Islam Defenders Front (FPI) patron Rizieq Shihab canceled his visit to the Al Fattah Islamic Boarding School in Cilongok district, Banyumas, Central Java, on Tuesday, following a protest against his presence in the regency.

A coalition of youth organizations in the Banyumas regency had recently voiced significant protest to Rizieq's impending visit, arguing that Banyumas was a secure place and that there was no need for an FPI presence in the regency.

While Rizieq was not in attendance, he was replaced by his son-in-law Fikri. Hundreds of attendees wearing FPI uniforms were also seen among the congregation. "We will ask for clarification from the police as to why such thing could happen. They had guaranteed that no FPI representatives would be allowed to enter the location," Taufik Hidayat chairman of the Ansor Youth Movement (GP Ansor) Banyumas branch, which was among the members of the youth coalition protesting FPI.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/25/islands-focus-rizieq-cancels-preaching-over-protest.html

Banyumas youth say no to FPI leader

Jakarta Post - February 23, 2016

Banyumas – A coalition of youth organizations in Banyumas, Central Java, has rejected the presence of firebrand Muslim cleric Rizieq Shihab in the regency. The leader of the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) is scheduled to deliver a sermon at an Islamic boarding school in Cilongok district on Tuesday.

Yudho F. Sudiro, the coordinator of the coalition, said the coalition had sent a letter of rejection to the sermon organizer. "We have also erected hundreds of banners expressing our refusal to accept the presence of Rizieq and his FPI supporters anywhere in Purwokerto," he said on Monday.

Among the organizations joining the protest are Pemuda Pancasila, Laskar Merah Putih, Ansor Youth Movement and Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) youth wing Anshor (Banser), Yudho said.

Chairman of Banser's Banyumas chapter, Slamet Ibnu Ansori, said his organization rejected the presence of the FPI as it often used violence to promote its causes. Habib Mansyur of the sermon organizing committee, meanwhile, said that the event was purely a preaching activity.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/23/islands-focus-banyumas-youth-say-no-fpi-leader.html

Freedom of religion & worship

Police, MUI silent on rising intolerance

Jakarta Post - February 25, 2016

Nurul Fitri Ramadhani, Fedina S. Sundaryani and Haeril Halim, Jakarta – The National Police are declining to take the blame for worsening violence against religious minority groups, saying that no specific data proves their involvement.

The police were responding to a recent survey conducted by the Jakarta-based religious freedom watchdog, the Wahid Institute, which found an increasing trend of violent opposition to freedom of religion and faith, from 154 cases in 2014 to 190 in 2015, with the National Police, as a state actor, being responsible for the most violations.

National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Agus Rianto said on Wednesday that the survey did not give details on police complicity in the violations and failed to specify what constituted a faith-based violation.

"I can't comment on this issue since it isn't specific on which religions were targeted by the police force and what kind of violations they were," Agus told reporters at the National Police headquarters in South Jakarta.

Meanwhile, the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), which appeared on the list in second place in the non-state actor category, with 21 cases, after unaffiliated citizens who were blamed for 29 cases, also declined to comment on the report. "I don't want to discuss the issue," said Amany Lubis, secretary-general of the MUI.

According to the survey, the police were prone to violating the rights of minorities. As a law enforcement agency they were frequently involved in conflicts and were thus in a position to use excessive force to disperse demonstrations and prohibit freedom of expression in public.

Institute director Yenny Wahid said that the National Police already had enough awareness of religious tolerance and it was officers at the regional level who lacked understanding and were often at a loss as to how to deal with conflicts involving minority groups.

"They usually end up doing favors for the majority and prohibiting the activities of the minority in the name of 'ensuring public security' to avoid a clash," she said.

In response to the survey, the Religious Affairs Ministry has pledged to accelerate the drafting of a bill on the protection of religious believers to provide protection to subscribers of all religions.

"We aim to finish the drafting this year, so that we can start the deliberation with the House of Representatives by next year," Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin said.

The ministry has made slow progress in the drafting of the bill since it started early last year.

The bill has five main themes: the government's treatment of citizens with beliefs outside the six permitted faiths, restrictions on certain religious teachings, methods for deciding whether certain religious ideologies are deviant and which agency has the authority to decide, the regulation of construction of houses of worship and a stipulation to strengthen the role of the Religious Community Harmony Forum (FKUB).

Rights watchdog Setara Institute criticized the draft bill, saying it would clearly serve the interests of the major religions instead of giving protection to religious minority groups, especially with the provision that would sanction the establishment of a council mandated to declare whether a belief was to be considered deviant.

Setara Institute deputy chairman Bonar Tigor Naipospos said that under Lukman's predecessors, the bill was labelled the "religious harmony law", but subsequently the Religious Affairs Ministry changed its name to the "protection of religious believers law", a new phrase that Bonar said aimed to create the impression that the bill would give protection to beleaguered religious minority groups such as the Ahmadiyah, Shiites and Christians, all of whom have always been the targets of attacks by hard-line groups across the country.

"The government always believes that religious tolerance problems occur because of the absence of rules regulating religious life. However, it fails to understand that there is no harmony without religious freedom," Bonar said. He said that under no circumstances should the state step in to interpret whether a religious belief was deviant.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/25/police-mui-silent-rising-intolerance.html

Agriculture & food security

Business, regulator at odds over falling prices

Jakarta Post - February 29, 2016

Stefani Ribka, Jakarta – Poultry industry players have denied the allegation from an antimonopoly agency that they have acted like a cartel by controlling production, leading to an oversupply and falling prices and leaving small farmers with financial losses.

The Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU) has alleged that 12 companies, including poultry giants Japfa Comfeed Indonesia and Charoen Pokphand Indonesia, coordinated with each other to produce an oversupply of chicken and the concurrent fall in price.

Commission head M Syarkawi Rauf said recently the selling price for chickens from farmers was now about Rp 9,000 (67 US Cents) per kilogram, not even enough to cover the standard production cost of Rp 18,000 per kg. Earlier in February, the selling price was around Rp 30,000 per kg.

"Besides the oversupply, these companies have also dominated the market with their own chickens that they possibly produce at a much lower production cost," Syarkawi told The Jakarta Post recently.

However, Japfa marketing director Budiarto Soebijanto said that there was no such cartel as the 12 companies had not cooperated with each other deliberately to create an oversupply or to rule the market price. "The allegation regarding cartel behavior is not true as we don't cooperate on anything together," Budiarto said.

He said his company had also complied with the Agriculture Ministry's instruction to perform mass culling to reduce parent stocks and help small farmers get a good price in the market.

Budiarto added that the current oversupply was caused by the KPPU itself as the agency had instructed the ministry to stop the mass culling in the middle of December. "So, we didn't perform mass culling in mid-December and that led to an oversupply two months after that," he said.

Last year, Muladno, the ministry's general director for livestock and animal health, instructed at least 12 companies to perform mass culling operations on around 6 million parent stock in three stages to reduce a poultry oversupply that had left small farmers desperate from losses due to the extremely low selling price.

"So, we culled 2 million in October then only 1 million in December as we couldn't continue it when KPPU told the ministry to cease it," Budiarto said.

Budiarto recalled the year 2014 as a difficult time for small farmers as there was an oversupply of live chickens originally caused by an oversupply of parent stock. In 2013, there was flood of parent stock imports under the previous government of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Syarkawi, on the other hand, said mass culling was not the best solution as it could lead back to shortages in the future and a flood of imports again.

"The best temporary solution to tackle falling prices is for the Trade Ministry to set floor and ceiling prices for live chickens so small farmers can still benefit and compete with the giants."

"Also, the government can amend Law No. 41/2014 on Livestock and Animal Health that allows big companies to also sell products to local markets. Under the old law, their local sales were limited," he said.

Desianto Budi Utomo, secretary general of the Indonesian Feed Millers Association (GPMT), also said the low prices were not caused by cartel activities but by troubled distribution mechanisms and the inability of small farmers to compete with poultry giants.

Desianto acknowledged the possibility of market domination by the giants as they had far more advanced technology and were integrated producers with lower production costs and economies of scale.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/29/business-regulator-odds-over-falling-prices.html

Governance & administration

No more business as usual: President

Jakarta Post - February 23, 2016

Khoirul Amin and Tassia Sipahutar, Jakarta – In a world where everything moves so fast and economic rivalry becomes fiercer among nations, Indonesia should no longer take anything for granted, or it will be left behind, says President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo.

Speaking in front of governors and regents at the State Palace in Jakarta on Monday, Jokowi warned that Indonesia needed to work extra hard to improve its comparative advantages in order to be able to survive in the more competitive world. He said Indonesia should regard other nations as its rivals, including other ASEAN members.

"Although we [ASEAN leaders] held hands together at the ASEAN summit, I personally view other ASEAN countries as competitors," said Jokowi. If other Southeast Asian countries can do everything fast, Indonesia should be able to do so, or it will be left behind, he added.

In terms of ease of doing business, the world's fourth most populous nation is ranked 109th among 189 economies, lagging behind neighboring countries Singapore (first), Malaysia (18th), Thailand (49th) and Vietnam (90th), according to the World Bank's Doing Business 2016 ranking

The ranking is based on a number of indicators, such as ease of starting a business, dealing with construction permits, electricity set-up costs and registering property. For many foreign investors, Indonesia has long been known for its infamous red tape and high-cost economy.

Jokowi said that the country had to change its traditional way of doing business to lure more investments in order to provide jobs and improve people's welfare.

The President said that he had assigned all the ministries and the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) to cut bureaucratic procedures in order to be able to improve the country's ranking to 40th in the World Bank's Doing Business 2017 ranking.

BKPM head Franky Sibarani said on a different occasion that the government had completed half of its 36 to-do-list items to achieve the ambitious target.

On Monday, the BKPM signed memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with six provincial governors, nine regents, the National Police and the Attorney General's Office to make sure that investment facilities for infrastructure development in 14 selected industrial zones could be smoothly utilized.

The BKPM also signed similar agreements with the transportation, energy and mineral resources, public works and public housing and communications and information ministers to facilitate the implementation of three-hour licensing for investment in the infrastructure sector. It has also issued investment facilities to companies operating in several industrial zones.

Among the industrial zones entitled to the scheme, abbreviated as KLIK, are the Modern Cikande industrial estate (Banten), the Bekasi Fajar industrial estate (West Java), the Wijayakusuma industrial estate (Central Java) and the Medan industrial estate (North Sumatra).

The three-hour licensing, meanwhile, will apply to a number of infrastructure investments, such as those in energy, transportation and communications and information.

As a special treatment to help develop the country's infrastructure, both facilities may be enjoyed by any investors in the sectors without the requirements of a minimum Rp 100 billion (US$7.4 million) investment and of employing 1,000 workers, as are applied to other sectors.

Indonesia's poor infrastructure has so far made the country's regional logistics performance mediocre. The Industrial Estate Association (HKI) lauded the BKPM's move, but urged the government to improve legal certainty to provide safety and comfort for investors in the country, chairman Sanny Iskandar said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/23/no-more-business-usual-president.html

Government to cut spending, just not on infrastructure

Jakarta Post - February 23, 2016

Tassia Sipahutar, Jakarta – The government is seeking to maintain infrastructure funding at current levels while trimming other sectors' funding amid a cash-strapped budget in a measure lauded by analysts.

Coordinating Economic Minister Darmin Nasution said on Monday at the State Palace that the government had to step up efficiency measures when revising the 2016 state budget.

The revision will be crucial to the government's attempt to achieve its economic targets despite a bleak outlook for expected revenue due to low tax income and slumping oil prices, which are expected to drag down other commodity prices also and reduce non-tax income.

The state budget shows that total state revenue is earmarked at Rp 1.82 quadrillion (US$135.4 billion) in 2016, 21 percent more than last year's realized total. "However, if revenue decreases, spending must decrease as well," Darmin said.

Total state spending in 2016, on the other hand, has been set at Rp 2.09 quadrillion, 63.2 percent of which belongs to the central administration.

Specifically, 37 percent of the spending is going to ministries and agencies, with Public Works and Public Housing Ministry receiving the largest allocation of Rp 104.1 trillion. Meanwhile, 37 percent of the spending is dedicated to the regions and village funds and the remaining 26 percent is for non-ministries and agencies.

The government might have to shave off over Rp 290 trillion in funding from ministries and agencies in the upcoming budget revision, said Darmin and Sofjan Wanandi, the chief economic advisor to Vice President Jusuf Kalla.

Most of the cuts will likely come from routine expenditure whereas capital and goods expenditure – especially that relating to infrastructure projects – will likely remain as is.

"The government will continue playing its role as locomotive for the economy and for infrastructure development, but the private sector must be involved for other developments because our budget is limited," Sofjan said, adding that the government's 5.3 percent growth target was still feasible despite the cuts.

He also said that each ministry's budget allocation would be carefully examined to remove spending items deemed "inefficient", a move previously called upon by President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo.

In a plenary Cabinet meeting two weeks ago, the President insisted that ministries' spending be in line with the administration's list of priorities and that ministers had to hold back from channeling funds into non-priority projects.

Contacted separately, Finance Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro said that the ministry had not made any decision and that it was still reviewing the latest development.

Meanwhile, Bank Central Asia (BCA) chief economist David Sumual and Center for Indonesia Taxation Analysis (CITA) executive director Yustinus Prastowo welcomed the spending cuts, saying that it would be better for the government to play things conservatively because tax income had not progressed as expected.

The January data on total tax income showed even lower results than a year ago, down 8.8 percent year-on-year at Rp 62.25 trillion. Yustinus said that potential income from the highly awaited Tax Amnesty Law could not be realized soon because talks were still ongoing at the House of Representatives.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/23/govt-cut-spending-just-not-infrastructure.html

Parliament & legislation

After KPK Law revision delay, storm rages on tax amnesty bill

Jakarta Post - February 25, 2016

Haeril Halim and Tama Salim, Jakarta – As a backlash against President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's move to delay revisions of an anticorruption law, the House of Representatives is rife with lobbying to block a government-sponsored tax amnesty bill.

The Gerindra Party, which was among the factions that rejected revisions of the 2002 Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Law, came forward on Wednesday to support scrapping the tax bill from this year's list of priority legislation (Prolegnas).

Gerindra lawmaker Supratman Andi Atgas said his party believed that the plan to pass the piece of legislation violated "the public's sense of justice".

"The government, in this case the taxation office, must look at the potential loss of state revenues from tax noncompliance – legal measures should instead be taken," he told reporters at the House complex.

Supratman, who chairs the House's Legislation Body (Baleg), refused to consider the government's interest in the bill, insisting that lawmakers instead focus on other legislation that is in more urgent need of deliberation.

Jokowi convinced House of Representatives leaders on Monday to postpone the deliberation of the KPK Law revisions following resistance to the new provisions proposed by the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), which is also the main patron of the government.

Among the controversial amendments of the KPK Law was a plan to give the antigraft agency authority to terminate case investigations, as well as another that would take away its absolute authority over wiretapping. The proposals were seen as maneuvers to weaken the KPK, considered the country's beacon in the battle against graft.

The tax amnesty bill, which the government submitted to the House on Tuesday, was part of an agreement made between the executive and legislative bodies last year. The House said that it would agree to deliberate the tax amnesty bill on condition that the government prepare it for endorsement by lawmakers.

After Monday's delay of the KPK Law revisions, the PDI-P suggested that the tax amnesty bill should also be postponed.

PDI-P lawmaker Hendrawan Supratikno recently said that Jokowi's decision to allow for time to inform the public of the merits of the revisions should also be applied to the tax amnesty bill, for which he gave the upcoming recess period as a rough time frame, effectively postponing the bill.

"I think we aren't in a place to speak about deficits; the state should be realistic with its budget and not indulge in superfluous programs that end up becoming a burden on the people, including the tax amnesty," argued Supratman.

The tax amnesty bill is expected to pave the way for the repatriation of billions of dollars kept overseas by wealthy Indonesians, but at the cost of immunity from prosecution for possible tax crimes.

Armed with such a powerful fiscal instrument, the government would have the upper hand in haggling over this year's revised state budget (APBN-P) so that it could finally devise better-funded programs for the rest of the year.

In contrast to the situation with the tax amnesty bill, the government received another ally in rejecting the KPK Law revisions. The National Mandate Party (PAN) has jumped on the bandwagon of parties voicing the need to remove the KPK Law revisions from the Prolegnas.

PAN's House faction secretary Yandri Susanto said that the heated debate surrounding the revisions had brought more unwanted brouhaha to the legislative body, especially amid growing public dissent on the subject.

Yandri said his party was especially concerned that the ruckus might serve as a smokescreen for parties who were bent on taking advantage of the politically charged situation. "The PAN faction therefore urges both the House and the government to remove [the KPK Law revision] from the 2016 priority list, as well as from the Prolegnas," he said.

Presidential spokesman Johan Budi said that delaying the KPK Law revisions was the best thing that the President could do to comply with calls from the public. "The President is firm in rejecting current discussion over the bill because the timing is inappropriate. When it will become appropriate to discuss it, I don't know for sure," Johan told The Jakarta Post.

The spokesman also said that the government would not launch any campaign to reassure the public of the importance of the KPK Law revisions, as claimed by the House, during the delay period. Johan said that the President's decision was simply "to delay discussing the bill".

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/25/after-KPK-law-revision-delay-storm-rages-tax-amnesty-bill.html

Jakarta & urban life

Red lights go out in Kalijodo where troops outnumbered residents

Sydney Morning Herald - February 29, 2016

Jewel Topsfield and Amilia Rosa, Jakarta – Kalijodo – one of Jakarta's most notorious red light districts since the days of Dutch colonialism – ended not with a bang but with a whimper.

Authorities were braced for trouble after ugly clashes between police and residents last year during the forced eviction of the flood-prone Kampung Pulo slums in east Jakarta in order to expand the capacity of the river.

But on the final day of the eviction of more than 3000 residents from Kalijodo the drizzly streets were almost deserted. A confused homeless man was one of the few Fairfax Media saw escorted out of the area.

Bulldozers crushed the paper thin walls of houses, drinking holes and brothels, where just weeks ago about 500 prostitutes had worked for around 200,000 rupiah ($20) for half an hour.

The sky rained with plaster dust. Iyan Sopian Hadi, from the government security task force, said 2500 civil servants had been deployed to clear the area, once described as a den of vice. "There was no resistance," he said.

On February 9 the Jakarta administration announced Kalijodo would be razed and turned into a park, in line with its commitment to set aside 30 per cent of the traffic-snarled city for green space.

Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, known as Ahok, had long wanted to clear up the area but was spurred into action after four people were killed in a drink-driving accident. The driver had reportedly spent the night boozing at Kalijodo before the crash.

Residents were given until February 29 to evacuate. Those with Jakarta identity cards could relocate to low-cost apartments and the rest return to their home villages. The Jakarta administration offered vocational training to assist people to change professions and low-interest loans.

Jakarta police spokesman Muhammad Iqbal said authorities had persuaded residents to leave Kalijodo voluntarily. Roni, who like many Indonesians goes by one name, said Kalijodo residents are "pasrah" (submit to their fate).

"We can't fight against the government. We are outnumbered by officers they have deployed," Roni said. "At least the government didn't just tell us to go. They provided homes and a business replacement site for people like me."

He said that moving was one thing but in order to adapt people needed to earn a living. "The government needs to help us with that too."

Meanwhile, the resort island of Bali is bracing for an influx of sex workers. "In regards to the possibility of movement from Kalijodo to here, we will conduct raids," said Bali police spokesman Hery Wiyanto.

"But this is not a police matter only. It's a social matter, local government must also be responsible in handling the matter."

Mr Hery said it was not known where the sex workers might go, although there were plenty of karaoke bars, massage parlours and spas in Bali. He said under the criminal code, only those providing the facility, such as brothel madams could face criminal charges and not the prostitutes themselves.

The Indonesian government has reportedly vowed to close down all red light districts by 2019. Social Affairs Minister Khofifah Indar Parawansa was quoted in the Jakarta Post saying the government had already closed down 68 with 100 to follow over the next three years.

Source: http://www.smh.com.au/world/red-lights-go-out-in-kalijodo-where-troops-outnumbered-residents-20160229-gn69gw.html

Experts slam Jakarta administration amid Kalijodo shutdown

Jakarta Post - February 27, 2016

Callistasia Anggun Wijaya, Jakarta – The shutdown of Jakarta's Kalijodo red-light district in North Jakarta reveals a lack of fairness in the way the Jakarta administration clears areas for development, as giant commercial areas remain untouched, experts have said.

Activists and experts have criticized Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama's decision to clear the Kalijodo area, established in the 1960s, to make way for green space. The city aims to comply with the 2007 Spatial Planning Law, which requires provinces to allocate 30 percent of space for green areas.

"If Ahok used the open green space requirement as a basis for the evictions, then he must be fair. In Jakarta there are a lot of green and blue spaces whose functions have been altered to become hotels and malls. Ahok needs to audit those buildings too," University of Indonesia historian JJ Rizal told thejakartapost.com on Friday.

The city administration has evicted residents in middle-lower-income residential areas such as Kalijodo, Bidara Cina and Kampung Pulo.

Bidara Cina and Kampung Pulo in East Jakarta are flood-prone areas on account of being located along the Ciliwung River.

The Jakarta administration has announced plans to evict residents and move them to low-cost apartments following river dredging and river expansion plans. Such policy has created a stigma that low-income residents are thieves of state land, he added.

An attorney at the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH Jakarta), Alldo Fellix Januardy, said overflowing rivers were not the sole reason for flooding in the city.

"Flooding is caused by corruption related to the granting of building permits on water catchments areas or green spaces. We regret Ahok's action that sparked public opinion that poor people are to blame for Jakarta's floods," he said.

The governor has placed blame on previous administrations for their lack of regulations on green space." In the past everything could be arranged," he said as reported by kompas.com on Tuesday adding that his administration had complied with the 2012 and 2014 regulations on spatial planning.

Meanwhile, the city's spatial planning agency insisted that no buildings had been on green space. "We wouldn't grant licenses for construction on green space," the spatial management division chief at the Jakarta Spatial Planning Agency, Gentur Wisnubaroto, told thejakartapost.com.

Regarding Kalijodo, he claimed that based on a 2005 city map, the area had always been designated as greenbelt as it was located along the Angke River.

Planologist from Trisakti University Yayat Supriyatna said the city administration had always let people build buildings under unclear regulations. "In Jakarta there are many green spaces whose functions have changed," he said.

For example, Kelapa Gading in North Jakarta used to be a water catchment area but now has transformed into a high-end residential area with many housing complexes. Yayat blamed the city's spatial planning regulation for allowing such changes.

However, the development of Kelapa Gading did not violate the city map, Gentur said. "Green open space in Kelapa Gading is limited only to the area under the high-tension transmission line," Gentur said refuting opinion on Kelapa Gading's misuse of green space.

There are existing buildings occupying green areas, as designated by the city's spatial plan from 1985 to 2005, according to the research of associate professor of urban studies and planning at Savannah State University, Deden Rukmana.

Kelapa Gading and Sunter were designated as water catchment areas in 1985 as supermarkets, residential complexes, apartments, factories and hospitals were built in the North Jakarta area.

Also in North Jakarta, Pantai Indah Kapuk was also designated as a protected area, but is now filled with homes, malls and golf courses.

The Senayan area in South Jakarta had also once functioned as the capital's center of greenery, according to the research, but now people can see malls, hotels and apartments in the area. (rin)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/27/experts-slam-jakarta-administration-amid-kalijodo-shutdown.html

Fishermen fight against land reclamation bylaw approval

Jakarta Post - February 26, 2016

Dewanti A. Wardhani, Jakarta – Fishermen have demanded that the Jakarta administration and city council reject a draft bylaw on zoning and spatial planning for coastal areas and small islands, which regulates 17 planned man-made islets.

The Indonesian Traditional Fishermen's Association's (KNTI) Jakarta chapter chairman, Muhammad Taher, said Jakarta fishermen would hold a large-scale rally next Tuesday, when the bylaw is set to be approved during a plenary session.

"We will work with all of our might to have the draft bylaw rejected and the land reclamation project canceled," Taher told reporters on the sidelines of a rally at the city council building on Thursday.

He said fishermen had experienced significant losses amid ongoing land reclamation carried out by private developers, and asked that the city administration put a stop to the project. Taher said tens of thousands of fishermen had been negatively affected.

For example, he said, fishing routes were disrupted and boats could not sail freely because of the islets, some of which have begun to take shape. Taher also argued that the waters in which fishermen operated had silted up due to land reclamation and that their income had significantly decreased.

Developers involved in the project, he went on, had not been transparent regarding construction and had not provided an Environmental Impact Analysis (Amdal) document to affected residents.

A notable point in the new draft bylaw is the classification of the islands. According to the document, the islands would be divided into three areas: the West Zone, consisting of islets A through H, which would provide housing; the Central Zone, islets I through M, which would be a commercial area; and the East Zone, with islets N through Q for logistics and sea and air ports.

Under the plan, each islet must have open green space amounting to at least 30 percent of its area, and 5 percent open blue space, such as reservoirs. At least 15 percent of each islet is designated for infrastructure and utilities, such as roads.

Despite rejection from fishermen, however, the bylaw is likely to be approved as most factions in the city council have stated their support for the draft.

The approval was previously scheduled for Monday but was delayed due to a lack of quorum; only 48 of the total 106 councilors attended the plenary session. At least two-thirds of the councilors must be in attendance to approve a bylaw.

Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) faction chairman Jhonny Simanjuntak said the party unanimously supported the draft bylaw in order to regulate the development and activities of private firms involved in the land reclamation project.

The city, Jhonny went on, must also accommodate the needs of those directly affected by the project, such as fishermen. "Land reclamation should not only profit large companies, but also poor residents," Jhonny told The Jakarta Post.

Gerindra Party faction chairman Abdul Ghoni told the Post that the party would put its weight behind the bylaw, arguing that the draft was thorough and accommodated the needs of all affected and involved in land reclamation.

NasDem Party faction chairman Bestari Barus said his party also unanimously supported the bylaw, and demanded that the Jakarta administration be consistent with all articles in the bylaw.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/26/fishermen-fight-against-land-reclamation-bylaw-approval.html

Police, military criticized for supporting red-light district eviction

Jakarta Post - February 25, 2016

Callistasia Anggun Wijaya, Jakarta – The police and military should not be supporting Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama's plan to demolish the Kalijodo red-light district in West Jakarta, as such a role is not part of their job descriptions, a human rights activist says.

The eviction of people from the land, whose status is still disputed, is not part of the police's responsibilities, while the Indonesian Military (TNI) should completely stay away from such domestic affairs because their duty is to defend the country, public lawyer with the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH Jakarta) Alldo Fellix Januardy said on Wednesday

Previously, the Jakarta Police and Jakarta Military Command (Pandam Jaya) expressed their willingness to provide support for the eviction of the sex trade hotspot, which the administration says is occupying state land.

"The police should take a neutral position in a situation where there are efforts to violate resident's rights," Alldo told thejakartapost.com, adding that the police and military's involvement in forced evictions in the past had often led to violations of the rights of Jakarta residents.

In 2015, the police and military were involved in 67 and 65 forced evictions, respectively, while the Public Order Agency was involved in 108 forced evictions of Jakarta residents accused of occupying state land.

Indonesia has ratified the United Nations Economic and Social Council (Ecosoc) convention with the issuance of Law No 11/2005. As such, the government is obligated to protect all citizens by not carrying out forced evictions. Based on the stipulations of the convention, the government is required to talk to the people before the eviction and provide them with fair compensation.

LBH Jakarta recorded that from 113 forced-eviction cases, in 95 eviction cases, the Jakarta city administration did not initiate dialogue with residents, while in 72 cases, the city administration did not offer fair compensation to evicted residents.

He criticized Ahok for continuing with the forced evictions this year. LBH Jakarta called on the administration to involve civil society groups to help find solutions for spatial planning issues and to avoid forced evictions. (bbn)(+)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/25/police-military-criticized-supporting-red-light-district-eviction.html

Vast majority of Jakarta evictions violate int'l covenant: LBH Jakarta

Jakarta Post - February 25, 2016

Safrin La Batu and Dewanti A. Wardhany, Jakarta – The Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH Jakarta) has found in a study that 95 out of a total of 113 evictions in Jakarta last year violated an international covenant on economic, social and cultural rights, which requires sincere dialogue, the avoidance of violence and the provision of solutions for evictees.

The study found that the main perpetrator of evictions was the Jakarta administration, with 96 evictions, the central government with 11 evictions, and private companies with three. State-owned enterprises and development agencies were each responsible for two evictions, the study found.

The study, launched Wednesday, found that 95 evictions were carried out without any dialogue and 72 without offering any solutions. More than half of the evictions, or 67, involved military personnel, 65 involved the police, 108 involved Jakarta Public Order officers and 54 used the threat of heavy equipment such as backhoes.

LBH Jakarta said the city administration claimed it talked to residents by means of so-called "familiarizations" prior to evictions but the method was usually one way and did not constitute sincere dialogue. "These are all against the human rights covenant," the report said.

The covenant, which Indonesia ratified through Law No. 11/2005, stipulates, among other things, the rights of residents during evictions. While the covenant itself considers evictions "a gross violation of human rights and a prima facie violation of the right to adequate housing", it regulates the mechanism and conditions required before an eviction is carried out.

One of the conditions the covenant requires is that there should be dialogue prior to an eviction. It also requires compensation for any damaged property. "Effective legal recourses and remedies should be available to those who are evicted, including adequate compensation for any real or personal property affected by the eviction," the covenant says.

The report said East and North Jakarta saw the most evictions, each with 31 cases. Central Jakarta saw 23, West Jakarta 14, and South Jakarta 14. The 113 evictions resulted in the destruction of 8,145 houses and 6,283 small enterprises.

LBH Jakarta lawyer Alldo Fellix Januardy said on Wednesday that deploying police and military personnel, which the administration did in most of its evictions, increased the occurrence of violence at the time of eviction.

"I myself was the victim of police violence last month," he said, referring to an incident where he was assaulted by police officers while providing legal assistance to Bukit Duri residents in South Jakarta. He also said that it was beyond the police and military's authority to take part in evictions.

"Based on Article 13 of the National Police Law, the duty of the police is to keep order and enforce the law. What are they enforcing if the status [of the land in question] is not legally clear? If it is not clear the police should conduct an investigation first," he explained, adding that the military's duty was to protect the state, not to evict people.

Alldo said the administration's oft-repeated argument that evicted residents had occupied state land, in many cases, contravened the law because the evictions applied to everyone regardless of how long they had lived in the area.

He said that according to Article 1963 of the Civil Code, anyone living in a location for 30 years or more, with good intentions and without complaint from others, had the right to register the land as his or her own.

Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama brushed off LBH Jakarta's findings, and asserted that the city administration always carried out dialogue with evictees beforehand.

"LBH Jakarta and those residents always claims things like this. The municipal administration as well as district and subdistrict offices always inform the residents and conduct dialogue before evictions. Otherwise how would they know that they are being evicted in the first place?" Ahok said on Wednesday.

He went on to say that the city administration provided a solution by relocating residents into low-cost rental apartments, although some may not move into their new apartment units immediately after eviction.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/25/vast-majority-jakarta-evictions-violate-int-l-covenant-lbh-jakarta.html

Film & television

KPI toothless in fight to stop poor quality TV

Jakarta Post - February 26, 2016

Nurul Fitri Ramadhani, Jakarta – In response to public complaints with regard to poor quality programs, the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI) has demanded stronger legal measures to enable them to take action against transgressing local channels.

Speaking during a discussion with the House of Representative on Thursday, the commission said that it wanted clearer stipulations in the 2002 Broadcasting Law stating that KPI recommendations were final and binding.

The commission said that under the current law it could merely hand out light sanctions to TV stations, or at worst recommend a tougher penalty to the Communications and Information Ministry.

"However, such recommendations are not binding. The ministry often ignores such recommendations. We have the authority to give sanction but that doesn't have a deterrent effect on the violators," KPI deputy chairman Idy Muzayyad said.

He pointed out that the commission had handed out 266 sanctions last year, up from 184 in 2014. Violations were mostly related to unsuitable programs for children and teenagers, moral ethics and journalistic principles.

Idy said the rising number of sanctions was an illustration of the decreasing quality of TV programs and the ministry's apparent lack of respect for the KPI recommendations.

A recent survey by television watchdog Remotivi recorded a number of complaints from the public related to frequent political party advertisements. The KPI's 2012 broadcasting guidelines on program standards stipulate that no TV program may promote private or political interests over the public interest.

This year, the broadcasting permits held by 10 TV stations – RCTI, SCTV, Indosiar, TV One, Metro TV, Trans TV, Global TV and Trans7 – are due to expire.

Amid concerns over the exploitation of airtime, the KPI opened a public review to seek input from the public. "We closed submissions for the public review on Jan. 31. We are mid-evaluation and expect to hold a meeting with the 10 [TV stations] in May," Idy said.

In response to the KPI's demand, the House claimed that there was not an urgent need to grant greater power to the KPI, arguing that its current authority level was sufficient.

"There is no need for the KPI to have such authority. They are powerful enough with their sanctions and warnings. I would prefer that we sought other ways to make the commission more effective," Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) lawmaker Effendi Simbolon from the House's Commission I overseeing defense, foreign affairs and information said.

He blasted the KPI's initiative to hold a public review, claiming that it was pointless because the KPI itself was supposed to represent the public and thus there should be no need to seek input from the public.

Commission I deputy chairman Hanafi Rais of the National Mandate Party (PAN) said his party appreciated the KPI's public review, although it had no legal base.

He also said that the commission had yet to talk further about KPI authority and broadcasting licenses. "We may choose a mid-way solution, to grant them [the KPI and the ministry] the authority to deal with licenses and divide duties between both," Hanafi said.

However, he said that the House would possibly give the KPI the authority to impose fines on those stations violating the law.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/26/kpi-toothless-fight-stop-poor-quality-tv.html

Armed forces & defense

TNI to build new bases in eastern Indonesia

Jakarta Post - February 24, 2016

Ayomi Amindoni, Jakarta – The Indonesian Military (TNI) plans to set up new military bases in eastern Indonesia, with Biak and Merauke in Papua and Morotai in Maluku among the options for its the location.

TNI commander Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo pointed out that currently Indonesian forces, especially the Indonesian Air Force, were concentrated in Java.

He added that the Air Force base in Yogyakarta was designated for pilot training, while the Malang Air Force Base in East Java was being used as a Hercules squadron base. Another Air Force base in Madiun, East Java, was used as a base for fighter jets.

Gatot said such a heavy concentration of Air Force bases in Java had led to dense commercial aviation traffic in some regions, because commercial airlines were prohibited from passing air space in the center of the island, forcing them to fly through northern Java.

"If we take a look at this, our defense forces are concentrated in Java. This is not right. We will develop military bases in eastern areas of Indonesia. This can boost the economy of those areas while at the same time allowing pilots to practice anytime. There are Biak, Morotai, Merauke and so on," Gatot told reporters after a meeting at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Tuesday.

He added that TNI would also strengthen Indonesia's defense forces in outer islands, such Alor, Lirang and Wetar in East Nusa Tenggara.

"Earlier, we had East Timor [Timor Leste] as one of our outer islands facing Australia. Now, our outer islands are Lirang, Wetar and Alor," Gatot said. "We need to increase our defense forces, so that we will have eyes and ears on our outer islands that can inform us on all developments," he added.

Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung said that during the meeting, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo had demanded that the development of the country's defense capabilities should happen all over Indonesia, rather than being concentrated in Java.

He added that President Jokowi had called for a higher budget allocation for TNI, with funds to exceed 1 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP). "If our economy grows by 6 percent, we expect the funds allocated for the Indonesian Military to be around Rp 200 trillion [US$14.9 billion] to Rp 240 trillion," Pramono said. (ebf)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/24/tni-build-new-bases-eastern-indonesia.html

Jokowi pledges ambitious arms spending

Jakarta Post - February 24, 2016

Ina Parlina, Jakarta – In a move to enhance support for the Indonesian Military (TNI), President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo promised on Tuesday that he would allocate more funds to it if the economy got better this year.

Arguing that primary weaponry systems (Alutsista) were essential for building a professional TNI, Jokowi said he would put as much as 1.5 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) into the defense budget, about Rp 250 trillion, if economic growth reaches above 6 percent.

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) politician said that the TNI budget is currently set at about 1.1 percent of the country's GDP. In comparison, the average military budget between 2005 and 2014 was 0.82 percent of the country's GDP, while the average between 2000 and 2004 was 0.78 percent.

"This plan [to allocate 1.5 percent of the GDP] should be prepared now. It means that there should be comprehensive and detailed planning so that the budget can be used appropriately and efficiently," Jokowi said during a limited Cabinet meeting.

Aiming to reduce imports by developing the domestic defense industry, Jokowi also ordered any future plans to involve the use of Indonesian military products.

Jokowi expressed an aggressive plan for military spending in his election campaign in 2014, during which he vowed in front hundreds of retired military and police generals that it would be raised if economic growth stayed at least at 7 percent.

At that time, he unveiled his programs on defense and security issues that included the modernization of Alutsista and increasing the numbers of military and police personnel.

In his pledge, Jokowi also said that he would gradually increase the defense budget from US$7.2 billion in 2014 to $20 billion in 2019 and he intended to procure new jet fighters, radars and military transportation aircraft, as well as to improve border security.

The President seemed to be unnerved by the economic slowdown last year as well as by a number of accidents involving old military equipment since he took office.

The latest accident was the fatal crash of a Brazilian-made Super Tucano aircraft in a densely populated area of Malang in East Java during a test flight, killing the pilot, an onboard technician and two people in a building.

In December last year, a T50i Golden Eagle jet fighter crashed during an acrobatic airshow in Yogyakarta, killing the two pilots on board.

One of the most fatal incidents occurred in July last year when a Hercules C-130, which was received by Indonesia from a foreign country under a grant scheme, crashed into a residential area in Medan, killing more than 120, including civilians on board the plane.

In April last year, a F-16 jet fighter from the US government burst into flames at Halim Perdanakusuma Airport in Jakarta after failing to take off.

During the Tuesday's Cabinet meeting, TNI chief Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo presented an example of development programs that should be made, including to develop air force bases outside Java and navy posts on border islands, as well as to improve equipment and capacity in eastern Indonesia.

All this time, military development has been focused on Java where a number of air force bases are located, like those, for example, in Madiun, Yogyakarta and Malang.

"We will develop Biak, Morotai and Merauke, etc. [to provide facilities to ensure pilots can fly and train any time]," said Gatot who also admitted that naval development has often taken place elsewhere and not on the border islands.

"We will pay attention to outer islands like Lerang and Wetan so that we can have eyes and ears there to inform us about any situation at any time," he added.

However, Gatot said his office would see first whether the future state budget would able to give them flexibility to support such programs. The TNI also seeks to improve cyber units and military intelligence units.

Iis Gindarsah, a defense expert at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, criticized the ambitious plan, saying that "tripling the defense budget is ambitious, but realistic only if Indonesia's economic growth rate is at least 7 percent".

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/24/jokowi-pledges-ambitious-arms-spending.html

Judicial & legal system

Hopes high for new KY chairman

Jakarta Post - February 27, 2016

Ina Parlina, Jakarta – The Judicial Commission (KY), the external judicial supervisory body, has elected its commissioner Aidul Fitriciada Azhari as its new chairman and Sukma Violetta as deputy chairwoman for 2015 to 2020, a decision that many expect to help improve relations between the commission and the Supreme Court (MA).

Aidul has a background in academia and Sukma is a former public attorney and a former assistant to the Attorney General's Office (AGO) reform team.

Relations between the KY and the Supreme Court deteriorated in recent years, amid ongoing internal reform at the MA, which started in the early the 2000s.

Critics said the country's highest court's resistance to external supervision, formally conducted by the Judicial Commission, was partly responsible for the failure of its reform, while the absence of clear guidelines and better indicators of the pros and cons of each internal reform measure was considered another factor.

KY spokesman Farid Wadji expressed optimism that with the new leadership, the commission could deliver a better performance in the future. "The election process reflected commissioners' support for democracy. [I] hope it can bring a new positive energy to all elements of the KY," Farid said on Friday.

In an apparent effort to weaken the KY's authority, a number of Supreme Court justices, along with a court clerk, won a judicial review petition in October that scrapped the commission's role in selecting judges for district courts, religious courts and state administrative courts.

The ruling allows the Supreme Court to select judges for those courts without being accountable to other state bodies and leaves the commission with only the authority to monitor judges and help maintain their credibility.

The recent arrest of a Supreme Court non-judge official for allegedly accepting bribes has not only exposed possible rampant corruption within the country's highest judicial institution, but has sparked questions about its ongoing reform.

As part of its reform, the Supreme Court has issued a number of internal regulations on public information and one-day publishing of rulings.

A number of anticorruption and legal campaign groups, including the Indonesian Legal Aid Institute (YLBHI), Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) and the Indonesian Legal Roundtable (ILR), expressed hopes that the new KY leaders would bring on board better ties with the MA and negotiate new terms for external supervision.

"We do hope the new KY chairman is able to play a more active role in maintaining judicial independence and go to greater effort to stamp out judicial "mafia" practices at all levels of court, including the Supreme Court," said activist Julius Ibrani on behalf of the three groups.

ICW identified an increasing number of acquittals of corruption defendants at various local corruption courts last year. According to ICW, 68 people out of 564 corruption defendants were cleared of charges in 2015, while only 28 corruption defendants were acquitted in 2014.

Other big challenges for the new KY chairman, Julius said, were broaden its monitoring role and building better relations with the MA.

The coalition, however, also criticized the KY chairman election mechanism, saying it failed to provide a big enough chance for public participation in scrutinizing the candidates' agendas.

Voting started after an open session where all candidates, who are the six commissioners, presented their visions to the floor. Only commissioner Joko Sasmito, a former military judge, declined to have himself nominated.

Soon after his election, Aidul said his office would focus on empowering judges in terms of their capacity, integrity and welfare, as well as building better communications with the Supreme Court.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/27/hopes-high-new-ky-chairman.html

Criminal justice & prison system

Former Jakarta Intercultural School teachers sent back to jail on sodomy charges

Sydney Morning Herald - February 25, 2016

Jewel Topsfield – Two former teachers at the prestigious Jakarta Intercultural School have been re-sentenced to jail for allegedly sodomising three preschool boys, in a decision that will send shock waves through the expat community.

Canadian teacher Neil Bantleman and Indonesian teacher's aide Ferdinant Tjiong were sentenced to 10 years in prison last year for molesting the boys between January 2013 and March 2014. The conviction was overturned in the High Court last year and the two men were released in August after nearly a year in jail.

But Supreme Court spokesman Suhadi said the Supreme Court had upheld the original ruling in the Jakarta District Court. He said the defendants had been found guilty of molestation and sentenced to eleven years' jail – more than the original sentence – plus fines of 100 million rupiah ($10,000) or an additional six months in prison.

US Ambassador Robert Blake said he was shocked and disappointed by the decision. "In August 2015 the Indonesian High Court found that there was not sufficient evidence to support the teachers' conviction," he said.

"It is not clear what evidence the Supreme Court used to overturn the High Court's decision." Ambassador Blake warned the outcome of the legal process would impact international views about the rule of law in Indonesia.

The Jakarta International school community has rallied behind the two men insisting they were innocent. The case attracted intense international scrutiny because the Jakarta Intercultural School, the largest international school in Indonesia, is attended by the children of diplomats, expats and wealthy Indonesians.

A prosecution witness, "sexologist" Dr Naek L. Tobing gave evidence to the Jakarta District Court last year that Bantleman only had sex with his wife once a week, when the "norm" was every day or two to three times a week. As he also did not masturbate he would be seeking sexual outlets, he claimed.

"There is a question how could he release his sexual desire," Chief Judge Nur Aslam Bustaman said in the Jakarta District Court last year. "These conditions could create abnormal sexual behaviour."

It was alleged that Bantleman sexually abused the boys in a room on the second floor of the administration building, and a nearby kitchen. Bantleman was said to have inserted a "magic stone" into the anus of one of the boys to anaesthetise him before he was raped.

Due to the effect of the magic stone, the child said he felt numb from his bottom to the back of his thighs but still had the sensation of something being inserted into his anus.

An Australian expert, provided by the defence, said the children had been asked suggestive questions when questioned about the sexual abuse which could have given them false memories.

Tjiong had been arrested at his residence in Tangerang Selatan early Thursday morning, Jakarta prosecutor spokesman Waluyo was quoted in news website detik.com as saying. Bantleman was yet to be apprehended.

Source: http://www.smh.com.au/world/former-jakarta-intercultural-school-teachers-sent-back-to-jail-on-sodomy-charges-20160225-gn3x8r.html

Police & law enforcement

Police must review recruitment process: Watchdog

Jakarta Post - February 29, 2016

Fedina S. Sundaryani, Jakarta – Indonesia Police Watch (IPW) has urged the National Police to review their recruitment process following the harrowing revelation that an officer allegedly killed and mutilated his two young children.

IPW chairman Neta S. Pane said on Saturday that the news was proof that the psychological examination of police applicants was inadequate for screening those who were mentally unfit to join the law enforcement agency.

"The mutilation case in West Kalimantan shows that there is a serious problem in the police force relating to the mental health of their personnel. Unfortunately, the leadership of the National Police have not been taking this seriously," he said.

On Friday, National Police chief Gen. Badrodin Haiti confirmed that an officer in West Kalimantan, Brig. Petrus Bakus, had killed and mutilated his two children at a police dormitory. Petrus allegedly suffered from a mental illness that would have caused him to appear "possessed" when committing the barbaric act.

Petrus allegedly killed his two children, 4-year-old Fabian and 3-year-old Amora, at midnight as his wife slept. Police handling the case found that the two children had been cut into several pieces. Petrus' wife survived the horror and is now living in a safe house.

Neta said corruption could be the reason mentally unstable candidates get recruited to the force. "Bribery is rampant during the annual recruitment process and this allows candidates to pass the psychological test in spite of mental health problems.

IPW also suggested that new officers should spend at least one year, instead of five months, at the Police Academy before being allowed to join the force, to ensure that every member received proper training.

Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) deputy chairman Susanto also called on the National Police to reevaluate their recruitment system. "Police officers are responsible for protecting the people, not harming them," he said.

The KPAI called on the police to thoroughly investigate the crime. "The KPAI asks that the law enforcement agencies quickly and accurately investigate the case to provide legal certainty and a guarantee of future child protection," he said.

Since the murder, photos of the dismembered bodies of Petrus' two children have been circulating on social media. The commission called for social media users to stop circulating the photos. "We ask that people and the media not spread the photos of the victims, including on social media. It is against the law," he said.

West Kalimantan deputy governor Christiandy Sanjaya also asked people to stop sharing the photos to be more sensitive to the feelings of the children's relatives, including their mother.

Meanwhile, West Kalimantan Police chief Brig. Gen. Arief Sulistyanto said that investigators would conduct a psychological examination on Petrus only when the officer's condition was stable. "We will wait for a week for him to be mentally stable," he said, adding that Petrus had never been reported for any problems in the past.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/29/police-must-review-recruitment-process-watchdog.html

Mining & energy

Jokowi orders fuel stockpiling, at last

Jakarta Post - February 29, 2016

Ayomi Amindoni, Business – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has ordered members of his administration working in the energy sector to immediately increase fuel stocks to maximize benefits from the plunge in the global oil price, a decision that was finally issued after two years of cheap crude.

According to the President, Indonesia should develop a strategy to build infrastructure in the energy and food sectors to anticipate forthcoming competition. Indonesia will reportedly take the slump in the oil price as a chance to buy as much fuel as possible for the sake of future energy security.

"As the oil price has dropped, state-owned firms and the related ministry should consider buying as much fuel as possible, wherever the location [of the oil facilities] – within the country or outside the country," Jokowi said in Jakarta on Monday.

Thus, when oil prices crept up, Indonesia's fuel supply would remain safe. "It should be well designed," he added. The world's crude oil price has dramatically stumbled over the past two years, from over US$100 per barrel to less than $30.

Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Sudirman Said said the ministry had been preparing energy security funding. The allocation of the funds is set to be submitted in the revised 2016 state budget.

"In the revised budget, we will set it [the energy security funding] aside by, if necessary, buying more fuel as strategic reserves. We have been asked to submit the proposal in the near future," he said.

At the same occasion, Jokowi urged his administration to accelerate the development of fuel refineries in a bid to cut the chain that gives opportunities to many fuel traders. "A decision must be made this year, and it should be settled so that the supply chain is not too long," he said.

The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry's directorate general for oil and gas said there were at least seven countries interested in investing in refineries in Indonesia, namely Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Russia, China, Iraq, Iran and Thailand. (ags)(+)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/29/jokowi-orders-fuel-stockpiling-last.html

Infrastructure & development

Government to prioritize local products for infrastructure projects

Jakarta Post - February 24, 2016

Ayomi Amindoni, Jakarta – The government will give high priority to local products, particularly for infrastructure projects as part of efforts to assist the development of national industries, create more jobs and reduce costs, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung said on Tuesday.

All ministries, many of which still use imported goods for their projects, had been encouraged to use local products, Pramono added. "We will encourage them to use domestic products so they can host the ongoing development, particularly in government projects," he said.

Pramono made the statement after President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo expressed his concern that many government projects still used imported goods. The President subsequently ordered his ministers to give high priority to local products.

"[By using local products], we can cut costs as we no longer need to import. It will also improve the competitiveness of our industries in the global market," said Jokowi during a limited Cabinet meeting at the State Palace on Monday.

As a follow up to the policy, Coordinating Economic Minister Darmin Nasution said that relevant officials were preparing regulations to make sure that the domestic products would be given the highest priority in the procurement of government goods and services.

"The government will draft the regulations to stipulate the preference for domestic products as long as they meet standard requirements," Darmin said. Industry Minister Saleh Husen added that energy, transportation and public works were among sectors that still used imported products in their projects.

However, Pramono stressed that the quality of domestic products must continuously improve as many ministers still needed to import certain goods to meet the required standards. (bbn)(+)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/24/govt-prioritize-local-products-infrastructure-projects.html

Economy & investment

Falling inflation paves way for rate cut

Jakarta Post - February 29, 2016

Tassia Sipahutar, Jakarta – Consumer prices are expected to have dropped in February, providing more room for Bank Indonesia (BI) to further cut its key rate to help revive the country's sluggish economy, economists say.

The central bank's latest survey shows that on the back of easing pressure on food prices and lower electricity prices, inflation should have dropped in February to between 0.13 percent and 0.14 percent, lower than the 0.51 percent in January. The official February inflation data will be announced on Tuesday by the Central Statistics Agency (BPS).

"We are seeing an improvement in volatile food prices. The prices were still high last month, but have since come down," BI executive director Juda Agung said.

Food items – such as broiler chicken, shallots, garlic and rice – posted high price increases in January, with prices rising 6.6 percent year-on-year (yoy) versus the overall headline inflation of 4.14 percent in January yoy, BPS data shows.

Electricity prices also contributed to the January inflation, before state electricity company PLN cut rates earlier this month for several sectors amid the ongoing global oil price slump, triggering the fall in February's inflation rate, Juda said.

"Such a deflation trend is normal throughout the first quarter, but we hope that it can be maintained, so that the full-year inflation rate stands at 4 percent," he added. However, despite the monthly decline the annual inflation is expected to amount to 4.38 percent in February, up on the 4.14 percent in January.

Lower inflation could persuade the central bank to slash its policy rate again after cutting the BI rate by a cumulative of 50 basis points (bps) in January and February to 7 percent.

"Barring a spike in crude oil prices, the central bank should face a helpful inflation trajectory. Expect BI to maintain its policy-easing bias," DBS Bank economist Gundy Cahyadi said, forecasting a 4.8 percent inflation rate in February. Any significant uptick in the consumer price index (CPI) was unlikely before May, when the seasonal impact from Ramadhan would start to kick in, he added.

Gadjah Mada University economist A. Tony Prasetiantono also anticipated another 25 bps cut in BI's key rate in March, provided that inflation, capital flows and the rupiah maintained their positive trends for the next week.

President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and Vice President Jusuf Kalla have been campaigning for a lower BI rate – the central bank is independent from the government – to stoke Indonesia's economic growth, which amounted to 4.8 percent last year, the slowest since the 2009 global financial crisis.

Aware of the high interest rate environment that has hindered businesses from borrowing for expansion, BI, the government and the Financial Services Authority (OJK) have joined hands to promote efforts to reduce bank lending rates to single digits by the end of this year from 10 percent plus at present.

Besides cutting the BI rate and reducing the central bank's reserve requirement ratio (GWM) by a total of 150 bps since November to 6.5 percent as of February, other efforts by the OJK include a plan to incentivize banks with low lending rates. The government has also reduced interest rates for its micro loan subsidy program (KUR) to 9 percent this year from around 22 percent in 2014.

Samuel Asset Management economist Lana Soelistianingsih argued that the central bank's monetary easing moves would be more effective in supporting economic growth if BI carried them out in the first half, citing the government's front-loading financing schemes that will absorb liquidity.

"To cope with that, we should have an expansive monetary policy, either by another reduction of the GWM to inject additional liquidity or by a BI rate cut," she said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/29/falling-inflation-paves-way-rate-cut.html

Business climate, infrastructure to shape manufacturing hub

Jakarta Post - February 26, 2016

Khoirul Amin, Jakarta – Indonesia has a great potential to become a hub for manufacturing industries but poor infrastructure and an unpleasant business climate remain the major challenges that the country has to deal with, businesspeople say.

Speaking at a conference held by The Economist on Thursday, a number of business players from pharmaceutical, polyester and thermal coal manufacturers voiced their expectations for better infrastructure and regulatory certainty.

"In manufacturing particularly, if you have the goods, you have to import raw materials [...] and you have slow infrastructure, which is the big handicap," said Ilham Habibie, president director of Ilthabi Rekatama.

In addition, taxes for both exports and imports have made manufacturers based in the country lose out against manufacturers operating overseas, he added.

Voicing a similar concern, Indorama Corporation managing director Amit Lohia said Indonesia was a starting point for his labor-intensive business, but uneven infrastructure development remained the biggest challenge for manufacturing industries.

Under the administration of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, the government has driven to speed up infrastructure development, allocating Rp 313.5 trillion (US$23.5 billion) this year, the second time in a row it has been even bigger than the budget for energy subsidies.

In addition, the government has turned its attention to manufacturing industries as it expected them to add value to the country's export commodities amid the slump in commodity and oil prices.

The Industry Ministry previously said that it aims to record 5.7 percent growth in non-oil and gas manufacturing industries this year, higher than the economic growth target of 5.3 percent.

Industry Ministry secretary-general Syarif Hidayat said previously the government's economic stimulus package was expected to help propel industrial growth this year.

Investment commitment in manufacturing industries surged by 164 percent year-on-year (y-o-y) to Rp 90 trillion in January this year, according to data from the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM).

Pawan Sud, GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Indonesia's president director, said on Thursday that infrastructure, regulatory certainty and intensive dialogue between the private sector and the government were things that the country needed to improve manufacturing industries.

"[We need] more active dialogue between the industries and regulators, so if there is a policy change happening we know already and we can predict our investment plan," he told reporters.

GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare, which operates in Indonesia under PT Sterling Products Indonesia, currently has two manufacturing plants in the country producing consumer healthcare products like Panadol, Sensodyne and Scott's Emulsion.

Sud said his company imported around 40 percent of its raw materials and sourced another 60 percent domestically.

He welcomed the government's latest "negative investment list" (DNI) revision, which fully opened the raw pharmaceutical ingredients business to foreign investment. "Once it has started, then we will explore, depending on what raw materials have been produced locally," he said.

In the 10th economic stimulus package, the government will fully open the manufacturing businesses of crumb rubber and pharmaceutical raw ingredients to foreign investors to develop upstream industries.

Lana Soelistianingsih, an economist with Samuel Asset Management, said the country should also make sure that it could market the intermediate products should it become a "manufacturing hub" converting raw materials into semi-finished goods.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/26/business-climate-infrastructure-shape-manufacturing-hub.html

Analysis & opinion

Polishing the plin-plan president

New Mandala - February 23, 2016

Jokowi may look good in batik, but he's not cut-out for office, writes Duncan Graham. That's because the Indonesian president's shiny promise of reform has lost all its lustre, and he's not tainted enough to function effectively in the country's politics.

The always dapper Indonesian President Joko (Jokowi) Widodo is a splendid advocate for batik. Most days he wears a new design; whatever the colour or pattern the traditional shirts dazzle on his slim athletic frame.

His plump PDIP (Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle) boss and former president Megawati Soekarnoputri, who famously dismissed him as 'a party official', once remarked that he couldn't be a politician because he wasn't sufficiently portly. She might have added 'Machiavellian'.

If Jokowi wasn't running the world's third largest democracy he could grace a catwalk – for models are supposed to be seen, not heard.

Unfortunately being the seventh president of the Republic requires him to give speeches. These neither arouse nor inspire – they anesthetise. The pause, so important in oratory and mastered by Megawati's father, Indonesia's first president Sukarno, becomes an embarrassment with the reserved Javanese. Has Jokowi lost his way, his notes or both?

It's not the only disenchantment with the man who seized the top job in the 2014 direct election by a narrow margin. He won not so much for what he was, but what he wasn't – a member of the corrupt oligarchy that's run the nation of 250 million for so long and so badly.

Unreal expectations were also projected onto the former Governor of Jakarta, considered a friend of the wong cilik (ordinary folk) by taking walkabouts (blusukan) to hear the word on the street.

The illogical leap followed that he'd be a Lee Kuan Yew scourge of corruptors and a compassionate Nelson Mandela on human rights and social issues. A reformer, though not a liberal; the term carries negative baggage, particularly with Muslims.

These hopes have been shredded with Jokowi's failure to wield a big stick against the rent-seekers and his flawed reasoning for executing drug traffickers.

Economically he's plin-plan – one minute a protectionist, the next a free trader; anti West, then welcoming foreign investors.

His politically savvy supporters aware of the disappointments have been involved in makeovers partly led by Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi. Unfortunately they've compounded the problem.

Retno is the first woman to hold the position and a surprise pick. Jakarta scuttlebutt claims her credentials include a close relationship with Megawati.

The former Ambassador to the Netherlands doesn't have the intellectual firepower of her predecessor Dr Marty Natalegawa. This is obvious from attempts to bolster Jokowi's credentials as an international statesman when all evidence indicates his policy priorities and personal interests are domestic.

To counter this image Retno took letters urging peace from Jokowi to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz.

No request had been made for Indonesia to broker a deal. Unsurprisingly nothing came from the trip – Indonesia, like Saudi Arabia, is a Sunni Muslim nation that trashes Shia – the majority faith in Iran.

On her return Retno, who presumably hatched the idea, made much of the 20,000 kilometres travelled on her 'diplomacy marathon' but nothing on the results:

"We in the Islamic world... need to ensure that the region where most of the Muslim population resides, the Middle East, is peaceful, stable and prosperous, and continue to voice Islam as rakhmatan lil alamin (a blessing to the universe)."

The next stage in the attempted transformation came during February's trip to the US-ASEAN Summit where it seems the President said little and achieved less.

'Jokowi conveys words of wisdom' said one headline over a story about a courtesy call to Choummaly Sayasone of Laos. On the troubled country becoming chair of ASEAN Jokowi said, "I am sure the chairmanship will lead ASEAN to be better and more successful."

If Jokowi thinks the octogenarian former general who has been running the People's Revolutionary Party in his Marxist-Leninist state for the past decade can put pep and purpose into the 39-year-old ASEAN then the Indonesian is letting diplomatic niceties eclipse reality.

While Jokowi was heading to California, Indonesia's TV One (a station owned by a conglomerate headed by Aburizal Bakrie, a strong opponent of Jokowi during the 2014 election) telecast an 'exclusive' interview with the President.

This turned out to be a brief love-in with lawyer and media executive Karni Ilyas heavily buttressed with thumpty-thump music and fast-edited clips of the President looking decisive.

Jokowi claimed problems of infrastructure were holding back the nation, but failed to explain how the roads will be rapidly broadened and lengthened before gridlock cripples the economy. The mounting frenzy against LGBTI groups and 'deviant', sects of Islam didn't get a look in.

Jokowi comes across as a nice one-on-one guy, not the tangiest spice on the menu but the sort householders might elect as their RT (Rukun Tetangga) neighbourhood chief. He'd sort out stray cat and rubbish problems without snarling or taking sides; there'd be no suggestions he'd trouser their donations for paving the footpath. Nor would he initiate anything.

The wong cilik still seem to like him as his former opponents are in more disarray than the US Republicans. However it would be naïve to think no plots exist in a country where conspiracies go with the rice.

The real power is muttered to be the tough-talking US-trained former four-star General Luhut Binsar Panjaitan, Chief of Staff of the President's Executive Office, whose credentials include a past business partnership with Jokowi.

Despite his military background Luhut dresses plainly. In batik he looks scruffy – so little chance of promotion – particular as he's reported to be much disliked by Megawati.

So for the meantime Jokowi looks svelte and safe – provided he stays home and stops trying to be someone else.

[Australian journalist and author Duncan Graham lives in East Java and writes for the Indonesian media.]

Source: http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2016/02/23/polishing-the-plin-plan-president/