Jakarta – Several residents of Tegaldowo and Timbrangan villages in Rembang, Central Java went to the governor's office in Semarang on Tuesday to remind governor Ganjar Pranowo of his promise to respect the legal process.

They went to Semarang following the Supreme Court decision, made available by the court's official website on Monday, which was in favor of the plaintiff, Joko Prianto and Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi). The case review ordered the revocation of environment permits and mining permits of PT Semen Indonesia, a state-owned cement company.

"After the decision, we visited the Central Java governor to say thank you to Pak Ganjar," this was said in a statement made available on Tuesday. "[Pak Ganjar] has helped promote prosperity for Central Java residents."

"We would also like to remind Pak Ganjar of what he said on tribunnews.com on Aug. 3; he said all parties must respect legal processes. Whatever the decision of the court is, everyone must obey that decision," the statement said.

"We hope the decision would make Central Java prosperous because residents believe the province's agricultural lands are in line with a food security program that is part of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's nine goals (nawacita)," it said.

Residents living around the Karst mountains in Kendeng in Rembang, Pati and Grobogan regencies have protested against cement factories in the area, fearing the factories would damage the environment they needed to farm. The farmers insisted they had been successful growing food produce for the province, and they did not need factory jobs. (evi)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/10/12/rembangs-cement-factory-protesters-visit-c-java-governor.html

West Papua

Jokowi fails to bring peace to restive Papua

Jakarta Post - October 14, 2016

Moses Ompusunggu, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has been trying to fast-track infrastructure and economic development in Papua over the last two years, but little has been achieved to prevent human rights abuses from taking place in the country's easternmost region.

Soon after he took office, Jokowi made an oath that he would not let Papuans continue to suffer as a result of the long-standing "Javacentric" paradigm of development. Thus, basic infrastructure such as roads and railways are being constructed in the resource-rich region.

But, at the same time, the number of reported human rights abuses in Papua continues to increase. This has underscored Jokowi's hesitancy to promote peace on the island, hurting Papuans who have put their faith in him, the human rights group Setara Institute said Thursday.

Setara Institute data shows that 45 human rights abuse cases were reported in the first nine months of the year, ranging from murders and arrests of activists to torture carried out by Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) personnel. The number is a steep increase from the 16 rights abuse cases recorded last year.

"Jokowi's biggest failure is that he simply thinks improving Papua can be done through economic and infrastructure development. The problem in Papua is not only about prosperity but also the dignity of its people, which can be realized by treating them equally, not promoting violence," Setara vice chairman Bonar Tigor Naipospos told a press briefing.

The Indonesian Science Institute (LIPI) has mapped out four major problems that have caused long-standing conflict in Papua, namely the state's failure to bring prosperity to the region, the discrimination toward and marginalization of native Papuans, state-promoted violence and different interpretations regarding Papua's integration into Indonesia.

Regarding the findings, LIPI has also broached the idea of a peaceful and inclusive dialogue to resolve conflict in Papua.

The dialogue is expected to involve all stakeholders, including native Papuans, migrants, government institutions, as well as separatist groups such as the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP).

Setara Institute's National Council secretary Benny Soesetyo said Jokowi had more than enough political capital to expedite peace talks in Papua, but still lacked the political will to do so.

Benny said Jokowi's main source of political capital was that he had gained the trust of many Papuans; he went to Papua on his campaign trail and 70 percent of Papuans voted for him during the presidential election.

"Also, Jokowi has been successful in consolidating power to support his government. This provides the impetus for the President to initiate peaceful dialogue," Benny said.

Papua Peace Network (JDP) coordinator Neles Tebay, who was also present at the briefing, said the government had to resolve the problems identified by LIPI in a holistic manner, and not prioritize one above any other.

"As long as the government fails to deal with all the four problems, conflict will continue in Papua and international voices will raise their concerns about Indonesia's approach to the region, especially in regard to the settlement of human rights cases," Neles said.

During the 71st session of the UN General Assembly in New York, seven Pacific countries expressed their concern over continuing human rights abuses in Papua, calling on the body to take concrete measures to address the matter and on Indonesia to resolve the problem.

Indonesia, however, has strongly rejected those countries' claims, saying that their criticism is politically motivated.

Meanwhile, the ULMWP and Indonesia have both tried to garner support from members of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG), who will meet in December to decide whether to grant either ULMWP or Indonesia membership in the group.

According to Neles, three of the five members, namely the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and the Front de Liberation Nationale Kanak et Socialiste (FLNKS) were seemingly in favor of ULMWP being granted membership.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/10/14/jokowi-fails-to-bring-peace-to-restive-papua.html

Calls mount for Jokowi to implement 'Papua Roadmap'

Jakarta Globe - October 13, 2016

Alin Almanar, Jakarta – Calls are mounting for President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to start implementing a proposed roadmap for reconciliation in Papua, with human rights activists claiming that he has failed to calm tensions in the restive province in the two years since he took office.

The Jokowi administration has been focusing on infrastructure development projects to boost the economy in Papua, where a decades-old insurgency has led to several cases of alleged human rights abuses.

Activists say the president's developmental approach could barely address the root causes of the tensions, with the insurgency apparently having shown no signs of abating.

They have repeatedly urged the government to start dialog in an attempt to resolve the situation, beside forging ahead with social and economic development.

The move includes implementation of the "Papua Roadmap" published by the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) in early 2009, with a series of inclusive dialogs in the province.

These dialogs should involve native Papuans, Indonesians from other regions, government officials and insurgents.

"The process can hopefully end with reconciliation," Papua Peaceful Network coordinator Neles Tebay told reporters in Jakarta on Thursday (13/10). "We hope the dialogs can dig deeper into the root causes of the conflict in the province."

LIPI based the roadmap on research conducted over four years, starting in 2004, during which researchers identified several main causes of conflict in the province.

These include failed development in education, health and the economy, discrimination and marginalization of native Papuans, state violence resulting in human rights abuses, as well as various different interpretations of the integration of the province into Indonesia in 1969.

"We should keep pushing for dialog if the aim is to achieve peace," Setara Institute deputy head Bonar Tigor Naipospos said. "It doesn't matter if the process fails. Failure doesn't mean that we should stop trying."

The Free Papua Organization (OPM) has frequently called for international support from the Melanesian community in the Pacific.

Rallies in support of the province's independence in parts of Indonesia have seen dozens of Papuans repressed by authorities in recent months.

"The chain of violence can only be broken through dialog," human rights advocate Benny Soesetyo said. "We still believe the president is a humanitarian who has the willingness to listen to the people through dialog."

Source: http://jakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/calls-mount-jokowi-implement-papua-roadmap/

Golkar politician's home targeted in Papua bomb attack

Jakarta Globe - October 13, 2016

Robert Isidorus, Jakarta – A bomb was thrown at the home of Golkar Party politician Martinus Anthon Werimon in Jayapura, Papua, on Thursday morning (13/10) in an incident believed to be connected to next year's local election. No fatalities were reported in the alleged attack.

Papua Police chief Insp. Gen. Paulus Waterpauw said two unknown men on a motorcycle allegedly threw a homemade explosive device at the house, located inside a housing complex in Jayapura's Kotaraja subdistrict, at around 3 a.m. A car and a fence were damaged in the explosion.

"We are still investigating the motive. If it is related to the local election, we will investigate further," Paulus said at the scene of the explosion on Thursday morning.

Police have collected debris from the explosion for further analysis at a forensic laboratory in Makassar, South Sulawesi, Paulus added.

Sr. Comr. Matius Fachiri, chief of the Police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) in Papua, said the bomb was made from low-explosive materials that are often used for blast fishing, the practice of using explosives to stun or kill schools of fish for easy collection.

Martinus, who is the acting secretary general of Golkar's provincial leadership board, called on the police to investigate the case and pursue the alleged mastermind behind the attack.

"As secretary general of Golkar in Papua, this terror attack on me must be viewed in a very serious light," he said.

Jayapura will be among the 101 regions in Indonesia that will stage simultaneous local elections in February 2017.

Source: http://jakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/golkar-politicians-home-targeted-papua-bomb-attack/

Stand on West Papua, NC unchanged: PM Salwai

Vanuatu Daily Post - October 13, 2016

Godwin Ligo – Vanuatu Prime Minister has reiterated the government and the country's stand for the independence of West Papua and New Caledonia, as unchanged.

Prime Minister Salwai, made the statement Tuesday afternoon when he officiated at the opening of a Kanaky-West Papua Exhibition at the National Cultural Centre in Port Vila.

He said despite Vanuatu being supportive of the New Caledonia Government, and that of French Polynesia for them to become members of the Pacific Islands Forum, this does not change the stand of Vanuatu and the people of Vanuatu which remains strong and unchanged for West Papua and New Caledonia and French Polynesia towards self-governing.

The Vanuatu Prime Minister went further to stressed that the exhibition is a self-evidence of the desire for the Melanesian people of Kanaky, West Papua to run their life and freedom.

He said emphasized that Vanuatu continues to support their struggle for freedom of the two Melanesian neighbours at regional and international level. Prime Minister Salwai pointed out that the recent call by Vanuatu in support for their freedom was at the United Nations Meeting in New York.

He assured the people of West Papua who organized the exhibition that Vanuatu's position in support of West Papua becoming member of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) remain unchanged.

Prime Minister Salwai, said the MSG Meeting that was supposed to have taken place in Port Vila week before last, will now take place in December of this year, to address the application of West Papua to become member of the Melanesian Spearhead Group, MSG.

Source: http://dailypost.vu/news/stand-on-west-papua-nc-unchanged-pm-salwai/article_bd90b1e6-df10-57e5-a285-bb3516fd8687.html

No justice for us, said the victim's family of Sugapa shooting incident

Tabloid JUBI - October 10, 2016

Jayapura, Jubi – The family of the victim of the shooting incident in Sugapa rejected a one-year jail sentence for an officer and 21 days for other four Mobile Brigade officers for their rolesin the incident in Sugapa, Intan Jaya Regency, Papua on 28 August.

One of the family's members, Thomas Sondegau said the sentences had not brought justice for the family. Since the beginning, the family wanted those officers to be fired.

"It is not fair for us. The Mobile Brigade officers who allegedly perpetrated and involved in this incident only got 21 days and a year sentences, as well as to deprived for their office. It has not brought a justice for our family," Sondegau told Jubi by phone last week.

Sondago, who is also a politician from Democrat Party and Papua legislator as well, the family would not ask for anything but only wanted the perpetrators to be fired and their commander relieved from his position.

"If needed, he shouldn't have any position. I will ask this to the Papua Police. The Police violated their promise. At the beginning, they said the perpetrators would be punished according the Law, but in reality the Law has not fulfilled the justice to our family," he said.

He's worried if the perpetrator and those who involved in this case has not been fired as asked by the victim's family and the local community of Intan Jaya in Sugapa, it would raise a bad reaction among the local people in the future.

"Where is the justice? The life of our grandchild, child, and brother is worth with the punishment of 21 days and a year sentences. We want the perpetrator and other involved officers to be fired and punished," he said.

Deputy Chairman of the Commission I of the Papua Legislative Council Orwan Tolli Wone said this is not a regular case. The victim was dead because of the officer's weapon.

"The security forces are armed by the state not for wounding or taking the citizen's life. Why should he been shot to the death. Is there no other way to do although he might be wrong?" said Wone.

He considered it is reasonable if the family asked the perpetrator and other culprits who involved in this case having severe punishment because they have caused the death of Otinus Sondegau. The Police ethics trial verdict the five mobile brigade officers are found guilty of the misuse of the armed weapon leading to the death of a teenager called Otinus Sondegau in Sugapa, Intan Jaya Regency at the end of August.

Cited by the Jakarta Post, the officers are Jackson Simbiak, Eduardo Ansanay, Jefri Irianto Yohanes, Thom Mathias Wanarina and Yudi Sahi. The ethic trial led by Reeza Herasbudi on Friday (7/10/2016) decided Jackson Simbiak and Eduardo Ansanay to get 21 days sentences and be dismissed from their current positions as the platoon commander. Jefri Irianto Yohanes was punished a year sentence and dismissed from his position as commander. Meanwhile Thom Mathias Wanarina and Yudi Sahi got 21 days sentences and educational career suspension for a year.

Meanwhile, the local government of Intan Jaya stated the shooting case against a student Otianus Sondegau in Sugapa has been solved by a fine that has been paid by the Regent Natalius Tabuni with the amount of Rp750 million and the Papua Police Chief Paulus Waterpauw with the amount of Rp 100 million.

"In the custom, actually it applies a rule that a head should be replaced by a head. People asked the government to prepare the two graves for the victim and his perpetrator. But the law should be enforced, so we thought these money has not been an ending for the settlement of Sugapa case," said Fransiskus Waine in Papua People's Assembly in Jayapura City some times ago with other assembly's members Ciska Abugau, Debora Mote and Fransiska Okmonggop Mote.

He said as a representative institution of indigenous Papuan culture, he said the Intan Jaya Regent, Paniai Police Chief, Sugapa Police Chief, Papua Police Chief and Intan Jaya Legislative Council have protected the perpetrators.

"Although the regent, mobile brigade and police declared that the problem is over but as the representative institution of indigenous Papuan culture, MRP regarded this is not over yet," he said.

"After all this is about the human's life. Therefore, the perpetrator should be investigated thoroughly. And the perpetrator should be given to the community to be punished with the customary law if the government cannot able to enforce their law. Human's life could not be sold though it has been paid," he said.

He asserted that the regent should be responsible because of his initiative to bring the mobile brigade to his region. MRP also has a query whether there is no Police so that the Mobile Brigade is needed in this region.

"In the Papua central highland we are declining the presence of Mobile Brigade. Being tortured, beaten, then ending with the shooting. So we all knew, that in Intan Jaya, Moni people is still keeping their customs with a stong commitment, therefore the new comers should be adapted with the situation there," he said.

"With a fine paid by Intan Jaya Regent and Papua Police Chief, it seems indicating that the life of Moni people is easily to buy. What would be happened in the future? MRP asked to the Mobile Brigade in Intan Jaya to return to its headquarters, they supposed to be no longer exist in Intan Jaya," he asserted.

The Chairwoman of the MRP's investigation team Ciska Abugau said the security forces, in this case the Mobile Brigade and Indonesian Police, to not provoke the community to against the regent. This shooting is a kind of way to separate the leader from its people while their relationship is harmonious during the time.

"The incident like this always been happened when the regional head wasn't in his region. I asked the Mobile Brigade and Police to not provoke a clash between the people and the regent. Because this shooting has caused the people to hate the regent," said Ciska Abugau.(*/rom)

Source: http://tabloidjubi.com/eng/no-justice-us-said-victims-family-sugapa-shooting-incident/

Full membership for West Papua

Vanuatu Daily Post - October 8, 2016

Len Garae – Whether Papua New Guinea and Fiji attend the next Melanesian Spearhead Group Leaders' Summit in Port Vila or not, come the second or third week of December, the Leaders of New Caledonia, the Solomons and Vanuatu will grant West Papua full membership of the MSG.

The announcement by the Chairman of MSG and Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands, Manasseh Sogavare, was made at a meeting with the Chairman of Vanuatu Free West Papua Association, Pastor Allan Nafuki and his Executive, West Papua prominent Leaders Jacob Rumbiak and Benny Wenda and Andy Ayamiseba in Port Vila three days ago.

Upon hearing the confirmation from the Chairman of MSG, the Chairman of VFWPA said he smiled a long overdue smile and breathed a sigh of relief saying, "Now I can go to my home island of Erromango and have a peaceful sleep with my grandchildren, with no disturbance whatsoever".

Comparing Vanuatu's bondage of 74 years before eventual freedom arrived on July 30 of 1980, Chairman Nafuki said West Papua has been suffering colonial brutality and death for 54 years under Indonesian rule.

"I believe the time is approaching when the Melanesian people of West Papua are going to start enjoying some form of self-determination", he said with confidence.

"Furthermore, let me stress that 100% of every civil society organisation in Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia and Fiji are supporting this move (by the Chairman of MSG). I want to stress the ratio (of support at) 100% and I want to emphasise 100%".

The Chairman said he had looked forward to welcoming West Papua (through ULMWP) as a full member of MSG in Honiara in July of this year.

However he said when Pastor Peter, Elder Dalea and Charlie of VFWPA travelled to Honiara then he learned that the objective was not achieved, he became sad.

While Chairman Nafuki did not explain what exactly happened in Honiara, independent sources claimed PNG and Fiji walked out of the Summit. This time around in Port Vila they made similar excuses to delay the meeting, he said.

The Chairman continued, "I had been hoping that this time in Port Vila, we would have some positive news about West Papua. We organised a Civil Society Organisations Parallel Work Forum at the Vanuatu Christian Council Murray Youth Centre to coincide with the MSG Summit.

"Then we learn that the date has changed yet again to December this year and as Chairman of VFWPA, I am very disappointed".

In their meeting with the Chairman of MSG this week, he said the Chairman spoke of his "strategic plan" for the Vanuatu Prime Minister, Prime Minister of the Solomons and Victor Tutugoro of New Caledonia, to consider other avenues to help West Papua without Fiji and Papua New Guinea.

He said appropriate considerations have to be made not to exclude some members of MSG. "As far as we at civil society are concerned, if two or three or four members are present, let the ball roll but at MSG level, they have to be careful not to breach the MSG Constitution", Chairman Nafuki said.

To confirm his joy, he repeated what the Chairman of MSG announced at the meeting that if Fiji and Papua New Guinea do not turn up for the MSP Summit during the second or three week of December, the three member countries would have no alternative but to go ahead and vote West Papua in to full membership of MSG.

He said, "This is very good news for us! We sit with Andy (Ayamiseba), Benny (Wenda), Jacob (Rumbiak) and my Executive round one table.

"This is when I thank the Chairman of MSG by quoting King David in Psalms saying, "I am the good shepherd..." and the Chairman of MSG said, 'I read the bible too' and said it is important that prime ministers read the bible and pray. It is important that governments and civil societies pray to achieve what is in front of us".

Chairman Nafuki calls on everyone to continue to pray for reported brutal killings and human rights abuse in West Papua to cease.

Asked where Indonesia comes in all this, the Chairman replied, "It was not discussed. My sole interest is for West Papua to become a full member of MSG".

He said the confirmation by the MSG Chair has given him and all members of all other civil society organisations in Melanesia 100% hope for West Papua's destiny.

Source: http://dailypost.vu/news/full-membership-for-west-papua/article_f768618f-28ea-5f40-be1d-d2043bfcae4e.html

Activists question punishment for shooters

Jakarta Post - October 8, 2016

Jayapura – Rights activists in Papua are angered over the punishment administered by the Papua Police office for five policemen allegedly involved in the shooting of a teenager in Intan Jaya regency, saying it was too light a punishment.

"This is unfair. The police killed someone, and the punishment is just a short sentence," National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) Papua representative Friets Ramandey said on Friday.

He said the light punishment increased public distrust in government officials and security personnel.

He was responding to the Papua Police office that put five policemen in detention for 21 days after shooting Otianus Sondegau, 15, in Sugapa, Intan Jaya regency, on Aug. 27. Three of the suspects were stripped of their official positions.

Papua Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Rudolf Patrick Renwarin said the policemen fired gunshots as defense because local people had aimed arrows at them. "That was an act of defense. However, the policemen are still guilty of killing someone," he said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/10/08/island-focus-activists-question-punishment-shooters.html

Military ties

Indonesia eyes weapons export market in Qatar

Jakarta Post - October 14, 2016

Liza Yosephine, Jakarta – Qatar has expressed its interest in looking into the development of military equipment manufactured by three Indonesian state-owned enterprises, namely PT Pindad, PT Dirgantara Indonesia and PT PAL, a top diplomat has said.

Indonesian Ambassador to Qatar, Muhammad Basri Sidehabi said Indonesian military products, especially light tanks and military weapons, were popular in Qatar.

He made the statement on the sidelines of a visit to Jakarta, during which he brought a group of business delegates from Qatar to attend the Trade Expo Indonesia 2016.

"This visit is also aimed at promoting Indonesia's military equipment industry, which is well-known in the Middle East," Basri said in a statement on Friday.

On Friday, Basri met with Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryucudu in Jakarta. The minister said he would invite Qatari Defense Minister Khalid Bin Mohammed Al Attiyah to the 2016 Indo Defense Expo scheduled to be held from Nov. 2 to Nov. 5 to further promote domestically manufactured military equipment.

Ryamizard stated that the Expo was one of the biggest of its kind in promoting army, navy and aerospace military products. Around 800 companies from 20 countries will participate in the event, which was expected to draw 20,000 visitors, he went on.

Basri said that although Qatar was relatively small geographically, it was one of the biggest military arms markets in the Middle East. While Pakistan and Turkey currently served as arm suppliers for Qatar, the ambassador said Indonesia also could make it a potential market for its products.

Boy Darmawan, the embassy's ad-interim Charge d'Affaires in Doha, said Qatar had imported military equipment worth around US$150 billion in recent years. (ebf)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/10/14/indonesia-eyes-weapons-export-market-in-qatar.html

Singapore, Indonesia enhance bilateral defence cooperation

Xinhua - October 10, 2016

Singapore – Singapore and Indonesia agreed to enhance cooperation on transnational security issues, said the Ministry of Defense in a statement on Monday.

Singapore's Minister for Defense Ng Eng Hen on Monday met with Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Wiranto, who was in the city state to attend the inaugural Singapore International Cyber Week.

The ministers discussed ways to enhance bilateral defense cooperation as well as transnational security issues such as terrorism and cyber security, said the statement.

They agreed to deepen relations between Singapore Armed Forces and Indonesian National Defense Forces, and to cooperate further to deal with the threat of terrorism.

"Good that we have someone of experience as we tackle together challenges related to terrorism and maritime security," said Ng in his Facebook update on Monday.

The Singaporean Defense Ministry noted that defense establishments of Singapore and Indonesia have been interacting regularly through exercises, visits and professional exchanges among others.

Source: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-10/10/c135743523.htm

Human rights & justice

SBY blamed for missing report

Jakarta Post - October 14, 2016

Ina Parlina, Margareth S. Aritonang and Nurul Fitri Ramadhani, Jakarta – All eyes are on former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, as he may be the only person to know the whereabouts of a fact-finding team's investigative report into the murder of human rights defender Munir Said Thalib.

The Central Information Commission (KIP) said recently that the documents were not in the State Secretariat's possession and that they had been submitted directly to Yudhoyono in a meeting believed to have occured in June 2005.

Munir's controversial investigation has been put back in the spotlight following a ruling by the KIP in an information dispute between a number of rights campaigners and the State Secretariat earlier this week.

Yusril Ihza Mahendra, who in 2005 served as state secretary and is believed to be among those who attended the meeting with Yudhoyono, also pointed to the former president as the single person to know the whereabouts of an investigative report on Munir's murder.

Yusril, who failed to testify as a witness in the KIP hearing, told The Jakarta Post that the fact-finding team had submitted the report by hand to Yudhoyono, who, according to Yusril, "did not give any instructions [to the State Secretariat] to register the documents".

"The TPF [fact-finding team] submitted the report directly to the president. We weren't able to do anything about it without orders from the president," Yusril said on Thursday.

The hearing revealed that other officials at the time, including former cabinet secretary Sudi Silalahi, were believed to have attended the June 2005 meeting when two former team members – rights campaigners Usman Hamid and Hendardi – reportedly submitted the documents to Yudhoyono at the State Palace.

Filed in April this year, the petition demanded the State Secretariat announce the findings of the investigative report and disclose the reasons why the report was kept from the public since 2005 when the team completed the investigation.

Under the Freedom of Information Law, which gives the KIP authority to hear disputes over information, a person that intentionally destroys documents of public information may face a maximum two years' imprisonment or Rp 2 million in fines.

The law also says public institutions that do not comply with KIP rulings or provide public information can face a maximum penalty of Rp 5 million in fines or one-year imprisonment.

The state secretary's expert staff on legal affairs Alex Lay and presidential spokesman Johan Budi refused to point fingers at who holds the documents, and merely referred to the facts that emerged in the KIP hearing, of which highlighted that the documents in question were handed over directly by the team to Yudhoyono.

"But, we don't know what happened next or whether Yudhoyono is still in possession of those [documents]," Alex added.

Other than looking into its own administrative record, the State Secretariat has also questioned staff that oversaw record management at that time.

"It is impossible for a [state] institution to reveal [to the public] a document that doesn't come from its archives," Alex said. "That is the principle. And it is not aimed at covering up the team's report."

Although he said his office would study the ruling before taking further steps, Alex signaled that filing an appeal against the ruling with the Jakarta State Administrative Court was unlikely. "It is not simply about disclosing the documents," Johan added.

President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo said that he has ordered Attorney General Muhammad Prasetyo to search for the documents and should those bear new evidences, "[a new] legal process can be started".

The Democratic Party has blasted the government for blaming Yudhoyono's administration. "Don't blame Yudhoyono's era. The current government should solve the current problems. It's not about the missing documents, but rather about whether government has the will to resolve the matter," Dems lawmaker Benny Kabur Harman said.

"It's impossible for the documents to be missing. But if they are then the government can easily ask for copies from the BIN [State Intelligence Agency], the police or the team. They must have it," he said, adding that the government should also ask Hendropriyono because he was in charge as BIN chairman at the time.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/10/14/sby-blamed-missing-report.html

Jokowi should ask Hendropriyono for Munir report: Lawmaker

Jakarta Post - October 14, 2016

Marguerite Afra Sapiie and Ayomi Amindoni, Jakarta – A lawmaker from Democratic Party, Benny K. Harman, said the government should make a commitment to present a fact-finding report on Munir Said Thalib's death 12 years ago and stop claiming the report was "lost".

The government should ask for a copy of the fact-finding report from state institutions, such as the National Police and the State Intelligence Agency (BIN), and it should ask related officials who were involved in Munir's investigation case to locate the report, House of Representatives' Commission III overseeing legal affairs deputy chairman Benny K. Harman said.

Benny, a Democratic Party politician, mentioned the name of Abdullah Mahmud Hendropriyono, BIN chief at the time of Munir's murder in 2004, who had a close relationship with President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo.

"I am sure the report is not lost. If the President wants to find it, he should ask Hendropriyono. [Locating the report's whereabouts] is a simple matter," Benny said on Thursday.

On Thursday, Jokowi instructed the Attorney General's Office (AGO) to find the "lost" investigation report. "If there is new information, it has to be processed according to the law," Jokowi said at the State Palace on Thursday night.

Garuda Indonesia pilot Pollycarpus Budihari Priyanto and former Garuda president Indra Setiawan were found guilty of Munir's murder but the fact-finding team had also identified the alleged role of Hendropriyono, as the team discovered telephone calls from Hendropriyono to Pollycarpus close to the day of the incident. Hendropriyono repeatedly denied involvement in Munir's death. (evi)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/10/14/jokowi-should-ask-hendropriyono-for-munir-report-lawmaker.html

Komnas HAM urges govt to locate 'lost' Munir report

Jakarta Post - October 13, 2016

Marguerite Afra Sapiie, Jakarta – The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has called on the state secretary to make efforts to find the "lost" investigation report created by a fact-finding team on the murder of prominent rights defender Munir Said Thalib.

Komnas HAM commissioner Roichatul Aswidah said the state secretary, who claimed they had no idea about the report's whereabouts, should coordinate with other state institutions or members of fact-finding team with access to the archive to locate the investigative document.

"If [after all efforts] the investigative document cannot be found, the government should then push for measures to ensure that the court's rulings [on Munir's murder case] are followed up on," Roichatul said on Thursday.

Finding the lost document would be a start for President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to fulfill his commitment to finding justice for Munir and his widow Suciwati after 12 years without resolution, which was also part of his pledge to settle past gross human rights abuses, Roichatul said.

The Central Information Commission (KIP) ruled on Monday that the investigation report authored by the government-commissioned fact-finding team and submitted to Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's administration in 2005 was public information and therefore should be disclosed immediately.

Garuda pilot Pollycarpus Priyanto was sentenced to 14 years imprisonment for poisoning Munir with arsenic during a layover on a flight to Amsterdam on Sept. 7, 2004. After being granted remission, he was freed in November, 2014. (evi)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/10/13/komnas-ham-urges-govt-to-locate-lost-munir-report.html

'There is nothing to hide in Munir's murder case'

Jakarta Post - October 13, 2016

Marguerite Afra Sapiie, Jakarta – A senior minister has ensured that the government would pursue the case of the "lost" investigation report created by a fact-finding team on the murder of prominent rights defender Munir Said Thalib.

"We will investigate this case. The government has nothing to hide," Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Wiranto told reporters on Wednesday.

Should the government locate the document, which was allegedly lost by the State Secretary, Wiranto assured that the investigative report would be disclosed to the public, as requested by the Central Information Commission (KIP).

If the report revealed new findings that could open further investigation into Munir's murder case, the Attorney General's Office would process the new information in accordance with the national law, Wiranto said.

"As long as we remain calm and refrain from placing blame [while searching for the report], I can assure that all will be settled," Wiranto added.

At the hearing held on Monday, the KIP said the investigation report authored by the government-commissioned fact-finding team and submitted to Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's administration in 2005 was public information and therefore should be disclosed immediately.

Garuda pilot Pollycarpus Priyanto was sentenced to 14 years imprisonment for poisoning Munir with arsenic during a layover on a flight to Amsterdam on Sept. 7, 2004. He has already freed since November, 2014. (bbn)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/10/13/there-is-nothing-to-hide-in-munirs-murder-case.html

Munir document could lead to new investigation

Jakarta Post - October 12, 2016

Margareth S. Aritonang and Ina Parlina, Jakarta – The possible disclosure of a document detailing the facts surrounding the 2004 murder of human rights defender Munir Said Thalib could lead to a new investigation into any individuals or officials involved in the killing.

Former members of a fact-finding team into Munir's murder confirmed the document mentions the names of state officials allegedly responsible for planning the murder.

However, confusion over the whereabouts of the confidential report has created tension between human rights campaigners and the State Secretariat, which is in charge of the government's administrative documents.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the State Secretariat's deputy for public relations, Masrokhan, insisted his office had no information about the fate of the report. "Thus, it is impossible for the State Secretariat to disclose a document that we know nothing about," he said in a press statement.

But that statement failed to discourage Munir's supporters. Activist Usman Hamid still clearly remembered the day when he and his colleagues from the government-sanctioned fact-finding team met then president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in June 2005.

Usman described how he and other former team members, including Mashudi Hanafi, Asmara Nababan and Amiruddin Al Rahab, among others, handed a report detailing the findings of their investigation into Munir's killing to Yudhoyono, who was at that time accompanied by his full team of aides, including, among others, then coordinating political, legal and security affairs minister Widodo Adi Sutjipto, then National Police chief Da'i Bachtiar and then state secretary Sudi Silalahi.

In a written statement to the Central Information Commission (KIP) Sudi himself confirmed his knowledge of the report as he, as then chief of the State Secretariat, was the one who had received it.

"The State Secretariat's denial of knowledge of the whereabouts of the report is really baseless," Usman said on Tuesday to respond to the State Secretariat's insistent refusal to disclose the investigation's findings as ordered by a recent KIP writ.

"The government can no longer ignore the case. Several former team members, including Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi, are currently serving in the government. President [Joko] Jokowi [Widodo] can consult them on the existence as well as the content of the report."

A KIP hearing on Monday ruled that the investigation report was public information and consequently ordered the State Secretariat to immediately release the document to the public by any means of communication it utilized, either electronically or non-electronically.

The KIP was sure that all documents, including the report on Munir's murder, were still under the roof of the State Secretariat.

The KIP issued its writ following a request jointly filed by Munir's widow Suciwati, the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) and the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH) in April this year.

They demanded disclosure of the information contained in the report after years of pursuing a disappointing legal process to find the mastermind behind Munir's death.

Kontras coordinator Haris Azhar said Munir's supporters had demanded a public expose of the report for many years, even when Yudhoyono was still in office. They waited and watched over ongoing legal processes involving the case, which eventually resulted in the acquittals of certain figures believed to have had roles in killing Munir.

Munir died in September 2004 of arsenic poisoning during a Garuda Indonesia flight to the Netherlands. He was known for speaking out against human rights violations by the military.

The fact-finding team found the State Intelligence Agency (BIN) had a role in the murder, although it did not definitely conclude that BIN as an institution committed the crime. The team, however, identified individuals in BIN who played key roles. Among them were the then BIN chief AM Hendropriyono, who was a member of Jokowi's presidential campaign team, and his deputy Muchdi Purwoprandjono.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/10/12/munir-document-could-lead-to-new-investigation.html

Government must find 'lost' documents on Munir's death: Investigator

Jakarta Post - October 12, 2016

Marguerite Afra Sapiie, Jakarta – The State Secretary must ask government officials for assistance in finding a "lost" investigation report created by a fact-finding team on the case of slain rights defender Munir Said Thalib and proceed to follow up the case, an investigator has demanded.

Some members of the fact-finding team on Munir's murder owned copies of the report, said rights activists Usman Hamid, who is also a member of the team. However, it would be more ethical for the government to trace back the report's whereabouts with the help of state officials involved in the team.

The government could consult with officials including Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi, Law and Human Rights Ministry official Nazaruddin Bunas, Attorney General Office official Domu P. Sihite as well as the former head of the fact-finding team, Marsudi Hanafi, he said.

"I suppose State Secretary Pratikno can invite those figures to discuss the KIP's [Central Information Commission] ruling and to trace the report's whereabouts. When [the document] is found, he should immediately discuss with the President to plan on making the report public," Usman told journalists on Tuesday.

There were many ways to locate the document's whereabouts, despite claims made by the State Secretariat that it did not possess the report. For the government to locate the findings and disclose them to the public as ordered by the KIP would prove the commitment made by President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to resolve human rights abuse cases, including Munir's murder case, he added.

At the hearing held on Monday, the KIP stipulated the investigation report authored by the government-commissioned fact-finding team and submitted to Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's administration in 2005 was public information and therefore should be disclosed immediately. (rin)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/10/12/govt-must-find-lost-documents-on-munirs-death-investigator.html

Jokowi's decision 'key to reach national reconciliation' after past abuses

Jakarta Post - October 12, 2016

Marguerite Afra Sapiie, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's role in pushing for both judicial and non-judicial processes to resolve historic human rights abuses, particularly the 1965 tragedy, is key to reach national reconciliation as well as to provide justice for victims and survivors, rights activists said on Tuesday.

Even though the Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Wiranto had planned to push for a non-judicial settlement, the committee to accommodate the process should be established under the President, former Indonesian ambassador Makarim Wibisono said.

"The government, perpetrators, survivors and NGOs should be involved. The commission should have a working timeline and work calmly without excessive publication. After [the non-judicial process] has been concluded, then the government can announce the result to public," Makarim said on Tuesday.

He gave an example of a successful reconciliation in Chile, where former Chilean president Patricio Aylwin set up a similar committee, which resulted in a recommendation that created a win-win solution for everyone, before he publicly apologized for the killings and torture committed under the Pinochet dictatorship.

While delivering a state apology was important, rights activist Usman Hamid said Jokowi should still push for a judicial process and provide legal justice for victims and survivors in accordance with the country's Constitution through establishing a team of ad hoc prosecutors under the Attorney General's Office.

The ad hoc team should involve the House of Representatives, Constitutional Court and the National Commission of Human Rights (Komnas HAM), he said. "[Pushing for judicial process] is not impossible since President Jokowi has more chances than obstacles to make things right," Usman said. (evi)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/10/12/jokowis-decision-key-to-reach-national-reconciliation-after-past-abuses.html

Legal reform should uphold human rights, end impunity: Imparsial

Jakarta Post - October 11, 2016

Marguerite Afra Sapiie, Jakarta – The national legal reform package, which the government will soon introduce to revitalize Indonesia's justice system, should improve the country's commitment to upholding human rights and eradicating impunity, a rights watchdog has said.

Imparsial director Al-Araf said the legal reform should strengthen the government's efforts to resolve past rights abuse cases and as its first step, it should mandate the establishment of an ad hoc human rights tribunal to handle missing person cases, as recommended by the House of Representatives in 2009

He further said the government should also prove its commitment to settling the murder of human rights defender Munir Said Thalib that has remained in the dark for 12 years. The Central Information Commission (KPI) has previously ordered the State Secretariat to make public all investigative reports made by the fact-finding team on the case.

"The legal reform should also push for a moratorium and revocation of the death penalty from Indonesia's justice system because the right to life is one of our inalienable Constitutional rights," Al-Araf told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

Aside from strengthening its commitment to human rights, the government should also order the amendment of Law No. 31/1997 on military tribunals to allow military personnel committing civil crimes to face trials in civilian courts to ensure transparency and accountability in their legal process, he further said.

Along with National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian's promises about internal reforms, Al-Araf said the legal package should enhance the professionalism of the police by inserting policies that would improve the police's personnel recruitment and education system as well as internal oversight mechanisms. (ebf)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/10/11/legal-reform-should-uphold-human-rights-end-impunity-imparsial.html

Commission orders govt to reveal findings on Munir

Jakarta Post - October 11, 2016

Margareth S. Aritonang, Jakarta – The Central Information Commission (KIP) ended the state's 12-year silence on the murder of prominent human rights defender Munir Said Thalib on Monday by ordering the government to officially disclose the report of a fact-finding team's investigation into the case.

The KIP stipulated that the team's investigation, which had been submitted to the government in 2005, was public information. Thus, the government was obliged to disclose the findings to the public, as well as explain why the report has been for years kept a secret.

The KIP specifically delivered its ruling to the State Secretariat as it was in charge of the government's administrative paperwork including any documents sent to the president.

"The State Secretariat must disclose all requested information through any means of communication it utilizes, either electronically or non-electronically," KIP commissioner Evy Trisulo Dianasari said when reading out the ruling.

Monday's ruling was made in response to a public information request jointly filed by Munir's widow Suciwati, the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) and the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH Jakarta) in April.

They filed the request against the State Secretariat after the latter claimed a lack of knowledge of the report's whereabouts. As well, a follow-up request was made to President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo earlier this year.

The KIP ruled the claim baseless. When reading the verdict, Evy emphasized that although the country had seen a change of president and institutional transfers of power since the fact-finding team submitted its investigation report to then president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in 2005, the structure of the State Secretariat as an institution had remained unchanged.

"All documents must have stayed at the State Secretariat because no significant changes had happened within the institution," declared Evy.

Headed by Marsudi Hanafi, the fact-finding team consisting of human rights activists Hendardi of the Setara Institute and former Kontras coordinator Usman Hamid, lawyers, as well as police officers, was set up immediately after the outspoken human rights defender was murdered in September 2004.

Munir died from arsenic poisoning during a Garuda Indonesia flight to the Netherlands. A South Jakarta Court found Garuda Indonesia pilot Pollycarpus Budihari Priyanto and former Garuda president Indra Setiawan guilty of Munir's murder. Pollycarpus was sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment while Indra got 12 years.

Besides the two, former State Intelligence Agency (BIN) deputy head Muchdi Purwoprandjono was also accused of being involved. However, he was acquitted of all charges in 2011.

The fact-finding team had identified the alleged role of Muchdi's then boss, Abdullah Mahmud Hendropriyono, in the case as the team discovered telephone calls from Hendropriyono to Pollycarpus close to the day of the incident.

Leaked US diplomatic cables, previously released by WikiLeaks, also alleged that Hendropriyono had chaired two meetings that planned Munir's assassination.

Despite the investigation, Munir's murder remains a mystery, stirring speculation of the alleged involvement of high-profile government figures in the rights advocate's death.

Munir was known for his bravery as he had taken up the cause of dozens of activists who were abducted during the last months of then president Soeharto's New Order regime in 1998. He was also outspoken on human rights abuses by the military in Aceh and Timor Leste.

He specifically drew the attention to Hendropriyono's role in a military crackdown on protesters in Talangsari, Lampung, in 1989 that claimed the lives of 45 people. The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) had previously declared the incident a gross human rights violation. Hendropriyono has repeatedly denied any role in Munir's death.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/10/11/commission-orders-govt-reveal-findings-munir.html

1965 anti-communist purge

1965 activists to hold discussion to straighten out history

Jakarta Post - October 13, 2016

Marguerite Afra Sapiie, Jakarta – Activists seeking justice for the 1965 anti-communist purge victims are planning to hold a discussion about Indonesian history to verify events that led up to the failed coup, which is blamed on defunct Indonesian Communist Party (PKI).

The 1965 Murder Victims Research Foundation (YPKP 65) chairman Bedjo Untung said the discussion, which would involve prominent historians, experts and 1965 tragedy survivors, aimed to collect evidence and facts that could uncover the truth on the country's history. He said that all this time, Indonesia's history, especially on the 1965 tragedy, had been distorted by the government's version of events.

While the exact date of the discussion has not been set, Bedjo said activists would also invite representatives from Indonesian Military (TNI) and related state officials to participate in the event.

"There is still deep confusion [among the public] concerning events that led up to the 1965 communist purge. We just want to make everything clear," Bedjo said on Wednesday.

Among distorted historical events, the activists also criticized Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs official Wiranto, who said the military offense in the 1965 could be justified by law since there was "treason" that endangered the national security, Bedjo said.

"We, as victims who experienced the events in 1965, know that the statement is wrong. If there was treason, then who is at fault?" Bedjo said.

Meanwhile, activist Bonnie Setiawan said the discussion aimed to push the government to reveal information behind the 1965 communist purge, as part of the government's commitments to achieve national reconciliation. (ebf)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/10/13/1965-activists-to-hold-discussion-to-straighten-out-history.html

Feminism & women's rights

Boys and girls should share household chores: Activists

Jakarta Post - October 12, 2016

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – "It is in a girl's nature to wash dishes and so on. Her place is in the kitchen. That's how it's meant to be," said Kusnia, 35, a woman with one daughter from Lampung.

Kusnia, a domestic worker in Jakarta, said she had begun asking her 4-year-old daughter, Nahwa Kania Putri, to help in the kitchen. "But I don't like it," Nahwa said, adding that she would rather study than do household chores.

While women in the country – Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati being a perfect example – can have stellar careers in many fields, many Indonesian girls are sill facing social pressures to do domestic chores.

According to a UNICEF report, the gender stereotype that has burdened women for centuries remains a global challenge.

The report, released to mark International Day of the Girl on Oct. 11, finds that girls between 5 and 14 years old worldwide spend 40 percent more time on unpaid household chores and collecting water and firewood compared to boys their age.

A girl aged 5 to 9 spends an average of almost four hours per week on household chores, while older girls aged 10 to 14 spend around nine hours per week on these activities. In some regions and countries, these numbers are twice as high.

The report includes the first global estimates on the time girls spend doing household chores such as cooking, cleaning, caring for family members and collecting water and firewood. The data shows that the disproportionate burden of domestic work begins early, with girls between 5 and 9 years old spending 30 percent more time on household chores than boys their age.

The numbers rise as girls get older, with 10 to 14 year olds spending 50 percent more time, or 120 million more hours each day, according to the report, titled Harnessing the Power of Data for Girls: Taking stock and looking ahead to 2030. "The overburden of unpaid household work begins in early childhood and intensifies as girls reach adolescence," said UNICEF's principal gender advisor, Anju Malhotra.

National Commission on Child Protection (Komnas PA) chairman Arist Merdeka Sirait said the global report reflected the situation in Indonesia as well, with the country's strong patriarchal culture.

"In Indonesia, girls always do more household chores than boys. It doesn't matter if the girls are younger or older, parents usually ask them to do the chores, not the boys," he said.

Parents sometimes consider it inappropriate for boys to do household chores, and thus perpetuating gender stereotypes, KPAI commissioner Maria Ulfa Anshor said. "When girls are told to sweep floors, boys can play soccer outside," she told The Jakarta Post.

As a result, girls sacrifice opportunities to learn and grow as time spent on chores limits a girl's time to play, socialize with friends, study and be a child, Arist said.

The report also noted that girls' work is less visible and often undervalued. This unequal distribution of labor among children violates the Constitution, which guarantees no gender-based discrimination, Arist said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/10/12/boys-and-girls-should-share-household-chores-activists.html

In hunt for clicks, media outlets bend toward sexism

Jakarta Post - October 10, 2016

Jakarta – Amid stiff competition to retain popularity and readers, some media outlets continue to promote the objectification of women in the hunt for clicks and market share.

While making news for reasons other than their appearance, women who become subjects in the news are often talked about in relation to their "unique and beautiful" looks, as suggested by headlines.

In the past few weeks, for instance, media outlets have highlighted how a female diplomat, Nara Rakhmatia, 33, robustly dismissed allegations about Indonesia from six heads of Pacific Island countries during the recent UN General Assembly in New York.

Many can argue whether or not Nara's arguments were politically substantial, but some media outlets gravitated to the storytelling aspect of her beauty, which readers seemed more interested in.

Publications and facts about Nara's beauty and her impressive job as a diplomat dominate the internet and have become the most read and commented articles at many news websites. Meanwhile, her videos on YouTube are mostly titled with headlines such as "pretty diplomat".

"Young, pretty, smart and knows the problems. She [Nara] is professional," a news portal account under the username Joy Lugas said in response to an article about Nara's educational background.

Many media outlets and their readers have also discussed the beauty of other women in relation to their jobs. Earlier this year, media outlets published news about a female police officer, Nurmala Hilda, after she frequently posted selfies on her Instagram account.

Media outlets also talked about 16-year-old Gloria Natapradja Hamel with headlines pointing to her beauty originating from her French-Indonesian blood. She made headlines in August when she nearly failed to join the national flag-hoisting team for Independence Day.

Readers respond well to these publications. Aji Mulyanto Sakti, 43, favors these kinds of articles.

"I always like it when beautiful women do something uncommon. For instance, if a news story is titled 'Pretty Woman Climbs Highest Mountain in the World', I will open it first," he said, adding that he preferred "soft" news instead of hard news.

"News like that [about beautiful women] is more entertaining. I will get a headache if I read about politics every day," Aji said.

This phenomenon, on the other hand, is criticized by activists, who argue that such a practice abuses women's rights. "News that highlights the beauty aspect of women instead of what they do is sexist because women should be seen for their professionalism instead of their physical beauty," women's rights activist Gadis Arivia said on Sunday.

Gadis said media outlets needed to increase their journalistic ethics by delivering substantive messages to the public, instead of highlighting the beauty of women for clicks.

Media researcher Ignatius Haryanto told The Jakarta Post on Saturday that both media outlets, particularly online outlets, and readers had triggered this phenomenon.

He said media outlets needed to increase traffic. So, aside from hard news, media outlets often published soft news to please readers, such as stories about beautiful women.

"Readers like it when the media puts out stories about 'beautiful women this, beautiful women that'. They see it as unique, and hence want to know more," he said

He said even the most-read articles at the country's most prestigious media outlets were often soft articles instead of important ones.

"Important articles inform the public about things related to the public interest, while interesting news talks about what is most interesting to the public. These two are very different things and I am sure that interesting news attracts more readers." (adt)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/10/10/in-hunt-clicks-media-outlets-bend-toward-sexism.html

Sexual & domestic violence

Halt chemical castration for sex offenders: Amnesty International

Jakarta Post - October 14, 2016

Jakarta – Amnesty International calls for the Indonesian government to revoke provisions of chemical castration and the death penalty as punishment for sex offenders following the recent endorsement of a regulation in lieu of law (Perppu) on child protection by the House of Representatives.

"The sexual abuse of children is indescribably horrific, but subjecting offenders to chemical castration or executions is not justice, it is adding one cruelty to another," Amnesty International's researcher on Indonesia Papang Hidayat said in a press statement on Thursday.

Punitively imposing chemical castration, a drug or hormone treatment to suppress sex drive, is cruel, inhuman and considered degrading under international law, he said.

Besides chemical castration, the regulation also makes it possible for judges to administer life imprisonment sentences or the death penalty to convicted child rapists, which has raised concern among human rights activists.

The punishment for sex offenders adds to the serious flaws in Indonesia's justice system and the country's poor record of human rights, Papang said.

President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo issued the Perppu in May in response to public demands for harsher punishment for rapists following a number of reports of child murders and sex crimes. The House passed the bill into law on Wednesday despite rights activists outcries as there are not details provided in the law for carrying out punishments.

The Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI) has reiterated its refusal to perform chemical castration, saying this procedure violates medical ethics. (rin)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/10/14/halt-chemical-castration-for-sex-offenders-amnesty-international.html

Rights group deplores passage of chemical castration law

Jakarta Post - October 13, 2016

Marguerite Afra Sapiie, Jakarta – Jakarta-based Human Rights Working Group (HRWG) has deplored the passage law (Perppu) on child protection into law by the House of Representatives that stipulates harsher punishments for sex offenders, saying that the law has violated the country's anti-torture stance.

The law, which punishes rapists with chemical castration and a maximum sentence of the death penalty, has contradicted Indonesia's Convention against Torture Initiative (CTI) which pushed for the ratification of UN Convention against Torture, HRWG acting director Muhammad Hafiz said.

"We urge the government and lawmakers to solve cases of sexual violence against children by imposing severe punishment; however, chemical castration and the death penalty are only reactive solutions chosen without thorough study," Hafiz said in a statement on Wednesday.

Besides, the detailed mechanism to conduct chemical castration against convicted child molesters was still unclear and the Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI) had also publicly refused to execute the injection, Hafiz said.

The law neglected the rights of the victims of molestation since it did not include rehabilitation or medical and social treatment, for which the government should have accounted, Hafiz said.

He further called for the House of Representatives to revise the Perppu and conduct a comprehensive study on its legal substances so that the government could balance the efforts between eradicating sexual violence against children and upholding human rights principles. (bbn)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/10/13/rights-group-deplores-passage-of-chemical-castration-law.html

North Jakarta cleric accused of sex abuse

Jakarta Post - October 12, 2016

Jakarta – The police have arrested a Muslim cleric, identified as Ahmad "Aman" Suryadi, 29, for allegedly sexually assaulting several students in the Yayasan Titipan Ilahi Muslim boarding school in Koja, North Jakarta.

During questioning Aman is reported to have told the police he had abused more than 10 students. However, as of Tuesday, the police had identified only six of the victims.

"Currently, we have only identified six victims. Nonetheless, the suspect says he assaulted more than 10," said Koja Police chief Comr. Supriyanto as quoted by wartakotalive.com on Tuesday. "We are investigating the possibility that the number of victims might be even higher than he claims."

Meanwhile, Aman is alleged to have said he often assaulted the victims in his room in the boarding school.

He claimed that he committed the crimes because he was not married yet and, hence, had no one with whom to vent his sexual needs. "I've worked here for four years but I only committed it [the abuse] in the past six months," said Aman, who taught Quran reading.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/10/12/greater-jakarta-n-jakarta-cleric-accused-sex-abuse.html

House passes regulation on chemical castration

Jakarta Post - October 12, 2016

Marguerite Afra Sapiie, Jakarta – Despite the outcry from rights activists, the House of Representatives has passed a regulation in lieu of law (Perppu) on child protection that allows for sex offenders to be subjected to chemical castration.

Lawmakers engaged in a heated debate at the plenary meeting on Wednesday. From the 10 political parties at the House, only the Gerindra Party and the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) initially refused but then agreed to join the majority in passing the regulation, with several notes.

PKS lawmaker Ledia Hanifa said the government had yet to include the House's input into the regulation, which had initially been scheduled to be passed in August. It had yet to deliberate details on the chemical castration penalty, as requested by lawmakers.

"The Perppu still lacks concern for the victims, as it only focuses on punishing the perpetrators but neglects to provide compensation, restitution and rehabilitation for victims and their families," Ledia said.

Rahayau Saraswati from Gerindra said the faction still firmly rejected the Perppu, as it had yet to produce a comprehensive solution to protect children from sexual predators. Yet Gerindra agreed to pass it as long as the House would push for further revision of the 2002 Law on Child Protection.

The Perppu, which comes after several prominent cases of sexual violence against children in the country, focuses on capital punishment and chemical castration. It has sparked local and international criticism, given Indonesia's already worrying human rights record. Rights activists have repeatedly slammed the bill, saying it focuses on punishing offenders without showing adequate concern for victims. (rin)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/10/12/house-passes-regulation-on-chemical-castration.html

Reports of sexual violence increase in Manado

Jakarta Post - October 8, 2016

Lita Aruperes, Manado – Reports of sexual violence cases in North Sulawesi has increased from 199 for the whole of 2015 to 261 cases from only January until September this year, data from a NGO showed.

Nur Hasanah, a data officer at Swara Parangpuan, said Friday the victims' ages ranged from five years old to 18 years old. The perpetrators included boyfriends, students, teachers and parents.

"We hope the police can investigate such cases thoroughly to create deterring effects so we don't see such cases anymore," she said.

Chairman of the National Commission for Child Protection (Komnas PA) Ariest Merdeka Sirait urged the police to continue with sexual violence cases, specifically for recent cases in Manado.

Recently, there was a report against a Manado city agency head filed by a teen student who was doing an internship at his office. Ariest said he hoped the police would not drop the case because of "lack of evidence," the most common reason for the police to drop sexual violence charges.

He encouraged the police to be persistent in collecting evidence in sexual violence investigations as sexual abuse is a heinous crime. (evi)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/10/07/reports-of-sexual-violence-increase-in-manado.html

Labour & migrant workers

Company calls in military to intimidate striking workers

Kabar Buruh - October 14, 2016

Cianjur – Scores of workers employed at the beverage company PT Tirta Sukses Perkasa in Cianjur, West Java, are calling for an end to the involvement of the TNI (Indonesian military) in an industrial dispute they are currently embroiled in.

Over the last month the workers have been on strike in response arbitrary sackings by the company.

According to the workers, who are part of the Indonesian Workers Federation of Struggle (FPBI), the dismissals were arbitrary and violate a mutual agreement. "The dismissals violate a mutual agreement and are not in accordance with prevailing law", said FPBI Cianjur regency chairperson Fajrian.

In a press release received by Kabar Buruh (Labour News), the company has deployed fully armed TNI and police personnel. Gan Gan Solehudin, from the FPBI's advocacy division, said that the TNI and police presence is to protect the company which wants to remove goods from the company.

"The arrival of fully armed TNI and police is designed to thwart workers who are carrying out a legitimate strike. And, indirectly, to intimidate the workers", said Solehudin.

According to Solehudin, fully armed TNI and police should not intervene in industrial disputes because it is not their job. The workers say that will report the matter to the appropriate authorities.

A number of labour activists have openly conveyed their protests to the Medan 05/105 Artillery Battalion commander. In their protest the workers said that the workers' strike does not constitute a threat to the state so the TNI does not need deploy troops at the company. (gum)

[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service. The original title of the report was "Buruh PT Tirta Sukses Minta TNI Tarik Pasukan Dari Pengawalan Mogok Kerja".]

Source: http://kabarburuh.com/buruh-pt-tirta-sukses-minta-tni-tarik-pasukan-dari-pengawalan-mogok-kerja/

Workers insist on using cost of living survey for pay raise

Jakarta Post - October 13, 2016

Agnes Anya, Jakarta – Employers and workers have yet to reach an agreement on the 2017 provincial minimum wage as the two parties are using different calculation methods.

The Jakarta tripartite wage committee, which comprises city administration officials and representatives of employers associations and labor unions, gathered at City Hall on Wednesday for an annual discussion on the minimum wage.

Jakarta's Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin Jakarta), representing employers, suggested that next year's provincial wage be set at Rp 3.35 million (US$257.34), 8.1 percent higher than the current Rp 3.1 million.

The proposed amount was formulated based on Government Regulation (PP) No. 78/2015 on minimum wages, which stipulates that the annual minimum wage increase should be based on the city's inflation rate and economic growth.

Meanwhile, workers, represented by the Jakarta Labor Movement (GBJ), insisted that the minimum wage should be raised by 23 percent to Rp 3.83 million. The figure was based on their own survey of the city's basic cost of living (KHL).

The survey found that at the bare minimum, Rp 3.49 million per month was needed to live in the capital in 2016. By calculating other components including inflation outlook and economic growth, the labor unions eventually decided that the minimum wage should be set at Rp 3.83 million.

The administration has yet to reach a decision as the meeting ended in a deadlock, said the head of the Manpower and Transmigration Agency Priyono, adding that another meeting would be held next week. The Jakarta administration must set the minimum wage by early November. "If next week we still disagree on the amount, we will just propose two options and the governor will choose between them," said Kadin Jakarta deputy head Sarman Simanjorang.

Sarman said he hoped Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama would use the amount suggested by the employers, as their calculations had a legal basis.

"Basically, we set the amount based on a regulation stipulated by the government, so we expect the governor to be consistent in upholding the rule," he said.

Meanwhile, Jayadi, the workers' representative at the meeting, said they were aware they were facing an uphill battle. He said workers knew Ahok must uphold the regulation, but they insisted that the governor was chosen by the people and should hear the people's aspirations.

Previously, Mirah Sumirat, president of the Indonesian Workers Association (ASPEK), said Jakarta should have the highest minimum wage as it played a large role in the nation's economy.

The fact that the capital had a lower minimum wage than its satellite cities, including Bekasi and Karawang in West Java, was unacceptable, she said. Bekasi city's 2016 minimum wage is Rp 3.32 million, while the current minimum wage in Karawang is Rp 3.33 million.

"It clearly shows that the city administration and businesspeople pay little attention to workers' conditions. The survey results should play an important role in determining next year's minimum wage," she said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/10/13/workers-insist-using-cost-living-survey-pay-raise.html

Workers demand wage rise after unions' survey findings

Jakarta Post - October 11, 2016

Indra Budiari, Jakarta – When monthly bills arrive at Nursahid's home, so does a headache.

Having worked as a factory worker in East Jakarta for more than 10 years, the 44-year-old knows more than anyone that his Rp 3.1 million (US$239) monthly salary is barely enough for himself, his wife and their two children's livelihoods.

The city administration is expected to set the 2017 city minimum wage soon, where Nursahid, as well as other members of the Jakarta Labor Movement, want to see the minimum wage raised to Rp 3.83 million as proposed by the labor unions from the current Rp 3.1 million.

With a monthly house rent of Rp 600,000 and daily transportation costs of Rp 50,000 for himself and his children to go to school, Nursahid has placed high hopes on the wage increase.

"The Rp 3.1 million is not even my basic salary. It is the total amount I bring home every month to sustain my wife and children's survival," he told The Jakarta Post on Monday. "My only chance to get a raise is with an increased minimum wage."

A survey of the basic cost of living (KHL) carried out by the Jakarta Labor Movement, an organization comprising 21 workers unions in Jakarta, in September found that at the bare minimum, Rp 3.49 million per month was needed to live in the capital in 2016. And with calculating other components including inflation outlook and economic growth, the movement ultimately recommended that Rp 3.83 million should be set as the minimum wage.

The recommendation would be submitted to a Jakarta tripartite wage committee meeting representing the city administration, employers and workers that will be held at City Hall on Wednesday. The annual meeting determines the minimum wage every year.

For Mirah Sumirat, the Indonesian Workers Association (ASPEK) president, the fact that Jakarta had a lower minimum wage than its satellite cities including Bekasi and Karawang in West Java was unacceptable. Bekasi City's 2016 minimum wage is Rp 3.32 million, while the current minimum wage of Karawang is Rp 3.33 million.

She said as the capital city, Jakarta should have the highest minimum wage as it held a large role in the nation's economy.

"It clearly shows that the city administration and businesspeople have paid less attention to workers' conditions. The survey's result should play an important role in determining next year's minimum wage," he said.

However, the unions were aware the chances of having the KHL survey taken into consideration during the committee meeting was quite low as the controversial Government Regulation (PP) No. 78/2015 on minimum wage increases had replaced the survey's formula with the fiscal year's inflation and gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate as determining factors.

The controversial regulation has been strongly protested by workers for putting the state of the economy ahead of accommodating their basic needs.

Jakarta Manpower and Transmigration Agency head Priyono said as the government regulation no longer used the survey officially to determine the minimum wage, it was unlikely that the committee meeting would take it into consideration.

He said the labor unions should not worry too much and believed that the meeting could reach a middle ground between them and businesses.

The 2016 Jakarta minimum wage does not completely follow the regulation as the city also takes into account a basic cost-of-living survey of 84 basic commodities and other daily needs of workers.

However, Priyono added that this was the case because the regulation was issued after the administration set the 2016 minimum wage. "I don't think it will happen again this year," he said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/10/11/workers-demand-wage-rise-after-unions-survey-findings.html

Lawmakers drag feet on domestic workers bill

Jakarta Post - October 8, 2016

Moses Ompusunggu, Jakarta – There is only a slim chance that domestic workers in the country will be free from various kinds of mistreatment if there is no legal umbrella to improve their protection, labor activists have said.

The Coalition for Protection of Domestic and Migrant Workers (KA-PPRTBM) said both the government and the House of Representatives had made initiatives to provide regulations to safeguard domestic workers nationwide, but moves were lacking to make their commitments a reality.

KA-PPRTBM secretary general Agus Toniman said it had been five years since then president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono told the International Labour Conference (ILC) in Geneva, Switzerland, that Indonesia would support the International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention No. 189 on decent work for domestic workers. There had been no concrete action to ratify it so far.

Meanwhile, little progress has been made since the House listed a domestic worker protection bill in the National Legislation Program in 2004. Recently, lawmakers decided to drop the bill from its 2015-2019 priority at the 11th hour, Agus said.

"It is important to create a legal umbrella to protect domestic workers, before going into details, such as how to set out their salary standard," Agus said during a visit to The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.

According to the National Network for Domestic Workers Advocacy (Jala PRT), more than 10.7 million domestic workers in Indonesia need a law that stipulates their rights and entitlements.

KA-PPRTBM vice secretary-general Siti Nurrohmah said the country was in dire need of having a specific law on protection for domestic workers, as their rights and entitlements were not regulated in the 2003 Labor Law due to their status as informal laborers.

The KA-PPRTBM recorded at least six problems that have worsened conditions for domestic workers: employers' refusal to pay worker salaries, the absence of a written working agreement, unlimited work hours, lack of holidays, human trafficking and sexual abuse.

In the 2016 Global Slavery Index, Indonesia ranks 39th with nearly 0.3 percent of people, equal to around 736,000 individuals from its population of 252 million people, trapped in slavery.

Jala PRT data showed there were 408 cases of domestic workers' mistreatment nationwide last year. During the first five months of the year, this figure amounted to 170 cases.

Recently, United Development Party (PPP) politician Fanny Safriansyah aka Ivan Haz, the son of former vice president Hamzah Haz, made headlines for allegedly abusing a 20-year-old domestic worker. The Central Jakarta District Court sentenced Fanny, who had been dismissed from his position as a House legislator following the case, to one year and six months behind bars.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/10/08/lawmakers-drag-feet-domestic-workers-bill.html

Political parties & elections

Police promise to immediately investigate Ahok

Jakarta Post - October 14, 2016

Callistasia Anggun Wijaya, Jakarta – Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Mochamad Iriawan has promised to immediately investigate Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama for alleged blasphemy.

He made the promise in front of thousands of members of Islam Defenders Front (FPI) and other civil organizations who had marched from the Istiqlal Grand Mosque to the National Police Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim) office and City Hall.

"The Bareskrim chief says the case will be processed," he said while standing on a vehicle belonging to protesters parked in front of City Hall on Friday afternoon.

Bareskrim head Comr. Gen. Ari Dono previously said the police would investigate Ahok in regard to the allegation. The police have questioned witnesses and gathered evidence regarding the allegation.

"We will interrogate Ahok," he told protesters in front of the Bareskrim office in Central Jakarta.

A massive demonstration against Ahok required traffic to be diverted on Friday afternoon. All vehicles heading toward Jl. Medan Merdeka Selatan were directed to Jl. Medan Merdeka Timur and Jl. Medan Merdeka Utara.

Ahok reportedly told people in Thousand Island regency not to be "deceived" by those who try to tackle him by citing Quranic verse Surah al-Maidah: 51. He later apologized for his statement and said he had meant no harm. However, hard-liners insist an apology is not enough. (ags)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/10/14/police-promise-to-immediately-investigate-ahok.html

Non-Muslim electable: NU, Muhammadiyah

Jakarta Post - October 14, 2016

Safrin La Batu, Jakarta – Muhammadiyah and Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), the two largest Islamic organizations in the country, have made it clear that they are neutral in the Jakarta gubernatorial election and have never issued any religious edict banning their followers from voting for a non-Muslim.

The two organizations, widely touted as the nation's voice of religious moderation, made the statements amid rising religious sentiment in the gubernatorial race, in which, for the first time ever, a Christian of Chinese descent is a frontrunner.

More than 95 percent of eligible voters in the city are Muslims. According to many pollster forecasts, Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama is likely to garner the most votes, though he may not be able to win in a single round. The 2007 Jakarta Administration Law stipulates that contenders must garner more than 50 percent of votes to win the poll.

Muhammadiyah secretary-general Abdul Mut'i told The Jakarta Post that a number of Muslims who held a gathering at the Istiqlal Mosque in Central Jakarta last month, during which they called on Muslims not to vote for Ahok, did not represent the whole Muslim population.

"People attending the [Istiqlal] meeting stated their opinion in their capacity as individuals. They do not represent their organizations," he said.

The meeting was attended by former Muhammadiyah chairman and senior National Mandate Party (PAN) politician, Amien Rais, who has been rallying against Ahok.

PAN, along with the National Awakening Party (PKB), the United Development Party (PPP) and the Democratic Party, has given its support to the Agus Yudhoyono-Sylviana Murni pair in the race.

Abdul said that Muhammadiyah, which has hundreds of schools in the capital, gave its members the freedom to vote for a candidate based on their personal considerations.

NU supreme council leader Ahmad Ishomuddin argued that his organization respected Ahok's constitutional right to contest the election.

"If we prohibit [the people from voting for a non-Muslim] that means we are barring a [Their] candidate from [his or her] political right to be elected, whereas that is their right protected by the Constitution," he said.

Ahok has won the hearts of many middle-class Jakartans with his no-nonsense attitude, integrity and capability as a leader. But the rising religious sentiment in the lead-up to election has put his electability on the line.

A number of Islamic groups and popular preachers have warned Muslims against electing a non-Muslim in the election by citing a verse from the Quran.

The verse, from Al-Maidah 51, reads: "O ye who believe! Take not the Jews and the Christians for your friends and protectors: They are but friends and protectors to each other. And he amongst you that turns to them (for friendship) is of them. Verily Allah guideth not a people unjust."

Some Muslims, including the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), have interpreted the verse as God's order for Muslims not to vote for a Christian leader such as Ahok.

The word awliya, which is translated as "protectors" in the above translation by Abdullah Yusuf Ali, is rendered as pemimpin-pemimpin, or leaders, in the official Indonesian translation of the Quran.

Both NU and Muhammadiyah said that the interpretation of the verse is not monolithic, admitting that some ulemas have different takes on the verse.

The organizations acknowledged, however, that the verse did not necessarily mean that Muslims could not vote for a non-Muslim during elections.

The verse, according to a number of Muslim scholars, was revealed to Prophet Muhammad during a time of war and the first followers of Islam were banned from taking non-Muslims as protectors.

Ahmad said that lay Muslims should consult the experts about the interpretation of the verse before using it as a guide in exercising their political rights.

"We do not have [an official interpretation of the verse], Abdul said, adding that Muhammadiyah members could follow any interpretation they thought was correct.

The verse has been a hot topic on social media recently, mainly due to a video of Ahok criticizing the people who use the verse to attack him. His statement – that some Muslims were "deceived by Al-Maidah 51" – created uproar in some sections of the Muslim community as it was perceived as religious defamation.

A number of Islamic organizations, including the Islam Defenders Front (FPI), will hold a major rally in Jakarta on Friday. Thousands of Muslims from Greater Jakarta, who are demanding that Ahok be charged with blasphemy, are expected to attend the rally. (adt)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/10/14/non-muslim-electable-nu-muhammadiyah.html

Prabowo, Anies put their past behind them

Jakarta Post - October 13, 2016

Jakarta – Gerindra Party leader Prabowo Subianto said differences in politics did not always have to be resolved in a serious manner, but could be ironed out over a plate of fried rice.

"When Gerindra and the PKS [Prosperous Justice Party] decided to endorse Anies Baswedan and Sandiaga Uno for the 2017 Jakarta gubernatorial election, some people began to bring up the past. I am sure that since Anies tasted my fried rice, he loves me now," Prabowo said during a meeting of the Anies-Sandiaga campaign team in Jakarta on Tuesday, as quoted by the Antara news agency.

Prabowo was referring to Anies' position during the 2014 presidential campaign, when Anies was working for Prabowo's rival, now President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo. Anies at the time called the Prabowo camp's campaign "unhealthy" and said Prabowo was endorsed by "mafioso".

Prabowo said the process to rally behind Anies and Sandiaga had not been easy. It required everyone to exercise magnanimity and statesmanship before all could accept Anies and Sandiaga.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/10/13/national-scene-prabowo-anies-put-their-past-behind-them.html

Police start probing Ahok in defamation case

Jakarta Post - October 12, 2016

Jakarta – The National Police's Criminal Investigation Department has launched an investigation into defamation allegations lodged against Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama.

Police investigators questioned witnesses from Thousand Islands regency, where the governor made a comment on Surah al-Maidah, verse 51 of the Quran, during a visit on Sept. 28.

In his speech, Ahok said, "In your inner hearts, ladies and gentlemen, you may not want to vote for me, because [you have been] deceived into [applying] Surah al-Maidah, verse 51, etc. That is your right. So you do not need to feel uneasy if you cannot vote for me, because you are afraid of being condemned to hell, as you are being fooled. It is alright."

National Police general crimes unit director Brig. Gen. Agus Andrianto said that investigators had since Monday questioned a number of people who had reported the case to the police.

"The investigators were in Thousand Islands regency to question witnesses, because that is the location," Agus said in Jakarta on Wednesday, as reported by tribunnews.com, adding that his office also had a recording of Ahok's speech on the island to be analyzed.

He said the police would seek an explanation from linguists in connection with Ahok's statement. "I have written a letter to the National Police's Forensics Laboratory. A linguist will be consulted to establish if there is an insult connotation [in the speech]," he added. (bbn)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/10/12/police-start-probing-ahok-in-defamation-case.html

Religious defamation won't affect Ahok's electability: Analyst

Jakarta Post - October 12, 2016

Callistasia Anggun Wijaya, Jakarta – The religious defamation issue will not affect Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama's electability in the gubernatorial election, a political analyst has said.

The religious issue which arose after Ahok talked about a Quran verse will only ignite religious sentiments among radical groups, but it will not affect the moderate Muslims, said Sirojudin Abbas program director of Saiful Mujani Research and Consulting (SMRC) on Wednesday in Jakarta.

"The number of radical Muslims in Jakarta is not significant, only 12 to 15 percent of voters. Although the issue has developed in the public sphere, I don't think this will make voters change their minds in supporting [Ahok]," Sirojudin said on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, an Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) official announced that Ahok had committed blasphemy when the governor said people are being deceived [by using] Surah al-Maidah: 51 of the Quran during his visit to Thousand Islands.

However, Sirojudin believes that MUI's statement was not an issue for Ahok's candidacy. "MUI is not the single authority in interpreting religious teaching. Even if MUI issues fatwa, it won't sway Muslim voters because it is only MUI's opinion," he said.

He added Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) has interpreted Ahok's statement differently. NU said that Ahok did not commit blasphemy with his statement. (bbn)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/10/12/religious-defamation-wont-affect-ahoks-electability-analyst.html

Election pollsters told to be objective and independent

Jakarta Post - October 11, 2016

Safrin La Batu, Jakarta – As the Jakarta election draws near, pollsters are releasing their survey results to help candidates understand public opinion of them while of course promoting their names at the same time.

However, survey results have often differed from one firm to another, causing suspicion about the independency of the pollsters.

A survey released last week by the Indonesian Survey Circle (LSI), for example, showed that young voters would flock to Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono and his running mate Sylviana Murni in next year's election.

These results conflicted with the one released previously by Public Opinion and Policy Research (Populi), which showed Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama and his running mate Djarot Sjaiful Hidayat as having the highest electability rating among young voters, with Agus ranking last.

The LSI survey, held from Sept. 28 to Oct. 2, showed that 33.80 percent of voters aged 19 or below would vote for Agus compared to only 27.80 percent of the 440 respondents involved in the survey who preferred Ahok, in last place. Meanwhile, former culture and education minister Anies Baswedan and his running mate businessman Sandiaga Uno ranked second with 30.80 percent opting for him.

For the age cluster ranging from 20 to 29, the LSI survey showed that while Agus still led, Ahok and Anies switched positions. Agus was chosen by 28.10 percent of the respondents in that age group, followed by Ahok and Anies with 22.80 percent and 21.10 percent, in second and third place, respectively. Populi's survey, however, showed that 46.7 percent of young voters aged between 17 and 25 would vote for Ahok, followed by Anies with 28.3 percent and Agus with 13.3 percent.

Ikrar Nusa Bhakti, senior researcher at the Indonesian Institute of Knowledge (LIPI), doubted the survey by LSI, claiming it was ordered by a candidate. "The survey by LSI was held by a consultant of a candidate," Ikrar said right after the release of the survey on Friday as quoted by Antara.

Ikrar pointed out, for example, that while the survey claimed that the majority of Muslim voters, 55 percent of them, up from 40 percent in March, would likely avoid Ahok, it also found Ahok to be favored by 27.7 percent of Muslim voters, compared to only 22.8 percent for Anies and 20.6 percent for Agus.

"So is this survey independent or was it paid to influence opinion?" he questioned. LSI has claimed that its survey was self-funded.

On Monday, Jakarta General Elections Commission head Sumarno said that in order to keep pollsters objective and non-partisan later during the campaign period, his commission would require all pollsters wanting to make a poll to be registered at his commission.

LSI's survey also showed a different result with the polling previously held by Saiful Mujani Research and Consulting (SMRC) about how sectarian issues would influence voters in the election.

While LSI argued that sectarian issues, despite being considered bad for democratic progress, played a significant role in influencing voters' decisions in the election, SMRC said religious and ethnic sentiments alike would not impact voters as people living in Jakarta are predominantly rational voters who base their decisions on candidates' performances rather than on primordial things like ethnic and religious backgrounds.

SMRC recently told The Jakarta Post that only around 12 percent to a maximum 20 percent of all voters would be influenced by religious sentiments.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/10/11/election-pollsters-told-be-objective-and-independent.html

Young voters may not be swayed by religious sentiment

Jakarta Post - October 10, 2016

Agnes Anya, Jakarta – The gubernatorial race is particularly challenging for young voters in Jakarta, with the religion card being played by certain groups and the nation's political elites doing whatever they can to win the city, now seen as a key to victory in the 2019 general elections.

Yohana, a 22-year-old student at the National University, said she had discussions with her friends and also her father before deciding that she would vote for the incumbent candidate, Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama.

"As a Muslim, I am actually quite devout. Aside from that, my religion clearly prohibits us from electing leaders who are not Muslims," she told The Jakarta Post over the weekend. "However, if we separate religion from Ahok's actual performance, he has been competent as a governor."

Ahok, who remains the candidate to beat in the race, is a Christian. With his running mate and deputy, Djarot Saiful Hidayat, he has been focusing his political campaign on reminding Jakarta voters of his achievements as governor.

Yohana said she was at first interested in the Anies Baswedan-Sandiaga Uno pair. Anies, a renowned academic and a former education and culture minister, is a high-profile figure widely known for his integrity. But she said even Anies had failed to change her mind, as she believed Ahok was still the right man for the city's top job.

Another young voter, Azara Mahdaniar, 21, had also considered Anies but she said she doubted whether "Anies could be as firm as Ahok" and ended up supporting the incumbent.

"In a range from one to five, I would opt for five in my confidence about my choice. I hope in their hands, Jakarta will become more developed," said Azara, a resident of Radio Dalam, South Jakarta.

First-time or younger voters, who make up between 13 and 25 percent of the 7 million eligible voters, could determine the outcome of the election, according to some pollsters.

According to recent data from the Jakarta General Elections Commission (KPUD), about 400,000 Jakartans aged between 17 and 20 will vote for the first time in February's election. It is possible this number could increase as the voters' list will be updated before being finalized on Oct. 27, KPUD Jakarta chairman Sumarno said.

Meanwhile, a July survey conducted by Jakarta-based pollster Saiful Mujani Research and Consulting (SMRC) found that young voters aged between 17 and 25 would be likely to account for about 25 percent of total eligible voters.

These young voters have been described as "rational" and not taking religion or race into consideration in choosing a governor. They are more concerned with issues related to job creation, education access, mobility and corruption eradication, SMRC survey executive director Djayadi Hanan said.

A number of pollsters have shown different results regarding young voters' preferences in the election.

A survey by Public Opinion and Policy Research (Populi) predicted that 46.7 percent of young voters aged between 17 and 25 were likely to vote for Ahok-Djarot, followed by Anies-Sandiaga with 28.3 percent and Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono-Sylviana Murni with 13.3 percent.

The Indonesian Survey Circle (LSI) found a different result, placing Agus-Sylviana as the most electable candidates among young voters with 33.8 percent, followed by Anies-Sandiga with 30.8 percent and Ahok-Djarot with 27.8 percent.

The LSI survey claims that Ahok's electability has declined mainly as a result of the emergence of Anies and Agus as his rivals and the rise of religious sentiment in the election.

Several Muslim groups have reported the governor for blasphemy after a video showing him citing a verse from the Quran went viral on social media.

In the video, Ahok was commenting on people who have been using the Quran to discourage voters from voting for him. The objectors claim his statements were an attempt to defame Muslims' holy book.

Yohana said she was aware of the uproar. "I'm also upset as a Muslim. He should not have said that, as if there were no other things to say. However, I don't know if I can choose any of the other candidates."

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/10/10/young-voters-may-not-be-swayed-religious-sentiment.html

Ahok apologizes to Muslims for alleged defamation

Jakarta Post - October 10, 2016

Callistasia Anggun Wijaya, Jakarta – Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama has offered his apology to Muslims who were offended by his statement related to a verse of the Quran.

"I want to apologize to Muslims or other people who feel offended. I never intended to insult Islam or the Quran," Ahok said at City Hall on Monday. Several organizations reported Ahok to the police, accusing him of religious defamation.

Ahok said he was not anti Islam and cited some of his policies that he said had benefited Muslims, such granting permits for Islamic schools, providing Jakarta Smart Cards (KJP) to the students and building a mosque in the City Hall complex.

He added that during his speech made in the Thousand Islands on Sept. 27, in which he mentioned Surah al-Maidah, verse 51 of the Quran, the residents were not insulted. "They even laughed while listening," he said.

The former East Belitung regent said he regretted that his statement had created public uproar and hoped that the issue would soon come to an end.

In part of his speech, Ahok said, "In your inner hearts, Bapak/Ibu may not vote for me, because [you have been] lied to by [using] Surah al-Maidah, verse 51, etc. [...] So, if you cannot vote for me because you are afraid of being condemned to hell you do not need to feel uneasy as you are being fooled. It is alright." (bbn)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/10/10/ahok-apologizes-to-muslims-for-alleged-defamation.html

Facebook user reported to police for alleged smear campaign against Ahok

Jakarta Globe - October 9, 2016

Jakarta – An organization calling itself the Community of Young Advocates for Ahok-Djarot, or Kotak Adja, has filed a police report against Buni Yani, the Facebook user who allegedly maliciously altered a videotaped speech by Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama before uploading it to the social media platform.

The video resulted in widespread upheaval on social media. "We have officially reported Facebook account owner B.Y. to the Jakarta Police," Kotak Adja chairman Muannas Alaidid said at the Jakarta Police headquarters on Friday (07/10).

According to Muannas, the alleged perpetrator had misinterpreted Ahok's speech and edited it to conform to his own politically biased perception and interpretation.

"We have observed the developments on the viral video related to Ahok-Djarot, which triggered a polemic in the community. The result of our investigation shows that this originated from the Facebook account belonging to B.Y.," he added.

The video was uploaded after being heavily edited from its initial duration of one hour and 48 minutes to only 31 seconds. "We have gathered the original evidence, as well as the 31-second video. It was edited and captioned with provocative lines," Muannas said.

Although the original posting had been erased from the Facebook user's account, Kotak Adja has based its complaint on the Law on Electronic Transaction Information to prevent further developments that might trigger hate and prejudice among the public.

The Facebook user reportedly also indicated support for one of the other gubernatorial candidates by posting a registration form for the candidate pair online. "This is why we believe that this was part of a 'black campaign' by a certain candidate pair to attack another pair," Muannas added.

The organization has urged the police to take over the investigation and arrest the alleged perpetrator.

The video contains short footage of Ahok making a speech, which was edited to show the governor defaming a verse from the Quran during a dialog with residents of the Thousand Islands.

Several groups have apparently tried to report Ahok to the Jakarta Police, under the assumption that he committed religious defamation and blasphemy.

Source: http://jakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/facebook-user-reported-police-alleged-smear-campaign-ahok/

Sectarian attacks mount in local poll

Jakarta Post - October 8, 2016

Safrin La Batu, Jakarta – The Jakarta gubernatorial race has become dangerously sectarian after Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama, a Christian of Chinese descent, was accused of defaming the Quran, the holy book of Islam, the religion professed by a majority of Jakartans.

The governor, who attended Islamic schools for nine years, has denied the accusation, saying that he meant to criticize the people who abused the Quran to attack him and not the holy book itself.

But a number of Muslim groups, including Muhammadiyah, the nation's second largest Islamic organization, rejected his clarification and decided to report him to the Jakarta Police to have him charged with blasphemy.

The uproar broke out after a video showing Ahok speaking to a group of fishermen in Thousand Islands regency went viral on social media.

In the video, Ahok told the fishermen that they did not have to vote for him in the election because his programs would continue regardless of the result of next year's election.

He said it would even be fine with him if any in the audience believed that voting for a non-Muslim like him was forbidden by their religion.

"Don't believe those people. It is possible that deep in [your] heart you cannot vote for me. [You are] deceived [by other people] using Al-Maidah 51 and other things," he said, referring to a verse in the Quran used by some Muslims to discourage people from supporting him.

According to the English translation of Abdullah Yusuf Ali, the verse in question reads: "O ye who believe! Take not the Jews and the Christians for your friends and protectors: They are but friends and protectors to each other. And he amongst you that turns to them (for friendship) is of them. Verily Allah guideth not a people unjust."

The verse has long been a subject of debate among Muslim scholars. Some of them have argued that the verse should not be taken literally, as it usually is, but contextually.

Muslim scholar Akhmad Sahal, for example, has argued that the verse was revealed to the prophet during a time of war and it should be understood in that context.

Nevertheless, some preachers in the capital have been using the verse as scriptural grounds to ban Muslims from electing a non-Muslim, specifically Ahok in this election.

In his defense, Ahok compared his statements to Muslims' criticism of the Islamic State (IS) group, the ultra-radical terrorist movement that has shocked the world with its extreme interpretation of the Quran and prophetic traditions.

"Is IS [trying to] fool us by using different verses [from the Quran]? It clearly is. So, if we are saying that [members of] IS are deviants because they are [trying to] fool us with verses from the Quran, are we insulting the Quran?" the governor said as quoted by Antara News Agency on Friday.

"Those who have insulted and defamed the Quran are the IS members. To me, those who are racist and cowards are the ones who insulted the Quran," he added.

A group calling itself the Forum Against Religious Defamation (FUPA) filed a police report against Ahok with the Jakarta Police on Friday. "We are protesting against Ahok, who insults Islam by saying that Al-Maidah is fooling [people]," FUPA coordinator Syamsu Hilal Chaniago said.

Before FUPA, another group also filed similar reports with the National Police. Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Boy Rafli Amar said the force would study the reports.

Zainut Tauhid Sa'adi, vice chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), has called on Ahok to apologize for his statements, saying that it is unethical for the governor to comment on other people's faiths.

Ahok's nomination in the Jakarta gubernatorial race is a historic moment in the nation's political history. He has gained significant support from the city's Muslim constituents despite his race and religion.

A survey released on Friday by the Jakarta-based Indonesian Survey Circle (LSI) showed that religious sentiments surrounding the election had to some degree influenced public opinion on the poll.

The number of Muslim voters who believe a non-Muslim cannot lead a Muslim community had increased to 55 percent in September, up from 40 percent in March, according to the survey. Muslim voters in Jakarta account for 90 percent of more than 7 million registered voters.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/10/08/sectarian-attacks-mount-in-local-poll.html

Only one new political party passes legal verification process

Jakarta Globe - October 8, 2016

Jakarta – The Indonesian Solidarity Party, or PSI, was the only new political party to pass a verification process by the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights to become a legal body, while four others have failed.

"Only one party passed; the Indonesian Solidarity Party," Justice Minister Yasonna Laoly said during a press conference in Jakarta on Friday (07/10).

Yasonna said other new political parties, namely the Idaman Party, the People's Party, the Sovereign People's Party and the Indonesian Working People's Party, have failed to fulfill the requirements of having a regional leadership structure in each province and in 75 percent of the districts or cities and 50 percent of the sub-districts, as mandated by the Law on Political Parties.

Only the PSI has met all the requirements, which also includes having a notarial deed and national headquarters. "Most of the parties failed to fulfill the administrative preconditions," the minister said.

Although the PSI is now a legal body, in order to participate in the 2019 general election it still needs to comply with the regulations set out by the General Elections Commission (KPU). There are 73 political parties in Indonesia that are recognized as legal entities by the Justice Ministry.

Source: http://jakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/one-new-political-party-passes-legal-verification-process/

Environment & natural disasters

Peatland fires rage across dozens of hectares in Riau

Jakarta Post - October 14, 2016

Rizal Harahap, Pekanbaru, Riau – Dozens of hectares of peatland in the Rangsang Timur district of Meranti Islands regency, Riau, are on fire despite the recent onset of the rainy season.

Meranti Islands Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) head Edy Afrizal said the fires had been raging for four days and did not only burn the bushes but also damaged rubber and coconut plantations belonging to local farmers. "We estimate the burned area is about 50 hectares," he said Friday.

Edy could not confirm the cause of the disaster but said the police had begun an investigation. "This repeated fire on peatland is very unfortunate, because we have dispersed enough information that everyone here knows setting fire to land is a crime punishable by jail," he said.

He added that a joint team of personnel from his office, the Indonesian Military and the National Police as well as locals was trying to extinguish the fires, but they were facing difficulties due to the lack of water and a strong wind blowing from the west, helping the fire spread. "Haze is emitting from the burning land," he said. (evi)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/10/14/peatland-fires-rage-across-dozens-of-hectares-in-riau.html

Health & education

Indonesians are not big readers – but is anything being done about it?

Indonesia at Melbourne - October 11, 2016

Lily Yulianti Farid – A recent report placed Indonesia 60th out of 61 countries in terms of interest in reading. The Central Connecticut State University study, "The World's Most Literate Nation" put Finland in top spot, with Australia ranking 12th. The former minister of education and culture, Anies Baswedan, cited the study at a reading competition in August, prompting another round of hand-wringing in the Indonesian media over the low interest in reading in the country.

The news was certainly nothing new. Previous studies have long pointed out poor reading habits among Indonesian people. The UN's education agency, Unesco, released an official statement in 2013 highlighting the fact that only 1 in 1,000 Indonesian people read books on a regular basis or for leisure.

Indonesia fares better for library infrastructure. The Central Connecticut State University study placed Indonesia equal 36th, ahead of even Germany, Portugal, New Zealand and South Korea. But while Indonesia might perform okay on library infrastructure, little has been done to make libraries interesting to visit. Collections are mostly old and dusty, and libraries do not hold regular events to engage with their communities. Most Indonesian families do not visit libraries for educational or recreational purposes and primary schools rarely make excursions to the local library.

In countries like Australia and Japan, among many others, local libraries function as community and social hubs. Parents can take their children to attend storytelling sessions or craft classes, and senior citizens can attend various short courses, activities and discussions.

In Scotland, whose capital, Edinburgh, was named Unesco's first City of Literature, the government has partnered with hospitals to send storybooks to newborn babies to welcome them to the world. Scottish Book Trust, the nongovernmental organisation responsible for running the program, sends a book to babies at three months, and then again on their first birthday. The program was introduced seven years ago to boost reading habits.

The function of libraries has shifted – they are not merely repositories for books but have an important role to play in building and strengthening their local communities and encouraging curiosity and creativity in learning. This is yet to happen in Indonesia. But that does not mean nothing is being done to respond to the reading crisis. While the government seems largely content to let libraries decline, plenty of reading communities, educators and ordinary people have taken up the challenge.

Take Nirwan Ahmad Arsuka, for example. His Libraries in Motion (Pustaka Bergerak Indonesia) network is bringing books to children in small villages across the archipelago. The premise is simple. According to Nirwan, children need to be introduced to fun literature that can unleash their imaginations – not just books from the state approved curriculum, which are often the only reading materials available in more isolated regions.

One of the first people to partner with Nirwan was Ridwan Sururi, from Serang, on the slopes of Mt. Slamet in Central Java. With a horse named Luna, Sururi visits local schools, letting children read books and play with Luna before the school starts. When news about Sururi's horse library went viral last year, others joined the movement.

One of these was Muhammad Ridwan Alimuddin, a marine researcher and activist in Tinambung, West Sulawesi. Ridwan has partnered with Nirwan to establish a boat library, named Pattingalloang, after a Bugis intellectual of the seventeenth century. It, too, blew up on social media. Books and donations flooded in, as people were touched by engaging photos of children in isolated coastal villages reading storybooks. Similar initiatives have now sprung up all over Indonesia, from a noken (Papuan traditional woven bag) library in Manokwari, Papua, to motorcycle libraries – even a tofu seller who doubles as a mobile library.

For the volunteers at Libraries in Motion, the latest data about poor reading habits was not a surprise. In cities and villages, children are more interested in playing with mobile phones and video games or watching television. In many cases these electronic devices are more accessible than storybooks. Even in areas where libraries are present, Libraries in Motion has focused on creative methods of community outreach. Mobile libraries transport books to places where the children and community usually gather – schoolyards, markets, public squares or mosques. They aim to create a new and fun, yet educational, atmosphere in public spaces.

"Now, parents love to join their children," Nirwan says. "At the beginning, they just came to touch the books, looking at the pictures, or picking up one or two old magazines. But now, they are staying longer, sitting down on the grass or by the beach, reading quietly."

Indonesia doesn't need ambitious dreams of becoming one of the world's great literary nations. Culturally, Indonesians have a very strong oral tradition, and the country is not going to transform into a nation of bookworms overnight. What Indonesia does need, however, is to recognise that creativity and innovation are urgently needed to address the reading crisis. It shouldn't just be left up to people like Nirwan and Ridwan.

[Dr Lily Yulianti Farid is an Indonesian journalist, communication specialist, and researcher, and is the founder and director of the Makassar International Writers Festival. She completed her PhD at the School of Social and Political Science, University of Melbourne, in 2015.]

Source: http://indonesiaatmelbourne.unimelb.edu.au/indonesians-are-not-big-readers-but-is-anything-being-done-about-it/

Gender & lgbt rights

Government shows anti-LGBT stance in global forum

Jakarta Post - October 14, 2016

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – The government's attempts to deny the rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community in the country with the world's largest Muslim population has now been taken to the global stage.

Indonesia has joined a group of 17 countries, including of conservative countries like Saudi Arabia, to block a plan to include the rights of LGBT communities in a new urban strategy drawn up by the UN.

The plan, aiming to acknowledge homophobia, was initiated by Canada and backed by the European Union, the US and Mexico. It is due to be finalized at a major UN conference in Ecuador next week.

The UN's "New Urban Agenda" is a non-binding agreement to address the challenges of rapidly growing cities globally and will be adopted at Habitat III in Quito, setting out guidelines for sustainable urban development over the next 20 years.

The recognition of LGBT communities and an acknowledgment of homophobia would be seen as a significant step by the UN with same sex relationships illegal in 76 countries around the world and punishable by death in at least seven.

However, Indonesia decided to block the plan as it is against the country's religious and moral norms, the Foreign Ministry said.

"Our constitution guarantees that no one is discriminated. In ensuring the rights in accordance to our constitution, we also have to respect religious values and social norms," the ministry's spokesman Arrmanatha Nasir told The Jakarta Post.

He insisted that the government had no intention to discriminate the LGBT community. "We're not discriminating," he said.

This is not the first time Indonesia has taken its fight against LGBT people to the international arena.

In June, Indonesia, along with 17 other countries, voted against the resolution on "violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI)", which was adopted at the 32nd Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva, Switzerland.

Human Rights Working Group (HRWG) executive director Muhammad Hafiz said the Indonesian government had been getting more active in opposing LGBT rights recently.

The activist said Indonesia's foreign diplomacy stance on LGBT people is a reflection of the country's current situation, where the entire LGBT community suffers from officially sanctioned public persecution, which the state started through numerous anti-gay statements made by public officials.

The increasingly hateful rhetoric shows no sign of abating. By openly persecuting LGBT people, the government and conservatives are trying to create a moralistic, religious state, he said.

"If the government wants to use religious and moral reasoning to base its policy on, then it's not a problem. But have they discussed it with the public? Has it become a general consensus?" Hafiz said.

Since there is no consensus on the matter yet, the Indonesian government should then not have used the religion card when it talked about LGBT issues in the global forum, he said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/10/14/government-shows-anti-lgbt-stance-global-forum.html

Indonesia bars LGBT job applicants for new youth position

BBC News - October 13, 2016

The Indonesian government has posted an advert for a new youth ambassador position that orders members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community not to apply.

The advert stipulates that the post is only open to applicants not involved in "sexually deviant behaviour". It says this must be proven with a doctor's certificate.

Critics have accused the government in effect of destroying the futures of creative young LGBT people. They have been barred from serving their country because of their sexuality, campaigners say.

Gay sex is not illegal in Indonesia, and the world's largest Muslim country has a vibrant transgender culture. It is a tradition which is broadly met tolerantly by the Indonesian public.

But in recent months there has been a hardening of attitudes against the LGBT community from the political elite, the BBC's Rebecca Henschke in Jakarta says.

Indonesia's anti-gay onslaught

The job advert says the right candidate needs to be "someone physically and mentally healthy who is not involved in... LGBT [activities]".

A government minister told the BBC the rules were mainly targeted at transgender people because applicants needed to choose whether they were male or female – and that all youth ministry events now had the same rules.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-37646999

Indonesia's unrelenting anti-LGBT campaign

Human Rights Watch Dispatches - October 13, 2016

Kyle Knight – The Indonesian government has done it again. Continuing a campaign of anti-LGBT vitriol that began in January, the Youth and Sports Ministry has banned lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people from entering the selection process for the "Creative Youth Ambassador" – a nation-wide effort to select a group of young people to promote creativity and competitiveness.

"We require someone physically and mentally healthy, not involved in promiscuity and sexually deviant behavior, including LGBT, which should be proven through a doctor's certificate," reads the ministry's notice.

The ministry's willingness to blend gratuitously discriminatory anti-LGBT rhetoric into an initiative ostensibly designed to boost youth employment is reprehensible.

The characterization of LGBT people as "deviant" flies in the face of international consensus on health standards regarding sexual orientation and gender identity – including LGBT non-discrimination pledges by psychologists in countries such as Turkey, Brazil, and the Philippines.

What is more, discriminating against an already marginalized minority flouts the government's human rights obligations and undermines Indonesia's international reputation as a place to do business – hardly a contribution that will boost the economy.

But discriminatory statements from government officials and agencies do more than just reflect poorly on the administration of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo.

Anti-LGBT statements by politicians and officials in 2016 ranging from the absurd to the apocalyptic have been accompanied by increased threats and violent attacks on LGBT activists and individuals – even a Muslim house of worship – primarily by militant Islamists.

In some cases, the threats and violence occurred in the presence, and with the tacit consent, of government officials or security forces. Government commissions and ministries proposed discriminatory and regressive anti-LGBT laws, and officials testified in a court case attempting to criminalize consensual adult same-sex behavior.

The Youth Ministry's announcement this week also echoes another menacing development allegedly aimed at tackling youth unemployment – a defense ministry and military-run training program called "Bela Negara," which surfaced in 2016, and seeks to train citizens to defend the nation against "proxy wars" and "perceived threats such as communism, drugs and homosexuality."

As more elements of the government bureaucracy join the noxious anti-LGBT chorus, the Jokowi administration's rhetoric about its commitment to diversity and pluralism is becoming a tired and hollow refrain.

Source: https://www.hrw.org/news/2016/10/13/indonesias-unrelenting-anti-lgbt-campaign

No light at end of tunnel for local LGBTs

Jakarta Post - October 12, 2016

Moses Ompusunggu, Jakarta – The Joko "Jokowi" Widodo administration continues to issue policies aimed at denying the existence of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community in the country despite its pledge to protect the rights of the vulnerable group.

After banning software applications designed for LGBT groups on the false allegation they are used to prey on children, the government has made it clear that it does not view homosexuals as role models.

The Youth and Sports Ministry has banned members of the LGBT community from entering the Pemilihan Duta Pemuda Kreatif 2016 (Creative Youth Ambassador Selection 2016), which is, according to its website, held to select youths from all provinces across the country to promote creativity as a way to improve competitiveness.

Other groups banned from the selection include people who have an affiliation with a political party and drug users.

The ministry stated that contestants must be "physically and mentally healthy, as well as not engaged in any promiscuity, including those who are members of the LGBT community." It even required contestants to submit a clearance letter from a doctor on their sexual orientation.

After being asked about the requirement, the ministry changed the wording by taking out the phrase "LGBT" as "it may hurt some people", but made it clear that the ban was still in place.

The ministry "can conclude whether or not the contestants are LGBT people" by interviewing them one by one, the ministry's deputy for creative youth enhancement Eni Budi Sri Haryani told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

She did not elaborate how, only saying: "We will not select sick people to become the creativity ambassadors. How can we choose those who are LGBT people or who are drug users for the big duty?"

Musician Berkah Gamulya, whose band Simponi often advocates protection for minority groups such as the LGBT community and children prone to sexual violence, lambasted the ministry's move to ban LGBT people from entering the selection, saying it was "a discriminative policy" that could curtail creativity in the country.

The ministry put out an "outrageously primitive" requirement for the selection, Berkah said, referring to the ban on LGBT people.

"It could make Indonesia lag further behind countries that treat people in the creative industry equally without discriminating them by their race or sexual orientation."

LGBT rights activist Hartoyo said it was likely that the ministry did not gather enough information before setting out the requirements, considering the fact that a lot of LGBT people were the main drivers in numerous fields in the creative industry, such as fashion and beauty art.

Hartoyo, director of Suara Kita, an NGO focusing on the promotion and protection of LGBT rights, said he and several activists were mulling over whether to ask the ministry to explain its rationale behind what he called the "strict and discriminatory" requirements of the selection.

Hartoyo added that it was not only the ban on LGBT people that activists considered an injustice. "The ministry requires youths to be physically and mentally healthy if they want to enter the selection. What about people with disabilities? There are also lots of them who are active in art and other activities that use creativity."

LGBT people in Indonesia have been facing attacks since early 2016, following a series of anti-LGBT remarks and discriminatory actions by government officials.

Following the attack, the LGBT community turned toward the medical community, hoping that their scientific explanations could set the record straight that homosexuality is not a contagious disease, as feared by the government and conservatives.

But instead, the Indonesia Psychiatrists Association (PDSKJI) labeled homosexuality and bisexuality as mental disorders, which it says can be cured through "proper treatment." The claim has been widely criticized by international medical circles.

The criticism was especially aimed at renowned psychiatrist and PDSKJI member Fidiansjah, who paraphrased diagnostic guidelines to support his statements that homosexuality was a mental health disorder.

While the Health Ministry had not issued an official statement, the ministry's health service accreditation and quality director, Eka Viora, said that homosexuality is not a psychological disorder.

Eka, who used to serve as the ministry's director of mental health, said that LGBT people are just like other at risk marginalized groups, such as migrants, prison inmates and people living with HIV/AIDS.

"Because they are discriminated and ostracized, they are therefore at risk. So it's not that they are having mental disorders, but that they are more prone to having mental disorders if they don't have the support system," said Eka, who is also the current head of the PDSKJI.

Eka, however, stressed that what she was saying is not the official stance of the Health Ministry.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/10/12/no-light-end-tunnel-local-lgbts.html

Graft & corruption

Environmental losses counted in graft probe

Jakarta Post - October 8, 2016

Haeril Halim and Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) will now include potential environmental losses in its indictments to show how damaging corruption can be, not only to the state's coffers, but also to the country's natural resources.

The antigraft body has claimed that a mining permit issued by a graft suspect, Southern Sulawesi Governor Nur Alam, may cost nearly Rp 3.5 trillion (US$269.5 million) in environmental losses.

This is the first time the KPK has used an audit of environmental losses in court to build a strong case against a graft defendant. This audit is expected to strengthen the antigraft body's separate audit of state losses, which is still ongoing, for the case.

The combination of state and environmental losses in the case aims at sending a message to state officials charged with corruption in the environmental sector about the magnitude of their alleged crimes.

KPK commissioner La Ode Muhammad Syarif said that the approximately Rp 3.4 trillion in losses consisted of the loss of sources of drinking water for local people and the loss of protected forest that had been used as a mining site.

"[The environmental losses] also cover the value of the absence of rehabilitation at the mining site. The KPK will pay special attention to corruption in the natural resource and environmental sectors in the future," La Ode told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.

The mining site had been operated by PT Anugrah Harisma Barakah for years and the KPK accused the company of channeling billions of rupiah of kickbacks to the governor's bank accounts to pay for Nur Alam's decision to issue the permit for Anugrah. The KPK revealed its assessment of the environmental losses during a pretrial hearing for Nur Alam on Wednesday.

Nur Alam's petition aimed to challenge the KPK's decision to name the governor a suspect, even though his administration in the past three years received a reasonable without exceptions (WTP) assessment from the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK).

The antigraft body has long targeted corruption in the environmental sector. It previously conducted a comprehensive study of the mining sector in 34 provinces in 2015 and found a number of irregularities that could have led to potential losses of hundreds of trillion of rupiah. The study, however, was never used against a graft defendant.

The KPK detected that 724 of 3,066 mining companies did not have tax identification numbers (NPWP) and many companies failed to report their taxes to the government.

"We found that as much as Rp 23.7 trillion of non-tax state revenue (PNBP) funds had yet to be paid by mining companies to the state," La Ode said.

The KPK charged Nur Alam with bribery after finding that billions of rupiahs sent to his bank accounts had allegedly come from PT Anugrah.

Nur Alam's case is not the first environment-related graft case that the KPK has handled.

In 2009, the KPK investigated former Pelalawan regent Tengku Azmun Jafar in Riau in a case involving the issuance of forestry permits to seven companies that Tengku allegedly owned in the region.

The KPK at that time did not calculate the environmental losses like it had done on Nur Alam's case. However, the KPK's calculations of state losses in Palalawan's case reached Rp 1.3 trillion.

Separately, the head of the legal and research department of the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi), Zenzi Suhadi, lauded the KPK's move to calculate environmental losses and potential economic losses in Nur Alam's case, saying that it would hold offenders in the natural resource sector more accountable for their actions.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/10/08/environmental-losses-counted-graft-probe.html

Terrorism & religious extremism

Supreme Court wants 'Guantanamo' article scrapped from terrorism bill

Jakarta Post - October 13, 2016

Marguerite Afra Sapiie, Jakarta – The Supreme Court has requested the House of Representatives Commission III overseeing legal affairs to scrap the so-called Guantanamo article from the draft revision of the 2003 Terrorism Law since it would compromise the fairness of the justice system.

Article 43A, which lawmakers and rights activists have called the "Guantanamo" article, would allow investigators and prosecutors to detain alleged terrorists, terrorist suspects, defendants and former terrorists, along with their families, in rehabilitation centers for six months without charge as a preventive measure.

The authoritarian article, should the bill be passed, would violate the principles of law in a democratic country, Supreme Court justice Salman Luthan said on Thursday.

"It violates human rights principles. If we are referring to [the fight against] international terrorism that says national security is above human rights, we have to criticize it. Moreover, our country is not in the middle of [a war against] terrorism," Salman said in a hearing with Commission III.

He also noted that terrorist suspects should be detained a maximum of 180 days as stipulated in the current law, rather than the 510 days after arrest as stipulated in the bill.

Meanwhile, the deputy chairman of the House's special committee for the law's amendment, Hanafi Rais of the National Mandate Party (PAN), agreed with Salman's suggestion, saying that the detention period should be the one stipulated in the Criminal Law Procedures Code (KUHAP).

"I also agree with the Supreme Court that the 'Guantanamo' article should be omitted," Hanafi told journalists after the hearing. (rin)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/10/13/supreme-court-wants-guantanamo-article-scrapped-from-terrorism-bill.html

Freedom of religion & worship

Minorities still fighting for places to worship

Jakarta Post - October 8, 2016

Indra Budiari, Jakarta – Religious minorities are continuing to struggle to find appropriate places to worship in Jakarta even though the capital is seen as the most tolerant city in the country.

Pressure from intolerant groups is ongoing and the city administration often finds itself powerless in dealing with such groups.

Recently, the South Jakarta mayor issued an official letter stating that no religious activities could take place at the Batak Karo Protestant Church (GBKP) in Tanjung Barat, Pasar Minggu.

The issuance of the letter was allegedly a response to protests from neighboring residents against activities at the GBKP because it lacked a building permit (IMB) for a church.

The church applied for an IMB in 2004. However, a year later the city administration issued an IMB for a home office, not a house of worship.

The absence of the license was used as grounds for protests by intolerant groups, which led to the closure of the church as demanded by the mayor's letter on Sept. 30.

Following the issuance of the letter, residents of Tanjung Barat's community unit (RW) 04 staged a rally, protesting "any church buildings" in their area.

The church's Pastor Penrad Siagia said Friday he had subsequently filed another letter with the Tanjung Barat district office to process the IMB. However, in August the district head told him that it would not be issued in the near future as most of the congregation came from outside of Tanjung Barat.

"Since then the permit issuance has gone nowhere. This is a result of the city administration's negligence," he told The Jakarta Post.

He added that the congregation had agreed to the South Jakarta mayor's advice to hold its next Sunday service at the Pasar Minggu District Office. However, he said he would still push the city administration to issue the appropriate IMB as soon as possible. "We have the right to hold Sunday services and we will fight for it," he said.

South Jakarta Mayor Tri Kurniadi said that as the church had yet to secure an IMB for a house of worship, it would be better for the congregation to avoid undertaking religious activities at the site.

Resistance from local residents, he said, would be a consideration for the city administration in deciding whether to issue the license. He added that he had received a petition with 500 signatures from people objecting to the church.

Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saefuddin also commented on the issue, saying he wanted the GBKP congregation and neighboring residents to understand and tolerate one another so that the congregation could continue to worship while the IMB was being processed.

Should the congregation and the residents fail to agree, the municipality has a responsibility to play a role in finding a concrete solution.

The Christian congregation is not alone in its struggle for a place of worship in Jakarta, with another incident that made headlines last year also leaning toward intolerant groups.

In July 2015, the Jakarta administration sealed a house in Bukit Duri, South Jakarta, that had been used as a place of worship by Ahmadiyah followers, after a crowd of locals objected to Friday prayers at the house and claimed the congregation had committed blasphemy against Islam.

Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama urged the South Jakarta administration not to seal the mosque, but a red notice remains on the property's fence 15 months later, while a banner opposing the minority group is still displayed nearby and no Friday prayers have taken place at the mosque since.

Aryudi Prastowo, head of Ahmadiyah's East Jakarta and Bukit Duri branch, said Friday that the congregation from the sealed mosque had become scattered across other Ahmadiyah mosques in Jakarta.

"It's the best that we avoid holding Friday prayers in Bukit Duri as there are still intolerant groups there and we don't want to fight violence with more violence," he said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/10/08/minorities-still-fighting-places-worship.html

Land & agrarian conflicts

Orang Rimba complain of 'eviction tactics'

Jakarta Post - October 13, 2016

Jon Afrizal, Jambi – The Orang Rimba in Terap, a forested plot of land that borders Sarolangun and Batanghari regencies, Jambi, claim it has since Saturday faced intimidation by a plantation company to leave the area.

The tribespeople claim the company sent thugs to intimidate and evict them. The only access road to their settlement was also closed and heavy equipment placed in the middle of the road, prompting them to complain to Governor Zumi Zola.

They went to the governor's office on Monday to ask the provincial administration to resolve the conflict so that they could live in the forest peacefully.

Tumenggung Ngamal, an Orang Rimba tribal leader, said the forest was a peranoon (birth place), a pusaron (graveyard) and a place to get married for the tribe. "Most importantly, the forest provides prey as the main source of sustenance for Orang Rimba," Ngamal said Monday.

In 2010, the forest that was customarily under the authority of four tumenggung (tribal leaders), namely Nyenong, Ngamal, Menyurau and Ngirang, was converted into a rubber plantation.

Because of the change, he said, his people could not leave the forest to sell forest products, nor take sick family members to the nearest community health center for medical treatment. "To get to Jambi we have to go in and out of fields," he said.

He added that the shelter that was built by the military in Terap that had functioned as a halfway house for health and education services for his group was no longer being resided in by Orang Rimba tribespeople.

"We have been evicted from that house," he said, expressing hope that the government would intervene and help the Orang Rimba live in the forest.

He also expressed hope that the plantation company would honor a 2015 agreement saying the Orang Rimba had rights over 114 hectares of land within the company's concession area to compensate for destroying their land.

Zumi said he would look for solution to the conflict. He also said the intimidation allegedly committed by the company was not right. "We will gather all related parties to find a solution to the conflict," he said.

The conflict emerged following the conversion of the forest into a rubber plantation in the early 2000s by the plantation company, which was awarded a concession for a production forest.

The company initially left untouched areas around the tribe's pusaron. The tribe opposed the conversion because it made it difficult for them to forage for food and live off the forest.

The tribe demanded compensation in the form of 114 hectares of the company's 7,000 ha concession area. A partnership scheme was also made to put an end to the conflict.

In 2015, following a series of deaths in the region, the Forestry and Environment Ministry and the Social Affairs Ministry emphasized the need for a living area and livelihood for Orang Rimba.

After a series of meetings at the residence of the Batanghari regent, an agreement was reached in March 2015, giving the Orang Rimba certainty about their right over the 114 ha of land within the company's concession area.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/10/13/orang-rimba-complain-eviction-tactics.html

Land disputes hamper investment in Lombok tourism

Jakarta Post - October 9, 2016

Panca Nugraha, Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara – Ownership claims by local residents to 135 hectares of land inside the Mandalika special economic zone (KEK) in Central Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), pose a challenge to investment in the designated tourism area.

"The 135 ha of land those people have laid claims to and that have not yet been cleared by developers are spread over 31 points, most of them strategic locations along coastlines. This is one of the obstacles to investment [in the KEK Mandalika]," the development director of Indonesia Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC), Edwin Darmasetiawan, said on Thursday.

ITDC, a state-owned enterprise, handles the development of the KEK Mandalika, which covers an area of 1,171 ha. Edwin stressed that ITDC, since 2008, held legal evidence as the holder of a land-use permit for the entire 1,171-ha area, in the form of a capital injection decree issued by the Finance Ministry.

He said ITDC had coordinated with the NTB administration to solve the problem. A team set up by the administration would collect data on land people had claimed. A string of meetings had brought together representatives of NTB and the Central Lombok administrations and the people.

"They agreed solutions on land disputes in several points during the meetings but no solution has been achieved yet in around 13 points, most of which are located in potential investment locations."

Edwin said ITDC and the NTB administration had sent a letter on the problem to State-owned Enterprises Minister Rini Soemarno. (ebf)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/10/09/land-disputes-hamper-investment-in-lombok-tourism.html

Governance & administration

Jokowi steps up fight against illegal levies

Jakarta Post - October 14, 2016

Haeril Halim and Margareth S. Aritonang, Jakarta – Wearing a worn-out shirt, a middle-aged man seemed agitated, pacing back and forth while repeatedly trying to call someone at the driver's license office in Daan Mogot, West Jakarta, on Thursday.

The man, who only wanted to be called Mikan, said he was trying to reach an official involved with the driver's license service who had promised to give him a new licence in one day, without the hassles of standing in long lines for registration or taking tests.

When he finally reached the official, who had offered a fast, but illegal way of obtaining a license for Rp 700,000 [US$54], he ended up being disappointed.

The official said he could not come out of the office and that "the service" would not be available for a while because of an inspection that had taken place at his office that day.

"Now I have to do it myself and have to wake up as early as 5 a.m. tomorrow to come early to this place to avoid long queues because I live far away from here," the resident of Cempaka Putih, Central Jakarta, told The Jakarta Post.

The government has announced that it will combat illegal levies that plague the public service as part of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's legal reforms.

A task force has been formed to curb illegal levies under the lead of Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Wiranto and the National Police by conducting raids on civil servants at government offices.

After announcing the legal reform plan on Wednesday, Jokowi witnessed the arrest of three Transportation Ministry officials who were accused of collecting illegal levies related to licensing services.

But considering the failure of similar special forces formed to combat illegal levies during previous administrations, questions remain about whether Jokowi would succeed.

Anticorruption activist Adnan Topan Husodo of the Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) said the New Order once had a similar team and later there was also a Timtas Tipikor (Corruption Eradication Team) formed before the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). Both of them failed to root out the culture of civil servants collecting illegal levies.

Notoriously known as one of the most corrupt government institutions, the National Police, the main institution that will shoulder the gargantuan task, has also been accused of such practices.

Officials at the police's vehicle document registration center (Samsat), like the one in Daan Mogot, allegedly offer faster ways of attaining licenses to applicants who are willing to pay higher, unauthorized fees.

Driver's licenses attained through the normal process should only cost from Rp 100,000 to Rp 160,000, depending on the type of vehicle, but that process requires waiting in long queues and completing a series of tests. People like Mikan can apparently get a license more easily by paying more.

Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim) head Comr. Gen. Ari Dono Sukmanto said Jokowi would issue a presidential decree as the legal basis for the establishment of the task force.

"Officers involved in [collecting] illegal levies will face criminal charges. They will be severely punished," Ari said.

National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian has instructed all regional police forces to set up special teams to eliminate illegal levies.

If the operations turn up civil servants suspected of collecting illegal levies those bureaucrats, like the three accused at the Transportation Ministry, would be charged under the Corruption Law.

Economist Ari Kuncoro of the University of Indonesia criticized Jokowi's move to combat the small-time corruption.

He said the police alone would not be able to stop the practice as it was highly pervasive and mostly conducted by low-ranking officials. Ari said the only way to curb such a culture was by establishing an online system that was easy for citizens to use.

"Establishing an online system, which is easy to operate, will encourage citizens to avoid using the services of middlemen. It is better for the police to focus on curbing the larger-scale corruption that has hampered development and the economy," Ari said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/10/14/jokowi-steps-up-fight-against-illegal-levies.html

Five key points addressed in first legal reform package: Minister

Jakarta Post - October 12, 2016

Marguerite Afra Sapiie, Jakarta – The government will focus its first phase of the national legal reform package on five key points, which include eradicating illegal fees and smuggling, accelerating public services and permits and solving the overcapacity problem in prisons, a senior minister has said.

Explaining further, Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Wiranto said in an effort to eradicate illegal fees and bribery involving public officers, the government aimed to set up a new online platform where citizens could submit their reports on officers suspected to have imposed extra fees in their public service deliveries.

Officials would be prepared to handle the matter; they would carry out follow up measures based on the reports, he explained.

Wiranto said the legal reform would also create programs to accelerate procedures in obtaining drivers' licenses, vehicle registration (STNK), vehicle ownership documents (BPKB) and police clearance letters (SKCK), concerning extra fees given to officers to speed up the processes.

"We will also push for corruption-free and transparent IT-based services for the registration of temporary stay permits and intellectual property rights. These will be included in the first phase of the reform package to accelerate comprehensive services," he said on Tuesday.

The minister said the legal reform package, the government would introduce in October, would also mandate the establishment of a task force to eradicate smuggling through sea routes, which will hopefully lead to maximal operations of small seaports. The goal with this measure is that the national economy would not be damaged by the circulation of illegal goods.

On the penitentiary revitalization, Wiranto said 80 percent of penitentiaries in Indonesia were at overcapacity. Therefore, the government planned to relocate some of the most problematic prisoners, of whom have been tried for committing extraordinary crimes, such as terrorism and drug smuggling.

He said there would be a special system for people found guilty of committing misdemeanors in which they did not need to undergo a legal process in court.

"There will be new and efficient mechanisms [to punish the offenders], such as imposing fines or using more persuasive methods, which aim to create a deterrent effect but without sentencing so the prison population can be reduced," Wiranto said. (ebf)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/10/12/five-key-points-addressed-in-first-legal-reform-package-minister.html

Transport & communication

Toll rates rise as road quality in spotlight

Jakarta Post - October 12, 2016

Viriya P. Singgih, Jakarta – Among the cars passing along the Prof. Dr. Ir. Sedyatmo toll road linking Jakarta and Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Banten, sits Fransiska Amelia, 22, who has to go through three toll road sections to get to her campus every day.

Spending almost Rp 50,000 (US$3.84) a day for a round trip from her home in Dadap to her campus in Gading Serpong, both in Tangerang, she considers the cost to be already too high, especially given what she considers to be the poor quality of the roads.

"At one point on the toll road, it gets bumpy like riding a horse as there are too many uneven road surfaces," said the final-year student of Multimedia Nusantara University.

So it came as bad news to her, and indeed many commuters around the Greater Jakarta area, that tolls on the Sedyatmo toll road are slated to increase by 7 to 16 percent, starting at midnight on Thursday.

Following suit in the near future is a toll increase for the busy Jakarta-Cikampek toll road, which connects the capital city and Bekasi and Karawang, both in West Java, which, like the Sedyatmo toll road, is also operated by state-owned Jasa Marga.

The planned toll increases for two of Greater Jakarta's major routes come despite user complaints about the road quality of thoroughfares in the capital city, which is hub to many economic activities.

"We'll add the extra from the toll increases to our capital expenditure, especially for road maintenance. So, it will eventually benefit the public," Jasa Marga finance director Anggiasari Hindratmo said.

For the Sedyatmo road, the toll for class I vehicles, including sedans and minivans, will rise to Rp 7,000 from Rp 6,000.

The toll is also adjusted upward across the board for class II vehicles to Rp 8,500 from Rp 7,500, for class III vehicles to Rp 10,000 from Rp 9,500, for class IV vehicles to Rp 12,500 from Rp 11,500 and for class V vehicles to Rp 15,000 from Rp 14,000.

While the Sedyatmo toll increase has been approved by the Public Works and Public Housing Ministry, the planned toll increase for the Jakarta-Cikampek toll road is still being assessed as the road quality may render it unfit for a price hike.

The ministry's Toll Road Regulatory Agency (BPJT) head Herry Trisaputra Zuna said the Sedyatmo toll road had passed the minimum service standards (SPM), which include the ability to maintain road quality, accessible toll gates and regular patrols, to name a few prerequisites.

"The Jakarta-Cikampek toll road has to be rid of uneven road surfaces and potholes. Also, we still can't overcome the overloading problem on that road," he added.

Jasa Marga spokesperson Dwimawan Heru argued that based on the Ministerial Decree No. 507/2015, toll increases for Sedyatmo and Jakarta-Cikampek were part of an adjustment for inflation within the past two years.

"The tolls for those two roads will be increased in line with the inflation rate," Heru said, citing data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) showing 9.79 percent inflation in the past two years in Jakarta and 8.13 percent in Bekasi.

"The government is still looking deep into our proposal for the Jakarta-Cikampek road. We hope it can be approved as soon as possible," he added.

However, Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI) chairman Tulus Abadi called on the BPJT to publish the SPM audit results so that the public could openly assess the quality of the toll road by themselves.

"Is it true that all of the service standards have been met by the operator? Only God knows," he said. "It's unfair because the public needs to know."

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/10/12/toll-rates-rise-as-road-quality-in-spotlight.html

Armed forces & defense

2017 defense budget set much lower than proposed by govt

Jakarta Post - October 14, 2016

Jakarta – Spending by the Defense Ministry and the Indonesian Military (TNI) next year is set to be much lower than proposed by the government, despite plans to establish military bases in Natuna, Riau Islands.

A draft for the 2017 state budget allocates Rp 104.58 trillion (US$8.3 billion) for defense, Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu said in Jakarta on Thursday, as quoted by the Antara news agency. That is barely half of the almost Rp 200 trillion suggested by the government.

Modernizing weaponry systems remained the main focus of the budget, he said, as a lot of TNI armament was outdated and no longer usable. The minister specifically mentioned combat and transportation aircraft as equipment that was most in need of renewal.

The construction of the military bases in Riau Islands would be another focus of the [ministry's] budget, Ryamizard added.

TNI commander Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo said last month that the government was currently finalizing plans to build military bases in Natuna for the Air Force, the Navy as well as the Army.

The bases, strategically located in one of the archipelago's outermost regions, were expected to be completed within three years, he said.

The 2017 state budget draft breaks defense spending down to 40 percent for routine expenditure, approximately 20 percent for spending on goods and the remainder for capital expenditure.

The House of Representative's Commission I, which oversees defense and foreign affairs, previously rejected the government's request during budget draft negotiations for defense spending amounting to 1.5 percent of the overall state budget, which would be approximately Rp 180-200 trillion. (liz/rin)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/10/14/2017-defense-budget-set-much-lower-than-proposed-by-govt.html

Criminal justice & legal system

Calls to abolish death penalty resonate

Jakarta Post - October 11, 2016

Margareth S. Aritonang – Family members and lawyers of convicts recall the confusion ahead of the executions in July amid current uncertainty and a lack of reliable information.

Uncertainty continues for the 10 convicts who received last minute stays of execution, as they remain in isolation cells on the Nuskambangan prison island in Cilacap, West Java. Merry Utami, the only female convict, is being housed at Cilacap Penitentiary.

Lawyers are concerned that the executions could take place any time because official execution notification letters issued by the Attorney General's Office (AGO) bear the signatures of the convicts.

"Unless the AGO formally revokes them, the notification letters are legally binding" said Merri's attorney, Ricky Gunawan of the Jakarta-based Community Legal Aid Institute (LBH Masyarakat).

Meanwhile, the attorney of death row inmate Pakistani Zulfiqar Ali, Saut Edward Rajagukguk, emphasized the "inhumane" decision of the AGO to keep Ali at Batu prison on Nusakambangan and its rejection of a request to transfer him to Jakarta for medical treatment. Ali was convicted of heroin possession and suffers from a serious illness.

"I am seriously worried about the condition of [Ali]. He really must get decent medical treatment in Jakarta, but my request for his transfer has been met with no response," Saut said.

In addition to Merry and Ali, the other convicts spared in the third round of executions were Indonesians Agus Hadi and Pujo Lestari; Nigerians Eugene Ape, Obina Nwajagu Bin Emeuwa and Okonkwo Nonso Kingsley; Zimbabweans Fredderikk Luttar and Ozias Sibanda; and Indian Gurdip Singh.

Indonesian Freddy Budiman and four Nigerians – Humprey Jefferson Ejike, Michael Titus Igweh and Seck Osmane faced the firing squad in the early hours of July 29 amid heavy rain. The four inmates were among the 18 individuals executed within two years of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo taking office in October 2014.

The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) recorded 35 death sentences issued in nine months since January this year. The majority of them were handed down for crimes related to drug trafficking, while 10 for murder and sex offenses.

Zero transparency and a corrupt judicial system remain the most cited problems to challenge Jokowi's unshaken belief in capital punishment to defend his war on drugs.

Activists further argued that the death sentence was handed down mostly to drug couriers, failing to punish their employers. The death penalty has also been seen a tool to garner support for Jokowi.

"If the government is really serious about a war on drugs, they should go after those running the drug syndicates, not helpless people like, for example Mary Jane," said Totok Yulianto of the Indonesian Drug Victim Advocacy Brotherhood (PKNI), referring to Philippine migrant worker Mary Jane Veloso, who received a stay of execution last year on account of an ongoing case in her home country.

"It is time for the government to evaluate the death penalty and see how it has failed to create a deterrent effect, as we continue to read news reports of confiscated drugs," said Totok

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/10/11/calls-abolish-death-penalty-resonate.html

Ministry focuses on drug prisoners in remission plans

Jakarta Post - October 10, 2016

Haeril Halim, Jakarta – The Law and Human Rights Ministry is focusing its attention on making it easier for drug convicts to get remission after President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo recently rejected a proposal to do so on graft prisoners.

The compromised solution is part of the ministry's plan to revise a 2012 regulation on remission for drug, terrorism and corruption convicts.

The revision currently excludes easing up remission requirements for drug and graft convicts after Jokowi's rejection due to urgencies related to the two crimes.

The number of graft cases remains high with convicted politicians still trying to run for office after having served time in prison.

The government and the House of Representatives are also deliberating revisions on the terrorism law, which is set on closer surveillance and investigations on suspected terrorists. The plan to make remission easier for terrorist convicts will contradict the escalating efforts to combat terrorism.

Earlier the ministry insisted that the plan be implemented on all convicts of the three extraordinary crimes to solve overcapacity problems in Indonesia's prisons, but it received strong criticism from members of the public after it failed to prove that convicts of graft and terrorist cases were majority occupants of prisons.

Reports show that 60 percent of the nearly 200,000 prisoners put in 477 penitentiaries, which have a maximum capacity of 118,000 inmates, are drug convicts, while the remaining portion comprises convicts of general crimes such as murder, thievery and fraud.

Additionally, data from the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) revealed that as of July 2016, the number of graft convicts is no more than 3,801 people in penitentiaries across the country.

Meanwhile, the National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) claims there are only around 204 terrorists being jailed as of February 2016.

Under the current regulation, convicts of graft, terrorist and drug cases have to work with law enforcement institutions with the justice collaborator requirement in order to be eligible for sentence cuts, but the ministry said that the regulation violated convicts' rights to get remissions.

The ministry wants to scrap the requirement in the draft revision of the 2012 regulation, making it easier for convicts to apply for sentence cuts.

"A number of law professors told us that overcapacity [in prisons] is not related to corruption cases. The point is the revision will focus on drug cases," said Akbar Hadi, a spokesperson from the Law and Human Rights Ministry's Directorate General of Penitentiaries.

Akbar said he had yet to hear from the team handling the law revision regarding the reasons behind the ministry's decision to also exclude convicts of terrorist cases in the revision plan.

"It is important to have a legal basis to justify a decision that convicts of drug cases don't have to fulfill the justice collaborator [requirement] for drug users, not for drug dealers," the spokesman said.

The ministry said the existence of tough requirements to get remissions for drug convicts has made them stay in prisons longer and that such a situation has worsened the country's prison overcapacity problems. "Prisons are also not an ideal place for drug convicts to undergo rehabilitation programs," he said.

The 2009 Narcotics Law introduced a rehabilitation program for drug users that would put them in rehabilitation centers instead of being sent to prison.

However, problems remain, according to the ministry, as many rehabilitation centers are not yet ready to house drug convicts, leaving the ministry with no choice but to still send drug users to prison.

Separately, the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) agreed with the ministry's plan, saying it could reduce the number of drug users in prisons in the future. "If that's the decision taken by the ministry then the BNN will comply with it," BNN spokesman Slamet Pribadi said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/10/10/ministry-focuses-drug-prisoners-remission-plans.html

Death penalty becoming more popular in Indonesia

Jakarta Post - October 10, 2016

Jakarta – Indonesia, one of only 25 countries in the world that still impose capital punishment, has seen 35 people sentenced to death by the courts since the start of the year, according to the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras).

That number could grow in the coming years, as the country is mulling whether to widen the application of the ultimate penalty.

Marking the 14th World Day Against the Death Penalty, Kontras issued a report that shows legal flaws in the application of capital punishment and in the execution of four death row inmates this year. One bright spot is that some death sentences have been overturned on appeal by the Supreme Court.

"This trend is likely to continue and may even get worse, given the government's legal policies and plans to amend some laws," Kontras warned in the report presented at a news conference on Saturday.

Puri Kencana Putri, Kontras coordinator for strategy and mobilization, called the four executions in July "illegal" over flaws in the way they had been carried out. All four legal cases had still been pending, Puri said, and none of the convicts' relatives had been properly notified about the executions, as required by the law.

"We even have credible reports to suggest that their isolation cells were flooded knee-deep the night they were executed," Puri said, recalling strong rain that morning at the high-security prison island of Nusakambangan, Central Java, where the executions took place.

A separate recent report looks at how five leading newspapers in the country reported on the execution of death row inmates this year. The Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) Jakarta in its report criticized the media for not being critical enough in reporting these executions.

The 35 new death sentences this year add to the already long list of people on death row in Indonesia. In December 2014, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo ordered that all 64 people on death row should be executed. Eighteen of them have since met their death in three separate rounds of executions, including the latest one in July.

In 2015, 26 people were sentenced to death at courts of first instance, according to the Institute for Criminal Justice Reform (ICJR).

Kontras said that 25 of the new death sentences this year were meted to drug traffickers. They include 24 non-Indonesians, from China (10), Malaysia (six), Nigeria (four), Taiwan (two), and one each from the US and Pakistan.

The execution of convicts has become something of a hallmark of the presidency of Jokowi, who has declared war on drug trafficking, an offense that carries the ultimate punishment. Fourteen drug traffickers were executed in 2015, but an earlier plan to execute14 more in July was aborted at the last minute; instead only four were sent to the firing squad.

Until today, the government has not explained the reason for the literally 11th-hour reprieve for the 10. Attorney General Muhammad Prasetyo insisted their executions were simply being delayed.

Jokowi has publicly rebuked any attempt at intervention by foreign leaders who asked for a stay of executions for their citizens, citing Indonesia's sovereignty. This did not stop European leaders from telling him to stop the executions when he visited Germany, Britain, the Netherlands and Belgium in April.

Indonesia's appetite for the blood of criminals has not stopped there. In the current debate to reform the penal code, politicians are advocating expanding the use of capital punishment to acts of treason, terrorism and terrorism-related activities, genocide, corruption, endangering flight safety, extortion and intimidation. With reports of sexual abuse against children, some politicians have also asked to add this to the list of crimes punishable by death.

The AJI Jakarta report studied five Jakarta-based newspapers – Kompas, Republika, Tempo, Media Indonesia and The Jakarta Post – on how they reported the executions this year. The report said all but Republika had taken an editorial position opposing the death penalty, but the study found this to be in contradiction to the tone of their reporting, which supported the death penalty.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/10/10/death-penalty-becoming-more-popular-indonesia.html

ICJR calls for death penalty moratorium

Jakarta Post - October 8, 2016

Jakarta – A legal think tank, the Institute for Criminal Justice Reform (ICJR), has called on the government to include a moratorium on the death penalty in its reform packages aimed at rejuvenating the country's legal system.

ICJR executive director Supriyadi Widodo Eddyono said a moratorium on capital punishment must be put in place if the government was serious about reforming the country's legal system, given that numerous executions, including that of drug trafficker Zainal Abidin in April last year, had been carried out without fair trials.

Zainal filed a case review in 2005 over the ruling on his execution with the Palembang District Court in South Sumatra. He had to wait 10 years, only to have the Supreme Court reject his appeal.

"President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo has to ask the Attorney General's Office [AGO] to stop handing down death sentences before the country's penal law system is reformed," Supriyadi said in a statement on Friday.

Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Minister Wiranto has announced a plan to issue legal reform packages that revolve around efforts to simplify overlapping regulations, to create more effective legal enforcement institutions and to improve legal culture.

Details of the reform packages, as well as their date of introduction, however, remain unclear.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/10/08/national-scene-icjr-calls-death-penalty-moratorium.html

Police & law enforcement

'Police reform needs to focus on gaining people's trust'

Jakarta Post - October 11, 2016

Marguerite Afra Sapiie, Jakarta – The National Police's institutional reform, which is set to be introduced in October by the government should aim to improve the professionalism of the force personnel to earn the public's trust, the National Police Commission (Kompolnas) has said.

Kompolnas commissioner Poengky Indarti said the commission welcomed the reform described by National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian, which included improvement of work performance, empowerment of an internal oversight system and strengthening law enforcement system within the police body.

The policies covered the crucial problems within the National Police that had contributed to the degrading public's trust toward the country's law enforcement officials, Poengky said.

"If all those problematic issues can be resolved, I am sure that the National Police reform will be progressive, and it will also improve professionalism as well as the quality of service provided by the Police to the public," Poengky said on Monday.

Aside from boosting professionalism, the legal reform package of the National Police should also cover measures to improve the welfare for police personnel as well as to upgrade the quantity and quality of facilities that could help officers to work better, Poengky said.

She also urged the police chief to place more attention on eradicating crimes at the local level, including giving empowerment to police officers assigned to villages as advisors on security and public order known as Babinkamtibmas. (bbn)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/10/11/police-reform-needs-to-focus-on-gaining-peoples-trust.html

Police internal reform part of first legal reform package: Chief

Jakarta Post - October 10, 2016

Marguerite Afra Sapiie, Jakarta – The first part of Indonesia's legal reform package, the government is set to introduce in October, will include institutional reforms within the National Police, a top cop has hinted.

National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian said the internal reforms aims to improve work performance of police officers and steer them away from corruption and violence. This would hopefully restore the public's trust towards the country's law enforcement officials.

"Police are the guardians of law supremacy, and we stand at the frontline against crime. With this law reform, we want to take a stronger law enforcement role since the police are key in the country's justice system," Tito said on Friday.

Tito previously revealed that the reform package would cover some policies, including the improvement of police personnel recruitment, investigator certification programs and the strengthening of investigator monitoring systems to encourage professionalism.

Tito further said that aside from empowering internal supervision bodies, such as the police's Internal Affairs Division (Propam), the National Police would also create a mechanism where the public could submit complaints about police investigators, and the police's internal supervisory body would take measures in response to these reports.

"I aim to make breakthroughs within the police's internal body to strengthen law enforcement and ethical sanctions against police personnel found guilty of violating laws," Tito said as quoted by kompas.com.

He said the legal reform package would also aim to strengthen external relations between the National Police and other related institutions, such as the Attorney General's Office, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and the House of Representatives.

Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Wiranto has hinted that the law revitalization draft will be completed next week. (ebf)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/10/10/police-internal-reform-part-of-first-legal-reform-package-chief.html

Mining & energy

Slow credit restructuring in mining exacerbating bad loans

Jakarta Post - October 14, 2016

Anton Hermansyah, Jakarta – Non-performing loans (NPL) in the banking industry worsened in August to 3.22 percent compared to 3.18 percent in July, as a result of slow credit restructuring in the mining sector.

"It is carrying over from last year, mainly from the mining sector. Many banks have yet been able to restructure bad loans in the sector," said Financial Service Authority (OJK) chairman Muliaman D. Hadad after a seminar held by the National Banks Association (Perbanas) in Jakarta on Thursday.

Despite the increase, he further said, the banking industry's NPL actually stood at a tolerable level, below 5 percent. The country's banks maintained strong capital with a 23.26 percent capital adequacy ratio (CAR), above the minimum requirement of 20 percent.

Economist Aviliani said most of the bad loans came from the commodity boom period, as mining companies were actually refraining from taking on new loans in the last few years.

"In 2008, mining companies took excessive loans for expansion, but then the commodity market dropped and [now they have] run out of cash to pay back the loans," she said. (ags)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/10/14/slow-credit-restructuring-in-mining-exacerbating-bad-loans.html

Indonesia to uphold ban on key mineral exports

Jakarta Post - October 14, 2016

Fedina S. Sundaryani – The government has sent a strong signal that it will maintain its ban on nickel ore and bauxite exports despite pressure to seek alternative sources of revenue amid the weakening global economy.

On Wednesday evening, interim Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Luhut Pandjaitan announced that nickel ore with a low grade of 1.8 percent was also unlikely to be included in the government's planned relaxation of an impending export ban on unprocessed mineral ores, which will be implemented from Jan. 12.

The ban, which was originally meant to start in 2014, was set up by the administration of former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in the hope that it would push the development of the downstream sector, or the construction of smelters, which would create added value for the domestic economy while commodity prices remain low.

Luhut, who also serves as coordinating maritime affairs minister, explained that a study conducted by the government showed that the downstream development of the nickel industry had been running successfully as nickel products were being widely exported across the globe.

"Many products that use nickel in production, such as stainless steel, have been successfully exported. China imports almost 60 or 40 percent of it from us and has even established its own stainless steel industry here. Why would we need to export [nickel ore] anymore if we can process it domestically?" he said, adding that he had seen a similar trend with bauxite, the world's main source of aluminium. There are currently 20 smelters dedicated to ferronickel, nickel pig iron and nickel hydroxide, with national demand of 41.6 million wet metric tons (WMT) of nickel ore per annum. Data from the Processing and Smelting Companies Association (AP3I) shows that Indonesia holds 21 percent of the nickel global market share.

Despite the impending ban, a study by Fitch Group's BMI Research shows that Indonesia's nickel mine production has the highest growth rate compared to other countries at 10.6 percent per annum from 2016 to 2020, with production expected to reach 296,000 tons that year.

Luhut said the government was unlikely to allow exports of rare earth minerals even though Indonesia does not yet have the technology to process them. He argued that rare earth minerals were not widely available across the globe and Indonesia had several potential reserves.

Separately, state-owned diversified miner Aneka Tambang (Antam) said it supported the government's plan to uphold the complete ban on nickel ore exports although it would prefer to export low-grade nickel as it was economically unfeasible for the firm to process it in the country.

"Processing nickel domestically with a grade of 1.8 percent and below is not economically feasible for Antam to do. The idea is to utilize this waste in order to create revenue," Antam corporate secretary Trenggono Sutiyoso told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.

Meanwhile, AP3I deputy chairman Jonatan Handojo applauded the prospect that nickel ore exports would remain banned next year. He explained that weak nickel prices would drop even further if Indonesia continued to allow unprocessed nickel ore to be exported next year while China's demand remained low.

However, he questioned the government's potential plan to ban rare earth mineral exports as commodity prices remained high in the global market and Indonesia did not have the technology to process the minerals.

"As the prices of the rare mineral still high we can also implement fantastically high export duties to create more revenue for Indonesia," he told the Post.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/10/14/indonesia-uphold-ban-key-mineral-exports.html

PLN keeps stumbling on 35,000 MW project

Jakarta Post - October 14, 2016

Fedina S. Sundaryani, Jakarta – The government's 35,000 megawatt (MW) electricity procurement program has continued to show sluggish progress, as development contracts for half the targeted capacity have yet to be completed more than a year after the launch of the flagship program.

The ambitious program, with a completion target of 2019, will require the construction of 219 power plants and 737 transmission facilities consisting of 75,000 towers, 1,375 main stations, 2,600 transformers using 300,000 kilometers of aluminum cable.

The program is expected to help increase the national electrification ratio to 97 percent by 2019, up from the current ratio of 88.3 percent.

However, the latest data presented by state-owned electricity firm PLN shows that as of September, only 232 MW of the total 36,722 MW targeted to be procured had reached its commercial operating date, or was already in operation.

Furthermore, PLN still needed to wrap up 17,984 MW worth of development contracts for power plants to get the program moving.

Up to 11,729 MW comprises power purchase agreements (PPA), while the remainder are PLN's engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contracts.

Even so, the state-owned firm has only targeted the completion of 14,069 MW worth of development contracts, with PPA's making up the majority of the contracts targeted.

PLN president director Sofyan Basir noted that there were several setbacks in the wrapping up of development contracts because of the recent revision of PLN's electricity procurement business plan (RUPTL) for 2016-2025.

"We have had to rearrange the positions of several power plants of our EPC. However, we will try to make up for it by expediting contract agreements for both EPC and IPP [independent power producers] of smaller projects in the outer regions," he said during a hearing with the House of Representatives Commission VII overseeing energy on Thursday.

PLN also wrapped up on Thursday the contract tender for the Jawa I steam-fueled power plant project. The project, which will result in two power plants with a capacity of 800 MW each, was won by a consortium made up of state-owned oil and gas company Pertamina, Japan's diversified group Marubeni Corp. and Sojitz Corp.

An estimated investment of US$2 billion will be needed for the construction of Jawa I, which is expected to start operating by 2019.

Despite the setback, the government is positive that the targeted contracts will be wrapped up by the end of the year. The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry's electricity development program director, Alihuddin Sitompul, said the government had learned its lesson and had given PLN full authority over the contract auctions and the ability to directly appoint IPPs for renewable energy, mouth-mine and marginal gas power plants.

PLN may also be hinging its success on mobile power plants (MPPs), which make up around 4,000 MW of the project, as they can also be assigned through direct appointments and take less than six months to be operational.

"However, there are many other issues that can delay electricity procurement programs, such as land acquisition, the performance of appointed contractors and legal issues," Alihuddin said.

Meanwhile, the Association of Private Electricity Producers (APLSI) has called on the government to decrease the project development account in the procurement program to 1 percent from the current 10 percent.

"We previously suggested that the project development account not be too big and burden local IPPs. Since we've had a positive response, we want the new figure to be immediately decided," APLSI chairman Arthur Simatupang.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/10/14/pln-keeps-stumbling-on-35000-mw-project.html

RI says it's ready for first nuke power plant

Jakarta Post - October 11, 2016

Haeril Halim, Jakarta – As the government completes preliminary studies and prepares human resources to build and operate the country's first nuclear power plant, it is keeping its options open for countries to invest in the project.

The country established the Nuclear Law in 1997 as a legal basis to build a nuclear power plant, but attempts to realize it have been hampered by environmental concerns, especially following the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami that led to the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan.

A recent visit by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in mid-September boosted Indonesia's confidence after the agency concluded that the country had a high level of readiness to carry out the environmentally friendly program.

The National Nuclear Energy Agency (BATAN) said it had studied two strategic locations for the plant – in Bangka Belitung province and in Jepara, Central Java – both of which are low earthquake risk areas compared to other regions in Indonesia, also known as part of the Pacific Ring of Fire that is prone to earthquakes and tsunamis

Bangka is considered strategic to meet electricity demand for both Sumatra and Java, while Jepara is another option, should the plant be designed only to support Java. Nuclear plants, if finally built in Jepara and Bangka, could each produce more than 1,000 megawatts (MW) of power.

"Nuclear power plants [PLTN] are a political decision. We will stick to the President's decision [on the matter]," BATAN chief Djarot Sulistio Wisnubroto told The Jakarta Post.

BATAN has briefed President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo with regard to which country Indonesia should work with to establish its first nuclear power plant. The countries on the table are Russia, South Korea, France, China, the US and Japan.

BATAN has also carried out a capacity building program with Rusatom Overseas, a subsidiary of Russian state corporation Rosatom to assist the country in preparing the project.

A nuclear power plant takes around seven to 10 years to build and Indonesia risks missing its target to fulfill 19.6 percent of its total energy demand by 2025 with new and renewable energy, as recorded in the country's national energy plan, if it fails to start building its first nuclear plant by 2017, at the latest.

Nuclear is one of several new energy options that will contribute to achieving the 19.6 percent target.

By 2025, the government hopes 50.3 percent of electricity generation will be fueled by coal, 29.4 percent by gas, 0.7 percent by petroleum-based fuel and the remaining 19.6 percent by new and renewable energy sources. "If we assume that the establishment of the PLTN will take around seven to 10 years, then the nuke decision has to be made soon," Djarot said.

Funding will be a huge barrier for Indonesia to kick off its first nuclear project, as it is estimated that a nuclear power plant would cost around Rp 60 trillion (US$4.62 billion) to Rp 70 trillion for a 1,400-MW power plant.

Nuclear Energy Regulatory Agency (Bapeten) deputy for permits and inspection Khoirul Huda said the IAEA had concluded that Indonesia had the adequate regulations and infrastructure to build its first nuclear power plant.

"The response [from the IAEA] is positive. It only suggests that all relevant institutions in Indonesia increase coordination and communications with regard to the nuclear plan," Khoirul told the Post.

Bapeten said there were several technologies considered by Indonesia to materialize its nuclear plan, including a light-water reactor (LWR), advanced heavy-water reactor (AHWR) and nuclear coolant reactor.

Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) geologist Benyamin Sapiie said Bangka and Jepara were located in regions that had strong terrains, making them less prone to earthquakes. "According to current data on long-term stability of the regions, there is nothing that could potentially cause a big earthquake in those places. Jepara is located near a volcano, but there is no earthquake risk in the region," Benyamin said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/10/11/ri-says-it-s-ready-first-nuke-power-plant.html

Strike ends at US miner Freeport's Indonesia site

Agence France Presse - October 10, 2016

Workers have ended a strike at a huge Indonesian gold and copper mine owned by US firm Freeport-McMoRan after an 11-day walkout that hit operations, the company said Monday.

More than 1,000 workers, mostly truck operators, went on strike on September 28 at Grasberg, one of the world's biggest gold and copper mines, located in the mountains of eastern Papua province.

The workers' union said they were angry about differences in bonus payments given to them and an engineering team at the site.

The strike hit operations at Grasberg's open-pit mine but an underground mine at the site was unaffected, and a processing plant continued operating at limited capacity.

Riza Pratama, a spokesman for Freeport's Indonesian unit, said in a statement the company and union on Saturday "reached an agreement to end the work stoppage at the Grasberg open-pit mine.

"As a result, normal operations have resumed at the Grasberg open-pit mine." He did not provide details of the terms of the agreement.

Grasberg has been plagued by strikes, accidents and production problems in recent years. In 2011, a three-month strike crippled production at the mine, and workers only halted the industrial action once Freeport agreed to a huge pay rise.

Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/afp/article-3830234/Strike-ends-US-miner-Freeports-Indonesia-site.html

Infrastructure & development

Deeply rooted problems hinder private funding of infrastructure

Jakarta Post - October 12, 2016

Dylan Amirio, Jakarta – In order to achieve its grand infrastructure dreams, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's administration must eradicate deeply entrenched stumbling blocks that have deterred private sector investment, a consultants' report states.

Transparency and regulatory problems are among nine "historic obstacles" identified as the key challenges to private sector investment in Indonesia's infrastructure projects, according to a report by the Jakarta office of consulting giant PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), published on Tuesday.

A lack of transparency in pipeline projects and the procurement process, an uncertain regulatory framework and policy flip-flops, as well as an unreliable judicial system to enforce contracts, top the list of issues needing to be solved to achieve the President's infrastructure ambitions.

"What the Indonesian government has to do more is to understand what motivates private investors and create the conditions" necessary for investment, PwC technical advisor for Indonesia Julian Smith said.

Almost all of the projects listed as "ready for tender" in the 2015 Book of PPP (Public Private Partnership) Projects have stalled for one reason or another. "Strong political will is a critical factor in driving forward bottlenecked projects," the report reads.

Jokowi scrapped multibillion dollar energy subsidies shortly after taking office in 2014 and redirected a large portion of the funds saved for infrastructure spending, to unlock potential economic growth of up to 7 percent in Southeast Asia's largest economy.

However, total government infrastructure spending, which rose by a substantial 51 percent to Rp 209 trillion year-on-year (yoy) in 2015, was still lower than the planned 63 percent rise. Budget disbursement also fell to 72 percent in 2015 from 78 percent in the previous year. Also, a fiscal revenue shortfall has forced the government to cut some infrastructure spending.

"It should also be noted that not all of this spending has immediately flowed down to actual construction activity, since it includes money disbursed by the central government but not yet spent on construction and also administration costs of line ministries," PwC states.

The international consultants therefore advise the government to reduce its reliance on state firms, which "do not always have the management capacity and funding for the tasks they are allocated".

Streamlined land acquisition, capacity building in project preparation, as well as better coordination within government institutions are also desperately needed, they say.

PwC also calls for continued improvement in the investment climate such as in transparency and deregulation to improve the country's ease-of-doing-business ranking, as President Jokowi aims to jump to 40th position, from the current 109th of 189 countries surveyed for the World Bank's index.

Adding to the problems of infrastructure investment, state-owned infrastructure financing company PT Sarana Multi Infrastruktur (SMI), which gathers and disburses funds for national infrastructure projects, is still facing difficulties with land procurement.

That is despite a revision to the 2012 Land Procurement Law that was expected to expedite land acquisition, as owners will face compulsory purchase of their property if it is necessary for public infrastructure projects, while being guaranteed fair compensation.

However, lack of land tenure data recognized nationwide, including by the government and courts, has hampered implementation of the law. "The challenge in the land procurement process is to do it in a transparent way so that both the land owner and investors can have faith. This transparency has not yet been fully achieved by regional governments," SMI president director Emma Sri Martini said.

The problems with the lack of transparency and uncertain regulations were also cited by Indonesian Chamber of Commerce (Kadin) advisory board member Chris Kanter as being among the main reasons why private companies hesitate before investing in an infrastructure project.

"Private investors are placed in a difficult position," he said, echoing PwC's note that for private investors to spend huge sums on multi-year investments, a clear regulatory framework and strong judicial system are essential.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/10/12/deeply-rooted-problems-hinder-private-funding-of-infrastructure.html

Indonesia struggles to achieve infrastructure target

Jakarta Post - October 10, 2016

Kuningan, West Java/Jakarta – In the past, having a decent house was merely a dream for Dersinah, 51. Working as a farmer with an uncertain monthly income forced her to live in a shanty.

Things have since changed after she received assistance from the Public Works and Public Housing Ministry to revamp her house through a program called self-help housing assistance (BSPS). Now she lives in a decent house.

The ministry is responsible for managing the country's public infrastructure, including housing for 2 million people nationwide.

"I am thankful for the program and for the teamwork of the people that go hand in hand in making this possible," said Dersinah, a mother of two who lives in Citendo subdistrict, Kuningan regency, West Java.

Near her village, there is a dam project aimed at irrigating Kuningan and Brebes in Central Java. The project, started in 2013, is expected to finish by 2017 and will distribute water to both regencies. The government plans to build 65 new dams by the end of 2019.

Building dams is part of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's ambitious plan to enhance infrastructure in Indonesia, including boosting road connectivity and providing affordable housing for low-income citizens.

In a bid to accelerate the progress, Jokowi's administration has made several moves including revoking laws and red-tape deemed to have hindered the development. The President also made a bold move by cutting fuel subsidies to fund infrastructure projects at the beginning of his administration.

Among his flagship infrastructure projects is the Pemalang-Batang toll road, which is vital for the Java island northern coast road (Pantura) as it is the main road connecting Jakarta-Semarang-Surabaya.

Despite the success stories, however, the plan has to face the bitter reality that it requires a staggering amount of money.

The ministry has suffered a double blow from budget cuts. It lost Rp 6.9 trillion (US$531.5 million) after previously suffering a Rp 8.4 trillion cut in the first round. Construction of non-priority infrastructure projects will be disrupted and delayed following the cuts.

With almost half of the figure slashed from its Bina Marga Directorate General, which oversees road construction, the development of 207.3 kilometers of new roads in Papua and West Papua this year will be heavily affected, despite Jokowi's pledge to bring more inclusive development to the easternmost provinces.

Public Works and Public House Minister Basuki Hadimuljono acknowledged that the budget portion designated for the eastern part of the country needed a gradual increase and attention.

"The construction projects in Sumatra and Java are better due to existing infrastructure. In other areas, however, we have to build from zero," he said on Friday.

Three months before the year-end, the ministry disbursed 55.83 percent of its 2016 budget, 59.56 percent of which was channeled to build infrastructure. The figure is higher than that within the same period last year when the absorption stood at 42.9 percent.

Basuki said land acquisition was one of the significant problems in realizing the plan, citing the Slinga dam project in Purbalingga, Central Java, as an example.

The ministry was pushed to find creative ways to attract investment while having to optimize the limited budget, he said, highlighting the issuance of the presidential instruction (Inpres) on cutting red tape in order to pave ways for the private sector to invest in infrastructure projects.

Institute for Development and Finance (Indef) executive director Enny Sri Hartati said on Sunday that the government should prioritize infrastructure development, which relates to the food sector, including the construction and revitalization of dams. She added that dam construction would directly affect agricultural productivity, which would result in food sufficiency and minimize price fluctuations.

University of Indonesia economist Fithra Faisal Hastiadi said the government should keep building roads and bridges amid the limited budget, reasoning that both roads and bridges were the most basic infrastructure. (fac/wnd)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/10/10/indonesia-struggles-to-achieve-infrastructure-target.html

Economy & investment

Exporters rack brains to keep business going

Jakarta Post - October 13, 2016

Stefani Ribka and Prima Wirayani, Jakarta – As global trade remains under pressure, Indonesian exporters are being forced to rack their brains to keep their businesses going.

Short and simple. That is the strategy employed by furniture exporter Summit Gallery in terms of its marketing chain. The shorter the chain, the less it has to spend, especially in tough times like now.

Summit Gallery owner Henrico said he no longer used a distributor's service to reach prospective customers.

"Distributors don't trust small and medium enterprises like us much. That's why we attend exhibitions, both domestic and abroad, so we can sell goods directly to end users," the 42-year-old said on Wednesday while attending the 2016 Trade Expo at Jakarta International Expo Kemayoran.

The strategy has proven successful for the Bogor-based exporter as it reaps around Rp 350 million (US$26,875) in business deals from each exhibition. The profit margin is also higher compared to deals that involve distributors.

This year, it is mulling exporting to Sri Lanka to partially offset falling exports to China.

Meanwhile, Allev, a producer of Muslim outfits for women, which also had a presence at the expo, uses Instagram and Facebook to cover wider ground, beyond geographical limits.

Allev sales and marketing director Umi Hani said the company also implemented a "ceiling retail price mechanism" to prevent product overpricing and distinguish itself from similar businesses.

The strategies of Summit Gallery and Allev come at a time when global trade has become so subdued that the World Trade Organization (WTO) cut its forecast for global trade growth this year by more than a third.

The new figure of 1.7 percent, down from the WTO's previous estimate of 2.8 percent in April, marked the first time in 15 years that international commerce was expected to lag behind the growth of the world economy, the trade body said last month, as reported by Reuters.

WTO director general Roberto Azevedo has said the figures should be a wake-up call for governments. Indonesia is no exception.

Southeast Asia's largest economy has seen exports dwindle for the past four years. It ended 2015 with an export value of $150.25 billion, dropping by almost 30 percent from 2011.

The situation has remained bleak in 2016 as January-August trade figures revealed lower exports compared to a year ago.

When opening the trade expo, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo called for the diversification of markets and products as a way out.

"We need to dare ourselves to penetrate markets that we never paid attention to all this time," he said, pointing to Africa as a potential market.

Isioma Fidel-Ewerem, managing partner of Nigerian importer Kunsukie Global Ltd., is among those hoping to benefit from Jokowi's call to support Indonesia's expansion to other African countries.

The repeat importer often buys Indonesian-made linen and food products. "Indonesia has better quality linens than China. For the food, we like biscuits, snacks, herbal drinks, tea, chewing gum and noodles," she said.

Unlike Fidel-Ewerem, many visitors on the opening day of the expo were first-time buyers, looking for potential trade deals in highly diversified sectors, ranging from food, fruit, personal care, home appliances, clothing and tiles to briquettes.

As many as 1,100 local firms and 15,562 guests from 120 countries are registered for the event, which will run until Sunday.

Separately, Bank Central Asia (BCA) chief economist David Sumual acknowledged the need to find new markets to complement established markets. However, he argued that both the government and the monetary authority must lend a hand to solve the issue as well.

"The government has launched many programs, but it turns out that many businesses are not aware of them. For example, they often don't realize there is the KUR [micro credit program] to help with financing."

On the monetary side, David said the exchange rate should be managed to support export growth.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/10/13/exporters-rack-brains-to-keep-business-going.html

Firms insecure amid infrastructure boost

Jakarta Post - October 13, 2016

Stefani Ribka, Jakarta – Local steel producers are calling on the government to provide a mechanism that will protect domestic players from unequal competition from overseas firms seeking market slices in the country.

Amid President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's plan to push for massive infrastructure development over the next few years, the Indonesian Iron and Steel Industry Association (IISIA) predicted that the annual local demand for steel would soar to 27 million tons by 2020 from the current 17.5 million tons.

Data from the association, meanwhile, showed that the local steel industry can only supply 7 million tons, leaving a huge gap that has been filled by imported steel.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, IISIA standard and certification committee member Basso Datu Makahanap acknowledged that local steel makers must invest more to expand their production capacity to meet the increasing demand. He, however, also stressed that the government must maintain the competitiveness of local steel products to help guarantee their investments.

"Protection against imports is the best weapon to deal with inflows of imported steel. This will ensure that the sector will grow well," he said on the sidelines of a press briefing on the International Metal and Steel Trade Fair for Southeast Asia, which will be held late this month.

The government had plans to build 8,200 kilometers of national roads, 1,000 km of toll roads, 3,258 km of railways, 172 new seaports and 15 new airports between 2015 and 2019. All of these need steel for construction.

Steel demand would also traditionally come from particular sectors, like automotives, electronics and telecommunications and yet Indonesia's steel consumption per capita was still 45 kilograms per year per person, much lower than in Malaysia where it was 327 kg last year.

However, the national capacity for producing steel and iron as its raw materials and its semi-finished and finished goods are still limited.

In 2015 only, the country's annual iron-making capacity stood at 4.5 million tons, steel-making at 9.2 million tons, rolling mills at 14 million tons of steel sheets and processed steel products at 4.9 million tons.

"Iron is needed to make steel and steel to make sheets and so on, but the capacity is unbalanced so we need more producers," Basso said.

Among industry players, state-owned steelmaker Krakatau Steel has the biggest production capacity of 3.15 million tons a year, with the utilization rate expected to reach about 70 percent this year.

The Industry Ministry recently said that it was considering imposing anti-dumping import duties for a number of steel products, including hot rolled coil (HRC), cold rolled coil (CRC) and cold rolled stainless.

Steel producers, meanwhile, are still concentrated in Java, with 78 percent of total national output produced there, followed by Sumatra, Kalimantan and Sulawesi.

However, to attract investment in remote areas, Indonesian Foundry Industries Association (Aplindo) president A. Safiun said the government needed to lower the price of industrial gas, a key component to run steel factories.

Indonesia's gas prices are currently about US$9 per million British thermal units (mmbtu), higher than in most of its ASEAN neighbors. The government is in the process of pushing gas prices down to $6 per 1 mmbtu from an average of $9.50 per mmbtu.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/10/13/firms-insecure-amid-infrastructure-boost.html

Banking & taxation

Top tax official not satisfied with tax amnesty results

Jakarta Post - October 10, 2016

Ayomi Amindoni, Jakarta – Taxation director general Ken Dwijugeasteadi has said he is not satisfied with the results of the first round of the tax amnesty program even though it has collected Rp 97.2 trillion (US$7.49 billion) in redemption or 58.99 percent of a Rp165 trillion target goal.

Ken explained only 2.09 percent of 20.1 million tax payers participated in the first round of the tax pardon program, which ended on Sept. 30.

He said 20 million tax payers would hopefully participate in the next two periods of the tax amnesty program, which the government expects could spur economic growth.

"With facts and data showing that we were able to collect Rp 97 trillion within the first three months, an achievement regarded as the most successful tax amnesty program in the world, I am still not satisfied. It should be ten times higher than Rp 97 trillion, then I would be satisfied," Ken told journalists in Jakarta recently.

He said the majority of declared assets were liquid assets, amounting to Rp 1.3 quadrillion or 37 percent of total assets. It was comprised of Rp 999 trillion worth of declared assets from domestic, Rp 96.74 trillion in repatriated assets and Rp 280 trillion worth of declared assets from overseas. "So currently, Rp 1,300 trillion worth of funds are idle in banks," Ken explained.

He further said that in the second period of its implementation, aside from chasing big fish who had not yet participated in the tax amnesty program, the Tax Office would reach out to tax payers from small medium enterprises (SMEs), currently only about 54,000 of a total of 367,464 SME tax payers had participated in the program. (ebf)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/10/10/top-tax-official-not-satisfied-with-tax-amnesty-results.html

Analysis & opinion

Find Munir's killer

Jakarta Post Editorial - October 14, 2016

Twelve years ago the prominent human rights defender Munir Said Thalib was assassinated aboard his flight to the Netherlands, with investigators blaming juice laced with arsenic.

The murder on Sept. 7, 2004, took place six years after the New Order ended. Yet the crime and its continuing cover-up clearly shows us how past evil powers are alive and well – as we still don't know who actually killed Munir.

An off-duty pilot on Munir's Garuda Indonesia flight was pronounced guilty of the murder and sentenced to 20 years, but was freed late 2014 following remissions; former Garuda president director Indra Setiawan got 12 years. Former State Intelligence Agency deputy Muchdi Purwoprandjono faced trial but was acquitted.

On Monday an unprecedented ruling from the Central Information Commission stated that the State Secretariat must disclose to the public the report of the investigation into Munir's death that a government-appointed team submitted to the then president more than a decade ago.

The commission also stated that the reason why the government has not announced the findings to the public is "also information that must be disclosed to the public".

The ruling was a response to a public information request filed by the independent Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras), which had once been chaired by Munir.

It was its last resort after seeing no sign of light in the case despite pledges made to the public and Munir's widow, Suciwati, by then president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. His eventual successor, Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, has resolved to settle this and other historic human rights abuses.

The State Secretariat has claimed it does not possess the investigation report, while the commission says this does not relieve it of its responsibility.

Are we still getting the same signs that there will be no progress in the case?

On Wednesday Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Wiranto sought to assure the public: "We will investigate this case. The government has nothing to hide."

If the report revealed new findings that could open further investigations into Munir's murder case, the Attorney General's Office would process the new information in accordance with the law, Wiranto said.

The most important expectation is for Jokowi to prove his repeated intentions to settle past human rights abuses and use all his powers to resolve the murder of Munir. Therefore, officials should not distract us with legal technicalities on what can be disclosed to the public regarding criminal investigations, or point fingers at whoever lost the documents about Munir's death.

It was Munir who people turned to when their children went missing, or when family members were kidnapped, tortured and killed, either for being branded state enemies following land disputes or for voicing dissent, for instance. He sat on a number of fact-finding teams including those on crimes in Aceh and the former East Timor.

In their hearts, therefore, many people know why he was murdered. The continued cover-up and feigned ignorance over resolving the case is a main security threat, as murderers walk free along with their license to annihilate any target deemed necessary.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/10/14/find-munir-s-killer.html

Let people with mental illness live in dignity, not in shackles

Jakarta Globe - October 13, 2016

I met Eka (not her real name) in 2014. After traveling for hours on pothole-filled road, I finally reached her village in Cianjur, in West Java.

I went to her home, and her father pointed toward a shabby outhouse with a locked door and boarded windows. As I approached, I nearly gagged from the stench of urine and feces. I couldn't believe anyone was living inside.

I peered through the cracks in the window, squinting to see her in the dark. There she was – crouching in the corner, completely naked, in a pile of rubble.

In her 30s, Eka had suddenly exhibited destructive behaviors, digging up crops on the neighbor's land. At that time, her 60-year-old father didn't know what to do. He was ashamed and couldn't afford to keep paying off the neighbors. With no hospital or doctor around, he consulted healers who said Eka was cursed. And when their herbal treatments didn't work, under pressure from other villagers, Eka's father felt he had no choice but to lock her up.

That was 15 years ago. Since then, Eka has been eating, sleeping, urinating and defecating in the outhouse with virtually no sunlight. The village children taunted her and threw stones through gaps in the windows. She took one of these stones and started digging. Over the years, she had turned the cement floor into rubble and made a hole in the wall trying to escape. But when her father saw she was making headway, he tied her hands behind her back so she had to crouch in the rubble to eat the food her family threw for her.

With the help of a mental health rights organization, Eka was finally released a few months after I met her. But according to the government's estimate, more than 18,000 people in Indonesia with real or perceived mental illnesses still live in pasung – shackled or locked up in confined spaces. The Indonesian government banned pasung in 1977, but the practice persists due to pervasive stigma and a lack of access to mental health care. People spend years locked up in chains, wooden stocks or goat sheds because families don't know what else to do.

Indonesia has only one psychiatrist for 300,000-400,000 people and only 48 mental hospitals in the whole country of 250 million. More than half of the institutions are in just four of Indonesia's 34 provinces. Government data show that 90 percent of people who may need mental health care, cannot get it.

The Indonesian government has taken some steps to do away with pasung. The government started an anti-shackling campaign, created teams to free people from pasung and passed a mental health law requiring the integration of mental health care into primary health services. However, partly because Indonesia's government is so decentralized, implementation at the local level has been very slow.

Last March, Human Rights Watch released a report called "Living in Hell" which documented shackling of people with psycho-social disabilities in Indonesia, including in institutions run, supported, or licensed by the government. In response to the report and the #BreakTheChains social media campaign, Indonesia's health minister, Nila Moeloek, committed herself to providing mental health medication in all 9,500 community health centers (Puskesmas) across the country. The government has also taken steps to train its staff at the provincial level to help eradicate shackling.

These are positive developments, yet much remains to be done. The government should mark World Mental Health Day on October 10 with a commitment to make mental health a priority. It should give muscle to the ban on shackling by regularly monitoring social care institutions, mental health facilities and traditional healing centers. The Ministry of Public Health should allocate the necessary funds and issue a timeline for its plan to provide mental health medication in community health centers.

In partnership with disabled persons' organizations, the government should conduct extensive public awareness campaigns on mental health. It should include information on the right to informed consent, which protects people with disabilities from abuse such as forced treatment and enables them to make their own medical decisions. The government should also develop a wide range of community-based services so that people who are rescued from pasung do not end up back in shackles.

If the government follows through with its promises, people like Eka can live in dignity, instead of in shackles.

[Kriti Sharma is a disability rights researcher at the Human Rights Watch. She can be reached through the organization's official website.]

Source: http://jakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/opinion/commentary-break-the-chains-of-mental-health-stigma/

Clumsy diplomacy: Indonesia, Papua and the Pacific

Indonesia at Melbourne - October 12, 2016

Hipolitus Yolisandry Ringgi Wangge – Indonesia's stance on Papua at the UN General Assembly in New York last month recalled its firm denials of human rights abuses in East Timor in the late 1990s.

Pacific countries, including the Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu, had expressed concern over human rights conditions in Indonesia's easternmost provinces, Papua and West Papua. Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, for example, said: "Human rights violations in West Papua and the pursuit for self-determination of West Papua are two sides of the same coin." This attention to Indonesia's human rights record in Papua prompted nationalistic responses back home, with local media making a star of diplomat Nara Masista Rakhmatia for standing up to the audacious Pacific upstarts and accusing them of interfering in Indonesia's domestic affairs.

What happened at the UN General Assembly was more than just a symptom of ongoing disagreements between the Indonesian government and Pacific countries over human rights abuses and the "internationalisation" of the Papua issue. It was also an example of Indonesia's poorly handled diplomacy toward the small Pacific states. Defensive Indonesian statements about sovereignty and territorial integrity do nothing to address the humanitarian issues that are, in fact, the primary concerns of state and non-state actors in the Pacific.

The past six years have seen a growing political movement questioning the 2001 Law on Special Autonomy for Papua, the increasing influence of migrants, multinational and national companies, and the massive security presence across the Papuan provinces. There has been an unprecedented mobilisation of citizens in peaceful protests in support of Papuan self-determination, largely coordinated by local student groups and civil society organisations, such as the National Committee for West Papua (KNPB). The response of the security forces has been harsh and repressive, and has involved arbitrary arrests, torture and even killing of indigenous Papuans. In one of the most prominent examples over recent years, police arrested thousands of Papuans in a peaceful pro-independence celebration in May.

On the international stage, the Indonesian government pretends these recent developments have not occurred. Its claims of improvements in human rights and democracy completely ignore the situation on the ground. In addition to reports from international organisations like Human Rights Watch, even the Coordinating Ministry of Politics, Law, and Security Affairs has acknowledged human rights violations in at least three cases: the Wasior incident of 2001, the Wamena incident of 2003, and the Paniai shooting of 2014. Although endeavours to resolve these cases have stalled, the government is at least prepared to admit to a domestic audience that human rights problems exist.

Papua also remains the most restricted area in the country for foreign journalistic activities. Although President Joko Widodo said that he would lift restrictions on foreign journalists reporting from Papua, officials backtracked on this within weeks. Any foreign journalist who wants to go to Papua still has to obtain permission through a lengthy and complicated procedure, with no guarantee of permission being granted. If they do make it to Papua, foreign journalists are closely monitored by military and police officials.

The inconsistency in how Papuan issues are represented is the result of the lack of a coordinated policy between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other related agencies about how to defuse the Papua issue. There has been no attempt to coordinate the approach on the ground with the policies and information presented to the international community. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs appears, however, to be on a public relations offensive, with its representatives in Australia regularly posting insipid infographics about development in Papua, with facts like "30,000 Papuan football supporters flew the Indonesian flag".

Similarly, the Indonesian representative at the UN claimed that the allegations of human rights abuses against Indonesia were untrue, and that Pacific countries supported the separatist cause without acknowledging infrastructure development in Papua. These blunt arguments lack any substance about the historical, political, economic and security conditions in Papua and subsequently do little to counter allegations of human rights abuses.

Formulation of foreign policy should be based on domestic and international considerations. But Indonesia's foreign policy is based purely on domestic concerns about sovereignty – a sentiment captured by the military slogan "Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI) is non-negotiable" (NKRI harga mati), variants of which have been repeated by the government on the international stage. The government pretends that the movement for self-determination does not exist, and seems convinced that it can rely on a supportive international community. But the international community is well aware of the rights abuses in Papua and Indonesian foreign policy needs to be adjusted to reflect this fact.

The Papua issue also demonstrates how Indonesian diplomacy towards Pacific countries has failed. The small Pacific states are constrained by an international system that favours major powers. To overcome their small size and influence, Pacific countries need to band together and raise their concerns in multilateral forums for their voices to be heard. Human rights issues in Papua have been high on the agenda at recent regional forums, such as the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) and the Pacific Island Forum (PIF), which wrapped up its 2016 meeting last month. Indonesia is an associate member in the MSG and a dialogue partner in PIF. At an earlier MSG meeting, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu proposed sending a fact-finding mission to investigate rights abuses in Papua. This call was repeated at the PIF meeting last year.

Increasing attention to Papua in these forums has been driven in part by the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP). Despite being a nongovernmental organisation, ULMWP has observer status in the MSG, and is considered by many to represent the voice of Papuans. The MSG delayed a decision on granting ULMWP full membership earlier this year, although there are strong signs that it will be offered at the next meeting in December 2016.

The Indonesian diplomatic response to the internationalisation of the Papua issue has been largely reactive – and has included ad-hoc development assistance to Pacific countries, such as Fiji and Papua New Guinea. The government sponsored a grouping of the five "Melanesian" provinces in Indonesia – Papua, West Papua, Maluku, North Maluku and East Nusa Tenggara – dubbing it "Melindo" and provided support for the Melanesian Arts and Culture Festival to be held in Kupang in 2015.

These were transparent attempts to convince Pacific counties about Indonesia's commitment to Melanesian heritage across the country, even though the majority of people in East Nusa Tenggara, Maluku, and North Maluku do not share as strong a sense of belonging to Melanesia as do indigenous Papuans. In any case, these efforts have proved ineffective in persuading fellow Pacific societies to defuse the Papua issue in the international arena.

Moreover, many Indonesian diplomats lack the skills to contain the Papuan independence campaign in the Pacific. Diplomats must have the capacity to establish networks at multiple levels, not only with fellow diplomatic officers, but also NGO activists, political leaders, community members at the grassroots – even Papuan self-determination activists – if there are to be supportive discussions on the Papua issue.

Indonesia's rejection of the Pacific countries' fact-finding team proposal – without offering to provide comprehensive human rights reports of its own – has raised questions about Indonesia's role in and commitment to tackling problems in Papua. There is no point in simply telling other countries to stay out of the Papua issue. After all, the Indonesian government cannot conceal the truth about human rights violations in Papua. That would only provide ammunition for Pacific countries to continue to raise the Papua issue in international forums.

The Indonesian government needs to stop accusing Pacific countries of undermining its sovereignty and start working on finding common ground to resolve the Papua issue.

[Hipolitus Yolisandry Ringgi Wangge is a researcher at the Marthinus Academy in Jakarta. His current research focuses on democratisation in developing countries, particularly the role of crucial actors such as the military during democratic transition and consolidation. He has conducted fieldwork in West Papua on the role of Papuan youth in political and cultural identity during the special autonomy era.]

Source: http://indonesiaatmelbourne.unimelb.edu.au/clumsy-diplomacy-indonesia-papua-and-the-pacific/