Chanry Andrew Suripatty, Jayapura – A peaceful rally by thousands of protesters from the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) in Waena Abepura, Jayapura, rejecting the August 15, 1962 New York Agreement and demanding the right to self-determination Papua has ended in a clash.

Based on information on the ground the clash occurred after police tried to forcibly disband the rally because it did not have a permit.

The clash began when pro-independence demonstrators under the coordination of the KNPB held a march to the Waena traffic lights and the Papua Regional House of Representatives (DPRD). The rally was closely guarded by five police trucks.

When they arrived at the Waena 1 state housing company (Perumnas) in Abepura, prior to reaching the Waena traffic lights, police directed the protesters to return to the Waena low-cost apartments (rusunawa) on the grounds that the rally was disrupting street activities.

Police then tried to return protesters to the rusunawa by forcing them into police trucks. The demonstrators resisted by blockading the road and setting fire to wood.

The KNPB protesters and hundreds of sympathisers then continued the action with a sit in on the road. A short time later police again attempted to force them into police trucks.

The demonstrators however once again resisted resulting in a clash, with police beating protesters who responded by throwing stones and other items.

Meanwhile protesters on Jl. Pertigaan blockaded the road with trees, wood, stones and broken bottles and set fire to tyres in front of the Mimika dormitory. Protesters also tried to set fire to a small shop owned by a migrant in order to cause a riot.

The police then forcibly disbanded the rally, chasing down KNPB protesters and clearing the road. The KNPB protesters however continued to resist attacking the police by throwing stones and other items at officers trying to clear the street. (san)

[Abridged translation by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Demo Tolak Perjanjian New York 15 Agustus 1962 Berujung Bentrok".]

Source: https://daerah.sindonews.com/read/1131326/174/demo-tolak-perjanjian-new-york-15-agustus-1962-berujung-bentrok-1471241298

100s arrested as police and reactionary groups block protests against

Suara Papua - August 15, 2017

Bastian Tebai, Semarang – As many as 100 people were arrested by police when the Papua Student Alliance (AMP) and the Indonesian People's Front for West Papua (FRI-WP) held peaceful demonstrations in several cities across Java.

The actions were held to protest the New York Agreement which was signed in New York on August 15, 1962 between the Netherlands and Indonesia which gave the United Nations a mandate to supervise a referendum for Papuan in 1969.

Rally materials such as banners and posters were forcibly confiscated and protesters were beaten and kicked suffering injuries. The police also allowed reactionary social organisations (ormas) to take part in blocking the rallies organised by the AMP and FRI-WP.

Protest actions took place in several cities including the Central Java cities of Semarang and Yogyakarta, Jakarta, the West Java capital of Bandung and the East Java cities of Surabaya and Malang. As many as 100 people were arrested including journalists and human rights defenders from the Legal Aid Foundation (LBH).

In Semarang, as many as 47 people from the AMP, the Student Struggle Center for National Liberation (Pembebasan) and the Indonesian Cultural Society Union (SeBumi) held a demonstration on Jl. Pahlawan in front of the Diponegoro University in Simpang Lima.

According to Suara Papua's observations, the protesters were blocked by police behind which were social organisations who were on alert to back them up. Several of the groups carried paraphernalia with the red-and-white colours of the Indonesian national flag. Police had three trucks, three vehicles and Tactical Police Unit (Sabhara) on standby.

Police then tried to arrest action coordinator Januarius Adii, who was grabbed by his dreadlocks resulting in head injuries. One other person was injured in the scuffle that followed.

In all 47 people were arrested with police forcibly confiscating a banner with the group's demands along with 17 posters. Those arrested were taken to the Semarang municipal police office where Januarius Adii underwent six-hours of questioning until 4.30pm.

Those arrested in Semarang were: Jackson Gwijangge, Frans Yelemaken, Deva Yelemaken, Alfrida Kedeikoto, Mey Tebay, Theo Hisage, M. Kano (SeBumi), Saverius, Alex Duwitau, Bonni M, Yuli Gobay, Ney Sobolim, Deserius Dogomo, Lina Butu, Novela Wetipo, Danny Nawipa, Petu Tebai, Penthol (Indonesian People's United Resistance – PPRI), Elizabeth Magai, Yohanes Tigi, Januarius Tibakoto, Yohanes Dogomo, Markus Butu, Bastian Tebai (Suara Papua journalist), Ferry Tibakoto, Deky Pagawak, Gamson Alom, Aperinus Waker, Gasper Alom, Ontas Aud, Fincen Matuan, Dimes A, Nianus, Paulus Wuka, Ayon Widigipa, Stefanus Iyai, Tenus Tsenawatme, Zan Magai, Melianus Tabuni, Tamin Murib, Sigintak Wasiangge, Apoel Maloa (SeBumi), Frengky Yelipele, Bernardo Boma, Januarius Adi, Nicho (LBH) and Rizky (LBH).

In Yogyakarta, several ormas again allied themselves with the police who were on alert with two police vehicles, three police trucks, 10 trail bikes and a water cannon.

The protesters were surrounded as soon as the rally was about to begin with police and ormas members beating back demonstrators and forcibly confiscating rally materials such as banners and posters.

Twenty nine people were arrested: Rico Tude, Gabriel Hegemur, Semi Yobe, Aris Wanibo, Aris Yeimo, Andreas Yeimo (AMP), Abbi Douw, Zayur Bingga, Ferri Edowai, Elia Mote, Sael Makituma, Fabianus Pigome, Musa Pekei, Naomi Buyu, Adriana Yogi, Bertha Haluk, Marlen (Muhammadiyah Regional Leadership – PDM), Opik (PMD), Syarul (PMD), Fitri Lestari (Pembebasan), Deven (Pembebasan), Is (Pembebasan), Randi (Pembebasan), Taufan (Solidaritas), Ardan (Solidaritas), Riden (Solidaritas), Adli (Pembebasan), Erwin (solidaritas) and Napi. The 29 were released at 5.30pm.

In Jakarta, a clash broke out between protesters and members of reactionary social organisations. It was reported that four people were seriously injured including Adam (FRI-WP), Frans Nawipa, Jhon Gobay and Rudhi Amir (FRI-WP).

In all 24 protesters were arrested in Jakarta: Jhems Nawipa, Jhon Gobay, Erepul Sama, Alber Mungguar, Surya Anta, Siwa, Agus, Rais, Apax, Erna, Adam, Edi, Alex, Peyon, Andi, Rulans, Olen, Dean, Rudhi, Rahman, Sam, Smit, Rifai and Ucok Siagian (journalist).

In Malang, a joint rally by the AMP and FRI-WP was blocked by three social organisations, namely the Pancasila Youth (PP), the Communication Forum for Children of Retired Military and Police Officers (FKPPI) and the Nahdlatul Ulama's paramilitary youth wing Barisan Ansor Serbaguna (Banser).

Police tried to appear impartial but according to a Malang AMP official contacted by Suara Papua, the actions of these groups were supported by police with the aim being to beat back the demonstrators and curb free speech. One person, Yesaya Ukago, suffering head injuries in the chaos.

In Bandung, a joint action by the AMP and FRI-WP was blocked by police and social organisations. Meanwhile in Surabaya, the AMP and FRI-WP held a press conference after the action was blockaded and it was impossible to continue with the rally.

In Ternate meanwhile, a solidarity action support the right to self-determination for the Papuan nation was also held today.

In a press release received by Suara Papua, the groups said that they reject the New York Agreement because firstly, it did not involve the Papuan people as the legal subjects and legitimate owners of Papua and because both the Netherlands and Indonesia were colonisers. Second, because the Papuan people were not involved, the agreement and its outcome are not binding upon the Papuan people. Based on this, both the Pepera [the so called 'Act of Free Choice'] and Indonesia's occupation of Papua is illegal.

The New York Agreement belittled the human dignity of the Papuan people and because of this the protesters are demanding to be given the right to self-determination as the only democratic solution for the people of Papua.

[Slightly abridged translation by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "100 Orang Ditangkap dalam Aksi Tolak New York Agreement".]

Source: http://suarapapua.com/2017/08/15/100-orang-ditangkap-dalam-aksi-tolak-new-york-agreement/

Hundreds of activists arrested in three cities during rallies against

Tabloid Jubi - August 15, 2017

David Sobolim, Jayapura – At least 100 people from the Papuan Student Alliance (AMP) and the Indonesian People's Front for West Papua (FRI-WP) were arrested in Yogyakarta, Semarang and Jakarta during commemorations to mark the 55th anniversary of the New York Agreement.

Simultaneous actions by the AMP and FRI-WP were held in several cities across Java including Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Malang, Semarang and Bandung as well as Ternate in North Maluku.

All of the actions in Java were forcibly broken up by local police and various pro-NKRI (Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia) social organisations (ormas). According to the AMP's official Facebook account, several of those arrested suffered injuries including several lawyers who accompanied them.

In the Central Java provincial of Semarang, it was reported that 47 protesters were arrested by municipal police including two lawyers from the Semarang Legal Aid Foundation (LBH) who were taking part in the action.

Hupla Sobolim, who witnessed the action in Semarang, told Jubi by phone on August 15 that police had blocked the demonstrators even before they arrived at the Diponegoro Statue.

"The protesters were blocked by police who asked them to disband on the grounds that they did not have a permit. Yet the fact is that we had already sent a notification of the action although it was rejected by police", he said.

There were similar experiences in five other cities in Java. Police broke up demonstrations on the grounds that they did not have a permit to hold a demonstration despite organisers already sending police a notification.

Police also claimed that protests could not go ahead because of social organisations that opposed the actions.

Hupla said that he himself witnessed how the action coordinator, Januarius Adii, who was giving a speech, was suddenly dragged away by police and forced into a police vehicle. "His hair which was indeed in dreadlocks was tugged and pulled by police", he said.

"In addition to this, police also took away one of the lawyers from LBH Semarang, Rizky Putra Edry. The pair (Januarius and Rizky) were taken away in a police crowd control truck. After this the protesters were beaten back [by police]", said Hupla.

The protesters resisted vowing to remain on the streets demanding the pair's release. "In the end all of the protesters were forcibly taken away in crowd control trucks", said Hupla adding that it was then that police also arrested LBH lawyer Nico Andi Wauran who was forced to squat while the police held him.

According to Hupla, the protesters are still being questioned at the Semarang municipal police station. As many as 17 posters and a banner were also seized by police.

In the Central Java city of Yogyakarta meanwhile, 29 people were arrested before they could even begin the rally. Since early morning, police and the group Jogja Rembug (Paksi Katon) were on guard at locations where protesters were to gather – the Abu Bakar Ali parking area and the Zero Kilometre point in front of the central post office.

"At 10am two police vehicles, three police trucks, 10 trail bikes and one water canton, along with more than 100 police officers and 30 members of the ormas Jogja Rembug were on guard", according to a report received by Jubi from Yogyakarta LBH lawyer Emanuel Gobay on Tuesday August 15.

Members of the Paksi Katon formed a line in front of the AMP and FRI-WP action while shouting, "Separatists, smash, smash, smash, communists, smash, smash, smash. NKRI is non-negotiable", wrote Emanuel.

This did not however stop the action by scores of people from the AMP and FRI-WP even though rally materials such as symbolic bier were destroyed by ormas members. A scuffle broke out and the protesters were escorted to police vehicles.

It was not until 6pm that the activists were finally released. "The protesters from FRI-WP and Yogyakarta city AMP, totalling 29 people, have all now been released", Emanuel told Jubi.

As of going to print however, 24 people, some of which were injured, are still being held by the Metro Jaya police in Jakarta.

In the East Java city of Malang meanwhile, a protest action was forcibly disbursed resulting in several injuries. Around 30 demonstrators that had gathered at the Gajayana Stadium since early morning were blocked by groups such as the Pancasila Youth (PP), the Families of Indonesian Veterans and Police and Military Retirees (GM-FKPPI) along with several Islamic groups wearing turbans, white skull caps and Arab-style shirts who shouted that NKRI is non-negotiable.

The New York Agreement was signed in New York on August 15, 1962 between the Netherlands and Indonesia which gave the United Nations a mandate to supervise a referendum for Papuans in 1969. The agreement is considered not to have represented the interests of indigenous Papuans because it did not involve representatives from Western New Guinea.

[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Peringati 55 tahun New York Agreement, 100 orang ditangkap di tiga kota".]

Source: https://tabloidjubi.com/artikel-8766-peringati-55-tahun-new-york-agreement-100-orang-ditangkap-di-tiga-kota.html

Protests in Indonesian cities mark New York Agreement on Papua

Radio New Zealand International - August 15, 2017

Protests have been held in several cities in Indonesia to mark the anniversary of the agreement which sealed West Papua's incorporation into the republic.

Today is the 55th anniversary of the New York Agreement, the US-brokered deal under which the Netherlands agreed to transfer control of West Papua to Indonesia, pending a UN-administered plebiscite.

The agreement, which Papuans were not party to, paved the way for 1969's Act of Free Choice which gave Indonesia control of the former Dutch New Guinea. Many Papuans say the process was undemocratic and a betrayal.

Today, small protests were held in Indonesian cities of Yogyakarta, Semarang, Ternate, Bandung, Malang and Jakarta to mark the date.

The protests, which were organised by the Papuan Students Alliance and the Indonesian People's Front for West Papua, were monitored closely by police personnel.

Reports from Indonesia indicate over 40 people were arrested in the Semarang rally, and around 30 people in both Jakarta and Yogyakarta events.

Additionally, some of the protestors claim they were physically assaulted by members of civillian militia who along with police outnumbered the protestors in some cases.

At the Malang protest, one man claimed to have sustained a head injury after being punched by a a civillian militia member after he shouted "merdeka", a common cry for Papuan freedom.

Source: http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/337254/protests-in-indonesian-cities-mark-new-york-agreement-on-papua

No end to violence in Papua?

Indonesia at Melbourne - August 14, 2017

Hipolitus Yolisandry Ringgi Wangge – Reports about the shooting of an indigenous Papuan by police officers early this month in Deiyai district, Papua, have renewed focus on how human rights abuses by security officials in the region remain unaddressed by the government of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo.

Accounts of what triggered the incident differ, although most suggest that it began when workers at a construction company refused to take a near-drowned villager to the hospital. The villager's relatives and other local residents protested and a scuffle broke out. Police and military officials arrived and, according to an eyewitness, opened fire on the crowd without firing any warning shots. This left one man, Yulianus Pigai, dead, and 16 other Papuans wounded, including children.

Local police predictably claimed that Mobile Brigade (Brimob) personnel only used rubber bullets to disperse the crowd. But a relative of one of the injured residents has posted photos on social media of real bullet casings, apparently used by police.

Despite government pledges to change the approach to the region, violence against indigenous Papuans at the hands of security forces has continued unabated. Hundreds of thousands of military and police officials have been deployed to the region. The government justifies this security presence for three main reasons. The first is to secure so-called national assets, such as the massive Freeport McMoran mine. The second is to respond to the Free Papua Movement (OPM), and other small-scale organisations agitating for independence. The third is to prevent and address horizontal conflict between non-indigenous and indigenous Papuans, and among Papuan tribes.

The shooting has also highlighted the lack of policy coherence of the Jokowi administration. Since Jokowi took over from Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in 2014, the government has initiated several economic policies, including establishing massive infrastructure projects, and implementing a one-fuel price policy, which aim, among other things, to improve economic development in Papua.

On the political front, Jokowi granted clemency to five Papuan political prisoners in 2015. Human Rights Watch researcher Andreas Harsono recently reported that Jokowi has been quietly releasing dozens more over the past year. In his first nearly three years in power, he has visited the two Papuan provinces far more often than his predecessors. Yet none of these efforts have had much of an impact on the central problem in Papua, which is one of human rights.

Jokowi does not appear to have any clear design for addressing violations of human rights in Papua, or across the country more broadly. About the same time as the shooting, for example, police officers dispersed a workshop convened by the Indonesian People's Tribunal on the 1965 violence – a reminder of how quickly Jokowi's plans for reconciliation for past human rights abuses have unravelled.

Scholars argue that ethno-nationalist protests can gather steam when the government is resistant to holding human rights violators – particularly state security officials – to account through the courts. This lack of justice results in deep trauma for victims' families and increases public mistrust of the central government. This, in turn, enables political actors to mobilise the people to express aspirations for independence, as has happened in Papua.

There are two basic problems within the government approach to human rights in Papua. First, institutions and approaches are poorly coordinated. This is an old and unresolved problem that the Indonesian government has faced since it initiated structural reforms in the early 2000s. For years, government institutions, in particular, the Coordinating Ministry for Legal, Political, and Security Affairs, the Home Affairs Ministry, the Foreign Affairs Ministry, the National Police (Polri) and the Indonesian Military (TNI), have promoted different and sometimes inconsistent policies to deal with problems in Papua.

Former Coordinating Minister for Legal, Political, and Security Affairs Luhut Panjaitan formed an integrated working group to find a solution to three of the most concerning human rights cases: the 2014 Paniai shootings, the 2001 Wamena incident, and the 2003 Wasior incident. However, when former General Wiranto succeeded Luhut in 2016, the team was dismissed, and there have been no follow-up activities to address these crucial issues. Wiranto recently claimed that that the shooting in Deiyai was not a human rights violation.

Another example of this inconsistent approach is Jokowi's 2015 promise to lift restrictions on foreign journalists reporting from Papua. There have still not been any specific policies introduced to implement this directive. Any foreign journalist who wishes to go to Papua must still undertake a complicated application process and follow strict requirements, particularly from security-related agencies and, occasionally, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

A comprehensive human rights policy – not an economic policy – should be the priority for resolving the issues in Papua. Economic policy has been the prescription favoured by every Indonesian president to address problems in Papua. They seem to believe that aspirations for independence are simply a function of the poor quality of life of many indigenous Papuans, and improving welfare will lead to these demands fading.

In reality, the situation is far more complex. Papuans' trust issues with the central government do not stem from poverty. Rather, they result from the insecurity of living with the threat of violence from the security officers who surround them, a massive presence that in itself contributes to traumatisation. In addition, the stagnation of internal reforms in the police and TNI that might make them better able to deal with low-level conflicts and protests in Papua without violence has made a bad situation worse.

Indigenous Papuans will continue to be killed as long as the central government lacks the political will or capacity to better coordinate national institutions and prioritise human rights issues in Papua.

[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/no-end-to-violence-in-papua/

Human Rights Watch calls for more international scrutiny of West Papua

Radio New Zealand International - August 14, 2017

Human Rights Watch in Indonesia is calling for more international scrutiny of the country's Papuan provinces.

The organisation's Jakarta based researcher, Andreas Harsono made the call following an announcement last week that no more than five Papuan political prisoners remained behind bars in Papua and West Papua, down from 37 in 2016.

Mr Harsono said while the release of political prisoners was a positive step, more needed to be done to address serious human rights abuses committed by Indonesian security forces in the Papuan regions. He said a UN special rapporteur on Freedom of Expression should be allowed to visit West Papua.

"That is something that can help. And of course international journalists, international NGOs, international monitors, they can help. We are not there to meddle, to be involved in domestic politics in West Papua. We are there just to help both sides to get the truth," said Mr Harsono.

He said international media coverage was particularly needed given Indonesian journalists relied heavily on state information for their reporting and some had even been known to work as informants for security authorities.

He said Papuan journalists were doing some good work but they were afraid to talk about sensitive issues for fear of being assaulted or harassed.

But in a statement, the Indonesian government said it strongly condemned reports that it did not allow international media access to its Papuan regions.

It said following President Jokowi's declaration in 2015 that Indonesia would open West Papua to international media, it had received 32 requests for journalistic visits to Papua and only four had been declined.

It said similarly in 2016, only four out of 19 requests were declined because of administrative matters.

It said based on these facts it was highly irrelevant and irresponsible for any party to doubt that freedom of expression and freedom of the press existed in Indonesia.

Source: http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/337172/human-rights-watch-calls-for-more-international-scrutiny-of-west-papua

Poverty, land rights feature at film festival in Indonesia's Papua

Reuters - August 11, 2017

Jessica Damiana, Jakarta – Indonesia's easternmost province of Papua hosted its first independent film festival this week, showing documentaries on social issues such as land rights and grinding poverty, but steering clear of the highly sensitive subject of separatism.

The festival, hosted by a local filmmakers' community, screened 10 amateur documentaries in the town of Merauke on Aug. 7-9. The organizer said the festival attracted 600 people.

The organizers, Papuan Voices, said the festival aimed to show "a new perspective that places Papua as a subject in seeing and determining its own future and contributing to ending the injustice in the land of Papua".

Papua is one of the poorest regions in Indonesia despite being rich in resources like natural gas, copper and gold.

It has suffered an often violent separatist conflict since it was incorporated into Indonesia after a widely criticized U.N.-backed referendum in 1969. Dutch colonial rule ended in 1963.

Organizer Urbanus Kiaf said by telephone that all the films were passed by Indonesia's censorship board without being cut or censored, but plain-clothed police attended some screenings.

"They asked for explanations of what the story was for each of the films and they asked for a list of names of the organizing committee, but otherwise they just watched," he said.

Kiaf said the poverty shown in the films was a symbol of "economic and intellectual oppression" and how Papuans often lacked land rights, after selling to investors cheaply.

One example was the film that won third place. Director Elisabet Apyaka said her film, "For Novalinda and Andreas", showed how a single mother had raised her two children by selling taro, banana and betel on a small patch of rented land.

"This shows that Papuan women are the head of families here, they get up early to do house chores, work in their garden and feed their kids," Apyaka said.

The fact that the festival went ahead was a sign of progress in Indonesian President Joko Widodo's efforts to open up Papua, said Human Rights Watch's researcher Andreas Harsono, adding that it would have been banned in the past.

Widodo has given clemency to a number of political prisoners in Papua who were unfairly prosecuted and imprisoned for exercising their rights of freedom of expression, Harsono said.

However, a report by the International Coalition for Papua said there was a significant aggravation of Papua's human rights in 2015 and 2016.

Rights groups also recently accused police of lethal force on people protesting against a construction company, by shooting dead one person and wounding 16.

[Additional reporting and writing by Gayatri Suroyo; Editing by Ed Davies and Nick Macfie.]

Source: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-indonesia-papua-filmfestival-idUSKBN1AR10S

NZ government rejects calls for 'public, unequivocal' stand for West

Asia Pacific Report = August 10, 2017

New Zealand's Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee has dismissed a call for the government to make a stand and address the ongoing human rights situation in West Papua.

This comes in response to a 2016 petition spearheaded by West Papua Action Auckland's Maire Leadbeater which urges the government to take a "public and unequivocal" stand and condemn Indonesia's arrest and intimidation of peaceful protesters and end the state sanctioned torture and killing of West Papuans.

The committee stated the United Nations Universal Periodic Review process and engagement with Indonesia directly remain the appropriate channels to make New Zealand's views known on such issues, although it agreed with Leadbeater the "fundamental human rights of freedom of speech and assembly must be upheld".

Some of the committee also felt the government should support a call for working through the UN alongside Pacific nations to better address the human rights abuses in the Indonesian province.

"We encourage the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade to continue monitoring the human rights situation in West Papua, and to raise any concerns it may have," the committee said.

But such a position has been criticised as a "business as usual" approach. "I am appalled that ministry officials have told the committee that there is doubt about the practice of torture in West Papua.

Torture practices 'endemic'

"This flies in the face of extensive documentation from numerous human rights, church and academic reports all of which describe the practices of torture as endemic," Leadbeater said.

Leadbeater's comments come after the committee's report revealed The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade feels the killings of alleged separatists by Indonesia are "random acts of violence rather than systematically planned or organised acts".

The petition, endorsed by several human rights groups, academics and leaders of the Anglican and Catholic Church, also calls for the government to push for the UN special rapporteur on freedom of expression to visit West Papua.

Although the report notes such a visit would be consistent with increased international transparency, it does not appear New Zealand will propel this as the ministry continues to stand by its position which recognises the sovereign integrity of Indonesia and its territorial jurisdiction over West Papua.

Despite ongoing criticism from groups such as West Papua Action Auckland, the ministry states it monitors the human rights situation in West Papua through diplomatic reporting from New Zealand's embassy in Jakarta and has repeatedly called on Indonesia's government to grant journalists and NGOs further access to West Papua.

New Zealand has also been criticised for its alleged lacklustre stance regarding calls for West Papua to be included on the UN's list of nations to be decolonised.

"New Zealand is missing in action while other small Pacific nations such as Vanuatu, Tonga and the Solomon Islands stand up for the West Papuan people and their fundamental rights," Leadbeater said.

Pacific leads way

The Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Tonga, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Nauru, Tuvalu and Palau have all called for UN intervention in West Papua while New Zealand has so far remained silent.

West Papua Action Auckland is not taking the report as a defeat, however, and will continue fighting for West Papua's independence.

The group stated it is now approaching all political parties ahead of New Zealand's election in September seeking a clear policy statement on whether or not they support West Papua's quest for self-determination.

"New Zealand's shameful acquiescence in this horror story in our neighbourhood must end."

Source: https://asiapacificreport.nz/2017/08/10/nz-government-rejects-calls-for-public-unequivocal-stand-for-west-papua/

Indonesia denies claims of Papuan rights restrictions

Radio New Zealand International - August 10, 2017

The Indonesian government has again rejected claims that rights to the freedom of expression and assembly are restricted in Papua region.

Through its embassy in New Zealand, Indonesia has raised issue with reported comments by Vanuatu's government in United Nations forums that basic human rights of West Papuans are being infringed.

Vanuatu has repeatedly called for UN action on human rights violations by Indonesian security forces in Papua. It has drawn particular attention to arrests of Papuans for participating in public demonstrations.

However, a Minister Counsellor at Indonesia's embassy, Wanton Saragih, denied that Papuans were being arrested for exercising their basic rights such as freedom of expression.

Mr Saragih disputed reports on RNZ and elsewhere that over a hundred Papuans were arrested and harshly treated by police last month in the Papuan city of Nabire.

"On 6 July dozens of people were brought into the police station in Nabire on allegations and complaints that they played a part in distributing brochures calling for unlawful actions," he said.

"The authorities determined that the group did not provide proper notification or hold a permit for holding protests."

Mr Saragih said the Papuans were treated with respect and dignity by police who released them by transporting them to where they had come from on the following day. He explained that demonstrations were common events across many Indonesian cities.

"The rights of the public to peacefully voice their opinions are protected by the Law," the counsellor said, suggesting that representations by Vanuatu about Papua in international fora were unhelpful.

"Vanuatu should also be contributing positively to the progress and welfare of the people of Papua and West Papua."

Source: http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/336920/indonesia-denies-claims-of-papuan-rights-restrictions

Aceh

Record-breaking dance in Indonesia's Aceh province promotes unity

Agence France Presse - August 14, 2017

More than 10,000 people turned out in Indonesia's Aceh Sunday to stage a record-breaking song and dance performance stressing the need to conserve a threatened national park in the country's westernmost province.

The men, clad in elaborate black and yellow traditional costumes, sat in neat rows, clapping their hands on their shoulders and laps and moving in an increasingly fast-paced rhythm to a traditional song.

The saman, or "the dance of a thousand hands," is one of the country's most popular. In 2011 it was included in the UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage.

The event was aimed at attracting more visitors to the province, the head of the local tourism agency, Syafruddin, told AFP. Thousands of spectators flocked to a field tucked amid green hills in Gayo Lues district to watch the performance.

The Indonesian Museum of Record certified it as breaking a national record with 10,001 participants – beating last year's record of 6,600. The dance is usually accompanied by a song performed in unison. It emphasizes teamwork, a symbol of unity.

"In the old days the lyrics were usually about spreading Islamic teachings. These days we can adjust the lyrics to deliver any message we wish to convey to the audience," Syafruddin said.

The song focused on the importance of protecting the province's Mount Leuser National Park, home to rare Sumatran tigers and elephants, which is threatened by rampant poaching and rainforest destruction due to the expansion of palmoil plantations.

Aceh's international image has been tarnished by its punishments under Sharia law. "I am very impressed with the performance, the dancers synchronised very well and it makes me proud as an Indonesian. It was incredible," Sarah, a visitor from Jakarta, told AFP.

Source: http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1061232.shtml

1965 anti-communist purge

1965 Indonesian massacre: Survivors fear being caught up in Government's

ABC Radio Australia - August 11, 2017

Samantha Hawley, Indonesia – There are growing concerns in Indonesia the equivalent of a presidential decree used to ban hard-line Islamists could also be used to silence survivors of the 1965 massacre that saw the slaughter of an estimated half a million people.

For 77-year-old Sri Sulistyawati, it's been long fight for justice that may never come. The frail Indonesian woman – who was once an esteemed journalist at the presidential palace – was jailed in 1968, three years after one of the 20th century's worst ever massacres that saw the slaughter of an estimated half a million people.

Suspected of links to communism, she was hunted down and spent 11-and-a-half years in prison – she can recount the torture she endured like it was yesterday.

"Once they put a teak slab on top of my stomach and knees and two soldiers standing on each tip played seesaw," Ms Sri told the ABC. "It caused internal bleeding and knee problems, I went through that agony for a month."

The anti-communist purge is a highly sensitive, secretive blight on Indonesia's history. Now there is growing concern the equivalent of a presidential decree issued last month and used to ban hard-line Islamic group Hizbut Tahrir could also be used to further silence the 1965 survivors, their families and advocates.

A private meeting in east Jakarta last week, attended by 25 people, was shut down by the military and police. The group, including Ms Sri, had gathered to discuss the damning findings of an investigation by the International Peoples Tribunal at the Hague, that was released last year.

"We had already received the permission from the owner of the house. There was only a limited attendance," Bedjo Untung, a 1965 victim and advocate, told the ABC.

He said it was clear the order to shut down the gathering had come from the military – Mr Untung was jailed from 1970 until 1979 for communism links. "I believe, if not today, then maybe tomorrow, and if not tomorrow, maybe the next day... the truth will come," he said.

Amnesty International's Indonesian director, Usman Hamid, demanded Indonesian President Joko Widodo take action to stop the 1965 meetings being targeted by military and police.

Mr Hamid also expressed the same concerns that regulation to ban Hizbut Tahrir could also be used to target 1965 campaigners.

"This is really an increasing threat against freedom of peaceful assembly in Indonesia," Mr Hamid said. "The problem with Joko Widodo is he has no knowledge of human rights. He doesn't know human rights."

Indonesian activist Reza Muharam, who also attended the 1965 meeting this week, said 61 gatherings had been stopped by the military and police in the past two years.

"We want to break this silence, we want to press the Government to actually do something about this and end the impunity," he said.

"This presidential decree can also be used to silence an organisation like us or others and so I think this is a threat for the stability and future of Indonesian democracy."

The Indonesian Government held a 1965 Symposium last year, but Mr Widodo made clear no apology would be made for atrocities of the past.

In the Hague, the International People's Tribunal judges concluded there had been, "cruel and unspeakable murders" and the, "unjustifiable imprisonment of hundreds of thousands of people without trial".

Ms Sri said she was not seeking financial compensation. "What we demand is justice and to reveal the truth," she said.

Source: http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/2017-08-11/1965-indonesian-massacre-survivors-fear-being-caught-up-in-governments-islamist-crackdown/1692926

New order & militarism

Suharto museum celebrates dictator's life, omitting dark chapters

New York Times - August 13, 2017

Sebastian Strangio, Kemusuk, Indonesia – Indonesia's former dictator looms in bronze over the entrance to the small museum set amid the palm trees and emerald rice fields of central Java.

Depicted in a military uniform and peaked officer's cap, he radiates calm authority over the village of his birth.

To many, the New Order government that Suharto led from 1967 to 1998 is a byword for corruption and repression on a grand scale, including a brutal campaign of anti-Communist purges that historians describe as one of the worst atrocities of the 20th century.

As president, Suharto jailed and exiled his political enemies, and crippled democratic institutions.

In 2004, the antigraft organization Transparency International described Suharto as the most corrupt leader on earth, claiming that he embezzled as much as $35 billion while in power.

But in a country where open discussion of his rule remains taboo, the General Suharto Memorial Museum celebrates him as a kindly father and heroic nation builder. To some, this is a rewriting of history.

Housed in an imposing walled compound in Suharto's hometown, Kemusuk, a short drive outside the city of Yogyakarta, the museum opened in 2013. It was built by Suharto's younger half brother, Probosutedjo, who grew wealthy under his sibling's rule, but in 2003 was tried and convicted of corruption. He was sentenced to four years in jail and ordered to pay back $10 million to the Indonesian state.

Gatot Nugroho, the museum's director, said Probosutedjo, now 87, wanted to counter the criticisms of Suharto that emerged after he was forced from power amid mass pro-democracy protests in 1998.

"He built the museum so the Indonesian people could learn the positive side of Suharto's rule," Mr. Nugroho said. He described the strongman as an independence hero and "father of development," who safely navigated his country through the tumult of the Cold War.

On a recent visit, schoolchildren gazed at the foundations of the home where Suharto was born in 1921, and the well where he hauled water as a youngster. Visitors posed for photos next to a sculpture of the "great general," while a music system blared New Order anthems, including the song "Suharto Is Our Father."

Across the street, small shops sold cold drinks and souvenir T-shirts featuring Suharto smiling, above these words: "How are you doing, bro? It was better in my time, right?"

The Indonesian dictator, who died in 2008, is still largely revered in this quiet town of dusty back streets and shaded Javanese cemeteries. Locals spoke of the economic development brought by the New Order and the gifts bestowed on the area by the Suharto clan.

Biyono, 82, who runs a small shop near the museum selling cold drinks and Suharto T-shirts, said the New Order introduced electricity and paved roads to the area and took a harsh stance on crime. "If there was a criminal then, Suharto ordered them to be shot directly," he said.

The New Order did notch some significant achievements. Suharto oversaw an economic boom, drastically reducing poverty and expanding access to health care and education. In 1984, Indonesia achieved self-sufficiency in rice production – a milestone that is celebrated at the museum.

But the museum displays are silent on the darker side to the story.

Dioramas and panels focus on Suharto's roles in the independence struggle against the Dutch and in prying the region of Papua from colonial rule in the early 1960s. Video screens show footage of the dictator giving speeches and greeting foreign leaders, including Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher.

Mami Lestari, 38, a niece of Suharto's who lives in Kemusuk, said that despite the excesses of some of her uncle's cronies, he always stood up for the little people. "Maybe right now people's salaries are higher, but there is a bigger gap between the rich and the poor," Ms. Lestari said.

In the last presidential election in 2014, the tycoon Aburizal Bakrie, the presidential nominee of Suharto's old Golkar party, ran a campaign that leaned heavily on New Order nostalgia.

Across Java, posters and T-shirts appeared in which Suharto encouraged the public to remember how much better it was "in my time." Golkar and members of the leader's family have also petitioned the Indonesian government to grant him the title of "national hero," so far unsuccessfully.

The effort to rehabilitate the New Order has been vigorously opposed by activists like Bedjo Untung, who spent nine years imprisoned without trial in the 1970s. "It is completely wrong," said Mr. Untung of the museum. "It is manipulated history."

Mr. Untung heads a group that seeks to open up discussion of the anti-communist massacres that Suharto presided over in late 1965 and early 1966 – a crucial episode in his ascent to power.

The killings were provoked by a failed coup against then-President Sukarno by a group within the Indonesian armed forces, during which six generals were kidnapped and executed. Suharto and other top commanders quickly quashed the uprising, pinning it on the Indonesian Communist Party.

Security forces and local vigilantes then hunted down people suspected of being communists. An estimated 500,000 people were killed, many of them innocent, and thousands more were locked up without trial.

A large section of the museum is given over to displays justifying the crackdown. Illuminated panels show gory photos of the bodies of the six executed generals, next to a life-size photo of Suharto wearing military fatigues and sunglasses.

There is no mention of the many innocent people killed. Mr. Nugroho, the museum's director, acknowledged that some killings took place in 1965, but put them down to the spontaneous anger of the Indonesian people.

Baskara T. Wardaya, director of the Center for Democracy and Human Rights Studies at Sanata Dharma University in Yogyakarta, said it was "predictable, and to a certain extent understandable" that a museum built by Suharto's family would present a one-sided version of history.

But when it comes to the 1965-66 events, he said, the museum mostly reflects the official story that is still told in Indonesian schoolbooks and state museums.

For Mr. Untung, the fact that a monument to Suharto's legacy could exist while silence prevailed about the killing of thousands of innocents showed that the battle over Indonesia's history will be drawn-out. "Suharto is not a legitimate hero," Mr. Untung said. "If he was a hero, my struggle will be useless."

[Reporting for this article was supported by a grant from the International Reporting Project.]

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/13/world/asia/suharto-museum-indonesia.html

Labour & migrant workers

Garbage collectors launch strike in Depok

Jakarta Post - August 14, 2017

Jakarta – Garbage collectors in Depok, West Java, launched a strike on Monday to demand a better payment scheme. They refused to operate and abandoned 120 trucks at a trash disposal site (TPA) in Cipayung, Depok.

Head of the Cipayung TPA, Iyay Gumelar, said only two trucks operated that day, carrying waste from a dumpsite on Jl. Margonda. He added that majority of the drivers and their assistants staged a rally at the site instead.

The protestors demanded an increase in payment, particularly for overtime or work during official public holidays. Under the current scheme, drivers and their assistants are paid Rp 100,000 (US$7.49) and Rp 90,000 per day, respectively. (fac)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/08/14/garbage-collectors-launch-strike-in-depok.html

Jakarta calls on companies to provide staff buses

Jakarta Post - August 11, 2017

Jakarta – The Jakarta administration has called on businesses to help ease the chaotic traffic in the capital by providing shuttle buses for employees, an official has said.

Jakarta City Secretary Saefullah said the move was expected to reduce the growing number of private vehicles traveling in the sprawling capital and which appeared to show no sign of abating.

"It would be helpful if every organization and company had the idea to provide shuttle buses for their staff, because many people could be transported in one vehicle," he said at City Hall in Central Jakarta on Friday, as quoted by kompas.com.

He added that the city administration had already taken the first step by rolling out a fleet of 21 buses to transport its civil servants to their offices.

Saefullah stressed that the step was necessary, as he observed that many private cars carried only one or two people, exacerbating traffic conditions by adding to the volume of cars on the city's roads. (fac)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/08/11/jakarta-calls-on-companies-to-provide-staff-buses.html

Union federation accuses Freeport of treating 'fired' Indonesia mine

Reuters - August 11, 2017

Jakarta – IndustriALL Global Union, a federation of labor unions, said the Indonesian unit of copper miner Freeport McMoRan and metal smelter Smelting had treated "fired" workers "inhumanely and with contempt", urging both to reinstate staff and contractors.

Following export restrictions related to a permit dispute, Freeport furloughed some 3,000 workers in Indonesia earlier this year, which prompted a strike and high levels of absenteeism.

Freeport later deemed that approximately 3,000 full-time and 1,000 contract employees who were absent had "voluntarily resigned."

A spokesman for Freeport Indonesia declined to make immediate comment on the allegations made by IndustriALL on Friday (11/08), referring to earlier statements by Freeport.

Arizona-based Freeport, the world's biggest publicly-traded copper miner, has repeatedly said it has acted on labor issues in accordance with Indonesian law and its labor contract, with former employees able to apply for open positions with contractor companies.

About 300 workers were dismissed from Smelting in January and the company said at the time that it aimed to replace them after a labor strike.

Smelting is jointly owned and operated by Japan's Mitsubishi Materials Corp and Freeport. A spokesperson for Mitsubishi Materials in Tokyo could not be reached for comment during a public holiday on Friday.

"Both Freeport [Indonesia] and Smelting have treated the workers they fired inhumanely and with contempt," IndustriAll Mining Sector Chairman Andrew Vickers told reporters.

IndustriALL representatives from unions in Australia, the Netherlands, South Africa and North America have been in Indonesia to push the government to "uphold fundamental labor standards" and help to get workers' jobs back.

Vickers said both Freeport and PT Smelting had acted in "clear violations" of workers' rights to organize, bargain collectively and strike.

The federation urged both companies to "immediately reinstate all the workers they have fired, then negotiate fair resolutions of the matters that provoked workers to strike in the first place," he said.

IndustriALL says it represents 50 million workers in 140 countries worldwide and has previously worked to highlight safety and pay issues in Southeast Asia's garment industry.

"In this case, resignations were an unfortunate consequence for a number of workers who had prolonged absenteeism from work despite multiple efforts and requests by the company to return to work," Freeport said on Friday ahead of the statement by IndustriALL.

Source: http://jakartaglobe.id/business/union-federation-accuses-freeport-treating-fired-indonesia-mine-workers-contempt/

Workers at Jakarta port ends strike early, citing national interests

Reuters - August 8, 2017

Jakarta – Workers at one of the operators of Indonesia's busiest ports ended their strike on Monday (07/08), sooner than planned, out of consideration for the "national interests," the chairman of the labor union said.

More than 600 workers of Jakarta International Container Terminal (JICT) have been on strike since Thursday to demand bonus payments, disrupting operations at the biggest terminal of Jakarta's Tanjung Priok port.

JICT operates the largest container terminal at Tanjung Priok, handling 70 percent of the port's exports and imports. The JICT Labour Union had originally planned to extend the action until Aug. 10.

Twenty ships that JICT was scheduled to handle by Aug. 10 have been redirected for loading and unloading at other terminals due to the strike – although government officials and JICT executives have said port activities remained "smooth."

The chairman of the union, Nova Sofyan Hakim, said in a statement he had ordered members to stop the strike on Monday afternoon "for the sake of our interests, our dreams and for the greater national interests."

Hakim said workers faced intimidation during the strike and JICT clients were forced to bear losses worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

A communication officer of JICT declined to comment and referred to remarks the company made at the weekend in which JICT's vice president director Riza Ervani advised the union to settle the dispute through dialogue mediated by the government.

"Let's follow the rules and not sacrifice public and national interests because we all know Tanjung Priok is the gate of our economy and a vital national object," Riza told a news conference on Sunday.

Earlier on Monday, Indonesia reported economic growth in the second quarter that was below expectations, partly due to a slowdown in export growth. JICT is controlled by Hong Kong-based Hutchison Ports and state-owned operator Pelindo II.

Source: http://jakartaglobe.id/business/workers-jakarta-port-ends-strike-early-citing-national-interests/

Freedom of speech & expression

Deemed 'neo-communist', paramilitary group shuts down film showing on

Fajar - August 8, 2017

Scores of people from the Pancasila Youth (PP) paramilitary group have shut down a film showing and discussion about radical poet Wiji Thukul at the Lintas Kemukus Retreat in Sirau Village, Paduraksa, Central Java, on Sunday August 6, at around 11pm.

The group wearing yellow and black military fatigues arrived in the final minutes of a film showing and discussion of the film "Let the Words Rest" (Istirahatlah Kata-Kata). They barged into the venue and demanded that the event be stopped because the film and the discussion allegedly contained elements of neo-communism.

Starting with a verbal argument, a scuffle even broke out between the PP members and event organiser Andi Rustono. Fortunately it was able to be brought under control by security personnel on guard at the venue.

The scuffle took place when Andi refused to hand over his laptop as material evidence. The PP also demanded the film be shown again so the group could see it for themselves. Because the situation was becoming heated however, the film was not shown again.

PP field coordinator Edi Suprayogi stated that the PP is obliged to monitor and secure anything that smacks of communism. Moreover, he said, the event was held in a closed venue.

"Remember, the Pancasila Youth will safeguards the NKRI [Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia] which is non-negotiable from [threats] no matter what their form. If there are indications that point towards neo-communism, the Pancasila Youth will be in the forefront, whatever its form", he asserted. Suprayogi added that the PP came to the venue based on a report by a local resident.

Andi Rustono meanwhile said the PP's suspicions were false and what was happening at the film showing were in no way what they suspected.

Andi said that the film is not in conflict with the state ideology of Pancasila or the NKRI. The film is simply critical of the New Order administration of former president Suharto.

According to Andi there is no difference between people now who try to replace the NKRI with a caliphate. "So, what are they making an issue out of? Moreover the film itself is legal and has already been shown in cinemas all across Indonesia", he said.

According to Andi Wiji Thukul was a poet who was murdered because of his poetry that was very critical at that time. "One of the reasons that we enjoy freedom of expression today is because of Wiji Thukul's struggle", he said.

Because of the presence of the PP the film showing was not continued and in the end the discussion cancelled. (sul/fat/c19/ami)

[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Dianggap Neokomunisme, Pemutaran Film Wiji Thukul Dibubarkan Ormas".]

Source: http://fajar.co.id/2017/08/08/dianggap-neokomunisme-pemutaran-film-wiji-thukul-dibubarkan-ormas/

Freedom of assembly & association

Government plans to ban other 'anti-Pancasila' groups

Jakarta Post - August 10, 2017

Jakarta – Home Affairs Minister Tjahjo Kumolo has said that his ministry is coordinating with the police and regional administrations to disband more mass organizations considered against the state ideology Pancasila.

The move comes following the government's controversial disbandment of Islamic group Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI) on July 19.

"Because [many organizations] are at the provincial level, we are coordinating with the local administrations to gather evidence and documents that indicate certain organizations being against Pancasila," Tjahjo said on Wednesday as quoted by tempo.co.

However, he did not specify which organizations were suspected of carrying out activities or of being founded on principles that contravened the state ideology.

Before filing any proposal to disband the organizations under suspicion, the government would monitor their movements, Tjahjo added. "[We] need to look closer at them, with supporting data and evidences," he added.

Earlier on Aug. 3, Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna H. Laoly claimed that the government did not have any plans to disband more organizations after it had disbanded HTI.

The government disbanded the HTI last month through the issuance of a regulation in lieu of law (Perppu) on mass organizations, which President Joko Widodo signed on July 11.

The Perppu has been criticized for limiting the people's freedom of assembly. Several petitions for a judicial review that challenge the Perppu have been filed with the Constitutional Court. (yon/bbs)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/08/10/govt-plans-to-ban-other-anti-pancasila-groups.html

Democracy & civil rights

Constitution prevents dictatorship: Jokowi

Jakarta Post - August 9, 2017

Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo reiterated his message on Wednesday that he would not go down the authoritarian path as the country's constitution had a checks-and-balance system that could prevent the rise of a strongman.

Speaking at an international gathering of constitutional court justices in Surakarta, his hometown, Jokowi said that the Constitution enabled each branch of government to exercise control over the other.

"Referring to our Constitution, there's not a single branch of government that can have absolute power, let alone allow a dictatorship to arise," Jokowi said as quoted by kompas.com.

Earlier on Tuesday, Jokowi said that he did not have the look of a dictator in response to criticisms that there were authoritative aspects to his recent policies. "Many people have called me authoritarian, but do I have the face of a dictator?" Jokowi said in Lubang Buaya, East Jakarta, on Tuesday.

In his statement on Wednesday, Jokowi said that the country's Constitution prevented a rule by mob, which he called a "mobocracy." "Mobocracy is when a group of people impose their values on others with force. We want a democracy that is institutionalized," he said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/08/09/constitution-prevents-dictatorship-jokowi.html

I don't have face of a dictator: Jokowi

Jakarta Post - August 8, 2017

Jakarta – Responding to criticism that many of his recent policies had an authoritarian bent, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has said that he has no predisposition to turn into an autocrat.

"Many people have called me authoritarian, but do I have the face of a dictator?" Jokowi said, which was greeted with chuckles by participants of the national pencak silak tournament in Lubang Buaya, East Jakarta, as quoted by tempo.co. Jokowi opened the tournament on Tuesday morning.

Jokowi was responding to criticism of his recent decision to issue a presidential regulation in lieu of law (Perppu) on the disbandment of mass organizations that failed to adhere to state ideology Pancasila.

Following the issuance of the Perppu, the Law and Human Rights Ministry revoked the license of the Islamist organization Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI). Together with a number of Islamist organizations, the HTI has challenged the decision by filing a complaint with the Constitutional Court.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/08/08/i-dont-have-face-of-a-dictator-jokowi.html

Blasphemy & shariah law

Ahok will not testify in Buni Yani's trial

Jakarta Post - August 8, 2017

Callistasia Anggun Wijaya, Jakarta – Former Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama will not testify as a witness in a court hearing against defendant Buni Yani who is standing trial for allegedly spreading hate speech at the Bandung District Court on Tuesday.

The prosecutors at the Bandung District Court previously planned to present Ahok as a witness in the case against Buni, the man who edited the subtitles of a video that showed Ahok making comments about Islam.

However, the head of Cipinang prison considered the request to be not feasible because of the distance between the court and the Mobile Brigade Command (Mako Brimob) in Depok, West Java where Ahok is imprisoned, Ahok's attorney Rolas Sitinjak said.

"In light of the the traffic jams from Jakarta to Bandung, it could take Ahok hours to reach the court. He won't be able to come to the hearing on time," Rolas said on Tuesday adding that the Cipinang Penitentiary head had sent a letter to the prosecutors explaining the situation.

He went on to say that Ahok could not attend the hearing given his current physical condition. "Ahok feels unwell at the moment, maybe because of influenza," he said

Another of Ahok's lawyer, Teguh Samudera, said even though Ahok could not attend the hearing, the prosecutors could read out Ahok's testimony stated in the police's investigation report (BAP).

Prosecutors indicted Buni for allegedly spreading an edited video of a speech Ahok gave last year in which he warned residents of parties who used Quranic verses for political gains. The video triggered an uproar, which resulted in Ahok being declared guilty of blasphemy against Islam on May 9.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/08/08/ahok-will-not-testify-in-buni-yanis-trial.html

Internet & social media

Facebook opens Indonesia's office

Jakarta Post - August 15, 2017

Jakarta – Social media giant Facebook opened its office in Indonesia on Monday, after years of operating in the country.

Facebook Indonesia country director Sri Widowati invited journalists for a tour of the office in South Jakarta. "With the opening of our office here, we want to show our commitment to what we have done so far in Indonesia," Sri said.

Indonesia is one of the important markets for Facebook as it has about 115 million people connect to the social media platform.

The figure is a 40 percent increase from March last year, which reached 82 million, Sri added. Meanwhile, Indonesia's daily number of Facebook users currently stands at 65 million.

Sri added that the company had established a representative office in the country in 2014. She declined to elaborate on whether the new office was part of the company's efforts to become a permanent business entity, which is required by the government in order to legally operate in the country.

"As a company, we respect the regulations of every country [in which Facebook operates]," she said, declining to specify the legal and fiscal steps the company had taken to open the office. (dea/bbn)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/08/15/facebook-opens-indonesias-office.html

Indonesia gets tough on social media monitoring

Bangkok Post - August 14, 2017

Ismira Lutfia Tisnadibrata – After blocking Telegram since July 14, the Indonesian government has lifted its ban on the encrypted messaging service that has become popular as a platform for radicals and terrorists to communicate and propagate their ideas.

The Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (MCIT) last Thursday unblocked Telegram's 11 domain names after the latter took down 166 channels containing information related to terrorism and radicalism, which the ministry and other agencies had reported to the company.

The move followed a meeting between minister Rudiantara and Telegram CEO Pavel Durov in Jakarta on Aug 1, during which Mr Durov apologised for not responding in a more timely manner to the ministry's repeated emails requesting action.

Mr Durov said Telegram was committed to blocking public channels that could be used for the propagation of terrorism globally, and particularly in Indonesia. "We have discussed ways to make it more efficient," he said during a joint news conference with Mr Rudiantara.

The meeting with Mr Durov was part of a series of meetings that the minister has had this month with other social media, content and video sharing and messaging services as part of a crackdown on "negative content" online.

The ministry had identified at least 55 Telegram channels that had terrorism-related content and according to police data, the majority of those convicted of terrorism-related activities between 2015 and July 2017 used the application to communicate.

Khairul Fahmi, a researcher from the Jakarta-based Institute for Security and Strategic Studies (ISESS), said the new breed of messaging services and devices had been a boon for terrorists seeking to communicate with cells in Southeast Asia, notably Indonesia, the southern Philippines, southern Thailand and Malaysia.

"Fundraising, recruitment and directions for action have become swifter but more obscure," Mr Khairul told Asia Focus.

Ade Bhakti, executive director of the Jakarta-based Centre for Radicalism and Deradicalisation Studies, said the use of online platforms by terrorists was hardly a new thing. Imam Samudra, who was executed in 2008 for carrying out the 2002 Bali bombings, used to communicate with his international network using an internet relay chat available on Windows, he said.

In addition to using messaging services, terrorists also hack commercial and business sites to steal money to finance their activities, he said.

"Bahrumsyah and Abu Jandal even shared their clips which contained speeches calling on their followers to join terrorist groups on YouTube," Mr Ade said, referring to two Indonesian nationals who went to Syria to join the Islamic State (IS). Abu Jandal is believed to have died in combat.

"Participants in a 2010 paramilitary training exercise in Aceh also posted clips of their training on YouTube."

Google, which owns YouTube, says there should not be any content that promotes hate speech on the world's biggest video-sharing site.

"But there's so much content uploaded everyday to YouTube in many different languages so we really rely on our communities and users to flag it," said Ann Lavin, Google's policy and government affairs director for Greater China and Southeast Asia.

She made the comment at a news conference on Aug 4 with Mr Rudiantara, who met Twitter representatives separately on the same day.

To identify disturbing content on YouTube, Google will introduce the "trusted flagger" programme in Indonesia in the next two or three months, said Ms Lavin. A similar programme has been introduced in France, the United States, Germany and Britain but Indonesia will be the first country in Southeast Asia to have it.

Content identified by flaggers, who believe it does not meet YouTube's community guidelines, would have priority to be reviewed by Google before a decision is made to take it down or not.

Ms Lavin said the process of reviewing and removing flagged content would be transparent and documented in Google's semi-annual transparency reports that list the number of requests for certain categories and content that is removed.

"The amount and the nature of requests will be absolutely transparent to the public," she said. Google, she added, was also cooperating with three civil society organisations as trusted flaggers to moderate clips and content on YouTube: The Wahid Institute which is led by former president Abdurrahman Wahid's daughter, Yenny Wahid; the safe internet advocacy group ICT Watch, and the Anti-Defamation Society of Indonesia (Mafindo).

Mr Rudiantara also met Jeff Wu, Facebook's Asia Pacific representative, on Aug 2. According to the ministry's director-general for information applications, Semuel A Pangerapan, Facebook agreed to install "geoblocking", which will allow users to control and monitor negative content in accordance with local culture and contexts.

"The geoblocking will have a special algorithm for Indonesian users and any flagged video cannot be accessed in Indonesia," Mr Semuel said.

He said that in the past two years the ministry had received 402 reports of negative content of varying nature, from terrorism to child pornography and hate speech. But Facebook responded to only half of those complaints because of differences in perception as to what constitutes negative content, he said.

The ministry urged Facebook to be more proactive about dealing with content deemed harmful to Indonesia when it receives information from a team comprising people who understand Indonesian values.

Frenavit Putra, the coordinator for the ICT Watch trusted flaggers, said their task would be to help supplement the work of the Google's algorithm in content moderation.

"Everyone can be a flagger, but the content they flag would have to wait in a queue before being reviewed, whereas the content that we flag would get priority to be moderated. Google will decide to keep it or to take it down," he told Asia Focus.

"When we flag content, we have to provide a detailed analysis and reviews, down to which minutes and which seconds the disturbing content occurs at. We have to give justifications for our analysis and what we flag isn't just the content on clips but also the comments," he said.

He said the group was not just providing input on content but also on context, and would be prepared to explain why a certain shot or comment on a clip uploaded to YouTube may have different meanings to different audiences.

For example, views on what constitutes pornography differ from one country to another. In some countries, some forms of nudity alone would not be considered offensive but in others they would be. "Google's algorithm cannot analyse that far," he said.

ICT Watch is in charge of monitoring content related to hate speech, child protection, age restrictions on certain content or pornography. The Wahid Institute will deal with content related to terrorism or radicalism, and Mafindo deals with content related to hoaxes or fake news.

"We are including civil society organisations to ensure that this is not a censorship regime but we really have to protect Indonesia from negative content, particularly radicalism, terrorism and drugs. They would be the priority for us," Mr Rudiantara said.

Source: http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/news/1305767/

Indonesia reopens access to Telegram

Jakarta Globe - August 11, 2017

Jakarta – The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology has reopened access to the website version of encrypted messaging service Telegram on Thursday (10/08), following the company's efforts to block terrorist propaganda.

"Telegram will assign a representative to communicate with us," Communications Minister Rudiantara said, as quoted by Antaranews.com. "Telegram also promises to create a kind of script, a software, to filter [illegal content] on the platform," he said.

Both the dedicated person acting as a liaison and the filtering of the content represent Telegram's efforts to meet the government's demands.

Rudiantara's comment came after Telegram chief executive Pavel Durov came to Jakarta on Aug. 1 to meet with the minister and Telegram's local team.

Prior to Durov's visit, the ministry requested internet service providers to block access to Telegram's 11 domains. The encrypted messaging service has since blocked 166 channels containing what the Indonesian government calls "negative" content, including forums for Islamic State group supporters, which were blacklisted by the ministry and other government agencies.

Two days later Durov said Telegram opened a direct channel for the government and his team, which now has Indonesian-speaking specialists for faster response. Telegram gains 600,000 new users a day, with 20,000 of them coming from Indonesia.

Source: http://jakartaglobe.id/business/indonesia-reopens-access-telegram/

Environment & natural disasters

Thousands of Central Java villages threatened by drought

Jakarta Post - August 11, 2017

Ganug Nugroho Adi, Surakarta, Central Java – It is estimated that 1,235 villages in 266 districts in Central Java will face water shortages as a result of drought. The province's Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) has supplied clean water to 10 regencies since July.

"Drought and a clean-water crisis have affected half of the areas across Central Java. We have supplied clean water to 46 villages, 22 districts and 10 regencies in the province. These include Blora, Boloyali, Klaten and Wonogiri," said BPBD Central Java acting chairman Sarwa Pramana on Friday.

He further said it was predicted that this year's drought in Central Java would affect around 1.4 million people in areas that frequently suffer water shortages during the dry season.

"We have not yet reached the peak of the dry season as rain is still falling in a number of areas. According to the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency [BMKG], the peak of the dry season will be in October. The BPBD mapped out drought-affected areas in July to take anticipatory measures," said Sarwa.

He further said the agency had called on all regions to remain on alert and get prepared to issue an emergency alert status. The alert-status announcement was needed for the disbursement of funds to tackle the impacts of drought such as clean-water shortages and forest fires.

Sarwa said the Central Java administration had prepared Rp 600 million (US$44,917) for the province's BPBD to supply clean water. For each BPBD in regencies and municipalities, it will provide between Rp 200 million and Rp 400 million. (ebf)

Musuk residents in Boyolali, Central Java, take water from an excavated well in a dried-up river recently.Musuk residents in Boyolali, Central Java, take water from an excavated well in a dried-up river recently. (JP/Ganug Nugroho Adi)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/08/11/thousands-of-central-java-villages-threatened-by-drought.html

Forbidden fruit: Indonesia palm oil plantations boost security to stop

Reuters - August 9, 2017

Eveline Danubrata and Stefanno Reinard, Jakarta – Indonesian security companies have seen a surge in demand for guards to protect palm oil plantations from fruit thieves and land grabbers, amid a rebound in prices of the commodity used to churn out everything from cooking oil to soap.

Palm prices have jumped over 15 percent in the last few months, boosting the temptation for individuals or small-scale criminal gangs to steal fruit to sell to middlemen in the world's biggest producer of the tropical oil.

Security companies said this was driving more business their way, with palm growers looking to step up the number of guards patrolling plantations that can sometimes cover up to 30,000 hectares, equivalent to nearly half the entire land area of nearby Singapore.

Some of those vast plantations are now being guarded by up to 200 people, Agoes Dermawan, secretary-general of the Indonesian Security Industry Association, told Reuters.

"Palm is one of the sectors that require a lot of security forces because the level of theft of fresh fruit bunches is quite high, and other crimes related to plantations have also been rising, Dermawan said.

Unclear regulations on land ownership in palm-growing regions such as Sumatra and Kalimantan have also led to overlapping claims for land, with indigenous people occasionally occupying the concession areas of palm oil companies.

Around 15 percent of the 650 members of the Indonesian Palm Oil Association are expected to use private security services this year, up from 10 percent in 2016, said Eddy Martono, head of the body's agrarian and spatial planning unit.

Thieves of fresh fruit bunches tend to use motorbikes or pickup trucks to speed loot to middlemen, Martono said.

Hot Commodity

PT Nawakara Perkasa Nusantara, founded over 20 years ago by former police officers, started venturing into security for palm producers after a slowdown in demand for its services from oil and gas companies, said Chief Executive Dino Hindarto.

"Crude oil prices fell, so some of our clients in oil and gas also started slowing down their exploration, and that affected us," Hindarto said, adding that the firm plans to open two offices in palm-growing regions next year.

Security guards trained by Nawakara, which has around 10,000 employees in total, are tasked with preventing "unauthorized people" from accessing palm plantations, especially during the harvest season, Hindarto said.

Most plantation companies declined to comment on their security arrangements, but PT Perusahaan Perkebunan London Sumatra Indonesia Tbk President Director Benny Tjoeng said the firm had hired security personnel relative to the size of its plantations.

Tjoeng added that cases of attempted crime at those sites were "under control", without giving more detail.

Palm prices have been pushed up as key buyer China replenished some of its stocks and as dry weather in the United States prompted buyers to switch to the tropical oil from soybeans.

[Reporting by Eveline Danubrata and Stefanno Reinard; Additional reporting by Cindy Silviana; Editing by Joseph Radford.]

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-indonesia-security-palmoil-idUSKBN1AP0MT

Rains dampen forest fires in Kalimantan and Sumatra, new fires emerge in

Straits Times - August 8, 2017

Wahyudi Soeriaatmadja, Jakarta – Rainfall has helped with firefighting efforts in the forests and plantations of Kalimantan and Sumatra, but new hotspots have emerged in Papua, in the eastern part of Indonesia.

The number of hotspots picked up by satellites on Monday (July 7) afternoon, was 158 across Indonesia, with Papua having the highest number, according to Indonesia's disaster management agency (BNPB).

"The dry season will last until October and will peak in September. The potential for drought and forest and plantation fires will increase," said BNPB's spokesman Dr Sutopo Purwo Nugroho in a press statement.

The most affected areas are Papua, with 93 hotspots, East Java with 17 and West Nusa Tenggara 11 hotspots. Most of the fires in Papua were in the Merauke regency.

Forest and plantation fires have plagued Sumatera and Kalimantan for decades, especially in the provinces of Riau, Jambi, South Sumatera, West Kalimantan, South Kalimantan and Central Kalimantan. Similar blazes have appeared in Papua since 2015, according to the BNPB statement.

"Fires have emerged in Mearuke and Mappi regencies in Papua since 2015... mainly due to massive land clearings to make way for plantations there," Dr Sutopo said. "Based on satellite monitoring, the converting of forest land into plantation has taken place quite swiftly in Papua."

Most of the hot spots were located in hard-to-reach corners, and a lack of equipment and personnel to help with fire-fighting efforts have complicated the problem, Dr Sutopo explained.

He added that an estimated 354,191 hectares of forest and plantation in Papua have been burnt between Jan 1, 2015 and Oct 20, 2015, an area about five times the size of Singapore.

Source: http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/rains-dampen-forest-fires-in-kalimantan-and-sumatra-new-fires-emerge-in-papua

Health & education

Big tobacco wants Indonesian women to light up and liberate

The Daily Dose (Ozy) - August 9, 2017

Nithin Coca – They're unavoidable in much of the country. New billboards are popping up all over Indonesia, aimed at a young, increasingly progressive population.

The ads feature cigarettes in "feminine" packaging or alongside slender, attractive women. In a land that can lay claim to the infamous smoking baby and one of the highest adult male smoking rates in the world, women are the latest targets in the tobacco industry's attempts to attract more Indonesians to their products.

And it's working – so far. According to the nongovernmental organization Smoke Free Bandung, the number of regular female smokers in Indonesia has increased by 400 percent in the past five years. Tobacco control advocates find this development alarming; tobacco companies may see it as encouraging, given the male enthusiasm for smoking in Indonesia and the broad declines in the number of female smokers elsewhere. Smoking rates among English women, for example, plummeted from 40 percent in 1974 to 14.9 percent in 2015, according to Public Health England. The U.S. has seen similar declines; just 13.6 percent of American women now smoke, according to a 2015 survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Meanwhile, female smokers in Indonesia are picking up some of the slack. Experts point to tobacco industry lobbying and cozy government connections as the reasons why those billboards with ads for smoking – banned in most of the world – are displayed so prominently. Together, lax policies on both tobacco control and marketing put millions at risk and create the potential for a public health disaster.

The Tobacco Atlas, which is published by a consortium of nonsmoking groups, estimates that smoking claims about 217,000 Indonesian lives each year. "Among Asian countries, Indonesia is the only one that has not joined the World Health Organization's Tobacco Control Treaty," says Mark Hurley, director of Indonesia programs at the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, an international public interest group. "There's no meaningful national law to reduce tobacco use, and tobacco companies are very well-entrenched in all levels of politics. Indonesia is really a playground for the tobacco companies." Indonesia-based tobacco companies contacted by OZY declined requests for comment.

To be sure, officials in some places have taken steps to combat smoking, including a 2012 ordinance in the capital, Jakarta, that limited the size and placement of billboards and the broadcasting of TV commercials between certain hours. That was followed by tougher ordinances in 2015 that prohibited indoor and outdoor advertising for cigarettes and other tobacco products. Nevertheless, Hasan Aoni Aziz, general secretary of the Association of Indonesian Cigarette Producers, cried foul, telling the Jakarta Post website in 2016 that cigarettes are a legal product, and companies have the right to advertise all legal products – a right Aziz claims is protected by the Indonesian Constitution. A spokesperson for Komunitas Kretek, a pro-smoking advocacy group with close ties to the tobacco industry, tells OZY that existing advertising regulations are sufficient and argues that "the issue is not in advertising but [in] the implementation of the rules."

Those attitudes make Indonesia seem out of step with the times, especially as some of its neighbors take a much more vigorous approach to addressing a prominent public health issue. In the Philippines, for example, where a quarter of the population uses tobacco products, including 5.1 percent of women, according to a 2015 WHO report, President Rodrigo Duterte recently and aggressively cracked down on smoking.

While a 400 percent growth rate makes it seem as though female smoking in Indonesia already is a massive problem, it's actually a recent trend. According to The Tobacco Atlas, female smoking rates in Indonesia are still quite low – 3.6 percent in 2013, compared to more than 55 percent for men. This is mostly due to social norms. In Indonesia, smoking traditionally has been seen as socially unacceptable for women. Even today, many women are inhibited about smoking in public for fear of reprisals from men or elders. "Historically, Indonesian women are expected to comply with certain behavior," says Tuti Roosdiono with Indonesian Women Against Tobacco, an NGO that fights for stronger tobacco regulations. "Women who smoke are stigmatized as not behaving properly."

The tobacco industry wants to change all that. Ad spending on billboards and TV and in magazines and stores jumped from $202 million in 2010 to $474 million in 2016, according to research firms Nielsen and AdsTensity. By connecting smoking with symbols of women's new, expanded role in society, the industry seems to be imitating the "Torches for Freedom" public relations campaign in the U.S. in the 1920s, when cigarette manufacturers turned smoking into a symbol of female liberation.

In fact, Roosdiono sees shifting social norms as one reason for the increase in female smokers. "Indonesian women today, particularly in the cities, gain the same status as men... and are more open to speak their minds than they were in the past," says Roosdiono. Advertising, she continues, plays into these changes: "Young women... model their behavior in accordance with the aggressive and repetitive images bombarded by tobacco advertisement, promotion and sponsorship."

Still, there is hope. One of Indonesia's most famous female smokers, the popular, tattooed Minister of Fisheries Susi Pudjiastuti, recently announced that she is quitting smoking. If she succeeds, perhaps she can show Indonesian women that they don't need smoking to gain true independence.

Source: http://www.ozy.com/fast-forward/big-tobacco-wants-indonesian-women-to-light-up-and-liberate/80168

Disability rights

NGOs question govt's commitment to disability rights law

Jakarta Post - August 11, 2017

Bambang Muryanto, Yogyakarta – Ninety-five disability rights groups across Indonesia have rejected the government's plan to issue only one government regulation (PP) to enforce Law No. 8/2016 on people with disabilities.

The proposed regulation was later dubbed the "One Size Fits All PP" (PP Sapujagad) by the organizations, which are questioning the government's commitment to protecting the rights of people with disabilities.

"The negative impact of this plan for disabled people is that it will make it difficult to fulfil their rights as Indonesian citizens," Presti Murni Setiati from the Inclusive Public Center and Disability Advocacy Movement (Sigab) said in a press conference in Yogyakarta on Thursday.

Other rights groups that rejected the so-called PP Sapujagad were Braille'iant Indonesia, Bunga Bali Foundation, the Sidorejo Disabilities Forum, the Yakkum Rehabilitation Center and the Situbondo Association for Deaf Persons.

After the issuance of the 2016 law on people with disabilities, the government was given two years to draw up a regulation to provide the legal basis for its implementation. Disability rights activists said the law mandated the issuance of 15 PPs related to education services, legal assistance. employment opportunities and other rights for people with disabilities.

"The government later reduced the number of regulations to seven, before it decided there would be only one PP issued by the Social Affairs Ministry," said Presti.

She was worried that other government institutions might be reluctant to implement a regulation that would be drawn up solely by the Social Affairs Ministry. For example, the rights of disabled persons for adequate access to education might remain unfulfilled, as this was the responsibility of the Culture and Education Ministry. (ebf)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/08/11/NGOs-question-govts-commitment-to-disability-rights-law.html

Refugees & asylum seekers

Asylum seekers camped at basketball court

Jakarta Post - August 11, 2017

Fachrul Sidiq, Jakarta – Fifty asylum seekers, mostly from Afghanistan and Somalia, have been camping on the basketball court of the Jakarta Immigration Detention Center, Kalideres, West Jakarta, since Sunday, as the center is not able to accommodate them on account of capacity issues.

The head of the detention center, Buono Adi sucipto, said the shelter had 83 rooms that could only accommodate 120 people. "Currently we have 292 immigrants here," Buono said, adding that the figure excluded the 50 people who were camping on the court.

Buono went on to explain that the center had accommodated 209 immigration violators and 83 asylum seekers and refugees, the latter of which were deemed illegal immigrants.

The needs of the illegal immigrants, including 50 people camped on the court, would be provided by volunteers and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), he said.

Further, Buono said the detention center would communicate with the Law and Human Rights Ministry and the IOM regarding the camping asylum seekers.

Some of the asylum seekers previously camped in front of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees office on Jl. Kebon Sirih, Menteng, Central Jakarta.

They were later urged to move to the detention center because their tents had blocked pedestrian traffic. (cal)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/08/11/asylum-seekers-camped-at-basketball-court.html

Corruption & abuse of power

E-ID graft witness sought protection before alleged suicide

Jakarta Post - August 14, 2017

Jakarta – A key witness in the major graft investigation into the national electronic ID (e-ID) project had sought protection from the Witness and Victim Agency (LPSK) less than two weeks before he allegedly committed suicide in Los Angeles, the United States.

LPSK deputy chairman Hasto Atmojoyo Suroyo confirmed that Johannes Marliem had contacted his agency following the publication of his interview with Koran Tempo in which he claimed he had recordings of the e-ID project's negotiations with lawmakers and government officials.

"I think he was afraid of something, as if he had received real threats. Unfortunately, we had yet to confirm anything by the time of his death," he said.

Marliem asked for the form requesting admission to the witness protection program on July 31, but failed to return the form before his death, the LPSK said.

Los Angeles County Coroner's spokeswoman Rayna Hernandez said as quoted by online news portal Los Angeles Daily News Sunday local time that Marliem "died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head."

Marliem was involved in an overnight armed standoff with the local authorities in Beverly Grove neighborhood in Los Angeles on Wednesday. He was found dead on Thursday morning. (ecn/ary)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/08/14/e-id-graft-witness-sought-protection-before-alleged-suicide.html

E-ID graft defendant represents Setya Novanto: KPK

Jakarta Post - August 14, 2017

Jakarta – A Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) prosecutor told the Jakarta Corruption Court on Monday that graft defendant Andi Narogong, who stood trial for his alleged role in the e-ID graft case on Monday, was a "representative" of House of Representatives speaker Setya Novanto.

"Andi held several meetings with House members, particularly Setya Novanto, Anas Urbaningrum and M. Nazaruddin as they were considered representatives of the Golkar Party and the Democratic Party that could push the House's Commission II to approve the e-ID [project]," KPK prosecutor Irene Putri said while reading Andi's indictment.

The defendant, Setya and Anas then reached an agreement that Golkar and the Democratic Party would ensure that the House would approve the 2010 budget plan for the e-ID project, which was Rp 5.9 trillion (US$440 million), the prosecutor said. In return, Andi would give "fees" to House members and some Home Afairs Ministry officials, she added.

"The defendant, as someone representing Setya Novanto, Nazaruddin and Anas Urbaningrum," had made a deal on how to spend the e-ID budget, Irene said, adding that they agreed to spend only 51 percent of the budget on the project.

The KPK's incriminating statement on Setya came only days after Johannes Marliem, a key witness in the high-profile graft case, was found dead in the United States. Marliem claimed to have recordings of the project's negotiations involving some lawmakers and government officials.

Setya, who has been named a suspect in the case, has repeatedly denied involvement in the case. (kuk/ary)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/08/14/e-id-graft-defendant-represents-setya-novanto-KPK.html

Death of witness 'won't derail' corruption probe in Indonesia

Reuters - August 13, 2017

Jakarta – Indonesia's anti-corruption commission yesterday said the death of a witness in a graft investigation implicating dozens of politicians will not derail its probe.

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has already named the Speaker of Parliament, Mr Setya Novanto, as a suspect in the probe that has targeted at least 37 people.

Mr Novanto has denied any wrongdoing in the case, which dates back to 2009 and centres on allegations that sums ranging from US$5,000 (S$6,800) to US$5.5 million – money generated by marking up the costs of a national electronic identity card programme – were divided up in a Parliament room.

The witness, Mr Yohanes Marliem, was reported by US media to have died in West Hollywood last Thursday after a stand-off with police involving several hostages.

Indonesia's national police international relations chief Saiful Maltha yesterday said the US authorities have confirmed the death. "We do not know the cause of the death yet," he added.

Despite the death of the witness, KPK spokesman Febry Diansyah said the investigation would go on. "We are confident with the evidence we have," he said yesterday.

Indonesian newspaper Kontan yesterday published recent quotes from Mr Marliem saying he feared for his safety.

Mr Novanto, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and chairman of Indonesia's second-biggest political party, Golkar, was named as a suspect in the case last month.

Tensions between the KPK and Parliament have festered for years and some MPs suggest political motives to be behind the probe.

Source: http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/death-of-witness-wont-derail-corruption-probe-in-indonesia

Key witness in e-ID graft case dead: KPK

Jakarta Post - August 11, 2017

Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has confirmed that businessman Johannes Marliem, a key witness in the multi-million e-ID graft case, has died in the United States.

"We have received information that Johannes has died," KPK spokesman Febri Diansyah said on Friday, adding that the antigraft body had yet to receive details regarding the circumstances surrounding his death.

Marliem, who lived in Los Angeles, California, was considered a key witness in the high-profile graft case, which has implicated dozens of senior politicians – including active lawmakers, a Cabinet minister and two governors – and caused Rp 2.3 trillion (US$172 million) in state losses.

Speaking to Koran Tempo via FaceTime in July, Marliem claimed to have a recording of the conversations he had with politicians who allegedly orchestrated the e-ID graft case, including House of Representatives speaker and Golkar Party chairman Setya Novanto, who has been named a suspect in the case.

Marliem was the director of Biomorf Lone LLC, a US-based company that had been awarded the project to procure the automated finger print identification system (AFIS) for the e-ID program. (kuk/ary)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/08/11/key-witness-in-e-id-graft-case-dead-KPK.html

KPK denies accusation of foreign funding for Novel treatment

Jakarta Post - August 9, 2017

Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) rejected on Tuesday claims by House of Representatives deputy speaker Fahri Hamzah that KPK senior investigator Novel Baswedan had received funding from a foreign doctor for his eye treatment.

KPK spokesperson Febri Diansyah said the treatment of Novel's eye injuries, which were received in an acid attack in April, was fully funded by the state.

"From the beginning we have made it clear that the treatment is being funded through a state financial mechanism, following coordination arranged between the President [Joko "Jokowi" Widodo] and the Vice President [Jusuf Kalla]," he said in Jakarta.

Febri further said the reason for the KPK to provide Novel with medical treatment in Singapore was based on doctors' recommendations. "A team of doctors said Novel needed to get treatment in Singapore. Therefore, it is easier if he stays there," he said.

Although Novel's left eye had shown progress, Febri said, doctors were considering major surgery following the last check-up.

On Sunday, Fahri urged Novel to return to Indonesia rather than staying in Singapore. He also questioned the source of funding for Novel's treatment in Singapore, Kompas.com reported.

"I'm suspicious: Who pays for his daily necessities? I heard that a doctor had agreed to voluntarily pay for his treatment. That is a gratuity," he said. (ecn/kuk/ebf)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/08/09/KPK-denies-accusation-of-foreign-funding-for-novel-treatment.html

KPK to file appeal in e-ID graft case verdict

Jakarta Post - August 8, 2017

Jakarta – Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) prosecutors plan to appeal the Jakarta Corruption Court's guilty verdict of Irman and Sugiharto, defendants in an e-ID graft case that has captured nationwide headlines.

KPK spokesperson Febri Diansyah said prosecutors believed the panel of judges hearing the case had failed to consider several pieces of evidence and witness testimonies.

"As a result, some names were missing from the verdict," Febri said in an official statement on Tuesday.

In its verdict, the panel named dozens of people who allegedly accepted money from the e-ID procurement graft case, including former lawmaker Markus Nari and former home affairs ministry secretary-general Diah Anggraini.

However, some names were not mentioned in the verdict, including House of Representatives Speaker Setya Novanto, whom the KPK had named a suspect in the case.

Febri said KPK hoped the judges from the higher court would consider the appeal, so the public could be aware of every person who was involved and illegally benefited from state funds. (ecn/kuk/ebf)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/08/08/KPK-to-file-appeal-in-e-id-graft-case-verdict.html

Setya won't read declaration of independence: State Palace

Jakarta Post - August 8, 2017

Jakarta – The State Palace has dropped a controversial plan to assign embattled House of Representatives Setya Novanto to read out the declaration of independence during an event on Aug. 17, State Secretary Pratikno has said.

"As far as I know, we only sent a letter to the People's Consultative Assembly [MPR]," Pratikno said as quoted by tempo.co. referring to a plan to give the role to MPR Speaker Zulfifli Hasan.

It has been an annual tradition for the House speaker to read out the declaration of independence during the Aug. 17 celebration at the palace.

Anti-graft activists have called on the State Palace not to give the honor to Setya, who has been named a suspect by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) in the electronic identity card (e-ID) case.

"Do you think it's appropriate for a graft suspect to read out the declaration of independence?" Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW) activist Adnan Topan Husodo earlier said. "The declaration of independence means that we're free, including free from corruption," he said. (mtr)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/08/08/setya-wont-read-declaration-of-independence-state-palace.html

Terrorism & religious extremism

Police step up security ahead of Independence Day

Jakarta Post - August 9, 2017

Marguerite Afra Sapiie, Jakarta – The police have stepped up their vigilance following reports of possible terror threats by the Islamic State (IS) network aimed at personnel deployed to secure the celebration of Indonesia's Independence Day next week.

National Police spokesperson Insp. Gen. Setyo Wasisto said the force had detected a plan by IS-affiliated Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD) to launch attacks against police personnel on Aug. 17, which was circulating in a group chat on messaging application Telegram.

The terror network has called on its members to launch attacks using any means, from throwing home-made bombs, shooting and stabbing, to driving cars into groups of police personnel, he added.

"We have been alerted about the plan [...] our chief has instructed all police personnel to increase their vigilance when they are on duty," Setyo told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.

In a message circulated via Telegram, the JAD network called on its followers to attack groups of National Police and Indonesian Military personnel deployed to secure public places and those attending public ceremonies during Independence Day. The group chat described security personnel as thoghut (infidels).

The May 24 bomb attack in Kampung Melayu, East Jakarta, was the deadliest attack on police in years, killing three police officers. (ebf)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/08/09/police-step-up-security-ahead-of-independence-day.html

Freedom of religion & worship

Tension in East Java over statue of deity

Straits Times - August 12, 2017

Tuban (East Java) – Indonesia has urged officials to stand up to mob pressure after Muslim and nationalist protesters called for a 30m-tall statue of a Chinese deity erected in a temple complex in an East Java town to be torn down.

The brightly painted statue of Guan Yu, a general who is worshipped by some Chinese people, was inaugurated last month in a temple complex in the fishing town of Tuban, and is claimed to be South-east Asia's tallest representation of the deity.

The statue in Tuban, about 100km west of the city of Surabaya, has been partially covered up after the protests, provoking both praise and ridicule on social media in the world's most populous Muslim-majority country.

Mr Teten Masduki, chief of staff to President Joko Widodo, told reporters: "If they ask for the statue to be torn down, the authorities cannot bow to such pressure."

Protesters demonstrated this week outside Surabaya's Parliament against the statue, some wearing paramilitary-style outfits and waving placards that read "Demolish it" and "We are not worshippers of idols".

Allowing a depiction of a foreign general was "a symbol of treason to this nation", an unnamed protester said in a video of the rally on news portal Kompas.com.

Officials of the Kwan Sing Bio Temple in Tuban declined to comment, but the media have quoted residents as saying the statue was good for tourism.

It was earlier speculated that the uproar over the statue was triggered by internal management conflicts at Kwan Sing Bio, South-east Asia's largest Chinese temple.

A building construction permit for the statue has been held up as "the temple's management has not yet been officially determined", said Mr Gatot Seger Santoso, chairman of East Java's chapter of the Chinese Indonesian Association.

Indonesia is a secular state whose Constitution enshrines religious freedom and diversity, but there are concerns that rising intolerance threatens its reputation for moderate Islam.

Muslims form about 85 per cent of the population, but there are also substantial Buddhist, Christian, Hindu and other minorities.

Religious tension has soared this year after Islamist-led rallies saw Jakarta's incumbent governor, a member of a so-called double minority – ethnic Chinese and Christian – put on trial during city elections over allegations that he insulted the Quran. Basuki Tjahaja Purnama was later jailed for two years for blasphemy.

The protests against the statue were primarily about nationalism, said East Java lawmaker Suli Da'im. "What they were protesting about is that the statue does not represent their general or commander," he said.

[A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on August 12, 2017, with the headline 'Tension in East Java over statue of deity'.]

Source: http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/tension-in-east-java-over-statue-of-deity

Out of sight, out of mind? Indonesia temple drapes a giant sheet over a

Time - August 11, 2017

Ryan Kilpatrick – The managers of a temple in Tuban, a town in the Indonesian province of East Java, appear to have sidestepped a showdown with devoutly Muslim citizens over the recent installation of a 100-foot-tall statue of a Chinese deity – by covering it up with an enormous white sheet.

Infuriated locals said the colossal figure, towering above a Confucian temple, was an "uncivilized" affront to their religion and had no place in the town, the New York Times reports. An campaign was launched online shortly after the statue, depicting the god-like third-century Chinese general Guan Yu, was erected last month. Swelling in size and ambition, the movement demanded that the figure be destroyed.

Temple authorities reportedly arrived at a temporary compromise over the weekend, covering it with a giant cloth to appease protesters. The Muslim-majority Southeast Asian nation has seen a recent escalation in religious tensions, as well as simmering anti-Chinese sentiment. The former governor of the capital Jakarta, an ethnic Chinese Christian commonly referred to as Ahok, was convicted in May of blasphemy following scrutiny from hard-line Muslim groups.

Source: http://time.com/4896672/indonesia-muslim-protest-statue/

Demand to demolish statue stirs criticism

Jakarta Post - August 9, 2017

Wahyoe Boediwardhana, Surabaya, East Java – The recent demand of a group pushing for the demolition of a statue of war god Kongco Kwan Sing Tee Koen at the Kwan Sing Bio Chinese temple in Tuban, East Java, has provoked criticism.

It is suspected that the brouhaha was triggered by internal conflicts among managing staff members of Kwan Sing Bio, Southeast Asia's biggest Chinese temple.

The 30.4-meter statue, which cost Rp 2.5 billion (US$187,786) to construct, looks out onto Java's northern sea and has reportedly been a great source of support for Tuban's fishing communities and residents living around the temple.

Ronggolawe Women Coalition director Nunuk Fauziyah said the soaring-high statue has acted as a guide for fishermen toiling in the waters nearby.

"Each time they head back home, the fishermen use the statue as a sort of beacon directing their way. When they see the statue, they know this is Tuban," Nunuk said on Tuesday.

She rejected demeaning accusations raised by a coalition of NGOs that had staged a rally calling for the demolition of the statue in front of the East Java Legislative Council (DPRD) building in Surabaya, East Java, on Monday.

Rally coordinator Didik Muadi said Kongco Kwan Sing Tee Koen had no place in Indonesia. "The figure [...] has no historical relation to the Indonesian people. There are many Indonesian heroes or local independence fighters who better deserve to be memorialized as a statue in Tuban," Didik said during the rally.

But according to Nunuk, it does not make sense to fulfill the protestors' demands. "The statue has been there for a long time. It has not been a problem for the people of Tuban," she said.

"It all began as a 'coffee shop joke,' which was then uploaded as a racist status on Facebook. This later went viral on social media."

She said people living around Kwang Sin Bio actually benefitted from the temple, because many earned money by working as street vendors. Every day, the temple receives around 100 visitors for religious services. Three major events take place in the temple each year, attracting tourists from across Southeast Asia.

Chairman of East Java's chapter of the Chinese Indonesian Association (PD INTI), Gatot Seger Santoso, said there was no need to connect the matter to nationalist issues, let alone worry that the statue would threaten Indonesia's sovereignty.

"It's an absurd accusation. It is reported that the presence of the statue cannot be separated from China's interests in our country. This has been politicized. This temple is fully a house of worship," he said. "The real problem is that the statue does not have a building construction permit [IMB]. The Tuban administration does not dare to issue such a permit because the temple's management has not yet been officially determined."

Gatot said the statue's lack of IMB may have been used by certain parties involved in an internal conflict to turn the case into a political, ethnic, religion, race and inter-groups [SARA] problem.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/08/09/demand-to-demolish-statue-stirs-criticism.html

Sex, pornography & morality

Teacher arrested for allegedly sending students pornographic photos

Jakarta Post - August 13, 2017

Jakarta – Jakarta Police investigators have apprehended Tri Sutrisno, 25, an English teacher at a private senior high school in Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta, for allegedly sending pornographic photos to his students.

Tri was arrested near the school compound on Thursday, Kelapa Gading Police chief Comr. Ari Cahya Nugraha said. Tri allegedly sent photos of a naked woman along with profane texts to at least four female students through smartphone messaging application Line.

Through private texts in the app, Tri allegedly also gave advice to the students on how to give sexual pleasures to a woman.

Police made the arrest following a report from parents of students who had apparently discovered the messages. Ari said Tri had been arrested for violating laws on pornography and child protection as well as the Electronic Information and Transactions Law. (hol/rin)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/08/13/teacher-arrested-for-allegedly-sending-students-pornographic-photos.html

Poverty & social inequity

Indonesia to push down poverty, inequality rates

Jakarta Post - August 11, 2017

Jakarta – The government is accelerating efforts to bring down Indonesia's Gini ratio to 0.370 by 2019, from the current ratio of 0.393.

The Gini ration is a measure of wealth inequality, in which zero represents complete equality and one represents complete inequality.

"We hope the figure will decrease once again; if not to 0.36, then to 0.37," National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) head Bambang Brodjonegoro said in Jakarta on Thursday as reported by tempo.co.

The figure is more optimistic than the government's target, which was set at 0.380. He said the government was working to reduce inequality both between the poor and wealthy, as well as between regions.

Meanwhile, the government is also targeting to bring down Indonesia's poverty rate to between 7 and 8 percent from 11.22 percent in 2015.

The country has already launched social safety net programs, such cash and rice assistance for low income families to improve their welfare.

"We hope that the effort to reduce inequality will be carried out more sustainably," Bambang said, adding that one of the programs was to encourage the unemployed to open their own businesses. (bbn).

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/08/11/indonesia-to-push-down-poverty-inequality-rates.html

Village & rural life

Police to participate in monitoring of village fund use

Jakarta Post - August 8, 2017

Jakarta – The Villages, Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration Ministry is set to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the National Police (Polri) on the monitoring and use of village funds. The step is part of the preventive efforts being made to curtail the the misuse of the funds.

"The MoU between the ministry and Polri aims to ensure that the village funds are used properly and are well targeted. That's why there should be assistance and monitoring efforts," Polri spokesperson Insp.Gen. Setyo Wasisto said as quoted by kompas.com in Jakarta on Monday.

Setyo said, however, that the cooperation was not related to the recent village fund embezzlement case that occurred in a village in Pamekasan regency, East Java. "It's not related to the Corruption Eradication Commission's [KPK] sting operation recently. The most important thing is that village funds and state budgets are protected," he said.

The police have not yet determined the exact date for the signing of the MoU. "Since we [the police] do not have the authority to carry out audits, we will only be involved in monitoring activities and in supporting village heads to carry out their programs. For example, if they plan to build a road, we'll check how long the road will be and whether the specification of the materials is in line with the budget allocation," Setyo said.

Early calculations show that at least 74,000 Babinkamtibnas personnel – police officers assigned to villages as advisors on security and public order – need to be deployed for the monitoring program in all villages across the country. (foy/ebf)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/08/08/police-to-participate-in-monitoring-of-village-fund-use.html

Parliament & legislation

House's committee washes hands of budget controversy

Jakarta Post - August 14, 2017

Margareth S. Aritonang, Jakarta – The House of Representatives' budget committee (Banggar) has claimed ignorance over an alleged plan to increase the House's annual budget allocation and use some of it to construct a new building despite protests.

Banggar head Aziz Syamsuddin claimed he had no any idea about a plan to use part of the proposed Rp 7.25 trillion (US$543.11 billion) 2018 budget allocation to construct a new building. "I've never heard about the proposal," he told journalists at the House complex in Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Monday.

The Golkar Party politician was referring to a recent statement by Anton Sihombing, the head of the House's Ways and Means Committee (BURT), on the allotment of this year's proposed budget, which is also almost double last year's Rp 4.2 trillion allocation.

In a proposal submitted during a plenary meeting on April 6, BURT proposed that Rp 4.87 trillion of the Rp 7.25 trillion budget be used to support the work of lawmakers while the remainder would be allocated to improve the House's secretariat.

Anton revealed that some of the funds earmarked to support the work of lawmakers was for the construction of a new legislative building, including better offices for the 560 lawmakers. Anton claimed that BURT had informed Banggar, which is tasked with approving budget proposals.

Commenting on Anton's statement, Aziz said BURT had not discussed the matter with the committee. Aziz declined to respond when asked if Banggar would pass the budget proposal if it was presented before the committee. (ebf)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/08/14/houses-budget-committee-washes-hands-of-budget-controversy.html

Jakarta & urban life

Supreme Court gives reclamation project green light

Jakarta Post - August 15, 2017

Jakarta – Publicly listed property giant PT Agung Podomoro Land (APL) may breathe a sigh of relief after the Supreme Court allowed the company to continue with construction work on Islet G, one of 17 islets to be created in the Jakarta Bay.

With its decision on Saturday the Supreme Court rejected an appeal by the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (WALHI) and the People's Coalition for Fisheries Justice Indonesia (Kiara).

The decision reaffirmed a decision by the Jakarta Administrative Court that had rejected the two plaintiffs' appeal against the Jakarta Government, which had issued a permit for the island construction, as the defendant in the dispute.

APL subsidiary PT Muara Wisesa is in charge of building the 161-hectare islet. According to APL's financial statement released in June, the company's asset in the islet are worth Rp 2.54 trillion. Read also: Anies told to continue reclamation project

The statement also explains that the company had talked to legal consultants and considered that it had suffered no material losses apart from the delay on the islet's construction.

Nevertheless, APL refrained from commenting on the verdict. "You may ask the policymakers [the Jakarta administration]. We as developers only follow them," said APL head of investor relations Wibisono, as quoted by kontan.co.id.

Meanwhile, Investa Saran Mandiri director Hans Kwee said certainty on the islet's development would help improve the company's prospects as well as its stock price. [dea/bbn]

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/08/15/supreme-court-gives-reclamation-project-green-light.html

Anies criticized by woman over route his car takes in viral video

Jakarta Post - August 14, 2017

Jakarta – A video apparently criticizing Jakarta governor-elect Anies Baswedan over the route his car took during heavy traffic in Jakarta has gone viral. A woman on a motorcycle recorded the video while following a black vehicle believed to be carrying Anies.

"See, that is Anies' car. He doesn't want to get in line. He has yet to officially become governor but he has given a bad example [...]," the woman said as recorded in the video.

The Kijang Innova car, which was apparently escorted by police motorcade, was seen driving on the right side of a one-way lane unperturbed, while the left side of the lane was congested with a single line of cars waiting to turn.

Responding to the matter, Anies' spokesperson Naufal Firman Yursak confirmed that Anies was in the car and said that they had followed the rules and committed no traffic violations.

"It's a one-way road, so vehicles can go through it [...]," Naufal said as quoted by kompas.com. He said that it was the woman who violated traffic laws by not wearing a helmet. (fac)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/08/14/anies-criticized-by-woman-over-route-his-car-takes-in-viral-video.html

Jakarta records nearly 5,000 sidewalk violations in two weeks

Jakarta Post - August 14, 2017

Jakarta – Two weeks after the Jakarta administration announced Bulan Patuh Trotoar (Orderly Sidewalk Month) to discipline vendors and motorists who encroach on sidewalks, the city's Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) has found 4,799 violations.

As of Sunday, 1,005 violations were committed by street vendors and 417 by motorcyclists; 1,884 cases were related to unorganized parking and the remaining 1,493 violations were categorized as miscellaneous, agency head Yani Wahyu told reporters at City Hall on Monday.

"Most of the violations occurred in Tanah Abang and Sawah Besar in Central Jakarta, Mampang in South Jakarta and Tanjung Priok in North Jakarta," he said, as quoted by kompas.com.

He added that in disciplining street vendors, his agency had teamed up with The Jakarta Cooperatives, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Trade (KUKMP) Agency, which supports hawkers.

The program is carried out in response to complaints by pedestrians that it was uncomfortable and unsafe to walk on the city's 400 kilometers of sidewalks, as they were clogged with food stalls and parking vehicles in many places. (fac)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/08/14/jakarta-records-nearly-5000-sidewalk-violations-in-two-weeks.html

Armed forces & defense

Farmer killed after being accidentally shot in Air Force exercise

Jakarta Post - August 8, 2017

Aman Rochman, Malang, East Java – Buawi, 39, a farmer from Baturetno village in SiNGOsari district, Malang regency, East Java, died after she was accidentally shot by Indonesian Air Force soldiers during an exercise on Tuesday.

She was found lying on the ground with severe gunshot wounds to her cheek at her farm, which is only a few hundred meters away from a shooting range belonging to the Air Force Special Forces (Paskhas).

Baturetno village head Mufid said Buawi was still alive when she was first found by another villager. She was rushed to a hospital but passed away on the way there, he added.

SiNGOsari Police deputy chief Adj. Comr. Budi Wibowo said the police were still in coordination with the Air Force's military police.

"There was a shooting exercise at the time of incident," he confirmed, adding that the body had been taken to the Syaiful Anwar Hospital in Malang for autopsy. "We cannot determine the cause of the death until we get the results of the autopsy," he said.

The commander of Paskhas' 464 Wing II Battalion in Malang, Maj. M Misbachul Munir, said the force was ready to be held responsible for the incident. "We extend out condolences to the victim's family. We are still investigating the accident," he said.

"Our exercise was conducted based on standard procedures, which included firing warning shots into the air, combing surrounding areas and giving notice to the nearest neighborhoods before the exercise was conducted," he explained. (bbs)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/08/08/farmer-killed-after-being-accidentally-shot-in-air-force-exercise.html

Criminal justice & legal system

On death row, a whisper saved his life. He still does not know why

Sydney Morning Herald - August 14, 2017

Jewel Topsfield, Amilia Rosa, Jakarta – Minutes before Indian truck driver Gurdip Singh was due to be killed by a firing squad the power went out in his cell on Indonesia's penal island Nusakambangan.

Four men had already been taken out to the killing field. Singh, who was sentenced to death for carrying 300 grams of heroin when arrested at the airport, was number five.

"They came, I said 'let me take a shower first'," Singh told Fairfax Media from Pasir Putih prison on Nusakambangan. "After I was ready, they prayed for me, the officer placed the handcuffs on one of my hands when suddenly the power went out."

It was pitch black, outside the rain was torrential. When the power came back on Singh saw the prison governor walk towards them. "The prison governor said it to my ear: 'Singh, it is cancelled'."

Singh was among 14 convicted drug felons who were due to be shot dead on July 29 last year. Ten of them received a dramatic last minute reprieve for reasons never properly explained.

"It is still not clear until now why," Singh says. "No one told me why." A year later there are still no answers. No official stay of execution has been granted.

"This situation has affected mental and physical health conditions of those who were spared," says a joint statement by human rights groups submitted to the UN Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review of Indonesia earlier this year.

Fairfax Media asked the Indonesian Attorney-General's office if there are any plans for executions this year. "The Attorney-General has repeatedly said that we are still studying the cases thoroughly," spokesman Muhammad Rum replied.

Indonesia takes an unapologetically hardline approach to drug trafficking. The death penalty can be enforced against those who import even small amounts into the country.

Eighteen drug traffickers have faced the firing squad since the 2014 election of President Joko Widodo, who has billed executions as "important shock therapy".

Most of those killed – including Australians Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan – were foreign drug criminals, whom Indonesia largely blames for destroying its future generations with drugs.

The death penalty enjoys popular support in Indonesia; media polls have typically showed about 75 per cent approval. But it has come under fresh scrutiny after the nation's ombudsman condemned the execution of a Nigerian man on the night Singh narrowly avoided death.

One of the four killed on July 29 was Nigerian Humphrey Jefferson Ejike Eleweke, who was arrested in 2003 after police found heroin on the premises of a Jakarta restaurant he owned.

Ombudsman Ninik Rahayu accused the Attorney-General's office of "maladministration" at a press conference a year after his execution. She found three violations of the law:

Jefferson's appeal to the president for clemency was still underway, meaning he could have been pardoned. A judicial review of his case in the Central Jakarta District Court was never processed due to incomplete documents. Jefferson's lawyers were never told what documents were still missing Jefferson and his family were not given 72 hours' notice of his death, something mandatory under Indonesian law

"The rights of the death convict should be fulfilled before an execution is carried out," Rahayu says "In the case of Humphrey [Jefferson] this didn't happen. And this is completely against the law. Although it is too late this should not reoccur in the future."

The Attorney-General office's spokesman, Muhammad Rum, insists the executions were done according to law. But the Ombudsman's findings have renewed calls for a moratorium on the death penalty in Indonesia.

"Amnesty International, ICJR (Institute for Criminal Justice Reform) KontraS (Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence) and LBH Masyarakat (Community Legal Aid Institute) believe the Ombudsman's decisions echoes the organisations' findings documented in many other death penalty cases," Amnesty said in a statement. "[These] point to systemic flaws in the administration of justice in Indonesia."

There has been little talk of another round of executions this year, with government anti-drug rhetoric focused on shooting drug dealers who resist arrest.

In February Attorney-General Muhammad Prasetyo said they had been put on hold while Indonesia lobbied for international support to become a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. Elections are in June next year.

But the future still looks grim for Singh, whose clemency plea was this year rejected by President Jokowi, as he is popularly known.

"The honorable Mr President, my life and death is at your mercy," Singh wrote in a letter pleading with him to reconsider. "I beg the death penalty be changed to no matter how heavy a prison time to give me a chance to be a father to educate the children who I love."

Source: http://www.smh.com.au/world/on-death-row-a-whisper-saved-his-life-he-still-does-not-know-why-20170814-gxvri7.html

55 dead in Indonesia's war on drugs with 'shoot-on-sight' policy

Straits Times - August 14, 2017

Jakarta – Raid, shoot, kill and repeat. Indonesia is replicating the harsh and unprecedented war on drugs launched by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, in a bid to clamp down on widespread drug trafficking.

As the authorities have vented their frustration at the often lenient punishment slapped on drug kingpins, who usually end up simply splashing out their money to enjoy luxurious lifestyles while in prison, the shoot-on-sight policy may have been adopted as a short cut to clear the streets of the archipelago of drug abusers.

President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and National Police chief General Tito Karnavian have previously stated warnings about replicating Mr Duterte's methods, and this may be coming to pass.

London-based Amnesty International has revealed that a total of 55 Indonesian and foreign nationals were killed without judicial process between January and August this year, having been shot by law-enforcement agencies.

While the organisation does not provide last year's number for comparison, media reports indicate fewer than five were killed in 2016.

This year's number has yet to reach the level of extrajudicial killings of drug dealers under Mr Duterte in the Philippines, where 8,000 drug dealers have been killed in the past 11 months, including 2,500 who died in shoot-outs during raids.

Amid the mounting death toll, Mr Jokowi repeated his order on July 21 for law-enforcement personnel to gun down drug dealers without compunction, a call many activists fear will intensify the killings and provide blanket impunity for officers to simply to shoot to kill, rather than in self-defence as mandated by the law.

"After Jokowi's order, eight more people (suspected drug dealers) have been summarily killed," Amnesty International Indonesia researcher Bramantya Basuki told The Jakarta Post recently. "The latest incident is the killing of a drug dealer in Surabaya, East Java (on Friday)," he said.

The Surabaya shooting by National Narcotics Agency (BNN) personnel took place just five days after members of the same institution shot dead Malaysian drug dealer Cheng Kheng Hoe in Kalimantan on Sunday.

Three foreigners and one Indonesian were shot dead by anti-drug investigators in July alone. In the largest drug bust in the country, where police seized a record-breaking 1 ton of crystal methamphetamine, police personnel shot dead a Taiwanese man in a raid in Anyer, Banten, on July 13. Police claimed Lin Ming Hui died after resisting arrest during the raid.

The Jakarta Police also shot a Chinese man, identified only as LX, in Kalideres, West Jakarta, on July 24. LX had allegedly smuggled 41.6kg of crystal meth together with his partner, LY. On July 17, the police shot dead JY, an Indonesian, in Seasons City Apartments, West Jakarta, he allegedly was in possession of 6.5 kg of crystal meth.

A joint team from the BNN, the National Police and Customs and Excise Agency seized 284.3 kg of crystal meth in Pluit, North Jakarta, and shot dead a Taiwanese man, identified only as KKH, as he allegedly tried to attack police officers in the course of the arrest.

"The order of the President is clear, that we should act firmly towards foreign drug smugglers, whose aim is to destroy the country," BNN head Commander, General Budi Waseso, said recently, adding that investigators had acted responsibly and complied with procedures in the shootings.

The BNN has recently procured high-powered weapons, imported from Germany, Russia, the United States and the Czech Republic, that can penetrate a reinforced wall with a single shot.

In most of the 55 killings, nine involving foreign drug dealers, officers claimed that they had no option other than to shoot-to-kill after the suspects resisted arrest, tried to escape or grabbed an officer's firearm, Mr Bramantya said.

Amnesty called on the government to investigate the 55 killings in order to determine whether the law-enforcement personnel had complied with the rule of law in the context of self-defence.

"No matter where the suspected dealers come from, they are human beings whose right to life must be protected under all circumstances. Indonesia must think about the scenario where Indonesians suspected of being drug dealers overseas will be treated in the same way," Amnesty International Indonesia director Usman Hamid said.

National Police spokesman, Brigadier-General Rikwanto insisted that the killings of the 55 suspected drug dealers had been conducted in line with standard operating procedures.

"Shooting without hesitation is a firm measure in the fight against drug dealers. But of course the shootings are in accordance with SOPs," BG Rikwanto said. (The Jakarta Post/Asia News Network)

Source: http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/55-dead-in-indonesias-war-on-drugs-with-shoot-on-sight-policy

Indonesia's sinister slide toward Philippine-style drug slayings

Human Rights Watch Dispatches - August 9, 2017

Phelim Kine – Today, Jakarta's police chief said that when dealing with suspected drug dealers, "sending them to God" would take priority over arrest and prosecution.

Inspector General Idham Azis' not-very-veiled threat to summarily execute drug suspects was compounded by his pledge to "take responsibility for his subordinates' actions if they shoot alleged drug traffickers during raids."

Azis is taking his cues from the highest levels of the Indonesian government and police. On July 20, the National Police chief, Gen. Tito Karnavian, made an explicit reference to Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's murderous anti-drug campaign when unveiling a new approach to combating drugs in Indonesia: "shooting drug dealers." The next day, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo issued the equivalent of a "shoot to kill" order by instructing police who encounter foreign drug dealers who resist arrest to "Gun them down. Give no mercy." The National Narcotics Agency (BNN) head, Comr. Gen. Budi Waseso, joined the chorus last month with praise for Duterte's "drug war," saying that it "shows he is taking care of his citizens." Waseso's stance comes as no surprise since he began calling for police to emulate the Philippines' "war on drugs" in September.

What Jokowi and the police officials under his command ignore in their casual instigation of unlawful use of force against criminal suspects is the brutality of Duterte's drug war.

President Duterte has unleashed a human rights calamity in the Philippines. State security forces and "unidentified gunmen" have killed more than 7,000 suspected drug users and dealers since July 1, 2016, including at least 3,116 killings by police, according to Philippine government data. The vast majority of victims are some of the country's poorest, most marginalized citizens. That death toll doesn't include victims Duterte calls "collateral damage" – children shot in the crossfire of anti-drug operations. Efforts to seek accountability for drug-war deaths have gone nowhere. The Duterte administration has subjected prominent critics of the government's abusive anti-drug campaign to harassment, intimidation, and even arrest and detention.

Jokowi and his police commanders should publicly vilify Duterte's "war on drugs," not pitch it as a model of effective crime control. He should make clear his opposition to extrajudicial killings of drug dealers and warn the police that such abuses will reap prosecution, not praise.

Source: https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/08/09/indonesias-sinister-slide-toward-philippine-style-drug-slayings

Sending drug dealers to God is my business: Jakarta Police chief

Jakarta Post - August 8, 2017

Callistasia Anggun Wijaya, Jakarta – The newly appointed Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Idham Azis has vowed to combat drug dealers, especially those from other countries, and will take responsibility for his subordinates' actions if they shoot alleged drug traffickers during raids.

"If the drug dealers want to apologize, it is their business with God. Sending them to God, on the other hand, is my business," Idham said at the Jakarta Police headquarters on Tuesday.

Idham, who was inaugurated as the Jakarta Police chief on July 26, expressed his appreciation to the team of investigators that thwarted the record-breaking smuggling attempt of one ton of crystal methamphetamine, locally known as sabu-sabu, in Anyer, Banten last month. In the raid, investigators arrested three Taiwanese nationals and shot dead another alleged to have resisted arrest.

He asserted that he would also dismiss his subordinates if they failed to handle the mass drug trafficking in the capital.

Under his leadership, he said he would give all drug units in all police precincts under the Jakarta Police's authority a month to crack down on drug dealers. "There will be no compromises. If the drug unit chiefs cannot enforce the law against drug dealers, I will replace them," he said.

Greater Jakarta has the highest demand for drugs of all provinces in the country, according to the National Narcotics Agency (BNN). The National Police announced that Indonesia had become the main target of international drug syndicates following tougher anti-drug policies imposed by neighboring countries like the Philippines, Singapore and Malaysia. (wnd)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/08/08/sending-drug-dealers-to-god-is-my-business-jakarta-police-chief.html

Police & law enforcement

Kontras records rampant abuse by police officers

Jakarta Post - August 9, 2017

Jakarta – The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) recorded 115 cases of physical abuse allegedly committed by police personnel against civilians over a period of 11 months.

"The highest number of cases of abuse committed by police officers is at the level of police precincts," Kontras researcher Ananto Setiawan said as quoted by kompas.com in a press conference on Wednesday.

Kontras reported that at least 88 cases of abuse took place in police precincts across Indonesia from the period of June 2016 to May 2017. At least 20 cases occurred at sub-precinct police offices and eight at the provincial police level, he added.

Ananto went on to say that most cases of physical abuse occurred during the interrogation of suspected criminals He said police officers often argued they needed to use physical force to extract information or make suspects admit their crimes.

"In fact it's possible that in many cases they [the suspects] did not commit crimes but were forced to admit to them," Ananto said. The researcher said it often happened that police officers bribed the victims or their families after committing the abuse.

In some cases, the responsible officers simply ignored the victims, Ananto said, adding that many officers were still able to evade sanctions despite committing abuse. (afr/ebf)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/08/09/kontras-records-rampant-abuse-by-police-officers.html

Foreign affairs & trade

Indonesia posts first trade deficit in 19 months in July

Reuters - August 15, 2017

Jakarta – Indonesia posted its first trade deficit since late 2015 in July, as imports surged more than exports did, the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) said on Tuesday (15/08).

Southeast Asia's largest economy had a trade deficit of $271.2 million in July. A Reuters poll had forecast a $1.1 billion surplus. June's trade surplus was revised on Tuesday to $1.67 billion.

During July, both exports and imports increased sharply on an annual basis, because of a low base from July 2016, when the Idul Fitri holidays at the end of the Muslim fasting month fell. This year, the holidays were in June.

In July this year, exports rose 41.12 percent on a yearly basis to $13.62 billion, compared with the median forecast in a Reuters poll of 31.12 percent. June's exports declined 11.71 percent from a year earlier.

July imports jumped 54.02 percent from last year to $13.89 billion. The poll had expected an increase of 30.34 percent. Imports declined 17.40 percent in June.

BPS said it has revised the value of exports and imports in June, resulting in a bigger trade surplus that month.

The agency said Indonesia's trade surplus in June was around $1.67 billion instead of the $1.63 billion initial estimate given a month ago.

June exports were revised to $11.66 billion from an initial $11.64 billion, while imports were revised to $9.99 billion from $10.01 billion.

Source: http://jakartaglobe.id/business/indonesia-posts-first-trade-deficit-19-months-july/

Mining & energy

Negotiations continue over Grasberg mine

Radio New Zealand International - August 14, 2017

Indonesia's government is keeping quiet on the progress of negotiations with the global mining giant Freeport, over its gold and copper mine in West Papua.

Operations have been crippled with the two sides quarrelling since January, when Jakarta forced Freeport to stop exporting copper concentrate from the Grasberg mine.

Indonesia wants Freeport's local subsidiary to adopt a special licence, pay new taxes and royalties, divest a 51 percent stake in its operations and to relinquish arbitration rights.

The Jakarta Post reported that the finance minister, Sri Mulyani Indrawati, and resources minister, Ignasius Jonan, met on Thursday last week to discuss the ongoing negotiations, but the ministers did not say if any progress had been made.

Mr Jonan said Freeport's chief executive, Richard Adkerson, requested the meeting to discuss investment certainty.

Source: http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/337175/negotiations-continue-over-grasberg-mine

Indonesia revises oil, gas block investment rule

Jakarta Post - August 11, 2017

Jakarta – The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry has issued Ministerial Decree No. 47/2017 on the mechanisms of investment return in upstream oil and gas business to amend the previous Decree No. 26/2017 on the same matter.

The decree, signed by Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Ignasius Jonan on Aug. 2, generally did not see many changes compared to its previous version except on unrecovered costs in oil and gas production, Deputy Minister Arcandra Tahar said.

"The decree has set the depreciation period of a work contract at five years at most," he said in Jakarta on Friday. "The establishment [of the period] helps determine the value of investment to be returned as well as the [cost recovery] deadline."

In the previous version, the government recovered all costs that had yet to be claimed in contracts without a time limitation. "In the new decree, only the latest investment can be reimbursed," said Arcandra.

Furthermore, according to the new decree, the value of any investment return is subject to review by the Upstream Oil and Gas Regulatory Special Task Force (SKKMigas). (dea/ags)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/08/11/indonesia-revises-oil-gas-block-investment-rule.html

Economy & investment

Government fails to anticipate shift in spending pattern, minister

Jakarta Post - August 15, 2017

Jakarta – Coordinating Economic Minister Darmin Nasution has admitted the government was late in becoming aware of shifts in spending patterns, particularly among middle-class citizens, who have started spending more on leisure activities.

"We have not suitably considered the shifting trend in our policies. We need to start developing tourism destinations, such as improving the condition of our national parks," Darmin said in Jakarta on Monday.

He said there had been a shift in consumption patterns from retail consumption to leisure activities.

Meanwhile, economist Ari Kuncoro of the University of Indonesia said the government had to be more serious about developing the nation's tourism industry, by improving the connectivity and accessibility of all tourist destinations across the country.

"The government must utilize this growing trend toward leisure activities by improving infrastructure, such as repairing roads connecting to tourism destinations," he said.

Such a trend can positively contribute to economic growth through its multiplier effects including the creation of various new economic activities, he added. "This trend is part of a change in consumption patterns. Many people who work in hotels and restaurants benefit from the trend," he said.

Data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) shows that spending in the restaurant and hotel sector grew by 5.87 percent year-on-year (yoy) during the second quarter of this year, up from 5.51 percent in the same period last year. (rdi/bbn)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/08/15/government-fails-to-anticipate-shift-in-spending-pattern-minister-admits.html

Kadin suggests temporary tax relaxation to boost consumption

Jakarta Post - August 15, 2017

Jakarta – Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) chairman Rosan P. Roeslani has suggested that the government temporarily relax certain taxes to encourage people to spend.

"Why doesn't the government give an incentive to spend by temporarily cutting value-added taxes (PPN) or luxury tax (PPnBM) for one or two weeks?" said Rosan in Jakarta on Monday. "This is about how to raise consumer confidence," he noted.

Data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) reveals that household consumption, which accounts for more than half of Indonesia's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), grew 4.95 percent year on year (yoy) in the second quarter this year.

The figure is a minimal increase from the 4.94 percent yoy growth recorded in the first quarter. Indonesia saw economic stagnation of 5.01 percent in the first half of this year, compared to 5.06 percent in the same period last year.

Rosan said the decline in consumer spending was a result of a lack of consumer confidence, rather than a weakening of people's purchasing power.

He said the lack of consumer confidence was caused by several factors, including rising political tensions that were reflected on social media, and a lack of inter-ministerial coordination to maintain a stable investment and business climate. (mrc/bbn)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/08/15/kadin-suggests-temporary-tax-relaxation-to-boost-consumption.html

Indonesia plans to cut domestic sedan sales tax, aims to buoy production

Reuters - August 14, 2017

Jakarta – Indonesia plans to lower taxes on domestic sedan sales in a bid to promote the country, the biggest car market in Southeast Asia, as a manufacturing hub for sedans, a finance ministry official told Reuters on Monday (14/08).

Sedans have so far been included in the luxury goods category and is subject to higher taxes of about 30-40 percent, versus multi-purpose vehicles (MPVs) that carry a 10-20 percent tax, making them less attractive to car makers and buyers.

The plan to cut the sales tax for sedans has been included in a revision to the country's Value Added Tax and Luxury-Goods Sales Tax Law, which the government will propose to parliament soon, said Goro Ekanto, who heads revenue policy study at the finance ministry's fiscal policy office.

"How much the reduction is and its impact will be discussed further before a decision is made," Goro said.

Industry minister Airlangga Hartanto said by cutting taxes, the government hopes to get car makers to produce more sedans, not only for the domestic market but also for exports.

"We hope to enhance the potential to export sedans and one way to do it is to bring tax on sedans into alignment. In the global market, demand for sedans is much higher than for MPVs and SUVs (sport utility vehicles)," said Airlangga.

Indonesia charges a 30 percent luxury tax on sales of sedans with a cylinder capacity of up to 1,500 cubic centimeter (cc), while sales of 1,500-3,000 cc sedans are taxed at 40 percent. In contrast, sales of smaller MPVs are currently taxed at 10 percent, while larger models are taxed at 20 percent.

A number of brands sell sedans in Indonesia, including Honda Motor and Toyota Motor that have the biggest share of total car sales in the country.

But manufacturers have said the difference in tariffs has discouraged them from producing sedans in Indonesia, which overtook Thailand as Southeast Asia's largest car market in recent years and is growing as a regional production base.

The country's Car Manufacturers Association (Gaikindo) has proposed the tariff on sales of smaller sedans be reduced to 10 percent to match that of MPVs.

A total of 533,903 vehicles, including sedans, were sold in the domestic market in the first half of 2017, up 0.3 percent from a year ago. In 2016, sedans accounted for about 2 percent of the 1.1 million cars sold.

Indonesia can produce more sedans if tax rates are cut, but the industry should focus on domestic market first, before exports, Gaikindo co-chairman Jongkie Sugiarto said.

Source: http://jakartaglobe.id/business/indonesia-plans-cut-domestic-sedan-sales-tax-aims-buoy-production/

Indonesia to maintain low inflation to boost consumer spending

Jakarta Post - August 9, 2017

Jakarta – The government has promised to keep inflation low during the rest of the year so that consumer spending, the main driver of the country's economic growth, will increase in the second half of this year.

Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said in Jakarta on Wednesday that with a low inflation rate during the remaining months of this year, consumer spending would increase and could in turn help boost economic growth.

The latest data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) show consumer spending growth slowed to 4.95 percent year-on-year in the second quarter of this year from 4.94 percent recorded in the first three months of 2017.

Indonesia's annual inflation rate declined 3.88 percent in July from 4.37 percent in June. The July inflation was lower than most analysts' forecasts.

"With the low inflation in July, which is below the government's initial estimate of 4 percent, consumer spending has the space to grow in the third and fourth quarter," Sri Mulyani said.

Sri Mulyani said the government would also accelerate implementation of several social-aid programs, such as the Family Hope Program (PKH) and rice social assistance (Rastra) to increase the buying power of lower-income families.

She added that the disbursement of village funds was another government program that needed to be optimized to empower the rural economy. "We will focus on [the village fund program's] impact and design so that the program really yields results," she said. (mrc)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/08/09/indonesia-to-maintain-low-inflation-to-boost-consumer-spending.html

Taxation & state budget

Indonesia does not collect taxes from rich people optimally: Sri Mulyani

Jakarta Post - August 14, 2017

Jakarta – Finance Minister Sri Mulyadi Indrawati has admitted that the Directorate General of Taxation has not been able to optimally collect taxes from rich people because of regulation constraints.

"I have asked the tax office to study the tax systems of other countries to know whether the collection system for income taxes and value-added taxes – both from individuals and institutions – can be improved," Sri Mulyani said in Jakarta over the weekend as reported by kontan.co.id.

She said her ministry wanted to revise the regulations on taxation so that the tax system would reflect the justice system.

Under the current system, there are four brackets of income taxes for individuals – people with incomes of more than Rp 50 million (US$3,846) per year (5 percent tariff), people with incomes more than Rp 50 million but less than Rp 250 million (15 percent tariff), people with incomes more than Rp 250 million but less than Rp 500 million (25 percent tariff) and people with incomes of more than Rp 500 million (30 percent tariff).

"The question: How many people have incomes in the highest bracket? Can we collect the tax money optimally?" Sri Mulyani added.

Center for Indonesia Taxation Analysis (CITA) executive director Yustinus Prastowo agreed with the minister that the four brackets of taxpayers as stipulated in the existing regulations had not reflected the justice system in tax collection.

He added that the government needed to make the tax system more progressive, by expanding the number of brackets of taxpayers. (bbn)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/08/14/indonesia-does-not-collect-taxes-from-rich-people-optimally-sri-mulyani.html

Almost half of luxury car owners evading tax

Jakarta Post - August 11, 2017

Jakarta – Some 1,700 luxury cars in Jakarta are not taxed, a city official has claimed.

Jakarta Tax Agency head Edi Sumantri said that the potential income from luxury car tax could be substantial as a single such car has a tax value of between Rp 100 million (US$7,486) and Rp 500 million. However, many owners have not paid their taxes.

"There are about 1,700 luxury car owners that have not paid their taxes yet. The average tax they have to pay is more than Rp 100 million," Edi said, adding that there were currently about 4,000 luxury cars registered in the capital.

Edi said that officials would go to the tax evader's home addresses to collect the taxes, in a bid to achieve this year's target of tax revenue from vehicles of Rp 12.9 trillion. Currently the administration has only been able to collect 60 percent of the target. The city administration would cooperate with the Jakarta Police traffic unit to collect the taxes, he added.

"We will visit the tax evaders' homes, accompanied by personnel from the Jakarta Police traffic unit," Edi told journalists at City Hall on Friday, as quoted by kompas.com. Edi explained that car owners had an obligation to pay taxes for their vehicles every year.

Separately, City Secretary Saefullah said he hoped that the move would increase the city's revenue in 2017. "I hope this move can boost our regional income," Saefullah said. (vny)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/08/11/almost-half-of-luxury-car-owners-evading-tax.html

Analysis & opinion

Desperately fighting fires: The Jakarta Post

Straits Times - August 11, 2017

Jakarta (The Jakarta Post/ANN) – For the umpteenth time fires have burned our forests and peatland, posing threats not only to people in the vicinity but also to our relationships with our neighbours because of the cross-border haze caused by the man-made disasters.

Unsurprisingly, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo on Wednesday renewed his call for an end to the fires. He said he had ordered Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Wiranto to gather regional heads, military and police commanders from across the country to devise a comprehensive and concerted plan to fight the fires.

Just three months after his inauguration as President in October 2014, Jokowi, in a show of impatience with the way the country had addressed the disasters, visited a hot spot in Riau.

Less than a year later he returned to forest fire-prone Sumatra in the aftermath of a peatland fire in South Sumatra.

His message after the two field trips was identical: law enforcement against perpetrators was the key to preventing the environmental calamity.

Jokowi's predecessors shared his grave concern about the country's failure and took actions to keep the fires from recurring. We have to admit, however, that even after so many years our approach to combating forest and peatland fires has barely changed.

The President's order for strict law enforcement against forest burners has fallen on deaf ears as evident from the frequent halting of police investigations into forest fires implicating corporations and individuals, usually citing a lack of evidence.

In a few cases courts have found corporations guilty and sentenced them to hefty fines only for a higher court to overturn the conviction.

The inability of the police and prosecutors to convince courts of the criminal offenses in forest-fire cases on the one hand, and the judges' decisions to ignore incriminating evidence on the other, may not necessarily indicate bribery, but more their lack of knowledge and understanding about the 2009 Environment Law, which criminalises people who harm the environment.

As if to add insult to injury, the provisions in the Environment Law that stipulate criminalization of corporations responsible for forest fires are now being challenged at the Constitutional Court. Petitioners of the judicial review insist the law is unfair as it exempts local people from responsibility for forest fires out of respect for local tradition.

There should be no way for forest burners to escape justice because of the life-threatening impact of fires, not to mention the material losses from disrupted business and social activities that result from the disasters. Considering the wide-ranging consequences of forest and peatland fires, we have a solid reason to declare it an extraordinary crime akin to corruption or an act of terrorism.

Such a serious crime requires extraordinary treatment. It may not need to be translated into the formation of a taskforce, but we could learn from the spirit of the graft busters and counterterrorism forces.

[The Jakarta Post is a member of The Straits Times media partner Asia News Network, an alliance of 23 media entities.]

Source: http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/desperately-fighting-fires-the-jakarta-post

Jokowi's political prisoner problem

New Mandala - August 9, 2017

Andreas Harsono – The Indonesian government has been doing something remarkable over the past year with its political prisoners in Papua and West Papua provinces: Releasing them.

There are currently only between one and five Papuan political prisoners behind bars compared to a tally of 37 at the end of August 2016, according to Human Rights Watch sources. The exact number of Papuan political prisoners still in prison is uncertain because the Ministry of Law and Human Rights has declined to respond to a Human Rights Watch request for an official total of those prisoners.

The Ministry's reticence to confirm that reduction is curious, not just because it means freedom for dozens of Papuans unfairly prosecuted and imprisoned for merely exercising their rights of freedom of expression and association. It also indicates that President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo is making good on a pledge to release Papuan political prisoners as a means "to stop the stigma of conflict in Papua."

In May 2015 Jokowi took the unprecedented step for an Indonesian head of state to personally present clemency documents authorising the release of five Papuan political prisoners at Abepura prison in Papua's provincial capital of Jayapura. At that ceremony, he announced that the release of those prisoners was "just the beginning" of an official effort to empty Papua's prisons of political prisoners, with an aim to "create a sense of peace in Papua."

Six months later, the government released Filep Karma, a Papuan political prisoner who became an international symbol of the Indonesian government's abuse of Papuans' rights of freedom of expression and association. Karma has noted that the release of Papuan political prisoners is the result of targeted legal mechanisms, including clemency and sentence reductions, that previous Indonesian administrations had generally denied Papuan political prisoners.

The Indonesian government has legitimate security concerns in Papua stemming from the ongoing, low-intensity conflict with the armed separatist Free Papua Movement (Organisasi Papua Merdeka or OPM). But the government's disproportionate response to that threat has included decades-long restrictions on access to Papua by foreign media, academics, and observers as well as a failure by security forces to distinguish between violent acts and peaceful expression of political views.

Unfortunately, Jokowi's moves to purge Indonesia's prisons of Papuan political prisoners will prove short-lived unless the government abolishes the abusive laws against makar, or treason, that put those prisoners behind bars in the first place. The government has long wielded Articles 106 and 110 of the Indonesian Criminal Code to impose multi-decade prison terms on peaceful protesters advocating independence or other political change. Many such arrests and prosecutions are of activists who peacefully raise banned symbols, such as the Papuan Morning Star and the South Moluccan RMS flags. (Human Rights Watch takes no position on the right to self-determination, but opposes imprisonment of people who peacefully express support for self-determination.)

And Papuans have a lot to complain about in terms of a lack of accountability for decades of abuses by the security forces. Heavy-handed responses to peaceful activities have resulted in numerous human rights violations.

Over the past decade, Human Rights Watch has documented dozens of cases in which police, military, intelligence officers, and prison guards have used unnecessary or excessive force when dealing with Papuans exercising their rights to peaceful assembly and association. Although the government announced in April 2016 the creation of a task force to develop a roadmap to investigate and resolve more than a dozen Papua's most serious past human rights abuses, it has failed to provide it with the authority and funding to do so.

And the Jokowi government has itself failed miserably to provide accountability for more recent abuses. Exhibit A is the December 8, 2014 killing by security forces of five Papuan youths in Enarotali in Paniai regency of Papua. Despite three separate official investigations into the shootings – bolstered by Jokowi's December 2014 pledge to thoroughly investigate and punish security forces implicated in those deaths – there has to date been zero accountability. And despite official pledges of a thorough probe into the August 1, 2017 police killing of 28-year-old Yulius Pigai of West Papua's remote Deiyai regency, we will likewise probably never know the circumstances of his death.

Meanwhile, Jokowi is turning a blind eye to the plight of Indonesia's other political prisoners, from Ambon in the Moluccas (Maluku) archipelago. A total of 13 Moluccan political prisoners, the last of 28 prisoners convicted for treason for performing a protest dance in June 2007, remain behind bars in the prisons of Nusa Kambangan and Porong on Java, roughly 3,000 kilometres from Ambon. That distance, and the onerous financial expense of travel between Ambon and those prisons, mean that those 13 men, mostly farmers and fishermen, have not seen any family members since their 2009 transfer. The isolation has inflicted profound emotional, psychological, and emotional stress on both the prisoners and their families.

In April 2016, Indonesia's Minister of Law and Human Rights Yasonna Laoly orally committed to a visiting Human Rights Watch delegation in Jakarta to arrange those prisoners' transfer to detention facilities in Ambon. But more than a year later, they remain behind bars, far from their loved ones, with no hope of seeing their families until their sentences elapse in 2027.

Jokowi's efforts to release political prisoners are a long overdue positive change, but Indonesia can't claim to be a democratic, progressive state while still locking up citizens for merely expressing their rights of freedom of expression and association.

[Andreas Harsono is senior researcher on Indonesia at Human Rights Watch.]

Source: http://www.newmandala.org/jokowis-political-prisoner-problem/

Is Indonesia embarking on a Philippines-style war on drugs?

Indonesia at Melbourne - August 8, 2017

Dave McRae – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's hard-line rhetoric in recent weeks on the fatal shooting of drugs suspects has prompted many to question whether Indonesia is contemplating a Rodrigo Duterte-style war on drugs. Jokowi was spurred to comment by the seizure of a one tonne shipment of methamphetamine to Indonesia from Taiwan, reportedly the largest seizure in Indonesia's history. Indonesian authorities shot dead a Chinese national during the interception.

"Now the police and the military are truly firm.... particularly against foreign drugs distributors entering Indonesia, if they resist a little bit, just shoot them immediately, as we are truly in an extreme emergency situation when it comes to narcotics," Jokowi said on 21 July, about a week after the seizure.

Jokowi's comments reflect a clear upswing in fatal shootings of narcotics suspects this year, albeit not on a scale approaching the campaign of extrajudicial killings in the Philippines. In the first seven months of 2017, Indonesian authorities shot dead at least 49 narcotics suspects. Another suspect died in police custody in January, with police saying they suspected a heart attack. This is based on figures I have compiled from keyword searches of media reportage. Although imperfect, I am unaware of any comparable publicly available government data. Using similar methodology, I identified only 14 fatal shootings in 2016 and 10 fatal shootings in 2015.

Given the methodology used to compile these figures, it is likely that there have been additional shootings. For 2017, my figures match closely with a public announcement by Police Chief General Tito Karnavian on 8 May, however, that authorities had fatally shot 31 suspects. My figures show 32 deaths to that date.

The majority of suspects fatally shot in 2017 have been Indonesian citizens, comprising 40 of 49 deaths. But foreigners are significantly over-represented among fatalities, at 8 of 49 deaths(*) or 16 per cent, given they comprise a tiny minority of drug arrests. Of 1,238 suspects arrested by the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) in 2016, for example, only 21 were foreign citizens, or 1.7 per cent. This over-representation is consistent with a broader trope of the Indonesian government's "drugs emergency" rhetoric that foreign drugs criminals are destroying Indonesia's future generations.

Inevitably, Jokowi's comments in July raise the question of whether the sharp increase in the number of killings reflects deliberate government policy to deter narcotics crime. Certainly, hard-line rhetoric on shooting drugs suspects has been building in Indonesia for more than a year, although senior public officials have typically tread a fine line in their statements, being careful not to issue an unqualified order to kill.

Jokowi's own statement in June 2016 on International Anti-Narcotics Day was typical, instructing police, "Pursue them, arrest them, beat them, strike them hard! If the law allows, shoot them!" Police Chief Karnavian has similarly toed this line, saying in January following the first five fatal shootings of the year, "Drug distributors, if you are still doing it, poisoning our nation's children, and then you resist when you are arrested, then it will end the same way, here as well, in the morgue.".

Even BNN Chief Budi Waseso, who has bent the line on extra-judicial killings further than most, stuck to this line when asked this week by the influential Tempo magazine about Jokowi's statements. "The implementation is different in the Indonesia and the Philippines. In the Philippines, distributors are [just] shot directly. In Indonesia, it's only the ones that resist officers."

Even if such rhetoric does not amount to an explicit instruction to kill, it is not difficult to see how it could create a permissive environment for the fatal shooting of suspects.

Fatal shootings are concentrated in several provinces: North Sumatra and Jakarta account for half of all shootings, with Lampung, Aceh and West Kalimantan also showing high incidence. This concentration could reflect the fact that several of these provinces are entry points for narcotics to Indonesia, or centres of activity for the narcotics trade.

The discretion of individual police commanders might also contribute. Police in North Sumatra, for example, have provided a running tally to the media of the number of drugs suspects shot dead in their province this year. Senior police in West Kalimantan, another province with a concentration of narcotics shootings in 2017, have also favoured tough language. Inspector General Musyafak, police chief in the province before April, told the media in October 2016 that he apologised in advance if his personnel shot dead drug distributors. Police had weapons to shoot criminals, not to show off, he said, although he added they must use them to subdue suspects, not murder them.

All incidents I have recorded resulted in only a single fatality or two suspects being shot dead. In more than one third of cases, the fatal shootings occurred well after the suspects had been arrested, when authorities took them to a secondary location to identify further suspects, or to point out where drugs and weapons were stored.

Whether at the initial point of arrest of a secondary site similar stories recur: most often the suspect is said to resist arrest or flee, often ignoring warning shots, after which police fatally shoot them. In a minority of cases, the suspects are said to have fired on police, brandished a weapon, attempted to seize a police firearm, or even to have rammed police with a vehicle.

But as Jim Della-Giacoma has previously observed in the case of police shootings more broadly in Indonesia, many of the accounts of the shooting sit uncomfortably with the police's own regulation governing the use of fatal force. He writes:

[Indonesian Police Chief regulation No 8 of 2009] says that 'the use of firearms shall be allowed only if strictly necessary to preserve human life' and 'firearms may only be used by officers: a) when facing extraordinary circumstances; b) for self defence against threat of death and/or serious injury; c) for the defence of others against threat of death and/or serious injury.' This is Indonesian law, taken from the UN Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials, and this is what should be used to assess police actions, wherever in the country they occur.

Moreover, much as similar scenarios recur across media reports, the feature of these cases that really stands out is the lack of independent reportage by the media beyond statements provided by the police or BNN. It is rare for reports to contain any indication that the media have investigated further. In fact, media reports often run under headlines that implicitly approve of the killing or at least play up their drama, such as "Bang, a drug dealer shot dead". Beyond periodic reportage of critical statements by legal aid or human rights organisations, little scrutiny is applied to the rationale for these shooting deaths.

And yet, as the numbers of narcotics suspects being shot dead in Indonesia grows, there is a clear need for critical reportage to scrutinise the circumstances under which these deaths are occurring.

(*) I could not identify the nationality of one further fatality from media reportage

[Dave McRae is a Senior Research Fellow at the Asia Institute in the Faculty of Arts at the University of Melbourne. He is also an Associate at the Centre for Indonesian Law, Islam and Society.]

Source: http://indonesiaatmelbourne.unimelb.edu.au/is-indonesia-embarking-on-a-philippines-style-war-on-drugs/

Book & film reviews

Max Lane: After independence, where to now for Indonesia?

Suara.com - August 13, 2017

Adhitya Himawan and Nikolaus Tolen – Max Lane, the author of the new book "Indonesia is not Present on this Earth of Mankind" (Indonesia Tidak Hadir di Bumi Indonesia) has criticised Indonesians for being unable to envisage a future for their own country.

This he said is because almost all Indonesians are unable to answer when asked what Indonesia will be like in 50 years time.

"People in the past, they fought and sacrificed with great difficulty to achieve independence, but after independence what next?", asked Max during a launch of his new book at the Galeri Cipta III Gallery in the Taman Ismail Marzuki cultural centre in Cikini, Central Jakarta, on Saturday August 12.

This however is not unique to Indonesia and according to the author of the book about the works of Indonesia's foremost author Pramoedya Ananta Toer, it is also the case in Australia.

"I worry at the moment, when I ask my students in Australia, if in 50 years, what do you want Australia to be like? On average they can't answer", said Max.

Max said that this is of course very dangerous for the future of the country. Because, what people seem to expect for the future at the moment is for things just to continue as they are until doomsday.

"And unfortunately, if society goes on like this, continues like this, doomsday will arrive much sooner", said Max.

Because of this therefore he is reminding Indonesians never to forget the period when former president Suharto was in power. Because, although Indonesia has been independent since 1945, there are in fact many people who feel that Indonesia has not yet achieved independence.

"We must not for a moment forget how long Suharto was in power. If someone studies history, they will of course answer 32 years, that's true. But my explanation is not like that. What year did the Dutch leave Indonesia?", asked Max.

Published by Djaman Baroe, Yogyakarta, Max Lane's book "Indonesia is not Present on this Earth of Mankind" is based on essays about the works of Pramoedya. It represents the result of the author's interactions with Pramoedya and contemplations of his works, as well the other two founders of the Hasta Mitra publishing house, Joesoef Isak and Hasyim Rachman.

Progressive publisher Hasta Mitra was first publisher with the courage to publish Pramoedya's works during the Suharto era. Max Lane meanwhile was the first person to introduce Pram's works to the world, also during the period of Suharto's repressive regime.

Max's English translation of the Buru Quartet (This Earth of Mankind, Child of All Nations, Footsteps and House of Glass) was published by Penguin books in Australia, the United Kingdom and the US. As a consequence of his work translating Pram's books, Max, who at the time worked as junior diplomat with the Australian Embassy in Indonesia, was forced to return to Australia in 1981.

Other books by Pram and translated by Max include "Arok of Java" (Arok Dedes) and "The Chinese in Indonesia" (Hoakiau di Indonesia).

By wrestling for years through the process of translating Pramoedya's works and his interactions and many discussions with Pramoedya as well as many other activities in Indonesia, Max sets out and provides an analysis that he presents in this collection of essays.

"Indonesia is not Present" attempts to provide a general picture of Pramoedya's works, analysing Pramoedya's ideas about the Indonesian archipelago's history, Indonesia's origins as a nation and about the relationship between caste and class. Among the works discussed is "Chinese in Indonesia", "Arok of Java" and "This Earth of Mankind".

According to Max there was a hidden message from Pramoedya for his readers about what they must be conscious of in confronting Indonesia's future.

[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Max Lane: Setelah Indonesia Merdeka, Mau Apa?"]

Source: http://www.suara.com/news/2017/08/13/064525/max-lane-setelah-indonesia-merdeka-mau-apa