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Indonesia Roundup No 26 - July 31-August 6, 2006
[Indonesia roundup is a weekly compilation of actions, demonstrations and protests taken from Indonesian language news sources produced by the INDOLEFT News Service and the People's Democratic Party (PRD). Please note that actions already covered by English language media sources are generally omitted. Compiled and translated by James Balowski.]
Actions, demos, protests...
Ternate fisherpeople demonstrate over illegal fishing Demonstrations condemn Israeli aggression Cirebon students oppose arrival of West Java governor PT Wong Coco workers demand to be employed full-time PDI-P members demonstrate in Banyumas Protesters demand election rerun Central Java students condemn Israeli attacks Anti-Israeli demonstrations continue Semarang students demand investigation of corruption cases Trisakti students oppose construction of petrol station Poor in Jambi ask for free identity cards Medan street traders blockade road Victims of housing demolition demonstrate in Bekasi Jambi students demand arrest of corrupt officials Inter-regalities leaders condemn Israel's brutality Replacement of rector sparks protest, ends in brawl Journalists protest police violence in Banten Cimahi workers demand payment of back wages Protests call on government to take firm position on Israel Protest by Makassar transport drivers ends in chaos Bogor residents protest pollution from tyre factory Protesters want announcement of election results postponed Acehnese students protest education fee increases
Ternate fisherpeople demonstrate over illegal fishing
Dozens of fisherpeople from the city of Ternate in North Maluku demonstrated at the offices the fisheries agency and the governor of Maluku. They were asking the government to act firmly against foreign ships that are taking fish from the North Maluku waters. The demonstration was triggered by the increasing numbers of fish being stolen by foreign ships. (Liputan 6, 31/7/2006)
Demonstrations condemn Israeli aggression
Around 5,000 members of the Islamic community in the West Java provincial capital of Bandung condemned Israel for launching military attacks against Palestine and Lebanon. They were urging the Indonesian government to take a more assertive position in struggling for the liberation of the Palestine nation.
In the Central Java city of Tegal, hundreds of people held a similar action in which they burn Israeli and US flags. They said the burning of the flags was a symbol of the fight against the cruelty of Israel against people of Palestine and Lebanon. (Liputan 6, 31/7/2006)
Cirebon students oppose arrival of West Java governor
Dozens of students in the West Java city of Cirebon demonstrated at the local Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) on July 31. The protest was held in the lead up to the arrival of West Java governor Danny Setiawan who was to attend the opening of the People's Market. The students, who came from the Reform Saviours Student Movement (GMPR), were opposing Setiawan's visit because they say he has been involved in corruption. (Liputan 6, 1/8/2006)
PT Wong Coco workers demand to be employed full-time
As many as 600 workers from PT Wong Coco have been on strike for the last four days. The workers from the beverage export company in the Natar area of South Lampung that are employed as casual day workers have been demonstrating in front of the company's offices demanding to be employed as full-time workers. (Liputan 6, 1/8/2006)
PDI-P members demonstrate in Banyumas
Hundreds of rank-and-file members of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) from the Central Java regency of Banyumas demonstrated at the Purwokerto District Court on August 1.
The demonstration took place as the court was hearing a case involving the speaker of the Banyumas DPRD who is suspected of falsifying his diploma. Bringing a buffalo with them, the protesters were demanding that the judge detain the accused who is the chair of the PDI-P's Banyumas board of directors because they said he has damaged the good name of the party. (Liputan 6, 1/8/2006)
Protesters demand election rerun
Thousands of residents from five regencies demonstrated recently in the West Sulawesi city of Mamuju. They were calling on the West Sulawesi National Elections Commission (KPU) to rerun the elections in the Mambi sub-district because more than 1,000 people lost their right to vote as they had not received voter ID cards.
The demonstrators, who are supports of the candidates Salim Mengga and Hatta Dai, also demanded that the KPU delay the announcement of the election results until the local court issues a verdict on irregularities during the election. Representatives of the demonstrators were able to meet with a KPU member but the dialogue soon became tense with the protesters saying the KPU is closing its eyes to the problems. (Liputan 6, 1/8/2006)
Central Java students condemn Israeli attacks
Dozens of protesters from the Central Java chapter of the Student Movement of Liberation (GMP) held a long-march in to the Central Java DPRD in the provincial capital of Semarang on August 1.
They were protesting against Israel's attacks on Palestine and Lebanon that they said violated human rights in the interest of the US and its allies. The protesters also called on the Indonesian government to sever diplomatic relations with oppressive and colonialist countries such as Israel and the US. (Tempo Interactive, 1/8/2006)
Anti-Israeli demonstrations continue
Demonstrations condemning Israel's brutality in Lebanon are continuing to take place around the country. A number of human rights activists in Jakarta have called on the government to take a firm position on the issue and if necessary, sever diplomatic relations with the US for failing to take any action against Israel's attacks.
In Bandung, dozens of students from the Bandung Islamic University demonstrated against Israel in front of their campus. The protest was then continued at a shopping centre in Bandung city. In addition to giving speeches they also held a theatrical action depicting the brutality of Israeli soldiers against the peoples of Lebanon and Palestine. (Liputan 6, 2/8/2006)
Semarang students demand investigation of corruption cases
A number of students demonstrated at the offices of the chief public prosecutor in Semarang on August 2. They were demanding that corruption cases involving government officials and members of the provincial legislative assembly be investigated immediately. The protesters also said that the public prosecutor was not being serious about following up the cases, which have caused billion of rupiah in losses to the state, despite the fact that the police have already completed their investigation. (Liputan 6, 2/8/2006)
Trisakti students oppose construction of petrol station
Hundreds of members of the Society of Trisakti University Students (MMUT) demonstrated in front of the Jakarta DPRD in Central Jakarta on August 3. They were opposing the construction of a petrol station (SPBU) beside the Trisakti Medical Faculty in West Jakarta.
According to one of the protesters, Dori Herlambang, although the government has issued a permit for construction of the station, it has yet to obtain permission from local residents. The students therefore believe that there are indications of corruption, collusion and nepotism between the petrol station company and the Jakarta provincial government.
Responding to the demonstrators' demands, the chair of the Jakarta DPRD's Commission D Sayogo Hendrosoebroto who met with protesters, expressed his support for the local residents and said he would send a letter to the Jakarta governor asking for the construction to be halted. (Detik.com, 3/8/2006)
Poor in Jambi ask for free identity cards
Dozens of urban poor in the East Nusa Tenggara regency of Jambi demonstrated on August 3 demanding that the local government pay attention to their welfare. The demonstrators also asked for identification cards to be provided free as well for the government to make it easier for their children to attend school. (Liputan 6, 3/8/2006)
Medan street traders blockade road
Hundreds of traders from the Peringgan Market in the North Sumatra provincial capital of Medan blockaded Jl. Maulana Lubis on August 3 resulting in a traffic jam in front of the Medan city hall. The action was triggered when a unit of Medan civilian police prevented them from approaching the vicinity of the city hall. The traders are asking the mayor to remove street traders at the market that are making it difficult for customers to get to their shops. (Liputan 6, 3/8/2006)
Victims of housing demolition demonstrate in Bekasi
Dozens of residents from the Duren Jaya area of East Bekasi who's homes were demolished to make way for the Ganda Agung underpass project demonstrated again at the Bekasi DPRD on August 3.
Accompanied by a team from the Jakarta Legal Aid Foundation, the victims of the demolition called on the DPRD Commission A to summon the project heads to seek an explanation over the issue of compensation for the demolition of their homes.
The protesters said they had lived on the vacant land alongside the Rawa Baru irrigation channel that is owned by the state company Otorita Jatiluhur for many years. At lease 73 homes were demolished for which the Bekasi municipal government has paid them compensation of 1 million rupiah each to build semi-permanent houses and 2 million rupiah for permanent housing. (Kompas Cyber Media, 3/8/2006)
Jambi students demand arrest of corrupt officials
A group of students demonstrated at the offices of the Jambi chief public prosecutor on August 3. They were calling on the public prosecutor to bring in government officials involved in a corruption case related to the procurement of a water boom valued at 6.5 billion rupiah. They accused the public prosecutor of only arresting low-level public officials rather their superiors who were directly involved in the case. (Liputan 6, 3/8/2006)
Inter-regalities leaders condemn Israel's brutality
It is not just the Muslim community that is condemning Israel's brutality. On August 4 some 100 religious figures from the Fraternity Forum of Devout Communities (FPUB) held an action at the DPRD in Central Java city of Yogyakarta.
Present at the demonstration were leaders of the Islamic, Catholic and Hindu communities as well as student sympathisers. FPUB chair Abdul Muhaimin said in a speech that Israel's attacks against Lebanon have not just destroyed people's lives and property but are also uncivilized. "These attacks by Israel are not just a form of violence, but also crimes against humanity that exceed the authority of God as their creator".
Muhaimin said that war is a political issue that destroys all civilisations and they are calling on world religious institutions, inter-religious and independent organisations to take an active role in ending the violence in the Middle East. The group also said that the current war is not just a religious conflict but is a result of a conflict of global interests within the capitalist system. (Detik.com, 4/8/2006)
Replacement of rector sparks protest, ends in brawl
The replacement of the rector of the Mataram Institute of Teaching and Education Studies on the island of Lombok by the foundation's management ended in chaos when students who support the former rector demonstrated in front of the campus. When demonstrators supporting the foundation management tried to obstruct the protesters a fight broke out which only ended when police succeeded in separating the two sides. (Liputan 6, 4/8/2006)
Journalists protest police violence in Banten
Dozens of journalists from various media sources demonstrated at the headquarters of the Banten regional police on August 4 against a recent act of violence by a police officers against a television journalist. The protesters were demanding that the Banten police chief take action against officers from the Cilegon district police who forced the journalist to wipe a tape of coverage that had been taken of a music concert that ended in a riot. (Liputan 6, 4/8/2006)
Cimahi workers demand payment of back wages
Demonstrations are still one of the most effective way for employees to force employers to pay their wages. Not long ago, around 3,000 employees from the company PT Korin demonstrated in the West Java city of Cimahi.
The demonstrators, who also stayed overnight at the company, were demanding the payment of two months back wages. The workers said that they should be receiving a wage of 1.5 million rupiah a month but since June they have only been getting 750,000 rupiah. The directors of PT Korin, Ade Cakralaksana and Seok Ho Yoon meanwhile, hid in the offices and refused to speak with the protesters. (Liputan 6, 4/8/2006)
Protests call on government to take firm position on Israel
Israel's attacks against Palestine and Lebanon, which show no signs of abating, are continuing to trigger protests across the country. Aside from expressing their support for the peoples of Palestine and Lebanon, protests have also urged the Indonesian government to take a firmer stand on the issue in order to end Israel's brutality. Actions took place in the South Sulawesi provincial capital of Makassar and Balikpapan in East Kalimantan. (Liputan 6, 5/8/2006)
Protest by Makassar transport drivers ends in chaos
A demonstration by hundreds of public transport drivers plying the Daya Makassar Mall route at the offices of the Makassar city public relations office has ended in chaos. The drivers were demanding that the municipal government take action against public transport vehicles from the Maros regency that are operating in Makassar. (Liputan 6, 5/8/2006)
Bogor residents protest pollution from tyre factory
Housewives and children from Citeureup in the West Java city of Bogor demonstrated recently by banging kitchen utensils. They were protested pollution and noise from the tyre factory PT Banteng Pratama Rubber. So far there has been no response from the company management. (Liputan 6, 5/8/2006)
Protesters want announcement of election results postponed
Thousands of supporters of the loosing candidate in the election of the West Sulawesi governor, Salim Mengga, blockaded the offices of the West Sulawesi Election Monitoring Committee (Panwaslu) on August 5. They were calling on Panwaslu to postpone the announcement of the election results because they said the victory by the winning candidate Anwar Adnan Saleh was unfair. (Liputan 6, 5/8/2006)
Acehnese students protest education fee increases
Hundreds of students from the Syiah Kuala University in the provincial capital of Banda Aceh demonstrated on August 4 against education fee increases that they say will unfairly burden students.
The students have been protesting now for the last three days and are threatening to hold a massive demonstration on August 8 if the increases are not canceled. The students have already blocked the fee payment counter and are threatening to hold a hunger strike.e.
In this, the third action so far, some 200 students centered the protest at the Rector's Open Hall Bureau where they gave speeches and set fire to tyres. The demonstration was heavily guarded by campus security personnel backed up by Banda Aceh municipal police.
"Later there will be a massive action", said Hendra, a student from the faculty of law. "A [hunger] strike will be the last resort if the rector does not meet our demands", he said. (Aceh Kita, 4/8/2006)
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