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Indonesia Roundup No 30 - August 28-September 3, 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...

  • Bandung students protest against thuggery on campus
  • Hotel Sheraton employees demand full payment of wages
  • Protest in West Sumatra ends in violence
  • Hundreds of farmers in Central Java 'dump' onion harvest
  • Residents living near Soekarno-Hatta Airport oppose eviction
  • State drinking water company employees strike
  • Attorney Generals Office pelted with eggs
  • Corruption Eradication Commission rocked by demonstration
  • Striking garment workers besiege factory
  • Earthquake victims demand disbursement of funds
  • Students demand trial of corrupters
  • Students in Semarang protest against chief public prosecutor
  • Timber workers demand payment of outstanding wages
  • Students demand investigation into corruption case
  • Protesters take South Sulawesi lawmakers 'hostage'
  • Journalists demonstrate against criminalisation of press
  • Hundreds of mud disaster victims occupy toll road
  • Serang students demand resignation of university rector
  • Jombang teachers protest over new conditions for promotion
  • Residents demand Lapindo repair ruptured dams
  • Hundreds of fishers oppose plan to dump mud into sea
  • Non-government organisations oppose disposal of Lapindo mud in Ngoro
  • Residents demand disbursement of cash subsidies, electricity
  • Students, NGO activist protest slow government action on Lapindo
  • National Sports Week athletes go on strike
  • Bandung residents protest textile factory
  • NGO activists protest Supreme Court chief justice Manan
  • Makassar students protest suspensions
  • Vice presidential visit greeted by protests

    • Bandung students protest against thuggery on campus

    Indonesian Muslim Students Action Front (KAMMI) activists from the University of Indonesian Education (UPI) demonstrated at the Gedung Sate complex in the West Java provincial capital of Bandung on August 28. The students were protesting against thuggery on campus in relation to a riot that took place at the Teachers Training Institute in Mataram, Lombok island, in which a student was killed.

    The protesters said that there were indications that the perpetrators were thugs from the military backed civilian security force known as PAM Swakarsa that were operating on the campus. The students called on police to investigate the case and take action immediate against the perpetrators. (Kompas Cyber Media, 28/8/2006)

    Hotel Sheraton employees demand full payment of wages

    Dozens of employees from the Mustika Yogyakarta Sheraton Hotel demonstrated at the Yogyakarta Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) in Central Java on August 28. They were demanding the full payment of wages after the hotel management decided to temporarily lay off the entire workforce following the earthquake that hit Yogyakarta and Central Java in May.

    The sacked employees also brought posters with messages such as "The glamour of Miss Indonesia, the suffering of Sheraton Hotel workers", and "Bunda Moor, our wages were not paid because of the Miss Indonesia pageant". They also called on the hotel to pay subsidies to those employees that lost their homes a result of the earthquake.

    Action coordinator Florentina Rahayu from the Mustika Yogyakarta Sheraton Independent Trade Union (SPM) said that since the earthquake, some 236 employees had been temporally laid off for 10 months while the hotel is renovated, but they were only being paid 25 percent of their wages. He added that the hotel management paid no attention to the its employees' welfare and instead wasted billions of rupiah holding the 2006 Miss Indonesia pageant. (Detik.com, 28/8/2006)

    Protest in West Sumatra ends in violence

    A protest by supporters of Bengkulu Governor Agusrin Mariyono at the DPRD in West Sumatra on August 28 has ended in violence with demonstrators attacking a journalist and vandalising a car belonging to a national television station. The protest was held because a Bengkulu provincial budget of 500 billion rupiah presented by the governor has still not been endorsed by the local DPRD. (Liputan 6, 28/8/2006)

    Hundreds of farmers in Central Java 'dump' onion harvest

    On August 28 hundreds of farmers from the Brebes regency of Central Java dumped their onion harvest in protest against the government allowing the importation of onions from Thailand and India. As a result of the imports the price of onions has been in free fall. The farmers took the action after earlier protest were ignored by the government. (Liputan 6, 28/8/2006)

    Residents living near Soekarno-Hatta Airport oppose eviction

    Around 300 family heads living on along Jl. Perancis Raya in the Benda sub-district of Tangerang city, around 50 meters from the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, demonstrated at the Benda sub-district offices on August 28. The government plans to demolish 115 houses located on land owned by airport operator PT Angkasa Pura to make way for a green strip to beautify the area.

    The protesters, who were opposing plans by the local government to evict them from their homes and places of business, are asking the government to delay the evictions for six months and provide money for them to voluntarily dismantle their houses and move their belongings. "Give us time to find a new place to live, we are just trying to survive", said food stall owner Junaidi. (Tempo Interactive, 28/8/2006)

    State drinking water company employees strike

    Around 200 civil servants from the drinking water company PDAM in the West Kalimantan city of Pontianak went on strike on August 29 protesting against the formation of a integrated task force, unfair bonuses and poor communication between management and staff. Four of the company's managers also resigned in solidarity with the workers. (Kompas Cyber Media, 29/8/2006)

    Attorney Generals Office pelted with eggs

    "Plop, plop, plop...". Dozens of rotten eggs struck the walls, grounds and cars parked near the Attorney General's office (AGO) in Jakarta on August 29. The putrid odor was acute.

    The eggs were thrown by around 50 students from the Student Movement Against Manipulation of State-Owned Enterprises (Geram BUMN) as a sign of their disappointment over the handling of the Borong combined cycle power plant case in South Sumatra. The AGO was chosen as a target for the eggs because people suspected of being involved in the case are being questioned there. Before throwing the eggs the students also set fire to tyres in front of the building.

    Wearing masks, the students held a theatrical performance depicting a financial transaction between Eddie Widiono, the executive director of the state-owned electricity company PLN and the AGO's deputy for special crimes, Hendarman Supandj.

    "On August 31, Eddie's period of detention will end. This shows that the AGO is unprofessional, consistently disappointing the Indonesian people", said one of the students in a speech. "We call on the Attorney General and the deputy for special crimes to resign because they have been incompetent in handing corruption cases in Borang and other places. The AGO is just a nest of corruption", shouted the demonstrators. (Detik.com, 29/8/2006)

    Corruption Eradication Commission rocked by demonstration

    Around 50 activist from Geram BUMN rocked the offices of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on August 29 demanding that the government resolve the problem endemic corruption in Indonesia. The same demands were made earlier in the day when the students pelted the AGO with rotten eggs.

    "The government must follow up on corruption cases. I see that the government does not have the courage to investigate corruption cases", said Geram public relations officer Khairul. They also called on the KPK to continue investigating the Eddie Widiono case. "We heard news that he is to be released", said Khairul adding that Geram intends to continue holding actions over the next few days. (Detik.com, 29/8/2006)

    Striking garment workers besiege factory

    Around 2,000 workers from the garment factory PT Korin in the West Java city of Cimahi demonstrated by surrounding the factory on August 28 calling on the company to pay them outstanding wages. The workers said they were determined to force the company to pay them dispute the fact it has been declared bankrupt.

    This is the latest in a series of demonstrations by the mostly female workers. Not surprisingly, the protest resulted in a traffic jam and hundreds of workers from other companies located near to PT Korin were unable to enter their places of work because the workers had blockaded the entrance. (Liputan 6, 29/8/2006)

    Earthquake victims demand disbursement of funds

    Hundreds of earthquake victims from various parts of Yogyakarta demonstrated again at the Yogyakarta governor's office on August 28. They were protesting delays in the disbursement of financial assistance to rebuild their homes that they suspect is being done intentionally by Yogyakarta government officials who have deposited the money in banks in order profit from the interest. (Liputan 6, 29/8/2006)

    Students demand trial of corrupters

    On August 29 some 1,000 students demonstrated at the Banten DPRD in the city of Serang, West Java, demanding the investigation and trial of corrupt local officials. The protesters said that officials embezzling the people's money was one of the reasons for the high level of poverty in Banten. The students also demanded the realisation of a 20 percent budget expenditure on education. (Liputan 6, 29/8/2006)

    Students in Semarang protest against chief public prosecutor

    Hundreds of students took to the street of the Central Java provincial capital of Semarang on August 29 protesting against the Central Java chief public prosecutor Nana Juwana. In speeches the students said that Juwana had a 'black track record' having been appointed to become a judge at the Supreme Court then acting in an unprofessional manner in the case of a disputed election result in the West Java city of Depok. It is not just students that are opposing Juwana. The governor and key government officials in Central Java also failed to attend Juwana's inauguration last week. (Liputan 6, 29/8/2006)

    Timber workers demand payment of outstanding wages

    Thousands of workers from the plywood factory PT Gunung Meranti Timber in the South Kalimantan provincial capital of Banjarmasin demonstrated at the provincial DPRD on August 29. They were demanding that assembly members force the company to pay five months of outstanding wages amounting to as much as 1.5 billion rupiah. (Liputan 6, 29/8/2006)

    Students demand investigation into corruption case

    Hundreds of students from the Hasanuddin University (Unhas) in the South Sulawesi provincial capital of Makassar demonstrated on August 29 against law enforcement officials for failing to investigate a corruption case at the Unhas faculty of law. During the action students set fire to tyres resulting in a traffic jam on Jl. Urip Sumohardjo. (Liputan 6, 29/8/2006)

    Protesters take South Sulawesi lawmakers 'hostage'

    A demonstration on August 30 by residents evicted to make way for an extension to the Hasanuddin Airport in Makassar has ended in a clash. The incident took place after some 150 residents took seven members of the South Sulawesi DPRD hostage by blockading the doors to their offices. The residents said they would only release the seven if they were allowed to meet with house speaker Agus Arifin.

    After being held for around one-and-a-half hours, the 'hostages' tried to force their way out escorted by security personnel resulting in each side pushing and shoving each other which then escalated in to a clash. Several windows were smashed in the incident and one protester beaten up by security personnel. Police were later able to separated the two sides although an argument then broke out when protesters demanding an apology from security personnel. (Detik.com, 30/8/2006)

    Journalists demonstrate against criminalisation of press

    Dozens of journalists from the Alliance Against the Criminalisation of the Press (ATKP) held a demonstration at the South Jakarta District Court today demanding the release of Rakyat Merdeka Online editor Teguh Santosa. Santosa is being tried for insulting Islam after posting cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad on the paper's website.

    During the action the journalists gave speeches expressing their concern over the case and calling on the court to cancel the trial and release Santosa. They also brought a yellow banners with messages such as "Release Teguh", "Jailing Teguh = Muzzling Press Freedom" and "Mr. Judge Use the Press Law [instead of the Criminal Code]". (Tempo Interactive, 30/8/2006)

    Hundreds of mud disaster victims occupy toll road

    Hundreds of victims of the PT Lapindo Brantas mud disaster from the villages of Renokenongo and Keboguyang in Porong, Sidoarjo, occupied the Surabaya-Gempol toll road on August 30 demanding immediate repairs to the levee at mud containment pond No. 4 which ruptured yesterday.

    The protesters, who brought plastic bags to plug the ruptured levee themselves, also threatened to stop dozens of trucks transporting sand and rocks. "If it is not repaired immediately our village will be totally inundated", said Renokenongo village administrator Sumarwito. They added that if the rupture is not repaired, they would close Jl. Raya Porong, which has been used as an alternative when the toll road has been blocked by mud. (Tempo Interactive, 30/9/2006)

    Serang students demand resignation of university rector

    Thousands of students from the Sultan Tirtayasa Sultan Ageng University in Serang demonstrated at the rectorate building on August 30 demanding the resignation of university rector Yoyo Mulyana. The demands were related to the lack of transparency in projects to improve and augment campus infrastructure that are directly under the authority of Mulyana. The students said that despite the lack of transparency, every year they had to make contributions of 2 million rupiah. (Liputan 6, 30/8/2006)

    Jombang teachers protest over new conditions for promotion

    Hundreds of state primary school teachers from the East Java city of Jombang demonstrated at the local DPRD on August 30 calling on assembly members to cancel a policy decision by Jombang regent Suyanto on testing, presentations and scientific written works as a requirement to gain credit points in the promotion of state civil servants. The teachers said that the policy would be an obstacle for some 674 teachers in Jombang to gain promotion. (Liputan 6, 30/8/2006)

    Residents demand Lapindo repair ruptured dams

    Residents from three villages from the sub-districts of Porong and Jabon in Sidoarjo, East Java, demonstrated on August 31 demanding that Lapindo repair mud containment dams that have ruptured saying that the mud has started to flood into their rice fields.

    Mobile Brigade troops and East Java regional police were deployed to the location to anticipate the possibility that protesters would close off the Jl. Raya Siring highway. Although the demonstration resulted in traffic jams on the route between the cities of Surabaya and Malang, after negotiations with police the protesters disbanded peacefully.

    Residents from the villages of Reno Kenongo and Glagah Arum in Porong and the Besuki village in Jabon also demonstrated on the same day by holding a march from the Gempol-Porong toll road to Jl. Raya Siring where they constructed a blockade. (Liputan 6, 31/8/2006)

    Hundreds of fishers oppose plan to dump mud into sea

    Hundreds of fishers from the village of Pangeranan in the Bangkalan regency of Madura, East Java, have also expressed their opposition to plans to dispose of the Lapindo mud in the sea saying that they are concerned that it will damage tidal reefs and affect their fish catches. (Liputan 6, 31/8/2006)

    Non-government organisations oppose disposal of Lapindo mud in Ngoro

    A number of non-government organisations (NGO) including the Indonesian Environmental Forum (Walhi), Indonesia Concern and the Friends of the Environment held a protest in the Central Java city of Mojokerto on August 31. The protesters were calling on the Mojokerto regent to oppose plans to dispose of mud from Lapindo in the Ngoro area and for the government to carry out a socialisation program to inform the public about the dangers posed by chemicals contained in the mud. (Liputan 6, 31/8/2006)

    Residents demand disbursement of cash subsidies, electricity

    Residents from village of Tajamulya, Banyuasin regency, demonstrated at the offices of the South Sumatra provisional government and the DPRD in Palembang on August 30 demanding that the provisional government disburse outstanding direct cash subsidies. The protesters also demanded the provision of basic public facilities in the village such as electricity. (Liputan 6, 31/8/2006)

    Students, NGO activist protest slow government action on Lapindo

    A number of activists from non-government and student organisations from various campuses in Yogyakarta demonstrated on August 31. The protesters, who came from the People's Coalition for Humanity (KRUK), were protesting the government's slowness in dealing with the hot mud outflow from the Lapindo exploration site in Sidoarjo, East Java, that is hurting the interests of local residents. (Liputan 6, 1/9/2006)

    National Sports Week athletes go on strike

    Scores of National Sports Week (PON) athletes and trainers in the Samarinda city of East Kalimantan held a demonstration at the Madya Sempaja Stadium after the stadium management leased out one of the stadium complex buildings. The protesters, who said that this would obstruct their training program, then tried to seal of the training building with a length of chain but were stopped by police.

    Following negotiations, they were allowed to seal off the building symbolically using tape and paper. The head of the stadium management board said that the building was leased in order to cover operational costs that are not being paid for by the provincial government. (Liputan 6, 1/9/2006)

    Bandung residents protest textile factory

    Hundreds of residents from Lagadar in Bandung blockaded the entrance to the textile company PT Pulau Mas on August 31. They were demanding that the managers of the factory provide employment to people living in the area saying that the company does not care about the welfare of local people and only generated air pollution and factory waste. (Liputan 6, 1/9/2006)

    NGO activists protest Supreme Court chief justice Manan

    Activists from a number of NGOs demonstrated on September 1 against Supreme Court chief justice Bagir Manan during a visit to the Jember District Court in East Java. The protesters said that Manan was incompetent and should not be the head of the Supreme Court. The demonstrators, who were unable to meet directly with Manan, accused the chief justice of being unable to resolve a number of legal cases in a just manner resulting in financial losses to the public. (Liputan 6, 1/9/2006)

    Makassar students protest suspensions

    Hundreds of students from the Makassar Hasanuddin University (Unhas) in South Sulawesi demonstrated on their campus on September 1. They were protesting the suspension of 40 students from the faculty of technology that was linked to the abuse of a student by a lecturer. During the action the protesters set fire to a bier to symbolise the death of academic and intellectual values at the Unhas campus. (Liputan 6, 1/9/2006)

    Vice presidential visit greeted by protests

    A visit by Vice President Jusuf Kalla at the opening of a technology efficiency exhibition in the West Kalimantan city of Pontianak was greeted by a student demonstration on September 2. The protesters condemned the exhibition that they said was onlywasting public money for unimportant goals and called on Kalla to instead pay attention to the numerous corruption cases committed by state officials. (Liputan 6, 3/9/2006)

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