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Indonesia Roundup No 33 - September 18-24, 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...
Komnas HAM employees strike over wages Farmers reject IMF, World Bank policies in Indonesia Students rock South Jakarta District Court Demonstration demanding regent's resignation ends in clash Semarang workers demand wage increase, allowances Bandung workers demand outstanding severance pay Residents demand compensation from PetroChina Workers protest attempts to prevent formation of trade union Farmers threaten to block rice imports Great River workers demand payment of outstanding wages Domestic workers demand affordable education High-tension transmission line victims demand compensation Makassar students reject rotating blackouts Farmers demand cancellation of rice imports 'Anti-rice import students' demonstrate at state palace Klaten earthquake victims demand assistance Yogyakarta students reject the IMF, World Bank Double-Double Track plaintiffs demonstrate at court hearing Residents close down waste disposal facility again Earthquake victims demand disbursement of reconstruction funds Students accuse university rectorate of corruption Assistance teachers protest in Jakarta Street traders and civil police clash again in Manado East Java students demand government buy farmers' rice West Sulawesi students demand resolution of land dispute West Sulawesi students demand investigation into corruption case Pekanbaru street traders resist eviction Honorary teachers in Makassar demand minimum wage Palu students reject rice imports Employees protest pre-fasting month mass dismissals Hundreds of Banyumas farmers demand irrigation repairs Makassar workers strike for wage increases 'Day Without Cars' campaign held in Jakarta
Komnas HAM employees strike over wages
Over the years the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) has received many complains from the public, including from striking workers. This time round it was the turn of Komnas HAM employees themselves to go on strike.
Dozens of civil servants employed at Komnas HAM refused to start work on September 18 putting up posters, banners and leaflets around the entrance to the Komnas HAM offices in Central Jakarta. They also covered the walls of the first to third floors of the building with posters reading "We want wage guarantees for 2007, No wages no work, Working for human rights, Anti-human rights wages, Wages have gone down, Secretary general resign, Komnas HAM staff are also people", and so forth.
An announcement was also posted on the front gate reading "Komnas HAM is bankrupt. All those making complaints will incur an administrative fee for the purchase of paper and computer ink and the posting of office recommendation documents". (Detik.com, 18/9/2006)
Farmers reject IMF, World Bank policies in Indonesia
After marching from the Istiqal Great Mosque, some 100 farmers demonstrated at the Finance Department and the State Palace on September 18.
The farmers, who came from the Peoples Movement Against Neocolonialism (GRLN), were opposing the policies of the IMF and the World Bank in Indonesia. Following the demonstration at the Finance Department and State Palace, they plan to march to the offices of the World Bank and the Jakarta Stock Exchange.
“We want to say to the government that we do not need the IMF and the World Bank in Indonesia”, said Hendri Saragih from the Indonesian Farmers Federation (FSPI). According to Saragih, policies of privatisation and deregulation have entrapped the country in debt and caused the people, particularly farmers to suffer. “We can build this country without them”, he exclaimed.
The demonstrators, who wore white T-shirts, shouted anti-IMF and World Bank slogans and put up banners with messages such as “Throw out the IMF, Throw out the World Bank”. (Detik.com, 18/9/2006)
Students rock South Jakarta District Court
For the second time now, dozens of students from the Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University rocked the South Jakarta District Court demanding the release of their colleague, Fahrur 'Paung' Rahman.
"Release friend Fahrur Paung. Revise Criminal Code catchall article 134", shouted the students during a protest on the grounds of the courthouse on September 18. The students also called for a continuation of criminal proceedings against former President Suharto on charges to corruption.
Rahman is being tried on charges of insulting the head of state, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY), during a demonstration opposing an order to discontinue the prosecution of Suharto. (Detik.com, 18/9/2006)
Demonstration demanding regent's resignation ends in clash
Hundreds of people demonstrated at the offices of the Karawang state prosecutor’s office in West Java on September 18 demanding an investigation into a corruption case involving Karawang regent Dadang S. Muchtar. When the demonstration was continued at the Karawang Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) however, the protesters were involved in a clash with police. (Liputan 6, 19/9/2006)
Semarang workers demand wage increase, allowances
Hundreds of workers demonstrated recently at the mayor's offices in the Central Java provincial capital of Semarang demanding that their wages be increased from 650,000 rupiah per month to 1 million rupiah per month. They also called on Mayor Sukawi Sutarip to force companies provide holiday allowances. (Liputan 6, 19/9/2006)
Bandung workers demand outstanding severance pay
Hundreds of workers from the company PT Tiga Negeri Raya, which closed down after declaring bankruptcy last month, demonstrated at the labour offices in the West Java provincial capital of Bandung recently. They were demanding that the company, which produces musical instruments, pay outstanding severance pay to the 300 or so former employees. (Liputan 6, 19/9/2006)
Residents demand compensation from PetroChina
Hundreds of residents from the village of Sari Rejo in the Soko sub-district of Bojonegoro regency, East Java, are demanding that the PT PetroChina pay compensation amounting to as much as 5 million rupiah per family. The residents said that the company should compensate them for noise pollution from its drilling activities over the last 10 years that disrupts the activities of local residents. (Liputan 6, 19/9/2006)
Workers protest attempts to prevent formation of trade union
Hundreds of workers from PT Traya Bina Kayu Industries (TBKI) in the Jakarta satellite city of Bekasi demonstrated today against attempts by the company to stop them establishing a trade union. The company produces window and doorframes for export to Japan, Australia and the US.
The company had earlier sacked seven trade union leaders and sent 14 other workers home as well as issuing written warnings to 140 other workers after the employees formed a trade union in May. "[The company] does not like the presence of a trade union", said union treasure Adung. (Tempo Interactive, 19/9/2006)
Farmers threaten to block rice imports
Around 500 farmers from the FSPI held a demonstration against rice imports at the national parliament building on September 19. “If rice imports go ahead, we will stop the rice from entering Aceh, Medan and other destinations”, said FSPI general secretary Hendri Saragih.
According to Saragih, the House of Representatives (DPR) must oppose rice imports because they are the people’s representatives, the majority of which are farmers. Moreover, the National Statistics Agency (BPS) has indicated that national rice stocks are adequate. “Rice imports are only a trick by the wholesale distributors [to make profits]”, he exclaimed. (Detik.com, 19/9/2006)
Great River workers demand payment of outstanding wages
Thousands of workers from the Great River factory located in Cibinong, West Java, demonstrated at the local DPRD on September 19. They were demanding the full payment of wages, only half of which has been paid by company over the last year. They were also demanding that the garment company provide insurance for workers and threatened to stay overnight at the DPRD if their demands are not met. (Liputan 6, 20/9/2006)
Domestic workers demand affordable education
Domestic workers in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta demonstrated on September 19 over the high cost of education in Indonesia calling on the government to provide affordable education to the poor. (Liputan 6, 20/9/2006)
High-tension transmission line victims demand compensation
Hundreds of residents from Semarang demonstrated at the local state owned electricity company PLN on September 20. The protesters were demanding that PLN pay reasonable compensation for their land and buildings that lie beneath high-tension transmission lines and that the company restore electricity to their homes that had earlier been disconnected. (Liputan 6, 20/9/2006)
Makassar students reject rotating blackouts
More than 100 students held a demonstration at the PLN regional office in the South Sulawesi provincial capital of Makassar on September 20. They were demanding that PLN immediately put and end to rotating blackouts that have been going on over the last month, which have seriously disrupted the activities of local residents. (Liputan 6, 20/9/2006)
Farmers demand cancellation of rice imports
Demonstrations demanding that the government end rice imports have taken place in various parts of the country. On September 21, more than 1,000 farmers from the Serdang Bedagai Farmers Union (SPSB) held an action at the offices of the Serdang Bedagai regent in North Sumatra.
A number of posters were brought to the demonstration with messages such as "Uphold agrarian reform, carry out land reform", "Resolve land cases in the Serdang Bedagai region by siding with farmers", and "End rice imports".
"Although [agrarian] reform has been proceeding for around eight years, farmers and their problems however have not been the government's main concern. Rice imports are the evidence of this. Whereas we know that our country is an agrarian one. Society's principle source of livelihood in the villages of Indonesia is farming. Rice imports will only destroy farmers livelihood", said SPSB chairperson Sukirman.
The protesters also asked that 11 farmers from the village of Pergulaan in the Sei Rampah sub-district of Sergai be released from charges of working land owned by the company PT PP London Sumatra Indonesia because they were in fact working their own land. They also called on the regional government to resolve a series of land disputes in the area that are causing farmers financial losses. (Detik.com, 21/9/2006)
'Anti-rice import students' demonstrate at state palace
Around 50 students from Student Solidarity Against Rice Imports (SMTIB) held a demonstration at the State Palace on September 21 calling on the government to cancel planned rice imports.
The coalition of student organisations brought their respective flags to the demonstration including those of the National Student League for Democracy (LMND), the Indonesia National Student Movement (GMNI), the Student Association (Hamas) and University of Indonesia Student Action Front (FAMUI).
"SBY must be consistent with the speech at the DPR on August 16 that opposed rice imports from Vietnam", said Dita, the public relations officer for FAMUI during a break in the action.
The protest, which was watched over by around 20 police officers, proceeded in an orderly manner and caused little disruption to traffic. As of 1.30pm the protesters were still holding speeches while singing nationalist songs such as "Revolution or Death". (Detik.com, 21/9/2006)
Klaten earthquake victims demand assistance
Dozens of earthquake victims in the Klaten regency of Central Java demonstrated at the Central Java governor's office in Semarang on September 21 demanding the payment of promised assistance that they have still not received. The protesters said that they had only received one allotment of living allowances and no money for rebuilding their homes. As Governor Mardiyanto was not at the office, the protesters setup tents and plan to stay overnight at the office to wait for him. (Liputan 6, 21/9/2006)
Yogyakarta students reject the IMF, World Bank
Hundreds of students in Yogyakarta demonstrated against the IMF and the World Bank on September 21. The protesters said that the two institutions only provide loans accompanied with policies that force Indonesia to ignore the plight of its people. They also accused the advanced countries that support the two international financial institutions of wanting to re-colonise the developing nations. (Liputan 6, 21/9/2006)
Double-Double Track plaintiffs demonstrate at court hearing
Dozens of residents from the villages of East Pisangan and Pisangan Baru in East Jakarta demonstrated at the East Jakarta District Court this morning. They were demanding that the court act in a just manner in the Double-Double Track (DDT) corruption case valued at 2.2 billion rupiah.
The residents are suing the minister of transportation, the governor of Jakarta, the East Jakarta mayor, DDT project head Yoyo Sulaiman, the finance minister, PT Kereta Api Indonesia and the East Java National Land Affairs Agency.
The coordinator of Residents Forum, Edi Purnomo, said there had been irregularities in the release of land for the DDT project. "This includes, evidence in the form of a receipt for the payment of compensation to residents that was not the same as the amount actually given to residents", he told Tempo Interactive. (Tempo Interactive, 21/9/2006)
Residents close down waste disposal facility again
Local residents again closed down the Bantar Gebang waste disposal site (TPA) in Bekasi on September 22. The residents, who come from the village administrative districts of Sumur Batu, Ciketing Udik and Cikiwul, blockaded access to the site demanding unpaid compensation the period July to September.
They also demanded that the Bekasi government and the Jakarta regional government appoint a more professional company to run the site to replace PT Patriot Bangkit Bekasi that they said had managed the site badly. (Kompas Cyber Media, 22/9/2006)
Earthquake victims demand disbursement of reconstruction funds
Hundreds of earthquake victims from the Central Java regency of Bantul demonstrated at the Yogyakarta governor's office on September 21 demanding that the government immediately disburse reconstruction funds. The protesters called on the regional secretary, Tri Herjun Ismaji, to sign a statement saying that the government would release the funds immediately and distribute the money evenly among earthquake victims. Last week they held a demonstration with similar demands in Seloharjo area of Bantul. (Liputan 6, 22/09/2006)
Students accuse university rectorate of corruption
Hundreds of students from the Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa University in the Banten city of Serang demonstrated on September 22 demanding that the university rectorate be transparent in managing university student affairs funds. The protesters accused the rectorate of embezzling the funds because most university student affairs organisations have not received funds or support for campus activities. (Liputan 6, 22/09/2006)
Assistance teachers protest in Jakarta
The struggle by assistant teachers to gain the status of civil servants has yet to die down. On September 21, hundreds of assistant teachers from across the country demonstrated at the East Jakarta Sports Stadium demanding that the government fulfil its promise promote them to full civil servants.
The government’s promise to consider the teachers' demands was made on May 2 and a decision is to be announced in October. Since then however, other problems have arisen, since August assistance teachers have not been paid after they decided to hold a demonstration. (Liputan 6, 22/09/2006)
Street traders and civil police clash again in Manado
Street traders and civil service police were again involved in a clash following evictions at the 45 Market in the North Sumatra regional capital of Manado on September 22. Police and soldiers were forced to fire warning shots into air in order to separate the two sides. (Liputan 6, 23/9/2006)
East Java students demand government buy farmers' rice
A student demonstration on September 25 opposing rice imports at the Central Java DPRD in Semarang was marred by an incident in which protesters and police pushed and shoved each other and tore each others shirts off.
The demonstrators were calling on the government not to import rice but to instead purchase the rice from Indonesian farmers who are currently enjoying a rice surplus. The violence erupted when the students became angry after police prevented them from meeting with DPRD members to express their concerns. (Liputan 6, 23/9/2006)
West Sulawesi students demand resolution of land dispute
A demonstration by dozens of students from a number of tertiary education institutions at the West Sulawesi DPRD in Mamuju on September 23 ended in violence when a number of students mobbed DPRD speaker Zaenal Abidin. The students were demanding the immediate resolution of a land dispute in which the palm oil companies PT Unggul and PT Astra appropriated land belonging to local people. (Liputan 6, 23/9/2006)
West Sulawesi students demand investigation into corruption case
Hundred of students from the Mamasa regency demonstrated at the offices of the West Sulawesi chief public prosecutor on September 23. The demonstration turned violent when police tried to prevent the students from entering the offices. The protesters were demanding that the public prosecutor investigate a corruption case involving the misuse of the Mamasa regency development budget that is believed to involve a number of government officials. (Liputan 6, 23/9/2006)
Pekanbaru street traders resist eviction
Street traders the Riau city of Pekanbaru have resisted attempts by local civil service police to evict them from the Serai roundabout area where they normally operate. The traders object to being evicted for the sake of maintaining the beauty of the city, especially since they reap good profits during Ramadan and in the lead up to the Lebaran holidays at the end of the fasting month. (Liputan 6, 23/9/2006)
Honorary teachers in Makassar demand minimum wage
Hundreds of honorary teachers in Makassar demonstrated at the mayor's office on September 23 demanding improvements to their welfare. The protesters said that to date they have only been receiving an honorarium of 200,000 rupiah a month, far lower than the regional minimum wage of 600,000 rupiah. (Liputan 6, 23/9/2006)
Palu students reject rice imports
On September 23 the members of the Democratic Student Committee (KMD) in the Central Sulawesi city of Palu demonstrated against the government’s plan to import rice saying it would hurt farmers and weaken the country's national productive capacity.
The action, which was held at the Central Sulawesi DPRD, proceeded in an orderly fashion with student representatives giving 'polite' speeches. KMD coordinator Marten Sibarani said that there is no logic to the government's claim that national rice stocks are inadequate.
"If our national rice stocks are inadequate, why doesn't the government buy rice from farmers so that the price of farmers' rice goes up. If farmers' incomes increase it will of course be followed by productivity increases with a flow on effect of increasing farmers’ profits and capital", said Sibarani.
In order to solve the crisis said Sibarani, the government should increase domestic productive capacity rather than destroying it by importing agricultural and other products from overseas. Domestic productivity can be improved by increasing farmers' capital, providing cheap fertilizer and pesticides, improving irrigation and agricultural technology and raising the level human resources said the group. (Kompas Cyber Media, 23/9/2006)
Employees protest pre-fasting month mass dismissals
Hundreds of employees from the company PT Mujur Timber demonstrated at the offices of the Central Tapanuli regent in North Sumatra on September 23. They were calling on the regent to overturn a mass dismissal carried out by the company in the lead up to the Ramadan fasting month. (Liputan 6, 24/9/2006)
Hundreds of Banyumas farmers demand irrigation repairs
Hundreds of farmers demonstrated at the Banyumas DPRD in Central Java on September 24 demanding that the government carry out repairs to damaged irrigation channels that have resulted in a lack of water for their rice fields. (Liputan 6, 24/9/2006)
Makassar workers strike for wage increases
Hundreds of employees from PT Industri Kapal Indonesia went on strike on September 24 because the company had failed to pay them bonuses or increase their wages over the last two years. As a result of the strike, the factory that is located in Makassar city, was totally paralyzed. (Liputan 6, 24/9/2006)
'Day Without Cars' campaign held in Jakarta
Activists campaigning for ‘A Day Without’ cars demonstrating at the Hotel Indonesia roundabout in Central Jakarta on September 23 opposing the government’s plan to build six new toll roads which they said would only add to the volume of traffic in Jakarta.
The protesters, who came from the Indonesian Environmental Forum (Walhi) and the Jakarta Environmental Caucus (KLHJ), arrive on bicycles as a way of encouraging Jakartans to use environmentally friendly transport to reduce pollution. Although Jakarta is the most polluted city in Indonesia after Surabaya, Bandung, Makassar and Medan, the campaign appeared to receive little response from Jakartan residents. (Liputan 6, 24/9/2006)
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