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Indonesia Roundup No 39 - November 7-12, 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...
Residents demand compensation for land used for airport extension
As many as 500 residents from Tambak Sawah in the East Java regency of Sidoarjo held a demonstration in front of the new Juanda Baru Airport in the provincial capital of Surabaya on November 6 demanding compensation for village land that was taken over for an extension to the airport.
The protesters also said that the action had been triggered by the attitude of airport operator PT Angkasa Pura who has not acted in good faith in resolving the dispute, adding that it has still not paid compensation for 5,390 square meters of village land.
Unable to meet with the PT Angkasa Pura management, the frustrated protesters then continued the action at the Sidoarjo Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) where they threatened to blockade the entrance to the airport if there was no response from the company. (Liputan 6, 7/11/2006)
Protesters call for review of West Kutai election result
Around 30 demonstrators from Peoples Solidarity for Democracy (SMUD) protested at the Department of Home Affairs in Jakarta on November 7 calling on the minister to conduct a review of the West Kutai regional elections saying that there were indications of voting irregularities.
SMUD coordinator Ferry Sal Eldin said that the irregularities in the election were that there were tens of thousands of ballots that were marked by a group of people rather than registered voters. "So no decision on the results of the election should be issued yet", said Eldin. (Media Indonesia, 7/11/2006)
Former PT Dirgantara employees demonstrate again
More than 1,000 former PT Dirgantara Indonesia employees demonstrated again at the West Java governor's office in Bandung on November 6 calling on the company to fulfil a promise to pay 40 billion rupiah in outstanding severance pay owed to some 3,500 employees.
The protesters, who said that they have now been waiting for three years, said that the money should have been disbursed this November in accordance with an agreement made in March between the PT Dirgantara Employees Trade Union Communication Forum (SPFKK) and the company directors.
The demonstrators also threatened to protest at the House of Representatives (DPR) in Jakarta if their demands continued to be ignored. A number of social and student organisations also took part in the demonstration to show their support for the former employee's plight. (Liputan 6, 7/11/2006)
Tasikmalaya farmers call for release of defendants
Around 100 farmers from Cipatujah in West Java demonstrated at the Tasikmalaya District Court on November 7 demanding that the court release three farmers who are being tried for damaging rubber trees owned by PT Perusahaan Nusantara VIII Bagjanegara.
Accompanied by a number of student protesters, the farmers gave speeches before the hearing opened in which they said that the three defendants had damaged the rubber trees in January last year because of economic difficulties. In testimony during the hearing, the defendants said that they had damaged the trees as an act of revenge because they were convinced that the plantation company had earlier cut down their banana trees. (Liputan 6, 7/11/2006)
Kupang residents protest procurement of healthcare equipment
Scores of residents from the Local Peoples Concern Forum (FPML) demonstrated at the Kupang regional healthcare offices in East Nusa Tenggara on November 7 demanding that the Provincial Health Office provide an explanation on the procurement of healthcare equipment valued at 1.9 billion rupiah. The protesters said that the procurement lacked transparency since the majority of tenders were that were submitted to supply the equipment failed for reasons that were unclear while the project was given to a company lacking experience. (Liputan 6, 7/11/2006)
Families of retired army officers protest eviction
Hundreds of families of retired army officers demonstrated in front of the governor's office and the South Sulawesi DPRD in Makassar on November 7 saying that they refuse to be evicted from official residences that they have occupied for decades. They also said that the Wirabuana VII Regional Military Command had treated them unfairly because it had not given them any compensation. (Liputan 6, 7/11/2006)
Poor people in demand release of colleges caught in ID raid
Scores of poor people demonstrated at the Kedoya social rehabilitation center in West Jakarta on November 7 calling for release of colleges who were caught in the Jakarta government's Yustisi Operation raids against people living in the city without ID cards.
The protesters, who arrived at the center at around 2pm wasted no time and immediately started giving speeches. "We are asking for our friends to be released. They are not criminals so they should not be detained in this place", shouted action spokesperson Didi Rahmanto.
The demonstrators also demanded and end to the raids as they conflict with the 1945 Constitution and human rights. "The Jakarta regional government must provide compensation to our friends that were arrested. Because while they have been here they have not been able to seek the basic necessities of life", said Rahmanto accusingly. (Detik.com, 7/11/2006)
Victims of Parangtritis land eviction protest in Yogyakarta
Around 100 mostly women and children who were evicted to make way for a tourist resort in Parangtritis, Bantul regency, demonstrated at the Yogyakarta DPRD on November 7 threatening to stay overnight at the building if their demands are not met.
Before going to the DPRD they gave speeches at the Kraton (Sultan's palace in Yogyakarta) where they sent a letter to Nitikismo, the foundation that takes care of Kraton land. In the letter they said that they had been evicted because they were occupying land belonging to the Kraton.
In speeches at the DPRD they condemned the policies of Bantul Regent Idham Samawi who they said had evicted them in the interests of foreign capital. They said that if Samawi is not concerned about their fate they it would be better for him to resign. "Evict Idham from Parangtritis!", shouted the protesters.
DPRD members who met with the demonstrators only promised to convey their demands to Samawi but were unable to provide any other solution to resolve the dispute. (Detik.com, 7/11/2006)
Cikarang residents protest over land dispute
Hundreds of residents from the village of Pilar in the Cikarang sub-district of Bekasi, West Java, protested at the Bekasi District Court on November 8 over an appeal being lodged with the Supreme Court by Edi Tjandra over the ownership of land that the residents have occupied since 1972. The Bandung District Court had earlier found in favour of the residents prompting Tjandra to lodge an appeal with the Supreme Court. (Liputan 6, 8/11/2006)
Journalists protest violence against the press
Around 30 print and electronic media journalists from the Tangerang Daily Journalists Working Group (KKWHT) demonstrated in front of the offices of the commander of the Tangerang Missile Unit today over violence against the press.
They were protesting over an incident that took place last Tuesday when soldiers assaulted and drove away journalists covering an eviction of residents from the Airforce's Retired Officer Complex on Tangerang.
In speeches they called on the Airforce Chief of Staff to apologise and take action against troops who commit violence. "The violence committed by the officials represents intimidation and violence against the press", said Chandra Eka, a journalist from KKWHT. After demonstrating for more than two hours however, not one Airforce official was prepared to meet with them. (Tempo Interactive, 8/11/2006)
Shoe factory workers demand payment of outstanding wages
As many as 3,000 employees from the shoe factory PT Tapak Tiara Indah in Cikarang demonstrated in front of the company's head office in Central Jakarta on November 8 demanding the payment of outstanding wages.
One of the employees, Murlia, said that almost every month their wages are paid late. "[We] should receive them on the 30th of the month but not infrequently we must wait until the 5th of the following month", she said.
Ten factory trade union representatives are currently holding a meeting with the company management. (Tempo Interactive, 8/11/2006)
Students demand arrest of former DPRD speaker
Students demonstrated in front of the Banten DPRD on November 8 demanding the immediate arrest of fugitive Darmono K. Lawi. In speeches the students said that law enforcement officials had been negligent in arresting the former speaker of the Banten DPRD who was sentenced to four-and-a-half years jail for his involvement in a corruption case that cost the state 14 billion in losses. (Liputan 6, 8/11/2006)
Farmers demand investigation into land ownership case
Hundreds of farmers from the village of Sukamulya in the Indramayu regency of West Java demonstrated at the local District Court on November 9 accusing the state prosecutor of being slow in investigating a land ownership case involving 48 hectares of farm land. The farmers said that as a result they are now unable to work the land and are unemployed because delays in the case has mean that the ownership of the land remains unclear. (Liputan 6, 9/11/2006)
Banten students call for peaceful election campaign
A day before the campaign period in the Banten election of regional heads for 2007-2012, scores of students in the city of Serang held a demonstration in which they called for the elections to proceed peacefully. The protesters also called on the campaign teams and campaigners for the candidates nominated for governor and deputy governor to behave in a civilised manner over the campaign period between November 9-22. (Liputan 6, 9/11/2006)
Victims of Parangtritis land eviction occupy DPRD
On November 9 hundreds of residents evicted from land in Parangtritis carried out an earlier threat to occupy the Yogyakarta DPRD building. The protesters said they would only leave the DPRD if the regent of Bantul pays them compensation for their land. (Liputan 6, 9/11/2006)
Walhi seals off Sudirman-Thamrin road widening project
Activists from the Indonesian Environmental Forum (Walhi) sealed off a project to widen Jl. Sudirman-Thamrin by putting up an environmental line surrounding zinc sheeting in front of Grand Indonesia today.
"This project is problematic so is should be sealed off", said the chairperson of Walhi Jakarta, Daryoni, adding that the police should put up a police line around the project.
Walhi and the Environmental Caucus have reported Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso to the regional police for violating environmental laws during the project. (Tempo Interactive, 9/11/2006)
Residents take control of Tegalgubug Market management offices
On November 9 hundreds of local residents, traders and students forcibly occupied the offices then took over the management of the Sandang Tegalgubug Market in the Arjawinangun sub-district of Cirebon regency, West Java.
The action was organised in response to suspicions of corruption in the management of the market with protesters saying that despite a daily turnover of billions of rupiah the market has had no impact on village development.
During the action the protesters demanded that PT Jaya Sakti hand over management of the market to the village government, that the company return the money earned since it has operated the market and that the Cirebon police immediately investigate the their allegations. (Kompas Cyber Media, 9/11/2006)
Street traders protest evictions, demand mayor step down
Some 300 evicted traders demonstrated at the mayor's office in East Jakarta on November 8 demanding compensation and calling for the mayor to step down. The action was organised by people evicted from the areas of Rawa Teratai, Pulo Gebang, Cakung sub-district Jalan Layur, Pulogadung.
The protesters also brought banners with messages such as "Reject evictions, compensate for the evictions or the mayor resigns", "Reject evictions of the people", "We are street traders not robbers, pickpockets and unemployed but just seeking a morsel of rice". They also brought a large Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle flag. (Detik.com, 9/11/2006)
Lombok students oppose Bush visit
Protests against a planned visit by George Bush continue to take place. Hundreds of students from the Muhammadiyah University on Lombok Island demonstrated at the Bank Indonesia intersection in Mataram on November 9. The students condemned Bush as a war criminal saying that he is the real terrorist in launching military actions against a number of countries, Iraq in particular.
A similar protest was held by around 60 activist from the Islamic Student Association (HMI) in the West Java city of Bogor. As well as condemning the visit the students also burn US flags and called on all elements of society to demonstrate against Bush's arrival in Bogor on November 20
Last Saturday, protesters from Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia and the Islamic Defenders Front in Bogor also protested Bush's visit. (Liputan 6, 9/11/2006)
Makassar student demonstrate against Bush visit
Students in the South Sulawesi provincial capital of Makassar are indeed different. If in Bogor protests against Bush's visit to the city are held in the streets, students from the Alauddin State Islamic University in Makassar protested at a mall and hotel instead.
Some 50 students started the action at the Alauddin campus but then went to the Ratu Indah Mall and protested in front of the entrance. In speeches the students, who accused Bush of being a war criminal, called on visitors to the mall not to buy US made products and for all Indonesian to oppose Bush's visit on November 20. They also set fire to posters with pictures of Bush and shouted "God is Great".
After around 15 minutes they moved off to the Makassar Sahid Hotel but were prevented from entering the hotel grounds by scores of police who were blocking the entrance. Unable to enter, the students eventually disbanded and returned to their campus. (Detik.com, 10/11/2006)
Hundreds of Bogor residents opposing the planned visit by George Bush to the city have put their signatures to a petition consisting of a 1x200 meter length of cloth.
The action, which was sponsored by the Bogor City Forum of Islamic Mass Organisations (FOI) disrupted traffic flowing in the direction of Ciawi as drivers stopped to watch the action or got out to add their signatures.
Action coordinator Rahmat said that the action was the first step in developing opposition to Bush's visit adding that the FOI would hold a follow up actions in the lead up to the November 20. "God willing Islamic mass organisations in huge numbers will lay siege to Bogor on that day", he said. (Detik.com, 10/11/2006)
PKS members demonstrate against Bush in Solo
Braving heavy rain, on November 10 hundreds of Justice and Prosperity Party (PKS) members in the Central Java city of Solo held a protest against Bush's planned visit to Bogor. The protesters said they opposed the visit because of US policies that trample on human rights such as the cases of Iraq, Palestine and Lebanon.
According to Solo PKS spokesperson M Ikhlas Thamrin, the US attacks on Iraq, Afghanistan and its support of Israeli aggression against Lebanon make it appropriate to refer to Bush as a war criminal. "Moreover Bush carries on about democracy but it is nothing more than rhetoric. He does not want to acknowledge the results of the Palestine elections that were democratically won by Hamas", he said. (Kompas Cyber Media, 10/11/2006)
Bau-Bau resident protest rolling blackouts
Hundreds of residents from the city of Bau-Bau in South East Sulawesi demonstrated at the offices of the state-own electricity company PT PLN on November 10. The demonstrators were protesting against rolling blackouts that have been taking place over the last year that have damaged electrical equipment and on occasion cause fires. (Liputan 6, 10/11/2006)
Housewives, children protest rolling blackouts
Dozens of housewives and school children protested at the local PT PLN offices in the North Sumatra provincial capital of Medan on November 9 against rolling blackouts that are happening as often as three to four times a day. The demonstrators berated PLN officials because their electricity bills are continuously bloated while their electricity usage has been declining. (Liputan 6, 10/11/2006)
Residents size heavy equipment belonging to gas contractor
Residents from two villages in the Muara Enim district of South Sumatra sized heavy equipment belonging to the state-owned gas transmission and distribution company PT PGN on November 10. The action was taken to protest the low level of compensation being paid for the use of the residents' land for a gas pipeline to West Java. The residents are demanding a total of 1 million rupiah in compensation while PT PGN is only willing to pay 2,850 rupiah per square metre. (Liputan 6, 10/11/2006)
Residents protest again against PetroChina exploration site
Hundreds of residents from the Suci village in the Manyar sub-district of Gresik, East Java, demonstrated at the local DPRD on November 10. The protesters, who came from the Peoples Alliance of Survival Seekers (ARMS) said they are concerned that the planned exploration at the Lengowangi oil well by PT PetroChina will result in a similar tragedy to the PT Lapindo Brantas mud disaster in East Java.
Residents from the Suci village have repeatedly protested against exploration at the oil well. Gresik DPRD speaker Mohammad Nadir has facilitated a series of meetings between the residents, PetroChina representatives and Upstream Oil and Gas Regulatory Agency (BP Migas). So far however, the meetings have not been able to reach any agreement as BP Migas says that the activities are still only at the exploration stage. (Liputan 6, 10/11/2006)
Likupang residents seize barge owned by Australian company
Scores of fishers from Rinondoran, Kalinaung and Batuh Putih in the Likupang sub-district of North Minahasa, North Sulawesi seized a barge owned by the mining company PT Meares Soputan Mining recently that is to be moored off the Rinondoran beach. Carrying various kinds of weapons, they prevented the ship from landing because it was carrying gold mining equipment that will be used in operations at Likupang. The mining equipment was transported directly from Australia.
During an earlier action at Rinondoran beach, the residents also protested against the operations of the Australian mining company because of concerns over environmental pollution. "We disagree with any kind of mining taking place in the sea", said Likupang resident Tajudin. The protesters eventual disbanded after the arrival of armed police who also searched their boats for sharp weapons. (Liputan 6, 10/11/2006)
Spotec workers demand clarification of their status
Around 4,500 employees from the shoe company PT Spotec held another demonstration on November 10 on the grounds of the factory in the Cikupa area of Tangerang demanding that their status be clarified.
This is the latest in a series of actions by the mostly women workers since the Adidas and Reebok shoe factory closed in late October. The protesters are calling on the company management to withdraw an announcement declaring the closure of the factory and that its employees take leave. “The company must withdraw the statement and replace it with one saying the employees were sent home and will be given wages”, said Association of Shoe Factory Workers (Perbupas) chairperson Agus Santosa.
According to Santosa it still remains unclear whether the Spotec employees have been dismissed or just sent home. “If sent home right, we must be paid, if dismissed then we must get severance pay”, he said. (Tempo Interactive, 10/11/2006)
Timber worker employees demand outstanding wages, holiday bonuses
A demonstration by thousands of employees of the timber processing factory PT Mujur Timber in the Sibolga area of Medan almost ended in a clash on November 10 when police refused to allow them to demonstrate because they had failed to request a permit from local police.
In the end however, police allowed the demonstrators to give speeches in which they called on police to open up the company’s books so that two months outstanding wages could be paid. The employees also said they had not yet received holiday bonuses.
The activities of PT Mujur Timber were stopped recently by the North Sumatra regional police because the owner of the company, Adeline Lies, is suspected of carrying out illegal logging activities in a protected forest area. (Liputan 6, 11/11/2006)
Resident in North Sumatra protest over rolling blackouts
On November 11 housewives and children demonstrated at the North Sumatra regional offices of the state-owned electricity company PT PLN over ongoing rolling blackouts. According to the protesters, the situation is unfair because every month they have to pay for electricity rates but do not receive a satisfactory service in return. (Liputan 6, 11/11/2006)
Theatrical action in Lampung opposes Bush visit
George Bush's planned visit to Indonesia continues to draw opposition. In the Lampung provincial capital of Lampung city, students held a theatrical action at the Radin Intan Roundabout Monument on November 10 in which they depicted the government selling the Indonesian people into poverty in order become the US's slave.
In the West Java regency of Banten, some 40 students from a number of tertiary institutions blockaded Jl. Protocol in the city of Serang during a protest against Bush's visit.
Hundreds of PKS members and sympathisers demonstrated in the Central Java city of Solo saying that Bush's visit would cause financial losses to the country because of the high cost of providing security for the visit. They also criticized the construction of a helipad at the Bogor Botanical Gardens. (Liputan 6, 11/11/2006)
Cimahi workers demand minimum wage increase
Around 100 workers from the Cimahi City Trade Union (SPKC) in West Java demonstrated at the Cimahi mayor's office on November 11. They were demanding an increase in the minimum wage from 715,000 rupiah per month to 884,900 in accordance with the workers' cost of living. (Liputan 6, 11/11/2006)
Bau-Bau residents protest again over rolling blackouts
Hundreds of Bau-Bau residents demonstrated again at the local PLN offices on November 12 in protest against rolling blackouts over the last year. The PLN management claims that the lack of power is because only five of its 12 generators are operational, the remainder are waiting on spare part from Japan before they can be repaired. (Liputan 6, 12/11/2006)
Anti-Bush demonstrators burn US flags
The waves of protests against George Bush's visit are continuing. In Bandung students demonstrated against Bush in front of a city shopping center on November 11. As well as giving speeches against unfair US policies, they also trampled on and burnt an effigy of Bush and US flags.
A similar student action held in the Dago area was forcibly broken up by police because in addition to disrupting traffic, the protests continue the demonstration beyond the allowed time.
In Cirebon, a number of actions were held by the Indonesian Muslim Students Action Front (KAMMI) who aside from opposing Bush's visit also rejected US interference in Indonesia.
In the West Java city of Sukabumi, an action opposing the visit was held by hundreds of protesters from Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia at the Sukabumi DPRD who handed out brochures to onlookers that accused Bush of committing crimes in various parts of the world. (Liputan 6, 12/11/2006)
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