Made Arya Kencana, Denpasar – While it cannot technically prohibit Miss World contestants from donning bikinis during the event's final in Bali, the Indonesian government has suggested that contestants wear kebaya or batik instead of skimpy swimsuits.

"We suggest that they not [wear bikinis]," Sapta Nirwanda, the deputy minister of tourism and creative economy, said on Friday. "But even if they do wear one, it should be in a closed room."

Sapta said the government made a deal with the organizers of the Miss World competition to minimize bikini usage during the Bali event. If contestants must wear bikinis, Sapta said they should only be seen by the jury. He suggested, however, that participants wear traditional Indonesian outfits instead.

Conservative Muslim groups have been criticizing the event as disrespectful to Indonesian values. Abdusommad Bukhori, the chief of the East Java branch of the Indonesian Council of Ulema (MUI), said recently that as a Muslim country, Indonesia should not have anything to do with the event.

Sapta demanded that the controversy over bikinis end immediately. "Those who are protesting are only seeking attention," Sapta said. "We have been staging Miss Indonesia, Putri Indonesia and other beauty pageants for a long time."

He added that the Miss World event should be used to promote Indonesian tourism. "It is being broadcast in 170 countries, which means Indonesia will be seen by 170 countries," he said.

Balikpapan cleans up booze, sex

Jakarta Globe - May 30, 2013

Tunggadewa Mattangkilang, Balikpapan – The city of Balikpapan is gearing up for a vice crackdown involving enforcement of alcohol restrictions, a moratorium on new karaoke bars and spas in the works, and plans to close down the city's legalized prostitution area.

"Mayor Rizal Effendi will soon issue a moratorium on [new] entertainment establishments such as karaoke bars, spas and others," Sudirman Djayaleksana, a spokesman for the city administration, said on Wednesday. "A mayoral decree on the moratorium is currently being drafted," he added.

Under a local regulation, alcoholic beverages are only allowed to be sold in star-rated hotels, but Sudirman said alcohol had been discovered in various non-hotel nightspots during recent raids by the city's public order agency, or Satpol PP.

Sudirman also added that the city now hosted an overabundance of entertainment establishments, with numbers reaching into the hundreds. The moratorium on new establishments, he said, was linked to plans to close down Lembah Harapan Baru, also known as Lokalisasi KM 17, a legalized prostitution zone in the city.

Authorities are hoping that the moratorium will discourage sex workers from entering illegal prostitution businesses elsewhere in the city after the area is shut down for good.

"The moratorium is to anticipate them finding new opportunities that will eventually bring them back to their old line of work," he said.

"It is for that reason that the Satpol PP regularly conduct raids in every existing nightspot. [As for] alcoholic beverages, we are doing everything that we can to stop them from circulating in illegal places."

Indonesia's weak institutions spark nostalgia for New Order

Jakarta Globe - May 27, 2013

Ezra Sihite – Many Indonesians believe that life in the New Order era under President Suharto was better than today and that social elites dominate modern politics and law, according to a senior former jurist.

Speaking at a forum in Jakarta, former Constitutional Court chief justice Mahfud M.D. said that Indonesia is blighted by an oligarchy of elites that prioritize their interests over the public interest and do not abide by social rules, causing disillusionment and a lack of confidence in the law.

"Don't be surprised to see people today wanting to see the military back [in power] because of oligarchic [conditions]. In Yogyakarta, you see stickers on cars with picture of a smiling Suharto reading, 'Wasn't it good during my time?'?" Mahfud said.

The retired judge said that economic conditions were good during Suharto's era, but in the late 1990s Indonesia suffered a huge blow from the Asian financial crisis – which contributed to Suharto's downfall – and took longer to recover than other countries in Southeast Asia.

He attributed Indonesia's economic collapse to weak legal foundations and collusion in politics and the economy under Suharto. "[The New Order] was vulnerable when the economic crisis hit. [The impact] is still being felt today. Malaysia and Philippines were able to recover in two years," he said.

Mahfud said that conventional legal institutions such as the police and prosecutors were unable to uphold the law. Both institutions, he said, were held hostage by major cases from the past.

"The law enforcement bodies that are unable to improve are the conventional legal enforcers from the past, such as the prosecutors' offices, police and the courts. The new ones are relatively good," he said, citing the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), Constitutional Court (MK), Judicial Commission (KY) and Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK).

Mahfud added that the legal instruments in Indonesia's post-1998 reform era were substantial enough, but the system was poor and good people who entered its institutions were defeated.

Mahfud cited Hendarman Supandji as an example of someone unable to deal with the poor processes in the Attorney General's Office. The former attorney general was considered successful when he led the Corruption Eradication Team (Timtastipikor) before he entered the AGO.

"Hendarman succeeded at Timtastipikor but got defeated by the system at the Attorney General's Office. So, the problem here is that the system is so bad. A good person would fall back, and it's also difficult for someone from the inside to become good," he said.

Faisal Basri, an economist who last year ran for the governorship of Jakarta, called on the public to not be deceived by government claims of high economic growth in recent few years.

He called on the public to be skeptical of irresponsible claims, especially of lower poverty and unemployment. Faisal said the current economy depends heavily on capital intensive industries that disadvantage the poor.

"Yes, there is growth but with no quality. Those that post growth are in the elite sectors such as banking, insurance, modern services, which grew by 8 percent. But sectors such as the agriculture and manufacturing industries only posted 4 percent growth," he said during a public discussion in Jakarta last week.

Faisal called the reform era a period of transition to a market-oriented system, but the market was "virtual," because it failed to bring benefits to ordinary workers.

He said only a limited number of people were experiencing solid growth, such as those working in the formal sector. But jobs are of poor quality because the majority of workers are employed without contracts or under an outsourcing system.

"The impact it brings is that employment has no quality. Right now 54 percent of the population are informal workers with no contracts, while 38 percent are formal workers without a contract," he said.

He attributed this as the cause for growth in the gap between the rich and poor amid high economic growth, adding that the wealth disparity in the reform era is worse than during the New Order.

But Faisal had some praise for the reform era, during which he said there are no more offshore loans. The economy in the New Order was vulnerable because the economy was founded on offshore loans, he explained.

Faisal said the key to building a strong economy is the design and the government's willingness to side with the people. He urged the government to support domestic industries and create sustainable job opportunities in the formal sector.

"The weak economic [foundations] are due to the fact that there is no guidance from the state in the reform era," he said.

Nurhayati Ali Assegaf, Democratic Party deputy chairwoman, called on the public to be selective about the elements of the New Order it was willing to embrace. "We're too traumatized with the New Order. Anything that was positive can be continued and anything that wasn't should be thrown out," she said.

A 2011 survey by Indo Barometer found that 41 percent of respondents agreed that Indonesia was better off under Suharto's New Order than under former president Sukarno or the current reform era.

The New Order was deemed better in politics, economy, social affairs and security, according to the survey, while the reform era led in law enforcement.

With regard to favorite presidents, Suharto was most popular with 37 percent of respondents, ahead of incumbent Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono with 21 percent.

New report reveals 'hidden' social burdens of skyrocketing food prices

Jakarta Post - May 24, 2013

Jakarta – A new report jointly released by Oxfam and the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) says that the period of high and volatile food prices has caused life-changing shifts in society.

The report, "Squeezed", says the failure of wages to keep pace with five years of food price increases has put a strain on families and communities.

"Dramatic changes in the workforce occur as people are forced out of agriculture into riskier but better paid occupations, such as mining or prostitution," said the report made available to The Jakarta Post on Friday.

It further said food safety had become a growing concern because families were skipping meals or relying on cheaper, lower quality and sometimes contaminated food to stretch their budgets.

"Squeezed" is the first of four annual reports that will assess the impact of high and volatile food prices on the well-being of urban and rural communities in ten countries: Bangladesh, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Indonesia, Kenya, Pakistan, Vietnam and Zambia.

"In February 2012, increased food and fuel prices were putting additional pressure on Indonesian workers' already weakened wages," said the report.

By August, real wages of farm workers in the country were at their lowest level since May 2008. While rice prices reduced slightly later in the year, the national average price of rice increased steadily again in the second half of the year, owing partly to seasonal factors.

"The implications of high and volatile food prices go way beyond the dinner table and are driving social change that must be better understood and addressed if communities are going to survive intact," said Oxfam's policy research adviser, Richard King. (ebf)

Actions, demos, protests...

Station clean-up turns ugly as UI students join evicted vendors

Jakarta Post - May 30, 2013

Yuli Tri Suwarni, Depok – Hundreds of students and kiosk owners at the University of Indonesia (UI) station in Depok fought against the demolition of the kiosks by officials of the state railway operator PT KAI on Wednesday.

One student, identified as Pandia, was injured as both parties to the melee hurled stones at each other.

At least 81 kiosks were dismantled in the station clean-up which had been delayed several times due to strong resistance from the students.

The students said that the station was the last front in their protest against the vendors' eviction, saying that the state company should have relocated the vendors.

"It was not us who initiated the attack by hurling stones. It was a station worker who provoked the confrontation," UI student Rida Intifadha told reporters.

Tamam, one of the vendors, said that they had stayed in their kiosks for the past two nights to prevent any clandestine demolition.

"We pay our rent for this spot every month, but now they have kicked us away like you would to stray cats," said the food vendor based for four years at the station.

KAI had planned the eviction well with no trains permitted to stop at the station. Passengers who usually departed from or alighted at the station were transferred to Pondok Cina and Depok Baru stations. The clean-up was also safeguarded by hundreds of police personnel.

Depok Police operational unit chief Comr. Suratno said that the police were deployed only to prevent conflict and not as back-up to KAI.

"The 1998 Law on Freedom of Speech includes railway stations as public places where demonstrations are forbidden. The students held a demo, but our task there was to maintain security not to make arrests."

KAI spokesman for the Greater Jakarta operational zone, Sukendar Mulya, said the company had no responsibility to relocate the vendors and that the matter had been handed to each regional administration. The UI station was the 58th of 63 in Greater Jakarta to be cleaned up for infrastructure improvement.

"The vendors did rent their spots from the company but this [arrangement] has not been extended since last December because we need the site to build a park-and-ride facility at the station," he told The Jakarta Post.

The station revitalization program, he said, would help to increase rail commuters from the current 500,000 to 1.2 million per day over the next two years.

West Papua

Special autonomy law will be amended

Jakarta Post - May 30, 2013

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – The Papua provincial administration and the central government will revise Law No. 21/2001 on Papua Special Autonomy and deliberate the Papua Administration Law, says a presidential special staff member.

The Papua Administration bill is currently being deliberated between Papua Governor Lukas Enembe and his aides, the Papua Legislative Council (DPRD), the Papuan People's Council (MRP), regents and mayors from across Papua and academics in Jayapura on Wednesday and Thursday.

Presidential special staff member for regional development and regional autonomy, Velix Wanggai, said the amendment on the 2001 special autonomy law was called for because during its 12 year implementation, despite the fact that many positive things had been achieved. a lot of issues still needed to be addressed.

"The 12 year period is part of a process that is sufficient to amend a law," he said on Wednesday. He added that the new law was necessary to boost the identity of Papuans, accelerate development in every aspect as well as to resolve social and political issues for political reconciliation.

In a larger context, in the next five years, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono hopes for a permanent and fundamental resolution to political conflict, social inequality and armed conflict. "The conflict resolution will be achieved democratically," said Velix.

The change in the law, he added, was a sign of goodwill from the president. The conflict would be resolved within the context of a new development direction for Papua, including political reform.

The outcome of the discussion in Papua is expected to serve as an input prior to the passage of the law.

Separately, Lukas said he expected the reconstruction of the special autonomy law would contain improvements for the sake of Papuan people's welfare. "So far, the people have held the view that special autonomy has failed, so with the amendment, the failure could be resolved," said Lukas.

Disappearances, rumors of killings haunting Puncak Jaya

Jakarta Post - May 30, 2013

Bagus BT Saragih and Nethy Dharma Somba, Jakarta, Jayapura – Frightened by a series of reports of missing persons in the past few weeks, several residents of Puncak Jaya, Papua, have left their homes to go to other cities or hide in the forests, officials say.

"I have received reports directly from family members about the missing persons in Tingginambut, Puncak Jaya. So far I have been told about five missing persons, one of whom is a high school student," Papua Legislative Council Deputy Speaker Yunus Wonda said in Jayapura on Wednesday.

"People around Tingginambut have been living in fear following the tales about the missing persons. Many have gone to the forest. Civilians are paranoid about the security forces," he added.

According to him, security personnel often pick up and interrogate civilians carrying machetes and arrows. "Machetes and arrows are part of Papuans traditional culture. Many Papuans live by hunting," he said.

Rumors have been circulating over the past few weeks about dozens of corpses in Tingginambut, some of which were dismembered. The dead were said to be civilians reported missing around April.

The rumors have bred speculation that the Army's Special Forces (Kopassus) are behind the killings as retaliation for the death of a corps member in February. A Kopassus member, along with seven other Indonesian Military (TNI) soldiers, were shot by unidentified perpetrators in Tingginambut.

Cendrawasih Military Command Commander Maj. Gen. Christian Zebua brushed off the speculation.

"It was false information. I have deployed a team to check and we did not find any missing civilian," he said. "I have ordered my men in Puncak Jaya not to hurt civilians. I believe the rumor is not true," Christian added.

Puncak Jaya Police Chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Marselis, however, admitted having received reports of missing persons.

"We received reports of two civilians not having returned to their homes as of today," he said on Wednesday. In Jakarta, Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Djoko Suyanto said that he had no information about events in Tingginambut.

"Where did you get the information from? Is it from reliable sources? These days, many false issues in Papua were intentionally spread for a ulterior purposes," Djoko told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

"Issues related to Papua are always interesting to the media. I want to assure you that the government has been always serious in accelerating development in Papua.

"If some areas in the region seem to have been left behind, it was because Papua is geographically a very difficult region compared to other regions in Indonesia," he added.

Rev. Neles Tebay of Papua, recognized as a peace activist, urged the police to carry out a transparent investigation into the reports of missing persons.

"If the government does not want to see more rumors spreading, the police must probe the reports and disclose their findings as openly and transparently as possible," he told the Post.

Neles said he had also received reports of missing persons. He said that many civilians in Puncak Jaya got the heebie-jeebies and fled to Jayapura because they felt unsafe.

KNPB: Senior army and police officers responsible for killings in Papua

Tabloid JUBI - May 30, 2013

The secretary of the KNPB – National Committee for West Papua – Ones Suhuniap has said that the governor of Papua, the chief of police and the commander of XVII Cenderawasih Military Command must all be held responsible for the mysterious killings that occurred in Puncak Jaya during the month of April.

"Mysterious disappearances and murders have again been happening in Puncak Jaya. Thirty people have disappeared. Eleven have been found of whom two were already dead. They also included two women and an SMU school pupil who had been raped. Two children ran away and were drowned in Yamo Canal."

The KNPB said that these senior officials must accept responsibility for the mysterious killings that have been occurring in Puncak Jaya and should do everything possible to find out who was responsible for these crimes.

The KNPB also called on the president of Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, to immediately withdraw all troops, organic as well non-organic from Puncak Jaya.

A senior officer of the Cenderawasih military command, Lieut-Colonel Jansen Simandjuntak, was asked to confirm this report. In response he said: "Who committed those murders? I think we need firm evidence when accusing the TNI – the Indonesian Army – for being responsible for these murders.'"

He went on to say that if the bodies have been found, it is the duty of the police to carry out the investigation. He said that in cases that occurred in Wamena and Oksibil a short while ago, military officers were involved and the case had been taken to court. If need be, the men will be dismissed, he said.

"Two weeks ago, the military commander set up an investigation team for the Puncak Jaya case, but after investigation, it was decided that no TNI officer was involved.

Finally he said that if anyone feels dissatisfied with the results of these internal TNI investigations, his men will investigate the matter more thoroughly.

[Translated by TAPOL]

Papuan political prisoners reject amnesty

Jakarta Post - May 29, 2013

Bagus BT Saragih and Nethy Dharma Somba, Jakarta, Jayapura – Dozens of Papuan convicts, many of them pro-independence activists who were sentenced to jail for treason, have rejected the proposal for their release under a government clemency or amnesty program, alleging that the move was only part of the government's efforts to silence their voice.

A short statement, attributed to a group of 25 political prisoners currently jailed at the Abepura Correctional Facility, made available to The Jakarta Post on Monday, said that they wanted freedom for all Papuans from Indonesian rule.

Among the convicts was the 53 year old Filep Karma, who was sentenced to 15 years in jail for raising the outlawed Morning Star flag in the provincial capital of Jayapura in 2004.

Papua Legislative Council deputy speaker Yunus Wonda said that the granting of the clemency and amnesty was one of the points proposed by Papuan officials to the central government as part of the conditions for the implementation of the "special autonomy plus" for the Indonesian easternmost provinces of Papua and West Papua.

"There are a total of 20 points in our proposal. All of them were presented to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono including the proposal to grant freedom to all political detainees and prisoners in Papua," he said in Jayapura.

Yunus was referring to a meeting between the newly-elected Papua Governor Lukas Enembe and Yudhoyono at the Presidential Office in Jakarta, last month, which was also attended by the Papua Consultative Assembly (MRP) chairman Mathius Murib and himself.

"The particular issue about the political prisoners was among the hot topics in the discussion. We got a sense that the President basically had no problem with the idea," Yunus added.

Coordinating Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Minister Djoko Suyanto said he had never heard of any plan to grant clemency or amnesty to the Papuan prisoners.

"As of [Monday], there is no request for clemency for Papuan political convicts, nor has it been proposed by the Law and Human Rights ministry," Djoko said. "As for amnesty, I have never heard of it. The granting of amnesty is basically the President's right, while he must also take into account the response in the House of Representatives," he said.

Former treason convict from Papua, Semuel Yaru, said that he would also reject the clemency if he was still imprisoned.

"The offer comes with conditions that we have to be loyal to the NKRI [Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia] when it is obvious that our mission is to free Papuans from Indonesia's 'colonialism'," he said in a statement.

Semuel said that most of the charges against political activists were designed to silence critical voices.

"The move to arrest us was also strange. The police charged us with treason when all we did was give voice to the aspiration of the Papuan people, an action that was supposed to be guaranteed by the principle of freedom of expression, which is actually stipulated in Indonesian law," Semuel added.

Coordinator of local rights group National Papua Solidarity (NAPAS), Zely Ariane said that she would support the government's move to release the prisoners as long as it carried no conditions for them. "Because the prisoners committed no criminal acts," she said.

Zely alleged that the plan was politically motivated, part of a deal proposed by local elites to get material benefit. "We are afraid that the concept would merely benefit Papuan elites," Zely said.

London-based human rights watchdog Amnesty International, in its 2012 Indonesia report released earlier this month, also highlighted the series of alleged human rights violations in Papua and Maluku.

"Indonesian security forces, including police and military personnel, were accused of human rights violations in Papua. Torture and other ill- treatment, excessive use of force and firearms and possible unlawful killings were reported. In most cases, the perpetrators were not brought to justice and victims did not receive reparations," the report says.

Papua police contain probe into filthy rich cop

Jakarta Post - May 28, 2013

Yuliasri Perdani, Jakarta – In what could been seen as damage control from a money-laundering scandal, Papua Police chief Insp. Gen. Tito Karnavian has dismissed Raja Ampat Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Taufik Irfan.

Taufik was dismissed for his failure in tracking the illicit businesses of his subordinate, Adj. First Insp. Labora Sitorus. Labora controlled at least 60 bank accounts through which over Rp 1 trillion (US$102 million) has passed in five years, the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (PPATK) has reported earlier this month.

On Monday, Tito installed Adj. Sr. Comr. Bhartolomeus Meison Sagala to replace Taufik. "A commander should be aware if his member runs a fuel and timber business. This is a part of our consideration to transfer him [Taufik] to the Papua Police," Tito said after the swearing-in ceremony in Jayapura.

The Papua Police has detained Labora for his alleged role in illegal logging by PT Rotua and fuel smuggling by PT Seno Adi Wijaya. Labora could face a maximum penalty of only seven years' imprisonment under the 1999 Forestry Law, the Oil and Gas Law and the Money Laundering Law.

The low-ranking police officer was arrested soon after he filed a complaint with the National Police Commission (Kompolnas) and was promptly flown back to Papua to face charges, prompting speculation that he would be prosecuted to protect some of his superiors who were alleged to have roles in the illegal activities.

On May 18, Labora told Kompolnas members that he wired money for "charity- related programs" to several of his superiors within the Papua Police. Kompolnas members declined to give any details on who received money from Labora.

Meanwhile, National Police spokesperson Brig. Gen. Boy Rafli Amar announced on Monday that a new suspect had been named in the Labora case. He said that Immanuel Mamora, PT Rotua operational director, had been named a suspect in illegal logging. "He will be charged under the Forestry Law, just like Labora," Boy said.

Immanuel will be charged under Article 50 of the 1999 Forestry Law with a maximum penalty of 10 years' imprisonment and a Rp 10 billion fine.

The illegal logging case first came to light in March when the Papua Police confiscated 15,000 logs, 1,500 blocks and 81 containers of timber in Papua and Surabaya, East Java, from PT Rotua intended for export to China.

Earlier, the Papua Police named operational director of PT Seno Adi Wijaya (SAW) Jimmy Lagesang a fuel smuggling suspect.. Jimmy allegedly oversaw the activities of PT SAW in transporting and selling diesel fuel in Papua at a higher price.

From PT SAW, the Papua Police have confiscated three barges carrying 1 million liters of diesel fuel off Sorong, West Papua.

Boy said that they would issue a final summons for Jimmy. "We have called him for questioning twice, at both of which he failed to appear. According to the procedure, we will issue the final summons and forcibly take him in for questioning," he said.

Government identifies foreign intelligence agents in Papua

Republika - May 28, 2013

Jakarta – Government claimed that they had pocketed identities of foreign intelligence agents who carried out their mission in Papua. Spokesman of Minister of Defense, Maj. Gen. Hartind Asrin said government kept monitoring activities the foreign intelligence agents.

"There were foreign spies who managed to get into Papua. They had various cover identities, such as researchers, NGO activists and journalists," Asrin said on Monday.

However, government still keep the number and identities of them. Asrin said that three agencies were involved in handling the case, consisted of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Intelligence Agency and the Armed Forces Strategic Intelligence Agency (BAIS).

Those agencies have managed to enlist the agent of a foreign passport, visa, study permit and other proofs of identities. Despite their activities, Indonesian government concluded there has been no serious threat or suspicious activity.

Indonesia rejects Papua mass killing accusations

ABC Radio Australia - May 27, 2013

Indonesia says allegations about a mass killing in Papua province by an Indonesian counter terrorist unit are "blatant lies".

Indonesia says allegations in an ABC story last week about a mass killing in Papua province by an Indonesian counter terrorist unit are "blatant lies".

Indonesia's embassy in Canberra says authorities in Papua have informed it that the "rumours" are false. "Based on our inquiry, there is no such violence occurred," the embassy said in a statement.

"It seems that these rumours and lies were spread by certain individuals and groups with the aim to discredit the Government of Indonesia in its efforts to ensure the continued development in the Papua Provinces."

The ABC story referred to accusations an elite counter-terrorist police unit in Indonesia carried out a mass killing in a village in the central highlands of Indonesia's Papua province.

The allegations were made by Jonah Wenda, a spokesman for the military wing of the Free Papua organisation. Mr Wenda alleged 11 people were killed and 20 more were missing after a combined military and police crackdown on support for the Free Papua separatist movement in April.

Beheadings and dumped bodies pile up as special forces rampage again

West Papua Media - May 27, 2013

Credible and disturbing reports are continuing to emerge from Tingginambut, Puncak Jaya, in the West Papuan highlands, detailing evidence of another violent rampage by the Indonesian army special forces (Kopassus) against civilians throughout May, allegedly by Kopassus officers stationed in the district which has been suffering war conditions since February.

The death toll is mounting, with six of the victims village chiefs and social leaders returning from invited attendance at the inauguration of new Papua Governor Lukas Enembe in Jayapura, and were intercepted, tortured and killed by Kopassus officers mounting a roadblock at Ilu on the Mulia road on May 8, 2013, according to preliminary evidence uncovered by human rights investigators in the field and provided to West Papua Media.

At least 18 headless, mutilated or amputated bodies have since been confirmed found in roadside ditches and drains, and named as victims from around the Mulia and Pirime areas of Tingginambut, with unconfirmed but credible reports putting the total toll of the "mysterious killings" at over 41 people to date. Activists from the West Papua National Committee (Komite Nasional Papua Barat or KNPB) have said that the discovery of so many bodies points to "a covert operation of killing and forced disappearances of indigenous Papuans in Puncak Jaya that has been operating since 1 April 2013 until now".

Those confirmed dead are:

Mili Tabuni (37),
Sony Tabuni (35),
Ella Enumbi. Born Mewoluk DOB 12 March 1986, Secondary school student at Mulia State School Class III, Male,
Yerson Wonda, Born at Wondagobak, Mulia, Male. Tertiary College Student in Technical Trade in Jayapura; Also worked as Secretary of KNPB Puncak Jaya Region at Puncak Jaya.
Yos Kogoya (40) Former village head Mewoluk;
Pauwuli Tabuni (35) Village Head of Regional District Tingginambut;
Yaningga Tabuni (37) Village Head Regional District Yembuni Tingginambut;
Tepaus Tabuni (40) Village Head of Regional District Tingginambut;
Terius Enumbi (39) Shepherd of the Church of Kampung Kalome; and
Yemundan Enumby (35)
Inoga Wonda,
Deniti Telenggen,
Telapina Morib,
Aibon Tabuni,
Yomiler Tabuni,
Bongar Telenggen,
Eramina Murib.
Regina Tabuni.

West Papuan human rights activists in Puncak Jaya have also reported that women in villages under occupation by the TNI are being regularly raped by soldiers, with at least 12 documented cases since April and unconfirmed reports of many more. Two female high school students among the dead were found to have been brutally raped and beaten in Tingginambut by Kopassus officers, West Papua Media is not publishing the names of these sexual assault victims in line with ethical journalism practice.

Relatives of the a total of 30 missing adults are still searching across Puncak Jaya for their family members, though unconfirmed reports have emerged that Kopassus have arrested and detained at least 15 more people while searching for their family members. Grave fears are being held for the safety of these detainees, with at least one case of torture believed to have occurred on family members. According to statements from the West Papua National Committee (KNPB), a senior high-school aged youth of class III was arrested in the town area and is believed to have been tortured over a period of 2 weeks after which he was killed and beheaded, with his beheaded body placed in a sack and thrown under a bridge. His family is still hunting for his head, according the KNPB.

Wim Medlama, the spokesperson for the KNPB, told KNPBNews.com, "Every person in the community known for activist activities in Puncak Jaya has been interrogated such that the whole community is now terrified to even carry out their usual daily activities."

Independent human rights investigator Yasons Sambon have just returned from Puncak Jaya interviewing surviving victims and witness who have pointed the finger at new Papua governor Lukas Enembe, detailing that six of the victims were returning as invited guests from Enembes inauguration in Jayapura – Enembe's electoral team provided the six with transport to attend the inauguration, but allegedly left them stranded in Jayapura after allegedly reneging on their transport home, however Enembe's team finally covered their fares back to Wamena only after the Governor had arrived back in Jayapura from a visit to Jakarta..

On the afternoon of May 8, 2013, the six men, (Yos Kogoya (40) Former village head Mewoluk; Pauwuli Tabuni (35) Village Head of Regional District Tingginambut; Yaningga Tabuni (37) Village Head Regional District Yembuni Tingginambut; Tepaus Tabuni (40) Village Head of Regional District Tingginambut; Terius Enumbi (39) Shepherd of the Church of Kampung Kalome; and Yemundan Enumby (35) Society of Kampung Yembuni), left Wamena to return home by car to their villages in TIngginambut, Puncak Jaya, when they were stopped at the Ilu military infantry post on the Mulia road. According to the testimony from surviving witnesses interviewed by Sambon, the victims were forced out of the car and were beaten and tortured whilst being interrogated by the soldiers and detained through the night.

The testimony provided by the witnesses reported that at 0800 the next morning (May 9), the victims were then confronted by" a number Kopassus officers in the middle of the road", further adding that "Kopassus in Puncak Jaya were assigned to kill people in a way like the mafia". (Kopassus officers are regularly referred to across Indonesia as Mafia or gangsters, given their well-documented control of vast, well organised criminal cartels of drugs, money laundering, prostititution, illegal logging and mining, finance, human trafficking, and a myriad of other illegal business activities.)

"Then victim number 6 is tortured until killed by inhumane way, gunshot victims by Kopassus and cut the legs and head off, and waste (dumped) in different places," the witness reported to Sambom. Sambom described the witness as an ordinary villager who found the bodies of the chiefs, and who begged for his name not to be published for "fear he will be searched again by Kopassus and removed after being found as the the source of this news report".

According to the sources interviewed by Sambom, "we found the victims dead, they (perpetrators) had dismembered the head and feet and hands in different places, we gathered all of the victim's body." "Once we found them, we made a grave all in one place. Right now we're done mourning, and sympathizers close to the family who came to pay respects had returned to their respective villages," the village witness said.

"We now, all the people are afraid, because Kopassus kill again we are all scared," he said.

The driver, who according to witnesses was a "newly posted" member of the State Intelligence Agency BIN provided by the pro-military Governor Enembe, has not been seen since, and witnesses have questioned if he was a participant in the murder of the Chiefs, or if he himself was murdered by the Kopassus officers seeking to cover their tracks.

According to sources from the KNPB, two more victims, Yerson Wonda – the Secretary of KNPB in the Puncak Jaya region – and KNPB member and high school student Ella Enumbi were also arrested by Kopassus at Ilu TNI post, then killed and their bodies beheaded. The body of Yerson Wonda and the head only of Ella Enumbi were thrown under a bridge in a sack, and their bodies were found on 26 April 2013. KNPB News reported that "It is suspected that for two weeks following the date of their deaths that their bodies were hidden by Kopassus at the place of detention at the Kopassus Post at Purume (Pirime), Mulia. The family is still searching for the remainder of the body of Ella Enumbi."

Sweep operations by Indonesian security forces have not lessened in intensity since December 2012, when a new phase of repression against local civilians and non-violent political activists began with the violent raids by joint Detachment 88 counter terror and TNI soldiers on the home villages of the KNPB political activists. Several of those still missing include non-violent political activist members of the local chapter of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB), which has seen a massive and violent crackdown led by new Australian trained Papua Police Chief Tito Karnavian, the former head of the notorious counter-terror unit turned extrajudicial death squad, Detachment 88.

The area of the latest alleged TNI rampage is the same area in Sinak subdistrict, close to Mulia, where troops from General Goliat Tabuni's West Papua National Liberation Army (TPN-PB) unit attacked Kopassus soldiers who had built a military post on a sacred burial ground in on February 21. A massive influx of several thousand soldiers from the Indonesian Army's (TNI) Kostrad (strategic reserve), notorious locally based Indonesian battalions 753 and 756, several hundred Kopassus special forces soldiers, and members of the Australian-trained and funded Detachment 88 counter- tterror unit flooded into the area to hunt Tabuni's unit. Since the influx, constant operations have caused thousands of people to be displaced from their villages, whilst those remaining behind are subjected to arbitrary and brutal treatment from the military and police on a daily basis. Hundreds of houses, livestock and food gardens have been destroyed in a collective punishment against civilians that breaches international laws on war crimes.

The KNPB has reiterated a call made from local residents for human rights monitors to be present in the region. "We urgently seek the help of KOMNAS HAM (National Human Rights Commission) in Papua, and any independent persons with humanitarian concerns to please immediately come to Puncak Jaya to investigate," said Wim Medlama. "These covert operations and mysterious killings are still to this moment continuing."

Sambon also contacted General Tabuni by phone on May 23 and reported that Tabuni was shocked at the killings and denied involvement. "They are the people and the village head, not my TPNPB-OPM members who do not shoot"... According to Tabuni, "the public spotlight is on me, why Goliath is silent? But the village head make themselves part of the Indonesian government, why should they be shot like that? I have no link related to this event. It is the responsibility of the Governor," Tabuni said.

Diplomatic steps by WPNCL under international mechanisms

West Papua Media - May 27, 2013

Oktovianus Pogau, SuaraPapua.com, Papua, Manokwari – The latest development concerning the diplomatic struggle in West Papua is the submission of a proposal by Papua to be accepted as a member of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG). The group will hold a conference in Noumea, New Caledonia in June 2013. This step is in accordance with the international mechanisms of the UN.

The West Papua National Coalition for Liberation (WPNCL) is pushing for this inclusion and it should be viewed as a progressive step, owned by the Papuan majority struggling for the enforcement of civil and political rights.

"This move by the WPNCL shouldn't be disrupted by other efforts within the Papuan struggle, or from organisations like Presidium Dewan Papua (PDP), West Papua National Authority (WPNA), Komite Nasional Pemuda Papua (KNPP), or Negara Republik Federal Papua Barat (NRFPB), or any other political groups," said Yan Christian Warinussy, Executive Director of LP3BH Manokwari, in a press release to suarapapua.com, Monday (27/5/2013).

"I believe the Komite Nasional Papua Barat (KNPB) clearly owns the agenda, and the outcomes, so I'm not going to comment further on this," he stated.

In Warinussy's opinion, this current move is significant in the Pacific region and urgently needs to be addressed and supported by the whole Papuan community.

"I say this, because such a move is in accordance with the advice given by the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in Auckland, New Zealand, in September 2010. SG Ban Ki-moon said that issues facing the Papuan community, like enforcement of civil and political rights, should be brought before the Decolonisation Committee under the UN General Assembly," he said.

Thus, it's taken for granted that the struggle in Papua to obtain freedom by political means will be through international mechanisms recognised by the UN. Further, continues Warinussy, the move Papua is making through WPNCL with their proposal to become a member of MSG, is sound diplomatically and in line with the broader struggle to bring the issue of self-determination before the Decolonisation Committee at the UN General Assembly.

"This move can't just be seen as an initiative of WPNCL but something that's owned by the whole Papuan community, so that the move can be supported and considered more effectively – and not be disrupted by politicking or factionalism, which could be used to undermine this progressive move," he finished.

As previously reported in www.tabloidjubi.com, WPNCL is currently lobbying various Pacific nations so that Papua can become a member of MSG and attend the conference this June.

Indonesian counter-terrorist unit accused of mass killing in disputed Papua

ABC Radio Australia - May 24, 2013

Peter Lloyd – An elite counter-terrorist police unit in Indonesia has been accused of carrying out a mass killing in a village in the disputed Papua province.

Activists says 11 people were killed and 20 more are missing after a combined military and police crackdown on support for the Free Papua separatist movement in April. It is not possible to verify the claims, but the names of victims and several grisly photographs have been provided to ABC by the armed wing of the movement.

An elite counter-terrorist police unit in Indonesia has been accused of carrying out a mass killing in a village in the central highlands of Indonesia's disputed Papua province.

Activists says 11 people were killed and 20 more are missing after a combined military and police crackdown on support for the Free Papua separatist movement in April.

The names of victims and several grisly photographs have been provided to ABC's PM by the armed wing of the movement. It is impossible to verify the claims, but Indonesia's Embassy in Canberra has agreed to take up the matter.

Indonesian police say the claims are untrue. The Papua police spokesman, I Gede Sumerta Jaya, says the killings did not happen and that unit does not operate in the Papua provinces anymore.

The disputed Indonesian Papua province is the least populated but most restive corner of Australia's vast near neighbour. For 50 years Papuans have agitated for independence from their Javanese masters in a campaign fought bitterly on both sides.

In recent weeks the pace of violence has quickened, especially in the central highlands. Shootings have become so frequent that locals have taken to calling it the Gaza Strip. It is from this territory that the shocking claims of extra-judicial killings are emerging.

The ABC conducted an interview with the spokesman for the military wing of the Free Papua organisation, Jonah Wenda, via an exchange of text messages after telephone communications failed. He said that an entire village was targeted.

"Indonesian government fear this village is a strong hold of Freedom Fighters in the centre highlands of West Papua," he said.

"TNI and police did this. They were picked from different places like school, gardens, on the road and even taken from their home and kill them and throw them in the bush, side of the road and through in the river." Mr Wenda emailed the names of the 11 people he says were killed in the crackdown, all civilians.

He also provided several photographs of corpses that appeared to have been beaten and suffered serious injuries. He also said there were two instances of rape.

None of the claims can be verified, though they are strikingly similar in nature to allegations of human rights abuses by the Indonesian security forces.

One of the most notorious units known as Densus 88 is partially equipped and trained by the Federal Police.

Killings account accords with growing intimidation

Professor Damien Kingsbury from Deakin University has been studying the decades long struggle by the Indonesian state to exert its will over the Papua province.

He believes the claims of a mass killing are consistent with an upswing of violence and intimidation across the province.

"The information we've received today from West Papua is consistent with information we've been receiving over the past couple of weeks. This is more detailed," he said.

"It's more comprehensive but it's absolutely in line with the other information we've received and it comes from a reliable source, so we believe it to be accurate."

He says the violence is being fuelled by increasing separatist intent.

"There's always been a background of violence in West Papua and the Indonesian military and the police in particular. The anti-terror group there have always taken a very strong line against what they perceive to be separatists sentiments by West Papuans," he said.

"But the West Papuans themselves are really looking for a negotiated settlement to the problems of the province and they're pushing that agenda by engaging in things like flag-raising ceremonies to demonstrate their unhappiness.

"That's perceived to be a sign of separatist intent and the army and police are cracking down on it."

Professor Kingsbury says it is possible residents of one particular village are being targeted for showing sympathy to separatist sentiment.

"That may be the case or that may be what they believe but of course, if anybody is engaged in unlawful activities, of course they should be arrested and charged and taken through a due process rather than primarily execute," he said.

"I think this is the nub of the problem in West Papua, that he military and the anti-terror police take it into their own hands to engage in trial and execution on the spot without going through due process.

"It's not based on evidence. It's based on supposition, on rumour, on belief and there's huge problems with this and it only builds further resentment."

West Papua 'observer' status issue faces critical Melanesian summit

Pacific Scoop - May 24, 2013

Jamie Small – West Papua may become a crucial issue for the Pacific if the Melanesian Spearhead Group next month decides to offer observer status to the Indonesian-ruled region at its leaders' summit next month.

The MSG leaders will be gathering in Noumea, New Caledonia, for the organisation's 25th jubilee and many serious matters will be on the table.

Peter Forau, Director-General of the MSG, says the major focus of the summit will be on West Papua's proposed addition to the group as an observer state.

Two provinces controversially ruled by Indonesia – Papua and West Papua – are striving for self-determination and Papuan activists see the MSG as a crucial step towards eventual independence.

Speaking to Pacific Scoop, Forau seemed to believe that the vote would pass. "Leaders have publicly expressed support for West Papua," he says. "[But] we expect discussion to happen."

Dr Steven Ratuva, a Fiji regional strategic studies researcher of the Centre for Pacific Studies at the University of Auckland, has little doubt. Accepted 'informally' "West Papua has been accepted informally," he says. "It will be formalised in New Caledonia."

Dr Ratuva says this is the first time West Papua will be given formal recognition, and through the MSG, it will push for more autonomy.

The MSG has experience helping countries push for independence. Also with help from the group, French Polynesia was placed on the UN decolonisation list on May 17.

Forau says the MSG also supported Timor-Leste and is happy to continue helping countries striving for independence. "We want to be seen as available to the rest of the Pacific when they need an international forum," he says.

Ben Bohane, communications director of the Vanuatu-based Pacific Institute of Public Policy, agrees that the vote will is likely to pass, but is unsure if it will be unanimous. He says that all the leaders of member states are behind the decision, but Papua New Guinea is wavering.

Blocked by PNG

Papua New Guinea, which is the only MSG country sharing a border with Indonesia, which currently is an observer, blocked the proposal last time it was considered by the MSG.

If West Papua is voted in to the MSG as an observer state at the leaders' forum on June 20, Indonesia will simultaneously be voted out, losing its observer status.

Bohane says Melanesia would then be "sort of united", and that would test relations with Indonesia. He says there may be a drive from the MSG to form a Confederated States of Melanesia, but that is in the distant future.

Dr Ratuva says letting West Papua into the MSG is a good move towards Melanesian solidarity, but the group needs to consider how Indonesia might react. He says there is little Indonesia can do to persuade the MSG. However, it may exercise its power in other places.

ASEAN interest

Dr Ratuva says Fiji and Papua New Guinea have expressed interest in joining the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), of which Indonesia is a powerful member.

Indonesia could make moves to block ASEAN from co-operating with MSG member states. "But ASEAN is not just Indonesia," says Dr Ratuva. There are nine other Southeast Asian member states, and the group has close economic and diplomatic relations with New Zealand and Australia.

Forau is not worried about offending Indonesia. "We'll make no-one worse off by the decisions of the leaders," he says.

Many other issues and proposals will be discussed at the Noumea summit. An important focus of the meeting will be trade.

Trade scenario

Forau says the MSG has the only operational trade agreement in the region, and the group would like to continue to build on that.

The decolonisation of Kanaky is another major topic of discussion. Kanaky is the indigenous name for New Caledonia. The Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS), an alliance of pro-independence political parties in Kanaky, is a member "state" of the MSG.

"We will be making every commitment to Kanaky's independence," says Forau.

Other topics to be discussed include: Climate change and environmental issues; Fisheries and ethical fishing; Police co-operation; and the vision for the MSG over the next 25 years.

Ben Bohane says he also expects the forum to discuss labour protocols, as well as a Melanesian Arts Festival. "The MSG is based on culture, rather than nations," he says.

Growing MSG influence

Over the last 25 years, the MSG has grown in size, power and influence. Dr Ratuva says the group represents 80 percent of the wealth of the Pacific, and the member states are a focus for investors.

"Lots of business people in the Pacific are installing themselves in PNG," he says. "That will define the future geo-political and economic gravity in the Pacific over the next few years."

Melanesia also has a much larger population than other areas of the Pacific. However, Dr Ratuva says the member states should not forget about internal issues, such as poverty and political unrest.

"Fair trade is good. High regional and international profile is OK. But at the same time, they need to get back to basics." He says the group has redefined itself in terms of geopolitics as an autonomous group.

PIF power wanes

Meanwhile, the power of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) is dwindling under the domination of New Zealand and Australia.

"On one hand New Zealand and Australia give power and funding to the [Pacific Islands] Forum," says Dr Ratuva. "On the other hand it fractures the forum."

He says that when Fiji was suspended from the PIF in 2009, it took a significant political and economic force with it to the MSG.

Bohane says the group can now "pack a bit more punch" in the international climate. "It has become the sort of pre-eminent group in the region," he says, "and New Zealand and Australia have underestimated the influence of the MSG."

"It will be interesting to see how New Zealand and Australia deal with the MSG once Frank [Bainamarama] is no longer the chair. Fiji Prime Minister Voreqe "Frank" Bainamarama currently chairs the MSG.

Strained relations

New Zealand has had strained diplomatic relations with Fiji since the 2006 military coup d'etat. The role of chair of the MSG will be handed to FLNKS at the summit.

Bohane agrees the PIF is seen to be losing relevance, but doesn't think the MSG challenges the forum. "The MSG is not a threat to the PIF, as some commentators are saying."

He says that all of the subregional organisations of the Pacific have the opportunity to harmonise and work together.

Other subregional groups include the Secretariat of the Pacific Community. The Polynesian Leaders Group, the Alliance of Small Island States, and the Micronesian Leaders Group.

Dr Ratuva agrees: "It won't fracture regionalism, but will in fact reinforce it. The MSG should not untie themselves from the [Pacific Islands] Forum."

He says Fiji distanced itself from the forum, and PNG is thinking of doing the same. "I think it's a mistake."

[Jamie Small is a Postgraduate Diploma in Communication Studies student journalist on the Asia-Pacific Journalism course at AUT University.]

Aceh

Police officer publicly caned in Aceh for gambling

Jakarta Globe - May 29, 2013

Nurdin Hasan – A police officer was publicly caned in an Aceh district on Tuesday for violating Shariah law, making him the first law enforcer to receive such a punishment.

Darwin, the head of general crimes unit at the Sabang Attorney's Office, told the Jakarta Globe that Brig. Irwanuddin was lashed six times for gambling in the district of Aceh Besar.

He was the first policeman punished for violating a "qanun" (bylaw) since the province implemented partial Shariah law in some districts. Irwanuddin's caning was conducted at the Sabang Great Mosque in front of hundreds of onlookers from all over the province.

Darwin said his office initially planned to institute the same punishment for two other civilians, though they managed to run away before the officials could find them.

Previously it was reported that the public caning, which was scheduled for Thursday, was broken up by a group of policeman led by an officer who refused to identify himself, with only his rank of police commissioner visible.

"Today [Tuesday], we decided to lash the policeman... since it was canceled on Thursday. Irwanuddin's superior agreed that he should undergo the punishment and he was brought to us," he said.

A witness, who asked not to be named, said on Thursday that the police took away one of the three men who was due to be caned, and who was also a police officer.

The witness said that officials from the prosecutors' office and the Shariah police, or Wilayatul Hisbah, did nothing to stop the police, who were heard to repeatedly assert that Shariah punishment did not apply to police officers. The officers then led their man away, and the caning was called off.

The enforcement of Shariah law in Aceh has long been criticized as arbitrary, with residents and human rights activists alike complaining that public officials caught for offenses that warrant a caning are either never sentenced or never caned.

Shariah law nominally applies to all Muslims in the province, including police officers and government officials.

North Aceh head bans women from dancing in public

Jakarta Globe - May 26, 2013

Camelia Pasandaran – A women's rights group has criticized a move by North Aceh's district head to ban women in the area from dancing in public places.

Muhammad Thaib, the district chief, on Saturday said that he had banned all adult women from dancing when welcoming guests in North Aceh, adding that only children should perform the tradition.

"I'm very glad to welcome our guests with Aceh culture," Thaib said as quoted by Tempo on Saturday. "But cultural preservation should not damage Islamic Shariah values, such as dancing performed by adult women."

Masruchah, deputy chair of the National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan), told the Jakarta Globe on Saturday that Thaib violated the rights of women to express themselves in an art such as dancing.

"Indonesia upholds the constitution, and it guarantees all citizens the right to express themselves, including in dancing," Masruchah said. "Dancing is apart of Indonesian culture to show people the local tradition. It should not be linked to someone's opinion about Islam. Islam indeed supports art and the right to express."

Thaib said that the ban was in line with the spirit of Islamic Shariah, which he claimed was supported by North Aceh residents.

"Such activities that go against Shariah should be banned according to the mandate of the ulema," he said, adding that if he did not ban public dancing it would reflect on him as a bad leader. The North Aceh Ulema Consultative Assembly (MPU) supported Thaib's ban, calling the move a positive innovation.

Mustafa Ahmad, head of the MPU, said that Aceh's traditional dances, including the Saman dance, were evil because it involved body movement, as quoted by Atjehlink.com.

Masruchah also said that the district head should do something against men who might look at women's bodies in a negative way.

"The interpretation to body movements, whether done by children or adults, lies in the heads of men. Why should women be blamed if men easily get aroused?"

Masruchah said that the Home Affairs Ministry should ensure that all regional heads understand the constitution and human rights.

Home Affairs Ministry spokesman Reydonnyzar Moenek told the Jakarta Globe on Saturday that he had not heard about the ban and would seek information on whether the ban was already written in a regulation before making a comment.

In Aceh, police thwart caning of fellow police officer

Jakarta Globe - May 24, 2013

Nurdin Hasan, Banda Aceh – Police in Indonesia's westernmost city have thwarted the caning of a police officer and two other people convicted by Aceh's morality police of gambling, highlighting the double standard in enforcing Shariah law in the province.

The public caning, which was scheduled for Thursday outside the city of Sabang's main mosque, was broken up by a group of policeman led by an officer who refused to identify himself, with only his rank of police commissioner visible.

A witness, who asked not to be named, said the police took away one of the three men who was due to be caned, and who was also a police officer.

The witness said that officials from the prosecutors' office and the Shariah police, or Wilayatul Hisbah, did nothing to stop the police, who were heard to repeatedly assert that Sharia punishment did not apply to police officers. The officers then led their man away, and the caning was called off.

The officer to be caned had earlier been convicted along with two other men of gambling, which is a criminal offense under Aceh's partial adoption of Shariah law, and ordered to receive six lashes.

The city police chief, Adj. Sr. Comr. Chomariasih, did not respond to calls from the Jakarta Globe for comment. Witnesses however identified the officer who led the group on Thursday as the deputy police chief, Comr. Syaiful Lubis.

Shariah law nominally applies to all Muslims in the province, including police officers and government officials.

Labour & migrant workers

Indonesia urged to tackle labor shortage

Jakarta Globe - May 29, 2013

Gabriel Kereh – Indonesian companies face the prospective problem of the inability to hire qualified employees due to a shortage in skilled labor and will need take action to meet the challenges of growth in the nation's economy, according to the Boston Consulting Group.

In its report released on Tuesday and titled "Growing Pains, Lasting Advantage: Tackling Indonesia's Talent Challenges," the consultancy group said that 88 percent of college-aged Indonesians were not enrolled in tertiary education institutions – which include universities, technical training centers or vocational schools – and the percentage is higher than in Brazil, Russia and China.

Moreover, almost 60 percent of graduates with jobs decide to switch employment within their first three years, and two-thirds of them switch more than once during that period, BCG said.

These problems, if not addressed properly, will directly affect the growth of companies, and thus affect Indonesia's economic growth, BCG found.

Dr. Bernd Waltermann and Dean Tong, managing directors based in Singapore and Jakarta for BCG, suggested companies take action about the situation to ensure the sustainability of their growth. "If these problems are not being addressed properly, it will hit them later real hard in the face," Tong said.

Even though Indonesia has a young and healthy population to support growth, the poor quality of education and labor force in the country might create employment problems in the future, according to BCG. United Nations data show that the median age of Indonesia's population will rise to 35.1 in 2030 from 27.8 in 2010 – compared to China, to 42.5 from 34.5, and to 39.1 from 36.9 in the United States.

With more than 240 million people in Indonesia, the unemployment rate is at a record low of 5.9 percent, as of February. Data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) show that as of August 2012 total number of people employed was 110.8 million, up from 99.9 million five years earlier.

The lack of quality education in the country can be illustrated by top companies' employment focus being limited to a few universities including University of Indonesia, Bandung Institute of Technology and Gadjah Mada University, while graduates from other lesser-known universities are not being considered.

Acute shortage in technical skills also exists. While Indonesian industries require 50,000 technical graduates each year, only 30,000 graduate every year, which is an indication that career development opportunity for graduates with technical skills seems to be more limited. A general education tends to promise more opportunity to attain better jobs, the report stated.

By 2020, top companies will not be able to fill half of the entry-level positions with qualified candidates, BCG warns. By 2025, the engineering shortage will rise to more than 70 percent.

Some companies have addressed this problem by introducing a "Specialists Track" program that could offer career opportunities for specialist- employees, just as promising as the ones for workers on the management track, BCG said.

Companies like Astra International, which has businesses ranging from automotive assembly and distribution to palm plantations, have established their own educational programs.

The general mindset of Indonesians is that they see their current job as a stepping stone to develop their career, and this is contributing to the shortage of potential employees. This mindset can result in employers' resistance to invest in human resource development, BCG said.

"Why would they invest in people's development if these people are going to move to other companies anyway? They would rather steal people that have already been developed by other companies instead," Tong said.

According to the report, only 20 percent of employees in Indonesia are satisfied with their jobs. Of the 11 main reasons for employees' dissatisfaction, the top three are unclear career prospects, lack of compensation and a poor system for performance recognition and evaluation. Indonesia has tried to address pay by lifting the minimum wage by an average 30 percent in many cities across the country.

BCG has five recommendations for companies to help develop and provide more satisfaction to their employees.

First, companies have to be committed to talent and leadership programs that are reflected in the actions of all layers of executives, including those at the very top.

Second, "A Champion From Start to Finish" recommendation teaches companies to respect all employees as the management of the company and that its programs are not just executed by the executives.

Third, there must be a road map that defines the planning and purposes of talent and leadership programs.

Fourth, a regular review of key employees could help monitor development. Lastly, clear goals and measurable progress are needed for rigorous monitoring.

"There are going to be differences between companies that make the effort to develop their people and those that are not," Tong said.

Political parties & elections

Prabowo not fazed by Joko's poll surge

Jakarta Globe - May 31, 2013

Anastasia Winanti Riesardhy – Prabowo Subianto, a former Army general widely considered the leading candidate for next year's presidential election, says he will not be swayed by a recent surge in the polls by Joko Widodo, the popular governor of Jakarta.

"I will still press ahead with my [presidential] bid," he said on Thursday at a seminar on national development in Jakarta. "Why shouldn't I go ahead when I already have popular support? It's all down to popular support."

Prabowo added that he was not concerned about the impact to his own bid from Joko's emergence as a possible front-runner in the race, saying that he was not surprised at the high level of support for the governor.

Prabowo, the former commander of the Army's Special Forces (Kopassus), has led most opinion polls of established political heavyweights likely to run for president next year, coming out ahead of the likes of longtime military rival Wiranto, former president Megawati Sukarnoputri and Golkar Party chairman Aburizal Bakrie.

However, Joko, who has stated he is more interested in seeing out his term as governor than running for president, has barely featured in such polls until recently.

The latest survey, whose results were published on Monday by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, showed Joko leading the field, with 29 percent of the 1,600 respondents polled saying they would vote for him.

Prabowo was a distant second with 16 percent, followed by Aburizal with 7 percent and Megawati with 5 percent.

Despite Joko's stated reluctance to run, analysts contend that he appears increasingly likely to stand, especially in the wake of the CSIS survey and signals from his party, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI- P), that party chairwoman Megawati may cede the nomination to a younger candidate.

Analysts have said that Joko's loyalty to Megawati has prevented him from expressing his willingness to run for president, as the chairwoman has indicated on several occasions that she wished to run for a third time.

Other parties are also starting to notice Joko's rising influence in politics.

The ruling Democratic Party has expressed interest in poaching Joko to run for it. "The Democrats' door is always open, including for Joko," the deputy secretary general of the party, Ramadhan Pohan, said earlier this week.

Speculation is also mounting about a possible Prabowo-Joko ticket in 2014, given the close ties between the PDI-P and Prabowo's Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra).

However, Martin Hutabarat, a member of Gerindra's board of advisers, said the time was not right for Joko to come forward, adding that he should see out his term as governor before considering a presidential bid.

Megawati paves way for Jokowi

Jakarta Post - May 29, 2013

Margareth S. Aritonang, Jakarta – Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri has hinted that she will not run for president for a third time and would instead endorse younger politicians, including Jakarta Governor Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, taking the stage in the 2014 presidential election.

Party executive Puan Maharani, who is also Megawati's daughter, said that the party had consistently nominated younger politicians in regional elections and would likely use the same strategy at the national level.

"If a potential young candidate is available to be nominated [for the presidential poll], why not?" said Puan on the sidelines of a House plenary meeting on Tuesday. "Of course Bu Mega wants regeneration to take place in the PDI-P," she added.

The largest opposition party has yet to nominate a presidential candidate, saying that the decision rested in the hands of Megawati, who remains a powerful figure within the nationalist party and is still seen as a potential presidential candidate by several pollsters despite her defeats in the past two direct elections.

This is the first time that Megawati has suggested the party was open to nominating a candidate other than herself.

The suggestion came as various surveys have found that Jokowi, a rising star in national politics, is far more popular than Megawati and that he would gain the most votes if the election were held today.

Party chief patron Taufiq Kiemas, who has openly asked Megawati, his wife, to call time on her presidential ambitions, said the party could nominate any of several of its younger members for the upcoming poll. "PDI-P has so many [potential] presidential candidates," Taufiq, who chairs the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), said recently.

Other than Jokowi, Puan and House deputy speaker Pramono Anung have also been tipped by several observers as potential presidential candidates. But Jokowi has proven to be most electable.

A recent opinion poll by Jakarta-based think tank the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), for example, found that if the election were to take place today, Jokowi would get 28.6 percent of the vote, ahead of the Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) Party chief patron Lt. Gen. (ret) Prabowo Subianto with 15.6 percent, Golkar Party chairman Aburizal Bakrie with 7 percent and Megawati with 5.4 percent.

A study by the Pol-Tracking Institute last month also cited Jokowi as the most popular presidential hopeful due to the negative media coverage of most established party political figures.

Arya Fernandez, a political analyst from Charta Politika, said that Megawati should have realized long ago that Jokowi was the one who would be able to win the presidential race.

"However, Megawati was waiting until Jokowi's electability reached at least 40 percent. At that level, Megawati and the PDI-P would be convinced that there would be no way Jokowi would lose should he enter the presidential race," Arya said. If Jokowi's electability was even higher, it would also be possible to see Puan being paired with him as his vice presidential candidate.

Jokowi has refused to comment on the surveys that have placed him at the top of the list of presidential candidates, saying that he is now focusing on his job as Jakarta governor. Recently, the governor faced an impeachment threat from several councillors over problems regarding his universal healthcare scheme.

"Jokowi's reluctance to comment on his presidential bid is actually part of his political strategy. First, he is yet to receive a green light from Megawati. Second, he is still examining people's opinions of his bid, because many still demand that Jokowi finish his tenure in the Jakarta administration before running for president," Arya said.

Philips J. Vermonte of the CSIS said over the weekend that the public was yearning for an alternative to the same old faces in the presidential election. He argued that Jokowi's success had shown that it was possible to have an alternative candidate. "It would be so unfortunate if PDI-P did not nominate Jokowi," he said.

Women blamed for Islamic politicians' foolish decisions

Jakarta Globe - May 29, 2013

Yeremia Sukoyo – A former Islamic student leader says that senior figures in religious political parties have been lured into foolish decisions by attractive women seeking to tarnish the politicians' reputations.

"Women are being used as a way of degrading the image of Islamic figures," Erlangga Muhammad, former secretary general of the Islamic Students Alumni Association (Kahmi), said on Tuesday.

He cited the beef quota graft case in which Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) figures have been named suspects by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

"Unfortunately, the Islamic figures involved are not as cunning in their politics. As such, when faced with efforts to weaken them, they [PKS politicians] are unable to do anything," Erlangga told a dialogue on Islam and politics at the Islamic Youth Movement (Gerakan Pemuda Islam) headquarters in Jakarta.

In January, Ahmad Fathanah, an adviser to the then-PKS chairman and a suspect in the beef quota case, was caught in a hotel room with a female university student to whom he gave cash. Fatahanah was later accused of giving gifts to up to 45 women.

Meanwhile, Islamic candidates are out of favor among young voters in next year's presidential election, a National Survey Institute poll has found.

The survey of people aged 16 to 20 from across the country found that senior figures in religious parties each attracted support from less than 3 percent of respondents, while candidates from nationalist parties fared better.

PKS chairman Anis Matta was attracted support from 2.1 percent of respondents, while National Awakening Party (PKB) official Muhaimin Iskandar was backed by 1.9 percent and United Development Party (PPP) figure Suryadharma Ali by 1.2 percent.

Dipa Pradipta, a senior researcher at the institute, said Islamic parties were considered too conservative by first-time voters.

Disenchanted young voters are sick of old corrupt faces

Jakarta Post - May 27, 2013

Jakarta – Tired with corruption and bickering among politicians, young voters have deferred their decisions about who they might vote for in next year's presidential election, hoping that someone new will come riding over the hill to save the day.

"As I think our present leaders do nothing but talk about problems. I need to find a new leader who is firm and can abolish corruption. However, so far I haven't been able to find anyone who meets my expectations, so I will need to wait until next year when the presidential candidates will be announced to see if anyone viable emerges," Andi Marsya Nadira, 19, a medical student from University of Indonesia, said.

Raffi Maulana Raspati, 21, who studies law at Trisakti University, said that he hoped for a new candidate, free of self interest, who would show sincere concern and fight for the people.

"I see the old names will run for the presidency again, and not one of them deserves to be the leader of this country. Some of them, such as Wiranto and Prabowo, have even been involved in human rights violations. I think they shouldn't get the chance to be president, but I'm worried because many people consider them honest and firm," he said.

Jessica, 20, an accounting student from Atmajaya University, said that not one of the rumored incumbent presidential candidates will fulfill their campaign promises.

"I think that our elections are not honest and clean; it's all a matter of money. I hope there will be a candidate like Jokowi [current governor of Jakarta], who has done a great job by directly solving the problems of Jakarta's people. We need a leader like him, who is disciplined and makes the people's problems his top priority," she said.

Attracting young voters is vital to winning the election, but these first- time voters are often undecided, said Ari Dwipayana, a political analyst from the Yogyakarta-based Gadjah Mada University.

"There are two possibilities, either they will find a good candidate or they will abstain. We have seen see that in regional elections this year. The abstention rate has ranged from 30 percent to 50 percent, as reflected in the results from Bali and North Sumatra," he said.

"They are waiting for the perfect candidate, because they have seen bad leaders like President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who often looks doubtful when making decisions, and seems more concerned about his political party than the nation's problems," he added.

"Meanwhile, the new Jakarta Governor, Jokowi, has attracted the public with his firm and confident approach, which includes criticizing the Jakarta Legislative Council and breaking the social and administrative boundaries traditionally set by elite politicians with his impromptu visits to villages and slums. He could be the alternative candidate," he said.

Adjie Alfaraby, a researcher at the Indonesian Survey Circle (LSI) said that it would be hard to find a viable alternative candidate, because under existing laws candidates for president must be or become a member of a party with a minimum 20 percent of the votes in the legislative elections in order to nominate a presidential candidate.

"The three big parties, Democrat, Golkar, and the Indonesia Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), will dominate the legislative election this year, and I think they will be able to nominate their presidential candidates. Golkar and PDI-P definitely have their candidates: Aburizal Bakrie and Megawati Soekarnoputri, so the only chance for alternative candidates to run for the presidency is to join the Democrat Party," he said.

"In my opinion, Indonesians wish to have a president who is honest, humble, and close to the people," Adji added. He explained that reducing prices and unemployment should be the priority of the next elected president.

Surveys & opinion polls

Jakarta, Yogyakarta score poorly in cultural freedom

Jakarta Post - May 31, 2013

Margareth S. Aritonang, Jakarta – A study conducted by the Institute for Policy Research and Advocacy (ELSAM) shows that Jakarta, in spite of its image as the most cosmopolitan city in the country, is one of the least tolerant places.

The study, which was conducted in five provinces from October to December last year, found that people in Jakarta faced obstacles in exercising their cultural rights. For the study, ELSAM also included West Sumatra, Yogyakarta, West Kalimantan and Papua.

"Intolerant groups have grown so strong that they have the authority to determine moral standards for people living in the city. In the name of religion and morality, these groups decide the movies, music or discussions to choose from," ELSAM researcher Wahyudi Djafar told a press briefing on Thursday.

The research found that the government's lack of action against these intolerant groups had emboldened them to curtail ever more cultural activities in the capital.

Wahyudi said that the cancellation of American pop sensation Lady Gaga's concert and the breaking up of a book discussion involving Canadian liberal Muslim activist Irshad Manji were examples of cultural setbacks in Jakarta.

The study, which interviewed 50 experts and social and political activists, also revealed that Jakarta is, surprisingly, the second-most dangerous place for citizens to exercise their social and political rights, after the country's easternmost province Papua.

Out of a maximum score of 100, Jakarta only managed 43.75 points, on a par with Yogyakarta, while Papua scored the lowest with an index of 31.25.

According to the study, Jakarta and Yogyakarta recorded equal numbers of complaints of persecution of critics of public policies, in spite of the fact that these cities have some of the best universities and are home to the largest numbers of students and intellectuals.

One of the incidents recorded in the survey was when activists questioning the law on Yogyakarta's special status, which grants the families of Sultan Hamengkubuwono X and his deputy Paku Alam the hereditary rights to political leadership of the province, received threats from local officials and vigilante groups.

In Jakarta, the threats against political activism included death threats and attacks on antigraft activists. Politicians were also accused of making threats to criminalize activists.

"This study has shown us that regardless of the broader access to information granted to citizens, the rights of the people to express their opinions on political issues are still restricted even after 15 years of reform," ELSAM director Indri D. Saptaningrum said.

The study also found that of the five provinces surveyed, West Sumatra got the highest score, 75, for freedom of cultural expression. However, the study also showed that West Sumatra scored the highest in terms of religious intolerance. The province scored only 37.5, far below Yogyakarta with 62.5.

West Sumatra is the only province in the country to have prosecuted a self-professed atheist. Alexander Aan, 32, a Minang civil servant who was arrested for blasphemy after he declared himself an atheist on a social media website, was sentenced to two-and-a-half years' imprisonment and a Rp 100 million (US$10,600) fine by the Negeri Muaro District Court in West Sumatra.

Elsam found 33 policies in 15 regencies that discriminated against women and religious minority groups. ELSAM's study found that Papua was the most tolerant province, with 87.5 points.

Dodi Ambardi from the Indonesian Survey Institute (LSI), who supervised the study, argued that politics was to blame for the growing intolerance in West Sumatra. "We found that religious tension results from political competition and this has fallen on religious minorities in the province," he said.

In 2011, human rights watchdog Setara Institute found in a study that West Java was the least tolerant province in the country.

Setara recorded 57 incidents throughout 2011, involving government-endorsed discriminatory policies, instances in which government officials condoned acts of violence against minority groups, the closure of places of worship and religiously motivated killings.

Jokowi flies higher and higher as glum voters seek new blood: CSIS

Jakarta Post - May 27, 2013

Margareth S. Aritonang, Jakarta – An opinion poll by Jakarta-based think tank the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) has found that the Jakarta governor is the most popular candidate for the 2014 presidential election, beating even the Greater Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) chief patron Lt. Gen. (ret) Prabowo Subianto.

The survey found that if the election was to take place today, Jokowi would get 28.6 percent of the vote, ahead of Prabowo with 15.6 percent. Golkar Party chairman Aburizal Bakrie came third with a mere 7 percent.

The survey found in a head-to-head contest between Jokowi and Prabowo, the Jakarta governor would get 46.6 percent of the votes while Prabowo would only get 22 percent.

In its survey in August 2012, CSIS found Prabowo to be the most popular candidate with 44 percent of the votes in a head-to-head contest against President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who got only 18 percent approval.

The current survey also shows that supporters of Jokowi come from a variety of backgrounds, age, economic status and level of education.

"The survey tells us that the public is yearning for an alternative. Jokowi's success shows it is possible to have such a candidate," Philips J. Vermonte, head of CSIS Department of Politics and International Relations, told a press conference on Sunday.

Philips said alternative candidates for the 2014 presidential election are even more crucial today as majority of the public has no faith in existing political parties.

"It's our job to search for and introduce quality alternative candidates to the public. Their participation in the contest will motivate undecided voters, whose numbers are relatively high," Philips said.

In its current survey, CSIS introduced five popular alternative figures, former finance minister and World Bank managing director Sri Mulyani Indrawati, Paramadina University rector Anies Baswedan, anti-graft activist Teten Masduki, businessman Sandiaga Uno and political activist Fadjroel Rahman.

Sri Mulyani comes out on top as the most popular candidate with 43.5 percent of the votes, followed by Anies with 17.5 percent and Teten with 15.3 percent.

The respondents believe that Sri Mulyani had a prominent role in financial reform during her stint as finance minister. Anies, meanwhile, won praise for his contribution to reforming the education system.

"It will be a challenge to nominate these candidates because it will be difficult to convince political parties to support them," CSIS senior researcher J. Kristiadi said. Kristiadi, however, added that undecided voters could influence the established political parties.

"Existing political parties must be open to this possibility to benefit from the growing number of our undecided voters, who are convinced their participation in the election will make no difference," Kristiadi said.

The CSIS survey found that 28 percent of respondents had not made up their minds about who to vote for in 2014.

For its latest survey, the CSIS interviewed 1,635 people between April 9 and April 16, in 31 provinces, excluding Papua and West Papua.

Other pollsters have come up with similar results. A study by the Pol- Tracking Institute last month, for example, also cited Jokowi as the most popular presidential hopeful due to the negative media coverage of most established political parties.

Democratic party loses more support: Survey

Jakarta Globe - May 26, 2013

Carlos Paath – A new survey shows that the Democratic Party is losing even more ground among Indonesian voters, with only 7.1 percent of respondents saying they would vote for the party in next year's elections.

"Compare it with the result of the 2009 elections, which were won by PD [the Democratic Party] with 21 percent votes. Now it's only 7.1 percent," Philips J. Vermonte, a senior researcher with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said in Jakarta on Sunday.

The CSIS conducted the survey from April 9 to 16, interviewing a total of 1,635 respondents from 31 provinces, with a margin of error of 2.42 percent and confidence level of 95 percent.

Philips said the latest result followed the declining trend in the ruling party's popularity, with similar polls conducted by the CSIS in January and July last year showing only 12.6 percent and 11.1 percent of respondents, respectively, were willing to vote for the party founded by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

A different poll by the Indonesian Survey Institute (LSI) similarly showed the party's decline in popularity, with the Democrats winning only 11.7 percent of the respondents' favor in a March survey, from 13.7 percent in February last year.

Another poll body, the National Survey Media (Median), pointed out earlier this month that nearly 77 percent of Democratic Party voters in 2009 have decided to cast their ballots for other parties next year, according to an April poll. That represented the biggest loss among other party participants of the 2009 elections.

"PD surely has a lot of homework to do... The latest figure reflects a significant drop," Philips said.

A member of the CSIS board of advisors, Jeffrie Geovanie, suggested that the Democratic Party pick young popular figures, such as Trade Minister Gita Wirjawan, who is currently not affiliated with any party, as its presidential candidates for next year so as to boost the party's electability.

Gita would be able to compete with Jakarta Deputy Governor Joko Widodo, a member of the rival Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), as Joko has been tipped by many analysts as a better candidate than PDI-P chairwoman Megawati Sukarnoputri.

The latest CSIS poll result shows that Golkar leads in popularity with 13.2 percent voters, followed by the PDI-P with 12.7 percent, Gerindra (7.3 percent) and the Democratic Party (7.1 percent).

The Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), the most popular Islamic-based party during the 2009 elections, finished 7th with 2.7 percent, following the recent corruption scandal involving its former chairman Luthfi Hasan Ishaaq and his colleague Ahmad Fathanah.

The PKS was beaten by fellow Islamic groups the National Mandate Party (PAN), with 4 percent votes, and the National Awakening Party (PKB) with 3.5 percent.

More than 40 percent of the respondents said they had not decided which party to vote for yet, while 2.7 percent said they would abstain.

Media & journalism

Press attacks in Indonesia to rise by 2014: AJI

Jakarta Globe - May 31, 2013

Acts of violence against journalists in Indonesia will continue to increase in line with political tensions ahead of next year's legislative and presidential elections, activists warn.

Eko Maryadi, the chairman of the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI), said at a discussion at the US Embassy in Jakarta on Wednesday that there had been a spike of cases of violence against journalists in the first five months of this year and that the trend was expected to go up as 2014 approached.

He said that the AJI had recorded at least 56 cases of violence against media workers in 2012, including by local legislators, police and military personnel, and that so far this year there had already been 14 such cases.

According to Eko, very few of those cases had been addressed formally with justice delivered. "You can count on one hand the number of cases that have been investigated or legally resolved," he said as quoted by Antaranews.com.

Eko warned that the threat of election-related violence would be a serious step back for Indonesia's increasingly open climate of press freedom, noting that the country currently enjoyed one of the most free press environments in the Southeast Asian region.

The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists says that 10 journalists have been killed in Indonesia since 1992, six of them with impunity.

The most recent confirmed killing of a journalist was in April 2012, when unknown gunmen open fired on a small plane as it came in to land at an airport in Mulia, Papua. Local reporter Leiron Kogoya was killed on board the plane, while four other people were injured. Police have still not been able to capture or identify the gunmen.

Hubert Gijzen, the director of the Jakarta office of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, said separately that the problem of violence against journalists was a serious one around the world, with some 600 reporters killed in the past 10 years.

Speaking at the Asia Media Summit in Manado, North Sulawesi, on Thursday, Gijzen said that 121 journalists had been killed in 2012, making that year a particularly deadly one for the press.

He added that of the 121 deaths reported to Unesco, only in nine cases were the perpetrators arrested, tried and convicted.

Environment & natural disasters

Lapindo mudflow victims still waiting for payment

Jakarta Post - May 30, 2013

Indra Harsaputra, Sidoarjo – Hundreds of people affected by the Lapindo mudflow in Sidoarjo, East Java, have yet to receive compensation seven years after the disaster.

The victims have staged rallies to demand payment for the loss of their assets, swallowed by the mud from a drilling well. They erected an ogoh- ogoh (papier mache effigy) with the face of Aburizal Bakrie, the owner of PT Lapindo Brantas, and placed it at a section of the wall of a pool containing the mudflow in Porong, Sidoarjo.

Coordinator of the seventh anniversary of the Lapindo mudflow, Abdul Rokhim, said an ogoh-ogoh was usually used by the Balinese Hindus to dispel bad luck.

Rokhim said the effigy of Aburizal, chairman of the Golkar Party, was a symbol of who should be responsible for the disaster. "The two-meter effigy was paraded and then placed by the containment pool to express residents' frustration over the disaster," he said.

He added that affected residents were using the seventh anniversary to emphasize that the Bakrie family had to be responsible for their sufferings.

PT Lapindo Brantas is controlled by the Bakrie family. The firm partly owns PT Minarak Lapindo Jaya (MLJ) which conducted gas exploration activities in the affected area leading to a blowout at one of Lapindo's natural gas wells.

Lapindo has persistently denied its exploration activity was the cause of the mudflow, instead blaming an earthquake in Yogyakarta, hundreds of kilometers to the west.

Rokhim said residents also erected another effigy, a jaelangkung (summoning a ghost) wearing a political party T-shirt to mock politicians who turn the Lapindo case into a political issue ahead of the 2014 general elections.

One of the victims, Koestiari, 52, said Lapindo has yet to pay any compensation, as promised.

"I have spent all my savings and other wealth while many of my neighbors are stressed," she said, adding that she no longer believed the government and Lapindo due to their empty promises since 2011.

Early this year, it was reported that Lapindo had paid Rp 3 trillion (US$306 million) in compensation to the mudflow victims.

Separately, East Java Governor Soekarwo said the government could do nothing to expedite the payment by Lapindo because the Supreme Court had issued a ruling saying that it was not Lapindo's fault.

"PT MLJ's responsibility is merely based on compassion because the Supreme Court has ruled that the company was not at fault," he said. "However, the company has promised to pay all the compensation in November. The state cannot force it to do so."

Health & education

Tobacco brands still relentless on advertising in Indonesia

Jakarta Globe - May 31, 2013

Dessy Sagita – Five-year-old Bayu was watching a movie on television. During the ad break, a barrage of cigarette ads streamed across the screen. Bayu was able to recognize the brand of each cigarette just by watching the commercials. "They were funny. Those men were really funny and smart," he said.

Bayu is also regulary exposed to cigarette branding while watching badminton on TV with his father, or while enjoying telecasts of music concerts. He has also seen ads created by a cigarette company that blatantly say "Don't Quit" on their billboards, an advertising move it would be hard to mistake as having any other motive than to discourage smokers from kicking the habit.

World No Tobacco Day is celebrated worldwide today. According to the World Health Organization, three of every four Indonesian children between the ages of 13 and 15 are exposed to cigarette ads on billboards and pro- tobacco messages at sporting events.

"In Indonesia, advertising, promotion and sponsorship went crazy after we passed the 2009 Health Law labeling tobacco an addictive substance," says Kartono Muhammad, the head of the Tobacco Control Support Center at the Indonesian Health Experts Association (IAKMI). "The tobacco industry has since been fighting fiercely to annul the regulation."

According to data from research company Nielsen, Indonesian tobacco companies spent Rp 1.98 trillion ($202 million) in 2010 on cigarette advertisements.

"Our children first learn about cigarettes from ads, because even though we have agreed that tobacco is an addictive substance, we have neglected to completely ban tobacco advertising," Kartono says.

"It's a double standard that we have banned alcohol advertising because alcohol is considered an addictive substance, but we allow advertising for cigarettes, which are also addictive. What makes cigarettes so special?"

Broadcast ban

"We are fighting for a total ban on cigarette ads, and to be honest it's a very hard fight," says Ezki Suyanto, the deputy chairwoman of the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI).

Under the 2002 Broadcasting Law, cigarette ads on television may only be aired after 9:30 p.m. However, Ezki says that cigarette companies use many other methods to promote their products before then.

"In the afternoon, while children are still watching TV, you can see cigarette logos diplayed at music and sporting events, which is a form of advertising," she says.

She added that the KPI recently reprimanded a TV station that had aired a quiz sponsored by a cigarette company during the daytime. "They argued they didn't air any ads, but merely displayed the logo in the background. I said that even if it had just been the company colors without the logo, the KPI still classified it as an ad."

Ezki notes that Indonesia is the only country in the Southeast Asian region that still allows cigarette ads to be aired on TV. "In our country, after 9 p.m. the TV stations still bombard their viewers with cigarette ads, with practically no other ads being aired," she says.

She adds the KPI has been lobbying for new regulations to challenge the current broadcasting regulations. "What we want is a total ban, but the resistence is tremendous," she says, adding that the KPI has been heavily criticized by television stations and legislators.

"It's very hard to convince legislators, but we stand firm. Television and radio stations have direct access to the public, and so they have a responsibility not to promote dangerous substances," Ezki says.

Cool factor

Ninety-three percent of Indonesian children are exposed to cigarette ads on television, while 50 percent regularly see cigarette ads on outdoor billboards and banners, according to a survey conducted by the National Commission on Children Protection (Komnas Anak).

Tjandra Yoga Aditama, the Indonesian Health Ministry's director general for disease control and environmental health, says the ads are designed to give impresionable youths the impression that smokers is "cool and confident."

"While we believe that most children start smoking because of peer pressure, the process actually starts long before that, because our children are constantly exposed to cigarette ads. It's just a matter of time before they take up smoking," he says.

The WHO says that although most countries have tobacco control laws, a ban on advertising of tobacco products needs to be enforced.

"Statistics show that banning tobacco advertising and sponsorship is one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce tobacco demand," says Samlee Plianbangchang, the WHO's regional director.

"A comprehensive ban on all tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship could cut consumption by an average of about 7 percent, with some countries experiencing a decline in consumption of up to 16 percent."

The Global Adults Tobacco Survey 2011, released in 2012, ranks Indonesia second after China for the number of smokers. The survey found that 67.4 percent of men and 4.5 percent of women in Indonesia were active smokers.

Tighter regulation

In January this year, Indonesia finally passed a long-awaited tobacco control regulation that imposes certain restrictions on cigarette advertising.

One of the restrictions will bar companies from portraying children, teenagers or pregnant women in their ads. The ads are also prohibited from glamorizing smoking or encourage people to take up the habit.

The regulation will require cigarette ads on television to devote 10 percent of their running time to written warnings with a pictorial warning. Ads on the radio would have to devote 10 percent of their duration to verbal warnings, while still-image ads would be required to devote 10 percent of their area for a warning.

The regulation also stipulates specific prohibitions for cigarette ads in print media. One of them is that these ads may never be published on the front or back cover of a print publication or near ads for food and drink products. Cigarette companies are also barred from taking out a full-page ad in any print publication.

Restrictions on outdoor media advertising include a prohibition on tobacco ads being displayed in smoke-free zones or along main roads. The restrictions, however, will not apply to small-scale tobacco companies, defined as those that produce fewer than 24 million cigarettes a year.

"A partial ban is even more dangerous than no limitation at all," says Lisda Sundari from Lentera Anak Indonesia, a non-government organization focusing on advocating children. "It's a manifestation of half-hearted protection for our children."

Lisda cites the case of Padang Panjang district in West Sumatra, which imposed a total ban on outdoor cigarette ads and saw a sharp increase in revenue from outdoor billboards within six months of the ban.

"So when people claim that a total ban on cigarette ads will make them lose a lot of money and that many sports or music events will have to be canceled, they're just being lazy, becaue there are so many other sponsors willing to step in," she says.

"What really concerns me is that cigarette companies have started using social media to promote their products, obviously aiming for young customers."

While the national regulation was passed in January, cigarette companies still have 12 months to comply with the rules, and 18 months to start printing pictorial health warnings on cigarette packages.

"It's been almost five months since the regulation was issued, but so far nothing has changed," says Arist Merdeka Sirait, the Komnas Anak chairman. "Even worse, it seems like cigarette companies are using this opportunity to come up with more ads, sponsorship and promotion before they run out of time."

Lisda says a total ban is the cheapest and the easiest way to put the brakes on the growing number of first-time smokers, many of whom are children. "By banning ads, promotion and sponsorship we are trying to build the idea that cigarettes aren't acceptable," she says.

Hospitals complain rates paid in healthcare scheme too low

Jakarta Post - May 24, 2013

Sita W. Dewi, Jakarta – Private hospitals taking part in the city's healthcare program Jakarta Health Card (KJS), have complained about unfavorable rates for medical services that have caused financial difficulties for hospitals.

Representatives of 16 hospitals conveyed their problems regarding the implementation of the healthcare program at a hearing with KJS stakeholders at the Jakarta Legislative Council on Thursday.

"Medical rates set by the healthcare system cover only 30 percent of the expenses we incur," Thamrin Hospital, deputy president director Abdul Barry Radjak said. Thamrin Hospital along with the Admira Hospital have officially withdrawn from participation in the program.

Sukapura Islamic Hospital finance director Inggit concurred and said that the wide gap between actual costs and medical fees covered by the city administration had caused them financial losses.

"Although we are a non-profit hospital, we still have to pay our staff wages. Therefore, we urge the administration to evaluate the system and rates without risking treatment quality," she said.

Even so, representatives of 16 hospitals renewed their commitment to supporting the city administration's program to serve the poor. "We have never rejected KJS patients. However, we call for an evaluation of the INA-CBG system," Sumber Waras Hospital spokesman Anthio said.

The INA-CBG (Indonesia Case-Based Group) system is a diagnostic-based reimbursement system that has been applied in the healthcare scheme since the administration appointed state-insurer PT Askes to manage KJS funds totaling Rp 1.2 trillion (US$122.8 million) in April.

It will also be applied by the Social Security Provider (BPJS) in implementing the national healthcare program (Jamkesmas) in January 2014.

The INA-CBG system replaced the previous fee-for-service reimbursement system used in the regional healthcare system, where services were unbundled and paid for separately. The previous system allowed physicians to provide more treatments because payment was dependent on the quantity of care, rather than quality of care.

Chairulsjah Sjahruddin representing Admira Hospital said that the hospital would rejoin the program once a review of the system was made.

Jakarta Health Agency head Dien Emmawati acknowledged the INA-CBG system's shortcomings, saying that the agency and other relevant authorities were intensively evaluating the rates.

"We will adjust medical rates used in the INA-CBG system and consult with the Health Ministry. Hopefully with the new rates, medical service providers will be able to improve services," Dien told reporters after the hearing.

Dien emphasized that the adjustment would not affect the budget for the KJS program. "I am sure even after we adjust the rates, our spending on the KJS program won't exceed Rp 1.5 trillion," she said.

Achmad Soebagio of the National Case Mix Center said that among subjects for evaluation were the unit costs applied in different hospitals across Jakarta.

"We will check the unit costs in hospitals across Jakarta and study why there is such a wide divergence between the unit costs and reimbursement rates. However, we guarantee that we will never risk the quality of medical treatment," he said.

The evaluation is expected to be completed within a month. PT Askes Jakarta region head Ikhsan said that an adjustment of medical rates would not halt the implementation of the healthcare program in the field.

Gender & sexual orientation

Recorded abuses against LGBT 'the tip of the iceberg'

Jakarta Post - May 30, 2013

Jakarta – Forum LGBT Indonesia, a coalition of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals, has recorded 47 cases of abuse against gay individuals across the country over the last year, a figure it says is only the tip of the iceberg.

The coalition said on Tuesday that it had collected and studied 47 reports of violence and discrimination against the gay community from 21 local NGOs promoting LGBT rights, with transgender individuals (29 cases) being the most targeted victims, followed by lesbians (12 cases) and gays (six cases).

Cases of violence include bullying, physical attacks, verbal abuse and murder. Instances of discrimination include exclusion in the workplace and criminalization.

These cases are perpetrated by institutional and personal actors. Institutional actors include policemen and public order personnel. Personal actors include families, neighbors, vigilantes and religious-based mass organizations, such as the Islam Defenders Front (FPI).

"There was one incident in Makassar, South Sulawesi, in which a 17-year-old girl was reported to the police by her parents because they had discovered her to be a lesbian. The police then detained her for four days before setting her free again. This constitutes discrimination in law, perpetrated by personal and institutional actors," Khanis Suvianta, the research coordinator, said.

"Physical violence also includes murder. Three transgender individuals had been murdered in 2012, one in Yogyakarta and two in Jakarta," Khanis added.

Researchers concluded that the public's lack of knowledge on how human rights principles apply to all sexual and gender identities had prevented people from reporting cases of abuse, leading to the failure of the government and the police institution to provide LGBT individuals with protection and safety.

Khanis said the amount of violence against the LGBT community gathered by the researchers might not reflect the actual magnitude of abuses against the community, since most cases went unreported.

"I believe this report just captured the tip of the iceberg. A number of our respondents didn't want to have their cases published, even though we had documented their reports," Khanis said. "Some respondents even refused to continue the interview process after it had started. They just stopped talking to us," Khanis said.

Yulita Molyganta from Forum LGBTIQ Indonesia said that a lot of LGBT individuals decided not to file a report about the abuse they experienced because of "self-condemnation". "The logic of self-condemnation is this: People say that I am sinful and abnormal, therefore there is no wonder that I experience this kind of violence," Yulita added.

Dede Oetomo, the founder of Gaya Nusantara, Indonesia's oldest LGBT rights group, said education was key to curb stigmatization against LGBT individuals.

"Unfortunately, moral education never touches upon intolerance issues. How to be tolerant of a person who is different from you? Moral education focuses too much on the observance of religious rituals, like performing salat [daily prayers] or going to church," Dede said.

Khanis said the study on abuses against LGBT in Indonesia is the first step toward providing better human rights protection to LGBT individuals in Indonesia.

"We could bring this finding to a national forum and educate the government and the public that LGBT community is very prone to human rights abuses. This way, we would prompt the government to provide us with better protection," Khanis said. (ogi)

Graft & corruption

Lawmakers bare teeth against KPK

Jakarta Post - May 30, 2013

Margareth S. Aritonang, Jakarta – The House of Representatives' apparent animosity toward the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is intensifying as more and more lawmakers become embroiled in corruption scandals.

During a hearing with House Commission III overseeing legal affairs on the revision to the 2013 state budget on Wednesday, the anti-graft agency was reminded that the House held control of its budget.

Several commission members said that they were reluctant to discuss the budget for the KPK for fear that they could be victimized by the agency.

"We need to make sure that you are on track before finally approving your budget proposal. Thus, an audit of the KPK's performance is a must because it is not a prophet-like body that can do no wrong and is beyond the law," lawmaker Desmond Junaidi Mahesa of the Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) Party told KPK deputy chairman Zulkarnain.

Desmond is among a number of lawmakers who have been implicated in the driving-simulator scandal at the National Police Traffic Corps (Korlantas), which has reportedly caused US$19.81 million in state losses.

In his testimony at the Corruption Court in Jakarta on Tuesday, former deputy chief of Korlantas, Adj. Comr. Teddy Rusmawan, who was in charge of the simulator project in 2011, said that graft defendant Insp. Gen. Djoko Susilo ordered him to deliver four boxes containing unknown amounts of cash to several lawmakers.

He said the lawmakers included former House Budget Committee member and graft convict Muhammad Nazaruddin and several members of the House's legal affairs commission: Desmond, Aziz Syamsuddin and Bambang Soesatyo of the Golkar Party, and Herman Herri of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P).

All the accused, except Nazaruddin, have denied the allegations. But the KPK said it would follow up on Teddy's testimony.

Also on Wednesday, the House's committee overseeing the Bank Century probe slammed the KPK for once again ignoring its invitation to discuss the latest developments in its investigation into the multi-billion dollar bailout scandal. The committee threatened to ask the National Police to forcibly bring KPK leaders to the House.

"We have the constitutional power to force them to attend meetings with us; and we are about to make use of this power as the KPK has ignored our invitations twice," said committee member Fahry Hamzah of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), whose top leaders are now being investigated by the KPK for their roles in the beef-import graft case.

Zulkarnain told lawmakers that the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) had audited the KPK and given an unqualified (i.e. wholly satisfactory) opinion on the antigraft body's performance and financial report.

The KPK, he explained, was open to discussion with any parties, including the House, as long as it was not asked to reveal details of ongoing graft investigations. He argued that the KPK leaders had to skip the Century meeting because the lawmakers were demanding that they disclose confidential information regarding the case.

"We cannot disclose the substance of any ongoing investigation as that would disrupt the process. We will be happy to respond to future invitations from the House as long as they don't concern our investigations," he said.

The KPK recently questioned former finance minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati in the United States about the bailout scandal during which KPK chairman Abraham Samad said the former minister provided new information on the case.

Tensions between KPK and the House

Jan. 31, 2011: The KPK cancels its scheduled hearing with the House's law commission after several lawmakers object to the presence of two KPK deputies, Bibit Samad Riyanto and Chandra M. Hamzah. Lawmakers allege KPK deputies are implicated in a bribery and extortion case.

Sept. 29, 2011: KPK refuse to attend a consultation meeting arranged by House leaders, because the meeting is also expected to involve leaders of the House's Budget Committee, who are allegedly involved in a graft case.

Oct. 3, 2011: Lawmakers lash out at the antigraft body during a consultative meeting to probe its decision to question House Budget Committee leaders for alleged graft within the Manpower and Transmigration Ministry.

June 20, 2012: During a hearing at the DPR, KPK deputy chief Bambang Widjojanto asks House to fulfill promise to approve the budget as gesture of support for the KPK. Earlier in the day, Commission III lawmakers flexed their muscles over the antigraft body when they refused to hold talks with it because of the absence of KPK deputies, even though all KPK commissioners were present.

Oct. 2, 2012: Caving in to public pressure, political factions at the House of Representatives drop their plan to amend the 2002 Law on the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), which many regard as a move to weaken the country's antigraft body.

Recording incriminates ex-PKS leader

Jakarta Post - May 30, 2013

Bagus BT Saragih, Jakarta – The Jakarta Corruption Court heard on Wednesday a recorded conversation between former Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) chairman Luthfi Hasan Ishaaq and his aide, Ahmad Fathanah, in which the two spoke, sometimes in Arabic, about a plan to rig the nation's beef import scheme.

Sitting as defendants were Juard Effendi and Arya Abdi Effendi, directors of beef importer PT Indoguna Utama.

The two have been indicted for bribing Luthfi, using Fathanah as a middleman, in a hope that Agriculture Minister Suswono, a PKS senior member, would relax beef import quota to give room for Indoguna to procure imported beef.

"Ismak... ismak, huwa hiya tudkhil tsmaniya alaf batruk ton laheim," Fathanah said in Arabic in the recorded conversation.

JA Jamaluddin, an Arabic language expert from the Saudi Arabian embassy, who was summoned to the trial hearing to interpret the conversation, said that Fathanah was saying, "Listen, I will talk in Arabic. She wants to procure 8,000 tons of beef."

Fathanah is believed to be referring to Indoguna president director Maria Elizabeth Liman, who has also been named a suspect in the scandal.

Fathanah went on, "Ee tsamaniya allaf alheim ee huwa hiya ta l kullu annukud arbaik miliar cash." Jamaluddin translated it into "For the procurement of the 8,000 tons of beef, [Maria] is willing to pay Rp 40 billion [US$4.08 million] in cash as fees." The recording relayed Luthfi's response, also in Arabic, saying, "So, only 8,000 tons?"

The conversation contradicted Luthfi's repeated claims that Fathanah was only using his name for his own gains.

Luthfi, the only PKS politician charged in the case to date, has been accused of using his influence as then-PKS leader to lobby Suswono to raise the import meat quota awarded to Indoguna.

Both Luthfi and Fathanah have also been named suspects by the KPK. Arya and Juard were caught red-handed by the KPK shortly after the two gave Rp 1.3 billion, believed as a down payment of the Rp 40 billion, to Fathanah in January. The latter was arrested a few hours later.

The recordings also revealed that the two were planning a strategy to convince Suswono that additional beef import quota would be normal and not make the policy look irregular.

"We must ask Maria to convince [Suswono] that the data from the BPS [Central Statistics Agency] is inaccurate. Self-sufficiency could endanger our beef resiliency. Ask [Maria] to bring data [to support our argument]," Luthfi told Fathanah in the recording.

The telephone recordings also suggested that the relationship between Luthfi and Fathanah was very close. Fathanah, for example, once opened a conversation by saying, "[Luthfi], your wives have been waiting," which was followed by laughter of the two. "Which ones?" Luthfi responded.

Before the court hearing, Luthfi admitted one of the voices in the recording was his. He, however, claimed that he did not take Fathanah seriously. He said that he responded to Fathanah because he was "forced" to. Fathanah, meanwhile, said that his comments to Luthfi were only "jokes."

PKS told of corporate corruption risk

Jakarta Globe - May 29, 2013

Yeremia Sukoyo – The graft-addled Prosperous Justice Party may be changed with corporate crime offenses that could eventually lead to its disbandment, a former Islamic student leader has warned.

Syahrul Efendi Dasopang on Tuesday said the party known as PKS had to decide whether to stand by senior figures accused of corruption, or to cut them loose to protect the party. "They can either save the party or the individuals," he said.

The PKS's former chairman Luthfi Hasan Ishaaq and advisory chairman Hilmi Aminuddin have been named by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) as suspects in a case involving the payment of bribes from a meat company in exchange for assistance in securing additional beef import quotas.

Syahrul, a former leader of the Islamic Students Association (HMI), said the current leaders of the PKS needed to protect it from the impact of the actions of the former senior figures.

"If they retain Hilmi, they are taking the risk of being disbanded for having conducted corporate corruption," Syahrul told a discussion on Islam and politics at the Islamic Youth Movement (Gerakan Pemuda Islam) headquarters in Jakarta.

Syahrul said the PKS would benefit from "getting rid of" Hilmi and installing members of Muhammadiyah and the Nahdlatul Ulama – Islamic religious organizations – as party officers. "Should they decide to take such a step, the PKS would be slightly 'safer' from being dismissed as they will have a stronger composition," he said.

Last week, Zainudin Paru, a lawyer representing the PKS, claimed the KPK had discriminated against the party by subjecting it to close scrutiny for several weeks.

Zainudin criticized political experts who called for the KPK to name the PKS a suspect for corporate corruption, saying the KPK should first solve corruption cases involving the Democratic Party, of which President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is the chairman.

"If KPK wants to trace down corporate corruption, they better prioritize the Democratic Party, [starting] with [former Democratic Party treasurer and graft convict Muhammad] Nazaruddin," Zainudin said on May 20. He added that the statements made by experts were "nothing but provocations to corner the PKS."

Zainudin was referring at the time to statements made by Donald Fariz, an activist from Indonesia Corruption Watch, who said the party was legally eligible to be named a suspect for corporate corruption. Donald said the 1999 Corruption Law regulated not only crimes committed by individuals but also by corporations.

Earlier this month, KPK deputy chairman Busyro Muqoddas said the commission had not named the PKS a suspect for corporate corruption and had not confiscated its assets or blocked its bank accounts, as the Corruption Law allows it to do.

"It has not yet gone that far.... It is still being treated as an individual crime," said Busyro, a former chairman of the Judicial Commission.

But Busyro said it was a standard procedure for the KPK to investigate the flow of funds from a corruption suspect. The KPK has seized several cars allegedly linked to Luthfi as part the beef probe.

Priyo Budi Santoso now implicated in Koran graft

Jakarta Globe - May 28, 2013

Markus Junianto Sihaloho – The Corruption Eradication Commission on Monday said that it had preliminary evidence that senior Golkar Party politician Priyo Budi Santoso was involved in the Koran procurement scandal.

"Investigators have obtained preliminary evidence, some of which had been previously reported in the media," Busyro said during a journalist workshop on anti-corruption in Sukabumi, West Java on Saturday.

Priyo is alleged to have received 1 percent from the Religious Affairs Ministry's computer laboratory procurement budget and 3.5 percent from its Koran procurement budget in 2011.

Prosecutors have previously demanded suspended lawmaker Zulkarnaen Djabar be sentenced to 12 years in prison and pay a Rp 500 million ($51,000) fine for his alleged involvement in the Ministry of Religious Affairs' Koran procurement budget.

Zulkarnaen, who served on House Commission VIII, which oversees religious affairs, was in July 2012 named a suspect for alleged bid-rigging in a project to procure Korans for the Religious Affairs Ministry, among other projects. He appointed Fahd El Fouz as a broker between him and the ministry.

Assisted by his son and Fahd, Zulkarnaen asked Religious Affairs Ministry officials to award Batu Karya Mas the tender in the procurement of a computer laboratory in 2011. They asked for 15 percent of the Rp 31.2 billion contract in order to guarantee the deal.

He used the same strategy to obtain bribes in two Koran procurement projects by awarding Adhi Aksara Abadi and Sinergi Pustaka Indonesia the tender.

Chairman of Golkar Party central executive board (DPP) Hajriyanto Thohari said the party was yet to receive a formal summons for Priyo's questioning, and the Corruption Eradication Commission's (KPK) statement would be taken lightly for now.

"It's just a statement right now, we are currently waiting for an official letter for questioning. At this stage we have yet to receive a letter or a phone call from the KPK," Hajriyanto said.

Hajriyanto said Golkar would respect the legal process but as the news was not yet conveyed formally to Golkar by the KPK, the party's politicians would not yet be treating it seriously.

Hajriyanto said that politically, any corruption case would be the responsibility of the individual involved and would bare no connection to the party itself as the party had not instructed its cadres to raise funds.

"Golkar Party operates transparently and will allow KPK to investigate cadres who are implicated in corruption. It has never tried to obstruct any investigation process, let alone try to lobby in a bid to prevent the cadres from being legally processed," said Hajriyanto.

KPK deputy chairman Busyro Muqoddas said there was definite evidence linking Priyo's to the case.

Busyro said that KPK was still in the process of validating the evidence. "We have a standard procedure to follow throughout the process. This will be seen to its conclusion," he said.

Freedom of religion & worship

Ministries reaffirm curbs on Ahmadiyah

Jakarta Post - May 31, 2013

Jakarta – As President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono prepares to accept the controversial World Statesman Award, a joint-ministerial meeting on the Ahmadiyah issue on Thursday concluded that a 2008 joint ministerial decree, which bans members of Ahmadiyah from propagating their beliefs, is the key to curbing violence against the community.

Four ministers, Coordinating Peoples Welfare Minister Agung Laksono, Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro, Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali and Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Djoko Suyanto attended the meeting on Thursday.

"All elements of the community should work harder to improve the role of provincial, regency and sub-district heads in enforcing compliance of the joint ministerial decree on Ahmadiyah," Agung said after the meeting.

Agung said that to accomplish this, more campaign is needed to educate the public about the decree as well as evaluate the legal status of the Ahmadiyah sect.

Also speaking after the meeting, Suryadharma reiterated his proposal for the Ahmadiyah to split from Islam and its followers declared believers of a new religion. "They profess the belief that Mirza Ghulam Ahmad is their last prophet, while Islam believes Muhammad to be the last prophet," Suryadharma said.

Suryadharma said that such a move could be a win-win solution to a stand- off between the community and mainstream Islam in the country. "If the Ahmadis opt to declare themselves not part of Islam, it will not cause any problem. But if they want to declare themselves part of Islam, they should take into account mainstream Islamic teachings," Suryadharma said.

Members of the Ahmadiyah community quickly denounced the statement. An official with the National Ahmadiyah congregation Deden Sudjana said that Suryadharma's statement could incite further violence against his community.

"It is better if we have an internal dialogue about this. The minister's statement could have a huge impact on the public. This statement could easily cause them to attack and even murder us," Deden said. Deden also said that the government should educate the public regarding the joint ministerial decree.

"People have never read it. We have never spread our teachings; we just perform five prayers and recite the Koran, as ordered by Allah. Why do they prohibit us from doing these things, which are not regulated in the decree?," Deden said.

Suryadharma also proposed for the resolution of conflicts involving Ahmadis was for them to convert to the "right" teachings of Islam.

The Religious Affairs Ministry reported on its official website that Suryadharma witnessed 20 Ahmadis reciting two syahadat (confession) at a mosque in Singaparna, Tasikmalaya, on May 21. The ministry recorded that as many as 712 Ahmadis converted to Sunni Islam between 2007 and 2013. (ogi)

Yudhoyono criticized over Statesman Award in New York

Jakarta Globe - May 31, 2013

Ian Dulkowski – President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono received in New York on Thursday evening the World Statesman Award from a US interfaith organization for his role in promoting religious tolerance and freedom of worship in Indonesia.

Yudhoyono has been widely criticized by human rights organization over his decision to receive the award from the Appeal of Conscience Foundation, citing cases of religious intolerance in Indonesia, such as the shuttering of the GKI Yasmin and HKBP Filadelfia churches and the attacks on Ahmadiyah members and their mosques.

East Timor and Indonesia Action Network (ETAN), meanwhile, organized a peaceful demonstration against the award outside The Pierre hotel in New York. Photos of protesters in NY began circulating on Twitter with the hashtags #SBYNoAward and #SBYNoStatesman.

Jewish rabbi and religion professor at Boston University Hillel Levine participated in the demonstration and criticized the awards ceremony, saying "[the organizers] did this to bring people to raise money."

In a video recorded by former Indonesian journalist Fitri Mohan in New York, Levine said, "I think it's a silly award... The president has his accomplishments, but at the same time he [has not fulfilled] basic human rights and he's not done as much as he could do."

Rumors also have it that the ACF struggled to fill seats for Yudhoyono's award ceremony as several Indonesians in New York have been offered cash to attend.

An Indonesian living in New York, Abdul Muchtar posted on his Facebook page about the offer: "Disgusting! I was approached to support SBY's award ceremony in New York. I was offered US$100 – plus return transport and lunch and dinner treats.

Apparently, my friends in NY, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Virginia, DC and Maryland were also approached with similar offers."

Yudhoyono receives World Statesman Award in New York

Jakarta Globe - May 31, 2013

Markus Junianto Sihaloho – President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono received in New York on Thursday evening the World Statesman Award from a US interfaith organization for his role in promoting religious tolerance and freedom of worship in Indonesia.

Yudhoyono said building a tolerant society is a matter of good statecraft. "And this is something that no leader can do alone. This is something that requires the collective work of a large pool of leaders, of all persuasion, and in all fields doing their statecraft to lead and inspire those who follow them," he said in his speech, a copy of which was sent to the Jakarta Globe.

The president has been widely criticized by human rights organization over his decision to receive the award from the Appeal of Conscience Foundation, citing cases of religious intolerance in Indonesia, such as the shuttering of the GKI Yasmin and HKBP Filadelfia churches and the attacks on Ahmadiyah members and their mosques.

Philosophy lecturer and interfaith activist Franz Magnis Suseno sent a letter to the foundation objecting to the award. He said that Yudhoyono did not do anything significant to protect the Ahmadiyah and Shia communities, who were considered heretics by conservative Islamic groups.

"This is a shame, a shame for you. It discredits any claim you might make as an institution with moral intentions," Franz wrote in his letter. "How can you take such a decision without asking concerned people in Indonesia? Hopefully you have not made this decision in response to prodding by people from our government or the entourage of the president."

The son of Islamic organization Nahdlatul Ulama figure Imam Shofwan even made an online petition called "No Award to SBY," calling for the foundation not to give the award.

"I grew up in a Nahdatul Ulama family, and I agree with what Prof. Magnis said. I believe that a crime committed in the name of religion is a crime against religion. Ironically, this happens to be ACF's credo."

In his speech, Yudhoyono said that "maintaining peace, order, and harmony is something that can never be taken for granted."

"We are still facing a number of problems on the ground. Pockets of intolerance persist. Communal conflicts occasionally flare up. Religious sensitivities sometimes give rise to disputes, with groups taking matters into their own hands. Radicalism still exists on the fringe," he said.

"This, I believe, is a problem that is not exclusive to Indonesia alone, and may in fact be a global phenomenon."

He said the Indonesian government would use several approaches to solve the problem, and that the government "would not tolerate any act of senseless violence committed by any group in the name of the religion."

"We will not allow any desecration of places of worship of any religion for whatever reason. We will always protect our minorities and ensure that no one suffers from discrimination. We will make sure that those who violate the rights of others will face the arms of justice," he said.

Yudhoyono added that people might be surprised to know that there are actually 61,000 churches in Indonesia, which he said was probably more than the number of churches in Great Britain and Germany.

Eva Kusuma Sundari, a lawmaker from the opposition Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), said she was disappointed that the president insisted on receiving the award.

"I'm sad over the president's decision to still receive the award, which was not accountably given as from the start the process was full of controversy," Eva said on Friday.

Eva claimed that the award was given after one of Yudhoyono's former ministers lobbied the foundation.

"I heard that Indonesian embassy staff were busy as they had to be the sales people of the event, which did not receive a positive response from buyers," Eva said. "This is our concern because the award ceremony was not an interesting show."

Information from the foundation shows that the tickets to the dinner event were priced at $1,000 for individuals while corporate sponsorships go from $10,000 to $100,000 per table.

President Yudhoyono received the World Statement Award presented by Rabbi Arthur Scheneier at an event which was also attended by former US state secretary Henry Kissinger, Antara news agency reported.

Also present on the occasion were First Lady Ani Yudhoyono, Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa, State Secretary Sudi Silalahi, and Indonesian Ambassador to the US Dino Patty Djalal.

For the sake of an award

Jakarta Post - May 29, 2013

The problem with religious disputes, Albert Hasibuan, a presidential aide, said lies in local leaders' defiance of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. He lamented that they had ignored the President's speeches about tolerance and cited demands to throw out the Shiite community from Sampang in Madura, East Java.

If only local leaders practiced what the President preached, Albert assumed, all would be well. If this was so, another aide said, critics would not be so "narrow-minded" and reject the honor of the World Statesman Award to be conferred later this week on our President, for his promotion of religious tolerance.

Now, the "narrow-minded" would be scratching their heads over the remarks of both the President and Albert, a member of the presidential advisory board. Yudhoyono has said that the award is for the nation, not for his personal achievements, and is from "a credible international organization that has observed our country closely for some time".

One does not need to have observed Indonesia for a very long time to see the reason behind the widespread criticism of the decision by the Appeal of Conscience Foundation (ACF) to bestow the award on our President.

As he boarded his plane – heading to Sweden first with a business delegation before heading to New York to collect his award – the displaced Shiite community taking shelter in a sports stadium in Sampang are wondering whether East Java Governor Soekarwo will bow to demands to evict them from their homes.

Members of the Ahmadiyah are still locked inside their sealed mosque just east of the capital in Bekasi; the regent openly said the Ahmadis, which mainstream Muslims do not recognize as part of Islam, violated a ministerial decree by propagating their faith.

Albert must have forgotten that local leaders do not take their cue from presidential speeches. The mayor of Bogor in West Java, also near Jakarta, has refused to execute a Supreme Court ruling that favored the followers of the GKI Yasmin church, and the church's construction remains stalled.

Local leaders now take cue from the inaction and silence of law enforcers that stand-by while mosques, churches and minority faith community buildings are sealed, destroyed or burnt. Home Minister Gamawan Fauzi and Religous Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali have even said that local leaders' decisions to restrict minorities are within the realm of regional autonomy.

An online movement with over 5,000 signatures rejected the award from the American foundation and respected priest Franz Magnis-Suseno openly reminded the ACF of intolerance toward minorities here.

Without state protection, minorities have expressed joint solidarity. Christians, Shiite Muslims and Ahmadis joined a recent gathering near the Ahmadiyah mosque in Bekasi, representing Sobat KBB, a group of minority faiths whose followers have been harassed, intimidated, evacuated, stabbed and even murdered.

If it takes a trip to New York to wake up the President and his staff, then that would be the silver lining behind the billowing clouds of embarrassment.

MUI backs tolerance award for SBY

Jakarta Post - May 29, 2013

The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) said President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono deserved his forthcoming award for letting religious harmony flourish in Indonesia. "We approve of the plan to honor the President," MUI leader Ma'ruf Amin told a press conference at his office on Tuesday.

SBY is expected to accept the World Statesman Award on May 30 in New York, a recognition for his support of human rights and religious freedom.

Ma'ruf said there was no reason to object to the award. "The state protects the freedom of all Indonesians to worship according to their beliefs," he said.

Victimized Ahmadiyah group 'not surprised' by release of suspects

Jakarta Globe - May 28, 2013

Arientha Primanita – Two suspects of an attack on Ahmadiyah Muslims in Tasikmalaya, West Java, received approval to be released from detainment on Monday, a move which the members of the minority community say was an in justice.

Asep Taufik Ahmad, a member of the Ahmadiyah community in the Sukamaju village of Singaparna subdistrict, said that the release of the suspects was not surprising.

"Unjust treatment is not something new for us. We are accustomed to it. Since the very beginning [of the incident] we did not hope [for] much," he told the Jakarta Globe on Tuesday.

West Java Police approved the bail proposal of two men, identified as T.A. and A.R., who were held for 20 days after they allegedly damaged property. Sr. Comr. Martinus Sitompul, the West Java Police spokesman, said that the bail proposal was filed by the suspects' attorney on Monday and the police approved it shortly after.

"We also think we have conducted enough investigation," Martinus told news portal Tempo.co on Monday.

Both T.A. and A.R. signed a statement agreeing to cooperate with the police if summoned for further questioning, Martinus said, adding that their families also said they would be held responsible if the suspects escaped.

"Both of them are required to report every Monday and Thursday to the local police station or West Java Police," Martinus added.

T.A. and A.R. were arrested by the police after a mob stormed a village earlier this month, damaging dozens of homes and a mosque belonging to an Ahmadiyah community. The suspects were arrested two days after the incident. Police charged them with vandalism, a crime which carries of a sentence of up to five years.

Earlier on Monday, Kompas.com reported that hundreds of people from Islamic organizations gathered at the Great Mosque of Tasikmalaya to demand the release of T.A. and A.R.

Asep said that while the Ahmadiyah community respected the authority of the police, they regretted the decision to release the suspects after being pressured by hard-line groups.

"For us, it was not the material loss that we felt the most sorry about. But there were old people and children who were asleep when the attack happened in the wee hours. Some of them are still traumatized now," he said. He added that the mosque and homes that were destroyed are slowly being rebuilt.

Asep said that the Ahmadiyah community has not planned further action regarding the bail of the suspects. He added that the people only wanted to live and practice their beliefs in peace. "We don't want anything but just to be able to practice in our own mosque in peace," he said.

Ignoring protests, SBY leaves for US to accept award

Jakarta Post - May 28, 2013

Bagus BT Saragih, Jakarta – President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has departed for the US, where he is expected to accept the World Statesman Award for promoting religious tolerance in the country, despite angry protests over his eligibility for the accolade.

At a press conference held shortly before he boarded the presidential plane on Monday, Yudhoyono turned on critics who have cast the award in a negative light, and insisted the recognition was due to the nation's achievements rather than his success as an individual.

"I am aware of protests from some figures and groups. I respect their opinion, but you should also know that the award is from a credible international organization that has closely observed our country for quite a long time. If the organization decides to award our nation through its President, we must not see it in a negative light," Yudhoyono said at Halim Perdanakusuma Airport in East Jakarta.

Yudhoyono is on a six-day working visit, including a stop-over in Sweden, during which he plans to hold bilateral meetings with Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf, Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt and head of parliament Per Westerberg. He will also meet with CEOs of Sweden's top companies. Yudhoyono is scheduled to leave Stockholm for New York on May 29.

In New York, Yudhoyono will chair the last meeting of the United Nations high level panel on post-2015 development. The President will receive the award from the Appeal of Conscience Foundation (ACF) on the sidelines of the meeting.

Activists, including the prominent Catholic priest Franz Magnis Suseno, have protested against Yudhoyono receiving the award.

Presidential special staff member Daniel Sparingga said the government could not do anything about religious tolerance as it was in the hands of the people themselves.

"Tolerance is a problematic issue in every pluralist society. The 'worsening' intolerance, as cited by civil society and activists is actually a logical consequence of the greater freedom that we have," he said.

Also on Monday, Albert Hasibuan, the President's advisor on human rights, blamed religious intolerance on local government leaders who failed to follow orders from Yudhoyono. Albert also said that he had asked Yudhoyono to be more decisive in giving orders to local government leaders and his subordinates.

Albert, who recently submitted a report on the management of cases of religious intolerance to the President, said he had found that police officers, as well as regional leaders, did not intend to resolve the cases despite pressure from the President.

"I made a report based on field observations and found that the President's speeches were simply ignored. I think the President should now act more decisively otherwise such cases of intolerance will persist and this can be dangerous for the nation," Albert said on Monday.

In the report, Albert included the eviction of hundreds of Shiites in Sampang, East Java, who had been sheltering in a sport building for months following fatal attacks on their village; the forceful closure of and intimidation against the HKBP Filadelfia congregation in Bekasi regency, despite a court ruling in favor of the church; the forceful closure of the GKI Yasmin church by the Bogor city administration, despite a Supreme Court ruling favoring the church; and the attack on an Ahmadiyah hamlet in Tasikmalaya.

"In Sampang, for example, the regent openly said that they did not want any Shia followers there and asked the displaced people to leave. This is like an act of defiance against the President's calls for a peaceful resolution," Albert said.

In Bandung, West Java, activist Fadjroel Rachman said that minority groups could file a lawsuit against Yudhoyono if he failed to curb rampant cases of religious intolerance after receiving the award.

[Arya Dipa contributed to the story from Bandung.]

President on schedule to receive rights award in NYC

Jakarta Post - May 27, 2013

Nadya Natahadibrata and Margareth S. Aritonang, Jakarta – Despite mounting criticism, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is expected to accept the World Statesman Award, a recognition of his work in supporting human rights and religious freedom, on May 30 in New York.

Yudhoyono's advisor for political communications, Daniel Sparingga, said on Sunday that the President was scheduled to receive the award during his working visit to the United States later this week.

Yudhoyono is expected to leave the country on Monday for a six-day working visit which includes a stop-over in Sweden. Sparingga said that the award was given due to his achievements, particularly his efforts to create a democratic society in the country.

"We acknowledge that law enforcement as well as prevention efforts on religious intolerance and conflicts have not been completely successful," Sparingga told The Jakarta Post on Sunday. "However, this award is not addressed solely to the President. The award is given to appreciate this nation's [religious] tolerance," he added.

Sparingga said that the award had seven criteria and that the President had fulfilled at least six of them, thus qualifying him for the award.

The presidential advisor said that one of the reasons Yudhoyono received the award was his promotion of peace and dialogue when dealing with conflicts in Papua and Aceh.

Sparingga also said that the President had fought against terrorism within the country and had sought to improve relations between Palestine and Israel. "The President has also actively promoted human rights, and during his tenure the country has witnessed no gross violations of human rights," he said.

As previously reported, the US-based Appeal of Conscience Foundation's (AFC) decision to honor the President has drawn criticism, including from respected Catholic priest Frans Magnis Suseno, who said that Yudhoyono had done "nothing to protect religious minorities." Since making the criticism, Magnis has been subject to personal attacks by some in Yudhoyono's inner circle.

Meanwhile on Sunday, hundreds of congregation members from the Indonesian Christian Church (GKI) Yasmin, in Bogor and the Filadelfia Batak Christian Protestant Church (HKBP) in Bekasi, both in West Java, held a service in front of the State Palace to mock the granting of the award.

The protesters ridiculed Yudhoyono by giving him the World "Statements" Award on Religious Freedom 2013. "SBY only makes statements and speeches, but takes no action," Renata Anggraeni, GKI Yasmin spokesperson said on Sunday. "Therefore, the victims have awarded him the World Statements Award, and not the World Statesman Award," she added.

Members of the two congregations have been unable to hold services as their places of worship have been shut down by local administrations.

A mock-up 1.5-meter-high trophy was symbolically presented by the congregation members to the President, it displayed the nation's coat of arms, as well as pictures of victims of religious intolerance, including members of the GKI Yasmin and HKBP Filadelfia congregations as well as Ahmadis and Shiites.

Senior researcher from the Wahid Institute Rumadi Ahmad said the AFC's plan to honor Yudhoyono was the result of political lobbying between Indonesian officials and those of the foundation.

"This award is an accomplishment for the Indonesian ambassador who managed to build a good relationship with the foundation," he said, referring to the Indonesian Ambassador to the US Dino Patti Djalal.

Rumadi also suspected that the award was meant to improve the stature of Yudhoyono on the international stage as part of his post-retirement plan. (tam)

Amid criticism, Yudhoyono to go to NY for World Statesman Award

Jakarta Globe - May 25, 2013

Despite mounting criticism from interfaith activists, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will accept the World Statesman Award in an upcoming trip to the United States, his staff said on Saturday.

"During [the] president's visit to New York, a nonprofit organization Appeal of Conscience Foundation will give him the World Statesman Award," Teuku Faizasyah, who serves in the international relations department of the presidential staff, said in a release sent to the Jakarta Globe.

"The award is given for several achievements to support democratic society, his role in creating international peace and in supporting significant progress on human rights, religious tolerance and inter-civilization relation appreciation."

The award has garnered widespread criticism from interfaith and human rights activists, who say Yudhoyono has failed to resolve Indonesia's religious intolerance problems. Critics cite the closures of churches in Bogor and Bekasi, along with attacks on Ahmadiyah Muslims as examples.

Presidential staff on political communication Daniel Sparingga said that the president has and would always work with all authorities to put an end to religious intolerance.

"President SBY shares the same concern with all parties concerning intolerance in our society. The president thinks that all groups with different understandings and beliefs share the same responsibility to maintain social harmony," Daniel said on Friday.

Daniel said that Yudhoyono told police to guarantee freedom of religion and demanded that they work around the clock to protect this right.

He said that the award itself does not reflect on Yudhoyono's ability to protect religious freedom. "With all his weaknesses, as an ordinary human or as a leader, SBY wants to fulfill his constitutional and personal commitment to maintain unity in diversity," Daniel said.

In addition to accepting the award during his US trip, Yudhoyono will attend the fifth High-Level Panel of Eminent Persons on the Post-2015 Development Agenda.

Yudhoyono will also go to Stockholm to pay a visit to Sweden King Carl XVI Gustaf and engage in bilateral talks with Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt and parliament speaker Per Westerberg to discuss various issues on economy, environment, climate change and education.

He also plans to sign agreements on science, technology, innovation and health. He will leave for the United States on May 31.

SBY told to receive award amidst controversies

Jakarta Post - May 24, 2013

Jakarta – Former national human rights commission chief Marzuki Darusman encouraged President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to accept the religious freedom award despite the polemic.

"We witnessed controversies when Obama and the EU were granted Nobel prizes. We should not make a big deal out of controversy," Marzuki, a former general attorney, said on Friday.

He suggested Yudhoyono acknowledge the current interreligious conflicts in his recipient's speech.

Yudhoyono is to receive the World Statesman Award from the Appeal of Conscience Foundation (ACF) on May 30 in New York. The plan brought protests from rights activists who say Yudhoyono did not deserve the award and should be held responsible for many religious conflicts in the last eight years.(nai/dic)

Ahmadis deplore Suryadharma's stance

Jakarta Post - May 24, 2013

Arya Dipa, Bandung – The Priangan Barat chapter of Jemaah Ahmadiyah Indonesia (JAI) in West Java say Minister of Religious Affairs Suryadharma Ali takes side and cheerleads intolerance.

Ekky Mubariq of the chapter questioned Suryadharma's claim that 20 Ahmadi followers had quit JAI. On May 21, 2013, Suryadharma witnessed the 20 Ahmadis reciting two syahadat (confession) at a mosque in Takismalaya.

"The religious affairs minister has explicitly created a negative opinion of JAI to the public. He fans the flames of intolerance," Ekky said,

Ekky welcomed West Java provincial administration's protection for the JAI group. "We agree with the protection against violence and prevention of destruction of JAI assets from," he said after meeting Bandung Legal Aid Institute and Deputy Police chief Brig. Gen. Rycko Amelza Dahniel.

Violence to the Ahmadi has increased since a ministerial decree in 2008 banned the sect.

Deputy director of Bandung Legal Aid Institute Unung Nuralamsyah said the police would protect the Ahmadis through routine patrols in JAI areas. Unung said, the police admitted they were lax when Ahmadiyah assets in Salawu and Singaparna were destroyed this month. (hhr)

Religious minorities unite for freedom

Jakarta Post - May 24, 2013

Prodita Sabarini, Bekasi – Next to a sealed Ahmadi mosque in Bekasi is a plot of land with leafy trees and damp earth. To get in one has to squeeze through a gap between a tall iron gate and the wall of a residence on the other side.

From this bit of land, Ahmadiyah members send food over the gate to the 19 Ahmadis staying inside the mosque, which was sealed in early April by Bekasi public order officers.

When the officers put up the corrugated iron fence to seal the Al Misbah Mosque, about 40 people were inside, including women and children. The women and children have since been taken out.

The remaining 19 stayed behind, giving away their freedom for an indefinite time as a symbol, an act of protest, toward the Bekasi municipality and the central government for meddling with their freedom to worship.

The lot became a gathering place on Saturday night for Sobat KBB, a solidarity group of victims of religious intolerance and violence, a collective of minority groups – Christians, Shia Muslims, Ahmadis and those of other beliefs – that have experienced discrimination and persecution. Sobat translates as friend in English.

The national coordinator of Sobat KBB is Palti Panjaitan, the Filadelfia Batak Christian Protestant Church pastor whose church in Bekasi was also sealed by the Bekasi city administration.

Palti said about 10 people came to the gathering. Liberal Islam activist Mohammad Guntur Romli, who in a pluralism rally that turned violent in 2008 had his nose and cheekbone fractured by blows from members of the Islam Defenders Front (FPI), and Nong Darol Mahmada were among the attendees.

Over grilled fish, the group shared their thoughts about the state of religious minorities in Indonesia.

Rahmat Rahmadijaya, an Ahmadiyah cleric who remains inside the shuttered mosque, joined the discussion through a small opening in the mosque's black iron door.

Ahmadiyah spokesperson Firdaus Mubarik said they wanted to bring Palti into their campaign because they saw the creative ways the Filadelfia church had promoted their cause, such as holding mass in front of the presidential palace.

Firdaus said the Ahmadis collaborated with Filadelfia for the Saturday night gathering – aimed at becoming a regular meeting – to continue to voice their cause. "We don't want the people remaining in the mosque to be forgotten," he said.

Palti, meanwhile, said they might make the gathering more regular, not only in the lot next to Al Misbah but in other places where religious minorities are persecuted.

The group was established in February after a workshop by the Setara Institute, a human rights organization that monitors religious freedom across the country, and is also open to agnostics and atheists, the priest said.

"Sobat KBB is open to any victims [of persecution] including atheists. We fight for all victims who have been victimized or discriminated against in the name of religion, either those who adhere to religion or those who do not. We will fight hand in hand, to support each other," Palti said.

Local and international organizations have criticized Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's administration for the increasing religious intolerance and violence in the country, even as he recently received the World Statesman Award from the US-based Appeal of Conscience Foundation.

The award has been deemed a publicity stunt by rights groups who say the president does not deserve the award because of his track record in dealing with religious minorities.

Setara has documented 264 cases of violent attacks against religious minorities, up from 244 cases in 211 and 216 cases in 2010. Meanwhile, non-believers are criminalized, as in the case of atheist Alexander Aa, who broadcast his thoughts about the non-existence of God and was put behind bars in 2012.

"We want to enlighten people that religion should not be used to judge other religions or beliefs," Palti said of Sobat KBB.

In the case of Ahmadiyah, a 2008 joint ministerial decree banned the sect from proselytizing and the decree became the base for the regional government to ban Ahmadiyah outright. The West Java administration banned Ahmadiyah activities in 2011, the same year the Bekasi mayoralty announced its ban.

From across the corrugated iron fence, Rahmat, 33, who has been living on the grounds of the mosque for a decade, said Islamic hardliners from the FPI started to intimidate and harass Ahmadis at Friday prayers after Bekasi mayor Rahmat Effendi announced the ban.

"They threatened us, roaring their motorcycle engines, disturbing our prayers," he said.

Except for Rahmat and a resident living next to the mosque, the neighbors of the mosque are not Ahmadis. Ahmadis from other parts of Bekasi come and pray there on Fridays. But a resident living nearby said people were nonplussed with them. "For us here, to each their own".

Rahmat said the Bekasi administration's sealing of the mosque was the latter's idea to protect the Ahmadis from religious hardliners. "But they did it without consulting us first, there was no dialogue," he said.

The mosque is now guarded by three police officers, who take shelter from boredom in the house in front of the mosque where they can watch television when nothing is happening. The police presence ensures no-one enters the mosque, either Ahmadis or hardliners. A number of times after the mosque was sealed hardliners have arrived, but were cordoned off by the police.

"We feel shackled, it's tough being here," Rahmat said. The young cleric is living separately from his wife and two children. The youngest was born in February. His days are used to pray, he said. They also entertain themselves with badminton and ping pong.

Rahmat said they have sent letters of protest to the president and the mayor. The Ahmadis are also taking their case against the Bekasi administration to the administrative court.

Even though the government is not keeping the Ahmadis inside the mosque, Rahmat said he would stay locked inside until the government reopened it. "Forever, we will stay here forever," he said.

But, he doesn't wish for that. Rahmat is instead hoping for divine intervention to help the embattled Ahmadis win their case.

Islam & religion

Religious minister to send Islamic preachers to South Thailand

Jakarta Globe - May 31, 2013

Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali is planning to send Islamic preachers to help address the long-running ethnic separatist insurgency in South Thailand.

"There is an established cooperation between the Indonesian government through the Religious Affairs Ministry and Thailand," Suryadharma said in Yogyakarta on Thursday night as quoted by Antara news agency during a meeting with an official delegation from South Thailand.

"The cooperation is on the education sector and preaching, which will bridge the two nations towards creating peace among the South Thailand society."

Suryadharma said that he would send the preachers to Thailand during the Islamic fasting month, which begins in July.

He also said the Indonesian government would give scholarships to 50 students from South Thailand to study for master and doctorate degrees in Islamic universities in Indonesia. "Education is one of the ways to prevent conflict," he said. "We hope Indonesia can inspire South Thailand on this aspect."

The South Thailand delegation, led by the secretary general of Thailand's Southern Border Province Administrative Center (SBPAC), Lertkiat Wongpotipun, visited the state Islamic University of Sunan Kalijaga and the Al-Munawir boarding school in Krapyak, Yogyakarta, on Thursday.

Wongpotipun noted that while the boarding school curriculum was largely the same, the Indonesian curriculum was better as it combined religious science with general knowledge and skills training.

"We will implement the model so that students would be able to pursue further studies and work anywhere," he said, according to Antara news agency.

The Al-Munawir school teacher, Nyai Ida Fatimah Zainal Abidin, told the South Thailand delegation that boarding schools also play a role in teaching harmonious inter-faith relations.

"We teach Islam which is 'rahmatan lil alamin' or which is able to live side by side with others and tolerance," she was quoted as saying.

Pew's conclusions on shariah law branded 'potentially dangerous'

Jakarta Globe - May 30, 2013

A leading Australian research firm has dismissed as "very wrong" and "potentially dangerous" the findings of a US-based think tank that concluded the majority of Indonesian Muslims wanted Shariah to become the law of the land.

Roy Morgan Research, which claims to be the only research organization in the country to "continuously monitor opinions on Shariah-related issues," said in a statement on Wednesday that the findings from the survey released earlier this month by the Pew Research Center differed substantially from its own findings.

"The trend-line representing those Muslims who believe that 'Islamic Shariah law should be implemented in my area' never reaches the 72 percent reported in the Pew report," the statement said.

"Far from it. The highest point is 45, as it stands today. In other words, the overwhelming majority of Muslims do not want Shariah law introduced. This, despite the fact that Shariah is intrinsically woven into the teachings of Islam."

Roy Morgan also found differences in the number of people who approved of corporal punishment for certain crimes, as prescribed under Shariah.

"Compared to Pew's 48 percent in favor, Roy Morgan results show only 36 percent want 'those committing adultery [to] be whipped to death in public,'" the statement said.

"As for 'thieves should be punished by having their hand cut off,' Pew finds 45 percent in favor in contrast with Roy Morgan's 36 percent. In other words, Indonesian Muslims who favor prescribed corporal punishment are in the absolute minority."

Roy Morgan said its data was based on years of monthly interviews with more than 2,000 respondents nationwide, whereas the Pew survey was based on interviews with 1,880 Indonesians in October and November 2011.

Debnath Guharoy, Roy Morgan Research's regional director for Asia, said the Pew survey gave a flawed outcome because of its one-off nature, whereas the Australian firm's own findings were grounded in years of continuous research.

"We have a great deal of respect for the Pew Research Center and the fine work they do. This time, in Indonesia, they got it wrong, very wrong. With potentially dangerous consequences," he said.

"A one-off study in a homogenous society like Australia has a higher degree of reliability than in a country like Indonesia, where the socio-economic differences just across the street can be great. A continuous study is the only way to raise the degree of reliability of surveys, anywhere, but especially in developing countries."

Roy Morgan said that the headlines prompted by the Pew findings were "sensational news," adding that it was "no wonder the MUI [Indonesian Council of Ulema] is pleased with the findings. To [Islamic] fundamentalists and extremists, this is reason to celebrate."

One of the few similarities was the fact that their respective findings were projected to represent the views of around 87 percent of Indonesia's population.

Islamic body set to ban amplification of mosque sermons

Jakarta Globe - May 29, 2013

Indonesian cities may soon be a bit quieter, as an influential Islamic body has announced it will issue a ban on the amplification of mosque services.

"We're discussing the technical detail and the concept," said Jusuf Kalla, head of Indonesian Mosque Council (DMI), on Tuesday, as quoted by Kompas.com.

Jusuf, who's also a former vice president of Indonesia, said that it's alright for the mosque to use the loudspeaker for azan (call for prayer) but not for other purposes.

"If it is for azan, it's alright as everywhere in the world the mosques use speaker for azan. Azan is a call for people [to pray] and the duration is only three minutes," he said.

Many of Indonesia's 800,000 mosques use loudspeakers to blare Koranic recitals, lengthy sermons and Islamic songs throughout the day and night.

DMI deputy chairman Masdur Farid Masudi said that it's acceptable for mosques to use loudspeakers within their premises for sermons, but that amplification devices facing outward may disturb nearby residents.

"If people come to the mosque it means they need to hear the sermon, but it's not clear whether anonymous people outside the mosque need to hear it or not," Masdar said. "People outside might not agree with the fiery preaching."

Masdar said that in addition to disrupting the neighborhood, amplified sermons also could reveal the "secret of Islam." "If it's being heard outside, it would strip us naked. People will know all the good and bad information about us," Masdar said.

In Banda Aceh, a 75-year old man named Sayed Hassan won a rare victory against the noisy speaker in one of the local mosques in February. Sayed filed a lawsuit against local religious officials alleging that the noise from a nearby mosque's six loudspeakers had negatively impacted his life.

He was forced to withdraw the legal action and an angry mob threatened to kill him. But after he dropped the case, the mosque volume was significantly turned down by about half.

[With additional reporting from AFP.]

Foreign affairs & trade

Australia's security heavily reliant on Indonesia: White Paper

Jakarta Globe - May 31, 2013

Gabriel Kereh – When the Australian government released its 2013 defense white paper earlier this month, a key point that emerged was the prominent role played by Indonesia in Canberra's overall strategy for security and trade in the region.

The white paper notes that "the archipelago to Australia's north shapes our strategic geography."

"As Indonesia comprises much of this archipelago, Australia's strong partnership with Indonesia remains our most important regional strategic relationship and the partnership continues to deepen and broaden in support of our significant shared interests," it says.

Those shared interests, says Hikmahanto Juwana, an international relations expert at the University of Indonesia, go beyond security and trade and also cover democracy and the environment.

He notes that as a "direct defense buffer" for Australia, Indonesia features greatly in the latter's security strategy and thus has a case to make for increased cooperation and burden-sharing on key issues.

"It's important to note that some of the issues that Indonesia deals with directly will also impact Australia directly if they aren't addressed properly," he tells the Jakarta Globe. "Thus these issues can be seen as regional issues."

Hikmahanto highlights counterterrorism, disease prevention and immigration as among the more prominent issues that have tested the ties between the two countries in recent years.

The academic says he believes that given Indonesia's importance in this regard, the level of cooperation and burden sharing that currently exists between the two countries remains low, and argues that the Australian government has not made every effort to help Indonesia address these issues effectively.

"Take the matter of defense cooperation, for instance," he says. "Yes, they have sent us some secondhand military equipment. But the question is, why secondhand?"

Hikmahanto adds that the Indonesian government has also not done enough to push for greater cooperation. "We should be the ones who request [defense aid and cooperation]. We shouldn't just accept whatever is being offered," he says.

The white paper also addresses ongoing developments within Indonesia as being of concern to Australia, particularly terrorism.

"Although the reach and potency of Southeast Asian terrorism has been constrained by the success of regional counterterrorism efforts – especially in Indonesia – it remains the case that it is in Southeast Asia that Australians are more likely to be targeted," the paper says.

On the matter of security, the paper also addresses China's growing clout in the region and the United States' "pivot" to counterbalance Beijing's influence.

The pivot includes the establishment of a permanent US military presence in the northern Australian city of Darwin – a point that Hikmahanto says should be of concern to Jakarta, given how close it is to Indonesian territory.

He argues that just as Australia needs reassurances of security from Indonesia, the relationship also goes the other way and Canberra should consider the ramifications of hosting a third country's armed forces in such close proximity to a country with which it shares what it calls "our most important defense relationship in the region."

The white paper contends that Indonesia will play an instrumental role, alongside the United States, in ensuring regional security.

"In addition to shared security challenges, Australia and Indonesia maintain a common commitment to regional security, which is reflected in our wider governmental strategic partnership," the paper says.

In addition to regional security, the white paper also focuses on the issue of trade, highlighting Indonesia as a major partner in that regard and also as the gateway to Asia and to seven of Australia's 10 most important trading partners – China, India, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, South Korea and Singapore.

"Indonesia seems to be pretty instrumental in Australia's policy for nurturing good relations with other countries in the region," says Aleksius Jemadu, the dean of the school of social and political sciences at Pelita Harapan University.

Aleksius cites the paper's assertion that "Indonesia's importance to Australia will grow as its significant regional influence becomes global," and the additional comment that Australia benefits "from having a strong and cohesive Indonesia as a partner to our north, as Indonesia does from a secure Australia to its south."

Australia also has a vested interest in Indonesia's economic health, the paper suggests, hinting at the importance of the country as a target market for exports.

"Indonesia's success as a democracy and its economic growth will see it emerge as one of the world's major economies," it says. "We have a shared aspiration for the stability and economic prosperity of our region that underpins our partnership and is driving increased breadth and depth in our defense cooperation."

Richard Woolcott, a former Australian ambassador to Indonesia, summed up the relationship in a statement earlier this month at the University of Melbourne: "In the longer term, no bilateral relationship [in the region] is more important to Australia than that with Indonesia."

Infrastructure & development

UN recognizes successful hunger reduction efforts in Indonesia

Jakarta Globe - May 27, 2013

While Indonesia still lags behind 29 other countries on a worldwide hunger list, the United Nations has announced it will award the country for its efforts in reducing malnutrition.

Jose Graziano da Silva, director general of the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization, said on Sunday that Indonesia has achieved its Millennium Development Goal on reducing hunger and malnutrition by half, years before the 2015 deadline.

The National Statistics Bureau (BPS) reported that in 1989, 31 percent of Indonesian children aged under five were underweight – a key indicator in determining prevalence of hunger. The bureau reported that in 2010 the figure had declined to 17.9 percent.

The FAO awarded Indonesia and 34 other countries for their achievements in food-related issues. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is scheduled to receive the award on June 16.

"From our observation, we concluded these countries have managed to combine their agriculture with social protection programs, therefore they could accelerate the achievement of the targets. We hope these countries can be a role model for another countries in term of food security issues," he said.

Coordinating Minister of People's Welfare Agung Laksono, who met with da Silva earlier on Sunday, said Indonesia has been reducing its dependence on other countries for food imports since 1985.

"We have to admit there are still have many problems on the grassroots level, but this award should be appreciated. This is something we should be proud of because there are only 35 countries in the world have been awarded," he said.

However, Agung said that malnutrition in Indonesia remained a serious problem. In 1990, he said, 8.5 percent of Indonesian children aged under the age of five were undernourished. In 2012, the figure declined to 5 percent.

Indonesia ranked 30th on the 2012 Global Hunger Index, which determines hunger rates using three measurements: the proportion of undernourished people as a percentage of population, the proportion of children who are underweight and child mortality figures. Indonesia was behind China, which ranked 2nd, Thailand (18th) and Vietnam (26th), but ahead of the Philippines (31st), Cambodia (56th) and Laos (57th).

Last month, Papuan activists claimed at least 95 people died of hunger in Tambrauw district since last November, with hundreds more still at risk. Agung has denied the claim, saying there were only 15 deaths cumulatively since November due to various diseases and lack of access to health facilities.

Analysis & opinion

Should outsiders be meddling in indonesia's religious affairs?

Jakarta Globe - May 30, 2013

Rebecca Lake – As local authorities debate over banishing Indonesia's Ahmadiyah Muslim sect and several congregations remain barred from their houses of worship, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono this week will jet off to the United States and address an audience specifically concerned with respect for religious freedom. But it will not be an occasion for the country's leader to be criticized.

Instead he will be the guest of honor at a ceremony hosted by New York- based Appeal of Conscience Foundation. There he is expected to accept an award from the interfaith coalition of business leaders "in recognition of his work to support human rights and religious freedom in the country."

Yudhoyono's nomination for the World Statesman Award has sparked outrage within Indonesia. Many have complained that this "inappropriate" recognition propels an idealistic notion to the world that Indonesia is, in fact, a model of religious harmony, which begs the broader question as to what role the international community should play within Indonesia's struggle for religious tolerance.

For Andreas Harsono, researcher for Human Rights Watch in Indonesia, the ACF's decision to award the country's president is a source of significant frustration. "We are concerned because it will send the wrong message about Indonesia," he said.

In February the international rights group released a report documenting numerous instances and statistics that pointed to an escalation of religious intolerance and faith-motivated violence throughout the archipelago. It also strongly condemned the government's "complicity" in tackling the trend.

A disconnect

Riding on global publicity that the report attracted, Andreas has been traveling throughout the United States and Europe promoting HRW's concerns and findings. Yet he says the tour has been plagued by a disconnect between how world leaders describe the state of religious harmony in Indonesia and what is actually happening on the ground.

"I traveled to the US first, and I spoke at campuses, I spoke at think-tank councils for foreign relations in New York... the reaction was not one of surprise. They are people who are not ignorant of Indonesia," he said. "What they cannot understand is that their government leaders, including President Barack Obama, say things that do not connect with the reality on the ground."

In 2010, Obama made a point of praising Indonesia's religious tolerance. More recently in her visit to Indonesia last year, former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton declared: "If you want to know whether Islam, democracy, modernity and women's rights can coexist, go to Indonesia."

According to Andreas, other Western leaders have joined the bandwagon in promoting Indonesia's "model" of tolerance.

"Even [German] Chancellor Angela Merkel said similar things just a few months ago in Berlin when she was opening an exhibition where President Yudhoyono was present. [Former Australian Prime Minister] Kevin Rudd and [British Prime Minister] David Cameron have also spoken of Indonesia's tolerance," Andreas said.

Indonesia – on the surface – is a convenient example of religious harmony. But adding to this narrative is the fact that the archipelagic nation is the world's most populous Muslim country, which also happens to be blessed with an array of valuable resources and is currently witnessing a record economic boom. So evidently, there are internationally vested interests in upholding Indonesia's reputation as a moderate Muslim- populated nation, but at what cost?

This rhetoric, Andreas says, is compromising the Indonesian government's commitment in tackling intolerance as it does not hold the country's leaders to account.

"One of the most difficult things in fighting for religious freedom in Indonesia is the perception that Indonesia is a model Muslim democracy. It is so difficult to persuade decision makers inside Indonesia and also outside Indonesia."

On why the world is so desperate for Indonesia to be recognized as a thriving and religiously diverse nation, US Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom Suzan Johnson Cook points to the country's potential for religious harmony, which could "become a model of success for the rest of the world."

"It is important for Indonesians to be successful because the world is watching and the world has interests in Indonesia's overall success and a prosperous democracy," she told the Jakarta Globe on Friday.

On Thursday, Johnson Cook, alongside US Secretary of State John Kerry, released the state department's annual report on International Religious Freedom. The document expressed deep concern over a series of violations against religious freedom in Indonesia and, like HRW, it pointed a finger at the government's "inaction" and discriminatory laws.

"No matter how the world is perceiving the issue, what we want to make sure is that the US and Indonesia continue to be engaged, and we will continue to engage their government. We know that there are challenges, but we will continue to engage them in order to progress in the area of religious freedom."

Last resort

But many victims of religious intolerance fear that mediation and damning reports are not enough to inspire their country's authorities to act. Instead they hope to attract crucial global appreciation of their struggles by calling for fierce condemnation from world leaders over their government's failures.

Bona Sigalingging, spokesperson for the GKI Yasmin Christian congregation in Bogor, West Java – which has been locked out of its church by municipal authorities since 2010 despite two Supreme Court orders ruling in its favor – says turning to global leaders for support has become the group's last resort.

"For GKI Yasmin we have already exhausted our options. There is nowhere else in the Indonesian system that we can go and submit our complaint to demand the decision of the Supreme Court.

"All levels of the Indonesian government know about this case, and now it is really a matter of Indonesia's friends, true friends internationally, reminding our leaders that there are problems."

Respecting democracy

But according to US Ambassador to Indonesia Scot Marciel, who has been mediating regular talks between Indonesian religious minorities and government officials, there is only so much the international community can do before it crosses a line. He says that world leaders have some role to play but to suggest that it is the international community that will make or break this issue "is a mistake."

"It's not always the case that loud public statements are always the most useful," the ambassador said in an interview with the Jakarta Globe on Friday.

He reiterated the short history of Indonesia's democracy, noting that despite notable pitfalls, overall the country was progressing positively following the fall of Suharto in 1998. Marciel commended the nation's free press and vibrant political debate.

"I think Indonesia is at the stage, after 15 years of democracy where it is still trying to find that balance. And for us rather than simply just criticizing the failings we think it's useful to encourage this debate and to do what we can to facilitate Indonesian society to continue this debate, so that the Indonesian people can find a path that I'm confident will be toward respectful religious freedom," he said.

Echoing Johnson Cook's sentiment that prioritizes engaging with the Indonesian government to assist in finding a peaceful solution, Marciel expressed caution on the role of world leaders.

"I think the key is, Indonesia's democracy came about because of Indonesians. And Indonesians maintaining respect for human rights and improving the weak areas is going to be because of the work of Indonesians, not because of foreigners," he said.

But this is a bitter pill to swallow for the nation's religious minorities at a time when their cries are falling on deaf ears and their suffering has been marred by the ACF giving an award to the president who analysts say should be doing more to defend their rights.

Nonetheless there is an undeniable trend opposing the government's disregard to religious intolerance and discrimination. Minority groups as well as supporters from the majority Sunni Muslim community are uniting and taking a stand, and this movement is growing stronger, says Andreas.

"These groups which believe in diversity, which believe in religious freedom, which believe in human rights, they are still small now because they are being repressed by the Sunni Muslim militants... but this idea will not die, it can only grow bigger and bigger," he said.

"This is a tunnel, a dark tunnel that they have to enter, but it will not be an endless tunnel."

This democratic process, the rights activist added, will only be strengthened by the willingness of world leaders and global institutions, such as the ACF, to accept Indonesia's struggle for religious freedom at face value and to stop "lying to the international world."

Economic growth offers little for social welfare

Jakarta Post - May 28, 2013

Ali Said, Jakarta – Indonesia has experienced relatively high economic growth for almost a decade, but the question remains why has this high growth not been followed by a rapid improvement in social welfare?

Many scholars have argued that high economic growth in this period has lacked quality. Several indicators pointing to the low quality of growth have been shown. These include a slowing down of poverty reduction, an increase in income inequality, and a stagnant real labor wage level.

Economic growth is necessary for poverty reduction, but the recent experience of Indonesian economic growth only resulted in the slowing down of poverty reduction.

The current government has adopted the policy jargon of a triple track strategy covering "pro-growth, pro-poor and pro job", which has been revised to a four track strategy by including "pro-environment" as a part of the policy.

Despite such a strategy being formulated, at the implementation level achieving high economic growth still seems to be the main focus of the government agenda, while almost neglecting areas closely related to poverty.

This can easily be seen in sectors driving economic growth, which are largely supported by sectors that are not labor intensive. The agricultural sector, where a large number of poor people are engaged, grew at a relatively low level.

Increasing income inequality, although still considered to be at a moderate level, could be a warning to policy makers because it indicates that the rich have been disproportionately enjoying more benefits of economic growth than the poor.

In 2004, income inequality measured by the Gini Index based on expenditure data as a proxy of income data stood at 0.32, but the figure rose to 0.41 in 2012.

In addition to this, the share of income enjoyed by the poorest 40 percent of income group also declined as the result of a more rapid growth in income among the richest group over that of the poorest.

It is believed that if the Gini Index of inequality is measured based on income data, it will result in a higher level of inequality.

Davies et al (2008) estimated the Gini Index of Indonesia in 1996 based on income data to be nearly 0.40, while based on wealth data the Gini Index in the same year was estimated to be about 0.76.

Given the fact that the Gini Index measured based on expenditure data is increasing, the income and wealth Gini indices are also believed to be increasing, standing at a much higher level.

The lack of growth's benefits to social welfare can be further observed in the share of growth components, especially when economic growth is measured based on expenditure instead of production.

The high economic growth of Indonesia during the last few years was attributed by a relatively high share of gross fixed capital formation (PMTB).

The share of PMTB to total gross domestic product (GDP) was the second highest after household consumption expenditure. Even during the period 2010-2012, economic growth was dominated by the growth of PMTB. In 2010, PMTB grew by 8.5 percent, while in 2012 it grew by 11.2 percent.

If we look deeper into the components of PMTB, we will find that construction as one of the main PMTB components has the biggest share of PMTB. The construction sector also contributed to the high growth rate of PMTB during the last few years.

In the construction sector, there are three types of construction including building construction (residential sites, office, industrial building education infrastructure, etc.), civil construction (roads, bridges, railways, tunnels, etc.) and special construction (drilling ground water well, Steiger fitting, roof covering, etc.).

The value of civil construction accounted for more than 50 percent of total construction value during the last few fiscal years. This condition is also applied to all regions. This implies that the role of expenditure for road infrastructure is significant in driving economic growth.

Following the theory of development, road infrastructure development plays a key role in the development progress. Road infrastructure development in the long run will stimulate economic activities and have a positive impact on social welfare.

This is because more people will have better access to education facilities, health facilities and income opportunities. In the case of new road infrastructure development in rural areas, this will help farmers transport their products faster and easier to the market, while at the same time off-farm employment activities will also grow.

But what happened with Indonesian road infrastructure development? Despite huge spending on the construction sector, especially road infrastructure development, the data indicates there was no significant change in the total length of roads.

During the period 2010-2011, the total length of roads in Indonesia grew by just under 2 percent as the figure rose from 487.3 thousand kilometers to 496.6 thousand kilometers during the period. Such an increase was attributable only to a significant change in the length of roads in a few provinces, while the length of roads in most provinces remained stable.

There are at least two elements of speculation that can be drawn from the above evidence. First, it is very likely that people's access in rural or remote areas in most of the country has been neglected.

It is important to note that poverty in Indonesia is predominantly a rural problem. With no such significant improvement or no new road infrastructure development, poverty will remain at a higher level because rural residents will remain isolated and cannot have better access to any facilities.

Second, big spending on road infrastructure development was arguably directed toward upgrading roads and not building new ones.

It has been very common for road improvement development to be conducted a few months before the end of fiscal year, but unfortunately just a few months after the improvements, roads become damaged.

This condition is repeated every year. A clear example is the Pantura road development, where the government should improve roads almost every year to face the annual event of flocks of people returning home for lebaran. This suggests that there has been a huge economic inefficiency in road infrastructure development in Indonesia.

All of the above evidence provides clear arguments for the lack of quality of Indonesian economic growth. Given the fact that the growth of PMTB contributed significantly to Indonesia's economic growth and the fact that PMTB components were dominated by the construction sector where there was a huge economic inefficiency in road development, high economic growth created during the last decade has had little effect on the improvement of social welfare.

Despite huge spending on the construction sector, there was no significant change in the total length of roads.