Muhammad Nur Abdurrahman, Makassar – The commemoration of Youth Pledge day on Friday October 28 at the Muhammadiyah University (Unismuh) campus in Makassar, South Sulawesi, has ended in a clash between students and police.

During the clash, students set fire to as many as six police motorcycles and threw a seventh into a water drain.

The clash began when a joint team from the Makassar municipal district police (Polrestabes) and the South Sulawesi district police (polda) attempted to disband the Unismuh student rally which was creating traffic congestion on roads leading from Makassar to Gowa.

When police tried to disburse the students, both sides began throwing stones until a "stone war" broke out between students and police on Jl. Sultan Alauddin. Despite the heavy rain, the student's determination to attack the police was not diminished.

Students, who had approached parked motorcycles belonging to police and were left behind when the students succeeded in forcing the police back, then carried the motorcycles on to the middle of the road and set fire to them.

The clash resulted in the temporary closure of Jl. Sultan Alauddin and a lengthy traffic jam in the vicinity affecting traffic to and from Sungguminasa. Congestion also occurred on the alternative Malengkeri-Daeng Tata route and surrounding areas.

The current situation in the Jl. Sultan Alauddin area has now begun to improve with the students involved in the clash returning to their campus.

In addition to the Unismuh campus, commemorations of Youth Pledge Day were also held at the Makassar State University on Jl. AP Pettarani and in front of the Makassar Regional House of Representatives (DPRD).

The students also hijacked a container truck which was then used as a stage to give speeches. (mna/try)

Notes

On October 28, 1928, Indonesian students and youth gathered in Jakarta to declare the Youth Pledge – generally accepted as the first open declaration of Indonesian independence – which called for a united independent Indonesia under the theme of "One Nation, One People, One Language".

[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service. The original title of the article was "Demo Sumpah Pemuda di Makassar Berujung Bentrok, 6 Motor Polisi Dibakar".]

Source: https://news.detik.com/berita/d-3332026/demo-sumpah-pemuda-di-makassar-berujung-bentrok-6-motor-polisi-dibakar

West Papua

Separatist group behind shootings at police station in Papua, TNI

Jakarta Post - October 31, 2017

Jakarta – Armed assailants behind the shootings at the Police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) station at Mile 66 last Sunday in Tembagapura, Mimika Regency, Papua, are members of the separatist group Free Papua Movement (OPM), Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo has said.

"We have identified [the gunmen]. They called themselves OPM," Gatot said in Jakarta on Tuesday as quoted by kompas.com.

Gatot went on to say TNI personnel in Timika were prepared and ready to be deployed any time the Papua Police requested backup from the military to address security disturbances in the area.

Papua Police have issued the highest security alert, known as Siaga 1, effective on Sunday after a group of armed assailants fired at the Brimob station, resulting in an exchange of fire.

Sunday's attack happened less than a week after Brimob officer First. Brig. Berry Pramana Putra was killed in an exchange of fire with unidentified gunmen on Utikini bridge in Tembagapura.

The incident occurred when Brimob personnel stationed in Timika were pursuing a group of armed assailants suspected to be behind security disturbances at PTFI's mining area in recent months.

Cendrawasih Military Command in Papua has prepared a company-level unit (SSK) as reinforcements for the police. The SSK consists of 100 personnel, the command chief Maj. Gen. George Supit said previously. (afr/dmr)

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/10/31/separatist-group-behind-shootings-at-police-station-in-papua-tni-commander-says.html

JK: Separatist movement not accepted in Papua

Netral News - October 31, 2017

Jakarta – Vice President Jusuf "JK" Kalla insists the separatist movement is not accepted in Papua because the region is part of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI).

The statement was delivered by JK at the Vice Presidential Office, Jakarta, Tuesday (10/31/2017), related to the terror acts committed by the Armed Criminal Group (KKB) in Tembagapura, Mimika, Papua, for the last few days after the shooting of Police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) Post in the areas of MP67 and MP66 Tembagapura on Sunday (10/29) at around 10:35 am, Eastern Indonesian Time (WIT).

"Separatist movement, of course, it tries to disrupt the situation, but the government's preparations in Papua, both police and soldiers, ready to face anything if anyone tried to interfere," the vice president said.

JK added the government will not stop doing development in Papua for evenly distributing welfare in all areas of Indonesia.

During the three years of Jokowi-JK's administration, the central government has made efforts to improve the welfare of Papuan communities, including the implementation of one price fuel for Papua since October 2016 and the acceleration of the Trans-Papua National Road along 4,330.07 kilometers.

Based on the statement by Head of Public Relation Division of Papua Regional Police Senior Commissioner AM Kamal, the joint personnel of Brimob and Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) are still on alert in the Brimob Post area of Tembagapura, Mimika, after the KKB attack on Sunday (10/29).

He added the joint forces are also still pursuing the perpetrators of the Brimob Post shootings in the areas of MP67 and MP66 Tembagapura on Sunday at around 10:35 am.

http://www.en.netralnews.com/news/currentnews/read/14107/jk.separatist.movement.not.accepted.in.papua

More shootings in Papua's Mimika area

Radio New Zealand International - October 31, 2017

Reports from Papua province say there have been more shootings aimed at Indonesian security forces in the Mimika area.

Brimob, or mobile brigade, policemen were the target of gunfire on Sunday, days after another spate of shootings in the same area near the Freeport gold and copper mine.

According to Papua police a small contingent of Brimob personnel was shot at on Sunday by an un-identified armed group. A police spokesman said Indonesian military began a pursuit of the perpetrators in the surrounding area.

In the earlier shootings, ten days ago, a policeman was killed and two others wounded in shootings near the mine. Police blamed a Papuan militant group for those shootings.

Source: http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/342769/more-shootings-in-papua-s-mimika-area

Papua's paradise under threat

Shanghai Daily - October 29, 2017

Kiki Siregar – Deep in Indonesia's easternmost province, a group of birdwatchers wait in earnest, hoping to glimpse the renowned bird-of-paradise. Once plentiful in Papua's jungles, rampant poaching and deforestation have devastated populations.

The tourists' patience is rewarded: Perched on the branch of a tall tree near the remote village of Malagufuk, a red king bird-of-paradise is seen darting between the leaves.

Agricultural plantations, touted as a means to improve economic opportunities, are rapidly expanding in Papua. But some villagers and conservationists warn this will result in forests being destroyed and the birds that inhabit them driven to the brink of extinction.

Bird-of-paradise numbers were already dwindling in Papua as they are poached, killed and used for decoration. Authorities have since banned their sale but there is still a thriving illegal trade because international demand is high.

"Nowadays the threat is not just wildlife hunting, but illegal logging. The conversion of forests to palm oil and cocoa plantations is the biggest threat," said bird guide Charles Roring.

Indonesia's rainforests are home to 41 bird-of-paradise species, according to Roring, 37 of which can be found in the jungles of Papua.

They range from the lesser bird-of-paradise, known for its yellow and white flank plumes, to the 12-wired bird-of-paradise, recognizable by the filaments that extend from its tail.

Admired for their striking colors and elaborate courtship rituals, the birds have a long history of being trapped and traded as ornaments.

They captivated Europeans after 16th-century explorers returned with skins that had been dried, truncated of their legs and mounted to sticks; while their colorful feathers are still popular additions to traditional Papuan tribal decorations, such as headdresses.

Serene Chng, a program officer at environmental NGO Traffic, said the wild birds are smuggled to other parts of Indonesia and Southeast Asia.

"Law enforcement is very limited," she explained. "Challenges include demand, corruption and poor surveillance, as well as lack of support from non-enforcement agencies that could help like airlines, shippers, courier services and airports," Chng said.

In Sorong, one of the largest cities in Indonesia's West Papua province, a souvenir vendor said traditional headbands made with feathers could fetch as much as 1.5 million rupiah (US$112).

Papua is home to one-third of Indonesia's remaining rainforests but they are being chopped down at a rapid rate.

Palm oil companies started operating near Malagufuk about three years ago, says environmentalist Max Binur, from NGO Belantara Sorong.

Binur, who knew residents were worried the companies would destroy the surrounding forests and traditional village life, proposed a solution he believed would protect the birds and forest.

He helped turn Malagufuk into an eco-village where residents now work as guides or provide accommodation.

Up to 20 tourists visit each month to see the birds-of-paradise, as well as other species such as the Cassowary and Hornbill. Visitors trek 2 hours through the jungle to reach a remote settlement of stilt houses with limited electricity.

"It sounded like a good eco-tourism tour we could do. My mother is into birds and we were familiar with the bird-of-paradise from watching documentaries," said German tourist Lisa von Rabenau.

Binur is planning to launch similar eco-village ventures across Papua and hopes tourism will lead to conservation and benefit locals.

Source: http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sunday/Papuas-paradise-under-threat/shdaily.shtml

Papuan Liberation Movement appeals to NZ's Ardern

Radio New Zealand International - October 27, 2017

The United Liberation Movement for West Papua says it hopes New Zealand's new prime minister will take up the issue of Papuan self-determination.

The Movement's Secretary-General, Octo Mote, has written a congratulation letter to Jacinda Ardern on forming New Zealand's new government.

In it he said Papuans were humbled by Jacinda Ardern's stated commitment to having a government "driven by principle not expediency and opportunity, not fear".

He said they looked forward to such "messaging on important matters" in the region in as far as the decolonisation of the Pacific was concerned.

New Zealand governments have consistently supported Indonesia's territorial claim to West Papua.

But Mr Mote hoped the prime minster could revisit attempts made by the last Labour-led government to facilitate dialogue between West Papuans and Indonesia. These attempts were rebuffed by Jakarta.

Mr Mote said that in Ms Ardern's coming term as prime minister the Pacific region would address several outstanding issues of decolonisation.

He cited pending independence referendums due in both the French territory of New Caledonia, before the end of 2018, and Papua New Guinea's autonomous region of Bougainville in 2019, alongside increasing diplomatic efforts by West Papuans to finally gain their freedom after a half-century under Indonesian rule.

"Our hope is that Aotearoa New Zealand will stand by its principles and ensure that the preparations for and the outcomes of these two referendums are transparent and fair," he said.

"The people of West Papua also hope that Aotearoa New Zealand will add its important voice to the growing number of countries of the Pacific region and elsewhere calling for an immediate cessation of human rights violations against us and for the United Nations General Assembly to take up the issue of West Papua's long-denied act of political self-determination," wrote Mr Mote.

He pointed out that West Papuans now have greater representation under the Liberation Movement at regional organisations such as the Melanesian Spearhead Group and the Pacific Islands Forum, and also recognition by countries in the Caribbean and in Africa.

"The time may be right for another attempt at dialogue," he explained. "We believe that Aotearoa New Zealand is a nation seeking to right the wrongs of great historical injustice. West Papua is clearly such a case."

One of the Labour-led government's senior MPs, David Parker, who is now Attorney-General, spoke about the party's policy on West Papua early last month.

"When Labour becomes the Government we will take the opportunity to review the policy with regard to West Papua, with a view to exploring a greater degree of autonomy for the people of West Papua in line with the wishes of the people," said Mr Parker.

One of Labour's two main coalition partners, the Green party, supports the Westminster Declaration for a Free West Papua, which was signed in the New Zealand Parliament in May this year by eleven MPs from four different parties.

The Greens leader, James Shaw, last month said his party would take every opportunity to advocate for and support a peace dialogue between Indonesia and the West Papua coalition of leaders the United Liberation Movement for West Papua.

He pledged to also urge Indonesia "to cease state sanctioned human rights abuses and the imprisonment and torture of political activists".

The party has a long history of support for West Papuan human rights and self-determination, with the new generation of Green MPs carrying on the work of former MPs Keith Locke and Catherine Delahunty.

"We take this opportunity to thank you most kindly for your unwavering support towards the struggle for self-determination of our people of West Papua," said Mr Mote in a separate letter to James Shaw.

What's less clear is the policy regarding West Papua of the other major coalition partner, New Zealand First. No information about West Papua is available on the party's website.

However New Zealand First's leader Winston Peters has been appointed Foreign Affairs minister, a role he had in the previous Labour-led coalition government. During that stint in the role, Mr Peters did not veer into action on West Papua.

But among his parties' 15 core principles is the aim to be a "reliable neighbour in our region".

Source: http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/342467/papuan-liberation-movement-appeals-to-nz-s-ardern

Indonesia accepts Pacific's right to raise West Papua concern

Radio New Zealand International - October 27, 2017

Indonesia's foreign minister says it is the right of Pacific Island countries to raise issues about West Papua in international fora.

According to Antara news agency, Retno Marsudi said Indonesia also had the right to explain.

This comes after last month's fiery response by Indonesia to speeches by some Pacific governments at the United Nations General Assembly.

Prime ministers of Vanuatu and Solomon Islands called for an investigation into killings and various alleged human rights abuses against West Papuans by Indonesian security forces.

In response, Indonesia's representative accused the countries of being manipulated by Papuans with separatist agendas to exploit the issue of human rights.

A month on, Ms Marsudi said that in the UN all countries were given freedom to express their thoughts. But she emphasised that Jakarta was pursuing a comprehensive development programme in Papua to improve living standards.

The minister also noted that the Pacific Islands region was an area of key interest in her country's foreign policy and diplomacy. "At every annual statement of the Foreign Ministry, we emphasise that the South Pacific region is one of Indonesia's foreign policy concerns."

She said that during the last three years, Indonesia's presence and role in the region were evident in the main representative forums such as the Melanesian Spearhead Group and the Pacific Island Forum.

"In addition, when the South Pacific countries were affected by a disaster, Indonesia was one of the countries that sent aid," she said.

Source: http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/342527/indonesia-accepts-pacific-s-right-to-raise-west-papua-concern

Papuan village says police burnt down house

Radio New Zealand International - October 24, 2017

An indigenous community in Indonesia's Papua region claim a house in the village of Utikini was razed to the ground by Indonesian Military Police.

Community leaders said, last Saturday, police came to the village and set fire to the house, which was destroyed, along with livestock.

The leaders, Tambua Wakerkwa and Yulianus Tabuni, said their people were now living in fear.

They have called upon the Indonesian president Joko Widodo to command the military to stop harassing them.

The leaders claim the incident was sparked by the shooting of a car belonging to the PT Freeport mining company. But they said none of their people were involved in the shooting.

Source: http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/342260/papuan-village-says-police-burnt-down-house

Grasberg mine divestment could fuel Papua violence

Radio New Zealand International - October 24, 2017

An academic says recent violence near Papua's Grasberg gold mine could be connected to plans to divest half of the American-owned operation to Indonesian entities.

One police officer was killed and two others were injured while hunting for gunmen who shot at mine workers on Saturday.

The Grasberg mine has been the scene of violence for decades and the police have blamed the weekend's shootings on a group called the KKB.

Anthropology professor Eben Kirksey said previous agitators had been military-backed separatist militia trying to destabilise police protection of the mine.

He said with the mine's divestment in prospect, the KKB could be hoping to rebalance financial inequity in the Papua province.

"This province ranks the lowest on the UN Human Development Index out of all the Indonesian provinces, yet it has this Freeport gold mine as well as a BP natural gas deposit which places it at the top of revenue generating provinces.

"So I think that inequity is in part what fuels this conflict and I think until that inequity, in terms of distributing the proceeds from this mine, is resolved I think this is going to be an ongoing conflict."

In August, Freeport Indonesia, a subsidiary of US mining giant Feeport-McMoRan, agreed to divest a 51 per cent stake in the mine in exchange for the extension of its mining contract.

Professor Kirksey called for human rights monitors to probe the violence.

"The ownership of the mine is at stake. You have the Indonesian government and Freeport the company fighting over what sort of stakes the different groups will have. I think what we need is very serious independent human rights monitors on the ground.

"Given how high stakes this gold mine is, it's the largest gold mine in the world, you would think there would be openness and transparency to having international investigators there as well."

Source: http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/342233/grasberg-mine-divestment-could-fuel-papua-violence

Papua gets more Brimob personnel as post-election security concerns

Jakarta Post - October 24, 2017

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura, Papua – Papua has received an additional 400 Mobile Brigade personnel to secure its two regencies, Intan Jaya and Tolikara, as security incidents related to the elections of regional heads held simultaneously in 11 regencies and municipalities across the province on Feb.15 continue. Two hundred Brimob personnel from the South Sulawesi Police will be deployed to Intan Jaya regency while 200 other personnel from the East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Police and the North Maluku Police will be dispatched to Tolikara regency.

Although the Constitutional Court (MK) has declared the winner of the election for Intan Jaya regent and deputy regent, the elected pair has not yet been inaugurated. Meanwhile, the elected Tolikara regent and deputy regent were inaugurated on Oct.16.

Papua Police chief Insp.Gen. Boy Rafli Amar said the security situation in Intan Jaya and Tolikara had not yet been fully calmed because supporters of the defeated candidates could not yet accept the election results. Protest rallies had still occurred in the two regencies. Road blockades continued in Tolikara.

"Although the elections have ended, the MK has issued its ruling on the elections, and the elected regents and deputy regents have been inaugurated, we are still facing protests by several societal groups who are disappointed with the results of the elections," said Rafli, during a ceremony to mark the arrival of 200 Brimob personnel from the NTT Police and the North Maluku Police at Kotaraja Brimob Field in Jayapura on Monday.

Rafli said the security measures taken would put forward a dialogue and efforts to prevent horizontal conflicts. (dra/ebf)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/10/24/papua-gets-more-brimob-personnel-as-post-election-security-concerns-remain.html

Aceh

Hundreds publicly flogged for homosexuality in Indonesian province's

News Daily - October 30, 2017

Rachel Eddie – Hundreds of people have been publicly flogged in Indonesia since the Aceh province introduced stricter Sharia by-laws two years ago.

More than 530 people have been caned for homosexual sex, affection outside marriage, selling alcohol and gambling since October 2015.

In a report last week, Human Rights Watch said homosexual sex was punishable with up to 100 lashes and 100 months in prison. Sexual relations outside of marriage carried a penalty of up to 100 lashes, the advocacy group said.

Amnesty International has called for an end to the "degrading and inhuman punishment".

"Public flogging and the criminalisation of same-sex relations are both flagrant violations of international human rights laws," Usman Hamid, the director of Amnesty International Indonesia, told The New Daily.

Sharia law was first enforced in Aceh in 2011, and was escalated with the criminalisation of same-sex relations in October 2015, Mr Hamid said. Homosexuality is not a crime elsewhere in Indonesia.

Earlier this year, vigilantes stormed the apartment of two men on suspicion of being gay. The men, aged 20 and 23, were publicly lashed more than 80 times each in May after being convicted in a Sharia court of having same-sex relations.

"The caning of two gay men was a sickening spectacle, carried out in front of more than 1000 jeering spectators, an act of utmost cruelty," Mr Hamid said. He said it was the first time gay men had been caned under the by-laws.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo has received worldwide condemnation for failing to step in and end the "outrageous act of cruelty". One of the two men is lashed at a mosque in Aceh province in May this year.

"We propose Indonesian authorities, especially President Widodo and Acehnese leaders, repeal the law which imposes these punishments, which constitute cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment and may amount to torture," Mr Hamid said.

"The international community must put pressure on Indonesia to create a safer environment for the LGBTI community before the situation deteriorates further."

The predominantly Muslim province, at the northernmost tip of Sumatra Island, is semi-autonomous. The Sharia by-laws apply to all residents, as well as tourists to the province.

Mr Hamid said Islamic conservatism was intensifying across the country. "The continuing intolerant attitudes, including the largest conservative Muslim protests last year, have shown an increased conservatism," he said.

"Discrimination against LGBTIQ has increased and this situation has been fuelled over the past year by a series of reckless, inflammatory and inaccurate statements made by public officials, apparently under the guise of 'defending public morality'."

The Australian government's SmartTraveller website warns LGBTI travellers against visiting the Aceh province.

Source: http://thenewdaily.com.au/news/world/2017/10/29/indonesia-aceh-sharia-law-flogging/

Public floggings in Indonesia top 500

Human Rights Watch Dispatches - October 24, 2017

Andreas Harsono – More than 530 people have been publicly flogged in Indonesia's Aceh province since a new Islamic criminal code was enacted in October 2015, new figures show. People caned include hundreds of men and women punished for "victimless crimes" such as gambling, non-marital kissing, and extramarital sex.

Under national legislation stemming from a "Special Status" agreement brokered in 1999, Aceh is the only one of Indonesia's 34 provinces that can legally adopt bylaws derived from Sharia, or Islamic law. These bylaws apply not only to Aceh's predominantly Muslim population, but to about 90,000 non-Muslims residents, mostly Christians and Buddhists, as well as domestic and foreign visitors to the province. In September 2014, the Aceh provincial parliament approved the Principles of the Islamic Bylaw and the Islamic criminal code, which created new discriminatory offenses that do not exist in the Indonesian national criminal code.

The bylaws extend Sharia to non-Muslims and criminalize consensual same-sex sexual acts as well as all zina (sexual relations outside of marriage). The criminal code permits as punishment up to 100 lashes and up to 100 months in prison for consensual same-sex sexual acts, while zina violations carry a penalty of 100 lashes.

The Principles of the Islamic Bylaw violate the right to freedom of religion enshrined in the Indonesian constitution and international law by effectively requiring all Muslims to practice the Sunni tradition of Islam. Aceh's Sharia bylaws also violate commitments to "universal principles of human rights" embodied in the Helsinki agreement, which officially ended a decades-long pro-independence insurgency in Aceh in August 2015. President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has yet to challenge these regulations.

The Indonesian government reaped international opprobrium for the May 23 public flogging in Aceh of two gay men convicted of same-sex relations. The Aceh provincial government responded by proposing to hide floggings from public view. Jokowi should uphold Indonesia's international legal obligations and abolish discriminatory Sharia regulations and their barbaric punishments.

Source: https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/10/24/public-floggings-indonesia-top-500

Human rights & justice

Indonesian activists deride Widodo's rights record

UCA News - October 27, 2017

Jakarta – Rights groups have accused Indonesian President Joko Widodo of reneging on an election promise to improve the country's human rights record, saying after three years in power the situation remains dismal, if not worse.

Widodo was sworn in as Indonesia's 7th president on Oct 20, 2014 – replacing Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono – and immediately launched nine key programs, known as Nawacita, which included addressing human rights issues.

Three years into his term hardly anything has been done to address human rights abuses, activists said.

"Widodo's human rights record is very bad, because during his time in office there has been a spike in the numbers being sentenced to death, which goes against his Nawacita promises," Azas Tigor Nainggolan, coordinator of the Indonesian bishops' Advocacy and Human Rights Forum, told ucanews.com on Oct. 25.

He described rights protection as very weak with abuses continuing to occur across many parts of the archipelago, especially in Papua.

Mass arrests of political activists in Papua have continued to occur during Widodo's presidency, albeit less frequently, Nainggolan said.

He called on Widodo to find the courage to settle past human rights abuse cases by cracking down on violations allegedly being committed by the military and police.

Muhammad Nurkhoiron, a commissioner of the National Human Rights Commission, accused Widodo of not taking his commitment to improving human rights conditions seriously.

"His government focuses [too much] on economic and infrastructure issues," Nurkhoiron told ucanews.com.

Bedjo Untung, chairman of the 1965 Murder Victims Research Foundation, said he and other victims of the anti-communist purge that killed hundreds of thousands of people in the 1960's are disappointed.

"There has been no improvement in the past three years. In fact, human rights violations have increased," he alleged.

Recent allegations of a resurgence in communist activity in Indonesia are not only a threat to victims of the purge but also to activists who have been accused of pro-communist leanings just for advocating people's human rights, he said.

Usman Hamid, director of Amnesty International in Indonesia, also accused Widodo of failing to keep his election promise.

The Indonesian government still upholds the blasphemy law, which has been used recently to victimize at least 16 people, including former Jakarta governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, he said.

Prosecution of minority groups still continues unabated, he said, pointing to attacks on the Muslim Ahmadiyya sect in Lombok and the refusal by local authorities to allow members of the Indonesia Christian Church Taman Yasmin in Bogor, West Java, and the Batak Society Christian Church Philadelphia in Bekasi from worshipping in their churches.

Source: https://www.ucanews.com/news/indonesian-activists-deride-widodos-rights-record/80633

1965 anti-communist purge

The CIA wanted to kill Indonesia's Sukarno, JFK files reveal

Asian Correspondent - October 31, 2017

Max Walden – A file released by the United States government last week among those pertaining to the assassination of former president John F Kennedy has revealed that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) considered murdering Indonesia's founding father Sukarno.

Classified as "top secret" and dated from 1975, the document details an investigation by the CIA Commission into plans by its agents to launch assassination plots against various world leaders – particularly communists and those aligned with the Soviet Union.

The then-Deputy Director of Plans at the CIA Richard Bissell attested to discussions of killing Indonesia's revolutionary hero and first president, the left-leaning Sukarno, which "never progressed as far" as recruiting somebody to assassinate him.

Bissell reportedly said that the CIA had "absolutely nothing" to do with Sukarno's death, who died of kidney failure in 1970, still under house arrest at Bogor Palace by the country's New Order military regime.

Nevertheless, along with Sukarno the CIA had discussed plans to assassinate Cuban leader Fidel Castro, Dominican dictator Rafael Trujillo and Congolese leader Patrice Lumumba.

For decades, Sukarno presided over what he called "guided democracy" which involved balancing the political aspirations of the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) and the country's anti-communist military and Islamic groups. Espousing a postcolonial nationalism for Indonesia, he frequently rallied against what he called "American imperialism."

A CIA report from 1964 noted that Sukarno's anti-Western rhetoric and tactics "combined with Communist single-mindedness, seem likely ultimately to bring Indonesia under Communist control."

However, "no assassination plans would have been undertaken without authorisation outside the Agency, and no such authorisation was undertaken... against Sukarno," added Bissell in the newly released document.

Sukarno's daughter Sukmawati Sukarnoputri said to the Sydney Morning Herald that "America should not only apologise to Indonesia, America should apologise to all the countries they disturbed, if they will admit to it. They never want to admit to it, especially the CIA."

The revelation comes less than two weeks after separate, newly declassified documents showed that the US government had actively supported the mass killings of between 500,000 to a million Indonesians accused of being communists in 1965 and 1966.

Amid the Cold War, the massacres led to the ousting of Sukarno and ascendency of right-wing General Suharto who would come to rule the country for 32 years.

US-Indonesian relations are already under strain, particularly since the Southeast Asian nation's military chief General Gatot Nurmantyo was prevented from boarding a flight to Washington DC earlier this month due to what US officials later called an "administrative error."

Source: https://asiancorrespondent.com/2017/10/cia-wanted-kill-indonesias-sukarno-jfk-files-reveal/

Victims demand Komnas HAM renew probe into 1965 communist purge

Jakarta Post - October 24, 2017

Marguerite Afra Sapiie, Jakarta – Survivors and families of victims of the 1965 communist purge have urged the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) to use the recently released declassified United States files on the purge to renew a long-stalled investigation into the mass killings.

Bejo Untung of the 1965 Murder Victim's Research Foundation (YPKP 65) said that the US files had further revealed that the Indonesian Army had, at that time, orchestrated the mass killings of alleged sympathizers of the now-defunct Indonesian Communist Party (PKI).

On Tuesday, Bedjo, along with five colleagues, came to Komnas HAM to voice their demands, urging the government-sanctioned rights body to "request the documents [from the US embassy] and use them as evidence" to renew its investigation into the tragedy.

"We also hope Komnas HAM ensures that it will be followed up by the Attorney General's Office [AGO]," Bedjo said. "We have suffered from getting stigmatized for 52 years. We only demand for our rehabilitation and the revelation of truth."

Komnas HAM concluded in 2012 an investigation into the purge and has submitted their findings–that it constituted a gross rights violation–to the AGO and recommended that military officials involved in the purge be brought to trial. Yet, the AGO returned the documents to Komnas HAM after the prosecutors found insufficient evidence to build a case.

Komnas HAM commissioner M. Nurkhoiron said it had yet to decide whether to use the declassified US files to complement its investigation, which was concluded years before the release. (ipa)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/10/24/victims-demand-komnas-ham-renew-probe-into-1965-communist-purge.html

Activists find 10 new mass graves containing victims of 1965 anti

CNN Indonesia - October 24, 2017

Bimo Wiwoho, Jakarta – The chairperson of the Institute for the Study of the 1965-1966 Massacres (YPKP 65), Bedjo Untung, claims that they have found 10 new mass grave sites containing the bodies of Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) sympathisers who were killed in 1965-1966.

The new sites add to a list of 122 mass graves already found by the YPKP 65.

"We have already visited all the sites. We have dug up information from witness testimonies", said Bedjo at the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) office in Jakarta on Tuesday October 24. Bedjo also said that the YPKP 65 has urged the Komnas HAM to carry out a follow up investigation on the gross human rights violations that took place in 1965.

Bedjo said that the 10 new mass grave sites were spread across several different locations, namely Magetan and Pacitan in East Java, Cilacap, Grobogan and Purwodadi in Central Java, and Sukabumi in West Java. The location of sites varied, some were in mainland areas while others were near beaches or coastal areas.

Most of the mass graves have been covered by structures built on top of them such as shops and hotels. "Some have also been flattened and become residential areas, beneath which there are mass graves", he added.

The YPKP admitted that the location of the mass grave sites is based on the testimonies of living witnesses. For example, Bedjo claims that he one met an executioner who killed PKI sympathisers and who was quite willing to provide testimony. "He felt that it was the state's job. [He was] ordered to shoot them, yes they (the victims) were shot", he said.

In addition to this, testimonies were also obtained from those that dug the graves and held lamps when PKI sympathisers were shot at night. According to Bedjo, these witnesses felt bad if they did not elaborate on what actually happened and it was because of this that Bedjo found it easier to dig up the information. "They informed us. They still remembered because there was a marker, namely a coconut tree", he said.

With regard to the number of victims and the exact location of the new mass graves Bedjo was still reluctant to elaborate saying that there were things that still needed to be completed so that the data is valid and comprehensive.

Based on data received by CNN Indonesia, the YPKP 65 has previously discovered 122 mass grave sites around the country amounting to some 13,999 victims who have been buried.

This includes 50 sites in Central Java with a total of 5,543 victims, two sites in Yogyakarta with a total of 757 bodies, 28 sites in East Java with 2,846 victims, three locations in West Java with 115 bodies and one site in Banten with 200 victims.

In addition to this there are seven sites in North Sumatra with a total of 5,759 victims, 21 sites in West Sumatra with 1,988 bodies, two sites in South Sumatra with 2,150 victims and Riau Islands with five sites containing a total of 173 bodies.

Finally in Bali, where the YPKP 65 says it found a mass grave with 11 bodies, and East Kalimantan and Sulawesi, each with one site although the number of victims has not been counted in detail. "There are still many [more] mass graves and it is certain that others will be found", continued Bedjo.

Bedjo said that details on the 122 mass graves were given to Komnas HAM and the Ministry for Security, Politics and Legal Affairs in 2016.

At the time, Bedjo gave the data on the mass graves to Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, who was then the Coordinating Minister for Security, Politics and Legal Affairs. Bedjo gave the data to Pandjaitan because he had showed an interest in the government-sponsored National Symposium on the 1965 Tragedy that was held on April 18-19 last year. At the time, said Bedjo, Pandjaitan promised to follow it up.

"But when it was given to him, he seemed to equivocate claiming that there were no mass graves. And up until now since [Pandjaitan] was replaced by Wiranto, there has been no follow up", said Bedjo.

On October 17 as many as 39 documents totalling some 30,000 pages on a plot by the army to overthrow then President Sukarno and destroy the PKI was released by the non-profit National Security Archive (NSA), the National Declassification Center (NDC) and the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) and published on the website http://nsarchive.gwu.edu.

In response to the release of the documents, Indonesian Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Arrmanatha Nasir claimed that the government would check with the US government in order to ascertain the validity and accuracy of the documents.

"What we need to do before drawing any conclusions is to check the accuracy and validity of these reports", said Nasir during a press conference in Jakarta on Wednesday October 18.

[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service. The original title of the article was "Ditemukan, 10 Kuburan Massal Baru Korban Pembunuhan 1965".]

Source: https://www.cnnindonesia.com/nasional/20171024162352-32-250669/ditemukan-10-kuburan-massal-baru-korban-pembunuhan-1965/

Sexual & domestic violence

Police urged to standardize sex crime investigations to protect victims

Jakarta Post - October 26, 2017

Safrin La Batu, Jakarta – Activists of women's rights groups have called on National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian to issue a standard operating procedure (SOP) investigators can use as guidance in handling cases of rape and other sex crimes.

Such guidelines are deemed necessary to protect victims from being victimized again during the investigation.

The groups said it was possible that investigating officers would ask "wrong" questions in their efforts to find out whether a sexual act had occurred without consent, and this could lead to victims being revictimized.

The groups made the call in response to Tito's statement in a recent interview with BBC Indonesia. He said it was sometimes inevitable for investigators to ask a victim whether she felt "comfortable" when the sex act occurred.

Tito said investigators needed to raise that question to prevent perpetrators from escaping justice by claiming the act had occurred with the woman's consent. Tito's statement triggered controversy in the public.

"In fact, rape does not always involve violence. It can also happen because of an unbalanced power relationship between the perpetrator and the victim," the group said on Thursday.

"Victims become vulnerable because of power abuse or through psychological pressure," the activists argued.

The groups, which include women's rights group LBH APIK, said Tito had promised its representatives during a meeting that he would issue a circular telling all police officers across Indonesia to be more attentive when handling sexual abuse reports. (ebf)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/10/26/police-urged-to-standardize-sex-crime-investigations-to-protect-victims.html

Teenage girl raped by 21 men, undergoes counseling

Jakarta Post - October 24, 2017

Andi Hajramurni, Makassar, South Sulawesi – A 13-year-old girl from Walenrang district, Luwu regency, South Sulawesi, is psychologically unstable after being raped by 21 men in two separate locations and at different times.

"The victim is afraid to meet new people. When we came to see her yesterday [Monday], she was afraid to meet us. After we explained our identities, she agreed to meet us," said Andi Fatmawati Syam, the head of the Women's Empowerment and Child Protection (PPPA) division at Luwu administration, on Tuesday.

Not only is she terrified to meet new people, Fatmawati said the girl had become reserved and sensitive, especially if asked to discuss the ordeal to which she had been subjected.

"She spoke very little. Each time we touched on the tragic incident, her eyes suddenly welled with tears. We could not bring ourselves to look at that terrible condition," she said.

Fatmawati said the PPPA Luwu was providing the victim both legal assistance and counseling to help her overcome the ordeal.

The girl, a first grader at a junior high school in Luwu, was raped by 21 men aged 13 to 30 years. Fourteen suspects were arrested last week while seven others remain at large.

"We have obtained the identities of the seven perpetrators. We are sure they can be immediately arrested," said Luwu Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Ahmad Yanuari Insan on Tuesday.

He said the girl was raped during Ramadhan in June, but the case had been reported to the police only on Oct.11. (ebf)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/10/24/teenage-girl-raped-by-21-men-undergoes-counseling.html

Labour & migrant workers

Workers federation demand Rp3.9 million minimum wage

Jakarta Post - October 31, 2017

Jakarta – The Workers Federation staged a rally demanding an increase in the minimum wage in front of City Hall on Tuesday.

The Metal, Electronic and Machine Workers Union (FSP LEM SPSI) head Tarmizi said the minimum wage would be decided on Tuesday and they expected it would be based on the workers standard of living.

"Today the administration will make a decision, I hope it will match our expectation of Rp3.9 million (US$287) per month," Tarmizi said, as quoted by kompas.com. He added that the number was calculated based on the basic cost of living (KHL).

The Jakarta wage council proposed two choices as references for the 2018 minimum wage to Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan. The council member representing employers, Sarman Simanjorang, said the wage would be either Rp3.6 million or Rp3.9 million.

The Rp3.6 million figure was proposed by business parties and based on Government Regulation No. 78/2015 on wages.

"The Workers Federation asked for Rp3.9 million. They calculate the figure based on the KHL [Rp3.6 million], and also take into account economic growth and the national inflation rate of 8.73 percent," Sarman added. (wnd)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/10/31/workers-federation-demand-rp3-9-million-minimum-wage.html

Out of sixth grade, and straight to the factory she died in

New York Times - October 30, 2017

Restidia Putri and Richard C. Paddockoct, Tangerang – At the age of 14, Surnah was done with school, and a month ago she took a full-time job packaging fireworks at a new factory near her home. On a good day, she could make about $3.80.

On Thursday, she died along with 47 other workers when a welder's spark ignited a fire at the factory, the police say, causing two explosions.

"I am feeling very lost," said her mother, Suti, 29, who, like many Indonesians, goes by one name. "She was my only child."

Surnah was one of at least three underage workers at the factory, their family members said Sunday. All three were 14-year-old girls who stopped attending school after the sixth grade because their families could not afford the costs.

The fireworks factory fire left few of the 103 workers there unscathed. And it has again put a spotlight on Indonesia's conjoined struggles with workplace safety, widespread child labor and keeping children in school.

One of the girls, Evih, has been missing since the day of the fire, said her father, Udin, 35. Some bodies recovered from the factory remain unidentified.

A third girl, Fatimah, is hospitalized with burns over 80 percent of her body, according to her aunt, Jani, 52.

The factory had no rear exit, and many victims were trapped at the back of the building as they tried to escape. Many victims, like Surnah, were burned beyond recognition.

The police are continuing to investigate the fire. The factory owner, the welder and the operations director could face criminal charges, said Fredy Yudha, a police official in Tangerang, where the factory was located.

On the morning of the fire, Surnah's uncle, Uncin, 21, said he heard an explosion and rushed to the factory, where he joined the police and neighbors in trying to break through the back wall.

They created a hole large enough for three people to escape, he said. But there was no sign of Surnah.

Surnah, 14, shown in a family photo, had worked about a month at the fireworks factory in Tangerang when she died there last Thursday.

Mr. Uncin said they worked for another half-hour trying to break down the wall and could hear people on the other side calling out.

"I heard people screaming, 'Help, help, help!'" he said. Then there was a second explosion. "After that, there were no voices anymore," he said.

The factory, PT Panca Buana Cahaya Sukses, was in a poor neighborhood of Tangerang, a city of about two million just west of Jakarta, the capital. It was built two months ago in an open field near a junior high school, neighbors said.

Surnah and Evih were close friends, their parents said. Evih was inspired to apply for a job at the factory after Surnah started working there, her father said.

The police were able to identify Surnah relatively quickly because of the braces on her teeth. After a DNA comparison with her mother confirmed her identity, they delivered a sealed coffin to the family.

Her funeral was held Saturday. Among the pallbearers was the Tangerang police chief, Harry Kurniawan, whose department is investigating the fire.

While school costs are not exorbitant, many poor families in Indonesia cannot afford to send their children beyond sixth grade.

Surnah lived with her grandparents, an aunt and uncle and a cousin in a one-bedroom house. Her mother, who has remarried, lives with her new husband.

"Surnah said, 'It is better if I work than if I stay at home and play,'" her mother said. "Surnah said it is better for her to have income herself."

The factory employed mostly women. Surnah worked in a group of five that had a quota of 1,000 packages a day. If they fell short, their pay would be reduced.

Like Surnah, her friend Evih wanted to be independent and to contribute to her family, her father said.

"I could see she was so happy working there," he said. "She could have her own money and her own income. She knew our financial problems and she could also help our family. The last time she got money, she gave it to me and my wife."

[Restidia Putri reported from Tangerang, and Richard C. Paddock from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.]

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/30/world/asia/indonesia-fireworks-fire-underage.html

Indonesian factory owner named suspect over deadly inferno

Agence France Presse - October 28, 2017

Jakarta – Three suspects have been named in connection to a deadly blaze at an Indonesian fireworks factory that killed 48 workers and was caused by sparks from welding equipment, police said Saturday.

The factory outside Jakarta had only been operating for six weeks when the ferocious fire broke out on Thursday, killing nearly half of the company's employees and injuring 45 others in one of Indonesia's worst industrial accidents in recent memory.

Factory owner Indra Liyono was named a suspect by police along with the company's operational director Andri Hartanto and welding equipment operator Subarna Ega.

The trio could face a maximum of five years in prison and a Rp 500 million ($37,000) fine for workplace negligence resulting in death.

"The witnesses' testimonies and forensic test revealed the cause of the fire was the welding equipment sparks which spread to the fireworks material," Jakarta police spokesman Sr. Comr. Argo Yuwono told a press conference.

Liyono and Hartanto have been questioned by police while Ega's whereabouts are unknown.

Police also said that the company, Panca Buana Cahaya Sukses, employed at least three underage children, a violation which could lead to its closure.

Deadly fires are not uncommon in Indonesia, a sprawling country of more than 250 million people where safety regulations are often flouted.

The International Labour Organization (ILO) said Indonesia needed to increase its number of labour inspectors, which was fewer than 2000, and raise safety awareness among workers. (dmr)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/10/28/indonesian-factory-owner-named-suspect-over-deadly-inferno.html

More than 40 killed in fireworks factory fire near Jakarta

Sydney Morning Herald - October 26, 2017

Jewel Topsfield and Amilia Rosa, Jakarta – More than 40 people were killed after a fire ripped through a fireworks factory in a satellite city of Jakarta with bodies incinerated as they tried to escape from the back of the building.

"We found bodies burned down to skeletons, some charred, some partially charred," Agus Margono, the head of operational control for Tangerang firefighters told Fairfax Media.

It is expected the death toll will be even higher than the 41 bodies uncovered so far with more victims likely to be found in the ash and rubble.

Mr Agus said bodies had been found banked against the back wall of the factory. "It seems fire was blocking the exit, so they tried to break down the back wall to escape. But it was a double wall and they couldn't get out."

The fire started about 9am at the factory in Tangerang, about 25 kilometres west of Jakarta. The cause of the horrific blaze was still being investigated.

"Because it was a fireworks factory, there were likely explosions from the materials," Mr Agus said. He said it was likely some people died from smoke inhalation.

The blaze was extinguished about 1pm local time by nine fire trucks. Thirty people were rushed to hospital suffering burns to 60 to 80 per cent of their bodies.

"According to the survivors, there were dozens of workers at the time of the fire," Mr Agus said. "The cause of the fire is still being investigated."

Source: http://www.smh.com.au/world/more-than-40-killed-in-fireworks-factory-fire-near-jakarta-20171026-gz95qk.html

New bill to protect Indonesian migrant workers passed into law

Jakarta Globe - October 26, 2017

Jakarta – Lawmakers passed a bill offering more protection for Indonesian migrant workers in Jakarta on Wednesday (25/10).

The new law revised one that had been in place for about 13 years and deemed still too weak to tackle serious problems that often face the migrant workers, including human trafficking.

The law seeks to improve cooperation between central and regional governments in finding work for Indonesian migrant workers and protecting them once they are offered a job, lawmaker Dede Yusuf from the Democratic Party said.

"[This law] will allow us to do more to protect our workers overseas," the chairman of the House of Representatives commission overseeing manpower said. "It is the state's duty to guarantee the rights of Indonesian migrant workers without any discrimination."

The new law makes mandatory an improved social insurance and competency training for migrant workers as well as integrated and simplified administrative services.

The government is also expected to issue a regulation detailing the implementation of the law, lawmaker Saleh Daulay from the National Mandate Party (PAN) said.

"We hope to issue this regulation soon since the [migrant] workers have been waiting for a long time for this new law to be passed," Saleh said.

Indonesian lawmakers adopted the 1990 United Nations Migrant Workers Convention in 2012.

Source: http://jakartaglobe.id/news/new-bill-protect-indonesian-migrant-workers-passed-law/

Freedom of assembly & association

Draconian Ormas law will also target communist groups: Government

Detik News - October 30, 2017

Bagus Prihantoro Nugroho, Jakarta – The recently enacted Law on Social Organisations (UU Ormas), which was previously the Government Regulation in Lieu of Law Number 2/2017 (Perppu Ormas), was the subject of a discussion between President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and mass media editors.

During the meeting it was asserted that the UU Ormas will also target leftist groups.

"This UU will also target communism", said Presidential Chief of Staff Teten Masduki after attending the meeting with Jokowi at the State Place on Jl. Jl Veteran in Central Jakarta on Monday October 30.

The government, said Masduki, is open to suggestions if there are to be revisions to the law, particularly with regard to the articles on criminal prosecution.

"Yes it may be revised after being enacted into law because there were several conditions [set by some political parties] particularly on the criminal prosecution of people who are involved in social organisations that are deemed to be against [the state ideology of] Pancasila", said Masduki.

Masduki did not say if there were any proposals from the mass media editors to revise the UU Ormas, adding that the discussion earlier in the afternoon did not cover the issue.

The Perppu Ormas was enacted into law by the House of Representatives (DPR) on October 24. Three political party factions however who accepted the Perppu asked that revisions be made to the law.

The Democrat Party has even prepared an academic paper on the proposed revisions to the law which they plan to submit to the government tomorrow. (bpn/idh)

[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service. The original title of the article was "Teten: UU Ormas Juga Menyasar ke Kelompok Komunis".]

Source: https://news.detik.com/berita/d-3706467/teten-uu-ormas-juga-menyasar-ke-kelompok-komunis

Indonesian law makes it easier to disband extremist groups, but could

Global Voices - October 27, 2017

Indonesia's House of Representatives has passed a presidential decree into law that empowers the government to disband organizations even without a prior court order, amid warnings from legal experts and human rights activists that it puts civil liberties at risk.

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) had issued the suggested amendment to Law No. 17/2013 on Civil Society Organizations on July 10, 2017. It outlaws groups which violate or threaten to undermine the pluralist state ideology known as Pancasila.

Jokowi said this is necessary to preserve national unity and diversity amid the growing influence of hardline Islamic groups.

Indonesia is home to the biggest Muslim population in the world and boasts of promoting a moderate view of Islam. But in recent years, certain organizations have been aggressive in enforcing their intolerant doctrines, which has raised fears about the spread of religion-based discrimination.

In particular, the government wanted to ban groups like the Hizbut-Tahrir Indonesia (HTI) which aims to establish a caliphate in the country. HTI was one of the groups that mobilized tens of thousands of its followers and succeeded in its call of deposing the Christian governor of Jakarta, who was accused of disrespecting Islam. Ahok, the former governor of Jakarta, is an ally of Jokowi.

While many secular groups and human rights activists support the action of the government against HTI, they have strongly expressed their concern about the impact of the new regulation on other groups in the country. They pointed out that the new regulation has given the executive broad powers and too much discretion to decide which groups are deemed a threat to national unity. They added that the decree undermines civil liberties and other constitutionally guaranteed rights.

The Jakarta Post published an editorial warning against "resurrecting the ghost of authoritarianism":

"The new law gives the government a blank check to outlaw any organization or group it pleases on the grounds that their platforms or activities run counter to the state ideology or the Constitution.

There is no guarantee the current or future governments will not be tempted to exercise the new power to quell critics or opposition using the pretext of national security."

Indonesia was ruled by General Suharto from 1965 to 1998 who was accused of violating the rights of thousands of Indonesians.

The Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation reviewed the law and concluded that it "perpetuates a multi-interpretation article on blasphemy" which could result into the criminalization of activities that are deemed a threat by those in power.

Usman Hamid, director of Amnesty International Indonesia, reminded the Jokowi government that there are better alternatives to combating extremism:

"There are many ways for the Indonesian government to combat radicalism and defend social cohesion. Removing almost all meaningful legal protections of freedom of association is not the way to do that. Indonesia's pluralist politicians and civil society are understandably deeply antagonistic towards the anti-democratic mission of groups like Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia. So are we. But we should recognise that the same laws that protect HTI from arbitrary state action are the ones that protect the forces of democracy and human rights as well."

Scholar Deasy Simandjuntak questioned the appropriateness of the approach adopted by the government in dealing with groups like the HTI:

"The Indonesian government is walking on thin ice as it navigates between the need for stability and security on the one hand, and its democratic commitment to ensuring political freedom for all Indonesians on the other."

The rise of intolerance does call for stronger government intervention in curbing the growth of hardline groups. However, the question remains whether an expansion of powers that gives the Indonesian government close to unfettered discretion to define which groups to sanction is the best way forward.

For its part, the government insisted that the law is constitutional. Jokowi welcomed the appeal of some parties to revise some parts of the law. Out of 445 members of the House of Representatives, as many as 314 members voted to pass the law. Six of the 10 political parties approved the measure.

Source: https://globalvoices.org/2017/10/27/indonesian-law-makes-it-easier-to-disband-extremist-groups-but-could-undermine-civil-liberties/

Dems to file petition if govt does not revise mass organizations law:

Jakarta Post - October 26, 2017

Safrin La Batu, Jakarta – The Democratic Party is prepared to file a petition against the government if the latter does not revise the 2017 Mass Organizations Law, party chairman Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has said.

The House of Representatives passed on Tuesday the 2017 government regulation in lieu of law (Perppu) on mass organizations, which replaces the 2013 Perppu on mass organizations.

Critics have said that the 2017 law violates the constitutional right to assemble because it gives the government the power to disband organizations without due process of law.

The Democratic Party backed the Perppu under the condition that some provisions be revised immediately should it be passed into law. The Perppu was supported by seven of nine House parties.

"What if the government breaks its promise [...] and does not make a revision [to the law]?" Yudhoyono, a former president, said on the party's website. "If that happens, the Dems would issue a political petition."

The government previously used the Perppu to disband Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI), a pan-Islamic organization wanting to establish an Islamic caliphate in Indonesia.

Critics say the regulation could also be used to silent other organizations, religious or secular, considered to have contradicted the national ideology of Pancasila.

Protesters hit the streets in protest, saying the law was a setback to the world's third largest democracy. (bbs)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/10/26/dems-to-file-petition-if-govt-does-not-revise-mass-organizations-law-sby.html

Ex-HTI members to challenge new 'Ormas' law in court

Jakarta Post - October 25, 2017

Marguerite Afra Sapiie, Jakarta – Former members of the now-defunct Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI) plan to lodge a judicial review against the recently endorsed regulation in lieu of law (Perppu) on mass organizations (Ormas) to the Constitutional Court.

The House of Representatives voted on Tuesday to endorse the Perppu, which replaces the 2013 Law on mass organizations, on the grounds it is necessary to protect the state ideology of Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution.

The hard-line HTI was the first group to be disbanded under the controversial Perppu, which grants the government the power to disband any groups it deems to be anti-Pancasila. Under the 2013 law, this power lay with the court.

The government believed HTI posed a threat to Pancasila as it sought to establish an Islamic caliphate in Indonesia.

"The endorsement [of the Perppu] will open the door for the birth of a repressive regime [...] who knows which organizations will be disbanded next in the name of protecting kebhinekaan [unity in diversity]?," former HTI spokesman Ismail Yusanto said on Wednesday.

He also questioned whether the House truly represented the public's aspirations as many mass organizations invited by the House to a previous hearing rejected the Perppu on the grounds it could grant the government the power to disband organizations without due process in law.

"We want to urge the government and all relevant stakeholders not to use the endorsed Perppu as a way to obstruct preaching and criminalize Islamic teachings and preachers," Ismail said. (ahw)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/10/25/ex-hti-members-to-challenge-new-ormas-law-in-court.html

With little fanfare, House passes draconian Perppu on social

Kompas.com - October 24, 2017

Rakhmat Nur Hakim, Jakarta – Government Regulation in Lieu of Law Number 2/2017 (Perppu Ormas) has finally been passed into law by the House of Representatives (DPR) during a plenary session at the parliamentary complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Tuesday October 24.

The Perppu Ormas was enacted into law through a vote because the political party factions at the plenary session failed to achieve a consensus even after two hours of lobbying.

Seven factions agreed with the Perppu being enacted into law, namely the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the United Development Party (PPP), the National Awakening Party (PKB), the Golkar Party, the National Democrat Party (Nasdem), the Democrat Party and the People's Conscience Party (Hanura).

The PPP, PKB and Democrat factions however only agreed on the condition that that the government and the DPR immediately revise the Perppu that had just been passed into law.

The three other factions meanwhile, namely the Justice and Prosperity Party (PKS), the National Mandate Party (PAN) and the Greater Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) opposed the ratification of the Perppu on the grounds that it abolishes the role of the courts in disbanding a social organisation (ormas).

"We have received the result, out of a total of 445 members [lawmakers], 314 members accept and 131 reject [the motion]. Thus taking into consideration the conditions that have been considered the plenary session therefore agrees that the Perppu No. 2, 2017 becomes law", said DPR deputy speaker and senior Gerindra official Fadli Zon.

With the ratification of the Perppu Ormas into law, the government now has the authority to dissolve an ormas that threatens the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI) or is against the state ideology of Pancasila.

The dissolution of an ormas is the final stage of the sanction process that can be handed down against an ormas that violates the law. Prior to this, the government, through the Minister of Home Affairs shall issue a written warning for an ormas to end activities that violate the law.

If the warning to halt such activities is not heeded, only then can the government hand down the sanction of revoking the ormas' registration or withdrawing its status as a legal entity.

[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service. The original title of the article was "Perppu Ormas Disahkan, Pemerintah Kini Bisa Bubarkan Ormas".]

Source: http://nasional.kompas.com/read/2017/10/24/16342471/perppu-ormas-disahkan-pemerintah-kini-bisa-bubarkan-ormas

Minister warns against 'intervention' if house enacts stricter

Jakarta Globe - October 24, 2017

Jakarta – Chief Security Minister Wiranto warned on Monday (23/10) against any "intervention" after the country enacts a stricter regulation on mass organizations amid Islamist protests.

A lawmakers' plenary meeting on Tuesday is expected to turn that regulation into law, which will simplify the disbanding of organizations deemed to contradict the country's state ideology, known as Pancasila.

But the regulation is currently subject to Constitutional Court reviews filed by several hardline Islamist groups, who have staged protests in recent months to denounce the forthcoming change.

"Let the legal process take its course. There is no need to intervene physically or by any other means," Wiranto said in Jakarta.

Islamist groups, including the hardline Islamic Defenders Front (FPI), accuse the government of discrediting them with the regulation. Several human rights groups also criticize the regulation as jeopardizing Indonesia's hard-won democratic system after the fall of former President Suharto and his New Order regime in 1998.

"I hereby remind that the government regulation's objective is not to create uproar but to safeguard our state ideology," Wiranto said.

The regulation's issuance led the government to immediately disband the non-violent Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI), which the government accused of threatening national unity by advocating for an Islamic caliphate.

President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo in July signed the regulation, which received backing from several moderate Islamic organizations in the world's largest Muslim-majority country.

The regulation revokes an earlier requirement under a law on mass organizations enacted in 2013 to bring those groups to trial before being able to disband them.

"We will resolve everything legally," Wiranto said, citing the judicial reviews at the Constitutional Court. "There is no arbitrariness."

Source: http://jakartaglobe.id/news/minister-warns-intervention-house-enacts-stricter-regulation-mass-organizations/

Political parties & elections

Golkar endorses Bandung Mayor Ridwan in W. Java election

Jakarta Post - October 27, 2017

Jakarta – Golkar Party, the second-largest party in West Java with 17 legislative seats, officially endorsed on Friday popular Bandung Mayor Ridwan Kamil for the 2018 West Java gubernatorial election.

"Our gubernatorial candidate is Ridwan, with Daniel Muttaqien as his running mate," Golkar secretary-general Idrus Marham said on Friday as quoted by kompas.com.

Ridwan had already secured enough support to run in next year's race following the endorsement of Islam-based United Development Party (PPP) and the National Awakening Party (PKB), as well as the NasDem Party. The alliance represents a total of 21 council seats in the province.

The PPP, however, has endorsed its own cadre, Tasikmalaya Regent Uu Ruzhanul Ulum, as Ridwan's running mate.

Some parties have yet to announce their candidates, including the Hanura Party, the Democratic Party and the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), which is the only party in West Java that can field a gubernatorial ticket without forming a coalition because of its 20 council seats.

PDI-P recently invited seven prospective hopefuls to a silaturahmi (friendly meeting), which appeared to be a primary to vet candidates. The seven include incumbent West Java Deputy Governor Deddy Mizwar and Purwakarta Regent Dedi Mulyadi, another popular figure in the province who is also chairman of Golkar's West Java chapter.

Deddy has already gained the support of Gerindra, which teamed up with the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) to form an alliance, controlling 23 seats in total. (ipa)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/10/27/golkar-endorses-bandung-mayor-ridwan-in-w-java-election.html

Megawati, Jokowi hold meeting over 'sayur lodeh'

Jakarta Post - October 24, 2017

Bogor, West Java – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and his patron, the chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), Megawati Soekarnoputri, held a meeting over a traditional meal cooked specially by the former president herself.

Jokowi and Megawati held a closed-door meeting at the Batu Tulis Palace, a privately owned residence of former president Soekarno's family, in Bogor, West Java, on Sunday.

The dinner, prepared by Megawati, presented favorite dishes of her late father, such as chicken with lajak sauce, sayur lodeh (vegetable in coconut milk soup), rending ikan (fish simmered in coconut milk), fried trevally, fried tempeh and corn porridge.

"It was a sudden meeting. But as Megawati always does, she served special dishes for Jokowi. She cooked them herself," PDI-P secretary general Hasto Kristiyanto, who also attended the meeting, said in a press statement on Monday.

He said the three-hour meeting was at times very casual and full of laughs, but serious when discussing national issues. Hasto refused to give further details on the discussion.

"Megawati and Jokowi meet regularly to talk about national and political conditions. They had done that since Jokowi served as mayor of Solo [in Central Java]," Hasto said.

The atmosphere of the dinner was not much different than the dinner the two attended in 2014, right before Megawati endorsed Jokowi as a presidential candidate, he added.

Although several political parties have announced their support for Jokowi in the 2019 presidential election, the ruling party has yet to officially endorse the President.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/10/23/megawati-jokowi-hold-meeting-over-sayur-lodeh.html

Nationalism & state ideology

Jokowi invites notorious Suharto era thugs to cooperate in building the

Detik News - October 28, 2017

Bayu Ardi Isnanto, Solo – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo attended the keynote event of the Pancasila Youth's (PP) 58th anniversary in the Central Java city of Solo.

The president was given the opportunity to present his greetings and close the event.

Speaking before hundreds of PP leaders and members, Widodo said that the PP is special social organisation (ormas).

His remarks were greeted by applause from all of the PP members.

"The Pancasila Youth is a special ormas because its name has the word Pancasila. Namely our nation's ideology, the Indonesian nation, our guiding path for 72 years, an ideology that unites our diverse nation", said Widodo at the Sunan Hotel on Saturday October 28.

Bearing this special name in mind, Widodo reminded all PP members to continue to safeguard Pancasila. The president also said that he hopes that the PP can be a bulwark of the state ideology.

"So I hope that the Pancasila Youth will always be a bulwark of Pancasila, a bulwark of the UUD 1945 [1945 Constitution], the NKRI [Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia] and Bhinneka Tunggal Ika [Unity in Diversity]", he said.

Not forgetting, the former Surakarta (Solo) mayor also congratulated the PP on its 58th university and invited the PP members to join in mutual cooperation to build the country.

"On the Pancasila Youth's 58th anniversary, let us continue to mutually cooperate with the government, with Indonesia's young men and women to become a generation that is strong, resilient and heading towards Indonesia's golden era", said Widodo. (bgs/bgs)

Notes

Pemuda Pancasila (Pancasila Youth) was established by the army in October 1959, ostensibly to uphold the state ideology of Pancasila. During the anti-communist purge in 1965-66 the group took an active part in the slaughter of Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) members and sympathisers. Under the New Order dictatorship of former president Suharto the organisation became an association of notorious thugs and petty criminals who carried out dirty work on behalf of the regime. The organisation still has close ties with various factions of the military and police and has been linked to criminal activities such as racketeering and extortion. In recent years has been involved in a number of violent turf wars with other vigilante groups and attacks on leftist groups and events that it deems to be "pro-communist" or "anti-Pancasila".

[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service. The original title of the article was "Jokowi Sebut Pemuda Pancasila Ormas yang Spesial".]

Source: https://news.detik.com/berita-jawa-tengah/d-3704153/jokowi-sebut-pemuda-pancasila-ormas-yang-spesial?utm_source=facebook

Widodo calls on New Order vigilante group to be bulwark of national

Tempo - October 29, 2017

Amirullah, Jakarta – President Joko Widodo or Jokowi says that the Pancasila Youth (Pemuda Pancasila, PP) are a special social organisation (ormas) and he is calling on the group to be the bulwark of the state ideology of Pancasila.

"The Pancasila Youth is a special ormas because its name has the word Pancasila", he said in a press release by Presidential Press bureau chief Bey Machmudin on Sunday October 29.

Widodo said this when presenting his greetings to an event marking the 58th anniversary of the Pancasila Youth at the Sunan Hotel in the Central Java city of Surakarta (Solo) on October 28.

Arriving at around 7.45pm, the president was greeted enthusiastically by Pancasila Youth members. And even before he had sat down on the seats provided, Widodo had shaken hands with almost all of the Pancasila Youth leadership and members that were present.

In his greetings, Widodo said he hoped that the Pancasila Youth can become a guide for Indonesia's young men and women in safeguarding and practicing the state ideology of Pancasila.

"I hope that the Pancasila Youth will always be a bulwark of Pancasila. I repeat, the Pancasila Youth will always be a bulwark of Pancasila, the UUD 1945 [1945 Constitution], the NKRI [Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia] and Bhinneka Tunggal Ika [Unity in Diversity]", he said.

This hope, he said, is in fitting with the name Pancasila Youth which encapsulates the ideology of Pancasila and at the same time the guides and unifiers of the Indonesian nation's pluralism.

This is important bearing in mind that new ideologies are currently emerging that want to replace Pancasila. Moreover these ideologies that are emerging are doing so not through ordinary means so vigilance must always be improved.

Widodo invited the Pancasila Youth to cooperate with the government in creating a generation of Indonesians that have optimism, a spirit of renewal and innovation in building the motherland.

"On the Pancasila Youth's 58th anniversary, let us continue to mutually cooperate with the government, with Indonesia's young men and women to become a generation that is strong, innovative and resilient, to take this nation into Indonesia's golden era", he said.

Also accompanying the president at the event was, among others, State Secretary Pratikno, Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu, Regional Representatives Council (DPD) speaker Oesman Sapta Odang, Special Presidential Staff member Johan Budi and Surakarta Mayor FX Hadi Rudyatmo.

Notes

[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service. The original title of the article was "Jokowi Sebut Pemuda Pancasila sebagai Ormas Spesial".]

Source: https://nasional.tempo.co/read/1028794/jokowi-sebut-pemuda-pancasila-sebagai-ormas-spesial

Environment & natural disasters

Nestle, Hershey and Mars 'breaking promises over palm oil use'

The Guardian (Australia) - October 28, 2017

Arthur Neslen – Nestle, Mars and Hershey have been accused of breaking pledges to stop using "conflict palm oil" from deforested Indonesian jungles, just days before the annual Halloween confectionery frenzy.

The Rainforest Action Network (RAN) says consumers have been "deceived" by promises from the brands to clean up their supply chains which were subsequently delayed, revised or watered down.

Laurel Sutherlin, a spokesman for the group, told the Guardian: "For too many years, Nestle, Mars and Hershey have cherry-picked their [palm oil] targets and then moved the goalposts when they don't achieve them. There's just no further room for error to prevent the extinction of tigers, orangutans and elephants."

The last parcel of Sumatran rainforest in which these three species all roam – along with rhinos, clouded leopards and sun bears – is vanishing at a dramatic pace as lucrative palm oil plantations illegally eat into tropical forestland.

The brands source palm oil from this 2.6m hectare Leuser region, via complex supply chains, some involving traders linked to suppliers illegally logging in the region.

Nestle promised to end deforestation in its supply chain by 2015 in response to Greenpeace's KitKat campaign of 2010. After Ran's "Snack food 20" report, this was upgraded to a pledge of "no sourcing from areas converted from natural forests after 1 February 2013". The target was missed.

"Four years later we can now trace over 90% of our palm oil back to the mill of origin and almost two thirds back to the plantation level," said Nestle spokeswoman Peggy Diby. "Our ambition is to raise this figure to 100% by 2020, back to plantation."

In July, Nestle told the Guardian it could only source 47% of its palm oil to plantations, suggesting a big improvement in the last three months.

Hershey's said in 2014 that it would source all of its palm oil back to the mill level by 2015, and to plantations by 2016. But its plantation level sourcing actually fell in 2016 from 27% to 14%, and the commitment has been deferred until 2020.

Jeff Beckman, Hershey's communications director said: "While we remain deeply committed to pushing all stakeholders to accelerate traceability and bring full transparency to this supply chain along with our supplier partners, we realised it would take more time to achieve this goal than originally anticipated."

Mars did not respond to a request for comment, despite a promise of "cutting suppliers trafficking conflict palm oil by the end of 2015," which campaigners claim has not been met.

Gemma Tillack, Ran's campaign director said: "It is our view that the brands have deceived consumers by continually claiming to be tackling deforestation when they have not executed the actions required to achieve a moratorium on the forest frontlines of their global supply chains."

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/oct/27/nestle-mars-and-hershey-breaking-promises-over-palm-oil-use-say-campaigners

Fewer forest fires, land burned in Indonesia this year

Straits Times - October 25, 2017

Francis Chan, Jakarta – The number of forest fires across Indonesia fell by more than 30 per cent this year as fire prevention and enforcement efforts, started after the trans-boundary haze crisis in 2015 sent air pollution to record levels, continue to bear fruit.

The 2,400 hot spots recorded thus far this year as the dry season ends is less than the 3,563 picked up by satellites run by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) over the same period last year.

Similarly, hot spots detected by Terra-Aqua satellites also decreased by 47 per cent, from 3,628 hot spots in 2016, to 1,927 this year, said Indonesia's National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) on Wednesday (Oct 25).

The latest figures on hot spots are substantially lower than the 130,000 or more hot spots that hit Indonesia in 2015 when more than 2.6 million hectares of land were razed.

The burning of forests and peatland in Kalimantan and Sumatra that same year also produced trans-boundary haze that blanketed the region and led to record air pollution levels across Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore for months.

Since then, Indonesia has managed to limit the amount of land burned and prevent a repeat of the 2015 crisis.

BNPB spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said that based on satellite imagery analysis conducted by Indonesia's Ministry of Environment and Forestry, about 124,983ha of land was burned so far, this year, which is just over a quarter of the 438,360ha affected by fires last year.

"The peak period for the threat of forest and land fires has passed," said Dr Sutopo, referring to the months of September and October, when the dry season usually hits Indonesia. "And thanks to the preparation, synergy and anticipation by various parties to fight forest and land fires, the number of hot spots and the extent of fires was down compared with the previous year."

The latest figures on hot spots, however, revealed a shift in the location of forest and land fires, from Kalimantan and Sumatra islands, to East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara and Papua, he added.

According to data from the ministry, about 33,030ha and 26,217ha of land in east and west Nusa Tenggara respectively, were burned, while 16,492ha of land were similarly affected in Papua.

More favourable weather also played a part in Indonesia's recent success in preventing fires, said Dr Sutopo. The dry season of 2017 was "normal" and drier than the 2016 season, which was shorter due to the La Nina phenomenon, he said.

"But compared with 2015, the drought in 2017 was lower in intensity. In 2015, it was a very long and dry season due to the impact of El Nino."

El Nino refers to the climate phenomenon that causes a warming trend conducive to the burning of land, but it is usually followed by the wetter La Nina season.

Source: http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/fewer-forest-fires-land-burned-in-indonesia-this-year

Power plants around Jakarta could cause premature deaths: Greenpeace

Jakarta Post - October 24, 2017

Jakarta – Jakarta will be surrounded by more than 10 coal-fired power plants (PLTU) within a 100-kilometer radius, which could lead to premature deaths, Greenpeace Indonesia has reported.

The report entitled Silent Murder in Jakarta predicted that the presence of the PLTU could cause 10,600 premature deaths and 2,800 low weight births per year in Greater Jakarta areas.

Jakarta is already surrounded by eight PLTUs. The other four will begin operating between 2019 and 2024 and another one, which is currently operating, will be expanded in 2019.

Greenpeace Indonesia's climate and energy campaigner Didit Wicaksono said on Tuesday that the city's air quality was bad, and it was mostly caused by transportation and housing.

"But the fact is, it's not only transportation that damages the health of Jakarta's residents and their children, it's also large capacity PLTUs in Java, specifically around Jakarta, and two steam and gas power plants [PLTGU] in Jakarta," Didit said in a statement on Tuesday.

"Pollution generated from the power plants has also caused Jakarta's air to be unhealthier."

Based on Greenpeace Indonesia's study, the combined emissions from the PLTUs will likely affect cities located to the north and west of the power plants, namely Cilegon and Tangerang in Banten, Bogor in West Java, Jakarta, as well as Bekasi, Depok, Tambun and Karawang in West Java.

The pollution could cause serious respiratory disease, stroke, cardiovascular disease and other heart related disease. Children, pregnant woman and the elderly are the most vulnerable to the pollution.

"For the sake of public health, Greenpeace encourages the Indonesian government to improve the emissions standard for thermal power plants and monitor their performance," Didit added. (wnd)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/10/24/power-plants-around-jakarta-could-cause-premature-deaths-greenpeace.html

Health & education

Starbucks Indonesia turns pink to break taboos around discussing breast

The Drum - October 30, 2017

Danielle Long – Starbucks Indonesia is encouraging women to break their silence about breast cancer in a bid to generate awareness of the disease in a new campaign.

The #pinkvoice campaign aims to shine a light on Indonesia's conservative culture, where many find it taboo to discuss the disease. This silence is resulting in sufferers accessing treatment too late, and not getting the support they need.

Starbucks has collaborated with a local non-profit organisation, "Love Pink Indonesia" and McCann Workgroup Indonesia to create the campaign, which is running on Instagram, YouTube and Facebook and features Indonesian actress and advocate of breast cancer awareness, Chelsea Islan.

As part of the campaign Starbucks is selling special pink beverages, with 10% from every pink drink donated to Love Pink.

Roger Tongeren, CMO, Starbucks Indonesia, said, "Starbucks hopes that these Pink beverages will help to raise awareness of breast cancer. McCann has developed an exciting campaign to convey a very important message by turning our stores Pink and sparking the conversation on this vital health issue.

Starbucks recently partnered with Lady Gaga and her Born This Way Foundation for The Cups of Kindness campaign which aimed to promote kindness in the US and Canada.

Source: http://www.thedrum.com/news/2017/10/30/starbucks-indonesia-turns-pink-break-taboos-around-discussing-breast-cancer

LGBT & same-sex marriage

Gay man arrested in Indonesia shares his story from jail

Gay Star News - October 25, 2017

Shannon Power – One of the hundreds of men rounded up in Indonesia's crackdown on its LGBTI community has shared his story from jail.

Justin – not his real name – was arrested earlier this month along with other gay men in the capital, Jakarta. His arrest brings the total of men targeted by police at gay parties and saunas to more than 200 just in 2017.

Justin said police were violent and intimidating when they raided the sauna. 'They yelled "you're all scum",' Justin told the News Lens.

One crime scene photographer even had the gall to suggest he should have gone to a massage parlour to pay for sex with women. 'You could have gone to any of those places and you wouldn't have had this problem,' the photographer allegedly told Justin.

Even though it is not illegal to be gay in Indonesia the country has been experiencing a crackdown on LGBTI people.

There have been multiple mass arrests at gay parties and saunas, lesbians were kicked out of their home and in the most high profile case, two young men were sentenced to 85 lashes for homosexual sex in Aceh.

Police have justified the mass arrests of gay men by using the country's anti-pornography law. If convicted, Jason faces up to 10 years in prison.

Support for Justin

Justin said since his arrest he has felt let down by Indonesia's LGBTI community. On social media gay men said he was 'an idiot' for getting caught.

'We talk about a LGBT "community",' he said. 'But we hide. We won't help each other make our lives better.'

Thankfully Justin's family have been supportive since arrest, even though they didn't know he was gay. But he's worried about his future after he gets out of jail.

'My mother cried for a few weeks but she's fine now. I'm still her son,' he said. 'When I apply for a job they're going to Google me and this will come up. I have to fight.'

Source: https://www.gaystarnews.com/article/gay-man-arrested-indonesia-shares-story-jail/

Refugees & asylum seekers

Most refugees in Indonesia will never be resettled: UN Refugee Agency

Sydney Morning Herald - October 31, 2017

Jewel Topsfield, Jakarta – Refugees in Indonesia are being told the devastating news that most will never be resettled in Australia or any other country.

Instead, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, they should get used to staying in Indonesia – learning the language, volunteering, or seeking an education in local schools.

The bleak new information campaign from the UN refugee agency comes as resettlement options for the 14,000 refugees and asylum seekers in Indonesia are increasingly remote in the wake of the Rohingya crisis, cuts to the US refugee intake and Australia's ban on those who registered with the UNHCR in Indonesia after July 2014.

The campaign, which has been running for about a month, warns that places are so limited that "most refugees in Indonesia will not be able to benefit from resettlement".

It's aimed at encouraging them to prepare for their future, and says the length of time a refugee has been in Indonesia is not considered when identifying people for resettlement. It also emphasises the number of resettlement places is decided by countries and not the UNHCR.

Frustrations have been mounting over the protracted wait for the UNHCR to determine refugee status. A number of protests were held outside the UNHCR Jakarta office earlier this year.

The number of refugees and asylum seekers in Indonesia has jumped from 11,186 in 2014 to 14,093 in 2017, but, as of July 1, just 322 refugees had departed for resettlement in a third country in 2017.

"We try to be very honest with the refugees," UNHCR's Indonesia representative Thomas Vargas told Fairfax Media. "It is so important that you have a safe place to be and you do your best to try to prepare for your future because don't expect you are going to be resettled at all."

The project, funded by European Union Humanitarian Aid, encourages refugees to learn Indonesian, volunteer, participate in local cultural events and take advantage of educational opportunities for themselves and their children.

It says other options may be available, including returning to their home countries if safe to do so, and private family sponsorship for those with relatives in a third country.

"We will be putting up posters that has this information, we have already posted on our website, and this is the messaging that we are giving refugees to help them cope with the situation," Mr Vargas said.

However the reality is that it is too dangerous for many refugees to return home and life is tough in Indonesia, which is not a signatory to the UN Refugee Convention.

It is illegal for refugees to work and education options are limited, with more than 90 per cent of refugee children not going to school.

Last year the UNHCR and partner agencies were unable to provide basic support to 37 per cent of identified vulnerable individuals due to limited human and financial resources, which it said further aggravated their vulnerabilities.

Khalil Payeez, a Hazara refugee from Pakistan, said one woman fainted after UNHCR representatives visited the Cisarua Refugee Learning Centre to warn that only the most vulnerable refugees – such as those who were sick or unaccompanied children – would be resettled.

"They said the waiting time in Indonesia could be 10 years, it could be 15 years or it could be forever for refugees," Mr Payeez said. "Maybe we will live here forever, but Indonesia will not give you citizenship."

He said the refugee who fainted had questioned how she could attend university if she was stuck in Indonesia for 15 years. "This was the worst message. It was disappointing because you didn't get an answer that gives you hope or encouragement. It's always bad news that you hear."

Mr Payeez is the manager of the Cisarua Refugee Learning Centre, a school established and managed by refugees just outside of Jakarta, that is now the subject of a new film The Staging Post.

"It gives their life meaning, community and friendship," says film maker Jolyon Hoff. "It has been beautiful (to see) their growth as individuals. If they are going to be stuck there indefinitely, education has to be the solution."

The Cisarua Refugee Learning Centre, which has been running since 2014, teaches 122 children between 5 and 17 years and also offers afternoon English classes for women, many of whom are illiterate in their own language. It has a lengthy waiting list and has inspired eight other refugee schools in Indonesia.

The UNHCR's Mr Vargas said he was glad to see these initiatives but would like to see more refugee children attend public schools in Indonesia.

"It's great that the children are getting instruction and are learning and are not stopping their development, but the problem is they don't get any kind of accreditation," he said.

Although refugee children theoretically have access to primary and secondary education in Indonesia, only about 50 children are enrolled in public schools.

Mr Vargas said obstacles included language barriers, a lack of willingness on behalf of parents to enrol their children because they saw their stay in Indonesia as temporary and a lack of availability of places. "We have been trying to overcome some of these obstacles," he said.

Non-profit organisation Dompet Dhuafa holds Indonesian classes for refugee children to prepare them for entering Indonesian schools. Seven year old Sabrina from Ethiopia can already interpret for her mother when she pays the rent, goes to the hospital and shops at the market.

"We might be in Indonesia for a long time and it is very important to study Bahasa Indonesia as well as English," says her mother, Fatia Mohammed.

"I hope she will graduate from here and go to an Indonesian school – she already plays with Indonesian children in her free time. I am really proud she speaks Bahasa."

But others are not so lucky. Saad Mohammed Hussein, also from Ethiopia, wept as she said her 17-year-old daughter could not attend classes provided by Dompet Dhuafa because they were too far away.

"She doesn't do anything, she is stressed and almost committed suicide," Ms Hussein said. "We have been here for three years and the life is really difficult."

Ms Hussein said she had fled torture and persecution in her homeland. All she sought, she said, was a peaceful country where her children could access education and she could work.

"I am very concerned about the future of my daughter. Education is the key to success. "I have never been to school and if my daughter ends up the same as me it is a lack of progress."

Source: http://www.smh.com.au/world/most-refugees-in-indonesia-will-never-be-resettled-un-refugee-agency-20171031-gzbzhn.html

Corruption & abuse of power

Democratic party politician Ramadhan Pohan declared guilty of fraud

Jakarta Post - October 28, 2017

Apriadi Gunawan, Medan, North Sumatra – The Medan District Court has declared Democratic Party politician Ramadhan Pohan guilty of fraud and sentenced him to 15 months in prison.

The panel of judges found Pohan guilty of violating Article 378 of the Criminal Code on fraud.

"The defendant was proven to be guilty of committing fraud amounting to Rp 15.3 billion. We sentenced the defendant to one year and three months in prison," presiding judge Erintuah Damanik said at the court on Friday.

The sentence was lighter than the penalty of three years' imprisonment sought be the prosecutors against the former lawmaker.

Pohan stood trial for fraud along with another defendant, Savita Linda. They were both reported by mother and son Rotua Hotnida Simanjuntak and Laurenz Hendry Hamonangan Sianipar for fraud totalling Rp 15.3 billion relating to money Pohan used to finance his political campaign. Backed by his party, he ran for mayor of Medan in the 2015 regional election.

The mother and son duo claimed that Pohan had promised to return the money with interest after the election. However, Pohan and his running mate lost in the election and he subsequently dodged Rotua and Laurenz when asked to return the money, leading them to take the case to the police.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/10/28/democratic-party-politician-ramadhan-pohan-declared-guilty-of-fraud.html

Another regency head nabbed for graft

Jakarta Post - October 25, 2017

Kharishar Kahfi, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) said it arrested on Wednesday an East Java regent in connection to a bribery case.

KPK spokesman Febri Diansyah confirmed the arrest, adding that 15 people were apprehended for questioning. "We also apprehended several people there [in East Java] and in Jakarta."

He added that the alleged bribery took place in the regency and continued in Jakarta. Investigators seized cash during the operation, which started at the noon.

Febri would not reveal the suspect's identity, but indicated the case was related to one that had been previously handled by the antigraft body, but was then transferred to another law enforcement agency as ordered by a judge in a pretrial hearing.

A South Jakarta District Court judge granted in March a pretrial motion filed by Nganjuk Regent Taufiqurrahman, ordering the antigraft body to hand back the case to the Attorney General's Office, which had started an investigation into the regent.

The KPK will hold a press conference on Thursday to disclose details of the case. (ahw)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/10/25/another-regency-head-nabbed-for-graft.html

Former villages ministry officials get 1.5 years for graft

Jakarta Post - October 25, 2017

Kharishar Kahfi, Jakarta – Judges with the Jakarta Corruption Court have found former Villages, Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration Ministry officials Sugito and Jarot Budi Prabowo guilty of offering bribes to Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) auditors, sentencing them to one and a half years in prison.

"Sugito is ordered to pay Rp 100 million (US$7,362) in fines or serve an additional six months in prison," presiding judge Diah Siti Basariah said on Wednesday, adding that Jarot had to pay Rp 75 million in fines.

The punishment was lighter than the one demanded by prosecutors, which was two years for both defendants.

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) named Sugito and Jarot bribery suspects after investigators caught them red-handed offering bribes to two BPK auditors, Rochmadi Saptogiri and Ali Sadli, in an effort to obtain a wajar tanpa pengecualian (an unqualified opinion) – the highest audit level – for the ministry's 2016 budget report.

The bribes, amounting to Rp 240 million, are believed to come from various echelon I officers of the ministry.

The trial for Rochmadi and Ali is ongoing, with the former having read his refutation against KPK prosecutors' indictment in a separate courtroom. (ahw)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/10/25/former-villages-ministry-officials-get-1-5-years-for-graft.html

Government delays formation of National Police's anti-graft squad

Jakarta Post - October 24, 2017

Anton Hermansyah, Jakarta – The government has delayed the establishment of the National Police's special anticorruption detachment because of the limited time it has to create such a body this year, the top security minister has said.

"We just have so little time, as the 2018 State Budget will soon be enacted. Hence, we have decided to discuss the establishment of the National Police's special anticorruption detachment," Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Wiranto said on Tuesday, after a limited Cabinet meeting with President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and Vice President Jusuf Kalla.

An earlier report said that the police had requested a budgetary allocation of Rp 2.6 trillion (US$192.18 million) to create the new squad.

Wiranto explained further that the formation of a new police detachment should have the permission of the Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform Ministry and the Attorney General's Office (AGO), which deal respectively with organizational structure and law enforcement coordination.

Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform Minister Asman Abnur said the new detachment would integrate the function of the National Police's anticorruption division and related regional police units. Currently, police investigations of corruption cases are conducted separately at each level, with no coordination between national and regional police.

"The special detachment will optimize the work of the National Police's anticorruption division. The National Police will be the center of anticorruption investigations, supported by regional police," Asman said. (ebf)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/10/24/govt-delays-formation-of-national-polices-anti-graft-squad.html

Freedom of religion & worship

Rising identity politics part of Indonesia's democratic maturity

Jakarta Globe - October 26, 2017

Jakarta – According to one member of the House of Representatives, the rise of identity politics in Indonesia must be countered to preserve the country's rich diversity and warm relations between all citizens, regardless of ethnicity or religion.

Speaking at the Indonesian Youth Diplomacy's (IYD) 2017 Youth Talk on Wednesday (25/10), Rahayu Saraswati, a lawmaker from the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra), encouraged the country's young people to employ more wisdom and look for similarities among all citizens.

"Let us all proudly declare that we will not be pitted against each other based on things that surface because of someone's agenda and desire to win," Saras said.

Youth Talk is one of IYD's annual events. Adopting "Politics of Identity and the Role of Social Media" as their theme this year, organizers hope to inspire Indonesian youth to embrace diversity and be more open-minded toward differences, as envisioned and declared in the 1928 Youth Pledge, or Sumpah Pemuda. The pledge is observed annually on Oct. 28th.

Identity politics and the threat it poses to Indonesia's young democracy has been a point of concern for many, including politicians, members of the public and foreign observers.

Discrimination along the lines of religion and ethnicity have been viewed as major obstacles to Indonesia's democratic progress, with several events this year contributing to increasing concern toward rising intolerance in the archipelago.

Identity politics played a major role in the 2017 Jakarta gubernatorial election, for example, which saw some members of the Muslim community mobilize in large numbers against former Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama. Ahok is now serving two years in prison after being convicted of blasphemy against Islam in May.

The topic continued to be on the fringes of Indonesian politics and society in the months following the election results, but has recently took the forefront after newly inaugurated Governor Anies Baswedan used the term "pribumi," or native people, in his first public address as leader of Jakarta.

According to Usman Hamid, Amnesty International Indonesia's executive director, identity politics in Indonesia has been used as a tool to bring back resource distribution.

Usman added that Anies' political statement was used in a context in which the term "pribumi" refers to a discriminated group and alluded to the economic gap between ethnicities and religions in Indonesia. He said that in such cases, identity politics can be "destructive."

Pangeran Siahaan, an anchor at local news channel Metro TV, said the Indonesian identity refers to those who embrace it and are willing to stand up for the country.

"When we differentiate on who's Indonesian and who isn't based on a given biological trait – whether it's ethnicity or appearance – we betray what we believe makes us Indonesians," Pangeran said, in reference to the country's diverse population.

He added that Indonesia must first agree that "we are all Indonesians," even in spite of political differences.

According to Budiman Sudjatmiko, who is also a member of parliament from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), said the problem should never be about any individual's political leanings.

"It doesn't matter if you're a conservative or liberal [...] It becomes a problem when those political beliefs are used to destroy the other," Budiman said.

The event's speakers also touched on the role of social media in modern politics, especially as fake news continues to take a stronghold in influencing public opinion.

Pangeran and Saras both agreed that Indonesians need to change their habits and refrain from only reading clickbaits and headlines, without reading in-depth news reports.

"Today's youth must be wise in sorting out news, because if they don't they'll be easily influenced. Our problem with hoaxes illustrates a problem in our education system, where we are encouraged to memorize rather than to do research," Saras said.

The Indonesian Youth Diplomacy is a Jakarta-based non-profit organization aiming to promote young Indonesian voices across international platforms and increase their capacities to take part in both national and international policy-making processes.

[The Jakarta Globe is a media partner for the 2017 Youth Talk.]

Source: http://jakartaglobe.id/news/rising-identity-politics-part-indonesias-democratic-maturity-process-lawmaker/

Jokowi appoints Din Syamsuddin as special envoy for religious harmony

Jakarta Post - October 24, 2017

Anton Hermansyah, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has appointed Muhammad Sirajuddin "Din" Syamsuddin, the former Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) chairman and former chairman of Indonesia's second largest Islamic organization Muhammadiyah, as a special envoy for religious harmony.

Speaking at the State Palace in Jakarta on Monday, Jokowi said Din would work to improve religious harmony in Indonesia through inter-religious dialogues and joint works, and share the invaluable lesson of Indonesia's religious harmony in countries and at events abroad.

"Today, I have appointed Pak Din as a special Presidential envoy for inter-religious dialogues and works. He will develop religious harmony in Indonesia and promote it abroad," he said.

Din said he would work on the assignment as a service to the country because currently Indonesia was suffering from many inter-religious conflicts. In solving the conflicts, he promised to prioritize dialogue and compromise between religious followers.

"Actually, I had asked President Jokowi to appoint someone else but he said he needed me. I have done similar tasks previously and in my current position, I hope I can have a stronger positive effect," he said. (ebf)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/10/24/jokowi-appoints-din-syamsuddin-as-special-envoy-for-religious-harmony.html

Sex, pornography & morality

Depok Police pursue suspects behind viral porn video

Jakarta Post - October 26, 2017

Jakarta – Depok Police are conducting a cyber patrol to find the suspects behind the circulation of a porn video allegedly involving an alumna of University of Indonesia in West Java.

"We are still investigating [the case] through social media," police detective and crime unit chief Comr. Putu Kholis Aryana told tempo.co on Wednesday. "We have cyber troops [to handle the case]."

Social media users were quick to identify the woman in the video, which lasted four minutes and 59 seconds, as related to the University of Indonesia (UI) in Depok. The identity of the man was unknown.

UI then issued a statement saying that she was indeed a graduate of the university.

"Because she is now alumnae, any consequences from the circulation of the video are her personal responsibility," the university's spokeswoman Egia Etha Tarigan said on Wednesday evening. (agn)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/10/26/depok-police-pursue-suspects-behind-viral-porn-video.html

Farming & agriculture

Tobacco farmers urge government to control import

Jakarta Post - October 31, 2017

Anton Hermansyah, Jakarta – The Indonesian Tobacco Farmers Association (APTI) has urged the government to implement a policy to control the importation of tobacco to protect local farmers.

During a meeting between APTI members from nine provinces and President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo at the Merdeka Palace on Monday, they called on the President to allow cigarette companies to import tobacco only if they had absorbed the tobacco produced by the local farmers.

"If a company buys a small amount of local tobacco, it has to get only a small import quota. If a company buys a large amount of local tobacco, the government can give a larger quota. But it should be no more than 20 percent of its total consumption," APTI chairman Agus Parmuji said after the meeting.

According to the APTI data, the tobacco import reached only around 28,000 tons in 2003, but it surged to 90,000 tons in 2010 and again to 150,000 tons in 2012, which was about 72.5 percent of the total tobacco consumption.

The increase of imported tobacco had resulted in the lower absorption of local tobacco and the decline of prices, Agus said, adding that local tobacco production reached 247,000 tons annually with prices varying from Rp 45,000 (US$3.31) per kilogram to Rp 350,000 per kg, depending on the quality.

Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman said that he would discuss the matter with Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita. "Actually, we talked to cigarette companies last month and they agreed to buy local tobacco at good a price," he said. (bbn)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/10/31/tobacco-farmers-urge-government-to-control-import.html

Village & rural life

Village projects aim for 14m jobs

Jakarta Post - October 30, 2017

Jakarta – The government will launch massive village infrastructure projects worth up to RP 60 trillion in 2018 that will be so labor intensive they could create as many as 14 million jobs.

President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo announced Monday the plan to employ casual laborers, paid daily or weekly, In projects that will be run at village levels.

He told news editors at the Merdeka Palace that the ministries of transportation, agriculture and public works, as well as ministry for disadvantaged regions will oversee these projects.

Each village must prepare a project that hire at least 200 workers and if all villages comply, they amount to 14 million employments, he said, citing irrigation or road repair or construction projects as examples.

The government has earmarked RP 60 trillion for village development programs in 2018, and these projects will use some of the money, the President said.

Besides channeling the fund to productive investment, the projects will also boost people's spending power, he added.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/10/30/village-projects-aim-for-14m-jobs.html

Regional autonomy & separatism

Jokowi criticizes regional heads on budget allocation

Jakarta Post - October 25, 2017

Anton Hermansyah, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has criticized governors, mayors, and regents for failing to make progressive budgetary allocations and for their lack of seriousness in attending to those projects that were in the public's best interest.

Jokowi, a former Jakarta governor and Surakarta mayor, suggested how regional heads might reallocate their budgets.

"Allocate an extra budget [for renovating traditional markets], and you will leave behind a good legacy," the President said on Tuesday, during a meeting with regional heads at the State Palace.

He said that although regional budgets involved larger funds today, their composition had not changed over the years.

The President said that regional heads needed to be prepared to risk opposition from legislative councils on proposed budgetary allocations, because certain councilors might expect "extra funds" from the allocations they approved.

"Each commission in the regional legislative council might ask for some billions of rupiah. It is your job to control them. If you cannot, it means that you are not strong enough," he said.

Making progressive allocations in the budget, Jokowi added, would enable the regions to finish their various infrastructure projects faster. (bbn)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/10/25/jokowi-criticizes-regional-heads-on-budget-allocation.html

Jakarta & urban life

Gov't to integrate Jakarta, Bandung into massive urban area

Jakarta Globe - October 29, 2017

Jakarta – The government is preparing a plan to integrate Jakarta with Bandung, in effect establishing a massive urban area on the eastern end of Java, a minister said on Sunday (29/10).

The government is anticipating a future when the island of Java – now already the world's most densely populated island – becomes a single megacity.

The plan will require designs for settlements, transportation, water availability and other infrastructures that will be coordinated by the government with the help of the private sector, Coordinating Maritime Affairs Minister Luhut Pandjaitan said.

"The president has made it known his wish to integrate Jakarta and Bandung. We can't just think of the next five years, we have to think all the way to 2045," Luhut said in a speech at the topping off ceremony of Meikarta, the latest city development by Lippo Group in Bekasi, West Java.

To follow up the directives from President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, Luhut said he will hold a meeting with related officials on Monday (30/10).

The government will also invite developers of areas between Jakarta and Bandung, including Lippo Group, to present their plans for the fast-developing area, Luhut said.

"Hopefully next month, we can come to a decision, on what we want to make of this region," he said.

The Greater Jakarta area now produces around a fifth of Indonesia's annual gross domestic product.

The Bekasi area, passed by a toll road that links Jakarta and Bandung, is home to many of Indonesia's largest manufacturing companies.

The government is building a fast train network between the two cities with Chinese backing, to deepen ties of urban economic development between the two major cities.

Luhut, a close advisor of President Jokowi, praised Lippo Group Chief Executive James Riady for investing around $20 billion to build Meikarta. He expects other domestic investors to follow in Lippo's footsteps.

"Let's think positively, all of us. Let's not dwell in differences, we have to unite," Luhut said. "Let's ask ourselves, what can we contribute to this country, to make Indonesia an even bigger country in the next 20, 30 years."

Several company executives, officials and politicians attended the event, including Meikarta's president, Ketut Budi Wijaya; Ronny F. Sompie, the director general of immigration at the Law and Human Rights Ministry; and Hinca Panjaitan, the secretary general of the Democratic Party.

Source: http://jakartaglobe.id/business/govt-integrate-jakarta-bandung-massive-urban-area/

Anies inaugurates Batak church

Jakarta Post - October 29, 2017

Jakarta – Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan inaugurated the Filadelfia Batak Protestant Church (HKBP) in Semper, North Jakarta, on Sunday, the first house of worship he inaugurated since assuming office.

Anies arrived at the scene with his wife Ferry Farhati. They were subsequently greeted with tor-tor dance, while members of the congregation welcomed them by shouting "Horas", a typical greeting of the Batak people, kompas.com reported.

Representatives from the church then presented Anies and his wife with Ulos, a traditional Batak cloth. "This is the first inauguration I signed," Anies said in his speech.

Anies went on to praise the church, which was built with the collective money of the church members.

"I would like to convey my appreciation of the teamwork. Such efforts should be upheld," he said, adding that the good relationship with local residents should be maintained.

Earlier, Anies was embroiled in the controversy of Jakarta Bay reclamation that had pitted him against Maritime Affairs Coordinating Minister Luhut Binsar Panjaitan, who is of Batak descent. Anies insisted to stop the reclamation project after Luhut allowed it to continue.

The newly-inaugurated governor had also been accused of inflaming sectarian division after his remarks on pribumi (indigenous people) on his first speech as governor. (fac/wit)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/10/29/anies-inaugurates-batak-church.html

Bukit Duri evictees entitled to Rp 18.6 billion in compensation

Jakarta Post - October 26, 2017

Jakarta – The Jakarta administration has accepted the Central Jakarta District Court's ruling that granted the lawsuit filed by Bukit Duri residents in South Jakarta regarding the forced eviction conducted by the administration last year.

In accordance with the ruling on Wednesday, the administration is obliged to pay each of the 93 plaintiff residents Rp 200 million (US$14,740).

Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan said Thursday that his administration would not file an appeal regarding the court's ruling.

"We respect the ruling and have no plans to file an appeal. We will discuss it further with the Bukit Duri residents," Anies said, as quoted by antaranews.com.

"We will also discuss the compensation with the residents and all related parties. We will talk about the scheme, what the residents want and what the government has to offer," he added.

The Jakarta administration under former governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama evicted Bukit Duri residents on Jan. 12, 2016, as part of the administration's efforts to restore Ciliwung River to further decrease flooding in the city.

Opposing the policy, 93 of the residents filed a class action to the Central Jakarta District Court on May 10, 2016 and demanded compensation amounting to Rp 1.07 trillion in material losses and Rp 104 billion in immaterial losses.

However, the court did not grant the full amount of compensation that plaintiffs had demanded. The defendants are only required to pay Rp 200 million for each of the 93 plaintiffs, and rejected the compensation for immaterial losses. (rdi/yon)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/10/26/bukit-duri-evictees-entitled-to-rp-18-6-billion-in-compensation.html

Anies admits meeting reclamation developers at Prabowo's house

Jakarta Post - October 25, 2017

Jakarta – Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan, who has typically remained tightlipped when asked about the Jakarta Bay reclamation project since assuming office, admitted on Tuesday that he had met with several developers of the controversial project two months ago at the home of Gerindra Party chairman Prabowo Subianto.

Prabowo backed Anies's bid for governor.

He was quick to add that no intervention was made during the meeting on his plan to stop the reclamation project, one of his key campaign promises.

"It is true that there was a meeting. Pak Prabowo didn't give any pressure or any directive as has been widely portrayed. He makes friends with everyone and welcomes everyone, regardless of who they are," Anies said on Tuesday at City Hall, kompas.com reported.

The former education minister said that during the meeting in August, which took place in Hambalang district of Bogor, West Java, he simply listened to the developers as they explained their plans for the reclamation project, and claimed that that no agreement was made.

He declined to provide the names of the developers or their representatives that attended the meeting.

Tempo magazine reported earlier this month that Tomy Winata of Artha Graha and Richard Halim Kusuma of Agung Sedayu Group were among those at the meeting. (fac)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/10/25/anies-admits-meeting-reclamation-developers-at-prabowos-house.html

MUI wants Anies' official residence to host Quran recitations

Jakarta Post - October 24, 2017

Jakarta – The Jakarta chapter of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) has asked Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan to allow his official residence on Jl. Taman Suropati to be used as the venue for monthly Quran recitations.

The request was made during the council's plenary meeting in Central Jakarta on Tuesday directly to Anies who attended the meeting.

"If it is convenient, the recitations can be held at the governor's official residence. I hope Pak Anies does not mind. It is usually held on the first Saturday every month," said the council's general secretary Zulfa Mustofa, as quoted by tempo.co.

Zulfa added that the first recitation was held during then governor Sutiyoso's tenure from 2002 until 2007 at his deputy governor Fauzi Bowo's official residence. When Fauzi became governor from 2007 until 2012, the recitations were held in his official residence.

During the tenure of governors Joko Widodo, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama and Djarot Saiful Hidayat, between 2012 and 2017, the recitations were halted for a year but then re-held in city secretary Saefullah's official residence.

Furthermore, Zulfa revealed that for the past four years no Jakarta governor had attended the MUI plenary meeting.

"It proves that [Anies] considers the MUI important. Thank you, Pak Anies," Zulfa said, while also reminding Anies of his promise to build MUI Jakarta an office. (wnd)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/10/24/mui-wants-anies-official-residence-to-host-quran-recitations.html

Retail & service industry

Government told to anticipate layoffs over closure of retail stores

Jakarta Post - October 31, 2017

Jakarta – The government has been advised to anticipate the possibility of further job losses in the retail industry, following the closure of 7-Eleven convenience stores and the plan of Lotus and Debenhams department stores to follow suit.

Meanwhile, Matahari department stores had also closed two of its outlets in Jakarta.

Institute for Economic and Development Finance (Indef) economist Bima Yudhistira said more layoffs are expected due to the weakening of retail businesses.

He added that in the case of the closures of 7-Eleven convenience stores, about 1,600 workers had lost their jobs. "The weakening retail businesses may be followed by mass layoffs," he told kompas.com in Jakarta on Tuesday.

He estimated that about 10,000 workers would lose their jobs. He also warned that the workers would be unemployable because of job scarcity.

Meanwhile, Indonesian Retail Business Association deputy chairman (Aprindo) Tutum Rahanta said his association had no data about the number of workers who were affected.

"We have no data yet, but because of the slow retail business, the sector would likely not recruit new workers," he added.

Previously, Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo) chairman Hariyadi Sukamdani criticized the government for its slow response to the slowdown.

"The government always denies it if there is a weakening of people purchasing power. But it also does not understand what really happened," he added. (bbn)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/10/31/government-told-to-anticipate-layoffs-over-closure-of-retail-stores.html

Armed forces & defense

Major reshuffle of high-ranking TNI officers

Jakarta Post - October 31, 2017

Marguerite Afra Sapiie, Jakarta – Ninety-one high-ranking Indonesian Military (TNI) officers are set to be transferred or promoted, TNI Commander Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo has revealed.

Speaking on the sidelines of an event in East Jakarta on Tuesday, Gatot said the policy was part of the officers' career development in accordance with challenges related to geo politics and national security.

"The TNI continues to boost personnel performance through transfers and promotions. It will motivate them to work harder," Gatot said as quoted by Antara on Tuesday.

Among the officers who will be moved are those in preparation for retirement. For instance, Army deputy chief of staff Lt. Gen. Hinsa Siburian, who will be replaced by Diponegoro Military Command chief Maj. Gen. Tatang Sulaiman.

Tatang will be replaced by the TNI spokesperson Maj. Gen. Wuryanto and the latter's position is set to be filled by Brig. Gen. Mohamad Sabrar Fadhilah, who is currently the chief of staff at Diponegoro Military Command, which is in Central Java.

The TNI Commander's Decree dated Oct. 27 stipulates that the 91 senior officers comprise 50 officers from the Army, 19 from the Navy and 22 from the Air Force.

Among other high-profile officers set to change positions is Pattimura Military Command chief Maj. Gen. Doni Monardo who will replace Maj. Gen M. Herindra as Siliwangi Military Command chief in West Java.

Meanwhile, the current National Air Defense Commander (Pangkohanudnas) First Marshall Yuyu Yustina will be appointed as Air Force deputy chief of staff. (bbs)

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/10/31/major-reshuffle-of-high-ranking-tni-officers.html

Criminal justice & legal system

Neil Bantleman, jailed in Indonesia for child sex abuse, loses release

ABC News - October 30, 2017

Samantha Hawley, Indonesia – For Tracy Bantleman it has been a long battle to free her husband, who she says, without a skerrick of doubt, is innocent of the most damning of charges.

Canadian man Neil Bantleman, a former teacher at the prestigious Jakarta Intercultural School, was first jailed in 2015 for allegedly sexually abusing kindergarten children.

He was briefly released in February 2016 on appeal, but his freedom was short lived and he was jailed again by a higher court.

Now the 48-year-old's final legal bid for freedom, a judicial review, has failed. He will continue to serve his 11-year jail term in Jakarta's grossly overcrowded Cipinang prison.

The decision again shines a spotlight on the quality, independence and integrity of Indonesia's judicial system.

The school, independent investigators, and the United States, British, Canadian and Australian embassies in Jakarta have all questioned the legitimacy of the guilty verdict.

"The outcome of the legal process will impact international views about the rule of law in Indonesia," the US Ambassador Robert Blake said in a February 2016 statement.

At the time, Australia's Ambassador Paul Grigson said he hoped due process would be followed.

For Ms Bantleman, it's always been a difficult balance of whether to speak out or remain silent and work quietly behind the scenes.

In 2016, she decided it was the right way forward to work with the ABC's Foreign Correspondent program to tell the story of her jailed husband.

"It's no longer a marathon, it's an ultra-marathon," Ms Bantleman said at the time. "You really need to pace yourself because it's exhausting and stressful."

Bantleman, his Indonesian teaching assistant Ferdinand Tjiong and five cleaners from the school were jailed for allegedly raping the school children. One of the accused cleaners is a woman. A sixth cleaner died in police custody, amid allegations he'd been beaten.

"Where is the evidence? It's as simple as that," Chris O'Connor, the former head of the Child Exploitation Unit and the Sexual Crime Squad in Victoria Police, told Foreign Correspondent last year.

"I'm prepared to offer up my personal and professional reputation to unequivocally declare that these seven people did not commit the offence for which they've been convicted."

Mr O'Conner, who was employed by the school to assist with investigations, demanded a UN investigation into the case.

As Foreign Correspondent revealed in 2016, the judges in the initial trial gave substantial weight to the evidence provided by Indonesian sexologist Neal Tobing to assess whether Bantleman's sex life had caused him to become a paedophile.

Drawing from Dr Tobing's testimony, the judgement found Bantleman's sex life was "rather abnormal" as he did not masturbate and had limited sex with his wife.

"Since they have been married sex is quite rare, once a week," the judgement noted. "Normally it happens every day or at least two or three times per week... the question is exactly how does he channel his sexual needs."

The only chance of release for Bantleman now is presidential clemency. "I know Neil is innocent, he knows he is innocent," Ms Bantleman told Foreign Correspondent.

"It needs to be known that I am standing beside my husband because he's an innocent man. The injustice is massive but that doesn't mean it's insurmountable, and so we'll just keep climbing and fighting for a long as it takes."

Canadian media have reported that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is working with Indonesian officials to try and have Bantleman freed.

Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-10-30/neil-bantleman-fails-in-bid-to-be-released-from-indonesian-jail/9097728

One convicted, one cleared: Signs of trouble in Indonesia courts

New York Times - October 28, 2017

Joe Cochraneoct, Jakarta, Indonesia – Indonesia's troubled legal system is again coming under scrutiny, after rulings in two high-profile cases that have alarmed both Western expatriates and local organizations that fight corruption in the country's judiciary.

One involves a Canadian educator serving an 11-year term in a high-security prison on charges of sexually assaulting kindergartners at one of the country's most prestigious international schools – a case the school and the man's lawyers contend was fabricated.

The other is that of a powerful Indonesian politician who avoided prosecution in a corruption scandal, much to the chagrin of investigators here in one of Asia's most graft-ridden nations.

The two men have never met, but their legal cases crossed paths on the same day last month, with the outcomes highlighting a system in which rulings often appear to hinge more on incompetence, bribery or public opinion than on facts, according to legal analysts.

"I think the two cases make a strong message that Indonesia still needs reform in the justice system," said Bivitri Susanti, head of the Jakarta chapter of Indonesia's Association of Constitutional Law Lecturers. "The reforms must include a legal education system that can produce good, quality law enforcers."

Late last month, the Indonesian Supreme Court announced that it had rejected an appeal by the Canadian, Neil Bantleman, an administrator at the Jakarta Intercultural School, who along with an Indonesian teaching assistant was convicted in 2015 on charges of sexually assaulting children the year before.

The school, whose students come from more than 60 countries and include the children of Western diplomats and wealthy Indonesians, insists that no children were ever sexually assaulted. That assertion has been backed by the governments of Canada, Britain and the United States, which have repeatedly expressed grave concerns about the competence shown in the legal proceedings. (Mr. Bantleman also holds British citizenship and the school was founded by Americans decades ago.)

The same day that appeal was rejected, a district court judge in Jakarta cleared Setya Novanto, the speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives, as a suspect in the embezzlement of as much as $180 million from a national identity card program, which is being investigated by the country's independent Corruption Eradication Commission.

In a pretrial hearing, the judge ruled that evidence and testimony against Mr. Setya were inadmissible. The anticorruption agency, popularly known by its Indonesian initials, K.P.K., had gathered the material during the investigations and trials of two government officials.

The two rulings jolted both Westerners and local organizations.

"We have been following the school's case closely since it began, and its impact has been deeply felt by the foreign business community as a symbol of legal risk in Indonesia," said A. Lin Neumann, managing director of the American Chamber of Commerce in Indonesia.

"Foreign investors are concerned about the message this sends," he said. "Quite frankly, the expatriate community had hoped for a better outcome for the teachers and staff caught up in this case."

T. Mulya Lubis, a prominent lawyer and chairman of the Indonesia branch of Amnesty International, called the quashing of Mr. Setya's status as a suspect "an insult to justice."

"I would expect the judge would take into consideration all the evidence submitted by the K.P.K., because it came from the court proceedings," Mr. Lubis said. "The people are not wrong if they suspect something in this case."

Mr. Setya cut his political teeth in the Golkar Party of Suharto, the autocratic president, who by one estimate stole up to $35 billion during his 32-year rule before being toppled by pro-democracy demonstrations in 1998.

Currently Golkar's chairman, Mr. Setya has been accused but never prosecuted in several corruption scandals. In one notable case in 2015, Mr. Setya was forced to resign as House speaker after an audiotape surfaced that purported to show him trying to extort billions of dollars in shares from the Indonesian unit of the United States mining giant Freeport-McMoRan. He was reinstated as speaker the next year.

In recent weeks, he failed to appear at the anticorruption agency for questioning in the identity card scandal – an appearance that could have led to his detention. Instead, he was said to have been admitted to a hospital with symptoms of vertigo after playing Ping-Pong and then kept for treatment of heart and liver ailments.

Photos of Mr. Setya lying in a hospital bed with breathing tubes were circulated on social media and panned as being faked.

Mr. Setya's defense team did not reply to phone calls and text messages regarding his medical condition or legal status.

Anticorruption investigators have told reporters that they are considering naming Mr. Setya a suspect again after compiling additional evidence.

Mr. Setya and his party are part of President Joko Widodo's government, which could create further complications for the anticorruption agency. Its investigators are already embroiled in long-running disputes with the House of Representatives and the National Police because of past prosecutions.

"It's unjust, and that's our challenge for the past 20 years and for the next 20 years," said Erry Riyana Hardjapamekas, a former deputy chairman of the anticorruption agency. "The knowledge of the judges and the legal system itself – at the end of the day, it's, 'Let's talk about money, let's talk about influence, let's talk about politics.'"

Mr. Bantleman's legal options are exhausted unless he applies for clemency from Mr. Joko. But to do so he would have to admit guilt, and he has maintained his innocence.

His ordeal began in 2014, when the parents of a child claimed that janitors at the international school had raped their son in a school bathroom.

Within days, they and other parents claimed that Mr. Bantleman; an Indonesian teaching assistant, Ferdinand Tjiong; and the school's American principal had drugged and raped students in the school's administrative offices during classes and that they had videotaped the assaults.

Under intense public pressure, the Indonesian police took the accusations to be true, according to school officials. But no videotapes were ever found, and the Indonesian police did not question any of the employees in the administrative offices, which the school says are full of staff members and students throughout the day.

Five janitors were convicted in December 2014 and sentenced to up to eight years in prison, although they claimed they were tortured into confessing. Another janitor who had been arrested died in police custody under suspicious circumstances.

Though the principal was never detained or charged, Mr. Bantleman and Mr. Tjiong were convicted in April 2015 and sentenced to 10 years in prison. The panel of judges presiding over the trial repeatedly dismissed evidence and witness testimony in favor of the defendants, their lawyers say.

Four months later, an Indonesian appeals court overturned the convictions and set them free, seemingly putting an end to the case. But in February 2016, Indonesia's Supreme Court rejected the appeals court's ruling, to the dismay of Western embassies here, and sent Mr. Bantleman and Mr. Tjiong back to prison, adding an additional year to their sentences.

Mr. Bantleman's defense team and family declined to comment on the court's decision, while the Canadian government said it was "deeply disappointed."

"Bringing Neil Bantleman home is a top priority for the government of Canada," said Austin Jean, a spokesman for Global Affairs Canada, which handles most foreign diplomacy.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/28/world/asia/indonesia-courts-neil-bantleman.html

Foreign affairs & trade

Indonesian feedlots in 'diabolical' financial strife and at risk of

ABC Radio Australia - October 31, 2017

Lydia Burton – A grim future may be in store for Australian live cattle exports with Indonesian feedlots in "diabolical" financial strife and at risk of closing.

An Indonesian-based veterinary consultant has described the situation for live cattle importers and feedlotters in that country as "diabolical".

This year northern Australia has seen live cattle exports to Indonesia, Australia's number one live cattle destination, drop significantly.

High cattle prices in Australia, restrictions on prices of beef in Indonesia, and cheaper forms of protein on offer, have all contributed to the weakening demand.

Dr Ross Ainsworth said feedlots were currently struggling to make any money. "Generally importers are in a loss-making situation and they are happy to admit that they are unable to make a profit under today's market conditions," he said.

"It costs close to $1 a kilogram to get cattle from Northern Australia into Indonesia, so if they cost $3.30 in Australia, which steers from Darwin to Indonesia have consistently made this year, they cost about $4.30 arrived here.

"Then, the feedlotting process [which] is a very efficient process [will see the cattle] put on another 150 kilograms at quite a low rate, but then [the feedlotters] have to sell that animal at $4 a kilogram, after buying it at $4.30.

"The [Indonesian] government has insisted that the feedlotters cannot put their price up. So unless you put on a huge amount of weight at an extremely low price you can't end up making a profit by selling it at a lower rate."

Dr Ainsworth said the risk was that some feedlots would be forced to close. "I don't know what all of the losses are, but I am confident they are making losses and sooner or later businesses that continue to make losses are unable to be supported and must close down," he said.

"So in general terms that seems to be the logical outcome of all this from where I sit."

Indian buffalo meat halved demand for Aussie beef

Since the introduction of Indian buffalo meat in Indonesia late last year, demand for Australian beef has halved. The Indonesian government allowed the importation of Indian buffalo meat as it looked for cheaper forms of protein.

This was despite a ruling by the nation's Constitutional Court that meat from countries prone to foot and mouth disease (FMD) could only be imported under emergency circumstances, which did not currently apply.

Dr Ross Ainsworth, who also writes the South-East Asian Beef Report, said within three to six months Indian buffalo had taken 50 per cent of the market for low-end product.

"The main figure we hear for Indian buffalo meat is $8 a kilogram, the Australian and local meat products sold fresh in the wet markets sells for about $12 a kilo," he said.

However, Dr Ainsworth remained confident Indian buffalo would not secure any more of the market share in Indonesia.

"It seems the Indian buffalo has sort of reached an equilibrium in the market and I see no reason why the Indonesian government would want to change that, so I think it will stay pretty much where it is now," he said.

'Grim' future

In the meantime, Dr Ainsworth estimated there were currently about 170,000 head of cattle in Indonesian feedlots – about half the total carrying capacity for feedlots across the country.

But the question lurking over many feedlotters heads is where will those cattle currently on feed go?

"The owners of those cattle are pretty nervous that they may not be able to sell them when they are fat in November and December," Dr Ainsworth said.

"So all in all for the Australian export industry it is pretty grim because their customers are in a very weak position; for the importers it is more in the diabolical class because their enterprises are at serious risk of failing."

Source: http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/2017-10-31/indonesian-feedlots-in-diabolical-financial-strife-and-at-risk-of-closing-says-vet-consultant/1713508

Indonesia chooses not to recognize Catalonia independence

Jakarta Globe - October 29, 2017

Jakarta – Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi on Saturday (28/10) announced that the Indonesian government does not recognize Catalonia's declaration of independence.

Indonesia still recognizes Catalonia as an integral part of Spain, the minister said on the Foreign Affairs Ministry's Twitter account.

1. Indonesia does not recognize the unilateral declaration of independence by Catalonia. #FMMarsudi – KEMLU RI (@Portal_Kemlu_RI) October 28, 2017

2. Catalonia is an integral part of Spain. Indonesia will not recognize an independent Catalonia. #FMMarsudi – KEMLU RI (@Portal_Kemlu_RI) October 28, 2017

On Friday, Catalonia's separatist leaders declared the region's independence, Spain's richest with a population of 7.5 million. Catalonia has been part of Spain since the 15th century.

Following Minister Retno's statement, the director general of legal affairs and international treaties at ministry, Damos Agusman, tweeted that the declaration is missing conditions required by international law.

The Declaration lacks conditions as required by international law. It isnt colonial context nor entitled to "Kosovo's remedial secession" https://t.co/LjgtHhI1nM – Damos Agusman (@damos_agusman) October 28, 2017

The Spanish government claimed direct control of Catalonia on Saturday after nearly four decades, firing the regional government and police chief.

Catalans themselves are divided between those who ecstatically support independence and a so-called "silent majority" who back staying inside Spain.

Source: http://jakartaglobe.id/news/indonesia-chooses-not-recognize-catalonia-independence/

Our mistake: US blames 'administrative error' for Indonesian military

Sydney Morning Herald - October 25, 2017

Jewel Topsfield, Jakarta – The US has now claimed an "administrative error" was the reason why Indonesia's military chief was told he could not board a flight in an incident that caused a diplomatic furore.

General Gatot Nurmantyo was prevented from boarding an Emirates flight on Saturday despite having a visa and being personally invited to attend a counter terrorism conference in Washington by his counterpart General Joseph Dunford.

Four days after what has been described as a "diplomatic scandal" the US Embassy in Jakarta quietly posted a statement on its website saying the General and his wife had been "delayed" due to an "administrative error".

"The error was quickly corrected," the statement said. We have taken appropriate measures to prevent this matter from occurring again. There is no restriction on the General's or his wife's travel, and we welcome them to the United States."

The Department of Homeland Affairs had previously said General Gatot had been warned he could be delayed at the airport due to unspecified "US security protocols".

After being told he could not board his initial flight, General Gatot was subsequently cleared to fly and rebooked on a later flight but "chose not to travel".

General Gatot suggested the decision not to go to the US had been made by President Joko Widodo after he was informed of what had occurred.

Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said on Monday the US's initial explanation was "not enough" and Indonesia continued to demand an explanation. "For us this is an important issue," she said after summoning the acting US Deputy Ambassador Erin McKee.

The US Embassy in Jakarta on Wednesday thanked the Indonesian government for its assistance in resolving the matter.

"We remain committed to our strategic partnership with Indonesia as a way to deliver security and prosperity to both our nations," the statement said. "We regret the inconvenience caused, and have communicated this to the government of Indonesia."

However it added the United States government was dedicated to ensuring that all persons travelling to the United States were screened and properly vetted to maintain its responsibility to national security.

Source: http://www.smh.com.au/world/our-mistake-us-blames-administrative-error-for-indonesian-military-chiefs-flight-denial-20171025-gz897s.html

US says Indonesian military chief Gatot Nurmantyo 'chose not to travel'

Sydney Morning Herald - October 24, 2017

Jewel Topsfield, Jakarta – The Indonesian military chief Gatot Nurmantyo "chose not to travel" to the United States, according to the US Department of Homeland Affairs even after he was cleared to fly.

In its first comments on what has been described in Indonesia as a "diplomatic scandal", the US department has said in a statement that General Gatot's office was warned there might be a delay due to "US security protocols," but that he was then rebooked on a later flight, and cleared to travel. General Gatot then chose not to travel, the statement said.

The general also spoke for the first time on Tuesday, saying he would not travel to the US unless he was cleared to go by President Joko Widodo.

Moments before his plane was due to depart from Jakarta on Saturday, General Gatot was informed by airline Emirates that he had been denied entry to the United States by US Customs and Border Protection, despite having a visa.

No light is shed by the departmental statement on the mysterious US security protocols that prevented General Gatot from boarding the initial flight, even though he had been personally invited to attend a counter terrorism summit by his US counterpart, General Joseph Dunford.

The statement comes as US Defence Secretary James Mattis apologised to Indonesian Defence Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu over the incident ahead of a meeting at the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting in the Philippines.

General Gatot – who until now has remained silent – said on Tuesday he had reported what occurred to President Joko Widodo: "Then, well, I didn't have to go."

He said he would now wait for instructions from President Jokowi, as he is popularly known, about when he would travel to the US. "It's the president who can say I go or I don't. Without (the order of the president) I will not take any initiative."

General Gatot said he was disappointed not to have met with his friend General Dunford. When the pair had last met they had eaten "tasty steak" and US soldiers sung Bengawan Solo, a famous Indonesian song about the Solo River. "So I wanted to go there to meet with him. But it didn't happen. That's all."

Lowy Institute Research Fellow Aaron Connelly tweeted after the US statement was released that it was becoming increasingly clear that General Gatot – who is believed to have political aspirations after he retires from the military in March – had precipitated an avoidable crisis in order to boost his nationalist credentials.

"If Jokowi (the president's nick name) doesn't back Gatot, he'll appear insufficiently nationalist. If he does, it boosts his political standing."

The incident has fanned outrage in Indonesia with even the English-language Jakarta Post, which is largely targeted at foreigners, describing it as a "diplomatic scandal" in a tart editorial.

"Such carelessness of the US Government may result in fallout in bilateral and defence military ties," the editorial said.

"Close relations between high ranking officials may help control the damage ahead of a possible visit by US President Donald Trump to Indonesia in the near future – but still leave us agog at how the world's biggest power could be so reckless."

Department of Homeland Security press secretary Dave Lapan said efforts were made by US Customs and Border Protection and the US Department of State to address the boarding denial and clear the passenger for travel before the passenger arrived at the airport. Unfortunately, he was denied boarding."

Mr Lapan said the issue with General Gatot's boarding approval was "quickly resolved" and he was rebooked on another flight and cleared to board. "He chose not to travel."

"The U.S. Government is dedicated to ensuring that all persons travelling to the United States are screened and properly vetted," Mr Lapan said. "We regret that the passenger and his wife were inconvenienced."

Defence analyst Evan Laksmana said it was still not known what the specific security protocols or problems were, beyond some possible glitch, that had led to General Gatot's initial denial of entry.

"The lack of clarity... and the subsequent offence could fester and hound US-Indonesia security relations if left unaddressed," he said,

Natalie Sambhi, a Research Fellow at the Perth USAsia Centre, said the incident boded well for General Gatot domestically because he could capitalise on it as proof of a Western anti-Indonesia conspiracy.

"While Gatot isn't expected to be a strong candidate for the presidential election in 2019, positioning himself to the Indonesian public as the victim of US policies and fanning anti-foreign sentiment will go a long way in bolstering his populist credentials. That could further his chances of joining as a vice presidential candidate."

Source: http://www.smh.com.au/world/us-says-indonesian-military-chief-gatot-nurmantyo-chose-not-to-travel-20171024-gz7a8g.html

Donald Trump urged to let Indonesian Christians stay

Reuters - October 24, 2017

Scott Malone, Boston – New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu is publicly calling on US President Donald Trump, a fellow Republican, to halt an effort to deport 69 Indonesian Christians who fled violence in that country two decades ago and are living illegally in the state.

The group had been living near the state's coast under the terms of a 2010 deal worked out with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that allowed them to remain so long as they handed in their passports and turned up for regular check-ins with immigration officials.

That changed starting in August when members of the group who arrived for scheduled meetings with ICE officials at the agency's Manchester, New Hampshire, office were told to buy one-way plane tickets back to Indonesia, which they fled after 1998 riots that left about 1000 people dead.

"I am respectfully requesting that your administration reconsider its decision to deport these individuals, and I urge a resolution that will allow them to remain in the United States," Sununu said in a letter to Trump dated Friday, which his office made public on Monday. Related Articles Several members of the group, who are all ethnic Chinese, told Reuters they fear that they would face discrimination or violence if they returned to the world's largest majority-Muslim country.

"While I firmly believe that we must take steps to curb illegal immigration, it is also imperative that we make the process for legal immigration more streamlined and practical," Sununu wrote.

The White House did not respond to a request for comment. Breaking News Alert

Immigration advocates have filed lawsuits in Boston on behalf of 47 members of the group asking a federal court judge to intervene.

Source: http://www.smh.com.au/world/donald-trump-urged-to-let-indonesian-christians-stay-20171023-gz6squ.html

Mining & energy

Indonesia, Freeport still differ on valuation, other issues

Jakarta Post - October 27, 2017

Jakarta – The Indonesian government and Freeport McMoran, a parent company of gold and copper miner PT Freeport Indonesia, have not reached an agreement on several issues, including the valuation of the company's shares.

Freeport McMoran CEO Richard C. Adkerson said the valuation was only one of the several issues that had not been resolved in a negotiation with the government after the company agreed to divest 51 percent of its shares to Indonesia's entities.

Adkerson stressed the negotiation did not only focus on the valuation of PT Freeport Indonesia's shares, but also the divestment mechanism, including the government's intention to buy the shares through state-owned enterprises.

The Freeport statement was seen at the expose of the company's third quarter performance received by kontan.co.id on Thursday.

It also denies the remark made by Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Ignasius Jonan, saying that the government and Freeport had reached an agreement on valuation at US$8 billion.

Adkerson said the value of PT Freeport Indonesia's shares should be calculated comprehensively, by considering various elements, including equity and debt. "The Freeport valuation is close to $13 billion," he added.

The figure was lower than the Freeport valuation stated in the fourth quarter of 2015, which was $16 billion.

Adkerson still proposed that the divestment process would be implemented through an initial public offering (IPO), despite the government's intention to buy Freeport's shares through state-owned enterprises. (bbn)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/10/27/indonesia-freeport-still-differ-on-valuation-other-issues.html

'Less than half of 35,000 MW target to be achieved'

Jakarta Post - October 24, 2017

Jakarta – According to a Committee for the Acceleration of Priority Infrastructure Delivery (KPPIP) estimate, the government will only be able to construct new power plants with a combined capacity of around 15,000 megawatts (MW) by 2019, less than half of its 35,000 MW target.

"It is not bad. From the target of 35,000 MW, we can achieve 15,000 MW," said Wahyu Utomo, chairman of the KPPIP, a committee under the supervision of the Economic Coordinating Minister's office, in Jakarta on Tuesday as reported by kompas.com.

He explained that the government, through state-owned electricity company PLN, had finished constructing power plants with a combined capacity of 758 MW, while power plants accounting for a further 14,758 MW were still under construction.

Wahyu, however, could not make assurances that all the power plants now under construction would be completed by 2019. If they were completed, however, the total extra capacity achieved by 2019 would be 15,516 MW.

He explained that the government had already signed power purchase agreements (PPA) with private companies to develop power plants with a combined capacity of 8,750 MW, but that the projects were yet to reach financial close.

Meanwhile, power plants with a combined capacity of 4,590 MW were still in the procurement process, while the remaining power plants, accounting for 6,970 MW, were still in the planning phase, he added.

The 35,000 megawatts electrification program is an ambitious government program initiated by President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and given a deadline of 2019 to be achieved.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/10/24/less-than-half-of-35000-mw-target-to-be-achieved.html

Economy & investment

Investments reach 75.6 percent up to Q3: BKPM

Jakarta Post - October 30, 2017

Rachmadea Aisyah, Jakarta – The Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) announced on Monday that investments had reached Rp 513.2 trillion (US$37.79 billion) by the end of the third quarter, or 75.6 percent of its target for 2017.

The board is confident that it would achieve its annual target of Rp 678.8 trillion, said BKPM head Thomas Lembong in Jakarta on Monday

"The economic transformation proclaimed by President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo three years ago has come into shape," Thomas told reporters at a press conference.

Meanwhile, foreign investments reached Rp 318.5 trillion, or 62.1 percent of the overall achievement, with domestic investments contributing Rp 194.7 trillion – or 37.9 percent – of total investments, he added.

Meanwhile, 55.1 percent of the investments still went to Java, and the remaining 44.9 percent was distributed to the rest of the country.

BKPM monitoring and realization deputy director Azhar Lubis said that energy and metal processing remained the most attractive sectors for investors.

"Singapore, Japan, China, the United States and South Korea are still the top five countries of origin for our investors so far," Azhar said. (bbn)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/10/30/investments-reach-75-6-percent-up-to-q3-bkpm.html

Jokowi hopes inflow of funds go beyond capital market

Jakarta Post - October 26, 2017

Anton Hermansyah, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has praised the strong performance of the capital market so far this year, and expects that similar developments will follow in the real economy.

The Jakarta Composite Index (JCI), the Indonesia Stock Exchange's (IDX) main gauge, hit an all-time high on Wednesday, closing the day trading at 6,025.43.

Jokowi said Thursday that the new record would have a positive psychological impact and hoped that the index would rise further. He also expected to see the excellent performance of the financial market replicated in other industries.

"I hope the inflow of money will not only be funneled into portfolio investments, but also into the real economy, especially for small and medium enterprises (SMEs)," he said.

In a related development, the government is actually pushing for SMEs to list their shares on the stock exchange.

In July, the Financial Service Authority (OJK) issued the OJK Decree No. 54/2017 regarding the prospectus and initial offering for SMEs.

The IDX is set to follow up the decree by providing a new board for SMEs. IDX director Nicky Hogan said the bourse was still preparing for the new board. (lnd)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/10/26/jokowi-hopes-inflow-of-funds-go-beyond-capital-market.html

Taxation & state budget

Defense Ministry gets top allocation in 2018 state budget

Jakarta Post - October 26, 2017

Jakarta – The Defense Ministry will get a Rp 107.7 trillion allocation, the largest figure among the allocations for the Cabinet Ministries as stated in the 2018 state budget approved by the House of Representatives on Wednesday.

"After the [final] update, the Defense Ministry budget is Rp 107.7 trillion. It is the largest allocation," said the Finance Ministry's director general of budgetary affairs Askolani in Jakarta as reported by kompas.com on Thursday.

There is no further explanation about the detailed use of the funds in the ministry. Total government spending in the approved state budget will reach Rp 2.22 quadrillion.

The second-largest budget allocation will go to the Public Works and Housing Ministry, as it will receive Rp 107.4 trillion, followed by the Religious Affairs Ministry (Rp 62.2 trillion), Health Ministry (Rp 59.1 trillion), Transportation Ministry (Rp 48.2 trillion), Social Ministry (Rp 41.3 trillion), Research and Higher Education Ministry (Rp 41.3 trillion), Education and Culture Ministry (40.1 trillion), Finance Ministry (Rp 32.9 trillion) and the Agriculture Ministry (Rp 23.8 trillion).

Meanwhile, the National Police get Rp 96.3 trillion, the largest figure for a non-ministry government institution. Askolani said the budget increase for the National Police was to strengthen security prior to the simultaneous regional elections in 101 regions and to establish a new Regional Police Headquarters.

The second-largest budget allocation for non-ministry government institutions will go to the General Elections Commission as it will receive Rp 12.5 trillion, followed by the Supreme Court (Rp 8.3 trillion), the Attorney General (Rp 6.4 trillion) the House (Rp 5.7 trillion), the National Narcotics Agency (Rp 5.6 trillion), the Election Supervisory Body (Rp 5.6 trillion), the National Family Planning Coordination Board (Rp 5.5 trillion), the Central Statistics Agency (Rp 4.8 trillion) and the Supreme Audit Agency (Rp 2.8 trillion). (bbn)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/10/26/defense-ministry-gets-top-allocation-in-2018-state-budget.html

Analysis & opinion

Unpacking Indonesia's civil-military relations under Jokowi

The Strategist - October 31, 2017

Evan Laksmana – The Indonesian military (Tentara Nasional Indonesia or TNI) turned 72 years old on 5 October. Much of the gung-ho surrounding the anniversary, however, wasn't about the new weapon systems displayed during the celebration or new strategic plans.

Instead, the focus was on TNI Commander General Gatot Nurmantyo – from his explicit order that soldiers must attend public screenings of an old anti-communist movie to his accusations that 'non-military elements' were importing arms. Those polemics, when coupled with his previous controversies – from alleged political manoeuvres during the Jakarta election to his brief suspension of language training with Australia – highlight how polarising the general has been since assuming command of the TNI in 2015.

Some have attributed such controversies to Gatot's political ambitions. Others, however, paint the TNI as the problem. They have noted, for example, how the TNI has been expanding its non-military activities, from counterterrorism to anti-drug campaigns, or how retired officers have been playing prominent roles in the Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo administration. Senior officers have also publicly exhibited conservative tendencies as antiquated programs of 'state defence' are crowding out technological modernisation plans.

The TNI's public image should have tanked. But in a recent poll, 90% of the public agreed that the TNI was having a 'good influence on the way things are going' in Indonesia. That's higher than the police (63%) and human rights organisations (82%), and it's consistent with dozens of surveys over the past decade underscoring the TNI's high favourability rating.

We can make sense of this paradox – mounting criticisms but soaring public popularity – when we consider a few often-overlooked contextual factors surrounding the TNI.

First, Indonesia's civil-military relations are not an exclusively elite affair between generals and political leaders. The broad conception of civil-military relations emphasises the strong relationship between militaries and their societies. And yet, for decades, most studies and press reports on Indonesia's civil-military relations have focused on the political contestation between military leaders and the political elite. We know little about the societal relationship between the public and the TNI, or about the effect that relationship has on its intra-organisational dynamics.

That said, the TNI's popularity seems less about elite politics and more about how the military's post-1998 withdrawal has led to an increase in the public's engagement with the police (separated from the TNI in 1999) and other non-military political institutions. Through more engagement, the public unsurprisingly sees the failure and corruption of other institutions more prominently than those of the TNI as an organisation.

Second, it is incumbent upon the president to carefully manage the TNI. Under Jokowi, however, civil-military relations have been on auto-pilot; his ministers – retired generals like Luhut Pandjaitan and Wiranto – handle national security affairs while the defence ministry and TNI headquarters formulate their own policies. Jokowi hasn't been personally interested in a deeper or closer engagement with the military, and his advisers might feel he shouldn't spend political capital on it – not when economic development and infrastructure are re-election centre-pieces.

To be fair, finding the right balance in managing the TNI has always been difficult. Micro-manage too far, like President Wahid did in 1999, and you have political chaos. Not managing at all allowed conservative voices to dominate, as the Aceh conflict under the Megawati administration showed us. For better or worse, President Yudhoyono took great pains to engage with and manage the TNI. His personal and hands-on approach to the TNI may have even helped stabilise military reform.

In any case, Jokowi can't easily intervene in military affairs when things go south without sustained investment. It's extremely difficult to manage civil-military crises when you haven't built trust or a relationship with your military leaders and the organisation. Such investment is even more critical when you have a TNI commander who's more willing to engage in public or even political activities.

Finally, the TNI's recent regressive tendencies are partially rooted in the lack of attention for almost two decades to fundamental issues of organisational reform – from education and training to personnel management. Rather than completely overhauling the military structure put in place by TNI commander Benny Moerdani in 1983, the post-Suharto military leaders preferred to tinker with it (a process dubbed 'organisational validation'). Aside from the reforms to its political role, the TNI's overall structure had been modified more than half a dozen times since 1998. The last set of modifications was announced last year and would last until 2019.

With constant tinkering sans fundamental overhaul, personnel policies in particular could hardly be professionalised. The incentive system that had rewarded conservative and politically ambitious officers remains. Nurmantyo is not unique in this sense; he's a product of the height of the New Order era along with his generation who entered the military in the 1980s. As junior officers, they cut their teeth in East Timor and formed the backbone of the New Order's system of territorial and political control during its peak. But as mid-rank officers, they had to deal with the uncertainty of democratic transition and the TNI's near disintegration. Finally as senior officers, they had to 'wait in line' as promotional logjams plagued the TNI when the retirement age was suddenly lengthened from 55 to 58 in 2004 even as non-military posts shrunk significantly.

Consequently, some of the 1980s generation like Nurmantyo are often more fluent in political strategies and their conceptions of national security tend to be inward-looking and expansive at the same time. They are also, above all, concerned with organisational unity and restoring the TNI's reputation. When job promotions and post-retirement careers are equally uncertain, staunchly conservative and politically ambitious officers tend to be the norm rather than the exception. Author

[Evan A. Laksmana is a senior researcher at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Jakarta and currently a visiting fellow at the National Bureau of Asian Research in Seattle, Washington. Image courtesy of Flickr user Global Media Sharing.]

Source: https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/unpacking-indonesias-civil-military-relations-under-jokowi/

Is Indonesian democracy in decline?

Indonesia at Melbourne - October 31, 2017

Todung Mulya Lubis – Last month saw an unprecedented attack on one of the oldest and most influential civil society organisations in Indonesia, the Legal Aid Foundation (LBH), which was hosting a discussion on the killings of 1965-66. Police seemed unable or unwilling to do their job and initially sided with demonstrators to prevent the discussion from going ahead.

Never before had a discussion at LBH been broken up by state authorities, not even under Soeharto. Civil society activists characterised the attack as a democratic emergency, criticising President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo for failing to protect human rights. But are we seeing the emergence of a 'Neo-New Order'? Is Indonesian democracy really in peril?

First of all, a reality check. Indonesian democracy is far from perfect but many aspects are functioning well. Indonesia holds regular peaceful, free and fair elections at both regional and national levels; citizens are free to establish political parties (including local political parties in Aceh); the country has arguably the freest press in the region; and it boasts a vibrant civil society.

Second, Jokowi simply does not have it in him to develop into an authoritarian leader. For all his flaws, Jokowi truly believes in democracy and the rule of law. And even if he wanted to, Jokowi does not have the power to become a strongman – he lacks strong ties to the military and he is not the leader of a political party.

But there are reasons for concern. The military continues to harbour resentment about its diminished role in civilian affairs in democratic Indonesia. While the military as an institution no longer has any political role, senior sitting and retired generals retain an outsized influence over Indonesian politics.

Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) Commander General Gatot Nurmantyo, for example, has hardly been reticent about his political ambitions. Many observers have the impression that Gatot supported the hard-line organisations that led the protests against former Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama, and many were worried when Jokowi seemed unable to bring him into line.

There is also a persistent belief among the armed forces (and indeed many members of the population) that only the military can unite the country. The military does not trust civilians or political parties, which it views as corrupt and engaged in unhealthy competition. Although there are no calls for the army to intervene yet, it has happened in the past.

Indonesian democracy also faces the challenge of rising Islamic conservatism. The past few years have seen the re-emergence of calls for a greater role for Islam in the Indonesian state. Some politicians are now even openly calling for the implementation of Islamic law in the country, basing these demands on the fact that the majority of Indonesians are Muslims. This has been coupled with the so-called "conservative turn" in the daily practice of Indonesian Islam, which has been amplified through inflammatory social media posts and intolerant public sermons at mosques. The deeply polarised Jakarta gubernatorial election demonstrated how easily conservative understandings of Islamic identity can now be mobilised for political ends.

Another problem that could have serious implications for the quality of Indonesian democracy is stagnating economic growth. It now sits at around 5.2 per cent, which is simply not high enough. Foreign domestic investment is moderating on the back of the political tensions associated with the Jakarta election and endemic and persistent corruption. While the tax amnesty program had some success, tax revenues seem to be declining. Some progress has been made in a few of Jokowi's large infrastructure projects, such as the Jakarta MRT, but the president needs more investment to finance his ambitious plans, and that is simply not forthcoming.

At the same time as economic growth slows, Indonesia is also seeing widening income inequality. The richest 10 per cent of households now control more than three quarters of total wealth in Indonesia. According to a recent survey conducted by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), the main difficulties faced by the people are economic in nature. Topping the list of complaints were the high cost of basic commodities, unemployment and poverty. It will be hard to maintain a stable democracy in these economic circumstances.

Further, while Indonesia has a strong procedural democracy, its party politics are dysfunctional. The country's political parties are ideologically shallow and prone to forming coalitions with almost no consideration for policy consistency. However, this appears to matter little to voters.

Political parties are also blighted by the scourge of money politics. Indonesia's weak party funding system encourages corruption and the dominance of oligarchs. Running as even a district head can cost billions of rupiah. Huge sums of money are needed to pay parties just to be considered for candidacy in the first place and then to fund the subsequent election campaign. Having shelled out billions of rupiah, politicians need to find a way to recoup their investment, and they often turn to state-funded projects to do so. Unless there is a radical change in political party financing, money politics will continue to taint Indonesian politics.

As a result, oligarchs will determine what kind of democracy Indonesia will have in the future. Perversely, they may end up being strong defenders of democracy, as they rely on the democratic system to compete with one another.

The final cause for concern relates to declining human rights protections. As LBH and other civil society organisations have warned, Jokowi seems to have abandoned his promise to resolve past violations of human rights. The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) is looking increasingly weak. The endorsement of Jokowi's Regulation in Lieu of Law (Perppu) on Mass Organisations by the national legislature on 24 October represents a major setback for freedom of association. On top of this, widespread use of defamation laws (particularly the Electronic Information and Transactions Law) to silence government critics has seen growing self-censorship in the media. Jokowi needs to recognise that Indonesia's international reputation is shaped not just by economic parameters but also by its human rights record.

The 2018 regional elections will be pivotal in determining the shape of Indonesian democracy. Will the base appeals to race and religion that tarnished the Jakarta election campaign be replicated in other regions? If Jokowi loses allies in West Java and East Java (and the provinces are taken over by more conservative or less democratic leaders) his prospects for re-election in 2019 will take another hit.

These are all serious concerns, and there is no doubt that Indonesian democracy is fragile. But there are good reasons to be optimistic that Indonesia will not return to authoritarian, military dominated rule. While the military continues to look for opportunities to play a greater role in civilian affairs, it is not united. All former military chiefs have harboured political ambitions but few have been successful. Despite the military's wishes for a greater role in public life, and despite the widespread view that it could unite the country in an emergency, I believe Indonesians do not see the situation as even close to justifying military rule.

In fact, democracy in Indonesia may already have reached "the point of no return". The amended Constitution provides a strong basis for democracy. In Indonesia's fragmented and fractured political system it would be very difficult to build the consensus required to amend it again, and even harder to abandon it. Democracy in Indonesia may be flawed and incomplete but I believe it is here to stay.

[This post is based on a presentation delivered at Melbourne Law School on 11 October 2017. Professor Lubis also discussed these issues with Dr Jemma Purdey in the most recent Talking Indonesia podcast. Todung Mulya Lubis is one of Indonesia's leading human rights lawyers. He is a founder and senior partner of Lubis Santosa & Maramis and former director of the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI).]

Source: http://indonesiaatmelbourne.unimelb.edu.au/is-indonesian-democracy-in-decline/

Indonesia's 'religious tolerance model' fantasy

Human Rights Watch Dispatches - October 30, 2017

Phelim Kine – Indonesia's Vice President Jusuf Kalla last week praised religious tolerance in Indonesia as "better than in other countries" and a model "for other countries to learn [religious] tolerance."

If only.

Kalla's comments reflect the government's willful disregard of both the corrosive influence of discriminatory laws that pose a clear threat to the country's religious minorities, as well as official actions to reinforce those laws. In September, during the United Nation's periodic review of Indonesia's human rights record, the government made it clear the country's dangerously ambiguous blasphemy law, which overwhelmingly targets religious minorities, is here to stay. Jakarta demonstrated that by rejecting recommendations from UN member countries to repeal the law. It also rejected a recommendation to amend or revoke laws that limit the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion in the country.

Indonesia's religious minorities have every reason to be alarmed. That's because the blasphemy law and other legislation have frequently been used to prosecute and imprison members of religious minorities. Recent victims include three former leaders of the Gafatar religious community, prosecuted for blasphemy following the violent forced eviction of more than 7,000 Gafatar members from their farms on Kalimantan Island last year. Another was the former Jakarta governor, Basuki "Ahok" Purnama, sentenced to two years in prison in May.

And the Indonesian government does not appear satisfied with just ignoring UN calls to scrap the blasphemy law. The Religious Affairs Ministry wants to reinforce and expand its scope through the so-called Religious Rights Protection bill, which parliament will likely debate later this year.

Kalla and other senior government officials will probably point to the government's acceptance of other ambiguously worded recommendations – which only pay lip-service to the rights to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion – as evidence of its commitment to religious freedom. But Indonesia's religious minorities are well aware of the glaring gap between their government's religious freedom rhetoric and the far more abusive reality.

Kalla should publicly recognize that touting an illusory "model of religious tolerance" is not only an exercise in self-deception, but a gross insult to religious minorities who are at risk of these discriminatory laws.

Source: https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/10/30/indonesias-religious-tolerance-model-fantasy

Indonesia takes an ultra-nationalist turn against Islamic populism

The Conversation - October 30, 2017

Hellena Yoranita Souisa and Primatia Romana Wulandari – After banning Islamist organisation Hizb ut-Tahrir Indonesia (HTI) through a decree in July 2017, Indonesia has now moved to codify in law government power to summarily disband community organisations deemed to be against Pancasila, the country's state ideology.

On Tuesday, October 24, of 445 lawmakers present, 314 members from seven factions agreed to approve a regulation in lieu of law on community organisation (Perppu Ormas). Some 131 members from three opposition factions objected.

HTI was one of the Islamist organisations that rallied against the former Jakarta governor, Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama, for his comments on Islam. Ahok is now in jail after being convicted of blasphemy.

A battle of extremes

The Perppu Ormas serves as a political tool for President Joko Widodo's administration. Jokowi, as the president is commonly called, is wary of the rise of Islamic populism. He has seen how it managed to mobilise large numbers of the Muslim community to bring down Ahok, a Christian Chinese-Indonesian widely seen as clean and competent by the Jakarta electorate.

Unable to rely on pluralist or tolerant Islam – which is poorly organised and lacks a large social or political base – it seems that Jokowi's administration views ultra-nationalism as the answer to rising Islamic populism in Indonesia.

In arguing for the Perppu Ormas, the government used militaristic language: "a threat to the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI)", or "national alert" (kewaspadaan nasional). The military under Soeharto's New Order regime commonly used these phrases to justify repressive approaches.

At this point, a return to military involvement in Indonesian politics is unlikely and would be unpopular. But the military clearly sees the Perppu as an opportunity to claw back some influence in political life. Several high-ranking military personnel have publicly supported it.

Pancasila orthodoxy

Since the declaration of independence in 1945, the relationship between Islam and the Indonesian state has been a constant source of debate.

In June 1945, leaders of the independence movement produced The Jakarta Charter, a document that laid out the first draft of the country's founding principle, Pancasila. The charter included an obligation for Muslims to follow Islamic law.

But the country's first president, Sukarno, deleted this, restating Pancasila's first principle as "Belief in God Almighty". Sukarno moved to embrace other religious communities, particularly in the eastern islands, with the aim of preventing them from making their own demands for independence.

This lack of clear acknowledgement in the Constitution of the dominance of Islam became a grievance among some Muslim communities. In 1949, the radical Darul Islam movement emerged in West Java, calling for Islam to be recognised as the basis of the state. It gained popularity in Aceh, South Sulawesi and South Kalimantan. Sukarno ordered military operations to dissolve the movement, resulting in an estimated 16,000 to 40,000 deaths.

Under Soeharto, the military and Islamic groups worked closely together once again in the early days of the New Order to kill or imprison alleged communists.

Islamic groups had expectations of being offered political space in the regime. Instead, Suharto's regime forced Islamic groups to unite in one political party, the United Development Party (PPP), which it tightly controlled.

The New Order also promoted Pancasila as "the single principle" for the country. Political and social organisations, including Islamic organisations, had no choice but to accept Pancasila as their ideological basis.

Religion is compulsory for all citizens, but this, too, followed Pancasila orthodoxy. Pancasila was used as a means to establish control, eliminating both the now banned Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) and Islamist movements as sources of contested power.

Suharto continued using the military to suppress dissent. The military was not only in charge of state security from foreign threats but also was involved in socio-political affairs through the so-called military's dual roles (dwi-fungsi). The military repressed groups it saw as not adhering to Pancasila. This often involved violent means, such as the Tanjung Priok massacre in 1984, which resulted in more than 400 casualties.

The fall of Soeharto's New Order in 1998 ushered in press freedom, multiparty democracy, the end of the military's role in politics, and the lifting of restrictions on civil rights.

Today, there has been greater expression of Islam in everyday life. Diverse forms of political Islam – from liberal to radical – have emerged.

Lessons from the past

While HTI's platform is considered intolerant and undemocratic, it is still important not to ignore the lessons of the past simply to keep the current administration in power.

It might serve short-term goals for Jokowi. But the Perppu could have serious implications for the future of Indonesian democracy.

The Perppu ignores a legal process that is the base of democracy by giving the government the authority to disband any community organisation without trial. The Perppu as a legal product could be used like a "gun" being pointed to any direction depending on the interest of the "gun holder". Even human rights defenders could be potential targets as seen in the attempt to disband the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute.

We are going to see these contested power plays at least until Indonesia's next presidential election in 2019. Brace yourself.

[Hellena Yoranita Souisa is a PhD Candidate Asia Institute, The University of Melbourne, University of Melbourne. Primatia Romana Wulandari is PhD Candidate School of Social and Political Science, University of Melbourne.]

Source: http://theconversation.com/indonesia-takes-an-ultra-nationalist-turn-against-islamic-populism-86341

Pribumi: making sense of a troubled term

Indonesia at Melbourne - October 24, 2017

Denny Indrayana – Newly installed Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan sparked a fracas last week when he said in his inaugural speech that it was time for pribumi ('native or indigenous Indonesians') to be masters in their own land. Many were shocked that he was seemingly repeating and perpetuating the racist rhetoric of the Jakarta election campaign. How did this word end up having such racist connotations, and why does it continue to have so much power? To answer these questions one must look back at history.

The Indonesian archipelago has never been occupied by just one ethnicity or indigenous group. No single ethnicity in Indonesia could ever claim to be the original inhabitants of the archipelago now known as Indonesia. Rather than referring to a particular ethnic group, the notion of pribumi is an artificial construct that arose from the Dutch and their divide and rule strategy of colonisation.

Under the 1854 Netherlands East Indies 'Constitution', the Indonesian population was divided into three 'castes'. The Europeans were at the top of the heap, followed by 'foreign Orientals', which included Chinese, Indians and Arabs. At the very bottom were the inlanders, or pribumi. This colonial policy was the birth of the segregation and legal discrimination that would continue to grow through the Dutch colonial period and beyond, into the independence era.

In the 1920s, the independence movement was gathering steam and nationalists were increasingly using the word 'Indonesia' to define their cause. One of the defining moments of the burgeoning nationalist movement was the Youth Pledge (Sumpah Pemuda) of 1928, where nationalists declared one motherland, one nation and one language, Bahasa Indonesia.

The colonial government therefore preferred to refer to the local population as inlanders or pribumi, rather than 'Indonesians', lest it lend further weight to the independence movement. While inlander was pejorative, using the word 'Indonesian' was subversive as it indicated resistance to the colonial government.

Strangely, during the independence struggle, the word pribumi began to catch on as it was somehow considered more Indonesian. This spirit was captured in the first draft of the 1945 Indonesian Constitution, Article 6(1) of which stated that "the president is an indigenous Indonesian" (orang Indonesia asli). In this context, 'indigenous Indonesian' had the same meaning as pribumi, that is, Indonesians from European or 'foreign Oriental' backgrounds could not become president. This provision also stated that the president must be Muslim. This requirement was eventually dropped, however, along with the seven words of the Jakarta Charter, which required Muslims to follow Islamic law.

Given these aspirations for greater adherence to Islamic law, the word pribumi has never been solely about ethnicity, it is also connected to Islam. The word is therefore similar in meaning to bumiputera, used in Malaysia, which refers to people who are both Malay and Muslim. Malaysians of Chinese or Indian descent are not considered bumiputera.

In Indonesia, the fact that people of Arab descent are generally also Muslim has allowed them to be more easily considered pribumi than people of Chinese descent, even though both were categorised as 'foreign Orientals' by the Dutch colonial government.

The strong association between China and communism resulted in a variety of policies (particularly under the New Order) that discriminated against the ethnic Chinese. These discriminatory policies meant that people of Chinese descent could not enjoy full citizenship rights, and their cultural, religious and social rights were also severely restricted. They could not celebrate Chinese New Year and Chinese schools and publications in Chinese text were banned. Many Chinese Indonesians were even encouraged to take on "local" sounding names.

The collapse of the New Order in 1998 saw the gradual lifting of most of these discriminatory policies. Early in his presidency, BJ Habibie issued Presidential Instruction No. 26 of 1998 which prohibited use of the phrases pribumi and non-pribumi in the design and implementation of all public programs and services, and sought to eradicate discrimination based on ethnicity, religion and race.

President Abdurrahman Wahid continued on this path, revoking Presidential Decree No. 14 of 1967, which had prohibited Chinese cultural and religious celebrations. Further, the requirement that the Indonesian president be an 'indigenous Indonesian' was dropped from the Indonesian Constitution. This means that all people born as Indonesian citizens, such as Anies Baswedan (who is of Arab descent) or Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama (who is ethnic Chinese), now have the same rights and opportunities to be Indonesian president.

The reform era has seen a variety of other human rights laws passed to reverse the discriminatory policies and practices of the New Order period. This has included the insertion of a new chapter on human rights into the Indonesian Constitution, and the passage of the 1999 Human Rights Law, the 2000 Law on the Human Rights Court, and the 2008 Law on the Elimination of Racial and Ethnic Discrimination. Towards the end of his tenure, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono issued Presidential Decree No. 12 of 2014 prohibiting use of the derogatory Cina in all government documentation and replacing it with Tionghoa or Tiongkok.

While pribumi originally only referred to inlanders, the meaning has changed over time. It should no longer be viewed in narrow terms to refer to people with 'indigenous' heritage, rather it should be used to mean all those who are Indonesian citizens from birth. Similarly, the discriminatory phrase non-pribumi, typically used to refer to ethnic Chinese, should be abandoned completely.

If the Jakarta gubernatorial election is any guide, approaching the 2019 elections there is a real danger that candidates will continue to seek to capitalise on religious sentiment, discrimination towards ethnic Chinese, and phobia about communism. These political strategies could have serious and dangerous consequences for Indonesia's diverse society.

This is not to deny that a serious problem with inequality plays a role in societal attitudes towards ethnic Chinese in Indonesia. According to the World Bank, 1 per cent of the Indonesian population controls 50.3 per cent of all national assets. The top 10 per cent, meanwhile, controls more than three quarters. The fact that many of the country's top conglomerates are controlled by Chinese Indonesians has often seen them targeted for resentment over this inequality, even though the vast majority of them are, of course, not tycoons. In any case, economic inequality must not be the basis for discriminatory policy. It is still possible to provide support for small businesses without differentiating between ethnic or religious groups.

Further, economic inequality is a result of a corrupt economic system, where tycoons benefit from inside relationships with power holders. In 2016, Indonesia ranked seventh in the world in the Economist's crony capitalism index, because of the connections between businesspeople and politicians. The gaping economic inequality in Indonesia is a result of these relations, and has nothing to do with ethnicity. The battle against inequality must be fought against corrupt business practices, not against the ethnic Chinese or any other ethnic group.

Soekarno once questioned the worth of trying to define who was an indigenous Indonesian. Who could tell if he also had ethnic Chinese blood, he said, claiming that he almost certainly did, like many Indonesians. But unlike Soekarno, I know for sure that I have Chinese ancestry. My father was Sundanese, my mother was Banjar, and my father's mother was from China. My children are also part Javanese, as my wife is from Pekalongan. If anyone asks about my ethnicity, there is only one way that I can respond – I'm Indonesian!

[Denny Indrayana is the former deputy minister of justice and human rights of the Republic of Indonesia and an internationally-recognised anti-corruption campaigner. Denny is a senior associate of the Centre for Indonesian Law, Islam and Society. He received his PhD from Melbourne Law School in 2005.]

Source: http://indonesiaatmelbourne.unimelb.edu.au/pribumi-making-sense-of-a-troubled-term/