An Indonesian visual effects museum that encouraged visitors to take selfies with a waxwork of Hitler against a giant image of the Auschwitz death camp has removed the exhibit after protests.

The marketing officer of the De Mata Trick Eye museum in Yogyakarta said the statue was removed on Friday night following an Associated Press story highlighting outrage from Jewish and rights groups.

Human Rights Watch had denounced the exhibit as "sickening" and the Los Angeles-based Simon Wiesenthal Center, which campaigns against Holocaust denial and anti-Semitism, had demanded its immediate removal.

The museum, which has waxworks of about 80 famous people, had displayed the Hitler figure since 2014.

It initially defended the exhibit as "fun" and said it was one of the most popular waxworks with visitors to the infotainment-style museum in the central Java city.

On Sunday, the space at the museum occupied by Hitler was empty and the image of Auschwitz, where more than 1 million people were exterminated by the Nazi regime, was gone.

It was not the first time Nazism and its symbols have been normalised in Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation and home to a tiny Jewish community.

A Nazi-themed cafe in the city of Bandung where waiters wore SS uniforms caused anger abroad for several years until reportedly closing its doors at the beginning of this year.

In 2014, a music video made by Indonesian pop stars as a tribute to presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto stirred outrage with its Nazi overtones.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/nov/13/indonesia-museum-removes-hitler-selfie-display-after-protests

Indonesian museum removes Nazi-themed exhibit after global outrage

SBS News - November 11, 2017

An Indonesian museum that allowed visitors to take selfies with a life-size wax sculpture of Hitler against a backdrop of the Auschwitz concentration camp has removed the exhibit following international outrage, the manager said Saturday.

De ARCA Statue Art Museum in the Javanese city of Jogjakarta drew swift condemnation from rights groups after details of the controversial display were published in foreign media.

The exhibit features a sure-footed Hitler standing in front of a huge photo of the gates of Auschwitz – the largest Nazi concentration camp where more than 1.1 million people were killed.

The museum's operations manager, Jamie Misbah, said the wax sculpture had been removed after the building was alerted to criticism from prominent Jewish human rights organisation the Simon Wiesenthal Center.

"We don't want to attract outrage," Misbah told AFP. "Our purpose to display the Hitler figure in the museum is to educate."

The Hitler sculpture is one of about 80 figures, including world leaders and celebrities, at the wax and visual effects centre.

The Nazi-themed exhibit was a popular attraction for visitors to take selfies, and photos circulating on social media show customers – including children – posing with Hitler and in some cases using the Nazi salute.

Misbah said he thought it was "normal' for visitors to take photos in front of displays, but said the museum respected the exhibit had upset people from around the world.

Historians have blamed poor schooling for the lack of awareness and sensitivity about the Holocaust in Indonesia, which is home to the world's biggest Muslim population and a small number of Jews.

In January, a controversial Nazi-themed cafe in the western Javanese city of Bandung closed.

The venue, which featured swastika-bearing walls and photos of Hitler, sparked global uproar when reports about the unusual venue surfaced several years ago.

Source: http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2017/11/11/indonesian-museum-removes-nazi-themed-exhibit-after-global-outrage

West Papua

Brimob officer shot and killed in Papua

Jakarta Post - November 15, 2017

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura, Papua – A member of the Papua Police's Mobile Brigade (Brimob), Brig. Firman, was shot and killed by unidentified assailants in Tembagapura, Papua, on Wednesday.

"Two police officers were shot in a shoot out with a group of armed people," Papua Police spokesman Comr. AM Kamal said on Wednesday.

Firman was shot in the back while conducting a patrol around the Mile 69 area with his colleague, Chief Brig. Yongki Rumte. The shoot out occurred between the police officers and the armed assailants at 3:50 a.m. local time on Wednesday. Yongki was also shot in the back.

"Yongki is now in a critical condition. He is undergoing medical treatment at Tembagapura Hospital," Kamal said.

He added that Firman's body was taken to the hospital before being flown to his family's house in Timika, Papua. Firman leaves behind a wife who is five-month pregnant with their second child. The police said they were still pursuing the attackers.

Separately, National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian said in Jakarta the police would posthumously promote Firman in honor of his service.

"We wish to convey our deepest condolences to the victim and his family. We will give him a rank promotion and all rights he deserves," Tito said as quoted by kompas.com.

Firman is the second Brimob officer to be killed in the ongoing armed conflict between Papuan criminal groups and the police in Tembagapura. In October, Berry Putra Pratama was also killed in a shooting incident. (foy/ebf)

Deadly incident: Officers of the Papua Police's Mobile Brigade (Brimob), supported by Indonesian Military personnel, take the body of Brig. Firman, a police officer shot and killed on Wednesday, to the hospital. Deadly incident: Officers of the Papua Police's Mobile Brigade (Brimob), supported by Indonesian Military personnel, take the body of Brig. Firman, a police officer shot and killed on Wednesday, to the hospital. (Courtesy of the Papua Police/File)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/11/15/brimob-officer-shot-and-killed-in-papua.html

Unidentified gunmen attack Freeport car, injure one

Jakarta Post - November 15, 2017

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – Unidentified gunmen fired at a patrol car owned by PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) in Tembagapura, Mimika regency, Papua, on Tuesday morning, injuring one employee.

The vehicle, which was on its way from Mile 68 to Mile 72, was entering an area near a helipad at Mile 69 at 8:20 a.m. local time when unknown assailants fired three shots at it, said Papua Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. AM Kamal.

One of the bullets went through the car door and injured Freeport Indonesia employee Raden Totok Soedewo in the thigh. Police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) personnel on board the vehicle began to open fire, but the attackers fled the scene.

"The victim was immediately brought to Tembagapura Hospital while our personnel stood guard at Mile 69," Kamal said.

At least 11 shootings have occurred in the area around Freeport Indonesia's mine since Oct. 22, when Brimob officer First. Brig. Berry Pramana Putra was killed in a shootout with unidentified gunmen on Utikini Bridge.

Police subsequently issued its highest security alert in response to the escalating attacks, particularly due to concerns that they might affect preparations for the upcoming elections for governor and seven regents in Papua.

Papua Regional Council speaker Yunus Wonda urged all stakeholders to restore security in the area "through persuasive actions." "Don't let such conflicts put civilians at risk," he said.

Some 1,300 residents of two villages in Tembagapura have also been held against their will for the past two weeks by an unidentified armed group. (ipa)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/11/14/unidentified-gunmen-attack-freeport-car-injure-one.html

Activist renew call for Papua independence amid alleged 'hostage'

CNN Indonesia - November 14, 2017

Lalu Rahadian, Jakarta – Vertical and horizontal conflicts in Papua province will not be resolved until the Indonesian government provides the Papuan people with an opportunity to determine their future through an international forum.

Indonesian People's Front for West Papua (FRI-WP) spokesperson Surya Anta says that the root of the Papua problem is Indonesia. According to Surya, the government must allow the Papuan people to determine their own future instead of continue its colonisation there.

"West Papua is under Indonesian colonialism. If we go back historically, at the time of [Indonesia's] proclamation [of independence on August 17, 1945] the territory of Papua was not part of Indonesia", said Surya during a press conference at the Jakarta Legal Aid Foundation (LBH) on Tuesday November 14.

Surya expressed this view in response to the reemergence of conflict in Tembagapura, Mimika regency, Papua. The Indonesian police say that in these districts – using police terminology – the activities of an Armed Criminal Group (Kelompok Kriminal Bersenjata, KKB) have resulted in access to the villages of Banti and Kimbely being disrupted.

Papua police chief Inspector General Boy Rafli Amar has responded to the activities of the KKB by issuing declaration Number B/MKMLT/01/XI/2017 dated November 12, 2017, calling on the KKB to surrender.

Amar has asked that all civilians who control, carry, own or use firearms illegally to disarm and surrender them to the authorities. Amar also claims that the KKB are holding hundreds of local people hostage in two villages in Tembagapura.

According to Surya, the police's claims about the residents in the villages in Tembagapura are untrue issuing a counter claim and saying no one has been taken hostage there.

"What we did immediately was communicate with civilian groups there. They confirmed that that no residents had been taken hostage", he said.

In Surya's view what has been done by the Free Papua Movement-National Liberation Army (TPN-OPM) in Tembagapura has a clear political basis – to wrest sovereignty from the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI).

Nevertheless, said Surya, labeling the TPN-OPM an armed criminal group is an attempt to discredit them and labeling the group in Tembagapura KKB also obscures the roots of the problem in the Land of Cenderawasih (Bird of Paradise, West Papua).

"Their political basis is winning sovereignty for the West Papuan nation which is under the colonialism of the NKRI", he said.

Surya also called on the government to immediately withdraw all security forces from Papua, close the PT Freeport gold-and-copper mine, release all political prisoners and open up access to journalists so that the problems in Papua can be clearly seen.

Infrastructure not the solution

The Papua Student Alliance (AMP) meanwhile believes that the ambitious infrastructure development program in the Land of Cenderawasih does not answer the basic problems of the people there.

According to the AMP and FRI-WP, the main problem in Papua is a political one. Speaking in the same vein as Surya, AMP activists Frans Nawipa says that the frequent conflicts that take place in Papua can only be resolved if the government allows the Papuan people to leave the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI).

"The root of the problem is [Papua's] political status which was manipulated by Indonesia and the military in the 1960s. No matter how long the government's pursues the development approach it will not have the potential to answer to the problems in Papua", said Frans.

Frans claims that no one in Papua has asked the government for this development. Because of this therefore, the efforts by President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to develop the country from Papua will not have any significant impact.

Surya Anta added that the construction of the Trans Papua highway in the Land of the Cenderawasih will not be able to replace the lives that have been lost as a result of the slaughter by security forces.

"What is needed is political freedom, freedom from all types of colonialism, self-determination as a national entity", said Surya.

Since Widodo became president in 2014, infrastructure development in Papua and the country's boarders has indeed been one of his priorities. (wis)

[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service. The original title of the article was "Desakan Papua Merdeka Kembali Mengemuka".]

Source: https://www.cnnindonesia.com/nasional/20171114195016-20-255662/desakan-papua-merdeka-kembali-mengemuka/

'Enough diplomacy, time to fight!'

Vanuatu Daily Post - November 14, 2017

Royson Willie – A West Papuan leader in Vanuatu, Mr Andy Ayamiseba, has publicly on his facebook called for armed resistance in West Papua with pictures of armed West Papuans.

His call, made on Sunday, coincidentally comes on the heels of the stand off between West Papuan freedom fighters and Indonesian forces.

On Friday the Jakarta Post reported that Indonesian authorities and armed separatists were locked in a tense standoff near a huge US-owned Freeport-McMoRan mine in eastern Papua province, in Mimika Regency, with both sides blaming each other for what police claimed was a hostage crisis.

The Freeport-McMoRan's Grasberg gold and copper mine is one of the biggest in the world.

The Jakarta Post stated that 700 heavily armed Indonesian military personnel encircled two villages near US firm Freeport-McMoRan's gold and copper mine, where they claimed an armed separatist group linked to the Free Papua Movement (OPM), was keeping 1,300 residents against their will. This allegation against the armed separatists was later denied.

The Post continued that backers of the group and an official at Indonesia's human rights body said the gunmen were not holding locals hostage but rather, protecting residents from the police and military.

This area is out-of-bounds to foreign journalists, unless a special permission is issued by the Indonesian Government, so information obtained by the international media is from local authorities or individuals close to where the stand off was taking place.

While Jakarta Post reported 700 armed military personnel, yesterday the news agency, Reuters, through Radio New Zealand, reported that officials on Saturday said about 200 police and military personnel had been deployed in preparation to secure the area by force, if necessary.

The report further stated that on Friday, the OPM-linked group denied occupying villages near the mine, but said it was "at war" with the police, military, and Freeport.

Jakarta Post quoted Natalius Pigai, an official with the National Human Rights Commission, saying that the villagers feared the military and suggested it was waging a public relations campaign to portray the separatists as criminals.

"People are terrified, that's why (the Free Papua group) are standing guard... so the military cannot enter," he said, adding that many of the gunmen had family members in the villages. "I assure you there is no hostage situation. It is impossible (they) would hold their own relatives hostage."

Reuters and Radio New Zealand reported that "a state of emergency has been declared in the area and security stepped up after a string of shootings since August 17 that killed one police officer and wounded six". Source: http://dailypost.vu/news/enough-diplomacy-time-to-fight/article_9de0a516-a053-5d39-806e-82f5de75c2b5.html

Freeport Indonesia closes mine access road again after shooting

Reuters - November 14, 2017

Sam Wanda, Timika – The Indonesian unit of Freeport-McMoRan Inc closed the main access road to its giant copper mine in the eastern province of Papua on Tuesday for the second time in three days after another shooting incident.

A Freeport vehicle was hit by gunfire while it was heading from Tembagapura to Ridge Camp, the company said in a statement, referring to an area where Freeport workers live.

One passenger in the vehicle "suffered a bullet wound to his thigh" but was in a stable condition at a local clinic, according to the statement.

Security apparatus were on the scene investigating the incident, it said. One source initially described the vehicle as a "patrol car". The Freeport statement said it was a "light armored vehicle".

It is the second time the access road to the Grasberg mine has been closed since Sunday, and follows a string of shooting incidents since mid-August that have injured at least seven people and killed one police officer.

The violence has escalated security concerns around the mine to their highest level in more than five years.

The separatist West Papua National Liberation Army (TPN-OPM), a group linked to the Free Papua Movement, has said it is at war with police, military and Freeport. It was not immediately clear if TPN-OPM were behind the latest shootings.

[Writing by Fergus Jensen in Jakarta; Reporting by Sam Wanda in Timika; Editing by Richard Pullin and Tom Hogue.]

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-indonesia-freeport-security/freeport-indonesia-closes-mine-access-road-again-after-shooting-idUSKBN1DE0AH

Papua provincial government insists armed separatist group isn't holding

Warta Plus - November 13, 2017

Jayapura – The Papua provincial government has explicitly refuted a statement by the Papua regional police chief that residents have been taken hostage by an Armed Criminal Group (KKB) in the villages of Banti and Kimbely near the PT Freeport Indonesia mine in Tembagapura district, Mimika regency.

Papuan provincial First Assistant Secretary for Administrative, Political and Security Affairs Doren Wakerkwa explained to the media in Jayapura on Monday November 13 that what had happened in the two villages is simply that the armed group has blockaded access to the road leading to Tembagapura.

This means that residents are not allowed to pursue activities outside of the two villages. Both villages are known as a basis of Papuan pro-independence groups.

"There has been no hostage taking. It's just the road or the community's access to and from the two villages [that's been blocked], only that. And it's these access points that it is claimed are being guarded by the KKB", said Wakerkwa, who added that he has already held a meeting with the Mimika government, the TNI (Indonesian military) and the Polri (Indonesian police) at which they agreed to setup a negotiating team.

He suggested that what needs to be done right now is to gather together influential religious, cultural and social figures from Tembagapura district then establish communications and negotiate with the KKB.

"Because in my assessment it appears that the KKB is already in control on the ground. So the question now is can the security forces break through the KKB's lines in order to open access to the road or not? Meaning if the security forces can't go in then prioritise the participation of religious figures in order to reconcile the situation", he suggested.

Meanwhile, in relation to the provision of food supplies to communities in the two districts which has been hampered by access being closed off by the KKB, Wakerkwa is appealing to the KKB to give people an opportunity to leave go and get food.

"However if in fact the KKB is fighting for a cause, they should let the people go so they can travel to get food. But if they are not allowing them to go, it means that they're fighting for another reason", he said.

Earlier Papua Regional Police Chief Inspector General Boy Rafli Amar reported that thousands of local residents in the two villages in Tembagapura were being held hostage. The KKB is believed to have 30 firearms stolen from the TNI and Polri.

Reports of people being held hostage has also been denied by Mimika Police Chief Assistant Superintendent Victor Dean Mackbon who said that the residents of the Kimbely and Banti villages are only having their freedom of movement restricted. (Riri)

[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service. The original title of the article was "Pemprov Papua Tegaskan Tidak Ada Penyanderaan Warga di Tembagapura".]

Source: http://www.wartaplus.com/pemprov-papua-tegaskan-tidak-ada-penyanderaan-warga-di-tembagapura/

Freeport Indonesia employee denies co-workers held hostage by OPM

KBR - November 13, 2017

Bambang Hari, Jakarta – An employee at the PT Freeport Indonesia gold-and-copper mine in West Papua, Aser Gobai has refuted information that a PT Freeport worker has been taken hostage by an armed civilian group.

Papua Police Chief Boy Rafli Amar said earlier that a group nicknamed an Armed Criminal Group (KKB) [a term used by the authorities for the Free Papua Organisation (OPM)] was holding a PT Freeport employee hostage.

"On the issue of local villagers being held hostage [in Tembagapura, Mimika regency], I haven't heard anything about that either", said Aser when interviewed by KBR by phone on Sunday November 12.

Aser added that he also had not heard anything about heavy machinery, an excavator, being high jacked by an armed group and used to damage roads.

"So far there hasn't been any report that employees were involved. We also want to convey that so far there has been no hostage taking of PT Freeport employees. So essentially no PT Freeport employee has been taken hostage buy an armed group", added Aser.

Nevertheless, Aser admitted that conflict involving security forces and armed civilian groups in Tembagapura has discrupted the activities of local residents in the area. Despite this, said Aser, residents are continuing their daily activities as normal.

"Residents – including PT Freeport employees – are continuing their activities [as normal]. They are continuing to work. Even though there is a sense of fear", he said.

[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service. The original title of the article was "Pekerja Freeport Bantah Rekannya Disandera Kelompok OPM".]

Source: http://kbr.id/11-2017/pekerja_freeport_bantah_rekannya_disandera_kelompok_opm/93404.html

Papuan hostage claims a distortion says Indonesian lawyer

Radio New Zealand International - November 13, 2017

An Indonesian human rights lawyer says there is no hostage crisis in the Mimika regency of Papua province as claimed by police and government officials.

Police said an armed group of the Free Papua Movement had been holding 1300 people hostage in the area near the Grasberg mine operated by multinational Freeport.

The West Papua National Liberation Army, or TPN, recently waged war on the Indonesian state which blamed it for recent shootings on the road to the mine.

Police claimed the TPN was preventing them from evacuating Kimbely and Banti villages. But the lawyer Veronica Koman said this was a distortion and that local people told her they were able to leave their villages.

"Police and military have been patrolling there, like stationed there. And what prevents the villagers to go back and forth is that they are terrified by the Indonesian police and military," she said.

"They are afraid that they will get shot. So that's what is actually happening there."

Ms Koman was in contact with people in the villages, as well as the TPN, seeking to verify Indonesian media reports about the conflict.

Indonesian police and military said they were trying to capture the perpetrators of the shootings, which killed one person and injured several others in September.

Police said their approach was a "persuasive" one, however, there were sporadic exchanges of gunfire, according to Ms Koman.

She also said that contrary to Indonesian media reports, the heavy presence of the security forces was hampering, rather than assisting, the villagers' ability to access their food gardens.

"They are being intimidated and reluctant to garden, so they've just been living and eating just by buying stuff from kiosks. But they've also been intimidated by lots of questions by police and military while they buy their food.

"So the Papua [provincial] government has been trying to send food to Banti village, but police blocked this access," said Ms Korman.

While police conducted a ceremonial opening of access to the village, the villagers still had not received the food from the provincial government.

Meanwhile, the escalating tensions in Mimika have prompted Freeport to temporarily shut the main supply route to its Grasberg mine complex

Indonesian police said about 200 police and military personnel had been deployed in preparation to secure the area by force, if necessary.

Police had distributed leaflets in the area, urging what they called the "armed criminal group" to give themselves up and surrender weapons.

Ms Koman said police had been referring to the TPN this way because they were reluctant to acknowledge the pro-independence TPN or OPM in any way.

It also allowed them "justification to just randomly sweep people, burn down villages, and it means that they don't have a specific target."

"These are civilians at stake here," said Ms Koman, who said that a local man, Martinus Beanal, had gone missing last week and that his family feared that he was dead at the hands of security forces.

Police told local media that the TPN shot Mr Beanal, a Freeport employee.

"The TPN Mimika stated that they declared war because Freeport is the very root of injustice and never-ending conflict in West Papua, and they will not stop, they are willing to die until Freeport is out of West Papua," said Ms Koman.

Source: http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/343723/papuan-hostage-claims-a-distortion-says-indonesian-lawyer

Freeport Indonesia reopens mine access after shootings

Reuters - November 13, 2017

Fergus Jensen, Jakarta – The Indonesian unit of Freeport-McMoRan Inc has reopened the main supply route to its huge copper mine in Papua, the company said on Monday, after the road was closed on Sunday following a shooting incident in the area.

No one was reported injured when shots were fired at an escort vehicle travelling from the lowlands, but Freeport cancelled all convoys along the road on Sunday afternoon while the security situation was assessed.

Freeport Indonesia spokesman Riza Pratama said the temporary closure has had no impact on production at the world's second-biggest copper mine.

The incident was the latest in a string of shootings near the mine since mid-August that have killed one police officer and wounded at least six others. Authorities have declared a state of emergency and stepped up security in the area around Tembagapura village, about 10 km from the mine.

Police in Indonesia's eastern-most province on Sunday said they would issue a notice to an "armed criminal group" that authorities say are occupying villages in Mimika regency, where Freeport's Grasberg mine is located, and demand that rebels surrender their weapons and turn themselves in.

'Deeply concerned'

Timika Police chief Victor Mackbon said they were investigating reports that an employee of PT Freeport had been kidnapped by an armed criminal group.

Freeport spokesman Pratama said he could not confirm the reports of a kidnapping. He also said he could not confirm police reports that a Freeport excavator had been used by the group to dig up a road to Banti, one of the villages authorities said was occupied by the rebel group.

Freeport is "deeply concerned" about the escalation of violence, Pratama said, adding that the company was working with authorities to ensure the safety of its workers and the local community.

Grasberg workers have become "uneasy" amid the security concerns, union representative Tri Puspital told Reuters, urging police to handle the matter more carefully.

Despite a long history of shooting incidents in the region, efforts to end the violence had been "sporadic, and not effective," Puspital said, but warned that a "hard" approach could further escalation.

Part of the problem is a perception locally that most of the benefits from Grasberg go to the "political elite", he said.

About 200 officers were standing by to secure the area by force if necessary, police officials said.

Papua has had a long-running, and sometimes violent, separatist movement since the province was incorporated into Indonesia after a widely criticised 1969 U.N.-backed referendum.

Foreign journalists have in the past required special permission to report in Papua, and once there, have had security forces restrict their movement and work.

President Joko Widodo has pledged to make the region more accessible to foreign media by inviting reporters on government-sponsored trips, although coverage remains difficult.

[Reporting by Fergus Jensen; Additional reporting by Agustinus Beo Da Costa; Editing by Richard Pullin and Tom Hogue.]

Source: http://in.reuters.com/article/indonesia-freeport-security/freeport-indonesia-reopens-mine-access-after-shootings-idINKBN1DD11A?rpc=401&

OPM says reports of hostage taking, rape just cheap TNI propaganda

Viva - November 12, 2017

Free Papua Organisation (OPM) spokesperson Sebby Sambon denies that his group has acted in a criminal manner by taking hundreds of local people hostage and raping them. According to Sebby, reports making such claims are just propaganda aimed at damaging the OPM's struggle.

"There has been no hostage taking in Banti, Kembeli and Tembagapura, Papua, as widely reported in the media. The reports on the hostage taking by the OPM in Banti, Kembeli and Tembagapura, Papua, are absolutely untrue", said Sebby when sought for confirmation by phone on Sunday November 12.

According to Sebby the accusations by Indonesian authorities are propaganda to blame the OPM to provoke a reaction from the public.

"The ploy by the Indonesian military and police leadership is too seek legitimisation with the aim of blaming us, but we're not that stupid. We know the true actions of the paranoid military, who are always producing cheap propaganda to provoke the public", continued Sebby.

Sebby also shrugged off accusations that civilians have been raped saying he regrets that the Indonesian authorities have failed to first check the news which has been spread widely.

"[The Accusations] of rape are untrue. They the police are law enforces so why didn't they carry out a criminal investigation first then charge the OPM? This is a good question. Meaning there is no legal evidence yet, the [accusations] are untrue", he said.

He then reiterated that the OPM's position is that civilians are not the enemy. He emphasised however that it is the TNI (Indonesian military) and Polri (Indonesian police) that are the enemy.

"We have already conveyed this before that our enemy is not civilians. Rather our enemy is the Indonesian military and police. All of this is untrue slander by the Indonesian authorities", he said.

He admitted however, that the OPM has prohibited Tembagapura residents from leaving their village to seek refuge in Timika. This appeal, according to Sebby, has a reason.

"The ones that are ordering the people to seek refuge are the Indonesian military and police with the aim of wanting to carry out a missive military operation", he explained.

As has been widely reported, an armed group alleged to be the OPM has cut off access to two village districts in Tembagapura and Mimika, Papua. In addition to cutting access, the armed group is also alleged to have terrorised local people. The two villages that have been isolated from Mimika are Banti and Kembeli.

[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service. The original title of the article was "Jubir OPM Bantah Penyanderaan dan Perkosaan di Tembagapura".]

Source: http://www.viva.co.id/berita/nasional/976833-jubir-opm-bantah-penyanderaan-dan-perkosaan-di-tembagapura

Indonesia delivers supplies to villages after Papua rebels' threat to

Reuters - November 12, 2017

Jakarta – Authorities in Indonesia's eastern province of Papua are delivering food and aid to villages where security forces say an armed rebel group has blocked residents' movement, as police and military surround the area, a police official said on Sunday.

Police say a group linked to the Free Papua Movement (OPM) is preventing about 1,000 people from leaving five villages near a giant copper mine operated by the American miner Freeport-McMoRan Inc.

"We continue to try a persuasive approach and dialogue," said Viktor Mackbon, police chief of the Mimika area, where the villages are located. Talks with the group would be conducted through public and religious figures in the region, he added.

Officials delivered two truckloads of rice, instant noodles, and toiletries for the villagers.

"Their access to these goods is not yet normal, so we must provide help," said Mackbon, adding that the rebel group had not tried to disrupt the supply effort.

Officials on Saturday said about 200 police and military personnel had been deployed in preparation for orders to secure the area by force, if necessary.

Reuters could not immediately reach members of the rebel group, the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPN-OPM), to seek comment. On Friday, the group denied occupying villages near the mine, but said it was "at war" with the police, military, and Freeport.

A state of emergency has been declared in the area and security stepped up after a string of shootings since Aug. 17 that killed one police officer and wounded six. Papua has had a long-running, and sometimes violent, separatist movement since it was incorporated into Indonesia after a widely criticized U.N.-backed referendum in 1969.

The incident is the first escalation of violence during the term of President Joko Widodo, who has sought to ease tension in the region by stepping up investment, freeing political prisoners and tackling human rights concerns.

Freeport's Grasberg mine has been dogged by security concerns for decades over the low-level conflict waged by the rebels. Between 2009 and 2015, shootings within the mine project area killed 20 people and wounded 59.

More recently, Freeport, the world's largest publicly listed copper producer, has been grappling with labor problems at Grasberg and a mine rights dispute with Indonesia.

[Reporting by Agustinus Beo Da Costa; Writing by Kanupriya Kapoor; Editing by Clarence Fernandez.]

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-indonesia-security-papua/indonesia-delivers-supplies-to-villages-after-papua-rebels-threat-to-freeport-idUSKBN1DC03M?il=0

Papuan villagers near Freeport mine conflict zone are 'safe' despite

Sydney Morning Herald - November 12, 2017

Amilia Rosa and Jewel Topsfield, Timika, Papua – A community leader from one of the villages caught up in a conflict inside Papua's giant mining area has insisted that all villagers are safe.

Authorities had claimed an "armed criminal group" was preventing villagers from entering or leaving two villages in the mining area of Tembagapura, with military chief Gatot Nurmantyo at one point even suggesting they were "holding civilians hostage".

"I would like to stress we are not being held hostage," Jonathan Kibak, a community leader from the village of Banti, told Fairfax Media. "No one in the village is being stopped from doing daily activities."

Banti and another village, Kembeli, are located in an area where the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPN) are clashing with security forces in a dispute over the massive Freeport gold and copper mine.

The dispute is part of the long-running pro-independence movement in Indonesia's restive, easternmost province of Papua.

The group sees the lucrative Grasberg mine as the primary reason why Indonesia acquired Papua, after a widely discredited ballot for independence in which only a handful of the local population were allowed to vote.

The mine is majority owned by US mining giant Freeport McMoRan, Indonesia's largest taxpayer.

Source: http://www.smh.com.au/world/papuan-villagers-near-freeport-mine-conflict-zone-are-safe-despite-unrest-20171112-gzjpn1.html

Indonesian forces prepare to storm Papua villages held by rebels

Reuters - November 11, 2017

Jakarta – Indonesian security forces in the eastern province of Papua are preparing to storm five villages that they say are being held by an armed rebel group, police officials said on Saturday.

Around 200 police and military personnel have been deployed and are awaiting orders to secure the area, where an armed separatist group linked to the Free Papua Movement (OPM) is preventing about 1,000 people from leaving an area near a giant copper mine, operated by the American miner Freeport-McMoRan Inc.

"Today the joint police and military forces have occupied various posts to be able to take action," said Papua police spokesman, Suryadi Diaz.

"They will be taken dead or alive," he said of the around 100 rebels that police say have tortured and abused the villagers since taking over the area several days ago. A state of emergency has been declared in the area and at least 300 additional security forces have been deployed to the area of the province after a string of shootings since Aug. 17 that killed one police officer and wounded six.

The rebel group, the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPN-OPM), on Friday denied occupying villages near the mine, but said it was "at war" with the police, military, and Freeport.

Papua has had a long-running and sometimes violent separatist movement since it was incorporated into Indonesia after a widely criticized U.N.-backed referendum in 1969.

President Joko Widodo has sought to ease tension in the two provinces by stepping up investment, freeing political prisoners and addressing human rights concerns. This is the first escalation of violence during his term.

Freeport's Grasberg mine has been dogged by security concerns for decades due to a low-level conflict waged by pro-independence rebels in Papua. Between 2009 and 2015, shootings within the mine project area killed 20 people and wounded 59.

More recently, Freeport, the world's largest publicly listed copper producer, has been grappling with labor problems at Grasberg and a dispute with the Indonesian government over rights to the mine.

[Reporting by Agustinus Beo Da Costa; Writing by Kanupriya Kapoor; Editing by Ros Russell.]

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-indonesia-freeport-security/indonesian-forces-prepare-to-storm-papua-villages-held-by-rebels-idUSKBN1DB0C1

Concerning residents held hostage in Papua, House Commission I urges TNI

Netral News - November 11, 2017

Jakarta – Chairman of the House of Representatives Commission I Abdul Kharis Almasyhari asserted the hostage of 1,300 citizens conducted by armed criminal groups (KKB) in Kimbely Village and Banti Village, Tembagapura District, Mimika Regency, has injured the sovereignty of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI).

To that end his side asked the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) to act carefully to free the hostages.

"This is no longer a matter of criminal groups, this injures the sovereignty of the NKRI, every inch of this Republic's land must be safe from any terror of this kind of group," Kharis said in a written release to reporters in Jakarta, Saturday (11/11/2017).

According to member of the House of Representatives from the PKS faction, the TNI and the State Intelligence Agency (BIN) certainly already have data and intelligence information relating to the case so we can confidently analyze the situation and conditions in the field to take rescue measures and other necessary actions, of course with cooperation and coordination with the National Police (Polri).

"We want everything is done in a measurable way and prevent the hostages from getting hurt let alone someone is killed," Kharis said.

This legislative member from Solo, Central Java, sees that persuasive efforts should be done especially when it comes to the safety of the citizens held hostage, but repressive efforts must also be prepared.

"I agree with the decisive steps that the TNI and the Polri will take, but do not forget we must also trim the network of weapons and ammunition suppliers who have been taking advantage of the conflict situation in Papua," he explained.

"The international world must also open eyes and see this problem in Papua more objectively. With this incident we hope that the role of diplomacy on the issue of Papua is also important to be further enhanced. NKRI and the whole country from the east to the west is the sovereign territory that must be respected by all countries. Lest there is any intervention in Indonesia's internal affairs," concluded Kharis.

Source: http://www.en.netralnews.com/news/currentnews/read/14728/concerning.residents.held.hostage.in.papua..house.commission.i.urges.tni.to.act.immediately

Armed groups blockade Papuan villages

Sydney Morning Herald - November 10, 2017

Amilia Rosa and Jewel Topsfield, Timika, Papua – An armed Papuan group has occupied two villages near the massive Grasberg copper-gold mine as tensions escalate in the restive Indonesian province. Police said "armed criminal groups" were terrorising the area used by the mine, which is majority owned by US mining giant Freeport McMoRan.

Papuan Police Chief Boy Rafli Amar said the armed group was blockading the villages Banti and Kimbely in Tembagapura, which have a combined population of 1300, raising fears they would run out of food.

Several hundred additional police and military officers have been deployed to the area, prompting fears of further violence.

Papua, one of two Indonesian provinces on the island of New Guinea, is the poorest province in Indonesia and has an active independence movement which has led a low-level insurgency for decades.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo has made serious efforts to improve Papua's economic development, including building roads and increasing access to education, but outbreaks of separatist violence have continued to flare.

Inspector-General Boy said police had tried to open communications with the armed groups and try a "persuasive approach" but its main focus was to "provide protection to the people in the two villages".

"Of course the officers have to be brave in facing an armed group. Because it's either we die or they die."

Mr Boy estimated the armed group had less than 100 members, 25 with firearms and the rest with traditional weapons.

A video purporting to be from the National Liberation Army of West Papua, the armed wing of the Free Papua Organisation, warned it would not negotiate because its fight was for sovereignty, not food or economic development.

"We and Papuans only want independence. We will continue to fight until we achieve independence," the video says.

"To those Papuans working with the TNI [military] and police, we are declaring you as our enemy. It's clear you are our enemy, whatever form you come to us you will lose your lives."

The National Liberation Army of West Papua also told Indonesian authorities to stop referring to it as an "armed criminal group", saying it had existed since before Papua was incorporated into Indonesia after a widely-discredited UN-backed referendum in 1969.

Victor Yeimo, the chairman of the pro-independence West Papuan National Committee, posted the video on his Facebook account.

"It's the real thing," he told Fairfax Media. "The National Liberation Army of West Papua chose Freeport because it's the reason behind all that [has] happened in Papua. Capitalism."

In an earlier video, the National Liberation Army of West Papua said the main reason Papua was integrated into Indonesia was a conspiracy between the US and Indonesia to exploit Papua for the Freeport mine.

"That resulted in the colonisation of Papua lands by foreign capitalism and the Indonesian government. That's why we continue in our fight to destroy Freeport."

There has been increasing unrest in the area in recent weeks. A series of shootings left one police officer dead and an ambulance belonging to Freeport was shot at, wounding a woman who had just given birth.

Freeport spokesman Riza Pratama said the mining company was "deeply concerned" over the continued escalation of security incidents.

He said Grasberg's operations were running normally, but workers were being transferred to and from the mine in armoured buses.

"We are continuously working together with security apparatus to stop these disturbing incidents," he said.

One Freeport worker, whose wife and child lived in one of the occupied villages, told Fairfax Media he prayed they would be evacuated soon. "Just help my family with prayers," he said.

Villagers from the two blockaded towns, many of whom are illegal gold miners, originally from other parts of Indonesia, were scared of running out of food.

"We have 113 members up there," a member of the Javanese community, who requested anonymity, said.

He said villagers' mobile phones had been confiscated, but he had managed to get in touch with someone who had hidden their phone.

The man said the road to the village of Kimberly was being guarded and the villagers dared not leave. "They are scared how they are going to eat. I am their family. I am very worried."

In a recent report, the Jakarta-based Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict said despite giving more personal attention to Papua than any previous president since Suharto, the government had made three miscalculations in its policies.

These were that economic development would make political grievances go away, that past human rights violations would be easy to resolve and that fraudulent local elections could be safely ignored.

"The political wing of the independence movement inside Papua has grown more active, not less," the report says.

Source: http://www.smh.com.au/world/armed-groups-blockade-papuan-villages-20171110-gziz4m.html

Time to support West Papua: An interview with independence leader Benny

Sydney Criminal Lawyers - November 9, 2017

Paul Gregoire – On September 26, West Papuan leader Benny Wenda presented a petition to the UN Special Committee on Decolonisation (C24) calling for an internationally supervised vote on West Papuan self-determination.

The petition was signed by 1.8 million West Papuan people, which accounts for 70 percent of the Indigenous population. It shows an overwhelming rejection of Indonesia's claim of sovereignty over the region that it has occupied since 1963.

The Indonesian government banned the petition, threatening those that signed it with arrest and imprisonment. So, the document was smuggled between villages in the region, which has been split into two provinces – West Papua and Papua – since 2003.

Along with a vote on independence, the petition requests that the United Nations appoints a special representative to investigate human rights abuses, and that West Papua be put back on the decolonisation agenda.

The UN decolonisation committee rejected the petition stating that it was outside of its mandate, which extends to the 17 states recognised by the UN as non-self-governing territories. West Papua was formerly on the list, but was removed when Indonesia annexed the region.

The Act of No Choice

The 1962 New York Agreement resulted in the United Nations assuming administration of West Papua, after former coloniser the Netherlands left.

The agreement allowed Indonesia to occupy the territory in 1963. This was done on the proviso that a referendum be held to give the West Papuan people a choice between remaining with Indonesia or becoming an independent nation.

Following widespread resistance to Indonesian rule, the UN brokered Act of Free Choice referendum was held in 1969. However, the Indonesian military selected only 1,062 West Papuan representatives to vote, and under threat, all of them voted to stay with Indonesia.

Since Indonesia began its occupation of West Papua an estimated 500,000 locals have lost their lives under harsh military and police repression. Indeed, 9,000 West Papuans have been arrested by the Indonesian government over the last year and a half, according to the Free West Papua campaign.

Neighbouring responsibilities

Australia won a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council on October 17. One of the nation's five campaign pillars was a commitment to be a voice for advancing human rights, especially in the Indo-Pacific region.

In light of the West Papuan petition, it's hoped the Australian government will extend this voice to support the independence of its neighbouring people, in much the same way the nation eventually supported East Timor in its moves towards self-determination.

In September, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines all pledged their support for West Papuan self-determination at the UN General Assembly. This followed seven Pacific Island nations last year calling for global attention to human rights abuses in the region.

A leader in exile

Benny Wenda fled West Papua after being imprisoned by Indonesian authorities for his involvement in the independence movement. Since 2003, the Nobel Peace Prize nominee has been tirelessly campaigning for the rights of his people from the UK, where he was granted political asylum.

Sydney Criminal Lawyers spoke with Mr Wenda, the international spokesperson for the United Liberation Movement for West Papua, about the success of the petition, the reaction of the Indonesian government, and the support his people hope to gain from Australia.

Firstly, Mr Wenda, in September, a petition containing the signatures of 1.8 million West Papuans was released.

How was it to receive such an overwhelming response to a petition that was at times dangerous to sign?

The West Papuan People's Petition has become a monumental part of West Papua's history. To have the collective aspirations of our people embodied in a petition, makes it more than just paper. It is the spirit of our nation.

I can hardly describe the emotion and joy that my people feel when we consider the incredible effort that went into the signing of this petition. People risked their lives to put their names down, to tell the world that we want to be free.

The West Papuan People's Petition is hard hitting evidence of the will of our people for our fundamental right to self-determination. It is a firm rejection of the Indonesian government's claims over our sovereignty.

The petition calls for the United Nations to hold a vote on West Papuan self-determination. However, a UN brokered vote on this issue was held in the 1960s. How would you compare the differing outcomes of the referendum and the petition?

One thousand seven hundred and fifty times more people took part in this petition, than took part in Indonesia's fraudulent Act of Free Choice of 1969.

That act involved less than 0.2 percent of the West Papuan population who were handpicked by the Indonesian government and forced to vote for Indonesian rule, under threat of violence.

Our petition involved more than 70 percent of the population who signed in spite of threats by the Indonesian government. So, this petition is an expression of the true will of the West Papuan people. It was presented to C24, but it was rejected.

How do you feel about the committee's rejection?

In terms of the reaction from the United Nations, the response from the Decolonisation Committee was the expected response to our petition.

West Papua is not on the UN list of non-self-governing territories anymore, so the C24 could not officially accept the petition. But, our presentation of the petition serves to illustrate its key demands, including that the UN should "put West Papua back on the Decolonisation Committee agenda."

What is important is that we have shown the United Nations the will of the West Papuan people which cannot be ignored.

And from here, what's the next step with the petition?

We have three copies of this petition and we'll continue to use them as firm evidence to the United Nations, and to the world, of West Papua's legal and moral right to self-determination.

In West Papua, people are celebrating that their voices have reached the world, and that the world is now taking notice. The presentation of the petition was not a failure, it was an enormous success.

How did the Indonesian government react to the petition once its existence was discovered? And has this transpired into any heavy-handed responses on the ground?

The Indonesian government immediately banned the petition. They banned the petition hosting website Avaaz, which helped to run our global petition, throughout the whole of Indonesia.

They also began to systematically try and stop the West Papuan People's Petition from being signed, and confiscated and dismantled apparatus used during petition signing events.

Not only this, but the Indonesian security forces also arrested and tortured 57 people just for supporting the petition.

Local West Papuan leader Yanto Awerkion was arrested on April 30 for organising a petition related event and he remains in gaol, facing charges of treason, which carries a 15 year gaol sentence.

To this day, he has been detained without trial and we appeal for his immediate and unconditional release.

And what was the official response of the Widodo government?

Since we announced the full figures and details of our petition, the Indonesian government has claimed it was a "hoax" and that it "does not exist."

If it does not exist, why did the Indonesian government ban the petition and arrest and torture more than 50 people for signing it?

Our petition is no hoax. The real hoax is Indonesia's fraudulent justification for its illegal occupation of West Papua through its Act of No Choice.

It's time for the world to recognise the facts when it comes to West Papua.

Last month, Australia won a seat on the UN Human Rights Council. The government said it will have a particular focus on human rights issues in the Pacific. What do you hope will come of this development?

In West Papua, we look up to Australia as our big brother or sister in the Pacific.

The Australian government now sitting at the UN Human Rights Council provides the perfect opportunity for it to fulfil its obligations in supporting human rights in the Pacific, including the human rights of West Papuans.

We hope that Australia, our closest neighbour, will indeed stand up for what is right for human rights. And that it won't turn a blind eye to the ongoing and systematic genocide still being perpetrated against its closest neighbours in occupied West Papua.

We know, for example, that the Australian government cannot ignore the overwhelming evidence presented in the West Papuan People's Petition.

The Australian government takes strong actions on particular human rights issues around the world. Now is the time for the Australian government to also act strongly on human rights issues in West Papua, in its own region.

Do you expect the Australian government will lend support to the West Papuan cause now it is in this position?

In West Papua, we are fully confident that the Australian government will listen to us, will listen to the Australian people and will listen to people all around the world in demanding an end to the genocide and illegal occupation of West Papua.

It's not a case of if, but it's a case of when.

One day, we are certain that the Australian government will support West Papua's inalienable right to self-determination just as they did for the people of East Timor. It is a historical, legal and moral reality that simply cannot be ignored.

And lastly, Mr Wenda, what would you like to say to the Australian people?

I hope that the good people of Australia and their government will not let their neighbours suffer alone, and will not forget that in World War Two, our ancestors helped, fought and died alongside Australian soldiers to preserve Australia's freedom.

Now it is our time of need, and we hope that our Australian neighbours will not forget us, but will come to our aid and help us as we helped Australia.

Source: https://www.sydneycriminallawyers.com.au/blog/time-to-support-west-papua-an-interview-with-independence-leader-benny-wenda/

Mimika police chief denies Free Papua Movement has taken anyone hostage

Tagar - November 9, 2017

Jayapura – Mimika District Police Chief Assistance Superintendent Victor Dean Mackbon has denied that residents of the Kimbely and Banti villages are being held hostage by an Armed Criminal Group (KKB).

Speaking to Tagar, he revealed that the situation in the villages of Kimbely and Banti is favourable and that local people's movement is restricted simply because the villages are a basis for KKB [a term used by the authorities for the Free Papua Movement (OPM)].

"Who said people were taken hostage? No one has taken anyone hostage, the conditions in Banti are conducive, that area is indeed a basis for KKB, and communities are indeed restricted because if they want to leave they must do it via the Kimbely village", he told Tagar by phone on Thursday November 9.

The Indonesian police are continuing to develop a dialogue with the KKB through local community and religious figures. "We are still developing dialogue with the groups through both community as well as religious figures so there won't be any acts that disturb kamtibmas [public order and security]", he said.

Mackbon said that up until now there have been no evacuation efforts and if there is a need police already have an evacuation plan in place.

"There hasn't been any evacuation effort [although] indeed for the moment freedom of movement is restricted so if there is a need for an evacuation we've already drafted a plan for an evacuation, activities there are normal, [people are] buying goods as normal", he said.

Earlier it was reported that a KKB has been intimidating and threatening communities in the Banti and Kimbely villages and local people have been prohibited from leaving by the criminal groups. (tri)

[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service. The original title of the article was "Kapolres Mimika Bantah Adanya Penyanderaan".]

Source: http://www.tagar.id/kapolres-mimika-bantah-adanya-penyanderaan/

Separatist violence threatens to disrupt Freeport's Indonesia mine

Reuters - November 9, 2017

Fergus Jensen, Agustinus Beo Da Costa, Sam Wanda, Jakarta/Timika, Indonesian – Armed separatists have occupied five villages in Indonesia's Papua province, threatening to disrupt Freeport-McMoRan Inc's giant Grasberg copper mine, which has already been hit this year by labour unrest and a dispute over operating rights.

A state of emergency has been declared and around 300 additional security forces have been deployed to the mining area of the eastern province after a string of shootings since Aug. 17 that killed one police officer and wounded six.

"They want to disrupt Freeport's operations," said Suryadi Diaz, a spokesman for the Papua police.

"(Freeport) is rich but they are poor, so they just want justice," Diaz said, adding that the militants were a splinter group of the separatist Free Papua Movement (OPM).

Freeport Indonesia spokesman Riza Pratama said the company was "deeply concerned" about security and was using armoured cars and helicopters to ferry workers to and from the Grasberg mine in the province's Mimika regency.

He said attacks had been launched along the road near the town of Tembagapura, about 10 km (6 miles) from the mine, where families of employees – including expatriates – live.

He added that so far there had been no impact on production and shipments from Grasberg, the world's second-biggest copper mine.

Last year Freeport Indonesia contributed about a quarter of the parent company's global sales of 4.23 billion pounds (1.92 million tonnes) of copper.

Arizona-based Freeport, the world's largest publicly listed copper producer, has already been grappling with labour problems at Grasberg and a lengthy dispute with the Indonesian government over rights to the mine.

The mine has also be dogged by major concerns over security due to a low-level conflict waged by pro-independence rebels in Papua for decades. Between 2009 and 2015, shootings within the mine project area killed 20 people and wounded 59.

Papua and neighbouring West Papua provinces make up the western half of an island north of Australia, with independent Papua New Guinea to the east. The provinces have been plagued by separatist violence since they were incorporated into Indonesia after a widely criticised U.N.-backed referendum in 1969.

President Joko Widodo has sought to ease tension in the two provinces by stepping up investment, freeing political prisoners and addressing human rights concerns.

Police spokesman Diaz said around 1,000 local residents and migrant workers who pan for gold in Mimika were being prevented by the separatists from leaving the five villages.

Security forces had entered the occupied area on Thursday, police and military sources told Reuters, but it was not clear if they had been able to evacuate any of the residents.

"Perhaps they feel envious with the company's presence," Papua Police chief Boy Rafli Amar told Reuters. "We are trying to maximise protection for the community... because people have been raped and some have had goods stolen."

In one attack in late October, shots were fired through the windscreen of an ambulance that was ferrying a villager who had just given birth, police said.

The water supply of Tembagapura town had also been contaminated with kerosene, Boy said, but police had not been able to ascertain if it was an act of sabotage carried out by the same group behind the shootings.

'Just wild thieves'

In a video purported to come from the National Liberation Army (TPN-OPM), part of the OPM group, dated Sept. 29, a guerrilla action coordinator named as Joni Beanal reads out an open letter warning of attacks on Freeport in order "to destroy it".

"The main reason for the integration of Papua into Indonesia was a conspiracy by America and Indonesia in the interests of mining exploitation by Freeport MacMoran in Papuan soil," the coordinator said on the video, which was seen by Reuters.

Reuters was not able to verify the authenticity of the video. Papua police spokesman Diaz dismissed the recording as "old".

Papua Military Commander Major General George Elnadus Supit said the TPN-OPM posed no significant threat and were "just wild thieves who are perhaps being used by a separatist group".

Concord Consulting group warned that a harsh crackdown on the militant group could "backfire" if security forces were unable to prevent civilian casualties.

"Militants in Mimika will be able to hide among the local population – many of whom share their rejection of Indonesian rule," the security consultancy said in a note on Wednesday.

Freeport contributed $20 million towards Indonesian government-provided security protecting workers and infrastructure in 2016, about one-third of its local security budget.

The company paid $668 million to the Indonesian government last year in income taxes, royalties and export duties, making it one of the country's single largest taxpayers.

The Panguna copper and gold mine in neighbouring Papua New Guinea was abandoned in 1989 after a campaign of sabotage by the rebel Bougainville Revolutionary Army.

Echoing the situation in Papua, there was deep resentment among the indigenous Bougainville people about the wealth going to the Papua New Guinea central government and the mine's then operator, Conzinc Riotinto of Australia Ltd, a forerunner of Rio Tinto.

[Reporting by Fergus Jensen and Agustinus Beo Da Costa in Jakarta; Additional reporting by Sam Wanda in Timika; Editing by John Chalmers and Alex Richardson.]

Source: http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-indonesia-freeport-security/separatist-violence-threatens-to-disrupt-freeports-indonesia-mine-idUKKBN1D917P

Gunmen lay siege to two villages near Freeport mine in Papua

Jakarta Globe - November 9, 2017

Jakarta – A group of gunmen has been laying siege to 1,300 residents in Banti and Kimbely, two villages in Timika, Papua, near Freeport Indonesia's Grasberg mine in the past few days, police said on Thursday (09/11).

"The gunmen are not allowing residents to leave their villages. We're just trying to prevent any casualties at the moment," Papua Police spokesman Chief Comr. Suryadi Diaz told the Jakarta Globe by phone.

According to Suryadi, around 300 people trapped in the villages are traditional gold miners who are not originally from the area.

Banti and Kimbely are located near the Utikini River in Tembagapura, close to the Grasberg copper and gold mine operated by Freeport Indonesia, a subsidiary of US mining giant Freeport-McMoRan.

Suryadi said the group of around 30 gunmen, that police believe is led by Sabinus Waker, has surrounded the villages since Tuesday.

According to the police, Sabinus and his men attacked policemen and Freeport Indonesia staff in a series of shootings in October, killing one police officer.

Source: http://jakartaglobe.id/news/gunmen-lay-siege-two-villages-near-freeport-mine-papua/

Ousted PM defends stand on West Papua

Solomon Star News - November 9, 2017

Aatai John – The ousted Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare defended his strong stance on the plight of the people of West Papua during the motion of no-confidence on Monday which saw him removed from the top political leadership position.

The Member of Parliament for Central Honiara Moffat Fugui in his contribution to the motion said the Prime Minister should withdraw support for the Indonesia-colonised region.

Mr Fugui said Solomon Islands should not waste its time on the issue of West Papua in light of the fact that Papua New Guinea which is the closest Melanesian neighbour of West Papua is not even advocating for the West Papuans.

But in his rebuttal, Mr Sogavare said his government's position on the issue of West Papua must be consistent with its position on the issues of independence referendum for New Caledonia, French Polynesia's decolonisation agenda and Taiwan's bid for United Nations membership.

He said Solomon Islands supports the referendum on independence forNew Caledonia and decolonisation of French Polynesia as well as Taiwan's bid for United Nations membership.

The MP for East Choiseul said his government's position on the issue of West Papua takes into account the facts that about half a million West Papuan Melanesian swere murdered because of their struggle for freedom and that they do not enjoy simple basic rights as Solomon Islanders do.

He said Solomon Islands needs to strategise on the issue of West Papua, adding that even if the rest of the world pulls out, Solomon Islanders must remain standing beside their Melanesian West Papuan brothers and sisters.

"We are not afraid to put our case before UN and the Human Rights Commission in Geneva," Mr Sogavare added.

Source: http://www.solomonstarnews.com/index.php/news/national/item/19666-ousted-pm-defends-stand-on-west-papua

1965 anti-communist purge

Indonesia group pinpoints suspected mass graves from 1965 massacres

Reuters - November 15, 2017

Agustinus Beo Da Costa, Jakarta – The head of an Indonesian group representing victims of the mass killings of alleged communists in the mid-1960s said he had pinpointed 16 suspected mass grave sites in central Java that could contain about 5,000 bodies.

Bedjo Untung, of the 1965 Murder Victims Research Foundation (YPKP 65), said the sites were around the town of Purwodadi where suspected communists were sent for execution.

Untung has asked the human rights commission (Komnas HAM) to investigate. "Some of the bodies were thrown into a ravine. Some were thrown in wells," Untung told a news briefing, citing the testimony of three witnesses.

"I have a witness who when he was a kid used to follow his father to wash the dead bodies. Every morning people sent them around 50 bodies. So we estimate there were around 5,000," he said, adding that human bones had been found in the area.

"I can conclude that they were suspected followers of the Indonesian communist party (PKI)," said Untung, who was himself jailed for being a member of the now banned PKI.

One of the worst massacres of the 20th century, some historians say at least 500,000 people died in an orgy of bloodshed after then-general Suharto took power following an abortive coup. A million or more people were jailed, suspected of being communists.

The killings in 1965 and 1966 have never been officially investigated and perpetrators have never faced justice despite a pledge by President Joko Widodo to resolve human rights issues.

Untung said that 122 other suspected sites of mass graves had previously been identified.

According to newly declassified U.S. documents, the U.S. government had intimate knowledge of the mass killing of alleged communists even as it failed to publicly reveal the slaughter.

The documents also reveal that Indonesian army intermediaries told Western embassies they were considering toppling then president Sukarno less than a fortnight after the killing of six generals by rebel military personnel that sparked the bloodletting.

Amiruddin Al Rahab, a commissioner at Komnas HAM, said he would look into the matter. The rights group has previously made recommendations to launch an official investigation and set up ad hoc human rights courts but so far these have not been enacted.

Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim-majority country, still has periodic bouts of anti-communist hysteria. In September, a meeting by human rights activists and YPKP 65 was shut down after Islamists and nationalists rioted outside the venue.

[Writing by Ed Davies; Editing by Nick Macfie.]

Source: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-indonesia-massacre/indonesia-group-pinpoints-suspected-mass-graves-from-1965-massacres-idUSKBN1DF1OY

Labour & migrant workers

Anies accused of reneging on election promise

Jakarta Post - November 10, 2017

Jakarta – Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan only gave a thumbs up when asked about a plan of the Confederation of Indonesian Workers Union (KSPI) to rally on Friday against the provincial minimum wage (UMP).

He declined to comment on the claim by KSPI chairman Said Iqbal that Anies had reneged on all his campaign promises in determining the UMP at Rp 3.6 million (US$266) in accordance with Government Regulation No. 78/2015, which stipulates it be set by taking into account inflation and economic growth.

The workers proposed a Rp 3.9 million minimum wage in accordance with Law No. 13/2003, which takes into account not only inflation and economic growth but also the basic cost of living. "We'll see," Anies said briefly at City Hall on Thursday as quoted by tempo.co.

According to Said, Anies signed a political contract with the Jakarta Workers' Coalition to set the UMP in accordance with Law No. 13/2003. "If he cannot fulfill it, he shouldn't have signed the political contract," he said.

Said added that Anies could not take credit for providing facilities to make up for the lower UMP, such as free access to Transjakarta buses and discounts at city-owned markets. He said such facilities were introduced by the previous governor, Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama.

Chairman of Anies' transition team, Sudirman Said, claimed he had not seen the political contract that was signed during the election campaign. (dis)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/11/10/anies-accused-of-reneging-on-election-promise.html

Workers pressure Anies on minimum wage promise

Jakarta Post - November 10, 2017

Jakarta – Hundreds of members of various labor organizations gathered in front of City Hall on Friday afternoon to protest the new provincial minimum wage.

The labor unions, including the Indonesian Metal Workers Federation (FSPMI) and the Indonesian Workers Union Association (Aspek), planned to march to the Presidential Palace after Friday prayers.

They demanded Jakarta's 2018 minimum wage be revised, the revocation of Government Regulation (PP) No 78/2015 on wages and lower electricity rates. The minimum wage was set at Rp 3.6 million (US$266) last week.

Confederation of Indonesian Workers Unions (KSPI) deputy president Muhamad Rusdi said the minimum wage was not in line with the campaign promise of Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan.

Rusdi said the minimum wage for Jakarta should be much higher than that of Karawang and Bekasi in West Java, which were Rp 3.5 million and Rp 3.6 million, respectively

"It's weird because the living cost here is more than in those two regions," he said. Labor unions have demanded that the minimum wage in Jakarta be set at Rp 3.9 million.

Rusdi said the government regulation was not in line with Law No. 13/2003, which stipulates that the basic cost of living, inflation and economic growth be taken into account in the setting of the minimum wage.

PP No. 78/2015 only stipulates that inflation and economic growth be taken into account. (rdi)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/11/10/workers-pressure-anies-on-minimum-wage-promise.html

Workers unions protest new Jakarta Governor Anies over broken minimum

Coconuts Jakarta - November 10, 2017

There's no doubt that Islamic hardliners and their politicized protests against former Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama played a major role in current Governor Anies Baswedan's election victory. But many analysts also argued that economic populism played a significant role as well, with Anies locking up the official support of numerous Jakarta workers unions by promising to raise the capital's minimum wage based on their recommendations.

But when Anies' administration announced last week that Jakarta's official minimum wage for 2018 would be raised from the current IDR 3.3 million (US$244) to just IDR 3.6 million, as opposed to the IDR 3.9 million that Anies had pledged to give the workers unions, they quickly changed from his supporters to his detractors, leading to several protest including one today.

The Jakarta Worker's Prosperity Union Confederation (KSBSI) also held an action in front of City Hall yesterday and their coordinator, Dwi Harto, made it clear exactly how he and his fellow unionists felt about the broken minimum wage promise.

"We say we were just used as tools, as commodities, because (Anies Baswedan) got our votes just for the sake of winning the elections," Dwi said as quoted by Kompas.

According to Dwi, Anies and Vice Governor Sandiaga Uno had signed a political contract with workers during their campaign in which he promised to not use "Government Regulation (PP) No. 78 of 2015 on Wages" to calculate the minimum wage increase, as the unions felt that regulation did not sufficiently account for actual cost of living increases and inflation.

Last week, Confederation of Indonesian Workers Unions (KSPI) chair Kahar S. Cahyono said that workers had supported the Anies-Sandi ticket on the basis of the Rp 3.9 minimum wage promise and that they were now considering revoking their support. They have also threatened to sue over the minimum wage in the State Administrative Court (PTUN) should Anies not revise his decision.

KSPI president Said Iqbal said that Anies' decision to fulfill the wishes of the business community by keeping the minimum wage increase minimal was especially disappointing compared to his predecessor Ahok.

"Actually, Ahok was much bolder and noble in deciding the minimum wage when he was in office than Anies Baswedan and Sandiaga Uno, who just made promises," Said said in a written statement last week.

Said mentioned that Ahok had followed KSPI's recommendations and raised the minimum wage by 14.8% in accordance with the 2003 Manpower Law, which took into account cost of living surveys and inflation.

To try and soften the blow of the lower than promised wage hike, Anies promised to provide IDR 685 billion in food subsidies to minimum wage workers as well as free use of the Transjakarta busway system.

But that seems to be far from enough to assuage the workers. Union reps said few of their members worked near areas accessible by the busway and food subsidies were no replacement for a decent living wage.

On Tuesday, KSPI president Said said that the coalition had to punish Anies both morally and politically for breaking the contract he had signed.

The workers unions aren't the only ones who feel like they were politically exploited by Anies. After the new governor failed to attend an anti-Ahok protest anniversary event on November 2, Eggy Sudjana, lawyer to infamous Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) leader Rizieq Shihab, lamented, "Do not let it be that the when the Muslims who supported him sincerely need his presence, he does not come. It means he was just using us."

Source: https://coconuts.co/jakarta/news/workers-unions-protest-new-jakarta-governor-anies-broken-minimum-wage-promise-just-used/

Prabowo witnesses Anies-Sandi political contract signing: KSPI

Tempo - November 10, 2017

M Yusuf Manurung, Jakarta – The Confederation of Indonesian Workers Union (KSPI) chairman Muhammad Rusdi said that the political contract between the workers union and Anies-Sandi did exist.

Muhammad Rusdi also revealed that the signing of the Sepultra or ten demands of labors and the people was witnessed by Gerindra Party Chairman Prabowo Subianto.

The political contract was signed during the declaration of support for Anies-Sandi on April 1. "It was symbolically signed during the workers' declaration of support to Anies-Sandi at the Gerindra Party Hall in Ragunan," said Rusdi during a telephone interview on Thursday, November 9.

Today, workers from numerous organizations joined under KSPI plan to demand the Jakarta Governor to revise the 2018 provincial minimum wage regulation (UMP DKI) into what the governor agreed upon that was written in the political contract.

The union plans to hold a rally in front of the State Palace and Jakarta City Hall.

The Jakarta workers' coalition considers the latest UMP DKI is not in accordance with the political contract agreed by Anies Baswedan and Sandiaga Uno during the 2017 Jakarta Gubernatorial Campaign season.

Rusdi recalls that the contract signing was witnessed by 2,000 people. It was also witnessed by Prabowo Subianto as the chairman of Gerindra Party that endorse Anies-Sandi.

Previously, KSPI President Said Iqbal said that the arrival of the workers' coalition acts as a moral and social punishment for Anies-Sandi who he claimed had lied to the workers union. "They must be punished," said Iqbal during a press conference on November 7.

Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/news/2017/11/10/057913119/Prabowo-Witnesses-Anies-Sandi-Political-Contract-Signing-KSPI

Former Anies-Sandi sync team denies any labor contract was made

Tempo - November 9, 2017

Chitra Paramesti, Jakarta – Former Head of the synchronization team for Anies-Sandi, Sudirman Said claims that he has never witnessed the Governor and Deputy Governor sign a political contract with the labor's union during the pair's gubernatorial campaign.

"I never saw such document," said Sudirman during a telephone interview on Wednesday, November 8.

Asked further about the matter, Sudirman Said said that he currently is no longer a part of the team that was formed before Anies Baswedan was inaugurated as Governor of Jakarta. "It's best that I don't speak any further," he continued.

Previously, the President of the Indonesian Labors Union Confederacy (KSPI) Said Iqbal accused Governor Anies Baswedan and Deputy Sandiaga Uno for being deceitful.

Said Iqbal claims that Anies Baswedan and Sandiaga Uno lied several times towards labors regarding Jakarta's 2018 minimum wage policy that would not refer to Government Regulation No 78/2015. The second lie, according to Said Iqbal,is that Anies-Sandi promised to hold a discussion together with the city's businessmen regarding the minimum wage.

Said Iqbal claims that there are several other lies that was conducted by Anies – Sandi regarding minimum wage in Jakarta. Such as the incentives given to labors that would let labors use the Transjakarta bus services for free and discounts for shopping in PD Pasar Jaya that was issued by former Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama or Ahok through Governor's Regulation No 160/2016.

"That was the regulation issued by Ahok, both (Anies-Sandi) merely acted as if they were the heroes," Said Iqbal explained.

Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/news/2017/11/09/057913068/Former-Anies-Sandi-Sync-Team-Denies-Any-Labor-Contract-was-Made

Freedom of speech & expression

Social media as politics in Indonesia

Asia Times - November 14, 2017

Erin Cook, Jakarta – Indonesia's House of Representatives speaker and Golkar Party chairman Setya Novanto has managed once again to dodge liability in one of the country's biggest ever corruption cases. But online detractors who have made light of the Teflon politician and his perceived theatrics may not be as lucky after he filed charges against their online mockery and satirical social media posts.

Novanto is one of the country's most controversial politicians due to a string of close calls with corruption investigations.

That includes the still unfolding e-KTP scandal, in which as much as US$172 million is missing from state funds intended for an ambitious national electronic identification card scheme.

He has been accused of receiving 575 billion rupiah (US$44 million) in bribes for the project, a charge which if proven could land him 20 years in prison.

But Novanto repeatedly failed to attend questioning sessions at the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) in September, with his legal team submitting medical certificates claiming ill-health.

The excuse was met with skepticism across Jakarta, with Novanto eventually feeling compelled to share a photo with his Golkar party colleagues of himself in a hospital bed.

The picture was leaked shortly after and was widely derided online, with commenters pointing to image discrepancies, including a heart-monitoring machine that appeared to show the party boss flat-lining.

At the same time, the KPK was forced to drop its investigation after Novanto won a pretrial motion – a legal challenge favored by corruption suspects which argues the KPK does not have enough evidence to pursue them – effectively shutting down further evidence-gathering against him.

The ruling, made by the South Jakarta District Court in late September, prompted the #ThePowerOfSetnov hashtag to trend on social media, with netizens making light of Novanto's seeming ability to dodge the law.

Shortly after, Indonesian social media was flooded with memes of the hospital photo, including one manipulated image showing President Joko Widodo taking a selfie with the bedridden Novanto and another portraying North Korean leader Kim Jong-un watching the scene on television.

Internet gags have been elevated to legitimate political discourse in Indonesia, prompting widespread mainstream coverage of social media responses to current affairs. Now, the lawmakers who are often the butt of online punchlines are fighting back with lawsuits.

The Information and Electronic Transactions Act, known by its Indonesian abbreviation UU ITE, allows for six-year prison terms and maximum 1 billion rupiah (US$73,700) fines.

Ostensibly an extension of defamation codes to cover digital media, the law has been used to target individuals for innocuous comments made on social media in what critics see as freedom of expression-curbing overreach.

UU ITE made global headlines in 2014 after student Florence Sihombing was targeted for calling central Java city Yogyakarta 'idiotic' after a run-in with a service station attendant in a post to social network site Path, an app which combines photos and messaging services.

She was charged for 'inciting hatred' and faced a potential six years in prison for the comment. Sihombing was eventually given a suspended sentence after apologizing to the people of Yogyakarta, but the case set a precedent allowing for charges to be lodged for seemingly any critical online comments about the state.

That trend is gathering at a worrying pace. Dyann Kemala Arrizqi, a 29-year-old member of the fledgling center-left Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI), is now the target of Novanto's legal ire and faces charges under the law.

Police told local media Novanto had reported a number of other people who posted critical comments about his alleged ill-health, but Arrizqi is so far the only one to be named a suspect.

The report, filed by Novanto's legal team on October 10 but only recently made public, alleges Arrizqi spread defamatory images and videos over social media. They include an animated video featuring Novanto in hospital counting money, while another image has a caption of him bragging about dodging arrest

Arrizqi admitted to sharing the images, but says it was not politically motivated nor requested by PSI's leadership. She faces up to six- years imprisonment if found guilty.

Despite the controversy, Indonesia enjoys one of the region's highest ratings for press and online freedoms. Its massive population has recently flocked to social media in a thriving online community.

Indonesia's history of oppression under former dictator Suharto and subsequent democratic opening puts the country in a unique position, says Aulia Masna, a technology commentator.

"When the so-called reform era took over, it was as if a huge dam had burst and people were free to express themselves on many societal and political issues," said Masna. "Satire and parody had always been part of the people's way to relieve themselves of that pressure, but people had to do it in a subtle, roundabout way."

When the opportunity arose for freer expression via online forums and social media, "all that subtlety went the way of the dodo despite actual laws forbidding slander, insult, blasphemy and the like still in place," Masna said.

Like many global democracies, Indonesia has struggled to control the lawful use of technology while maintaining freedoms.

Authorities said today they will summon executives of messaging services and search engines, including Google, to demand they remove obscene content, Reuters reported. They dropped an earlier threat to block WhatsApp Messenger after "GIF" images were taken off the service, the reports said.

In August, the forced shutdown of fake news syndicate Saracen and the arrests of its ringleaders underscored the government's severe view of rising digital threats. Saracen had allegedly been producing for-hire fake news 'campaigns' for just a few thousand dollars each.

While investigations are ongoing, the group has been linked to the high-profile online campaigns that sparked big street protests against Jakarta governor Basuki 'Ahok' Purnama, who was later jailed on contentious blasphemy charges.

The Ministry of Communications has focused on curbing the use of technology to spread radical and terrorism-related content. In that direction, authorities recently banned encrypted messaging app Telegram on allegations it was being using to spread radical content.

The ban was overturned only after the app's founder, Pavel Durov, met with government officials in Jakarta. Telegram has been referred to as the messaging service of choice for extremist groups worldwide due to its ultra-secure communications.

The risk, however, is that opportunistic politicians use the law to suppress fair comment and diminish vibrant online dialogue. The UU ITE's vague language means even those not engaged in producing fake news or spreading radical content can be targeted by officials for their critical online posts. But many Indonesians remain undeterred by the threats. Masna suggests that despite some lawmakers' best suppressive efforts people fed-up with the country's unreformed politics will not easily relinquish their right to mock and critique online.

"In times of conflict and difficulties, humor is often the choice of escape and politics almost always presents itself as a target," Masna said. "Given the levels of political absurdity in this country, it's inevitable that people will incorporate strong humor in their commentaries."

Source: http://www.atimes.com/article/social-media-politics-indonesia/

Blasphemy & shariah law

Ahok lawyers say Buni Yani's sentence too light

Jakarta Post - November 15, 2017

Jakarta – The lawyers of Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama have said that Buni Yani's 18-month prison sentence for hate speech is too lenient.

"Buni Yani created chaos. With this sentence, Pak Ahok should not have been punished at all," said one of Ahok lawyers, I Wayan Sudirta, on Tuesday quoted by kompas.com.

The sentence was considered too light because Buni was proven guilty of hate speech through his editing of a recording of Ahok making a speech in which the then governor warned residents of Thousand Islands regency about politicians using Quranic verses for political gain. His editing led to misperception, Wayan alleged.

Ahok was sentenced to two years in prison on May 9 for blasphemy.

Another of Ahok's lawyers, Teguh Samudra, said the sentence was beyond belief. "It should be heavier than Pak Ahok's sentence, plus he should be sent to prison immediately," Teguh said.

The Bandung District Court sentenced Buni to 18 months in prison on Tuesday for violating the Information and Electronic Transactions (ITE) Law. Presiding judge M. Saptono said Buni was proven guilty of violating Article 32 of the 2011 ITE Law.

The sentence was lighter than the prosecutors' demand of two years. (wnd)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/11/14/ahok-lawyers-say-buni-yanis-sentence-too-light.html

Buni Yani, uploader of controversial Ahok 'blasphemy' clip, sentenced to

Coconuts Jakarta - November 14, 2017

Buni Yani, the university lecturer who played a crucial part in Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama's imprisonment for blasphemy and his defeat in the Jakarta election, is also heading to jail after being found guilty for violating the Information and Electronic Transactions Act (UU ITE) today.

Judges at the Bandung District Court this afternoon sentenced Buni Yani to 1.5 years imprisonment for posting an infamously misleading video clip which, as blatantly counterintuitive as it may seem, kick-started Ahok's blasphemy trial and eventual imprisonment.

"Things that made the convicted's punishment heavier included his role in creating religious unrest, not regretting his actions, and the fact that the convicted is a politics lecturer so he should've behaved accordingly in the work environment. The convict did not admit he was guilty," said head judge M Saptono, as quoted by Detik today.

Buni Yani was specifically found guilty of violating Article 28 (2) of UU ITE for inciting hatred among groups of peoples, as well as Article 38 (1) for unlawfully editing a video owned by another party, in this case the Jakarta Provincial Government. The sentence rendered was lighter than the 2 years imprisonment demanded by government prosecutors.

Buni Yani and his legal advisors say they are going to appeal the Bandung District Court's sentence.

The Jakarta Metro Police charged Buni Yani for inciting religious hatred in November 2016, a week after Ahok was named a suspect for blasphemy. According to the police, Buni Yani's fault was that his transcript of Ahok's speech was missing some key words so that it seemed that Ahok said the Quran itself deceives people, whereas in actuality Ahok said that people use the Quran to deceive others in the full version of his speech.

Source: https://coconuts.co/jakarta/news/breaking-buni-yani-uploader-controversial-ahok-blasphemy-clip-sentenced-1-5-years-prison/

Health & education

Early detection finds new leprosy cases: City Health Agency

Jakarta Post - November 15, 2017

Callistasia Anggun Wijaya, Jakarta – A recent Jakarta Health Agency report on leprosy prevalence has recorded a relatively high number of new cases this year through the implementation of early detection, even though the capital had been declared leprosy-free in 2011, the agency's head said in a statement on Wednesday.

Health Agency head Koesmedi Priharto said 311 people were diagnosed with the disease this year, with the largest number of cases occurring in East Jakarta. Of these, 71 percent were newly diagnosed patients that did not show any visible disabilities.

The progressive nature of the chronic, yet curable, disease can lead to permanent nerve damage and muscular paralysis if it is left untreated.

The Cakung, Cilincing and Kramat Jati districts of East Jakarta had the highest number of leprosy cases, followed by Kalideres district in West Jakarta.

"In 2017, the number of new patients is high because we actively conducted early detection, so the people affected won't develop disabilities," Koesmedi said in a statement on Wednesday.

The patients were being treated at eight early treatment centers, including one at the Jatinegara community health center. Former leprosy patients and nurses associations were involved in providing care for the patients, Koesmedi added.

Also on Wednesday, Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan met with Yohei Sasakawa, the chairman of the Nippon Foundation and WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination, and spoke about cooperation to eradicate the disease.

"I have visited hospitals in Jakarta that are committed to eradicating the disease. If [the city] needs assistance, we will be ready to help," Sasakawa said at City Hall.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/11/15/early-detection-finds-new-leprosy-cases-city-health-agency.html

LGBT & same-sex marriage

Indonesia blocks GIFs on WhatsApp to stop 'gay pictures' from being

Pink News - November 11, 2017

Joseph Patrick McCormick – Indonesia has blocked GIFs on WhatsApp in an attempt to stop "obscene" images from being shared, including "gay photos".

The country has been seen to be cracking down on LGBT+ people, as earlier this week four people were arrested for posting photos online.

WhatsApp was given a 48-hour deadline earlier this week to ensure that "obscene" GIFs were not available on the platform. According to reports, the government responded to say that WhatsApp had complied with the request.

"We see now that they have done what we asked. Therefore we won't block them," the director general of Indonesia's communication and informatics ministry Semuel Pangerpan.

The messaging platform relies on Giphy and Tenor to provide its GIF service. But the problem apparently was with Tenor, which does not provide a filter for adult content.

Meanwhile, four gay men face up to 16 years in prison after being arrested for pictures they posted online.

The Indonesian men are suspected by the police of spreading gay pornography online, but seem to have been targeted simply because they enjoy BDSM.

A reader who contacted PinkNews said: "Today, my friend was put in jail in Indonesia for taking pictures when playing BDSM with his submissive. (Facebook/Emirjkt Mastr)

"The picture doesn't even have genitals in it. They think it's porn because they simply don't understand BDSM, and they hate gays."

Police Brigadier General Fadil Imran said that he had arrested "perpetrators of dissemination of videos and photos of sexually immoral content with the classification of BDSM".

He listed items which had been confiscated from the first pair arrested, two men aged 42 and 30, one of whom runs the Facebook page which police say has been spreading porn.

The official listed "straps, rubber whips, handcuffs, candles, iron chains, body vests, mouth masks, masks, body leather belts, chopsticks, and whip tools.

He said that from the other pair, authorities confiscated "clamp clothes, clothesline, dog chains, candles, baby oil and massage tools."

Gay sex is legal in Indonesia, but authorities have repeatedly targeted LGBT people.

Earlier this year, lawmakers in the country approved a proposed bill which would outlaw 'LGBT behaviours' on television. Police Brigadier General Fadil Imran (YouTube/mixproproduction29)

In Aceh, a region of the otherwise secular country which imposes Shariah law, two men were caned 83 times as a legal punishment for having gay sex.

The men were informed on by their neighbour, who took video footage. The video shows vigilantes kicking, slapping and insulting the men.

The canings came a day after 141 men were arrested in the capital, Jakarta, for having a "gay sex party".

And last month, police arrested 58 people in a raid on a gay sauna. They acted after members of the public reportedly complained that the building was being used for sex work.

Source: http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2017/11/11/indonesia-blocks-gifs-on-whatsapp-to-stop-gay-pictures-from-being-shared/

Corruption & abuse of power

Miryam gets five years in prison over perjury

Jakarta Post - November 13, 2017

Kharishar Kahfi, Jakarta – Jakarta Corruption Court judges sentenced former House of Representatives lawmaker Miryam S. Haryani to five years in prison after she was found guilty of committing perjury.

Reading out the court's verdict in a hearing on Monday, presiding judge Frangki Tambuwun also ordered the former Hanura Party politician to pay Rp 200 million (US$14,760) in fines or serve an additional three months' imprisonment in default.

The verdict was lighter than the sentence demanded by Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) prosecutors, who had sought eight years behind bars and fines amounting to Rp 300 million.

Both Miryam and prosecutors said they would think about whether they would appeal the verdict.

Miryam was convicted of being untruthful during investigation and trial processes of the high-profile electronic identity (e-ID) graft case.

The former politician told the court in March that she retracted all statements she had given to KPK investigators, claiming she had made those statements under the coercion of the investigators. The claim was dismissed by KPK investigators in their testimony in court on March 30. (ebf)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/11/13/miryam-gets-five-years-in-prison-over-perjury.html

Presidential permission not needed to question Setya: KPK

Jakarta Post - November 13, 2017

Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) said on Monday that the antigraft body did not need written permission from President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to summons House of Representatives Speaker Setya Novanto for questioning in its investigation into the e-ID graft case.

The KPK made the statement in response to Setya's claim that the KPK must secure written permission from the President if it wanted to question him because he was a House member.

The Golkar Party chairman was scheduled to undergo questioning at the KPK on Monday as a witness in the high-profile graft case.

"No, we don't need [such permission]," KPK commissioner Saut Situmorang said as quoted by kompas.com after an event at the University of Indonesia in Depok, West Java, on Monday.

Setya sent a letter to the KPK on Monday morning informing the antigraft body that he would only submit to questioning after it obtained written permission from President Jokowi as stipulated in the Legislative Institutions (MD3) Law.

Many constitutional experts have said, however, that such a rule was not applicable for extraordinary crimes, such as corruption.

Setya was renamed a suspect in the e-ID case on Friday after winning a pretrial motion against the antigraft body. Saut did say whether the KPK would forcefully summons Setya.

"Who knows what tomorrow will bring. Maybe God will change his mind so that he will be willing to come and admit [his mistakes]. Everyone can repent," Saut said. (foy/ebf)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/11/13/presidential-permission-not-needed-to-question-setya-KPK.html

President warns police against criminalizing KPK leaders

Jakarta Post - November 10, 2017

Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has warned the National Police not to prosecute Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) leaders if there is not sufficient evidence to justify the move.

"We cannot afford to have [prosecution] without evidence and facts," the President told reporters at Halim Perdakusuma air base shortly before flying to Vietnam on Friday.

Antara reported that Jokowi had been told about the police's move to investigate KPK chairman Agus Rahardjo and commissioner Saut Situmorang. The two officials were reported to the police for alleged document forgery and abuse of power by a laywer of House of Representatives Speaker Setya Novanto, who is under KPK investigation for his alleged role in the high-profile e-ID graft case.

The lawyer, Fredrich Yunadi, accused the KPK officials of falsifying a document requesting the immigration office extend a travel ban on Setya. The document was released just a few days after the South Jakarta District Court in late September ruled that the KPK's decision to name Setya a suspect in the e-ID case was unwarranted.

The President said he hoped relations between the police and the KPK would remain cordial and that the new probe against KPK leaders would not create political disturbances. (ahw)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/11/10/president-warns-police-against-criminalizing-KPK-leaders.html

Terrorism & religious extremism

Two suspected terrorists shot dead after blaze at police HQ

Jakarta Post - November 12, 2017

Jakarta – Two suspected militants were shot dead on Sunday morning after allegedly setting fire to the main building of the Dharmasraya Police headquarters in West Sumatra.

National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Rikwanto said on Sunday that firefighters deployed to deal with the fire, which started at around 2.45 a.m., spotted two suspicious men carrying bows.

Police officers attempted to detain the two men for investigation but they resisted with one of the men shooting an arrow at them, Rikwanto said.

The officers fired a warning shot that was ignored as the men continued to fight the police. The officers then shot the two men, killing them instantly.

The police found a bow, several arrows, two bayonets and a letter calling for jihad from a man identifying himself as Abu Azzam Al Arkhobiliy at the scene. The police are still investigating the incident.

Antara reported that following the fire, nine prisoners were evacuated to a safe location. The police are also increasing security measures in the area. (Saf/ahw)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/11/12/two-suspected-terrorists-shot-dead-after-blaze-at-police-hq.html

Freedom of religion & worship

NU, Muhammadiyah welcome wider rights for native-faith followers

Jakarta Post - November 10, 2017

Marguerite Afra Sapiie, Jakarta – The two largest Islamic organizations in Indonesia, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and Muhammadiyah, have welcomed a recent Constitutional Court ruling that grants native-faith followers the right to state their beliefs on their ID cards.

Muhammadiyah secretary-general Abdul Mu'ti said the ruling had boosted efforts to provide legal certainty for the country's followers of indigenous faiths, many of whom had their rights denied in the past.

The government should follow up the court ruling by compiling the data of native-faith followers across the country, he said. "There is no need to limit native-faith followers by [deciding] who are recognized or not," Abdul told The Jakarta Post recently.

"Regulations related to public services such as civil administration registry, marriage, religious education and others should also be revised," he added.

The court ruled that articles 61 and 64 of the law that required people adopting indigenous faiths to leave the religion column on their ID cards blank were discriminatory, on the grounds that the articles provided no legal certainty and violated principles of equal justice for all citizens.

Meanwhile, NU secretary-general Helmy Faishal Zaini said the ruling had reaffirmed the country's role to protect the rights of its citizens to freedom of religion and beliefs.

He went on to say that the NU was not worried about the impact of the ruling. "Our nation is mature in terms of its experiences in maintaining interfaith relations," Helmy said. (ahw)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/11/10/nu-muhammadiyah-welcome-wider-rights-for-native-faith-followers.html

Governance & public services

Many regulations highly overlap; prone to confrontation: Expert

Tempo - November 11, 2017

Antara, Jakarta – State Administrative Law Lecturers Association (APHTN) chairman Mahfud MD stated that regulations in Indonesia are not well-structured and it causes inefficiency.

"Regulations in Indonesia are too many and overlap and it can cause confrontation. This will impede acceleration measures of development and economy," Mahfud said in East Java on Saturday (11/11).

Mahfud continued that a ministry or institution at times denies or even competes to assume responsibility due to the overlapping regulations which in turn pose problems to the government and the people.

Mahfud exemplified the issue of dwelling time in Tanjung Priok Harbor that sometimes extends to more than 7 days.

"President Joko Widodo demanded maximum 4-day dwelling time, but this cannot be implemented since each department has their own policy," Mahfud stated.

Experts of State Administrative Law, members of APHTN, recorded that there are at least 62,000 regulations in Indonesia,making Indonesia suffer from regulation obesity.

From 2000 to 2015, there are around 12.500 regulations produced by both central and local government.

Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/news/2017/11/11/055913144/Many-Regulations-Highly-Overlap-Prone-to-Confrontation-Expert

Jakarta & urban life

Bukit Duri residents call on Anies to fulfill 'kampung susun' promise

Jakarta Post - November 14, 2017

Jakarta – Bukit Duri residents who won a class-action lawsuit against the Jakarta administration for evicting them from their homes in early 2016, have called on Governor Anies Baswedan to fulfill his promise of developing a kampung susun (elevated village) on their land.

"We are the victims of eviction and our homes should be replace [...] Of course, if you ask us what we want, we would want a landed house, but we would also accept an elevated house," Bukit Diri resident Muhiddin, 65, said on Tuesday as quoted by wartakota.tribunnews.com.

He added that he had yet to receive the financial compensation promised by the city for evicting him from his home as part of the Ciliwung River restoration project.

The Jakarta administration accepted the Central Jakarta District Court's decision on Oct. 25, which ruled in favor of the residents and ordered the city to pay each of the 93 plaintiffs Rp 200 million (US$14,760).

Earlier on Monday, Ciliwung Merdeka community head Sandyawan Sumardi visited City Hall to discuss with Anies the continuation of a Bukit Duri development program.

As a result, Anies promised to visit Bukit Duri to meet with the 93 residents on Wednesday or Thursday. (wnd)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/11/14/bukit-duri-residents-call-on-anies-to-fulfill-kampung-susun-promise.html

Anies set to allow religious activities in Monas

Jakarta Post - November 14, 2017

Jakarta – Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan plans to revise the prevailing governor regulation that bans people from holding religious ceremonies at the National Monument (Monas) park in Central Jakarta.

"Currently, Monas can't be used to host cultural, art, pengajian [Islamic learning forum] events and any religious activities. Therefore, we'll revise the governor regulation," Anies said on Monday according to kompas.com.

The plan, which was one of his campaign promises, was criticized by former Jakarta governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama.

Ahok said it was not the authority of the governor to allow religious activities, but the central government.

He referred to the presidential decree of 1995 on the development of Medan Merdeka Area in Jakarta stating that Monas should be a neutral zone.

"If the administration allows religious activities in Monas, will the people still be able to use the park for hanging out?" Ahok said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/11/14/anies-set-to-allow-religious-activities-in-monas.html

Anies reiterates he is governor 'for all Jakarta residents'

Jakarta Post - November 14, 2017

Jakarta – The Jakarta administration invited ulema and other religious leaders to City Hall on Tuesday to express its commitment to reduce social inequality in the city.

"I am grateful that the mental and spiritual education bureau held this gathering because we were aware that it was important to maintain such a relationship to exchange ideas and discuss problems occurring within society," said Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan in a statement on Tuesday. The gathering was attended by members of the Jakarta Interfaith Communication Forum (FKUB).

Anies added that, along with his deputy Sandiaga Uno, he was committed to reducing inequality.

"We wanted to send the message that we are the governor and deputy governor for all Jakarta residents. One of our main concerns, which I addressed internally, was to solve the lack of attention [from the administration] in Jakarta," he said, adding that, in the future, the administration's policies would also accommodate poor and marginalized residents to boost the economy and create social justice in the city.

"One of the examples is by allowing motorbikes to pass through Jl. MH Thamrin because they are used for delivering products of small enterprises such as food," Anies said, referring to his plan to revoke a gubernatorial regulation that bans motorcycles from using the street. (wnd)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/11/14/anies-reiterates-he-is-governor-for-all-jakarta-residents.html

Slum dwellers disappointed in Anies-Sandi for evictions after campaign

Coconuts Jakarta - November 14, 2017

Besides the politicized accusation of blasphemy against former Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama, many said the capital's previous leader was deeply unpopular amongst the capital's poorest citizens due to his relentless policy of evicting slum dwellers judged to be living illegally on government property, especially those settlements located along waterways that Ahok's administration argued were worsening flood conditions. Many activists argued Ahok's evictions were done illegally and inhumanely.

Current Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan strongly criticized Ahok's eviction policies as well, and his Vice Governor Sandiaga Uno promised, "Anies and I will not evict residents forcefully from their homes. We'll sit together to hear what solutions they want the most. No more tears."

Welp, yesterday the Central Jakarta Government evicted the residents of numerous illegal buildings around West Flood Canal on Jalan Tenaga Listrik in Tanah Abang, on the familiar grounds that the slums were impeding flood prevention efforts.

Some of the evicted residents couldn't help but express their disappointment towards the new administration, given their anti-eviction rhetoric during the campaign.

"(That's why) we chose him instead Ahok," Siti, a 36-year-old woman who claimed to have lived in the area since childhood and worked as a scavenger, told Tempo.

Siti said she had voted for Anies-Sandi because she hoped they would not evict the poor without giving them some other solution. Another evictee, a 51-year-old woman named Mariana, said she would have to sleep in an improvised tent tonight since she had no other options.

In total, the residents of some 101 illegal dwelling were evicted. The government said they had given them an eviction notice and socialized the news one week previously. Unlike some of the evictions under Ahok and previous administrations, there was no organized resistance or violence.

Sandiaga justified the evictions on several grounds today, saying that, in addition to flood concerns, the slum dwellings were relatively new and did not have businesses registered with the local government. He also said that the area was known as a hotbed of prostitution.

Governor Anies did reverse another eviction action by Ahok's administration by allowing residents of evicted slums in Kampung Aquarium in North Jakarta to remain in the area and even promised to build temporary shelters for them.

Many of the people evicted from slums in Pasar Ikan, North Jakarta, started returning to the area soon after Anies' election victory, convinced that they will not face eviction again under the new administration.

In addition to the West Flood Canal evictees, officials from both hardline Islamist organizations and workers unions have said they feel were used by Anies just to win the election due to the new governor's actions since taking office.

Source: https://coconuts.co/jakarta/news/slum-dwellers-disappointed-anies-sandi-evictions-campaign-promises/

Slum dwellers who rejected Ahok over evictions fall victim to same

Tempo - November 13, 2017

M Yusuf Manurung, Jakarta – The Central Jakarta municipal government today demolished illegal dwellings in the vicinity of the Western Flood Canal, Jl. Tenaga Listrik and Tanah Abang with residents saying that they were disappointed in Anies-Sandi.

A resident who was a victim to the eviction, 36-year-oold Siti, said she was disappointed with Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan and Deputy Governor Sandiaga Uno or Anies-Sandi.

During the Jakarta gubernatorial election earlier in the year, Siti voted for the Anies-Sandi ticket in the hope that they would not create problems for the poor by evicting them without offering any alternative.

"We voted for him, instead of voting for Ahok [former governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama]", she said at the demolition site on Monday November 13.

Siti said that she had lived in the area since she was a child and was a mother of two children. Her daily employment is scavenging for rubbish. She hopes that the government will be willing to provide her with a place to live.

"We should be given somewhere to live, since way back until now we've always been vagrants", she said angrily.

Another resident, 51-year-old Mariana spoke in a similar vein although she has often been evicted and now admits to feeling fatalistic about it.

For tonight, she said that she would live in an emergency tent. Mariana said she did not feel able to rent a house with an income of only 50,000 rupiah (US$5) a day and working as a scavenger. "Yeah, I'll just put up a tent for now", she said.

Central Jakarta Mayor Mangara Pardede said that the eviction was carried out in order to restore the road's function which up until now has been covered with illegal structures.

"This road has been occupied by local residents, we are returning it to its function", said Pardede at the site of the eviction on Monday.

Pardede said that the Jakarta government had already socialised the eviction and issued a warning letter one week ago. The eviction of the residents from 101 illegal structures on Jl. Tenaga Listrik and 50 structures in the Cideng area proceeded without resistance.

[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service. The original title of the article was "Warga Kecewa ke Anies-Sandi Terkait Penggusuran di Kanal Banjir".]

Source: https://metro.tempo.co/read/1033343/warga-kecewa-ke-anies-sandi-terkait-penggusuran-di-kanal-banjir

Governor should implement policies that empower public transportation:

Jakarta Post - November 11, 2017

Jakarta – The Jakarta administration's plan to revoke a regulation that prohibits motorcycles from entering Jl. MH Thamrin in Central Jakarta, one of the city's main thoroughfares, was counterproductive to easing congestion, a consumer observer has said.

Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI) chairman Tulus Abadi said that such a restriction was necessary to reduce the number of vehicles on the roads.

"Four-wheeled vehicles have been discouraged by a three-in-one policy, an odd-even plate policy, and by the Electronic Road Pricing Policy [ERP] later on. However, there has yet to be a policy that limits motorcyclists," Tulus said in a statement on Friday.

He added that Governor Anies Baswedan should focus more on limiting the use of private vehicles by, among other things, speeding up the implementation of the ERP policy.

Allowing motorcyclists to enter Jl. MH Thamrin, Tulus said, would encourage more motorcyclists to use private vehicles instead of using public transportation.

"The governor should make policies that empower public transportation. Allowing private vehicles to dominate means slowly killing public transportation," Tulus said.

As the newly elected governor, Anies plans to revoke the motorcycle ban policy, which has been in place since 2014, with the aim of creating equality among residents. He argued that the regulation was discriminatory and that all citizens should have equal access to public facilities. (fac)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/11/10/governor-should-implement-policies-that-empower-public-transportation-ylki.html

Transport & communication

Around 30,000 people die in traffic accidents in Indonesia per year:

Coconuts Jakarta - November 15, 2017

Driver discipline and road safety is obviously a big problem in Indonesia, but just how bad is it? According to National Traffic Police Chief Royke Lumowa, road accidents are a serious epidemic that kills tens of thousands each year.

Based on data from the Traffic Police Corps, Royke said the death toll from traffic accidents reached about 30,000 thousand per year. That number, he added, is far greater than the combined number of deaths due to crime or acts of terrorism.

"Think of the approximately 28,000 to 30,000 people who die on the road per year because of accidents. Compared to terrorism and crime (the difference) is huge," Royke said at the sidelines of the ASEAN Traffic Police Forum at Hotel Borobudur in Central Jakarta today as quoted by Detik.

Royke said the issue of traffic accidents didn't often get major attention in Indonesia because they happened regularly but generally with a low number of casualties per incident. But put together, the number is staggering.

The national traffic police chief said that high-speed impacts were the main factor in fatal traffic accidents, and said that police needed to focus on better-enforcing traffic rules, especially speed limits.

Royke said Indonesia had a long way to be compared to countries like Singapore, which have low traffic fatality rates and are able to regulate traffic largely through the use of technology like speed cameras and electronic toll gates.

Indeed, based on 2013 data from the World Health Organization, Singapore had an accident rate of 3.6 people per 100,000, whereas Indonesia's rate based on the new police figure would be about 11.5.

But at least Indonesia's overall traffic fatality rate has dropped somewhat since that same 2013 WHO data showed that there were about 38,000 fatal accidents that year.

Source: https://coconuts.co/jakarta/news/around-30000-people-die-traffic-accidents-indonesia-per-year-police/

Retail & service industry

Kadin sees reduced household spending persisting next year

Jakarta Post - November 9, 2017

Jakarta – The Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) says reduced household spending is likely to persist next year as people chose to save their money due to wariness over the economic condition and political uncertainty, with regional elections being held next year and a general election in 2019.

"It is certainly not healthy. It [political process] is too lengthy," Kadin chairman Rosan Perkasa Roeslani said on Wednesday as reported by tempo.co.

Rosan said people would continue to save money until the economic and political situations stabilized.

As part of efforts to encourage people to spend money, he recommended the government temporary waiver added value tax. "I believe more people will go shopping with such an incentive," he added.

The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) announced on Monday that household spending grew 4.93 percent year on year (yoy) in the third quarter compared to 4.95 percent yoy three months ago.

A Bank Indonesia survey in October also showed a similar trend, reflecting a lack of consumer optimism about the economy.

The BI survey showed a decrease in household spending to income ratio from 66.4 percent in September to 65.7 percent in October. A decrease was also seen in the loan installment-to-income ratio from 14.4 percent in September to 14.1 percent in October, while the savings-to-income ratio increased from 19.2 to 20.2 percent. (bbn)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/11/09/kadin-sees-reduced-household-spending-persisting-next-year.html

Finance minister sees anomaly in purchasing power

Jakarta Post - November 9, 2017

Jakarta – Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati claims to see an anomaly in the decline in people's purchasing power in the third quarter as reported by the Central Statistics Agency (BPS).

The BPS revealed in its report on Monday that consumption grew 4.93 percent in the third quarter year on year (yoy) compared to 4.95 percent yoy three months ago.

Sri Mulyani said in Jakarta on Wednesday that the government would study the matter because while consumption reportedly dropped, inflation was low and there was an indication of growth.

"[On the other side], wages in the agriculture and construction sectors did not increase," said Sri Mulyani as reported by kompas.com.

She said President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo had instructed Cabinet ministers to immediately disburse social assistance for low-income families through various programs, including the Family Hope Program (PKH) and Village Fund Program, to increase people's purchasing power.

Sri Mulyani said middle-class people preferred to save their money in banks rather than spend it.

The minister said she believed there had been a change in spending habits rather that a decline in people's purchasing power.

"I don't think it's about purchasing power. Their [purchasing] activities have not been recorded or they are saving [their money," she said. (bbn)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/11/09/finance-minister-sees-anomaly-in-purchasing-power.html

Tourism & hospitality

Government asked to stop issuing licenses for hotel construction

Jakarta Post - November 14, 2017

Jakarta – The Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) has called on the government to stop issuing licenses for hotel construction because currently the country has a surplus of hotel rooms.

The association said there are 2,300 start-rate hotels with 290,000 rooms across the country.

"I think we need a moratorium. Several regions like Bali, Yogyakarta and Bandung, already have too many hotels," said PHRI chairman Hariyadi Sukamdani in Jakarta on Monday as reported by tribunnews.com.

He called on property developers to stop constructing new hotels to help increase the occupancy rate of the existing hotels and to prevent further oversupply in hospitality businesses.

He questioned the many new proposals from businesspeople to develop new hotels, while existing hotels were struggling to increase occupancy.

"Why would they want to develop new hotels if they know they would face difficulty," asked Hariyadi, who is also chairman of the Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo). (bbn)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/11/14/government-asked-to-stop-issuing-licenses-for-hotel-construction.html

Indonesia seeks help from WB to draft tourism master plans

Jakarta Post - November 10, 2017

Jakarta – Indonesia is seeking help from the World Bank to create a number of master plans on new tourist destinations being promoted by the government.

The bank has completed three of the 10 master plans for the National Tourism Strategic Areas (KSPN), namely Raja Ampat in Papua, Lombok in West Nusa Tenggara and Lake Toba in North Sumatra, while seven others are in the process of being completed.

Head of the Public Works and Housing Ministry's center for strategic areas development Hadi Sucahyono said in Jakarta on Thursday that Indonesia had to spend some US$16 billion to develop infrastructure and tourism facilities in each destination. Read also: Tourism to Komodo Island must be controlled: Official

"Each package costs $16 billion. It is handled by the Public Works and Housing Ministry and the Tourism Ministry, [the latter being] responsible for the development of entertainment and handicraft centers," Hadi said as reported by tribunnews.com.

He said the government also invited participation from domestic and foreign investors to develop the areas.

The other seven new destinations are Labuan Bajo in East Nusa Tengggara, Tanjung Lesung in Banten, Tanjung Kelayang in Bangka Belitung, Borobudur and Karimunjawa in Central Java, Anambas in Riau Islands and Mandeh in West Sumatra. (bbn)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/11/10/indonesia-seeks-help-from-wb-to-draft-tourism-master-plans.html

Fishing & maritime affairs

Poor fishermen made to wait for free boats from Indonesian government

Jakarta Globe - November 9, 2017

Jakarta – Indonesia's Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry said it will carry on with a boat grant program to provide fishing vessels for struggling fishermen even though it is already way behind its 2017 target.

The ministry's director general of capture fisheries Sjarief Widjaja said on Tuesday (07/11) that by last year the ministry has already provided 754 fishing boats for poor fishermen across Indonesia.

They comprise 371 three-gross ton vessels, 185 five-gross ton vessels, 120 10-gross ton vessels, 60 20-gross ton vessels and 18 30-gross ton vessels.

But last year, the ministry was only able to build and distribute 58 fishing boats for the poor fishermen. "We're happy with what we've achieved, despite last year's delays," Sjarief said in a statement.

Wrong boats?

However, the ministry is now receiving complaints from the fishermen that that boats they were given did not match their specifications.

Agus Suherman, director of ship and fishing equipment at the ministry, said many of the boats remain unused since the fishermen did not like fishing in them.

According to Agus, the fishermen were also complaining that the boats came with not a single fishing equipment on board.

Agus said the ministry will send a monitoring and evaluation team to inspect the boats as soon as possible. "The team is ready. They will start working in the third week of November," Agus said.

The ministry had targeted to distribute 782 fishing vessels by the end of this year to make up for the delays in 2016.

They comprise 243 under five-gross ton vessels, 384 five-gross ton vessels, 134 10-gross ton vessels, 15 20-gross ton vessels and six 30-gross ton vessels.

So far this year, the ministry has only built and distributed 101 fishing boats. "We're still confident of meeting the target before December. We don't want to repeat what happened last year," Sjarief said.

The ministry had intended the boat grant program to help reduce the wealth gap between small-scale fishermen and big fishing companies.

Source: http://jakartaglobe.id/news/poor-fishermen-made-wait-free-boats-indonesian-government/

Economy & investment

Visiting IMF team projects 5.1 growth, lower than official projection

Jakarta Post - November 15, 2017

Jakarta – A visiting International Monetary Fund (IMF) team has projected that the Indonesian economy will grow 5.1 percent this year, slightly lower than the Fund's official projection of 5.2 percent released on Oct. 10. The IMF team, led by Luis E. Breuer, visited Indonesia from Nov. 1 to Nov. 14.

"Growth is projected at 5.1 percent in 2017 and 5.3 percent in 2018, led mainly by higher exports and investment. Domestic demand, which has been relatively subdued, is expected to rise modestly along with credit growth," Breuer said in a statement issued on the last day of his visit yesterday.

He also recorded the mainly external risks, including a reversal in capital inflows, slower growth in China, and geopolitical tensions.

Meanwhile, domestic risks include tax revenue shortfalls and tighter global financial conditions that could push up domestic interest rates, Breuer said.

He said fiscal policy needed to be geared toward rebuilding fiscal buffers by targeting a lower budget deficit in 2018, while the monetary policy should continue to maintain price stability while supporting growth.

"The authorities should continue to allow the exchange rate to move freely in line with market forces," he added.

The visiting IMF team also projected inflation to remain low at 3.7 percent in 2017 and 3.6 percent in 2018, due to broadly stable food and administered prices, while the current account deficit was expected to remain contained at 1.7 percent of GDP in 2017 and 1.9 percent in 2018. (bbn)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/11/15/visiting-imf-team-projects-5-1-growth-lower-than-official-projection.html

Economist warns of minor crisis in December

Jakarta Post - November 10, 2017

Jon Afrizal, Jakarta – University of Indonesia economist Fasial Basri has warned of a possible "minor economic crisis" in December because of "reckless" government policies, particularly massive infrastructure construction.

"It is possible there will be a small crisis in December, a crisis created by the government," said Faisal during a discussion in Jakarta on Thursday as quoted by tempo.co.

Faisal said massive infrastructure development had not been well planned. He said problems were likely to emerge in the construction of several airports that had forced the government to spend vast amounts of money.

On the other hand, he said, the government was unlikely to achieve its tax revenue target. He estimated the shortfall would reach Rp 200 billion (US$14.8 million) this year.

"Like it or not, the government will have to swallow a bitter pill because tax revenue will be far from the target and problems will mount at the end of the year," he added.

Faisal also criticized Bank Indonesia for cutting its benchmark rate. He believed the weakening of the rupiah against the US dollar was a result of the BI policy.

As a consequence, he said, BI has had to use its foreign exchange reserve to prevent the rupiah from further weakening. "If BI did not intervene, the rupiah exchange rate could not be maintained at the 14,000 level," Faisal added.

He said the government would still face problems in the first quarter of 2018. (bbn)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/11/10/economist-warns-of-minor-crisis-in-december.html

Taxation & state budget

Indonesia collects Rp 991.2t in taxes, duties through October

Jakarta Post - November 15, 2017

Jakarta – The government has collected Rp 991.2 trillion (US$73.20 billion) in taxes and excise duties from January to October, or 67.3 percent of the Rp 1.47 quadrillion targeted in the 2017 revised state budget, kontan.co.id reported on Wednesday.

The government collected Rp 858.05 trillion in taxes, or 66.8 percent of the year's Rp 1.28 quadrillion target, and Rp 126.94 trillion in excise duties, or 67.11 percent of the year's Rp 189.1 trillion target.

Although only 66.8 percent of the 2017 target has been collected, this reflects a year-on-year increase of 13 percent from Rp 867.93 trillion.

Tax revenue and compliance director Yon Arsal at the Directorate General of Taxation said that the tax office was still optimistic that it would be able to meet the targeted tax collection. "We do not talk about shortfalls," he added.

Meanwhile, Director General of Customs and Excise Heru Pambudi also expressed his optimism that his office could meet the revenue target, saying that based on the last two years, the collection of customs and excise would peak in December.

For example, Heru said, the customs and excise office collected Rp 47 trillion in tobacco excise in December 2016. (bbn).

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/11/15/indonesia-collects-rp-991-2t-in-taxes-duties-through-october.html

People & places

Female admiral and three Muslim leaders become national heroes

Jakarta Globe - November 10, 2017

Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo recognized four prominent Indonesians as the country's heroes on Thursday (09/11), ahead of the National Heroes Day celebrations on Nov. 10.

The "national hero of Indonesia" title is awarded posthumously for extraordinary services to the nation.

Family members and descendants of Tuan Guru Muhammad Zainuddin Abdul Madjid of West Nusa Tenggara, Admiral Malahayati of Aceh, Sultan Mahmud Riayat Syah of Riau Islands and Prof. Lafran Pane of Yogyakarta received the awards from at the State Palace in Jakarta.

Each year, before the National Heroes Day celebrations, a team led by the Ministry of Social Affairs submits a list of candidates to receive the country's highest recognition. This year, the team chose 10 names, including former President Abdurrahman Wahid.

Indonesia now has 173 national heroes, among whom 13 are women, Social Affairs Minister Khofiah Indar Parawansa said in a statement.

Tuan Guru Muhammad Zainuddin Abdul Madjid who died in 1997, was a nationalist Muslim leader and founder of Islam Nahdatul Wathan. He introduced and advocated emancipatory education in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara.

Admiral Malahayati was the first Achehnese female admiral. She led the Sultanate of Aceh navy against Dutch colonizers in 1559. In 1606, she established a legion of female warriors, widows of Acehnese fighters, to struggle against colonization.

Sultan Mahmud Riayat Syah, who ruled the Sultanate of Riau, which back then covered parts of present -dayMalaysia, fought the colonizers in 1782-84 and defeated them. He refused to sign a peace agreement proposed by the Dutch and delegated his navy to help neighboring regions oppose the colonizer's army.

Prof. Lafran Pane was an academic who in 1947 founded the Muslim Students Association (HMI). He advocated adherence to the state ideology of Pancasila, refusing the idea of establishing in Indonesia an Islamic or communist state.

Source: http://jakartaglobe.id/news/female-admiral-three-muslim-leaders-become-national-heroes/

Analysis & opinion

Why is the Industrial Relations Court failing workers?

Indonesia at Melbourne - November 15, 2017

Herlambang P Wiratraman – Every International Labour Day, workers across Indonesia conduct major protests against outsourcing, low wages, and workforce liberalisation policies. This is perhaps to be expected but more surprising are the calls in recent years for the Industrial Relations Court to be closed down.

When it was established back in 2004, this new judicial institution was intended to protect labour rights in line with liberalisation policies introduced by Law No. 13 of 2003 on Labour. As a result, the Industrial Relations Court's main function is to rule on disputes between workers and employers, including rights, interests, dismissal and union disputes.

Most scholars saw the court as the best way to resolve labour disputes, and hoped it would provide greater legal certainty for workers than they had under Soeharto's New Order. Indeed, in its early days, there were few demonstrations against the statute that established the court, Law No. 2 of 2004 on Industrial Relations Dispute Resolution, or legal challenges to its validity.

But the political design of the Industrial Relations Court has unfortunately resulted in the court too often prioritising the interests of business owners and the free market. It has marginalised the role of the state in protecting workers' rights, and that means workers are often left on their own to battle it out with their (usually far more powerful) employers.

As a result, a decade since the court was established, efforts to dissolve it are now growing. The House of Representatives (DPR), for example, has placed a planned amendment of the Industrial Relations Dispute Resolution Law on its list of priority bills for deliberation (Prolegnas), although there is still no draft available.

During recent public consultations conducted by the DPR's Commission IX (which oversees labour issues), an alliance of labour unions calling itself the Commission for the Disbandment of the Industrial Relations Court (Komisi Bubarkan PHI), proposed dissolving the court and replacing it with an entirely new commission that would give the state a greater role. They say the main problem with the Industrial Relations Court is that it puts workers in a much weaker position than the corporations that employ them.

For example, taking a case to the court requires workers to at least have basic knowledge of civil procedure and familiarity with the formalities of the legal system. Few, if any, workers have the specialised legal skills required, and finding someone who does have them, and can represent the workers in court, is difficult and expensive. And often, it still not enough. Jazuli, a representative for members of the Alliance of Workers' Struggle in East Java, argues, for example, that even when workers can afford to be represented by lawyers, judges still often reject their claims.

Another problem is that it is difficult for labour unions to represent their members, because the courts often impose strict limits on representation. Law No. 18 of 2003 on Advocates stipulates that people defending a case must have an advocate's certificate or be a member of the legal profession. Unions are therefore usually unable to defend their members in court, so labour disputes end up being fought with individual rather than collective strategies, which are rarely effective.

The second major justification for closing down the Industrial Relations Court is the failure of broader justice sector reform. After major changes were made in the early reform era, many assumed that court reform was complete. Nothing could be further from the truth, however, and serious challenges remain.

Although the Industrial Relations Dispute Resolution Law states that industrial relations disputes should be resolved quickly, accurately, fairly and cheaply, this is seldom the case. Dispute resolution typically involves a process that progresses from bipartite negotiations to mediation, trial at the Industrial Relations Court, cassation appeal to the Supreme Court, and then a reconsideration hearing (PK) before a final and legally binding decision is made. All of this can take up to 10 years.

What's worse, the process is not cheap. Many Industrial Relations Courts impose court fees on workers, even though this is not allowed under the 2004 Industrial Relations Dispute Resolution Law.

The location of the courts in provincial capitals also disadvantages workers who live in regional areas. They must cough up their own funds for travel and accommodation to attend hearings. This is no small matter, given that, on average, every case tried in the court requires 8-15 hearings. Consider, too, that any document submitted as evidence must be sealed with a duty sticker (meterai) costing Rp 6,000. This might be a small sum but the many documents required mean costs can mount quickly.

Another unresolved problem is judicial corruption. This has become so bad that dispute resolution in the Industrial Relations Court typically only benefits the parties with the means to pay. The case of Onamba Indonesia is one example of this. Judges of the Bandung Industrial Relations Court hearing this case accepted bribes to rule in favour of the firm. Judge Imas Dianasari was eventually arrested by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) but similar stories are far too common.

Before the passage of the Industrial Relations Dispute Resolution Law, the government played a role in dispute resolution through regional and central Labour Dispute Resolution Committees (P4). The involvement of the state can be crucial for protection of workers, as it can help ensure labour disputes are settled fairly, easily, quickly and appropriately.

Under Soeharto's authoritarian regime, however, the P4 Committees were rarely effective, and, like the Industrial Relations Court today, often did little more than defend companies against workers' claims. But the benefit of having the government involved was that it did have the power to prevent arbitrary dismissal of workers by companies. In the past, companies were required to obtain permission from the government before dismissing employees, and employees could leverage this to win concessions from employers.

Under the 2004 Industrial Relations Dispute Resolution Law, the government is only involved in the mediation mechanism in the Manpower Ministry. But this is a mere formality and government mediators are generally passive. If a mediator issues a recommendation that is not implemented, no action is taken by the government. In practice, mediators' recommendations are used simply as 'tickets' to file lawsuits with the Industrial Relations Court. In other words, the workers essentially have no choice but to proceed to the weak court process, which rarely treats them fairly.

Given these numerous challenges, it is hardly surprising that workers often fare poorly in Industrial Relations Courts. Consequently, many have now given up on the courts entirely, instead seeking justice through other means, such as reporting to national or regional legislatures or the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM), or by conducting mass demonstrations.

The planned revision of the Industrial Relations Dispute Resolution Law must provide a greater role for the state to provide protection and fulfilment of labour rights, as mandated by the Constitution under Article 28I(4). More specifically, the state should regain the power to determine whether employers can dismiss employees. Further, the process of dispute settlement must be made simpler, fees should not be imposed on workers, and the government should litigate on behalf of workers when bipartite negotiations and mediation processes fail.

Despite the problems of the past, the return of the state in the dispute resolution process would offer hope for strengthening the industrial-labour justice system in Indonesia. Even if the state has a poor track record in industrial dispute resolution, anything would be better than the current disastrous system.

[Dr Herlambang P Wiratraman is a lecturer and executive director of the Centre for the Study of Human Rights Law at the Faculty of Law, Airlangga University. He is also chair of the Indonesian Lecturers Association for Human Rights (SEPAHAM Indonesia, 2014-2017) and previously served as head of the Indonesian Association of Legal Philosophy (AFHI, 2013-2014).]

Source: http://indonesiaatmelbourne.unimelb.edu.au/why-is-the-industrial-relations-court-failing-workers/