Markus Junianto Sihaloho – A plan to name a main thoroughfare in the heart of Jakarta after former President Suharto has drawn both support and muted criticism, with Jakarta Governor Joko Widodo conceding it could be a hard sell.

The plan, conceived by a group calling itself the Council of 17 and led by Jimly Asshidiqie, a former chief justice of the Constitutional Court, would see the four roads encircling the National Monument (Monas) park renamed in honor of former leaders, as part of what Jimly called a push to boost the public's sense of nationalism.

Joko, who met with the Council of 17 on Friday, said he foresaw no problems in renaming Jalan Medan Merdeka Selatan, on the southern edge of the Monas square, to Jalan Sukarno, in honor of Indonesia's founding president.

He also said that renaming Jalan Medan Merdeka Utara, marking the park's northern border with the State Palace, after Sukarno's deputy, Mohammad Hatta, should not be a problem.

"We can expect to change the names of these two streets sometime in September, but the other two are a bit more controversial," Joko said.

Jimly's team has proposed renaming Jalan Medan Merdeka Timur, on Monas's eastern periphery and bordering Gambir Station, after Ali Sadikin, a former Jakarta governor, and renaming Jalan Medan Merdeka Barat, on the west, running past the National Museum, after Suharto.

Jimly said there were certain rules on renaming main thoroughfares after public figures, including a requirement that the person in question be officially recognized as a national hero.

Both Sukarno and Hatta were proclaimed national heroes last year, while Ali has not; and repeated attempts by Suharto's supporters to get him honored have been scuppered by the debate over whether he deserved recognition in light of his human rights record.

In addition, renaming the Medan Merdeka roads specifically requires a presidential decree.

Joko said he fully supported the plan to rename all four streets, adding that the proposal would be submitted to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono for approval. He said he hoped to ring in the changes in time for National Heroes Day, which falls on Nov. 10.

Others who have expressed support for the proposal include politicians from the Golkar Party, which for decades was Suharto's political vehicle.

Muhidin, a Golkar legislator, said that even though Suharto was not technically a national hero, he should still be honored for the role he played in guiding the country's development.

"He did a lot for this country and its people," Muhidin said as quoted by Detik.com. "We can't belittle his services, because if it wasn't for him we wouldn't be where we are today."

He added it was the proper thing to do to rename the four streets after the former leaders, regardless of their personal shortcomings or national status. "For all their strengths and weaknesses, they still served the people of this nation," he said.

However, other politicians expressed wariness over the proposal, saying the plan to rename Jalan Medan Merdeka Barat after Suharto should be put on hold.

"If there was already public consensus about naming Suharto a national hero, then I don't feel there would be a problem [with naming a road after him]," Yudi Widiana Adia, a legislator from the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), said as quoted by Detik.com.

"But without such consensus, there will only be more controversy. We'll get proposals to name roads after people who aren't heroes."

Intelligence community, generals gather at book launch

Jakarta Post - August 31, 2013

Jakarta – Intelligence, military and high-ranking police figures, both retired and active, have gathered at Hotel Borobudur in Lapangan Banteng, Central Jakarta.

Among them are former National Police Chief Detective Comr. Gen. (ret) Ito Sumardi, former Indonesian Military commander/former vice president Gen. (ret) Try Sutrisno, former Indonesian Military commander/current People's Conscience Party (Hanura) chairman Gen (ret) Wiranto and several House of Representatives intelligence commission legislators.

The gathering was part of the launch of a book written by Susaningtyas Nefo Handayani Kertopati, an intelligence expert who is also a legislator representing the Hanura Party at the House.

The book, titled "Communication in Security Intelligence Performance", covers the importance of maintaining communication between state intelligence agencies.

"I hope this book provides sufficient knowledge not only for intelligence practitioners but the general public as well," Kertopati said on Friday night.

West Papua

West Papuan flotilla backers under arrest

The Australian - August 30, 2013

Joel Magarey – West Papuans who attended a church meeting to pray for Australian activists sailing towards West Papua in a "Freedom Flotilla" have been arrested by Indonesian police, Amnesty International has established.

Indonesian naval vessels have been deployed along the West Papuan border in a "show of force" aimed at the flotilla and are stopping local boats from leaving the flotilla's destination port, the Australian activists say.

Amnesty International last night criticised the Indonesian government for arresting the four "peaceful activists" – Apolos Sewa, Yohanes Goram, Amandus Mirino and Semuel Klasjok – and called for their "immediate and unconditional release".

Amnesty International's Indonesian representative, Josef Benedict, said the four men had been arrested on Wednesday after taking part in a "peaceful prayer ceremony at the Maranatha church in Sorong city in solidarity with the visit of the Freedom Flotilla to the Papuan region".

"Amnesty International believes they have been arrested and detained solely for their peaceful political activism and calls for their immediate and unconditional release."

An apparently local report published on the flotilla's website indicated the arrests had occurred after some participants in the prayer ceremony had attempted to hold a press conference outside the church.

Mr Benedict said "credible local sources" had informed him that the Morning Star – the banned West Papuan independence flag – had been raised during the ceremony.

Fifteen Aboriginal, Papuan and other Australian activists are attempting to sail to West Papua in two yachts in a risky venture aimed at supporting West Papuan independence. An Indonesian embassy spokesman said Indonesian police would conduct appropriate investigations.

WPNA supports the Freedom Flotilla

Bintang Papua - August 29, 2013

Jayapura – In a recent statement, the Chief of Police of Indonesia, Inspector-Commissioner Muhamad Tito Karnavian said that the ships taking part in the Freedom Flotilla are trying to do something sensational.

This statement was countered by the West Papua National Authority (WPNA) whose secretary said that the Chief of Police should send his statement to the Central Government and should call on the government to enter into dialogue with leaders of the state of West Papua.

"The Secretariat of the WPNA strongly rejects the statement made by the Chief of Police who wants to cause a sensation via the local media in Papua. The spokesman of the WPNA who name is Marthen said that the Freedom Flotilla which is sailing to Papua has a clear vision and mission., namely the cultural vision of the people of West Papua."

"We the people of West Papua have relations with the Aboriginal People of Australia as well as with the people living in the Torres Archipelago. Thousands of years ago, there was a link between West Papua and Australia but the colonialists pulled us apart."

Marthen went on to say that the Freedom Flotilla now sailing to Papua is pressing for the liberation of the West Papuan people because they are concerned about the humanitarian crisis in West Papua as well as the political status of West Papua which has come about as a result of Indonesia's grip which was made possible by the New York Agreement of 1962 and the Act of Free Choice in 1969.

"This has led to widespread human rights violations in the Land of Papua which still occur while the Indonesian Government is doing everything possible to convince the international community that Indonesia is undertaking development in West Papua. The fact is that during 2012 and up to the present day, twenty-two KNPB activists have been murdered which is clear a crime against humanity."

He went on to say that the Chief of Police claims, based on information from Australia, that the Freedom Flotilla does not have any support and is simply a fabrication to undermine public opinion.

"The Prime Minister and President of the Federal Republic of the State of West Papua were appointed by the decisions taken at the Third Congress of the People of West Papua."

"We activists of the WPNA herewith declare that the President and the Prime Minister of the NFRPB have sent a letter stating that we will allow them to come here and saying that we are willing to receive them. This is the State of West Papua, not Indonesia," he said, speaking firmly.

Referring to a recent statement made by the Australian Government and the government of Papua New Guinea that they support Indonesian sovereignty, he said that this had been said because it is in their interest to preserve bilateral relations with Indonesia.

"They can go on saying this but the fact is that this is our state and we are the legitimate owners acting on behalf of the people of West Papua. We have never recognised Indonesian sovereignty over West Papua."

When Indonesia says that it regards the Freedom Flotilla as nothing more than sensationalism, this is a clear sign that Indonesia is very much afraid that crimes against humanity have been perpetrated in West Papua and that this is widely acknowledged by the international community.

"We would like to express our appreciation to Vanuatu for declaring its support for independence for West Papua."

He also said that people in a number of districts in West Papua will be welcoming the Freedom Flotilla with prayers and by fasting, all of which has been going on for a number of weeks.

There are also plans to hold a Papuan cultural demonstration which will take place in the streets. This will occur at times that have already been fixed. When this happens, we will clearly show that we have a clear vision and mission, namely the liberation of the West Papuan people from Indonesian colonisation.'

[Translated by TAPOL.]

The West Papuan independence movement – a history

The Guardian - August 29, 2013

Marni Cordell – Indonesia officially acquired West Papua in 1969, after a sham ballot on independence in which only a handful of the local population were allowed to vote.

The region, which makes up the western part of the island of New Guinea to Australia's north, was once a Dutch colony, but the Netherlands began to prepare for withdrawal in the 1950s.

In 1961, West Papuans held a congress to discuss independence and raised the West Papuan "morning star" flag.

But a newly independent Republic of Indonesia began to assert its claim over the province and a conflict broke out between Indonesia, the Netherlands and the indigenous population.

In 1962, a United Nations-sponsored treaty known as the New York agreement was drawn up to put an end to this territorial battle, and Indonesia was appointed temporary administrator of West Papua from May 1963 – without West Papuan consultation or consent.

A key requirement of the treaty was that all West Papuans be allowed to vote in a referendum on independence, which was to be overseen by the UN.

But when the ballot was held in 1969, it was far from free and fair: the Indonesian military handpicked 1,026 leaders to vote on behalf of the entire population, and threatened to kill them and their families if they voted the wrong way.

In this environment, the outcome of the so-called "Act of Free Choice" was unanimous – and Indonesia's takeover of West Papua was rubber-stamped by the UN.

Almost all indigenous Papuans reject the referendum, dubbing it the "act of no choice", and many continue to demand a real vote on self-determination to this day.

This history forms the basis for West Papuans' call for independence – but it is not just historical injustice that fuels the movement today.

Indigenous West Papuans face daily surveillance and intimidation by the Indonesian military and police, and many report living in constant fear. Thousands have been killed, detained and tortured since 1963.

Those who agitate for independence openly do so at a high personal cost. It is illegal to raise the morning star flag and many of the province's leaders are sitting out long jail terms for peaceful acts of defiance.

The region has an armed movement for independence that has been responsible for the deaths of Indonesian security personnel and actively engages in armed skirmishes, but there is a much larger civil movement that is also heavily suppressed.

In October 2011, the Third Papuan People's Congress, a civilian gathering that addressed issues of self-governance, was violently quashed by Indonesian forces. Six people were killed and dozens more injured.

Indonesia guards its "territorial integrity" jealously. And it's no surprise – the massive Freeport McMoran gold and copper mine in West Papua is one of the country's largest taxpayers.

For its part, Indonesia argues that since West Papua was once a part of the Dutch East Indies, it should also be part of today's independent Indonesian Republic.

Both major Australian political parties support them in this stance. Indonesia is seen as an important political ally for Australia, and politicians from both sides are loth to antagonise their Indonesian counterparts.

Australia maintains close ties with the Indonesian military. It also provides training and funding for its counter-terror police unit, Detachment 88, which has been involved in recent crackdowns on the independence movement.

But Australia is home to a significant West Papuan community and a large network of supporters of West Papuan independence. The West Papuan Freedom Flotilla is the latest in a long history of co-operation between activists from the two countries.

West Papuan political prisoners reject pardon deal

The Guardian - August 29, 2013

Marni Cordell – A West Papuan political prisoner serving three years in jail for treason was offered a pardon by the Indonesian government if he renounced the struggle for independence.

Selpius Bobii, who was jailed in 2011 after declaring independence from Indonesia, said Papuan governor Lukas Enembe visited his prison on 17 August and offered to let him and his fellow political prisoners out of jail if they stopped agitating for independence.

The long-time activist refused the deal. Enembe confirmed to Guardian Australia that he met with Bobii and other political prisoners on what is Indonesia's national day, but he declined to say whether an ultimatum was issued.

"I led the Independence Day flag ceremony and announced the pardon," he told Guardian Australia. "But [in] the cells where the prisoners of treason cases were detained they yelled out, 'Oi, no need, just get out, freedom for Papua, no negotiation'."

The governor, who was accompanied by a military commander and a high- ranking police officer, urged Bobii and 24 other inmates serving time for politically motivated crimes at Jayapura's Abepura prison to accept the Indonesian government's authority over West Papua.

"I challenged them. I told them that my parents were victimised because they were talking about the independence of Papua. I said, please don't use those words that way. A lot of people have died because of it," he said.

But Bobii told Guardian Australia that all but one of the political prisoners chose to stay in their cells rather than engage with the governor.

"Several political detainees... raised their voices from their cells to assert their protest against Enembe's address," he said. "Police officers, plain-clothed Indonesian military and prison officers quickly moved to deal with the few vocal detainees."

Fellow political prisoner Filep Karma, who is serving 15 years for raising the banned "morning star" flag, told the governor from his cell: "It's impossible for the people of Papua to unite with the people of Indonesia because the majority of Indonesians consider Papuans to be half-animal... Indonesians regard Papuans as similar to human monkeys."

He added: "So many Papuans have become victims because of the Papuan struggle for freedom and we also are imprisoned for that same struggle."

Bobii told Guardian Australia he passed a message through Enembe to the Indonesian president.

"We declared Papua to be a state and because of that we are here in prison. Tell President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono that the nation of Papua is ready to negotiate," he said.

"Also tell him we, as Papuan political detainees, reject the giving of clemency in whatever form that may take."

He said the governor's request was "deeply hurtful for Papuans". "This really touches on some very deep old wounds for the people of Papua, who for more than 50 years have constantly struggled and their people been sacrificed again and again, losing thousands of their people killed by both overt and covert means in the long struggle for freedom," he said.

"The governor is holding hands with the Indonesian military and police, not only to try and make a success of Jakarta's project in Papua but also with the hidden intention of indirectly terrorising and intimidating those of the Papuan freedom movement. But his agenda, as he visited the Abepura prison, totally failed."

Sorong police arrest Papuan customary leaders at Freedom Flotilla ceremony

West Papua Media - August 29, 2013

Indonesian police in Sorong, West Papua, yesterday arrested four leading Papuan customary leaders for organising a welcome celebration and prayer for the safe arrival of the Aboriginal-led Freedom Flotilla, currently sailing from Australia.

The four were arrested after over 200 armed police surrounded a peaceful prayer gathering at Marantha Church in central Sorong yesterday afternoon, after thousands of local people joined with religious and adat (customary) leaders, and leaders of the self-declared National Federated Republic of West Papua (NFRPB) alternative government, to express their solidarity with the aims of the Freedom Flotilla. The Freedom Flotilla is a journey being conducted with Aboriginal and West Papuan elders and Australian activists to highlight internationally the human rights situation in West Papua and is currently enroute sailing from Australia to West Papua.

Internationally renowned environmental defender, researcher and customary leader, NFRPB Sorong secretary Yohanis Goram, was arrested together with Apolos Sewa (Vice chair of Dewan Adat Papua, Greater Sorong), Amandus Mirino (NFRPB State Secretariat senior worker), and Samuel Klasjok (NFRPB's alternative Chief of Police (Security) for region 3, Doberay). Sorong Police Chief Harry Goldenhad met with the organisers of the gathering, and initially "approved the activities with the proviso that they did not disturb the peace, and maintained security," according to witnesses statements provided by established credible sources to West Papua Media.

Over 2000 people had gathered for the solidarity event that spilled outside the large church compound.

About 45 minutes after the prayer meeting had finished, as participants were preparing for a press conference with local media including such as Radar Sorong, West Papua Post, and Fajar Papua, Police Chief Goldenhad took ten heavily armed officers into the church and arrested the four activists.

According to local sources who spoke with police and activists, Based on information collected on site, the arrests were made in connection with the unfurling of the Morning Star, Aboriginal, and Torres Straits flags inside the church.

The four activists are still being held at Sorong Police headquarters according to local sources, and their condition is unknown. However grave fears are held for their safety, as these are the first West Papuans to be arrested over a connection to the Freedom Flotilla, which has attracted significant international media interest, and ignited major controversy and comment from Indonesian and Australian government ministers.

International human rights organisations have reacted quickly to the arrests, with Amnesty International (AI) in London expressing concern about the arrests of the four Papuan political activists. AI's Indonesia and Timor-Leste Campaigner, Josef Benedict said that AI "believes they have been arrested and detained solely for their peaceful political activism and call for their immediate and unconditional release."

"Amnesty International calls on the Indonesian authorities to respect the rights of Papuans to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly which are guaranteed in Article 19 and Article 21 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Indonesia is a state party. Our organisation is concerned that the Indonesian government has consistently failed to make a distinction between violent armed groups and peaceful activists, and between peaceful expression of opinion and acts of physical violence, " Benedict told West Papua Media by email.

Activists on board the Freedom Flotilla have reacted with dismay at the news of their supporters being targeted inside West Papua, but say this highlights the daily denial of Freedom of Expression for Papuan people, that originally motivated their plans for direct action.

Ronny Kareni, the spokesperson for the Freedom Flotilla said "It is shocking and yet not surprising, but completely unacceptable in this day and age that peaceful demonstrations of basic freedom of expression is censored in such an extreme way. We demand the immediate release of the 4 prisoners in Sorong."

Kareni explained, "The arrests yesterday of the four Papuan leaders are a reflection of the reality that there is no space for democracy in Papua and West Papua Province under the Indonesian occupation, and yet foreign governments are complicit to these ongoing abuses. The Freedom Flotilla to West Papua is aiming to highlight this entrenched long-term brutality that is demonstrated by these arrests.

Arabunna elder, Uncle Kevin Buzzacott, the elder who inspired the journey, said in a statement to West Papua Media, "Indonesian government – you must immediately release those 4 prisoners and not to harm them in any way. They need to be released and not to be harmed because they have not committed a crime. We felt very sad when we seen it in the news today. We are waiting for the other mob to turn up here on Horne Island so we can work out how to respond a bit more but for now we need to ask all Australians to take a firm position on this issue, to be strong for Human Rights in West Papua. They are hurting them everyday, for years and regardless of the Freedom Flotilla this is happening, but we having a go, tryin' to get the World to see, to look and listen and take a stand for these people. The Papuans have had it rough for too long with Indonesia there and this can't keep going on. The prisoners must be released immediately".

Izzy Brown, one of the organisers of the Freedom Flotilla said: "We are dismayed to hear that the peaceful act of prayer has resulted in such extreme actions by the police and military in West Papua, highlighting once more the lack of basic human rights and freedoms that we in Australia take for granted every day. We need immediate international pressure to be placed on the Indonesian government to ensure that no harm comes to these good people who have simply undertaken to express themselves in a democratic way.:

Kareni sums up the feeling of Flotilla members: "This is the time Australia, to stand up for people who are being militarily controlled and attacked for simply trying to have a voice."

[West Papua Media, with local sources.]

Dozens of Morning Star flags unfurled in NRFPB Demonstration

Bintang Papua - August 28, 2013

Manokwari – Although controversy is still raging about the Freedom Flotilla which has a number of Papuan activists on board, a group of Papuans who recently proclaimed the establishment of the Federal Republic of the State of West Papua (NRFPB) in Manokwari held a demonstration on 27 August.

The demonstration which was organised by the NRFPB was highlighted by a number of Morning Star flags. The demonstration started from the office of DAP (Dewan Adat Papua – Papuan Customary Council) on Jalan Pahlawan and continued until 10am. In a speech at the demonstration, the deputy governor of NRFPB Yenu called on all Papuans living in Manokwari to welcome the Freedom Flotilla which is sailing from Australia to West Papua.

Security forces composed of members of the Indonesian police force mounted a strong guard round the demonstration. The demonstrators marched round the City of Manokwari distributing leaflets proclaiming freedom for the Papuan people.

Morning Star flags were unfurled in several places but the security forces failed to take action. They just stood along the route without doing anything to confiscate the flags being carried by the demonstrators.

As has previously been reported, the Freedom Flotilla with Papuans on board as well as Aboriginals (Australia) who have expressed deep concern about the situation in West Papua is now sailing towards Papua New Guinea. From there, the Flotilla will sail to Merauke West Papua. The Flotilla is due to arrive in West Papua at the beginning of September.

[Translated by TAPOL.]

Activists in West Papua gather to support freedom flotilla

Radio New Zealand International - August 28, 2013

Activists in the Indonesian province of West Papua have gathered to show support for the boatload of Australian activists due to arrive there early next month. A crowd gathered in the remote town of Manokwari yesterday to raise the banned Morning Star flag and welcome the activists.

The so-called freedom flotilla has been warned by Indonesia not to enter its waters illegally, and says the boats have no clearance.

But the activists say they have travel documents issued by their own Aboriginal elders in Australia and permits given by the traditional landowners in Merauke, where they intend to land.

An activist based in Manokwari, Yoab Syatfle, says a large crowd voiced its support and says the event is significant as it's the first sea convoy for peace and justice to travel to the province.

Freedom Flotilla says it has entry authority from West Papuans

Radio New Zealand International - August 27, 2013

A group of Australian activists says it has been granted authority to enter Indonesia's Papua province by local people who have a sovereign right to grant access to their own land.

The Freedom Flotilla, a three-boat convoy of about 20 activists, is planning to reach Merauke in southern Papua in the coming weeks.

Its spokesperson, Ruben Blake, says they applied for sailing permits into Indonesian waters, which were granted but then withdrawn.

Indonesian authorities have warned the activists against arriving illegally. Mr Blake says they are calling on Australia, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea to recognise the rights of West Papuans over access to their land.

"We are saying that the authority to travel and enter into West Papua has also been granted by West Papuan representatives who have issued visas under the authority of their transitional government. And people are travelling on original nations passports issued by Aboriginal elders in Australia."

Mr Blake says most of the journey is in Australian waters and he is not expecting interception until crossing into Indonesian water in a few weeks.

Australian flotilla bound for Papua despite threats by Indonesia

Radio New Zealand International - August 27, 2013

A group of Australian activists say threats of force by Indonesia have not hindered their determination to make it to Papua's shores.

Their three-boat convoy with about 20 activists is planning to reach Merauke in southern Papua in the coming weeks.

Its spokesperson, Ruben Blake, says the threats of arrest, force and naval interception are heavy-handed, but is not surprising as Indonesia has gone to great lengths in the past to keep people out of Papua. He says he is concerned about the safety of those on board.

"We believe that safety of a group of peaceful protestors who are going there on a cultural mission as well as a human rights mission should be respected. These threats that haven't been ruling out the use of guns and force is a big concern. People around the world should be absolutely concerned about the safety of the people on board the boats."

Ruben Blake says the Australian Foreign Minister, Bob Carr, should be offering consular support to the group of peaceful protestors.

662 candidates to run in Papua 2014 legislative election

Jakarta Post - August 26, 2013

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – The Papua General Elections Commission (KPUD) confirmed that 662 legislative candidates will contest 56 seats at the Papua Legislative Council (DPRD) in the elections slated for April 9, 2014.

The legislative candidates represent 12 political parties and include almost all the current DPRD members. They will run for 56 seats, up from 45 seats in 2009 due to an increase in population. KPUD Papua chief Adam Arisoy told journalists in Jayapura on Monday that the commission was still deciding on the candidates that would run in regencies and municipalities across the province.

KPUD Papua has 2.9 million registered-eligible voters. According to the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), Papua's population is 3.14 million people as of the middle of 2012.

"In the 2014 election, there also will be 7 electoral districts, up from 6 in the 2009 election," said Arisoy.

He added that the election would run as scheduled despite that fact that the election commissioners in 25 regencies and municipalities in Papua had not yet been appointed.

"Administrative activities will still run and are carried out by the secretariat staff members. The recruitment process of commissioners in 25 regencies and municipalities has entered the big ten. It is hoped that by September, all commissioner members can be inaugurated," said Arisoy.

Under Law No.21/2001 on Papua special autonomy, Papua has a privilege to select legislative members which represent the ethnic groups of the province.

"Based on the 2001 Law, the recruitment process of the legislative members is the domain of regency and municipality administrations," said Arisoy. (apt/ebf)

Mixed success for Papuan cultural parades despite by pre-emptive arrests

West Papua Media - August 26, 2013

Scores of non-violent activists from the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) were arrested across Papua over the last two weeks, when Indonesian Police carried out pre-emptive sweeps ahead of a day of mobilisation on August 15, a day intended to celebrate Papuan cultural identity and demand rights to free expression be respected.

Organisers across Papua claimed varying degrees of success in holding the cultural parades, hailing the assertion of Papuan cultural identity in the face of a "deliberate campaign of cultural suppression by the Indonesian colonial security forces" as a "moral victory that would show that West Papuan people are not going to die quietly," according to sources who spoke with West Papua Media (WPM).

The parades were organised by West Papuan activists on the anniversary of the contentious New York Agreement – that began the process of Indonesian colonisation of Papua – to demonstrate against ongoing the threats to the survival of Papuan culture. The parades were also celebrating the opening of the new Free West Papua Campaign office in The Hague in The Netherlands under the coordination Oridek Ap (the exiled son of executed West Papuan musician and cultural hero Arnold Ap).

Despite Police being widely reported by Indonesian colonial media stating they would allow the parades to go ahead, activists and stringers for WPM reported from across the country of waves of arrests – or detentions as described by Indonesian security forces – and intimidation that prevented several of the parades from occurring.

Nevertheless, the events went ahead in Jayapura, Wamena and Biak, with much smaller gatherings unconfirmed across the rest of the country.

In the west coast town of FakFak, police arrested several dozen people on August 13, according to reports from Tabloid Jubi, and human rights sources. Jubi reported that officers intercepted two trucks carrying dozens of villagers as they were preparing to attend the Cultural Parade on the 15th. Police commandeered the trucks to the police headquarters in Fakfak, detaining and interrogating the villagers – including large numbers of women and children – in the Police Hall. Police refused to explain their actions to Papuan media, according to local observers. Unconfirmed reports from Fakfak say the majority of villagers were released, but the date of their release, or the ability for them to continue their participation in the cultural parades is still unknown.

Jayapura In Jayapura, KNPB Chairman Agus Kosai was arrested by Police as he and other KNPB members attempted to move a sound system from his village near Sentani (about 12km outside Jayapura) to the gravesite of slain independence hero Theys Eluay in Waena. KNPB treasurer Toni Kobak and National Spokesperson Wim Medlama were also arrested with 13 other KNPB members. Police interrogated them but later released them, ordering them home after seizing their banners and equipment.

Refusing to be intimidated, the released KNPB members then ignored the Police directive, made new rally materials and proceeded with the planned Cultural Parades regardless in Jayapura.

Thousands of local people turned out in Jayapura to showcase Papua's vibrant indigenous cultural diversity, reflecting and representing Papuan cultures from every corner of the country. The day itself had been planned as a deeply symbolic act of cultural resistance through survival, drawing on the actions of slain ethnomusicologist Arnold Ap in a nonviolent assertion of Papuan sovereignty resisting Indonesian colonisation and control of Papuan lives.

Illustrating this attempt at control, many acts of cultural expression such as banned dances, banned songs, and banned displays of cultural heritage were actively monitored by heavily armed Indonesian Police, however the sheer number of participants prevented further arrests.

Coordinator of the Peace Demonstration Warpo Sampari Wetipo, told the crowd from a stage mounted atop a Kijang car, "we in KNPB are standing with the people of Papua, despite the Indonesian military's terror by prohibiting any peaceful demonstration and action, we do continue to fight without fear, to demand the right of self-determination for us, the people of West Papua."

Buchtar Tabuni, West Papua Parliament Chairman, and revolving door political prisoner currently between arrests, reminded the crowd that they were gathered to "Declare to the world that the people of Papua are demanding the recognition of their right of self-determination with fairness and dignity." By demonstrating their cultural resistance, Tabuni said that West Papuan people were asserting their identity "as a community of the Melanesian family, that Papuans are not part of the people of Indonesia or Malay."

Reports from the Jayapura rally suggested that police were initially prepared to utilise force against the participants after they defied the order to go home. Significant military hardware was deployed, with security forces surrounding the thousands of people gathered at Theys' gravesite with Armoured personnel carriers, water cannon, tear gas trucks and several Barracuda armoured assault vehicles.

According to reports filed to WPM, activists had prepared unspecified "unique" methods of non-violent de-arresting techniques should the need arise, though it is unclear whether the Indonesian security forces were prepared to respect the nonviolence of the day.

The rally had been tightly safeguarded by KNPB members, who kept the participants separated from security forces and plain clothes special forces personnel with a simple rope line, thus preventing any agents provocateur from provoking police to create a scenario of violence. in Papua. Buchtar Tabuni told the crowd at the end of the rally, "the security forces to help secure us, and also I just want to explain that from yesterday until last night we kept guard patrol, to keep track of things that we do not want to happen and also it helps security deposit until the day's activities, "

In Wamena, KNPB activists reported that police and members of the Indonesian army were also being proactive in prevention of the parades, with banner seizures and an active show of force. According to local sources, almost the entire KODIM 756 Wim Ane Sili (lit. "House of the Sound of War" in Dani language) Battalion (up to 1000 soldiers) surround the protest field at Sinapuk,

This massive "show force" was responsible for thousands of people being forced to stay away from the Cultural gathering, according to KNPB Wamena spokesperson Mr Mabel. The gathering was peaceful but was only attended by several hundred people.

In Biak, local members of the KNPB organised a smaller demonstration passing the site of the infamous Biak Massacre, which recently commemorated its 15th anniversary on July 6. Hundreds of people marched from the old market and Terminal Pasar Darfuar ending up at a traditional meeting house (pendopo adat Sorido), to support the opening of The Hague Free West Papua office. Apollos Sroyer, Biak KNPB Chairman, told WPM's correspondent "The parade was also planned as an expression of welcome to the arrival of messengers from the Melanesian Spearhead Groups (MSG) in the near future to West Papua."

Sroyer also expressed "gratitude to those MSG members who have expressed their support of the right of self-determination of the people of West Papua," without mentioning the official rejection of the bid for Observer Status for West Papua by the MSG, widely seen as a betrayal of Melanesian solidarity by many across the Pacific.

Banned West Papuan Morning star flags raised on Indonesian independence day

West Papua Media - August 25, 2013

In a risky and symbolic act of defiance, unidentified West Papuan pro- independence activists raised the banned symbol of West Papuan liberation, the Morning Star flag, atop a foggy Mount Syclop, Sentani near Jayapura during the Indonesian Independence day on August 17 this year "as a form of celebration and rejection of the presence of Indonesian Papua, " according to involved activists who spoke with West Papua Media (WPM) stringers.

The flagraisings came amid a tit-for-tat psychological operations campaign ahead of August 17 by Indonesian occupation forces to raise the Merah Putih (Red/White) Indonesian national flag on prominent landmarks across Papua, and increase demands on Papuans to fly it publicly demonstrate their loyalty to Indonesia, according to a wide variety of human rights and church sources in Papua.

Organisers told WPM the act, on a mountain that could be seen from most the Papuan capital Jayapura, was about questioning the legitimacy of Indonesian occupiers to claim that all Papuans supported integration with Indonesia, and Jakarta's claim that "Papua returned to the embrace of the Homeland." "Any person who was born and raised in Papua has been brought up with (the official line of the) 'Victorious Political Integration in the NKRI, (and has) of course heard the above phrase repeatedly. This phrase has become a powerful force in the politics of integration. The Indonesian government and military believed and are so convinced that the political integration of West Papua is "absolute" they cannot answer the questions that the people of Papua ask," the activists told WPM.

They continued their statement: "On behalf of the Nature of Papua, on behalf of the bones of revolutionary heroes who have gone before us, on our behalf and on behalf of our children, we strongly reject the claims of an Indonesian Papua. Indonesian historians were so convinced that West Papua was breathing into the territory of several ancient empires of Srivijaya, Majapahit, Sultanate of Tidore, until the time of the Dutch East Indies. Indonesia believes it is the absolute truth, the validity of its claims of West Papua as an integral part of Indonesia. But on the other hand, shame records that the history that Indonesian historians were not able to show the valid, complete and accurate data to prove the truth of what they believe it."

"As a form of resistance we Papuans assert our Independence of the illegal Indonesian colonial occupation of our land Papua, then we burn the flag and hoisted the flag of our "Morning Star" in the mountain region Syclop," said the activists to WPM's stringer.

"We do this not for Indonesian attention, nor to requested positions, (those) certain positions in the country's NKRI (colonial) bureaucracy.... (but as) a form of resistance against colonial occupation of Indonesia (who are) illegally on our land. That we demand and fight for "Self- determination" through an international mechanism that is Referendum," the flag raisers said.

Although traditionally raised on December 1 – the anniversary of the 1961 thwarted declaration of West Papua's independence from the Dutch, and the first flying of the flag – activists claim that it was flown atop Mount Syclop to "remind Indonesia that the people of West Papua(n) nation (have) rejected the (Indonesian) pro-independence and did not participate in the anniversary celebrations."

Indonesian colonial forces regularly attempt to enforce compulsory celebrations of Indonesia's independence day by West Papuan people, an act many Papuans believe is designed to suppress Papuan cultural identity.

Flag raising is seen by Indonesia as a deeply political act that determines the degree of a citizen's loyalty to the nation. Failure to display the Merah Putih was regularly used throughout Indonesian history as a justification to extreme political violence, for example the killings of close to 2 million Indonesians during the 1965-1969 bloodbath in the first days of former dictator Suharto's New Order regime, and the scorched-earth campaign on East TImor ending in 1999 when Indonesian security forces and militias murdered well over 180,000 civilians. Civilians in Military operations areas (whether declared or not) across Indonesia and its colonies are regularly warned by security forces to display the Red and white in order to avoid sweep operations targeting their homes. Public buildings are draped in it, private businesses are threatened by security forces if they fail to display it, and school children are bedecked in Red and White uniforms and forced to salute the flag daily.

Display of any cultural symbols or expression in opposition to the Merah Putih are interpreted by Jakarta as acts of makar (treason, subversion or rebellion) instead of acts of free expression guaranteed under the Indonesian Constitution. However, Article 6 of Government Regulation 77/2007, prohibits the display of the Morning Star, the South Maluku Republic Benang Raja flag in Ambon and the Crescent Moon flag in Aceh – despite the provision of the law in the Indonesian Criminal Code (KUHP) being been declared unconstitutional for prohibiting free expression, by the Indonesian Constitutional Court.

Indonesian security forces, since their invasion of West Papua, have imprisoned thousands of people for their involvement in raising the banned Morning Star flag, and have violently broken up almost every display of the Morning Star, resulting in thousands of deaths over the last 50 years. Each December 1 – traditionally the anniversary of West Papua's thwarted declaration of independence in 1961, Over 90% of the current 56 political prisoners in Papuan gaols are imprisoned under makar for non-violent acts involving the Morning Star flag, including most famously Filep Karma, one of Papua's longest serving political prisoners, who was gaoled for 15 years for his role in organising the December 1, 2004 flagraising in Abepura.

Tito Karnavian's so-called Puncak Jaya summit Indonesian flag raising ceremony to conquer Papua. Note the flat ground on the Grasberg mine site where the ceremony was held, and the several hundred metres of Papua's highest mountain Nemangkawi looming above the alleged "summit ceremony" (Photo: POLRI)

On August 14, Indonesia's colonial police chief in Papua Tito Karnavian (the former commander of the notorious Detachment 88 "Counter-terror" death squad supported by Australia,the US and UK), drove a group of Indonesian police, military,and management of the giant Freeport McMoRan Grasberg mine in heated luxury four-wheel drives, claiming they held a ceremony atop Papua's highest peak, the 4844-metre high Nemangkawi (known by the Indonesians as Puncak Jaya), in order to raise Indonesia's flag of conquest over Papua. Participants in the ceremony claiming to be Papuans were families of senior Freeport employees, an Indonesian army unit known as the "Pasukan Koteka Papua" and soldiers wearing blackface make-up. However the ceremony did not occur at the peak of Nemagkawi, rather in the grounds of the Grasberg mine site some 800 metres below the peak. The Merah Putih still does not fly atop the famous summit (one of the "Seven Summits"), according to independent sources in TImika contacted by WPM.

On December 1 2011, Christian Welponer, a world famous mountaineer from the autonomous South Tyrol region of the Italian-Austrian Alpine border regions, released a video of him raising the Morning Star flag atop Nemangkawi. The act was deeply significant to West Papuan people, who sustained many casualties from Indonesian state violence inflicted on peaceful ceremonies across Papua that day. The act infuriated Indonesian officials in the Freeport surrounds, who failed to prevent Welponer from carrying out the symbolic solidarity action.

[West Papua Media with local sources.]

West Papua activist accuses Indonesia of not honouring its promise

Radio New Zealand International - August 25, 2013

An activist from the Indonesian province of West Papua says Indonesia is lying and not honouring its promise to the leaders of the Melanesian Spearhead Group.

The secretary-general of the West Papua National Coalition for Liberation Rex Rumakiek says Indonesia is now dictating to MSG leaders what they should do. He says during the MSG summit in New Caledonia, it was agreed that all foreign ministers visit Indonesia and West Papua to see the situation themselves.

Mr Rumakiek says now Indonesia is inviting the MSG leaders one by one. He says the Solomon Islands Prime Minister was the first MSG leader to visit Indonesia this month.

Mr Rumakiek says dealing with leaders individually creates a risk of bribery, and it's another tactic by Indonesia to divide the MSG and impose its agenda.

Aceh

Aceh residents to sue shariah police for defamation

Jakarta Globe - August 30, 2013

Nurdin Hasan, Banda Aceh – Residents of the Karang Anyar village in Langsa denied reports that a drunken mob had beaten Shariah police as they tried to disperse a live music performance on Sunday evening.

"Most of the audience, there were around 100 of them, were drunk. I and members of the WH [Wilayatul Hisbah – Shariah Police] climbed the stage and asked them to disperse," Ibrahim Latif, head of Langsa Islamic Shariah Agency, told reporters earlier this week.

But locals contested that narrative, and officials in the East Aceh village have filed a defamation suit against the Langsa Islamic Shariah Agency.

"Mr. Ibrahim and several WH members went onstage, asking that we stop the keyboard show," Ahmad Tukiran, chief of Karang Anyar village, told the Jakarta Globe on Thursday.

"Village officials went up, too. Not long after that, the music immediately stopped and the audience dispersed themselves. So there was no attack or beating of Mr. Ibrahim, as media have reported. We suspect the news of the attack was politicized by the chief of the Shariah Agency."

Village officials who were at the scene supported Ahmad's account, and some claimed to have guarded WH members as they returned to their offices.

Ibrahim's account stands in sharp contrast. "Some WH members were bruised on the face," he said on Monday. "I myself was hit twice on the face by two mad, drunk guys."

According to Ahmad, the performance in question was part of a peaceful Indonesian Independence Day celebration that included the distribution of prizes to local game winners.

"Logically, if there was such a massive attack, as Mr. Ibrahim has claimed, there would be someone who went to the hospital for treatment, but no one was admitted and everyone is in good shape, because there was no attack at all," Ahmad said. "My villagers won't accept being accused as if they are gangsters who don't support Shariah law."

Ahmad said he invited Ibrahim to discuss the events but Ibrahim declined. "He didn't want to come," Ahmad said. "That is why we're filing a suit: so that the defamation of our village can be dealt with lawfully."

He admitted that some of the audience was drunk. "We have no idea who they were," he said. "Whether they were residents of my village or from the neighboring village, whether they got drunk elsewhere then went to watch the show here – who can prove it?"

Aceh shariah police injured after music fans fight back

Jakarta Globe - August 26, 2013

Nurdin Hasan, Banda Aceh – Several Shariah police officers were injured in the early hours of Monday morning after more than a hundred youths attacked them while they were trying to disperse live-music performances in the Aceh town of Langsa.

"Most of the audience, there were around 100 of them, were drunk. I and members of the WH [Wilayatul Hisbah – Shariah Police] climbed the stage and asked them to disperse," said Ibrahim Latif, the head of Langsa Islamic Shariah Agency.

Ibrahim said the incident took place when about 15 Shariah police officers were trying to disperse three keyboard performances in three different villages in Langsa that went on from Sunday evening through early Monday morning.

They managed to disperse the crowds at concert venues in Geudeubang and Pondok Keumuning villages. As they moved to Karang Anyar village, however, about 100 members of the audience took violent objection to being asked to move on.

"They turned off the lights and began attacking us in the dark instead," Ibrahim said. "They beat us... Our members couldn't do much because we were smaller in number." Local police then came to the Shariah officers' aid, he added.

Ibrahim said he would file a report to the police in order to have the perpetrators charged. "We don't have the power to arrest them," he said. "We're not armed."

Ibrahim cited a local decree that prohibited performances of live music after 6 p.m. "There's no problem if the keyboard concerts are held in daylight, because we would be able to control the events to make sure there would be no khalwat and parties with alcohol," Ibrahim said.

Khalwat is the term used to describe an unrelated or unmarried man and woman in a room together. It is considered forbidden under Islamic Shariah law. Its enforcement occupies the lion's share of the WH's day job. Ibrahim added that he was also mindful that clothing perceived to be provocative was occasionally on display at live-music performances.

"Despite the resistance, we will keep trying to disperse keyboard performances held at night," Ibrahim said.

Human rights & justice

1965 affair not a tragedy

Sinar Harapan Newspaper - August 31, 2013

Fransisca Ria Susan, Jakarta – The kidnappings, forced disappearances and killing of more than 1 million Indonesians between 1965-1967 were not a tragedy, because they did not occur as part of a two-sided conflict. The killings were carried out by one side, were planned, systematic, and were given the go-ahead by an official government body to occur.

This is the conclusion that emerged from a teleconference called "Historical Justice in Confronting the 1965 Tragedy" that was held by The University of Melbourne in conjunction with the Driyarkara College of Philosophy, Jakarta, on Friday (30/8).

This teleconference also included several speakers located in Vancouver, London and Copenhagen. It included historians, military specialists, intellectuals and academics interested in the 1965 affair, including Kate McGregor, Jess Melvin, Max Lane, Djin Siauw, John Roosa, Asvi Warman Adam, Hilmar Farid, Bonnie Triyanya, Stanley Prasetyo and director of The Act of Killing, Joshua Oppenheimer. Also present was Nani Nurrachman, daughter of Major General Soetojo (one of the generals whose bodies were discovered down the well in Lubang Buaya in October 1965) as well as survivors from the 1965 affair.

Hilmar Farid in his presentation explained the need for a human rights report on 1965 that can be relied upon. Without such a report, denial about the killings will continue. "We need to convince the public, who remain in denial," he said.

Hilmar observed how in the public space, denial about the truth about what happened takes several forms. One form includes denying that the killings ever occurred, or by saying that that the killings occurred on both sides.

However, there was no war at this time. There was not two sides attacking each other, just one. "So it was not a tragedy, it was not a conflict, but a massacre," explains Hilmar. Before this, John Roosa expressed the same sentiment. "There was no war", he explained.

Former National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) commissioner Stanley Adi Prasetyo explained how Komnas HAM's findings into the 1965 killings clearly explained how the state was involved in the killings. The Operational Command for the Restoration of Security and Order (Kopkamtib) – an institution directly responsible to President Suharto at this time – was fully responsible for the affair.

"The 'receipting' (pengebonan, the borrowing of prisoners – ed), torture, rape and killing occurred at detention centers and Chinese schools that were converted into detention centers", Stanley explained.

The 1965-1967 killings, in Stanley's opinion, fulfill nine out of the 10 types of human rights abuses. "The only element that was not fulfilled was (discrimination based on) skin colour, he said.

Say sorry

Joshua Oppenheimer, based in Copenhagen, in his address to the teleconference, put pressure on President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to issue an apology for the killings. "The people of Indonesia must demand the President issue an apology. What occurred at that time was genocide, it was wrong," he said.

He explained how such an apology could become the basis for a Truth and Reconciliation Commission. "Without (knowing the) truth, there will be no reconciliation," he explained.

His film "The Act of Killing" has stirred up controversy by telling the story of Anwar Congo, who was involved in operations to kill PKI cadre in 1965-1967. Joshua has been able to strip bare how these killings were indeed carried out in a coordinated and systematic manner.

Joshua has explained how the film is his attempt to open the eyes of the world to what happened in Indonesia at this time. "Such things cannot be allowed to happen again," he says.

The film, in Joshua's opinion, holds a mirror up to us all. "Not only Anwar Congo, but all regimes, and indeed all of us," he explained.

He is aware that even today many people in Indonesia are scared to talk about the killings. Reconciliation, in his opinion, can only occur if we are brave enough to confront our fears by teasing out the true facts of what happened. (Inno Jemabut)

[Translated by Jess Melvin.]

Hard work needed to uncover the truth behind the 1965-66 affair

Kompas Newspaper - August 31, 2013

Jakarta – The long fight to uncover and moreover reconcile the 1965-66 affair is slowly starting to show results. Still needed of course is hard work and a readiness on the part of several parties to uncover the truth and come to terms with the facts of the affair.

"There is a point of light in the dark tunnel although this must be followed up because the nation cannot move forward if its feet are still tied to the darkness of the past", said historian Hilmar Farid at a conference titled "Historical Justice in Confronting the Tragedy of 1965" at the Driyarkara College of Philosophy in Jakarta on Friday August 30.

That point of light, according to Farid, is the outcome of the judicial review of Article 60(g) of Law Number 12/2003 on General Elections that restored the rights of former political prisoners to vote and be elected.

"Then there was MA (Supreme Court) decision 1050 of 2007 that found in favour of the heir of I Gede Puger, the former governor of Bali who was sadistically murdered in late 1965", said Farid.

Farid said that Kodam IX Udayana (regional military command) at the time seized land and property belonging to I Gede Puger. The Supreme Court ordered IX/Udayana to pay compensation of 128 million rupiah to I Gede Puger's heir. If the accused failed to do this, they must pay 1.5 million rupiah per day.

"Of course the decision was not implemented, but, yes, it would not indeed have been possible without cultural preconditions", he said.

Historian Asvi Warman Adam also conceded that reconciling the 1965-66 affair will not be easy. "As the momentum grows it will surely confront greater opposition. Big or small however it must be done. I for example have tried to rehabilitate [the name] of Waperdam (Deputy Prime Minister during the Old Order period) I Soebandrio", he said.

"The legal suit by former State Palace dancer Nani Nurani was also granted. Nurani finally obtained a KTP (ID card) for life and is now also demanding financial compensation for the actions of the government at the time", said Adam.

National historical commission

Adam also raised the need for the establishment of a national historical commission. Historica Magazine chief editor Bonnie Triyana also agreed with Farid. Such a commission would not have to be funded from the state budget, but could be formed by non-government organisations to study human rights violations linked with the 1965 affair.

"The Historical commission would pass on its recommendations to the state in order for it to deliver an admission of the state's neglect in the 1965 affair. Also to push the head of state to admit the crime and pursue formal channels to try the perpetrators", said Triyana.

Farid proposed that there be serious efforts undertaken to investigate and draft a weighty report on the 1965-66 affair. Such a report would require the involvement of human rights activists, historians and researches. The National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) report into 1965 that was drafted last year could be used as a point of reference.

Farid and Triyana both explained the progressive steps taken by Guatemala. Not long ago a Guatemalan court found former dictator Rios Montt guilty of the mass murders that took place in 1982-1983.

Former Komnas HAM member Stanley Adi Prasetyo also questioned the government's seriousness in resolving the human rights violations that took place in 1965.

During the event, though teleconferencing, a discussion was held involving hundreds of participants from Melbourne (Australia), Vancouver (Canada), Copenhagen (Denmark) and London (Britain). Clergyman Baskara T Wardaya and his team also launched the book "The Truth will Out", a translation of the book "Suara di Balik Prahara" (Voices Behind the Tempest) containing narrations by victims of the 1965 tragedy. (RYO)

[Translated by James Balowski.]

Indonesia must ratify convention on forced disappearances

Kompas Newspaper - August 31, 2013

Jakarta – The Indonesian government is being called on to ratify the International Convention on Enforced Disappearance of Persons. At the United Nations Hearing on Human Rights last month, the Indonesian government through the human rights director at the Home Affairs Ministry, Muhammad Anshor, said that the document or draft ratification has already been submitted to the House of Representatives (DPR).

"So, we are waiting on the government and the DPR to ratify it soon", said Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) Coordinator Haris Azhar when asked about the commemoration of the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances on August 30 in Jakarta on Friday.

The other task for the government and the DPR, said Azhar, is to include an article on the enforced disappearance of persons in the amendments to the Criminal Code (KUHP). In terms of outstanding cases, Indonesia still has a backlog of cases that need to be resolved such as the abduction of activists in 1997-1998, the case of Aceh and the disappearance of Aristoteles Masoka (the driver of murdered West Papuan independence leader Theys Hiyo Eluay). The legal process into these cases has been halted.

From London human rights organisation Amnesty International urged the Indonesian government to stop postponing the establishment of a human rights court to try those responsible for the abduction and forced disappearance of 13 political activists in 1997-1998.

Amnesty International campaign spokesperson for Indonesia and East Timor, Joseph Benedict, in a press release said that the continuing failure to investigate these crimes is perpetuating human rights violations and contributing to a wider culture of impunity.

Bennedict wrote said that the families of the political activists that were disappeared in 1997-1998 continue to demand that the government uncover the truth about what happened more than 15 years ago. The disappeared activists that are still missing are Sonny, Yani Afri, Ismail, Abdun Nasser, Dedi Hamdun, Noval Alkatiri, Wiji Thukul, Suyat Herman Hendrawan, Bimo Petrus Anugerah, Ucok Munandar Siahaan, Yadin Muhidin and Hendra Hambali.

Azhar believes that the government is not following up on the recommendations of the 1997-1998 case and Masoka's disappearance in November 2001. Moreover in the Aceh case the state has done nothing at all.

Amnesty International also highlighted the issue of the formation of a truth commission and mechanisms to find the missing persons. According to a 2012 report, the United Nations Working Group on Forced Disappearances has information on 162 reports that have yet to be resolved in Indonesia and 428 cases that have yet to be resolved in East Timor over the period 1975- 1999. (ONG)

[Translated by James Balowski.]

'The Act of Killing' to be released for free online in Indonesia

Jakarta Globe - August 29, 2013

Ethan Harfenist – Director Joshua Oppenheimer will make his acclaimed documentary on Indonesia's 1965 communist purge "The Act of Killing," available as a free download in the hopes that the controversial film, which was previously only seen in underground screenings, will reach a wider domestic audience.

"We did not release the film immediately online, because we wanted a national conversation to develop," the director said. "We wanted people to see the film together, to experience it together, to discuss it together. After all, the 1965 genocide is a shared history – it belongs not to individuals, but to Indonesia as a nation, and to humanity as a collective aspiration.

"Now that the national discussion has begun, now that more people have probably seen it in screenings than ever would have attended a regular cinema release, it is time to ensure all Indonesians, across the archipelago, can access the film."

The chilling documentary made waves at film festivals worldwide and, after a series of secret viewings, has spurred interest at home in a period of Indonesian history many would be happy to forget.

The film focuses on Anwar Congo and Adi Zulkadry, two Medan-based gangsters, or "premen," who re-enact their brutal roles in the mass killings that left more than 500,000 dead nationwide. The self-described thugs play themselves and their victims, addressing their violent history through the lens of popular American films in the disturbing, and often surreal, documentary.

While Indonesia's Film Censorship Board (BSF) has not banned the film, "The Act of Killing" ("Jagal") was not officially released in domestic theaters. The documentary will be posted for free online by Drafthouse Films and Vice on September 30 in commemoration of the failed coup attempt blamed on the PKI that eventually sparked the massacres.

The film's wider availability will hopefully foster a larger discussion on the events that served as a prelude to then-president Sukarno's fall and push the Indonesian government to address the mass killings head-on, Oppenheimer said.

"The film has come to Indonesia like the child in 'The Emperor's New Clothes,' pointing at the king and saying 'Look, the king is naked,'" he said. "Everybody knows that Indonesian democracy suffers from corruption, thuggery, apathy and the rule of fear... Everybody knows they were being lied to in school, at least at some level.

"Hopefully, the film will continue to help open a space for people to finally discuss the problems they long have known about, if only unconsciously, but been too afraid or uncomfortable to address. That is, after all, the function of art: not to show us things we did not know, but to give us the courage and the language to reflect upon our most painful truths."

The film attempts to describe in detail a time that many in Indonesia have largely chosen to forget, and it has drawn comparisons Hannah Arendt's seminal work on Adolph Eichmann's trial in Jerusalem and the theory of the "banality of evil" for its almost disturbingly normal portrayal of wicked men seemingly unaware of the volume of their deeds.

Despite its subject matter, Oppenheimer doubted Indonesia would block the online release of the film.

"The problem is that if the BSF were to ban the film formally, it becomes a crime to hold any screening," he said. "If it's a crime to screen the film, that becomes an excuse for paramilitary and preman groups, as well as the military itself, to physically attack screenings... [but the film's] support has been fairly high-profile.

"There would be consequences if the government were to openly ban the film – it would send a signal to the whole world that Indonesia has no commitment to freedom of expression, and consequently cannot be considered a genuine democracy."

Andreas Harsono, an Indonesian researcher with international NGO Human Rights Watch, welcomed the free release and called it a necessary step in the archipelago's healing process.

"It is very important for Indonesians to know about [the mass killings]," he said. "Legally, it is difficult to prosecute those involved in the killings because they happened almost 50 years ago. But it provides a good perspective about what happened at the time.

"I think that it's normal for the country to start acknowledging these events now. If you look at Germany's experience after World War II, it took the country decades to truly reflect on its actions and acknowledge what really happened."

Olin Monteiro, a writer and an activist for women's rights who organized a screening at the office of the National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) last year, also embraced the release, but urged Indonesians to continue to discuss the film's content.

"[Viewings] should be followed by conversations and exchanges of knowledge [as they were during the screenings], so people can more readily accept the film's messages," she said. "There are a number of people who are not ready to accept a film like this.

"Some people in Indonesia aren't mature enough to see it or do not have an adequate understanding of human rights issues. There is the possibility that some people could take it the wrong way."

The 1965 massacres are still a controversial issue in Indonesia and are steeped in a history of New Order-era whitewashing, latter-day conspiracy theories and refusal by many of the organizations allegedly involved to accept blame for the deaths.

When the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM), the author of a report on the mass killings, urged the Attorney General's Office to investigate what it called evidence of gross human rights violations, the law enforcement agency declined, saying the testimonies of 349 eyewitnesses was not substantial enough to warrant legal action.

The nation's coordinating minister for political and security affairs Djoko Suyanto showed little interest in meeting calls for an official government apology, stating "we can't just apologize without looking at what really happened in the 1965 incident."

An eye-opening book on the killings by historian John Roosa titled "Pretext for Mass Murder: The September 30th Movement and Suharto's Coup d'Etat in Indonesia," was officially banned until the decision was overturned by the Constitutional Court, Andreas said. The release of "The Act of Killing," will mark another small step toward the nation's acknowledgement of its past sins, he added.

"I'd like to see politicians in areas that experienced the brunt of the killings to make known whatever information they have about that era," he said. "I'd like to see public acknowledgments of the killings in the forms of monuments and photos on the streets of Jakarta, of Surabaya, of Denpasar, like they have in Berlin for the Holocaust.

"Such things would allow to Indonesia to move forward and move on from its tradition of self-denial."

[Additional reporting by Abdul Qowi Bastian.]

Labour & migrant workers

Workers reject limit on minimum wage rise

Jakarta Post - August 31, 2013

Fikri Zaki Muhammadi, Jakarta – The Jakarta Workers Forum on Friday urged the central government to cancel the presidential instruction (Inpres) that regulates wage rises, saying that if passed, workers would take to the streets and hold a national protest in October.

Forum secretary general Muhammad Toha said that workers in the capital would continue to fight for a 68 percent wage increase next year, to Rp 3.7 million (US$350) from the current Rp 2.2 million.

"We are speaking in line with what the Deputy Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama said, that a decent wage in Jakarta is Rp 4 million," Toha said in a press conference on Friday. "We will support him in not following the [presidential] instruction," he added.

Toha said that the instruction was merely a result of the government's fear that factories would shut down if wage rises continued. "We have conducted research on this. We believe that no company will close because of the increase. It's reasonable for them as well as for us," he said.

Confederation of Indonesian Workers Union (KSPI) president Said Iqbal said that all labor unions in the country had agreed to protest against the instruction.

"This is a blunder by the President. If the reason was the decline of the rupiah, the government should boost domestic consumer spending, so that the currency will rise again," he said on Friday.

"The same thing was done by the Barack Obama and Shinzo Abe administrations," he said, referring to the United States and Japan.

Said said more than 30,000 workers would stage protests on Sept. 3, 5 and 10 in the capital and in other cities should the government fail to heed their protests. The workers will hold a national strike in October if the situation did not change he said. "The Jakarta governor has to ignore this instruction and make his own calculations if he wants peace in the city," Said said.

As part of the government's efforts to avert further massive layoffs during the current economic slowdown, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Thursday signed a presidential instruction that set a new structure for minimum wages in labor-intensive industries.

The new formula, as regulated in the instruction, could be used at the end of the year to determine next year's wage increase, which it is stipulated must not exceed current inflation plus 10 percent.

The Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH Jakarta) stated that the instruction breached Law No. 12/2011 on legislative drafting. "The law doesn't recognize presidential instructions. Even if they exist, they should not regulate on something as they don't have a legal basis," Muhammad Isnur from the institute said. He added that the President also failed to include public participation in the drafting.

The Jakarta Wage Council stated that the instruction had hurt it by ignoring its role. The regulation may also interfere with the governor's right to decide the provincial minimum wage (UMP) as mandated by Law No. 13/2003 on employment.

Ahok said that the main factor in determining the minimum wage was the calculation of the standard cost of living (KHL).

"Wages should increase according to the KHL. The last increase was based on that calculation. So workers cannot ask for a 40 percent increase every year," he said at City Hall on Friday.

SBY signs instruction on minimum wage

Jakarta Post - August 30, 2013

inda Yulisman/Bagus BT Saragih, Jakarta – President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, as part of the government's efforts to avert further massive layoffs amid the current economic slowdown, signed on Thursday a presidential instruction that set a new structure for labor-intensive minimum wages.

The move was revealed by Manpower and Transmigration Minister Muhaimin Iskandar after the signing. Muhaimin said that the new formula, as regulated in the instruction, could be used at the end of the year to determine next year's wage increase.

"As instructed by the President, the increase [of the labor-intensive minimum regional wage] must not exceed the current inflation rate plus 10 percent," Muhaimin said.

"This is to prevent companies from suffering further losses that could result in more layoffs," he said. Muhaimin added that he was preparing a ministerial regulation to detail the presidential instruction.

According to the instruction, labor-intensive industries would have to pay a wage increase based on annual inflation rate plus 5 percent, while overall business sectors outside the category use a formula of inflation rate plus 10 percent at the highest.

The issuance of the presidential instruction follows hot on the heels of the unveiling of an economic stimulus package by the government last week to avert a further slowdown in the economy, which in the first half of this year only expanded by 5.92 percent, the lowest level in nearly three years.

The formula is much lower than that demanded by labor unions, which usually go above 20 percent. The Confederation of Indonesian Workers Union (KSPI), for example, expressed their intention to urge a 50 percent wage rise next year in line with what it claims as the government's campaign of halting the "cheap labor regime".

Muhaimin said that the government would engage the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) in carrying out surveys to evaluate decent living standards (KHL).

"Starting from this year, the BPS will involve in surveys of regional wage councils, thereby reducing difference of views between the related stakeholders," he said, adding that the standards would include 60 items.

For the past several years, debates to determine annual minimum wages have always emerged as a contentious battle between labor unions, employer associations and local administrations, partly due to unclear definitions of the KHL.

Muhaimin further said that the new formula would allow firms to set their own version of the productivity level, which should come along with the annual wage increase.

In response to the issuance of the presidential instruction, Indonesian Employers' Association (Apindo) chairman Sofjan Wanandi welcomed the move, saying it might help to reduce uncertainties in the annual wage increase process. However, he questioned the implementation of the instruction.

"We worry whether the regional administrations, which have the final say on the labor wage increase, can accept this," he said.

Workers reject new wage rise limit, plan series of massive protests

The Daily Investor - August 30, 2013

Jakarta – The Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPI) and several other labour associations have emphatically rejected the issuance of a presidential instruction (Inpres) on limiting wage rises in order to stimulate the economy and overcome a slump in the value of the rupiah.

KSPI President Said Iqbal said the Inpres will in no way improve workers' welfare and instead has the potential of returning the country to a low- wage regime. According to Iqbal the weakening rupiah is not being caused by a drop in labour productivity or because workers are demanding high wages but because the maturation of an excessive private sector and government debt, particularly private sector debt that is out of control and hence the growing need for dollars.

Iqbal said the weakening rupiah is also being caused by a rapid decline in exports so employers are parking their money overseas. "It needs to be clarified that the weakening of the rupiah has no relationship with workers but rather with private sector debt", he said at an event "KSPI Press Conference Rejects Inpres Wage Determination" at the Legal Aid Foundation (LBH) offices in Jakarta on Friday August 30.

Attending the press conference were several labour association including the All Indonesia Workers Organisation (OPSI), the National Industrial Trade Union (SPIN), the Independent Trade Union Federation (FSBI), the [Pulogadung] Industrial Zone Labour Front (FBKP), the Jakarta Provincial Labour Forum, the Association of Independent Trade Unions (GSBI), the Cross-Factory Labour Forum (FBLP) and the Joint Labour Secretariat (Sekber Buruh).

Iqbal said the issuance of the Inpres conflicted with the law, where it stipulates that regional minimum wages should be set by governors, not a minister, the Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo) or illegal employers. He added that the Inpres is simply a political machination hatched between employers and the government to return the country to a regime of low wages.

Iqbal said that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) should not get caught up in low-wage policies that will reduce people's purchasing power, which totally contradicts the president's state of the nation speech on August 16 in which he said that purchasing power should be protected and Indonesia as a middle-class country is no longer orientated towards low- wage policies. "The government should be intelligent in overcoming this problem, don't be influenced by employers", he said.

Iqbal said the KSPI also rejects a statement by Coordinating Minister for the Economy Hatta Rajasa who declared that workers' minimum wage would be set based on the results of a survey by the National Statistics Agency (BPS) and wage rises be limited to 10 percent for general industries and 5 percent for labour intensive industries. According to Iqbal Indonesian workers reject the setting of the minimum wage based on a BPS survey, which should be carried out by regional wages councils.

Iqbal said that the KSPI and other trade unions reject the Inpres as a standard to set 2014 minimum wage increases because it is part of the politics of the government and employers. The KSPI said that setting the 2014 minimum wage rise comes under the authority of governors based on Law Number 13/2013 on Labour, and ministers, let alone employers and Apindo do not have this authority.

Iqbal added that the KSPI also opposed the 2014 minimum wage increase being based on a maximum inflation rate of 10 percent because it should be based on the reasonable living cost index (KHL) and economic growth. KSPI is demanding that the number of items that make up the KHL be increased from 60 to 84. "We also call on all regional heads to take a realistic position and be able to work together", he said.

According to Iqbal if the government sticks to the Inpres and sets minimum wage increase based only on inflation then all Indonesian workers will mobilise and hold a series of massive rallies starting on August 31 in Bekasi, West Java, in which 20,000 workers will take to the streets.

On September 3 the Jakarta Provincial Labour Forum will mobilise as many as 5,000 people, on September 5 some 30,000 workers from the Greater Jakarta area will protest at the State Palace in Jakarta, on September 10 as many as 10,000 people will mobilise across East Java, on September 11 many as 11,000 will protest in the North Sumatra provincial capital of Medan, on September 12 around 5,000 will demonstrate in Batam, Riau Islands, and on September 13 some 5,000 will mobilise in the West Java provincial capital of Bandung.

Massive protest actions will also be held the South Sumatra provincial capital Lampung, the North Sulawesi provincial capital Manado, the South Sulawesi provincial capital Makassar, Gorontalo province and Aceh, culminating in a national strikes in October and November involving 4 million workers.

[Translated by James Balowski.]

Government outlaws labour protests in 'vital' industrial sectors

Detik.com - August 28, 2013

Zulfi Suhendra, Jakarta – A number of companies and industrial zones have been included as Indonesian National Vital Objects (OVNI) in the industrial sector and now come under government protection. This protection covers security threats against OVNIs.

Indonesian Police chief (Kapolri) General Timur Pradopo explained that in relation to joint cooperation with the Ministry of Industry (Kemenperin), there are at least 38 industries and 10 industrial zones that come under this protection. With this agreement, the national police will provide optimal protection of these sectors.

"We continue to work jointly managing and anticipating matters pertaining to security measures. Particularly in the industrial sector, the main factor stimulating national economic growth. It's not that we weren't already doing this, but now it is being better optimised", said Pradopo at the offices of the Ministry of Industry on Jl. Gatot Subroto in South Jakarta on Wednesday August 28.

Pradopo said that the national police will respond to threats against the industrial sector that cover conventional crimes, terrorism, demonstrations [strikes], sweeps [by workers] and other security disturbances. "Responding to these disturbances requires comprehensive measures. So they do not develop into disturbances", he said.

Pradopo said that the perpetrators of threats and disturbances against the industrial sector that involve violence and criminal acts, will obviously be processed legally and probably face criminal penalties. "All matters related to violence are protected by law. If it is a legal violation, obviously it will be dealt with legally", he explained. (zul/hen)

[Translated by James Balowski.]

Indonesian unions divided on next steps

Red Flag - August 25, 2013

Sherr Rinn – During July and August, the Indonesian government firmed up its resistance to any further large increases in the minimum wage. Regulations are to ensure that wage increases don't exceed companies' "capacity to pay".

The regulatory offensive is meant to consolidate a several months long counteroffensive against the newly emerging trade union movement that employers and government launched after a million-strong national workers' mobilisation on 3 October 2012. The counteroffensive has used legal channels, gangs of thugs, mass sackings and divide and rule tactics, and has been assisted by attitudes of accommodation by a new bureaucracy among the union leaderships.

The counteroffensive has been successful in damping worker activity; strikes and other protests have been in decline since around November. In recent talks with the minister of industry and the head of the Indonesian Entrepreneurs Association (APINDO), the heads of two major union federations more or less offered support for the government's insistence that unions exercise wage restraint.

However, this was rejected by another leader, Said Iqbal, from the Indonesian Metal Workers Federation (FSPMI), who is also head of the major union alliance Indonesian Workers Assembly (MPBI), which organised the 3 October mobilisation. The other union leaders were also members of MPBI, indicating that new differences might be emerging among the union leaders.

Breakout

When the dictator General Suharto was pushed from power in 1998, the new president, B.J. Habibie, quickly ratified International Labour Organization conventions on trade union rights, and the state ended its policy of tight control over the single "union" organisation that was allowed.

During the next 10 years, that organisation fractured and fragmented as rival leadership cliques struggled over control, while at the same time there were also independent initiatives from the factory floor to win leadership or even start new unions. Thousands of new enterprise unions were registered.

After more than a decade of this internal tumult and enterprise union expansion, Indonesia now has several major union federations independent of the state.

During 2010-12 worker protest actions expanded rapidly, demanding wage rises and also an end to casual labour hire practices (outsourcing). Around 80 percent of factory workers, including in the central production line processes, were being employed on labour hire contracts, with low wages and no rights. This was a violation of Indonesian law.

Wages had dropped below the official government estimate of what was needed for minimum physical survival. These protests took on a more combative form, with militant workers moving through factory areas and calling out workers from other factories.

There were pickets, as well as road blockades and city protests. Hundreds of thousands of workers were involved around the country. The militancy climaxed in the 3 October national protests, mobilising around 1 million workers - although only a minority were actually on strike. The campaign won rises in the minimum wage of between 40 percent and 120 percent, depending on the region.

Bosses' counterattack

There was an immediate counterattack. Anti-worker leaflets threatening strikers in the name of various new organisations appeared among communities in the poor factory worker areas. Soon after, gangs of thugs appeared, sometimes up to 400 men, recruited from the poorest areas.

They attacked and harassed picket lines and burned down worker offices. Many companies started to deploy these thugs, as well as soldiers, on site. The thugs would follow outspoken workers home and threaten them and their families.

Meanwhile, when companies had been forced to end labour hire, they would upgrade workers to contracts, but often give different groups better or worse conditions, dividing the union membership. Some workers have been charged with criminal libel against employers and may end up in court or jail.

In other cases, workers were made redundant and offered pay-offs, resulting in drops in memberships of some unions. Many employers have successfully applied to government bodies for a postponement of wage rises. Despite inspiring incidents of workers fighting off large brigades of thugs back in November, there has been a demoralising impact on sections of the union membership.

This has been made worse by union bureaucrat conservatism. Almost immediately after the counterattack started, there were retreats. On 8 November, union leaders, including from the FSPMI, signed a "Declaration of Harmony" with APINDO and government officials.

In the aftermath of this agreement, union leaderships discouraged worker protests, including the popular solidarity actions between factories. Workers were instructed to withdraw from several union-community alliances in several cities.

Two worker centres that had been dynamic recruiters and educators for new members, often channelling 1,000-2,000 workers a day into unions, came under suspicion. Their voluntary worker trainers were replaced by new people who often had not been active.

Teachers of economics and politics courses, even English, have been removed. Worker resistance to the thug presence has been channelled into ineffective symbolic national actions at the expense of preparations to deal with the thugs inside factories.

As some workers become demoralised, others become increasingly angry. Polarisation among members is likely into the next period. Meanwhile, Said Iqbal's insistence that workers should campaign for another 50 percent wage increase while other leaders acquiesce in the government's line of no more increases appears to point to internal struggle developing among the leaderships.

A reorganisation of the mainstream unions may be in the making. If it does happen, it will provide an opportunity for the small unions attached to socialist propaganda groups to reassess their policy of organising separately from the 3 million workers organised in the big unions.

Political parties & elections

Golkar members pull away from Aburizal

Jakarta Globe - August 29, 2013

Markus Junianto Sihaloho – Mid-ranking Golkar Party members are increasingly nervous about presidential candidate Aburizal Bakrie's low popularity among voters and plan to raise his nomination as a topic of discussion at a senior party officials meeting in October, a Golkar lawmaker said on Wednesday.

Yorrys Raweyai, head of the party's central executive board, said many central and regional Golkar officials were concerned about Aburizal's weak performance in recent polls.

"Golkar has to conduct a serious evaluation on Bang Ical's [Aburizal Bakrie's] electability," said Yorrys, who added that voters would punish the party if it did not respond to their concerns.

Yorrys said he agreed with a recent statement by Akbar Tandjung, the chief of the party's board of advisors, who said Aburizal was less popular than the party as a whole. "Akbar has to be appreciated and taken seriously. Akbar knows Golkar best," Yorrys said.

He added that there were growing divisions in his party on the candidacy.

"Golkar is good externally, but internally it is not solid and there are strong divisions," he said.

A survey published in Kompas on Monday put public support for Aburizal at 9 percent, up from 6 percent in December. Leading the poll was Jakarta Governor Joko Widodo, who polled 33 percent, nearly double his December result.

A May survey by the Center for Strategic and International Studies put Golkar's popularity at 13.2 percent, eclipsing the Indonesia Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) on 12.7 percent at the top of the rankings.

Akbar last week told reporters the party would evaluate Aburizal's nomination internally.

"The evaluation will be published at the right time. This evaluation will be made the basis of our consideration and discussion with internal entities of Golkar," Akbar said in Jakarta on Friday.

According to Akbar, regional party members have complained about Aburizal's leadership, saying he is failing to fulfill his promises to the party.

In his successful campaign to be party chair, Aburizal promised endowment funds to regional party cadres, but Akbar said the implementation of this plan fell short of expectations.

Also identified by Akbar as a concern was the involvement of Lapindo Brantas, a company led by Aburizal, in a 2006 mudflow in Sidoarjo, East Java. "Lapindo also plays a role in his electability," Akbar said.

But Firman Subagyo, the chief of the Golkar central executive board, said his party has yet to announce the agenda for the October meeting of party leaders, adding that no-one has formally suggested an evaluation of Aburizal's candidacy be discussed.

Firman conceded that outsiders might perceive the party as divided, but said the party leadership was sensitive to the attitudes of party members.

He said it would be difficult to re-evaluate Aburizal's candidacy because his nomination took place at a leaders meeting that included regional leaders. "The steps should be clear and in line with the rules," Firman said.

Golkar deputy secretary general Nurul Arifin denied Akbar intended to evaluate Aburizal's presidential candidacy. "Maybe he was misinterpreted by the media," Nurul said.

Tantowi Yahya, deputy secretary general of the party's central executive board, conceded that senior party members had pockets of support in the organization.

"Political parties consist of factions. Every senior official has his or her own loyalists, that is the normal dynamics," Tantowi said, as quoted by Detik.com. Tantowi said the party remained unified, despite the latest tensions.

"What's important is that Golkar has never been divided in responding to an issue. Such internal dynamics [conflict] are not only found in Golkar," he said. "What's important is how the general chairman is able to manage the factions to... develop the party."

Tantowi said he was confident that Aburizal's popularity would rise. "We have not launched all of our strategies, there are still many primary programs that the public do not know," he said on Tuesday.

"This will be every Golkar legislative candidates' task: Aside from selling their visions, [they will have to] also sell Aburizal's visions."

Dems already chose a candidate: Analyst

Jakarta Globe - August 26, 2013

The Democratic Party this weekend sent out invitations to public figures to take part in its convention to pick a presidential candidate.

But as the invites reach their recipients, a political analyst said the party has already chosen Pramono Edhie Wibowo, the brother-in-law of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono as its presidential hopeful.

Speaking at a discussion by political think thank the Jakarta Institute on Saturday, Boni Hargens, an analyst from the University of Indonesia, said it was already obvious who the next presidential candidate will be.

He further claimed that the party convention was merely political theater to provide "false legitimacy."

"The Democratic Party would be attacked if it immediately appointed Pramono Edhie," Boni said. "So, the convention is just a false legitimation. Regarding surveys, anybody could be paid to do it," he said.

Boni said the convention was just part of the party's efforts to make it appear democratic. "By holding the convention the Democrats just want to give the impression that the party is not in fact an oligarchy," Boni said.

Convention spokesman Rully Charis said that the candidates will be briefed on the rules of selection and interviewed about their perspective on Indonesia.

"Each participant must hold a campaign for eight months and be assessed in two surveys. "The one who scores the highest has the chance to become the Democratic Party's presidential candidate," Rully said.

Indonesia's ambassador to the United States Dino Patti Djalal was the first candidate interviewed by the convention committee on Saturday. The interview was conducted behind closed doors.

State Enterprises Minister Dahlan Iskan, who has also received an invitation to join the convention, said he did not want to take part in the convention and tried to avoid it but the party had already included his name as one of the candidates.

"The Democrats' [convention] committee had officially contacted me and told me that my name had been included in the presidential candidate list. So, I could no longer avoid it even though I wanted to," Dahlan said on Sunday.

The eccentric minister said the committee initially planned to interview him on Friday but he had said his schedule was full and that the interview had been rescheduled for Wednesday. Regional Legislative Council (DPD) chairman Irman Gusman also confirmed that he had received an invitation from committee members Putu Suwaste and Didi Irawadi Syamsuddin to join the convention.

"Previously I had informal talks with the president and [Energy Minister] Jero [Wacik], but it's official now," Irman said over the weekend.

Putu said Irman has been scheduled for an interview on Tuesday. Irman said he was ready to compete with other candidates. "I'm ready, I always have been."

Former National Democratic Party (NasDem) chief advisor Endriartono Sutarto said he has formed a team to help him win in the convention.

"The team has been around for a while. It was set up to help me when I was a part of the NasDems. They continue to give me analysis and input on the steps I need to take to be selected," Endriartono said.

President Yudhoyono also invited North Sulawesi governor Sinyo Harry Sarundajang to take part in the convention and said Sinyo was one of the best governors in the country.

"It is an honor as well as a challenge to take part. It is a big responsibility to lead the country," Sinyo said. The emergence of Sinyo's name was surprising and he becomes the only representative from the eastern Indonesian region.

Other figures that were said to have been invited as participants include former Constitutional Court chief justice Mahfud M. D., House of Representatives Speaker Marzuki Alie, East Java Governor Soekarwo, businessman Chairul Tanjung, Lion Air boss Rusdi Kirana and Migrant Worker Placement and Protection Agency chairman Jumhur Hidayat.

Marzuki recently criticized the party's convention committee, saying it does not understand what the ruling party is seeking in its 2014 presidential candidate.

The lawmaker warned that he would reconsider taking part if committee members – tasked with nominating a presidential candidate – did not take their jobs seriously.

"The committee does not have a clear idea on the criteria required from participants," Marzuki was quoted as saying by Tempo.co, on Wednesday last week.

He said the general criteria ought to be that participants be Indonesian citizens and have a minimum education standard, while the specific criteria be that the participants give full support to the drive against corruption and have an understanding of the importance of diversity.

"The committee must look at their track records before inviting them to become participants," Marzuki said.

Presidential hopefuls quizzed

Jakarta Post - August 25, 2013

Ina Parlina, Jakarta – The ailing Democratic Party kick started on Saturday a preliminary examination to shortlist candidates for the 2014 presidential poll.

An independent selection committee set up by the party handpicked 15 names to take part in a selection process said was inspired by the US presidential primary.

Indonesian Ambassador to the US Dino Patti Djalal, a former spokesperson for President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, was the first to be interviewed on Saturday. Dino said the committee asked him what had motivated him to join the primary.

"[I answered] that it was because I wanted to payback what I owe to my generation and my children's generation," Dino told a press conference after the event. "I believe 2014 is important as we will be at a historical crossroad. Where we will take the country after 2014 is important."

Dino, who claimed he only wanted to empower the country, will run with a campaign slogan of Indonesia Unggul 45-21 (Indonesia Superior 45-21). It aims to encourage people to revive the spirit of nationalism in 1945 – when the nation gained independence – in the 21st century, which has greater challenges.

The committee will forward the interview's results to the party's supreme assembly, which will weigh up the candidates before Sept. 15 when the presidential convention begins.

The remaining candidates are scheduled for interviews with the committee next Tuesday and Wednesday. Committee spokesman Rully Charis, however, refused to reveal the names, saying doing so would be unethical. An official announcement is slated for Aug. 30.

Those who have confirmed their participation in the party's presidential primary are State-Owned Enterprises Minister Dahlan Iskan, House of Representatives Speaker Marzuki Alie, Regional Representatives Council (DPD) Speaker Irman Gusman, Trade Minister Gita Wirjawan and Gen. (ret.) Endriartono Sutarto.

Despite calling the whole selection process a presidential convention, the mechanism used by the committee to select a candidate is different from the one applied in the US. The committee invited top political figures, from both inside and outside the party, to join the race and party members do not have the right to vote a candidate.

Marzuki criticized the committee for not outlining clear requirements to join the convention, saying it seemed anyone could join if they wanted to. Other political parties whose members have been invited to join the process have accused the Democratic Party of poaching.

NasDem is one of the parties that slammed the party after its top politician, Endriartono, decided to join the primary. The party decided to fire Endriartono.

The Democratic Party was also eager to invite popular Jakarta Governor Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to join the race. Jokowi, however, has turned down the offer.

Democratic Party executive chairman Syarief Hasan downplayed the criticism, saying the convention "was intended to put the nation's interests above party interests."

Surveys & opinion polls

Public sees money politics as 'normal'

Jakarta Post - August 27, 2013

Indra Harsaputra, Surabaya – The public considers vote-buying a normal phenomenon, the Indonesian Survey Circle (LSI) found ahead of Thursday's East Java gubernatorial election.

"Out of 440 respondents, 10.5 percent consider money politics normal and 30.9 percent consider it quite normal," LSI research director Arman Salam told The Jakarta Post on Monday.

He also said that 26.8 percent of respondents considered the practice very influential while 38.9 percent thought it was influential in garnering votes. "This means that the larger part of the public believes there will be money politics in the gubernatorial election," he added.

Four candidates will vie on Thursday for the votes of 30.03 million eligible voters.

Incumbents Soekarwo and Saifullah Yusuf (KarSa) are supported by 10 major parties, including the Golkar Party and the Democratic Party, and 22 smaller parties, while Eggi Sudjana and M. Sihat (Beres) are running on an independent ticket.

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) is the only party singularly supporting a ticket – Bambang Dwi Hartono and Said Abdullah (Jempol) – while the National Awakening Party (PKB) and seven smaller parties back Khofifah Indar Parawansa and Herman S Sumawiredja (Berkah).

Supporters of each candidate, however, have rejected the practice of vote- buying.

PKB chairman Muhaimin Iskandar, for example, has instructed the Berkah campaign team to remain vigilant against any irregularities including vote-buying at all polling stations.

Meanwhile, Eggi is offering a Rp 5 million (US$460) reward for anyone who gets recorded proof of any irregularities, including vote-buying.

"The public always asks me for a lot wherever I go," he said. "I don't believe it is a healthy practice and is evidence that political education is not working as it should."

East Java Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) member Sri Sugeng Pujiatmiko said many campaign banners were still on display during the current cooling-off period. "We have requested that all banners and other paraphernalia be taken down," she said.

She also revealed that not all ballots and other voting equipment had reached all 38 regencies and cities in the province. According to the schedule, she said, all ballots and equipment should have been distributed between July 15 and Aug. 13.

"The slow distribution of ballots and other equipment may disrupt the gubernatorial race," she said. "We have also found damaged ballots that have yet to be replaced by the East Java General Elections Commission [KPUD]."

Sri said her agency would coordinate with the Navy to help distribute ballots and other equipment to remote islands, such as Masalembu and Bawean, using naval helicopters.

The East Java Bawaslu is also questioning East Java KPUD chief Andry Dewanto Achmad over allegations of subjectivity. "Andry was questioned because he sent messages to 484 of his friends using BlackBerry messenger on Aug. 21 indicating his support for Khofifah," said Sri.

"He was also grilled about the printing of ballot papers listing four candidates even though the forms were printed on July 29, before the Khofifah-Herman pair was cleared to join the race."

Jokowi looks unstoppable, parties jitter

Jakarta Post - August 27, 2013

Yuliasri Perdani and Margareth S. Aritonang, Jakarta – After a survey by the country's leading newspaper Kompas showed that Governor Joko "Jokowi" Widodo managed to double his lead over his strongest opponent – patron of the Greater Indonesian Movement (Gerindra) Party Lt. Gen. (ret) Prabowo Subianto – political parties are rushing to rethink their strategies for the 2014 presidential election.

The opinion poll, which involved 1,400 respondents between November 2012 and June 2013, shows that Jokowi stands a greater chance of becoming the next president, outdoing Prabowo and Megawati Soekarnoputri, chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P).

The survey reveals that in June 32.5 percent of respondents said they would vote for Jokowi, an increase from 17.7 percent in December last year.

"The support base for Jokowi is expanding. He is favored by people from diverse demographic, socio-economic and political backgrounds," Bestian Nainggolan from Kompas research division said.

Trailing behind Jokowi is Prabowo, who garnered support from 15.1 percent, up 2 percent from December last year.

The support for Megawati has plummeted from 9.3 percent in December to 8 percent. Former vice president and Golkar senior politician Jusuf Kalla received 4.5 percent, down from 6.7 percent six months earlier.

Golkar chairman and the party's presidential candidate Aburizal Bakrie enjoyed a slight increase of support, from 5.9 percent in December to 8.8 percent.

Responding to the opinion poll, PDI-P senior politician Ribka Tjiptaning hinted that, at the party's national meeting – slated for Sept. 6, there was a possibility that Megawati could name Jokowi as the party's presidential candidate.

"It is possible. Ibu [Megawati] sees things objectively. She was the one who appointed [Jokowi] to run for the gubernatorial [election]," she said on Monday.

Ribka, however, said that her party would only field its own candidate if it achieved at least 20 percent of the vote in the upcoming legislative election.

There have also been talks among leaders of the PDI-P to pair Jokowi with Megawati with the popular Jakarta Governor serving as her deputy.

Jokowi, as usual, declined to comment on his ever-growing popularity. "I am focusing on working in Jakarta. For issues regarding the 2014 [general election], please ask the party chairperson," he told reporters at City Hall, referring to Megawati.

Sutan Bhatoegana, a member of the Democratic Party central board, said his party was not intimidated by Jokowi's popularity. "We are not scared. We are not thinking about Jokowi. If you insist on focusing on popularity, many people are indeed popular," he said.

Gerindra's Martin Hutabarat said that the party would be open to Jokowi's candidacy in 2019. "We will make him candidate in 2019. That would be the best time for him," he said.

[Sita W. Dewi contributed to this report.]

Media & journalism

TNI behind systematic assaults on journalists, says AJI

Jakarta Post - August 31, 2013

Jakarta – In a move that has surprised many, the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) has named the Indonesian Military (TNI) as press enemy number one this year.

The TNI is accused of acting in a way that is contrary to press freedom, and of being behind systematic assaults on their targets, including journalists. According to AJI data, the TNI should be held responsible for eight out of 30 violent assaults against journalists from January 2012 to August 2013.

"We don't highlight the quantity of the assaults but we still consider the military as extraordinary because, in most cases, they contribute to the systematic nature of the attacks," AJI advocacy head Iman Dwi Nugroho said on Saturday.

Iman then cited as one example the intimidation toward journalists that covered the Cebongan murder trial, which saw 12 Army's Special Forces (Kopassus) personnel as defendants at the Yogyakarta Military Tribunal. It was widely reported that several journalists were summoned by the defendants' military lawyers to a meeting that criticized their media reports. The meeting was to be held in a military facility.

The journalists turned down the invitation but offered the lawyers a chance to air their views in their newspapers but the lawyers refused. When the public was made aware about this, the lawyers' team denied everything.

Iman mentioned another case of brutality against journalists, this time by a member of the Air Force, which took place in October last year in Pekanbaru where five journalists were physically assaulted while covering the crash of an Air Force Hawk 200 jet. "The investigation has been going on for almost a year but it has not progressed," Iman said.

When asked whether the military's newly appointed leaders, TNI commander Gen. Moeldoko and Army chief of staff Gen. Budiman, who are considered more intellectual than militaristic in approach, could help to improve the situation, Iman acknowledged that he hoped so. "Let us hope there will be no violent acts carried out by any soldiers under their leadership," he said.

Besides naming the TNI an enemy of the press, the AJI has also presented awards to a number of journalists. The awards were part of the commemoration to mark the AJI's 19th anniversary on Thursday.

Former Metro TV journalist Luviana was given the prestigious Tasrif Award for her outstanding struggle for workers and gender issues. Luviana was also among those who criticized the use of the airwaves to further media owners' political interests.

The AJI also presented three Riau journalists, namely Didik Herwanto of the Riau Pos daily, Fakhri Robianto of Riau TV and Rian FB Anggoro of Antara news agency, with Udin Awards. These journalists were the ones who were beaten by Air Force personnel when covering the fighterjet crash.

Last but not least, the AJI also granted Yulianti Umrah, the founder of the Arek Lintang Surabaya Foundation that provides protection for street children, with an SK Trimurti award.(hrl/dic)

Health & education

Educate students, don't hit, teachers told

Jakarta Globe - August 31, 2013

The number of cases involving teachers resorting to violence when punishing errant students indicates a lack of awareness of the impact of such action on students' psyche, and is grounds for disciplinary action against the teachers, a prominent politician said on Thursday.

Supeno Budiyanto Uca, the deputy chairman of the Democratic Party's Bekasi youth wing, Pemuda Demokrat Indonesia, said that violence would create a traumatic experience for the students.

"A teacher's job is to educate, not torture, students," Supeno said, stressing the need for teachers to be role models for their students.

He was speaking in response to reports that an elementary school teacher in Bekasi, identified only as R.S., hit his students' hands with a steel ruler after none of them were able to answer his question.

Supeno said that the teacher's conduct was unacceptable and called for disciplinary action to be taken by the local education authorities.

"The Bekasi Education Office and the district head should take action," he said. "We will follow up on the case to prevent similar incidents from recurring."

He added that he would file a formal complaint with the education office, the National Commission for Child Protection (Komnas Anak) and the police.

In another incident reported this week, a teacher in Nunukan district, North Kalimantan, identified only as M.N., allegedly kicked and hit a student after the latter had thrown away some of his food.

Syaparuddin Thalib, the head of the Nunukan Education Office, said educators should be able to exercise control. He said that teachers should serve as role models for their students. Syaparuddin also said that teachers should take persuasive measure and not resort to violence when dealing with unruly students.

"We have to realize that hitting students is a violation of human rights. Everyone, including the parents and teachers, must realize that there are laws on violence that also extend to the protection of minors. We are really saddened by this incident," Syaparuddin said.

He added that the education office would conduct a thorough investigation into the case and would recommend that legal action be taken if the teacher's actions resulted in permanent physical injury to the student.

He also said that teachers who engaged in such methods of punishment must help in the students' recovery. "Teachers should be sympathetic toward the child and assist in their recovery. That's why we'll look into everything, including the child's latest condition," Syaparuddin said.

The student's parents initially filed a police report, but later dropped the charges after the teacher apologized.

In Makassar, South Sulawesi, meanwhile, hundreds of students from a vocational school held a demonstration on Monday to demand that the school principal, Rusli, resign from his post. The demand came in the wake of allegations that Rusli had hit seven students.

"We want Rusli to be dismissed because he hit our friends for no reason," said Ridwan, one of the protesters. He did not disclose the identities of his friends who were hit but said the principal's actions were unacceptable.

Rusli denied the allegation and told students and staff to not be swayed by rumors. He went on to state that he would press charges of defamation against those making the accusation.

Last month, police in Wonogiri, East Java, named Eko Purwanto, a teacher at an Islamic high school, a suspect in an incident involving the hitting of a student.

Three students who witnessed the incident identified Eko during the police investigation into the alleged assault. Eko reportedly hit a ninth-grade student in the face, causing the student to suffer dizziness, nausea and vomiting. The victim had to be hospitalized for three days and also underwent a CT scan.

Himawan, the school's principal, said the case should serve as a lesson for teachers to not use violence at school. He went on to claim that the school had avoided using physical punishment for the past two years.

Several countries worldwide ban corporal punishment. Poland was the first country to enact such laws, in 1783.

Minister condemns virginity test

Jakarta Globe - August 30, 2013

In a rare show of unity, Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali has joined the National Commission on Violence Against Women in the chorus condemning the proposed mandatory virginity test for high school girls.

"It is unethical and it is an act of disrespect to women," he said on Wednesday. of the proposal made by South Sumatra's Prabumulih education board head.

Suryadharma said the implementation of such tests could elicit negative consequences in the long term, not only in a way that would degrade the dignity of female students and women, but by potentially damaging them psychologically.

The tests, he said, could also impose a negative image on Indonesian education as a whole.

"The virginity test plans can be a red light for the education community. That is not the solution needed to control the morals of our pupils. To shape their morals they need attention, not only from educational institutions but also from their families," he said.

"In addition, there is also no guarantee that after the virginity test a student would continue to preserve her virginity."

The injustice is underscored by its gender discrimination, he said: "What about controlling the morals of male students? Will they be tested for their virginity too?"

As such, Suryadharma said he will strongly object to such plans, especially in Islamic educational institutions running under the Ministry of Religious Affairs. "I confirm that madrassas and Islamic boarding schools will not implement virginity tests," he said.

The National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) had spoken earlier against Prabumulih's plans.

"It degrades people and disparages their dignity. It also discriminates against women," head of the commission's justice and policy reformation sub-commission Kunthi Tridewiyanti said.

Kunthi added that the tests could also demotivate women from being more involved in their communities. The tests would be a form of sexual violence towards women and thus violate the constitution.

She also expressed remorse over cases of rape victims being expelled from their school. "Women should be protected so that they will not be victims of violence."

Amidst the uproar, Prabumulih education board head H.M. Rasyid now denies proposing the tests, according to Tempo.com on Aug. 21.

"I would like to clarify that the education board has never proposed that program," claiming that the controversy surrounding the issue was the result of a misunderstanding.

Graft & corruption

Fight against corruption stalled by lack of judges

Jakarta Post - August 31, 2013

Ina Parlina, Jakarta – The fight against corruption has come up against yet another hurdle with the Supreme Court admitting it struggles to recruit quality judges for corruption cases.

The court announced on Friday that only one out of 40 candidates for the fifth batch of ad hoc antigraft judges passed the selection test, making the court's own target for antigraft judge recruitment seem somewhat unattainable.

The Supreme Court aims to have 244 ad hoc judges for 33 lower and 30 high courts nationwide in 2014. Last year, even after the Supreme Court extended the process, only 4 out of 53 candidates were selected to fill the lower and high court posts. Eighty-four ad hoc corruption judges were selected in July 2011, 82 in November 2010 and 23 in February 2010, making a total of 193.

"It is hard to find judges in Indonesia, whether ad hoc judges, career judges or justices," Supreme Court spokesman Ridwan Mansyur said on Friday.

"We cannot do anything but employ the existing ad hoc judges. And they must work harder as there are plenty of graft cases [...] we have included professional and public representatives on the selection panel [but] the panel could only manage to find one judge," he said.

The Supreme Court invited several people to sit on the 10-member panel, including Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) deputy head Bambang Widjojanto.

The panel also asked for input from the Judicial Commission and a coalition of NGOs – consisting of Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW), the Indonesian Legal Roundtable (ILR) and the Indonesian Judicial Watch Society (MAPPI) at the University of Indonesia.

In their recommendation, the Judicial Commission urged the Supreme Court and the selection panel to scrutinize 30 out of 40 names, or 75 percent, for accepting bribes or gratuities, misusing their authority, adultery or unethical acts. The coalition found 18 names, or 45 percent of the selected, to have questionable integrity.

They found that seven candidates were affiliated with political parties, including newly selected judge, Timbul Priyadi; four had represented graft defendants or had their names mentioned in corruption indictments or dossiers; five candidates did have the required 15 years of legal experience as stipulated in the Corruption Tribunal Law; and two candidates had questionable degrees.

Former lawyer Timbul, 41, from Lampung, will sit as an appellate ad hoc judge at Tanjung Karang High Court. Timbul was once affiliated with NasDem, serving as the head of its legal advocacy body.

The activists have even called for a postponement of the selection process until the government conducted a thorough evaluation of the graft tribunal system.

At least five ad hoc judges have been implicated in graft. They are Setyabudi Tejocahyono, Kartini Marpaung and Heru Kisbandono, who are now serving jail sentences, while Pragsono and Asmadinata, are facing jail time after the KPK named them suspects.

The ICW recorded that as of Aug. 20, at least 89 graft defendants prosecuted by the KPK or local prosecutor's offices had been acquitted by corruption tribunals across the country since the enactment of the 2009 Corruption Court Law. The law gives the Supreme Court a two-year deadline to establish local graft tribunals – in addition to the Jakarta hearing – to try graft cases.

Despite Timbul's political background, Judicial Commission head Suparman Marzuki, who previously urged the panel to not pass the 30 candidates, said he appreciated the move.

"It is the right decision and matches with what we want. It's very dangerous to have people with doubtful integrity and skills to preside over corruption cases. It will only add to the problems."

Beef graft witness points to 'SBY's courier'

Jakarta Globe - August 31, 2013

Markus Junianto Sihaloho & Novianti Setuningsi – A man said to be a close aide to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has been implicated in the beef quota corruption case, suggesting the political impact of the scandal may extend to his Democratic Party.

At the Jakarta Anti-Corruption Court on Friday, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) presented as evidence a secretly recorded conversation between Ridwan Hakim, a witness, and Ahmad Fathanah, the defendant in the case who was previously an aide to Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) chairman Luthfi Hasan Ishaaq.

In the recording, Fathanah tells Ridwan that a man named Sengman had delivered Rp 40 billion ($3.7 million) to another man, referred to as "Engkong," at a PKS function in Lembang, West Java. He also says that the money, payment for a beef import quota, was prepared by Maria Elizabeth Liman, president director of agricultural products company Indoguna Utama.

Under questioning by Chief Justice Nawawi Pomolango, Ridwan said the Engkong referred to was his father, Hilmi Aminuddin, chief advisor for the PKS. The judge then asked about the man who was said to have delivered the bribe money, Sengman.

"There's a name, Sengman. Who is that?," Justice Nawawi asked. Ridwan replied: "As I have explained to the KPK, as far as I know Bapak Sengman is the president's courier when dealing with the PKS."

"Whose president?" the judge asked. "Our president, Pak SBY. In the record of my interview with the KPK it is noted that he is someone close to the president," Ridwan said.

As media on Friday scrambled to corroborate the alleged connection between Yudhoyono and Sengman, Republika newspaper reported finding an old wedding announcement published on the website of the Jakarta Police in which the president and his wife were reported to be due to attend the wedding of Sengman Tjahja's daughter in 2008. But on Friday evening the police website was offline so this could not be confirmed.

Friday was the second time that people apparently close to the president had been mentioned in the case. The first person mentioned was Wisnu Agung Prasetya, assistant to Andi Arief, the president's advisor on disaster management. Wisnu was said to be a close friend of Yudi Setiawan, who allegedly gave money to PKS's Luthfi. Luthfi is also on trial in the same case.

Democratic Party members rushed to Yudhoyono's defense after Friday's courtroom revelations, denying the president had any connection with Sengman.

"That's a lie. He could have just dropped names. That's a lie," Marzuki Ali, Democratic Party member and speaker of the House of Representatives, said on Friday.

But Marzuki admitted that he knew Sengman and that they had met in Palembang, South Sumatra, in 2009.

I Gde Pasek, chairman of House Commission III, which oversees legal affairs, portrayed Ridwan's testimony as the desperate claims of a cornered man. "It wasn't backed up by any evidence. So, it was just an effort to drag in people that have no connection [to the case]," Pasek said in Jakarta on Friday.

Pasek called on KPK investigators not to believe Ridwan's testimony. "The KPK already knows which [information] it should process further," Pasek said.

Democratic Party deputy chairman Jhonny Allen Marbun also denied there was any relationship between Sengman and Yudhoyono. "He [Ridwan] said Sengman was a close aide, but the [bribe] money was not given to the president. That was just a statement," Jhonny said. "SBY doesn't know who Sengman is. So, why does he have to account for him?"

Aside from mentioning Sengman, Ridwan also said he had a mentor, a businesswoman whom he called Bunda (mother) Putri.

Conversations recorded by the KPK between Ridwan, Luthfi and Putri give the impression that Putri held considerable sway over senior PKS figures. In one recorded conversation, Putri talked to Luthfi about a cabinet reshuffle and how she could influence decision makers.

Son of PKS supremo plays dumb in court

Jakarta Post - August 30, 2013

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – Ridwan Hakim, son of Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) chief patron Hilmi Aminuddin, thumbed his nose at the Jakarta Corruption Court on Thursday and refused to testify about a bribery scandal that involved PKS chairman Luthfi Hasan Ishaaq.

Ridwan, who allegedly served as a go-between, tried to dodge questions from judges and representatives of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) throughout Thursday's session of the trial of graft suspect Ahmad Fathanah.

Ridwan was implicated in the graft scandal when another key witness, Elda Devianne Adiningrat, testified that she had a met with Ridwan and Fathanah in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Jan. 20, 2013, and had discussed increasing the meat import quota allocation for meat importing company PT Indoguna Utama.

Despite the judges and the prosecutors' best attempts to cajole him into making a statement, he was steadfast in denying any connection to the case. "I've never dealt with it [meat import quota and securing projects at the Agriculture Ministry]. I have often been linked [by other parties]," Ridwan said.

Later he admitted that the meeting in Kuala Lumpur took place, but said he was framed by Fathanah and Elda to join the meeting. He also said that he did not know either of the two people. "What's clear is that the meeting was not planned. I was there when suddenly the defendant came out of nowhere," he said.

Ridwan continued with an onslaught of denials that appeared to irritate the panel of judges and obviously riled prosecutors. His confidence seemed to decrease throughout the trial and he was seen slouching against the chair when he was grilled over some of the dubious information he had given. "You do not need to sit in such a relaxed manner," presiding judge Nawawi Pomolango scolded Ridwan.

The judges ordered the prosecutors to play some incriminating wiretapped phone conversations between Ridwan and the suspects – Fathanah and former PKS chairman Luthfi Hasan Ishaaq.

In the conversation between Ridwan and Fathanah, the latter asked whether the former had received Rp 40 billion, which was the amount of money allegedly promised by PT Indoguna as kickbacks for Luthfi to influence the Agriculture Ministry to increase the company's meat import quota. "Not yet," Ridwan said in the recording.

The panel of judges then asked Ridwan about the money, to which he replied by saying that he did not know anything. "The defendant can be very persistent, which is why I replied spontaneously that I had not received the money," Ridwan said.

The phone conversation mentioned other names, including a party leader with the alias "Engkong" and Sengman Tjahja. According to Ridwan, Engkong is his father while Sengman is someone close to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono who is often dispatched to handle the PKS.

Fed up with Ridwan's demeanor, presiding judge Nawawi threatened to charge him with perjury. The trial continues.

Anti-graft fight must not harm economy: SBY

Jakarta Post - August 30, 2013

Bagus BT Saragih, Jakarta – President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) urged leaders of the country's law enforcement agencies to improve coordination, especially when dealing with graft cases, so that their work does not hinder the country's economic recovery.

Yudhoyono delivered the statement during a meeting with National Police chief Gen. Timur Pradopo, Attorney General Basrief Arief, and Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) chairman Abraham Samad at the President's office, Coordinating Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Minister Djoko Suyanto said on Thursday.

Also attending the meeting were Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) chairman Hadi Poernomo, Supreme Court chief justice Hatta Ali and Law and Human Rights Minister Amir Syamsuddin.

"The President presented the government's package of economic policies to the leaders of the law enforcement bodies. He said that good coordination and synergy between law enforcement agencies and the government was necessary to help safeguard the country's economic situation and support the government's economic programs," Djoko told reporters after the meeting.

Djoko said that an example of "good coordination and synergy" was sharing early information about "misappropriation and misuse in progress" by government officials.

"Such an 'early detection' is as important as 'preventive' measures. As for law enforcers, don't just wait for the officials to finally commit misappropriation if they know it will happen beforehand," Djoko said.

Yudhoyono convened the meeting on the heel of the KPK's arrest of Rudi Rubiandini, the suspended head of the country's upstream oil and gas regulatory body SKKMigas, for allegedly accepting US$700,000 in bribes from a foreign company.

Analysts have said the high-profile corruption crackdown by the KPK has taken domestic and foreign investors in the oil and gas sector by surprise, with concern mounting that the arrest had tarnished the country's business-friendly reputation.

Djoko denied the President's demand could be seen as leniency toward graft. "We'd be better preventing something from happening because when it eventually happens and the law is finally used, the situation could be worse," he said.

Djoko said that officials at times unintentionally engaged in corruption. "As you know, officials can commit corruption because they do not understand the laws and regulations," Djoko added. "The government does not tolerate corruption but anti-corruption efforts must be in line with the government's economic programs."

Asked about Yudhoyono's statement after the meeting, Abraham declined to make a comment. "We just agreed to enhance coordination in relation to the government's economic policies," he said.

Abraham said the KPK always liaised with other law enforcement agencies, including the police and the Attorney General's Office (AGO) when handling graft cases.

Hatta, meanwhile, said that law enforcement could help economic growth "by ensuring that the law is enforced indiscriminately."

In December last year, Yudhoyono made a similar statement in his speech during the commemoration of International Anti-Corruption Day at the State Palace. He said that many state officials had been charged with corruption even though they had no intention of committing corruption.

"Sometimes we need to make a quick policy, but the lack of knowledge about corruption can lead to officials making a decision that can be considered a violation of the Corruption Law. This kind of official does not have the intention to commit corruption. The state must protect them," the President said.

JK opposes golf ban idea

Jakarta Post - August 28, 2013

Jakarta – Former vice president Jusuf Kalla says he disagrees with a proposal to ban government officials from playing golf as part of an attempt to prevent bribery.

"People can bribe you at the office, at home, in a restaurant or a golf course. What it takes is weak resolve," Kalla said as quoted by tribunnews.com.

The proposal to ban golf was floated following an admission by Rudi Rubiandini, the suspended chief of Upstream Oil and Gas Regulatory Special Task Force (SKKMigas), who said that he would never have engaged in corrupt practices if he had not started taking golf lessons.

Nazaruddin says up to 45% skimmed off contracts

Jakarta Globe - August 28, 2013

Rizky Amelia & Markus Junianto Sihaloho – The mark-up in the contracts for government projects could be nearly half of the projects' real values, according to former Democratic Party treasurer Muhammad Nazaruddin, who is serving a seven-year prison sentence for graft.

Nazaruddin previously said he would cooperate with the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to expose 30 graft cases involving lawmakers and government officials.

"The markup is between 10 percent and 45 percent," Nazaruddin said through his attorney Elza Syarief who was at the KPK's Jakarta office on Tuesday.

Elza said corruption typically began at the planning stage and that government officials and lawmakers would seek to turn projects into personal goldmines. She added that calculations of lawmakers' and government officials' shares would be made once the projects were approved.

"Calculations are made by the businessmen. They will count the difference [after their margin] that will be distributed proportionally between government officials and lawmakers," Elza said.

The lawyer said her client is now in a position to support the KPK in its efforts to snare former colleagues involved in corruption cases.

Nazaruddin previously accused several lawmakers of involvement in wrongdoing in the procurement of MA60 aircraft for state-controlled airline Merpati, as well as in tax office and Supreme Court building projects and an e-KTP electronic identity card procurement project.

Before his arrest in 2011 Nazaruddin threatened to reveal details of fellow lawmakers' involvement in corruption, but he fled to Singapore before a warrant could be served.

After weeks on the run he was tracked down to Colombia where he traveled under a false name. He was finally jailed in April 2012.

Despite being behind bars, Nazaruddin continues to wield enormous influence with reports he has set up more than 20 new companies to primarily bid for government contracts. He reportedly earlier this year expressed a desire to leave prison as one of Indonesia's richest people.

In another high-profile case involving leading Democratic Party figures, a Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) audit released last week alleged Rp 7.3 billion ($667,000) in funds from state-controlled developer Adhi Karya landed in the hands of several members of the House of Representatives in 2010 and 2011, when discussion of West Java's Hambalang sports center construction took place.

I Gede Pasek Suardika, chief of the House Commission III, which oversees legal affairs, called on the KPK to investigate the issue.

"Did these funds really get to them or were they merely sent in their names? This is important so the public will know the individuals who are 'playing around' and those who are doing their job and showing responsibility," Pasek, a member of the ruling Democratic Party, said on Sunday.

Deputy House Speaker Pramono Anung Wibowo said the BPK conducted its audit, its second on the matter, as instructed by the legislature and other law- enforcement institutions, including the KPK.

"This second audit can be used as an initial reference to investigate the Hambalang case further," the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI- P) legislator said on Monday. "The initial information is there. It's better for this to be immediately finished."

Nazaruddin drops another bombshell, naming lawmakers

Jakarta Post - August 28, 2013

Hans Nicholas Jong/Margareth S. Aritonang, Jakarta – Former member of the House of Representatives (DPR) budgetary committee and graft convict Muhammad Nazaruddin has made fresh accusations naming more lawmakers as well as high-ranking officials in rigged government projects.

On Tuesday, Nazaruddin's lawyer Elsa Syarief said she had submitted to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) evidence on the involvement of House members who allegedly siphoned off money from 30 government projects.

"We have all the evidence, but the cases are still being investigated [by the KPK]," she told reporters at the KPK's headquarters in Kuningan, South Jakarta.

Elsa declined to specifically identify the individuals implicated in the graft, providing only their initials. "They are SN and AU. In the House, MM, Olly DK and MA. The project organizers, AN, AS, including Nazaruddin. Then GA and EG. That's all for now," she said.

Elsa hinted that some of the names were involved in the Rp 5.8 trillion (US$523 million) electronic identity card (e-KTP) project at the Home Ministry.

Nazaruddin has previously claimed that Golkar Party lawmaker and treasurer Setya Novanto, former Democratic Party chairman Anas Urbaningrum and former members at the House's Commission II overseeing internal state affairs were involved in the project, with a budget markup of 45 percent.

In the document submitted by Elsa to the KPK, which was seen by The Jakarta Post, SN and AU refer to Setya and Anas, while Olly DK is budget committee deputy chairman and Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) treasurer Olly Dondokambey.

Meanwhile, MM and MA are believed to be former budgetary committee leaders Melchias Markus Mekeng from Golkar and Mirwan Amir from the Democrats. The document stated that Melchias and Mirwan allegedly received $500,000 in kickbacks while Olly received $1 million.

The document also mentioned three other former members of the House's Commission II who were alleged to have involvement in the project; Chairuman Harahap from Golkar, as well as newly-elected Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo and Arief Wibowo, both from the PDI-P. Each of them allegedly received $500,000 in kickbacks from the project. Ganjar, in an interview with the Post, denied the allegations.

The document also names Home Minister Gamawan Fauzi as well as other officials at the ministry, including secretary-general Dian Anggraeni and e-KTP tender committee head Drajat Wisnu.

Elsa said she did not want to give details of the people in the document as she was concerned about the safety of Nazaruddin. She said that Nazaruddin had received threats from people who wanted him to stop his whistle-blower activities. "Molotov cocktails have been thrown at his house," she said.

Nazaruddin has been acting as a whistle-blower in various high-profile graft cases, including the Hambalang sports complex project which has implicated Anas and former youth and sports minister Andi Mallarangeng.

Meanwhile, the House Ethics Council said on Tuesday that it would summon 15 lawmakers who were alleged to have been involved in graft cases. Chairman of the council Trimedya Panjaitan said that the House needed to seek clarification from the lawmakers.

"It's really important for us to hear their explanations before we decide what to do with them. But, we must first study the report of the investigation the BPK [Supreme Audit Agency] has submitted to the House's leaders," Trimedya said, referring to the BPK report which revealed the role of 15 lawmakers from the House Commission X overseeing youth and sports in breaching the proper mechanisms for budget deliberation in the House.

Nine of the lawmakers agreed to increase the 2010 budget allocation to the Youth and Sports Ministry by Rp 600 billion even though it had not been discussed by the rest of the commission's members.

Call for proof in SBY dollar claims

Jakarta Globe - August 27, 2013

Presidential spokesman Julian Aldrin Pasha demanded Indonesian economist Faisal Basri provide evidence to back up his claims that the president had large savings of US dollars.

"There should be data," Julian said at the president's office on Monday, as quoted by Tribunnews.com. "What's important is that [he] had paid the tax as a taxpayer. It has been reported as it should be."

Faisal wrote on the Kompasiana blog on Saturday that Yudhoyono and some of his ministers should sell their dollar-denominated savings as an example for other people to do the same in an effort to prop up the declining rupiah.

"The president should show to his people that he's willing to sacrifice for the sake of [Indonesia's] economy and people," Faisal wrote.

The economist, quoting the state officials' wealth reports (LHKPN), said that Yudhoyono had no dollar deposits when he first took office in 2004. In 2009, his dollar deposits were $269,730, before rising to $589,188 in 2011, according to Faisal's blog.

He also said several state officials had at least $100,000 in their deposit, and that included Trade Minister Gita Wirjawan, with $626,677 in 2009.

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representative Priyo Budi Santoso had $195,960 in December 2009, according to Faisal, who added that Finance Minister M. Chatib Basri registered $365,506 in a report for 2012.

"Hopefully, they will be the initiator for efforts to strengthen the rupiah," Faisal said. "Hopefully, their dollars have been exchanged to rupiah.

Julian declined to confirm whether the data was correct. "I don't want to give comment on this case. But clearly the president and his family members have paid the tax," Julian said.

The rupiah has been trading at its weakest level against the dollar since April 2009, buffeted by concerns of a widening current account deficit and by global investors cutting back on Indonesian assets. The rupiah was little changed at 10,841 to the dollar on Monday, according to central bank data.

Call for KPK to probe DPR members on Hambalang

Jakarta Globe - August 27, 2013

Markus Junianto Sihaloho, Rizky Amelia & Novianti Setuningsih – The antigraft agency should widen its investigation into the awarding of contracts for the Hambalang sports center, including probing the possible involvement of several legislators in the case, a senior lawmaker has said.

A Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) audit released on Friday alleged that Rp 7.3 billion ($667,000) in funds from state developer Adhi Karya had landed in the hands of several members of the House of Representatives in 2010 and 2011, when discussion of the West Java sports center's construction took place.

I Gede Pasek Suardika, chief of the House Commission III, which oversees legal affairs, called on the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to investigate the issue.

Other legislators called for further investigative action in wake of the audit results. Deputy House Speaker Pramono Anung Wibowo said the BPK conducted its audit, its second on the matter, as instructed by the legislature and other law-enforcement institutions, including the KPK.

"This second audit can be used as an initial reference to investigate the Hambalang case further," the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI- P) legislator said on Monday.

Pramono said the KPK will have to swiftly follow up the report. "The initial information is there. It's better for this to be immediately finished," he said.

Money laundering alleged

Apung Widadi, an activist from the State Finances Accountability Commission (Kuak), claimed certain entities had interfered with the BPK audit in order to slow it and find time to save assets belonging to two suspects: former Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Andi Mallarangeng (a Democrat) and former Democratic Party chairman Anas Urbaningrum.

"It took approximately three months [for the audit's completion], that is enough time to save assets. The suspects think they can intervene with the BPK," Apung said on Monday. He added that the suspects were made vulnerable by the KPK's use of anti-money laundering powers in handling corruption cases.

The KPK has laid money laundering charges on graft suspects in previous cases, including on former senior National Police officer Djoko Susilo in a case involving driving simulator procurement, as well as former Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) chairman Luthfi Hasan Ishaaq in the beef import quota case.

"That [the delay] was done as a strategy to save Anas and Andi's assets, so not everything they had would be affected should they be charged with money laundering," Apung said.

He added that the suspects could have moved their assets abroad while the BPK concluded its audit.

Andi was named a suspect by the KPK in December, and Anas was named a suspect in February. But neither have been detained by the KPK, which said it was waiting for the results of the BPK audit before progressing the case.

The KPK initially vowed to arrest the two men after Idul Fitri in early August, but postponed their plan due to a delay in the BPK's submission of its audit report.

In an excerpt of the report obtained by BeritaSatu.com, the BPK said irregularities found in the case have cost the state Rp 471.1 billion, almost double the amount estimated in an October report.

One irregularity was the Sports and Youth Affairs Ministry letter of request for the Finance Ministry to approve the sports center contract, which the BPK said did not fulfill the requirements.

"The entities involved had allegedly manufactured the tender to announce a certain partner as the winner in the selection process for the Hambalang construction," the report said.

Call for transparency

Meanwhile, Alam Saragih, the former chief of the Central Information Commission (KIP), called on the BPK to publicly release the results of the audit.

"When they [reports] have been submitted to the DPR [House of Representatives], then they have entered the public domain. Information in the House should be immediately opened for the public so the KPK's process regarding the audit can be monitored," Alam said on Sunday.

BPK chief Hadi Purnomo earlier declined to publish the investigative audit's results, claiming the law requiring their release included an exception on audit results that may have negative consequences.

The BPK appeared concerned that results from the audit would hamper the legal processing of the Hambalang case.

"In line with the Public Information Disclosure Law, [this] investigation is confidential," Hadi said, as quoted by Tempo.co.

But Alam argued the exception did not apply once the BPK submitted its results to the House.

Roy Salam, a researcher from the Indonesia Budget Center, said the submission allowed the House to prevent other legislators from being subject to investigation.

"Looking at the political map, there seems to be indications of desires to localize this case," Roy said, adding that the House wanted the KPK to focus on people named suspects in the case, instead of investigating other legislators.

"We are concerned the audit [results] have been submitted to the DPR. We would like to clarify that the BPK's move to report to the DPR is a mistake," Roy said.

Despite the audit results, KPK deputy chief Bambang Widjojanto said the report submitted by the BPK was not the report requested by the anti- corruption agency.

"That is an investigative audit. That's not what the KPK requested," Bambang said on Saturday.

But he expressed appreciation to the audit agency and confirmed the KPK would review the submitted report to see if it could be used in its investigations.

"The KPK will review its calculation methods and study how useful that would be to the investigations," he said.

He emphasized that the KPK was waiting for the BPK calculation of state losses from the Hambalang project.

Hard-line & vigilante groups

FPI leader hints at armed action against Densus 88

Jakarta Globe - August 26, 2013

Farouk Arnaz & Shesar Andriawan – Thousands of members of the hard-line Islamic Defenders Front paraded through the streets of Jakarta on Sunday to commemorate the group's 15th anniversary.

Sporting their trademark all-white attire, members of the group, known as the FPI, kicked off the celebration by riding in vehicle convoys through the West Jakarta neighborhoods of Slipi and Petamburan.

Munarman, a spokesman for the group, said around 5,000 people had been expected to participate in the day-long celebration, which began at 10 a.m. on Sunday.

"This is how the FPI celebrates every anniversary," he said. "God willing, we will conduct the rally in an orderly fashion. There is nothing to be worried about."

He also added that those who joined the Sunday event were members from all over Indonesia.

The group marched from its headquarters in West Jakarta through Central and East Jakarta.

Speaking at the beginning of the gathering, FPI chief Habib Rizieq Syihab urged members to behave themselves properly during the rally and not to allow themselves to be provoked by outsiders.

National Police chief Gen. Timur Pradopo earlier called on the FPI to celebrate its anniversary peacefully. "[It] must not disturb other people," he said on Friday. "Such things [convoys] are allowed, as long as they do not disturb the public."

Hundreds of police officers were deployed to maintain order and direct traffic away from the rally throughout the day. "For security, there will be [officers] from the National Police, the Regional Police as well as the District Police," Timur said.

In its 15 years of existence, the FPI has received condemnation from institutions and political figures for its often violent attacks against those deemed by them to be acting contrary to Islamic ideology.

In June 2008, the group was censured for its attack on members of the National Alliance for Freedom of Faith and Religion (AKKBB) who were holding a rally at the National Monument in Jakarta.

Members of the FPI stormed into the crowd and brutally attacked campaigners. Dozens were injured during that incident. The group has launched similar attacks against nightclubs, bars and other sellers of alcoholic beverages, especially during the month of Ramadan.

Last month, the organization was responsible for at least two incidents of violence during vigilante raids.

About 50 FPI supporters damaged businesses in the Kendal district in Central Java during a raid on an alleged brothel, resulting in a riot as local residents fought back and forced the group to leave.

A woman was killed as a car carrying FPI members fleeing the scene crashed into the motorbike she was riding with her husband.

In another raid in Makassar, South Sulawesi, members of the group were caught on camera vandalizing a shop said to be serving alcoholic beverages. The video later went viral on the Internet, attracting thousands of viewers from across the nation.

Calls for disbandment The series of raids have caught the attention of legislators in the House of Representatives who have demanded the central government disband the organization.

"They disturb the public order, conduct vigilantism, and use violent means to achieve their goals," said Eva Kusuma Sundari, a legislator from the House Commission III, which oversees legal affairs.

"I am saddened that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, despite having been mocked by the FPI, still does nothing about them," the lawmaker of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) said.

Rizieq had called the president a "mere loser" and "a disgrace" in response to his speech which condemned the group's violent Ramadan raids.

Eva deplored the government's hesitation in taking action against the FPI, especially following the ratification of the new mass organization law. "When the public is at risk, the government has to take a stance in the name of the people to maintain their sense of security," she said.

Agus Purnomo, head of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) central executive, also demanded that the individuals involved in sparking public violence be brought to justice. "Individuals from mass organizations who have conducted acts of violence should be captured and put to trial," he said.

As Ramadan drew to a close, the group has renewed its focus on other issues. During the anniversary celebration on Sunday, Rizieq called on the government to disband the National Police's antiterrorism force, Densus 88.

"Disband Densus. We are saying this because they have often captured, shot and killed the wrong individuals. They don't even act according to Indonesian law. We don't need violent cowboys who kill and shoot people," Rizieq said, as quoted by Merdeka.com.

He also called for members of antiterrorism force to be tried internationally for what he considered to be human rights abuses.

"If Densus 88 are not disbanded, then don't blame the Islamic community for thinking of them as a common enemy. Don't blame the Islamic community if in the future, weapons are raised against Densus. We call for the immediate decision to disband Densus 88," he said.

Miss World

In addition to these demands, Rizieq also strongly criticized the Miss World beauty contest, which Indonesia will be hosting in Bali next month, and threatened to forcefully put a stop to the international event.

"We are obliged to disrupt the Miss World event if the government insists [on issuing a permit]," Rizieq said on Sunday.

Rizieq cited the Suharto era in which Indonesia remained free from such events.

"Under Suharto, when it was suggested that the winner of the [Indonesian beauty pageant] Puteri Indonesia be sent to the Miss World event, Suharto simply said that [such event] was not part of our culture.

"It took just one sentence, 'that it is not our culture,' and [we] immediately stopped. No Miss Indonesia was ever sent to the Miss Universe or Miss World event. I am ready to be arrested for disrupting Miss World," he said.

Rizieq called on the president to be as strict as the government had been during Suharto's reign and emphasized that the group would take any legal means necessary to stop the Miss World event from taking place.

"If it still continues, then we will hold the government responsible. The government should not grant permits for these kind of beauty contests. This is against local wisdom, against local culture and especially against the Muslim community and Islamic law.

"Everyone must be prepared to disrupt Miss World. Don't let Bali become an immoral island because of that event," Rizieq said, followed by a chorus of "Astagfirullah, Allahu Akbar" by other members of the organization.

Earlier this month, Said Aqil Siradj, chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama, one of the biggest Islamic organizations in the country, spoke in support of the FPI's disbandment.

Said said disbandment of the FPI had long been proposed to Yudhoyono and the Coordinating Minister for Legal, Political and Security Affairs, Djoko Suyanto, because of the damage the group's actions have caused to the Islamic community. "Islam is against violence and against radicalism," he said on August 7.

Earlier, Cholil Ridwan, chairman of the country's far-right religious authority, the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), voiced his support for the FPI leader as a possible candidate in next year's elections, saying Rizieq would be supported by every Muslim in Indonesia if he ran for president.

Despised hardline FPI turns 15

Jakarta Post - August 26, 2013

Margareth S. Aritonang and Indah Setiawati, Jakarta – Despite repeated calls for its disbandment, the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) celebrated its 15th anniversary on Sunday with a street rally on the capital's streets, while mulling over the presidential candidacy of its leader, Rizieq Shihab.

Sunday's rally wrapped up a three-day national meeting by the firebrand organization, during which the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) and key members floated the idea of Rizieq's presidential bid.

"God willing, if Habib Rizieq declares his intention, Muslims around the country will support him," MUI chairman Cholil Ridwan said. Rizieq shrugged off the proposal, saying it was merely media spin.

On Sunday, Rizieq spoke to members of the FPI at the group's headquarters in Petamburan, Central Jakarta, where he made a fresh call for the dissolution of the National Police's Densus 88 counterterrorism squad and expressed the group's opposition to the Miss World beauty pageant, which is expected to take place in Bali next month.

Rizieq warned that the FPI would take all necessary measures to prevent the Miss World beauty pageant from taking place, calling the pageant an insult to the country's indigenous culture, local wisdom and sharia (Islamic law).

Rizieq said that Densus 88 and other counterterrorism agencies in the country, including the National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT), were prone to human rights abuses.

"They have on several occasions arrested, shot or killed the wrong people. Therefore, we will continue to call for the squad's disbandment. We will declare Densus 88 the common enemy to all Muslims if the government continues to ignore us," he added.

Officially established by a number of local religious figures and Muslim activists in Jakarta in August 1998, the FPI has regularly been associated with violence as its members have frequently conducted regular raids in places deemed to be promoting blasphemy or immorality, while the country's authorities have rarely taken action against the group.

The organization currently has more than 50,000 members. Members of the group's branch in Temanggung, Central Java, for example, clashed with residents in Sukorejo, Kendal, when conducting a sweep in the village's red-light area last July, killing one pregnant woman and injuring three other locals.

On Saturday, the National Police and the National Intelligence Agency (BIN) called for the FPI to conduct a peaceful march to celebrate its anniversary.

Members of the organization appeared to have followed the order. Dressed in white Muslim attire, the FPI members only carried white flags and giant Betawi effigies on motorbikes, trucks and buses as they left the organization's headquarters on Jl. Petamburan III.

"Thank God we are not taking the same route as the convoy," said a Transjakarta bus attendant, who encountered the FPI rally on Saturday.

FPI members take to Jakarta streets in celebration of 15th anniversary

Jakarta Globe - August 25, 2013

Farouk Arnaz & Shesar Andriawan – Thousands of members of the hard-line Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) paraded through the streets of Jakarta on Sunday in commemoration of the group's 15th anniversary.

Sporting their trademark all-white attire, the group kicked off its celebration by riding in vehicle convoys through the West Jakarta neighborhoods of Slipi and Petamburan.

Munarman, a spokesman for the group, said that around 5,000 people were expected to participate in the day-long celebration, which began Sunday at 10 a.m.

"This is how the FPI celebrates every anniversary," he said. "God willing, we will conduct the rally in an orderly fashion. There is nothing to be worried about."

The group's route will take it from its headquarters in West Jakarta through Central and East Jakarta.

Speaking at the beginning of the gathering, FPI chief Rizieq Syihab urged members to behave themselves during the rally and not be easily provoked by outsiders.

National Police Chief Gen. Timur Pradopo said that the FPI must celebrate its anniversary peacefully. "[It] must not disturb other people," he said on Friday.

Hundreds of officers from the National Police and the Jakarta Police have been deployed to help maintain order and direct traffic away from the rally throughout the day.

Indonesian news portal detik.com, meanwhile, reported that vehicles heading from Tanah Abang to Slipi were stuck in gridlock because of the mass gathering.

Freedom of religion & worship

Jokowi stands by Christian subdistrict head

Jakarta Post - August 29, 2013

Sita W. Dewi, Jakarta – Governor Joko "Jokowi" Widodo confirmed on Wednesday that he would not move the Christian head of the Lenteng Agung subdistrict in South Jakarta in spite of some residents' demands for her dismissal, which according to him was a result of an internal rift.

Speaking to reporters at the City Hall on Wednesday, he stressed that he installed leaders of districts and subdistricts based on their performances and achievements and that he, therefore, would not remove nor transfer local leaders who were inaugurated in June.

Lenteng Agung subdistrict head Susan Jasmine Zulkifli, a Protestant, was among the 415 local leaders inaugurated in June by the governor after passing a series of tests in an open-call selection.

Jakarta Employment Agency head I Made Karmayoga said that Susan, who was previously a logistics division head at Senen subdistrict office, had shown a good performance as a subdistrict leader.

"She is good. As a member of staff at a subdistrict office, her performance was satisfactory," he said, adding that "we have to respect the open-call selection results."

"The employment agency only evaluates one's capability, integrity and works," Karmayoga pointed out.

Jokowi made his Wednesday statement in response to a protest by some Lenteng Agung residents demanding that the Jakarta administration dismiss their newly installed subdistrict head for not being a Muslim like the majority of the residents.

Representatives of the residents submitted last week a list of 2,300 names and 1,500 photocopies of their IDs to City Hall as a show of support for her dismissal.

About 100 of the residents, who call themselves the Forum of Lenteng Agung Residents Rejecting the New Subdistrict Head, staged a demonstration outside the subdistrict office on Wednesday morning, demanding that the city administration respond to their aspiration.

"I have received a report indicating that the rejection might be triggered by internal competition," Jokowi told reporters on Wednesday.

A member of Formala – an organization supporting Susan – told The Jakarta Post that the residents who demanded Susan's replacement were apparently afraid Susan might discover many illicit acts committed by the previous subdistrict administrations. R. Nio Soeprapto said that his forum had collected valid evidence and data about the wrongdoings and showed them to Susan.

"However, she has refused to take action against the wrongdoings because she realizes that she is a new leader here and she needs to get along with the residents first," Nio said.

Coordinator of the demonstration Naser Nasrullah said that his group objected to the city administration's decision to appoint Susan as the new subdistrict head without considering the subdistrict's social and cultural conditions.

"Because the majority of residents are Muslim and the new subdistrict head is not, she will not be able to join many religious events at mosques here," Naser said.

He said his group members were disappointed because the city government did not respond to their aspiration. Despite the demonstration, the subdistrict office kept on serving the residents.

Susan said that she was okay with the demonstration because it was an aspiration from her residents and she would let the city government decide whether she should stay serving as the subdistrict head or not.

"I only want to accomplish my job as well as I can, as mandated by the city government," she said. "About the fact that I cannot join such religious events, I have already said that I would always send my deputy head or other officials to meet the residents at their events."

Resident Usbandiyah, 33, who came to the subdistrict office on Wednesday to process her family card said, "I don't see any problem with the new subdistrict head," she said. "The public services in the subdistrict office have become faster and more efficient under her leadership."

Nio said that as a resident, he felt ashamed because the public would know that some residents were still resistant to diversity and tolerance as the country's identity.

"This is not a Muslim country, this is a country of law, where a leader is not someone who leads prayers in a mosque, but someone who always listens to and serves the public," he said. (ian)

Dispute over Christian sub-district head continues

Jakarta Post - August 28, 2013

Jakarta – Around 100 people staged a protest in front of the Lenteng Agung sub-district office in Jagakarsa, South Jakarta, on Wednesday, demanding the dismissal of a newly installed Christian official in the predominantly Muslim sub-district.

The protesters, who claimed to be representing Lenteng Agung residents, held a demonstration in front of the office at 9:10 a.m. with an escort from dozens of police officers, tribunnews.com reported on Wednesday.

As previously reported, representatives of the residents submitted a list of 2,300 names and 1,500 photocopies of their IDs to the Jakarta administration on Aug. 19 as a show of support for the dismissal of Susan Jasmine Zulkifli, who is a Protestant.

The representatives argued that having a non-Muslim sub-district head was inconvenient, as the sub-district held many religious activities in which its head was expected to be involved.

Amid those demanding Susan's replacement, a group of people calling themselves the Forum of Lenteng Agung Residents for Reformation (Formala) said on Aug. 21 that they were supporting Susan as part of their support for the city administration's effort to develop good governance.

The Lenteng Agung sub-district head was among 415 local leaders inaugurated in June by Jakarta Governor Joko "Jokowi" Widodo after passing a series of tests in an open-call selection. (hrl/ebf)

SBY must take over Shia reconciliation program

Jakarta Post - August 27, 2013

Margareth S. Aritonang, Jakarta – A joint investigation team has recommended that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono take over and directly lead a reconciliation program in the feud between Shia and Sunni Muslim communities in Sampang, Madura, East Java.

Chief investigator for the team, Imdadun Rahmat, who is also a National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) commissioner, said on Monday that officials involved in the current reconciliation team, led by the Religious Affairs Ministry, were biased in favor of the majority Sunni community.

"Officials [involved in the reconciliation program] apparently lack basic understanding of what reconciliation means. Reconciliation doesn't entail conversion of members of one of the conflicting groups. We believe that the state must become an arbiter [in the reconciliation process]," Imdadun said in a public discussion to publish findings of an investigation into the plight of the Sampang Shia.

Other than Komnas HAM, three other institutions joined the investigation; the National Commission on Violence against Women (Komnas Perempuan), the Indonesian Commission on Child Protection (KPAI) and the Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK).

In the investigation, the team discovered a lack of coordination between government institutions tasked to carry out the reconciliation program.

"Officials have said that they are not responsible for resolving the conflict, so the President needs to take a firm grip of the issue and make sure the reconciliation takes place as expected," Imdadun said.

Findings from the team also confirmed earlier reports of abuses of power by state officials in local and national government agencies.

Rights groups have accused Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali of backing attempts to force the Shiites to renounce their faith as a condition for them getting guarantees of safety in their home villages after returning from their current shelter in Sidoarjo.

Officials who are reported to have supported the forced conversion include Sampang Regent Fannan Hasib, who was nominated in the local election by the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) and the United Development Party (PPP) led by Suryadharma, the head of Sampang's Municipal Political and National Unity Office (Kesbangpol) Rudi Setiadi, as well as local police officials.

Suryadharma has denied the allegation saying that the government had never required the Shiites to repent or convert to another form of Islam. The minister, however, insisted that members of the Shia community should strive for 'enlightenment' and bring their views closer to those of their neighbors.

An official with the East Java administration, Edi Purwinarto, denied the local administration was involved in attempts to forcibly convert the Shiites (during the reconciliation program).

However, Edi said, he believed in the minister's judgment. "I don't think what the minister meant by enlightenment is forced conversion. I think what he meant was efforts to bring a unified perspective on how to resolve the conflict," he said.

The team also found in the report that abuse of power by state officials in support of religious clerics of the majority group had taken place in the conflict.

Komnas Perempuan commissioner Andy Yetriyani said that although the Shia- Sunni conflict in Sampang, was sparked by a family feud politics had aggravated the conflict. She said that children and women suffered the worst in the conflict.

"Poor law enforcement has fuelled discrimination [against the Shia community] that further impacts on the life of its followers including children and women," Andy said. She added that hate speech against the Shia community had prevented Shiite children getting access to education and health services.

Guarantee Shia will be safe: Amnesty

Jakarta Globe - August 26, 2013

Anushka Shahjahan – Displaced Shia residents from the trouble-plagued East Java island of Madura must be allowed to return home safely, voluntarily and with dignity, Amnesty International demanded on Monday.

The activist group called on authorities to meaningfully remedy the violations of the community's human rights, including through compensation for harm, rehabilitation and guarantees the offenses will not be repeated.

The community was forcibly displaced in August last year after an anti-Shia mob attacked its village in Sampang on Madura. Since then, it has been forced to live in two temporary shelters, including one in Sidoarjo, without adequate access to water, housing, sanitary and health services.

Josef Roy Benedict, an Amnesty International campaigner for Indonesia, said: "The continued displacement of the community – one year after a deadly attack against them – calls into question government commitments to resolve their situation, and highlights a wider pattern of government failures to address religious intolerance and abuses against minority groups in the country."

Many children in the community were traumatized by the attacks and have stopped attending school. The forced eviction meant that most of the adults, having lost their ability to farm due to a lack of land, are now unable to support themselves. Many adults in the community were tobacco farmers.

Five people have been sentenced to prison terms ranging from eight months to four years for acts of violence, maltreatment and manslaughter. A sixth person, who was accused of responsibility for the attack, was acquitted.

Amnesty said it was also concerned about allegations that some Shia people still in the village have been forced by Sampang authorities and police to repent and convert to Sunni Islam in order to stay there.

Authorities and police said that if they did not convert, Shia people's safety could not be guaranteed and there homes may be attacked.

Indonesia is a signatory to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which requires it to protect and fulfil the right to adequate housing for all its people, including preventing forced evictions by third parties and providing victims with effective relief efforts.

Indonesian officials have repeatedly refused to classify the violence in Sampang as religiously motivated, claiming instead that it stemmed from a long-standing dispute between two brothers, one Sunni and one Shia, over a woman.

In a meeting in July, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono promised the Shia community members that they could return to their village and get assistance in rebuilding their homes, although that pledge is yet to produce tangible results.

The right to freedom of religion is guaranteed in the Indonesian Constitution, but the case highlights growing religious intolerance and abuses against minority groups in the country.

In a speech prior to Independence Day on Aug. 17, Yudhoyono said: "It cannot be justified if an individual or a group forces its beliefs onto others.

"I want to remind the Indonesian people that the state fully guarantees the existence of individual or minority groups." Despite repeated assurances by the government, cases of discrimination are becoming more prevalent.

An Ahmadiyah community in Lombok has spent more than seven years in temporary shelter after being displaced by a violent attack in February 2006.

Yudhoyono this year received the Appeal of Conscience Foundation's World Statesman award for tolerance.

Christian subdistrict head wins support of local residents

Jakarta Post - August 25, 2013

Jakarta – The new head of Lenteng Agung subdistrict in South Jakarta, Susan Jasmine Zulkifli, 43, whose replacement on sectarian grounds was demanded on Monday, has won the support of many residents.

A group of people calling themselves the Forum of Lenteng Agung Residents for Reformation (Formala) said on Wednesday that they were supporting Susan as part of their support for the city administration's efforts to develop good governance.

A member of the forum, R. Nio Soeprapto, said that his forum would gather together residents who wanted improvements in Lenteng Agung to discuss a solution to the opposition by some residents.

"We strongly suggest the subdistrict head check out the people who drew up the petition because no resident has rejected her appointment," he said. "If such a rejection was true, we would consider it as intolerance related to ethnicity, religion, race and group affiliation and, therefore, report it to the police."

Susan, a Protestant, was among 311 of Jakarta's subdistrict and district leaders who were inaugurated by Governor Joko "Jokowi" Widodo in June.

However, more than a month after her inauguration, some Lenteng Agung residents went to the City Hall to deliver a petition demanding that the city administration replace her.

The representatives of the residents submitted a list of 2,300 names and 1,500 photocopies of ID cards to support their petition. They said that it did not make sense that they had a non-Muslim leader, as their previous leaders had all been Muslims.

They argued that it would be awkward for Muslim residents to have Susan as their leader, because she would not be able to join religious activities held by the 22 mosques, 59 musholla (houses of prayer) and hundreds of majelis talim (Islamic teaching groups) in their subdistrict.

They said they would stage a protest should the governor fail to accommodate their request.

Naser Nasrullah, a representative of the residents said on Monday that they only wanted the city administration to transfer her to a more heterogeneous subdistrict.

Resident Laeli, 35, said that she did not see Susan's religion as a problem. "I don't care about her religion as long as she serves the residents, such as facilitating them to get cards for free health services and cards for their children's free-of-charge education."

Susan responded to the petition by saying that she would not join religious events because she would respect the Muslim majority in the subdistrict.

"I would definitely join such events if the residents allowed me, but some residents told me that in Islam a non-Muslim is prohibited from entering a mosque or musholla," she said. "However, I will always send my deputy head or another official to join such events."

"The first priority for us is to create more effective public services by establishing one-stop services for ID cards and health cards on one floor of our office," she said, adding that her other priorities were cleaning the Ciliwung River in the subdistrict and relocating street vendors to reduce traffic congestion. (ian)

Shariah law & morality

JAT condemns Miss World pageant in Bali

Jakarta Post - August 31, 2013

Jakarta – Jama'ah Ansharut Tauhid (JAT) has become the latest hard-line Islamic organization to condemn the 2013 Miss World pageant, which is to take place in Bali from Sept. 4 to 15, saying the show was no more than a parade of women's genitalia and, as such, was strictly prohibited by Islamic teachings.

In a press statement, JAT also accused the show of being a way in which Western countries were demoralizing Indonesians and corrupting the country's culture and morality.

"The event is merely a business based on lust. It will do nothing but harass women and, therefore, it is irrelevant to the efforts to boost the country's image," JAT spokesman Son Hadi said in the statement sent to The Jakarta Post on Saturday.

JAT was founded by firebrand cleric Abu Bakar Ba'asyir as a response to what he called the intelligence penetration of his previous organization, the Indonesia Mujahidin Council.

JAT is notorious for the number of its activists who have allegedly been involved in various terrorist attacks in the country. In fact, Ba'asyir himself was sentenced to 15 years in prison having been found guilty of organizing military training camps in Aceh in 2010.

Ba'asyir was also deemed to have inspired and endorsed his followers to launch terrorist attacks for decades.(hrl/dic)

Police, 'pecalang' ready to safeguard Miss World

Jakarta Post - August 31, 2013

Ni Komang Erviani, Denpasar – Bali Police, with support from the military and pecalang (Balinese traditional security guards), said it would ensure the Miss World pageant in Bali in September would run smoothly.

Bali Police chief Insp. Gen. Arif Wachyunadi told journalists that hundreds of personnel would be deployed to sites – in places such as Badung, Denpasar, Karangasem, Klungkung and Tabanan – to safeguard the contestants when they were there.

"The security arrangements will be in accordance with our high-profile international event standard operation procedure," Wachyunadi said.

Wachyunadi's security announcment follows hot on the heels of demands by Habib Rizieq Shibab, leader of the hard-line Islam Defenders Front (FPI), who ordered the government to revoke the event permit or risk massive protests across the country.

On Thursday, Wachyunadi implied that the police were even prepared to deploy a much larger force saying that it would respond to "the dynamic of the situation."

The regional police in Bali have at least 10 companies of cummunity control team (Dalmas) troopers, who are well-trained and well-equipped in executing crowd control, as well as three battalions of combat-grade wMobile Brigade (Brimob) officers.

In addition, the warm relationship between Wachyunadi and Udayana Military Command chief Maj. Gen. Wisnu Bawa Tenaya, also means that the army would be on hand to respond to any situation. In May and June, a large contingent of soldiers was dispatched across the island to assist the police in securing the gubernatorial election.

Udayana Military Command has one ranger-qualified combat battalion stationed in Bali and a dedicated counterterrorism unit.

"The Udayana Military Command, the provincial administration, and all Bali residents also support us. The Pecalang would also be participated on safeguard the event in some places," Wachyunadi stressed.

He disclosed that the local police would conduct a special security operation over two weeks, starting on Sept. 14, when the contestants begin to arrive on the resort island. The National Police have allocated Rp 505.7 million (US$44,920) to fund the security operation.

Separately, the chairman of the Grand Council of Customary Villages (MUDP), Jero Gede Putus Suwena, said that the pecalang would participate in securing the pageant.

"As Balinese, we have an obligation to safeguard our island. Supporting the police for the Miss World event is part of our obligation." The MUDP is the umbrella organization for 1,483 customary villages across Bali. These villages are ready to deploy their respective pecalang if the situation arose.

Beauty pageant encourages harassment: PPP

Jakarta Post - August 31, 2013

National – House of Representatives Commission X member Reni Marlinawatin said the Miss World pageant, set to take place in Bali in September, would encourage sexual harassment against women in Indonesia.

"This contradicts President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's efforts to revitalize the nation's manners and character," Reni said on Friday as quoted by antaranews.com.

The United Development Party (PPP) politician said that vulgar shows on television played a significant role in encouraging sexual harassment and rape against women.

"The contest, which is very commercialized, will of course have a big impact. In the name of our nation, I reject the Miss World pageant," Reni said.

She added that the event violated Islamic values, and as an Islamic party, the PPP rejected the event. "I'm sure that the party also rejects [the event]. Everything that is against Islam will be rejected by the PPP," she said.

Bali Governor Made Mangku Pastika earlier said that he would fully support the pageant, as the event's participants and organizers had agreed to abide by the administration's requirements related to the bikini ban.

There will be more than 130 contestants from 130 countries participating in the event, with more than 1,400 international journalists covering the show.

Indonesian minister calls for Miss World to be axed

Agence France Presse - August 30, 2013

Indonesia's religious affairs minister has called for the Miss World beauty pageant to be cancelled, as opposition in the Muslim-majority country mounts the week before the contest opens in Bali.

Suryadharma Ali said that the organizers should follow the advice of the nation's top Islamic clerical body, which last week called for the contest to be scrapped even after organizers agreed to axe the bikini round.

"The Indonesian Ulema Council has expressed strong opposition to Miss World because it doesn't fit with Islamic teachings that say Muslim women should cover immodest parts of their bodies," the minister said in a statement late Thursday.

The minister is the first government official to publicly voice opposition to the pageant, dealing a fresh blow to the Britain-based organizers.

His statement came the same day a commissioner from the country's National Human Rights Commission said he opposed an event that "put women's bodies on display".

The local organizers were not fazed by the minister's comments however, saying the issue was not his domain and that "the show must go on".

"This is not an Islamic country and this event is an issue of culture, not religion," Adjie S. Soeratmadjie, corporate secretary of broadcaster and local organizer RCTI, told AFP, adding several other ministers supported Miss World.

While Indonesia is a Muslim-majority nation, its constitution is not Islamic and recognizes several religions.

The organizers revealed in June that the famed bikini round was being axed for the pageant in Indonesia in a bid to avoid causing offense, and contestants would instead wear Balinese sarongs.

Nevertheless, hardline group Islamic Defenders Front has not been appeased and still plans to hold protests on the outskirts of the capital Jakarta, where the pageant's final will be held on September 28.

The competition opens on September 8 in Bali, a Hindu-majority island known for its many beaches where female tourists from around the world sunbathe in skimpy bikinis with few problems.

Hardline groups in Indonesia have forced the cancellation of events deemed "un-Islamic" in the past. Last year pop star Lady Gaga pulled out of the Indonesian leg of her tour after hardliners threatened to burn down the venue and criticized her for wearing only "a bra and panties".

Komnas HAM joins chorus on Miss World competition

Jakarta Globe - August 28, 2013

Markus Junianto Sihaloho – A government human rights official has joined Islamic organizations in calling for the Miss World contest scheduled for Indonesia next month to be canceled.

Maneger Nasution, an official at the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM), said on Tuesday that the event violated human rights and posed a threat to Indonesian culture.

"For the people of Indonesia, women are mothers, they are the nation's pride. Their beauty is not for show and not to be used in competition," he said, citing a clause in the Constitution stating that freedom is limited by the law, morality and religion to defend his apparent encroachment on liberty. "Our culture is very attached to mannerisms, etiquette and wisdom."

His comments came a day after Surahman Hidayat, a member of House of Representatives Commission X, which oversees education, culture and tourism, said the government should shy away from divisive foreign events and instead focus on developing cultural events that showcase the nation's heritage.

He said hosting Miss World breached the Constitution and Pancasila, the philosophical foundation of the Indonesian state. He said Miss World's tourism benefit was speculative.

"We hope the government, through the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, the Ministry of Education and Culture as well as the Ministry of Women Empowerment and Child Protection, will be more proactive and creative in developing Indonesia's very own cultural treasures," Surahman said in Jakarta on Monday.

"The government should promote Indonesia's programs overseas instead of adopting foreign cultural values."

Surahman, a member of the Islam-inspired Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), said he did not support Indonesia hosting the Miss World event.

"If developing tourism is an objective, I think there are many other activities that are more fitting to Indonesian culture that could be developed and improved," he said.

The Miss World contest has also drawn criticism from the hard-line Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) and more moderate Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI).

An MUI official said the group opposed the event because exposing a woman's body violated Islamic teachings. He said the decision by organizers to exclude the traditional bikini contest did not overcome the problem as contestants will still be required to wear tight dresses that showed their curves.

The FPI has vowed to disrupt the event, which is scheduled to include a gathering in Bali before the main ceremony on Sept. 28 at West Java's Sentul International Convention Center.

The Miss World contest, which began in 1951, has long been the target of protests.

[Maneger Nasution was one of 13 new National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) commissioners selected by the House of Representatives in October 2012. He was singled out for criticism by human rights groups for his previous (or ongoing depending on reports) membership of Indonesia's ultra-conservative top religious body, the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) - JB.]

Indonesian clerics call for ban of Miss World

Associated Press - August 27, 2013

Niniek Karmini, Jakarta – One of Indonesia's most influential Islamic groups is urging the government to cancel the Miss World pageant scheduled for next month, saying the exposure of skin by women in a competition violates Muslim teachings, an official said Monday.

A top-level meeting of clerics was held earlier this month by the Indonesian Ulema Council to respond to protests from some groups over Indonesia's hosting of the event, even after organizers agreed to cut the bikini competition and instead outfit contestants in more conservative sarongs, council chairman Amidan Shaberah said.

"Our position is clear, we reject Indonesia being the host of Miss World," Shaberah said. "Because exposing their bodies in a contest is against Islamic teachings."

The council is an influential Islamic body that often issues fatwas, or edicts, including controversial rulings against smoking and yoga. Though not legally binding, many devoted Muslims follow such decrees because ignoring them is considered a sin.

Shaberah said the council will not officially demand that the government cancel the event, but will instead recommend that it be stopped. The pageant is scheduled to be held partly on the resort island of Bali, with the final round on Sept. 28 near the capital, Jakarta.

"We are not Sharia police, we are not law enforcers," Shaberah said, referring to authorities who enforce Islamic law. "But we suggest the government cancel it."

Adjie S. Soeratmadjie of RCTI, the official broadcaster and local organizer of the event, said the concerns were being heard and that some adjustments were being made to make the pageant more appropriate for Indonesian culture and more like other beauty contests held in the country.

"We understand the position" of the council, Soeratmadjie said. "But the show must go on... we call on the protesters to avoid anarchy and we are sure authorities can maintain security."

He added that Miss Israel had dropped out of the competition, but declined to give the reason. Indonesia and Israel do not have diplomatic relations.

Last week, the hardline Islamic Defenders Front pledged to stage protests across the country to prevent Indonesia from hosting the competition.

"The Miss World pageant is only an excuse to exhibit women's body parts," said its leader, Riziek Shihab. "We are obliged to disband it if the government allows it to be held in any region of Indonesia."

The front has a long record of vandalizing nightspots, hurling stones at Western embassies and attacking rival religious groups. Lady Gaga was forced to cancel her sold-out Indonesia show last year after threats from the group, which branded her a "devil worshipper."

The chairwoman of the Miss World Organization, Julia Morley, earlier confirmed that none of the contestants would wear a bikini.

The pageant began in the 1950s, and the first winner was crowned in a two- piece bathing suit. Most Muslims in Indonesia, a secular country of 240 million people and the world's most populous Islamic country, are moderate, but a small extremist fringe has become more vocal in recent years.

Land & agrarian conflicts

Unmapped customary land may spark clashes

Jakarta Post - August 28, 2013

Apriadi Gunawan, Samosir – Millions of hectares of customary territories in Indonesia reportedly have yet to be mapped, which could potentially spark open conflicts among communities, data shows.

According to data from Nusantara Traditional Community Alliance (AMAN), around 33 million hectares of customary land have not been mapped. AMAN secretary-general Abdon Nababan said that Constitutional Court decision No. 41/1999 on forestry recognized the presence of the customary forests, which were claimed as state forests and then turned into land owned by customary communities.

Abdon added that the Constitutional Court's decision could serve as a basis to map out the customary areas that are prone to conflict.

"Currently, around 17 million people from 2,242 traditional communities in Indonesia are fighting alongside AMAN to map out the areas," said Abdon at the opening of the Global Conference on Participatory Mapping of Indigenous Territory on Samosir Island, Lake Toba, North Sumatra, on Wednesday.

The meeting was attended by some 100 participants from Brazil, Colombia, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Nepal, New Zealand, Panama, Suriname, the Philippines and Vietnam.

Abdon said that because government support had been minimal, mapping out existing customary land took a long time. He said it took AMAN 30 years to map out all the customary territories in Indonesia, adding that it aimed to complete mapping out all the areas by 2020.

National Participatory Mapping Working Network (JKPP) head Kasmita Widodo said the government had yet to own complete data on traditional community territories.

Kasmita said disputes such as those between a traditional community and PT Riau Andalan Pulp and Paper in Riau as well as the conflict between a traditional community in Pandumaan and Sipituhuta villages in North Sumatra and PT Toba Pulp Lestari, had continued because the government lacked official data on customary territories.

Head of Disaster Mapping and Climate Change Affairs at the Geospatial Information Agency (BIG), Sumaryono, acknowledged that Indonesia lacked official data on customary territory mapping. He said the government had received a proposal and comparable data from various customary communities to conduct customary area mappings.

Civil service & bureaucracy

Paying the price for a slack civil service

Jakarta Globe - August 29, 2013

Yuli Krisna, Novy Lumanauw & Robertus Wardi, Sumedang, West Java/Jakarta – Need a land or birth certificate? Or a driver's license or car registration? Or a place at a public school or medication at a public hospital? You'll stand little chance of success without paying a bribe or procuring the services of an intermediary, such as is the state of the Indonesian civil service.

"It's a fact of life here in Indonesia. The civil servants are actually trying to make things difficult so that people give them money to get things done. In many cases, civil servants work together with middlemen and get a cut," Dadang Trisasongko, a representative of integrity activist group Transparency International Indonesia, told a forum in Jakarta on Monday.

He said many state offices conceal official fees for their services so that officials can charge a higher amount. "There is no transparency. In most cases, people have no choice but to follow the game," Dadang said, adding that without "grease money" people sometimes wait for hours, weeks or even months to get things done.

Deputy Administrative Reform Minister Eko Prasojo admitted recently that corrupt bureaucracy led to poor-quality public services.

He said bureaucrats have lethargic work habits and often cut corners. Eko admitted that the country's bureaucracy was bloated, with many state workers doing jobs for which they were not qualified. "All of these characteristics cause bad public services," he said.

Eko added that the government and public must unite to eradicate a culture of corruption in order for the country to achieve a healthy and clean bureaucracy. A survey by Hong Kong-based Political and Economic Risk Consultancy in 2010 ranked India, Indonesia and the Philippines as the countries with the worst bureaucracies.

India scored 9.41 out of 10 – with 10 being the worst – followed by Indonesia with 8.59 and the Philippines with 8.37. The top two countries in Asia were Singapore with 2.53 and Hong Kong with 3.49. The organization said that Indonesia's bureaucracy discouraged foreign investment.

Recruitment problems

Sofian Effendi, deputy chairman of the government-sanctioned Independent Team for Bureaucracy Reform, said problems with public service began with the practice of civil service jobs in the central or regional government being able to be bought. He estimated that a candidate for a civil service position must pay on average Rp 150 million ($13,700) to be accepted.

"If, for instance, a district head needs 2,000 new civil servants in his or her district, and each of them pays Rp 150 million, you can imagine how much money he or she will get in the one-time recruitment process," he said earlier this year.

Sofian said that district heads, governors and mayors raise as much money as they can because they want to recoup money spent during the campaign and election period. "The recruitment process becomes an ATM for regional heads," he said.

Karyono Wibowo, a senior researcher at the Indonesian Public Institute, a think tank, said a key factor in provincial corruption was the high cost of running for and staying in public office.

"It's this high cost that compels elected officials to commit corruption" to recoup their money, he said. Karyono added that running for mayor or district head required candidates to spend at least Rp 5 billion, the IPI estimated.

"In some areas, the cost can go up to Rp 20 billion or even Rp 50 billion. It all depends on the region's economic potential," he said. Running for governor can cost upward of Rp 100 billion, Karyono added.

Home Affairs Minister Gamawan Fauzi has previously acknowledged the problem, revealing earlier this month that 298 governors, district heads and mayors had been jailed since regional autonomy was introduced in 1999.

New civil servants – after having paid such large amounts – want their money back, said Emerson Yuntho of activist group Indonesia Corruption Watch.

"They will start to do whatever it takes to get their money back. And once they enjoy the easy money, they will continue to accept bribes or stolen state money. That's why so many civil servants are involved in bribery and corruption," he said.

Sofian said that in an attempt to reduce bribery in the selection process of civil servants, the reform team had proposed to cut the authority of regional head to take on new employees.

'It's on the right track'

Welcoming the graduation of 1,300 students of the Home Affairs Ministry's Public Administration Academy (STPDN) in Sumedang on Wednesday, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said that bureaucratic reform was on track.

"We should be grateful with the implementation of bureaucratic reform at a number of ministries and government offices. It's on the right track," he told the graduates, who will become civil servants at regional administration offices across Indonesia.

There has been recent progress in improving performance and managing the budget in several government offices, with the number of corruption cases decreasing, the president said.

"Good officials will not make things difficult and be accountable on what they are doing," he said.

The president said he would continue to implement a system of reward and punishment as part of a push for furthering bureaucratic reform. "We should give appreciation to those who have done their job well and hand down sanctions for underperforming civil servants," he said.

Administrative Reform Minister Azwar Abubakar told the new graduates that the government will recruit new officials despite claims that the state already employs too many civil servants.

He said that ministries and regional offices will accept 170,000 new recruits this year, adding to the 5 million existing state employees and 500,000 contract and temporary workers.

Azwar guaranteed that the recruitment process will be different from that in place previously, with the process closely monitored to avoid bribery practices.

In a speech earlier this month, Yudhoyono said the state had allocated Rp 276.7 trillion for the salaries of civil servants next year, up by Rp 43 trillion on this year's figure.

The increase came despite spending on programs such as infrastructure and social aid being cut significantly next year.

"Rather than increasing the number of civil servants, we should trim them. They have become a burden to the state budget," University of Indonesia public policy expert Andrinof Chaniago said.

He said the country had enough civil servants, adding that many of them do little actual work. Andrinof said the government should move civil servant jobs from Java to other parts of the country.

"Many regions, for instance, don't have enough teachers, doctors, nurse and other skilled civil servants while provinces in Java have an excess of human resources," he said.

Indonesia two years ago introduced an amnesty on hiring new civil servants, but that policy included myriad exceptions and has since lapsed.

Parliament & legislation

Another year, another poor performance

Jakarta Post - August 30, 2013

National – The House of Representatives celebrated on Thursday its 68th anniversary with a dismal legislative record and poor attendance by its members.

During a plenary meeting to celebrate the anniversary on Thursday only one third of the total 560 lawmakers were present. At the event, House Speaker Marzuki Alie announced that the legislative body had completed the deliberation of only 13 of the 70 bills earmarked for this year.

Marzuki said that political deadlock had prevented the House and the government reaching the target as well as lax discipline among lawmakers.

"We need to improve the structure and mechanism of this institution for a more effective performance. One way to do this is by setting up a Law Center," he said.

Director of the Center for Indonesian Law and Policy Studies (PSHK), Ronald Rofiandri said that the poor performance of the House was no surprise. He said that as lawmakers prepared for the 2014 elections, they would prioritize political campaigning.

"Nonetheless, this should not be an excuse because lawmakers are responsible for fulfilling the job mandated to them in the remainder of their terms," Ronald said.

Communication & transport

'Who needs handbrakes?': Ask Metro Mini drivers

Jakarta Post - August 30, 2013

Sita W. Dewi, Jakarta – Hundreds of Metro Mini (minibus) drivers staged another violent protest in front of City Hall, airing a number of counterproductive demands, including more lenient vehicle assessments.

The drivers demanded that the Jakarta Transportation Agency release hundreds of Metro Mini buses that had been declared unroadworthy.

"We want the agency to release the buses because we can not make money. We also want a more lenient vehicle assessment," Utay, a Metro Mini driver, said on Thursday.

Under the sweltering sun, the drivers pushed up to the City Hall gate, attempting to break into the governor's office area, to no avail. Others were seen venting their rage by attacking passing Kopaja (minibus) and Transjakarta buses.

"We don't want to meet [the transportation] agency head. We want to talk to the governor," one of the protesters shouted.

Governor Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, however, was not at his office today as he was at Tanah Abang in Central Jakarta inspecting Blok G market and at the Pinus Elok low-cost apartments in East Jakarta showing Ria-Rio reservoir squatters the apartment units they will be relocated to.

Deputy Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama, who was about to leave City Hall, managed to meet the protesters for a few minutes.

"We want a more lenient vehicle assessment. Please allow Metro Mini buses without speedometers or handbrakes to operate," one protester said, to which the deputy governor responded indignantly.

"That is outrageous. Some people have died because of that. Do you want more victims?" Ahok said while handing over his name card. "If you want to discuss anything, just call me!" he said while leaving.

Separately, PT Metromini president director Nofrialdi argued that a number of bus parts such as speedometers and handbrakes were hard to come by. "Most buses are 20 to 30 years old. Many of the parts are no longer available."

The Jakarta Transportation Agency seized and impounded 1,354 Metro Mini buses and grounded another 180 buses. The agency has also reported 25 Metro Mini buses to the City Police over allegations of vehicle document forgery.

"[We suspect] they have faked their vehicle assessment documents and official signatures," agency head Udar Pristono said. "We won't bow to their pressure. A regulation is a regulation. We don't want more victims," Sunardi Sinaga, agency operational division head, said.

The city administration has planned to integrate the management of Metro Mini minibuses, currently owned by a number of individuals under PT Metromini, as part of its efforts to improve public transportation in the capital. The city also aimed to procure hundreds on new minibuses to replace the aging buses.

University of Indonesia transportation expert Alvinsyah supported the city's move, saying that "without management integration, public transportation revitalization can not be realized."

A recent accident in East Jakarta that involved a Metro Mini minibus, which injured three students, incited public outrage. It was later found out that the Metro Mini driver did not have a driving license and was not an official driver. The minibus was also found to be not road-worthy as it had neither functioning brakes nor a clutch.

Armed forces & defense

Moeldoko, Budiman installed as military commander, army chief of staff

Jakarta Post - August 30, 2013

Jakarta – President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono officially inaugurated Gen. Moeldoko and Lt. Gen. Budiman as the new Indonesian Military Commander and Army chief of staff, respectively, at the State Palace on Friday.

Moeldoko replaced Adm. Agus Suhartono, who will retire on Sept. 1., and Budiman, who was previously Defense Ministry secretary-general, succeeds Moeldoko, who has just resigned his position as Army chief of staff. First Lady Ani Yudhoyono, Vice President Boediono and his wife Herawati Boediono, Ministers and dignitaries from state institutions, the Indonesian Military and the National Police, as well as relatives of Moeldoko and Budiman all attended the inauguration ceremony.

Moeldoko and Budiman were the top graduates of the Military Academy in 1981 and 1978, respectively. They both had received the Adhi Makayasa medal, kompas.com reported. (hrl/dic)

Indonesia's new military chief sworn in

Jakarta Globe - August 28, 2013

Markus Junianto Sihaloho, Banjir Ambarita & Yeremia Sukoyo – The new chief of Indonesia's armed forces was sworn in on Tuesday following approval by the House of Representatives.

Gen. Moeldoko, who was proposed by the president to replace the outgoing chief Adm. Agus Suhartono, assumes his duties at a time of increased public scrutiny for the Indonesian Military (TNI) following high-profile cases of abuse of power, friction with the police and human rights violations.

Having garnered the approval of all factions in parliament, Gen. Moeldoko was sworn in by the House in an official ceremony. "Do you agree to appoint Gen. Moeldoko as the new chief of the military?" the leader of the plenary session Priyo Budi Santoso asked. The question was met with a chorus of approval.

Moeldoko, who was appointed chief of staff in May this year, has now made history with the fastest progress through the ranks of the Indonesian armed forces to reach the top.

The country's new military chief promised to overhaul the management system of the armed forces, heralding the need for a properly integrated system, while also espousing the need for commitment to improving professionalism within the forces.

He was subjected to a fit-and-proper test that included a question and answer session, before his predecessor was officially dismissed by the House.

"The House also offers its appreciation regarding the achievements and positive appraisal towards the military chief's performance," said Tubagus Hasanuddin, deputy chairman of House Commission I, which oversees defense, foreign affairs and intelligence. "The House approves the appointment of Gen. Moeldoko as chief of the military."

Tubagus expressed his gratitude towards the leaders of the House, members of House Commission I, the public and the press for their inputs and attention throughout the selection process.

Papua police conflict

A number of high-profile conflicts between the police and the military have occurred in Indonesia in recent times.

On Monday, just a day before the House approved Moeldoko's appointment, a brawl broke out between military and police force members in Fakfak, West Papua, that resulted in two people being injured.

A spokesperson from the local military command Col. Lismer Lumban Siantar confirmed the event. "There had been a misunderstanding, which resulted in a fight between members of the military and police," he said.

The incident reportedly occurred when a member of the Fakfak Police, who was on duty at the port, tried to search a member of the Fakfak military command.

"When a member of the police frisked an Army private by the name of Yohanes, there was a misunderstanding. First Brig. John Numberi of the police then hit Yohanes with the head, causing a cut wound," Lismer said.

While on their way to the police station to revenge of the incident, the military members attacked a police officer by the name of Akbar who was a passenger on the back of a passing motorcycle.

"The member of the police who was attacked had been drunk, he was also shouting which apparently sparked anger among the military members, he said.

Lismer said the situation had been brought under control immediately. "The head of the district police and the local military commander immediately approached the area and asked the members to end the fight and all agreed to do so," he said.

The fight followed other incidents by members of both institutions earlier this year.

Abuse of power

In March, soldiers attacked and set a police station on fire in Ogan Komering Ulu, South Sumatra, after one of their members was allegedly shot by a member of the police. The military have also been condemned by human rights organizations for alleged abuse of power.

Earlier this year, members of the Army Special Forces, known as Kopasus, entered the Cebongan Prison in Sleman, Central Java, and gunned down four detainees.

Investigators said the motive of the killing had been revenge, as the four detainees had earlier been charged for killing a Special Forces member three days earlier.

Improved IT needed

Speaking at a separate event on Tuesday, the outgoing military chief Agus called for improved information technology in the Indonesian military as it plays a key role in assisting the institution in important decision making.

"This is what causes many governments or institutions to spend millions or billions of dollars to obtain the right information about anything related to potential security threats," he said in Jakarta during the signing of a memorandum of understanding with media group MNC, which will provide military command bases in remote islands and border areas with access to television programming.

According to Agus, the ability to provide an institution with information was a key factor in a successful defense system. "In the military doctrine, information is an integral part of commands and control, which are key in every operation," he said.

As the military prepares to welcome a new leader, the government has also moved forward to strengthen the nation's defense forces by equipping the Army with AH-64 Apache attack helicopters from the United States in a deal worth $500 million.

"With the aim of strengthening defense power, we will prepare the Apache Squadron as an attack helicopter which is a part of the Army," said Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro in Jakarta on Monday after a meeting with the US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel.

Additionally, Indonesia and the United States will be co-hosting a counterterrorism exercise under the Asean Defense Ministers Meeting Plus framework in the Indonesia Peace and Security Center area in Sentul, Bogor.

The training, which involves 18 nations, will be the first to be held in the Asia Pacific region.

According to Purnomo, the joint training will contribute to improving professionalism in the military, in line with the Indonesian government's efforts to modernize the military's primary defense equipment.

TNI deploys personnel to avoid oil stealing in Palembang

Antara News - August 28, 2013

Palembang, South Sumatra – Indonesian Army Chief of Staff Moeldoko said Indonesian Military (TNI) has deployed personnel to avoid oil stealing that often takes place in Palembang, South Sumatra.

"Indonesian Army has discussed with Pertamina's President Director about the effort on avoiding oil stealing," said Moeldoko here, after a discussion with TNI soldiers, civil servants and citizens on Tuesday evening.

According to him, TNI has deployed many personnel, particularly from Military Regional Command (Kodam) II Sriwijaya to secure oil supplies.

He said TNI will secure oil supplies in Palembang. "TNI, along with Pertamina, planned to visit the oil stealing scene area that bordered with Jambi," said Moeldoko.

Moeldoko hopes by enhancing the security effort, citizens in the region will prevent oil related crime.

Relating to the Governor re-election on September 4, Moeldoko has instructed Military Regional Commander of Kodam II/Sriwijaya to fully support regional police in securing condition in Palembang.

Besides, the Indonesian Army Chief of Staff has urged soldiers to be neutral.

"TNI will legally process the soldiers involved in supporting one side in the re-election process," Moeldoko said. According to him, Indonesian Army will also secure the guests in Islamic Solidarity Games, which take place in Palembang soon.

Indonesia to modernize its military

Antara News - August 27, 2013

Jakarta – Army General Moeldoko said modernization of the military equipment will come first in his agenda as a new Indonesian military chief.

"I will prepare a working program to modernize the military equipment," Moeldoko said here on Tuesday after the House of Representative in a plenary session approved his appointment as a new military chief.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has named Moeldoko to replace military chief Admiral Agus Suhartono, who will soon retire.

Moeldoko said he will also launch a program to improve military education and recruitment system. He said he hopes the House of Representatives would approve a proposal to increase remuneration for high performing servicemen.

Last week, the army chief of staff passed a fit and proper test by the Commission I of the House of Representatives.

Tubagus Hasanuddin, deputy chairman of the Commission I said Moeldoko is expected to modernize the military and strengthen its capability.

On Monday the Defense Ministry said it will form a squadron of Apache AH-64 helicopters to be purchased from the United States. The ministry made the plan after the US government agrees to sell the high technology helicopters to Indonesia.

"In order to build up our defense we will prepare an Apache squadron as combat helicopters," Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro said after a meeting with his US counterpart Chuck Hagel, here.

Indonesia and the United States will co-hosts the ADMM Plus, meeting on Counter Terrorism Exercise (CTX), to be held on 9 to 13 of September 2013 in the IPSC Sentul, Bogor.

Joint military exercises between TNI and the US armed forces is important to promote the capability and professionalism of the TNI soldiers, Purnomo said.

The meeting will also officially form a new area of cooperation of Experts Working Group (EWG) on Humanitarian Mine Action (HMA).

With the new area of cooperation, ADMM Plus EWG will next year has six areas of cooperation – EWG on Humanitarian Assistant and Disaster Relief (HADR), EWG on Peace Keeping Operations (PKO), EWG on Maritime Security (MS), EWG on Counter Terrorism (CT), EWG on Military Medicine (MM), and EWG on Humanitarian Mine Action (HMA).

US sparks Indonesia arms sale concern

Inter Press Service - August 27, 2013

Carey L Biron, Washington – US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel announced on Monday that Washington is going forward with a controversial sale of eight attack helicopters to the Indonesian government, despite concerns that the gunships will be used for internal repression.

The deal, worth some US$500 million, would be the largest-ever military sale between the two countries. In addition to the eight Apache AH-64E helicopters – the latest of this type of aircraft, built by US-based Boeing – the agreement would include pilot training and radar technologies.

"Providing Indonesia these world-class helicopters is an example of our commitment to help build Indonesia's military capability," Hagel said in Jakarta, where he is on an eight-day trip to Southeast Asia.

"Helping ensure the region's security and prosperity is a goal the United States strongly shares. The strong and enduring security partnership that has been built between the United States and Indonesia is a relationship the United States greatly values."

A US defense official, speaking anonymously, told reporters separately that the Apache gunships would strengthen the Indonesian government's anti- piracy operations and broader "maritime awareness". Yet rights groups say it will be largely impossible for the United States to dictate the Indonesian military's use of the new hardware once the sale has gone through.

"The problem is that these are offensive-only weapons, and given the history of the Indonesian military they're more likely to be used for internal repression than for external defense," John Miller, US national coordinator for the East Timor Indonesia Action Network (ETAN), an advocacy group, told IPS.

"The military will use these helicopters as they want. These are weapons of war, weapons of counter-insurgency, so it would be foolish to expect that the Indonesians wouldn't use them that way."

Early last year, when the Apache sale was first publicly discussed, ETAN and about 90 other civil society organizations wrote an open letter to the US Congress, warning, "These aircraft will substantially augment the [Indonesian military's] capacity to prosecute its 'sweep operations' in West Papua [province], and thereby almost certainly lead to increased suffering among the civilian populations long victimized by such operations."

While congress must be formally notified of any major military sales to foreign governments (that notification took place in September), Miller says lawmakers raised little objection over the issue.

"There is really only rhetorical help coming from Washington, if that," he says. "History has shown that military leverage was used quite successfully in the case of East Timor, when these types of sales were specifically withheld or conditioned on easily demonstrated reforms. But today's members of congress either don't know their history or they've forgotten this lesson."

Marked upsurge

Both Hagel's trip and the gunships sale are being seen in the context of the United States' broader attempt to give new priority to Washington's bilateral relationships with countries throughout Asia. Indonesia could be central to this strategy – President Barack Obama is slated to make a trip there in October – and US officials are keen to nurture an ongoing, though contested, reforms process.

Yet in recent years, national and international rights groups have warned that these reforms are not progressing at the rate Jakarta officials or some Western governments have suggested. Meanwhile, a military that for years stood accused of heinous rights violations today remains involved in battles against several internal rebellions.

West Papua, for instance, is a resource-rich province that became part of Indonesia under highly contentious circumstances in the 1960s. Armed separatist groups subsequently began fighting the state, resulting in up to 100,000 deaths by the following decade alone. That violence continues to this day, with the province one of the world's most militarized areas.

Last year, during Indonesia's Universal Periodic Review – the United Nations' regular look at countries' human rights records – more than a dozen countries urged Jakarta to take steps to resolve ongoing problems in the region, including impunity for military abuses. The Indonesian government rebuffed each of these recommendations.

Last year also saw a "marked upsurge in violence as Indonesian security forces apparently sought to crack down on Papuan activists", Human Rights Watch stated in its most recent reporting on the region.

It listed impunity for security forces as "a serious concern". It also noted, "Much of US policy towards Indonesia has focused on cementing military ties, including with Indonesian special forces, which have long been implicated in serious abuses."

Unrepentant and unreformed

For decades the United States was barred by law from selling military hardware to Indonesia specifically because of the military's rights record. But following the 1998 downfall of Indonesian autocrat Suharto after more than three decades in power, president George W Bush began to roll back these restrictions.

Claiming further progress on pro-democracy reforms and strengthened oversight within the Indonesian government and military, President Obama essentially dismantled the remaining legal restrictions in 2010. At the time, some US lawmakers warned that such a step was premature.

Indonesian special forces have "a long history of abuses and remains unrepentant, essentially unreformed and unaccountable", Senator Patrick Leahy stated in July 2010.

"I deeply regret that before starting down the road of re-engagement, our country did not obtain and [the special forces] did not accept the necessary reforms we have long sought," he said. "It is notable that this is a small step and [then-secretary of defense Robert Gates] made clear that future cooperation, to be consistent with US law, hinges on future reforms."

While important reforms have indeed gone forward since Suharto's fall in 1998, ETAN's Miller warns that many of these processes have now stalled.

"Issues like fully removing the Indonesian military from its internal role, holding the military accountable for past and ongoing human rights violations – at best, that's happening only in fits and starts," he says.

"Yet the perception in Washington is that Indonesia is now needed as a central ally in the 'war against terrorism' and as a bulwark against China, and that the country has undergone a complete democratic transformation, with the military now fully under democratic control."

"That's just not true," he concludes. "There's no reason to sacrifice the people of West Papua and other parts of the country for this belief."

US hopes Apache sales will keep Indonesia on side

Jakarta Globe - August 27, 2013

Indonesia will buy eight Apache attack helicopters off the United States, it was announced on Monday, as US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel met Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in Jakarta in what analysts said was a diplomatic bid to check the rise of China.

During the meeting, Yudhoyono said that Indonesia-US cooperation could enhance the prosperity of both nations, as well as have important implications for the peace and stability of Asia, according to a spokesman.

The world's largest economy is in the process of shifting resources in Asia and the Pacific as part of a "pivot" with a view to the emergence of China. "We are strengthening our bilateral ties and our cooperation in the region," Yudhoyono said on Monday.

Both statesman said the Asia-Pacific region was an engine of global economic growth, underscoring the importance of peace and stability in the region, including a peaceful resolution to South China Sea territorial disputes.

"South China Sea is part of... the larger picture of relations in the region," said Teuku Faizasyah, Yudhoyono's spokesman for international affairs.

Hagel, for whom Jakarta was the second stop on a week-long four-nation trip that began in Malaysia on Saturday, voiced US appreciation for Yudhoyono's leadership, which he said contributed to regional stability. "I bring you greetings from President [Barack] Obama," Hagel told Yudhoyono at the start of their meeting.

Hagel said the US president was "looking forward to seeing you in October," referring to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders meeting in Bali. The defense secretary added that Washington was committed to "deepening and strengthening" ties between the two countries.

Obama spent part of his childhood in Indonesia and has called for improved ties with the world's most populous Muslim-majority country, which has embraced democracy since the downfall of dictator Suharto in 1998.

The United States has gradually expanded cooperation with Indonesia's military over several years, even while voicing concerns about the country's human rights record.

US officials say the Indonesian military has improved its human rights practices and that Washington has an interest in expanding cooperation on counter-terrorism.

The US tilt to Asia is driven in part by the region's growing economic importance and concerns over China's expanding military might.

Several analysts said that Monday's announcement of the sale of the eight Boeing AH-64E Apache helicopters in a deal worth $500 million (including radar, training and maintenance), was part of a broader effort to persuade Indonesia to maintain its position as US friend amid the rise of China.

"I think the US needs to keep Indonesia close. And offering military equipment is one way to do it," said Aleksius Jemadu, dean of Pelita Harapan University's social and political science department.

Officials confirmed that the sale represented the culmination of more than a year of behind-the-scenes work by Indonesia, which saw the helicopters as a key part of a wider plan to modernize its weaponry.

A 14-person delegation, including Army Chief Gen. Moeldoko and Defense Ministry Secretary General Lt. Gen. Budiman, traveled last week to a Boeing factory in Arizona to inspect the aircraft.

On meeting the Indonesian delegation, Boeing business development manager Dave Bostrum said the deal was important to the evolution of the Indonesian military. "The Apache is expected to be a key part of Indonesia's continuing efforts to improve its strategic defense capabilities," he said.

When it first emerged that Indonesia wanted to acquire the helicopters, two human rights groups – The East Timor Action Network and West Papua Advocacy Team – wrote to the US Congress expressing their opposition to the sale.

Indonesia's defense preparedness has lagged in recent years, with econ o mic problems preventing the country from maintaining or upgrading its military equipment. During his first term, Yudhoyono slashed defense purchases to free up money for economic and social policies, but he later increased the defense budget.

For 2014, defense allocations stand at Rp 83 trillion ($7.65 billion), the largest share of any government program.

Beside bilateral and regional issues, Yudhoyono and Hagel also discussed global issues – including the conflicts in Syria and Egypt – where Indonesia may play a role. The US has indicated it is preparing for military action in Syria. "The president expressed Indonesia's position on Syria and Egypt," Faizasyah said.

After meeting with Yudhoyono, Hagel met with Indonesian Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro in a follow-up to talks held recently at the Shangri-La Dialogue.

Hagel will head to Brunei today for a regional defense gathering that will include China. On Thursday he will fly to the Philippines, his final stop.

[Additional reporting from AFP & Reuters.]

US to Sell $500 million of attack helicopters to Indonesia

Bloomberg - August 26, 2013

Gopal Ratnam & Berni Moestafa – The US agreed to sell a fleet of Apache attack helicopters to the Indonesian Army in a transaction valued at as much as $500 million.

Indonesia will buy eight Apaches and the US will provide training to their pilots on tactics, techniques and procedures for operating in Southeast Asia, a US defense official said in an e-mailed statement.

"The US for the first time has agreed to sell Indonesia new AH-64E Apache attack helicopters," Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said in a prepared statement from Jakarta where he met his counterpart Purnomo Yusgiantoro.

The helicopters, fitted with Longbow radar, are made by Chicago-based Boeing Co. (BA)Various models of the Apache are flown by the US Army and the military in Egypt, Greece, Israel, Japan, Kuwait, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates and the U.K., according to its website.

The US in 2005 lifted restrictions on arms sales and military cooperation with Indonesia, which were imposed in 1991 because of the country's human rights record. A defense cooperation agreement was signed about five years later.

In November 2011 the US agreed to provide Indonesia with 24 refurbished F- 16 jet fighters from the Pentagon's used aircraft inventory. The jets are made by Lockheed Martin Corp. (LMT)of Bethesda, Maryland.

Indonesia has made progress in improving transparency and protection of human rights, according to Hagel. This may "lead to even more momentum in our defense relationship," he said.

Economic performance

The US didn't attach conditions restricting the use of the Apache aircraft, according to Yusgiantoro. Indonesia is buying new helicopters as it hasn't modernized its armed forces for the past 15 or 20 years because of the 1998 Asian financial crisis, he said at a joint press briefing with Hagel.

"In other countries when economic performance gets better, when there's good economic growth, some funds can be used to modernize the armed forces," the minister said. "That is what's happening with Indonesia."

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who is due to hand over power in elections next year, is seeking to shore up his legacy of political and economic stability in the world's fourth-most populous nation. As he nears the end of a decade in power, the leader faces an economy that is growing at the slowest pace since 2010, a slumping rupiah and the fastest inflation in more than four years.

Gross domestic product increased 5.81 percent from a year earlier in the three months ended June 30, the first time the economy expanded less than 6 percent since 2010. The rupiah fell to the weakest since April 2009 today, while inflation in July climbed to 8.61 percent.

US to sell Apaches to Indonesia for $500 million

Reuters & Jakarta Globe - August 26, 2013

The United States will sell the Indonesian army eight Apache attack helicopters in a deal worth $500 million, including radar, training and maintenance, a US defense official said on Monday.

The sale of Boeing's AH-64E Apache helicopters was announced during a visit by US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel to Jakarta, his second stop on a week- long four-nation trip to Southeast Asia that began in Malaysia on Saturday.

The deal is a culmination of more than a year's behind-the-scenes work by Indonesia, which saw the helicopters as a key part of a wider plan to modernize its weaponry.

A 14-person delegation, including Army Chief Gen. Moeldoko and Defense Ministry Secretary General Lt. Gen. Budiman, traveled last week to a Boeing production center in Arizona to view the helicopters.

On meeting the Indonesian delegation, Dave Bostrum, a business development manager at Boeing emphasized the importance of the deal to the forward momentum of the Indonesian military. "The Apache is expected to be a key part of Indonesia's continuing efforts to improve its strategic defense capabilities," he said.

When it first emerged that Indonesia was looking to acquire the eight Apaches, two human rights groups sent a letter to the US Congress, calling on legislators to reject the sale.

The East Timor Action Network and West Papua Advocacy Team said that Indonesia's "long record of disregard for civilian casualties, corruption, human rights violations and impunity" should preclude the sale of the helicopters.

Foreign affairs & trade

Indonesia must benefit from US' Asia pivot

Jakarta Post - August 28, 2013

Bagus BT Saragih, Jakarta – Indonesia must make the most of its high level relationship with the US, which was marked by new commitments on military sales and cooperation, especially to further its national interests, an analyst has said.

US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, during his visit to Jakarta on Monday, reaffirmed Indonesia's central role in President Barack Obama's policy of rebalancing Washington's relationship priorities in the world.

But Dewi Fortuna Anwar, the deputy for political affairs to the Vice President, said that Indonesia must be able to make the most of stronger cooperation with the US, not to mention leveraging stronger influence, in return for Jakarta's willingness to provide platforms to support Washington's pivot to the Asia-Pacific region.

"We should not underestimate what we have given to the US. There are always national interests that we must pursue from Jakarta's relationship with Washington," Dewi said on Tuesday.

After having bilateral talks with Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro in Jakarta, Hagel announced a deal to sell eight brand new Boeing AH-64E Apache attack helicopters and Longbow radars worth US$500 million to the Indonesian Military (TNI), which includes pilot training and maintenance.

It is among the largest military sales from the US since Washington lifted its embargo on selling lethal arms to Indonesia in 2005. The embargo was imposed in response to repeated human rights abuses allegedly committed by the Indonesian Army's Special Forces (Kopassus) in West Papua and Timor Leste (then East Timor), which killed more than 100 unarmed civilians, including two US citizens.

In 2012, the US and Indonesian sealed a $700 million defense deal to procure 24 refurbished Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon jets.

Washington was said to be determined to help build TNI's capability as part if its bid to enhance security ties with its Asia Pacific friends and reshape its role in the region amid Beijing's growing military clout and territorial assertiveness.

"Helping ensure the region's security and prosperity is a goal the US strongly shares," Hagel said after his meeting with Purnomo.

But the defense deal with Indonesia has once again been criticized by human rights activists, particularly given TNI's poor human rights record in Papua and a recent raid on a civilian prison by Kopassus members in Yogyakarta.

The East Timor and Indonesia Action Network (ETAN) and the West Papua Advocacy Team (WPAT) "condemned" the decision by the US to approve the Apache sale, saying, "the US' concern for greater respect of human rights and justice in Indonesia are nothing more than hollow rhetoric".

Dewi acknowledged that having the military deals amid concerns over the alleged human rights abuses by TNI soldiers could be seen as a good sign. Indonesia could in fact gain more by calling for more cooperation in other sectors such as economy and education, Dewi said.

Dewi also added that Indonesia should also be more assertive given its stature in the region and must be able to be in a position where the US feels compelled to consult with it first every time Washington wants to create a policy that could affect the region.

"In this sense, Indonesia must also be able to improve the bargaining position of ASEAN as a grouping as well as its individual member states. Today, Southeast Asian countries should no longer be considered as 'pawns'," Dewi said.

The University of Indonesia's international law expert Hikmahanto Juwana said that the Apache deal reflected "normalized" military ties between the two countries.

The deal also indicated the growing stature of Indonesia as an important partner for the US in regional security, "particularly in the South China Sea". The US, he said, wanted Indonesia to serve as "mediator" to prevent the cold war from turning into "hot war".

Economy & investment

Markets unimpressed by stimulus

Jakarta Post - August 27, 2013

Satria Sambijantoro and Mariel Grazella, Jakarta – Local financial markets remained bearish with stocks, bonds and currency markets all down on Monday as market players responded negatively to the economic stimulus package, which is regarded as lacking the short-term measures to address the current woes.

The Jakarta Composite Index (JCI) fell 49.15 points, or 1.17 percent, to 4120.66 points as the sell-off by foreign investors continued.

Meanwhile, yields for 10-year government bonds climbed seven basis points to 8.5 percent, according to prices from the Inter Dealer Market Association.

The sell-offs in both the portfolio and fixed-income markets further dragged down the rupiah, which slid 0.6 percent to 10,848 per US dollar as of 4 p.m. in Jakarta, according to prices from local banks quoted by Bloomberg.

Responding to the poor performance in the financial market, Finance Minister Chatib Basri said market players would "need time" to digest the government's new package of economic measures.

Chatib added that he recently held a conference call with more than 500 foreign investors to enlighten them about the new stimulus package, with the minister claiming the investors in attendance appreciated the move.

"They have responded positively. The investors are trying to digest our new policies, but so far they see there's an effort from the government to tackle the current account deficit," he said on Monday.

Last week, the government announced a new stimulus package in an attempt to tackle the root problem behind the persistent weakening of the rupiah: the current account deficit, which swelled to the surprisingly high level of US$9.8 billion, or 4.4 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), in the second quarter this year.

Included in the stimulus package were additional tax reductions for labor- intensive sectors that export a minimum 30 percent of their total production, and removing export quotas for minerals to boost exports, as well as increasing the mandatory concentrate of biodiesel used in diesel to reduce oil imports.

"Investors have been left puzzled because the government has not provided crucial elaboration on points in the stimulus, such as deficit-control mechanisms," said Satrio Utomo, an analyst with Universal Broker Indonesia.

The confusion over the finer details of the government stimulus had thus negated positive signs from regional markets, as well as "appropriate steps" taken by the central bank and the Financial Services Authority (OJK), he added.

Other analysts also criticized the stimulus package, claiming its impact would only be felt in the longer-term and that what the country desperately needed at the moment was short-term measures to attract foreign inflows to bolster the ailing rupiah.

"The measures rolled out by the government and [Bank Indonesia] BI last week were a step in the right direction, but will only start to have an impact in the medium term," Su Sian Lim, a regional economist with HSBC Bank in Singapore, wrote in an email interview on Monday.

"Furthermore, there is still insufficient information regarding when these measures will actually be implemented," she added.

The biggest responsibility for bolstering the weak rupiah should fall with the central bank, given the fact that monetary policies would have more immediate impact on the financial sector rather than fiscal policies, economists have said.

"[Bank] Indonesia is sending signals that growth is the priority and is reluctant to hike interest rates to control the currency," Sean Yokota, a Singapore-based analyst with Swedish bank SEB, told The Jakarta Post on Monday. "As long as that is the strategy, it will be difficult for Indonesia's rupiah to get stronger."

Government calms worries over foreign debts as rupiah weakens

Jakarta Post - August 27, 2013

Satria Sambijantoro, Jakarta – The government is trying to calm the debt market, reassuring it that it has sufficient funds at its disposal to pay its dollar debts, as the local currency continues to weaken against the US dollar.

Investors are concerned that the increasingly weak rupiah together with the sharp spike in bond yields will swell the government's debt payments and place a heavy burden on its coffers.

They say any further pressure on the state's funds may cause the state budget deficit to breach the threshold of 3 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), which would violate the law. The government set a limit of 2.38 percent on the deficit in the revised 2013 state budget.

But any surge of debt payments stemming from the ongoing developments in the financial market was still well within the government's estimates, according to Scenaider CH Siahaan, the Finance Ministry's director for strategy and debt portfolio.

"We are still safe citing what we have in our cash deposits," he told reporters on Monday, without disclosing how long the government could cover its dollar debts with its current cash deposits.

Borrowing costs in Indonesia had been on a downward trend over the past few years, thanks to its sound macroeconomic fundamentals. But the government may have to pay more for its debts in the future, mainly due to an increasing volatility in the external environment that has exerted pressure on the rupiah and bond yields.

Last week, Bloomberg data showed that the rupiah tumbled 4.2 percent to trade at 10,840 per US dollar – its worst five-day performance since Nov. 2008 – while yields for the government's 10-year bonds soared 22 basis points to 8.41 percent, after officials from the US central bank confirmed that they were "comfortable" with the plan to taper its monetary stimulus next month.

The US monetary stimulus, known as quantitative easing, has pumped fund inflows into the global economy, leading to a rally in the bond markets that has allowed emerging economies, including Indonesia, to borrow funds with low interest rates.

"We took advantage of low yields that we enjoyed early this year, during which we already paid at least 60 percent of [our annual debt liability]," said Scenaider, adding that the government would only have to pay the remaining 40 percent in the second half of this year.

The government aims to raise Rp 8 trillion ($736 million) in its bond auction on Tuesday, during which the government is expected to tolerate high yields due to the US' planned tapering of quantitative easing. On Monday, the yield for 10-year government bonds due in May 2023 rose seven basis points to 8.5 percent, prices from the Inter Dealer Market Association showed. It has surged 67 basis points since earlier this month, and 331 basis points since the beginning of the year.

Higher bond yields would cost the government more when it wants to borrow funds from the fixed income market or when it pays its debt liabilities.

Finance Minister Chatib Basri said there would be a safe liquidity cushion – called the deferred drawdown option (DDO) – available at "extraordinary" times if government bonds soared too high or Indonesia had difficulties in paying its debts.

"This scheme offers Indonesia an opportunity to access funds that come with cheaper interest rates, in cooperation with countries such as Japan, Australia and others," the minister said Monday in a phone interview.

Deputy Finance Minister Mahendra Siregar said separately that the government was now studying the requirements needed to apply for such standby loans, although he claimed that Indonesia had so far no need to apply for them.

Among the standby loans that Indonesia can access is the Chiang Mai initiative, which is aimed at addressing balance of payment and short-term liquidity difficulties in the region, and offers loans of up to $120 billion.