Bandung – The commander of the Army Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad, Green Berets) Lieutenant General Gatot Nurmantyo has called on all Indonesians to be on guard against a proxy war. This war, which uses third parties in order to defeat its enemies, is largely directed at food, water and energy sources.

Indonesia with its huge potential natural resources has become an arena of competing interests for several countries through this proxy war. Moreover indications have already become apparent of maneuvers that could endanger the survival of national unity.

"Indonesia is not being ignored as a target and the signs are already apparent from among other things separatist movements, mass demonstrations by protesting workers along with clashed between groups including students. All kinds of efforts are being made so that Indonesia does not become an advanced country, but just remains a market", said Nurmantyo during a public lecture titled "The Role of Youth in Confronting the Proxy War" at the west auditorium at the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) in West Java on Wednesday August 30.

New conflicts for control will emerge in concert with the rapid pace of world population growth that is not being counterbalanced by the availability of food, clean water and energy. Control will not be sought through conventional wars, but rather through proxy wars where it is impossible to know friend from foe. Enemies will utilise and control non- state actors such as non-government organisations, mass organisations or individuals.

"Such a proxy war is being played out in the Ukraine [by those who] have their sights on the large oil deposits in the country", he said.

Nurmantyo quoted from a report on estimated energy needs by British Petroleum saying that in the future world interests will turn to the control of food and energy that are sourced from plants (bio-energy).

In 2030 the world's population is estimated to reach 11.6 billion people. Around 1.2 billion people live outside of equatorial regions who are seeking food, water and energy from the equatorial regions.

According to Nurmantyo, in terms of ownership of oil, gas and methane gas in Indonesia, it is currently being processed by foreign companies that have large amounts of capital, including among others the United States, Britain, Australia, Italy, China, Malaysia and Norway.

Nurmantyo also touched on tangible indications of proxy war in Indonesia, one of which was the loss of East Timor. Australia, which knew there were oil and natural gas reserves in the Timor Gap sought to control these oil reserves through the issue of human rights.

ITB Deputy Rector Kadarsah Suryadi said that what had been conveyed by Nurmantyo should serve as a warning for the need for a nationalist outlook. "Students don't just need an academic outlook but also a nationalist outlook", he said. (SEM)

[Translated by James Balowski.]

Source: http://print.kompas.com/KOMPAS_ART0000000000000000006371940

West Papua

Rampage as West Papua district chief arrested for graft

Jakarta Globe - May 7, 2014

Banjir Ambarita, Jayapura – A mob of hundreds burned down five homes and looted several stores in West Papua's Maybrat district early on Tuesday after the district chief, Bernard Sagrim, was arrested by police on corruption charges.

The crowd had begun gathering since Monday night, when news spread that Bernard had been taken in for questioning by the Papua Police over allegations that he embezzled Rp 3 billion, or $261,000, in social aid funds from the district budget.

After police announced that the district chief had officially been detained, the crowd went on the rampage, burning homes in Maybrat's South and Central Ayamaru subdistricts, police and eyewitnesses told the Jakarta Globe.

They also looted several stores as they marched on the district legislature to demand Bernard's release.

"We can confirm that there have been arson attacks and we're still trying to get the crowd under control," Sr. Comr. Pudjo Sulistyo, a spokesman for the Papua Police in Jayapura, told the Globe. The mob remains camped outside the Maybrat legislature, a resident told the Globe.

Bernard faces multiple charges of corruption and money-laundering in connection with the alleged embezzlement of the district's social aid funds, for which he could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

He was first named a suspect in the case in August last year, but only detained this week. One of his assistants has already been charged and arrested and is due to stand trial soon.

This is not the first time that Bernard has been at the center of controversy. In May last year he moved the district capital from Kumurkek to Ayamaru, in direct violation of a Home Affairs Ministry prohibition on administrative changes in Maybrat. He was censured by the ministry and ordered to move the district capital back to Kumurkek, but refused to do so.

Questions also abound about his election as district chief in September 2011. The official count put him just 170 votes behind his rival, Agustinus Saa, and he disputed the result at the Constitutional Court. The court, led by then-chief justice Akil Mochtar, overturned the official result and handed victory to Bernard.

Akil is now standing trial for taking tens of billions of rupiah in bribes for favorable rulings in 11 election disputes. The 2011 Maybrat election was not among those listed in Akil's indictment.

Source: http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/news/rampage-w-papua-district-chief-arrested-graft/

Three injured as Papua police fire on civilians

Jakarta Globe - May 6, 2014

Banjir Ambarita, Jayapura – Police in Papua have confirmed shooting and injuring three people from a mob reportedly demanding to lynch the driver of a truck involved in a deadly accident, but deny firing without warning.

The officers shot at the three men in Dogiyai district on Tuesday "because the mob had started to get out of control," Insp. Gen. Tito Karnavian, the Papua Police chief, told the Jakarta Globe.

He said the incident stemmed from a traffic accident in the district's Edeida hamlet, in which a speeding truck struck and killed two residents, Yusten Kegakoto, 18, and Jhon Anouw, 20. The driver fled to a nearby police station, fearing a backlash by onlookers.

"The mob demanded that the police hand the driver over to them, but the police refused. That's when the mob ran amok, even though they'd been warned," Tito said.

He added that the mob had dispersed after officers from the police's Mobile Brigade, or Brimob, fired into the crowd and injured three people. He also said police would call a gathering with local elders and religious leaders to quell any simmering tensions and prevent any revenge attacks.

However, residents at the scene refuted the police chief's version of the events. "When the residents went to the police station, the Brimob personnel fired without warning," said Benny Goo, a resident.

He said one of those injured was shot in the thigh, another in the chest and a third in the stomach.

The police have long been criticized for their excessive use of force in Papua, which hosts the heaviest concentration of police and military personnel of any province in the country – sent there ostensibly to put down a low-level armed insurgency that has been running for decades.

Rights groups had expressed concern about an increase in heavy-handed tactics when Tito was named the provincial police chief in 2012. Tito previously headed Densus 88, the police's counterterrorism unit, known for its high body count in its pursuit of suspected terrorists.

Source: http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/news/three-injured-papua-police-fire-civilians/

Papua Women's coalition stages rally before KPUD meeting

Jakarta Post - May 3, 2014

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – The Coalition of Papua Women staged a rally, protesting against alleged vote-stealing and lack of monitoring during the April 9 legislative election.

The protest was held at the Jayapura Aston Hotel, where the Papua General Elections Commission (KPUD) was holding a vote-counting plenary meeting.

Melyna Wonateroy, a Golkar Party legislative candidate from the Papua electoral district no. 2, said that the coalition suspected that the scarcity of female lawmakers in Papua was due to vote buying involving those who organized the elections and other related parties.

"All our hard work as native female candidates has gone to waste because we didn't have any financial means to buy votes," Melyana said.

She added that in reality, Papuan women had the potential to win many votes, but due to their lack of financial resources, the votes were transferred to other legislative candidates that were better off financially.

Elected candidates, on the other hand, were mostly comprised of wives of officials who could afford to indulge in vote buying.

Melyana also said that the coalition had evidence of foul play, which they would present to the Constitutional Court after the meeting had concluded.

"In several areas, we found an inflated number of votes, and there is also proof of candidate names disappearing off the list. For example, I received only 100 votes in the final meeting even though I had 400 votes in the Papua electoral district no. 2. This is unfair to us," she said.

Furthermore, the coalition demanded that there be provisions for female Papua lawmakers, because in the absence of a mandated number Papuan women would never be able to be involved in the House of Representatives (DPR). (fss/dic)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/05/03/papua-women-s-coalition-stages-rally-kpud-meeting.html

Politics hinders the fight against HIV in West Papua

East Asia Forum - May 1, 2014

Jenny Munro, ANU – West Papua, comprised of two provinces in eastern Indonesia, is home to the fastest growing HIV epidemic in the Asia Pacific.

The HIV prevalence rate is 15 times what it is nationally in Indonesia. Approximately 2.5 per cent of the indigenous adult population, and 3 per cent of indigenous youth aged 15-24 are officially recorded as having HIV, though researchers believe that actual rates are much higher. The epidemic is mainly affecting indigenous Papuan youth.

Current responses to the epidemic are dogged with problems. For instance, in Manokwari, the provincial capital of West Papua province, the Preventing Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV program is very basic. It does not address any cultural factors, such as women's and men's high levels of mobility, the difficulty of disclosing HIV status amid fear and stigma, or women's reticence about caesarean section (the mode of delivery that is often recommended for HIV positive mothers as a last ditch attempt to prevent transmission). The program thus fails to attract many Papuan women as clients, and its services are largely inaccessible to the 70 per cent of the population that live in rural areas.

Inaccessibility is not the only concern. Contemporary West Papua is a site of both covert and overt struggle. The region is splintered by ideological, cultural and material conflict. Unsurprisingly then, the HIV epidemic and responses to it have been thoroughly politicised, though the Indonesian government refuses to accept that political conditions are relevant to HIV.

A critical example of this politicisation of HIV is that Papuan expertise has beenlargely ignored in the response to the epidemic. Although there are Papuan actors in the HIV response, some of their successful education paradigms have been pushed out by donor models that put too much emphasis on achieving outreach and testing targets as a measure of effectiveness. In other instances, Papuan HIV workers may be passed over in favour of Indonesians who are perceived to have better administrative skills, which service providers need to survive in the current audit culture.

There are some notable exceptions. In Wamena, the main city in the central highlands of Papua province, Papuan ideas, expertise and leadership have been leveraged in positive ways. Klinik Kalvari is an indigenous-run clinic that is unique in West Papua and operates according to its own standards of appropriate care for their indigenous clientele. The clinic employs local staff who can communicate in local languages. It has a nurse who greets people at the door, and shakes hands in line with local cultural norms. Prayer support is available. These may not seem like profound innovations but they represent an enormous improvement on what typically goes on in the Indonesia health system.

Unfortunately, Wamena is the main HIV service centre for perhaps more than 450,000 people from the central highlands area who do not have access to HIV testing and treatment in their home districts. Transportation links are inadequate and expensive, so many people do not access testing or treatment at all. And for those who do, Wamena's services are already stretched beyond their limits.

Besides rural service delivery and problematic donor paradigms, there are other policy dimensions to consider. Central and local governments maintain tight controls over the actions and funding of NGOs. While international donors may be interested in supporting a local response, Papuan-led NGOs might be hampered by conservative political elements in Jakarta or in West Papua precisely because their organisations promote indigenous expertise and authority over Indonesian leadership.

Indigenous NGOs play a vital role in Indonesia's efforts to combat the HIV epidemic, but as international donors are directing more attention and funding to West Papua, they are primarily working with government agencies – whether by choice or by compulsion. Unfortunately, government agencies have so far failed to provide effective leadership. What is needed is a West Papua-wide HIV strategy that draws on local best practices, Papuan leadership, and the strength of civil society organisations in the region.

[Jenny Munro is a Research Fellow at the State, Society and Governance in Melanesia Program at The Australian National University. You can follow her on Twitter@DrJennyMunro.]

Source: http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2014/05/01/politics-hinders-the-fight-against-hiv-in-west-papua/

226 thousand hectares of forest in Papua will be 'cleared'

Tabloid JUBI - May 1, 2014

Jayapura – Almost 226,000 hectares of forest in Papua will be cleared and converted into plantations, an environmental group said.

Some private companies are awaiting approval from the Papua provincial government to open palm oil, Industrial Plantation Forest (HTI) and other agricultural plantations, a researcher from the Papua Environmental Foundation, Nafli Lessil told tabloidjubi.com on Thursday (1/5).

He said the Environmental Management Agency of Papua province had requested feedback from the public regarding plans to open palm oil and cassava plantations in several areas in Papua.

"The size of forests that will be converted are likely to grow. Currently, seven companies are known to have plans to convert approximately 226,000 hectares of forest," Lessil said.

The seven companies are PT. Berkat Cipta Abadi, PT. Visi Hajau Nusantara, PT. Wahana Agri Karya, PT. Duta Visi Global, PT. China Gate Agriculture, PT.Wanamulia Sukses Sejati Unit III, and PT. Sariwana Adi Perkasa.

"About 3 percent or 80.299 hectares of forest areas in Boven Digoel regency will be deliberately exploited by four palm oil companies, PT. Berkat Cipta Abadi, PT. Visi Hijau Nusantara, PT. Wahana Agri Karya and PT. Duta Visi Global.

"In addition, approximately 116,695 hectares of land in Merauke regency will be turned into plantations, 20,000 hectares of which is intended for cassava cultivation. While 8,950 hectares of land in Nabire will be for oil palm plantations," he said.

This condition is very worrying as it not only could it damage the forest ecosystems, flora and fauna but also threaten the existence of communities, he said.

"Yes, there is a positive impact, but in my opinion, the negative impact is huge. So the Government of Papua Province and regencies should be careful and wiser. It is better to reflect and learn from the cases that occurred in Sumatra, before it 's too late, " he appealed.

Previously, Greenpeace campaigner for Papua, Charles Tawaru said, in between 2005-2009, forest area of Papua was 42 million hectares, but in 2011 only 30.07 million hectares was left.

Every year the average deforestation rate in Papua province is 143,680 ha and 293,000 ha in West Papua. The expansion of industries such as logging, plantations and mining are the main causes, in addition to regional administration expansion.

The exploitation of Papua's natural resources has become increasingly out of control because of difficult access to information and lack of government transparency. (Jubi/Albert/Tina)

Source: http://tabloidjubi.com/en/?p=2254

Aceh

Aceh rape victim to be caned, shariah official insists

Jakarta Globe - May 7, 2014

Nurdin Hasan & Kennial Caroline Laia, Banda Aceh – A woman in Aceh who was gang raped last week after being accused of having extramarital sex now faces the indignity of a public caning for the offense of having an affair.

"We want the couple to be caned because they violated the religious bylaw on sexual relations," Ibrahim Latif, the head of the Shariah office in the eastern town of Langsa, said of the woman and her companion, a 40-year-old married man, who were raided by a group of men last Wednesday night at the woman's home.

The woman was raped by the eight vigilantes, three of whom have since been arrested. Her companion was tied up and beaten. The pair were also doused with sewage by the attackers, who later took them to the Shariah police, or Wilayatul Hisbah.

Ibrahim said the fact that the woman had been raped would not be taken into consideration in determining the punishment for the religious crime that she was accused of committing.

"They have to be [caned] as a form of justice because the rapists will also be processed, but in a criminal court," he said. "Besides, they've confessed to having sex on several previous occasions, even though the man is married and has five children."

Langsa Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Hariadi and the chief of detectives Adj. Comr. M. Firdaus were not immediately available for comment.

Under the partial Shariah exercised in Aceh, the woman and her companion face up to nine strokes of the cane each. The rapists would have faced the same number of lashes had they been dragged through the Shariah process.

Three of them, including a 13-year-old boy, have been arrested by police, who are still hunting for the five others. They are accused of gang raping the woman after barging into her house late last Wednesday and accusing her of having illegal sexual relations with the man.

After assaulting the man and raping the woman, they marched the pair to the Shariah police. It was only during their interrogation of the victim that officers found out she had been raped.

'Harsher punishments'

An official from Nahdlatul Ulama, the country's largest Islamic organization, has backed the call to cane the couple, but says the rapists must also face Shariah charges in addition to criminal ones.

Teungku Faisal Ali, the head of the NU's Aceh chapter, told the Jakarta Globe that "the punishment for the mob that raped the victim must be much harsher because they have set back efforts to uphold Shariah in Aceh."

He also urged residents to leave Shariah enforcement up to the WH and not enforce the regulations themselves. "If anyone sees any violation of Shariah, they must report it to the Shariah police, in accordance with the prevailing standards and procedures," Faisal said.

He bemoaned what he called the increasing prevalence of mob violence in Aceh, particularly against those accused of Shariah violations.

This is not the first case in Aceh of a rape being committed against a woman accused of inappropriate conduct with an unrelated male.

A 20-year-old university student was raped by three Shariah police officers in Langsa in January 2010 after being caught riding on a motorcycle with her boyfriend.

The town's Shariah police chief, Syahril, was subsequently fired and two of the perpetrators were later sentenced to serve eight years in prison each. The third perpetrator has not been caught.

Different laws

Ismail Hasani, a scholar at Jakarta's Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University, said that the Shariah law system in Aceh had long been a subject of fierce debate.

"When we talk about law in Aceh, we talk about three different systems that are not clearly delineated: common law, Shariah law and national law. There is no boundary," he said.

"Looking at this case, based on common law, the woman, even though she is a victim, still has to accept punishment. But when we take the national law perspective, she primarily is a victim who needs protection."

Ismail, who is a program manager at the Setara Institute for Democracy and Peace, said that Aceh's Shariah law system was dangerous in the sense that it had lead to victim blaming. He said it was unjust to view the woman only as a suspected adulterer after what she had been through.

"This is also a case of rape. She has rights," he said. "This is hypocrisy which is fostered continuously by Acehnese elites with a political view of Islam. Sure, the law has to be enforced, but a punishment like caning is excessive.... The punishment is imposed based on sexual imagination instead of legal facts," he said.

"Historically, caning in Islam is implemented strictly based on strong evidence. But in Aceh, it is done arbitrarily. The enforcement of the Shariah law is done based on prejudice and even for political reasons."

Central government's role

Arimbi Heroepoetri of the National Commission on Violence against Women (Komnas Perempuan) said the difference between rape and adultery should be made clear.

"And law enforcers must understand that the woman, as a gang-rape victim, must be traumatized," she said. "The rape case must be prioritized. This issue of sexual abuse is urgent. They cannot leave the problem unsolved for too long."

She said that the survivor needed healing, not punishment. "She cannot just be caned right after being raped by eight men," she said.

Ismail said that the unfair implementation of Shariah law could lead to widespread legal discrimination.

"There has to be a clear stance from the central government. We should not see the special autonomy of Aceh [which allows it to implement partial Shariah law] as special autonomy without boundaries," he said.

"Not every citizen in Aceh agrees with the current legal system. Some of them are being repressed by the law. So there has to be a debate among citizens and with the regional government in order to formulate a more humane Islamic law. We have to remember that justice is everyone's right, and it is not happening at the moment in Aceh."

Source: http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/news/aceh-rape-victim-caned-shariah-official-insists/

Activist condemns punitive gang rape of Aceh woman

Jakarta Globe - May 6, 2014

Nurdin Hasan, Banda Aceh – An activist has condemned the latest case of sexual violence in Aceh, which involved a group of men allegedly raiding the home of a woman they accused of being engaged in extramarital sex, and raping her.

"The rape of a woman accused of having violated Islamic law is a barbaric act," Destika Gilang Lestari, coordinator of the Aceh Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras), said on Monday.

"Whatever the reason, what they had done is unacceptable. They mean to uphold Islamic law but instead violate both that and Indonesia's criminal law. The perpetrators have to be handed the heaviest possible punishment."

According to reports, the victim, a 25-year-old widow, was harassed and raped by eight men, including a 13-year-old boy, during a raid at her home in Langsa Barat subdistrict in the East Aceh city of Langsa on Thursday.

The perpetrators had allegedly beaten the victim and tied up her male friend before violating her. They reportedly also drenched the couple with water from a nearby sewer prior to handing them over to village officials.

Destika attributed such cases of local residents looking to implement Shariah law in Aceh to weak law enforcement efforts and government permissiveness.

"The police do not seem serious in prosecuting perpetrators, encouraging people to justify acts of violence for the sake of Islamic law, when in fact Islamic law strongly prohibits acts of violence," she said.

Destika cited a rape case in the city of Langsa in 2010, where a Shariah police officer was found to have been the main perpetrator, as an example of a lack of strict law-enforcement efforts. Officials reportedly never arrested the Shariah police officer, despite having sanctioned two other suspects in the case.

"Other big cases that have grabbed the public's attention is the mass rioting and the burning of a religious tutor and his student in the Bireuen district in Nov. 2012 who was accused of heresy. Police have never taken legal action against the perpetrators," the Aceh Kontras coordinator said.

"What's funny is that law-enforcement officials instead sanctioned the tutor's family members. The police should not have been selective in enforcing the law. They should prosecute anyone who is guilty of a crime."

The activist added that in several cases of public violence, the perpetrators had enjoyed initial support from the government. "The Banda Aceh administration has established a militia, saying they were there to support Islamic law, but they would use violence in their operations," she said.

Data by Kontras's Aceh branch shows that in the past four months alone, 10 cases have been recorded involving local residents, while in 2013, cases related to the implementation of Islamic law had declined sharply to only five from the 50 in 2012.

Public involvement in implementing Shariah law is acceptable, she said, as long as those involved are trained not to use violence and that they are briefed to immediately report to the Shariah police should any violation of Shariah law be found so as to have the case appropriately processed.

"So they don't take the law into their own hands. Many cases of violence by local residents are those perpetrated against individuals suspected of having been involved in adultery. Almost in every suspected case, the couple who were discovered are beaten and drenched with dirty water," Destika said.

Source: http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/news/activist-condemns-punitive-gang-rape-aceh-woman/

Three arrested in Aceh for raping woman accused of adultery

Jakarta Globe - May 4, 2014

Nurdin Hasan, Banda Aceh – Police in Aceh have arrested three people, including a 13-year-old boy, and are hunting five others for allegedly raping a woman they accused of having extramarital sex.

The three male suspects currently in custody, ranging in age from 28 to 13 years, were arrested over the weekend for the alleged rape that occurred in the early hours of Thursday in the eastern Aceh town of Langsa, police said.

Adj. Sr. Comr. Hariadi, the chief of police in Langsa, said the incident began late on Wednesday, when the suspects, part of a group of eight males, raided the home of the 25-year-old woman and allegedly caught her about to have sex with a 40-year-old married man.

"The perpetrators tied up the woman's companion and took the woman into another room, where they raped her," he told the Jakarta Globe on Sunday.

He said police had already identified the five other suspects and appealed to their families to turn them in.

Extramarital sex is prohibited in Aceh, which exercises a limited form of Shariah, or Islamic law, and vigilante raids against suspected violators, though illegal, are common and even condoned by the local clergy and authorities.

The province's Shariah police, or Wilayatul Hisbah, generally handle such cases, and officials confirmed that the couple in the Langsa raid was brought in for questioning on the grounds of "tarnishing the village's reputation" – after the woman had been raped and her companion beaten up.

"Before they turned over the couple to the authorities, the men who caught them also doused them in sewage," Ibrahim Latif, the head of the Shariah office in Langsa, told the Globe.

He said the men had not told the Shariah officers about raping the woman, with officers only finding out during their interrogation of the victim.

"The men beat up [the companion] before tying him up. They also forced the woman to perform oral sex on them and groped her," Ibrahim said. "We later confirmed through tests that the woman had been raped by the eight men."

He said his office was working closely with the police to arrest the vigilante mob.

This is not the first case in Aceh of a rape being committed against a woman accused of inappropriate conduct with an unrelated male. A 20-year- old university student was raped by three Shariah police officers in Langsa in January 2010 after being caught riding on a motorcycle with her boyfriend.

The town's Shariah police chief, Syahril, was subsequently fired and two of the perpetrators were later sentenced to eight years in prison each. The third perpetrator was never caught.

Source: http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/news/three-arrested-aceh-raping-woman-accused-adultery/

Aceh's Leuser ecosystem pays a high price for the peace dividend

Sydney Morning Herald - May 3, 2014

Michael Bachelard, Kuala Simpang, Aceh – On the map, the Leuser Ecosystem is shaped like a gigantic pair of lungs. The image is apt. This 2.6 million hectare expanse of tropical forest that spans Aceh and North Sumatra in Indonesia is one of the largest remaining oxygen factories in a country that's become infamous for slashing and burning its trees.

Environmental activists such as Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Program's Dr Ian Singleton calls Leuser "Asia's last great wilderness", the only place in the world where orangutans, rhinoceroses, elephants and tigers still roam free together. It's that way partly because, for well over a decade, the forest provided refuge to GAM separatist rebels fighting a guerilla war against Jakarta.

Since peace was reached in 2005, though, separatist sentiment has turned against the trees. Leuser has come under serious pressure from palm oil barons, illegal loggers and mining companies and the former rebels who now run Aceh's provincial government have given a green light to development in the name of economic independence and political strength. On the ground, the clearing has begun.

Matsum has lived in and around the Leuser area his entire life and, since 2006, has worked to preserve it. In the past year or so, he says the task has become increasingly fraught. "We want to protect the forest but the companies just want to make big business," Matsum says. "Now suddenly there is so much activity inside the forest."

About two hours drive up a dirt road from the south-eastern Aceh town of Kuala Simpang, a hand-painted sign is hammered into the ground by the road. It purports to prevent anyone from entering land owned by the palm oil company PT Mustika Prima Lestari Indah. We are lucky, though, on a sleepy public holiday, that the lone guard makes no attempt to stop us entering.

Inside, almost every tree has been freshly stripped from the rolling hills and valleys. The few remaining sentinels, kempas trees, are scorched by fire. In the distance, heavy machines are gouging terraces into the hillsides in preparation for the young oil palm seedlings to be planted.

According to Matsum, this land is supposed to be protected forest. The clearing is therefore illegal. He says he has complained to the local government but nothing was done. In fact, the Bupati (the head of the local government), Hamdan Sati, tried to convince him that the area was a "community plantation".

"The community doesn't own this," Matsum insists. "A big company owns it and the community will just be paid to clear it."

Perhaps it does not help that the Bupati himself owns a palm oil company, PT Mapoli Raya, and his business partner is the head of the local Oil Palm Growers' Association, which helped him get elected.

"Community development" is how the Aceh government refers to its opening up of the forests, but evidence from this area suggests that, here at least, it's a cover for the same old, bad practices.

In nearby Kaloy village, the community knows that the new development will not benefit them. Village woman Asiyah says people who work in the plantations are paid about $29 per week: "not even enough for our daily lives".

In the coffee house, Chaeruddin Ambe tells the long history of plantation owners obtaining title over their land.

Developers, "Chinese [Indonesian] people from Medan", first came in 1995 with the police and local military to "negotiate" with the villagers for land, promising that 10 per cent of its area would be set aside for local people. The company "would be like our foster parent", they said.

But when a permit for 538 hectares was issued, there was no land for locals. The company even had four men arrested as they tried to tap their own rubber trees.

Soon, though, the separatist war and the presence of rebels meant "everyone was afraid to go in there", and development stopped, Chaeruddin says. After the 2004 tsunami and the 2005 peace deal was signed in Helsinki, the concession had magically expanded to 2496 hectares: "We don't know how that happened".

In the immediate post-tsunami period, though, the forest gained another reprieve. Aceh elected as governor a former GAM combatant called Irwandi Yusuf, who took advice from international environmental NGOs and promoted the radical notion of green growth.

The Leuser Ecosystem includes the Gunung Leuser national park and hundreds of thousands of hectares of surrounding areas and, in 2007, the entire area was given protection under national government laws. Some production forest concessions exist within its boundaries, but Irwandi vowed to protect it all from development.

He appointed rangers and created a government authority, BPKEL, to oversee it. Deara Putra, 22, was a park ranger and he spent 15 to 20 days each month living in the forest and watching for illegal loggers. He caught plenty too, he says.

Matsum, who now works for local environmental group the Hakka Foundation, said in those times 24 plantations in the area were operating illegally, and 18 of them were taken to court. Other plantation owners gave up their acreage to avoid being taken to court. Some illegally cleared areas were even regenerated as forest.

But Governor Irwandi's model of green growth lasted only as long as he lasted in power. The 2012 governor's election saw Zaini Abdullah, the leader of a different faction of former GAM rebels, elected as governor. His party, Partei Aceh, dominated parliamentary elections too.

After Zaini's election, BPKEL was disbanded, the Leuser Ecosystem's buffer zone literally wiped from the map, and the bulk of the rangers sacked. It did not take long for the bulldozers to start up again.

In Kaloy village, the long-delayed palm oil concession was activated and the clearing and planting began. Already the young oil palm trees are sucking up water at the rate of about 8 litres per tree per day, and the river level is dropping. "Where should our grandchildren find water?" worries Asiyah. "When I was younger, the water was quite deep, now it's quite shallow."

Others have also recently come looking for land. One old man, Nanang, from a neighbouring village, says a mining exploration helicopter piloted by an Australian spent a week taking off and landing from the field in front of his house, flying forays over the forest.

A nearby hill, covered in lush forest is being targeted for its dolomite lime, an ingredient in cement.

In the midst of this, Aceh has drawn up a new spatial plan. But because the Leuser Ecosystem was removed, Aceh's plan was rejected earlier this year by the central government in Jakarta. The local parliament, though, has ignored Jakarta's ruling and enacted its plan regardless, reactivating long dormant logging and palm oil concessions.

Politically, meanwhile, the argument over the spatial plan and development in general is one of several issues (including the design of the provincial flag) which is provoking once again the separatist sentiments that once saw Aceh at war with Jakarta.

Many in Aceh believe the Helsinki accord allowed them complete autonomy over natural resources, and that Jakarta is blocking its implementation.

"We have been colonised and our natural resources taken away from us," says Maimun Ramli, convenor of Partei Aceh's 2014 election campaign and head of the Monitoring Group for the Implementation of the Peace Agreement in Aceh. "If (true self-government) is not granted, we will take up arms again."

The head of the Aceh development planning board, Abubakar Karim says "of course" Aceh should have more control over its natural resources.

"But we don't want big rich people to benefit," says the man who helped design the spatial plan. "What we want is to make the Aceh people prosperous... by giving people back their land."

Abubakar insists his government is about "community development", and blames Jakarta, not the provincial government in Banda Aceh for the large- scale clearing that's under way.

As for abolishing the Leuser Ecosystem, he says the idea of a land buffer was "about outsiders trying to manage Aceh's forests, especially the NGOs and the central government".

If Jakarta is a dirty word in Aceh now, in the coffee shops of Banda Aceh and Lhokseumawe, where former combatants gather to talk, admitting to being from an international NGO is like uttering a profanity.

Abubakar says environmentalists are outsiders only interested in "shouting and protesting" about Aceh's forests as a means of raising funds from donors.

For Matsum, whose lonely work in a local NGO in Leuser is supported by foreign donors, it makes for an uphill battle. "I continue to advocate, but since BPKEL was disbanded and the rangers lost their jobs, we basically find that we are powerless."

Source: http://www.smh.com.au/world/acehs-leuser-ecosystem-pays-a-high-price-for-the-peace-dividend-20140501-zr1qh.html

Human rights & justice

Future president must uncover rights abuses

Jakarta Post - May 7, 2014

Margareth S. Aritonang, Jakarta – Political parties have agreed that the country's next president must uncover past human rights violations, with the first step being the establishment of a Commission on Truth and Reconciliation (KKR).

However, most of the parties have balked at the proposal to form an ad-hoc human rights court. The limited support for the establishment of an ad-hoc court will, however, affect any efforts by the next president to bring cases of gross human rights violations to court.

Only the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and its coalition partner, the NasDem Party, have publicly declared – via PDI-P presidential candidate Joko "Jokowi" Widodo – their commitment to employing legal mechanisms to solve gross human rights abuses from the past, such as by setting up the KKR and ratifying all the international human rights covenants.

"We previously passed a law on the KKR. Pak Jokowi is committed to kick- starting the process toward its establishment. His commitment will also include the ratification of international conventions on human rights because the issue of human rights is a trans-border issue. All countries around the world must work together to uphold them," Andreas Parera of the PDI-P said.

Andreas said the PDI-P was such a strong advocate of human rights as the party's own members had been subjected to human rights abuses in the past.

On July 27, 1997, soldiers wearing civilian clothes, at the behest of then-president Soeharto, stormed the PDI-P's headquarters on Jl. Diponegoro, Central Jakarta, killing five people and injuring 149 others. The orders from Soeharto were to occupy the headquarters and oust Megawati Soekarnoputri as party leader.

"As a target of politically motivated rights violations, [we] as individuals as well as a party are specially concerned about human rights. Thus, we are committed to uphold human rights, especially civil and political rights, through our presidential candidate," Andreas said.

Representing NasDem, Taufik Basari said that with the coalition with the PDI-P, his party had agreed to promote a joint agenda, which included human rights protection.

Taufik, a former lawyer and a recent legislative candidate, also urged voters to not support presidential candidates who had dubious human rights records.

"The time will come for all official presidential candidates to reveal their programs for leading the country, including their approaches toward human rights. For the time being, I want to call on all eligible voters to carefully examine the track records of those who compete in the upcoming election. Don't vote for anyone who has been involved in human rights violations," Taufik said.

Some political parties have voiced their apprehension about following Jokowi's initiative. Golkar Party research head Indra J. Piliang said the country only needed to set up a KKR to establish the facts about past human rights violations. "Let the KKR do its work and let's see what it finds. It could be that we don't need a legal process," Indra said.

Kivlan Zen, a former general who is now member of the United Development Party (PPP), said the country needed a KKR. "I am sure that if I were the president, all outstanding issues could be solved within a KKR," he said.

In the run-up to the July 9 presidential election, rights groups have renewed their calls for voters to closely examine the track records of all presidential candidates.

The groups have also called on voters to not vote for the Gerindra Party's Prabowo Subianto, who is alleged to have been involved in the forced disappearances of pro-democracy activists in the late 1990s, during the final months of Soeharto's New Order regime.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/05/07/future-president-must-uncover-rights-abuses.html

Prabowo must clarify statement on whereabouts of abducted activists

Kompas - May 6, 2014

Rio Kuswandi, Jakarta – Former army Special Forces (Kopassus) commander Prabowo Subianto is being urged to give an immediate clarification on the abduction of 13 activists abducted in 1997/98 that are still missing to this day. This clarification by the presidential candidate for the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra Party) should not just be conveyed via the mass media.

"If Prabowo wishes to clarity the matter don't [just] do it though the mass media. Likewise for Wiranto. If he does indeed have the guts to make a clarification please do it at an ad hoc human rights court hearing the case of the forced abductions", said the mother of Wawan, one of the victims of the Semanggi I fatal shooting of student activists in 1998 at the offices of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) on Monday May 5.

In the upheaval of the period leading up to reformasi (the process of political reform that began in 1998), Subianto was the commander of Tim Mawar (Rose Team), the team of soldiers that allegedly carried out the abduction of activists and students. Meanwhile the presidential candidate from the People's Conscious Party (Hanura Party) Wiranto was at the time the commander of the Indonesian armed forces (ABRI).

Sumarsih is calling the goodwill of Subianto and Wiranto to clearly reveal the mystery of the disappearance of the activists so that legal action can be taken as soon as possible. According to Sumarsih, they should not be thinking about becoming presidential candidates if they are still mired in burdens of the past.

"If [they] do indeed love the nation then don't [just] join the race as presidential candidates. Please with a great heart push for the formation of a human rights court", said Sumarsih.

One of the victims of the abductions who was released, Mugiyanto, believes it is inappropriate for Subianto to become president because he still has moral issues from the past. "If Prabowo becomes president, in the future if could well be that we would disappear people who are at odds with us", he said.

The groups that make up the Movement Against Forgetting (GML) believe that the statement by former Army Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad, Green Berets) Chief of Staff Major General Kivlan Zen could provide a point of clarification that could lead to a resolution to the case of the 13 activists that disappeared in 1998.

During a debate aired by TV One titled "Which Presidential Candidates have Violate Human Rights" on Monday April 28, Zen admitted to knowing the whereabouts and fate of the 13 missing activists. During the television broadcast, Zen said, "Those that were abducted and disappeared, I know where they are. [They were] shot, dumped...". The GML believes that this sentence confirms that the abductions actually happened and must be immediately processed legally.

Earlier, Subianto stated that he was ready to clarify a number of issues associated with him and the 1998 affair. "I left the military with citations and stories. If necessary, I am ready to provide clarification", he said during a break in a friendly meeting of the central leadership board of the Armed Forces and Police Veterans Association as quoted by Kompas Newspaper on April 25.

Notes

Between 1997 and 1998 as many as 23 pro-democracy activists were abducted by members of the elite Special Forces Kopassus. After extended periods of detention – in many cases the victims were severely tortured – most were released although 13 remain missing and are presumed dead. Former Kopassus chief Lieutenant General Prabowo Subianto who was at the time President Suharto's son-in-law is alleged to have ordered the abductions. In April 1999, 11 low-ranking Kopassus officers were tried by a military court for the kidnappings and given sentences of between a year and 22 months in prison, although six of them were allowed to remain in the army. Subianto himself was discharged from the military for ordering the abductions but has never been tried.

Source: http://indonesiasatu.kompas.com/read/2014/05/06/0734283/kalau.prabowo.mau.klarifikasi.jangan.di.media.massa?utm_source=WP&utm_medium=box&utm_campaign=Kknwp

[Translated by James Balowski.]

Activists say Prabowo must be held accountable for 97/98 abductions

Okezone - May 5, 2014

Rizka Diputra, Jakarta – The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) is calling on official state institutions such as the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM), the Attorney General's Office (AGO) and even the president to act upon a statement by former Army Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad, Green Berets) Chief of Staff Major General Kivlan Zen.

During a debate aired by TV One titled "Which Presidential Candidates have Violate Human Rights" on April 28, Zen admitted to knowing the whereabouts of the graves of the victims of the 1997-98 abduction of political activists by the army's elite Special Forces (Kopassus).

"Both [Zen and former Kopassus commander Prabowo Subianto] must be questioned over the case of the forced disappearance of the activists in 1997/1998", said Kontras activist Yati Andriyani at a press conference by the Movement Against Forgetting (GML) at the Kontras office in Central Jakarta on Monday May 5.

Andriyani was referring to Article 42 of Law Number 26/200 on Human Rights Courts and Article 6 of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance (CPED).

There, she said, it notes that a military commander can be held responsible for actions carried out by troops under their command and effective control over or the consequences of not maintaining effective control over troops.

"Prabowo as the former commander of Kopassus, the superior office of Tim Mawar [Rose Team] cannot escape accountability for the 13 victims that are still missing", she said.

Andriyani explained that the principle of nebis in idem (a person cannot be tried twice for the same crime) in the case is invalid because there is a different jurisdiction between a military tribunal and a human rights court. In 1999 a military tribunal only tried 11 Kopassus members from the Rose Team.

"In this context, the military tribunal failed to elaborate on the fate of the 13 other victims that remain missing to this day, who at the time were imprisoned at the same location as the victims that were released [alive]", she said.

Furthermore, Andriyani is calling on President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to immediately form a team to search for the 13 victims and issue a presidential decree on the formation of a human rights court to hear the case of the forced disappearances in 1997/98. She also called on the AGO to conduct an immediate investigation in accordance with the recommendations of the House of Representatives in 2009.

"The recommendation of the Indonesian Ombudsman in 2013 was that the undue delays and mal-administration of the case end immediately and that the victims' [families] receive legal certainty", she asserted.

The GKL was initiated by several human rights NGOs including, among others, Indonesian Human Rights Watch (Imparsial), Kontras, the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI), the Institute for Public Research and Advocacy (Elsam), Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW), the Human Rights Working Group (HRWG), the People's Politics (Politik Rakyat), the Jakarta Legal Aid Foundation (LBH Jakarta), the Legal Aid Institute for the Press (LBH Pers), the Democracy Institute, the Solidarity Action Committee for Munir and Udin (KASUM), the Solidarity Network for the Families of Victims (JSKK), Indonesian Association of the Families of Missing Persons (IKOHI), the Ridep Institute, the National Consortium for Legal Reform (KRHN), the Community Legal Aid Institute (LBH Masyarakat), the Setara Institute for Peace and Democracy, Free Women (Perempuan Mahardika), the Surabaya Legal Aid Foundation (LBH Surabaya) and the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI).

Notes

Source: http://news.okezone.com/read/2014/05/05/339/980509/kasus-penculikan-aktivis-kontras-prabowo-tidak-bisa-lepas-tangan

[Translated by James Balowski.]

Dutch apology for Indonesian atrocities opens old wounds

Agence France Presse - May 1, 2014

Bulukumba – Abdul Khalik remembers vividly the moment almost seven decades ago he saw his father being driven away from their remote Indonesian village by Dutch soldiers to be executed.

"He said to me, 'Go home, son' but I refused," recalled the 75-year-old, his eyes focused somewhere in the distant past, during an interview in Bulukumba district on the central island of Sulawesi.

His father was shot dead the next day, one of thousands killed by the Dutch army during the 1940s war of independence as Indonesia fought to shake off colonial rule.

This was during a 1946-47 operation by the Dutch to reassert control in Sulawesi after they were almost driven out, one of the darkest episodes of the independence war, which saw thousands of suspected rebel fighters killed.

After some widows won compensation last year, the Netherlands apologised for all summary executions carried out during the independence struggle and said it would pay out to other surviving partners of those killed.

But far from turning the page on a dark chapter, the renewed attention on Dutch atrocities committed at the end of a more-than three century occupation of the archipelago has only fuelled calls for more to be done.

Khalik and others are now demanding that the victims' children – not just the widows – receive compensation and have taken their case to court in the Netherlands. A hearing on their case is to take place in The Hague in August.

"It is not fair. The arrests are the same, the imprisonment the same, the shooting the same, the events the same, so why do the children get different treatment?" said Khalik, adding he would share any money with his 32 grandchildren and one great grandchild.

Shafiah Paturusi, an 82-year-old who lost her father and brother on Sulawesi, added: "I want justice from the Dutch, because the pain of losing a father is equal to – if not worse than – losing a husband."

Raw memories

A notorious Dutch forces captain, Raymond Westerling, masterminded the campaign on Sulawesi, a large island made up of four peninsulas with a rugged, mountainous interior. Dutch forces would surround villages and then weed out suspected enemy fighters before killing them without trial.

There is strong disagreement over the number that died during the months- long campaign, with some in Indonesia claiming that up to 40,000 were killed although historical studies have put the figure at 3,000 to 4,000.

The operation proved hugely controversial and Westerling was relieved of his duties in 1948, although he never faced trial for war crimes.

For the older generation on Sulawesi, memories are still raw. Khalik recalled his father and others were "piled up in a truck like animals" before being driven away – although the older man still managed to wave goodbye to his son as the vehicle drove off.

"The next day my father was taken from prison, chained up with eight others and they were all executed," he said.

Time running out

Liesbeth Zegveld, a Dutch human rights lawyer who has won compensation for Indonesian widows, is also representing some of the children.

She is hopeful of success but warned it might not be easy because time was running out, as many seeking redress were already elderly. "The state tries to pay out as little as possible by taking time with all these claims, asking questions and questions, time and time again," she told AFP.

Jeffry Pondaag, from a Dutch-based foundation run by Indonesians helping those seeking compensation, said that in addition to money they wanted the Dutch be more open about the darker side of colonial rule.

"We will fight for the Dutch government to explain to their people that what they did to Indonesia was wrong," said Pondaag, who works in a cement plant northwest of Amsterdam.

However a Dutch government statement insisted that Jakarta and The Hague had "drawn a line under this part of their shared history." "The Dutch government has repeatedly expressed its deep regret for the painful way in which the Netherlands and Indonesia separated," the statement said.

Diplomatic relations between Jakarta and The Hague are generally good and the Dutch colonial period belongs to bygone era as far as most younger Indonesians are concerned.

But some in the older generation still harbour resentment about a period that began when traders from the Netherlands arrived at the end of the 16th century.

They seized much of the archipelago, before the Dutch state took over in the early 19th century. It was only after Japanese occupation in World War II that Indonesia declared independence, on August 17, 1945.

The Dutch sought to regain control, sparking the bloody war of independence that lasted until 1949, when the Netherlands recognised Indonesia as a sovereign state.

Some widows have already been compensated. Ten who brought legal action in the Netherlands over the Sulawesi campaign received money ahead of last year's apology.

Others whose husbands died in a 1947 massacre in Rawagede, on the main island of Java, have also received compensation. The Dutch government in August last year said other widows with similar claims had two years to apply for compensation.

But money does not always bring closure. "We have forgiven the Dutch but when I received the money, I had mixed feelings," said Andi Aisyah, a wheelchair-bound woman in her 90s, whose husband was killed on Sulawesi. "The pain that was long buried returned."

Source: http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/news/dutch-apology-indonesian-atrocities-opens-old-wounds/

Women's rights

Women face socioeconomic problems due to early marriage

Jakarta Post - May 3, 2014

Panca Nugraha, Mataram – Women in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) suffer from poverty, low education and a high rate of early marriage, says government data.

Data at the NTB Central Statistics Agency (BPS) in 2013 showed more than 61,000 women were susceptible to such problems.

Based on Social Ministerial Decree No. 24/1996, women facing socioeconomic problems are defined as widows with children, women between the ages of 18 and 59 who are not yet married and cannot meet their daily basic needs and those women without adequate earnings.

Widespread cases of early marriages, low levels of education and a high poverty rate have been highlighted, as well as failed poverty alleviation efforts.

Data at the BPS NTB branch showed that 61,533 women facing socioeconomic problems were found in Mataram city, Bima city and the regencies of North Lombok, West Lombok, Central Lombok, East Lombok, Sumbawa, West Sumbawa, Dompu and Bima.

"The number of women prone to socioeconomic problems in NTB is quite high, but in terms of percentage, it's only 2.5 percent of the female population in the province. Early marriage and low education levels are still the main factors," said NTB Women's Rights Protection and Empowerment Agency head T. Wismaningsih.

"Women in this group are not very poor and not yet affected by social issues, such as human trafficking and prostitution, but in general they are susceptible and could become embroiled in them," said Wismaningsih.

She cited the Malaysian widow issue in Lombok and Sumbawa, where women were left behind by their husbands who became migrant workers in Malaysia.

These women had to support several children alone and could fare better if their husbands sent them money. However, if their husbands were illegal migrant workers, sending back money could become problematic.

Wismaningsih deemed the high rate of early marriage in Lombok and Sumbawa to be the main trigger for the growing number of women with this issue in the province.

Based on data at the NTB Women's Rights Protection and Empowerment Agency, the rate of early marriages of women below the age of 15 was 5.8 percent of the 5.4 million population of NTB. "This is quite high compared to the national level of only 3.5 percent," she added.

Many parents, especially in rural areas, prefer to immediately marry their children at a young age to prevent premarital sex. "Early marriage is prone to divorce because they are emotionally, mentally and economically unprepared," said Wismaningsih.

The high rate of women prone to socioeconomic problems in NTB also has an impact on the high level of child neglect cases, she went on. Based on data announced by the BPS NTB in 2013, the number of neglected toddlers and children in NTB stood at 21,418 and 205,116 respectively, in 10 regencies and cities across the province.

"Directly and indirectly, there's a correlation between these issues and child neglect," said Wismaningsih.

NTB Child Protection Agency legal division head Warniyati said her agency received at least 20 reports of child neglect annually. Generally, she explained, they were the children of migrant workers who left the country and entrusted their children to relatives and even neighbors, who were unrelated.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/05/03/women-face-socioeconomic-problems-due-early-marriage.html

Sexual & domestic violence

In child abuse scandals, an indictment of society at large

Jakarta Globe - May 6, 2014

Kennial Caroline Laia, Jakarta – It started with an allegation last month that a 6-year-old child had been sexually abused at the Jakarta International School.

In a matter of days, the issue of child sex abuse took the country by storm, with nearly daily revelations from across the country about children suffering unspeakable acts at the hands of authority figures, usually teachers.

"This is horrifying," says Arist Merdeka Sirait, the secretary general of the Indonesian Commission for Child Protection, or KPAI. "It's beyond my ability to explain."

He says his organization has received 472 reports of violence against children in the first four months of the year – on track to surpass the 925 reports it received in the whole of 2013. More than half of the reports allege some form of sexual abuse.

"This is sad," Arist says. "This is a crime that should be taken seriously. It has become a matter of urgency, an issue that the entire nation must rally around. Our young people are being threatened in their childhood."

He says the revelations make clear that there are not sufficient safe havens for the nation's children.

"How can we make sure that our kids are safe? With so much sexual abuse taking place, we will never know if predators are lurking in places where kids play and interact socially," he says. "No one can seem to guarantee the safety of our children, whether at schools, parks, in homes..."

Arist says the government has an important role to play in addressing the issue, but has so far proved disappointing, acting only after revelations of abuse have come to light and doing little in the way of prevention.

"Where is the government on this issue? Where is the minister of education? Where is the minister of women's empowerment and child protection?" he asks. "Even the first lady hasn't said anything."

Pediatric psychologist Katarina Ira Puspita doesn't take quite as bleak a view, saying the number of new cases coming to light don't signal a surge in child abuse, but rather a willingness by the victims and their families to come forward and report the cases, emboldened by the publicity raised by the JIS case.

"The sexual abuse of children has been going on for a long time, but society has tended to overlook it. When the JIS case came into the public glare, the rest followed," she says.

Katarina cites a litany of factors behind the sexual abuse of children, including poor supervision by parents preoccupied with other tasks.

"One of them is the lack of control from parents over the children's environment," she says. "Most sexual abuse cases happen to children from underprivileged families. Dire financial conditions force the parents to work, often leaving them little time to take proper care of their children. This is where the control is lost."

She says that when this happens, "most of the kids turn to environments that they don't know or understand for their social interaction. "As a consequence, the chance of these children falling victim to abuse becomes high," Katarina says.

She says that sometimes the abuse can trigger a vicious cycle that sees the victims prey on children when they grow up. "The effect of such abuse varies widely but is still very serious. It can cause trauma for the children, and can even turn them into sexual predators in the future," she says.

"To prevent this, parents need to maintain an open line of communication with their kids. They can get their kids involved in positive activities where they have full supervision over them. If the impact of the abuse is more serious, they have to consider getting expert help to heal the psychology of the kids."

Arist agrees that lack of parental supervision or involvement in children's lives is a problem. "Everybody's so busy pursuing money that they leave their kids behind," he says. "Our society has become really sick morally, economically and socially. Our nation is shattered."

He cites a recent case of a 12-year-old boy accused of beating an 11-year- old at a school in East Jakarta so severely that the latter died of his injuries days later.

"We know that the case is an indication of a sadistic and ferocious act, but we have to remember that the alleged perpetrator is a kid," he says. "When we visited him, he looked very scared. He needs protection, but on the other hand he has just taken someone's life."

The real culprit, Arist says, is the environment in which children grow up. "When a kid acts, they're recycling what they've seen, whether on television or computer games, which they consume unfiltered," he says.

"Violence among children is not a standalone act. Everybody's involved. That is why this poses a dilemma. On the one hand, the family of the victim needs justice to be done, but on the other hand, the perpetrator is still a kid who needs protection."

Arist says violence among children is the result of lax moral education. "The role of moral education is really important. Basically kids have their emotional intellectual formed within their family," he says.

But Katarina says parents should not take all the blame for their children's violent tendencies.

"The parents might be doing their best to educate their children, but outside the home the kids can interact with violence in ways their parents don't know about," she says. "That said, there's still something missing in terms of the communication between the parents and children."

Like Arist, she blames television and violent computer games for shaping children's behavior. "There are many bad television programs in the television. So does the games. Games increase the level of aggressiveness among children. Again, this is a matter where the parents can do more in terms of supervision," she Katarina says.

Rahajeng Ika, another psychologist, says schools are just as influential as parents, if not more so, in shaping how children think and act. The recent bullying case, she says, "indicates a lack supervision by the school toward students."

"Given that this happened in school, the supervision by the teachers should be questioned," Rahajeng says. "However, we usually overlook things like this. Society's awareness of violence among children is really low."

Source: http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/news/child-abuse-scandals-indictment-society-large/

In child sex abuse cases, the law on trial

Jakarta Globe - May 2, 2014

Made Arya Kencana, Denpasar – A court in Bali has been criticized by child protection activists over its relatively lenient 18-month jail sentence for a rapist after he offered to marry his 14-year-old victim.

Komang Aditya Pratama, 19, should have faced a minimum of three years in prison, and up to 15 years, under the charges brought against him from the 2002 Child Protection Law, after he raped the girl multiple times last year.

"This is not right at all and completely inappropriate," Siti Sapura, an activist from the Denpasar Child Protection Institute, or LPA, who has followed the case from the beginning, told the Jakarta Globe on Thursday.

She lambasted the judges at the Denpasar District Court for failing to uphold the spirit of the child protection law, and accused prosecutors of "playing cat and mouse" to keep the victim's family in the dark about the charges and punishment they were seeking against the defendant.

Siti also questioned why the verdict hearing on Wednesday was open to the press, in clear violation of the law, which requires trials involving minors to be heard behind closed doors.

Aditya was arrested by police in Denpasar in February after the family of the 14-year-old girl reported him to the police for raping her on several occasions last year. The girl is currently seven months' pregnant. It is not clear why the girl or her family did not report the rapes at the time they happened, around October last year.

Dewa Puspa Adnyana, the sole judge presiding over the trial, ruled on Wednesday that Aditya should serve 18 months in jail, including time already served. He cited as mitigating circumstances the fact that Aditya had no criminal record and had "promised not to repeat the offense."

The judge also noted Aditya's "goodwill offer" to marry the victim and "be responsible for the baby" – a notion that the girl's family has vehemently rejected.

Before the start of Wednesday's hearing, the judge also raised eyebrows for not clearing the courtroom of all reporters, as required in hearings involving minors. "OK, you can stay, but don't crowd the place," he told the reporters in attendance.

Prosecutors said they were satisfied with the final ruling, arguing that Aditya was 18 at the time he raped the victim and thus should be treated as a minor, for which he would only face half the sentence prescribed in the law. Under Indonesian law, anyone 18 or older is not considered a minor.

The ruling sparked a commotion in the courtroom as the victim's brother walked up to the judge's table to question the leniency of the sentence. Other members of the family later tried to mob Aditya as he was escorted out of the room. Prosecutors have said they will not mount an appeal for a longer sentence.

Judicial what?

Activists from the Indonesian Commission for Child Protection, or KPAI, have vowed to file a judicial review of the 2002 law to impose longer sentences on sexual predators.

Erlinda, the KPAI secretary general, said the move was prompted by the rape in March of a 6-year-old boy at the Jakarta International School by a group of janitors.

She said her organization would push for the maximum sentence to be increased from the current 15 years to life in prison, and for a minimum sentence of 15 years to be instated.

She did not say how a judicial review would help in this regard. Such a review, heard by the Constitutional Court, can only determine if a particular article in a law is unconstitutional or not, and cannot change the substance of the law, short of striking down one or more articles.

To get the prescribed sentences changed, amendments to the 2002 law would need to be submitted to the House of Representatives for legislation.

The KPAI has also come in for criticism for revealing personally identifiable details about the victim and explicit details about the rape.

It has also crusaded for a thorough check into all of the JIS teachers, despite the fact that the suspects named and arrested in the case are all Indonesian janitors from the outsourcing company ISS.

All across the country The Bali and Jakarta cases are among dozens of cases of sexual abuse of minors being reported from across the country.

In Pekanbaru, in Sumatra's Riau province, police received five reports of child sex abuse last month, starting with an allegation by the family of an 11-year-old girl that she had been molested by her 52-year-old language teacher.

Police said they were studying video recordings from CCTV cameras at the girl's house, where the teacher allegedly molested her on several occasions when he came for lessons. He was reportedly unaware that there were several CCTV cameras throughout the house.

In another case, a 16-year-old boy and a 19-year-old boy are being investigated for the alleged gang rape of a 10-year-old girl in their neighborhood.

In Sukabumi, West Java, police said they had received six reports of sexual violence over the past month, most of them involving victims who were minors. In most of the cases, the perpetrators lived in the same neighborhoods.

In Padang Sidempuan, North Sumatra, police have arrested a 42-year-old man for allegedly sexually assaulting a 14-year-old who is hearing-impaired in the toilet of a bus terminal. The man denies he was trying to rape her, claiming she slipped in the toilet and he was trying to help her up.

In Malang, East Java, an Islamic middle school has fired one of its teachers after he was alleged to be having an affair with one of his students.

School officials acknowledged that the teacher, Syamsul Hadi, 42, was known to have had an affair with a student four years earlier, for which he had been demoted as the school principal at the time.

They said they were compelled to fire him after it came to light that he was currently having an affair with another student, aged 14. Ali Affandi, the current principal, said the school fired Syamsul on Tuesday, a day after the police named him a suspect for statutory rape.

"The school apologizes to the victim's parents, the public and stakeholders. The school respects the legal process," Ali said. He declined to say why the school had not reported Syamsul to the police for the affair four years earlier.

[Additional reporting by Dyah Ayu Pitaloka in Malang.]

Source: http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/news/child-sex-abuse-cases-law-trial/

May Day 2014

Labor Day euphoria as workers celebrate victory

Jakarta Post - May 2, 2014

Sita W. Dewi, Jakarta – At least 100,000 workers from Greater Jakarta congregated to mark Indonesia's first Labor Day national holiday.

Following mounting demand from workers, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono declared International Workers' Day on May 1 a national holiday in July last year.

Thousands of workers from the Confederation of Indonesian Workers Union (KSPI) flocked to the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle in Central Jakarta on Thursday morning and marched to the Presidential Palace on Jl. Medan Merdeka Utara.

Thousands of others gathered at Bung Karno Stadium (GBK) in Senayan, Central Jakarta, where the celebrations were centered. By noon, at least 100,000 workers, packed the stadium with dangdut singers and popular band Kotak enlivening the event.

The workers made a "labor wave", similar to the wave performed by soccer supporters. They also sang national and workers anthems.

"The number of participants this year exceeded previous Labor Day rallies. We are ecstatic because this is the first Labor Day public holiday. It represents our victory," said Juli Fajri, from the Indonesian Metal Workers Federation's (FSPMI) electronic workers unit from Cibitung, Bekasi.

Juli, who works as an assistant manager at Yamaha Music Manufacturing Asia, said his union had a marching band.

"We collected money to buy music instruments and practiced for about one month and a half. Last year's march was too quiet," he continued. "This is fun and refreshing. Staying at the company the whole time was kind of boring so [the Labor Day rally] was like a picnic," Asri, a participant, told The Jakarta Post.

Gerindra Party's presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto attended the celebration at GBK and thanked the union leaders for inviting him. "This boosts my spirit," he said.

Non-permanent teachers were among new participants joining the rally. Yayah, a non-permanent teacher from North Jakarta, said that they decided to join the rally in the hope of pressuring policymakers.

"We were inspired by our fellow workers' struggle and we've seen how they eventually managed to get what they demanded. I think by joining we can push policymakers to think about our fate," she said.

Workers of state-owned enterprises (BUMN) and shopping malls such as Carrefour and Giant conducted morning exercise and donated blood for the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) to mark Labor Day.

The Confederation of Indonesian Prosperous Labor Union (KSBSI) held reforestation campaigns. Of 35 million workers employed in the formal sector, only 3.4 million have unionized and formed six confederations, including KSPI and KSBSI.

On the Labor Day the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) took to the streets to celebrate the day and promoted theri cause. AJI spokesman Guruh Riyanto said that the alliance staged a rally to demand better salaries for journalists.

"Most Journalists in Jakarta are paid around Rp 2 million [US$173]. We demand that the minimum wage be set at Rp 5.7 million per month," he said. (alz)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/05/02/labor-day-euphoria-workers-celebrate-victory.html

Riau experiences calm Labor Day as other regions see lots of rallies

Jakarta Post - May 2, 2014

Rizal Harahap and Suherdjoko, Pekanbaru/Semarang – Labor Day in Riau was free of rallies. All-Indonesia Workers Union (SPSI) Riau chapter head Nursal Tanjung said his union did not mobilize the masses for security reasons.

"We refrained from rallying for the sake of national stability ahead of the presidential election," said Nursal.

Instead, the Riau chapter of the SPSI carried out a discussion with the Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo) and the provincial administration on ways to improve the welfare of workers.

However, Indonesian Prosperity Trade Union (SBSI) Riau chapter coordinator Patar Sitanggang said that although Labor Day was not marred by protests, it did not mean that the government had shirked its responsibilities over the fate of workers.

"The provincial administration has tended to turn a blind eye although the standard of living of workers in Riau is still far below expectations. SBSI recorded that only the plantation and oil and gas sectors had implemented the minimum wage scheme [UMR] in Riau, while the UMR in the service, trade, construction, hospitality and other sectors was still below what would be considered appropriate," said Patar.

"Of the 80,000 workers in Riau, only 20 percent of them receive suitable wages. If the issue remains unchecked, SBSI will in time take radical efforts against the government," he added.

In Bengkalis regency, the biggest oil and gas producer in Riau, workers commemorated Labor Day with social activities.

"We also took part in the reforestation program by planting thousands of mangrove tree seedlings along the coast in Papal village on Bengkalis Island," said Indonesian Transportation Workers Federation (FSPTI-SPSI) Bengkalis chapter head Masuri.

In Dumai, the biggest port city in Riau, thousands of workers were engrossed in a community celebration filled with games and contests.

Hundreds of workers from various companies in Central Java organized sporting events and arts performances, while hundreds of other workers rallied at the Simpang Lima intersection in Semarang as they criticized Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo's minimum wage policy, which they said had only sided with the businesspeople, as the UMR remained low.

In Medan, North Sumatra, workers from various organizations delivered speeches, many of which deplored low wages. They demanded a 30 percent increase in the 2015 UMR.

"Workers reject the politicization of low wages. We demand the UMR be raised 30 percent," Indonesian Metal Workers Federation (FSPMI) North Sumatra head Willy Agus Utomo said.

FSPMI head in Batam, Riau Islands, Suprapto, also voiced similar demands. "We demand the 2015 UMR be raised 30 percent, or be set at Rp 3 million [US$259] per month," Suprapto said.

According to him, a 30 percent UMR increase was reasonable, as it was equivalent to the current basic cost of living (KHL) of Rp 2.4 million per month in Batam.

In Gorontalo and Bandung, West Java, workers and temporary teachers demanded the abolishment of outsourcing. "We don't want our children to become laborers who earn low wages. The government must ensure that our children are educated," rally coordinator Mieske Abdullah said in Gorontalo.

In Palu, Central Sulawesi, dozens of journalists affiliated with the Palu chapter of the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) on Thursday questioned their status as correspondents, contributors and stringers in Palu.

In Yogyakarta, the Yogyakarta Labor Association (ABY) focused on pension funds. ABY secretary-general Kirnadi said various social security programs for workers were prone to irregularities.

Apriadi Gunawan, Fadli, Syamsul Huda M.Suhari, Arya Dipa, Ruslan Sangadji, Slamet Susanto contributed to the story from Medan, Batam, Gorontalo, bandung, palu and yogyakarta

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/05/02/riau-experiences-calm-labor-day-other-regions-see-lots-rallies.html

Workers press political demands at Labor Day rallies nationwide

Jakarta Post - May 2, 2014

Margareth S. Aritonang and Sita W. Dewi, Jakarta – Thousands of Indonesian workers marked Labor Day on Thursday by demanding the next government put an end to the cheap-labor policy and provide better protection for labor unions.

With the presidential election set to be held in the next few months, several labor unions called on political figures contesting the July election to directly address their demands.

Workers grouped under the Confederation of Indonesian Worker's Union (KSPI) and its partner organizations such as the Indonesian Metal Workers Federation (FSPMI) gathered at the Bung Karno Sports Stadium in Central Jakarta on Thursday to publicly announce their support for the presidential bid of Prabowo Subianto of the Gerindra Party in return for his commitment to fulfilling a list of 10 demands proposed by the KSPI.

The gathering appeared similar to open-air campaign events staged by political parties in the lead-up to the legislative election. Male and female dangdut singers entertained the crowd until KSPI president Said Iqbal eventually took to the stage to officially declare the union's support for Prabowo.

"Through this opportunity, we pray that God may make [Prabowo] president," he said. When asked about the details of the KSPI's support for Prabowo, Said told the press that the former commander of the Army's Special Forces (Kopassus) was the only presidential hopeful who responded to KSPI's invitation to the gathering.

According to Said, the KSPI had also invited Jakarta Governor Joko "Jokowi" Widodo from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and Aburizal Bakrie from the Golkar Party. "We've several times invited Jokowi to attend our gatherings, including this one, but to no avail."

Despite Said's complaint, dozens of female workers grouped under the Women's Action Committee met with Jokowi at his official residence in Menteng, Central Jakarta, earlier in the day, where they called for equal rights for women workers.

The workers complained that many female workers did not receive allowances, such as a spouse's allowance, which were given only to male colleagues. They further demanded that female employees' rights be guaranteed by manpower laws, including menstrual leave, maternity leave, facilities for women working night shifts and breast-feeding rooms at work.

The celebration of Labor Day on Thursday also saw the culmination of a 10- day rally, the Obor Marsinah (Torch of Marsinah), organized by 60 labor and rights groups nationwide in order to honor Marsinah, a labor activist who was raped and murdered because of her demands for workers' rights in 1993.

Tiara Eka Pratiwi from the Perempuan Mahardika, one of the 60 organizations participating in the rally, told The Jakarta Post that the event was aimed at pressing for justice for Marsinah as well for other murdered pro- democracy activists including Wiji Thukul and Munir Said Thalib.

"The struggle for justice for all workers cannot be separated from such figures and the reasons why they were murdered. We will thus pass on the message to workers to encourage them to remember," Tiara said.

Thursday was the first time the nation celebrated Labor Day as a national holiday, thus ending the annual complaints from white-collar workers in the capital who often faced massive traffic jams because of the rallies.

Workers from various companies in Central Java held a ceremony and morning gymnastics with Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo on Jl. Pahlawan, Semarang, on Thursday. "Workers and businesspeople need each other. Without you, [the economy] will not work," Ganjar said.

In Medan, thousands of workers from various trade unions rallied at the Majestik traffic circle, Jl. Gatot Subroto, and at the office of the governor of North Sumatra on Jl. Diponegoro.

At the rallies, workers rejected low wages and demanded a substantial increase in next year's minimum wage. "Workers reject the policy of cheap labor. Workers demand that next year the [minimum] wage should be increased by 30 percent," head of the North Sumatra chapter of the FSPMI, Willy Agus Utomo, said in his speech at the Majestik traffic circle. (put)

[Apriyadi Gunawan and Suherdjoko contributed to this story from Medan and Semarang.]

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/05/02/workers-press-political-demands-labor-day-rallies-nationwide.html

President declares 'respect for workers' amid wage hike calls

Jakarta Globe - May 2, 2014

Bayu Marhaenjati, Ezra Sihite & Deti Mega Purnamasari, Jakarta – President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has pledged the government's support to the cause of both workers and businesses, as Indonesia marked its first official celebration of International Workers Day on Thursday.

"May 1 is international Labor Day and Indonesia has chosen to make it a national holiday to honor workers as the heroes of industry," Yudhoyono wrote on his Twitter account, @SBYudhoyono, on Thursday morning.

"This is our respect for our workers," he added. "The government will continue to develop pro-worker and pro-industry policies, including providing housing, transportation and health care for workers," Yudhoyono wrote in another tweet. He said that higher wages should come alongside economic growth.

Workers are fighting to raise the regional minimum wage by 30 percent for 2015 after a series of steep hikes to the current figure, which varies by province. The minimum wage in Jakarta for 2014 is Rp 2.4 million ($208) per month.

"The relationship between workers' associations and business associations should be good and close," Yudhoyono said. "All sides should 'win.'"

The president said a civilized government needed to be fair in balancing the interests of workers and businesses, and stressed that in future wages and benefits for workers needed to improve. He also called for a solution to the ongoing disputes between employers and workers over the minimum wage.

Thousands of workers gathered at key points around Jakarta on Thursday to mark International Workers Day, popularly known as May Day. This year marks the first time it has been recognized as a public holiday by the Indonesian government.

One of the main rallying point for workers on Thursday was the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle in Central Jakarta, from where thousands of workers marched north to the State Palace, calling for higher wages and better working conditions.

Police estimated that around 30,000 of workers from various unions from Jakarta and its satellite cities took to the capital's streets on Thursday.

The rally's main agenda was a 30 percent regional minimum wage increase for 2015, which would put the monthly minimum wage at Rp 3.12 million. The wage hike from 2013 to 2014 was 10 percent, and came on the back of an unprecedented 40 percent increase between 2012 and 2013.

Workers and union leaders contend that the current minimum wages fail to provide for decent standard of living, but critics argue that substantial wage hikes force layoffs, discourage investment in the manufacturing industry and do not help the vast number of workers in the informal sector.

Some 7,000 police officers were deployed across Jakarta to monitor the rallies, with 3,000 of them assigned to the streets around the State Palace.

Police personnel were also deployed to the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle, Gelora Bung Karno stadium, the House of Representatives, the Vice Presidential Palace and along the protest route. Some 1,500 personnel from the Indonesian Military (TNI) were also deployed.

Jakarta Governor Joko Widodo – credited with helping facilitate the hefty 2013 wage hike just months after taking office in October 2012, and now running for president in the July 9 election – promised to prioritize dialogue so that workers would not feel compelled to take to the streets in traffic-paralyzing rallies to make their demands for better pay heard.

"That way, there will be no need for a rally on May Day every time [workers demand] a hike in the minimum provincial wage, because it's just a waste of energy," Joko said.

He was speaking during an audience with representatives of women workers, who handed him their "2014 black note" – a petition urging him to take action against workplace discrimination.

The workers, representing the Women's Action Committee (KAP), said they had seen no significant progress for female workers during Joko's time in office.

"Discrimination on hourly wages and unpaid overtime has been [an ongoing problem]," said KAP member Listiyowati. "There's no menstrual leave and maternity leave. After [mothers] deliver babies, their contracts are terminated."

Under Indonesian labor law, companies are required to provide two days of paid leave per month to menstruating women. Indonesia is among a small group of countries – along with Japan, South Korea and Taiwan – that offer so-called menstrual leave, although the policy is controversial and sometimes absent in practice.

The workers also asked for greater protections for domestic and migrant workers, the large majority of whom are women and who, because they work in the informal sector, lack the protections afforded to formal sector workers and are not eligible for the minimum wage.

Joko said he took the demands seriously and would fight for decent jobs, fair wages and safe conditions for women. "The most important thing is that I know and understand, and hopefully can fight for [women]," Joko said. "There are many basic problems that have not been solved because of the absence of laws."

Source: http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/news/president-declares-respect-workers-amid-wage-hike-calls/

Workers clash with police during May Day action in Makassar

Detik News - May 1, 2014

Muhammad Nur Abdurrahman, Jakarta – The commemoration of May Day in the Makassar Industrial Area (Kima) in South Sulawesi provincial capital of Makassar descended into chaos on Thursday May 1.

Around 100 workers from the Social Solidarity Action for the Indonesian People (Samurai) tried to force their way into a bread factory that was allegedly still operating on the May Day holiday.

The Samurai demonstrators damaged the factory fence and broke into the factory in Jl. Kapasa Raya. Earlier, they had clashed with police. The protesters were looking fro factory workers who were still working but were not able to find a single worker. Despite the clash, no workers were arrested during the incident.

In addition to the Kima complex, the Samurai protesters also held a free speech forum underneath the flyover on Jl. Urip Sumoharjo.

During the action, the demonstrators held their ground against officers from the Makassar municipal police who tried to block them from holding a protest action on the side of the road at the intersection of Jl. Urip Sumoharjo and AP Pettarani at the Reformasi toll road entrance.

Scores of officers from the tactical police unit (Samapta) erected a barricade to block the workers from entering the street. Because they were unable to enter they were forced to hold the action at the park under the flyover. (mna/asp)

Source: http://news.detik.com/read/2014/05/01/134902/2570770/10/aksi-may-day-di-pabrik-roti-makassar-diwarnai-kericuhan?nd771104bcj

[Translated by James Balowski.]

Tangerang workers take 'blood sucking octopus' to State Palace

Liputan6 - May 1, 2014

Tangerang – Thousands of workers in Tangerang, Banten province celebrated May Day by bringing a 3-metre effigy of an octopus to the State Palace in Central Jakarta. They also brought a 1.5 metre wide soccer trophy.

The Octopus effigy wore a red hat with a white star. On the hat was a poster with the message "The tentacles of capitalism, blood sucker of the working class".

"This symbol rejects outsourcing. The octopus will be carried during the protest action, and then set alight", said Sunarno, a representative of the Indonesian Trade Union Congress Alliance (KASBI) in the Tangerang city Batu Ceper warehousing complex on Thursday May 1.

Sunarno said that the workers will ride a convoy of 20 buses from Tangerang to the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle in Central Jakarta, then march to the nearby State Palace. Others would arrive by motorcycle.

"There are around 5 thousand workers. Not just from Tangerang city, but also from Tangerang regency and South Tangerang city", said Sunarno.

Demands

The workers are demanding the reestablishment of the Jamsostek Social Security Program because the recently introduced Social Security Management Agency (BPJS) healthcare and labour program is ridden with manipulation.

"When we were still covered by Jamsostek, the cost of medical treatment was free. There was no burden of buying medicines or other things", said Suwarso, the coordinator of the 1992 All Indonesia Trade Union (SBSI 92) for the Tangerang area.

"Now, only the treatment is free. We bear the cost of medicines", he said. Suwarso said that they are demanding that the BPJS be evaluated and Jamsostek reinstated.

The workers will also give speeches rejecting electricity tariff increases that will not just create difficulties for employers but will also be the trigger for mass dismissals. "That's already automatic. We explicitly reject it", asserted Suwarso. (Shinta NM Sinaga)

Source: http://news.liputan6.com/read/2044261/buruh-gotong-boneka-gurita-kapitalis-ke-istana

[Slightly abridged translation by James Balowski.]

Traumatised by outsourcing, workers reject Jokowi for president

Liputan6.com - May 1, 2014

Sunariyah, Jakarta – Workers apparently are still traumatised by the administration of former President Megawati Sukarnoputri. Although more than 10 years have passed, they still recall several of Megawati's policies that brought suffering to workers. One of these was the policy on outsourcing that is still in force to this day.

Anton Siregar, the Bekasi regional leadership board public relations officer from the Solidarity Alliance for Labour Struggle (GSPB), said that although workers have yet to determine which presidential candidate to support in July, they will not support Jakarta Governor Joko Widodo or Jokowi from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P).

"We don't want Jokowi. He's from the PDI-P right. We know about the past during Mega[wait]'s era when outsourcing was established", said Siregar during an action at the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle in Central Jakarta on Thursday May 1.

The other reason workers oppose supporting Jokowi is because they believe that he will only become a puppet that will be controlled by Megawati. This said Siregar will cause workers to be abused as they were when Megawati was in power.

"We don't want a Jokowi controlled by Mega, so we won't give our vote to Jokowi. We don't truest the political parties", he said.

With regard to the kind of presidential candidate that the GSPB would like, Siregar said that they had not thought about it yet. "Not yet. None have appeared yet. But for Jokowi, we can't expect much", he concluded. (Sss)

Source: http://news.liputan6.com/read/2044282/trauma-outsourcing-lahir-era-mega-buruh-tak-dukung-jokowi-capres

[Translated by James Balowski.]

West Papuan students in Bandung use May Day to call for self-determination

Okezone - May 1, 2014

Oris Riswan, Bandung – There was a different aspect to a workers protest action at the governor's office in the West Java provincial capital of Bandung on Thursday May 1. Amongst the hundreds of protesting workers, there was a group of students calling themselves the Papua Student Alliance (AMP).

Unlike the workers who were demanding welfare improvements, the students demanded the freedom and right to self-determination for the Papuan people because they have been living in the midst of violence and backwardness. "To this day Indonesia is still pursuing a colonialist policy towards the Papuan people", said action coordinator Wenas.

This exploitation the group said has brought no positive impact for the Papuan people. What has in fact happened instead is the people have become victims of violence and other negative actions. "We demand an end to exploitative activities by companies there", he said.

During the action, the protesters brought several large banners, one of which had the message "The right to self-determination, the democratic solution for the Papuan people". They also brought several photographs of victims of violence in Papua. The group demonstrated for less then an hour then left the location peacefully. (ton)

Source: http://bandung.okezone.com/read/2014/05/01/526/978610/beda-tuntutan-mahasiswa-papua-demo-di-tengah-massa-buruh

[Translated by James Balowski.]

Bandung workers reject contract labour, electricity rate hikes

Tempo - May 1, 2014

Risanti, Bandung – Commemorating International Labour Day on May 1, hundreds of workers from the All Indonesian Workers Union-Metal and Electronic Machinery Trade Union Federation (SPSI-FSP LEM) and the Bandung branch of the SPSI held a demonstration on the grounds of the West Java- Banten state electricity company (PLN).

"Labour Day is not a gift from the government, but a result of years of struggle by workers. Now we return to the struggle for workers' rights. All the best for Labour Day", said action coordinator Ajat Sudrajat in a speech in front of the PLN building on Thursday May 1.

During the action, the workers sought clarification from the PLN on electricity rate increases, which the workers believe will threaten the livelihood of contract workers. "Electricity rate hikes mean that the first victims will be contract workers, more wage problems, stalled production costs and finally dismissals", said Sudrajat to cheers from the other workers.

The workers also demanded that the government abolish contract labour and called for decent wages. The workers believe that contract labour systems only confuse the status of workers in order to squeeze more work out of them.

In addition to this, the workers also demanded that the government immediately improve healthcare services provided by the Social Security Management Agency (BPJS) that have yet to be realised. According to the workers, the government is not yet ready to implement the BPJS program that began in January this year. "They say that the BPJS is in the interests of the Indonesian people, but up until now there is no evidence of this", said another action coordinator.

Source: http://www.tempo.co/read/news/2014/05/01/083574646/May-Day-Buruh-Tolak-Kenaikan-Tarif-Listrik

[Translated by James Balowski.]

Lampung workers oppose social security wage deductions

Saibumi.com - May 1, 2014

Aji Saktiyanto, Bandar Lampung – Workers holding a demonstration to commemorate International Labour Day at the Bandar Lampung Adipura Monument in the provincial capital of Lampung on May 1 demanded that their wages not be deducted as dues to pay for social security by the Social Security Management Agency (BPJS).

"The BPJS program should be covered by the government and not cut into workers' wages", said action coordinator Rajahot Sinterclause from the Lampung People's Movement (GRL) in a speech. The workers also demanded that the government raise the level of welfare that is still below standard.

"May workers who are paid a standard wage but the minimum wage is still too small", said Sinterclause who also called on the government to abolish contract labour and outsourcing systems.

The workers also demanded that the Lampung provincial government increase the provincial minimum wage by increasing the number of standard components that make up the reasonable living cost index (KHL) which currently comprises only 60 components.

Source: http://www.saibumi.com/artikel-3540-buruh-di-lampung-tuntut-upah-tidak-dipotong-untuk-bpjs.html

[Translated by James Balowski.]

4,000 workers take part in May Day actions in Medan

Detik News - May 1, 2014

Khairul Ikhwan, Medan – A demonstration commemorating Labour Day in the North Sumatra provincial capital of Medan was joined by around 4,000 workers. The action was centred at the Majestik traffic circle because government offices were closed for the May Day public holiday.

The May Day actions were held by labour organisations separately. On group demonstrated in the Medan Industrial Zone 2 (KIM), another group gathered at the Merdeka Field, while a third went directly to the Majestik traffic circle on Jl. Gatot Subroto.

Some of the workers did demonstrate at the South Sumatra Regional House of Representatives on Jl. Imam Bonjo and the governor's office on Jl. Diponegoro. However upon realising that the offices were closed, the protesters disbanded and moved off to the Majestik traffic circle.

In total the labour demonstrations in Medan were joined by an estimated 4 thousand people. They came from a number of labour organisations including the Trade Union Alliance, the North Sumatra Trade Union (SBSU), the United Indonesian Trade Union (SBBI), the 1992 All Indonesia Trade Union (SBSI 92) and the Teplok Legal Aid Foundation.

The issues taken up at the actions were similar such as the problem of the lack of workers' welfare, outsourcing that must be abolished and various other issues. "The problem of workers' welfare has yet to become a concern for the government", said Erwin Manalu, one of the action coordinators in Medan on Thursday May 1.

The protest actions in Medan, which proceeded in an orderly fashion with protesters using various kinds of vehicles, were escorted by hundreds of police at each local action (rul/asp)

Source: http://news.detik.com/read/2014/05/01/140331/2570779/10/aksi-buruh-di-medan-diikuti-4-ribu-orang-dengan-tertib?9922032

[Translated by James Balowski.]

Palembang journalists commemorate May Day

Tribune News - May 1, 2014

M Ardiansyah, Palembang – South Sumatran journalists held an action to commemorate May Day in Palembang city at the Fountain traffic circle on Thursday May 1.

The journalists expressed their concern over the failure of companies to side with workers. Carrying banners, the journalists continued the action despite the rainfall inundating the city.

The journalists also joined other workers who were holding an action at the traffic circle.

Source: http://www.tribunnews.com/regional/2014/05/01/jurnalis-sumsel-gelar-aksi-memperingati-hari-buruh

[Translated by James Balowski.]

Acehnese trade unions mark May Day with marches, rally and prayers

Detik News - May 1, 2014

Agus Setyadi, Banda Aceh – A hundred or so workers in the Acehnese provincial capital of Banda Aceh held prayers on a main street for the close of demonstrations commemorating Labour Day in Aceh. The workers, who came from Acehnese trade unions, demanded welfare improvements and rejected low wages.

Prior to holding the action on Thursday May 1, hundreds of workers held a march from the Banda Aceh Grand Mosque towards the Simpang Lima traffic circle where they held a demonstration that began at 9.30am.

During the action, which was watched over by scores of police, they brought banners and flags of their respective trade unions. The workers, who came from various different companies took turns to convey their demands.

Action coordinator Habibi Insuen said that May Day, which is commemorated all over the world, is a historical milestone for the working class' battle against oppression that occurs because of poor working conditions, welfare levels that are still minimal and the lack of social security for job injuries.

"The labour movement in order to obtain its rights is not a rebellion or against the owners of capital, rather it is a certainly that is obtained after obligations and responsibilities have been met", said Insuen between speeches.

The workers, who came from several different trade unions, said Insuen, reject low wages and are calling for the Aceh provincial minimum wage (UMP) for 2015 to be increased by 30 percent, are calling on the government to promote honorary workers to become permanent state civil servants and for improvements to the welfare of health workers in Aceh.

In addition to this, they are also demanding that workers employed at state-owned enterprises be promoted to permanent employees and to be provided with the same pension guarantees as other workers. "Carry out deliberations and ratify a qanun (by-law) on labour that accommodates the interests of workers and employees in Aceh", he said.

After demonstrating for around one hour, the workers stopped giving speeches and sat on the main road to hold prayers. The action ended at around 11am. (mok/mok)

Source: http://news.detik.com/read/2014/05/01/124939/2570730/10/may-day-buruh-aceh-berdoa-di-jalan-raya?nd771104bcj

[Translated by James Balowski.]

Labour groups call for establishment of alternative political party

Tribune News - May 1, 2014

Arif Wicaksono, Jakarta – Labour organisations are proposing the establishment of an alternative political party that would take up pro- people programs for the Indonesian nation. Up until now, there has been no political party that has been capable of providing welfare for the ordinary Indonesian people.

"This represents our mistrust of the existing political parties in Indonesia", said Santoso, a member of the Joint Labour Secretariat (Sekber Buruh) and the Political Alternative Committee (KPA) in Jakarta on Thursday May 1.

Santoso said that there are several issues that would be embodied in an alternative political party such as workers rights to a decent minimum national wage and the abolition of outsourcing. "This would include the provision of subsidies for the people such as for education, healthcare, food, energy, housing and transportation", he said.

The establishment of such an alternative political party would also be to build political unity in order to be able to fight injustice against workers, and to build a working class and people's political force as a tool of joint political struggle.

The Sekber Buruh and the KAP are made up of a number of different organisations including the Indonesian Workers Federation of Struggle (FPBI), the National Labour Movement Centre (SGBN), the Indonesian Workers Federation (FPI) and the Solidarity Alliance for Labour Struggle (GSPB).

Source: http://www.tribunnews.com/nasional/2014/05/01/organisasi-buruh-usulkan-partai-alternatif

[Translated by James Balowski.]

Protesters say presidential hopeful Jokowi doesn't side with workers

VIVA News - May 1, 2014

Desy Afrianti, Stella Maris – In a speech in front of the State Palace on Jl. Medan Merdeka Utara in Central Jakarta, Sri, the general secretary of the Association of Independent Trade Unions (GSBI) asserted that workers would not support Jakarta Governor Joko Widodo alias Jokowi as the next president of the Republic of Indonesia.

Sri was speaking at a protest action commemorating International Labour Day or May Day on Thursday May 1. "We will not vote for Jokowi, because he doesn't side with workers. We continue to be oppressed", she said. According to Sri, if in the future Jokowi is elected as president, the fate of workers would only be to change from one oppressor to another.

Despite this, Sri acknowledged in her speech that this is not intended to influence other workers to not voting for Jokowi. However, she said, her speech was based on the facts. "The choice is up to each individual. However whoever is chosen right now will influence the next five years", she said.

It is known that Jakarta workers are dissatisfied with a decision by Jokowi setting the 2014 provincial minimum wage (UMP) at 2.4 million rupiah a month. Workers believe this figure is inappropriate and far from what they had hoped, and are continuing to demand that the UMP be raised to 3.7 million rupiah.

Source: http://politik.news.viva.co.id/news/read/501125-demo-di-istana – buruh-tolak-jokowi-jadi-presiden

[Translated by James Balowski.]

May Day rally in Jakarta calls for alternative political party

Tribune News - May 1, 2014

Jakarta – The Joint Labour Secretariat (Sekber Buruh) and the Political Alternative Committee (KPA) are reiterating the importance of workers forming an alternative political party outside of the existing parties. According to Sekber Buruh, any administration that comes out of 2014 elections will not impact on the lives of workers.

"The 2014 elections are not elections. But an election of thieves. The 2014 elections are clearly a contest of thieves and prospective thieves. There is not one political party that is defending the interests of the ordinary people", said a representative from the Indonesian Labour Forum of Struggle (FPBI) during a speech at the State Palace in Central Jakarta on Thursday May 1.

Sekber Buruh also called on the protesting workers not to think that the state can be administered by any of the parties contesting the 2014 elections. According to the group, workers themselves must administer the state. "Indonesia cannot be built by the current parties. It can only be built by workers' power", they said.

The FPBI also called on all Indonesian workers to unite and make this plan a reality.

Source: https://id.berita.yahoo.com/buruh-perlu-bentuk-parpol-091559901.html

[Translated by James Balowski.]

Protesters hold 'Workers against Capitalism' theatrical action at DPR

Detik News - May 1, 2014

Idham Khalid, Jakarta – Workers from the National Trade Union Confederation (KSN) held a theatrical action at the House of Representatives (DPR) building in Senayan, Jakarta, on Thursday May 1. The action was held in the context of the fight for workers' rights who they believe have yet to enjoy a decent life.

The theatrical action titled "Workers against Capitalism" began with a scene in which eight women agricultural workers and fisherpeople appeared with their hands tied by metal chains.

The ends of the chain were then picked up by an employer standing alongside arrogant looking male figures from the government, bureaucracy and security personnel. The security personnel sprayed the workers with water while the employer shoved the workers around then forced them to lie down. Other security personnel then interrogated them.

The demonstrators crowed around the theatrical action taking pictures with mobile phones. Other demonstrators meanwhile could be seen cheerfully taking photos with the DPR building in the background. (idh/slm)

Source: http://news.detik.com/read/2014/05/01/130808/2570744/10/buruh-gelar-aksi-teatrikal-di-depan-dpr-peserta-lainnya-berfoto-ria?nd771104bcj

[Translated by James Balowski.]

Jokowi presented with 'dark record' of abuses against women workers

Tempo.co - May 1, 2014

Atmi Pertiwi, Jakarta – Labour demonstrations have not just taken place in the main streets of the capital. In front of the official residence of Jakarta Governor Joko "Jokowi" Widodo around 25 women workers from the Greater Jakarta area (Jabodetabek) and the Central Java city of Yogyakarta from the Women's Action Committee (KAP) held a demonstration at 7am on Thursday May 1.

KAP spokesperson Estu Fanandi said they hoped to meet with Jokowi to discuss the plight of women workers in Jakarta. "We want to convey to him the real conditions of women workers in Jakarta", she said. "They [women workers] are close to the centre of power, but their living standards are no different from other areas".

During the action, the KAP brought a 1 metre square replica of the dark record of women workers in 2014 made out of Styrofoam. According to Fanandi the KAP, which is an alliance of 23 women's labour non-government organisations, have been compiling the record since last year.

The record is filled with complaints about the rights of women workers that they said have worsened every year. Fanandi gave the example of normative rights for women workers that have yet to be met such as menstruation leave, maternity leave, facilities for night work, safety and security guarantees, breast feeding facilities and allowances without discrimination.

"Yet these rights are guaranteed by the law on labour", she said. Moreover, said Fanandi, there are sill women workers who suffer sexual harassment. "By their superiors as well as male colleagues".

After the action at Jokowi's residence, the KAP will join with their colleagues in a demonstration at the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle in Central Jakarta and then move on to the State Palace.

Source: https://id.berita.yahoo.com/buruh-perempuan-demo-jokowi-023732138.html

[Translated by James Balowski.]

Journalists want decent wages, reject being 'media owners footstool'

Liputan6 - May 1, 2014

Jakarta – The commemoration of Labour Day was also used by the Jakarta Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI). Along with other labour movement groups, the AJI took to the streets on Thursday May 1 carrying a giant replica of a shoe with the message "Journalist reject being the footstool of media owners!".

AJI member Wahyudi said that the replica shoe was a symbol of the many media employees in Jakarta that are paid a below standard monthly wage.

"Kepmenperindag [Industry and Trade Ministerial Decision] Number 121/2002 has become an issue that is very relevant in the context of transparency and a sense of justice for employees and companies", said Wahyudi at the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle in Central Jakarta.

Yet he said the national spending on advertising this year increased by 20 percent to 140 trillion rupiah. The spending on political advertising on television for open campaigning between March 16 and April 5, 2014 reached 340 billion rupiah.

"Based on 2013 data, the national media has miserly in contribution these funds for the welfare of media employees. Most media [companies] in Indonesia outlay less than 30 percent of costs for their employees", said Wahyudi.

According to the AJI's calculations, a reasonable wage for new journalists in Jakarta in 2014 is 5.7 million rupiah a month. However out of the 55 media companies surveyed recently most pay new journalists who have worked for a year only around 3 million rupiah a month.

"We are appealing to media companies in particular that are paying sub- standard wages to comply with the Kepmenperindag 121/2002 as a form of transparency and responsibility to employees and the public", said Wahyudi. (Shinta NM Sinaga)

Source: http://news.liputan6.com/read/2044286/sepatu-raksasa-aji-injak-bundaran-hi

[Slightly abridged translation by James Balowski.]

These are the 10 worker demands for May Day 2014

Kompas - May 1, 2014

Jakarta – Hundreds of thousands of workers from an alliance of several trade unions will take to the streets to celebrate International Labour Day or May Day on May 1. Actions held in at least 20 of Indonesia's 33 provinces.

During the actions, the workers will convey 10 demands to employers and the government. Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPI) president Said Iqbal said that the 10 demands that will be conveyed by workers are related to problems of workers' welfare and outsourcing.

The 10 demands are as follows:

1. Increase the 2015 minimum wage by 30 percent and revise the reasonable living cost index (KHL) to include 84 items;

2. No exceptions on payment of the minimum wage;

3. Implement obligatory pension guarantees for workers by July 2015;

4. Implement universal healthcare guarantees by revoking Health Ministry Regulation Number 69/2013 on tariffs, replace the Indonesia-Case Based Groups (INA-CBG's) with a Fee for Service, audit the Social Security Management Agency (BPJS) healthcare and work insurance fund;

5. Abolish outsourcing, particularly outsourcing in state-owned enterprises (BUMN) and promote all outsourcing workers to permanent employees;

6. Enact the draft law on Domestic Workers (PRT) and revise Migrant Worker (TKI) Protection Law Number 39/2004;

7. Revoke the Mass Organisation Law (UU Ormas) and replace it with the Draft Law on Association;

8. Promote honorary civil servants and teaches to become permanent state civil servants (PNS) and provide a 1 million rupiah per person per month from the state budget for honorary teachers.

9. Provide affordable public transport and housing for workers;

10. Implement a 12 year compulsory education program and scholarships for workers' children up until tertiary education level.

In Jakarta, the workers' demands will be read out at a rally in front of the State Palace. In other regions meanwhile, the demands will be conveyed in front of respective governor's offices. "After we gather at the HI [Hotel Indonesia] traffic circle protesters will march to the State Palace and present speeches with the Indonesian workers' 10 demands", said Iqbal in a press release received by Kompas on Thursday May 1.

Iqbal explained that the action will start at 10am and end at 7pm. In addition to the HI and the State Place, other locations that will be used for rallies will be the Jakarta governor's office and the Bung Karno Sports Stadium.

According to Iqbal, around 100,000 workers from Greater Jakarta will take part in the actions. In other provinces meanwhile, an estimated 500,000 workers will take part.

"Later, aside from the 100,000 workers, the May Day events will also be attended by 10,000 honorary teachers and honorary employees throughout Indonesia along with hundreds of student representatives", added Iqbal.

Source: http://nasional.kompas.com/read/2014/05/01/0823038/Ini.Sepuluh.Tuntutan.Buruh.pada.May.Day.2014

[Translated by James Balowski.]

May Day in Yogyakarta commemorated with street blockade and dance music

Detik News - May 1, 2014

Edzan Raharjo, Yogyakarta – Thousands of workers in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta took to the streets to commemorate Labour Day on Thursday May 1. The actions, which were held by several different labour organisations, were centred on the Jl. Malioboro shopping district, the Yogyakarta Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) and the zero kilometre point.

An action held by the United People's Coalition (KRB), which was joined by thousands of protesters, blockaded Jl. Malioboro then marched to the zero kilometre point resulting in unavoidable traffic congestion on Jl. Malioboro. Many vehicles had to re-routed while others who had already entered Jl. Malioboro had to use the slow lane.

An action by the Yogyakarta Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPI) meanwhile was held on the grounds of the Yogyakarta DPRD. The event presented dangdut music (popular music with strong Hindu type musical beat) and vocalist who made the workers loose themselves in dance.

"We elected to dance to dangdut, because today is a holiday for workers, so it was celebrated with happiness, but positive and didn't disturb other people", said action committee member Denta Juliant. The dangdut action was quite lively with workers cheering and singing dangdut songs that are popular at the moment.

The worker actions in Yogyakarta, among other things, demanded the abolition of contract labour and outsourcing systems, decent wages for workers and that workers be exempt from Social Security Management Agency (BPJS) fees.

Source: http://news.detik.com/read/2014/05/01/115516/2570689/10/hari-buruh-di-yogya-mulai-blokir-jalan-hingga-joget-dangdut

[Translated by James Balowski.]

3,000 Semarang workers commemorate May Day with 'giant tumpeng'

Tribune News - May 1, 2014

Raka F Pujangga, Semarang – The Indonesian Trade Union Action Committee (Kasbi) and the Semarang branch of the Indonesian Metal Trade Workers Federation (FSPMI) held a parade in the Central Java provincial capital of Semarang which was joined by around 3,000 people on Thursday May 1.

During the action the demonstrators brought a giant 3-mere high replica of a ceremonial dish of yellow rice served in a cone shape (tumpeng). "This tumpeng means to represent our thankfulness, because today is commemorated as Labour Day", said Central Java FSPMI regional leadership board chairperson Agus Makmun.

Makmun said that today should become a momentum for unity in the midst of a series of problems that continue to undermine the welfare and existence of workers. "We hope that workers' welfare can improve through policies that do not marginalise workers", he said.

The parade, which began at the Sultan Agung Islamic University (Unissula), passed through Jl. Raden patah, Jl. Pemuda, Jl. Simpanglima and Jl. Pahlawan.

Source: http://www.tribunnews.com/regional/2014/05/01/tiga-ribu-buruh-semarang-aksi-bawa-tumpeng-raksasa

[Translated by James Balowski.]

Thousands of workers in Solo blockade road in front of city hall

Merdeka - May 1, 2014

Thousand of workers in the Central Java city of Solo took to the streets this morning to commemorate International Labour Day on Thursday May 1. The protesters even blockaded the main road between City Hall and the Gede market, although after negotiations with police they opened up one lane between the Gede market and the Surakarta (Solo) royal palace.

In speeches the workers demanded welfare improvements and rejected outsourcing. "We are calling for decent wages for workers' welfare. We also reject outsourcing systems. Abolish outsourcing systems right now", shouted one of the participants.

Endang Setyowati, the chairperson of the Indonesian Prosperous Labour Union 1992 (SBSI 92) Solo branch said that they also wanted to convey a message to the president. "In the name of the workers of greater Solo we convey a message to the president to restore the identity and life of the nation and state through [the state ideology of] Pancasila", he said.

The workers also demanded that the government revise the law on the Social Security Management Agency (BPJS) saying it represented the capitalisation of the state against its citizens. "The BPJS is no more then the implementation of the capitalisation of state citizens", said Setyowati.

They also called on the president to end the politics of low wages which they said was a failure by the state of its responsibility to create social justice for all the Indonesian people.

A similar action was held by thousands of workers in the Central Java regency of Sukoharjo. Prior to giving speeches at the Satya Negara square the workers organised a convey from factory to factory.

During the action they made similar demands as the workers in Solo as well as condemning companies that failed to let employees have the day off for the May Day national holiday and instead provided enticements in the form of overtime pay.

Although the rally in Solo was quite lively, it proceeded in an orderly fashion and without incident. Hundreds of officers from the tactical police unit, anti-riot police and the district police were mobilised for the event.

Source: https://id.berita.yahoo.com/may-day-ribuan-buruh-solo-blokir-jalan-depan-055338600.html

[Slightly abridged translation by James Balowski.]

Students and farmers join May Day action in Purwokerto

Tribune News - May 1, 2014

Fajar Eko Nugroho, Banyumas – Apparently International Labour Day 2014 is not just being commemorated by workers in different regions of Indonesia. Students and farmers also joined the ranks of protesters commemorating the workers' struggle to win an eight-hour day at the beginning of the 19 Century. This is what was done by hundreds of students and farmers from Banyumas People's Struggle Front (FPR) in Central Java on Thursday May 1.

The FPR is an alliance made up of the National Student Front (FMN), the Banyumas Farmers Association (PPB), the Ampera State Accountancy College (Stan Ampera), the Indonesian Islamic Students Movement (PMII), the Purwokerto Muhammadiyah University Student Executive Council (BEM UMP), the State College of Islamic Religious Studies (STAIN), the Muhammadiyah Students Association (IMM), the University of Soedirman Student Executive Council (BEM UNSOED), the Kathoza Indonesian Muslim Students Action Front (KAMMI Kathoza), the Islamic Students Association Faculty of Social and Political Science Commissariat (HMI Komisariat Fisip) and the Indonesian Students Association Organisational Saviours Council (HPI MPO).

Prior to holding the action at the Purwokerto square, the protesters held a long-march through Jl. Jenderal Soedirman demanding that the local government provide basic rights to the people, particularly farmers and workers.

"We demand that the Banyumas regent increase workers wages. We also call on the Banyumas regent to revoke the business permit for PT Rumpun Sari Antan Darmakradenan which has forcibly seized agricultural land from farmers", said FPR coordinator during the action.

Source: http://www.tribunnews.com/regional/2014/05/01/petani-fpr-banyumas-ikut-aksi-may-day-di-alun-alun-purwokerto

[Translated by James Balowski.]

Surabaya workers call for Marsinah be declared a Workers Hero

Tribune News - May 1, 2014

Surya Mujib Anwar, Surabaya – Demonstrators from a number of different groups in East Java have begun arriving at the grounds of Governor Suryo in front of the State Grahadi building in the provincial capital of Surabaya on Thursday May 1.

The demonstrators come from several labour and student organisations such as the National Trade Union (SPN), the Indonesian National Students Movement (GMNI), the Republic of Indonesia Student Brigade (LAMRI), the Indonesian Labor Union Confederation (GASPERMINDO), the National Solidarity Committee (KSN), the DES Trade Union (SB DES) and the Populist Trade Union Federation (FSBK).

Andi Peci, one of the action coordinators, said that during the action to commemorate International Labour Day this year the group is rejecting low wages and demanding the immediate enactment of sectoral wages and the abolition of outsourcing.

"Aside from this, we the workers of Indonesia are also demanding that the government declare Marsinah to be a Workers Hero", asserted Peci, which was immediately followed cheers and cries of "Viva the Workers".

Notes

Marsinah was a women activist who was murdered on May 8, 1993 after leading a strike at a watch factory in Surabaya, East Java. She has since become a symbol and hero of the Indonesian labour struggle.

Source: https://id.berita.yahoo.com/buruh-surabaya-tuntut-marsinah-diresmikan-jadi-pahlawan-072759282.html

[Translated by James Balowski.]

Gresik workers threaten to boycott presidential election if demands not met

VIVA News - May 1, 2014

Muhammad Habib – Around 1,000 workers from the Indonesian Trade Union Congress Alliance (KASBI) commemorated May Day on Thursday May 1 by blockading the Raya Manyar highway in Gresik city, East Java. The blockade caused hundreds of vehicles to be caught in a traffic jam extending several kilometres.

Carrying posters with their demands, the workers held a convoy led by motorcycles around Gresik city which ending at the regent's office. The workers called on the government to abolish outsourcing, rejected low wages, demanded social security, free education and healthcare.

Action coordinator Hakam said that the road blockade was an expression of their annoyance with the government which they said had failed to bring prosperity to its people, particularly workers. "The SBY-Boediono [President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono-Vice President Boediono] government has failed to bring prosperity to the people. Abolish outsourcing work systems", said Hakam in a speech.

The workers also threatened to boycott the presidential elections on July 9 if their demands were not met. After blockading the highway, the protesters continued their action by conducting a sweep of factories in the Gresik industrial zone looking for workers who were still on the job. (ren)

Source: http://nasional.news.viva.co.id/news/read/501073-tuntutan-tak-dipenuhi – buruh-gresik-ancam-boikot-pilpres

[Slightly abridged translation by James Balowski.]

East Java workers descend on Surabaya to commemorate May Day

VIVA News - May 1, 2014

Ita Lismawati F. Malau, Tudji Martudji – Labour groups from various parts of East Java descended on the provincial capital of Surabaya on Thursday May 1 and gathered at the Grahadi State Building (the governor's office) to commemorate International Labour Day or May Day.

Several labour groups could be seen filling the Waru traffic circle entry- point on the boundary between Sidoarjo regency and Surabaya city. The workers will then move off to the Grahadi State Building on Jl. Gubernur Suryo.

The labour organisations that joined the commemorations included, among others, the Indonesian Metal Trade Workers Federation (FSPMI), the National Trade Union (SPN) as well as other East Java trade unions, including the 'People's United Movement'.

East Java Labour Volunteers coordinator Jamaluddin said that the workers had several demands. "Decent wages, the abolition of contract labour and outsourcing systems and social security", said Jamaluddin when speaking with VIVA News on Thursday May 1.

The workers arrived in buses, trucks and motorcycles. As workers began to pack stretches of road in Surabaya, traffic jams built up at the Waru traffic circle where workers were arriving from Sidoarjo, Pasuruan, Mojokerto and surrounding areas. The other transit point being used by workers was in front of the Surabaya Zoo.

At the Negara Grahadi Building, police personnel were on alert safeguarding the roads used by workers commemorating this May Day 2014.

Source: http://nasional.news.viva.co.id/news/read/501100-massa-buruh-padati-surabaya

[Translated by James Balowski.]

Workers demand 30 percent increase in minimum wage

Jakarta Post - May 1, 2014

Jakarta – Thousands of workers have demanded that the minimum wage be increased 30 percent starting next year. During Labor Day rallies on Thursday, workers presented a list of "Ten Public Demands", among them pay increases.

Confederation of Indonesian Worker's Union (KSPI) chairman Said Iqbal said he was optimistic that the government would heed the demand. "The government has increased the minimum wage by 20 to 25 percent before. This year, we demand that the increase reaches 30 percent," he told journalists during a rally at the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle.

Said also asked the government to eliminate outsourcing practices because it resulted in unfair treatment for workers.

The workers also demanded free public transportation and low-cost housing, as well as 12 years free education and scholarships for their children. "We will strike if the government turns a blind eye to our demands," he said.

Around 100,000 workers from Jakarta and surrounding areas, such as Bekasi and Tangerang, gathered at the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle and marched to the State Palace. At about 1 p.m., they moved to Gelora Bung Karno stadium in Senayan to hold a final rally for the day. (gda)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/05/01/workers-demand-30-percent-increase-minimum-wage.html

Thousand of workers flock to HI traffic circle for May Day rally

Jakarta Globe - May 1, 2014

Bayu Marhaenjati, Jakarta – Thousands of workers gathered at the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle on Thursday morning to mark International Worker's Day and rally for higher wages and better conditions.

"It's crowded," Jakarta Police traffic management officer Brig. Erwin said. Police predicted that around 30,000 of workers representing a variety of organizations from Jakarta and the surrounding areas took to the streets in the morning to march from the traffic circle to the State Palace and Gelora Bung Karno stadium in Senayan, Central Jakarta.

The rally's main agenda was a 30 percent regional minimum wage increase for in 2015. The Jakarta Government hiked the capital's minimum wage to Rp 2.4 million ($206) per month earlier this year. Critics argue that frequent wage hikes force layoffs, discourage industry and do not help the vast number of workers in the informal sector.

Police said they would redirect traffic during the protests as they saw fit. "The traffic is smooth – no heavy traffic, Jalan Sudirman is running smoothly," Erwin said on Thursday morning. "The heavy traffic is only around Hotel Indonesia roundabout."

Some 7,000 police officers have been assigned to monitor the rally. "3,000 of them are securing the areas around the State Palace," Central Jakarta Police chief Sr. Comr. Hendro Pandowo said, as quoted by the state-run Antara News Agency.

Officers have also been deployed to the stadium, the House of Representatives, the Vice Presidential Palace, the traffic circle and along the protest route. Some 1,500 soldiers were also deployed.

"We have carried out some preventive actions and are coordinating with the workers so they can express their aspirations orderly and safely," Hendro said. "They promise and ensure that there'll be no single vase broken during the protest. The main point is, we're ready to secure their peaceful rally."

The protests were scheduled to end at 6 p.m.

Source: http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/news/jakarta/thousand-workers-flock-hotel-indonesia-traffic-circle-international-workers-day-rally/

Women workers demand Jokowi fight for their rights

Jakarta Post - May 1, 2014

Sita W Dewi, Jakarta – Dozens of women workers grouped under the Women's Action Committee rallied in front of the official residence of Jakarta Governor Joko "Jokowi" Widodo in Menteng, Central Jakarta, on Thursday, to demand equal rights.

Rally coordinator Listiyowati said the move was in protest against labor policies that disadvantaged women workers.

"Salaries for women workers are lower than those for men based on the assumption that men are the head of households, whereas many women bear the financial burden alone," she said.

She also pointed out that many female workers did not receive numerous allowances that were given to male colleagues. Men, for example, receive a spouse allowance that women do not.

Many female employees' rights guaranteed by manpower laws, including menstrual leave, maternal leave, facilities for women working night shifts and breast-feeding rooms at work, have not been applied, she said.'

"Many female workers have been dismissed after giving birth," she said, adding that the committee also demanded the endorsement of the domestic workers bill.

Jokowi later invited the women into his residence to directly hear their grievances. "Their demands make sense. They only want reasonable working conditions, reasonable salaries and reasonable lives. I hope I can fight for their aspirations," said Jokowi, who is the presidential candidate of the Indonesia Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P).

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/05/01/women-workers-demand-jokowi-fight-their-rights.html

Female workers press Joko for change

Jakarta Globe - May 1, 2014

SP/Deti Mega Purnamasari, Jakarta – Governor and Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) presidential candidate Joko Widodo, popularly know as Jokowi, received a delegation of female workers on Thursday who handed him their "2014 black note" – a petition urging him to take action against workplace discrimination – as tens of thousands of workers took to the streets to mark International Workers' Day.

The workers, representing the Women's Action Committee (KAP), said they had seen no significant progress for female workers during Joko's time in office.

"Discrimination on hourly wages and unpaid unpaid overtime has been [an ongoing problem], KAP member Listiyowati said. "There's no menstrual leave and maternity leave. After [mothers] deliver babies, their contracts are terminated."

Under Indonesian labor law, companies are required to provide two days of paid leave per month to menstruating women. Indonesia is among a small groups of countries – along with Japan, Korea and Taiwan – that off generous menstrual leave, although the policy is controversial and sometimes absent in practice.

The workers also asked for greatwe protections for domestic and migrant workers.

Joko said he was taking the demands seriously. "The most important thing is that I know and understand, and hopefully can fight for [women]," Joko said. "There are many basic problems that have not been solved because of the absence of laws." He said he would fight for decent jobs, fair wages and safe conditions for women.

Source: http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/news/female-workers-press-joko-change/

Labour & migrant workers

Marsinah campaign aims to strengthen workers' resolve

Jakarta Post - May 3, 2014

Indah Setiawati, Jakarta – Unionist Marsinah died 21 years ago but her spirit is still being celebrated, this time via the first ever tour to a number of cities in Java, which has been called "Obor Marsinah" (Marsinah's Torch).

Dozens of workers symbolically lit 100 torches when they departed their base camp at the East Jakarta Industrial Park (EJIP) in South Cikarang, Bekasi regency, and headed to Karawang, West Java.

The tour is aimed at generating public support and solidarity to secure justice for Marsinah and to spread the message of her courage among workers to resist intimidation from employers.

"Marsinah was an incredible woman. We hope Obor Marsinah will inspire the emergence of other people like her, who will stand up against cruel employers and rulers, especially those who use military force to repress us," Tiasri Wiandani, a team member of the Obor Marsinah tour, said in a discussion.

The discussion started with a presentation on the story of the death of activist Marsinah on May 8, 1993. The 24-year-old worker was among those who led a protest against the management of her watch factory in Sidoarjo, East Java, and against the military command for abusing workers, following their demands for better wages and work conditions.

After two decades, her murder remains unresolved and the case is closed. Marsinah's case was one of many unresolved cases on human rights abuses in Indonesia during the New Order era. Other cases include the murder of human rights activist Munir Said Thalib and missing poet Wiji Thukul.

"Obor Marsinah also aims to introduce Marsinah to other workers to inspire them. We hope we can push for the reopening of her case and declare her a national hero," Tiasri told The Jakarta Post.

She said the tour was also expected to gather public support for a judicial review of the 1974 Marriage Law, which does not acknowledge women as the heads of the family, so they could not access financial assistance.

Tiasri said female workers still needed inspiration so they would stand up for the other rights they were entitled to. "Some factories still ask female workers to show evidence that they are menstruating, or ask for a note from a doctor. Female workers on contracts try to hide their pregnancies as they fear it will cost them their jobs," she said.

The campaign team will tour Karawang, Cirebon, Batang, Semarang, Surakarta, Yogyakarta, Madiun, Nganjuk, Jombang, Porong in Sidoarjo and Surabaya from May 1 until 10.

They will hold discussions, mass prayers and mural artwork making. They will ask participants in each city to write their wishes on small pieces of paper, which will be gathered together.

The tour will also be aired live via an online streaming facility provided by Marsinah FM community radio, which has been set up by the All Factory Workers Forum (FBLP) in Cakung, East Jakarta. "The problems of women workers are not considered mainstream issues as we still lack awareness," said one of the founders of the radio, Dian Septi.

She said the radio, which could reach a radius of 2 kilometers in Cakung, was set up in 2012 to voice women workers issues, as they were often not covered by mainstream media outlets.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/05/03/marsinah-campaign-aims-strengthen-workers-resolve.html

Political parties & elections

Yudhoyono warns against 'dangerous candidate'

Jakarta Globe - May 7, 2014

Ezra Sihite, Jakarta – President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has taken an apparent swipe at Prabowo Subianto, one of the men vying to replace him, in a YouTube video warning Indonesians not to vote for a candidate espousing a nationalist platform through "dangerous promises."

Yudhoyono did not mention the candidate by name in the video, uploaded by his Democratic Party, but warned against calls made by one of them to nationalize all foreign assets in the country.

"Perhaps those who listen to this rhetoric would say this is great and daring and highly nationalistic," Yudhoyono said in the video that was uploaded on Tuesday and titled "SBY on the presidential hopefuls' promises."

"But if he becomes president and nationalizes all foreign assets, including deals made since the Sukarno and Suharto eras up to the present, then we can be taken to international arbitration," he went on. "And if we lose, it will jeopardize our economy and it will have a massive impact. "I would not choose or support him because I know the risk would threaten our economy," he added.

Prabowo is the only one of the leading candidates who has called for nationalization of key industries. A shrewd businessman in his own right, however, Prabowo's jingoistic rhetoric is seen by observers as just a ploy to pander to voters.

Yudhoyono urged the candidates for the July 9 presidential election to explain their platforms and programs to voters.

He also emphasized the importance of the candidates choosing their running mates based on their competency and not on political horse-trading. He claimed that he had been in sole charge of picking his running mate, and that he had never gone back on the decision.

"It's a sin to jerk people around, because the vice president is important," he said in the video. "My view is that the vice president is not a spare wheel."

Yudhoyono also claimed to have never reneged on a promise made to his running mate. In 2009, he famously dumped his vice president, Jusuf Kalla, after his first five years in office, and went on to win re-election with Boediono, the former central bank governor, as his number two.

Yudhoyono also called on his eventual successor not to form coalitions with other parties on the basis of how many seats each bloc would get in the cabinet, saying this form of transactional politics went against the mandate given to the winning candidate by voters. "Don't count seats or positions or this ministry or that ministry. I don't think that's good," he said.

Yudhoyono's own Democrats won enough votes in the 2009 legislative election to be able to nominate him unaided, but still went on to form a coalition with five other parties – much to the government's chagrin later on when two of them, the Golkar Party and the Prosperous Justice Party, or PKS, refused to toe the Democrats' line on key policies such as a subsidized fuel price hike.

Yudhoyono said in the video that if his would-be successors sought to build coalitions, they should do so with parties that shared the same platform and vision.

Source: http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/news/yudhoyono-warns-dangerous-candidate/

Parties blast KPU for limiting complaints

Jakarta Post - May 7, 2014

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – Political parties have disputed the General Elections Commission's (KPU) decision to rush the legislative election vote count process by limiting the right to challenge results in the regions.

The controversial move, they said, could jeopardize the legitimacy of the legislative election.

Since Monday, the KPU has limited the opportunity for political parties to file complains on the vote count data.

Previously, there were no such limitations, prompting political parties to argue about alleged vote manipulation and other mismatched data, which in turn slowed the national process so that the KPU had only been able to wrap up the vote tally in 13 provinces.

Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) politician Agustina Tio said on Tuesday that the limitation would cause many unsolved problems.

"If there are still disputes [regarding the vote tally], but acceptance on the result is forced, then of course it's not good," she told The Jakarta Post. "Especially if the reason is only because of the May 9 deadline."

May 9 is the deadline of both the legislative vote tally as well as the announcement of the result.

The legislative vote count was initially scheduled to be finished on May 6, only to be postponed to May 9 as it took longer than expected for the KPU to finish the count amid a barrage of complaints from political parties relating to allegations of vote manipulation and administrative errors.

"Seeing the dynamic of this forum [vote count plenary hearings] and the fact there are provinces that haven't presented their vote count results, we have decided that the vote count process can be conducted until May 9," KPU commissioner Ida Budhiati said on Tuesday.

Agustina said it was unwise for the KPU to use the tight deadline as a reason to limit feedback opportunities.

"There are two options, to meet the deadline or to have a vote tally process that is legitimate," she said. "If we meet the deadline while forcing [the current data] to be the official result, then we will leave many problems. If we're talking about having a legitimate vote count, there shouldn't be such limitations."

Therefore, it would be better for the KPU to miss the deadline and risk itself being punished by the Election Organizers Ethics Council (DKPP) for violating the Election Law.

"If we're talking about the law that says the KPU has to announce the result within 30 days [from election day], then look at the case of the final voter list [DPT]," she said. "The announcement of the DPT also passed the deadline, but it did not cause any problems."

NasDem Party election team head Ferry Mursyidan Baldan said there was no need for vote count hearings, if in the end the KPU declared the vote count result without accommodating the political parties' complaints.

KPU commissioner Hadar Nafis Gumay said on Tuesday it was impossible for the KPU to handle all complaints, as doing so would hamper the process.

"In the KPU's regulation and the law, in the count, any protests should not hinder the process," he told the Jakarta Post.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/05/07/parties-blast-kpu-limiting-complaints.html

Poor poll results drive Aburizal, Prabowo into each others' arms

Jakarta Globe - May 6, 2014

Yeremia Sukoyo, Ezra Sihite, Erwin Sihombing, & Markus Junianto Sihaloho, Jakarta – Golkar Party chairman and presidential candidate Aburizal Bakrie has expressed his willingness to become a vice presidential candidate for Great Indonesia Movement Party founder Prabowo Subianto in the upcoming election as speculation on the two parties' coalition grow after recent meetings.

"I do not mind [being vice presidential candidate], and neither does Prabowo," Aburizal told reporters after a meeting with Prabowo in Hambalang in Bogor, West Java, on Monday. He added that during the meeting, both parties agreed on a common political stance for the elections.

"Prabowo talked about his policies and they look good. We also talked about small businesses and providing a bigger job market," Aburizal said. "We will hold more talks. It does not matter who will be number one or number two, our only concern is what is best for the country. Such positions are merely instruments in our efforts to improve people's welfare."

Prabowo on his part also indicated that his party would be looking into a potential political partnership with Golkar.

"Soon we would like to have a political partnership. We are optimistic about doing something good for the people and for our country. We promise to meet and talk more," Prabowo said. "When the time is right, we will make an announcement. Our priority is to find the best people to take Indonesia forward."

The meeting between the politicians follows an earlier meeting on April 29, where the two met to discuss the political landscape ahead of the elections, inspiring speculation of a possible coalition between their parties.

Responding to Aburizal's statements, Golkar spokesperson Tantowi Yahya said the move would likely be discussed at the party's central executive board (DPP) meeting set for Tuesday evening.

"There will be a DPP meeting. It will be a national leaders meeting and whether or not the branch offices will be invited, all of that will be discussed tomorrow and of course it is likely the meeting [on Monday] with Prabowo will be discussed."

Tantowi played down speculation about Aburizal and Prabowo's pairing, emphasizing that everything will have to wait for his party's national leader's meeting.

Political analyst Ray Rangkuti said that Gerindra and Golkar's plans to form a coalition would give way to a new political dynamic and that the members of Golkar may reject Aburizal's position as a vice presidential candidate.

"Because according to their [earlier] national leaders meeting, Aburizal's mandate was to be a presidential candidate. If it was a vice presidential candidate [Golkar] was looking for, of course there are many other names Golkar can propose," Ray said on Monday, citing names such as Akbar Tanjung and Priyo Budi Santoso.

Previously, party stalwart Akbar had spoken out against Aburizal's nomination as Golkar's presidential candidate.

Additionally, Ray said the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) will have to be considered, as they have also been in talks with Gerindra and have even prepared three names that could potentially be nominated as candidate for Prabowo's vice president.

The National Mandate Party (PAN), another party that has been in talks with Gerindra, may reconsider its coalition plans, despite surveys showing Prabowo and PAN chairman and current coordinating minister for the economy Hatta Rajasa were a relatively promising pair.

"If PAN were to support [Indonesia Democratic Party of Struggle, or PDI-P, presidential candidate] Joko Widodo, then it is likely there would be just one round of the presidential elections, and PAN could once again be part of the government," Ray said.

Gerindra deputy chairman Fadli Zon said over the weekend that his party had made no decision regarding PAN, emphasizing that Gerindra was still weighing its options for partners.

"Our communications with Hatta is positive, there is chemistry, but there has been no final decision yet," Fadli said in Jakarta on Sunday, adding that Gerindra was also in talks with Hanura chief patron Wiranto.

According to him, Gerindra will be deciding its vice presidential candidate after a coalition has officially been formed. "We're not going there yet. We'll get there after the coalition," he said.

The latest survey by Saiful Mujani Research and Consulting (SRMC) showed that Joko remains the most electable candidate today, with Prabowo in second place.

However, SRMC researcher Sirojudin Abbas warned that the situation was prone to change should PDI-P take the wrong steps.

"Without a vice president, Joko would earn 51.6 percent, while Prabowo would earn 35.7 percent. But this competition could vary if we were to include their vice presidential candidates," he said.

Source: http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/news/poor-poll-results-drive-aburizal-prabowo-others-arms/

PDI-P struggling to maximize Jokowi effect

Jakarta Globe - May 6, 2014

Markus Junianto Sihaloho & SP/Erwin C. Sihombing, Jakarta – Activists who fought for reformation in 1998 strongly rejected presidential candidates that have bad human rights records or those who supported former president Suharto's regime, which was tainted with human rights violations.

Poengky Indarti, executive director of the Indonesian Human Rights Monitor (Imparsial), said some of the candidates that are running in the presidential race have negative track records, especially related to human rights.

Poengky cited Wiranto, Prabowo Subianto, and Aburizal Bakrie as candidates that have bad track records, but given the current political landscape, Wiranto would have difficulties to run. With Wiranto out of the picture, there are two presidential candidates activists consider problematic: Prabowo and Aburizal.

"Prabowo is problematic because he is strongly believed to have been involved in the kidnapping of activists and the riots of May 1998," Poengky said on Monday.

Aburizal is considered to have baggage because of the Sidoarjo mud volcano. "They should be eligible to run only after they have been tried at a human rights tribunal and proved themselves innocent," she said.

Poengky expressed concern that the country's enforcement of legal and human rights would be weak if one of the two men was elected president. "How can a person, who had allegedly committed human rights violations, protect people's human rights?" the executive director of Imparsial said.

Komeng, a spokesman for the 1998 activists, said any candidate who supported the Suharto regime would have to be rejected. He therefore expressed his support for Joko Widodo, popularly known as Jokowi, presidential candidate for the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle's (PDI-P).

"Indirectly, we are supporting Jokowi because he is not linked to the 1998 tragedy," Komeng said, referring to the chaotic political situation in 1998 when several activists were kidnapped and students were shot dead during the riots that led to the downfall of Suharto's three-decade-old regime.

Another activist, Kasino, said the best presidential or vice presidential candidates for Indonesia are those that have integrity and who are free from any corruption, collusion and nepotism practice.

"They should also have competence, moral integrity, and an international network. Most importantly is that they can handle the economy. It would be much better if they understand Indonesia's economic problems," Kasino said.

Topan, also a 1998 activist, said he was looking for a presidential candidate who can manage Indonesia's economic system in line with the 1945 Constitution, saying that the economic system that had been implemented over the past 43 years made use of the New Order system, which just made the rich become richer. "We are looking for a person who can manage the economic system, to stop moving towards neoliberalism," he said.

Topan said that he would step in the frontline and organize protests should Prabowo or Aburizal be elected as a president. "We will fight back. I will personally protest if ARB [Aburizal] or Prabowo was elected. We will take to the streets to show we do not accept them," he said.

Despite the concerns of the veteran activists, analysts and political watchers felt that alleged rights abuses were not high on the list of voters' concerns and that PDI-P had failed to capitalize on the so-called Joko effect, with some expressing concern that the party's electability could suffer if it cannot harness its candidate better.

A researcher said the electability of Jokowi, who has topped polls as the likely winner in the presidential race, could even be exceeded by his closest rival Prabowo.

"Looking at the current trend, Jokowi is weakening and Prabowo is strengthening. In the next two months, Jokowi could be defeated by Prabowo if he chooses the wrong running mate and applies the wrong campaign strategy," Sirojudin Abbas a researcher at Saiful Mujani Research and Consulting (SMRC), said on Sunday.

Sirojudin said Joko's electability had been declining over the last five months while Prabowo's position was strengthening. He attributed Joko's declining electability to his popularity stagnating while other presidential candidates were working hard to lift their electability.

"In March 2014, Jokowi's electability reached 56 percent, while Prabowo's was 27 percent. But in April Prabowo surged to 36 percent, Jokowi dropped to 52 percent. So, in the next two months, Jokowi and Prabowo could be the same," he said.

Jokowi is not the only presidential candidate suffering in surveys. Golkar's Aburizal had dropped below the percentage of votes that his party garnered during the legislative election.

With the trio competing in the presidential election, it's likely that the election will go to a second round because, based on a simulation by SMRC, none of the candidates received a majority of support above 50 percent. The research company predicted that Joko would likely go head-to-head with Prabowo in the second round.

Source: http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/news/pdi-p-struggling-maximize-jokowi-effect/

Prabowo desperately seeking partners, Jokowi flexes muscles

Jakarta Post - May 5, 2014

Bagus BT Saragih and Hasyim Widhiarto, Jakarta – The country's major political parties have begun to intensify their search for loyal political partners this past week, with presidential candidates Joko "Jokowi" Widodo of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and Prabowo Subianto of the Gerindra Party dominating the playing field.

One significant development was the revelation by the National Awakening Party (PKB) that it would support Jokowi's presidential bid. PKB chairman Muhaimin Iskandar said the deal with the PDI-P did not, however, include an agreement to have a PKB member assigned as Jokowi's running mate.

"We have proposed a few figures that the PKB support as potential vice presidential candidates, but we will leave the final decision to the PDI-P and Jokowi," Muhaimin said in Jombang, East Java.

With the PKB in his camp, Jokowi has emerged a far stronger candidate. The PDI-P, which won the legislative election with 19 percent of the vote, had previously struck a deal with the NasDem Party, which garnered 6.5 percent, making Jokowi the first candidate to secure a presidential ticket. The 2008 Presidential Election Law states that a party or coalition of parties must secure at least 25 percent of the popular vote or 20 percent of House of Representatives seats to be able to nominate a presidential candidate.

Long before the legislative election in April, former vice president Jusuf Kalla, who has been touted as the strongest candidate to become Jokowi's running mate, was among those supported by the PKB as a potential vice presidential candidate, despite Kalla's position as a member of the Golkar Party.

Another candidate proposed by the PKB, former Constitutional Court chief justice Mahfud MD, met with NasDem chairman Surya Paloh on Wednesday. The meeting sparked speculation that Mahfud was trying to win Surya's support to become Jokowi's running mate.

Some sources suggested that PDI-P chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri had endorsed Kalla as Jokowi's running mate. She is expected to officially announce the Jokowi-Kalla pairing sometime this week.

A meeting on Saturday between Jokowi and Kalla at the Halim Perdanakusuma Airport in East Jakarta immediately sparked speculation that the pair would indeed contest the presidential election together.

But some politicians have also suggested that Megawati is monitoring the ongoing trial hearings surrounding the 2008 Bank Century bailout, as they could reveal Kalla's alleged role in the affair and potentially tarnish the former vice president's image. Kalla is scheduled to testify at the Jakarta Corruption Court on May 8, while Vice President Boediono is expected to appear in court on May 9.

In an apparent move to win support from the country's Islamic communities, Jokowi took his campaign to cities in Central and East Java over the weekend. Accompanied by politicians from the PDI-P, NasDem and the PKB, Jokowi met with former Muhammadiyah chairman Ahmad Syafii Maarif in Yogyakarta on Saturday.

He then flew to Surabaya, East Java, to meet with senior figures from Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), the country's largest Islamic organization. He was scheduled to meet key NU figures in Central Java on Sunday.

As for Prabowo, seeing the PKB align itself with his main rival, he must work harder to persuade other political parties to form a coalition with Gerindra. The party, which came third in the legislative election with around 11 percent of the popular vote, has not yet reached any cooperation with other parties.

A similar situation faces Golkar's presidential candidate, Aburizal Bakrie, who is fighting a tighter race for coalition partners. The Hanura Party, which was previously reported to be on the verge of sealing a deal with Golkar, has since claimed to have moved closer to Gerindra.

Gerindra secretary-general Ahmad Muzani suggested that the party was close to securing a deal with two other parties, namely the National Mandate Party (PAN) and the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS).

As coalition deals are being forged, an event on Tuesday surprised many politicians and analysts. Prabowo met Aburizal at the latter's home, raising speculation that the two were mulling joining forces. Analysts suggested that the two men were planning a "safety measure" in the event of either one failing to secure the necessary partnerships to reach the minimum presidential threshold.

With Golkar winning 14 percent of the vote in the legislative election, its alliance with Gerindra could produce a significant power base, at least statistically. But doubts linger with regard as to who would be named the alliance's presidential candidate.

Golkar politicians said Aburizal should stick to his presidential candidacy mission given Golkar's stronger showing in the legislative election. However, analysts have suggested that it would be more realistic for the two parties if Aburizal became Prabowo's running mate because the former had consistently scored lower than Prabowo in a number of electability surveys.

In a comment made after the meeting, which indicated that Aburizal may well "downgrade" his presidential ambitions, he said, "Prabowo may become the presidential candidate and I would be his running mate, or it may be the other way around."

Although collaboration with Gerindra, if it materializes, would be a significant step toward Aburizal's hopes to secure the presidency, his meeting with Prabowo has exacerbated the existing rift within Golkar.

Aburizal, who has braced himself for a possible coup attempt by his party's regional offices and wing organizations, is now facing growing opposition over the idea of his becoming Prabowo's running mate. The heightening turmoil within the party is expected to reach its peak when Golkar holds its national executive meeting, which is slated for mid-May.

The Muslim-based United Development Party (PPP) also made headlines after the party's top executives publicly revealed their personal preferences for different presidential candidates, confirming that their recent internal reconciliation was flimsy.

On Monday, former PPP chairman Hamzah Haz and deputy chairman Suharso Monoarfa visited Megawati to offer their support for Jokowi's presidential nomination. It is believed that Hamzah, who served as Megawati's vice president from 2001 to 2004, can help his party form an alliance with the PDI-P.

Meanwhile, PPP chairman Suryadharma Ali met with dozens of the party's provincial executives on Friday. Suryadharma reportedly asked them to sign letters of agreement on his decision to support Prabowo's presidential bid.

"[There are] various views within the PPP [about presidential endorsement]. However, they are only views; they do not represent the [party's] decision," Suryadharma said, adding that the PPP would officially announce its presidential endorsement at the party's national leadership meeting on Saturday.

With the PKB no longer a possible partner, the Democratic Party's aim to secure its own coalition is at stake. If PAN's cooperation with Gerindra materializes, and the ongoing turbulence within the PPP results in the party joining Jokowi's camp, the parties left as potential partners for the ruling party will be few in number.

"The Democratic Party's desire to nominate its own presidential candidate now looks unlikely to happen. As for Prabowo, the recent move by the PKB has forced him to accelerate his efforts. Gerindra's failure to secure solid support from the PPP is the kind of error that Prabowo needs to avoid in the future," political analyst Arya Fernandes said.

PAN executive M. Najib echoed Arya's opinion, saying that his party could run out of patience waiting for Democratic Party chairman President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to declare the party's political path.

The Democratic Party's executive chairman, Syariefuddin Hasan, previously said the party would make clear steps regarding its choice of presidential candidate and coalition partners after May 9, when the party's ongoing presidential convention concludes.

Party infighting is apparently also a problem for Hanura. The party's vice presidential candidate, Hary Tanusudibyo, who also oversees the party's campaign efforts, has been heavily criticized recently. Hanura executive Yuddy Chrisnandi said Hary, a media mogul, was primarily responsible for the party's poor performance in the legislative election, when it garnered only 4.5 percent of the vote.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/05/05/prabowo-desperately-seeking-partners-jokowi-flexes-muscles.html

Jokowi secures support of another workers' union

Jakarta Post - May 3, 2014

Jakarta – Jakarta Governor Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, who is also the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle's (PDI-P) presidential hopeful, continues to garner support from workers. Recently, he has gained the support of the Confederation of All-Indonesian Workers Union (KSPSI).

"We support Jokowi to become the next president because we are familiar with his track record and his pro-public programs like the Jakarta Health Card [KJS]," KSPSI president Andi Gani Nena Wea said in Jakarta on Friday as quoted by Antara news agency.

Andi, the son of former labor activist and former manpower and transmigration minister Jacob Nuwa Wea, added that the KSPSI and Jokowi had not signed any political contract but did enjoy intense communication.

Andi said he hoped Jokowi would initiate more pro-public programs if elected president and would also fulfill his promise to improve workers' welfare. "We won't support him without reserve. We will feel free to criticize him if he should go off track later on," he said. (adh/dic)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/05/03/jokowi-secures-support-another-workers-union.html

Controversial presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto gets union backing

Sydney Morning Herald - May 2, 2014

Michael Bachelard – Indonesia's controversial presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto has secured the support of the country's most charismatic labour leader at a raucous May Day rally in Jakarta.

Despite a checkered human rights record, former military leader Prabowo is the second-favourite candidate for the Indonesian presidency in July's elections, behind only Jakarta governor Joko Widodo. Union leader Said Iqbal, a strict muslim, told a crowd of about 50,000 manufacturing and metals union members at the Bung Karno stadium in Jakarta on Thursday: "May God make Prabowo president!".

Mr Prabowo told the rally he had signed up to the 10-point list of union demands which includes compulsory pension insurance, eliminating outsourcing, and delivering free healthcare and cheap housing for workers and the poor. He was the only presidential candidate to sign up to the list, Mr Said said.

The unions' endorsement could potentially deliver hundreds of thousands of votes to Mr Prabowo while also burnishing his credentials among Indonesia's poor and working class.

But many union members were lukewarm about it. A number refused to applaud Mr Prabowo's barnstorming speech about other countries mistreating Indonesia, about corruption and the "elites".

With the message coming from a man who gained his reputation in the military and as son-in-law of the corrupt Suharto family – and made his millions through his family's many business dealings – many of the audience were sceptical.

Detractors say Mr Prabowo's human rights record and his allegedly poor treatment of his own employees leads to concerns he is just pretending to take the side of the workers.

It's widely believed that Mr Said, the president of the Federation of Metal Workers' Unions (FSPMI), has been promised the position of minister for labour in a Prabowo government in return for his endorsement.

Asked about this after the May Day rally, Mr Said said, "to ensure progress on issues, it's natural for the ministry to be filled by someone from among labour activists". Asked if he himself was after the job he said: "We will see. A president gets to decide that."

Mr Said has apparently told union officials in closed meetings that he has been guaranteed the ministry. He has also criticised Mr Prabowo's rival, Mr Joko, universally known as Jokowi, as "anti-labour".

In the past few years, Mr Said has developed a significant power base in a country where, in many industries, unions remain as they were under Suharto, supine servants of business and the state.

Through mass rallies and street campaigning, manufacturing unions have boosted the minimum manufacturing workers' wage, though it remains a low 2.4 million rupiah (about $240) per month.

His campaigning has signed up 250,000 workers and he is also the president of the Confederation of Indonesian Workers (KSPI), one of a number of union peak bodies.

Source: http://www.smh.com.au/world/controversial-indonesian-presidential-candidate-prabowo-subianto-gets-union-backing-20140501-zr2vw.html

PDI-P set to form alliance with PKB

Jakarta Post - May 2, 2014

Jakarta – An alliance between the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and the National Awakening Party (PKB) will be announced soon, a senior PDI-P politician said on Thursday.

"We are just waiting to make it official," PDI-P deputy secretary-general Hasto Kristianto told The Jakarta Post, adding that there would be a meeting between PDI-P leader Megawati Soekarnoputri and PKB leader Muhaimin Iskandar.

Hasto claimed that both parties had a similar ideology and had long been close. "The PDI-P and PKB have had a long history together since the era of Sukarno until Megawati Soekarnoputri," he said, adding that the parties were waiting for the right time to announce the alliance.

With the PKB's entry, the PDI-P now has three parties in its coalition along with the NasDem Party, which is led by media magnate and former Golkar Party politician Surya Paloh.

According to several quick counts, the PDI-P garnered around 19 percent of the vote in April's legislative election, while the PKB and NasDem gained 9.5 percent and 6.8 percent respectively.

A party or a coalition of parties needs to secure at least 25 percent of the popular vote or 20 percent of the seats in the House of Representatives to be eligible to nominate a presidential candidate.

The PDI-P now has more than enough support (about 37 percent) to field its presidential nominee Joko "Jokowi" Widodo in the July race. But Hasto said that it did not mean that the coalition was now closed to other parties.

"We have not decided whether there will more members of the coalition or not. The talks are still ongoing while we await the General Elections Commission's [KPU] final vote recapitulation," he said.

PKB secretary-general Imam Nahrowi previously said that the party's executives, both at the central and regional level, had been informed about the planned coalition with the PDI-P.

Imam said that the PKB made no preconditions to enter the coalition because both parties had similar platforms as well as visions and missions. "We did not require anything because in our view, we need sincere and visionary cooperation between all components of the nation," said Imam on Wednesday as quoted by tribunnews.com.

PDI-P member Eva Sundari confirmed that the PKB had not demanded anything from the PDI-P, including ministerial positions or the vice-presidential candidacy.

She said that the final decision on the vice presidential candidate would be made by Megawati after considering the opinions of others, including coalition members.

The decision will be announced near the registration time set by the KPU, which is scheduled for May 18. "We will announce it two to three days before the KPU opens the registration," said Eva. (idb)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/05/02/pdi-p-set-form-alliance-with-pkb.html

Farmers union supports Jokowi's presidential bid

Jakarta Post - May 1, 2014

Jakarta – A farmers' union has announced its support for Jakarta Governor Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's presidential bid.

"We will organize teams at all levels to assist Jokowi in attaining his goal," Mugi Ramanu, chairman of the Indonesian Farmers Union (SPI), said in Mampang on Thursday as quoted by tempo.co.

On Thursday, Jokowi visited the SPI office to discuss various agricultural issues that farmers faced.

Marsinem, a farmer from Aceh, for example, said that farmers in Aceh faced land ownership problems. She added that most farmers found it difficult to own land and thus worked as laborers. "Hopefully Jokowi can resolve this problem once he claims the presidency," he said.

Sebastian Alam from East Nusa Tenggara said he expected Jokowi to do his best to gain independence in the agricultural sector.

Jokowi said he appreciated the support and noticed that most of the problems involved land ownership. "We will make sure to convert no land for industrial, residential or agricultural purposes," he said.(fss)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/05/01/farmers-union-supports-jokowis-presidential-bid.html

Media & journalism

Council wants Udin's murder solved

Jakarta Post - May 3, 2014

Jakarta – The Press Council is calling for better protection for journalists in Indonesia to mark World Press Freedom Day, which falls every May 3.

Council chairman Bagir Manan highlighted the fact Indonesia had yet to solve the murder of Bernas journalist Fuad Muhammad Syafruddin or Udin. "When it comes to the press, freedom is a priority," he said as quoted by Antara on Friday.

Bagir said the council would display a giant banner featuring Udin's portrait and calls for investigations into cases of violence against journalists.

Udin died on Aug. 16, 1996, after being tortured in his home in Bantul, Yogyakarta, three days earlier. The police had named Dwi Sumaji, alias Iwik, a suspect in the case, but the Bantul District Court dismissed the case due to a lack of evidence.

The police have yet to name another suspect in the murder, which will reach the statute of limitations in August.

In February, the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) presented a document listing 26 names people allegedly involved in the killing of Udin to the police and asked the police to launch a new probe.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/05/03/council-wants-udin-s-murder-solved.html

Environment & natural disasters

Greenpeace blasts Yudhoyono on forests

Jakarta Post - May 6, 2014

Jakarta – Environmental group Greenpeace International called on President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to strengthen legislation to protect all peatland and forests in the country.

"President SBY's legacy risks going up in smoke unless he strengthens legislation to protect all peatland and forests," said Bustar Maitar, head of the Indonesia Forest Campaign at Greenpeace International.

Greenpeace also called on the President to amend regulations on peatland, which thus far had failed to set out a coherent approach to protect and manage all peatland. Bustar said that a comprehensive approach could be a critical defence against peatland fires and Indonesia's greenhouse gas emissions.

Greenpeace International issued the statement in response to Yudhoyono's keynote speech at the Forests Asia Summit. In his speech, Yudhoyono called for balancing a "green" economy with economic growth, including a call on his successor to extend again the moratorium on deforestation.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/05/06/greenpeace-blasts-yudhoyono-forests.html

Peatland fires biggest contributor to carbon emissions: Researcher

Jakarta Post - May 5, 2014

Vita A.D. Busyra, Jakarta – Indonesia must take action now to prevent its peatlands from burning in what amounts to the largest single contributor to the nation's greenhouse gas emissions, a researcher said on Monday.

"The recent haze in 2013 and 2014 indicate that extreme episodes of fire and haze are becoming more frequent and more extreme," David Gaveau, a scientist at the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), said at the Forests Asia Summit in Jakarta. "Therefore, we have to act now."

Smoke from large fires in Riau province, Sumatra, last June swept into neighboring Malaysia and Singapore, covering the city-state in a thick haze that threatened to halt flights at Changi International Airport. Singapore residents were forced to remain indoors to avoid the heavy pollution. Fires this year also blanketed the region in smoke.

The harshest effect were felt in Indonesia, where schools were forced to close their doors and nearly 50,000 people suffered from respiratory problems.

In Sumatra last year, an estimated 163,336 hectares were burned, and of that amount peatlands accounted for 137,044 hectares, or 84 percent, Gaveau said, citing Landsat data analysis.

Peat, which is made up of layers of dead vegetation and other organic matter, contributed heavily to carbon emissions because of the substance's density. Individuals and companies in Sumatra have been eager to clear land to free up space for palm oil plantation, pulp and paper ventures and mining.

Dharsono Hartono, president director of Rimba Makmur Utama, a forest conservation company formed in 2007, said that peatlands covered 22.5 million hectares, or about 12 percent of Indonesia's total land area. In 2005 alone, emissions from burning peat accounted for 44 percent of Indonesia's greenhouse gas emissions, he said.

In Sumatra, 57 percent of burned "non-forest" areas were so-called "forest cemeteries," or combinations of shrub and exposed soil with stumps, downed trunks and branches, Gaveau said, citing Landsat information.

"The bulk of the burning did not occur in forests, but on the lands that were already deforested, and these lands are easy to burn," he said. "Last year, the forests actually burned in those degraded lands [were] in preparation for plantations. You can imagine once the forest [was] being burned, it would quickly be converted to agriculture. But actually it could be a good number of years before the forest becomes converted to agriculture."

He added that in Sumatra last year, 52 percent of the total burned land was within concession areas, but 60 percent of this burned area – or 50,248 hectares – was occupied by small landholders.

Bogor-based CIFOR organized the two-day conference, one of the biggest gatherings of its kind in recent years, bringing together government officials, business executives, civil society leaders, development experts and some of the world's top scientists.

[BeritaSatu Media Holdings, with which the Jakarta Globe is affiliated, is a media partner of the Forests Asia Summit.]

Source: http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/news/peatland-fires-biggest-contributor-carbon-emissions-scientist/

With loss of Indonesia's forests, a litany of problems

Jakarta Globe - May 2, 2014

Josua Gantan, Jakarta – In November 2013, a group of researchers who partnered with Google and NASA noted that there was an alarming increase in the rate of deforestation in Indonesia. Through satellite mapping technologies, the researchers found that the rate of deforestation in Indonesia had doubled between 2000 and 2012.

Indeed, the deforestation rate in Indonesia has increased from about 10,000 square kilometers per year in 2000-03, to nearly 20,000 square kilometers per year between by 2011-12.

The group of scientists who conducted the study consisted of researchers from 15 universities, led by Matthew Hansen, a professor of geographical science from the University of Maryland. Their observations were published in the journal Science last year.

The issue of deforestation in Indonesia has grown more serious than ever before. The environmental damage that deforestation has caused and continues to cause in Indonesia has given rise to more frequent floods, permanent land subsidence and the demise of endangered animals. Increased deforestation also contributes to rising temperatures in the archipelago.

"The argument is always... we need economic development. But the damage, the costs, are generally ignored. Indonesia stands to lose," Erik Meijaard, a researcher with the organization People and Nature Consulting International, said in Jakarta on Wednesday.

Deforestation in Kalimantan, the Indonesian portion of the island of Borneo, has given rise to the higher frequency of flooding in the region, which impacts the people who live there. "The floods are getting more severe. Every year 500,000 people in Kalimantan are displaced by floods," Meijaard said.

He added there was also a steep increase in temperatures in places where the forest had been cleared away. "[When] you degrade the forest, your average temperature rises by 10 degrees," Meijaard said.

He said that as a result of rising temperatures due to the deforestation, agricultural yields in the region were lower.

Meijaard said the consulting firm he represented had interviewed more than 8,000 people from villages across Kalimantan to try to understand how deforestation was affecting them.

One major problem is the subsidence and severe degradation of land, as floods and the absence of vegetation to hold the topsoil in place leads to erosion. "I'm baffled. People tell me that Indonesia can lose 10 percent of its land if it keeps developing its peat at today's rate," Meijaard said.

The clearing of forests and peatlands through slash-and-burn methods to make way for agricultural land has regularly generated choking haze that has spread as far as Singapore and Malaysia and prompted international outrage and condemnation.

The burning of trees and beat swamps also releases millions of tons of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, exacerbating the effects of global warming and climate change.

International gathering

The Bogor-based Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) will on Monday and Tuesday host the Forests Asia Summit in Jakarta, one of the biggest gatherings of its kind in recent years, bringing together government officials, business executives, civil society leaders, development experts and the world's top scientists.

CIFOR says the meeting will allow participants "to share knowledge on how the region can accelerate the shift toward a green economy by better managing its forests and landscapes."

As an archipelago, Indonesia's biodiversity is unique. Islands like the Galapagos have distinct species, and Indonesia is the same in this respect, boasting animal and plant species that are found nowhere else on Earth.

Among these is the orangutan, which today faces the threat of extinction as its forest habitats in Sumatra and Kalimantan are razed by palm oil and pulp and paper companies.

Ian Singleton from the Orangutan Project, an organization working to conserve the endangered ape, says deforestation in Indonesia is responsible for the deaths of countless endangered species such as the orangutan, the Sumatran elephants, the tiger and the Sumatran rhino.

He said the process of converting natural forests to oil palm plantations through slash-and-burn clearing had proven deadly for the animals. "Almost nothing survives the conversion process. Not even the smallest lizards," Singleton said.

He showed photographs of dead orangutans, their limbs disfigured, and said they were victims of Indonesia's relentless deforestation drive.

With the country's natural forests dwindling, iconic species like the orangutan and the Sumatran tiger also risk disappearing from the face of the Earth, conservationists warn.

Bali and Java were once home to their own tiger sub-species, but hunting and the clearing of forests led to their extinction. The Sumatran tiger, the last sub-species of the big cat remaining in Indonesia, numbers only around 400 in the wild, but continues to be driven out of its natural habitat.

Singleton also showed photos of chained orangutans, kept as pets. Despite the poor conditions in which many are kept, including running the risk of exposure to infectious diseases from humans, Singleton says these are the "lucky ones" because they are still alive.

He says many of the people and companies involved in the clearing of forests and killing of orangutans – seen as pests by oil palm farmers – have little regard for the country's laws on environmental and wildlife conservation.

He argues that law enforcement in this respect is deficient, pointing out that the few offenders who are caught never go to court to face charges. "Despite all the coverage, it hasn't made one bit of difference. Nobody has been prosecuted. Loose law enforcement is business as usual," Singleton said.

[BeritaSatu Media Holdings, with which Jakarta Globe is affiliated, is a media partner of the Forests Asia Summit.]

Source: http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/news/loss-indonesias-forests-litany-problems/

Health & education

Indonesia lagging behind in mothers' welfare

Jakarta Post - May 7, 2014

Jakarta – Indonesia has made slow progress in improving the lives of mothers and their children in recent years, falling behind regional neighbors Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and even Timor Leste, an NGO said on Tuesday.

"Indonesia has made tremendous progress in improving the lives of women and children over the past 15 years," Save the Children country director in Indonesia, Ricardo Calvano, said in a statement sent to The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

"However, we should also be very concerned that the country fell seven ranks in the world. This reflects the slow progress in recent years to improve maternal and child healthcare and education services, especially among the poor and rural population," Ricardo said.

Save the Children ranked Indonesia at 113th position on its annual 2014 Mothers' Index, which shows which countries are the best and worst in which to be a mother. In 2013, Indonesia was ranked 105th.

The report, which assessed 178 countries, shows that Indonesia is still above Cambodia, Myanmar and Papua New Guinea. However, Indonesia has fallen behind Cambodia in terms of maternal and child mortality, expected years of schooling and seats held by women in the lower house of the legislature.

Finland remains the best place to be a mother and Somalia is the worst, the NGO says.

The annual report focuses on mothers who often face obstacles in keeping their children healthy – such as physical and economic access to essential services – among poverty, malnutrition, sexual violence, unplanned pregnancy and unassisted childbirth.

"Tackling the urban-rural and rich-poor inequalities is vital if we are to improve the ranking for mothers in Indonesia," Ricardo said.

He said women and children were up to 14 times more likely than men to die in a disaster and Indonesia is highly vulnerable to earthquakes, tsunamis and the impact of climate change.

"Disasters have and will cause widespread damage, which can lead to spikes in malnutrition, school dropouts and a decrease in the purchase of health services," he said.

During an earthquake response in Indonesia in 2006, the distribution of donated infant formula led to its increased use among previously breast-fed infants. Diarrhea rates were twice as high among those who received donated infant formula compared to those who did not (25 percent vs. 12 percent).

Distribution of breast milk substitutes, if necessary, must be done in a carefully targeted way. Any donations of breast-milk substitutes and teats should be collected and stored until a designated coordinating agency, together with the government – if functional – develops a plan for their safe use or destruction, the NGO says. Save the Children urged the government to ensure protection of all mothers and children in the aftermath of disasters by providing high-quality healthcare services and building the resilience of healthcare systems. (put)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/05/07/indonesia-lagging-behind-mothers-welfare.html

Refugees & asylum seekers

Asylum seekers stacked four deep below decks as they await turnback

The Guardian (Australia) - May 7, 2014

Paul Farrell – When the asylum seekers board the Ocean Protector they are stacked four by four. After days or weeks at sea, smelling of sweat and shit, the first glimpse some get of Australia is of the cramped bunk beds below deck on the Customs vessel.

The children draw pictures on the bunks. Pictures of the bunks show crayon etchings of houses and smiling faces, hopeful images that could have been drawn by children in schools anywhere in the country.

But all the asylum seekers who now spend time on Australian Customs vessels are likely to be send straight back to Indonesia on a dinky orange lifeboat that has become a dark symbol of Australia's asylum policy.

The military-led Operation Sovereign Borders has cast a long shadow over the seas between Indonesia and Australia. Immigration minister Scott Morrison and lieutenant general Angus Campbell have refused to discuss what they describe as the "on-water" activities of vessels involved.

But new pictures obtained by Guardian Australia and accounts from Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (ACBPS) staff reveal that the Ocean Protector was involved in the first use of the orange lifeboats, and that one of the incursions into Indonesian waters was directly related to their use.

It was late on 14 January when the Ocean Protector began to move. It had been heading gradually north-east towards Indonesia from Christmas Island. It was needed for an operation that was getting under way.

An ACBPS source explains how this happens: "Customs have their own couple of satellite phones, and they ring at all hours and usually it's never good news. That phone will ring and then whoever is on the bridge will go and get the commander on board... he will come up and talk on the phone and then say whatever they're doing or wherever they're going."

This was no ordinary operation. The vessel was meeting the Triton, another Customs vessel, to deliver one of the orange lifeboats for the Triton to tow back to Indonesian waters.

One of the Ocean Protector's roles in Operation Sovereign Borders is to deliver lifeboats where they are needed across the Indian Ocean. The vessel has been making repeated journeys to and from Singapore to pick up the boats, and is now based at Christmas Island, rather than Darwin.

The Norwegian-built ship is one of the largest vessels involved in Operation Sovereign Borders, and was initially designed for offshore construction. The large deck is used to store the lifeboats, and a massive crane puts them in the water. These operations begin with an order from one of the command centres involved in Operation Sovereign Borders to deploy a lifeboat for the return of a group of asylum seekers.

A vessel more suited to towing the boats – such as the Triton – would be deployed for the mission. The Ocean Protector would meet it at sea, where they would haul the lifeboats off the ship and into the water so the Triton could begin the tow.

This is what happened with the first lifeboat used by the Ocean Protector. Fairfax media interviewed a group of asylum seekers who were picked up by a navy vessel and then transferred to the Triton before being bundled into the lifeboat.

In March the ABC's 7.30 broadcast footage shot inside one of the lifeboats and graphic descriptions by asylum seekers of conditions on the boats.

One Customs source explains how the turnback mission was originally planned to start at 1am, but began at 6am: "They wanted it done at 1am. I can't see any advantage to that, it just means someone was going to get hurt."

The Ocean Protector had no direct contact with this group of asylum seekers – its only involvement was to drop off the lifeboat. But this had serious ramifications for Operation Sovereign Borders; both vessels were inside Indonesian waters in one of a number of incursions into their territory that were described by Scott Morrison as inadvertent.

During the operation, the vessel went deep into Indonesian waters, nine kilometres past one of Indonesia's baselines and into Pelabuhan Ratu bay, according to digital maps obtained by Guardian Australia.

It is unclear how the vessel could have inadvertently gone so far into Indonesian waters. The navigational charts from the Ocean Protector show that the vessel had calculated the correct boundaries of Indonesia's territorial waters, casting doubt on some of the findings of a review commissioned to investigate the incursions.

A Customs spokesman said in April that no evidence was presented to the review that indicated the Ocean Protector knew the correct location of the Indonesian boundaries.

This week a spokesman declined to say whether Customs stood by the findings of the review, or whether the navigational charts had caused Customs to revisit the findings.

Once the Triton had the lifeboat, it was eventually untethered from the vessel and began the journey back to Indonesia.

The lifeboats were stripped of other items before the asylum seekers were placed in them, a Customs source said, raising further concerns about the operations.

And while use of the lifeboats and turnback operations continue, experts in maritime and international law have also expressed concerns about the legality of the policy.

Azadeh Dastyari, a lecturer in refugee and human rights law at Monash university, said that by interfering with asylum seeker vessels – either on the high seas or in Indonesia's territorial waters – Australia was violating international law.

"On the high seas – unless you have authority to interfere with another vessel – then you are prohibited from interfering with another vessel. That's where Australia's biggest issue is, we don't seem to have any authority to interfere with these asylum seeker vessels," she said.

"Whether we then bring people onto our vessels or put them onto our lifeboats, that's still interfering. We're exercising jurisdiction on them, and we're just not allowed to do that."

She said Indonesia's failure to sign the United Nations refugee convention also led to a breach of international law.

"Indonesia hasn't signed on to the refugee convention. It's not enough for us to say that they're safe and not being returned to Sri Lanka, Iran or Afghanistan. Because Indonesia hasn't guaranteed people won't be returned from harm, then that obligation remains on us," she said.

Donald Rothwell, a professor of international law at the Australian National University, said in a submission to the Senate inquiry into the breaches: "Australia has no legal basis to tow back asylum seeker vessels into the Indonesian territorial sea.

"Australia's transfer of asylum seekers to lifeboats for the purposes of being towed back to Indonesia raises issues as to the legality of the transfer and significant issues of state responsibility in the event of an incident at sea involving that lifeboat."

An ACBPS spokesman said: "The Australian government conducts its operations consistent with Australia's international obligations."

And the silence surrounding Operation Sovereign Borders continues. The immigration minister did not respond to any questions about the use of the lifeboats, the Ocean Protector or the Triton.

Source: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/07/asylum-seekers-stacked-four-deep-below-decks-as-they-await-turnback

Migrant issue puts end to Indonesia-Oz thaw

Jakarta Post - May 7, 2014

Ina Parlina, Yuliasri Perdani and Desy Nurhayati, Jakarta/Bali – Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott's attempt to repair strained bilateral ties with Jakarta is being stymied by a recent incident in which Australian navy ships towed back a boatload of undocumented migrants to Indonesian waters and added three extra passengers – including an Indonesian – to the boat.

The incident was brought to light a few hours before Abbott phoned President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono while the latter was attending the Open Government Partnership (OGP) Asia-Pacific Regional Conference in Bali on Tuesday.

The Australian prime minister was also scheduled to attend the meeting, where he would have met Yudhoyono for the first time since a spy scandal surfaced last year. A senior Indonesian official claimed last month Abbott had confirmed his attendance in Bali but a few weeks later, the prime minister said he could not make the visit, citing domestic issues.

The Australian media reported that Abbott may have canceled his visit due to an "on-water operation" that had the potential to cause "embarrassment" to Yudhoyono.

Earlier on Tuesday, Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said he had been informed of an incident where several undocumented migrants were added by the Australian authorities to a boat and towed back to Indonesia. "If confirmed, it is a very serious development," he said.

Presidential spokesman for foreign affairs Teuku Faizasyah said Jakarta was taking the incident seriously and despite Abbott's conciliatory gesture, an assessment would be made to decide whether the incident would hamper the process of improving relations. "We knew of the alleged incident in the morning, while Abbott's phone call was planned before it," he said.

Indonesian Navy spokesman Col. Manahan Simorangkir confirmed that the navy rescued 20 alleged undocumented migrants in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) on Sunday after their boat was towed back to Indonesia by Australian ships. The undocumented migrants are all male, consisting of 16 Indian nationals, two Nepalese and two Albanians.

"The Indian migrants [and Nepalese migrants] took a boat journey from Kendari [in Southeast Sulawesi]. As the boat entered Ashmore Reef, Australian Border Protection ships escorted it back," he said on Tuesday at Indonesian Military (TNI) headquarters in Cilangkap, Jakarta.

The two Albanians were heading to Australia from Rote Islands, NTT, on a separate boat. After entering Australian waters, the Australian navy ordered the two and the Indonesian crew member to move onto the boat occupied by the Nepalese and Indians, a police preliminary investigation has found.

As of Tuesday evening, the undocumented migrants were in the custody of the Kupang Immigration Office in the NTT capital of Kupang – This is the eighth occurrence of boats being turned back to Indonesian waters since December 2013.

Many undocumented migrants, in particular from the Middle East and Africa, use Indonesia as a final transit point to Australia. According to Indonesian Foreign Ministry data, as of April there were 10,623 undocumented migrants in Indonesia, with most of them illegally entering the country by sea.

Indonesia recorded nine boat accidents involving 728 undocumented migrants in 2012, while in the following year the number rose to 23, involving 615 victims.

Jakarta suspended cooperation with Canberra following the revelation last year that the Australian intelligence agency was spying on Yudhoyono and his inner circle. Indonesia demanded the two nations draft a code of conduct.

Faizasyah said the two leaders hoped strained relations between the two countries could thaw. "They hope [the code of conduct] can be completed so both countries can resolve the situation," he said.

Marty said Abbott's hard-line policy, known as Operation Sovereign Borders, was not working, as shown in the latest incident.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/05/07/migrant-issue-puts-end-ri-oz-thaw.html

Indonesia finds asylum-seekers 'turned back' by Australia

Agence France Presse - May 6, 2014

Jakarta – The Indonesian navy has found 19 asylum-seekers who say they were turned around trying to reach Australia in the latest tow-back of a vessel under Canberra's hardline policies.

The news came just days after Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott abruptly cancelled a visit to Indonesia that had been viewed as a bid to thaw ties damaged by Canberra's border protection policies and a row over spying.

Reports at the time said he axed the trip to the resort island of Bali, where he had been due to meet Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, over fears an ongoing turn-back operation could inflame tensions.

The Indonesian navy said that it had found a boat with would-be refugees stranded on Lay island in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) province, in eastern Indonesia, early Sunday.

All the passengers were male, with 15 from India, two from Nepal and two from Albania, said a statement from the navy released late Monday.

The navy said that based on testimony from the crew, the boat started sailing from central Sulawesi island on April 26 and managed to enter Australian territorial waters on Thursday.

"At midnight [on Thursday], the boat was checked by two Australian warships... the boat was later escorted towards Indonesian waters," the navy said.

Abbott's office has declined to go into the reasons for putting off the visit to Indonesia. It would have been his first since damaging revelations in November that Australian spies attempted in 2009 to tap the phone of Yudhoyono, his wife and inner circle.

Jakarta reacted furiously to the news, recalling its ambassador and halting cooperation in key areas including defense and people-smuggling. Tensions were further inflamed by Canberra's military-led crackdown on asylum- seekers making their way to Australia by boat from Indonesia.

The crackdown, named "Operation Sovereign Borders", involves Australian vessels turning back asylum-seeker boats to Indonesia when it is safe to do so.

There have also been reports that Canberra has purchased orange lifeboats to send back asylum-seekers if their own vessels are deemed unseaworthy.

In February two boatloads of asylum-seekers washed up in southern Indonesia in orange lifeboats, saying they had been transferred to the vessels by Australian authorities before being turned around.

Source: http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/news/indonesia-finds-asylum-seekers-turned-back-australia/

Graft & corruption

House of Atut in shambles after indictment

Jakarta Post - May 7, 2014

Haeril Halim, Jakarta – The political dynasty of disgraced Banten Governor Ratu Atut Chosiyah suffered a major blow on Tuesday after the Home Ministry decided to suspend her from her post only hours after Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) prosecutors opened their graft case against her.

To add insult to injury, angry protesters outside the Jakarta Corruption Court hurled invectives at Atut when she arrived at the court, sparking clashes between the protesters and her supporters.

Apparently unaware of the Home Ministry's decision to dismiss her, Atut, wearing a flowing batik, black headscarf and showy black boots, looked relax as the KPK prosecutors read out an indictment accusing her of having masterminded a bribery scheme involving former Constitutional Court chief justice Akil Mochtar in 2013.

Atut, together with her brother Tubagus Chaeri "Wawan" Wardana, who has also been charged in the case, stand accused of paying Akil Rp 1 billion (US$86,813) in exchange for a Constitutional Court ruling in a suit brought by Lebak deputy regent Amir Hamzah to overturn the victory of opposing ticket Iti Octavia Jayabaya-Ade Sumardi in the Lebak regency election.

The indictment of Atut, whose family members control five of Banten's regencies and municipalities, details her role in the bribery scheme aimed at taking control of Lebak regency, which is currently held by the rival Jayabaya family.

"On Sept. 23, 2013, Atut and Wawan met with Akil in Singapore. During the meeting, the defendant asked Akil to rule [in favor of Amir] in Lebak regency," KPK prosecutor Edy Hartoyo told the court.

KPK prosecutors said that Atut had given Amir the go-ahead to file an election appeal at the Constitutional Court, although in Wawan's trial last week, Atut denied the allegation, saying, "I had repeatedly recommended Amir not to file an appeal at the court, but he stubbornly did it anyway".

The indictment also revealed that Atut instructed Wawan to give Rp 1 billion to Akil via go-between Susi Tur Andayani, who has also been indicted in the case.

It also said Akil was disappointed when he learned Wawan could only pay him Rp 1 billion, not Rp 3 billion as he previously agreed with Susi, but she convinced Akil that the rest of the money would come after the ruling was issued.

The Akil-led court ruled on Oct. 2, 2013, that a revote should take place in Lebak. Susi and Wawan were arrested by the KPK on the same day, before handing the money to Akil.

One month later, the KPK arrested Atut for her role in the Lebak election dispute case.

Later on Tuesday, Home Minister Gamawan Fauzi responded to the opening of Atut's trial by signing a letter recommending President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono suspend Atut from her post as governor.

"Today, I signed an official letter of recommendation to suspend Ratu Atut from her post. The letter has been sent to the President for approval. We hope that we will hear soon from the President," Gamawan told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

After the court recessed, Atut was led to a van to take her back to the Pondok Bambu detention center. She was met by demonstrators outside the court calling themselves the "Save Banten Revolutionary Front", who chanted, "Thief, thief, thief!" to Atut.

The demonstrators then threw water bottles at the van transferring Atut back to the detention center. Afterward, Atut's family members and supporters arrived at the court and attacked the supporters. The police broke up the scuffle and dispersed both camps.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/05/07/house-atut-shambles-after-indictment.html

Women's Coalition protests money politics

Jakarta Post - May 5, 2014

Jayapura – Female legislative candidates grouped under the Women's Coalition staged a rally on Saturday to protest rampant vote-buying during the recent legislative election, which they say caused many female candidates to lose.

"Our hard work was for nothing because we didn't have money to buy votes," said Meylina Wonatorey, a candidate from Golkar Party for the Papua Council, said in the rally in front of Aston Hotel, Jayapura, where the provincial elections commission was counting the vote.

Meylina said the coalition had also found many votes cast for female candidates had not been counted.

She said the organization had evidence of the irregularities in the vote count and would bring the evidence to the Constitutional Court after the elections commission completed the counting.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/05/05/women-s-coalition-protests-money-politics.html

Parliament & legislation

Rookies, vote-buying haunt the House's future

Jakarta Post - May 5, 2014

The General Elections Commission (KPU) will not announce the official results of the April 9 legislative election until May 9. However, ongoing recapitulations of the election results have given a sufficiently clear, if still incomplete, picture of who will win seats in the House of Representatives. The Jakarta Post's Hasyim Widhiarto and Bagus BT Saragih provide an analysis of the matter plus an up-to-date sidebar on the ongoing deals for party coalitions ahead of the July 9 presidential election.

Golkar Party lawmaker Nudirman Munir openly shared his resentment as he cited rampant vote-buying practices that had allegedly cost him his reelection bid in the April 9 legislative election.

The 60-year-old lawyer-turned-politician, who was running as a candidate in the second West Sumatra electoral district, for example, accused another candidate of gathering massive support from voters in exchange for money and a free, full-day visit to local amusement park Minang Fantasy, popularly known as Mifan.

Nudirman said such illegal practices would hamper the performance of the House in the next five-year period.

"Even with my long-time experience as a student activist and lawyer, I sometimes lose my nerve when dealing with Cabinet ministers or top government officials in a [House] meeting. [...] I can't imagine how our next lawmakers will perform if many of them are elected because of vote buying and not because of their knowledge and leadership experience," Nudirman told The Jakarta Post in an interview.

He refused to identify which candidate or political party in his electoral district conducted the vote-buying he has termed "the Mifan storm". The Post, however, learned that his allegation seems to refer to 25-year-old Ade Rezki Pratama, the eldest son of influential businessman and Mifan owner Nelson Septiadi who apparently managed to secure one of six House seats offered in the district.

Representing Gerindra Party, Ade garnered more than 70,000 votes in the legislative election, or three times higher than Nudirman. If elected he will also become the youngest lawmaker candidate from West Sumatra.

Contacted separately, Ade quickly denied his successful bid was linked to vote-buying. "In politics, it is usual to see people make such false accusations," he said.

More than 6,000 candidates from 12 political parties competed for 560 House seats offered in 77 electoral districts nationwide in this year's legislative election. The majority of quick counts have suggested that the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) won the election with 19 percent of the vote, followed by Golkar with 14 percent and Gerindra with 11 percent, leaving them as the three biggest factions in the House for the upcoming five years.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's Democratic Party, the winner of the 2009 election, meanwhile, is competing for the fourth position against the National Awakening Party (PKB) after the two parties managed to garner at least 9 percent of the votes. Trailing behind them are the National Mandate Party (PAN), the NasDem Party and the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), each of whom gathered around 7 percent.

The two last-placed House factions, according to early returns, will go to the United Development Party (PPP) and the Hanura Party, which gathered 6 percent and 5 percent of the votes respectively, as the Crescent Star Party (PBB) and the Indonesian Justice and Unity Party (PKPI) failed to exceed the parliamentary threshold of 3.5 percent.

Although the KPU will officially announce the legislative election results on Friday, the ongoing vote counting shows that the country's highest legislative body will be managed by a combination of incumbents and non- incumbents for the next five years.

Among the lawmakers who successfully secured their reelection bids are PDI-P secretary-general Tjahjo Kumolo, Golkar treasurer Setya Novanto, former PKS chairman Hidayat Nur Wahid and PPP deputy chairman Hasrul Azwar.

Meanwhile, the new faces in the House come from various backgrounds, including senior party members, like Golkar deputy chairman and former Cabinet minister Fadel Muhammad, Gerindra deputy chairman Fadli Zon and NasDem secretary-general Patrice Rio Capella; academics, like energy expert Kurtubi of NasDem and Banjarmasin-based Achmad Yani University rector Zainul Arifin Noor of the PKB; and public figures, like racing driver Moreno Soeprapto of Gerindra and musician Anang Hermansyah of PAN.

Although they will only start their jobs in October, the anticipated members of the House have begun to struggle against public skepticism following nationwide reports of vote-buying practices and other forms of election fraud that have inevitably called their integrity and competence into question. Even those elected seem to find it difficult to have faith in their anticipated fellow lawmakers.

"How can the future of the law-making body rely on young politicians who sat quietly during campaign events and only said 'Assalammualaikum [peace be with you], my father sends greetings to all of you' in their [campaign] speech," NasDem politician Akbar Faizal said, criticizing a number of rookie politicians who had apparently used the influence of their parents, who served as regional administration heads, to win their tickets to the House.

The anticipated composition of the next House has also alarmed the Center for Indonesian Law and Policy Studies (PSHK), an NGO monitoring the House's law-making performance.

"During the 2009-2014 period, the House performed poorly in terms of law- making, given the numerous newcomers joining the House at the beginning of the period," PSHK director Ronald Rofiandri said.

"The next House is also expected to have many newcomers who could pose similar challenges in terms of law-making. Lawmakers with no decent political portfolio can result in poor understanding of the real needs of their constituents, let alone accommodating them during the lawmaking processes."

In 2013 alone, for example, the legislative body completed the deliberation of only 13 of the 70 bills earmarked for the year.

The House's performance this year, according to Ronald, is expected to be even worse because almost all lawmakers have been busy in the elections, diverting them from their legislative duties. Political trade-offs among politicians also often take place, especially during the deliberation of political bills such as the Legislative Election Law.

Former Constitutional Court chief justice Mahfud MD once said lack of competence among lawmakers and horse-trading had resulted in poor quality legislation. In 2012, the court granted 30 judicial review cases, or 31 percent of the 97 cases in total. The court overruled 31 cases, or 32 percent, and rejected 30 cases, or 31 percent, while the remaining six complaints were withdrawn by the plaintiffs.

Unlike Akbar who is pessimistic about the future of the law-making body, incoming lawmaker Ahmad Riza Patria of Gerindra believes the presence of young politicians, especially those from political dynasties, will provide the House with opportunities rather than threats.

"Politicians like Ibas [Dems secretary-general Edhie Baskoro Yudhoyono, Yudhoyono's youngest son] are bearing the burden of preserving what their family have built [in politics]. This will strongly encourage them to give of their best in their political careers," he said.

The ongoing vote-count recapitulation has suggested that Gerindra chief patron and presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto will likely see his nephew Aryo Djojohadikusumo and niece Rahayu Saraswati joining the party's House faction for the 2014-2019 period.

Meanwhile, PDI-P chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri has seen three family members – daughter Puan Maharani, younger brother Guruh Soekarnoputra and brother-in-law Nazaruddin Kiemas – securing their legislative reelection bids.

Among other members of political families who will join the House are Golkar politician Andika Hazrumi, the eldest son of Banten Governor Ratu Atut Chosiyah, Hanura politician Dewie Yasin Limpo, a sister of South Sulawesi Governor Syahrul Yasin Limpo and Prananda Surya Paloh, the only child of NasDem chairman Surya Paloh.

Riza also said the country's next president must be able to gather support from the majority of the House's 10 factions to ensure that he or she could easily get approval for the implementation of important government policies.

"With full support from a strong [House] coalition, the next president can immediately launch certain policies to address various contentious issues, like the fuel subsidy, at the beginning of his or her term," he said.

PDI-P presidential candidate Joko "Jokowi" Widodo is currently the only politician to have secured a ticket after his party last month sealed an alliance with NasDem. The PDI-P and Golkar have also announced their commitment to form a House alliance even though they will field their own candidates in the upcoming presidential election.

Political analyst Arya Fernandes said it was understandable if the rampant reports of foul play during the election undermined public faith in the quality of the country's future legislators.

"One thing that can be done to ensure the legitimacy of the recent legislative election is by carrying out fair hearings into election disputes filed with the Bawaslu [Elections Monitoring Agency] and the Constitutional Court," he said.

He called on the losing candidates who claimed to have been "tricked" by the winning candidates to compile evidence and file formal complaints.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/05/05/rookies-vote-buying-haunt-house-s-future.html

Armed forces & defense

TNI's Apache choppers to be equipped with Lockheed technology

Jakarta Post - May 6, 2014

Bagus BT Saragih, Jakarta – US-based aerospace and security company Lockheed Martin has announced it had won a US$80.6 million contract, which includes the production of night vision technology for eight Boeing AH-64E Apache attack helicopters ordered by Indonesia.

The contract covers eight Modernized Target Acquisition Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensor (M-TADS/PNVS) systems for the US Army and nine systems for the Indonesian Army, according to a press release published at Lockheed's official website www.lockheedmartin.com on May 5.

Indonesia is the 13th international customer to purchase the M-TADS/PNVS system. The contract extends production in Orlando and Ocala, Fla., through July 2016, the release states.

"Being able to 'bundle' our procurement with one of our Foreign Military Sales partners increases our buying power," said Lt. Col. Steven Van Riper, US Army Apache Sensors Product Manager.

"The M-TADS/PNVS system is helping save lives of our US and allied troops by giving Apache pilots the ability to engage targets accurately, and by improving situational awareness," added Matt Hoffman, M-TADS/PNVS program director at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, as quoted in the statement.

The confirmation of the sales of eight Apache helicopters and Longbow radars worth US$500 million to the Indonesian Military (TNI) was made during a bilateral meeting between Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro and US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel in Jakarta in August, last year.

The deal includes pilot training, radars and maintenance. The helicopters are scheduled to arrive in Indonesia in phases from October 2014 to 2017.

The TNI has said it would base some of the Apaches in remote border areas such as in Natuna in the Riau Islands.

Lockheed states that the M-TADS/PNVS, which was fielded in 2005, is a targeting and pilotage system that provides Apache pilots with long-range, precision engagement and pilotage capabilities for safe flight during day, night and adverse weather missions. Lockheed Martin has delivered more than 1,200 M-TADS/PNVS systems and spares to the US Army and international customers.

The Apache deal with the US marked a turn around in the Jakarta-Washington defense cooperation as it served as the largest military sale from the US since the country lifted its embargo on selling lethal arms to Indonesia in 2005.

Washington said it was determined to help build the capability of the TNI as part of 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.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/05/06/tni-s-apache-choppers-be-equipped-with-lockheed-technology.html

Police & law enforcement

Police vying to ring in reform

Jakarta Post - May 4, 2014

Jakarta – In an unprecedented move lauded by many, the National Police have launched a, modest, cleanup operation within the force.

Over the past few weeks, the force has been making strides to eradicate corruption among its ranks, including the arrest of middle-ranking police officers over bribery allegations.

National Police spokesperson Insp. Gen. Ronny F. Sompie said on Saturday that the police were improving transparency and accountability. "The National Police have been making good on [promises of] internal reform, which include reinforcing the supervision system," he said.

On Thursday, the force issued a five-point instruction aimed at improving public service at the municipal and district levels. Among the points, municipal police chiefs (kapolres) and below are no longer to have aides.

"Members of the force should be free to serve and protect the public, rather than assisting their superiors" National Police deputy chief Comr. Gen. Badrodin Haiti said.

In addition, a number of city- and municipal-level police officers will be transferred to the district- and sub-district level and fresh police- academy graduates will be prohibited from being instated as unit leaders in the Traffic Corps, infamous as one of the police's most corrupt divisions.

The last point in the instruction mandated that an officer looking to fill in the position of Traffic Corps chief (Kasat Lantas) must first have served in other divisions, such as community development.

These instructions follow several bold moves by the force to reform and shake up its image. Previously, Ronny said that the Internal Affairs Division (Divpropam) had been paying special attention to corruption within the force.

"Our Divpropam, through its internal security bureau, conducted undercover supervision on 31 regional police offices and 450 police precincts [...] It is more about prevention rather than security operation or arrest," he said in a text message

Earlier in the month, the Divpropam arrested a businessman who was helping people obtain official documents such as driver's licenses (SIM) and vehicle registration certificates (STNK).

The suspect was caught with a large sum of money at a SIM and STNK registration building at the Jakarta Police. It is alleged that the suspect had intended to bribe police officers. Divpropam has questioned at least three officers from the East Java Police's traffic division since the infiltration

Jakarta Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Rikwanto declined to comment on the case. But East Java Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Awi Setiyono confirmed that the arrest was part of the National Police's efforts to "cleanup".

On Friday evening dozens of middle- and low-ranking officers from the Jakarta and East Java traffic divisions were transferred to regions in the eastern part of Indonesia following an instruction from National Police chief Gen. Sutarman.

The transferred officers included the chiefs of both provinces' traffic divisions. Awi, however, denied this was linked to the recent arrest.

Last year, former National Police Traffic Corps chief Insp. Gen. Djoko Susilo was sentenced to 10 years in prison for inflating the driving simulator procurement project budget.

An Indonesian Ombudsman study in 2013 found that the culture of corruption at the Traffic Corps had dripped down to the provincial and district levels. According to the Ombudsman's probe in several cities, some police officials allow citizens to get a license without a driving test, for as little as Rp 180,000, or more if they hire a middleman.

The Indonesian Police Watch (IPW) is intent on ensuring that it sees the good example set by the National Police chief followed throughout the country, but warns of a familiar tactic used by past chiefs to enhance their reputation. "Every new leader wants to break new ground or impress," said IPW chief Neta S. Pane on Saturday.

Neta urged all parties to support the efforts by the National Police to improve the accountability of its officers, but called on everyone to play "watchdog" and see whether the police chief is determined to ring in the changes. "We must be cautious and wait for [the police's] next move."

Although Neta expects the reforms to improve the quality of the Traffic Corps, he called on the police to inspect other divisions.

According to Muhammad Nasir, a National Police Commission (Kompolnas) commissioner, the efforts of the National Police are still insufficient, even if what they have done, thus far, need praise. Nasir said the police needed to be more open to the public if they wanted reform to be successful. (tjs)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/05/04/police-vying-ring-reform.html

Mining & energy

Jokowi backs plan to end fuel subsidies

Jakarta Post - May 2, 2014

Satria Sambijantoro, Jakarta – Jakarta Governor Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, the strongest contender in the upcoming presidential election, said he would gradually remove the costly fuel subsidy should he be elected president.

He underlined the importance for the next government to fully eliminate fuel subsidies in order to ease pressure on the state budget, taking a different standpoint to the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) which, during its 10-year stint as an opposition party, has consistently rejected any moves by the government to hike the prices of subsidized fuel

"In four years, the fuel subsidy should be eliminated gradually, step by step, until it's gone," Jokowi told reporters on the sidelines of the 2014 National Development Planning Conference (Musrenbangnas) on Wednesday.

Jokowi made the statement when asked by reporters of his opinion over Finance Minister Chatib Basri's plan to implement a fixed-market based subsidy scheme: A fuel policy that would allow the government to adjust fuel prices in line with the fluctuation of oil prices in the world market.

At present, a rise in the price of oil affects the amount of subsidy the government has to disburse, as the price of subsidized fuel is fixed. With this policy, the fuel subsidy has always exceeded the limit.

The next government "must be bold" to cut fuel subsidy, he said. "Nevertheless, [a cut in fuel subsidy] should be implemented on the condition that the subsidy should be transferred to those in need, such as farmers or fisherman," he added.

Presidential aspirants from Prabowo Subianto, Aburizal Bakrie to Hatta Rajasa have already stressed the need for Indonesia to put fuel subsidy funds to more productive use, but so far none have promised the complete elimination of it.

The fuel subsidy remains a politically sensitive issue in Indonesia, a former oil-exporting country that has been used to cheap fuel for decades. Any plan to adjust the price of subsidized gasoline has been marred by protests.

But, international observers have highlighted the need for Indonesia to cut its subsidy spending, which they criticized as poorly-targeted as it is mostly enjoyed by the upper middle-class.

According to the 2014 state budget, the government earmarked Rp 210.73 trillion (US$18.22 billion) for fuel subsidy this year: Higher than the Rp 206 trillion allocated for capital expenditure (capex), which comprises funds for infrastructure-related spending.

Indonesia's fuel subsidy contributes to the country's "inflexible" fiscal policy, as it consumes 27 percent of total spending, international rating agency Standard & Poor's (S&P) said in its report released this week.

S&P presented a clear signal it could give Indonesia investment grade status if the government resolved the issue. "We may raise the rating if the next government's policies, such as subsidy reform, would reduce Indonesia's fiscal vulnerabilities," S&P said in a statement.

During the Musrenbangnas, both fiscal and monetary authorities agreed that further reforms in fuel subsidy should be seen as priority for the next government. A move to adjust subsidized fuel would allow the new government to have ample fiscal space to boost growth, Chatib said while acknowledging that the fuel subsidy issue would be the biggest risk for the state budget next year.

Meanwhile, Bank Indonesia (BI) Governor Agus Martowardojo said that a complete elimination of fuel subsidy would help the monetary authorities push down the current-account deficit and drive up economic growth in the long-run.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/05/02/jokowi-backs-plan-end-fuel-subsidies.html

Economy & investment

Economic slowdown deepens, close to 5-year low

Jakarta Post - May 6, 2014

Satria Sambijantoro, Jakarta – Indonesia, one of the world's most resilient economies, saw its gross domestic product (GDP) growth slow far below expectations in the first quarter of this year, due to plunging exports – partly as a result of a new rule banning mineral ore exports – in addition to signs that monetary and fiscal tightening may have gone too far.

The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) reported Monday that Indonesia's economic growth stood at 5.2 percent in the first quarter of 2014, compared to 5.7 percent the previous quarter.

For Indonesia, a country that was recognized by McKinsey & Company as the world's most stable economy, the 5.2 percent economic growth in the first quarter was the slowest in almost five years, after it grew by only 4.2 percent in the third quarter of 2009, when Indonesia felt the pinch of the US financial crisis.

"The slowdown is part of our strategy to reduce our current-account deficit, but our initial expectation was that the economy shouldn't grow too slowly; it should be at least above 5.5 percent," Finance Minister Chatib Basri wrote in a text message.

Exports, which account for 24 percent of Indonesia's GDP, contributed most to the slowdown, as they contracted by 0.8 percent year-on-year, according to BPS data. Meanwhile, consumption and investments – the country's two main growth drivers – expanded by 5.6 percent and 5.1 percent, respectively.

BPS head Suryamin noted that the recently implemented ore export ban had caused a 77 percent year-on-year decline in shipments of mined raw commodities.

The new GDP data suggests that Indonesia's economic growth this year may not be as strong as previously estimated by policymakers, at between 5.5 percent and 6 percent, according to economists.

Bank Danamon has revised down its GDP growth forecast this year to 5.31 percent – from 5.7 percent previously – and Citi Research maintained its forecast around the same level.

"Today's data is not indicative of a forthcoming free fall in growth," said Helmi Arman, an economist with Citi Research, brushing off concerns.

Economists have also attributed the recent slowdown to the fiscal and monetary tightening performed by the government and Bank Indonesia (BI).

Last year, the Finance Ministry hiked import taxes, while the central bank increased its key interest rate by 175 basis points to 7.5 percent, the highest level in four years, both of which could slow consumption in the domestic consumption-dependent economy. However, the worse-than-predicted slowdown in economic growth provided a case for the government to exert greater efforts toward pushing up exports and investments, Deputy Finance Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro said.

Meanwhile, BI Senior Deputy Governor Mirza Adityaswara said that the central bank "will monitor trends in inflation, the current account and economic growth" when deciding its future monetary policy.

Previously, BI rarely mentioned economic growth in its policy outlook. In his speech during the annual Bankers' Dinner in November, BI Governor Agus Martowardojo said the BI rate would be constantly adjusted to manage inflation and push down the current-account deficit, without mentioning economic growth.

"With growth significantly missing expectations, it is nearly guaranteed that the calls for Bank Indonesia to cut rates will become louder by the day," said Wellian Wiranto, an economist with the OCBC Bank in Singapore.

[Esther Samboh contributed to this story.]

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/05/06/economic-slowdown-deepens-close-5-year-low.html

World Bank: Indonesia world's 10th largest economy

Jakarta Globe - May 4, 2014

Jakarta – Indonesia has the 10th largest economy in the world, according to a recent report by the World Bank, with the country contributing 2.3 percent of global economic output.

The report released the findings of the 2011 International Comparison Program (ICP), which assesses economies based on purchasing power parity (PPP) and noted that Indonesia moved up six places and leapfrogged more developed countries such as Spain, South Korea and Canada.

The ICP round gathered over 7 million prices from 199 economies in eight regions, with assistance from 15 regional and international partners. In the top nine are the United States, China, India, Japan, Germany, Russia, Brazil, France and Britain.

The middle-income economies of Indonesia, China, India, Russia, Brazil and Mexico now account for 32.3 percent of world gross domestic product. That compares with the 32.9 percent contributed by the six largest high-income economies, United States, Japan, Germany, France, United Kingdom, and Italy.

The report also showed that the United States was about to lose its status as the world's biggest economy, as China is likely to surpass it by the end of this year, faster than widely anticipated. The United States has been the biggest economy in the world since overtaking the United Kingdom in 1872.

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has predicted that China will overtake the United States by 2016 while China itself is hoping to become number one by 2019. According to the report China's GDP was nearly 87 percent of the US GDP in 2011, while India had moved up from being in 10th position in 2005 to the third-largest economy, overtaking Japan.

However, some say the PPP is just one measure to judge the performance of the world's economies and that developing nations like India and China still have a lot of catching up to do.

"When, for example, we measure international purchasing power expressed in dollars, which matters in international trade, the United States, Europe and Japan continue to be the dominant economies in the world," Frederic Neumann, co-head of Asia economic research at HSBC in Hong Kong said as reported by International Business Time, which quoted CNBC.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was quick to respond. "This morning I received a report that Indonesia has become the world's 10th largest economy. Thank God, it is all of our efforts and hard work," he said through his twitter account.

He said the nation continues working to reach higher levels of prosperity. "This is of course a good start. But we still have a long way to go as we are facing many challenges. However, God willing, we can overcome those challenges," he told a gathering in Jakarta later in the day.

Finance Minister Chatib Basri said the achievement was an endorsement of the government's economic policy. "That means Indonesia's economy is on the right track and we have made significant progress because a couple years ago we were in 16th position," Chatib said, as quoted by Detik on Sunday.

But many other reports pointed out that while the rise of Indonesia should be praised, it has an uneven growth rate, with a widening gap between rich and poor.

Citing a forthcoming report by the World Bank, the Economist warned that real consumption grew by about 4 percent a year on average from 2003 to 2010. But for the poorest 40 percent of households it grew by only 1.3 percent. In contrast, consumption by the richest 20 percent grew by 5.9 percent. Based on this data, the magazine concluded that the rich are getting richer much more rapidly than the poor.

The growing inequality between low-income groups and high-income groups has also been indicated by the country's worsening Gini coefficient – which represents income disbursement – from 0.29 in 2000 to 0.38 in 2011, a drop of almost a third in equality.

The Economist also points to the fact that the informal sector accounts for 70 percent of the country's GDP, meaning that the vast majority of Indonesia's working population has no guarantee of minimum wage and protection from the government.

People are forced to go informal because manufacturing in Indonesia is hamstrung by decrepit infrastructure, rigid labor laws and protectionist policies that make it difficult for its factories to be competitive, according to the magazine.

Indonesia has increased its social spending, the magazine reported, adding that the government has bold plans to introduce universal health care by 2019.

However, government spending is still skewed towards the rich, with about 20 percent of the central government's budget, or 282 trillion rupiah ($24.5 billion) this year, going on energy subsidies. Cheap gasoline benefits the rich, who are its biggest consumers.

Source: http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/news/world-bank-indonesia-worlds-10th-largest-economy/

Another surplus recorded as exports rise

Jakarta Post - May 3, 2014

Linda Yulisman, Jakarta – Indonesia's exports unexpectedly rose for the first time this year in March, boosting confidence that the trade balance may maintain a surplus till the end of the year.

Exports increased by 1.24 percent to US$15.21 billion in March from the same month last year, driven largely by non-oil and gas shipments, such as palm oil, coal and automotive parts, the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) announced Friday. The rise followed declines of 5.8 percent in January and 3 percent in February.

In contrast, total imports dropped by 2.34 percent to $14.54 billion from the previous year, particularly on the back on lower inbound shipments of capital goods, raw materials and intermediary goods for the country's manufacturing sector.

With the fall in imports, the country managed to generate a surplus of $673.2 million in its foreign trade in March. Combined with another surplus of $843 billion in February, the total trade surplus during the first three months of this year reached $1.52 billion.

The BPS' deputy head for distribution and service statistics, Sasmito Hadi Wibowo, said the upward trend in exports would likely persist during the coming months, primarily driven by the rising prices of commodities, such as rubber, cocoa and palm oil. "Although the export volume will not increase, the value will be higher due to better prices ahead," he told reporters after the announcement. Palm oil and coal outbound shipments rose respectively by 12.13 percent and 14.76 percent by value on a monthly basis.

On a quarterly basis, the export of manufactured goods also showed an improvement, led by jewelry (up by 112.5 percent), mechanical equipment (up by 8.1 percent) and automobiles (up by 10.8 percent) in January to March this year compared to the same period last year.

Imports of capital goods, however, plunged by 6.46 percent and the purchase of raw materials and intermediary goods decreased by 5.81 percent in the first quarter compared to last year.

Trade Minister Muhammad Lutfi claimed that the government's measures to rein in the trade deficit had produced positive results, shown by the trade surplus in the first three months of the year.

"All fiscal and monetary measures that enhance the trade balance must remain in place and we must see in the future how the positive trade balance can help improve our current account and other macroeconomic indicators," he told reporters at his office.

The government has introduced a number of rules to curb the surge in imports, such as raising import taxes on certain goods.

The central bank has estimated that the current account deficit may stand at around 2 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in the first quarter, a level considered healthy for the economy.

The deficit settled at 3.3 percent last year, with a record 4.4 percent posted in the second quarter, as the country struggled with dwindling exports and surging imports.

Based on the quarterly trade data, some economists have provided a brighter outlook for trade in the coming months, which is expected to further reduce the current account deficit.

Barclays Capital economists said in a research note that the weaker rupiah in April would help push up exports, particularly manufactured goods, both in the second quarter and the remainder of the year.

"We believe there is an offsetting trend increase in manufactured exports – largely driven by food, automobiles and textiles. As it stands, the rebound in manufactured exports present some risks to our current deficit forecast for this year," they said in their note, referring to 2.5 percent of GDP.

"We estimate that the current account deficit [level] to be released next week may have narrowed further to 1.8 percent of GDP, or $4.2 billion, in the first quarter, down from 2 percent of GDP in the fourth quarter last year," Hak Bin Chua, an economist from Bank of America Merrill Lynch, said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/05/03/another-surplus-recorded-exports-rise.html

Manufacturing at 11-month high as demand grows

Jakarta Post - May 3, 2014

Esther Samboh, Jakarta – Indonesia's manufacturing sector improved in April at their fastest rate in almost a year as Southeast Asia's largest economy continued to grow, boosting demand; however, actual output fell, according to the latest survey.

The HSBC Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI), which surveys more than 400 manufacturing companies in the country on a monthly basis, was at 51.1, up from 50.1 in March, the highest level since May last year. The PMI is a composite index based on five indicators, namely new orders, output, employment, suppliers' delivery times and stock of items purchased. An index reading of more than 50 indicates an overall increase.

Incoming new orders grew faster, while staffing numbers and stocks of purchases returned to growth in April, all of which supported the PMI reading.

"The PMI was surprisingly strong in April, and the breakdown suggests the pickup was driven more by an improvement in domestic demand," Su Sian Lim, ASEAN economist at HSBC, said in a press statement after the data release on Friday.

"Overall, new orders rose more strongly. Other sub-components of the PMI also improved more than expected – employment increased for the first time since July 2013, albeit marginally – while stocks of purchases returned to growth," she added. "This means that in the next few months demand will pick up," said Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa, chief economist at the Danareksa Research Institute.

Data from local banks also show higher demand for funding in the first three months of this year as lending by Indonesia's major lenders grew.

State-owned Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI) booked 23.3 percent loan growth in the first quarter of this year from the same period last year, while Bank Mandiri, Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI) and Bank Central Asia (BCA) each saw its lending grow by between 19 and 20 percent. "Although demand is strong, the pace of growth remains questionable," Yudhi added.

The country's economy grew the slowest in four years at 5.78 percent in 2013, and policymakers are finding ways to boost the economy against the backdrop of a bleak global economic outlook, especially with a slowdown in China, which is the world's second-largest economy and Indonesia's top export destination.

Central Statistics Agency (BPS) data, also published on Friday, supported the PMI reading, as it reported a 3.76 percent increase in production for medium and large industrial firms in the first quarter of this year compared to the same period a year ago.

"The increase was primarily driven by output growth in other manufacturing [up 17.78 percent], the pharmaceutical and traditional medicine sector [up 15.41 percent], as well as the machinery and equipment sector [up 9.73 percent]," the agency said in a press statement.

Small and micro-industrial firms' output was also on the rise, increasing 4.41 percent from the January-March period last year to the same period this year, on the back of strong gains in the sectors of other manufacturing (18.71 percent), printing and media (11.29 percent), as well as food (8.66 percent).

"It's good that the small and micro manufacturers posted higher growth. I hope that labor absorption will therefore be greater," said Ahmad Erani Yustika, executive director of the Institute for the Development of Economics and Finance (Indef). "So, the direction is right, but the magnitude has to be boosted."

Manufacturing is the largest contributing sector to Indonesia's economy, accounting for around 24 percent of Indonesia's gross domestic product (GDP) in recent years, BPS data shows. However, the sector's contribution to the nation's GDP has slipped from around 30 percent in the past six to seven years.

"Our workforce is mostly low-skilled, so the labor-intensive sector needs to be expanded. Hence, manufacturing needs to grow even faster to enlarge the sector," Erani said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/05/03/manufacturing-11-month-high-demand-grows.html

Analysis & opinion

US and Indonesian right: A look at anti-democratic pro-capitalist crimes

OpEdNews - May 6, 2014

Brian McAfee – The story of "post-colonial" Indonesia begins on August 17, 1945, when Sukarno, its first president, declared Indonesia an independent and free nation. The Dutch colonization of Indonesia began in 1602 with the establishment of the Dutch East India Company. The Dutch controlled all aspects of Indonesian life and its great wealth of natural resources, including its vast quantities of oil and natural gas until the Japanese military invaded in 1942.

Sukarno became newly independent Indonesia's first president in 1945. Much of Sukarno's popularity came from his strong opposition to colonialism and the exploitation of people and resources in poor and exploited lands. Ten years after becoming president of Indonesia, he held a conference April 18-24 of 1955 at Bandung in order to encourage and map out strategies for independent economic and social development free from the control or dictates of any European country, the US, or the USSR.

Attendees of the first Bandung Conference included Burma, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), India, Indonesia, Pakistan. It was also attended by 18 other countries from Asia – Afghanistan, Cambodia, the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Jordan, Laos, Lebanon, Nepal, Peoples' Republic of China, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, South Vietnam, Syria, Thailand, Turkey and Yemen. From Africa there was Egypt, Ethiopia, Gold Coast (now Ghana), Liberia, Libya, and Sudan.

The Bandung Conference and the concept and creation of the non-aligned movement (not aligned with or under the control of Europe, the US, or USSR's interests or influence) was seen as a threat, particularly to the US The very concept presented a grave threat to the hegemonic interests of the US.

Within three years of the conference many Indonesians would pay with their lives for the audacity of wanting to be free and attempting to control their own destinies and resources. Indonesia's President Sukarno did seem to fully believe in and hold to the concept of non-alignment, wanting true independence, favoring neither Moscow nor Washington.

Indonesia did have a large communist party, the PKI, and this would be a factor in US actions to come. Sukarno's determination to maintain control over Indonesian oil and other natural resources put him on a collision course with the US. Even though Sukarno had no affiliation with the PKI, President Eisenhower labeled Sukarno a communist and his administration and the CIA went to work spreading misinformation. In 1957 and 1958 the US began to carry out attacks on the civilian population. In 1958 the US began to bomb Indonesian ships and airports in eastern Indonesia. On May 18, 1958, a B-26 piloted by Allen L. Pope, after bombing a navel vessel at the port city of Ambon, flew over the city, bombing a church and the central market, killing over 700 civilians.

Pope was shot down and imprisoned until February of 1962 when then US Attorney General Robert Kennedy visited Indonesia. Pope was released as a goodwill gesture after Kennedy had spoken with Sukarno.

The Suharto [note the subtle spelling difference] coup d'etat of September 30, 1965, and its subsequent mass killings began with a group of officers loyal to Suharto began abducting and killing six generals loyal to Sukarno. Suharto then went immediately to spread the fabrication that the six were killed by the PKI and military officers loyal to the PKI.

In John Roosa's excellent book on this subject, "Pretext For Mass Murder", he writes: "It has been difficult to believe that a political party, consisting entirely of civilians, could command a military operation. How could civilians order military personnel to carry out their bidding?"

Numbers of those killed vary widely from 250,000 to a million Indonesian civilians. The main purpose for this crime was to destroy the Indonesian left and to eliminate Sukarno with his non-aligned movement.

In a May 1990 article on US involvement in the coup, Kathy Kadane writes: "The US government played a significant role in one of the worst massacres of the century by supplying the names of thousands of communist party leaders to the Indonesian army, which hunted down the leftists and killed them, former US diplomats say.

For the first time US officials acknowledge that in 1965 they systematically compiled lists of communist operatives, from top echelons down to village cadres. As many as 5,000 names were furnished to the Indonesian army, and the Americans later checked off the names of those who had been killed or captured, according to the US officials." The US was an active participant in one of the 20th century's worst mass murders.

The Indonesian province of West Papua has endured as one of the world's longest running and most extreme cases of ongoing human-rights abuse. On December 1, 1961, the First Papua Congress voted to rename the territory "West Papua" and the Morning Star flag was raised, signifying their nationhood, independence, and sovereignty as a nation. On August 14, 1962, Indonesia dropped hundreds of paratroopers into West Papua. In 1962, President Kennedy and the US government forced the Netherlands to sign on the transfer of West Papua to Indonesia without Papuan consent.

Since that occurred, over 500,000 civilians have been killed. Thousands more have been raped, tortured, imprisoned, or have "disappeared" after having been detained. Many in the international human-rights community see what is happening in West Papua as a deliberate, ongoing process of genocide of West Papua's indigenous people. They cite the case of the "Biak Massacre" in which over 200 people including women and children were rounded up by the Indonesian military, loaded onto vessels, taken to the sea, and thrown overboard.

The use of torture by the Indonesian military on the indigenous population is widespread as is rape and sexual assault by the military and police against the indigenous population. The Indonesian military has been able to act with impunity with the full support of the US and Great Britain.

Another faction in the West Papua story has been the US mining company Freeport-McMoRan, which mines copper and gold. In its original contract from 1967, Indonesia gave Freeport "the exclusive right to enter upon and to take possession of and to occupy the project area." This resulted in the forced relocation of about 2,000 indigenous West Papuans. Since that time, the perceived needs and desires of both Freeport and the government in Jakarta always took precedence over the people of West Papua.

Another joint project of the US, Great Britain, and Indonesia was the Indonesian invasion of East Timor in 1975. The US and Britain gave Indonesia their blessings and millions of dollars' worth of weapons and armaments to carry out the invasion with ease.

By 1999 when East Timor regained its independence, 200,000 of the nation's 700,000 population had been killed. Aside from providing Indonesia with armaments, the US regularly holds joint-training exercises with the Indonesian military. They do this with the Philippines as well. There, over 1,500 extra-judicial killings of activists, human-rights workers, and journalists have occurred since 2001 and are continuing to happen.

These joint military training and exercises are the Asian parallel of the School of the Americas, which has trained Latin American militaries and dictators to torture and carry out extra-judicial killings throughout Latin America since the end of World War II.

The parallels and ongoing practice has gone on far too long and can still be seen with regularity in the Philippines. Speak out to end extra-judicial killings whenever and wherever they occur.

I welcome your thoughts and ideas.

Source: http://www.opednews.com/articles/The-U-S-And-The-Indonesia-by-Brian-McAfee-Congress_Crime-Murder_Crime-White-Collar_Crimes-Against-Humanity-140506-969.html

Why Tony Abbott's tactics have caused a big chill with Indonesia

Sydney Morning Herald - May 5, 2014

Peter Hartcher – Tony Abbott was supposed to be in Bali on Tuesday. He was supposed to be shaking hands with the President of Indonesia, attempting to thaw the frosty relations with Australia's only strategically important near neighbour.

He wanted to go. With only six months remaining of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's decade in power, there are limited opportunities to restore normal relations while Indonesia is still led by the most pro-Australian president it has ever had.

But Abbott's not there. He pulled out of the trip late on Friday. News had broken that the Australian authorities had intercepted a boat carrying asylum seekers. They were turning it around to send it back to Indonesia.

Why is that a problem? Abbott judged that it could have been seen as an insult to his host to turn up amid publicity of an Australian policy to which Indonesia has objected so strenuously.

Abbott was wise to cancel. But it's a stark illustration of how much damage the boats policy has caused. The policy is not the sole cause of the rift; it is, however, an obstacle to healing it.

It turns out that the Prime Minister of Australia cannot meet the President of Indonesia whenever there are reports that Australia is actively conducting its boats policy.

This is an extraordinary reversal of relations, and one that was probably avoidable. Until the great chill descended in November, Indonesia's President was exceptionally solicitous of Australia's interests.

Whenever a major international event affecting Australia was approaching, the embassy in Jakarta would typically receive a note from the President's palace: "What does Australia want?"

The notes were sent at the initiative of the President himself. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, or SBY, an English-speaking former general, has been a moderate, secular, pro-Western leader with a long history of contact with Australia.

But now the notes have stopped coming. SBY recalled Indonesia's ambassador to Australia last November. He hasn't yet returned. Indonesia reviewed all its areas of co-operation.

And while collaboration continues in about 60 different fields, SBY's government decided to suspend co-operation in 10 areas, according to a recent audit by the embassy in Jakarta.

These 10 areas include the most sensitive and some of the most important – police-to-police relations are frozen, and so is military co-operation. There is no Indonesian assistance with asylum seekers. Customs and intelligence co-operation has been curtailed.

"Australia's relations with Indonesia go up and down, and at the moment they are somewhat down," says one of Australia's longest-standing observers of Indonesia, Dick Woolcott, who served as ambassador to Jakarta in the 1970s. "But they are probably better in the last months of SBY than they will be at any time in the future."

Why? "None of the main candidates to replace him has any interest in Australia."

An eminent Indonesian, Agus Widjojo, a retired general and a noted military intellectual, argues that relations with Australia are best restored while SBY is still in the palace.

"It would be desirable if the situation [of suspended co-operation] can be terminated under SBY, says Widjojo, "because it would be easier for a new administration to start with a clean sheet than inheriting a problem that's specific to the SBY administration. It would help to give the new administration a clear view." After SBY, he says, Indonesia's leadership is likely to be more nationalistic.

It's not that the leading candidate for the presidency, the enormously popular Joko Widodo, is hostile to Australia. His son studied for two years at the University of Technology, Sydney.

The frontrunner, known by his nickname Jokowi, visited several times to see his son, and says he's been impressed with a number of aspects of Australia including its emergency response to floods and public transport in Sydney.

It's rather a combination of two factors. First, Jokowi, mayor of Jakarta, doesn't have any particular interest in Australia or any agenda he wants to pursue.

Second, Indonesia's political system gives him no incentive to develop one. Australia is widely seen as rich and arrogant. It's seen as being, at best, insensitive to Indonesia's interests and, at worst, hostile.

The biggest problem Australia suffers in Indonesia is that no politician ever wins plaudits by being positive towards Australia; politicians win kudos by attacking Australia.

The specific problems in the relationship at the moment are the boats policy and Australian spying.

The Howard government showed that it was possible to turn back asylum- seeker boats towards Indonesia without harming relations. Could Abbott have done the same? The critical difference is that Howard didn't talk about it, in advance or when it was in progress.

Philip Ruddock, immigration minister in the Howard government, told me: "Indonesia will work with you if you don't decide to embarrass them over it." Yet this is exactly what the Abbott opposition did. It talked loudly and endlessly about its plan to turn back the boats.

The boats policy caused serious ill will in Jakarta, but it was the revelation of Australian spying on SBY and his wife during the Labor years that was the specific trigger for the freeze. Could Abbott have handled his response better? Probably. But that's now academic.

Despite the difficulties in relations, SBY is an asset for Australia. But he is a fast-perishing one. The immediate challenge for the Abbott government is to navigate a rapprochement.

The bigger, long-term challenge for Australia is to remake itself in the Indonesian mind so that politicians have incentives to deal with it, not just to demonise it.

[Peter Hartcher is SMH international editor.]

Source: http://www.smh.com.au/comment/why-tony-abbotts-tactics-have-caused-a-big-chill-with-indonesia-20140505-zr4zy.html

Indonesia - the politics of May Day, 2014

Red Flag Newspaper - May 5, 2014

Around 250,000 workers, members of various trade unions, mobilised in Jakarta for May Day, 2014. From all accounts, the mobilisations were similar to those of 2012 and 2013. The demands carried on workers' banners and posters were for minimum wage rises and the banning of widespread labour-hire practices.

From the hundreds of photos on Facebook, posted by workers from their Chinese made phones, it appears that the mobilisations in Jakarta and other cities were dynamic, colourful and had a strong activist atmosphere. It is a sign that the trade union movement that has developed during the last 15 years remains strongly organised and that worker consciousness remains focussed on issues relating to immediate conditions.

At the same time, various political moves by some trade union officials have set the framework for trade union politics to enter a new phase of internal struggle.

Background

The setting for these moves is the upcoming presidential elections, following the parliamentary elections on 9 April. While the line-up of presidential candidates is yet to be officially confirmed, there have been two people campaigning hardest to gain nomination in mid-May.

These are Joko Widodo, from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (headed by Megawati Sukarnoputri) and Lt-General (ret) Prabowo Subiantio, head of the Greater Indonesia Movement Party (GERINDRA).

Widodo has secured the needed support from another small party, Nasional Demokrat, headed by multi-millionaire media tycoon Surya Paloh. (Paloh and his media group played a leading role in unseating Abdurahman Wahid as president in 2001.)

Prabowo is still to confirm enough additional coalition support to gain the required 25 percent of votes in the legislative elections or 20 percent of seats in the House of Representatives. There are other possible candidates, but these two have been doing the running since 9 April.

Joko Widodo has been leading in all the polls: usually by around 60 percent to 40 percent in most two-horse race polls.

Positioning

Over the last few weeks the various larger union federations and confederations have been announcing or preparing to announce who they support. Two of the biggest union confederations - the KPSI and KSBSI - quickly came out in support of Widodo.

The central leader of the KPSI is the son of the former minister of labour in an earlier Sukarnoputri government. These unions have been less militant in 2013. In 2012 they were both part of the Indonesian Worker and Labourers Assembly (MPBI) that organised a huge national strike. They declined to take part in the 2013 national strike, saying that major wages rises were not yet due.

A new coalition - the Koordinasi Nasional Gerakan Buruh (KNGB) - had to be formed to organise that action. The GKPB has at its core an alliance between the Federasi Serikat Pekerja metal Indonesia (FSPMI) - the biggest and best organised assembly factory workers union - and an alliance of small left wing unions, called the Sekretariat Bersama Buruh (Sekber Buruh). This alliance was not as all encompassing as the 2012 alliance. In 2012, Sekber Buruh was not part of the organising alliance, but mobilised separately on the same day as the national strike.

The FSPMI has been at the forefront of most of the larger mobilisations demanding increases in minimum wages and greater regulation of labour hire. Their red and black uniformed GARDA METAL brigade has played an important role spearheading mobilisations and boosting the confidence of workers in the face of intimidation from employer-funded thugs.

Increasingly, however, the central leaders of the FSPMI, in particular its president Said Iqbal, appear to be playing more and more opportunist politics.

After aligning with the moderate unions in 2012, which then withdrew from mobilising in 2013, Iqbal turned briefly to the socialist and left unions in SEKBER BURUH. From March this year there were more and more signs that Iqbal would throw his union behind a Prabowo Subianto presidential campaign. On a 1 May gathering of at least 50,000 workers in the main Jakarta sports stadium, Iqbal did just that.

Iqbal turned from an alliance with the socialist unions, which he needed to avoid isolation in the 2013 national strike, to the far right Prabowo camp. Prabowo spoke in 2013 against the wage rises sought by the national strike that the FSPMI was leading. Prabowo very recently reminded members affiliated to Suharto's old party, GOLKAR, that he too was an "Orde Baru (New Order) man" and came from GOLKAR. (New Order was the name given to the post-1965 Suharto dictatorship.)

Prabowo stands for a return to the most authoritarian aspects of New Order crony capitalism. At the 1 May rally, Iqbal gave him the platform. Prabowo claimed to support the Confederation's ten demands for improvements in wages, conditions and welfare policies. But the next day, a chairperson of GERINDRA stated that the party had a team that "would select which ones could actually be implemented".

Iqbal's decision will most likely begin the unravelling of the FSPMI as an effective union. The decision to support Prabowo was taken at the leadership level with no membership discussion. This reflects an increasingly bureaucratic approach.

In 2013, union solidarity activists and educators for FSPMI, Danial Indrakusuma and Sherr Rinn, were expelled and prevented from continuing their education and media activities for the union after consistently supporting militant and progressive educational material and policies.

Then, as the pressure to "Go Politic" increased, a plan for the whole membership to elect the union members who would be presented to political parties as candidates in the legislative elections was ditched in favour of the leadership choosing them.

Several later became candidates for different political parties under a "Workers Go Politics" slogan. Without a proper process of building member support, their campaigns had little impact. None received the necessary vote to be elected. (Two were elected after their parties passed on to them surplus votes from the party list, however.)

Iqbal will face increasing dissent not only from democratic and progressive-minded workers already semi-organised inside the union, but also from workers who have left the FSPMI to join other alliances or to form single enterprise unions.

Inside the union there are also other forces. Another central leader, Obon Tabroni, who was also active in mobilising for the 2013 national strike, is rumoured to have joined the PDIP. He supported the PDIP candidate for West Jakarta governor in 2013. While he appeared on the podium with Iqbal and Prabowo on May Day, he will most likely align with Joko Widodo's candidacy. As the decision to support Prabowo, was taken behind closed doors, there is no confirmation whether there was a contested vote at the central leadership level or whether it was unanimous.

Sekber Buruh and Komite Politik Alternatif (KPA)

Most, though not all, of the smaller unions led by members of socialist groups or progressive union leaders are to be found in Sekber Buruh. On May Day Sekber mobilised around 20,000 workers - an advance on previous years. A largish progressive union, KASBI, that usually separates itself from Sekber unions, combined in the field with them this year.

Sekber is not supporting any of the candidates and is stressing the need to build both an alternative union confederation and an alternative political party based on the labour movement and other popular classes. (Neither a trade union-based social democratic party nor a socialist party has existed in Indonesia since 1965.)

A committee of some Sekber members and other groups then formed the Committee for an Alternative Politics (KPA) to propagandise for these ideas. The socialist political groups in the KPA include the Indonesian Struggle Union (PPI), the People's Congress Organisation - Working Peoples Association (KPO-PRP) and the Peoples Liberation Party (PPR). Among these three, the PPR has also been emphasising a "Fight Militarism" campaign, specifically targeting Prabowo Subianto.

[First published at Max Lane Online]

Source: http://redflag.org.au/article/indonesia-%E2%80%93-politics-may-day-2014