Gavin Drake – The increasing tensions in Indonesian West Papua has attracted the attention of both the World Council of Churches' Central Committee and the Bishops of the Anglican Church in Papua New Guinea.

Sovereignty over West Papua has been disputed since the demise of the Netherlands East Indies in the 1940s. Indonesia claimed sovereignty over all of the former colony but the Dutch retained control over West Papua. Indonesia invaded the island in the 1960s and a later UN-brokered peace deal resulted in 1,000 "elders" electing to become part of Indonesia.

But the result of the "Act of Free Choice" has been disputed – with pro-independence campaigners saying that the elders who took part in the election were hand-picked by Indonesia and forced to vote unanimously for Indonesian control.

There has been growing calls for independence despite a crackdown on protest activity. Recently, police arrested more than 1,000 protestors who took part in a pro-independence march. International journalists are not allowed into the province and reports indicate that local journalists covering protests are harassed and blocked by police and military officials.

Archbishop Clyde Igara, Primate of the Anglican Church of Papua New Guinea, said that week that the bishops of the PNG church "spoke in support of our Melanesian brothers and sisters of West Papua" during their recent meeting.

"The constitution of the Anglican Church of Papua New Guinea affirms the dignity of human life and the need to show respect for all people," he said. "The bishops wish to express on behalf of the Anglican Church the hope that the Governments of Papua New Guinea and of West Papua will make every effort to give freedom to the many displaced people of West Papua to settle and re-establish their sense of livelihood; their homes and gardens."

The Papua New Guinea bishops welcomed their government's decision to give citizenship to West Papuans living in PNG. "We are clear that it is a Gospel imperative that we must 'love the Lord our God and secondly to love our neighbours as ourselves'", Archbishop Igara said. "Therefore we stand in solidarity with the people of West Papua."

Meanwhile, at their meeting in Trondheim, Norway, the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches called on member churches to "pray and act in support of Christian witness in the region."

The Committee also requested that an international ecumenical delegation be sent to the region "as soon as possible" in order to "demonstrate the ecumenical movement's accompaniment of the churches in the region, to hear the voices of the victims of violence and human rights violations, and to pursue the pilgrimage of justice and peace in this context."

The Indonesian government says that "any solution to the issue must be within the framework of the unitary state of the Republic of Indonesia".

"It is important to stress that Indonesia is a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural and multi-linguistic nation with 'unity in diversity' as its moto. It is therefore important to find common ground to bridge differences among its peoples as differences are common in democratic societies throughout the world."

It suggests increased regional autonomy in the region, which it calls Irian Jaya, and warns that "Problems arising of the province... have to be dealt with on a national basis and the Government would view any attempt to disrupt Indonesia's sovereignty over Irian Jaya as interference in the internal affairs of a sovereign state."

Source: https://pasifik.news/the-urgent-cry-for-help-from-west-papua/

Election 2016: Human rights advocate says LNP, ALP 'mute' on West Papua

The Catholic Leader - June 30, 2016

Mark Bowling – With Australia heading to a general election, Catholic Church leaders are calling on the major political parties to end their double standards on human rights advocacy in the region.

Brisbane archdiocese's Catholic Justice and Peace Commission executive officer Peter Arndt said successive Australian governments had ignored human rights abuses by Indonesian security forces in West Papua while condemning similar abuses elsewhere in the region.

Mr Arndt said despite the advocacy efforts of the commission, Australian politicians from both sides were mute on human rights issues in Indonesia's most easterly Papuan provinces, collectively known as West Papua.

"Yes it is the case, both the former Labor governments and the current Coalition Government do not want to speak out loudly about West Papua," he said.

"I can recall recently Foreign Minister Julie Bishop commenting about the Papua New Guinea police shooting into a crowd of student demonstrators in Port Moresby, expressing their concern for the lack of respect for the basic human right to express their political views freely and peacefully, but we don't hear Julie Bishop, or her counterpart in the Opposition, expressing concerns publicly about the same sort of behaviour and more in West Papua.

"There have been numerous incidents of police violence against unarmed activists undertaking peaceful protests, and violence against civilians, over recent years, and neither government has taken a strong stand in relation to those."

In March, The Catholic Leader reported on alleged cases of human rights abuse cited by a Church fact-finding mission led by Mr Arndt and human rights advocate Josephite Sister Susan Connelly.

The mission documented recent military and police intimidation, beatings and torture, kidnapping and murder in West Papua. Sr Connelly, likened her visit to West Papua to "stepping back twenty years when I first went to East Timor".

"The same oppressive security presence everywhere, the same suspicion, bewilderment, frustration and sadness," she said. "The same fear. The same seemingly groundless hope."

Mr Arndt said one of the reasons he found it difficult to get any traction with Australian politicians was that international journalists were restricted from entering West Papua to report.

A ban on foreign reportage was imposed in 2003, although recently some international outlets have been allowed to send in journalists under tight control.

Mr Arndt said the lack of unfettered international reporting on potential human rights abuses was exacerbated by media interference inside West Papua.

"Recently, the deputy police commissioner in Jayapura (the capital of Papua Province) complained about one of the local news outlets because its journalists were not co-ordinating with the police in reporting demonstrations by activists," he said.

"So it's pretty hard for us to get any traction with politicians if we can't get widespread, mainstream coverage in Australia."

On May 2, about 1500 people were arrested in Jayapura. It barely rated in Australian media although it was the largest mass arrest of pro-independence demonstrators in Papua, and included arrests in regional centres Sorong, Merauke, Wamena, Fak-Fak and Manokwari.

Source: http://catholicleader.com.au/news/election-2016-human-rights-advocate-says-lnp-alp-mute-on-west-papua-situation

Gloves come off as Jakarta confronts Papua rights

Radio New Zealand International - June 30, 2016

Indonesia's campaign to contain issues of West Papua has entered a new phase.

As diplomatic activity on behalf of the indigenous people of West Papua has recently surged, Jakarta has responded by taking steps that it says will address human rights abuses in Indonesia's troubled region.

This includes establishing a team to lead investigations into historical rights abuses in Papua. The rights problems however are not confined to Papua's troubled past.

The leading Indonesian human rights organisation KONTRAS recently confirmed it had reports of over 1,200 cases of people suffering from harassment, killings, torture and ill-treatment in the past year.

"We haven't put the other issues into this number – the economic and social rights issues," said the organisation's head co-ordinator, Haris Azhar.

He said these abuses were often made by security forces against Papuans for exercising their right to freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and movement.

Now, as Papuan human rights becomes part of the Indonesian discourse, Jakarta become more proactive about responding to its critics.

Geneva rumble

Concern about human rights abuses in West Papua was given prominence at the UN Human Rights Council's recent 32nd session in Geneva.

The UN Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association mentioned it, as did a range of civil society groups.

Solomon Islands' diplomat in Geneva urged Indonesia to safeguard the basic rights of West Papuans.

Barrett Salato said his government received regular reports from Papua about arbitrary arrests, summary execution, torture, restriction of freedom of expression, assembly and association, committed mainly by Indonesian police.

"Not much information goes out to the international community about what's happening (in Papua) so we take it here to the right body of the UN to raise the voices of our fellow human beings that does not have a voice in the human rights council," he said.

The concerns were echoed by the Vanuatu government. The deputy head of Indonesia's Permanent Mission to the UN, Michael Tene, hit back hard, saying Vanuatu and Solomon Islands lacked understanding about Papua.

He told the session that the two Melanesian countries were politically motivated in support of separatist groups which incite public disorder and terrorist attacks against civilians and security personnel.

The Indonesian diplomat read his statement quickly and appeared slightly anxious, perhaps a sign of Jakarta's defensiveness over the way West Papua issues have spilled out into the international domain.

"Indonesia as a democratic country is committed to promoting and protecting human rights, including by taking necessary steps to address the allegations of human rights violations and abuses in Papua."

"No one is perfect," explained Mr Tene, before telling the session how Vanuatu and Solomon Islands were far from perfect on protection of human rights.

He said the two countries still faced serious human rights problems, had rampant corruption in all segments of society and government, human trafficking, mistreatment of children and daily abuse of women.

"It would be for the betterment of their populations if the governments of Solomon Islands and Vanuatu give attention and priority to seriously address their respective own domestic human rights shortcomings."

Solomon Islands is currently occupying the chair of the Melanesian Spearhead Group and, along with Vanuatu, has been vocal in support of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua.

The Liberation Movement was last year granted observer status at the MSG and is seeking full membership in the group, with a decision to be made at a summit of the group's leaders in Honiara next month.

Indonesia, which opposes the Liberation Movement and is itself seeking full membership in the MSG, has been lobbying other countries in the group and appears to have the support of the governments of Papua New Guinea and Fiji, if not the public of those countries.

International lobbying

In the past two months, there's been a surge of international attention on West Papua, particularly through the UK summit of the International Parliamentarians for West Papua.

That summit was attended by a network of politicians from around the world, including British MPs such as the opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn, and resulted in a call for an internationally-supervised vote on independence in West Papua.

This prompted Jakarta to immediately send a high-level delegation to London to explain their side of the story.

It was no surprise that the man who led the delegation to London was Indonesia's Political and Security minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan.

Mr Luhut has been fronting international representations on Papua for President Joko Widodo, including the recent visits to PNG and Fiji to drum up support for Indonesia's MSG plans.

As a former commander of Indonesia's Kopassus special military forces, Mr Luhut was a key player in state efforts to prevent East Timor becoming independent in the turbulent months of 1999.

Now, as Indonesia's government scrambles to counter international focus on West Papua, he has emerged as a champion of human rights.

Mr Luhut has been overseeing the creation of a new "integrated team" including human rights commissionaires and police to investigate at least a dozen high-priority historic rights cases in Papua as identified by the Widodo government.

Various Papuan provincial government and civil society figures are doubtful that the team is independent.

The Liberation Movement has rejected the creation of the team, saying violations committed against Papuans are not only murder and torture but are complex, ongoing processes such as the routine denial of democratic space, land grabbing and illegal logging.

It feels that Mr Luhut's team is primarily aimed at improving Indonesia's rights reputation abroad.

Three weeks ago, the minister travelled to Papua with ambassadors from New Zealand, Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands for what Indonesian state media said was a chance to observe the handling of human rights cases.

PNG's ambassador Peter Ilau said he was encouraged by what he saw, suggesting that evidence being put forth about human rights abuses in Papua may surprise people about "who the real aggressors are in a lot of these incidents".

He said this while referencing a recent article by a spokesman at the Indonesian ambassador in Canberra that sought to portray the Liberation Movement as a terrorist group.

Mr Ilau also said that the ambassadors heard how people in Papua have had enough of "outside interference" by outside governments and diaspora Papuans.

This is in stark contrast to many representations made by grassroots West Papuans who say they support the United Liberation Movement for West Papua, and that they want access to Papua to be opened up for foreign governments, journalists, researchers and the UN.

Papuans don't just want this – they pray for it. And in the case of Steven Itlay, a Papuan who held a prayer ceremony in support of the Liberation Movement in Mimika in April, he was put behind bars for this.

Almost three months later, he's still in prison, yet another Papuan incarcerated for expressing his political views.

Taking to the street

Since April, there's been a series of large pro-independence demonstrations by West Papuans in the main cities of Papua region, and even in Indonesian cities outside Papua.

The demonstrations, which have been largely peaceful, have featured mass expressions of support for the Liberation Movement and the International Parliamentarians for West Papua.

There have been mass arrests, with around 2,000 Papuans detained on one day alone for participating in a large demonstration in Jayapura to mark the anniversary of the former Dutch New Guinea's controversial 1963 integration into Indonesia.

Since the start of May, over 3000 West Papuans are understood to have been arrested for participation in these peaceful rallies, the most recent one being just over a week ago.

Tomorrow, 1 July, marks the 45th anniversary of the OPM free West Papua Movement's declaration of independence and another round of demos is expected.

The Papua police commander General Paulus Waterpauw has warned that Papuans should not commemorate the anniversary by raising the Morning Star flag, the Papuan nationalist symbol that is effectively banned in Indonesia.

This is unlikely to stop Papuans taking to the streets, but brandishing the Morning Star is still risky business in Papua as the sad death of a Papuan teenager in Nabire city this week seems to confirm.

The family of 18-year-old Owen Pekei say he died after being shot on a motorbike by security forces but police are saying his death was the result of a traffic accident.

However witness statements that police forces were chasing the victim into an ambush situation, and that he was carrying a noken bag with the Morning Star symbol on it, sound all too familiar to West Papuans.

It may be a new phase in Indonesia's international representations over West Papua, but on the ground the old core grievances remain.

Source: http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/307672/gloves-come-off-as-jakarta-confronts-papua-rights

Densus 88 & Indon police shoot dead unarmed Nabire high school student

West Papua Media - June 29, 2016

West Papua Media and local sources – Australian-supported Indonesian Police special forces shot dead a teenage Papuan high school student in central Nabire city, West Papua, on Monday (27th June) afternoon, in an apparently premeditated ambush without provocation, according to credible reports and witnesses from the scene. The student was unarmed.

Local independent media in Nabire, UmagiNews, are reporting that the extrajudicial killing occurred as the high school students were passing by the heavily armed police patrol near a roundabout in central Nabire. West Papua Media stringers have confirmed these reports.

Oen (Owen) Pekei, 18, a student from class 2, YPPGI (Senior High School) Karang Mulia Nabire West Papua, was shot dead at 5pm local time, Monday, after being chased by at least three vehicles full of heavily armed, militarised police, according to witnesses.

One witness, whose name has been withheld for protection, told Umagi News that Pekei was seen riding on a motorbike carrying a noken bag with the outlawed Morning Star pro-independence symbol. Police gave chase with three motorbikes, three unmarked police vehicles, and a truck full of fully armed and armoured Densus 88 anti-terror police in balaclavas joined the chase. Pekei was herded into an ambush area, where more Densus 88 armed members of the police were awaiting him at three points, according to the witness.

Pekei was then shot in front of the new city complex at the Nabire regent's office, allegedly from several directions simultaneously. Umagi News have published a series of diagrams given by witnesses showing from where different armed units shot Pekei. One shot from Telkom head office, the second from within the memorial monuments, and the third from the D88 cars of Dalmas Porles Nabire.

Unconfirmed reports seen by West Papua Media stringers allege that amongst the shooters both waiting and chasing Pekei, were a heavily armed patrol of black clad special forces police belonging to the Australian-trained and funded counter-terror unit Special Detachment (Densus) 88. Densus 88 has been used extensively for several years to conduct extremely violent repression against Papuan civilians engaged in peaceful acts of free expression, and his currently deployed heavily across Papua, whilst still receiving funding and training from the Australian Federal Police.

The motive for shooting is not clear, however police have denied – in the military run colonial media outlet Nabire_Net – that they shot Pekei, claiming instead that he died in hospital after hitting his head during the crash. (WPM: The photos of Pekei – provided for publication by his family with permission – show the entry wound caused by a bullet, which is inconsistent with road impact at low-speed). However, human rights observers told Umagi News that questions arose that if Pekei was considered a road accident victim that was unconscious, why he was dumped in the mortuary instead of receiving an attempt in the emergency room of hospital.

Other circumstances surrounding the shooting have not been confirmed at time of writing, and Indonesian Police in Nabire have refused to answer phone and SMS messages from West Papua Media and also local stringers.

A human rights monitor in Nabire who exposed the news observed that the "Motive appears unknown (as) conducted by the police, but people of Papua demand the Indonesian state carries out a just 'crack down' on any human rights violations that occurred."

This shooting is not the first time an event like this has occurred. On 5 December 2014 the Bloody Paniai incident occurred that left four unarmed Papuan teenagers dead and 17 more Papuans injured when the Indonesian army and police opened fire on peaceful protesters in Paniai.

Some Papuans who have gathered outside the Regents office after the killing told Umagi News that they "questioned the Indonesian government's seriousness in resolving human rights violations by the Indonesian military."

"Bloody Nabire has returned, the security apparatus of the Republic of Indonesia is shooting the indigenous people of West Papua, using the tools of State (guns)"

Source: http://westpapuamedia.info/2016/06/29/densus-88-indon-police-shoot-dead-unarmed-nabire-high-school-student/

UN action demanded over rights violations in West Papua

Radio New Zealand International - June 29, 2016

An international human rights law firm has submitted a formal legal complaint to the UN Human Rights Council regarding violations by Indonesia against West Papuans.

The Foundation Legal Aids for the People of West Papua and the Amsterdam-based firm Prakken D'Oliveira, filed the complaint, on behalf of the so-called Federal State Republic of West Papua, its president, as well as 19 other citizens.

The complaint set out an array of alledged human-rights abuses suffered by the West Papuans from the moment of Indonesian annexation of West Papua in 1963 to the present day.

The complainants said after more than 50 years of death and destruction in West Papua, it was time for international legal action.

They urged the UN to formally condemn the Indonesian government for committing systemic human rights violations against the people of West Papua.

The group said it was hoped that the Human Rights Council would undertake a thorough factual and legal inquiry leading to the passage of a UN resolution containing such condemnation.

Source: http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/307522/un-action-demanded-over-rights-violations-in-west-papua

Komnas HAM wants no part in Papua team

Jakarta Post - June 28, 2016

Jakarta – The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) is taking no part in a government-sanctioned team on human rights violations in Papua, commissioner Natalius Pigai said on Monday.

"Komnas HAM has decided not to delegate any commissioner to take part in the team," Natalius said at his office in Jl. Latuharhari, Menteng, Central Jakarta.

Natalius said there was no possibility that Komnas HAM, as an independent institution, would participate in any government initiative, including the Papua team, which is spearheaded by the Office of the Coordinating Legal, Political and Security Minister.

"The government is not authorized to coordinate or coax the commission into taking part in the team. We do not sit in the President's Cabinet," Natalius said.

Coordinating Legal, Political and Security Minister Luhut Pandjaitan previously claimed that Komnas HAM was part of the team, which, between now and October, is tasked with identifying human rights violations in the country's easternmost region, and is led by former Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) acting deputy chairman Indrianto Seno Adji.

The team's efforts have met fierce opposition from Papuan activists, including rights activist Yan Christian Warinussy, who wrote in an article on local online news outlet suarapapua.com on Sunday that according to the 1999 Human Rights Law, the only institution with the authority to investigate the causes of human rights violations and initiate preliminary investigations was Komnas HAM.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/06/28/national-scene-komnas-ham-wants-no-part-papua-team.html

PNG diplomat encouraged by West Papua observations

Radio New Zealand International - June 28, 2016

Papua New Guinea's ambassador in Jakarta says there's a change of attitude taking place in Indonesia's Papua region, or West Papua, whereby the indigenous people are participating more in the running of their own region.

Peter Ilau this month visited the Papuan cities of Jayapura and Merauke on the invitation of Indonesia's Co-ordinating Minister for Political, Law and Security affairs, Luhut Panjaitan. Also on the visit were ambassadors from New Zealand, Fiji and Solomon Islands.

Mr Ilau told Johnny Blades the visit was about witnessing the government's "holistic" approach in Papua.

Peter Ilau: Issues of human rights, right across to issues of development, issues of education, issues of law and order, issues of funding development aspirations and having a strategic sort of view of linking Papua with the rest of Indonesia and the world, I guess.

Johnny Blades: Are you encouraged by what you've seen?

PI: Well we are absolutely encouraged. There are certainly new trends and the directions from the President here are certainly very forthright, and his overall strategic plan which the minister is now taking across to the people and taking the leadership himself. He is connected and the people understand it, and people take ownership of the development initiatives that are being put in place.

JB: With your background, of course, you were the head of Papua New Guinea's military forces and you know all about the sensitive issues, would you say things are improving on that front?

PI: It's the perception that has been portrayed outside which really misguides all of us, including Papua New Guinea. The Papua New Guinea Defence Force, in my time, and I'm sure it's still the same now, is that we had a very good understanding with the TNI (Indonesian military). We knew what was happening. From time-to-time I tried to explain to people that the so-called buildups are actually their way of managing their border; they have the numbers, they have the resources, so when they move a large number of troops it becomes obvious to people that there's a large mass of troops and equipment being moved, whereas on the other side, we just have 100 men or 150 at the most, and when they move, it's just a group of people moving. So it's not as significant as the movements that are taking place on the other side which is often misread. when you have three or four thousand people moving at the same time, of course it raises tension. You know, when satellites pick up movements of people, they pick up movements of much larger signature, as opposed to a small signature. But they've always managed it, and we've always understood from the PNGDF point of view that they were just doing their normal rotation of troops, normal deployment, extraction of troops.

JB: We see that there's a lot of support for the United Liberation Movement of West Papua over there. What are you hearing?

PI: Our observation here – and I'm sure my other three colleagues Fiji, New Zealand and Solomon Islands will say similar things in their own way – look, we are observing a trend, a show of attitude towards doing things for themselves. You know the governors, the bupatis, the regents, they're all indigenous Papuans. There's no Javanese or any other persons in the driving seat in terms of leadership in those provinces, districts and village levels. Even the police and military forces, there's more and more Melanesians now in there. The financial institutions, the businesses that are run... of course, it's all of Indonesia that is driving development in economics, banking, finance in Papua. But you see more and more indigenous Papuans are creeping up into management. The universities are a class example: all of the professors, lecturers, many of them are Papuans.

So, back to your question, I think this renewed sense of wanting to do things for themselves... a couple of things became obvious in the meetings, and you probably noticed – if you haven't done so yet, there's an interesting article in the Jakarta Post last week. It was done by the Indonesian ambassador in Canberra but it's also a view that was said to us in no uncertain terms to the four of us (ambassadors) that were visiting, in one of the meetings, and that's in the presence of activists, Papuan activists against human rights (abuses), they were telling us that, you know, we've had enough of outside interference with what we're doing. When they say outside interference, they are referring to outside governments and even outside Papuans, the diaspora Papuans who are constantly putting out messages that are not exactly what is being inspired on the ground here at home, what people want to do.

JB: Was that the article that characterised the United Liberation Movement for West Papua as almost a terrorist group?

PI: Yeah, that's the article, and in fact during the meetings a large number of files were brought forward, individual citizens, Papuans bringing out evidence on a lot of the incidents that have occurred in the past, so-called human rights incidents. People were bringing in files, photos and giving it to the minister and his staff for presentation to courts for follow-up investigations and consequently maybe arrests of people who are implicated.

JB: The Melanesian Spearhead Group has recognised the United Liberation Movement as a group and it's obviously in the MSG as an observer, so it can't be likened to a terrorist group, surely?

PI: Yeah, I think one has to see the outcomes of these investigations that are being brought up and the evidences that have been brought out so what is now being shared in the media and consequently when the parliament clear, clears their.. what they mentioned to us, that the president wants all these things, all the incidents that happened before 2000 to be cleared. Once they clear a lot of these and the information becomes public, I think we'll be surprised to see who the real aggressors are in a lot of these incidents.

Source: http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/programmes/datelinepacific/audio/201806072/png-diplomat-encouraged-by-west-papua-observations

West Papuans in the driving seat, says PNG ambassador

Radio New Zealand International - June 28, 2016

Following his visit to West Papua, Papua New Guinea's ambassador to Indonesia says that increasingly West Papuans are in the driving seat in terms of the running of their own region.

Peter Ilau this month visited the Papuan cities of Jayapura and Merauke on the invitation of Indonesia's coordinating Minister for Political, Law and Security Affairs, Luhut Panjaitan. Also on the visit were ambassadors from New Zealand, Fiji and Solomon Islands.

Mr Ilau said the visit was about witnessing the government's efforts on protecting human rights, advancing development and further linking Papua with the rest of Indonesia.

"Look, we're observing a trend, a show of attitude towards doing things for themselves," said Mr Ilau. "You know the governors, the bupatis, the regents, they're all indigenous Papuans.

"There's no Javanese or any other persons in the driving seat in terms of leadership in those provinces, districts and village levels."

Peter Ilau said that even in Indonesia's police and military forces, there were now more Melanesians participating. He said one of the salient points that he and the other ambassadors picked up during the visit was that local people in Papua are fed up with outside interference.

"When they say outside interference, they are referring to outside governments and even outside Papuans, the diaspora Papuans who are constantly putting out messages that are not exactly what is being inspired on the ground here at home," he said.

Source: http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/307457/west-papuans-in-the-driving-seat,-says-png-ambassador

Solomon Islands in support of global vote for West Papua independence

The Island Sun - June 27, 2016

Ernest Ta'asi – The Solomon Islands government is in support for an international supervised vote on the independence of West Papua.

Solomon Islands representative Barret Salato gave the country's support before the UN Human Rights Council for the vote proposal that was made by the International Parliamentarians for West Papua Forum in London last month.

"We strongly endorsed the final declaration of this International Parliamentarians for West Papua (IPWP) Forum which took place in London on 3 May which calls for an internationally supervised vote on the independence of West Papua," Salato said in his statement over the situation of West Papua.

The London declaration has been endorsed by cross regional parliamentarians from 15 UN member states.

Barret Salato spoke of the brutal oppression faced by West Papuans. He said the Solomon Islands government is regularly updated on the violation of human rights against West Papuans.

"The Solomon Islands government receives regular reports of cases of arbitrary arrests, summary execution, torture, ill-treatment, restriction of freedom of expression, assembly and association, committed mainly by the Indonesian police," Salato said.

He said on 2 May alone, 2,109 indigenous Melanesian West Papuans were arrested for participating in peaceful demonstrations in several cities in West Papua and some Indonesian cities.

"The demonstrations were held in support of the United Liberation Movement of West Papua (ULMWP) to be recognized as a full member of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG), the commemoration of 1 May 1963 as Indonesia's annexation of West Papua and to support the International Parliamentarians for West Papua (IPWP) meeting.

"During the arrest, some of them experienced torture and ill treatment from the Indonesian security forces," he added.

"The Solomon Islands notes the recent outcomes of the Foreign Ministers Meeting of the Melanesian Spearhead group that was held last week in Fiji (14-17th June 2016) where both Representatives of Indonesia and the ULMWP sat as MSG members during the deliberation.

"This outcome envisages to establish a safe space for constructive engagement with all parties with a view to addressing the concerns of the MSG members about the recent developments in West Papua.

"In this regard, the Foreign Ministers further agreed to establish a Committee of High Level Representatives of the MSG members to accompany and facilitate this constructive engagement.

"We also welcome the initiative of the MSG to work closely with the Indonesian government to visit the Melanesian Provinces of Indonesia at a later date. This important visit would allow for a clear, objective and independent view by the members of the MSG leaders and ministers."

Source: http://theislandsun.com/solomon-islands-support-global-vote-west-papua-independence/

Government recognizes communal rights of nine local indigenous communities in

Jakarta Globe - June 24, 2016

Yeremia Sukoyo, Jakarta – Minister of Land and Spatial Planning Ferry Mursyidan Baldan has declared the government's recognition of communal rights of nine indigenous communities in Papua.

The declaration was held at the closing of the 9th Sentani Lake Festival at the province's Khalkhote region in East Sentani on Thursday (23/06).

"We want to affirm how Jayapura becomes the living space for indigenous communities. No more actions against the living and cultural spaces of indigenous communities," Ferry said.

The state has supported available space for Papua's indigenous communities so no more people are evicted or forced from their native land, Ferry said.

"On behalf of the country, we affirm that in all Papuan regions, the entire space, mountain, beaches and others are owned by Papua's indigenous communities. Whoever wishes to take benefits, to develop, should recognize the presence of indigenous communities within."

"There should no longer be the elimination of indigenous communities rights," Ferry said.

Daniel Toto, head of Jayapura's indigenous communities, has called on the central government to strengthen the practical presence of indigenous communities.

Source: http://jakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/govt-recognizes-communal-rights-nine-local-indigenous-communities-papua/

Solomon Islands, Vanuatu condemn Papuan rights violations at UN hearing

Pacific Media Centre - June 24, 2016

The Solomon Islands and Vanuatu have condemned the "unresolved" human rights violations in West Papua by Indonesian security forces, saying they have continued in spite of President Joko Widodo's greater attention to the region.

Both countries say the agreed future visit by the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression to Indonesia should also include West Papua.

The Vanuatu statement expressed its "deepest concerns on the deteriorating human rights situation" in the region. "We continue to receive increasing reports of gross human rights violations in West Papua," the statement said.

The Solomon Islands strongly endorsed the International Parliamentarians for West Papua (IPWP) Forum in London on May 3 which called for an internationally supervised vote on the independence of West Papua. The declaration had been endorsed by cross regional parliamentarians coming from 15 UN member states.

"Whilst we welcome the increased attention given by President Joko Widodo to West Papua, the violation of human rights against West Papuan remains unresolved," said the Solomon Islands statement.

Statement by the Permanent Mission of Solomon Islands to the 32nd session of the UN Human Rights Council.

22 June 2016

Thank you Mr President,

The delegation of Solomon Islands would like to draw the attention of the Council on the human right situation in West Papua, Indonesia. We express our deep concerns on the eroding human rights situation of the indigenous Melanesian Papuans, who are the indigenous population of West Papua. As a Melanesian state, the incumbent chair of the Melanesian Spearhead Group, and designated chair of the Pacific Islands Development Forum (PIDF) would extend its solidarity to our fellow Melanesians in West Papua. We would encourage the Government of Indonesia to find peaceful and sustainable solution of the on-going conflict in West Papua through constructive engagement with the representatives of the West Papuans and respect their right as a people.

Whilst we welcome the increased attention given by President Joko Widodo to West Papua, the violation of human rights against West Papuan remains unresolved. The Solomon Islands government receives regular reports of cases of arbitrary arrests, summary execution, torture, ill-treatment, restriction of freedom of expression, assembly and association, committed mainly by the Indonesian police.

On 2 May 2016 alone, 2,109 people were arrested mainly indigenous Melanesian Papuans, while participating in peaceful demonstrations in several cities in West Papua and some Indonesian cities. The demonstrations were held in support of the United Liberation Movement of West Papua (ULMWP) to be recognized as a full member of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG), the commemoration of 1 May 1963 as Indonesia's annexation of West Papua and to support the International Parliamentarians for West Papua (IPWP) meeting. During the arrest, some of them experienced torture and ill treatment from the Indonesian security forces.

The Solomon Islands notes the recent outcomes of the Foreign Ministers Meeting of the Melanesian Spearhead group that was held last week in Fiji (14-17TH June 2016) where both Representatives of Indonesia and the ULMWP sat as MSG members during the deliberation.

This outcome envisages to establish a safe space for constructive engagement with all parties with a view to addressing the concerns of the MSG members about the recent developments in West Papua. In this regard, the Foreign Ministers further agreed to establish a Committee of High Level Representatives of the MSG members to accompany and facilitate this constructive engagement.

We also welcome the initiative of the MSG to work closely with the Indonesian government to visit the Melanesian Provinces of Indonesia at a later date. This important visit would allow for a clear, objective and independent view by the members of the MSG leaders and ministers.

We strongly endorsed the final declaration of this International Parliamentarians for West Papua (IPWP) Forum which took place in London on 3 May which calls for an internationally supervised vote on the independence of West Papua. The declaration has been endorsed by cross regional parliamentarians coming from 15 UN member States.

Journalists working on human rights are still prevented to have free and full access to do their work in West Papua. Our delegation is convinced that access of international community to West Papua, particularly to the UN Special Procedure, will provide an opportunity to improve the human rights situation. We reassure the Government of Indonesia to cooperate with the Human Rights Council by allowing the agreed visit of the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression to Indonesia which should include to West Papua.

Finally, we encourage the Indonesian Government to facilitate the human rights fact-finding mission to West Papua that the members of the Pacific Island Forum have decided to conduct.

Thank you Mr President

Statement by the Republic of Vanuatu

22 June 2016

Thank you Mr President,

My delegation associates itself with the statement made by Solomon Islands.

Vanuatu wishes to express to the Council our deepest concerns on the deteriorating human right situation in West Papua. We continue to receive increasing reports of gross human rights violations in West Papua.

In the recent months more than a thousand of West Papuans were arrested by Indonesia police for participating in peaceful demonstrations. This contradicts the responsibility to protect and facilitate protests that advocate for political and cultural views that differ from, and even oppose, those espoused by the Government.

Whilst we acknowledge and welcome the Report by the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom and of association, which gave example of West Papuans whose rights to freedom of assembly and of associations are restricted by the Indonesian Government, Vanuatu would like to call upon the Human Rights Council to do more.

We call on the Council to work with Indonesia Government to allow the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression to visit West Papua to get objective and independent views of the situation on the ground in that region.

West also call on the Government of Indonesia to allow free and full access of international journalist to West Papua and allow the human rights fact-finding mission by the Pacific Islands Forum.

Thank you Mr President

Right of Reply of the Indonesian Republic

22 June 2016

Mr Vice President,

This right of reply is to respond to the statements made by the delegations of Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and one NGO on the matter of Papua.

My delegation reject categorically the Statements made by those Delegations today. Those statements represent an unfortunate lack of understanding of the current state and development in Indonesia, including in the provinces of Papua and West Papua.

Those statements lacks good faith and are politically motivated that can be construed as supporting the separatist group in those provinces who have been engaged in inciting public disorder and in armed terrorist attacks toward civilians and security personnel.

Such support clearly violates the purposes and objectives of the UN Charter and principles of international law on friendly relations among states and on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states.

Let me be clear, Indonesia, as a democratic country, is committed to promoting and protecting human rights, including by taking necessary steps to address the allegations of human rights violations and abuses in Papua. As no one is perfect, we are always open to have dialogue on human rights issues. But we reject politicization of those issues. We deplore the way Solomon Islands and Vanuatu have abused this Council and the universal principles of the promotion and protection of human rights by supporting the cause of separatism.

Mr Vice President,

President Widodo has personally instructed relevant government agencies to take steps to settle past human rights issues, including those related to Papua, and to put in place measures to prevent future incidences.

In this regard, the government is addressing a number of cases of alleged human rights violations in Papua. To expedite the process of addressing those cases, the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs has set up an integrated team that includes the National Human Rights Commission.

Provinces of Papua and West Papua enjoy wide-ranging autonomy, and democracy, as guaranteed by the national laws. Provincial and local governments are directly elected by, and headed as well as administered by the Papuans. Moreover, it should be noted that the budget per capita in the two provinces are among the highest in Indonesia.

Mr Vice President,

It needs to be underscored here that Solomon Islands and Vanuatu are far from being perfect in their implementation and protection of human rights. They are still facing serious human rights problems.

Corruption is rampant in all segments in the society and government.

Trafficking in persons continues to take place. Children are facing continued harsh punishment, and violence against women sadly is a daily routine. It will be for the betterment of their population if the government of Solomon Island and Vanuatu give attention and priority to seriously address their respective domestic human rights shortcomings.

I thank you.

Source: http://asiapacificreport.nz/2016/06/24/solomon-islands-vanuatu-condemn-human-rights-violations-at-un-hearing/

NZ diplomat visits Papua to observe Jakarta's approach

Radio New Zealand International - June 24, 2016

New Zealand's government has confirmed its ambassador to Indonesia, Dr Trevor Matheson, visited Jayapura and Merauke in Papua last week.

The visit took place at the invitation of Indonesia's Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, Luhut Panjaitan. Ambassadors from Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Fiji also took part in the visit.

New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs says the visit provided Ambassador Matheson the opportunity to observe Jakarta's approach to addressing human rights and development challenges in Papua. It also gave him the chance to discuss human rights concerns in Papua with Indonesia's government.

New Zealand's government says it follows developments in Papua closely, and welcomes the opportunity to engage with all stakeholders on Papua-related issues including central and local government actors, civil society and independence advocates.

The New Zealand Government recognises the territorial integrity of the Republic of Indonesia, including Papua, and welcomes the Indonesian Government's commitment to the peaceful development of Papua.

Source: http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/307202/nz-diplomat-visits-papua-to-observe-jakarta's-approach

Papua rights abuses under the spotlight

Radio New Zealand International - June 24, 2016

Allegations of human rights abuses in Indonesia's Papua region, or West Papua, have been highlighted at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva this week. But as the international focus sharpens on ongoing human rights abuses against West Papuans, Jakarta says it's taking concrete action to address the issue.

Johnny Blades reports.

During the 32nd session of the Council Plenary, the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association zeroed in on Papua. Maina Kiai said what was occurring in Papua was a phenomenon connected with cultural fundamentalism and nationalism where West Papuans in their own land are dominated by another culture, language and tradition.

The Solomon Islands diplomat in Geneva, Barrett Salato, told the session his government received regular reports from Papua about cases of arbitrary arrests, summary execution, torture, restriction of freedom of expression, assembly and association, committed mainly by Indonesian police. Afterwards, he said it was important to raise the issue globally.

Barrett Salato: It will give the international community some awareness about what's going on (in Papua). Not much information goes out to the international community about what's happening so we take it here to the right body of the UN to raise the voices of our fellow human beings that does not have a voice in the human rights council.

One of those in attendance in Geneva was Victor Yeimo. He is the chairman of the West Papua National Committee which has organised a recent series of large demonstrations in Papua in support of Papuan self-determination. It's estimated four thousand Papuans were arrested during the demonstrations.

Victor Yeimo: Too many people die in West Papua, many arrested, many in prison... everyone there. But today, we are very thank you to Vanuatu and Solomon islands to stand strong for us to make voice in Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Meanwhile, Jakarta has been pushing ahead with the establishment of a team tasked with addressing a number of cases of human rights abuses in Papua. As part of this, the Coordinating Minister of Political, Legal and Security Affairs, Luhut Pandjaitan, this month travelled to Papua with a number of regional ambassadors, including New Zealand's Trevor Matheson, to monitor the handling of rights cases there. However various Papuan provincial government and civil society figures are concerned that the team is not independent. One of those is Karel Phil Erari, deputy chairman of the Alliance of Churches in Indonesia.

Karel Phil Erari: I have been rejecting this team because it has never been consulted with the churches, the real churches in Papua.

He urges the international community to press Jakarta to take meangingful steps to address the abuses.

Karel Phil Erari: Jakarta should open an all-inclusive dialogue to ensure that the human rights abuses in papua should be ended for the sake of humanity, for the sake of justice and peace in Papua.

Meanwhile, Barrett Salato told the Human Rights Council that while increased attention on West Papua from Indonesia's president Joko Widodo is welcome, core violations of Papuans' rights remain unresolved.

Source: http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/programmes/datelinepacific/audio/201805680/papua-rights-abuses-under-the-spotlight

1965 anti-communist purge

Jokowi urged to follow regional example in addressing issues related to 1965

Jakarta Post - June 30, 2016

Jakarta – The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has called on the government to honor its pledge to address issues relating to the 1965-1966 communist purge by taking into consideration measures already taken by then-Palu mayor Rusdy Mastura.

Komnas HAM commissioner Roichatul Aswidah said on Wednesday that President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's administration had made little substantial progress, even though the President had promised to do so during his election campaign.

"What I mean by little progress is that there has been no serious effort shown by the government, even though there are two possible ways to address it: through the judicial mechanism stipulated in the 2000 Human Rights Court Law or the establishment of an ad-hoc commission, which is stipulated in the National Mid-Term Development Plan [RPJMN]," Roichatul told reporters on the sidelines of a book by Rusdy at the Komnas HAM office in Central Jakarta.

Komnas HAM has conveyed its investigations into six past gross human rights violations, including the 1965-1966 purge as a result of an attempted coup blamed on the now-defunct Indonesian Communist Party (PKI), to the Attorney General's Office (AGO), in the hope that the latter would take the dossier to the hearing process. However, there has been no follow up by the AGO until now.

Meanwhile, according to the RPJMN, the other option in addressing past human rights cases is the establishment of an ad-hoc commission under direct supervision of Jokowi to facilitate the efforts to properly investigate cases in order to find means to resolve them.

Roichatul said the commission hoped the government would "show remorse by acknowledging what happened in the past so that those gross human rights violations will not take place in the future".

She said the central government could take as an example what Rusdy had done in his efforts to deal with the 1965 issue in Palu. In 2013, Rusdy issued a mayoral decree on a human rights action plan, after finding that Palu residents, who were families of victims of the 1965 tragedy, were living in poverty.

"Through the decree, I can make programs to better their life, such as providing assistance for them to rebuild their houses and allowing them to take the civil service test. Previously, most of them were afraid to take the test due to their status as families of people accused of communist affiliation in the past," Rusdy said.

On Monday, the President said during a breaking-of-the-fast event with the Indonesian Military that he would not apologize to former members of the PKI. The move was made to counter rumors of a planned government apology. (mos)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/06/30/jokowi-urged-follow-regional-example-addressing-issues-related-1965.html

'I won't apologize to PKI', Jokowi dismisses rumors

Jakarta Post - June 28, 2016

Ayomi Amindoni, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has clarified that he does not have any plan to apologize to former members of the now defunct Indonesian Communist Party (PKI).

The statement comes amid circulating rumors that his administration would do so following efforts for reconciliation with the victims of the 1965 communist purge and their families.

"There is no plan or thoughts at all that I would apologize to the PKI," he said during a breaking-of-the-fast event with the Indonesian Military (TNI) at the TNI headquarters in Cilangkap, East Jakarta on Monday.

The statement was reportedly made to counter rumors spread about the government's plan to apologize to families of members of the defunct party.

He pointed out that that it was his fourth statement on the government's stance about the PKI. He previously raised the issue when he met with Islamic organizations Nahdlatul Ulama and the youth wing of Muhammadiyah (PP Muhammadiyah), as well as at the Pancasila Sanctity Day commemoration event last year.

"But there are rumors about raising this issue again. Don't listen to them," he said. The government is focusing on moving forward without being burdened by the past and everyone should play their part in building unity for a better future for Indonesia, he added. (rin)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/06/28/i-wont-apologize-to-pki-jokowi-dismisses-rumors.html

Jokowi rules out apology to defunct Communist party for 1965

Jakarta Globe - June 28, 2016

Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo said the government would not apologize to the now defunct Indonesian Communist Party, or PKI, saying one of Indonesian history's darkest moments will not be revisited.

Jokowi said his government will focus on the future by developing the nation to gain competitiveness with other countries, not looking back on the country's past.

"I said last year [there would be no apology], but then there was gossip. I firmly say there are no plans or thoughts to apologize to the the PKI," Jokowi said at a fast breaking event at the Indonesian Military (TNI) headquarters in Cilangkap, East Java, on Monday (27/06).

The president – accompanied by First Lady Iriana, Vice President Jusuf Kalla and his wife Mufidah Kalla – said he was annoyed to hear rumors reemerge about the party.

"I have said this for many times. Including [speeches] to Muhammadiyah and PBNU [Indonesia's largest Islamic organizations]. But there are still those making up issues. Do not listen [to them], nobody will apologize to PKI," he said.

Jokowi assured that despite the dark history, the government is aiming for future progress. "What is important is to step forward. I am focusing on bringing a better future and prevent such incidents from reoccurring," he said.

A two-day symposium bringing together government representatives and human rights activists in April failed to reach an understanding of the 1965-1966 massacres.

Also attending in the event are former Vice President Try Soetrisno, speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Zulkifli Hazan, House speaker Ade Komarudin, Regional Representatives speaker Irman Gusman, Supreme Court chairman Hatta Ali and Chief Security Minister Luhut Panjaitan.

Source: http://jakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/jokowi-rules-apology-defunct-communist-party-1965/

President Widodo will not apologise to PKI, abolish TNI territorial commands

Liputan 6 - June 27, 2016

Silvanus Alvin, Jakarta – President Joko Widodo or Jokowi attended a fast breaking event with TNI (Indonesian military) officers at the TNI's headquarters in Cilangkap, Jakarta, where he took the opportunity to reaffirm that he will not apologies to former members of the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI).

"Regarding the apology to the PKI. Last year I conveyed [my views] already, there's no issue, no gossip. There's absolutely no plan or idea of my apologising to the PKI", asserted Jokowi on Monday June 27.

Jokowi related how he had already expressed a similar view last year. This was also conveyed when he met with representatives of the central leadership boards of the Islamic mass organisations Muhammadiyah and Nahdlatul Ulama along with other national figures.

"Particularly when [commemorating] Sanctity of Pancasila [Day] at the Crocodile Hole [monument] last year, I conveyed this. But there are those who are manipulating it so the issue has resurfaced. Don't listen to them, [I] won't be apologising to the PKI", said Jokowi.

Jokowi also set straight another thorny issue, that he plans to abolish the TNI's territorial command units. According to Jokowi, the existence of these units are still necessary for the early detection of threats to the country.

"I need to clarify that I am convinced that the territorial units will remain and it is extremely important to maintain their existence for early detection of threats to our country", Jokowi asserted.

[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service. The original title of the report was "Di Mabes TNI, Jokowi Tegaskan Tak Akan Minta Maaf ke Eks PKI".]

Notes

The TNI's territorial command structure mandates the deployment of military command posts and detachments at all levels of the civil administration: provincial, district, sub- district and village. This structure provides the organisational framework for the TNI to act as a political security force at all levels of society.

Source: http://news.liputan6.com/read/2541310/di-mabes-tni-jokowi-tegaskan-tak-akan-minta-maaf-ke-eks-pki

Political parties & elections

Dispute resolution remains with Constitutional Court

Jakarta Post - June 28, 2016

Ina Parlina, Jakarta – After frequent attempts to relinquish the authority to settle regional election disputes, the Constitutional Court promised President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo on Monday it would handle disputes in next year's concurrent polls.

The pledge was made following a closed-door meeting between Constitutional Court chief justice Arief Hidayat and Jokowi on Monday at the Presidential Palace.

Over 100 regions across the country are scheduled to hold simultaneous regional elections in February 2017 after the House of Representatives passed the amendment to the Regional Elections (Pilkada) Law, which was drafted by the government to accommodate a number of recent Constitutional Court rulings.

"The President told us to continue just as we did when handling disputes in the 2015 regional elections," Arief said. He later expressed optimism that the court would be able to do its duty as the number of regional elections in 2017 Pilkada is less than in 2015, when 269 regions voted.

The court had sought to surrender the dispute-resolution authority after its former chief justice Akil Mochtar was jailed for accepting bribes to favor certain candidates in election dispute cases at the court in 2013.

In a controversial ruling in mid 2014, the Constitutional Court relinquished its authority to handle regional election disputes. Three out of nine justices dissented at that time, including Arief. The ruling, however, stipulated that the court would continue to hear local election complaints until a new law annulled such authority.

The court tried to persuade the House of Representatives last year to remove its authority to handle local election disputes through an amendment to the Pilkada Law, but to no avail.

The court later settled almost all the 2015 election disputes with only two outstanding, those of Mamberamo Raya Regency in Papua and Muna regency in Southeast Sulawesi, due to technical matters.

The court has begun preparations ahead of the elections by, for example, a plan to synchronize internal regulations–that include procedures for hearing election disputes–with the new Pilkada Law.

The recently passed Pilkada law, however, was not on the table during the court's meeting with Jokowi as they deemed such discussions would be unethical due to the possibility of the court hearing judicial review petitions challenging the law.

Until now, the court has yet to receive any official request to challenge the law despite a number of parties previously suggesting they would file petitions at the court. For instance, the General Elections Commission (KPU), which is concerned that a provision in the law – which stipulates that the KPU may only draft regulations after first consulting with the House and government – could restrict its independence. "We hope the President will immediately sign the law to provide us time to handle any judicial review petitions properly," Arief add

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/06/28/dispute-resolution-remains-with-constitutional-court.html

Environment & natural disasters

5 palm oil firms face lawsuit over forest fires

Jakarta Post - June 28, 2016

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – The government is gearing up to take some of the alleged perpetrators of last year's massive forest fires to court for the first time. However, an environmental organization has lamented the limited scope of the action in comparison to the profound damage caused by the fires.

The Environment and Forestry Ministry is in the final stage of filing civil lawsuits against five palm oil companies allegedly responsible for some of the 2015 forest fires, a tragedy that has been called a crime against humanity as it killed 19 people, mostly children, and caused more than US$16 billion in economic losses.

Amid public pressure, the government decided to hand down administrative sanctions to 23 companies suspected of being behind the land and forest fires last year. These companies had their land-clearing licenses either revoked or frozen for their failure to act to prevent the fires, which led to the worst pollution in the region for almost two decades.

While the government has started legal action in response to the fires, it has not taken any cases to court yet.

According to the ministry's environmental dispute settlement director Jasmin Ragil Utomo, the process of taking last year's forest fires to court takes a long time because there are numerous steps that the government has to take.

"There is field work, laboratory investigations, calculations and processing the cases through evidence. This takes a long time because the evidence is scattered not only in companies but also in other institutions," he told The Jakarta Post. Jasmin refused to name the five companies.

The Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) legal and executive policy manager Muhnur Satyahaprabu said the lawsuits were not comparable to the scale of last year's fires. "Five companies is too few. If the names of the companies behind last year's forest fires were published, the number could be dozens," he told the Post.

Providing more detail on the cases, Jasmin said the government wanted to implement the concept of strict liability, which was why it took a long time to prepare the lawsuits.

Strict liability is recognized by Article 88 of Law No. 32/2009 on the environment, which stipulates that any person whose actions, business and/or activities use hazardous or toxic waste (B3), produce and/or manage toxic waste and/or cause serious threats to the environment is fully responsible for the damage done, without their liability having to be proven.

Law experts said the article could be used to immediately put responsibility for the fires on the shoulders of the culprits, even though there was no proof that the fires on their concessions had been caused by them or their negligence.

Jasmin said the government would use strict liability in two of the five lawsuits, while it would provide it as an option to judges in the other three. "So even though the companies did something to prevent the forest fires, as long as there's pollution and environmental damage, they're still responsible," he said.

Each of the five companies allegedly burned between 500 and 2,000 hectares of land in Palembang, South Sumatra, Jambi and South Kalimantan, totalling more than 2.6 million ha of land, or 4.5 times the size of Bali Island.

"We can't choose the size of the case because when we went to the field, that's what we found, between 500 ha and 2,000 ha. If we pinpoint a bigger case, then of course we will deal with it," Jasmin said.

Besides using the strict liability concept, the ministry also plans to strengthen the role of experts in its law enforcement. The ministry's law enforcement director general Rasio Ridho Sani said he would build a network of experts who could support the government's law enforcement in environmental cases.

"We will involve them from the very beginning, especially in cases that are complex and science-based. The support from experts will help judges understand the technicalities of environmental cases," he said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/06/28/5-palm-oil-firms-face-lawsuit-over-forest-fires.html

Java on brink of ecological collapse

Jakarta Post - June 24, 2016

Hans Nicholas Jong and Bambang Muryanto, Jakarta/Purworejo – Unruly permit issuance and rapid extractive industry expansion have led to a string of disasters in several parts of Indonesia, particularly in Java, which is on the brink of ecological collapse as most of its forest areas have been converted.

Industrial activities have led to steep forest cover decline in Java, from 15 percent in the early 1990s to 3 percent currently. The deforestation has led to disasters such as flooding and landslides, which have been exacerbated by the recent extreme weather in Indonesia, according to Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB) senior researcher Soeryo Adiwibowo.

"On one hand, the size of natural forests and agriculture fields keeps declining. On the other hand, industry, transportation and abandoned fields keep increasing because Java is being converted into an industrial zone even though its ecological burden is already too heavy," he said.

The biggest culprit is the cement industry, which has grown by eating up the forests of Java. Investors flock to Java because it has more developed infrastructure and a larger labor force than other major islands in Indonesia.

"But the government has to develop outside Java as well right? Until now the growth of the extractive industry, especially cement, has been increasing sharply," IPB forestry department senior researcher Hariadi Kartodihardjo told The Jakarta Post.

According to Hariadi, due to the massive loss of forests, Java is especially prone to flooding during the rainy season and drought during the dry season. In 2015, 80 percent of Java's 118 regencies and municipalities experienced heavy flooding, while 90 percent suffered from prolonged drought.

"The loss of vegetation is causing a dramatic gap between the dry season and rainy season. During the dry season, there is no water catchment and soil dries fast. On the other hand, water cannot be contained during the rainy season because there is no vegetation," said Hariadi.

Regional governments have contributed significantly to the loss of forest coverage in Java by issuing regulations that benefit the extractive industry. IPB data said that between 2007 and 2008, at least 122 of the 278 bylaws passed by local governments in Java made it easy for companies to exploit natural resources.

"But now the Home Ministry is revoking regional regulations that hinder investment, not regulations that are destroying the environment and supporting the extractive industry. It means the government only thinks of the economy and not the environment," Hariadi said.

Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya Bakar said regional governments should also improve their spatial planning.

"Ecological disasters like these are also related to spatial planning. Sustainable spatial planning already takes water conservation into account. It shows that the role of regional governments is huge," she said.

Extreme weather has been especially deadly this year, with heavy rains hitting parts of Indonesia during an abnormally wet dry season. As of Thursday, 56 people had been killed due to flooding and landslides in Central Java alone, with nine people still missing.

Purworejo regency was hit the heaviest, with 42 people dead and six people missing. A search and rescue (SAR) mission is still ongoing, according to National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho.

"Around 300 SAR personnel are being deployed to look for the missing victims. Yesterday, the police deployed dogs but since there were many people watching the landslide, it created difficulties in the field," he said.

Two villages in Purworejo; Sudimoro and Tlogorejo, were still isolated after a flood and landslide blocked road access to the areas.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/06/24/java-brink-ecological-collapse.html

Health & education

Magnitude of fake vaccines looms large

Jakarta Post - June 28, 2016

Hans Nicholas Jong, Nurul Fitri Ramadhani and Rizal Harahap, Jakarta/Pekanbaru – The recent discovery of a nationwide counterfeit vaccine ring has revealed gross negligence and weak monitoring by the government as more cases of fake vaccines are discovered.

The House of Representatives has lambasted the Health Ministry and the Drug and Food Monitoring Agency (BPOM) for being reckless in supervising the distribution of vaccines.

During Monday's hearing, House Commission IX overseeing health and manpower blasted the ministry and agency for underestimating the matter and ignoring public anxiety.

"The distribution happened for 10 years. It doesn't make sense for the Health Ministry to not know about it. Health officers are supposed to be able to differentiate a real vaccine from a fake one, even from the price difference," Irma Suryani Chaniago of the NasDem Party said. The lawmakers are also speculating that the matter might involve pharmacists working at hospitals or ministry staff.

National Mandate Party (PAN) politician Saleh Daulay said that the dereliction violated both the Health Law and Constitution.

He, and other lawmakers at the meeting, were displeased with Health Minister Nila Moeloek's explanation on her official Twitter account about the fake vaccines, in which she said that fake vaccines had account for 1 percent out total vaccine distribution and that parents only needed to take their children to the nearest public health clinic to be administered with real vaccines.

"Lawmakers spend time fighting for bigger budgets, but their poor performance can endanger lives," Saleh said.

During the hearing, the two bodies were unable to answer the lawmakers' questions about the monitoring procedures. The BPOM has yet to explain the contents of the vaccines, claiming that the agency had not received a sample as the police were holding the vaccines as evidence.

"We already collected samples from 25 hospitals and are checking them at our laboratory, but it will take three days to see the results," said acting BPOM chairman Tengku Bahdar Johan Hamid.

The National Police have expanded its investigation after uncovering operations in Central Java and Riau.

National Police Criminal Investigation Corps (Bareksrim) director Brig. Gen. Agung Setya said Semarang Police in Central Java had arrested two distributors of fake vaccines, identified only by the initials T and M.

"There are 15 suspects. We are investigating whether they have ties," Agung told journalists at the National Police headquarters.

The police had earlier arrested 13 suspects; eight fake vaccine plant owners, two distributors, two couriers and one maker of counterfeit labels during raids in Bekasi, South Tangerang, Jakarta, Bogor and Subang between June 16 and 23.

The suspects have allegedly counterfeited and distributed imported vaccines for hepatitis, tetanus, pertussis and diphtheria. "We will expand our investigation to Yogyakarta [...], while four hospitals, two pharmacies and two drug stores in Jakarta had stocks of fake vaccines," Agung said.

The discovery is proof the government is not doing its job, said Marius Widjajarta, Indonesian Health Consumers Empowerment Foundation (YPKKI) chairman. He said that he had filed a report with the BPOM in 2014 regarding not fake drugs circulating in public health facilities, but also fake vaccines.

"In May 2015, I discovered a fake BCG vaccine in a clinic in Jakarta, which obtained the vaccine from community health centers [Puskesmas]. I knew that because it said on the label that the vaccine expired in November 2014, but the expiration date on the vial said March 2014. The label had been swapped," Marius said.

He believes fake vaccines may have been circulating in public health clinics because Puskesmas can procure vaccines on their own if the value is under Rp 50 million (US$3,700), thus opening up the possibilities of them buying fake vaccines. Fake vaccine circulation in drug stores has also gone largely unnoticed.

While Health Ministerial Regulation No. 35/2014 states that the Health Ministry and regional health agencies should monitor pharmacies around the country, they do not have the capacity to do so as the ministry only acts as a regulator.

"The Health Ministry doesn't have investigators, unlike the BPOM which has investigators and regional agencies [BBPOM] in each regions," Marius said. (wnd)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/06/28/magnitude-fake-vaccines-looms-large.html

Pictorial warnings not included in tobacco bill

Jakarta Post - June 27, 2016

Jakarta – Activists have raised suspicion of what they called "foul play" in the deliberation of the controversial tobacco bill in the House of Representatives, as the bill contradicts existing regulations that stipulate that cigarette packs must carry pictorial warnings about the dangers of smoking.

Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW) researcher Emerson Yuntho said Sunday that some provisions in the draft bill were "friendly" to the industry and were potentially being included by lawmakers in order to meet demands from tobacco industry players.

"If we talk about corruption in any legislation process, there must be external parties hoping for a lax regulation that accommodates their interests. Some provisions in the tobacco bill seem to only benefit the industry," Emerson told a press conference at the Foundation of the Indonesian Legal Aid Institute (YLBHI) office in Central Jakarta on Sunday.

Emerson cited Article 35 of the draft bill that does not require cigarette makers to add health pictorial warnings to their labels.

The provision stipulates that cigarette makers must include on their labels explanations of tar and nicotine content, health risks and warnings about selling or giving cigarettes to children aged below 18 and pregnant women, as well as other labels regarding production codes and the date of production – but not that they must carry the pictorial warnings currently required.

The absence of the pictorial warning obligation may weaken lower regulations that oblige cigarette companies to put graphic health warnings on their packages.

Another provision in the article stipulates that "for [clove cigarettes], cigars, tobacco leaves and shredded tobacco, a label that explains tar and nicotine content is not required".

Emerson said that the current controversy surrounding the tobacco bill resembled what had happened in the deliberation of the 2009 Health Law. At that time, a crucial clause from Article 113 of the Health Law, stipulating that tobacco was an addictive substance, "went missing" several days before the law was endorsed by then president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

YLBHI legal aid coordinator Julius Ibrani shared Emerson's doubts, saying that the bill, which became a priority in the 2016 National Legislation Program, had neglected health considerations because it aims to support a 2015 Industry Ministry decree that advocates doubling cigarette production from the 260 billion cigarettes stipulated in a previous decree, to 524.2 billion in 2020.

Anti-tobacco activists have expressed skepticism over the government's pledge to downscale the prevalence of smoking in the country, as President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's has refused to ratify the UN Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, citing the fate of the millions of people in the industry.

Activists have also expressed concern over how the government could address this issue, focusing on health aspects, should the tobacco bill be passed into law at the plenary meeting on June 28.

Lawmaker Teuku Taufiqulhadi of the United Development Party (PPP) said that the House was still deliberating the bill and that it would take time, until after the Idul Fitri holiday, to conclude the deliberation. "It will not be conveyed in the plenary meeting," he told The Jakarta Post.

Taufiqulhadi added that the bill was solely focused on protecting tobacco growers, instead of taking a closer look at the health aspects of tobacco consumption. "That is the domain of the Health Ministry," he said, referring to the absence of pictorial health warnings from the draft bill. (mos)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/06/27/pictorial-warnings-not-included-tobacco-bill.html

Government scrambles to save children from fake vaccines

Jakarta Post - June 25, 2016

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – The government is scrambling to save children exposed to fake vaccines as they are, at best, unknowingly vulnerable to diseases they are supposed to be immune against and, at worst, at risk of infection.

While the number of children exposed to the fake vaccines is unknown, the National Police have called it "nationwide counterfeit vaccine production and distribution" and revealed that these illicit activities have been ongoing since 2003. The police are currently conducting an investigation into a counterfeit vaccine production and distribution ring following several crackdowns in three provinces, West Java, Jakarta and Banten, which have a combined population of more than 68 million. They discovered fake measles, polio, tuberculosis, tetanus and hepatitis B vaccines.

Investigators have arrested 13 suspects, who reportedly include eight fake vaccine plant owners, two distributors, two couriers and one maker of counterfeit labels during raids in Bekasi, South Tangerang, Jakarta, Bogor and Subang between June 16 and 23.

It is also revealed that the Drug and Food Monitoring Agency (BPOM) has been investigating the practices since 2013, when it received reports from the public about the fake vaccines.

BPOM therapeutic product monitoring director Togi Junice Hutajulu said the agency had not been able to determine how wide the distribution of the fake vaccine was.

"It's still being investigated. That's why we're asking all regional food and drug control agencies to see if there is any distribution of fake vaccines. So far, there are only three provinces," she said on Friday.

While the fake vaccines themselves might only contain harmless substances like antibiotics and saline as used in IVs, the government is worried that the counterfeit vaccines could still cause infections.

"While these vaccines do not contain viruses, we're worried about whether they are sterile. If they're not sterile, then of course there will be reactions on the skin," Health Minister Nila Moeloek said on Friday.

The most severe risk faced by children exposed to a fake vaccine is infection, according to vaccinologist Dirga Sakti Rambe. This could happen because the manufacturing process for fake vaccines is unlikely to follow required procedures and may be unhygienic, he said.

"There can be germ contamination in a non-sterile production process. If a germ-infected solution is injected into the body, the vaccine recipient can get an infection," he said.

Symptoms of such an infection include high fever, a rapid pulse, breathing difficulty and loss of appetite. If a child has a fever after a vaccination but has no other symptoms, parents don't need to worry because some vaccines cause a child to present with a fever, Dirga said.

If a child was vaccinated within the past two weeks and hasn't presented with any of the aforementioned symptoms, the child is unlikely to have an infection, he said.

Dirga asked the National Police Central Forensic Laboratory (Puslabfor) to investigate the substances contained in the fake vaccines. "From these results, we will be able to begin to investigate any public reports involving vaccinations, whether people suffer from infection symptoms or not," he said.

Nila said the ministry was still waiting for the results from the laboratory. In the meantime, the ministry has issued a circular to all health practitioners, such as heads of regional health agencies, to distribute vaccines to children who are known to have been exposed to the fake vaccines.

"We understand the public's panic, but until now we haven't received any report on the effects of the fake vaccines. If they only contain antibiotics, then the impact will not be huge because the average dosage injected is only a half cc," she said.

The Health Ministry's director general for pharmaceutical and health equipment, Maura Linda Sitanggang, said the government is currently listing all hospitals that had been identified as receiving fake vaccine in order to determine which children needed to be vaccinated again.

"And for those who are suspicious [that their children were exposed to the fake vaccines], they could consult with their pediatricians. Because the number of fake vaccines could still be localized, we could still catch up," she said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/06/25/govt-scrambles-save-children-fake-vaccines.html

Farmers reject FCTC ratification

Jakarta Post - June 24, 2016

Wahyoe Boediwardhana – Tobacco farmers in Sumber Pinang village, Pakusari district, Jember, East Java, have expressed their opposition to the government's plan to ratify the UN Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), saying they lacked options if forced to transition to other crops.

After years of resisting ratification of the UN convention, the Health Ministry recently announced that the government would formally adopt the convention after Idul Fitri.

A farmer, Abdurahman, said he was worried about the enforcement of the plan, as demand for the Kasturi variety of tobacco in Jember had dropped dramatically from last year.

While tobacco fields in the region covered a total area of 6,400 hectares in 2015, the planting area this year, according to estimates, has shrunk to only 4,700 ha. Reduced planting activity is also attributed to declining interest of farmers in growing tobacco.

"This is because of the continued intense interference of foreign NGOs on tobacco issues and in the tobacco industry in Indonesia," said the leader of the Jember Kasturi Tobacco Growers Association.

He was referring to a report by Human Rights Watch (HRW), which revealed that thousands of children in Indonesia were exposed to hazardous conditions on tobacco farms where they work as laborers.

According to Abdurahman, various tobacco-related regulations adopted in line with global norms are not suitable to conditions on tobacco plantations in the country. He cited the ban against children employed in tobacco growing activities as an alien concept in Indonesia.

He said tobacco farming in Indonesia would slowly die due to such regulations, because the younger generation would no longer be interested in planting tobacco, and domestic tobacco demand would be met by imports.

Suwarno, another Kasturi tobacco farmer from the village of Nogosari in Balung district, Jember, expressed similar concerns.

Various strict rules had been applied by companies wishing to buy tobacco from farmers. The farmers had to abide by the rules if they wanted their tobacco to be bought.

"I totally agree with East Java Governor Soekarwo's stance to firmly reject intervention by foreign NGOs that are making efforts to regulate the marketing of tobacco in Indonesia," said Suwarno.

Last week in Surabaya, Soekarwo strongly rejected efforts by NGOs lobbying the government to ratify the FCTC. He asked the foreign NGOs not to interfere in tobacco issues in Indonesia, especially in East Java.

"No, no. They don't have any business here. Tobacco is the life of the people of East Java. Why should we be regulated by foreign NGOs. Let foreign NGOs take care of their own matters," said Soekarwo.

Indonesian Tobacco Farmers Association (APTI) head Soeseno has also expressed support for Soekarwo. According to him, within the guidelines of the FCTC, there were some excessive provisions that could shut down the entire tobacco industry in Indonesia.

"If Indonesia ratifies the FCTC, we have to switch from planting tobacco. The wellbeing of around 2 million tobacco farmers and millions of tobacco workers across Indonesia will be threatened. Up until now, there is no other commodity with profits like tobacco, and generally, only tobacco can be grown on dry land during the dry season," said Soeseno.

He deemed FCTC a hidden agenda by foreign parties to kill off the tobacco industry relied upon by more than 6 million people in Indonesia. The tobacco industry was the third largest contributor to taxes in 2015 at Rp 173.9 trillion (US$13.2 billion).

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/06/24/farmers-reject-fctc-ratification.html

Terrorism & religious extremism

Wahid Foundation to 'deradicalize' ex-conflict regions

Jakarta Post - June 29, 2016

Marguerite Afra Sapiie, Jakarta – The Wahid Foundation will collaborate with the National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) in carrying out deradicalization programs in numerous areas across the country, especially in ex-conflict regions.

The foundation's director Yenny Wahid said they were scheduled to perform road shows in Ambon, Maluku, and Poso, Central Sulawesi, in which the latter would happen in September during the commemoration of World's Peace Day.

"We're planning to gather local figures to synchronize our perceptions and understandings on a strategy to curb radicalism in Indonesia," she said in Jakarta on Tuesday.

The series of deradicalization programs varied depending on the targets, Yenny said. For example, former terrorists would share their repentance with mosque congregations, celebrities would be the deradicalization ambassadors to the youth and an economic approach would be taken at the grassroots level.

The involvement of former terrorists is a key to a successful deradicalization program especially in directing people not to go astray in interpreting Islamic teachings. "They can give testimonies and convince people not to take and get trapped in wrong choices," Yenny said.

Involving former "big fish" terrorists also will make it more likely for former allies, who studied about radical teachings from Al Qaeda in Afghanistan, to join and open themselves up, and to repent from radicalism. (ags)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/06/29/wahid-foundation-to-deradicalize-ex-conflict-regions.html

Locals continue to aid Santoso group

Jakarta Post - June 27, 2016

Palu – The East Indonesia Mujahidin (MIT) terrorist group led by Santoso, aka Abu Wardah, is believed to be still receiving logistics assistance from sympathizers in the community, although the amount provided is not as much as it was before Operation Tinombala was launched in 2005 to hunt down the group's members.

The officer in charge of Operation Tinombala, Brig. Gen. Pol. Rudy Sufahriadi, admits that the 3,000 strong force deployed for the operation has not yet cut off logistics supplies to the MIT, which is hiding out in the forest in Poso regency, Central Sulawesi.

"The vast forests of Poso make it difficult to block logistics supplies," Rudy said, adding that the terrorist group had currently returned to its previous arena in Poso Peesisir region, a stronghold of MIT sympathizers.

He said indications were that the group was still receiving supplies, one sign being the discovery of the body of an MIT member wearing new clothes.

Rudy, who is also Central Sulawesi Police chief, said that he was studying the patterns of the provision of logistics supplies to the MIT. The group, he said, was feared to have started stealing from locals. Officers also suspect that some sympathizers are still communicating with Santoso.

Spokesperson for the operation, Adj. Sr. Comr. Hari Suprapto, said that members of the MIT continued to decrease in number and only about 21 were estimated to remain. Of them, one is of Uighur ethnicity and three are women.

Santoso is thought to be in his hideout in Lembah Napu in the districts of North Lore, East Lore, Lore Peore and South Lore Selatan.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/06/27/islands-focus-locals-continue-aid-santoso-group.html

Law revision seeks to redefine military's role in terrorism fight

Jakarta Post - June 27, 2016

Haeril Halim, Jakarta – In deliberating a revision of the terrorism law, debate has erupted on the role of the military in counterterrorism operations.

The bill to revise the 2013 Law on Terrorism proposed by the government stipulates that the Indonesian Military (TNI) should act as one of the assisting parties to the National Police, the authorized institution to maintain domestic security, in thwarting terrorist acts.

The new stipulation has raised debates among leaders of the military and high-ranking security officials, where in the past weeks, military officials maintained that the TNI should be given a greater role in fighting terrorism.

TNI's Strategic Intelligence Agency (BAIS) chief Maj. Gen. Yayat Sudrajat said combating terrorism should be the main task of the TNI. The BAIS, he said should be involved in operations to early detect terrorism and to interrogate suspected terror groups, especially if they were connected with international terrorist networks.

National Police chief Gen. Badrodin Haiti said both institutions had been working in harmony for years to combat terrorism with the TNI playing its role in assisting the police. "If TNI wants a role in law enforcement, then who will bring [potential] cases to court?" he said over the weekend.

The law revision has only proposed expansion of the police's role in investigating terrorism suspects.

Human rights activists are also concerned that the TNI's potentially greater role in the law revision will contradict Article 7 of Law No. 34/2004 on the TNI, which grants the military authority to fight terrorism under a special presidential order but only in the circumstance where terrorism threatens the country's sovereignty such as the emergence of militants connected with the Islamic State (IS) radical movement.

Arsul Sani, a member of the House of Representatives' special committee revising the terrorism law, said a win-win stipulation on the TNI's role would be made to satisfy all parties including the TNI, the National Police and human rights activists without having to contradict the 2004 TNI Law.

"No final decision has been made on the stipulation, but involvement of the TNI in terrorism matters must not deviate from the TNI law. We will make a stipulation that will not overlap other laws," Arsul told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.

The bill, which is expected to be finalized by the year's end, is still being intensively deliberated at the House and it is expected that each party faction will submit its input on the stipulation regarding the TNI's involvement by early August.

Arsul said the TNI's involvement in combating terrorism was unavoidable because there were areas where the National Police could not have access to should terror acts, for example, take place on a vessel at the country's border or on international waters, where it is the TNI's jurisdiction.

"Also when terror acts have links to other countries the TNI has official agreements with that is why we have to craft the stipulation carefully," Arsul said.

Critics have blamed the National Police for the failure of the Operation Tinombala joint team, comprising the police and military personnel, in apprehending the country's most-wanted terrorist Santoso and his terror group the East Indonesia Mujahidin (MIT) in Poso. The operation is still ongoing and has spent billions of rupiah of tax payers' money.

Al Araf, the executive director of human rights watchdog Imparsial, said the involvement of the TNI combating terrorism could undermine the country's criminal justice system because with the military playing an active role in domestic security, the institution could potentially conduct arrests like that of the police, which could lead to human right abuses.

"The stipulation must be called off. The TNI law already contains such a stipulation anyway. Why does the TNI want a bigger role in the terrorism law revision? Giving it such a luxury will see a return of the military's role like that during the New Order regime where the TNI was involved in human rights abuse such as the kidnapping of activists in 1998. The TNI is not a law enforcement body," Al Araf told the Post.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/06/27/law-revision-seeks-redefine-military-s-role-terrorism-fight.html

National police chief candidate rejects House proposal for new antiterrorism

Jakarta Globe - June 24, 2016

Jakarta – Sole top cop candidate Comr. Gen. Tito Karnavian has opposed legal plans for a new external unit overseeing the police's antiterrorism squad, saying current supervision is sufficient and only needs to be tightened.

Growing calls for such an oversight body has been made by activists, who have alleged that operations by the National Police's antiterrorism squad Densus 88 have been rife with human rights abuses.

Provisions on the formation of such an independent unit have been taken into account by House of Representatives lawmakers, who have been deliberating revisions to the 2003 antiterrorism law.

"Most of the political party factions want stricter supervision of Densus 88 operations," Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) party politician Muhammad Syafi'i, who chairs the House special committee for the antiterrorism bill revision, told Tito during a fit-and-proper test for his nomination on Thursday (23/06).

Responding to the plans, the current National Counterterrorism Agency chief said: "The current mechanism now in place and enough. It now depends on how we intensify the supervision."

Densus 88 is currently overseen internally by the National Police's general supervision division and the internal affairs division, as well as externally by the National Police Commission and the National Commission on Human Rights. The national police also has guidance written for each members, including the antiterrorism squad in a so-called-human-rights handbook.

"I will instruct the internal affairs division straight away to investigate once there is an allegation of abuse," Tito told House lawmakers, who later approved his nomination to replace retiring Gen. Badrodin Haiti.

The former Densus 88 chief also said he will team up with the National Commission on Human Rights to run programs aimed at upgrading the understanding his subordinates on the principles of human rights.

Source: http://jakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/national-police-chief-candidate-rejects-house-proposal-new-antiterrorism-oversight-unit/

Hard-line & vigilante groups

Bogor 'Midnight Sweep' ends with member killed

Jakarta Globe - June 29, 2016

Jakarta – A Ramadan "sweep" has turned into a police investigation after an unknown assailer shot and killed a member of hardline group Great Bogor Bull, or BBR, in Bogor, West Java, on Tuesday night (28/06).

Ahmad Endang, 35, and fellow BBR members were conducting "midnight sweeps" of rented rooms on Jalan Raya Pemda, Bogor, searching for unmarried couples in rooms around 11 p.m.

The victim became involved in an altercation with a guest, who was angered by the sweep. The man reportedly shot the victim in the head before fleeing.

"We are yet to identify the suspect. Police are still digging into some information and questioning witnesses at the rented rooms," Bogor district police criminal unit chief Adj. Comr. Aulia Djabar said on Wednesday.

Police believe the victim was shot from a close range as the bullet, or slug, has not been found at the scene. "We cannot determine the type of the gun at the time," Aulia.

The body was moved to a police-owned hospital in Kramat Jati, East Jakarta, for further examination.

Illegal sweeps during the fasting month of Ramadan has long been common in Indonesia, despite police efforts to shut down the practice.

Source: http://jakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/bogor-midnight-sweep-ends-member-killed/

Freedom of religion & worship

Government must help Sampang Shiites and Ketapang Ahmadis return home: Komnas

Jakarta Post - June 30, 2016

Jakarta – The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has called on the government to immediately help members of Muslim minority groups Shia and Ahmadiyah return to their hometowns and livelihoods. Their cases, says Komnas HAM, have been neglected for too long.

The two groups have been consigned to poverty after being stripped of the right to live their lives when they were expelled from their hometowns in Sampang, East Java, and in West Kalimantan, respectively, the commission chairman M. Imdadun Rahmat said on Thursday.

"Both cases have been long neglected because there is no set scheme from the government for returning them to their hometowns," Imdadun said in a press conference. "This can't be allowed. The state has to be there for them."

They have lived in poor conditions in shelters since being expelled from their hometowns for allegedly committing blasphemy. Their status as refugees has not only affected their livelihoods but also created a domino effect through their entire families.

"They cannot send their children to school, hampered by constantly improving their standard of living and finding jobs to meet their basic needs," he added.

A mob of around 1,000 people attacked Blu'uran and Karang Gayam in Sampang on Madura Island in East Java in August 2012, forcing 270 Shiites to take refuge in low-cost apartments provided by the government in Sidoarjo, where they have stayed until today.

Meanwhile, over 110 followers of the Ahmadiyah group were violently evicted by a mob from their village in Ketapang, West Kalimantan in February 2006. They were relocated to a shelter in Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara and remain there. (vps/rin)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/06/30/govt-must-help-sampang-shiites-and-ketapang-ahmadis-return-home-komnas-ham.html

Media asked to stay balanced by Ahmadiyah

Jakarta Post - June 27, 2016

Jakarta – The Ahmadiyah Indonesia Congregation (JAI) has called on the mass media to be balanced in its reporting of news related to minority groups in Indonesia.

Leader (Amir Nasional) of Ahmadiyah Indonesia Abdul Basit said some media outlet usually did not provide the complete story behind cases involving minority groups and seemed to forget to ask them to voice their opinion.

"Most of the time, media only quotes officers from government institutions [...] when they should also ask the minority groups," Abdul said at JAI's office.

Zuhairi Misrawi from the country's largest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) said that some media outlets were still sensitive about the word Ahmadiyah. "I once wrote an opinion piece about Ahmadiyah based on my own experience and sent it to a local print media group. The group published my opinion but they deleted almost all 'Ahmadiyah' references in it. That doesn't make sense at all," Zuhari said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/06/27/national-scene-media-asked-stay-balanced-ahmadiyah.html

Religion & morality

Prostitution, alcohol largest social vices

Jakarta Post - June 30, 2016

Pontianak – The West Kalimantan Police have conducted a number of raids aimed at countering various social problems this month and named 766 people suspected of assorted crimes.

West Kalimantan Police community relations head Adj. Comr. Cucu Safiyudin told The Jakarta Post the two most numerous charges were prostitution (135 cases with 230 suspects) and alcohol consumption (132 cases with 129 suspects).

For prostitution, Cucu said police had apprehended a couple who were not husband and wife, and provided counseling. Of the 230 people apprehended, seven cases were deemed criminal, 17 petty crimes, and 206 detainees underwent guidance and counseling only.

"For alcohol cases, those arrested comprised 114 liquor sellers and 15 liquor makers," said Cucu.

The raids were supported by police offices across 14 regencies in West Kalimantan. Other social problems encountered included gambling (73 cases), gang activity (123 cases), drug use (25 cases) and the sale of firecrackers (71 cases).

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/06/30/island-focus-prostitution-alcohol-largest-social-vices.html

Agriculture & food security

Oligopoly rules the shallots game

Jakarta Post - June 30, 2016

Jakarta – At different times of the year, Indonesians' love for spicy food can be costly for millions of households on account of the prices of a number of commodities, such as chilies, garlic and shallots, often soaring ahead of and during festive seasons, including the year-end holidays and Idul Fitri.

In the case of shallots, the unstable price of the commodity is an ironic situation, as local farmers provide more than enough for the entire nation throughout the year.

The price of shallots – a key ingredient in many Indonesian dishes, from the ever-popular Padang cuisine and fried rice, to various kinds of sambal (hot sauce) – hit Rp 44,000 (US$3.30) per kilogram in Jakarta early this month ahead of Ramadhan.

Although the price dropped to around Rp 39,000 per kg on Wednesday, that is still 50 percent higher than the average price recorded in January.

The Jakarta Post's field observations in the Central Java regency of Brebes, the country's largest shallot-producing region, have found that the wide access gap among farmers, middlemen and retailers to distribution channels is the main source of the pricing problem in the business worth almost Rp 40 trillion annually based on current retail prices.

Despite the relatively short production cycle of shallots, growing the vegetable on a massive scale can be tricky for small farmers as it is highly prone to damage.

The high-risk shallot production business has led many farmers in the regency to opt for the ijon system, in which local middlemen speculatively buy unripe shallots at low prices and take over their maintenance until harvest time.

This long-standing ijon practice has made a number of local middlemen very powerful in an oligopolistic market structure, enabling them to control shallot prices, including by withholding supplies to other regions during harvest seasons.

The middlemen, however, defend their existence, arguing that the hold-and-sell strategy they practice is aimed at guaranteeing farmers' prosperity amid the looming risks of harvest failures and mounting production costs.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/06/30/oligopoly-rules-shallots-game.html

Governance & administration

RI gets down to business for tax amnesty

Jakarta Post - June 30, 2016

Prima Wirayani, Jakarta – The government is going all out to convince the public that it is ready to implement the recently endorsed Tax Amnesty Law.

It held a press conference at the Finance Ministry on Wednesday that seemingly conveyed its seriousness in dealing with the issue. A number of high-ranking officials were present, including Finance Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro, taxation director general Ken Dwijugiasteadi and Bank Indonesia (BI) deputy governor Perry Warjiyo.

Financial Services Authority (OJK) commissioner for capital market supervision Nurhaida, Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) president director Tito Sulistio and Indonesian Central Securities Depository (KSEI) president director Frederica Widyasari Dewi attended the press conference as well.

People looking to get information and applying for the amnesty can easily do so at any of the 341 tax offices across the country, where each office will have its own help desk. "Such a facility will be made available after the Idul Fitri holiday," said Bambang.

The tax office has been preparing other facilities and infrastructure since January, as well as has provided easy access of information, Ken claimed.

Its website will feature a specific section on tax amnesty, where people can download online forms and scour its pool of tax amnesty materials. Twenty-four hour information will also be available on its hotline, known as Kring Pajak.

Ken said the tax office would not recruit additional personnel because the amnesty program carried a self-assessment scheme.

The government is optimistic the program – which was endorsed by the House of Representatives on Tuesday – will entice wealthy individuals to come clean with their undeclared assets, believed to be worth Rp 4 quadrillion (US$313.81 billion).

There will be a nine-month window of opportunity, until March 2017, for those individuals and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to apply.

As much as Rp 1 quadrillion is expected to be brought back from overseas – most of which is estimated to come from neighbor Singapore – and be placed in various investment instruments. Among the instruments prepared are stocks, bonds, time deposits and savings.

Nurhaida said the OJK – in charge of both banking and capital market industries – had identified several regulations to support the program and was ready to adjust other regulations, while Tito claimed the IDX could easily accommodate the repatriated funds. "The bourse can manage Rp 200 trillion monthly," Tito said.

If all goes as planned, the government expects to receive at least Rp 165 trillion in tax revenues from the program.

BI is optimistic and has joined the bandwagon as well. The central bank is preparing three instruments, in which amnesty participants can place their funds.

The first instrument will be related to its monetary operations, the second will be connected to the money market, while the last will be correlated to hedging activities.

BI estimates the inflows will bring a number of benefits to the country, such as improve the banking industry's funding availability, strengthen the rupiah and bring inflation down.

As banks get their hands on the fresh funds, they can channel them into loans that stimulate the economy and boost growth to at least 5.3 percent in the fourth quarter. Meanwhile, loans can grow to around 12 percent from this year's target of 10 percent and accelerate further to 16-17 percent next year.

Separately on Wednesday, state lender Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI) held an event in Singapore to familiarize potential amnesty participants with the scheme.

The limited event was attended by Indonesian Ambassador to Singapore Ngurah Swajaya, director general of financing and risk management Robert Pakpahan and Center for Indonesia Taxation Analysis (CITA) executive director Yustinus Prastowo.

Yustinus said that the majority of the 70 attendees expressed their wish to place their repatriated funds in their own Indonesian companies. "The government must come up with a solution for this."

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/06/30/ri-gets-down-business-tax-amnesty.html

Tax amnesty bill passes commission level, inches closer to becoming law

Jakarta Post - June 27, 2016

Anton Hermansyah, Jakarta – After four hours of meetings, House of Representatives Commission XI has passed a long-awaited tax amnesty bill at a plenary deliberation session, despite an objection by the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) faction.

Seven other factions entirely agreed to the bill, while the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) faction and the Democratic Party faction agreed but with certain provisos.

"We agree to bring the tax amnesty bill to the plenary meeting tomorrow. Hopefully the parties will be of one opinion, as this issue is susceptible to being exploited for political drama," Commission XI chairman Ahmadi Noor Supit told thejakartapost.com in Jakarta on Monday.

The current draft implies that tax evaders taking part in the tax amnesty program by reporting their offshore assets will be granted with an amnesty on the tax payable, the tax interest payable and the penalty, and will be obliged only to pay certain tariffs.

"The tariffs are low. And if we write off the tax payable, the interest and the penalty, it would be unfair for those who have been obediently paying their taxes," said Democratic faction spokeswoman Evi Zainal Abidin during the session.

Finance Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro said the tax amnesty deliberation would result in the repatriation of around Rp 11 quadrillion in assets owned by Indonesians. "With the tax amnesty, we can boost the country's development, and we are one step closer," Bambang said. (ags)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/06/27/tax-amnesty-bill-passes-commission-level-inches-closer-to-becoming-law.html

Jakarta & urban life

Reclamation may cause annual losses of Rp 178 trillion

Jakarta Post - June 30, 2016

Corry Elyda, Jakarta – A lawyer has claimed during the hearing of a lawsuit challenging Jakarta gubernatorial permits for the construction of man-made islets F, I and K in Jakarta Bay, that the controversial reclamation and Giant Sea Wall projects have the potential to cause losses amounting to trillions of rupiah every year.

Martin Hadiwinata, a lawyer for the plaintiffs the Coalition to Save Jakarta Bay Movement, said after the hearing at the Jakarta State Administrative Court (PTUN) on Wednesday that his team had submitted written documents as proof that the projects brought many disadvantages for residents and the environment.

Martin said the total losses from the projects could amount to Rp 178.1 trillion (US$13.76 billion). The figure was calculated using three components only. "They comprise the loss of fishing grounds, the threat of flooding and the loss of mangroves," he said.

A research document, entitled "Jakarta Bay Recommendation Paper", by Denmark-based consultant company DHI Water and Environment at the request of the Environment and Forestry Ministry in 2012, showed that the estimated loss of 586.3 hectares of fishing grounds could cause a total loss of $1.36 billion in livelihoods annually.

Meanwhile, the increased risk of flooding is estimated to cause losses of $9.7 billion and the loss of mangrove habitat, including its role as coastal protection would cause losses of $2.7 billion.

Martin said the total loss excluded the potential reduction in electricity generated at Muara Karang and Muara Tawar power plants, which could reach $26.78 million. "Both power plants fulfill 53 percent of Jakarta's electricity needs," he said.

The developer-driven reclamation project, which comprises the construction of 17 artificial islets in Jakarta Bay, has been rejected by many residents and environmentalists, who argue that the projects only benefit private companies and will cause great danger to the environment.

The project came into the national spotlight after a City Council member was allegedly caught red-handed while receiving bribes from property development company Agung Podomoro Land (APL) whose subsidiary holds the permit for building Islet G.

The coalition previously won their lawsuit challenging the permit for Islet G. The construction of all islets has been suspended by the central government. The government has formed a task force from various ministries, including the Environment and Forestry Ministry, the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry, the National Development Planning Board (Bappenas) and the Coordinating Maritime Affairs Ministry to reevaluate the projects.

President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo recently said the project would continue as part of the Giant Sea Wall, or the National Coastal Integrated Capital Development (NCICD), mega project.

Nadia, lawyer for the city administration, said her side had also submitted two documents as evidence. "We gave the recommendation letters of the BPLHD [Environmental Management Agency] on environmental permits and AMDAL [environmental impact analyses]," she said, declining to elaborate further.

Oswar Muadzin, the assistant to the governor on spatial planning and the environment, made it clear that the city administration had no intention of halting the project.

"We'll simply repeat the permit issuance process should the court annul the permits," he said when asked whether the city would stop the project once and for all if the court so ordered.

Oswar argued that the project was for the public good. "Those who are going to live in the islets are members of the public. They are also our citizens," he said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/06/30/reclamation-may-cause-annual-losses-rp-178-trillion.html

Abuse in education aid for poor continues

Jakarta Post - June 28, 2016

Corry Elyda, Jakarta – Parents have misused their children's Jakarta Smart Cards (KJP), a funding facility provided by the city administration for elementary and secondary school students, to buy non-school related goods and services.

A recent finding has shown that some parents have misused the cards in cooperation with vendors to withdraw money using the latter's electronic data capture (EDC) machines.

The KJP was introduced in 2013 by then Jakarta governor Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to help underprivileged students procure school-related goods, such as uniforms, books and nutritional foods. Even though the card introduction was criticized by many parties, its implementation has been continued by his successor, Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama.

The KJP program allocates elementary students Rp 100,000 (US$7.46) per month, junior high students Rp 150,000 and senior high students Rp 200,000, plus Rp 500,000 for each of them at the start of an academic year.

KJP spending is required to be reported to schools, but the reports are prone to being falsified.

Some parents of KJP holders, for example, buy goods from vendors at marked-up prices to obtain extra money. The vendors usually charge 10 percent of the withdrawn money as a fee for their services. Many vendors of school uniforms and shoes on the first floor of Palmerah Market in Central Jakarta, for example, carry out such cooperation with parents.

"We can help you withdraw money with your younger brother's KJP without getting noticed by anyone else," one attendant told The Jakarta Post, adding that her boss was experienced in the practice.

The attendants explained that buyers should buy an item priced at least Rp 50,000 and the price would then be marked up. "The Rp 50,000 price, for example, will be marked up to Rp 150,000, meaning that the KJP holder will get a transaction receipt of Rp 150,000," she said.

An attendant at a shoe shop tried to justify such an action, saying that the practice was aimed at helping parents who needed money in emergency situations. Other vendors became furious when asked about the practice, saying that they wanted to avoid trouble.

At the Kebayoran Lama Market in South Jakarta, nearly all vendors showed signs that they facilitated KJP transactions, although not all of them were equipped with EDC machines.

Attendant Tt, 25, said that many parents used the KJPs of their children to buy clothes or other items. "We, the buyers and sellers, both know it's unruly but it's hardly noticeable, unless someone reports it," she said.

Responding to the violation, Jakarta Governor Ahok said he would allow parents to use the money for other needs as long as the items purchased were for their children. "It is fine if the funds are used to buy food," he said.

The city administration has held bazaars for KJP holders, offering grocery items such as sugar, oil and beef with at low prices. Ahok said, however, that the agency needed to monitor spending.

He also did not mind the funds being used to buy clothes for Idul Fitri. "Clothes can increase the confidence of children. It can be stressful for children if they do not have new clothes for Lebaran," he said.

Jakarta Education Agency official Nahdiana acknowledged that such fraudulent practices had taken place. "The number of those misusing their KJPs is probably only around 1 percent of the 530,000 KJP holders in the city," she said. "It's difficult to monitor them one by one."

She said efforts had been made to curb such practices, including by limiting the amount of money withdrawn from ATMs and the frequency of fund disbursement to only twice a month. She said the agency had also retracted the cards of the students who had violated the rules and those involved in brawls.

"We, in cooperation with related parties, including traditional market operator PD Pasar Jaya and Bank DKI, will continue to curb such violations. We welcome any input and reports accompanied with strong evidence for the improvement of the services," she said. (fac)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/06/28/abuse-education-aid-poor-continues.html

Jakarta destroys thousands of bottles of illegal liquor

Jakarta Post - June 28, 2016

Callistasia Anggun Wijaya, Jakarta – The Jakarta administration destroyed on Tuesday around 20,000 bottles of illegal alcohol confiscated by Public Order Agency officers over the last six months.

The demolition which was conducted at the National Monument (Monas) park by crushing the bottles with steamrollers.

"Actually, 20,000 bottles is too few. Alcoholic beverages can trigger crime and can be used as a basic ingredient to produce bootleg liquor. The impact of booze is severe, drinkers can die in vain," said Jakarta Deputy Governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat, who led the event.

Public Order Agency officers will continue to carry out operations targeting illegal consumption of liquor, particularly by young people, and making sure outlets that sell liquor illegally are punished, the deputy governor added.

Public Order Agency head Jupan Royter said his officers had managed to confiscate 42.3 percent of all liquor being produced and sold illegally. (bbn)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/06/28/jakarta-destroys-thousands-of-bottles-of-illegal-liquor.html

Only 8 percent of intercity buses roadworthy

Jakarta Post - June 27, 2016

Jakarta – The Jakarta Transportation Agency has revealed that only 8 percent of intercity buses examined by the Greater Jakarta Transportation Management Agency (BPTJ) to be road worthy.

Jakarta Transportation Agency head Adri Yansyah said on Sunday that the agency had examined and conducted ramp checks on vehicles at several terminals in the capital city from June 6 to 23 ahead of the annual Idul Fitri exodus, which is slated to peak on June 6 and 7.

"We examined 1,305 buses, and only 8 percent passed the test," he said as quoted by tribunnews.com. Andri added that his agency would give the owners of those buses that failed the tests the opportunity to fix or overhaul them.

Most of the buses, he revealed, were not equipped with emergency hammers, and their lights were dim. "We have given them the opportunity to fix the buses. If we still find any ill-maintained buses, we will detain them," he said.

Besides examining the buses, the agency has also prepared integrated health and security posts at four main terminals and eight additional terminals for the annual exodus. The four terminals are Kalideres in West Jakarta and Kampung Rambutan, Pulo Gadung and Pulogebang in East Jakarta.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/06/27/greater-jakarta-only-8-percent-intercity-buses-roadworthy.html

Locals kick up stink as city takes over Bantar Gebang dump

Jakarta Post - June 25, 2016

Corry Elyda, Jakarta – Conflict between the Jakarta administration and a private company that manages Bantar Gebang landfill in Bekasi, West Java, has again risen its head, with local residents blocking the road to stop dump trucks from the capital from entering the area in protest at the city's decision to take over management of the site.

The latest incident since a previous dispute in November last year led the administration to decide to take over the dump, which has been under private management for eight years.

Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama said after meeting with representatives of the Bekasi administration that the two administrations would work together to manage the Bantar Gebang landfill. "The Bekasi administration has agreed no longer to employ third parties," Ahok revealed.

The city administration handed over management of Bantar Gebang landfill in 2008 to PT Gondang Tua Jaya (GTJ); the city reportedly pays the firm annual dumping fees of Rp 400 billion (US$30 million). However, instead of properly managing the waste, GTJ is alleged simply to have dumped it.

The city administration has sent two letters to GTJ warning the company to fulfill its obligation to develop waste management technology as stated in the contract, which will expire in 2023.

However, the plan for the administration to take over management of the dump has sparked protest from nearby residents, who receive a small percentage of the dumping fee as compensation.

On Wednesday, local people blocked the road and stopped dump trucks from the city administration from entering Bantar Gebang, worried that they would no longer receive any payment. Ahok said he would ask the police to resolve the problem. "We will report them to the police if they continue to stop our trucks from entering the site," he said.

Jakarta Sanitation Agency head Isnawa Adji said the city would compensate locals through a community development scheme. "Each family affected by the operation of Bantar Gebang will get compensation of Rp 500,000 every three months – that's more than the Rp 300,000 every three months paid by the private company," he said.

Isnawa said the city would also hire GTJ's employees as contract workers on the Jakarta minimum wage of Rp 3.1 million. He added that the city would include 6,000 trash pickers who work in Bantar Gebang on the National Health Insurance (JKN) program.

The agency head said he was now preparing the management switch-over while waiting for the company to answer the third warning letter. "We sent the third warning letter on Tuesday. The company has 15 days to fulfil its obligations. If it fails to do so, we will immediately terminate the contract," he said.

Isnawa said the company had failed to build waste treatment facilities, such as a gasification plant, as agreed to in a 2008 contract. According to the contract, GTJ was to have finished construction of the facilities by 2011 with an investment of Rp 700 billion.

Bekasi Mayor Rahmat Efendi, who attended the meeting, said his administration supported any action taken by the city administration, including taking over Bantar Gebang.

GTJ lawyer Yusril Ihza Mahendra meanwhile said he was preparing a lawsuit against the administration. "I have not received the third warning letter but I will immediately prepare for the lawsuit," Yusril said as quoted by kompas.com.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/06/25/locals-kick-stink-city-takes-over-bantar-gebang-dump.html

Increase in vehicle tax unnecessary: Councilor

Jakarta Post - June 25, 2016

Callistasia Anggun Wijaya, Jakarta – A Jakarta city councilor disagrees with a plan from the Jakarta administration to increase vehicle tax by 15 percent as part of measures to control the growth of vehicles in the capital.

"It is better for the city administration to reduce the number of vehicles by prohibiting old vehicles like those that have been used for 15 or 20 years from running on city roads," said Abdul Ghoni, a member of Commission C overseeing tax issues, in Jakarta on Friday.

"The people are already burdened with high vehicle tax. Therefore, in an effort to increase city revenues, the city administration needs to improve its online tax payment system and improve the capability of its tax officers," Abdul added.

Instead of increasing taxes, the city should improve road infrastructure so that taxpayers will obediently pay their taxes, he added.

Meanwhile, Jakarta Tax Agency head Agus Bambang Setyowidodo said the plan to increase the tax by between 10 to 15 percent was an important measure because the city was already overcrowded and burdened with sever traffic congestion.

"Every day, there are 300 to 400 purchases of cars in the city," he added. He said his office was now finalizing a draft bylaw on the issue. "People who can buy cars are people who have money. It's not a problem if we burden them with higher taxes," Agus said as reported by beritajakarta.com.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/06/25/increase-in-vehicle-tax-unnecessary-councilor.html

Angry protesters attack police, blocked from meeting Ahok

Jakarta Post - June 24, 2016

Callistasia Anggun Wijaya, Jakarta – Angry protesters have thrown rocks at police officers who prevented them from meeting with Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama as he launched an integrated child-friendly public space (RPTRA) in Penjaringan Indah, North Jakarta.

Ahok has reportedly been unpopular among residents in Penjaringan after the eviction of people from the Kalijodo red-light district and residents of Pasar Ikan and Akuarium villages.

The police anticipated a possible disturbance during the event and transported the governor to the area using an alternative route to avoid any possible attacks.

The disturbance occurred when the protesters started to throw rocks at the police, who tried to ensure Ahok's security after he inaugurated the park. A civil servant was injured and taken to the hospital.

Ahok said he had been warned by the North Jakarta mayor and the Public Order Agency not to attend the event because many people were still angry at him, but he insisted on making an appearance.

"I told the police that I would go to the inauguration. How can a country be controlled by the masses? Will we let thugs control us? I'm not a coward when it comes to my duty," Ahok said at City Hall on Friday, adding that the protesters' attacks were an act of cowardice.

Ahok said he was actually welcomed by women and children in Penjaringan as he suggested residents should register with the Health Care and Social Security Agency (BPJS). Some of them even took photos with him. The governor expressed doubts that the protestors were in fact Penjaringan residents.

Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Awi Setiyono said people were angry because they were unable to meet Ahok and express their grievances. He said the incident occurred 1 kilometer away from the launch ceremony at the park.

He said the police were forced to use tear gas to disperse the violent protesters. However, he said no one was arrested over the incident. (bbn)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/06/24/angry-protesters-attack-police-blocked-from-meeting-ahok.html

Armed forces & defense

Defense Ministry gets bigger budget

Jakarta Post - June 30, 2016

Prima Wirayani, Jakarta – The Defense Ministry has obtained the biggest portion of allocated spending for ministries and non-ministry government institutions in the 2016 Revised State Budget (APBN-P), ahead of the Public Works and Public Housing Ministry, which topped the list in the original budget.

The Defense Ministry will get Rp 108.7 trillion (US$8.2 billion), or Rp 9.3 trillion more than the Rp 99.5 trillion allocated in the original budget.

Meanwhile, the Public Works and Public Housing Ministry, which has become President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's prime institution for realizing infrastructure development programs, has seen its budget slashed by Rp 7 trillion to Rp 97.1 trillion in the revised state budget.

The new budget for ministries and institutions amounts to Rp 767.8 trillion, down from Rp 784.1 trillion allocated in the original budget.

"The defense and security sectors have become a priority in the revised state budget because of terrorism and drug abuse issues," Finance Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro told a press briefing on Wednesday.

These considerations led the government to allocate more funds to institutions directly involved in countering terrorism and drug abuse such as the National Police, the National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT), the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) and the National Intelligence Agency (BIN), the minister further said.

The Finance Ministry's director general for budgeting, Askolani, said the additional funds would strengthen Indonesia's primary weapons defense system (alutsista).

"However, there is no shift in priorities [from infrastructure to defense and security] in the revised state budget because both of them are equally important," he said.

Askolani further said the government was still committed to developing the country's infrastructure by allocating state capital injections amounting to Rp 16 trillion to Indonesia Asset Management, which would help ease the land acquisition process for projects. (ebf)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/06/30/defense-ministry-gets-bigger-budget.html

TNI rotates troops in border area

Jakarta Post - June 27, 2016

Kupang – The Indonesian Military (TNI) has deployed 700 troops to the area bordering with Timor Leste where they will stay on guard for the next nine months.

The deployment was officially led by Military Region IX Udayana commander Maj. Gen. Kustanto Widiatmoko at the Kupang Main Naval Base VII, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) on Saturday.

The troops came from the Infantry Battalion (Yonif) 641/Beruang (BRU) Singkawang, West Kalimantan, and the Yonif 321/Galuh Taruna (GT) Majalengka, West Java.

"My message to the troops: do the task well, maintain the nation's honor and make sure that state sovereignty in the East Timor-Indonesia border area is well maintained," Kustanto told reporters.

He said he also told his men to deal with security disturbances along the border area. Although the disturbances were relatively minor, if they happened over and over, they could disturb relations between the two countries.

Kustanto added that the troops previously assigned to the area had been successful in decreasing border violations. Yet, there was still homework to do, he said. "Among the tasks are improving the post and continuously perfecting the mission execution patterns, considering the dynamics of the neighborhood," he said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/06/27/islands-focus-tni-rotates-troops-border-area.html

Criminal justice & legal system

Jokowi to go all out on drugs

Jakarta Post - June 27, 2016

Haeril Halim and Margareth S. Aritonang, Jakarta/Oslo – As a third round of executions nears, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo commemorating the UN's International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on Sunday, took the moment to bolster his tough stance on traffickers.

In a fiery appeal, Jokowi instructed the National Police and the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) to pursue, arrest and "smash" small-, medium- or big-time drug dealers operating in the country and even "shoot them on sight if existing law allowed it", to tell the world that Indonesia was serious in its fight against drugs.

"If [shooting on sight] were allowed by the law then I would have ordered the National Police and the BNN chief to do so, but luckily it is not. This extraordinary crime has affected not only adults, but also elementary school and kindergarten-aged children," Jokowi said during the commemoration ceremony.

Narcotics are a chronic problem for the country with an estimated 5.1 million drug abusers.

In the wake of a string of prison riots in the country, the Law and Human Rights Ministry raided the country's penitentiaries earlier this year and found that only 101 of a total 477 prisons were free of drugs.

Overcrowded prisons and lax oversight have turned prisons into drug-infested confinements in which many inmates fall into addiction.

Jokowi has taken a strong stance against drug trafficking ever since he took office, commanding the executions of 14 convicts who were mostly drug dealers.

Playing down criticisms of his tough drug law, the government has announced a plan to execute 18 death-row inmates after Idul Fitri, which will fall on July 6 this year. It has also planned to execute another 30 convicts next year.

The government has recorded that out of the total 152 convicts currently awaiting execution, 58 are drug offenders.

Scores of high-ranking officials have also been arrested for drug abuse in the past several years. "Drug dealers always find ways to dupe law enforcers by exploiting parties that they would not suspect, such as women and children, as couriers. We have to stop this and redeclare Indonesia's war against drugs," said Jokowi.

Jokowi has conducted a number of bilateral visits to countries that strongly rejected his firm stance on executing drug traffickers, including Germany, where he was advised to stop such cruel punishment, but Jokowi has remained resolute to his commitment to Indonesia's fight against drugs.

However, the government has not completely slammed the door shut for countries trying to save their citizens from Indonesian capital punishment.

Last year, the government called off the executions of French national Serge Atlaoui and Philippine national Mary Jane Veloso, both convicted drug traffickers, following appeals from their respective governments.

Criticisms of the government's harsh punishment on drug-related crimes stem mostly from the country's perceived weak judicial system.

An investigation by the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras), Imparsial and the Community Legal Aid Institute (LBH Masyarakat) has found irregularities in the legal process of seven death-sentence cases.

Alleged irregularities include the absence of an independent interpreter for convicted foreigners during the legal process, a lack of competent legal representatives and corruption. The issue of a vulnerable legal process was also highlighted during a recent congress on capital punishment in Oslo.

"Many cases have proved that the death penalty was imposed on the innocent. This has happened even in countries with strong legal systems, such as the US. Imagine what happens in places where the legal system has collapsed.

In cases where personal dislikes and political division exists, decisions could be influenced by personal feeling and not based on law," said the EU Special Representative for Human Rights, Stavros Lambrinidis.

Lambrinidis called for more countries to join the 150 states that have abolished the death penalty, arguing that such a punishment not only failed to deter criminals, but also destroyed the dignity of those who impose the punishment.

"Think about your dignity. I refuse to kill a killer because I refuse to allow him or her to turn me into a killer. It is my human dignity that I am defending. I will not bloody my hands because of what they did," he said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/06/27/jokowi-go-all-out-drugs.html

Slack rules help inmates survive tight prison food budget

Jakarta Post - June 25, 2016

Arya Dipa and Nani Afrida, Bandung/Jakarta – Catur Budi Fatayatin is preoccupied with how to manage the survival of the 185 juvenile inmates under her care with the meager Rp 14,500 (US$1.10) per day they each receive from the cash-strapped Law and Human Rights Ministry.

She often drops in on the catering company's kitchen to join the cooks because doing so gives her peace of mind. Seventy percent of the detainees come from poor families and few family visits means little additional food comes in.

"I have positioned myself as if I am their parent and treat them all like they are my own children," said Catur, the warden at the Sukamiskin Juvenile Detention Center.

The Jakarta Post found that underprivileged inmates housed in prisons and correctional facilities in Bandung and Jakarta advise their relatives against visiting them as they risk being extorted by prisoners acting as "tough guys" who allegedly have the backing of corrupt guards. Once the relatives leave, inmates are allegedly intimidated into "sharing" money with the thugs.

Recalling her first day in the job back in 2014, Catur said there were only 50 inmates in the facility and she would, once in a while, use her own money to buy additional ingredients like flour and noodles so she could vary the food served to the children.

With the tight budget, Catur makes sure that the convicts are provided with an egg and meat once a week. Salted fish is served twice a week and tempeh is the daily staple food.

The dietary conditions in Sukamiskin are similar to that of Jakarta's Cipinang and Salemba penitentiaries. Given the Rp 15,000 daily allocation provided by the ministry, the aforementioned conditions may well mirror the situation in penitentiaries across the country.

In a recent hearing at the House of Representatives, Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly admitted that Indonesian prison conditions were "appalling". Facilities have been operating at acute overcapacity with skeletal staffing and are rife with corruption.

"In Medan, the penitentiary designed to accommodate 1,000 inmates is well-overcrowded. Currently, 3,500 inmates are overseen by 17 prison guards," he said.

Recurring riots and cases of pervasive crimes within the facilities are regularly blamed on overcapacity. As the cost of food increases and the number of detainees continues to rise, the Rp 15,000 per day per person allotment the government set many years ago remains unchanged. The ministry estimates that an ideal allocation would be Rp 59,000.

Aware of possible dire consequences of an overly tight prison food budget, the ministry has scrapped its plan to ban visitors from bringing in meals for inmates, despite risks such as drug smuggling and food poisoning.

Criminal suspects housed at detention centers run by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), the police, prosecutors and the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) are somewhat luckier. Their daily meal budget is Rp 40,000. For immigration detainees it is Rp 34,000 per day.

Throughout West Java, overcapacity levels are astonishing. The 31 penitentiaries and detention centers were designed to accommodate 15,500 people combined, but the latest official statistics indicate that the facilities have an extra 21,785 people.

Inside the Sukamiskin facility, the Post found the diet in the juvenile block was better than that offered in the adult block. In the former, the young detainees say they eat three times a day, although nutrients were prioritized behind portion size.

Zen, not his real name, a 38-year-old ex-drug convict who was released from the Bandung Narcotics Penitentiary last month, described prison life in his old block as disheartening. Meals were served three times a day, but they were far from adequate, he explained.

"The food was served on dirty plates. The staple food was rice served with tempeh, tofu and vegetable soup. We got a slice of meat the size of a matchbox once in a while," he said.

Andreas, 38, a former drug recidivist who was imprisoned four times in Jakarta's Salemba and Cipinang and Bali's Kerobokan penitentiaries, described the prison food he received three times a day – in all three of the prisons – as "unfit" for human consumption.

"The meals consisted of rice, vegetable soup, egg and fish," he recalls. For snacks, he said he was served mung bean porridge and/or boiled sweet potatoes once a day.

Just like "normal" life beyond prison walls, life is easy as long as you have money, Andreas said. In Jakarta, he would buy food in the facilities' canteens, which are in fact intended for visitors and employees. "For Rp 5,000, I would be able to purchase rice and tempeh that was more edible than that provided by the penitentiary," he said.

But less fortunate detainees like "Bodong", a 42-year-old drug convict, have to survive solely on the meals served at the Cipinang facility. He is too poor to buy food at the canteen or pay to use the communal kitchen. "Sometimes my family brings me food. It's the time I can have my favorite dishes," he said.

In Bandung, there are prisoners who double as food hawkers for catering companies, selling everything from fried rice and instant noodles to nasi rames (rice with side dishes) for between Rp 15,000 and Rp 20,000.

Can't kick the smoking habit? No problem. Cigarettes of all brands are available for those that can afford to pay. Need a new shirt? Want one that is fashionable? Easy, as long as you can pay the hundreds of thousands of rupiah purchase price, the latest model will be brought to you in no time.

For some, penitentiary life is a profitable business opportunity indeed. For others, the opportunity to eat is a luxury.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/06/25/slack-rules-help-inmates-survive-tight-prison-food-budget.html

Police & law enforcement

Tito signals major shake-up

Jakarta Post - June 28, 2016

Nurul Fitri Ramadhani, Jakarta – The House of Representatives having approved counterterrorism chief Comr. Gen. Tito Karnavian as the next leader of the National Police on Monday, Tito immediately announced plans to reshuffle the institution's upper echelons.

Tito said that there would be replacements, including of the deputy leadership, a post currently held by politically wired Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan.

"I first need to discuss with the President and Wanjakti [the police's rank and promotions council for high-ranking officers]," he explained, refusing, though, to disclose when he would do so.

"Budi is still deputy chief. I don't want to predict anything because the process will need a series of consultations with related stakeholders," he added.

Budi, the best friend of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri, was President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's pick last year before he became embroiled in a bribery case that was not cleared until later on in the year.

Tito, a 1987 graduate of the Police Academy, was the sole nominee chosen by Jokowi to replace Gen. Badrodin Haiti, who is to retire from his post by the end of July.

Since Tito is the youngest of five names originally floated as potential candidates, including Budi and National Narcotics Agency (BNN) chief Budi Waseso, speculation is rife that he will replace Budi with a younger figure in order to avoid any challenges to Tito's authority from within the institution.

At the same time, however, he is tasked with maintaining unity in the institution after his installment by maintaining good relationships with his erstwhile seniors, who will become his subordinates.

Insp. Gen. Lutfi Lubihanto, a 1984 graduate of the academy, and Comr. Gen. Syafruddin, a 1985 graduate, have previously been mentioned as the strongest candidates to replace Budi, who may be appointed as National Intelligence Agency (BIN) chief, replacing Lt. Gen. (ret.) Sutiyoso.

Tito declined to elaborate further on the planned shake-up, saying only that in the first 100 days of his leadership he would look to implement the priority programs that he elaborated during his confirmation hearing with House Commission III overseeing security, human rights and legal affairs last Thursday.

"What requires our focus in the here and now is to safeguard the upcoming Idul Fitri exodus," he said.

The PDI-P, a party to which Budi has close links, claimed that the internal reshuffle was entirely within Tito's authority, but argued there was no need for a new deputy chief in the near future.

"We don't yet need a replacement, because with the current deputy chief, the situation remains stable. If it's not broken, don't fix it," PDI-P lawmaker Masinton Pasaribu said.

Democratic Party politician Benny Kabur Harman said that Tito should set out his strategic positions and reorganize the upper echelons, but he advised that a senior figure be appointed as deputy police chief in order to maintain internal order. "Experience is important. But it's all up to Tito, with input from the President," Benny said.

More important than plotting a reshuffle, Benny added, was for Tito to come up with an action plan for his first 100 days aimed at internal reform, and particularly at eradicating corruption within the institution.

"Previous police chiefs have proven able to plan, but unable to carry out action. We don't want the same thing now. Tito must keep to his promises," he added.

PDI-P lawmaker Komarudin Watubun Tanawani Mora from the Papua electoral district expressed hope that Tito, a former Papua Police chief, could bring an end to the frequent shootings and gunfights in the region.

"I deliver a message from the Papuans, who hope that Tito can eradicate the gun attacks that occur so frequently in our region and have taken so many lives," Komarudin said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/06/28/tito-signals-major-shake-up.html

House officially appoints Tito Karnavian as National Police chief

Jakarta Post - June 27, 2016

Marguerite Afra Sapiie, Jakarta – The House of Representatives officially appointed Comr. Gen. Tito Karnavian as the new National Police chief during a plenary meeting on Monday.

The plenary meeting, chaired by House Deputy Speaker Fadli Zon, unanimously agreed with Commission III's decision to appoint Tito as the successor of Gen. Badrodin Haiti.

"We welcome Comr. Gen. Tito Karnavian as the next National Police chief [...] the result of this plenary meeting will be followed up on according to the existing mechanism," Fadli Zon concluded the meeting.

The decision followed up a series of confirmation hearings held by House Commission III overseeing legal affairs, which finished last Friday. All political party factions in the commission approved of Tito as the sole candidate to take on the top cop post.

Currently serving as the National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) chief, Tito will be the first among his 1987 police academy batch to be granted a four-star rank and will become the nation's youngest ever national police chief. (yan)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/06/27/house-officially-appoints-tito-karnavian-as-national-police-chief.html

Tito hints at reshuffle inside national police

Jakarta Post - June 27, 2016

Marguerite Afra Sapiie, Jakarta – Top counterterrorism official Comr. Gen. Tito Karnavian on Monday hinted he would conduct a reshuffle soon after he takes over the helm of the National Police.

His statement came in response to speculation that the government would replace State Intelligence Agency (BIN) chief Sutiyoso with Comr. Gen Budi Gunawan, currently the National Police deputy chief.

"Yes, but I don't know when [Budi will become BIN chief]. I've heard about the plan," Tito confirmed to journalists, adding that Budi still held the deputy chief title.

Following his official appointment to be the next National Police chief by the House of Representatives, Tito asserted that he had yet to think about or make any decision about who would be the next National Police deputy chief.

The decision could only be taken following discussions with the internal police corps, with the Police High Ranking Officials Nomination Council (Wanjakti) and with President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, Tito said.

Tito was the youngest of the three-star police generals who were under consideration to succeed the current National Police chief Gen. Badrodin Haiti. The government has not yet announced when Tito would be inaugurated. (bbn)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/06/27/tito-hints-at-reshuffle-inside-national-police.html

House confirms Tito as police chief, despite chequered rights record

Jakarta Post - June 24, 2016

Nurul Fitri Ramadhani, Jakarta – Comr. Gen. Tito Karnavian will soon be named as the next National Police chief to replace retiring Gen. Badrodin Haiti after he passed a confirmation hearing with the House of Representatives on Thursday.

During his meeting with House Commission III overseeing human rights and legal affairs, Tito said he would optimize the mapping of radical and intolerant groups as an early detection and preventive measure.

According to Tito, who is the current National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) chief, despite terrorist groups becoming more dynamic, the National Police do not yet have a single mapping system of radicalism in the country.

"Don't forget that we also have to encourage public participation to counteract radicalism," Tito told the commission.

Countering radicalism and intolerance in the country is only one of the 11 priority programs he plans to implement during his leadership of the National Police, but they were not without scrutiny. During Thursday's hearing, most of the lawmakers from 10 factions asked how Tito could balance law enforcement with human rights protection.

As a former chief of the National Police's antiterrorist squad (Densus 88), Tito is recognized as an officer who knows about countering terrorism, but he also has a problematic record on human rights.

Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) lawmaker Habib Aboe Bakar Al Habsyi said the commission received objections to Tito's appointment from several rights groups as he was deemed anti-democratic.

One example was a Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) document showing that Tito allegedly arrested 26 rights workers, two Legal Aid (LBH) lawyers and a college student during a labor rally in front of the State Palace on Oct. 20, 2015, when he was still in charge of the Jakarta Police.

Another example was a series of raids on terrorist training camps in several areas in Aceh, including in Aceh Besar, Lhokseumawe, Banda Aceh and Meulaboh, by Densus 88 in 2010 when Tito led the squad. During the raids Densus 88 wrongly arrested a total of 15 people and shot dead five civilians.

As Tito mentioned strengthening Densus 88 in his priority program, lawmakers were worried as to what he meant.

"We want more humane police programs, including in countering terrorism. The police should in the future be able to embrace the public, not only perform firmly and with weapons," Herman Herry of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) said.

Tito acknowledged that the public's trust in the police was low, and that one of the reasons was because the police's Densus 88 often acted aggressively against terrorism suspects.

The scrutiny grew heavier after the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) revealed that around 121 terrorist suspects had been killed by Densus 88.

In response, Tito promised that under his leadership, he would uphold human rights when combating terrorism. His first step would be to strengthen coordination with Komnas HAM to brief police officers, particularly Densus 88 members, about human rights-based counter-terrorism.

He will also hold a special briefing with Densus' senior officials and other former chiefs about combating terrorism without violating human rights. "So that they can be more careful in using their powers," he said.

However, he emphasized that tough measures were sometimes needed as terrorists acted ruthlessly, endangering police officers and the public.

To support reforms, Tito plans to increase performance incentives for all police officers to improve their welfare. Moreover, better incentives will hopefully reduce corruption within the police institution.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/06/24/house-confirms-tito-police-chief-despite-chequered-rights-record.html

Mining & energy

Government prepares lawsuits against coal mining firms

Jakarta Post - June 30, 2016

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – The government is seeking to sue more companies blamed for 25 deaths at depleted coal mine pits in East Kalimantan that took place between 2011 and 2016 after years of protracted inaction.

The Environment and Forestry Ministry is currently collecting data and information regarding the deaths in order to build legal cases against the mining companies.

"We will enforce criminal law [on these companies]," the ministry's law enforcement director-general Rasio Ridho Sani told The Jakarta Post.

So far, the East Kalimantan Police have named suspects in six cases involving deaths. Two cases occurred in Kutai Kartanegara and four in Samarinda.

The police, however, have declined to disclose which companies are responsible for those cases, saying that "those responsible will flee" if their names are revealed to the media.

Besides enforcing the law, the government has also taken some steps so that the depleted coal mine pits do not claim more lives in the future. "We have taken some steps since the end of 2014," Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya Bakar told the Post.

Those steps include ordering two coal companies to halt their operations so that they could close down the pits, according to Rasio. East Kalimantan Governor Awang Faroek Ishak has also stopped the operations of 11 companies, he added.

"Furthermore, the Environment and Forestry Ministry, the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry, the Presidential Staff Office, the Corruption Eradication Commission [KPK] and the East Kalimantan provincial government have met with 111 mining companies to ensure that they uphold good mining practices to prevent further casualties and environmental devastation," Rasio said.

Last month, the Presidential Staff Office also promised to coordinate with the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry and the Environment and Forestry Ministry to handle the cases in the near future.

The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) and the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) have decried the government's protracted inaction in dealing with the deaths, saying that the government had neglected its foremost obligation to monitor mining activities in three regions in the province, including Kutai Kartanegara, North Penajam Paser and Samarinda.

"We have found that the government turned a blind eye toward coal mining companies that did not conduct reclamation after mining activities that led to 25 deaths between 2011 and 2015," KPAI chairman Asrorun Niam Sholeh said in a letter to President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo.

He added that so far only one case had been brought to trial from the 25 deaths. He said further that the verdict in the trial was too lenient as the prosecutors only demanded two months of jail time.

"This thing really harmed justice because it did not affect the owner and decision makers in the company," Asrorun said.

Komnas HAM commissioner Roichatul Aswidah said, meanwhile, that both the central government and local administrations had failed to uphold the obligation of companies to restore unused sites after 30 days without any mining activities, as stipulated in a 2010 governmental decree on reclamation and post-mining activity.

The 2010 governmental decree stipulates that a mining company is obliged to pay some amount of money to the government as a guarantee that they will restore their unused mining sites in the future.

"The government is obliged to monitor their activities. As the party responsible for granting mining permits to companies, the government could revoke those permits if they are found to have disregarded their obligations as stipulated by law," Roichatul said.

According to data from Network for Mining Advocacy (Jatam) made available to the Post, death cases took place in unrestored mining sites owned by 17 private companies.

Three of these companies gained their mining permits from the central government, one obtained its permit from the provincial administration and the rest gained their permits from either the Samarinda Municipality or the Kutai Kartanegara and North Penajam Paser Regency.

Another Komnas HAM commissioner, Siti Noor Laila, said recalcitrant companies had violated a number of human rights, ranging from the right to life and the right to safety to the rights of children.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/06/30/govt-prepares-lawsuits-against-coal-mining-firms.html

Government blamed for deaths in former coal mining sites

Jakarta Post - June 28, 2016

Jakarta – The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has decried the government's "protracted inaction" in dealing with 25 deaths at depleted coal mine pits in East Kalimantan that took place between 2011 and 2016.

Komnas HAM commissioner Roichatul Aswidah said Monday the government had neglected its foremost obligation to monitor mining activities in three regions in the province, including Kutai Kartanegara, North Penajam Paser and Samarinda.

Roichatul said both the central government and local administrations had turned a blind eye to those cases involving negligence by companies in restoring unused sites after 30 days without any mining activities, as stipulated in a 2010 governmental decree on reclamation and post-mining activity.

According to data from Network for Mining Advocacy (Jatam) made available to The Jakarta Post, death cases took place in unrestored mining sites owned by 17 private companies. Three of these companies gained their mining permits from the central government, one obtained its permit from the provincial administration and the rest gained their permits from either the Samarinda Municipality or the Kutai Kartanegara and North Penajam Paser Regency.

Another Komnas HAM commissioner, Siti Noor Laila, said recalcitrant companies had violated a number of human rights, ranging from the right to life and the right to safety to the rights of children.

"Having visited the sites last week, we found that people living around depleted mining sites worried that they would possibly slip or sink into the pond because lots of these sites are located only 10 meters from their houses," Siti said.

She also called the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to delve into the transparency of the details regarding guarantee payments by mining companies in those three regions. The 2010 governmental decree stipulates that a mining company is obliged to pay some amount of money to the government as a guarantee that they will restore their unused mining sites in the future.

"Have those companies paid their obligations from the outset? Currently, there is no transparency on that front," she said.

Jatam executive director Merah Johansyah said the companies found to have neglected their obligations to restore their unused sites could be charged with criminal sentences.

East Kalimantan Police have named suspects in six cases involving deaths: Two cases occurred in Kutai Kartanegara and four in Samarinda. The police, however, have declined to disclose which companies are responsible for those cases, saying that "those responsible will flee" if their names are revealed to the media.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/06/28/govt-blamed-deaths-former-coal-mining-sites.html

Gas-rich RI to import LNG for electrification program

Jakarta Post - June 25, 2016

Fedina S. Sundaryani, Jakarta – Despite claims of having abundant natural gas resources, Indonesia plans to start importing liquefied natural gas (LNG) to be able to run its ambitious 35,000 megawatt (MW) electrification program.

The country will start importing LNG in 2019 as demand for natural gas is expected to skyrocket within the next decade due to a high number of gas-fueled power plants to be constructed, according to the Upstream Oil and Gas Regulatory Special Task Force (SKKMigas).

"Existing data show that we can barely fulfill existing demand and it seems that in 2019 we will have to start importing. This will reverse what we achieved in the past. We were one of the first countries to export LNG," SKKMigas spokesman Taslim Z. Yunus told reporters on Thursday.

According to the data, national production of natural gas reached 6,650 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd) between January and June 18, 2.8 percent higher than production targets in this year's state budget.

Domestic demand is estimated to stand at 4,000 billion British thermal units per day (BBTUD) of gas, 57.5 percent of total production. However, the same data also show that existing supply will decline to around 5,000 mmscfd in 2019 and continue to drop to below 2,000 mmscfd by 2030.

If supply drops in 2019, it has been estimated that more than 8,000 mmscfd will have to be imported in order to fulfill Indonesia's annual 9 percent increase in natural gas demand.

At the same time, state-owned electricity company Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) has also said that it will need 1,250 BBTUD of gas to supply its power plants for the next 25 years.

As many as 1,142 BBTUD of gas will be distributed to its gas and steam-fueled power plants in Java and Bali, while the rest will be distributed to other power plants across the country.

The volume of natural gas needed for all power plants is even larger, highlighting the urgency of making new gas field discoveries.

According to the government's estimates, it will need 8,297 billion cubic feet (bcf) of gas by 2025 to supply all power plants in Indonesia. Up to 4,149 bcf will be delivered using piped gas, while the remaining 4,148 bcf will come in the form of LNG.

Gas and steam-fueled power plants have greater needs as they make up a significant portion of both the 35,000 MW program and also the long-term 2016-2025 electricity procurement business plan.

According to the latest business plan, gas and steam-fueled power plants are expected to be the second-largest category of electricity supply under the 35,000 MW program, with coal-fueled power plants accounting for the largest portion.

"If we do not make any more discoveries soon, we will definitely have to start importing," Taslim said.

However, hopes for new discoveries remain low as oil and gas companies have downscaled most of their exploration activities as a result of low crude oil prices over the past two years.

In 2016, only six seismic and non-seismic surveys out of 46 planned surveys have been conducted so far, while only 19 exploratory wells have been drilled out of 137 wells planned.

Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Sudirman Said claimed that his ministry would not allow LNG imports before 2020 as the government wanted to ensure that all gas produced would be absorbed by the domestic market.

"If we continue to produce gas as we normally do now but also import, the country will not be able to absorb all that gas because of our small market and infrastructure," he said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/06/25/gas-rich-ri-import-lng-electrification-program.html

Government tones down expectations on renewable energy

Jakarta Post - June 24, 2016

Fedina S. Sundaryani, Jakarta – The government has lowered its expectation of how much electricity can be generated using renewable energy in the medium term, despite rambunctious efforts to take advantage of Indonesia's plentiful resources.

The percentage of electricity targeted to be generated by renewable energy by 2025 has decreased to 19.6 percent from the initial goal of 25 percent, according to a final copy of the 2016-2025 electricity procurement business plan (RUPTL), submitted by state-owned electricity company PLN and finalized by the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry.

The RUPTL states that the original target of 25 percent, as stated in the 2015-2034 general plan for national electricity (RUKN), was unachievable unless an additional 3.6 gigawatts (GW) was procured from nuclear power plants or 14.4 GW from other renewable energy sources in order to produce approximately 27 terawatt-hours (TWh).

"Another option is to take advantage of 5.1 GW gas-fueled power plants as a contingency plan in the case that the 25 percent new and renewable energy target is not achieved by 2025," the RUPTL reads.

Electricity procurement targets from other sources have also changed. By 2025, the government hopes that 50.3 percent of electricity generation will be fueled by coal, 29.4 percent by gas, 0.7 percent by petroleum-based fuel and the remaining 19.6 percent by new and renewable energy sources.

Notably, the target for electricity generation from gas has increased from 24.3 percent to make up for the new and renewable energy sources.

Indonesia's unique position as a tropical and archipelagic country has left it with abundant renewable energy sources, from hydropower to solar energy. The increased use of new and renewable energy will benefit the country in the long term as the costs incurred from the environmental damage caused by the exploitation of fossil-based fuels is far-reaching.

The country is estimated to have around 28 GW in geothermal potential and 75 GW in hydropower potential that can general electricity. The estimated total potential of renewable energy in the country is estimated to reach more than 300,000 megawatts (MW).

In 2015, 55.7 percent of electricity generation was fueled by coal, 25.3 percent by gas, 8.2 percent by diesel fuel, 5.9 percent by hydropower plants and approximately 4 percent from geothermal energy, according to PLN data.

Indonesia has long been trying to increase the electrification ratio in order to further support economic growth. Currently, the country's electrification rate stands at 88.3 percent and is expected to increase to 99.7 percent by 2025.

Among the government's efforts to boost electrification is the ambitious 35,000 MW plan, which is expected to increase the ratio to a whopping 97.35 percent.

PLN president director Sofyan Basir said the company was currently focusing on speeding up the construction of gas-fueled power plants outside of Java as steam-fueled power plants took much longer to build.

"We are concerned that we will not be able to complete the steam-fueled power plants outside of Java by 2017 to 2018. So we are focused on the EPC [engineering, procurement and construction] of the gas-types," he said recently.

Sofyan estimated that around 2,000 MW of gas power plants would be constructed outside of Java, many of which could be constructed in the form of mobile power plants as they only took five to six months to complete.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/06/24/govt-tones-down-expectations-renewable-energy.html

Economy & investment

Tax amnesty expected to buoy condominium sales

Jakarta Post - June 24, 2016

Jakarta – The planned tax amnesty, aimed to lure more than Rp 100 trillion (US$7.5 billion) in funds back to the country, is expected to help condominium sales this year as wealthy Indonesians look for options to invest repatriated funds.

According to a survey by property consultant Cushman & Wakefield, sales rate of condominiums in the second quarter of the year stood at 98.2 percent, relatively flat compared to the previous quarter and year. However, the occupancy rate was only 62.5 percent, a 2.1 percentage point decrease from the previous quarter.

"The tax amnesty, given the amount of repatriated funds that could be spent in the country, should excite demand in the property industry. It's just a matter of time," said Cushman & Wakefield director of research and advisory services Arief Rahardjo in Jakarta on Thursday.

He argued that apartments and condominiums were good investment objects that could absorb the repatriated funds. Roughly, he further explained, 60 percent of condominium buyers were investors.

The total supply of condominiums in Greater Jakarta stood at 181,005 units in the reviewed quarter, an increase of 4.8 percent quarter-on-quarter and 21.3 percent year-on-year. In the same period, 16 new projects were launched in the market.

The property consultant company also revealed that 65 percent of condominium transactions in the second quarter were for lower-to-medium-priced properties. (vps/ags)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/06/24/tax-amnesty-expected-to-buoy-condominium-sales.html

Analysis & opinion

West Papua: Human rights abuses cannot be hidden

The Daily Blog - June 30, 2016

Maire Leadbetter – It is time that New Zealand recognised the obvious – Indonesia's repressive rule has not extinguished West Papuan aspirations for freedom.

We turned our backs on the people fifty years ago, but we have the chance to do better now. We could start by backing the call for a Pacific fact-finding mission and urging Indonesia to stop arresting peaceful demonstrators.

The Indonesian Government has developed strategies for avoiding international criticism over its appalling human rights record in West Papua. One strategy is to keep the outside world out and ensure that approved visitors such as journalists and diplomats are carefully guided and get to meet with the 'right' people. With variations this technique has served Indonesia well since it took over the territory back in 1963.

However, this strategy is not working out so well just now. It is the digital age and you can't arrest thousands of people; a record – breaking two thousand in May and over one thousand in June – and hope the word won't get out. In May the arrested demonstrators were videoed as they were herded into a police compound, stripped to the waist and forced to stay for hours under the burning sun. What was their offence? The peaceful demonstrators were simply carrying placards supporting international initiatives such as the drive to have the United Liberation Movement of West Papua (ULMWP) recognised as a full member of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG). That would be an important step-up from the current ULMWP status as an MSG observer.

The Solomon Islands envoy in Geneva, Barrett Salato, gave a moving address recently to the United Nations Human Rights Council in which he drew attention to the arrests. He also backed the call (endorsed by the International Parliamentarians for West Papua and others) for an internationally supervised referendum so that the people could choose whether or not they want to stay with Indonesia. The Vanuatu delegate joined Mr Salato in calling for Indonesia to allow both the UN Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and a Pacific Islands Forum fact finding mission to visit.

Indonesia has also perfected a distraction strategy – 'nothing to see there – look here instead'. The Minister for Political and, Security Affairs, Luhut Pandjaitan, is on this tack. He has appointed a new team to investigate historic human rights abuses. The move is controversial and a number of Church and human rights leaders are opposed to Pandjaitan's initiative because, as one pointed out, 'the state can't judge the state'. Indonesia's Human Rights Commission (Komnas Ham) has turned down the invitation to take part, saying it prefers to maintain its independence. Undeterred, Minister Pandjaitan took a small group of regional Ambassadors, including the New Zealand Ambassador, Trevor Matheson, on his latest visit to West Papua to promote his plan.

Thus far we don't know what our Ambassador made it of it all. Luhut Pandjaitan has been careful to emphasise that these Ambassadors were not on a 'fact-finding mission', so it is unlikely that the Ambassadors saw any sign of dissent or met any activists.

In the early 1960s the people of West Papua were looking forward to eventual independence and the Dutch colonial administration was working on training administrators and handing over some legislative control. Many hoped for eventual union with the other half of New Guinea Island, today's Papua New Guinea. New Zealand supported these plans until 1962 when the US brokered an Agreement between the Dutch and Indonesia which handed control of the territory to Indonesia. It was effectively a western-sanctioned land grab and the West Papuans were not consulted. There was a 'safety valve' in the form of a so-called Act of Free Choice to be held in 1969.

The 1969 exercise was an absolute shocker and everybody involved, including the tiny UN team present at the time, knew it. There were a series of stage-managed 'consultative assemblies' or 'musjawarah'. Just over a thousand people took part in the final 'vote' and they were isolated under armed guard beforehand and threatened with torture and death should they 'vote' for any choice other than staying with Indonesia. None did.

The New Zealand Ambassador of the time attended a couple of the assemblies and reported on 'the questionable morality' of the whole exercise. New Zealand and other western nations voted at the UN to endorse a process they knew was wrong because they wanted to stay on side with anti-communist Indonesia.

The New Zealand public had to wait for documents to be declassified to know what our Ambassador thought of this exercise. But journalists and editorial writers did not hang back. After the first two assemblies had been held the Melbourne paper The Herald was moved to comment 'even Hitler was satisfied with less than one hundred per cent in plebiscites.'

It is time that New Zealand recognised the obvious – Indonesia's repressive rule has not extinguished West Papuan aspirations for freedom. We turned our backs on the people fifty years ago, but we have the chance to do better now. We could start by backing the call for a Pacific fact-finding mission and urging Indonesia to stop arresting peaceful demonstrators.

[Maire Leadbeater is one of NZs best known human rights activists.]

Source: http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2016/06/30/guest-blog-maire-leadbeater-west-papua-human-rights-abuses-cannot-be-hidden/

Winning the war on drugs

Jakarta Post Editorial - June 30, 2016

President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has frequently expressed his intense anger with drug dealers, even to the extent of executing some of them. When speaking at the International Day Against Drugs on Sunday he proposed a new approach that could rival the actions of his Philippines counterpart Rodrigo Duterte.

But just as capital punishment has not defeated the scourge of drug abuse in the country so Jokowi should never try to go that far, let alone consider breaking the rules.

"Chase them, beat them, hit them. If the law permits, shoot them." Luckily the law does not permit such measures, he added. Nevertheless that's the President's punch line, which might represent the wish of the majority of Indonesian people, particularly parents who have sacrificed all they have to save their children from addiction.

Our neighbor the Philippines has just elected Duterte president, partly because of his ruthless approach to crime, including drug abuse. Dubbed "the Punisher", Duterte does not take human rights principles into consideration when fighting drug dealers.

Indonesia and the Philippines may have much in common when it comes to combating drugs, but Jokowi does not have to emulate Duterte. Neither does Jokowi have to replicate the extrajudicial killings conducted under the guise of security operations known as Petrus (mysterious shootings), which the late president Soeharto endorsed as a "shock therapy" to fight criminals in the 1980s.

Opting for the extreme way of eradicating drug-related crimes will not only mark a setback, but also undermine Indonesia's credibility as a champion of democracy and human rights. Worse, the President's statement, if manifested in policy, would justify state violence and undermine the rule of law as the country's foundation.

This country has not settled numerous cases of state-sponsored violence in the past and continues to face allegations of perpetrating violence for the sake of national security, as in the case of a terrorist suspect who died in police custody last month.

The use of violence against suspected drug dealers and traffickers – though popular – will sooner or later transform Indonesia into a terror state, in which the state can justify any means to achieve its goals. If this approach is taken against drug criminals today, nobody can be sure it won't target political enemies or ordinary people some day, as happened during the days of Petrus.

Endorsing executions is already a mistake, or more precisely a failure to fulfill Jokowi's promises. Most voters chose him because of, among other factors, his clean human rights record and pledge to promote human rights.

The facts show that in the case of Indonesia the death penalty lacks a deterrent effect. After two rounds of executions in the first two years of the Jokowi administration, the President has admitted the country remains in a state of emergency caused by drugs.

There is no guarantee that extreme measures will help the government curb drug crimes. A new strategy is indeed pressing in the war on drugs; the involvement of all stakeholders in coming up with this strategy is essential.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/06/30/winning-war-drugs.html

RMS political prisoners reunite with families after 7-year wait

Jakarta Globe - June 29, 2016

Nusakambangan. In early January, I brought my wife and toddler daughter along on a visit to the Nusakambangan prison. We went there to visit Republik Maluku Selatan – South Maluku Republic, or RMS – political prisoners. I wanted to show them that in this country many can still be jailed for holding different political views, some for as long as 15 to 20 years.

In June 2007 in Ambon, these RMS political prisoners danced the Cakalele and raised the RMS flag in front of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono during a seemingly innocuous ceremony to celebrate National Family Day. Yudhoyono was incensed. The dancers were arrested, and then tortured. In total, 68 people were arrested after the incident and sentenced for up to 20 years in prison.

Unfortunately, this is not the end of the story. In 2009, the political prisoners were forcibly moved, away from their family in Ambon, to various prisons across Java including Nusakambangan.

I was delighted that my daughter Kembang brought real warmth to our brief gathering at the Nusakambangan prison. The six RMS prisoners loved meeting her, took delight in the rare opportunity to hold a child. Their face lit up as they played with my daughter. Deep down, I think they were remembering their own children back in Ambon.

The prison's staff watched as we turned to more serious conversations. We spoke about the prisoners' health, the legacy they want to leave, food and then, naturally, the topic moved on to families.

One of the RMS men, Ruben Saija, also has a daughter, Vike Saija, who is now ten years old. Ruben last saw her in 2009, and has never seen her since he moved from Ambon to Nusakambangan. "She was as young as your daughter when I was moved to this place," he told me.

Last December, Ruben attempted suicide by drinking insecticide. He was frustrated and depressed at not being able to witness his daughter's baptism in Aboru on the Haruku Island. Luckily, his life was spared.

Jordan Saija also has a son, Fredy Saija, now twelve years old. Since Jordan moved to Nusa Kambangan, no one from his family has ever visited him. They are a family of sago farmers. It simply costs too much to go to Java. "My only visitor, so far, has been a sister of mine who had come from Papua some years ago," he said. The sister had gotten help to visit Jordan from a program organized by NGOs in Jayapura and Jakarta. Filep Karma, the popular and influential Papuan ex-political prisoner, also received assistance from the same organization to visit the RMS political prisoners.

Ruben Saija and Jordan Saija are detained at the Kembang Kuning prison together with four other political prisoners: Johanis Saija, Abner Litamahuputty, Romanus Batseran and John Marcus.

Then there are the others; Johan Teterisa at Batu Prison, also in Nusakambangan. Three in Porong prison: Fredy Akihary, Jonathan Riri and Marlon Pattiwael. Another one in Madiun, Peter Yohannes. They had all been detained since 2007 on Yudhoyono's order.

In May 2015, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo made a promise to release all political prisoners in Indonesia – including Papuans and Moluccans. So far, Jokowi had released five political prisoners who had asked for clemency, and Filep Karma by remission.

When he visited the RMS political prisoners in Nusakambangan, Filep asked them if they wanted to ask for clemency from Jokowi – and all of them said no. The RMS men were adamant that they did not commit any crime. I agree with them.

They RMS men did not want clemency, but they did desire one thing: for their families to visit them at Nusakambangan. A simple request, but one which would cost a lot of money.

Once we were back from Nusakambangan, the Jakarta Legal Aid Foundation, Human Rights Watch and Pantau Foundation worked on making their dream to reunite with their families come true. The work took five months, but eventually the RMS political prisoners were reunited with their families.

The Pantau Foundation was able to arrange family visits to the three prisons: Nusa Kambangan, Porong and Madiun. They were to be fully legal visits with official permits issued by the Penitentiary General Director I Wayan Kusmiantha Dusak.

We obtained permission for the visit of two family members per political prisoner. Then it was time for me to make phone calls to the RMS political prisoners' loved ones.

The first group of families visited the Kembang Kuning and Batu prisons. At Kembang Kuning, Rubben Saija was visited by his wife Yohanna Saija and daughter Vike. Jordan Saija was finally reunited with his wife Etha Saija and son Fredy. Yohanis Saija met his brother Arens Arnold Saija and daughter Afril Saija. Romanus Batseran was visited by his brother Randi Batseran and his wife, Erlin Keyzer. John Marcus was visited by his mother and her sister, Dortje Wattimena and Jansen Sasabone. In Batu, Johan Teterisa was reunited with two of his sons, Rivaldo Teterisa and Johncard Teterisa. All the political prisoners mentioned above are fathers, sons and family members to these people from Ambon. The time apart, and the distance between them, have caused a lot of heartache for them all.

While the reunions were not perfect – they still took place in a prison after all – they were better circumstances than the last time in which the families met each other. In Ambon, the RMS men suffered constant torture. The families were never told that their family members were being moved to Java. They discovered it some months later, from gossip. For a long time since, they were left feeling restless and hopeless.

"The last time I saw him, my husband... his eyes were swollen, he was in a lot of pain," Etha Saija said, holding back tears as she caressed her daughter's hair.

The pain suffered by these people seemed to be endless. The prisoners' families were also subjected to intimidation by police and military officers. Families were left in ruin, some of the men's partners had asked for divorce. Family members who work in government offices were threatened with dismissal. A couple of families were forced out of Ambon.

The families desperately wanted to meet their loved ones, but few of them had the wherewithal to travel all the way to Java. Jordan Saija's wife Etha, for example, lives in Aboru, a small island south of Ambon. Her journey to Java would require her taking a speedboat to Ambon, followed by a long flight to Jakarta before a long bus trip to Nusakambangan. Such trip would be daunting for most people, let alone a simple farmer who had never flown before in her life.

The thought of the journey alone filled Etha with dread and worry. She never flew in an aircraft. How could she pay for the speedboat? How could they get to the airport? Who would keep her company during the trip? Do we need to bring gifts? These questions occupied her mind as she prepared to leave for Java.

Eventually, Etha Saija and her daughter left Aboru with Johana Saija and her daughter. They also brought Arens Saija and his son. Luckily, Arens Saija had been to Java before. He was detained at Kedung Pane in Semarang for the same case but was released sooner because of illness. "I was tortured and almost died in prison," Arens said.

Arens' knowledge of Java brought some comfort to the travelers. They went early in the morning from Aboru, flew to Jakarta and, without any rest, hopped on a bus to Cilacap then crossed by boat to Nusakambangan. The long trip took its toll, especially on the kids. Vike, especially, was prone to bouts of sickness along the trip. But they had no choice, they had to go on with the trip. This was the first time they had a chance to meet their family after a long wait.

After 24 hours on the road, we are arrived at Nusakambangan. There was no time for a bath or other niceties. I showed the electronic permit to the prison staff. It was finally issued when we were on the way from the airport. A friend from the Jakarta Legal Aid Foundation had sent it to me. The staff asked me to print out the letter. An hour later I came back with the printed letter, but the others had already gone and left me at the port.

Sticking to the plan, we would stay in Cilacap for two days. The next morning, we visited Johan Teterisa at the Batu prison. At Kembang Kuning, the families were reunited during the regular prison visiting hours, 10 a.m. to 12 a.m. There was no privacy. Even though they had not seen each other for seven years. Even though they had just spent 24 hours on the road. No, they were given the regular visiting hours at the regular visiting room.

I asked Etha Saija, "How did it feel meeting your husband [Jordan] again?" Etha said Jordan did not recognize his son Fredy, walking past him and straight to his wife when they entered the room.

Before crossing into the Kembang Kuning prison, I showed Ruben Saija's photograph to Vike. I asked her if she recognized the man in the picture. She said, "My father." But when they finally met each other in Kembang Kuning, Vike did not recognize her dad, refusing to come too close to him.

It took Ruben some time to convince Vike that he was not a stranger. "Just look at our faces, don't they look similar?" Ruben asked Vike. Vike nodded. Ruben then hugged his daughter and sat her on his lap. After a couple minutes, they were inseparable. Playing, talking randomly about many things, everything.

Two hours later, it was time for Vike and her mother to leave. But Vike resisted. "I want to sleep with Daddy," Vike said. She wanted to stay with her dad at the Nusakambangan prison.

I felt deep sadness during these trips with the political prisoners' families. Many people just do not understand the real issues at play. They all assume that these Haruku people were guilty of treason because they wanted independence, they wanted get out of the NKRI, or Republic of Indonesia. Because of that "sin" they deserve all the atrocities coming to them.

Many forget that these so-called RMS men have not committed any violent act. They were just dancing with a flag because they were upset with discrimination. Discrimination that has left them eking out a meager life as destitute farmers in a tiny island in one of the remotest parts of Indonesia.

The same type of protest would not have angered the authorities so much if it happened in other countries – such as Spain where the Catalans constantly advocate independence from the Spanish. As long as you're not violent, you should be allowed to express your political view. The right to do is actually protected by the Indonesian constitution. And this is why Jokowi has to come good with his promise to release all political prisoners, and quickly.

At Nusakambangan, I kept thinking about my own daughter. I hope when she grows up, the state will commit no more violence against people who want to express their political ideas. And I certainly hope none of them they will be put in jail for it, for any length of time.

[Imam Shofwan is the chairman of Pantau Foundation, an organization dedicated to improve the standards of journalism in Indonesia.]

Source: http://jakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/rms-political-prisoners-reunite-families-7-year-wait/

Why pardoning tax evaders is an offense to compliant taxpayers

Jakarta Post - June 28, 2016

Tassia Sipahutar, Jakarta – Indonesia is looking this week to pass a controversial tax amnesty bill that will reward tax evaders, but at the expense of those who have met their tax obligations.

Objections and protests have fallen on deaf ears and the government and House of Representatives lawmakers have proceeded with the bill. Now the deliberation is coming to an end, one year after the issue surfaced.

Whether the House will pass the bill that the government is relying on to plug the budget deficit, the draft law is clearly unfair in the first place, and for several reasons.

First, living up to its name, the bill seeks to induce tax evaders to come clean about their assets and to pardon their tax mistakes through various schemes and redemption rates imposed on them.

The latest development of the deliberation has found that the redemption rates will range from 2 percent to 10 percent of undeclared wealth, depending on the time period of the implementation.

As if those rates were not low enough, the government says that it will impose even lower rates to entice rich individuals to repatriate their funds.

However, we are talking about individuals who have cost the state billions, if not trillions, of rupiah in losses every year because they evade paying taxes and fail to report their wealth properly though various dubious means.

The Jakarta Post reported in 2014 that one of those means, namely falsification of tax invoices to alter tax obligations, was estimated to have inflicted Rp 1.5 trillion (US$112.81 million) in losses on the state since 2008.

No official data are available regarding the sums that Indonesia has lost from unpaid tax. However, we can use the current tax ratio of 12.7 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) as a simple calculation base.

Last year, the government reaped Rp 1.06 quadrillion in tax revenues and claimed that the ratio should have increased to 14 percent as GDP grew.

Using the 14 percent ratio, the amount of tax revenues should have stood at Rp 1.17 quadrillion in 2015. That would mean that the state lost Rp 110 trillion in revenues last year. That in itself is a significant amount, not to mention what was missing before 2015.

Meanwhile, the recent revelations in the Panama Papers highlighted another practice that is rampant in Indonesia, namely the creation of special purpose vehicles (SPV) in tax havens to deliberately obscure the amount of wealth that an individual or corporate owns, thus making it difficult for officials to trace them.

The government argues that its data are more sophisticated than the Panama Papers reports and claims there are 6,000 Indonesian citizens and 2,000 SPVs linked to such practices.

That brings us to the second point. When someone commits a mistake, you would want that person to be held accountable, right?

The government should be acting now and hunting down the tax fraudsters if it really has all the data. Why does the government keep on brandishing the tax amnesty instead as the solution to the existing tax issues?

The government has the benefit of using the planned Automatic Exchange of Information (AEoI), which is to be implemented in 2018 by members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

By then, there will be nowhere for evaders to hide. Why, then, is the government so adamant about pardoning the evaders now when it could easily access global data in the coming two years?

Various global agencies, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF), doubt the effectiveness of a tax amnesty scheme to boost revenues and improve tax compliance, judging from past amnesty implementations in other countries that have failed to yield the desired results.

It is possible that the government is desperate for cash now, especially because this year's revenue target is already set at Rp 1.35 quadrillion, almost 30 percent higher than the realization of revenue in 2015.

A host of major infrastructure projects need financing and the tax amnesty may be an easy means to acquire it, but how much funds the government will get is still murky because nobody knows for sure how significant the undeclared assets are.

The shroud surrounding the tax amnesty will only further damage taxpayers' trust in the tax office. If the tax office with its poor administration cannot even uphold the current system, who can guarantee that it will be able to execute the tax amnesty law?

Past cases of violations by tax officials will resurface and people will be reminded of how the system only benefits the few. The government's credibility will be at stake and failure to secure revenues will only increase the burden on those taxpayers who already comply.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/06/28/why-pardoning-tax-evaders-offense-compliant-taxpayers.html

Time to end impunity for Suharto's crimes in Indonesia and Timor-Leste

Counter Punch - June 28, 2016

Celestino Gusmao – Indonesia recently held a symposium on the violent events of 50 years ago which brought the Indonesian General Suharto to power. The results were inconclusive as the dictator's defenders denied the massacres and attacked those who want Indonesia to finally deal with its blood past.

The tragedy of 1965-1966 is part of a long history of massacres by the Indonesian military. As East Timorese, we know very well the brutality of the Indonesian dictator's regime. I was born after the initial Indonesian invasion in 1975, but grew up under the occupation. As a young student, I saw the Indonesian military intimidate and abuse youth suspected of supporting East Timorese independence. We were not safe anywhere: Suharto's troops would seize us at home, school or on the streets; many were never seen again. I watched helplessly as soldiers murdered my cousin, Luis Gusmao Pereira, in a public market in Triloedae-Laga.

During 1965-1966, the Indonesian military and its militias carried out mass executions of those suspected of involvement or support for the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI). Amnesty International estimates that between 500,000 to one million people lost their lives. Others were tortured and imprisoned, some for decades. Members of their families were denied employment and schooling. Many had no option but to live among their persecutors, as shown in the Oscar-nominated documentaries The Act of Killing and The Look of Silence.

Cold War fears often justified U.S.-backed military interventions against democratically-elected governments. Sukarno, the founding president of Indonesia and Suharto's predecessor, carried out a populist political program linked to social and economic justice, supported by the PKI and many other groups. Sukarno also helped found the Non-Aligned Movement that stood apart from the Cold War blocs. The U.S., believing Indonesia was acting too independently, supported Suharto's seizure of power and cheered the mass killings.

A decade later, Suharto sought and received U.S. backing for its plan to launch the brutal invasion and illegal occupation of Timor-Leste. Up to 200,000 East Timorese were killed, as the U.S. showered military and other support on Indonesia. Timor-Leste's Commission for Reception, Truth and Reconciliation final report, Chega!, documented numerous crimes against humanity during Indonesia's 24-year occupation, including massacres, rape, torture, and forced disappearances. Many died of starvation when the Indonesians forced communities from their farms and gardens and then blockaded food supplies. Declassified documents show that the US government understood that both the invasion and occupation were illegal, yet it still provided military assistance, knowing that it would be used against the people of Timor-Leste. Justice and accountability for genocide and crimes against humanity

Survivors, the families of victims, and human rights activists have worked to win justice and accountability for the crimes against humanity during the 1965-1966 period. While we've seen some light in democratic progress under Indonesia's current President Joko Widodo, justice and accountability continue to elude us. President Widodo has made some efforts at accountability for the human rights violations during the Suharto years, these efforts have been challenged by members of his own government.

Since we voted for our independence in 1999, there have been several efforts at accountability for the crimes committed in Timor-Leste. However, only East Timorese members of militia that were created and controlled by Indonesia have been convicted and received minimal punishments. Meanwhile, the principal architects of the crimes remain free in Indonesia, some of them still in positions of power. Several have run for President of Indonesia. While the political establishments in both countries are currently determined to ignore them, the people of Timor-Leste and human rights activists continue to push for and demand accountability and justice.

The chains of impunity remain strong in Indonesia; U.S. leaders who supported crimes against humanity in Indonesia and elsewhere continue to avoid accountability and punishment. The U.S. and Indonesia claim they are democratic and law-abiding nations, but they openly resist holding their own officials accountable.

This is not just a matter of dealing with the past. Indonesia's security forces continue to commit serious crimes in West Papua and elsewhere in Indonesia. In recent months, thousands of West Papuans have been detained while demonstrating for their right to self-determination. Indonesian activists faced intimidation from the state and the military when they dare to speak about massacres or serious crimes of the past. Last October, security officials forced the cancellation of sessions addressing the 1965 massacres at an international writers' festival in Bali. Recent showings of films about the massacres, including "The Look of Silence," have been attacked.

Together, we can end impunity. First, the U.S. and Indonesia must release all their records concerning the crimes committed in 1965-66 and 1975-1999. Revealing the truth is necessary for a genuine justice and accountability for these serious crimes.

Chega! recommends that countries like the U.S. that armed and trained Indonesia's military provide reparations to the people of Timor-Leste. The U.S. knew very well that its weapons – from military aircraft to M-16 rifles – would rain death and destruction on many thousands of innocent people.

Since Indonesia has proved unable to credibly prosecute its own, international tribunals are needed if those responsible for the crimes of 1965-66 and the crimes in Timor-Leste from 1975-1999 are to be brought to justice.

50 years of silence and repression must end. The cycle of impunity must be broken.

[Celestino Gusmao is a member of ANTI (Timor-Leste National Alliance for an International Tribunal) and a researcher with La'o Hamutuk, the Timor-Leste Institute for Development Monitoring and Analysis.]

Source: http://www.counterpunch.org/2016/06/28/time-to-end-impunity-for-suharto%c2%92s-crimes-in-indonesia-and-timor-leste/