Jakarta – Muslim protesters set fire to a Myanmar flag outside the Myanmar Embassy in Central Jakarta on Wednesday during a demonstration urging an end to violence against the country's Rohingya Muslim minority.

After the flag was burned, the protesters threw rocks and mineral water bottles at the embassy and the police assigned to guard the embassy. The protesters also attempted to get through barbed wire.

The heated condition de-escalated after the protesters chanted shalawat (devotional songs), kompas.com reported.

Central Jakarta Police chief Sr. Comr. Suyudi Ario Seto said the police tried to maintain a peaceful atmosphere during the protest. "There might have been provocateurs, but we were not provoked," Suyudi said. (cal)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/09/07/myanmar-flag-burned-by-muslim-protesters-in-jakarta.html

Thousands of Muslims protest outside Myanmar embassy

Agence France Presse - September 6, 2017

Jakarta – Thousands of Muslims protested outside the Myanmar embassy in Central Jakarta on Wednesday demanding an end to violence against the country's Rohingya Muslim minority.

The demonstrators, many in white Islamic robes and skullcaps, walked through the capital's streets to converge outside the embassy in downtown Jakarta.

Persecution of the Rohingya, reviled as illegal immigrants and mostly denied citizenship in Myanmar, has been a lightning rod for anger in Indonesia and across the Muslim world.

Protesters shouting "God is greater" and holding banners that read "Stop killing Muslim Rohingyas" gathered to condemn the worsening humanitarian situation in Rakhine state.

"I think this is not only a religion issue, but moreover a humanitarian issue. What is happening there is very cruel," Tita Fatmawati, a teacher from Bogor, West Java, told AFP.

About 6,000 armed police and military officers were deployed to guard the embassy, which was cordoned off behind barbed wire, Jakarta's police spokesman told AFP.

Authorities have been on alert since Sunday after a molotov cocktail was thrown at the embassy.

Nearly 125,000 mostly Rohingya refugees have crossed the border to Bangladesh in recent weeks, fleeing a security sweep by Myanmar forces who have been torching villages in response to attacks by Rohingya militants on August 25.

Foreign minister, Retno Marsudi, wrapped up a two-day visit to Myanmar on Tuesday, where she urged Suu Kyi as well as army chief General Min Aung Hlaing to help resolve the crisis.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/09/06/-thousands-of-muslims-protest-outside-myanmar-embassy.html

Myanmar conflict could stoke tensions as rally planned near

Sydney Morning Herald - September 5, 2017

Jewel Topsfield and Amilia Rosa, Jakarta – Islamic groups behind the mass anti-blasphemy protests that rocked Jakarta last year are planning a "solidarity action" near Borobudur – the world's largest Buddhist temple in Central Java – to protest the outbreak of violence targeting Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar.

The action, scheduled for Friday, comes amid fears the resurgence of violence in Myanmar's Rakhine state could stoke tensions in other countries in south-east Asia.

Nearly 90,000 Muslim Rohingya have fled the country's violence since August, as protests across Asia mount on leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, to do more to protect the minority.

"Never in modern times have tensions been so high between faiths that have co-existed in this region for centuries," said Michael Vatikiotis, the author of Blood and Silk: Power and Conflict in Modern Southeast Asia in Nikkei Asian Review.

"If the trend continues it could become a more dangerous threat to social stability than that posed by Islamic State fighters returning from the Middle East."

According to the latest UN estimates 90,000 Rohingya refugees have fled to Bangladesh after clashes following attacks by Rohingya insurgents on security posts on August 25 have killed at least 400.

Myanmar officials say its security forces are fighting a legitimate campaign against the "terrorists" responsible for the attacks on police posts and the army. However rights groups and Rohingya refugees say the Myanmar army is trying to force them out of Rakhine.

Myanmar's de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been accused of not doing enough to end the persecution with some critics calling for her to return her Nobel Peace prize.

Protests have been held in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur, where 40 Rohingya were arrested, and in front of the Myanmar Embassy in Jakarta.

Indonesia's second largest Islamic organisation Muhammadiyah, which is participating in Friday's solidarity action, has called for the Indonesian government to pursue a more aggressive approach to ending the "genocide" against the Rohingya.

Friday's solidarity action had previously been scheduled for Borobudur temple itself but the Central Java police said it would not issue a permit for a demonstration at a tourist destination or place of worship.

However the location has now been changed to a mosque 1.5 kilometres from the gate of Borobudur temple. It is scheduled for after Friday prayers.

The head of Muhammadiyah's youth organisation, Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak, said he had initially forbidden his members to participate because Borobudur had nothing to do with the humanitarian crisis in Myanmar.

However he changed his mind when he learnt of the new venue and was told it would be a solidarity action to raise funds for the Rohingya.

"I will likely attend to ensure they stay true to the intention," Dahnil told Fairfax Media. "I will go and convey my opinion but we are not part of the committee."

Religions Youth Forum, which represents Buddhist, Muslim, Christian and Hindu groups, issued a statement in Jakarta condemning the "legalised genocide" by the "de facto regime" of Aung San Suu Kyi.

However it called for the rejection of provocation to widen and transfer the Myanmar conflict to Indonesia by pitting Muslims against Buddhists in Indonesia.

"We ask all religious groups in Indonesia not to connect Buddhist extremists in Myanmar with other Buddhists, who strive for peace, or to ruin religious tolerance in Indonesia," the statement says

The Assembly of Buddhists in Indonesia (KBI) strongly condemned the violence in Myanmar, saying Myanmar was no longer worthy of claiming to be a Buddhist country.

"Such barbarous and cowardly acts will reap very heavy karma so they will be reborn in the most infernal hell," it said in a statement.

A KBI spokesman, Budiman, told Fairfax Media there were concerns Indonesian Buddhists could be targeted because of what happened in Myanmar "because of a lack of knowledge".

"We are very clear on our position, we do not condone any violence," he said. "Indonesian Buddhists have no connection with the ones in Myanmar, just like Hindus in Bali are not related to Hindus in India."

Meanwhile, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, who met with Aung San Suu Kyi on Monday to voice Indonesia's concerns over the violence, travelled to Bangladesh on Tuesday to discuss ways Indonesia could provide assistance.

Source: http://www.smh.com.au/world/myanmar-conflict-could-stoke-tensions-as-rally-planned-near-indonesian-buddhist-temple-20170905-gybclw.html

Wiranto reject calls for tough action against Myanmar

Jakarta Post - September 5, 2017

Jakarta – Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Wiranto has rejected mounting calls for the government to expel Myanmar's ambassador to Indonesia Aung Htoo following the outbreak of violence in Rakhine state.

Wiranto said that such a dramatic move would prevent Indonesia from playing constructive role in finding solution to the crisis.

"If we do that, we will not have a diplomatic relation. So how will we send aid that the Rohingya people who desperately needs it," Wiranto said as quoted by kompas.com on Tuesday.

Wiranto said that the Indonesian government had to tread carefully in dealing with the problem. "We should not make reckless decision while being emotional. [We should not] expel their envoy or withdraw our envoy," Wiranto said.

In a number of rallies to protest the violence against the minority Muslim Rohingyas, protesters have called for the Indonesian government to expel Myanmar's ambassador here.

Some have also called for the Nobel Committee to revoke its prize to the de-facto leader of Myanmar Aung San Suu Kyi for failing to take actions against the prosecution against the Rohingya people.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/09/05/wiranto-reject-calls-for-tough-action-against-myanmar.html

Indonesian Buddhist leaders call for unity as tensions rise over

Jakarta Globe - September 4, 2017

Jakarta – Leaders of the Indonesian Buddhist Council are calling for unity, repeating the familiar line that terrorism has no religion, and urging Indonesians to resist provocations that may endanger religious harmony in the country as condemnations of the violence on Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine State, Myanmar, continue apace on mainstream and social media.

"We should filter information we get from social media and ignore any sort of provocations. We hope the police's cyber crime unit and BIN [State Intelligence Agency] can stop these provocative content from spreading to the public," the council said in a statement issued last Wednesday (30/08).

On Aug. 25, Rohingya insurgents attacked police posts and an army base in the deeply divided region, triggering clashes between Myanmar security forces and militants. The intense fighting has reportedly killed nearly 400, and led to more than 70,000 locals to flee the area.

The crisis in Myanmar has provoked many Indonesians to speak up against the atrocities, calling the Indonesian government to do more to end human rights violations against the Rohingya.

A protest was held in front of the Myanmar embassy in Jakarta on Saturday, following reports of increasing violence in the Rakhine State.

Activists at the protest called on the Nobel Peace Prize Committee to withdraw the prize from Myanmar de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi, according to state news agency Antara.

Jakarta Police said in a statement that a molotov cocktail was thrown at the embassy and caused a small fire in the early hours of Sunday. The police is still investigating the incident.

Fake news articles and photos about the Rohingya's suffering in Rakhine State have also been circulating on local social media, causing even more anger and frustration over the continued violence against the minority group in Myanmar.

But they have also led to provocations against Indonesia's Buddhist communities, with rumors of a demonstration to be held at Borobudur, the world's biggest Buddhist temple, going around on social media.

Myanmar is a Budhhist-majority country. There are approximately 1.1 million Muslim Rohingyas in Myanmar, whom many consider the world's most persecuted minority. Most of them live in Rakhine State, the country's poorest region.

The Rohingyas are denied citizenship and are regarded as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, despite claiming roots in Myanmar that go back centuries.

On Sunday, the Buddhist communities held an event in solidarity with the Rohingyas at the Dharma Bhakti Temple in Jakarta, where many participants carried placards saying "Rohingyas Are Us."

The event was attended by the chairman of the National Awakening Party (PKB), Muhaimin Iskandar, and many leaders of interfaith organizations.

"We invite all Indonesians from different religions, to come together in solidarity to solve the humanitarian crisis in Rakhine State," Muhaimin said, as quoted by Liputan6.com.

Leaders of the Indonesian Buddhist Council also called on the government of Myanmar to provide protection, aid and uphold human rights of all Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine State.

They also urged the public to resist any form of provocations "that may bring the crisis in Myanmar to Indonesia, and disrupt religious harmony in the country."

The Buddhist leaders also said the Indonesian government should continue to guarantee the rights to worship for every religion and keep religious complexes and houses of worship safe across the country.

"It's very important to remember you can't blame terrorism on a religion. Those vile acts do not represent the values or behavior of religious people. This incident must serve as a uniting force for all religious communities in Indonesia, and around the world, to fight against terror," they added.

Source: http://jakartaglobe.id/news/indonesian-buddhist-leaders-call-unity-tensions-rise-plight-rohingya-muslims/

Indonesian Muslims condemn deadly violence against Myanmar's

Jakarta Globe - September 3, 2017

Jakarta – Indonesian Muslim organizations have condemned the recent deadly bouts of violence that killed hundreds of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar, and called on the United Nations to stop the violence.

According to a Reuters report, about 38,000 Rohingyas have crossed into Bangladesh from Myanmar, a week after Rohingya insurgents attacked police posts and an army base in Rakhine state, triggering clashes and counteroffensive by Myanmar's military.

The army said it is conducting military operations against "extremist terrorists" to protect civilians, but Rohingya fleeing their country say it is a campaign of arson and killings to force them out.

On Saturday (09/02), As'ari Machfudz, chairman of the East Java chapter of the Union of Indonesian Islamic Boarding Schools (IPI) urged the Indonesian government to push the United Nations to end violence against the Rohingya.

He also called on the world's Muslim community to impose sanctions on Myanmar for human rights abuses.

"The United Nation must act and make efforts to stop the atrocities against the Rohingya," central board member of the Nahdlatul Ulama, the world's largest Muslim organization, Saifullah "Gus Ipul" Yusuf said on Friday.

Saiful said Indonesia, as the largest Muslim-majority country, needs to play a bigger role to end persecution of Muslims in fellow Southeast Asian countries.

Previously, the NU, along with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other mass organizations, formed a humanitarian aid group, organizing medical and financial help for the Rohingya in Myanmar.

The treatment of the 1.1 million group is the biggest challenge facing Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi, accused by critics of not speaking out for the minority that has long complained of persecution.

The clashes and ensuing army crackdown have killed about 370 Rohingya insurgents, but also 13 security officers, two government officials and 14 civilians, the Myanmar military said on Thursday.

The fighting is a dramatic escalation of a conflict that has been simmering since October, when similar but much smaller Rohingya attacks on security posts prompted a brutal military response dogged by allegations of rights abuses.

[With additional reporting by Reuters.]

Source: http://jakartaglobe.id/news/indonesian-muslims-condemn-deadly-violence-myanmars-rohingya/

Molotov cocktail thrown into Myanmar Embassy in Jakarta

Reuters - September 3, 2017

Jakarta – A molotov cocktail was thrown at Myanmar embassy in Jakarta in the early hours of Sunday (03/09), the Jakarta Police said.

This comes amid mounting anger in Indonesia over violence against Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar.

A police officer patrolling a street behind the embassy spotted a fire on the second floor of the building at around 2.35 a.m. and alerted the police officers guarding the front gate of the embassy, according to a statement by the Jakarta Police.

After the fire was extinguished, police found a shattered beer bottle with a wick attached to it, the statement said, adding that the perpetrator is suspected to have driven away from the scene in an MPV car. Police are currently investigating the incident, said spokesman Argo Yuwono.

A group of activists on Saturday held a protest at the embassy calling on the Nobel Peace Prize Committee to withdraw the prize from Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi, state news agency Antara wrote.

Protests continued on Sunday in Jakarta's city center, with dozens calling on the Indonesian government to be actively involved to end human rights violations against the Rohingya community.

Aid agencies estimate about 73,000 Rohingya have fled into neighboring Bangladesh from Myanmar since violence erupted last week.

[Additional reporting by Zahra Matarani.]

Source: http://jakartaglobe.id/news/molotov-cocktail-thrown-myanmar-embassy-jakarta/

West Papua

Officials rubbish West Papua protest

Samoa Observer - September 7, 2017

Joyetter Feagaimaali'i-Luamanu – A senior staff member of Indonesia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Franz Albert Joku, has rubbished the peaceful protest highlighting the plight of West Papua at the 48th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting, this week.

Mr Joku was accompanied by the Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to New Zealand, Samoa and Tonga, Tantowi Yahya, during a press conference where they responded to the protest.

Ambassador Yahya said the protest concerned them greatly. "The Pacific community should stick to the main agenda of the conference, which is the Blue Pacific. You know everything is connected to that," he said.

Mr Yahya said their concern is that the protest could have overshadowed the main agendas of the conference. "In our perspective, talking about West Papua in this conference is not the place because from the beginning there is no agenda as such." In the progress of the press conference, the Ambassador and Mr Joku's voices were raised, causing Police Officers in the vicinity to approach the area where the meeting was held. "No! We just stick to the main agenda... but not the Papuans," Mr. Yahya said.

Mr Joku intervened noting the West Papua issue is not new to the Pacific. "It's regrettable that Pacific Islanders all of the sudden want to address the Papua issue, now," he said. "The Papua issue has been at the forefront since the late 50s and early 60s.

"We have seen our worst; where the hell were the Pacific Island nations when we really needed that kind of expression and that kind of concern coming from them?

"Now they are questioning the Independence and Colonisation referendum for Papua that have been relegated to the history pages. A lot of constitutional changes have taken place since.

"And we're not on the same part as you have had previously... so we are not on that path. We're about constitutional empowerment and we're about emancipation, we want to develop our land, we will not be dictated by any forum or any other country because we needed you, and where were you?"

Mr Joku insisted the forum is not the place for the issue. "Papua is very close to our heart and we will not be dictated by anyone. We Papuans, in Papua, will decide what we want to do.

"We're under going constitutional mechanism and constitutional changes, we want to empower ourselves constitutionally, politically, economically and socially. When we needed the Pacific, when we needed Australia and when we needed New Zealand, you have not come to our aid.

"So we have worked our own arrangement within and that is what we are pursuing."

Mr Joku added, "We've never seen Samoans and Fijians. And don't pretend you want to help us. We know what we want. Have a balanced article and invite them to visit West Papua.

"You feed yourself with what you read on the internet, we invite you to come to Indonesia.

"We are not saying Papua is perfect, but let us attend to our own problems, do not provoke us, I have spent 14 years in PNG as a refugee with my family, we know exactly the subject that we raised, and up until today, we have gone without any help from you guys."

Source: http://sobserver.ws/en/08_09_2017/local/24074/Officials-rubbish-West-Papua-protest.htm

Human rights abuses no longer happening in West Papua says

Radio531pi.com - September 7, 2017

An Indonesian official says human rights abuses are no longer happening in West Papua like they used to.

Franzalbert Joku from the Ministry for Political, Judicial and Security in Indonesia is at the 48th Pacific Islands Leaders Forum in Samoa.

"I'm saying it's not happening to the scale like in the 60s, 70s, 80s and even as late as the 90s."

"On the issue of Papua independence and human rights abuses allegations, we don't think the forum is the appropriate place to address these issues."

Protesters gathered outside the Aggie Grey's Sheraton Hotel in Samoa yesterday to address the leaders and delegates attending the forum. Samoan senior solicitor Unasa Iuni Sapolu says it's time for the Pacific nations to have a collective voice on West Papua.

"This is something the Pacific Forum should stand up for. At least half a million people have been murdered. There is genocide, there's a holocaust in the West Pacific and what do we do? We sit back and have a holiday on public moneys."

However Joku says things have changed. "It's no longer the Indonesia or Papua that we have known before," he says. "Come to Papua and have a look for yourselves."

Source: http://radio531pi.com/blog/human-rights-abuses-no-longer-happening-in-west-papua-says-indonesian-delegate

Forum chief promises protesters 'voice of Papua' will be heard in

Pacific Media Watch - September 6, 2017

Elizabeth Ah-Hi, Apia – The Secretary-General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Dame Meg Taylor, has promised protesters that their voice on West Papua will be heard by the leaders attending the 48th Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) leaders meeting this week.

Dame Meg delivered the promise when she personally appeared before protesters in front of the Sheraton Hotel in Apia today where the meeting is taking place.

West Papua may not have had a seat at the Pacific Leaders Forum table this week but they were not forgotten by Samoans who showed up to demonstrate on their behalf. The protest was led by prominent lawyer, Unasa Iuni Sapolu.

Between 30 to 35 members of the New Zealand Dairy Workers Union, Samoa First Union, Pacific Climate Warriors and Free West Papua supporters joined forces to demonstrate outside the PIF meeting.

Dame Meg came out to personally acknowledge the protesters before heading into the Sheraton.

Supporters of the moment chanted "Freedom for West Papua" and sang songs from the Mau, making a connection back to Samoa's ancestors struggle for independence and sovereignty against New Zealand colonial authorities.

Message loud, clear

The demonstrators made their message loud and clear to the delegates, leaders and onlookers this morning as PIF members made their way to the Sheraton to begin the first day of official talks after last night's opening.

The group was later asked to disperse an hour into their demonstration by police spokesperson Sala'a Sale Sala'a. The group did not have a permit to protest.

Jerome Mika from the New Zealand Dairy Workers Union spoke with Sala'a and agreed to leave the area until a permit could be processed. The Free West Papua supporters were satisfied with their efforts today.

"We call on the other Pacific Island heads of state to join the seven countries pushing to re-list West Papua with the UN Decolonisation Committee. Samoa as a nation through our forefathers fought for self-determination, and we should stand together with West Papua. Lest we forget," the group said yesterday.

Protests at the Forum come after West Papua action groups last week urged leaders to continue their support and take decisive action, Pacific Media Watch reports.

[Elizabeth Ah-Hi is a reporter with the Samoa Observer.]

Source: https://asiapacificreport.nz/2017/09/06/forum-chief-promises-protesters-voice-of-papua-will-be-heard-in-samoa/

Petition for West Papuan independence vote to go to UN

RNZI Dateline Pacific - September 6, 2017

West Papuan independence campaigners are to petition the United Nations in New York later this month with signatures of people inside the Indonesian province. They say obtaining those endorsements has come at great risk to all involved.

The delivery of the petition started in Geneva last week when a British team swam with a symbolic version across the lake to the UN's Geneva headquarters. Dominic Godfrey has more.

Transcript

The 72 kilometre Geneva swim drew attention to the petition and to the next stage of its delivery to UN headquarters.

The exiled West Papuan independence leader Benny Wenda says he'll present the document to the Secretary General and the C24, the special committee on decolonization.

He says there's a rigorous process underway to verify the thousands of signatures received so far from within Indonesia's Papua region.

"Indonesia's always saying it's just a handful of people that are talking about independence, it's just a dream and fantasy, but now we show that all the minorities are wanting independence and that means Indonesia's presence in West Papua is illegal."

Swimming across Lake Geneva has not been the only obstacle in getting the petition to New York.

Free West Papua campaigners say 42 people have been tortured and two people have been arrested in the Indonesian province as a direct consequence of the petition, including a member of the pro-independence National Committee for West Papua or KNPB.

They say Yanto Awerkion was arrested on June 23 at a rally promoting the petition and he is still in custody after being charged with treason. Treason can carry a life sentence in Indonesia.

The harsh treatment drives many West Papuans into exile. A representative from the Free West Papua Campaign in the Netherlands, Oridek Ap, says he fled 34 years ago.

"I've never been back to Papua since Indonesia killed my father in 1984. His death is my motivation to stand up for my people."

His father, the musician and anthropologist Arnold Ap, died in prison where he was being held without charges. He was killed by a gunshot to the back.

Human rights groups and academics estimate that more than 150,000 Papuans have died since the Indonesian occupation began in the 1960's.

Oridek Ap was in Geneva for the swim across the lake. "We want to represent our people, the West Papuan people by singing and dancing to welcome the swimmers. That's why we're here, to support them."

Mr Ap says his support represents those at home in West Papua and the 1500 living in exile in the Netherlands.

Another supporter is 21 year old Harry Jenkinson from the UK. The veteran campaigner has been involved since he was 14 and was in Geneva to organise the itinerary around the petition's swim team.

"The people of West Papua have been totally inspired by the swim, and last night we got information in photos that people were watching us on big screens in West Papua, live."

The spokesperson for the United Liberation Movement for West Papua, Benny Wenda, says he's confident the petition will open the eyes of the world to the need for an internationally supervised vote on independence for West Papua.

"Our voice has been hidden under the carpet nearly 50 years so this is an historical moment and we need to make sure that the petition will be handed over right."

The plebiscite by which Papua was incorporated into Indonesia in 1969 was sanctioned by the UN.

But, with just 1025 people, around 0.2 percent of the population at the time, participating under duress, the so-called Act of Free Choice is regarded by Papuans as illegitimate.

According to Mr Wenda, there is an onus on the UN to correct this historical injustice by facilitating a legitimate self-determination process.

Source: http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/programmes/datelinepacific/audio/201857413/petition-for-west-papuan-independence-vote-to-go-to-un

West Papua protest at Forum summit in Apia

Radio New Zealand International - September 6, 2017

A small, but vocal, group of protesters gathered this morning outside the Sheraton Aggies Resort in Apia, venue of the 48th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders meeting, to raise awareness about the plight of West Papua and its people.

Protest organiser Jerome Mika said the protest was to ensure Pacific leaders did not ignore the issue of West Papua.

Mika, who is with the local Samoa First Union, said this was also a call on some Pacific leaders to join the seven Pacific countries pushing to resist West Papua with the United Nations Decolonisation committee. The seven countries are Nauru, Marshall Islands, Solomons, Vanuatu, Tuvalu and Tonga.

Forum General Secretary Dame Meg Taylor visited the protest and reaffirmed their right to protest but did not speak on the issue of West Papua.

Source: http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/338787/west-papua-protest-at-forum-summit-in-apia

Second West Papua protest to go ahead at Forum summit

Radio New Zealand International - September 6, 2017

Demonstrators are staging another protest this afternoon outside the Pacific Islands Forum meeting in Apia, in support of West Papuan independence.

Police disbanded about thirty protestors demonstrating outside the meeting venue in Samoa's capital this morning. The protest organiser Jerome Mika said he had to contact the police commissioner about demonstrating again.

"Just letting him know that we are going to have a protest this afternoon. "If there are any concerns of the legality of it then we would ask him to confirm in writing where it says in the crimes act that we cannot protest."

Around 30 protestors supporting West Papuans' self-determination were moved on by police this morning as they tried to demonstrate outside the Sheraton Samoa Aggie Grey's Hotel.

Mr Mika, who's a spokesman fro Samoa's First Union, said it was not clear why the meeting was disbanded and they had asked the police for clarification.

He said he had asked police to confirm in writing any legal grounds that may prevent a planned protest this afternoon.

Mr Mika said Samoans have had the right to freedom of expression since independence and he said the demonstrators were encouraging Pacific island leaders to support such freedom for West Papua.

"We had our independence in '62, and you know West Papua's been colonised since '63 so that freedom of expression is something that we have been able to achieve through our independence."

Our correspondent in Apia reported the police told the protestors they would have to apply for a permit to protest.

Source: http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/338810/second-west-papua-protest-to-go-ahead-at-forum-summit

West Papuan Liberation Movement dismisses Jakarta dialogue

Radio New Zealand International - September 6, 2017

The United Liberation Movement for West Papua says it's not interested in one-on-one dialogue with Indonesia's government.

Various Papuan civil society, church and customary leaders met with Indonesia's president Joko Widodo last month about establishing dialogue over problems in Papua.

The Jakarta meeting agreed on the Catholic priest, Neles Tebay taking on a mediator role. However so far the Liberation Movement has not been included in the dialogue process.

Its secretary-general Octo Mote said Jakarta's offer of dialogue appeared to be timed for good publicity ahead of meetings of the Pacific Islands Forum leaders and the UN General Assembly.

"It's too late. The world knows that we tried for the negotiations with Indonesia for years. We are only interested when internationally-mediated negotiation (happens), not dialogue. Internationally-mediated negotiation."

Terms of reference for the dialogue have not been confirmed yet, but those at last month's meeting indicated President Widodo wanted to advance talks about economic and social development in Papua. Jakarta overture to Papua questioned

Although the Papuans at the Jakarta meeting had been pressing for dialogue on issues of human rights abuses in Papua among other problems, the term "sectoral" has been used to describe the matters up for discussion.

According to Mr Mote, it is unclear what the Indonesian goal of dialogue about "sectoral" matters refers to. He said the Liberation Movement's mandate as a representative body for West Papuans was to campaign for independence, and that this would not change.

"We don't pay attention to any dialogue (between Jakarta and Papuans). Our focus is getting the members of the countries at the UN to put West Papua back on the UN agenda," Mr Mote explained.

"So if Indonesian government wants to do dialogue about development issues, just go ahead. They can do it."

The Liberation Movement is recognised by the Melanesian Spearhead Group which is an international collective whose full members are Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Fiji and Vanuatu and New Caledonia's FLNKS Kanaks movement.

Mr Mote said that in accepting the Liberation Movement and granting it observer status, the MSG had taken up a role as a vehicle for the West Papua self-determination and human rights issues to be addressed at the international level. "So they created a forum where this kind of communication can be taking place," he said.

However, according to Mr Mote, Indonesia has rebuffed efforts by the MSG chairman Manasseh Sogavare of Solomon Islands to confront the Papuans' core grievances.

"That means Indonesia closed this kind of communication," said the Liberation Movement secretary-general who is currently in Samoa to attend the Pacific Islands Forum annual summit.

The government of Indonesia, which has associate member status in the MSG, said it was working hard to improve living conditions in Papua region through economic development.

Indonesia said the incorporation of Papua into the republic was final, and its security forces take a firm line in disallowing expressions of Papuan independence aspirations.

Source: http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/338770/west-papuan-liberation-movement-dismisses-jakarta-dialogue

Signs that Jakarta is entering West Papua dialogue process

Radio New Zealand International - September 5, 2017

There are signs of a significant peace dialogue opening up between Indonesia's government and West Papuans.

Various Papuan civil society, church and customary leaders met with Indonesia's president Joko Widodo last month about establishing dialogue over problems in Papua.

Terms of reference for the dialogue are not known yet, but the Jakarta meeting agreed on the Catholic priest, Dr Neles Tebay, taking on a mediator role.

One of the participants at the meeting, Yan Christian Warinussy of the Papua-based Institute of Research, Investigation and Development of Legal Aid, said it was unclear what the next step would be.

"Because after we meet with Jokowi (President Joko Widodo) three weeks ago, we not see what next step to take the peaceful dialogue (forward) after we talked with Jokowi. That is the problem, I think."

The dialogue between Indonesia's government and West Papuans is unlikely to include the United Liberation Movement for West Papua.

Mr Warinussy indicated that Jakarta was reluctant to have talks with the Liberation Movement which broadly represents all West Papuans and is chiefly interested in the territory gaining independence.

"They (ULMWP) not like to make dialogue about development, economic development, social, cultural development and also infrastructure. But they'd like dialogue with Indonesia about self-determination and about human rights."

According to Mr Warinussy, the Liberation Movement's aim reflected the general aspiration of West Papuans.

"The majority of the people in West Papua, they'd like to get independence," he said, suggesting that was the leading topic that West Papuans would wish to have dialogue with Jakarta about.

The Jakarta meeting agreed on the Catholic priest and coordinator of the Papua Peace Network, Dr Neles Tebay, taking on a mediator role.

Source: http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/338714/signs-that-jakarta-is-entering-west-papua-dialogue-process

West Papua advocacy groups urge Forum action

Radio New Zealand International - September 4, 2017

West Papua advocacy groups based in Australia and New Zealand have urged the Pacific Islands Forum to act decisively on Papua.

Representatives of the Forum's 18 members are gathering for their annual leaders summit in Apia this week.

Two years ago Forum leaders agreed to send a fact finding mission to Papua to investigate ongoing allegations of human rights abuses by Indonesian security forces. Indonesia's government, however, has not agreed to a mission.

Both the Australia West Papua Association and New Zealand's West Papua Action Auckland group want the Forum to press Jakarta more on the matter.

The two groups cite recent moves by seven Pacific Island nations to raise the issue of human rights in West Papua at the UN General Assembly and UN Human Rights Council.

Vanuatu, Nauru, Tonga, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, the Marshall Islands and Palau have called for the UN to take account of the evidence of widespread human rights violations and conduct a systematic investigation with recommendations for actions.

The two advocacy groups have called on the Forum to support the seven Pacific nations call at the UN to investigate and report on the alleged human rights abuses in West Papua. The Forum, they said, should establish a regional Fact Finding Team to conduct a Human Rights Assessment in West Papua.

In its open letter to Forum leaders, the Association said it was encouraged that the leaders previously agreed the issue of West Papua should remain on their agenda. But it suggested the issue should not be left to drift just because Jakarta was unhappy about the idea of a fact-finding mission.

"The Indonesian President has said that West Papua is now open and the authorities are saying that the human rights situation is improving. If this is the case why not allow a PIF fact-finding mission to the territory?" said the open letter.

There was also a call for the re-inscription of West Papua with the UN Committee on Decolonisation.

"The Special Committee on decolonization visited New Caledonia in March 2014 and AWPA urges the PIF leaders to ask the Committee to also visit West Papua on a fact finding mission to investigate how the West Papuan people have fared under Indonesian rule," said the Association.

West Papua Action Auckland said that the Forum had "turned away from addressing self-determination for West Papua, despite the fact that the people of West Papua were denied any say in the matter when Indonesia took over the territory in the 1960s".

The issue of West Papua was raised in Port Vila in July at the 14th Pacific Regional Meeting of the African Carribean and Pacific Group's Joint Parliamentary Assembly with the European Union.

As host, Vanuatu introduced the item on West Papua, which was supported by Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Samoa, Tonga, and, "on purely humanitarian grounds", by Papua New Guinea.

The communique stated that "members called for the immediate halt to the brutal and senseless killings of the indigenous people of West Papua and referred the matter to the next JPA meetings".

Meanwhile, both Papua advocacy groups urged Forum leaders to give West Papua official status within the organisation, saying there were already many non-self governing territories and organisations that have this.

"The Forum should grant observer or associate status to the representatives of the West Papuan people, the United Liberation Movement for West Papua," said West Papua Action Auckland.

"This would put the Forum in a strong position to mediate dialogue between the ULMWP and Jakarta."

Source: http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/338676/west-papua-advocacy-groups-urge-forum-action

Fatal shooting a military response to Papua fishing dispute

Radio New Zealand International - September 4, 2017

An investigation into a fatal incident on Papua's south coast last month found an Indonesian military officer used gunfire to respond to a melee in a fishing dispute.

The incident on 9 August left one West Papuan dead and three other people injured, according to an investigative report by the Timika Diocese Justice and Peace Secretariat.

Tensions had been brewing in Mimika regency's Port Pomako over a dispute between indigenous fishermen and better-equipped migrants from other parts of Indonesia who were dominating the catch.

In the months leading up to the incident, indigenous fishermen made representations to local authorities on their grievances, and talks had been held on finding a solution in the form of a permit-based system.

However, indigenous fishermen had been excluded from the latest talks and raised issue when a group of migrant fisherman returned to fishing despite the matter being unresolved.

Some of the migrants' boats were apprehended by the indigenous group before the matter ended up in discussions outside the local police station.

According to the Timika Diocese report, a melee broke out when one of the migrant fishers' leaders, a municipal policeman, assaulted one of the indigenous people.

In response to the fracas, a member of the intelligence unit of Military Command, Chief Brigadier Yusuf Salasar, began shooting from the police post. A Papuan, Theodorus Camtar, was fatally shot and two other citizens were injured by the gunfire.

The indigenous fishermen became angry and searched for the shooter. As they did so, facilities both inside and outside the police post were destroyed. Another member of the military intelligence unit was stabbed.

When the situation was finally brought under control, police evacuated Theodorus Camtar's body and the other victims to the Mimika General Regional Hospital.

The newspaper Tabloid Jubi reported last month that the head of the local Cendrawasih Military Command, George Elnadus Supit, subsequently apologised to the families of victims in the incident.

Source: http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/338652/fatal-shooting-a-military-response-to-papua-fishing-dispute

Papuan human rights advocacy association to hold international

Antara News - September 2, 2017

Libertina Widyamurti Ambari, Bogor, W Java – The Association of Advocacy for Policies and Human Rights (PAK-HAM) of Papua will hold an international conference on human rights on the protection and preservation of natural resources based on local wisdoms.

"It is planned that the conference will be held in March, 2018, in Bali," Chairman of the Organizing Committee, Uten Sutendy, said in Puncak, Bogor District, West Java.

He stated that the committee will invite participants from neighboring and fellow countries, including those who are concerned over the preservation and exploitation of natural resource; spiritual leaders from Tibet, Japan, and Brazil; as well as those representing the largest religion of Islam and Christian.

"We are thinking of inviting Muhammad Yunus as he has been successfully using the local wisdom of Bangladesh as the basis to develop the country, especially in the economic sector, for which he had won the Noble Prize too," Uten noted.

According to him, local wisdoms in Indonesia are the capital of the nation and the world. "We want these wisdoms to be a paradigm of developmental value for the country," he remarked.

He added that at present, natural resources around the world have been exploited by liberalism, capitalism, and socialism-communism, whereas Indonesia has local wisdoms that can be applied to preserve and maintain the resources.

"The indigenous people in Papua and the Baduy tribe in Serang and Banten are the two models of traditional community in which people still hold and apply their local wisdoms to protect and sustain their lands," Uten revealed.

PAK-HAM Papua is headquartered in Jayapura, Papua Province. Its special missions include mapping the customary lands, investigating and solving violence on human rights in Papua through cooperation with the government, as well as speeding up the development program in the easternmost province of Indonesia.(*)

Source: http://www.antaranews.com/en/news/112481/papuan-human-rights-advocacy-association-to-hold-international-conference

West Papuan independence leader to petition UN

Radio New Zealand International - September 1, 2017

A West Papuan independence leader says he will petition the United Nations General Assembly later this month with the signatures of his people.

The petition calls on the UN to facilitate a legitimate self-determination process for West Papua.

The leader Benny Wenda is in Geneva delivering a symbolic petition to the UN. Mr Wenda said he would take the actual petition, with authenticated signatures of West Papuans, to the UN in New York.

He said he would present the document to the UN Secretary General and the C24, the special committee on decolonization. Mr Wenda said he would also announce how many thousands of West Papuans have signed.

Source: http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/338462/west-papuan-independence-leader-to-petition-un

Human rights & justice

Thirteen years on, mastermind behind the murder of rights activist

Jakarta Globe - September 6, 2017

Jakarta – Almost 13 years to the day since human rights activist Munir Said Thalib was poisoned with arsenic aboard a Garuda Indonesia flight bound for Amsterdam, his fellow activists are urging President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to publish a report originally produced in 2005 by a fact-finding team that they believe will reveal the mastermind of the mysterious murder.

A former Garuda Indonesia pilot, Pollycarpus Budihari Priyanto, was sentenced to 14 years in prison for premeditated murder in the case. In court, Pollycarpus was shown to have spiked fried noodles that Munir ate during his flight with arsenic. He was released on parole in 2014.

Muchdi, a deputy head at the National Intelligence Agency (BIN) at the time of Munir's murder on Sept. 7, 2004, was also charged with conspiracy to murder in the case but was declared not guilty by a Jakarta court in 2009.

Even before then though, Munir's family, led by his wife Suciwati, and rights activists have been demanding that the government find the real mastermind behind the murder.

In October 2016, the Central Information Commission (KIP) demanded the government publish the report by the fact-finding team on Munir's murder, reviving hopes the mastermind will finally be unveiled.

Following KIP's recommendation, former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) submitted the report to Jokowi's administration in late October last year. Almost a year on, Jokowi has apparently not yet read the report.

Suciwati said she has little hope the Jokowi administration will publish the report or try to find the mastermind behind Munir's murder.

"I am pessimistic about President Jokowi. However, we will keep pushing him. It's his duty as president to settle this case," she said in a public discussion in Jakarta on Tuesday (05/09).

Suciwati said she had met with government officials many times when SBY was still in power to try to persuade them to release the report, but to no avail.

"[Meeting government officials] only turned me into a political commodity. I don't need to meet them again. I just want this case to be solved," she said.

Suciwati said Jokowi should make it a priority of his remaining two years in his first term as president to release the report.

Meanwhile, former fact-finding member Usman Hamid said Munir's murder will not be solved until the report is opened and made public.

"Munir's murder is still unsolved because the main actor is still out there. Without our investigation, we would not even know Munir was killed," he added.

Source: http://jakartaglobe.id/news/thirteen-years-mastermind-behind-murder-rights-activist-munir-remains-unknown-public/

Justice denied for slain Indonesian rights activist Munir

Human Rights Watch Dispatches - September 1, 2017

Phelim Kine – This week, Suciwati Munir, the widow of Indonesian human rights defender Munir Thalib will conduct what has become a grim, annual ritual – a public appeal for justice and accountability on the anniversary of her husband's September 7, 1994 murder.

Despite then-Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's promise in 2004 that finding Munir's killers was "the test of our history," neither his government nor that of his successor, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, have taken meaningful steps to do so.

That failure is bitterly ironic, given Munir devoted his life to challenging Indonesia's deeply entrenched culture of impunity. Munir founded the highly effective Commission for Disappeared Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) to campaign against enforced disappearances. In 2002, he established the Jakarta-based human rights research group Imparsial. That activism – and the powerful enemies it created in the government – likely led to his death from an arsenic-laced glass of orange juice he drank on a Garuda Indonesia flight from Jakarta to Amsterdam.

The official response to Munir's death has led to more questions than answers about who ordered his killing. On December 20, 2005, a Jakarta court sentenced an off-duty Garuda pilot, Pollycarpus Budihari Priyanto, who had moved Munir from economy to business class, to 14 years in prison for administering the arsenic. Pollycarpus, who was also an agent for the State Intelligence Agency, was released on parole in 2014. An Indonesian court subsequently sentenced Indra Setiawan, Garuda's then-chief executive officer, and Rohanil Aini, Garuda's then-chief secretary, to one year prison terms for producing falsified documents that let Pollycarpus get on that flight.

Those convictions aside, the prosecutions failed to uncover the full circumstances of Munir's killing and the masterminds remain at large. Despite allegations that linked the order for Munir's murder to the State Intelligence Agency's former deputy director, Maj. Gen. Muchdi Purwopranjono, an Indonesian court cleared him of responsibility in Munir's killing in December 2008 due to lack of evidence after trial proceedings dogged by allegations of witness intimidation.

Jokowi can end Suciwati's long wait for justice for Munir by ordering the National Police to surrender any evidence withheld or overlooked during the trials of both Pollycarpus and Muchdi, as well as investigating allegations of witness intimidation related to the dismissal of charges against Muchdi in 2008. Failing to do so will only reinforce Indonesia's culture of impunity.

Source: https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/09/01/justice-denied-slain-indonesian-rights-activist-munir

Labour & migrant workers

Rights groups zero in on migrant workers' plight in Geneva

Jakarta Post - September 5, 2017

Margareth S. Aritonang, Jakarta – Civil society groups from Indonesia have highlighted the lack of government policies that guaranteed the protection of Indonesian women migrant workers during the ongoing Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) session on migrant workers rights, held on Sept. 4-Sept. 13 in Geneva, Switzerland.

Speaking at the UN's 27th session of the Committee on the Protection of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families (CMW), Migrant CARE executive director Wahyu Susilo said the lack of regulations protecting Indonesian migrant workers had caused migrant workers, particular,y female migrant workers, vulnerable to discrimination, violence and legal issues, including the threat of a death penalty.

"Children of migrant workers cannot obtain their rights on their birth certificates, for example," Wahyu said in a statement on Tuesday.

Migrant CARE is a Jakarta-based NGO that advocates the rights of Indonesian migrant workers and their families.

Taking part in the CMW session, where Indonesia is presenting a State Report, are several other Indonesian rights watchdogs, including the Jakarta-based Human Rights Working Group (HRWG), Kesehatan untuk Semua (Health for All) Foundation in Lembata, East Nusa Tenggara, and the Surakarta-based Social Analysis and Research Institute (SARI).

Wahyu regretted the absence of representatives from two state-sanctioned rights agencies, the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) and the National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) in Monday's session, during which Indonesia's civil society groups presented the difficult conditions Indonesian migrant workers face. (ebf)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/09/05/rights-NGOs-report-lack-of-govt-protection-for-migrant-workers-at-ohchr-session.html

Government urged to adopt UN norms on migrant worker protection

Jakarta Post - September 1, 2017

Jakarta – The Jakarta-based Human Rights Working Group (HRWG) hopes the upcoming meeting between the Indonesian government and a United Nations committee on migrant workers will provide momentum for the country to revise its regulations on the protection of migrant workers' rights.

HRWG program manager Daniel Awigra said the committee may push countries, including Indonesia, to align their laws with universal standards, as cited in the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families.

"In our report submitted to the committee, we urge the committee to recommend that the government [heed] the convention in the revision of the 2004 Law on the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers," Daniel said in a statement on Thursday.

He added that the revision had been deliberated at the House of Representatives. The latest draft, however, still favored private recruitment agencies and lacked tight standards in the recruitment process, he said.

"Private agencies often don't want to get involved when there's a case involving workers they recruited in the first place," Daniel said.

The UN committee will hold a dialogue for the first time with Indonesia from Sep. 4 to 6 in Geneva, Switzerland, regarding the government's progress in implementing the multilateral convention on migrant worker protection.

In April, Indonesia sent an initial report to the committee as a requirement for countries that have ratified the convention. (kuk/bbs)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/09/01/govt-urged-to-adopt-un-norms-on-migrant-worker-protection.html

Political parties & elections

Presidential threshold requirement challenged

Jakarta Post - September 6, 2017

Gemma Holliani Cahya, Jakarta – Four activists and watchdogs are set to file a judicial review request with the Constitutional Court on Wednesday to challenge an article in the 2017 Elections Law on presidential threshold requirements.

The two activists – former General Elections Commission (KPU) member Hadar Nafis Gumay and Yuda Irlang of the Network of Women Who Care for Tobacco Control (JP3T) – and the Association for Elections and Democracy (Perludem) and judiciary watchdog KoDe Inisiatif consider the newly passed Elections Law will restrict people in exercising their constitutional rights to nominate a presidential candidate.

Article 222 of the 2017 Elections Law stipulates a threshold for political parties seeking to nominate a presidential candidate.

This is the second judicial review requested against the Elections Law this week after the Crescent Star Party (PBB) filed a similar petition with the court on Tuesday.

Wednesday's petition add to the long list of review requests filed by people and organizations after President Joko "Jokowi' Wiodo endorsed the elections bill on Aug.16.

In Article 222, a party or coalition of parties are required to secure at least 20 percent of the seats in the House of Representatives or 25 percent of the popular vote in order to be able to nominate a presidential candidate in the 2019 election.

Other challenges to the law were submitted by the Advocate Cinta Tanah Air (ACTA) and the Peaceful and Benign Islam (Idaman) Party in August. (ebf)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/09/06/presidential-threshold-requirement-challenged.html

Blasphemy & shariah law

Police to reopen blasphemy case against UI lecturer

Jakarta Post - September 6, 2017

Callistasia Anggun Wijaya, Jakarta – The Jakarta Police are set to reopen an investigation into a case of alleged blasphemy involving University of Indonesia (UI) lecturer Ade Armando following a South Jakarta District Court ruling on Monday.

The court's sole judge Aris Bawono Langgeng has fulfilled a pretrial hearing request filed in February by Johan Khan, a man who accused Ade of blasphemy in 2015, to challenge the police's issuance of an investigation termination warrant (SP3) regarding the case.

Aris said the police had not examined some evidence provided by Johan, meaning that the SP3 was illegal and the investigation should continue.

The director of the special crimes unit, Sr. Comr. Ade Deriyan, said on Tuesday the police would reinvestigate this case.

"We will reopen the investigation after receiving a copy of the court ruling," Ade said at the Jakarta Police headquarters.

He said that the police decided to terminate the case in February because they could not find criminal elements.

The case began when Ade, a communication science lecturer, wrote a statement that read "Allah is not Arabic" on his Facebook account in May 2015.

Johan has demanded that Ade apologize publicly but the latter refused. Ade went to the Jakarta Police in June last year to clarify himself over the case.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/09/05/police-to-reopen-blasphemy-case-against-ui-lecturer.html

Environment & natural disasters

Jambi land, forest fires continue

Jakarta Post - September 6, 2017

Jon Afrizal, Jambi – While the number of hot spots in some areas across Sumatra is declining with the onset of the rainy season, land and forest fires in Jambi continue to break out.

The Jambi administration's Land and Forest Fire Task Force data shows that fires in the province cover 488 hectares in seven regencies. They comprise Batanghari, Bungo, East Tanjungjabung, Muarojambi, Sarolangun, Tebo and West Tanjungjabung.

One of the task force's information personnel, Maj. Jasman Bangun, who is also the 042/Garuda Putih Military Command spokesperson, said several fires had been detected in areas across Senyerang district, West Tanjungjabung.

He said the task force was fighting fires in Senyerang using water bombs and through land operations.

"The fire fighting efforts will be continuously conducted until there are no more fires," said Jasman on Wednesday.

"Two aircraft have carried out 65 water bombings to extinguish the fires. But because of the fires are extensive and on peatland, fire fighting efforts must be continued," he added.

Jasman said limited equipment and personnel had hampered the efforts. "The fires are on peatland. We must ensure that the fires, which burning far below the soil surface, are fully extinguished," said Jasman. (efb)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/09/06/jambi-land-forest-fires-continue.html

Central Java villagers face skyrocketing water price amid drought

Jakarta Post - September 4, 2017

Ganug Nugroho Adi, Klaten, Central Java – Residents of 13 villages in Kemalang district, Klaten, Central Java, are being forced to buy clean water, as the dry season has caused wells and rivers in the area to dry out.

The villages, which are remote and geographically difficult to access, have seen the price of water skyrocket up to Rp 300,000 (US$22.49) for each 5,000-liter tank. Clean water usually costs from Rp 100,000 to Rp 150,000 per tank.

The water in each tank lasts only two weeks, because villagers use it not only for bathing, cooking and washing clothes, but also to water their livestock.

"The more livestock they have, the more water they will need," Sidorejo resident Sukiman said on Sunday.

Sidorejo is one of the villages hit by the water crisis. The others include Kendalsari, Panggang, Talun, Tegalmulyo and Tlogowatu, all of which are located on the slopes of Mount Merapi and prone to drought.

The villagers are forced to buy water because their rainwater reservoir has run dry, while the water supplied by the Klaten Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) is inadequate to cover their needs.

"Residents here have bought water from private suppliers several times. In August, one tank containing 5,000 liters of water cost Rp 230,000," said Sukiman.

Sidorejo villagers spend between Rp 600,000 and Rp 1 million per month on clean water. "Before, there was always water from Brebeng spring in Sleman. After Mt Merapi erupted in 2010, there is no more," said acting Kemalang district head Hajoko. (foy/ebf)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/09/04/central-java-villagers-face-skyrocketing-water-price-amid-drought.html

LGBT & same-sex marriage

LGBT crackdown feared in Indonesia after 12 women evicted from home

The Guardian (Australia) - September 6, 2017

Kate Lamb, Jakarta – Twelve women have been evicted from their home in the conservative Indonesian province of West Java amid renewed fears of crackdown on sexual diversity.

The group had been renting a shared house in the village of Tugu Jaya, where their cohabitation and "unfeminine" appearance had unsettled conservatives.

Responding to a complaint from religious leaders and an Islamic youth group that the women's living arrangements was "against the teaching of Islam", police raided the women's home last Saturday, giving them three days notice to leave.

According to interviews conducted by Human Rights Watch, authorities provided no legal justification for the raid and forcible eviction.

"What's most offensive about this incident is that police and government officials steamrollered privacy rights and rule of law to appease the bigotry of a few neighbours," Andreas Harsono, an Indonesia researcher at Human Rights Watch said in a statement.

"Evicting these women based on prejudiced assumptions of their sexual identity," he continued, "threatens the privacy of all Indonesians and has no place in a country whose motto is 'unity in diversity."

Noting the physical appearance of the women, one village official that preferred to remain anonymous told Human Rights Watch: "It's not acceptable to have female couples living together. Some have short hair, acting as the males. Some have long hair, acting as the females. It's against sharia [Islamic law]. It's obscene."

With the exception of the sharia-ruled province of Aceh, homosexuality is not illegal in Indonesia, but prejudice toward people who identify as LGBT is widespread.

Last year a string of discriminatory comments by politicians and religious leaders revealed the extent of homophobic sentiment within the government. The defence minister, forexample, described LGBT people as a greater threat than nuclear war.

In May, West Java police chief Anton Charliyan announced the establishment of an anti-LGBT taskforce, telling reporters that LGBT people suffered a "disease of body and soul", and would "face the law and heavy social sanctions. They will not be accepted in society".

There have been four such raids on LGBT people this year alone, including at a hotel in Surabaya this April, and a gay cub in north Jakarta this May.

Rights groups and activists have expressed concern about the increased possibility of more raids on LGBT people to follow.

"Personally, I am worried," said Yulita Rustinawati, from the LGBT advocacy group Arus Pelangi, "It's like we are criminals. Everything that we do now becomes risky, even living with our partners."

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/sep/06/lgbt-crackdown-feared-in-indonesia-after-12-women-evicted-from-home

Group calls for Indonesia gov't to investigate raid on women

Associated Press - September 6, 2017

Jakarta – A rights group is calling on the Indonesian government to immediately investigate a raid by police and village leaders that forced 12 women described as lesbians out of their community.

Human Rights Watch said Wednesday that the Sept. 2 raid and eviction in West Java province's Tugu Jaya village violated rights to privacy, non-discrimination and basic due process.

Homosexuality is not illegal in Muslim-majority Indonesia, but anti-gay discrimination has increased since early 2016 when officials began calling for society to reject LGBT individuals.

The country faced international condemnation in May when two men were publicly flogged in conservative Aceh province for gay sex after vigilantes broke into their home and reported them to Shariah police.

The rights group says the raid of the women's homes in Tugu Jaya came after local Islamic youth groups and religious leaders complained that their cohabitation was against the teachings of Islam.

"What's most offensive about this incident is that police and government officials steamrolled privacy rights and rule of law to appease the bigotry of a few neighbors," it said.

Source: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS_INDONESIA_LGBT_RAID?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2017-09-06-00-37-22

Suspected lesbians hounded out of Bogor village

Jakarta Post - September 4, 2017

Jakarta – Female couples have been expelled from their rented house after local authorities of Tugujaya village, Bogor regency, West Java, accused them of being lesbians.

Tugujaya village head Sugandi Sigit said local residents reported the possible presence of the six lesbian couples, who rented a house together, and the village consultative board followed up the report with a raid.

Sugandi said that the presence of the women had made "the villagers restless because they are against LGBT [lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender] community. "Tugujaya must be cleansed of LGBT people, that is why we conducted the raid," he said as quoted by tribunnews.com on Sunday.

Sugandi explained that the women worked near the village and rented a house together. The women were no longer staying in the village and have returned to their hometowns, he added.

According to their ID cards, their hometowns were Ciamis, Cianjur, Sukabumi and Tasikmalaya regencies in West Java, as well as Purworejo in Central Java and Ketapang regency in West Kalimantan. (dis)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/09/04/suspected-lesbians-hounded-out-of-bogor-village.html

Police in Bogor raid home of 12 women suspected of being lesbians,

Coconuts Jakarta - September 4, 2017

Local police in Bogor raided a rented home on Saturday night due to reports that the 12 women living there were lesbians. Authorities say the women left the village after the raid.

Homosexuality is not a crime in Indonesia (except in Aceh, which is allowed to enforce its own form of sharia law), but it is often treated like one by homophobic citizens and authorities.

It was the anger of local residents that reportedly led police to raid a rented home in Bogor's Tugujaya Village on Saturday night. The locals suspected that the 12 women living in the home were lesbian couples.

The head of the village, Sugandi Sigit, said the people of Tugujaya were disturbed by the presence of the supposed same-sex couples.

"People are restless with the presence of LGBT, Tugujaya Village must be clean of LGBT no matter what, so we did a sweeping," Sugandi told Tribunnews Bogor on Sunday.

Sugandi said that six of the people were living in the rented home because their workplace was not far away. But not anymore.

According to the village head, although none of them were arrested (since they had not, in fact, broken any laws) the 12 women have all left the village after the police and villagers "appealed" to them to leave.

"Now they've already returned to their homes, because as we said at that time to them, go on and just go back home, the people here are disturbed (by their presence)," Sugandi said.

The head of the district's Municipal Police (Satpol PP), Sumantrai, confirmed the women had left the village and said that it was fortunate the police had interceded because if not the citizens might have taken vigilante action against the women.

"Community leaders are grateful for the action, if not, our citizens could become anarchic and they would not be silenced," Sumantrai said as quoted by JawaPos.

So, basically, it would appear that these 12 women were forced from their homes, for no legal reason whatsoever, because the majority could not accept the minority and were threatening them with potential violence.

Hmm, wonder how many of those same villagers are angry about the treatment of Rohingya Muslims being forced to flee Myanmar due to persecution by the Buddhist majority there?

Source: https://coconuts.co/jakarta/lifestyle/police-bogor-raid-home-12-women-suspected-lesbians-intimidate-leaving-village/

Corruption & abuse of power

Fact-finding team key to resolving Novel acid attack

Jakarta Post - September 7, 2017

Jakarta – The creation of an independent fact-finding team is a crucial move that could help solve the case of the acid attack on Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigator Novel Baswedan, a former leading member of the antigraft group has said.

Former KPK deputy chairman Bambang Widjojanto said he found it strange that the relevant authorities had not yet moved to establish a special team to investigate Novel's case, particularly concerning the latter's statement that he did not wish to reveal secret information to institutions or people he did not trust.

"If getting justice is the basis [of the investigation], why do the authorities seem to lack the courage to establish an independent fact-finding team?" he told reporters at the Constitutional Court on Tuesday.

Bambang further said the acid attack against Novel was apparently an attempt by certain parties to weaken the KPK's authority in eradicating corruption.

Bambang's statement reasserted previous calls by anticorruption activists who want the government to create a fact-finding team on Novel's case, given the widespread suspicion of the influence of political interests in the case. In his earlier statement, Novel also suggested involvement by a high-ranking police officer in his acid attack.

Novel suffered serious wounds to his eyes after he was attacked by two unidentified people who threw acid in his face on April 11. At the time, Novel was leading a KPK investigation into the e-ID graft case, which has implicated several members of the House of Representatives and high-ranking government officials. (ebf)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/09/07/fact-finding-team-key-to-resolving-novel-acid-attack.html

Police to question KPK staffers over defamation charges against

Jakarta Post - September 7, 2017

Jakarta – Jakarta Police are set to question two Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) employees in the investigation of defamation allegedly committed by senior KPK investigator Novel Baswedan against the body's director of investigation, Brig. Gen. Aris Budiman.

The director of the special crimes unit, Sr. Comr. Ade Deriyan, said both of the KPK staffers were aware of the email sent by Novel to Aris, which allegedly contained elements of defamation.

"Today we will question [two] KPK staff members," Ade said on Thursday, as quoted by kompas.com, without revealing the staffers' identity. Ade said police planned to question about five KPK staffers regarding this case.

Aris, a policeman seconded to the KPK, reported Novel to the Jakarta Police on Aug. 21 for sending him an email saying he had "no integrity" and was the worst director of investigation in history.

Aris said the email had insulted him, so he reported Novel for defamation under the Criminal Code and the Electronic Information and Transactions Law.

The police issued a notification letter to open an investigation (SPDP) just a day after Aris had filed the report. Despite the swift investigation process, the police said Novel had not been named a suspect.

Aris revealed his rivalry with Novel while attending a controversial House of Representatives inquiry into the KPK on Aug. 29. Meanwhile, Novel is still receiving medical treatment in Singapore after an acid attack severely injured his eyes in April. (cal)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/09/07/police-to-question-KPK-staffers-over-defamation-charges-against-novel.html

Former Constitutional Court judge sentenced to eight years in

Jakarta Globe - September 4, 2017

Jakarta – Former Constitutional Court judge Patrialis Akbar has been sentenced by the Jakarta Anticorruption Court to eight years behind bars and ordered to pay a fine of Rp 300 million ($22,500) or serve another three months in prison.

"It has been proven beyond doubt that Patrialis and his associates are guilty of corruption," presiding judge Nawawi Pamolango read out the verdict on Monday (04/09), as quoted by state news agency Antara.

The court also ordered Patrialis to pay back $10,000 and Rp 4 million that he had received in bribes, or serve another six months in prison.

The verdict was lighter than the sentence demanded by the prosecutors, who asked for a 12.5-year prison sentence for Patrialis and a Rp 500 million fine or another six months in prison.

Last Monday, the same court sentenced businessman Basuki Hariman and his assistant Ng Fenny for bribing Patrialis.

The bribes were related to a judicial review of a law on animal husbandry, which Basuki claimed was hurting his business.

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) charged Patrialis, Basuki and Fenny with graft, after they were arrested in a series of sting operations in Jakarta in late January.

Source: http://jakartaglobe.id/news/former-constitutional-court-judge-sentenced-eight-years-prison/

Police probe Novel over alleged defamation of superior

Jakarta Post - September 1, 2017

Jakarta – The Jakarta Police are investigating senior Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigator Novel Baswedan over alleged defamation of the antigraft body's director of investigation, Brig. Gen. Aris Budiman.

Aris, a policeman seconded to the KPK, reported Novel to the Jakarta Police on Aug. 21 for allegedly insulting him in an email. "We questioned [Aris] yesterday," Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Argo Yuwono said Thursday.

Novel is still receiving medical treatment in Singapore after an acid attack severely injured his eyes in April.

Argo also said the police had sent the notification letter to begin an investigation (SPDP) to prosecutors and planned to summon other witnesses. "We are just being professional," Argo said as quoted by tempo.co, adding that investigators would soon hold a case screening.

Aris, who was formerly the special crimes director at the Jakarta Police, made headlines for defying KPK leaders and unilaterally deciding to attend the controversial House of Representatives' inquiry into the KPK on Wednesday.

"On Feb. 14, there was an email that attacked me personally. I was angered, offended and humiliated," Aris told the inquiry hearing, as quoted by kompas.com. Aris said Novel had said of him that he had "no integrity."

During the hearing, Aris also revealed his rivalry with Novel. For example, Novel strongly rejected Aris' proposal to recruit middle-rank police officers over fears it could lead to the police's dominance within the KPK.

Activists have expressed concern that investigators from the police force jeopardize the KPK's independence, as they also report to the National Police. (ecn/bbs)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/09/01/police-probe-novel-over-alleged-defamation-of-superior.html

Freedom of religion & worship

Former lecturer arrested for alleged online hate speech

Jakarta Post - September 7, 2017

Jakarta – The Jakarta Police arrested Alfian Tanjung, a former lecturer at Jakarta's Muhammadiyah University of Prof. Dr. Hamka (UHAMKA), on Wednesday afternoon for allegedly spreading hate speech on social media.

Alfian was taken by officers from Medaeng prison in Sidoarjo, East Java, to the Police's Mobile Brigade Command in Depok, West Java, later in the evening.

Alfian was arrested on the same day the Surabaya District Court acquitted him of separate hate speech charges because of legal technicalities. He was previously charged with spreading hate speech during a lecture at the Mujahidin Mosque in Surabaya, East Java, last May.

Jakarta Police special crimes unit head Sr. Comr. Ade Deriyan said on Thursday the police arrested Alfian following a complaint filed by an individual, identified as Taman Nasution, in February. Taman reported Alfian for the latter's post on his Twitter account earlier this year.

"In his tweet, Alfian claims that 85 percent of Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) members are communists. Taman felt that Alfian's tweet defamed the party to which he belongs," Ade said.

The police had previously named Alfian a suspect for alleged accusations he made during a lecture at the Mujahidin Mosque last May. In the lecture, he allegedly accused some PDI-P members and several close confidants of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo of being members of the Indonesian Communist Party.

For Alfian's Twitter post, Ade said the police would charge him under the Electronic Information and Transactions Law. (rdi)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/09/07/former-lecturer-arrested-for-alleged-online-hate-speech.html

Islam & religion

Police, ministry urged to expand 'umrah' fraud investigation

Jakarta Post - September 5, 2017

Margareth S. Aritonang, Jakarta – The Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI) has called on the National Police's Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim) and the Religious Affairs Ministry to work further to uncover fraud allegedly committed by several umrah travel agents.

The YLKI suspected many travel agents had carried out scams similar to the fraud case implicating First Travel, which was reported to have extorted hundreds of billions of rupiah from would-be umrah (minor haj) pilgrims.

The foundation has a list of travel agents suspected of running umrah scams, including Kafilah Rindu Ka'bah, an umrah agent with PT Assyifa Mandiri Wisata, Hannien Tour, which belongs to PT Usmaniah Hannien Tour, and Basmalah Tour of PT Wisata Tour and Travel-Bintaro.

YLKI's data shows that 3,056 people fell victim to umrah scams allegedly committed by Kafilah Rindu Ka'bah, while more than 1,800 would-be pilgrims claimed to have suffered losses from the umrah services offered by Hannien Tour.

Separately, Basmalah Tour and Travel has not yet fulfilled its promise to send 33 would-be pilgrims on umrah as of today.

"Thus, the YLKI strongly urges Bareskrim and the Religious Affairs Ministry to impose strict sanctions on these three travel agents, whose business activities are as problematic as First Travel's," YLKI executive chairman Tulus Abadi said in a statement on Tuesday.

He asserted the police must take immediate action to hunt down the travel agents, especially since YLKI had discovered that several of their victims had actually reported the agents to Bareskrim last year.

"The Religious Affairs Ministry must also immediately set up a crisis center to allow more people to report similar umrah scams," Tulus added. (ebf)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/09/05/police-ministry-urged-to-broaden-umrah-fraud-investigation-ylki.html

Land & agrarian conflicts

'We'd rather die than lose': villagers in Indonesia fight for a

The Guardian (Australia) - September 4, 2017

Vincent Bevins, Humbang Hasundutan – It is cold and late on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. Huddled around a map, a group of elders are planning their battle strategy.

In a milestone victory last year, they were promised rights to the land their village has controlled for generations, but today they have had bad news. The local inspector wants to slice off a piece of the forest where they harvest benzoin – a substance like frankincense – and give it to a large pulp company. They see this as a betrayal.

The elders debate in a mix of languages – Batak and bahasa Indonesia – while sipping tea and planning how they will resume the fight the next day. For years now, almost every day has involved this kind of planning.

"We continue the battle. It's the only option," says Arnold Lumban Batu, as the group confers with two members of a local community rights organisation. "Honestly, many of us would rather die than lose."

Members of the small Pandumaan-Sipituhuta indigenous community are at the centre of a historic struggle that just might transform the rules of capitalism in Indonesia, affecting tens of millions of people. Along with a handful of other communities, they have cited indigenous rights provisions in the constitution, and lobbied to secure President Joko Widodo's support, in the hope that they will be granted legal control over traditional lands.

Other Indonesians in this vast country of rainforests and more than 13,000 islands are watching closely, lest the campaign should provide a model they can emulate. Many land experts, human rights activists and environmentalists believe the approach adopted by the Pandumaan-Sipituhuta community may be Indonesia's best chance to sort out a muddled and exploitative system of laws that has been in place since a violent, US-backed dictatorship essentially took all the land to distribute to its cronies. But success is far from guaranteed. Political support in Jakarta, the capital, might be fickle, and there are numerous logistical hurdles.

In Pandumaan, villagers proudly remember the night they raided a site where the Toba Pulp Lestari (TPL) company planned to begin cutting down forest, stealing all its equipment. They tell of the trauma when police descended on the community and arrested many of them. Their neighbours in the Aek Lung community planted "guerrilla crops" on traditional land technically controlled by TPL, entering just after the company had harvested its eucalyptus trees. They have received death threats, and accuse the company of burning down their huts, poisoning crops and calling in the military police, who beat them.

"I'm always there, always present and very visible in every protest and direct action that we can take," says Rusmedia Lumban Gaol, 68, sporting a red sarong and a Barcelona football top as she sits on the floor of her house. "Because with an older women up front, those tough men in the police or hired by Toba are less likely to get out of hand. They're afraid to hurt me, especially in public. They do have some shame."

Indonesia's 260 million people speak more than 300 languages and belong to a wide array of nationalities, all held together by a young democracy within colonial-era borders. President Sukarno, the father of the Indonesian nation, had been attempting some kind of land reform to resolve overlapping European and traditional ownership systems after the Dutch left in 1949.

But his government began to fall apart in 1965, when US-backed generals responded to an alleged coup attempt within the military by taking power and overseeing the systematic execution of up to 1 million civilians for being communist or accused of communist affiliation. The conservative government that formed afterwards, led by General Suharto, ruled the country until 1998. His government's crimes, including vast corruption, have never been officially condemned, and many perpetrators remain in power.

When Widodo was elected president in 2014 he was seen as a political outsider, similar to Barack Obama, and pledged his support to indigenous rights groups. But, like Obama, he has faced constant attacks from the right, and has buckled on issues dear to his more progressive supporters. To move forward on land transfers, he will need to score some difficult political victories.

"The problem in Indonesia is that you have overlapping claims to the same land, and you have concessions that tend to have been granted to generals and friends of political elites," says John McCarthy, a professor at Australian National University who studies land rights in Indonesia.

"I would like to think we are on the road to real changes, but the challenges are immense. One important question is, would Indonesia's investors ever let this happen? It's like healthcare reform in the United States – no matter how good an idea it may be, you have to look at the coalitions of political support that stand to lose if things change."

Even if the Widodo government can summon the political power to create a new, effective model for land transfers back to local communities, the detail will be all-important. Experts agree communities should have the option of leasing out their land for commercial purposes for the sake of the country's economy, which relies on exports of materials coal, palm oil and wood.

"Do I like farming for benzoin? Well, it's what we do, that's for sure, and we're proud of it," says Sartono Lumban Gaol, as he sits outside the forest one morning with villagers preparing for a few days' hard work. "But I'm not sure it's what I'd choose to do if I had lots of other options."

Not all neighbouring communities have chosen to fight. Many have simply taken a deal. But local organisation KSPPM and others argue that, without knowledge of their full rights, many do so at a huge disadvantage.

TPL denies all accusations that it has broken any laws, saying that if the government chooses to change the legal environment in which it operates, it will be more than happy to adjust its practices.

"We are always working with the government, and we're sure that any changes that come can result in a win-win-win situation – for the private sector, for the government, and the community," says Mulia Nauli, a member of the TPL board of directors, in a phone interview from their new plant in northern Sumatra. "We hope to operate in a way that always helps develop the region around us."

But the issue is much larger than the goodwill of one company. Across Indonesia, nine communities have changed the law governing 13,000 hectares (32,110 acres) of land. Activists want to hold the president to his promise of 600,000 hectares, and then push for a total transformation of 70m hectares.

According to the Indigenous Peoples' Alliance of the Archipelago (Aman), an indigenous rights group, there are 70 million Indonesians – almost one-third of the population – who could be considered "indigenous" and theoretically in line for new land rights. Others dispute this figure, claiming it is significantly lower.

"Our territory is where our identity mainly comes from," says Rukka Sombolinggi, secretary general of Aman, speaking in her Jakarta office. "These territories have never been recognised by the state, meaning crimes are committed against us and against the constitution which have been considered 'legal.'"

Sombolinggi complains that the president has fallen short of the promises he made during his campaign. Widodo's office declined to comment on the process but Sandrayati Moniaga, head of Indonesia's National Human Rights Commission, spoke optimistically.

"The reality is that the constitution recognises the rights of these people, and courts have upheld that right," Moniaga says. "And Jokowi [Widodo] realised early that this is a problem that needs to be solved."

Like other experts, however, she points to a number of obstacles to overcome – corruption, a possible pushback in parliament, and hard work on bureaucratic and regulatory challenges – before things will really change. "What is required is will. Political will here in Jakarta, and will out there on the ground."

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2017/sep/04/villagers-in-indonesia-fight-for-a-land-rights-revolution

Police try to silence anti-mining protests by charging activist

Tempo - September 4, 2017

Ika Ningtyas, Banyuwangi – Heri Budiawan alias Budi Pego, an activist opposing a gold mine in Banyuwangi, East Java, has been indicted under the draconian anti-communist articles.

Budi was thrown into the Banyuwangi Prison on Monday September 4 after the state prosecutor declared that the police investigation report (BAP) was complete or P21.

Budi was arrested at around 12 noon. He has been charged under Article 107 Section (a) of Law Number 27/1999 on Revisions to the Criminal Code related to crimes against state security.

The article states that anyone who spreads or develops communist, Marxist or Leninist teachings in any form or manifestation faces a maximum jail term of 12 years.

The case began on April 4 when hundreds of residents in the Pesanggaran sub-district held an action in which they put up banners opposing the gold mine operated by PT Damai Suksesindo (PT DSI).

The messages on the banners were written earlier in the morning at Budi's house by three local residents. The banners were then put up along the length of the village road from the sub-district administration offices to Red Island beach.

That evening however, Budi was visited by police officers who accused him of drawing an image of the hammer-and-sickle on one of the banners. Police showed him several photos as evidence.

"Yet when we wrote drew the banners it was watched over by six police officers, not one had a hammer-and-sickle logo", said Budi when contacted by Tempo before being arrested Monday.

In addition to Budi, three other local residents were arrested and declared suspects on May 15. They are Cipto Andreas (19), Trimanto (20) and Dwi Ratna Sari (23).

Budi related how since 2014 he took part in scores of protest actions against the mining company PT Bumi Suksesindo (PT BSI) which began mining the Tumpang Pitu Mountain in 2012.

In 2017 PT DSI began exploration of 6,623.55 hectares of land on the Salakan Mountain. PT BSI and PT DSI are subsidiary companies of PT Merdeka Copper Gold.

The arrest of the 37-year-old man angered and saddened residents and relatives who have been following the case. They believe that the arrest in aimed at silencing resistance by local people against the gold mine in the south coast of Pesanggaran sub-district. "Budi Pego's arrest will silence local people", said local resident Ratna.

One of Budi's lawyers, Subagyo, said that they will submit a request for a suspension of the arrest. "Our client has always been cooperative, it's impossible for him to flee", said the advocate from the Surabaya Legal Aid Foundation (LBH). In total there are 18 lawyers assisting the four suspects.

Subagyo explained that the case has been pushed through because there is no evidence supporting the spread of communist teachings. Moreover not one of the eight banners confiscated by police had a hammer-and-sickle logo on them.

The banners are being used as material evidence by police who handed over to the prosecutor's office. "This is an example of how the law can be used to intimidate local people who are resisting", he said.

[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Aktivis Penolak Tambang Ditahan dengan Jeratan Pasal Komunisme".]

Source: https://m.tempo.co/read/news/2017/09/04/063905873/aktivis-penolak-tambang-ditahan-dengan-jeratan-pasal-komunisme

Tent protest at Palace to stay until Jokowi fulfils pledge to stop

Tempo - September 4, 2017

Budiarti Utami Putri, Jakarta – Scores of farmers from the North Kendeng mountains held a protest action in front of the Presidential Palace in Central Jakarta on September 4.

They erected blue tarpaulin sheets measuring some 4x6 metres supported by bamboo poles. A number of participants, most of which were women, could be seen holding the bamboo supports so that the tents would not be torn away by the wind.

The action was held in protest against cement company PT Semen Indonesia (SI) which has failed to comply with the recommendations of stage one of a strategic environmental study (KLHS) that stated that the Watuputih ground water basin (CAT) cannot be mined.

"We the Kendeng community, have again setup tents here to call on Pak Jokowi [President Joko Widodo] to implement the KLHS findings and the MA ruling (Supreme Court)", said Ngatiban, one of the Rembang farmers speaking in the vicinity of the tents on Monday September 4.

The Kendeng community has been fighting against the cement company establishing a plant in their area since 2006 when PT Semen Gresik (now PT SI) attempted to construct a cement factory in Sukolilo village, Pati.

In Rembang, opposition to PT SI strengthened in 2014 when the state-owned company began constructing a factory there after failing to build one in Pati.

Ngatiban related how the farmers have organised various kinds of protests and attempted to go through legal channels starting with the Semarang State Administrative Court, the Surabaya High Court and the MA.

An appeal ruling at the MA in October 2016 found in favour of the Rembang community but the Central Java provincial government then issued a new permit for PT SI to continue operations.

"The MA found in favour of residents. Kendeng cannot be mined, but in reality it's being mined. Then the Pak President ordered his staff to conduct a KLHS. The results, the Kendeng mountains also can't be mined, but still they keep mining. The Kendeng community is very disappointed because of this", she said.

The Kendeng mountains KLHS involved a team from the presidential staff office, the Ministry for Forestry and the Environment, the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry and a number of experts. The results of the first stage of the study released in April stated that the Watuputih CAT area in Rembang and its surrounds was a protected area.

Because of this therefore, the management of the CAT Watuputih must apply the principle of due prudence and avoid environmental damage. Currently the KLHS team is conducting a follow up study (stage two) which is planned to be completed in October.

"So who else is the community to trust, who else can they turn to for help if not the central government? We can't expect anything from the regional government", said Sukinah, one of the Rembang farmers that also took part in the action at the Palace.

Today's action will take place between 10am and 4.30pm and will be continued tomorrow at the same time and location until there is a response from the Palace.

[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service. The original title of the article was "Tagih Janji Jokowi, Warga Kendeng Dirikan Tenda di Depan Istana".]

Source: https://nasional.tempo.co/read/news/2017/09/04/063905943/tagih-janji-jokowi-warga-kendeng-dirikan-tenda-di-depan-istana

Regional autonomy & separatism

Court rules woman can become Yogyakarta sultana

Jakarta Post - September 1, 2017

Marguerite Afra Sapiie, Jakarta – The Constitutional Court has ruled in favor of a judicial review petition challenging the 2012 law on Yogyakarta's special status, paving way for Sultan Hamengkubuwono X of the Yogyakarta customary sultanate to make his daughter a successor.

Chief justice Arief Hidayat told the hearing on Thursday the court had scrapped a "discriminative" provision in Article 18 (1), Point M of the law, as requested by the plaintiffs, the royal servants of the Yogyakarta Palace.

The article stipulated that gubernatorial candidates of Yogyakarta should submit a curriculum vitae outlining their education record and the occupation of their siblings, wife and children to the Yogyakarta Provincial Legislative Council.

Under its special status, the sultan is the ex-officio governor of Yogyakarta. "The phrase 'education records, occupation... of siblings, wife and children' has contradicted the 1945 Constitution," Arief read out the ruling.

The plaintiffs disputed the term "wife" in the provision, as it implied that only men could take the governor seat, hence also meaning only the male lineage of the royal family can take the reign of the sultan.

Hamengkubuwono, who became the sultan in March 1989, has five daughters and no sons. In 2015 he issued a sabdaraja (king's proclamation), naming his eldest daughter, Gusti Kanjeng Ratu (GKR) Mangkubumi, as the crown princess.

Yogyakartans criticized the move, saying the position of sultan was only for men, as it was part of the tradition of the Javanese Palace, hence Hamengkubuwono's younger brother should be his successor. (bbs)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/09/01/court-rules-woman-can-become-yogyakarta-sultana.html

Jakarta & urban life

Government revokes construction ban for islets C and D

Jakarta Post - September 6, 2017

Jakarta – The Environment and Forestry Ministry has revoked a ban on the construction of islets C and D in the Jakarta Bay by PT Kapuk Naga Indah (KNI), a subsidiary of property giant Agung Sedayu Group.

Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya said in Jakarta on Wednesday that the company had fulfilled all the requirements for the continuation of the islets' construction.

The construction project was halted in July last year after a team had found a number of problems in the construction process. Read also: Jakarta administration seeks lifting of reclamation moratorium

"The developer has detailed the [environmental] impact of the project in a 45-page report. It needed 14 months to improve the document," said Siti, adding that the revocation had been discussed in a meeting chaired by Coordinating Maritime Affairs Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan on Wednesday.

Some people considered it a moratorium, but Siti said it was only an administrative punishment. Siti said PT KNI had implemented 11 points before the government finally allowed it to continue the project.

They include the improvement of the environment document, cancelling the construction of Islet E, reporting the source of sand used for land reclamation and separating islets C and D.

"The developer has provided us with detailed data on the sources of sand and other materials," said Siti, as reported by tempo.co, adding that an official letter on the revocation would be sent to the Jakarta administration next week. (bbn)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/09/06/government-revokes-construction-ban-for-islets-c-and-d.html

City aiming for 60 percent of commuters using public transportation

Jakarta Post - September 4, 2017

Jakarta – With a stubbornly low percentage of residents using public transportation, the Jakarta Transportation Agency has set an ambitious target of 60 percent of journeys in the capital being made on public transportation.

Agency head Andri Yansyah said that with the ongoing efforts his agency had been making so far, he was confident the 60 percent target of people using public transportation when travelling in and around the capital could be reached.

"It currently stands at 20 percent, there is still a lot of work we need to do," he said as quoted by beritajakarta.id on Monday during a focus-group discussion on Tanah Abang's transportation revitalization in Central Jakarta, an area known for its chaotic traffic. He did not elaborate on when the deadline of the target was.

He said the ongoing construction of public transportation, as well as continued efforts to improve the Transjakarta service, was expected to encourage more people to shift from private vehicles to using public transportation services.

The capital, notorious for its traffic gridlock, is currently constructing an MRT and light rail transit (LRT), which are expected to begin commercial operation in 2019.

A recently introduced regulation, which has drawn criticism from experts and daily commuters, would also bar motorcyclists from using the city's main thoroughfares, in what officials claim is an effort to more orderly manage the traffic in the city. (fac)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/09/04/city-aiming-for-60-percent-of-commuters-using-public-transportation.html

Motorcycle ban will worsen traffic: Transport council

Jakarta Post - September 4, 2017

Jakarta – The head of the Jakarta Transportation Council (DTKJ) has said that widening motorcycle bans in the city would lead people to switch to using private cars, which would worsen traffic conditions, in response to a recent ban on motorcycles in downtown Jakarta.

Iskandar Abubakar pointed out that many Jakarta motorcyclists also owned cars. "When they find out that they will have limited road access if they travel on a motorcycle, the city's residents will shift back to using their cars, resulting in a worser traffic jam," he said, as quoted by kompas.com on Sunday.

Many Jakartans prefer to drive motorcycles to avoid traffic jams in the capital.

Iskandar said owners and operators of goods and package delivery services in Jakarta depended heavily on motorcycles for their business activities. If motorcycles were banned, he said, they would continue their activities by using cars.

"Nowadays, mail and package delivery services mostly use motorcycles. Those activities would be affected by this policy too," he said.

Iskandar stressed the administration must review the policy with a more comprehensive study. "They must use consultants to come up with a fair assessment," he said.

The Jakarta administration and city police have decided on barring motorcycles from entering the city's main thoroughfares – Jl. Sudirman, Jl. Gatot Subroto and Jl. Rasuna Said – in an attempt to reduce traffic congestion in the capital. The trial of the motorcycle ban is scheduled to start on Sep 12. (dis/ebf)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/09/04/motorcycle-ban-will-worsen-traffic-transport-council.html

Rusunawa to be rented out to middle-class Jakartans

Jakarta Post - September 1, 2017

Jakarta – More than a thousand rusunawa (low-cost apartment building) units are to be rented out to middle-class Jakartans in a cross-subsidy scheme.

The head of the development department of the Jakarta Public Housing and Public Buildings Agency, Melly Budiastuti, said three rusunawa would be available for middle-class residents: Rusunawa KS Tubun with 520 units, Semper with 250 units and Rawabuaya with 358 units.

"We are still looking for approval from Jakarta Legislative Council Commission C," Melly said, as quoted by wartakotalive.com. Commission C oversees financial affairs.

The rent is set at Rp 2.8 million (US$209) per month for a 36-square-meter unit based on Public Works and Public Housing Ministerial Regulation No.18/2007. "If the council agrees, there will be a gubernatorial decree on the matter," she said.

At present, rusunawa are reserved for evictees or poor residents, who are charged less than Rp 600,000 per month. The Jakarta administration subsidizes rusunawa across the city.

Commission C deputy head Santoso said he would discuss the proposal with the agency, adding that the council would ask for further details on the rent calculation. Santoso, however, suggested that the agency find another solution rather than a cross subsidy, which does not consider an effective solution.

"Currently, people are allowed to live [in rusunawa] forever. That should not be allowed," Santoso said, adding that there should be a limit of around 10 years for residents to live there. After ten years, he added, those residents should find a new place to live, so they would be encouraged to work hard. (wnd)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/09/01/rusunawa-to-be-rented-out-to-middle-class-jakartans.html

Foreign affairs & trade

Indonesia files complaint against Australia in World Trade

Sydney Morning Herald - September 7 2017

Jewel Topsfield, Jakarta – Indonesia has complained to the World Trade Organisation over a protectionist tariff imposed by Australia on paper imports, in a move that could overshadow the last months of sensitive free-trade negotiations.

The latest salvo comes as the Indonesian government also expressed its "deep concern" after Australia launched an investigation into the alleged dumping of steel rods exported from Indonesia.

The leaders of Indonesia and Australia have committed to reaching a free-trade deal by the end of the year.

However, Australia announced in April that it would impose dumping duties on A4 paper exported from Indonesia and three other countries in a crackdown on "unfair dumping into the Australian market".

A dumping duty is a protectionist tariff imposed on foreign imports priced below their normal value in the country of export.

The decision was celebrated at the Maryvale mill of Australian Paper – Australia's sole copy paper manufacturer – where jobs had been at risk from cheap imports.

But on September 1, Indonesia filed a complaint claiming that Australia's actions appeared to be inconsistent with provisions under the World Trade Organisation's Anti-Dumping Agreement regarding the determination of dumping.

Director of Trade Defence Pradnyawati said the anti-dumping measures were based on allegations by the Australian Anti-Dumping Commission that Indonesia's ban on the export of timber logs had distorted the price of A4 copy paper.

The commission found exports of paper from Indonesia were dumped with margins of up to 38.6 per cent.

"The Indonesian government has pursued diplomatic approaches by explaining to the Australian government that the policy does not cause price distortion, however, it did not affect the course of investigation and decision on imposition of anti-dumping duties," Ms Pradnyawati told Fairfax Media.

"Therefore, the government of Indonesia decided to raise this issue as a dispute case in the World Trade Organisation."

Indonesia's "request for consultations", the first step in a trade dispute, gives Australia 60 days to settle the issue. After that period, Indonesia could ask the WTO to adjudicate.

Indonesia's chief trade negotiator, Deddy Saleh, said the A4 paper case would not affect the negotiation of the free-trade deal, known as the Indonesia Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IA-CEPA).

But he said if Indonesia's complaint were successful, "Australia should no longer make accusations without strong foundation".

"Because if it is continuously done it will obviously disturb the trust of the Indonesian business sector and government so that IA-CEPA won't be easily implemented."

A spokesman for Trade Minister Steve Ciobo said the government had made clear to Indonesia the independence of Australia's anti-dumping system and processes.

He said the Anti-Dumping Review Panel was undertaking a domestic review of the paper dumping duties. "The government understands the panel has just instructed the Anti-Dumping Commission to re-investigate," the spokesman said.

Indonesia and three other tobacco-producing countries have also appealed against Australia's world-first cigarette plain packaging laws to the World Trade Organisation, arguing they created an illegal trade barrier.

The final ruling is yet to be made but Bloomberg reported in May that a leaked draft report found Australia's laws were a legitimate public health measure.

– With Karuni Rompies

Source: http://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/indonesia-files-complaint-against-australia-in-world-trade-organisation-20170906-gybym1.html

Tourism & hospitality

Pesantren Charm Week seeks to promote religious tourism in West

Jakarta Post - September 2, 2017

Jakarta – In an effort to boost religious tourism in Indonesia, the Tourism Ministry lends its support to a religious event held by Islamic boarding school Pesantren Sirnarasa Foundation dubbed Pesantren Charm Week.

The event is currently being held for one week until Sept. 3 at Pesantren Sirnarasa in Panjalu, West Java. Themed "One Voice to Save the World Resources", the event is expected to attract 60,000 visitors.

The ministry's Archipelago Tourism Marketing Development deputy Esthy Reko Astuti said the event aims to promote the pesantren culture.

"Another goal is to combine several religious cultures that are relevant with pesantren as well as encouraging the provincial administrations together with stakeholders to develop destinations for religious tourism that have high competitive values," said Esthy.

"This event also serves as a syukuran (a gathering to express thanks to God) for the 75th anniversary of Maulid Pesantren Sirnarasa and Abah Aos. Every day, this place welcomes 500 to 1,000 santri, ikhwan and akhwat," added the ministry's head of Cultural Promotion Wawan Gunawan.

Activities at the Pesantren Charm Week are divided into several categories, including a religion one such as Musabaqoh Tilawatil Qur'an, Murattal Quran competition, speech competition and book exhibition of the works of Abah Gaos, the founder of Pesantren Sirnarasa.

In the education and health categories, there are civics seminar, free medical treatment and alternative medical therapy and mass circumcision.

The event also hosts entrepreneurship training in the economy category, leisure stroll and environmental cleanup in the environment category and performances of Wayang Ajen, Seni Gembyung, Rampak Dalang, Sepeda Balong, Gubyag as well as Liwet cooking competition in the arts and culture category. (kes)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/travel/2017/09/02/pesantren-charm-week-seeks-to-promote-religious-tourism-in-west-java.html

Mining & energy

Indonesia wants SOEs to buy Freeport's divested shares

Jakarta Post - September 7, 2017

Jakarta – The government has requested that gold and copper miner PT Freeport Indonesia, a subsidiary of United States-based Freeport McMoRan.inc, sell its shares to Indonesian state-owned enterprises after the company agreed to divest 51 percent of its shares.

"As requested by President [Joko "Jokowi" Widodo], the divestment will be handled by the State-Owned Enterprises Ministry. We [the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry] will play a supporting role," Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Ignasius Jonan said in Jakarta on Wednesday as reported by kontan.co.id.

He said that negotiations between the government and Freeport Indonesia were now focusing on the divestment process, including the valuation of Freeport's shares, how the company will divest its shares and who would buy them.

When asked about several other issues, including investment stabilization as demanded by Freeport and relevant taxes, Jonan said Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati was in charge of the negotiation.

The divestment agreement with PT Freeport Indonesia was announced by Freeport McMoran CEO Richard Adkerson at a joint press conference with Sri Mulyani and Jonan on Aug. 29.

The company also agreed to convert its contract of work (CoW) into a special mining permit (IUPK), build a smelter within the next five years and increase its contribution to state revenue from its Grasberg mine in Papua. (bbn)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/09/07/indonesia-wants-soes-to-buy-freeports-divested-shares.html

Indonesia's changes to oil, gas deals "positive" for investors

Reuters - September 5, 2017

Wilda Asmarini, Jakarta – Indonesia's revisions to new oil and gas production-sharing contracts are positive for investors, the leading energy industry association said, amid waning interest in energy exploration and declining oil output from the former OPEC member.

The archipelago overhauled its oil and gas production-sharing contract scheme earlier this year to reduce the burden of energy exploration on government finances, but analysts said the changes were still not enough to make Indonesia attractive for energy investors.

Under a new revision of the rules that was released on the energy ministry's website on Sunday, the government still takes a base split of 52 percent for gas and 57 percent for oil, but has increased other components of the split.

The revisions increase contractors' share of output in the second and third stages of production, and where oil and gas has a higher sulphur content, or at the minister's discretion, among other changes.

The changes were "positive", Marjolijn Wajong, executive director of the Indonesian Petroleum Association (IPA), told Reuters in a text message, and could help improve "the economics of fields, particularly during the initial stages of production".

The government announced in July it was also drafting tax incentives to try to make the new energy contracts more attractive.

Indonesia's crude oil output peaked at around 1.7 million barrels per day in the mid-1990s. But with few significant oil discoveries in Western Indonesia in the past 10 years, production has fallen to roughly half that as old fields have matured and died.

The energy industry is a vital part of the Indonesian economy, but its contribution to state revenue has dropped from around 25 percent in 2006 to an expected 3.4 percent this year, according to data compiled by consulting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers.

(Reporting by Wilda Asmarini; Writing by Fergus Jensen; Editing by Jacqueline Wong)

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/indonesia-energy/indonesias-changes-to-oil-gas-deals-positive-for-investors-association-idUSL4N1LM30V?rpc=401&

Freeport still in charge of Grasberg mine after divestment

Jakarta Post - September 4, 2017

Jakarta – Freeport McMoran (FCX) has stated that it still controls Grasberg mine in Papau, even after the company divested 51 percent of its shares in its subsidiary, PT Freeport Indonesia, as required by Indonesian law.

"FCX will continue to take control over the operation and management of PTFI," said FCX in its statement last week.

Freeport McMoran CEO Richard Adkerson said his company would concentrate in underground mining next year because of the depletion of reserves resulting from its open mining activities.

In early the 1980s, the company mined 800,000 to 1 million tons of copper concentrates per day. Currently, it produces 100,000 tons of copper concentrates. The company said the underground mining needed an investment of US$20 billion.

Meanwhile, the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry's mineral and coal director general, Gatot Ariyono, confirmed that Freeport would become main operator of the Grasberg mine because Indonesia needed to gradually learn about underground mining.

"It is very technical. We cannot immediately take over," said Bambang over the weekend as reported by tempo.co.

The divestment agreement with PT Freeport Indonesia was announced by Adkerson during a joint press conference with Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati and Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Ignasius Jonan on Aug. 29.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/09/04/freeport-still-in-charge-of-grasberg-mine-after-divestment.html

Economy & investment

Stop talking politics, start investing: Jokowi to businesspeople

Jakarta Post - September 4, 2017

Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has advised businesspeople to not talk about politics and to instead concentrate on improving the economy through investment.

"I always tell businesspeople to not talk about politics. Just talk about the economy," said Jokowi as reported by kontan.co.id on Monday.

Jokowi said he would hold a road show to meet with businesspeople in a number of cities in September to encourage them to invest.

"What else? They only need to disburse money to expand and pursue opportunities. Why should they continue to have a wait-and-see attitude?" he added.

Speaking about people's low purchasing power, Jokowi said 70 percent of the country's funds was in the hands of the private sector, while the state budget only shared 30 percent.

"If they want to invest, purchasing power will increase," the President added. He, however, said the government would help improve people's purchasing power by disbursing assistance to 10 million low-income people.

He also mentioned the government's assistance to 19 million students through the Indonesia Smart Card (KIP), which would also be disbursed next year.

The government will also increase village funds to Rp 60 trillion (US$4.49 billion) next year from Rp 20 trillion. (bbn)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/09/04/stop-talking-politics-start-investing-jokowi-to-businesspeople.html

Govt's 16th economic package receives warm welcome

Jakarta Post - September 4, 2017

Jakarta – Business people have enthusiastically welcomed the latest 16th economic package on the acceleration of business implementation, which aims to improve coordination between ministries and provincial administrations in business permit issuance.

Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) chairman Rosan Roeslani told The Jakarta Post that the economic policy, which was issued in the form of a Presidential regulation, was in line with the aspirations of business people.

"We need the policy to maintain and support investment and the government's development programs in the country," he said via a text message on Thursday.

He added that Kadin had suggested the government formulate the policy based on the business people's findings in the field regarding the coordination of related parties involved in the issuance of business permits.

"We found many obstacles in harmonizing the policies between central and regional governments," he said, adding that sectoral ego between ministries and other institutions also hampered permit issuance.

The 16th economic package will be implemented in two stages, consisting of the formation of task forces to oversee and solve the problems in business permit issuance, the regulatory reforms and the implementation of a single submission system. (rdi/ags)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/09/04/govts-16th-economic-package-receives-warm-welcome.html

Taxation & state budget

Government to evaluate tax incentives amid low interest

Jakarta Post - September 7, 2017

Rachmadea Aisyah, Jakarta – The Finance Ministry is planning to evaluate several tax incentives because of investors' low interest in tax incentive programs.

The Finance Ministry's fiscal policy head, Suahasil Nazara, said that although investors had been paying attention to the incentives, they did not prioritize utilizing them.

"The government provides a lot of incentives but few [investors] utilize them," Suahasil said in Jakarta on Thursday as quoted by antaranews.com. "We thought many investors had finally come [to the country] because of the incentives, but the data showed that it was not the reason."

Investors instead tended to value the ease of obtaining permits and the availability of materials and supporting infrastructure, he added.

In its evaluation, the ministry expects to find better uses of the incentives, the official said, adding that the ministry would discuss the matter with investors as soon as possible to find the right solution.

Finance Minister Sri Mulyani said on Wednesday that the ministry would evaluate various tax incentives, including the tax holiday and tax allowance, which failed to attract businesspeople, despite many of the incentives having been introduced in the mid-2000s. (dea/bbn)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/09/07/government-to-evaluate-tax-incentives-amid-low-interest.html

Analysis & opinion

False dawn over Indonesian mine mire

Asia Times - September 5, 2017

John McBeth, Jakarta – The enigmatic expression on Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati's face as she sat between Mines and Energy Minister Ignasius Jonan and US-based Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold chairman Richard Adkerson spoke volumes about last week's purported breakthrough in contract talks between the Indonesian government and the US mining giant.

The agreement, announced at an August 27 Jakarta press conference, was anything but a final settlement to a protracted contractual dispute over Grasberg, the world's most profitable mine based in the Central Highlands of westernmost Papua province.

Dismissed by one former Indonesian mines minister as "window dressing," it was clearly an effort to show Indonesians that Freeport, as one headline put it, had "caved" to government demands. Freeport has worked the Grasberg, the world's largest gold and second largest copper mine, since the late 1980s.

The optics would have pleased President Joko Widodo, a populist whose single-minded pursuit of a second term in office led him to recently change eastern Indonesia's Masela gas-field project from an offshore to onshore development in what could be the worst economic decision of his presidency.

But as the president's designated point-person, Indrawati knows better than anyone that while Freeport appears to have made significant concessions, the company's shareholders will have the last word on what it can and will ultimately accept.

So far, there has only been agreement in principle to subsidiary PT Freeport Indonesia divesting 51% of its shares, converting its current Contract of Work (COW) to a special mining license known as an IUPK, and building a new smelter to process the balance of its concentrate.

The joint announcement said they had "reached an understanding on a framework to support Freeport's long-term investment plans" until 2041. But Adkerson made it clear there will be an uphill battle to overcome the same hurdles that have always stood in the way of a settlement.

Still to be resolved is an additional stipulation that Freeport pays more state revenue and royalties from its operations than it has done under the current 20-year contract of work, which the Indonesians want replaced with an IUPK before it expires in 2021. Freeport has long been the country's biggest tax payer.

Analysts were left to wonder whether the accord was in fact a mechanism to put off Freeport's threat of international arbitration, a step Adkerson is reluctant to take even if his shareholders aren't, and give the government a reason to extend the firm's permit for concentrate exports beyond next month's deadline.

The government withdrew Freeport's export permit for concentrate in January, forcing a partial closure of the mine and the retrenchment of hundreds of workers, before issuing another temporary export permit in April.

Introduced three years ago, the export restrictions on raw and semi-processed ore – designed to provide a boost to a cherished local processing industry – have put a severe dent in Freeport's bottom line and reduced tax revenues the government needs to head off a ballooning budget deficit.

Widodo considers the 51% divestment sacrosanct, but whether he likes it or not the negotiation has become a bellwether for future green-field investments, which are crucial if Indonesia is to grow beyond 5% and avoid what economists fear is a looming middle-income trap.

Despite the announcement of 16 deregulation packages since Widodo came to power in 2014, foreign investment has remained sluggish in the face of contradictory nationalist-minded policies and what businessmen complain is an inexorable shift towards more state and bureaucratic control.

Valuation was always going to be the biggest problem, considering the difficulty the cash-strapped Indonesians will have in raising the billions of dollars it will cost to buy the remaining 42.64% stake in the mine. The government currently holds a 9.36% stake.

The Indonesians have put the price at US$3 billion, less than half of what Freeport sees as "fair market value", saying on its corporate website that the deal would have to be structured "so that (Freeport) will retain control over the operations and governance" during a promised two 10-year contract extensions. Freeport values the whole mine at around US$18 billion.

But last week's joint statement made no reference to fair market value, which is reportedly favored by Indrawati, a former World Bank managing director with extensive knowledge of how international business works, but not by State Enterprise Minister Rini Soemarno.

The government has said it will turn state-owned aluminum company PT Inalum into a holding company to purchase the stake, but it still needs to issue a regulation making it the legal umbrella for the Freeport stake as well as three state mining companies.

The government also continues to insist that Freeport can't include the Grasberg's copper and gold reserves in its valuation because under Article 33 of the country's constitution they are considered to belong to the people of Indonesia and not to what amounts to a foreign contractor.

That position confounds investors and stock market analysts, who can hardly value a firm on simply its assets when it has spent billions of dollars to develop Grasberg and still must spend at least US$15 billion more to convert it from an open pit to an underground operation, at the government's request.

The only way around the dilemma is to base the Freeport valuation on anticipated earnings over a set period, similar to what transpired when US-based Newmont Mining was contractually compelled by the government to divest its shares in Sumbawa's Batu Hijau copper and gold mine in 2011.

It isn't clear whether that concept was raised during the latest round of negotiations, but lawyers say it would likely be based on estimated earnings, less taxes and royalties, over the remaining four years of Freeport's COW – and possibly the extensions guaranteed under that 1990 contract.

This is consistent with the recognition that CoW or IUPK holders become the owners of the minerals they extract and produce once all applicable taxes due to the state have been paid in full.

At least for now, the reference in the announcement to "Indonesian nationals" suggests the government is adamant about shutting the door on raising capital through an initial public offering because it would mean foreign investors may buy into the venture.

Officials fear that would create an opening for Freeport surrogates to ensure the company retains a controlling interest, along the lines of what Newmont did before it finally sold out to a Chinese-funded Indonesian consortium last year.

Source: http://www.atimes.com/article/false-dawn-indonesian-mine-mire/